Halloween!

[theguidebook]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
What: Costumes, parties, and evil pumpkins
Where: Idol Springs
When: Halloween (October 31)
Warnings: Beware of giant evil pumpkins.

During the day, the gift fairies are busy flitting about, delivering a box to each Outsider! In each box is a costume, presumably to be worn to the Halloween party advertised on posters in every world. Costumes aren't required...but why wouldn't you wear a costume to a Halloween party?

The party itself is fairly humble, as the natives have had to contend with errant pumpkin vines and mischievous ghosts all month. There's a table of actual food, many pumpkin or squash based recipes, and a table for desserts with all manner of pies and pastries, as well as overflowing bowls of candy. There are streamers and simple decorations, and some games such as bobbing for apples... A small hay maze has been set up to one side. A few musicians are playing music - square dance calls included. It's nothing fancy, but it's certainly intended to be a fun break from all the recent strangeness. They'll even be keeping the ghosts out for the duration of the evening!

Until midnight, that is. Then the party will have an unexpected guest...

Comments

[allthepuppets]

[Seito wasn't in much better shape, though at least he wasn't burned up like Minato. He struggled to stay conscious, wrapping an arm around Minako as he shuffled up a bit, half leaning on her, half supporting his own weight as best he could. He tried to reach out, trying to control Magatsu Izanagi, but the Persona would have none of it; it had done it's good deed for the night.]

[The Persona focused its chaotic wrath on the pumpkin, tearing off a chuck of the gourd and flinging it toward the two of them, as if to remind them that they had no control over it. Problem was, Magatsu going off on its own was even more taxing on Seito, and the Persona was starting to fade as he fought to remain conscious.]

[wildcardpotential]

[Minako is recovered from being knocked down earlier, but she's still smarting and slightly singed. She does her best to support Seito, but with the way he's fading it might be better to just let him slouch.

Leaving Minato, Jack Frost stops the onrush of pumkpin with a sonic fist, and bufulas the fucker again.]

Seito... sit... you're heavy. Have to help Minato.

[onelastpromise]

[How is that thing still going? Minato forces himself to his feet now, Evoker already to his head. Minako doesn't look very injured, and Seito's pain doesn't seem to be anything a Salvation could help... He switches to Thanatos now, intending to just use Megidola until they get pumpkin pie.]

I'm okay. This thing has to be almost done. [That should be a familiar Persona he's using, Minako!]

[allthepuppets]

[Seito forced himself to move off of Minako, but he was pretty much out.]

S-sorry...

[Trying to stay conscious was a wasted effort, and Magatsu Izanagi, ripping its hands through the pumpkin's side, vanished as Seito finally gave in and passed out.]

[wildcardpotential]

[She sighs with relief as Seito's deadweight slips off of her, letting him slump on the floor while she straightens to face the foe.]

Damn, why isn't that thing dead yet?!

[But she can't deny that Minato has more power than she does... from the future an all that and holy god is that the persona she summoned back at that first full moon? How did he get that one back? In any case, that's gotta finish it off, right? If it doesn't she has another Bufula where that came from.]

[onelastpromise]

[That Bufula does the trick, and the pumpkin is down for the count. The fire goes out, the red light fades, the puddles of blood vanish...the Witching Hour is gone. The ghosts disperse into dust on the breeze.

Minato lets Thanatos fade and, sighing, sinks to a seat on the ground. The party is trashed....not that anyone should be in much mood for continuing after that.]

Finally.

going again cause seitos out cold

[wildcardpotential]

[Minako's sentiments exactly. She heaves a sigh of relief as the thing finally collapses, slumping a little and rubbing at her face with a hand. Time to handle doofus #2 here.

She sits down on the floor with Minato, wrapping an arm around him and giving him a good examination. And maybe a Diarama. And some fussing.]

How're you doing?

[onelastpromise]

[He's covered in burns of various severity, and some points where his skin is broken thanks to the thorns on that vine. The Diarama helps a bit, his dragonfly reappearing in a pale, ghostly blue shade.]

I've been plenty worse. You?

[wildcardpotential]

[She'll still push some hair out of his face and Diarama again. Poor baby.]

Same. Right now I'm mostly really confused.

[On like so many levels. Start talking, bro.]

[onelastpromise]

[He'd use Salavation. He would. But his hands are still fairly badly burnt and he can barely move. The second Diarama helps again, but doesn't bump him to the next dragonfly color.]

About what? Give me a place to start.

[wildcardpotential]

[She can wrap him up a bit and let him rest. When he feels better they're going looking for a doctor or something. Hopefully a native would come back for the injured here, that would be convenient.

She shakes her head]

A lot of it isn't necessarily something you can explain. But... How about you start with what's up with you and Seito.

[allthepuppets]

[Speaking of... Seito groaned faintly, almost as if the use of his name had woken him up. He struggled to push himself back up, but he felt entirely boneless and completely useless, and so much more tired than what it felt like after cramming for exams.]

M-Minako...?

[wildcardpotential]

[Well, maybe she won't get her answers now after all. Both the boys are now awake and in very bad shape. She can't rise summoning a persona again, with Seito conscious. She gives Minato's shoulder a squeeze.]

You ok? I'll be right back.

[Time to go check on Seito. He's not as badly hurt as Minato, but his mind went through so much more. She's not even thinking of the possible consequences of that kiss, she's just worried about these boys.]

Hey there. Surprised you're awake.

[onelastpromise]

Ah, h-he- [But he cuts off as he hears his enemy's voice. Shit. He can't say a lot with Seito awake, the other boy would just twist it.

His dragonfly flops onto his chest, almost deflating with exhaustion. Discontent, Minato strokes it lightly.]

[allthepuppets]

[Minako may not have been thinking about that kiss, but Seito sure was. He stared at her, not even sure how to respond, the past few minutes running by on repeat in his mind. For a moment, his mouth worked, trying to find some way to respond to her, but he fell short, and his thinking was interrupted anyway by his head pounding. He flinched, pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead.]

...my head...

[wildcardpotential]

[Her eyebrows are knit together hard. In just the few moments he's been awake, Seito's starting to look worse. What's she going to do with two injured boys and unable to summon a persona?

She's afraid to touch him and make it worse.]

Yeah I bet. That was intense. You need anything?

[allthepuppets]

I-I don't know. I've never...

[He never tried to control his Persona before, and frankly that just made his head feel worse. It was like Magatsu Izanagi was just using him as an anchor to the real world, and it retaliated when he tried to order it around. Seito tried to stand, tried to assure her he was all right, but he just ended up tumbling back to his knees instead.]

[He let out a groan, rolling over onto his back. No good; there was no way he was going to be able to move on his own. He was stuck, and Minato was there. Anything he may have wanted to do was shot to hell already. Seito planted a hand over his face, shaking his head.]

...s-see to him, he has physical wounds. I'll... maybe I'll recover with some rest.

[wildcardpotential]

[She nods in understanding. She knows he usually can't control his persona, so it stands to reason that forcing it to obey this time took a toll on him. She touched his arm gently.]

Rest, I'll get some water.

[Back to Minato. Poor baby. She starts fussing over the worst of his burns, running to the ice near the punch bowl and scrambling for something to wrap them in.]

Do you know a healer I can get for you?

[onelastpromise]

[He doesn't make a sound but does wince a bit as his wounds are treated with what's available.]

I can heal myself, just...don't think I can pull the trigger myself. And not around him. [He knows Seito will probably lose control of Magatsu again if one of the Arisatos summons, especially if Minato does. He can't have that happen now.]

[allthepuppets]

[Seito heard him, and managed to raise a hand, waving him off as he rolled over so his back was to them. He was so mentally drained, that he doubted Magatsu Izanagi could react, but even if it could, maybe if he couldn't see it... well, only one way to find out, right?]

[...temporary truce, Minato. Enjoy it.]

[wildcardpotential]

[She sees the gesture and the roll out of the corner of her eye.]

He says it'll be okay. I think he's too tired to summon even if his persona wanted out.

[So. Minato knows about Seito's persona issues, so that may start to explain things a little bit... Either way, she gets Minato's evoker and holds it tenderly. It feels wrong somehow, to be holding someone else's evoker, even if it is her counterpart.]

You sure you'll be okay?

[onelastpromise]

Yeah, I can handle it.

[He has enough spiritual strength to fire off a Salvation. He'll repay the short truce with Seito in kind - he'll heal all three of them. Just needs to summon....Messiah, that's the first to come to mind. Just as good as anything else that can cast Salvation. Too tired to think of the others, anyway.]

[allthepuppets]

[Seito let out a faint sound as he was healed; it helped, sure, but it also gave his Persona the opportunity to rage in his head. He curled up on himself squeezing his eyes shut and clutching at the sides of his head, refusing to let himself even acknowledge Minato was there until it was all over.]

[wildcardpotential]

Okay.

[She trusts you. Tenderly, she moves the evoker to his head and pulls the trigger, wincing far more than she ever has when doing it herself.

But the relief is almost immediate. Even if she didn't feel the hurt anywhere close to the boys, it still felt amazing to be back to full. And it was just as much a relief to know both of them are healing up, too. Despite the tension.

She turns to check on Seito, frowning gently.]

[onelastpromise]

[His burns heal quickly, as do his other injuries. He's exhausted, but he'll be okay. He pushes himself to his feet, just wobbling a little bit.]

Minako-chan... If you need help getting home, I'll walk you. We don't know if it's all over yet. [He'd offer the same to Seito, but he's sure neither of them want prolonged company. Magatsu Izanagi won't stay down forever.]