If you go down in the woods today you better go in disguise

[consultmybooks]

Who: consultmybooks, folkloristic, picobartender and whoever happens to come across them wherever they may be.
What: Three weary warriors are returned to the village, a good deal smaller and a good deal more innocent than anyone remembers. Mayhem promptly ensues as they try to find their way and sort things out.
When: November 14th to November 16th, then November 18th to November 20th

Comments

Reserved for Giles, Ginia, and Helios

[consultmybooks]

[...several seconds pass, as Giles reads these words.

Then he sneezes.]

It's r-really cold!

[folkloristic]

It-it is. [ Helios is doing everything possible to hide his arms and keep himself warm because it is so very cold right now. He frowns looking at Giles a soft wispy puff of white smoke coming from his own mouth as he sighs. ]

W-We should g-go inside.

[picobartender]

[Ginia gives a sad little nod. She's slightly better off considering she's in a dress, but a sundress was not made for the winter. Her fingers are stiff and red as she clutches the pencil and scribbles out another note in her journal.]

Maybe there's other people around. Do think there are other kids like us here?

[consultmybooks]

[Rupert ponders this, looking as serious as a small child can be when he's largely focused on not trying to show weakness when showing weakness in the face of this cold seems quite attractive.

Clearly he is the leader, therefore he must lead. Besides, given the circumstances surrounding their awakening here, it bears some thought.]

I dunno. Those men, the ones in the coats like doctors, they...I don't think they see kids like us very much.

Prob'ly not.

[He looks up at the building they've found themselves near to and motions for Helios and Ginia to follow.] C'mon! We'll get warm in here!

[Action] looking for Giles in particular!

[no_use_running]

[That little boy... a new feather? He's found warm clothes as though he knows the place, and he looks so familiar, but it's the right time for arrivals and she can't place his face.

Ami, peering somewhat curiously, actually approaches Giles for a closer look. It's at the tip of her tongue... (And didn't she see him with a couple other kids a bit ago?)]

Did you get separated from your friends? I'll help you find them if you'd like.

Re: [Action] Reporting for duty!

[consultmybooks]

[Giles, who is in the midst of attempting with marginal success to reach the lowest branch of a bare tree, looks around at the sound of Ami's voice. He gives her an appraising, critical stare, and whatever opinion he reaches must be positive, because her reply is almost subdued.]

Nah, I'm all right.

...th-thanks though.

[Action] o7

[no_use_running]

You're welcome. It's fun to climb, isn't it? I climbed a tree just a few days ago.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[With an almighty leap, Rupert just manages to catch hold of the branch. He hands there, the toes of his boots barely brushing the ground, and looks curiously up at Ami.]

You did? And no one told you to get down or stop messing up your dress?

[Action, 16th at All Passions]

[so_shik]

[Back to the grind. Shiki wasn't expecting much that Monday morning as she went about rearranging her shelves and displays. When she had it just the way it should have been, she headed into the back room to hunt down a specific notebook she needed.

She didn't realize, however, that there would be three children entering the building and making noise. She pokes her head out of the door of the back room briefly, trying to identify the ones who have entered the building.

She doesn't immediately recognize any of them, of course, so she steps out and into the center of the room, just watching the children to see how long it would take them to notice they were under investigation.]

[Action, 14th at All Passions]

[consultmybooks]

[It did not take Rupert long at all, although it would be a bit longer before he'd actually let on to the fact that he could feel Shiki watching. Eventually, however, as he was tugging down a sweater several sizes too small for him, he'd lose it and round on Shiki with an indignant:] What?! I'm not doing anything!

[Action, 14th at All Passions]

[so_shik]

[She just snorts. Typical little boy answer.] I wouldn't call this anything. Don't force it, it's going to rip. Wouldn't you rather find something in your size?

Re: [Action, 14th at All Passions]

[consultmybooks]

I dunno. [Even so, Giles makes a show of dusting off the sweater.] Dunno if there is anything in my size. 'Sides, it's like a blanket. We were using blankets before, and we were warm enough.

[Voice] | Any of them, but Helios especially! 'w'

[semper_cogitans]

[It's some time later when Robert notices the transmission. Little children - those always bring a curl of bittersweet warmth to his heart - and bright-sounding little children at that. New Feathers?

...

A Romanian accent. A stuttering Romanian accent.

Could it be...? Is this Helios, back from what happened?]

... Ah, e-excuse me... are you still... in n-need of assistance...?

[He's already making to get outside, thin gray jacket thrown over his lab coat in a ridiculous-looking ensemble.]

[Voice]

[folkloristic]

[ Oh! This book thingy talks? Helios looks at it curiously giving a worried glance back at the other two. ] Oh. It-it said something?

[ He sounds ever so curious as he looks at the journal. ]

N-No we-we're fine. [ dghsjge mysterious voice he doesn't want to bother yooou. ]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[He doesn't know where they are. (And at this point they're probably scattered about anyway.) So he needs to keep them talking.]

... Th-this is... a journal. Communications d-device for the village.

...

[... "We're fine". That's definitely a Helios thing, saying he's fine when he isn't.]

... Can you p-please tell me... your approximate l-location?

[Voice]

[folkloristic]

[ You have a stutter too. Did someone hurt him as well? Helios doesn't like that, not one bit. ]

I-I don't...know. [ He sounds a bit lost but it's okay. He'll figure it out on his own. ] Th-there's lots, lots of buildings...and, and one of them is called All Passions.

[ Does that help? He hopes that helps. ]

November 14 - ALL THE BITTIES

[lostinmyway]

[Grune is out on the non-garden part of the front lawn of House 34, raking leaves. Or, well. She's attempting to rake leaves. She'll rake for a while in one spot, and then her attention will be caught by something, she'll wander away, and then resume raking in an entirely different spot. The lawn is currently covered in tiny leaf piles, surrounded by large swaths of forgotten leaves.

Any bitties want to say hi to the pretty, absentminded lady?]

Re: November 14 - You asked for it~. Keeping to a loose thread order okay?

[consultmybooks]

[...this is the worst leaf raking job Rupert has ever seen, and this includes the many times he was asked to rake the yard before his mother gave up in a huff and asked the maid to take over.

He watches her idly as he waits for Helios and Ginia to catch up, balancing precariously on the yard fence. Finally, taking pity, he calls out:]

...you missed a spot.

Re: November 14 - Sounds like a plan!

[lostinmyway]

[Grune looks up, then surveys the yard in mild confusion.]

Oh, did I?

Re: November 14

[consultmybooks]

[Rupert points to one of the many drifts and piles of forgotten leaves. He might look familiar to Grune, having last been glimpsed holding a dog behind a mirror, but Grune is...really only ringing one bell for him, and it's an unfortunate and distressing one.]

Y-Yeah. Right there.