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

[bellbound]

[Mogget awakens in cat form, nestled among a pile of autumn leaves under a tree. The sound of the bells fades and Mogget sits perfectly still, tail lashing from side to side. His claws are pricking into a book lying by his front paws. Not only that, there's also a tarnished old lamp half-buried in the leaf litter. For some reason, he's curled around it, almost like he's guarding it.

People are staring at him. Some of them curious, some wary. Several seem to have their eye on the lamp, but when the first dares to approach him, Mogget hisses, raising his hackles, and they beat a hasty retreat.

He doesn't know where he is or why he's woken up here, but the Abhorsen is not here and if he's going to take these items with him, he's going to need hands. There has to be a reason he woke up with them. So he transforms into a human form: a pale-skinned man with bright green eyes, wearing a simple white robe with a red sash. Snatching up the book and lamp, Mogget goes in search of - he doesn't know what yet, but a bag and some food will do for a start. Shelter, eventually. Answers, he hopes.]

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat isn't used to this town yet, nor is he used to all of the people running around, acting like he's some sort of divine gift shat out from whatever god reigned over this universe. It's hard enough trying to avoid people constantly praising his arrival regularly, but adding in his own imbalance with his new wings, and you have a very frustrated troll who's just above flailing as he walks.]

That's great, real fucking great, can you just-- Ow, fuck! Can you all just leave me alone for five goddamn minutes?!

[He flails, regains his balance, forces the offending appendages flat against his back before storming off. He doesn't even care if he roughly shoulders past a robe-wearing person; everyone in this damn town is insane, he's decided that much.]

[bellbound]

[Said robe-wearing person stumbles and lets out a somewhat disconcerting hiss, glaring at the offending party.]

Excuse me.

[Passive-aggressive, that's obviously the way to go. Mogget isn't even surprised to see a boy with horns and wings. In this place, why not.]

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat turns and glares back at the person, matching the other party's look. He is beyond caring who he offends at this point, he's that fed up.]

Watch where you're fucking going, nookwhiff.

[bellbound]

[That's not even a word. And the boy bumped into him, not the other way round. In other circumstances Mogget might have reacted to this, but perhaps fortunately he hasn't yet discovered the extent of his powers here. Instead he rolls his eyes and turns away, muttering to himself.]

People.

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat catches that, yes he does. And he's angry enough to whirl around (carefully, still gotta deal with the extra weight on his back) and glare at the robed figure.]

Do you have some kind of problem, asshole? Because if you do, why don't you put on your big troll pants and say it to my face.

[bellbound]

[Why the strange winged boy is in such a foul mood, Mogget doesn't know, but it doesn't improve his temper any. The look he gives Karkat is unimpressed to say the least.]

Someone wasn't taught any manners at school. My only current problem is your continued presence. If you don't mind, I'll be moving on.

[cancercarcino]

Well my current problem is a particular white-haired jackass who's got a holier-than-thou complex to rival most seadwellers. Why don't you get your nugbone out of your nook and go fuck off somewhere where you won't be viewed as a genetic defect on the face of this planet?

[bellbound]

[...Very well then. The boy is definitely on his "kill later" list.]

Gladly.

[Stomping off now. The rudeness of some people.]