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

[sciencewhizard]

[ Wally really had to make sure he wasn't going insane, but there was the cat: meowing to everyone else, but saying, Feed me to him.

He looked up to Yui, still wide-eyed. ]

Please tell me you heard- that. [ And he jabbed an accusing finger in the cat's direction. All it did was slowly blink its eyes at him. ]

[kutanagi]

( Yui blinks at Wally once, twice before she looks back down at the cat. It looks like an ordinary cat to her but then, she's met swans who were apparently previously human so she could be mistaken.

... She's not hearing anything though, except for an occasional meow. )

The, er, meowing?

[sciencewhizard]

[ The former speedster was not happy to hear that response. ]

It wasn't meowing, though! It was telling me to feed it.

[ Seemingly bored with Wally now, the cat simply lowered itself to its side and began to lightly roll one way and then the other. ]

[kutanagi]

( Okay, she'll bite.

She'll crouch closer to the cat (just in case she didn't hear it the first time around, you know) and frown at. She'll even attempt to poke and pet it. All it results to is the cat brushing its head against her hand. No talking though, just purring. )

Are you sure you didn't hear someone else?

[sciencewhizard]

[ Crouching down with her, Wally was waiting for the cat to say something else, but there it went, continuing to purr as if nothing was out of the ordinary. It was definitely doing this to spite Wally for not being quick about feeding it.

The redhead grimaced at the creature. ]

Yeah... maybe I did... Or maybe I'm just- stressed out over this- [ He gestured vaguely at their surroundings. ] -whole thing.

[ He got to his feet and let out a small sigh. ]

I'm- called Kid Flash back home, but you can call me KF if you want.

[kutanagi]

( She laughs a little, a bit amused. She can definitely understand the stress (and confusion and everything in between) of being kidnapped. )

I wouldn't blame you if that's the case. But still, I don't think it would hurt if we find food for it anyway. ( That's called spoiling the animal, Yui. )

I'm Yui Kusanagi. It's nice to meet you, KF.

[sciencewhizard]

[ Wally offered her a small smile, his mood a little dampened by the situation sinking in some- and just the annoyance over the cat mixing up with that. He'd normally be a lot more chipper about meeting a pretty woman. ]

Nice to meet ya, and yeah- I guess we should feed the little runt. [ The redhead reached down and unceremoniously plucked up the cat, who seemed very upset with that turn of events, as he began to wriggle about in Wally's arms. ]

This is why I kept a pet turtle at home.

[kutanagi]

( Yui gives the cat one last look, waiting for it to speak up like Wally had said. After all, weird things have been happening to her since she woke up earlier - such as suddenly gaining stalkers who kept asking her hand for marriage. Then again, compared to a talking cat ...

Sadly, no reaction except a look that can give a puppy a run for its money. Right, might be best to feed it. )

Is it because they talk less?

( ... Yeah, that's a bad joke. )