Pumpkins and Mazes!

[Seraphina]

Watching the Beast fidget, Sera giggles.

At the praise of it being cute, the Nix claps, “Yah! Now we need to get you an awesome cape! And you can save the city!” she says with a laugh.

“Wow, that’s a good amount! But I’m still going to buy some more because one can never have too many pillows.” A sage nod. “Then I’ll be there to pick you up!” and that was settled. At the bark, she laughed again and scratched behind his ears.

Sera takes a seat as instructed. But unlike the monkey, she sits perfectly still. Years of having her makeup and hair done had trained her for this. Though her stomach was a ball of excitement, eager to see what was being painted on her face.

When she was done and got a chance to see, she squealed in delight, a huge smile on her face. “It’s adorable! I love it!” she gushes, turning her face different directions in the mirror. Hoping out of the chair, she pulls out her cell, “We need a selfie!” she says, but won’t push one if Sonnie wasn’t ok with it. If she wasn’t, Sera would still take a selfie, of herself, and send it to Rhodes.

Giggling, “Then a surprise it will be! We’ll just make sure we have lots of treats to make up for it.” Just in case. “Good thinking! And I have some of those cookies from the coffee shop that she seemed to like, I’ll make sure to bring them to the house. And maybe some of the rose tea.” Titania did seem to enjoy it.

“If we become masters and make the city tremble in fear, do we need new names? Like super hero names?” of course she knew it would probably be evil names, but she preferred to think of it as heros, just misunderstood ones. “But that laugh is epic!” she compliments.

"Think we're ready for the maze?"

[Sonnie Wu]

"Pick a date, and my pillow cargo shall be ready for transport!" Sonnie nodded firmly, excited for the idea of a horror movie night with friends and pillow forts.

The Beast marveled at Seraphina's discipline. It wasn't that Sonnie couldn't hold still. She could, if she were hiding from predators (something she'd done before). She just generally didn't bother, preferring to let her endless energy to flow out.

"Hooray!" She threw up her hands in celebration, glad the Nix liked her paint choice. "I'm totally down for selfies! Let's do it!" Sonnie happily posed in a cute fashion for the pic with Sera, having no problem at all with social media.

"Cool, I'll bring some treats, too. This is gonna be great!" She truly looked forward to Titania's first experiences with scary movies.

Next on the agenda was more food, and her eyes and nose had detected a booth selling hot cornbread! With fresh butter! The Courser took the Fairest's hand and pulled her and Fugly towards the delicious smells (though the dog needed little motivation).

"Cornbread first, then maze. It's almost dark enough!" she nodded as they got in the short line. Indeed, the sun was on the horizon by now. "Well, I'd be Monkey Girl. Defender of truth and justice and bananas." Obviously.

[Seraphina]

“We’ll have to check with Titania first, then go from there. But hopefully it’s soon!” this was going to be fun!

Sera posed as well, a huge smile on her face, having a great time with Sonnie. Glad to mark the occasion with the picture. And sends it to Rhodes .

Laughing, the Treasured lets the Beast pull her, the smell making her mouth water. “Oh! Cornbread!” it smelled heavenly! “Lots of butter too!” she eagerly orders the cornbread and a hot apple cider to go with it. It wasn’t cold, but something about hot apple cider was comforting. She of courses offers one to Sonnie.

Cornbread and cider in hand, she finds a hay bale to sit on, cause she wasn’t about to try walking, eating and drinking something hot. She was good, but not that good. Carefully blowing on the cider, “Yeah, the darker it is outside I think the scarier the maze will be.” The dark wasn’t something she liked. But, this wouldn’t be that bad. "Are you good at mazes? Cause I don't think I am." she says with a laugh.

“Monkey Girl huh?” she nods, “I can see that. And Fugley could be your faithful companion! Distracting criminals with his adorable face.” She thought his face was adorable anyways. “So would you wear a cape and disguise? If so, what colors?” serious question.

[Sonnie Wu]

Hot apple cider? Score! That and the cornbread fresh from the oven was a great treat! Sonnie also got Fugly his own cornbread, which she set on the ground for him once she and Sera sat down on the hay bale. The dog scarfed the baked good down hungrily, and the Beast was only somewhat less messy when eating, crumbs and melted butter dribbling down her chin. "Yum! This has been an awesome day so far!" she said once her mouth wasn't full.

Her eyes looked towards the corn maze, and she shrugged. "I'm not sure. Never really been in a maze before. I guess we'll find out?" She chuckled, "Maybe Fugly can lead us around by his nose!"

"Yeah! Monkey Girl and Dog Boy! We'll keep the streets of Sacramento safe!" She grinned, "Hm, no capes for me. Maybe Fugs can wear one."

The adorably ugly dog merely farted in response.

"Oh, the cornbread might give him gas," she mused, though it was too late to do anything about that now. Sonnie laughed and drank some of her cider.

[Seraphina]

Sera eagerly ate her cornbread, enjoying the flavor. “I wonder how hard this stuff is to make?” she wonders out-loud. Then giggles at Sonnie, handing her a napkin. “It has! Wish they had things like this year-round.” It was the perfect way to spend the day. “Seems Fugly agrees about the bread being delicious!” but she had to wonder if everything was delicious to him.

“Well, I have faith in us.” How hard could it be? “Oh! I bet he could! Especially if you promise him a yummy treat if he leads us out!” cause who isn’t motivated by food?

“Aww! I bet he’d be cute with a little cape! And get all the girls.” A solemn nod. “Capes just not your thing? I’ve always wondered why superheroes wear them if they don’t really do anything. But if you wanted one, I bet I could make you a pretty badass one.” Hedgespinning for the win!

Sera had to laugh with Sonnie, “No more cornbread for him!” she says between laughs, “Unless he is successful in leading us out of the maze and defending us!” she declares with a smile. “So have you ever done like one of those haunted houses they have for Halloween?” she asks, sipping the cider, “Cause I have to be honest, I haven’t. So not sure how well this is going to go.” She confesses.

[Sonnie Wu]

"Didn't you ever see The Incredibles? No capes! Besides, it'd just get tangled when I'm climbing stuff. Fugly, however, could definitely pull off a short one! Couldn't you, my handsome boy?" She reached down and lovingly smushed his face between her hands, and Fugly's reaction was to lick at her fingers, trying to get a taste of more butter.

Laughing, Sonnie sat up straight and cleaned her face and hands with a napkin the cornbread vendor provided. "Girls? My little man is growing up so fast!" She made a mock sad face, like a weepy mother.

"Oh yeah, those haunted houses are fun!" She nodded as she stood up. Leash in one hand, she sipped some cider with the other as she looked towards the darkening sky.

"Looks like it's time! You ready, Sera?" Grinning, the Beast nodded towards the cornstalk maze.

[Seraphina]

A shake of her head, “It sounds familiar, but I don’t think I actually got to watch it. Should I? Do you recommend it?” she asks, cause Sonnie seemed to be the go-to for great movies. “Ah, yes, good point! I didn’t even think of that! Seems a cape is only good for pulling a look together, but totally useless if used.” Then looking at the dog, “He defiantly could! And I think he needs one.” A nod. Yup.

Giggling, “He is! Where do the years go?” she asks, placing an arm around Sonnie. “But you’ve prepared him well.” She consoles with a laugh. “And if he shows up with an annoying one, just give me a call.” She says with a smirk and wink.

Standing as well, “They are?” she asks, “Never had a chance to go in one.” Maybe she’d find one and check it out.

“As ready as I can be.” She says with a laugh, “But you have to promise not to laugh too much if I scream.” She jokes, looking at the maze as she begins to walk towards it. Stopping at the entrance, “Looks like they provide just enough light not to hurt ourselves, but keep it dark enough to be scary.” She observes as surprised screams could already be heard from somewhere within the maze. This would actually be perfect for Autumn she thinks. Seeming to work up her courage, she looks to Sonnie, "Lets do it!" and walks in.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie smiled and nodded, "It's funny and super cute! It's made by the same people as Toy Story! It just had a sequel last year!" She watched way too many movies, which was surprising, given how active she was. She also agreed about Fugly wearing a cape, "Oh, yes! He's got the style to pull it off!"

The Beast leaned against the Fairest, dabbing at pretend tears in her eyes with her napkin. "I tried my best. Being a single mother is hard! Thank you!" Then her eyes narrowed dangerously, "No bitch will ever be good enough for my son."

She cleared her throat, "Besides, he's neutered."

Fugly made a grumpy sound.

As Sera stood up, Sonnie grinned, "Don't worry. I'll probably be too busy screaming myself to hear you!"

The Courser paid the entry fee for both herself and the Unicorn at her side. The dog, being so adorable, got in for free.

"Tally ho!" She marched into the maze with Seraphina...

...and within two minutes they were lost.

"Um, did we take a wrong turn somewhere? Which way is Albuquerque?" She chewed on her bottom lip, looking back the way they came as they walked into a dead end.

"Fugly!" she said to her dog in a mock-accusing tone, "How could you let this happen? You were supposed to guide us! This is revenge for the neutering, isn't it?"

The canine merely panted and wagged his corkscrew tail.

[Rhodes]

Sera receives a text back from Rhodes.

Looks like you're having a lot of fun. I'll be at work when you get in, but I'll bring dinner. I love you x

[Seraphina]

The smile was returned, “Well, that sells it for me! I’ll have to find it now.” Not that she minded, she loved movies. “The only question is, what color?” color could make all the difference.

Feeling her phone buzz, she takes it out, gets a cutesy grin and puts it back in her pocket.

“You did a wonderful job! No one could have asked for a better mother.” A solemn nod. Shaking her head, “No, no woman will ever be half the woman you are.” Sonnie was the best.

The Nix then snorted and laughed, “Well, that does put a damper on things for him then. Sorry bud.”

Seemed the dog knew and she just laughed some more.

“Then I think the people working in the maze are in for a treat with us!”

Entering the maze with Sonnie, she realized they might be out of their element here. And that was reinforced by them quickly being lost.

Laughing, and a bit nervous, she looked around, “Huh.” She slowly spins in a circle, “This can’t be a good start.” She was a bit amused. But not much.

“Maybe he needs motivation.” She says, looking at the dog, “Like maybe we tell him that there will be a yummy treat for him if he leads us out.” A nod, that could work! And just as she was about to say something else, she heard footsteps, and grabs Sonnies arm, and whispering “Uh, which way was that coming from?” her eyes quickly scanning the area, her body tense. "Cause we need to head the opposite direction." still whispering.