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

[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.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

You mean Sayaka? Which way did she go?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There's a hush.

"She went to the mist."

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[glancing that way, then nods]

Seems like the thing to do. Thanks.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Be careful!"
"Be safe!"
"Come back, okay!"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[saluting as he heads off in that direction]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The mist gets thicker and thicker, and most of the sunflowers in this area are dead. They also thin out, but it gets harder to see.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[performing]

[w/e w/e still heading on, pressing through the mist]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

So brave.

There is an oppressive cold here, and the mist is so thick that you can barely see anything in front of you. The exception is the Ring, which glows just enough that you can make out that it is only a few yards away. The tiles beneath your feet are slippery and it’s difficult to keep your balance. From somewhere in the mist you hear a threatening hisssssss.

Sayaka is also here.