TDM #12 - Give 'em Pumpkin to Talk About [FIRST EDITION]

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette: Fall Issue 2025

We ask that all toplevels include the age of the character (or at least a rough estimate) for TDM posts, to ensure that players both old and new can quickly make informed decisions about how to interact with a given character. We also ask that if someone lists a prompt as having an age preference, that it be respected. This is specifically for TDMs unless otherwise stated. Thank you!

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette

9/18/25 | TDM #12 - Give 'em Pumpkin to Talk About [First Edition]
Fall Pokémon Types - Ghost, Dark, Flying, Electric, Poison

WELCOME TO PUMPKIN HOLLOW

By Yorick Aberdeen

The crop for which the town is named.

Ahh, Autumn! The time of year when Pumpkin Hollow is at its most vibrant and beautiful. If this is your first day on Marrow Isle, then you’ve arrived at the perfect time!

Due to some unexpected weather difficulties, our harvest this year will be somewhat leaner than other years, but not to worry! Our local earth mages, druids, and garden witches have it under control! Now that the skies are under Mother Celestine’s jurisdiction once more, there will be plenty of food to enjoy over PumpkinFest--- which will run in Downtown Hollow for the entire season this year! Please grab yourself a festival schedule from Town Hall, the Oak & Iron, or the newsstand outside Pinhole Printing and Binding for more information about this season’s most treasured festivities celebrating the export which gave this town its name.

We invite you, as with all those who came before you, to enjoy your stay at the Oak & Iron tavern inn while you settle in. (Or the Autumn Leaves Dormitory House, for the newly arrived youngsters.) Please stop by Town Hall to discuss opportunities for work and more permanent housing! All newcomers get 100 Brass in their pocket upon arrival as well, so we encourage you to take advantage of this as well. Reach out to your neighbors for help if you need it, and don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette whenever you need the local news!

A final side note before we get into seasonal updates --- the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette wishes to proudly welcome Mettaton to our writing staff! We hope that you enjoy his first contributions to our paper. Additionally, we wish to congratulate Melanie King and Phil Connors for their Outstanding Press Award, presented to them by Town Hall after the weather disaster that occurred in August. They deserve it! The remaining two writers, Yorick Aberdeen and Timothy Stoker, could not be more proud of our incredible colleagues.

Now, on to the news! Happy Fall, Pumpkin Hollow!

AUTUMN WEATHER REPORT

By Phil Connors

The views around Leeds Estate are gorgeous this time of year!

It's time for a change, folks, and you'll be happy to know that this one's a lot more gradual than last month! Summer's on her way out and it's Autumn's turn to move in. Start putting out your jackets and add a layer to your blankets. Early in the season we'll start seeing a rise in brisk, windy days, and more frequent light rains, but a lot less thunderstorms. As the season goes on the temperatures will keep dropping and we'll even start to see some morning mist, and even later, morning frost. It's a beautiful sight; just don't use it to decorate your cakes.

Not everyone is going to be all prepped for the weather, however. Clean-up from the last month's mayhem is still ongoing, and there's plenty to do. The farms need help cleaning up their fields and tending their animals, deliveries need to be made, and just about everyone needs repairs to their house and a brand new wardrobe. Check in at Town Hall--or just on your neighbors--for some guidance on where to get started.

A NAME SO NICE, YOU SAY IT THRICE (ACTUALLY, PLEASE DON'T)

By Timothy Stoker

As part of a recent string of incidents involving what appear to be beloved seasonal intellectual properties in some worlds, we’ve got some unexpected visitors out in Fall’s Promise Cemetery! A number of remarkably-tangible interdimensional dead (well, deader than us, anyway) have set up a wonderfully weird oddities fair on the cemetery grounds, where they appear to be trapped. The fair includes unusual scientific specimens, darkly unique art pieces, allegedly cursed objects, fortune telling, and chilling performances by talented spectral visitors. It serves as a properly spooky complement to the activities of Pumpkinfest.

However, fair-goers should be warned that there is a scam artist among the crowd. Reports of an individual persuading live residents to speak his name three times in a row have been flooding the constabulary, indicating that this unusual incantation allows this particular ghost to escape the cemetery. From there, he will drag his generous benefactor and potentially several other people along for his nonsense, which allegedly may include (but is not limited to) petty crime, destructive party behavior, wingmanning for unwelcome flirting, and somewhat sub-par stand-up comedy routines. The perpetrator, who constables have dubbed “BJ” so as not to accidentally unleash him by saying his full name, should be avoided at all costs. Unless the above sounds like a fun way to spend a Friday night. The Pumpkin Hollow Gazette would never deliberately encourage unhealthy or illegal behavior, but we are also not your mother. Who are we to tell you how to live your life?

All that said, though, the Pumpkin Hollow Board of Safety and the Department of Supernatural Affairs both have a great deal of concern regarding what this outbreak of fourth-wall-breaking dimension-hoppers could mean. “BJ” is not the only such example we’ve seen around--- offworld residents originating from more modern time periods have recognized at least a half-dozen iconic characters from Halloween classics just traipsing around the island. Port Authority has stated they have no record of any of these individuals arriving by ferry--- so where are they coming from? It seems only time will tell. We can only hope that this situation will not continue to escalate. But it probably will, knowing this place.

INEXPLICABLE HAUNTED HOUSE COMMITS PETTY CRIME

By Melanie King

Signs have already been placed on the lawn to dissuade entry.

If you've seen a new house on your street that wasn't there the last time you looked, don't worry, you're not going crazy—at least, not for that reason. All across town, from Downtown to Northwest Hollow and even as far as the Bluffs, a mysterious, rickety old house has been appearing in places it has no right to be and stealing objects it has no right to steal. Any stray belonging that crosses its boundary line is forfeit. Hats, balls, kites, stray shoes—if you can drop it, it'll be gone the second you so much as blink, leaving no trace except the slam of the shutting door.

Attempting to retrieve these items is not advised. Reports suggest that the house itself is alive and dangerous, its very structure and fittings possessed by some sort of spirit or energy that animates the building, attempting to trap and kill those who dare to step onto its porch. So maybe consider whether getting back that hat is really worth the risk—and, well, if you decide you really can't live without it, who am I to stop you? Just do us a favour and report back what you see on the inside if you chance it.

WARNING TO PROSPECTIVE FORESTERS: DON'T LOOK UP!

By Yorick Aberdeen

Best not.

As the leaves change colors in our own Lockwood Forest, many of our townsfolk may be inclined to take a trek into the woods for a myriad of reasons: mushroom-hunting, fruit-picking, or even just lovely strolls through the freshly-fallen leaves. However, Town Hall urges residents to take extreme caution with their ventures into Lockwood Forest, due to an unseen threat that prowls through the thickets.

Our reporters have only been given scarce information about the findings in the woods, but so far, we have come to understand that something in the forest is that something is hunting those who are alone and disorienting groups into separating through hallucinations and "flashbacks." Bodies of those captured are hoisted into the trees, in such a way that seems to hope to be discovered by some poor passerby. Those who have returned to tell the tale struggle to describe what killed them, but have said that they recall it being quite large, bearing hooves, strange hands, and massive antlers. (Ms. Leeds was approached for comment, and gladly quelled any rumors of potential involvement.)

Most troubling yet is that bodies are discovered in their passing moments, but sometimes well after death. Experts at Town Hall urge anyone who has the feeling of being watched to leave the forests as quickly as possible. If you or a loved one has seen something similar to what we've described, please alert the constabulary to submit a report of any sightings while the solving of this mystery is underway.

APPLES, PUMPKINS, AND POTLUCKS - OH MY!

By Mettaton

Doesn't get much better than this!

It's the most wonderful time of year, darling readers! (Or so we've been told.) The smell of fall is in the air, the leaves are turning, and the nights are coming along more quickly but that doesn't mean we need to stop celebrating and having fun!

Among the many activities at the Pumpkin Festival, you can partake in Apple and Pumpkin Picking at the local orchard and pumpkin patch! Pick your fruit — which come in all sorts of fun shapes and sizes — and show us what you make!

Which brings us to the most important part of gathering all of those pumpkins and apples! A Community Potluck! Bring by your dishes and your recipes to share and swap with everyone!

GIANT WATERMELON REMOVED FROM TOWN SQUARE BY FLASH FLOODING

By Timothy Stoker

Welp. There it goes.

Coming to you just a bit late after the weather kerfuffle back in August--- the giant watermelon, which seemed to never rot and replenish itself overnight, that had been taking up a substantial amount of space in town square throughout the summer has at last been removed. As much as this reporter hoped to see it defeated by us banding together and eating the blasted thing once and for all, it seems this fate is not to be.

During the flash flooding which occurred toward the end of August, fast-moving waters rolled the building-sized watermelon down the streets of town, causing incredibly sticky property damage and scattering stray fruit everywhere. It then tumbled down to the beach, where it drifted out to sea. There it remains, floating aimlessly in the water surrounding the island where it is enjoyed by seagulls as a social gathering space. No one has been able to figure out what to do about it, so for the time being, it will serve as a humorous welcome wagon for any incoming residents. If anyone has thoughts on what can be done about Watermelon Island, please contact Mayor Poe's office with tips.

Thank you for reading!

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Further Details...

Pumpkinfest!

Pumpkin Hollow’s premiere holiday! In celebration of the harvest of the crop that gave this town its name, this seasonal fair technically is only supposed to take place in October, but whatever, time is soup and fairs are fun! Here are all the activities available for the month(s):

• Pumpkin Carving - Carve a Jack-o-Lantern outside Greymare Library, then place your work of veggie art along the library steps, or take it home! Maybe you and your neighbor can discuss designs.
• Wood Cutting Contests - Test your strength, speed, and skill in this race to chop up a stump faster than your opponent. The only prize is bragging rights and a fun little ribbon, but the firewood is donated to a family in need!
• Local Music - Dance the night away to local favorites and offworld acts alike, or volunteer to play for the crowd yourself. Additionally, mixed in with the other acts is yet another group of interdimensional visitors who didn’t show up by Ferry. Sometimes, towards the end of the night, you may find that the Sanderson Sisters take the stage to put a spell on you--- will you overcome the bewitching boogie, or dance ‘till you die? Employ teamwork, clever tricks, and dice rolls to decide. There’s no specific value to hit with dice rolls, so you can just use your best judgement and do whatever is fun.
• Smiling Jack’s Haunted Comedy Club - Those who have been around for a while may recall Smiling Jack, the subject of a Pumpkin Hollow legend who became a tangible menace two Halloweens ago. He has since been reduced to bottled pumpkin guts with a talking Jack-o-Lantern face, but has somehow managed to open a comedy club. Grab a hard apple cider and enjoy the macabre and hilarious comedy stylings of Smiling Jack himself, as well as a few other interdimensional visitors such as Elvira, Svengoolie, Wolfman Mac, and the like! Or volunteer to tell a few jokes, yourself. This particular crowd likes their humor a little dark. ‘Tis the season! (Also, if you’re interested in the context behind Smiling Jack, check out our first Halloween meme for Dahlia’s rendition of his origin story, located in Further Details under “Ghost Stories.” Mind the content warnings!)
• Food and Drinks - Of course, what festival is complete without street food? Roasted corn on the cob, caramel apples, pumpkin kebabs, and more will be available! Feel free to consider this part of your grocery budget or food vouchers, meaning there’s no in-game currency cost for enjoying the food. There’s also plenty of drinks to enjoy---- beer, wine, cider (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), hot cocoa, and a Marrow Isle recreation of the famous pumpkin spice latte!
• And more! - Feel free to just come up with other fairgrounds activities. Just make sure they stay setting-appropriate!

Rebuilding Efforts

The major plot event from August caused a great deal of property damage around Pumpkin Hollow. Tornados, flood water, and extreme temperatures hit rapid fire, and many homes, businesses, and municipal buildings were impacted, as well as crops from farms. It’s all hands on deck to try and get things patched up before the next thing that goes spooky and terribly wrong in Pumpkin Hollow--- the town needs your help!

Extant players are welcome to create toplevels directing helpful characters to their damaged homes, but there are also plenty of public spaces and NPC homes to help out with. Your help means a lot!

Also, we like to present new arrivals with opportunities to make a little extra pocket change to get them started. For the months that this TDM runs (September, October, and November) any new character that participates in a rebuild thread during the month they apply can get an extra 300 Brass when they turn in their first AC, provided the thread reaches bonus length as described on our Activity Check rules. This is only applicable for the AC taking place in the same month one apps in, can be applied to new characters apped in by extant players, and threads can occur between two new characters or one new character and one extant character. (The extant character does not earn the bonus.) This bonus can only be used once.

Example, for clarity: you TDM a new character in September and reach a thread length of 10 comments by the end of the month, then you app in said character by the end of September. When you go to turn in September AC, which will be that character's first, notate that you are eligible to claim an extra 300B on your AC post. You may not claim this bonus for the same character in October or November. You may not claim this bonus if you app in a later month, unless you achieve 10 tags specifically in the month in which you apped. You may not claim this bonus on a character that was already a game member, as this bonus is specifically an incentive for new characters. Please ask in the threads below if you have questions!

BJ and Associates

In Fall’s Promise Cemetery, whose entrance is located on the path down toward the beach from town, one will find the colorful dead from the iconic “waiting room scene” from Beetlejuice hosting an oddities fair! For those unfamiliar, oddities fairs are sort of a modern (and more tasteful) “freak circus”. They showcase unusual taxidermy and other unorthodox works of art, medical curiosities, unusual antiques and curios, jewelry and other items made of teeth and bone, extreme body modification, and performances of uncommon talents such as contortion, fire-eating, sword swallowing, or other circus arts. They’re a lot of fun, but not for the faint of heart, especially when hosted by visibly dead and mangled people! Be generous with content warnings! Attendees will walk away with a free copy of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased as a souvenir.

Additionally, the titular Ghost with the Most from the aforementioned Halloween classic is our scam artist. As mentioned, he will be attempting to get people to say his name three times in a row, which will allow him to escape the cemetery and live it up for the next 6 hours--- and you’re tied to him, so you have to go along! Drag your friends into it, get busted getting up to no good, wingman for BJ or have him wingman for you (badly). Eat, drink, and be scary!

Beetlejuice himself is a prop NPC, meaning that his actual interaction with the thread can be handwaved or written by one or both players in a given thread. Players with Beetlejuice journals should feel free to play him if they’d like--- even if there’s already another one kicking around. Multiple versions (film, cartoon, musical) are all fine. It’s just for fun, after all! Happy Halloween!

Haunted House

An unfamiliar house has popped up in Pumpkin Hollow! Perhaps it seems familiar--- this is another visitor from a Halloween favorite!

Per the film, the Monster House is possessed by an angry human spirit who is not particularly fond of anyone, but especially not children. The spirit can manipulate the house itself, the surrounding trees, and the lawn as if they were its own body, with the door functioning as a mouth, the main hall as a throat, and the furnace as a heart. It will make attempts to lure in unwitting humans to devour them by stealing their things.

Those consumed by the Monster House, interestingly, do not die--- at least, not right away. They will be held in the basement. When the house is asleep (and it does indeed sleep), you may be able to explore a bit more if you’re careful and quiet. And of course, if you get desperate, there is always the hanging lamp in the front hall --- just make sure to note content warnings for emetophobia!

Additionally, the house is quite lonely without its original tenant, who was very dear to it. Perhaps some friendly and patient folks can give this restless spirit some closure and company, and console it about its dramatic canon end. Who knows? Maybe by the end of this TDM’s run, the house will be a source of harmless mischief rather than genuine terror. Just don’t vandalize it!

Creature in the Woods
[CW: gore, cults, unreality, hypnosis, mind control. Also, googling the monster will result in images featuring body horror and headlessness.]

Last on our lineup of visitors from spooky modern IPs is Moder, the jötunn hiding a cult in the woods of Northern Sweden in the film “The Ritual.”

For those who have not seen the film, but plan to, the spoiler-free version of what you need to know is this: the creature in the woods is massive, and old, and shockingly stealthy for its size. It cannot leave the woods, but while you are in its domain, it only wants two things from you--- despair and blood. Moder can access your memories, especially traumatic ones, and can cause hallucinations where these memories haunt you and cause you to act in ways that are out of touch with reality and difficult for those around you to understand. Then, when you are feeling your lowest, it will mangle your body and use it to decorate the trees of Lockwood Forest. Why do the bodies stay, you might ask? Aren’t they meant to disappear? The answer is yes, they do disappear.

But only if they aren’t being watched.

For those familiar (or who simply don’t mind the spoilers), a refresher course.

Moder loves to be worshipped. To its previous cult members, it was seen as a loving god who could offer eternal life and protection for those who didn’t mind a bit of human sacrifice. The same remains true, though immortality isn’t exactly as valuable here as it was back home. So what can Moder offer you here?

How about the inability to die in the first place?

For those who are marked by a set of puncture wounds on the chest as one of Moder’s chosen, if they are willing to worship their new god and aid in the sacrifice of their neighbors, they will become completely unkillable until Moder’s departure at the end of November. For players who are members, this will come especially in handy for upcoming events… but are you willing to accept the price? Especially when your victims will come back the following day?

Those who reject being chosen by Moder will, of course, face its wrath. It won’t kill you, because it still wants to try and force you to worship, but it will torment you relentlessly with nightmares, unreality, hallucinations, and non-lethal violence. You are left with only two choices--- submit, or escape.

U-Pick Fall Crops & Potlucks

Let’s end on a lighter note, shall we?

Farms around Pumpkin Hollow are open for self-pick apples and pumpkins! Both food-pumpkins and carving-pumpkins are available, as well as apples of all sorts. Be sure to stop by Starr Orchard for some of their delicious “ghost apples”--- bright white apples (with some pink freckling) that are extra sweet and crisp. Great for baking! And be sure to leave some berries for the Mr. Mime who tends the trees. Other varieties of apples will also be available throughout Northwest Hollow.

Which is great, because the grounds outside the Temple of Sacred Roots will be hosting fall treat potlucks every weekend throughout autumn! Bring whatever you make with your pumpkins and apples, along with any other fall delights, out for a delicious sampler. Excellent for cultural exchanges and making new friends!

Pokémon

Each season, new types of Pokémon can be found in nature around the island! They cannot be captured as the technology does not exist on Marrow Isle, but they can be befriended and kept as pets. Since there is no PC, each person can have no more than six. You can befriend any Pokémon who has at least one type that matches the list at the top of the newspaper, or that can evolve into one. (Eevee can be caught in any season.) Legendaries are off limits for obvious reasons, and mythicals can be encountered for fun but not kept! Evolutionary stones can be found in Paradesium, the magical subterranean jungle beneath the mountain to the North. Every type will be available at some point throughout the year, so if you don’t have access to your fave yet, check back next season!

Comments

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Leon nods at all of that, looking suitably impressed. It may not be the most perfect floor he's ever seen, but bragging or no it's still a lot better than he'd probably do on his own, that's for sure.

"Sounds like you're a handy man to have around," he says, surveying the damage for himself. It looks like most of the demolition and carrying off of anything that needed removal has already been handled, which is a little unfortunate for him as someone who's a little more experienced at breaking shit than building it, but he'll cope. "So what's the plan here? How can I help without getting in the way?"

[spaghettimonster]

Papyrus laughs a little nyeh heh heh to himself, pleased at the compliment, before he moves closer to accept a couple of the planks.

"Well! It remains to be seen if your presence is in the way." He turns to move, tilting his head for Leon to follow to the bare area. "I suppose we could test just how rusty your own skills are... And decide from there...? Have you laid a floor before?"

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

"Nope. Made a couple solid birdhouses, hung a few cabinets, and got as far as stepstools that didn't wobble too badly when it came to furniture, but that's about it."

He sets down the bundle of boards and follows after the skeleton, kneeling to take a closer look at the work that's been done so far.

"Name's Leon, by the way. Leon Kennedy. Don't think I've seen you around before, but I'll admit I haven't been paying the closest attention lately. You new in town?"

[spaghettimonster]

The work so far is piecemeal, as though someone felt the need to demonstrate a flooring technique before getting it approved for use. Part of the floor is completed, with a small area smoothly sanded. Most of the floor is the wider baseboards below those planks, secured enough to walk on, and one small area doesn't yet have the baseboards, revealing a framework that extends into the walls.

Papyrus gives a few considering nods and thoughtful noises at Leon's list of accomplishments, but doesn't rush to vet that history - not with that other question raised.

"Oho! Well-spotted. Yes, I - the Great Papyrus - am the newest of the skeletons around! It's been, a few weeks now?"

He has to stop and consider, because whatever the date is, it's different than he last remembers from underground. Even the day of the week doesn't match up.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Hm. It would have made sense to Leon to finish putting down all the baseboards before laying the planks, but what does he know about flooring? Pretty much nothing, basically, aside from how to hammer in nails basically. He doesn't question it.

"Thought that might be it. You didn't look like one of Captain Dominguez's crew."

Those being the skeletons that Leon's most aware of coming and going, at least.

"It's good to meet you, Papyrus," he says, nodding a polite greeting. "Glad to see you taking to helping around here so quickly, too."

He wouldn't - and doesn't - blame any of the new arrivals for being a little more out of sorts when they first show up, given the circumstances of how pretty much all of them get here. But if he said he didn't also understand needing to throw one's self into the thick of things right away to keep from going stir crazy he'd be a liar.

[spaghettimonster]

A skeleton can look crestfallen and delighted at once, and Papyrus does so at the mention of Captain Dominguez. The fashion! The panache! That truly unforgettably majestic headwear...!! He can't help but to feel as if he's been letting his own appearance down, not angling for such adornment himself. Fortunately, he's the great Papyrus, and can't fail for long!! Sooner or later, he'll have headwear as ostentatious (and more to his tastes than the gifted tophat).

"Ah, but of course! It was... pretty apparent there were people in need. And I'm hardly one to lie around not working."

There's weight of reference and familiar exasperation to the last words, but he doesn't linger on them, instead gesturing back to the floor.

"Sometimes that means getting a little ahead of myself, but that's fine! With your aid, we can loop back to finishing things in more orderly steps. And before you know it, this house will be ready for residence once more. So! It sounds as if your carpentry skills are up to lining up the baseboards across the frames, and even... hammering them in place?"

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Leon doesn't know what a microaggression is by name, being from 2004 and all, but as he watches Papyrus's expression go conflicted he briefly becomes incredibly worried that he has committed one. Was it rude to bring up the other skeletons like that? Are there some mixed feelings there that he didn't know about? Shit. He gives Papyrus an apologetic look, but the conversation moves on before he can try to figure out what to say about it.

"Yeah, sounds like something I should be able to manage," says Leon, sweeping aside his anxiety and nodding. "You want me to get that last section done while you keep working over there?"

[spaghettimonster]

Whether Papyrus knows the word microaggression or not, there is something of a sore spot in that general vicinity. Leon's words weren't a slight against Papyrus, exactly - but they did leave the skeleton feeling a little like he hadn't measured up in the fashion sense.

He's not a complete stranger to being compared to another skeleton and being found wanting, though usually such comparisons were to his brothers' ease at making shallow friendships all over. It does mean that he's used to rushing to brush things off, ignoring social cues and steamrolling conversations past the things he doesn't want to dwell on.

"Exactly my thinking! Consider this a little skill assessment, but also real work that needs doing. Do it well, and my tutoring will extend to the hands-on of plank placing! Do it poorly..." he lets the idea hang in the air just long enough for the faintest anticipation, "and you'll still help with placing planks! I might, just not have you do any of the hammering there."

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Brushing off or barreling through awkward topics of conversation is about how Leon copes too, he can't judge. If Papyrus doesn't want to have a heart to heart (heart to sternum??) about whatever he just said wrong, that's fine by him. There's work to be done, anyway, and Leon can worry about having maybe put his foot in his mouth later, in private.

As it is, he lifts a hand to his temple in a lazy mock-salute, giving a soft, huffing laugh at the ominous pause and its benign followup.

"You've got it, boss. I'll do my best."

With that, he sets to work laying out the wider boards. To his credit, Leon is a meticulous worker, lining them up with a near-military precision and attention to getting them at right angles and flush with each other. It takes him longer than it might've if he were being less careful, but he does want to do it right the first time, or failing that, within as few tries as possible. Once he's got the pieces of the puzzle put together, he waves Papyrus over for an inspection.

"What do you think? Good to start nailing these down?"

[spaghettimonster]

As much as the salute might have been lazy and delivered in a joking manner, seeing it offered along with addressing Papyrus as 'boss'? Well, the whole thing puts a certain spring in the skeleton's step, as he bounces off to resume his other tasks. Respect! Appreciation! Now he's getting somewhere!

Things are only looking further up when Leon calls him back over, showing the baseboards settled in place.

"Incredible! Either you've been underselling your own knowledge... Or my explanations really did the job! I see you have them all flush against the current ones... That's good! Most of them, you can nail down. The two closest to the wall..."

Those two, Papyrus leans down to squint more closely at.

"...Well, we might need to saw a little off the edge of these two. I've heard that places with changing temperatures have problems with 'humidity' and wood swelling with it."

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Yeah, Leon likes this guy, he's decided. You don't get that degree of genuine enthusiasm everywhere these days - it's a rare treat to behold. Of course, the anxious part of Leon that drove him into his months-long work fugue worries that it's only a matter of time before that gets crushed out of him, but Leon manages to shove that thought into a locker where it belongs before it can dampen his mood too much. If he keeps spending all his time casting suspicious glances back over his shoulder, he'll never have time to enjoy what's in front of him.

Like the joys of carpentry! The praise gets a small but genuine smile out of him, and he nods along at the more detailed assessment.

"We'll call it a little bit of both. But yeah, that makes sense. Would be kinda bad if these started to warp too badly without the space for it. You wanna handle the sawing while I get these nailed down?" He pauses, a thought occurring to him. "Or should we leave them in place to make sure the spacing's right, then take them out for cutting when the rest are secured?"

[spaghettimonster]

"Hmm... The better to keep things in place, while we do some nailing? I like your thinking!" Papyrus enthuses, still cheerful with the success so far, and further so with the idea of experimenting a little.

(Knowing his carpentry for things back underground has proved not entirely accurate to things here, what with different tools, no expectation of magic, and the differences that all this weather stuff brings. Yes, there's been some strongly worded instructions about the way to do things - but as long as the end result is good, a meandering path to getting there never hurt anybody, right?)

"It is occurring to me that maybe they'll get a little stuck, being so well-fitted now... But if they do get stuck, we can always pull them out with the saw. Let's do it!"

In fact, he helpfully steps on one of the boards, atop where the neighboring one has nails betraying the framework below, to better hold it in place for the hammering. How much good that does when he's clothes and bones, not weighing even 40 pounds total...

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Papyrus makes a good point about getting the boards wedged in place a little too well before they can take the edge pieces out, but if he's committed to the idea then who's Leon to question it? Giving an affirmative in the form of a quick thumbs up and a nod, he retrieves his hammer and gets to work.

"So how're you finding things here so far?" he asks, between pounding nails into place. "I've been here about a year and a half - give or take - and while I might not know everything I can probably give a decent rundown of the basics and point you to people who can answer the more complicated stuff, if you've got any questions."

It's surprisingly easy to slip back into the welcoming committee script, for all his time spent freaking out in the corner by himself. Maybe getting into the swing of things again will be easier than he thought.

[spaghettimonster]

"A year and a half, huh...? Seems like that's a popular time ago for arriving here," Papyrus muses, recognizing the turn of phrase from another recent conversation.

At the very least, Ms. Zivia had mentioned a similar arrival time. Maybe she and Leon had traveled on the ferry together. Or, maybe the ferry had a very busy day... Or maybe it was days or even weeks apart, with a more reasonable nautical travel pacing. But the specifics of arrival times aren't really the sorts of things pressing on his mind just yet.

"I've asked some of my most pressing questions already," he continues, tone still thoughtful as he mulls the offer over, "like why there's no internet. And, what kinds of work need doing! That's why I'm here in this building. So the questions still on my mind are... a little less pressing. And more personal."

So, being less pressing and more personal, the skeleton's reluctant to press without good cause. He tries to read Leon's face for signs of how open he is, and steps to the side to get out of the way of some nails needing hammering.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Leon nods at the observation. "Yeah, I came a little before this happened, but to my understanding Mortanne - that's the woman who brought us all here, she's the local goddess of winter - she found a bunch of people on some doomed or cursed ship or something, and managed to bring a whole bunch of them here. Apparently it was a real nightmare of a place."

Even compared to the worst he's seen here, by the sound of it. Not that he's pried particularly deep, not wanting to dredge up the past with anyone he doesn't know super well.

But in any case, Papyrus sounds like he's got something else to say, and Leon stops his hammering long enough to look over, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah?" he says, tone carefully friendly and neutral. Again, he doesn't like to pry if he doesn't have to, but he wants to make it clear he's not shutting things down, either. "I know we just met, so - if they're the kinda personal you don't wanna ask any random guy then I won't be offended. But I'm here to listen if you're up for it."

[spaghettimonster]

"Well.... Maybe not too personal," Papyrus hedges, like he's reconsidering what exactly to ask.

As nice as it can be to have people paying close attention to him... Someone being carefully considerate is probably considering him, in ways that could dig into... private things. Sometimes it's better to stick to the various jokes and running bits with his brother, and accept only the shallow attention that gets them. It's a little harder without his brother around, but...

"But also, not questions for just any random guy!" he rushes to clarify, with a freshly brightened smile. "After all... I don't think many of the others in the construction crew are from... far away."

That much he's pretty sure of. Not only at the warm welcome for another fresh face he'd gotten, even if it had come with a couple of skeleton jokes... But he remembers skimming an informational text on the island town's history, and being astonished at its age - only thirty or so years. Odds are some of his fellow laborers were born here, and those that weren't, mostly from the parts of the world beyond the recently formed barrier.

"I've just been wondering... How other people in our ferry-driven boat are handling it," Papyrus settles on asking, shifting a little to the next board that still needs nailing. "Being... far from home. In this home away from home! After... whatever was going on, that we got rescued here."

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Oh, so that's how it is. Leon shoots Papyrus a sympathetic look, thinking over his answer carefully.

"Varies. I haven't exactly taken a survey, but to me? Seems like some people are just glad for the chance to keep going. Others... need to take a bit to think about, uh, what brought them here. Nothing to be ashamed of about it."

Arguably there are few things in the world as traumatic as almost dying, or actually dying depending on how and when exactly Mortanne intervened in a given case. There's a reason Leon talks around the nature of it - calling the people who accepted her bargain 'from out of town' or saying they 'got here on the ferry' instead.

"If it makes you feel better, I miss being back home, too. I was sort of in the middle of some important stuff." He shrugs, rolling his shoulders and looking back at the board he's nailing down. "But for what it's worth, I also trust Mortanne when she says she'll send us home when it's time. We've just got some work to do here, first."

[spaghettimonster]

Polite and non-alarming euphemisms are great to have in one's linguistic pocket, and Papyrus will be borrowing some of Leon's phrases as soon as he hears them, glad to have a smoother way to get across what he means. And in the same vein, he listens intently while trying to play it cool.

Relief over the chance to keep going... It's probably a good way to look at the whole situation. Gratitude and relief are very important forces! But, there's also the other side of the matter, one he considers with a frown while pretending to be deeply invested in whatever's happening with that board.

"I mean, of course I'm glad for that! And, missing friends back home. And, even more, I'm sure she'll keep her word about that! There's no question about whether we'll... go back, someday."

It's a good thing he doesn't have lips. If he did, he'd probably be biting them right now, giving away his worries and the feeling that he's lying. Going back isn't something he tends to hope for.

"It's only... I was in some important stuff, too. And..." A sigh, and he admits, "I just wish I had a better idea what happened there. It's difficult to fix things, when you don't know what went wrong. No matter how long you have to plan about it."

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Complexities of muscle- and flesh-based facial expressions aside, Leon does catch that little pause when Papyrus mentions the notion of going back. He watches him carefully out of the corner of his eye, unsure of whether he's reading too much into it or if there's something going on there. No sense in assuming, but...

"Well, it's not that there's no question for everybody here," he says. "Think some people plan on asking to stick around here when it's all said and done, for their own reasons. Not having much to go back to, liking what they've built here. But that's their business."

He shrugs. Just something to think about, regardless of how relevant it is or isn't to Papyrus specifically or whether Leon knows how relevant it is.

"But I get you there. There's some stuff that you can't really think your way out of, no matter how much prep time you get." Frowning, he taps in the final nail and looks over again properly. "And having to wait around here for closure that you might not get isn't easy, either. I don't have a lot of advice there, but I can say you're probably not alone in whatever's going on."

[spaghettimonster]

His eye sockets briefly widen at the notion that some of the ferried might be choosing to stay permanently, in a flash of shock and bewilderment followed by realization.

Of course some might choose to stay and make the most of whatever they've made here, especially if they've already been here for years. He wants his brother back, of course, and the friends he's made recently, and it'd be really nice to have modern amenities like the internet back, make no mistake. But trading the underground (trapped within a barrier) for this island (trapped. within. a barrier.) is not very much of a difference, in some ways. If his situation had been a little worse...?

"...Yes, I can see that you're right. No matter what worries I might be facing, there's surely someone else who can relate. Maybe I should go taking that survey!"

It could be fun, to make a point of introducing himself to every single person around that took a ferry ride, and ask about whether anyone's heard of anyone that has already completed their mystery improvement tasks to leave. It might be a kindness, to have a list of everyone, in case any of them - or anyone yet to arrive - finds themselves struggling with difficult questions and not knowing who to ask.

"But, hmm... If some people are coming from such terrible situations that they don't want to return, or maybe... can't... I think I should be careful about how I ask any questions. It wouldn't do to hurt anyone's feelings..."

A careful, sidelong glance Leon's way, to make sure that these few questions haven't set the man to crying or anything.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Far from it - Leon listens thoughtfully as Papyrus considers his options aloud, and nods his approval.

"Sounds like a plan, as long as you're careful about keeping that in mind, yeah," he says. "There's a pretty good number of us at this point, so tracking everyone down could be kind of difficult, but I can definitely think of worse things to do with your time. If anything, it'd be pretty helpful to get a better sense of where everyone's coming from, here. Literally and figuratively."

He's not nearly outgoing enough to be the one to go door to door surveying everyone about their experiences, but it seems like Papyrus might be. Whether or not he succeeds in an attempt at large-scale networking like this is up for grabs, but it shouldn't hurt too much to let him try, right?