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. ]

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[timefather]

[ Father Time, as he's most often called, could be found sitting on a bench, feeding a flock of (non-speaking) ducks. He can also be found in the market, shopping for chestnuts and sweet potatoes. Once again, he can be found exiting the bank, counting a handful of silver coins. In fact, he can be found in each of these places at the exact same moment of time, or perhaps in reverse order. There's a lot to be done in a single day, after all. ]

[petitgamin]

[The bells woke him up, and he had lay still for a few minutes before getting up. He wasn't much for lying in anyway. Now, Gavroche can be found wandering around this strange place, looking confused at everything. This certain aen't Saint Michel, an' it aen't like he knows his way around this place. Every so often, he floats a little in the air, an' seems surprised by doing this, so he's trying hard to keep his feet on the ground]

[springlamb]

[There's a young girl drifting (metaphorically; her feet are quite on the ground) about around the town, wandering curiously from person to person. She's bundled up perhaps a little too much for what one may expect for the weather and temperature, and a crown of out-of-season flowers sits atop her head.

If someone happens to come across her, or wakes when she's nearby, she'll be more than happy to greet them!]

[gardienne]

[The bells rouse Eponine from her slumber, but she groans and rolls over, quite expecting to feel her cheek meeting packed mud from the ditch where she had fallen asleep in Paris. But no - beneath her cheek, something tickles her. Grass.

She opens her eyes and sits up, slowly taking in her surroundings. Never, ever has she seen such a place.]

Do I dream? But oh, how funny Paris looks this morning.

[As of yet, she hasn't even noticed her book]

[pishirogane]

[Naoto doesn't know what to make of this. She had come around at the bells, but then heard a giggle. Seeing the Fairy Godmother drift past, she snapped up, journal and quill clattering. Her head turned around and she rolled over, staring up.]

What's... ah?! [She jumped as plants rose beneath her fingers and stumbled to her feet. She just managed to snatch up the journal, her breathing harder. This couldn't be... or could it? The television world had simulated her school before, but this was outrageous. Slowly, she began to walk forward, slipping the journal away into her jacket. Naoto didn't even bother checking the binding; she wanted to know where she was.]

[pishirogane]

[It took a while to get away from the town folks who crowded around, but Naoto manages. They're all calling her something, but she's a little too preoccupied to find someone willing to speak to her for a minute, maybe answer a few questions.]

[It's then she sees the young girl dressed peculiarly even for the town. Well, she could venture addressing someone.]

Excuse me...

[springlamb]

Hello!

[The girl beams up at Naoto, her gloved fingers linking in front of her. Her cheeks are rosy from the cold breeze, as though she's been outside for quite some time today.]

It's so nice to see you!

[unaccepted]

[ Grantaire wakes to the bells but does not bother to open his eyes. It is much too bright and much too cold, so he places his book over his face and tries to fall back asleep in the midst of a field. He has a terrible headache, and cannot care about where he has passed out. ]

Quiet down, would you? [ He grumbles it every so often, to tweeting birds or someone walking a little too loudly. ]

[seventhsimon]

[ When Simon seeks Father Time, he always seeks him in the market. If Simon is meant to find him there he will, and since Simon often does business when he wanders intot he market it makes more sense that he simply get them both done at once, and not waste the time.

Not that it matters much this day. He knows that being present for the festival is something he will have to endure, as much as he would like to hide among the nearly-harvest ready of his crops. He did what work he could this morning, and resigned himself that he would not do much else.

Still, it is always something strange to meet the man buying sweet potatoes.

It is phrased as a statement, but Simon's tone makes it clear that it is more a question that lingers in his mind. ]

You are certain this is wise, sir. [ The first title that rises to his lips is Your Majesty and he must swallow it down. Not that he holds his own king in such high regard, but more that it is a solid reminder that they are all not here. It rankles. Slightly. ] I...

[ still hold my doubts. But such is not his place to say.

He makes a poor face for cheering and celebration, as grim as he feels.]

[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.]

[peckish4action]

[ Dick was alert the moment he opened his eyes to a strange place, and he rolled off the bench he'd showed up on to a crouch behind it, taking in everything he could from behind the black shades. ]

[ It took him a couple of breaths to register what'd been wrong with his body on that motion, and he looked, oh so slowly, over his shoulder. ]

[ The wings were rather large. They moved when he willed them to, and they reflected the autumn light beautifully. He thought they might be able to carry him to the air. ]

[ Dick Grayson wanted to scream in horror. ]

[ Quickly, he reached to take the book that had dropped from his lap, and darted off to the nearest semi-private alleyway. ]

[ He came out with the wings imperfectly, but at least efficiently stuffed inside his jacket, its hood firmly up over his head. He looked hunched, and there might be feathers peeking out from under the hem of the hoodie, but at least they were not... obvious. And he had some information to find. ]

[unaccepted]

[ Though Grantaire has hardly moved since he arrived, Gavroche eventually comes into his sight. There is some apprehension on his face, but once he finds a familiar little boy floating in the air, it is obvious this is one of his hallucinations. ]

Have you grown taller?

[themortalson]

[Though he had slept for several months, he was still exhausted. The bells roused, but didn't fully awaken him. He grunted and turned, tugging his beanie down. He just had a shit time with Graduation; frankly, he doesn't want to get up.]

[It's the licking that got him, making him finally move to bat a hand.] Koromaru, stop... [It does stop, but then there's a tug at his coat and someone pulled off his beanie. He brought a hand to his forehead and sat up, grunting.] If you don't stop...

[Drawing his hand over his eyes and to his chin, he scowled at the horde of animals and people surrounding him. That was a mess to get away from; now he wandered about the festivities, unable to lose the six animals trailing after him. He was a bit distracted; running into someone was only a matter of time.]

[seventhsimon]

[ When Simon knew that others would be arriving, he expected them to land in town. Not in the middle of the fields. His fields, really, given how much he tends to them.

He lifts the book gently off of the mans face and closes it carefully, a slip of fabric between the pages in case they happened to be important. ]

It will save you trouble if you just get up now. The town will suit you better.

[ He tucks the book beneath his arm and offers a hand up, rather perfunctorily. He rather wants the man off his law the field as soon as possible. ]

You'll likely be summoned there soon enough.

[petitgamin]

[Gavroche looks down at his feet, and finds himself floating off the ground yet again. He curses under his breath, and concentrates to try to bring himself back down to the ground]

I keep doin' that. Aen't rightly sure how it's 'appenin', just is. Aen't sure where I ams, anyways. Y'alright then, Grantaire?

[pishirogane]

[There's mixed feelings now. The girl doesn't appear much older than Nanako. Rosy cheeks even with the layers...]

It's... Have we met before?

[springlamb]

Oh no, not personally. But I know all about you, Miss Beauty!

[Wait, what? She seems entirely sincere, still smiling up at her with a childish innocence, swaying slightly where she stands.]

[unaccepted]

[ Grantaire can only grunt when the light hits his face once more and he reaches out to pull his book back up only to find that it is gone and someone is speaking to him instead. He sits up and does not bother to take the other man's hand. ]

I should think this--[ he looks around ]--field suits me well enough. If livestock may spend their lives here, why should I not? I am not so different from them.

[pishirogane]

... 'Beauty'?

[Naoto frowns, not sure if they're completely on the same page. Just a polite correction she supposes.]

My name is Naoto. May I ask who you are?

[timefather]

Oh yes, quite certain.

[ He waits to look up, handing two fresh sweet potatoes to the merchant. The words are out of his mouth almost before Simon has finished. ]

But your doubts are not unfounded. The possibility of failure is always present when dealing with such grave circumstances.

[unaccepted]

[ Grantaire has managed to find his way to a bench and has settled his belongings there. ]

I fear I am dying. You see, there are hammers in my head, and now you are flying without wings. These are the symptoms I've been told, clear as day.

[under_the_wire]

[At first he thinks he's fallen asleep at his desk again, because the last thing he remembers doing is double-checking a stack of scrolls from Sin to make sure they were actually finished, but when he opens his eyes, he finds that can't be true. Even if he did fall asleep at his desk, he's certainly not there anymore. What's more, he doesn't even seem to be in Sindria anymore. He's sitting propped up against a tree with a book and quill in his lap, surrounded by a group of children, the boldest of which has decided to tug at his keffiyeh for some reason, apparently trying to pull it off. When they realize he's awake, the children laugh and scatter, leaving him more perplexed than ever.

He pulls himself to his feet and brushes the grass off his robes. He tucks the book and quill away to consider later and tries to take stock of the situation. There doesn't seem to be any sort of threat, on the contrary, there's the sort of atmosphere he's come to expect from festivals in Sindria, but he's on his guard nonetheless. There's no one who should have been able to spirit him away out of his country and yet that seems to be exactly what's happened. Well, he's not without a few suspects...]

Whoever's doing this was, it isn't funny.

[kutanagi]

( So if you're ever walking around town ... you'll find Yui, looking terribly harassed and terribly tired. She's gotten past the initial where-am-I phase with so much composure since it's technically her second time being kidnapped and then dumped into a strange world. She's sort-of getting there to acquiring the necessary information she needs while trying to argue that her name is not "Kaguya".

She's not gotten past one thing however: that small group of guys obviously, pointedly following her wherever she goes. Once in a while, she'll stop, look over her shoulders at them then sighs in exasperation - and then she'll move on.

But after some time ... )

Please stop following me. ( Her expression is a mixture of Zeus-are-you-trolling-me-right now and Don't-yell-don't-yell-don't yell, desperate and very much wanting to get away. ) Is there something that I can help you with? And marrying you isn't a valid answer this time.

( Help her get away/laugh/say something? )

[bellbound]

Talking to yourself?

[Mogget is in human form currently, green eyes fixed on the other man. A brown bag is slung over his shoulder. Mogget saw the way the children reacted to the other man, the book and quill that he had tucked away, identical to his own. And this... festival around them. Something bigger is going on here.]

[seventhsimon]

There is no shame in sleeping in this field, [ He has done it often enough himself; such is the life of a farmer, after all. ] but I still need to work in it. And you are rather in the way.

[ Simon offers the book back instead, and points to the west. ]

There's a meadow not far over, if you wish to avoid people, or drink. [ Simon has frequented a tavern enough to know drunk when he sees it. ]

Though I would strongly recommend the town. You'll end up there whether you will it or no eventually, and with tales such as these it is best to get it over with.