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

[springlamb]

Exactly that! I don't know if it will come to you right away, but it's worth practicing, don't you think?

[Her own smile may be slightly mischievous. She's a fan of pranks, as long as they're not too harmful.]

[petitgamin]

[Oh he's liking the sound of this]

[springlamb]

[She thought he might. Almost as an afterthought, the girl reaches up to her crown and gently plucks one of the flowers off.]

I know it's not very useful, but will you take this? As a welcome gift?

[petitgamin]

[He looks at the flower, an' there's a moment pause, but he does take it] 'nk you

[springlamb]

You're welcome!

[She looks so genuinely pleased by that. It's a perfectly ordinary flower, though Gavroche may find that it stays full and bright for a good deal longer than a flower perhaps should.]

[petitgamin]

[He tucks it into a top buttonhole]

[springlamb]

What will you do now, Peter?

[If he has any questions, he should probably ask them before they split ways.]

[petitgamin]

Don't rightly know.

[springlamb]

Well, you could look for people you might know, I suppose. Or find a place to stay! There are an awful lot of empty houses in the northeastern part of town, if you'd like to pick one for yourself.

[Yes, she did just suggest he go find a house and claim it as easy as that.]

[petitgamin]

Aen't never had a house before. [He had an elephant. Did that count? He liked his elephant]

[springlamb]

Now you can have one! You can share it if you like, but I don't think you need to.

[So if he doesn't want to live alone in a house, he can have friends there!]

[petitgamin]

[His mind goes to his big sister. She probably wouldn't be happy at the idea... but he could try.] It's an idea, alright.

[springlamb]

I think I'll leave you to whatever you choose- I've still got so many people to say hello to!

[She looks so!!! excited!!! to have so many new people around.]

[petitgamin]

[Gavroche nods] People to do, fings to see.

[springlamb]

I think it might be the other way around.

[You are too young to be talking about people to do, Gavroche.]

[petitgamin]

[He has no idea what he said. He blinks] Did I get it all mixed up?

[springlamb]

Things to do and people to see!

[She giggles a little and shakes her head.]

I suppose you can see things, too.

[petitgamin]

C'n always see fings. But got people to see too. [Deliberately, he lifts a foot from the ground, then the other. He's floating.] Right.

[springlamb]

Okay! Goodbye, Peter. It was very nice to see you.

[She takes a step back as he floats, beaming. He'll have the hang of that in no time!]

[petitgamin]

Bye [He gives a wave goodbye, and cautiously tries to float off. He wobbles a bit, but is managing a bit]

[springlamb]

[And she'll disappear into the crowd, pleased as punch that at least one is going to give their role a serious try.]