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The crisp bite of autumn air hits you the moment you step outside the ministry gates- rich and teeming with cinnamon, cloves, woodsmoke and the sound of distant laughter.
Banners hang overhead in colors of crimson and gold, swaying in the chilly breeze. You can already hear the faint sound of music drifting from the Halloween festival grounds.
You think you are just meeting Copia.
He is the one who sent you the note after all- a sweet cheerful card with a cute doodle of a pumpkin and a goat that reads “Festival! You come, Sì? We will get cider!”
But the moment you cross through the gates, you immediately realize how WRONG you are.
“Ah! Cara mia!” Terzo’s voice rings out cheerfully, bright as brass. He appears first, lounging against a booth decorated with black roses and fake spider webs. “You found me! I was beginning to think you would stand me up!”
You blink in confusion. “You…?”
He grins wider. “Of course! The festival, amore! Who else would invite you to such a romantic outing!”
Before you can respond, a dry, unimpressed, voice cuts through the crowd.
“Romantic outing, my ass.”
Secondo steps out from behind the next booth over, arms crossed, coat immaculate.
“You were invited by me, not this peacock.”
“You?!” You echo, startled.
“Yes,” he replies curtly. “Someone needs to show you how to enjoy a real festival. None of this haunted tunnel nonsense.” He waves his hand towards Terzo’s booth as if shooing it away.
“Ha!” Terzo throws an arm around your shoulders. “You mean none of this fun, fratello.”
Before Secondo can retort back, a more gentle voice floats from nearby, serene and patient like wind blowing through the leaves.
“Brothers, please.” Primo approaches from a small wooden booth draped in a tent and autumn leaves. “The festival is for joy and peace. Not competition. I invited our dear one here to share tea with me and enjoy the calm.”
You stare between the three of them, confusion only growing by the second. “Wait- you ALL invited me?”
A cheerful voice joins in from behind a cart of cider jugs and pumpkins. “Make that four!”
Copia waves his fingers at you, already balancing a cup of cider in each hand while somehow managing to have a kitten snuggled into his shoulder. “I brought snacks! And animals! Come, come- the baby goats are so soft!”
The four Papas each turn to look at one another, the tension between them ringing out and vibrating like a plucked string.
You sigh softly, trying so very hard to hide a smile. “So this is going to be THAT type of festival, huh?”
One Festival, Four Papas 🍂
Primo’s tea tent smells of honey and herbs. You sit cross-legged beside him, steam curling up into the air. He teaches you how to blend dried petals into calming brews. His voice soothing and warm.
Terzo bursts in halfway through, declaring it smells like a spa and asks for “something stronger- perhaps with brandy.” Primo just sighs and pours him chamomile tea anyway.
Secondo’s challenge booth is…loud to say the least. He’s running the strength test- one of the mallet and bell games that test strength and fortitude. He smirks the moment you step up.
“If you can ring the bell, I’ll buy you dinner.” He says.
Using all your might, you hit it. The bell clangs loud enough to draw cheers from nearby.
Terzo, naturally, insists he gets a turn too. He misses.
Secondo doesn’t stop smirking for the next 20 minutes.
Copia’s Petting Zoo is nothing short of pure chaos. The goats love you. One tries to eat your scarf; Another attempts to climb Secondo and nibbles the sleeve of his jacket. Terzo takes selfies with every animal.
Copia beams proudly, cheeks flushing pink. “See? Everyone is happy! Except maybe Secondo’s sleeve.”
Secondo glares. “That goat had malice in its eyes.”
You can’t help but laugh, which softens Secondo just a little bit.
Terzo’s Haunted Tunnel of Love is exactly what it sounds like- velvet curtains, fake fog, flickering candles, and spooky music.
He insists you ride with him.
Overall it’s way more silly than scary, but when you jump at a mechanical bat, he laughs, gently catches your hand and whispers “Don’t worry, Cara. If the monsters come for you, they’ll have to go through me first.”
The words might be slightly teasing, but there’s a warmth and sincerity beneath them. The kind that lingers long after you’ve left the tunnel.
By the end of the night you have a candy apple in one hand, a plush prize tucked under your arm, and the faint ache of laughter in the pit of your stomach.
The festival glows gold around you- lanterns swaying in the breeze, laughter carrying through the crsip night air.
All four Papas end up beside you on a wooden bench near a large bonfire, each pretending not to be exhausted. Primo sips cider, Secondo keeps grumbling about sticky fingers, Copia’s head is nodding forward against your shoulder, and Terzo- Terzo just smiles quietly, his gloved fingers brushing against yours.
For a rare moment they are all still. Content.
Primo hums softly. “Perhaps a surprising blessing after all.”
Copia murmurs sleepily “I’d call it a success.”
Secondo grunts in agreement, but there is no real bite to it.
Terzo leans closer. “And next year, amore, you’ll come with me first, Sì?”
You laugh, shaking your head. “We’ll see.”
Above you fireworks bloom in the dark sky- gold, red and silver- like petals of fire unfurling. And you think, maybe, this ridiculous, chaotic and beautiful family is exactly where you’re meant to be.