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Winter Apples (10) : Whereas most trees have already lost their leaves and stand barren in the winter months, these trees are still a lively green and don't seem affected at all. The most interesting thing about these trees isn't their color--it's the sudden fruit that has appeared on them. A few days after the first snowfall, little apples began to grow--small, bright red. They range in size from berries to plums--but taste like the sweetest apple you've ever sampled. They're all over the city, and the harvest is bountiful; more appear after every snowfall. There's just one catch--eat too many, or eat the wrong one--and you're out cold. Every apple risks drowsiness, fatigue, and even unconsciousness that can last for a few hours up to a day. If you're looking for a sweet treat and a good nap, you've come to the right place. Just make sure you're somewhere comfortable first.

With the snow coming down and most people out focusing on the last rush for the holidays, Florian closed up early after finishing up the last bouquet for the day. Things felt calmer since that gameboard, at least for the most part. The usual holiday busyness was alright since it was normal, but at least nothing else weird seemed to be going on. At least that's what he'd thought until he passed by a tree that looked completely unbothered by the snow that dusted its branches.

Pulling out his phone, he snapped a picture and texted it to Angel.



At least nothing seemed dangerous; there were even a few birds pecking at the things and a squirrel up in the branches napping. So he took a chance and pulled a few apples down after struggling a bit. Even the lowest branch had him hopping up to get at the fruit.

With at least a few down after some effort, he took a seat on the bench under the tree and texted the location to Angel. It was a nice enough change of pace, and maybe he wanted to spend some time with them again. At least the time that was outside of the shop, since that hadn't happened as much with the holiday rush.

While ten minutes wasn't a really long time, it was enough for the cold to n** at his face even as he pulled his crocheted scarf up to cover his face a bit more.

It was enough that when they teased, he couldn't help but laugh and smile more. They were always joking, and it was something that maybe he looked forward to after work. Who else would show up in the cold like this for him? At least aside from his parents, if they were in town. "No, but if all the other florists come here, you might need to fight them off for me so I can get more apples."

Pulling his bag onto his lap, he opened it up and pulled out one of the apples he had managed to grab, and showed it to them. "See? They look normal, right? I think they're red delicious, but I wanted to check with you first."

While the whole magic thing was still growing on him, he knew apples and plants, so maybe this was fine. They didn't smell like they were rotten or cursed or something. But he felt better about trying one now that Angel was here, at least if something did happen, he knew they would take care of him.

"Good, I want to get enough to try making a pie." It wouldn't take too many more, he thought. But with Angel's offer, he felt a little embarrassed about trying to do that at their place. Not that there was anything wrong with their place, but more so, he didn't want to add to the paint splatters by getting dough everywhere.

"Yes, I want to come over after, though maybe not to make the pie, but we can try a few first to see if they'll be good for it or not." A good enough compromise, plus he could see what the newest painting or artwork they had up in progress was.

Seeing the package, he tucked the apples back away and looked between it and Angel, his own cheeks going pinker at the gift. He was still working on something for them, though, and it sat behind the counter in his shop for now so he could work on it between customers. But the idea that the holidays might be busier for them as well had sort of skipped over his mind.

"Oh... I was hoping you could stop by or I could stop by for Christmas, if that's okay still?" Pausing a bit here and there as he spoke, he fiddled with the bow for a moment before carefully unwrapping it.

The scarf inside was gorgeous, and it felt so nice between his fingers as he unfolded it to see the pattern embroidered on it. While taking off the scarf he was wearing meant they'd see how flustered he was, he still did it and wrapped the new scarf around his neck. "I love it, it's beautiful, Angel."

Now he did wonder if they'd like what he was making, though there was still some time to finish it for them. He'd just have to work a bit more on it while not running the shop, though it wouldn't really be a problem with how the weather kept going back and forth with the snow.