Once upon a time...

[timefather]

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

Comments

[unaccepted]

[ Grantaire has managed to find his way to a bench and has settled his belongings there. ]

I fear I am dying. You see, there are hammers in my head, and now you are flying without wings. These are the symptoms I've been told, clear as day.

[petitgamin]

Ye aen't allowed to die, 'taire. [He makes as if to poke him with a dirty finger] You ddon't look as though yer dying, an' I've seen plently of dyin' people.

[unaccepted]

R, rather. [ That is clearly the biggest concern. ] Perhaps I am already a phantom, then. Surely a man in my condition cannot be considered living, and look at you! How can you explain yourself?

[petitgamin]

... I wis there, an' now I'm here [It seems like the best explanation to him]

[unaccepted]

I'm following. And what of your growth?

[petitgamin]

Aen't exactly growing. More ... sort of started to fly.

[unaccepted]

You've no wings. [ As if Gavroche cannot tell. ]

[petitgamin]

[Gavroche blinks] I know. C'n still fly.

[unaccepted]

[ Grantaire thinks to argue, but it seems a little pointless. He is flying, after all. ]

Well, that is handy. Would you pick me an apple off that tree?

[petitgamin]

[Gavroche looks at the tree, shrugs, and floats up and picks off two apples; one for R, one for himself. He gets back to the ground, and hands an apple over]

[unaccepted]

[ Grantaire takes the apple and examines it. He didn't particularly want it, but he takes a bite anyway. ]

We've found a use for you yet! Follow me around, will you?