As soon as the camera was off, Jiminy took his hat off and swept his brow with his hankerchief. Tinkerbell ceased her fluttering and landed on the stage, to dust herself off and preferred to see herself in the nearby make up mirror. Her dapper partner merely fixed his hat traditionally and swept along his arm before he himself got too dusty which came with the territory of being of minature proportion compared to everything else all around him. As he did so, someone's shadow fell over him and Tinkerbell who crossed her arms. Aladar stayed silent behind, listening. It happened to be a basic man who stood out like a sore thumb from the cartoon folk by a huge mile, unlike Aladar, a young fellow no more than passed his mid twenties, of course, kneeled and then took his head piece off, clearly overstressed. Jiminy, however, did not lend an eye on the young man yet because he knew a complaint was coming. When all else began to disperse around them to end the day of filming, Jiminy then placed his attention on the man, confidently taking his umbrella and setting it in front of him, patient.

"Not to your expectations - again - I trust." he turned blunt, quite the switch from his loving demeanor before the camera. He kept his voice soft, patient and not a smile on his lime face. It was because he was apparently owned property, like the rest of Starlit.

"Um, no, Cricket. It was not, as usual."

"Well, good!" Jiminy smiled, spinning his umbrella with some pride. "The younger generation, which includes you, may I add, tend to forget these things on the daily. And, I, a current personality under your boss's stride, am passionate of reminding all of you the important facts that life tends to serve."

"I know, sir… and thank you. But lately, the higher ups haven't been… liking the content."

"So? I fail to realize that ever being our problem. Dear boy, you still come here to us to help us film. That's a bravery we hardly see in this age. We are from Walt's age, young man… not yours. And his passions still live on. So as long as we're here, we will keep it going along, for as long as we can. If the boss does not approve — Well, perhaps we're on the right path."

The young cameraman sighed, knowing that he had no chance of winning this conversation. Also with the shadow of Aladar hovering over giving side eye, he had to be careful with his words. His community were very passionate in what they did and never swayed from the first purpose they were given, by being a family in a big wild world that kept getting faster and faster by the day.

"Well, while we work under them, I still find what you all do very important. I just worry that day coming, you know?" he stated, honestly, truly having a soft spot.

"Oh — why gosh, I thank you, Eric, for that sentiment." Jiminy deeply smiled, feeling deeply touched by that. "Never cross a bridge or peek around the corner until you're there, I used to say, and it still applies today, no matter what you may hear."

"Yeah, yeah that's something true~" Eric chuckled as he continued to zip up his bag.

"Be safe out there, son~" Jiminy bid his farewell before he and Tinkerbell had to hop their way off of the stage before it was slipped away.

Apparently there was no polite way to ask them to leave first prior to taking the set off which was quite rude, but there was no use in arguing the point. However there was no time to worry about all this show business for very long. It was at the end of another dreary smoggy day, it was a warm thing to be thankful for to have somewhere to roost at night. Aladar stayed put, nodding at Pete and whoever else who went on with their evening and eyed Jiminy as he hopped onto his padded foot. Jiminy spied a more cynical look in his bright green eyes.

"You give them too much credit. We all know they are just in it for their paychecks." Aladar dryly mentioned.

"Be that as it may, Al~ their world needs these shows now, more than ever."

"Hey, hey, we know that about you. It is also why I'm still hanging around the neighborhood." Aladar shared a warmer smirk, clearly of affection. "So. Well, how's Lou been?" he proceeded to change the subject.

"Can a little fellow like me worry too much?"

"If you worry any more, you might shake your hat off…"

"She seemed a little low this morning. Gotten herself sick from overworking, again."

Aladar appeared to wince before slowly shaking his head. "Shh, dang, hey though, for what its worth, I think your visits have been for the better for her."

"It's funny, she is still a little girl to me. Seems like yesterday when I first saw her in that little corner of the yard, dreaming the hours away." was the little host's crooning sorrow as he began his way into the quaint little town. "Perhaps, it is my own paternity calling, hah~ That makes -uh, a lot more sense…"

Aladar watched them as Tinkerbell appeared to follow the cricket, jingling along the way when she truly noticed Jiminy take on a more sullen posture when he came upon a sill that he knew of and peered inside… The Iguanodon was near, landing some more wood near this little woodshop, unlike Geppetto's. Knowing Tink was choosing to stay, he slipped through the almost opened window and politely took her hand as they both went inside. She worriedly jingled out a question, catching his attention.

"Well, it has been a week since our last chat. I better check on him." he told her as he set his hat and parasol aside in a safe spot.

Inside, there was someone working at the long table quietly working. A young sort of fellow with a flash of deep red hair, bright as the cricket and gold fairy, hunchbacked and wearing a common blue polo that has been worn until it started to fade and jeans that started to have holes forming at the knees. His face was not at all too handsome because he was deformed to a point, however his teal eyes were soft and full of love for what he was doing.

In his good ear, he could pick up on the sounds of bells and those of the chirps of a cricket. A sweet smirk caught his lip before he turned a bit to see his visitors.

"Good evening, Quasimodo~" Jiminy lightly greeted.

Quasimodo shared a tender smile as the cricket made his hopping way along his mighty shoulder. Before Jiminy's eyes there stood the smoothed wooden statuette of a resting horse that was intended to be a bookend. It surely brought a smile to the Conscience's face…

"Why, son- it is so beautiful~ Whoever is the blessed one?"

Not a single word was uttered from Quasi's lips, not even a hum, however through signing he was able to gesture towards a neighbor across the way.

"Had Amos requested this? How remarkable, Quasimodo ~ this town would be quite dull if we hadn't had your knack for woodwork."

Quasimodo shared a touched smile, even his aquamarine eyes shown bright as he undid his apron and hung it on a nearby hook. It was coming time for their normal firelit block meal, which happened to be held every Friday evening. They had a close knit place amidst a mad world and there, around a fire, they would share their days with each other. Even others that were not among their likeness would join~ One was Aladar who was the largest out of everyone there, towering but welcoming after all. During this as the sky took on a nice pink on the clouds, there was a mouse that made home in Merlin's little hut across the road named Amos, who Jiminy was kindly waiting for. Apparently they were a duo of proper height for each other, no doubt. Two gentleman who were absolutely of their time periods, respectively with Jiminy as the daily dandy of 1940, an occasional Bookkeeper. Amos was an experienced Bookbinder, from the late 1800's wearing the typical garb with his auborn tricorn hat and teal coat with white scarf. Time and time again they would work together in the same tiny Library that Merlin gladly ran.

The duo had the same animator, yet entirely different voice actors. So despite this time gap, respectively, they were old friends. Jiminy tipped his hat as Amos gave a bow to him.

"Overdoing it a little bit, chap?" the Cricket joked with the Mouse smirking.

"Oh, as if you're not yourself, dandy earwig." Amos winked, and he spoke in a dryish, much higher pitched voice, just the same as a few others had.

"That is far more classy than being called a Grasshopper."

"The day was not too drawn out for you, Jiminy, I hope?" Amos asked, in mid-walk.

"It's do or die, you might say. The work has more merit than what people give it credit for… Speaking of the youths, of course."

"No one braves anymore these days. Good on you, no matter what they might say. For our optimism's sake, I am quite enamored by Quasi's latest, by the by. Such beauty! I cannot think of anyone else's hand being any better…"

"Quasimodo is such a talented young man — With so much patience." Jiminy Cricket remarked.

After their personal exchange, they began to walk together. The gathering was not very elaborate. In fact, it was quite quaint and peaceful. There were so many colorful friends all surrounded a round bout of sand that held a simple little bonfire to light the night. Something sounded through the air, that sounded like quieted jazz music, even something close to ragtime among the decent crowd of originals. The Seven Dwarfs were frequent guests, besides Pete, Goofy and Donald Duck, Pluto… last but not least, there was Mickey Mouse. They were a small community however they had ways of facing their days with joy and brace. The funny thing was that this hokey music seemed to come out of thin air, as it was gifted of them have some sort of old magic going on, once in a while. Magic that worked well here so much more than it worked in the real world, of course.

Then again, here there was some fun to be had, some rest to rest on. The Seven were giving their most honorable by entertaining all those gathering until one of them had decided to take a nap. The party had to go on though, and it all got loud as soon Jiminy and Amos soon joined them for the evening~

"And there he is!" sparked Doc, the rambling and most brawny of the Seven.

"Knew he'd come in due time~" Bashful shyly uttered.

"We thought we darn missed ya~" Happy cheered on as Grumpy clapped his hands free from dirt after standing up from the log. "No evenin's complete without our crooner~"

Everything around the mouse and the cricket was so massive and loud, however the gestures from all attending made Jiminy nearly blush. "Ha! I honestly thought I was coming on in early~ Oh, gosh, everyone — you are too kind~"

"Bah! Yer just a modest one. Never changed a day since, and ye better not now." Grumpy stated that as though it were an order.

"Why, I don't intend to, Grumpy, I assure you." Jiminy politely took his hat off in the best greeting he had, despite feeling all too flattered by this welcome.

Now each and everyone here knew of current events, the pressures of the studios were so dead set… and as far as control went, Starlit was only a prettied up prison. There was something the old Conscience had and he wasn't the only one who had it… It was something even Louise did not know about. After three decades so far of living together so tightly, they all knew each other extraordinarily well. In kind words, they were a family and there was no joking about that. All they had here were memories of times long gone, preciously kept like treasures. Quasimodo gladly joined soon after this welcome went all ham, as he seemed to share the same praise~ Tinkerbell did him an honor by playfully sparkling his hair with pixie dust, that brought a smile to his face. Hovering his arms playfully over his head, he brushed the dust away before he found himself a spot to sit on the log.

"The whole fam is here then!" piped up that falsetto of a voice belonging to no other than Mickey Mouse. He sprinted his way before the family crowd. "The more the merrier, hotdog!"

"A joy it is to see you, Mickey!" Jiminy smiled, hoping to get some of the attention away from himself for a moment. The Mouse helped himself a spot with him, and Quasimodo.

Mickey as he was with the faded pallete likened with the rest of them was simply wearing a red tee with blue slacks, truly very lax on a week night for the lot of them. Happy took the opportunity to stand up on the 'soap box', giddily bowing and encouraging the entire group's applause, for one in particular.

"All we starfolk have been a'waitin' for one bloke, and one bloke only. We did promise to keep it very hush hush, no doubt~"

"Ooo! HaHA haaAAAAPFFffff!"

There came an eruptive sneeze from among the six Dwarfs that blew a wind so big that even Amos and Jiminy had to take cover amidst the songbirds behind the log. Everyone else just held their ground. Happy and the whole party began to laugh.

"Gah, dangnabbit Sneezy!" Grumpy barked.

"How rude! I heard doorknobs sneeze more rudely than that! Do it again!" bellowed the Mad Hatter from somewhere unseen.

"Do it again, puh to that! When ya gotta ye gotta!" the brown tunic Dwarf swept over his large nose. "I've been Hayfevers McGee since 37~"

"I've got to band it-Hand it to ya that they've been less corrosive — Explosive! … ooh, eh, uh, Sneezy~" Doc chuckled and stumbled over his words while trying not to laugh.

"One can blow all of us to Timbuktu~" Bashful threw in.

"Thanks, uh Doc~" Sneezy said between sniffles. "The daffs haven't even bloomed yet…"

"Corrosive, eh? If that's so, then we have bigger problems~" Grumpy jabbed at the two.

Happy laughed along with the others. "Dancin', singin', then wild whirlwinds, we got 'em all, don't we? If Sneezy was along earlier, all the leaves could've been gathered post haste last year."

As the welcoming speech went on, Pinocchio soon joined them with old Gepetto in hand with giddy Dopey hopping along with them. Mickey greeted Minnie with one fair kiss to her cheek. The reluctant Dragon took seat beside Aladar, Cinderella and her micely neighbors finally gotten themselves comfortable in simple gown and brown apron. Snow White and her Prince chose to sit among the playful Dwarfs and soon even Pete, Donald and Goofy all gladly made it in good time. The sunset was settling down over the valley hills with such beauty~

"What we, uh, are all here for, every night is the hard earned work done good by our fondly home of Starlit. For over 80 years we have made such a team thus far~" Happy softened his tone from goofy to downright kindly and warm before he gestured to Jiminy, soon enough. "Sir Jiminy? If you would do the honors…"

Amos playfully prodded his elbow into Jiminy before he got up and hopped to the box after Happy. Donald's little nephews cheered all at once, as claps came from all directions. Dopey and Pinocchio both sat crossed legged, ready to listen…

"No day would go by well done if I were lonesome." Jiminy shyly began, taking his blue top hat off. "This is just a sample of what the Magic Kingdom would treat us all, would it?" he asked, earning a chorus of agreement. "Allow me to share my venture through Burbank today~"

"Oh, is it Miss Lou, sir Jiminy?" Cinderella asked.

"No doubt, it is Miss Lou, milady. You see, my visit began with worry as I did find her downed again, ill."

"Knew there was a catch," Grumpy whispered in Doc's ear.

"That is downright awful, Jim…" Mickey perked up.

"Perhaps we can try and help?" Donald quacked.

"Doubt it… The monthly let off is only reserved for one at a time. A bunch of flock if you ask me!" Grumpy growled.

"The grace you all have given me to visit her has helped my heart a grand deal." Jiminy humbled up, showing his true feelings to the lot.

"Anything we can so you can see your girls again…" Minnie comforted.

"With them in mind, it fills me with a melody~" Jiminy's sorrowfully began to sing. "Granting dear Dalia with a song~ give me this one to sing as we pull along… Just a melody of my own when I am lonely… Oh~ give me the feel of the winds as we pull along…"

"Now that is a heartstring…" sighed Goofy, holding his droopy head in his hands. The Dwarfs all looked at each other before they too stood up and began to sing while Jiminy went on with his verse.

Oh, poor rolling stone he always been

He wait along with other stones

Where he's company~

"Oh give me a song as I pull along…" Jiminy crooned along after them, and they hummed to his melody. "Give me the feel of the wind as I sing my song."

Just a melody of his own when he is lonely~

The Dwarfs crooned, followed by Jiminy's final.

"Oh so lonely~ Oo~Ooh~ Oh give me a song to sing as I pull aloo-oong…"

The party sighed, all enthralled by the small gentleman's lovely voice, that remained just as soft and beautiful ever since it was gifted to him so long ago. The air of sorrow and yearning Jiminy personally had was shared with them and it was through song that they loved to express with. It was clear to them that days were becoming harder.

"Oh, Jiminy Cricket… if that isn't our current affair in a single verse, then I don't know what is…" Cinderella lowly spoke.

"Indeed, we are pulling along. Strongly, I say." Mickey spoke.

"And how~" came the old voice as they walked in late. It was Merlin.

"And ever since Quasimodo went mute… Only time will tell when the Company would make another warning call." Amos mentioned, as Jiminy stayed where he sang.

The Hunchback brushed his red hair harshly as he kept his gaze to the grass. That was until he felt a tap on his shoulder when the old wizard chose to sit with him.

"Oh we can handle those old hacks any day." Merlin stated, quite wildly in before looking to the Cricket on the box. "And there will be a day when the Kingdom will make its warning call, I'll tell you this right now. And you, sir Jiminy, have taken more than any of us could handle, by caring for one lass in her dire time of need. And she holds you dear as we hold you. So come, now… sing us into dreams once more, chap. Our gifts are what will gravitate the right people towards us. Jiminy, my good man… I feel that you are in the right place that would someday bring you back to your wife and child. While doing so, we will once again be blessed with Quasimodo's graceful voice in tune with yours."

For once, while often putting his own needs aside, Jiminy's dark eyes naturally welled up as did Quasimodo's. They happened to exchange caring looks at one another.

"And he shall be in tune with mine, sooner than we think…" Jiminy promised aloud, with the Seven soon humming his melody once again. "Oh we're just some side casted hoodlums, provided that we don't have to care… I may be wearing a teal colored topper with a sharp tongued binder at my side."

Amos gave a chortle and tipped his tricorn at his friend at that line as the mood began to light up again, as bright as the fire before them.

"Oh they think we can't get along, little starlits~" Jiminy sang to the more jazzy feel that began to spread through the evening like a blanket. "They think we can't even get on the train. Oh they think we can't get along, little starlits~ Mind as well not get along at all…"

Oh little Jim won't get along~

He will not get along at all!

The Dwarfs chorused, stronger this time.

"Oh do they think we're just lily livered starlits. They think we shutter when the cycles zoom by~ Oh they think we can't stand being around the Interstate 210, all because we're allergic to smog~" Jiminy jabbed that was enough to have the friends all mutter and giggle. "Oh we can't get along, little starlits~ Oh we can't even get a road that's short — Oh if we can't get along, little starlits… Ya know it might break their hearts~" Jiminy took a good slip of sarcasm there and pouted out a sad lower lip. Pinocchio smiled and covered his laugh, gladly that there was more merriment.

The six singing Dwarfs all laughed out and gave another belting chorus~

Oh he can't get along, little starlits!

He can't even get used to smog~

Oh he can't get along, little starlits!

Oh he cannot get along at all~!

This time, coming with Jiminy, the entire party joined in for one final verse, with the Cricket in the lead. All stood and they were so powerful that even the downtown neighbors may have heard.

"Oh give me a song as we pull along!"

Hmmm~Mmm

"Give us the feel of the wind as we sing our song~"

Hmmm~

"Just a melody of our own when we are lonely… Oh! So lonely!"

Oh~ give us the feel of the winds as we pull along~!"