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

[timefather]

Yes. It's an unfortunate responsibility to bear, but one I believe to have the most rewarding outcome. For all of us.

[ He smiles, kind and full of all his considerable age, and offers Simon a small package of chestnuts he almost certainly didn't have before. ]

Take heart, Simon. Today is about new beginnings.

[seventhsimon]

[ The smile that shows upon his face is wry, just shy of bitter as he accepts the chestnuts with a nod of thanks. ]

New beginnings have rarely ever done me good.

[ First a thief, then a prisoner, then a man without a home. Simon is not overly fond of new beginnings.

And yet, for all of it, he is more inclined to trust Father Time in this manner than anyone else. New beginnings is something Father Time would know better perhaps than all but Lamb, even if Spring beginnings are the only sort that make sense to Simon. ]

I hope they fare better for the rest.

[timefather]

I should hope the opportunities brought by them are favorable for all of us, including you. There will be some adjustments needed, of course.

[ He pauses, and reaches into his pocket for some coins. It seems he remembered he hasn't yet paid for the potatoes. ]

Justice is perhaps the most displeased, despite giving us her blessing. We won't be seeing her today.

[ He can say that for certain. ]

[seventhsimon]

[ Simon's smile is a hint more genuine this time. It would not have surprised Simon if Father Time had paid the merchant before he'd even selected the sweet potatoes. ]

It will come as it will, I suppose.

[ Simon has mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, he shares much of Lady Justice's sentiments. On the other, she is hardly Simon's favorite. His life is such that he does not have as much faith in her as he technically ought. ]

She seems one most likely to bring order, should the need arise.

[timefather]

[ It's very likely he's done that before, too. He pockets his hands when that's done, leaving the merchant stuck to decide on their own whether to hand the potatoes to him now or later. ]

Now it's only a matter of waiting to see when, isn't it?

[seventhsimon]

And that, I leave to you, far more wise than I in knowing "when"s.

[ It seems like nothing really has been said, but Simon feels lighter for it. More ready, at least, than he would have been otherwise. ]

[timefather]

[ How amused he looks! ]

Yes, yes. I see your point. That being said, I hope you can trust me when I say things will take a turn for the better, Simon.

[seventhsimon]

I... [ It feels honest, and surprisingly genuine, for all that Simon knows that Father Time is a generous lord who is concerned for those over whom h leads. ] I shall strive to do so, sir.

[ It is so hard to trust, even now, but if he is to have faith in any, it would be in Father Time. ]

[timefather]

Good. I'll feel much better myself, knowing the majority of us left are not quite so unhappy.

[ There's a thoughtful but pleasant hum from him, and he reaches into his pocket for a silver watch. ]

[seventhsimon]

[ There isn't much that Simon thinks he can really say to that, so instead he bows his head again, and pays for his own purchase. ]

Thank you, sir. For your time.

[ It is both a tease and a genuine thanks, both, and it shows well that Simon's mood has lightened, if only somewhat. Perhaps Simon should take to calling him 'Father' instead, the generally helpful, occasionally frustratingly cryptic (at less so they seem to Simon) answers would make it a good title, beyond just belonging to his name. ]

[timefather]

[ Quips like that never fail to appeal to Father Time's sense of humor, so he laughs pleasantly and waves Simon off. ]

And yours as well. I'll be seeing you again soon. For now, I have greetings to attend. Take care.