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]

[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.]

[allthepuppets]

[Seito ignored him, struggling to get back up to his feet. His head was pounding so much he actually wanted to cry, and part of him wanted to reach into his soul and strangle his Persona for putting him through so much misery. There had to be some way he could control the damn thing, he just needed to find it.]

[wildcardpotential]

[The fight with the pumpkin may be over, but somehow she preferred that to having to navigate the waters of this interaction. There is information here she doesn't have, that much is obvious. What does she do?

Both of them are standing, but she stays kneeling on the floor for a moment or two longer, looking at them both. They both need her, and neither of them are telling her as much.

But she was tired, and had a lot to think about. Perhaps some time alone to try and clear her head was best.]

Okay, if you're up for it... You both need to rest...

[To Seito] Will you be alright or do you need me to stay?

[allthepuppets]

[He should be making sure she stays in his sight; who knew what Minato would tell her when his back was turned, but he... couldn't quite manage to say as much. He hesitated, before he finally turned away from her.]

...do what you feel comfortable with. We'll both eventually be fine ether way.

[wildcardpotential]

[She bites her lip, considering. She doesn't even know what she wants at this point, but Seito seems dismissive, and Minato would probably feel better knowing she was safe with him. That made the decision for her.]

I think I want to go home. Please, be safe.

[She turns expectantly to Minato.]

[onelastpromise]

Alright. You'll have to lead the way, I don't know where you're living.

[He holsters his Evoker, shedding what he can of his costume's wings. Best make it as easy to move as possible. They're ruined, anyway. He's no longer injured, but the signs of his exhaustion are clear. He wasn't doing well before the fight... Still, he can walk his other self home, even support some of her weight if she seems to need it. He'll be fine.]

[allthepuppets]

[Seito paused; he wanted to say something, do something, but he couldn't do it. Instead, he gave a solemn nod, and started shuffling off to his own home.]