Apple's Heart

[dramatispersonae]

Your arrival is marked by the feel of sand under your feet, with the sound and smell of the ocean wafting in from behind you. A dampness hangs in the air and the sky is overcast. Directly in front of you the sand fades into a grassy hill, on top of which a white castle rests. To the left, a little ways off, you can see tall sandstone cliffs. Off to the right is a large field of sunflowers that stretches out into the distance. There are no paths or signs anywhere to be seen.

((#applecore))

Comments

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"...I'll ask Mister Obi. Thank you."

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

Have fun with 'em, yeah?

[waving as he sets out again]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

Are you heading any particular direction in the fields?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[not really, no, just heading out and seeing if the path is still visible; if it's not, picking a direction based more on gut instinct than actually knowing here to go. because if you're the sort who gets lost, you might as well just trust you'll get somewhere eventually.]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The path is gone; if you're wandering around eventually you'll hear the faint sound of laughter again.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[I GUESS WE'RE HEADED THAT WAY? if there's no other way to go]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There is only that direction, sunflowers, and a really heavy mist far off in the distance.

But that direction leads you to a large open air stage made of polished wood. There are a bunch of children running around. They're all dressed up and playing with one another, bright and happy.
The stage looks rather run down. Off to the side there is a rack of instruments, a wardrobe, and a big box full of toys.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[staring at the wardrobe]

Ohhhhhhh no.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The children all spot you and run over.
"Look, it's another person!"
"But he's not as cool as the other ladies..."
"No way, he's very cool! He'll play with us!"
"Will you play with us?"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

... what sort of playing?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Dancing!"
"Music!"
"No, a swordfight!"
"I want a dance, we didn't get a dance!"
"What kind of play do you like?"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

You could turn a swordfight into a dance, you know.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There is a collective gasp.
"Show us, show us!"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

Does anyone have a sword?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

A boy with blue hair jumps forward and holds out his sword.
"I've got this one!"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[holding out his hand] Mind if I borrow it? I'll give it back when I'm done showing you.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Sure, sure, just show us."

He hands the sword over.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[taking the sword and making a brief gesture with it, then sort of ...

well, he's an acrobat, and it's not too difficult to compensate for holding something, so it is a very flippy and spinny and athletic sweeping dance, sort of a cross between a tumbler's routine and an actual dance, using the sword as a prop]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

You have successfully captured the attention of every single child. They gasp and crowd around to get a good look, taking in every second.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[at the end, giving it an extra little flourish, doing a sharp near-pirouette and ending in a kneeling position in front of the kid who loaned him the sword, holding it back out, hilt-first]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The kid takes it, a huge grin on his face. All of the other children erupt in clapping and cheering.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[hopping back to his feet, bowing]

Works for you?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"It was awesome!"
"Amazing!"
"Great!"
"The best!"

The boy with the blue hair sheathes his sword. "It was pretty good. I still liked the other girl better."

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

Which other girl?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"The one with blue hair. Like mine!" He grins.