To Tiana

I'd like to dedicate this post to my very first Norn, who came to life around fifteen years ago (as of 2020, at least).

When I was about eight or nine, I received an Amazon gift card for my birthday from my aunt. I was in the second grade, and having not spent much time online (especially not by myself), I had no idea where to start. But I'd always liked animals, and video games, so after my parents helped me search for "virtual pet" games - all the rage at the time, you see! - we came across a game called Creatures 3.

Crestfall Side Story || Stranded

Ah,

what's a Norn to do?

A Stranger's Christmas [Christmas 2017]

Though the Popping Pappus fields are without any snow, a cold winter wind blows outside the café, rustling the swaying flowers...

"You've been here quite a while, haven't you?"

You look up from the book you were reading to see the Wood Norn approaching. She slides a mug of hot chocolate to you and sits down across from you, taking the other chair at the small table by the window. She gazes outside at the winter night.

"Of course, you can stay as long as you like... but tonight is Christmas, don't you know?" Slowly, she blows on the surface of her own hot chocolate a little before taking a sip. "If you don't have anywhere to be, of course, I'm happy to spend Christmas with you... it's not like I get too much company out here these days."

You look up from your book at her, then over at the mug. Nodding a little, you fold the book closed and take the mug in your hands. It's warm, which is nice because of the cold that seems to seep in through the window. The mug is green and looks like it was a little spottily painted, with splotches of brown on it. Did the Norn make it herself?

"I know Christmas is a holiday where people reunite with their families to spend time together and such... but for someone like me, I think spending a Christmas or two with a stranger isn't so bad, either. There's so many people out there I don't know yet, and I want to share moments like this with them too..." The Norn gives you a warm smile, and raises her mug. "So... merry Christmas!"

You give a smile back, and raise your own mug, clinking the two together. "Merry Christmas."

Into the Café

A field of flowers at sunset, the great unknown lying ahead...

On a cold winter evening, you wander through the fields, the grass and flowers rustling softly in the wind. Every once in a while, one of the flowers bursts in a loud "POP!", a cloud of spores flying out and floating away in the breeze. The sun is just setting over the horizon, painting the sky a brilliant deep orange as the moon and stars are just beginning to peek out overhead.

You've been traveling for hours in this direction along this worn path. You're not entirely sure where you're going, or what you'll do when you get there; the only thing you're certain of is where you've been.

As you trek on and on, you eventually come upon some kind of structure on the horizon. What is that? Approaching closer, you can see it's a cozy-looking cabin. It has a porch, with a small couch and stained glass table. Though the shades are drawn, a faint light flickers through the windows on the front. Someone must be home!

You climb the steps up to the porch, feeling the wood creak under your boots, and approach the door. After glancing at the wooden plaque mounted on the wall, you knock on the... wait, is the door crooked? Now that's a little odd...

Shaking your head, you raise your hand and give the door a solid knock. At that moment, a gust of wind rushes by, causing a set of wooden wind chimes hanging on the porch to clunk and clonk against each other. A warm, cheerful voice resonates from within: "Oh! Come in~!"

You hesitate, and then turn the knob, opening the door to a rush of warm air and the sound of a crackling fire...