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

[themortalson]

[Kicking back on the bench and trying to sort things out, Shinjiro raised his head, spotting the girl walking around with a bunch of men following like lap dogs. It's a sight that reminds him of those stupid gaggle of girls always pinning after a certain someone he knows.]

[It's amusing when it's a friend, but that's because Akihiko is an idiot. This may as well be harassment. Getting up, he glances at the lion and bear and nods his head in the girl's direction. It's weird because they follow his command without much question, going to either chase off or momentarily hold off the guys bothering her.]

[kutanagi]

( She's half-tempted to simply run away but she knows what running away usually entails: chasing. That idea is completely driven out of her mind however when a lion and a bear suddenly rushes between her and the group, forcing her to fall back in surprise. )

Wh - ( -at is going on? She has no idea (and she didn't think lions and bears are commonplace in a town, even in this kind of town), but at least the guys are dispersing. It's a strange sight though she's grateful for them.

Once they're gone however, she looks warily between the two animals. )

I, I'm not next, am I?

[themortalson]

[The men running, the lion and the bear turn, watching the girl. Still, they aren't moving to attack her or anything like they were with the guys. Something Shinjiro should've figured would happened though because not everyone wakes up, sees a few wild animals and thinks 'whatever'.]

[A trip to the doctors might be in order. He walks forward.]

They're not going to do anything. [Looking past, he tells them to come back. The two animals circle past the girl, giving a wide berth as they re-join Shinjiro and the other animals with him.]

[kutanagi]

( Even though they don't seem like they're going to attack her, Yui can't help but watch them closely even after hearing the voice. After all, despite encountering other creatures back at the garden, there's still that voice inside her head that tells her they're "wild animals". It's only normal.

Once they've gone back however, she stands back up and turns to the direction of the voice earlier, bowing her head slightly. )

Thank you for your help. ( She glances at the guy in front of her, frowning a bit, then at the animals beside him ... and then over her shoulders. The guys stalking her are gone.

For now, she thinks. )

... I don't suppose you're here to propose too, are you?

[themortalson]

[Yes, all the guys are gone and the lion nudges Shinjiro's hand wanting a scratch. It did good, right? It earns a little ruffle of its mane. There's no 'you're welcome' or 'no problem'; he nods once, letting his hand drop back into its pocket as he slouches]

[Her question makes him scoff]

Don't get full of yourself. I'm not interested.

[Weird. He wonders why those guys were on her at all.]

[kutanagi]

Thank you. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.

( Strange as it may sound, she really, truly means that word of thanks, sighing loudly as if just removed of a heavy burden. An exhausting, really exasperating burden, He's one less person to think about at least. Though she wonders what and why this is happening to her in the first place.

She somehow gets the enthusiasm of some people seeing her. Like seeing someone they've never seen in a long while. Okay, that doesn't make sense but sure, she'll go with it.

The guys though ... )

... You're not from around here as well, are you?

[themortalson]

[Can't meet any normal people for once, can he? Wrong place to be asking for some normalcy.]

[Taking a moment to speak to the fox, he turns back when he hears her addressing him again. His reply is said completely straight faced.]

What gave me away?

[Not that he was trying.]

[kutanagi]

( She watches him ... talk to the fox. Maybe not. Maybe she's mistaken. After all, the last guy she's seen talking to animals was a god.

Then again ... )

The lack of enthusiasm, I guess? ( She gestures at him, a bit uncertain as to how he would take it. ) Plus you don't seem to fit in visually.

[themortalson]

['Lack of enthusiasm'? Okay, that gets a smirk. As for fitting in visually, she doesn't either.]

I woke up and they started calling me 'Older Brother'. I tell them to get lost, but they don't listen.

[Now he has to tell all the animals he's not talking about them, but the townspeople. Today's going to be a long day.]

[kutanagi]

Older Brother? ( ... well, it looks like she's not the only one having a problem with names. ) The people or the animals?

[themortalson]

The people.

[Problem with names and no one giving personal space.]

The animals call me 'Master'.

[kutanagi]

That's one thing we have in common at least, people calling us different names.

( Yui detects movement from the corner of her eyes and she moves slightly closer to the lion, hoping that it doesn't startle the animals. She feels much more safer with wild animals around admittedly, compared to strangers stalking after her. )

... Er, do the animals know what's going on? Or what's happening to us?

[themortalson]

It's not even a name.

[Shinjiro doesn't notice, but the lion does and takes a step towards Yui. Master gave orders to protect her once; he would probably make the same command again were he paying attention.]

No, but they do know the area.

[kutanagi]

... A way to identify you then.

( If he wants to be more technical about it, fine. )

I see. ( She pauses, thoughtful. ) Do they know where I might be able to find a practice sword? Or a place that sells one?

[themortalson]

Don't be a smartass.

[Turning to the animals, the fox yelps an answer and he'll translate] There's a blacksmith's in the market. It'll cost a few coins though.

[kutanagi]

I'm not. ( She is, but she raises her hands as in surrender.

Money. Right, of course. She didn't think of that since in the previous world she was in, everything was provided to them. No currency or money needed. )

Even the practice ones? I don't need or want a real one. ( ... She wonders if she can suddenly take advantage of the people's fawning. )

[themortalson]

[Good thing she did because he was just staring at her more deadpan than before.]

[Practice ones... the Fox yips.] Apprenticeship? Huh, guess that would be one way.

[kutanagi]

( Apprenticeship doesn't seem so bad. It can probably count as training for iaido, even though she can't see the connection between them. Not yet, at least. )

Blacksmith. In the market. Right. ( Yui turns to the fox, crouching in front of it. ) One last question. Does it come with free accommodation?

[themortalson]

It's one solution. Take a look around yourself.

[Shinjiro watches as she kneels down to the fox's level. No need for him to translate a nod.]

[kutanagi]

( She stays crouched on her spot for the next few minutes or so, not really saying anything. She soon glances once, twice from the corner of her eyes before she stands up with a smile, directed both to the fox then to him. )

That answers a few of my questions at least. ( Several more to go. ) It looks like the rest will have to be figured out one way or the other. Thanks again for your help.

( She'd like to pet the lion and the bear ... but then she'd rather not. )

[themortalson]

[Shinjiro doesn't say anything, but he has a feeling he should leave. It's starting to feel weird in this girl's proximity and he hopes he's not catching whatever those other guys caught. He gives a small start at the thanks and turns away. Sounds like he mumbled a 'Welcome'.]

[He'd wish her luck with the whole guy thing again, but he's already heading off.]