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 CASTLE

[pitching]

[GASP]

How did you know--?!

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

She laughs. "I pay attention! Don't worry, he's just sulking. If you want, you can head back in. Someone's probably unlocked the doors by now. They won't stay closed for long."

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

I guess I could but . . .

[:T]

I wanna find Apple. And I dunno if she's in there.

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

"She is. Did you even look?"

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

Well, I was thinking that guy was going to show me.

[pause]

You know what happened afterwards.

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

"That would have been to easy. Try again."

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

[SIGH]

Okay, okay. At least I'm stubborn. Thanks . . .

[turns to leave . . . but comes back real quick]

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

"That was fast."

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

[holds out an origami flower]

Not as pretty as the real thing, but it's all I've got so.

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

She takes it.

"Such a gentleman. Thank you. It's lovely."

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

I'm a lot of things~

[and then we will leave the greenhouse and go back to the back of the castle '-']

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

The doors are open. Do you head inside?

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

[YOU BET]

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

Then you're back in the grand foyer! Your rude guard is nowhere to be seen, and things are much the same as before. Where to?

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

[lets quickly move to the tall dark wood door before anyone catches me '^']

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

It becomes immediately obvious that you’ve entered a library. Shelves are filled to the brim with books, nearly to the point of overflowing. The light, wherever it’s coming from, is barely enough to see by and keeps flickering dimly. There are a few reading chairs off to the sides. Sitting in one of these is a boy with dark brown hair in his late teens, focusing on the book in his hand.

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

[bouncing over to look over the boy's shoulder HMMMMM]

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

It's a book on concubines. He looks up sharply.

"How rude. Who do you think you are?"

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

A gentleman. Someone told me so.

[nodnod]

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

"Well you're speaking to a prince. You should bow."

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

Whooooooa, Apple knew some top-class people.

[takes a formal bow]

S'been a while since I've seen a proper prince, I think.

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

"Hmph, there aren't many proper princes around." He inclines his head in acknowledgement. "And you are?"

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

Hitachiin Hikaru or Dragonfly works. My family is well known for my mother's fashion line though I doubt you've heard of it. I'm here looking for a friend.

Re: THE CASTLE

[appleofhiseye]

"Friend...which friend? I might know them."

Re: THE CASTLE

[pitching]

Her name's Apple. Uhh, pretty, red hair? Short. Green eyes.