kaisou | open | pumpkins scream in the dead of night 🎃

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open | pumpkins scream in the dead of night 🎃

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Persephone's Cottage (also known as, That Weird Farm Cult)
WHEN: Mid-October (before 10/15)
WHAT: Fun Halloween-themed activities put on by the Cottage crew to ring in the spooky season.
WARNINGS: None, excluding Kni's usual sour attitude.

[halloween is just around the corner, bringing with it a fine autumn chill and trees shedding their summer greens for warm oranges and reds. there's plenty to do in the city to celebrate the changing into a much more spookier season, but the festivities certainly don't end at the city limits!

the residents of persephone's cottage have, in the spirit of the season, put on their own fun activities for anyone visiting. it's a collaborative effort from everyone, but some are just a little more excited than others to be hosting fun autumnal activities for friends and not-yet-friends alike.

while the cottage is always decked out for halloween (thank you goodwill), at least now it's seasonally appropriate. pumpkins of various sizes and shades of orange sit everywhere as you come up to the property. closer to the cottage more and more of those pumpkins are carved with fun, fangy smiles and sinister eyes. there are so many of these carved pumpkins, in fact, that there is a table dedicated to them with a sign resting against one of the legs that just says 'FREE'.

inside the free jack o' lanterns is a surprise - could be candy, coins, or a fortune / misfortune cookie. if you're really lucky, some of the jack o'lanterns even have chicken eggs inside.

next to that table is another table, this one laid out with platters of apple and pumpkin baked goods, as well as shucked corn and other vegetables ready to be roasted over the bonfire nearby as the sun starts to set. there are also marshmallows and mugs of warm cider and hot cocoa ready to be enjoyed by the fire, and for those old enough to drink it, ask any of the adults for a cup of moonshine.

there are hand-painted signs sprinkled around the property pointing in the directions of all the activities one can find:

- the apple orchard, where various sizes of worn baskets and a random variety of reusable totes sit near the entrance for people to pick their own fruit. it isn't limited to just the apples, but any of the fruit trees they have growing despite most being way out of season.

- a corn maze with rumpled pumpkin-headed scarecrows littered throughout the corn, some of which are sporting familiar clothes that some of the cottage residents may recognize as their own, like a certain long, bullet-riddled red jacket...

- carve your own pumpkin station (where you can sit in silence alongside kni, if you choose to) and make your own funky faced jack o'lantern.

also in the spirit of halloween, almost all of the pokemon and even a few of the chickens are dressed in some kind of costume variations from orange and black and purple ribbons to little hats and bat wings and whatnot.

before anyone can leave, they will be offered (heavily encouraged) to take home a crate of various vegetables and fruits, on top of everything else they may have picked themselves.]

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[a very good number of the carved pumpkins sitting around the cottage and gardens can be traced back to kni, who is having a bit more fun than he'd readily admit. he's taken up a spot by the corn maze entrance with a few untouched pumpkins sitting around him waiting for their turn on the carving block. near his feet is a bowl for pumpkin guts that is already being pecked at by a very fluffy chicken wearing a purple ribbon.

anyone is free to join him, or at least ask for one of the handful of carefully laid out carving knives on the grass next to him. on occasion those walking into the corn maze may be rewarded with some words of warning from the teen plant - ("If you find any of the others who got lost, could you tell them to stop screaming?" or "Watch out for the scarecrows, we're not sure where they came from.") although it's hard to say if he's being serious or not.]

[Jon squints at the pumpkins as he walks up the path to the cottage, a black-clad figure with somewhat squeaky shoes coming towards Kni. He looks at the pumpkins, considering.

Then he sits down.]

D'you mind if I borrow one of your knives? I'm planning to decorate my brother's place.

[ After hearing about this from her giant beanstalk of a co-worker, Lapis decided this would be a fun thing to do with the little ones - they've never really celebrated Halloween before, despite the spooky holiday decorations that always cloak their house, so this would be a whole new experience! And while she is worried about October's... usual horrifying shenanigans, going to a place where there's other app users should be safe.

With a Cosmog dressed up in a little witches hat and a shiny Murkrow with a dapper vampire cape, they'll make their way over to the free jack o' lanterns first; the babies cheer happily when they find candy in theirs, and after nudging their guardian to take one too, Lapis finds a... particular fortune in hers; ]

"You will get a paper cut from something not even paper." Ah, that sounds about right...

[ Even with her +4 luck, she's still an Agapov.

Otherwise she'll be walking them through the corn maze after they dragged her over to it, trying not to laugh at how now they've taken to hiding under her skirts the moment they spot one of the scarecrows. ]

There there, you're not scared of the friend in our garden. [ Cue a series of protesting chirps and squeaks from underneath the white fabric. It's different when it's their garden with their scarecrow!!!! And the one at home is nice and not creepy!!!!!

It's hard to pat their heads when they're hiding under her dress like this, but she still crouches down enough to manage. ]

Come on. If you're really really brave, we can go pick some apples once we're out.

[ That gets them to peek their little faces out, the desire to gather apples and more outweighing their fears. They can be brave, the bravest, and then they can go home with a massive pile of treats for everyone!

... They might just need another minute or so to gather their courage. Then they will be the bravest! ]

End of the Maze
[Those who reach the end of the corn maze will find a small table with mini pumpkins and a "I Survived the Haunted Maze" posterboard sign. The table has many colored sharpies so they can sign their name underneath. There is also a nice stack of hay bales and one last scarecrow next to the corn wall, a nice place to sit for photos! There's a Eevee dressed in little batwings next to the hay bales, flopped onto the ground like she's lost her leggies.]

[Eve is waiting at the table to greet them. When someone leaves the maze, she looks up and claps.]

Congratulations! You made it out.

[She stands and holds up a camera with a light smile.] Would you like a picture?

Lost in the Corn
[Every so often, Eve will fly up to check on those still in the maze, looking like some goth angel. If someone is struggling, they are welcome to flag her down for hints or directions. She'll swoop down herself if she notices someone has been lost in the corn for too long, landing expertly on the path.]

Hello. Do you need help?

[Hopefully she didn't startle you.]

Jack-o-Lanterns - OTA
[Jun definitely wanted to come check out the cottage's halloween celebrations- it was his favorite holiday and it sounds like they had put a lot of work into it. So he'll be getting into the Halloween spirit and showing up in costume along with his partner. This year, he's going as a kitsune samurai (source), even using his carbuncle ears and tail to make the effect look real as possible. Even the sword is real! Because who at this cottage is going to stop him?

While checking out everything this place has to offer, he'll end up at the jack-o-lanterns. He's always been pretty fond of these things, so of course he's going to be drawn in. Inside his own happens to be a misfortune cookie, which he'll read outloud..]

"You’ll overthink a high five."... [Well, that makes him a little confused] ... What's there to think about with those?

CLOSED TO VARIAN: Corn Maze
[This felt like a good opportunity for a date night, so no surprise he'd be spending the evening at Varian's side. And also no surprise that they'd end up at what looks to be the biggest challenge of the event]

Ohhh, a corn maze! Have you done one of these before?

Edited 2025-10-12 16:18 (UTC)

[ Varian has come dressed as a vampire - sure, the ears and fangs are his werewolf ones, but no one said he couldn't be a mix! He can make his own silly Halloween rules! Besides, he's having a far better time enjoying the view of his partner and his chosen outfit. He's been enjoying spending the evening with Jun - though his ears perk at the mention of the corn maze. He glances towards it, shaking his head. ]

Uh no. Our corn was just... well, corn. y'know? For harvest. We never made a maze out of it. Why? You wanna give it a try?

Edited 2025-10-12 16:32 (UTC)

[That's right, Halloween was about making their own rules! And you better believe Jun loves the Vampire-werewolf combo, having told Varian so many times throughout the evening.

But right now? He's focused on the corn]

I mean, sure! It could be a good challenge- especially if you've never done a maze like this before.

Don't worry, I'm pretty skilled at this stuff, so you can just rely on me to get us through it in no time.

[He knows these are fighting words.]

[ Jun knows what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing. Varian had already perked up at the "challenge" comment - but what followed? Those were absolutely fighting words. One might think Varian would have learned Jun's games by now. Perhaps he does - it's been over three years of them by now, after all i but his pride will not allow this to lie regardless.

So he scoffs, starting to stride into the maze. ]

Please, I think I can handle a corn maze. I grew up on a farm. I'm pretty sure it'll be simple. I don't need to rely on you to get us through. I can get us in and out in no time. We'll probably set a record.

[Jun knows exactly what he's doing. A maze like this would be simple for Jun, but where's the fun in that? It's way more fun to prod his partner's competitive nature and watching it snowball from there. Not like he was in any rush]

Oh really? Even though you've never done one of these before? They're trickier than people think - so are you sure you won't need my help?

[ He deserves some fun in watching his partner get increasingly annoyed by a challenge he put himself into but refuses to admit defeat for. It can be a good time for him. ]

I'm sure, Babe. How hard can it be? It's just a maze. Mazes are just math. There's a limited number of ways this can go so it's just a case of narrowing it down, and I'll be finished before you know it. Why? Are you doubting me?

[He is absolutely gonna get lost in the maze.]

[Exactly. And it'd be good for varian to blow off some steam! Maybe. That argument is more debatable]

I'm not saying I'm doubting you! I'm just saying that mazes can be more difficult than people expect.

Buuut if you're so sure you can do it by yourself, then I'll let you lead the way! If you get stumped, you can just ask though, okay?

[Varian won't ask. Jun knows Varian won't ask]

[It might just! He won't feel that at the time of course, but that's what the joy of hindsight is for! ]

Jun, I'm a genius, I think I can handle a little maze. It's not like it has any traps in it or anything. It's just corn.

[ He keeps saying that but oh boy is he going to learn that "just corn" can be tricky. But this is a humility he will have to learn himself. He offers a hand to his partner, grinning with very unearned confidence. ]

Sure thing, Liebling, but I know I've got this in the bag. C'mon, I'll get us through this easier than you could ever guess. In fact, I am so confident I can do this that I'll say if I get us through the maze in less than forty minutes, I'll do the dishes for the rest of the month.

[Ah, look at little Icarus here, proudly displaying his wings. Will Jun do anything to stop this? No, not at all. ]

Haha, alright alright! I'll let you handle this.

[He'll take that offered hand, ready for Varian to pull him along. When Varian pipes up THAT belief of confidence, he grins]

Oh really? Well that'd definitely help me... so we're on! [He's pulling out his phone to put a timer of 40 minutes on before pocketing it] 40 minutes on the clock! Good luck!

[He is so proud of this, and this pride is proceeding such a fall. But he brought this upon himself. He could not have risen to Jun's baiting, he could have just let his partner take the lead on this. But no. He has to prove he can WIN at... mazes, so here they are.

He grins, giving Jun's hand a little squeeze as he marches into the maze. ]

Don't be that confident, I'm so gonna beat it by then. You will not be free of the dishes this month. [Yes, he will be. He leads Jun along until they come to a junction in the maze, then he turns to gin at his partner. ]

So all we need to do is use Trémaux’s algorithm, and we will get through this in no time! Every time we get to a new junction, we take the one we haven't tried before- this is out first one, so I'm gonna go right!

[He could've done so many things to avoid this fate. But he is Varian, so he didn't.

So Jun will just choose to enjoy the ride. He'll enjoy the feeling of Varian's warm hand as he's tugged along into the maze. He knows immediately right is not the right way- his senses are pinging him that there's too much corn energy in that direction. But he won't stop him]

Ohhh, I see. I didn't realize there was an algorithm for this!

[it's the approaching squeakiness that has kni slowly raising an eyebrow at jon. he looks up from the affronting shoes to jon properly, brow still arched in a question he doesn't feel like voicing right now.]

So long as you don't leave the gardens with it.

[he motions over the arrayed knives with a hand, giving jon the go-ahead to pick his poison, so-to-speak.

kni looks back to his own work in progress when he speaks again,]

Do you get lost easily?

[He just strode right into this nonsense by his own free will because he cannot turn down a challenge - especially when it's one laid down by his beloved.

Jun's hand in his own is nice, and he casually interlocks their fingers - he's not strolling, and is definitely moving at a determined pace, but he's not running yet either. He's pretty certain he can get it done long before the forty minutes are up. He grins, nodding, pleased in his completely incorrect decision. ]

There is! Like I've told you before, everything is math! You just can't beat math!

[Off they go, to the right - deeper into the maze and very much the wrong way. When they get to a new turn, Varian goes right again. ]

It's a good idea to keep one wall to the right of you, too - I heard that helps! We'll be out of this in no-

[ Oh. It's - it's sure a dead end. Varian blinks at it for a moment, clearly having not expected this. But he's not about to be beaten, oh no. Not at all. So, smile still on his face, he shrugs his shoulders. ]

Oh. Well, that's- that's not a big deal! It's okay! Trémaux’s algorithm says if we find a wrong path, we just go and pick the next path we didn't before, just a little blip is all!

[He's turning them back, the way they came. ]

Mmhmm~

[He'll nod, moving along with Varian as the descent into madness slowly begins. For now, Varian is trying to keep to good cheer. He wonders how long that'll last.]

Right, not a big deal! So we just go back and go take the left path. [a pause] Hey, what do you do when there's three ways?

[He says, looking ahead at how the path back either veers left or straight ahead]

[It will definitely not last long at all. ]

Yeah, exactly! It's fine if we have to go left, it's- [the complete opposite of what he said ] it's just a blip.

[If he says it enough times, it might become true!!! He glances ahead of them, at what Jun is referencing, and his pace stutters. Just a moment, before he's confidently still walking ahead. ]

Oh! Well, that's not a problem! We'll try one way, and if that doesn't work, we'll just backtrack and try another one!

[ He doesn't say how he's going to remember which one he took - because he hasn't thought that far ahead. ]

Hmmm... that sounds reasonable enough to me.

[He's not going to point out how identical corn looks to each other, that you really need a way to mark where you've been if you're in places like this.

No no, Varian needs to learn this himself]

[Had Varian been thinking (or, let's be real, if he rolled more than a 2 on wis most of the time) he would think to mark the corn. So he could remember which route they've taken. But no. Varian is too busy trying to prove himself right to his fiancee and so he's going to keep striding forward confidently into the corn.

When they hit yet another dead end, Varian's laugh is a little more strained. ]

No problem! We just go back, I've GOT this.

[ He leads Jun all the way back, gets to the fork and... stops. From the way he's glancing at each of the pathways, it's clear he's forgotten which route they came from. ]

Nooooooooooooo problem. Ha ha. [ That does not sound like a real laugh. ] I've just - got to think for a sec.

[Oh he knows that laugh. He can pick up the strain of it, Varian's slowly losing his cool.

He looks so amused as Varian clearly has no idea which way they came from. Jun knows the way. Not that he'll reveal it]

Take your time! I got alllll night.

[ Varian's definitely losing his cool. He's trying to make it seem like he's the coolest person ever right now, but he categorically is not.

Varian catches the look, his eyes narrowing for a moment, before he breathes air sharply through his buck teeth, letting out a sharp whistling sound. ]

No! We've got forty minutes, which is how long it will take me to solve this- this stupid maze. It's not gonna take all night.

[ He's going to pick a direction. It's a direction they've already gone in. ]

It's this way.

[That look isn't going away. In fact he's taking out his phone to check the timer]

Actually, it's 34 minutes now.

[He'll pocket his phone again, knowing that's all he needs to do to further psych Varian out.

And yep. That's definitely the same as earlier]

You sure, Var?

[THAT makes Varian stop dead in his tracks. ]

What? What do you MEAN it's 34 minutes now??? How has it been 6 minutes already?

[ No? This is bullshit!! He starts walking again, the chipper little skip in his step is gone, he's starting to mutter in German under his breath. ]

Dumme Zeit. Dummes Mais. Wer baut denn überhaupt ein Labyrinth aus Mais? - YES, I'M SURE! It's definitely this way!

[They come to a dead end. It's the same dead end as before. Varian stares at it like it insulted all his ancestors. ]

What? NO! The algorithm says this shouldn't be here!

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open | pumpkins scream in the dead of night 🎃

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THE CORN

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