How time passes. I did not expect to spend a full month in this place, and yet here we are.

[ Despite the comment, Alexstrasza looks calm enough, merely observing and hardly complaining. A month is really just a drop in the bucket. ]

Around this time of of the year, several of the races of my world dedicate a week to the much-needed care of some of Azeroth's less fortunate young beings. Even here there seems to be an abdundance of children, missing for their families-- or any families at all. Know this, dears, that should you ever need somewhere to turn, you may seek me out. My home is always open to those in need. The goes not just for this week, but for the next, and all the weeks thereafter.

But for this week in particular, stop by to see me at the plaza. I may have something special for you.

[The little gnome appears to be somewhere on the island above Vatheon (the nice forest up there, not the bad one!), having finally built most of the tools he'll need to make his home here. It looks like he's created a gnome workshop of some sort if all the old-fashioned machines (mostly operated by crank) behind him are any indication. He addresses the feed, looking quite serious.]

I don't suppose anyone knows where to find a small wrench?

[Today seemed to be a good day for people to be waking up out of their coma-like states! Chie was one of those people, and she wasn't exactly pleased about it.

She flipped on her SFC not long after checking the date and seeing it had been 3 weeks since she last remembered being awake. The expression on her face had a tired look to it as well as one of confusion and annoyance.]

Hey Vatheon, it's been awhile! What have a missed? All I'm really aware of right now is that I've been sleeping for almost a month, and I'm starving.

Not to mention I'm super behind on my training regime! [Chie paused a put a hand to her forehead. How did this even happen? Sigh.] Oh man, this is such a pain...!

Sooo....

[Lea is in his cafe, for those who recognize it, chin on the table and tapping his fingers against the surface.]

For all the people who have suddenly realized that waking up is a thing, mornin'. Glad to see we have all the screeching a guy could ever want.

That said, does anyone else remember the really really weird... dreams from last week? I just want to make sure that was a real thing and not just the scientists... I don't know, filling the bubble with some sort of drug. What if we were all high, and we didn't know?

...Maybe we need to talk to someone who's been high. Anyone seen Gamzee around?

Joking aside, I actually wanted to talk to you guys about something else!

[Picking up the SFC, Lea heads to the back of his cafe, where there's a rather large set of stables. What are those stables for? All of his Chocobos, of course, from yellow to red to blue and a few other colors.]

For the uninitiated, these are Chocobos!

People use them basically like horses, I guess. What I was thinking of was...

Well, who would be interested in a city-wide race? You don't have to have your own chocobo. I would be happy to lend you one of my own! Or you could always go to the farm down in the Nostalgia Nook. You could have, like, a couple weeks or something to practice with whichever Chocobo you chose, and then there would be a race around the city! Just a couple of laps.

Who would be interested?

[Private to Karkat]

[Lea looks sheepish.]

So... do you still like grub loaf?

[Private to Demyx]

[Still holding the SFC, Lea starts to pace around a bit, filled with a nervous energy.]

So, uh, I've spent the last couple weeks talkin' to a couple people who worked for me, and they should be alright with making, like, a wedding cake. I also know this other lady who said she could do, like, a priest's job and all that. There are also a bunch of people who can give me the stuff we need, I guess.

I mean, a wedding is just like a big party, right? So we just gather all our friends over and stuff, entertain them a little while we finish stuff up, then we do a... ceremony or something I guess? Then we just party a whole lot.

So, I guess... Whenever you're ready? Man I looked up what a good wedding date would be, but it's all stuff that doesn't matter in Vatheon! [He runs a hand through his hair.] Unless you wanna have it on the island? Then I guess, you know, the season kind of matters unless you want to have a wedding while it's pouring rain.

[A pause. Lea cracks a grin.]

Which you probably would, but hey, remember the guests, man, I don't think they'd appreciate it as much as you.