Of Big Bunnies and Painted Eggs

[Treadwell]

==OOC comment: Just something for fun, here; not trying to offend folks! Feel free to add on with your own characters, with NPC reactions to Tready and his little game here, or even with the actions of some of the children involved! Have fun with it!==

Myrken Wood's children sit in nearly silent, giggly rapture on the morning of the twenty-seventh. Why? An immensely round-bellied white bunny wearing a purple velvet top hat, vest, and pair of trousers is rocking before them in one of Mr. Treadwell's toy store's rocking chairs, explaining to them in a voice much like Mr. Treadwell's of a peculiar little legend from, supposedly, the tubby toymaker's homeland.

"Mmph mmph! You see, children, back in Mr. Treadwell's hometown in Westenford, Amasynia, off to the west, Tready grew up hearing about a big fat bunny who would hide a multitude of painted eggs allllll through town! That bunny's name was Mr. Hoppy--he liked to hop about everywhere he went, he did--and he supposedly wasn't even from the area! You see, Mr. Hoppy was from somewhere out east, they all said, maybe even Myrken Wood here, and--"

"Why the eggs?" "Yeah! Why?"

"Ooooohhh, you give me a moment! Mr. Hoppy, they said, was from the east, and his visit every year came to be called 'Easter' because of that! Those eggs, you see, weren't anything terribly special in themselves, but if good boys and girls found enough of them, hmm hmm, they would be rewarded! Every year, the *two* children--one boy and one girl--who found the most of these special painted eggs--not just ordinary chicken eggs or what-not--would get a free toy from the local toy store, whatever they wanted!"

At this, the eyes of children light up as they take to looking around the paradise surrounding them. Plots are hatched and fingers counted upon.

"Now, there were a lot of those eggs around the whooooole town in places they could be found easily if you just knew to look for 'em. And, well, Mr. Hoppy made a visit here this very morning, too, hmm hmm! There are a good hundred eggs hidden all in town, ready for the finding, and you've got the rest of the day to do it! Now, there are baskets all along the wall over there--" a fluffy, plump paw waggles at the baskets indicated "and you get one of them each. When you fill it up, bring it back here for the counting. Either way, all of you get back in here in time for supper at sunset, hmm hmm?"

With that, children scatter, scooping up a basket each and rushing out the door. "Mr. Hoppy" merely sits there, rubbing his purple vested stomach and rocking in his chair. Whiskers and big floppy ears wiggle about happily and magically, as does the little white tuft of a tail at his rump. Very soon, the man in the rabbit suit gets up, grabs his walking cane, and heads out. He has a load of children to watch, play with, love, and help.

Oh. He also has a number of shocked, gawking glances to get.

[Altias_Bromn]

A smile crept over a long unseen face, as Altias watched "Mr. Hoppy" with the children from his shadowed vantage point. He was always left in wonder over the other man's ability to relate to the children. Most of them had never been too fond of the governor, unless Treadwell had been there to assist him.

A stunning black velvet top hat sat at a jaunty angle atop a cascade of bright red silken tresses. It matched the fitted black velvet suit, complete with tails and cane. The governor looked as well and fit has he had the day he had first set foot in Myrken, all those years ago. White gloved matched the crisp linen shirt, sharply contrasting the ebon suit. In one hand did he balance the silver wolf's head of his cane, in the other he gently gripped a tiny hand sheathed in lace.

At his side stood a small child, one could only assume it was female, as the face was hidden beneath a deep cowl of black velvet. From the size of her, she seemed perhaps 4 or 5 years old.

"Can we go with them, Papa? Can we search for the rabbit eggs as well?"

A soft laugh bubbled from the thin lips of the governor.

"Not just yet, beloved. I think we should rest a while before we go and meet the other children. Do you not agree?"

"Yes, papa. I would like to be well rested and looking my best before I meet the other children. Can we go to the Uncle Treadwell's House?"

"Yes, beloved. I am sure Uncle Treadwell will have found some of those..." Again laughter which began in his heart and shone like the sun within his violet gaze, issued forth as he remembered her words. "...rabbit eggs, and he will share them with you."

"Come, let us go an wait for him to return. Perhaps there will be sandwiches waiting."

A soft squeeze of her hand, before turning from the two of children which had begun to scatter in all directions. The regal looking governor and his tiny guest began making their way toward the home of Treadwell, not having seen him in some months, it should be quite a surprise.