The Equinox came, and preparations began inside the Autumn Commons, the Archives are once more blocked off with a table, only this time, it's not heavy with books, but snacks and cider, merrily glowing string lights illuminate the area, as a few decorations are present to liven up the atmosphere.
Moving from the Hollow to the backyard of Edna's, the garden has been blanketed in an appropriate harvest theme. A low fire burns, surrounded by a circle of chairs, all of which sits under a wooden pergola, which is decorated in the same string lights that light up the Autumn Commons, woven betwixt crisp, Autumn leaves.
Off to a side there is a table, filled with more ciders, and other drinks. Harvest themed deserts, and a few plates of assorted dinner foods, some cooked, their fragrant aroma wafting up, while others were already placed on spits, awaiting their time to be roasted.
Up the path and towards the door leading to the Boarding House itself Dread starts to creep up your spine, the transition is swift, sudden and surprising.
The inviting rooms, and well lit places, have been covered in cobwebs, spiders crawling upon them. The drapes drawn tight, as a wash of echoing moans, and other unpleasant sounds drift from room to room.
Resting upon the table of Betony Rue were half charred corpses, teeth rotting cakes, and other spoiled deserts.
'Thank goodness for Halloween pop up stores!' Mhairi thinks, placing more fake cobwebs on the archway, a plastic spider ready in her other hand. The Halloween playlist she'd spent hours on already playing. Betony Rue's table-that-was-for-eating-at-and-also-surgery had a variety of foodstuffs sat upon it, already cooked and backed to perfection. And totally on top of a table cloth (even if they're already in dishes and trays. Because icky!).
The elemental thought the first thing she'd do as manager of Edna's was to get a new table for the kitchen, but as she thought about it, Betony Rue's table deserved something of a send off, and this being Mhairi's first Autumn Coronation, and the first since the former Dread Queen left...well using it now just plain made sense!
Turning to survey her work, Mhairi had to nod. Now to get herself ready for the coronation!
Scurrying back to her room, the same small one she's been in for months, and moths now, even if she could have stolen one of the bigger ones for herself. The familiar lines, and the definite knowledge that there was zero ghosts residing in it made the wisp decide to keep this as her room. Slipping inside and flinging her wardrobe open, Mhairi had to settle on the absolute hardest part of today.
What to where...
One worried lip, two himms, and three haws later, Mhairi decided to dress up. It was her first Autumn Coronation! Who cared if she was going to be over dressed or not?
Returning to the haunted house she turned Edna's into Mhairi flicked on lint off her over-bust corset, before a drippy fingered hand smoothed out the black tulle skirt, that offered a few peaks to her favorite pair of heels. With a crooked grin upon her face she looked once more upon her hard work in action, before she remembered to wear the ring held in her hand instead of simply holding it.
Now, all she had to do was wait for people to show up!