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

[kutanagi]

I see. ( That's a good thing, isn't it? The return of their friends ... ) And it's also nice to see you.

( Hold on.

She stops at that for a moment. It almost goes over her head and she only realizes it upon returning the greeting. That's - a strange way to greet someone you've only met after all, right? )

... To see me?

[springlamb]

Yes! We've all missed you very much.

[Her sweet smile isn't the least bit suspicious, which perhaps makes the comment that much worrying. She folds her hands together in front of her as she stares up at Yui, rocking back and forth on her feet.]

[kutanagi]

( Not suspicious at all, definitely. If anything, it's a genuine smile of someone looking forward to seeing someone - or having seen someone they haven't seen in a long while. )

Er, thanks? ( Yui's not entirely sure how to respond to that. At least, Apollon has never given her that kind of a pick-up line before. ) But are you sure you didn't mistake me for anyone? I don't think I've met you before.

[springlamb]

I'm very, very sure! We haven't met, but we've missed you all the same.

[Because that... makes sense? It makes sense to her, apparently. A leaf peeks out from beneath one of the flowers in her crown, seemingly moving of its own accord.]

[kutanagi]

( ... wow, that sentence totally flew over her head. And it doesn't help that her eye catches the movement of that leaf. She momentarily dismisses it as the wind. )

Me ... As in me - ( She pauses again, thinking about the name that people called her. Kaguya. Right. ) - or do you mean "Kaguya"?

[springlamb]

Kaguya, of course! That is you, after all.

[Well, it is now, and that's the important part to her! The girl either hasn't noticed the leaf's movement on her head, or is simply unconcerned by it, the way she doesn't react at all.]

[kutanagi]

( There it goes again. That name, and the fact that they're insisting that it's her name. She shakes her head. )

My name is Yui. Yui Kusanagi.

[springlamb]

No it's not.

[She says it gently, as though correcting a student. A strange way for a child to talk, but she seems very sure of herself.]

Maybe it was once, but you are Kaguya!

[kutanagi]

( ... she's heard that tone before. And it's usually from Zeus albeit less gentle. )

I don't - ( Again, she's not sure how to respond to this. ) - Is this some test that I was not informed about? A part of my responsibility as the representative?

[springlamb]

It's not a test of any sort! It's just who you are. I'm sorry I can't explain it very well. There are others around that could, I bet.

[She looks a bit apologetic, because she knows this must be very confusing. But she's still going to insist that Kaguya is Yui's name, unfortunately.]

[kutanagi]

O, oh. ( Okay, she made her sad. She takes a deep breath then tries to smile in reassurance. ) No, it's ... it's okay. I'm sorry if I asked too many questions. It's just confusing, you see.

[springlamb]

[She claps her hands to her mouth, looking rather crushed. For a moment, it almost looks like her crown is drooping.]

I've upset you! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I knew you would have questions since you're new here, I should have tried to explain better!

[kutanagi]

No, it's - ( Whoa, the flowers are wilting. That's definitely not normal.

Short as she is already, Yui tries to crouch on the ground anyway to look at her directly and smile. )

You don't have to apologize. You were trying to help me after all, so thank you. And I'm sorry if I made you feel bad in any way. ( She looks briefly at the crown on her head. ) The flowers as well.

[springlamb]

If I don't have to apologize, neither do you.

[She reaches up to touch the crown, the flowers seeming to regain life before her hand even gets there. Carefully, she plucks a pale yellow flower from the crown and holds it out to Yui.]

Please take this? A welcome gift, or maybe a sorry.

[kutanagi]

A welcome gift sounds much better, thank you.

( She straightens up to her full height, now wondering what she's supposed to do. She still has a few questions to ask though she doesn't want to bother this little girl anymore. )

Oh - that's right, I don't think I got your name.

[springlamb]

You can call me Lamb!

[Her full name - or perhaps title - is certainly not strange compared to some of the new arrivals' supposed names, but she never gives it out anyway.]

[kutanagi]

It's nice to meet you, Lamb.

( There. The greeting's correct this time. And she holds out a hand for her to shake if she wants to. )

I hope I didn't take so much of your time with my questions.

[springlamb]

[She'll shake Yui's hand quite happily, shaking her head with a smile.]

Of course not! I'm always happy to try and help.

[kutanagi]

( And she'll shake hers back of course. )

Thanks. If I have other questions, I'll make sure to ask you about it first.

[springlamb]

I'm pretty easy to find around town, so there shouldn't be any problems with that!

[It helps that she can just sort of... you know... be pretty much wherever she wants.]