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.
For a moment the sight that lay before her was enough to give Karaka, the senshi of aye-ayes, pause. How was it that a tree could be bearing fruit at this time of year? Was this more of the magical seasonal shenanigans served up on the behalf of Destiny City that she, a senshi, would have to grow ever more accustomed to? Even as she reached up to gently pluck an apple from the branch that it was growing on did she lower the fruit to her nose and sniff at it. The temptation to sample the fruit was overpowering. However there was a part of her brain that was screaming mentally not to bite into the bright red fruit. The apple was rather on the small and almost as an afterthought did the redhead recall only just what had happened only a year ago when she had come across the pine cones that exploded when they were tossed. Surely there was nothing similar about this new, and unexpected, discovery; was there? Shaking her head the senshi turned the bright fruit around in her palm before sighing. The sense of another powered individual had sprung up on her radar and even though she was still just a basic senshi, the sense of chaos that washed over her made Karaka give pause. This was no lieutenant. She would be outmatched if it came down to battle but maybe the fruit that she held could be used as an unforeseen projectile.
Huffing with impatience Karaka scanned the direction the owner of the chaotic presence was arriving from before leaning up against the tree. She would not be caught off guard if she could help it.
Flexing her arms the redhead did cast a quick glance at the lowest branch that was within arms reach. If necessary, she would be able to climb ... and quickly at that. Hopefully this unknown member of the Negaverse wouldn't want to pick a fight with her today. On the other hand though maybe that was all this stranger would want to do. Outnumbered, and most definitely the underdog in this particular scenario, was not how Karaka wanted to be remembered as. She would fight with everything she had in her if it came down to that. Hopefully it would not but one would never be able to tell with Chaos.
Even as she waited did she keep glancing back at the apple that she held before stopping on a rather bold idea. Would she, a basic senshi, be able to possibly use this particular tree to her advantage? Could she persuade whomever it was that was approaching to simply join her in a feast of divine winter fruit instead of fighting? Would that work? Taking a bite of the apple preemptively did Karaka gasp in delight at the flavour sensation that burst upon her tongue. What magic was this that a seemingly unfinished growing apple could contain so much sweetness inside? No, the apple had to have been finished with its growth, otherwise it would not have tasted so wonderful. Plucking down a few more apples, Karaka suddenly seated herself on the ground to wait. Her new strategy would be to appear non-threatening. Maybe guards would be lowered and a simple apple feast could commence.
xgenovianprince
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 6:44 am
Vesuvianite kept a solid grip on his sickle as he made his way through the small copse of trees in his favorite park. He'd only just begun his night out for energy gathering, and already he could sense a White Moon Senshi nearby. He was not the biggest fan of running into someone so early in his duties for the night, but he supposed he'd rather get on top of things and ensure he wasn't taken by surprise. Cautiously, he made his way to the general area he could feel the aura emanating from, and blinked when he saw the senshi sitting in the snow, happily chewing on an apple.
Now that was odd.
His gaze flicked to the tree she had sat beside, frowning deeply at the appearance of small apples growing on a tree in the middle of winter. That was not natural. Not even for Destiny City. He liked picking on the White Moon, antagonizing them, generally being a bother, but this felt.... too strange. Was there a magical compulsion to eat them, once you got near? She hadn't attacked him at all, something that mystified him. Whatever these fruits really were, they couldn't be good news.
Not to mention the fact that she looked terribly young, to him. He wasn't completely heartless.
"Are you okay?" he called out to her, brow furrowed as he stepped a little closer, holding his sickle defensively rather than offensively. "That fruit doesn't look safe to eat."
As soon as the owner of the chaotic aura came into view Karaka was glad to have chosen the idea to appear nonthreatening because it already had seemed to bring about concern in the Captain that approached the tree. The weapon that was held by the stranger was easily identified by Karaka and unlike her previous encounter with a negaverse agent she knew that this one could cause her some damage if it came down to a fight. Though with the concern that was written in the other's expression perhaps there would be no fight.
Putting the small apple down to her side the senshi of aye-ayes gestured towards the tree and indicated the fruit that still hung from its branches. "I'm alright, thank you for asking. Normally I'd agree with you about the overall look of these apples but after tasting one I am in disagreement. As small as they are you would think they wouldn't have any redeeming qualities, but see for yourself," Karaka picked up one of the apples she had picked moments before and held it up in her empty palm for the Captain to decide if he wanted to take it or not. She would not make any sort of move to attack unless it looked like he was about to. Her gaze flicked down to the apple she had taken a bite from before she gave an impish grin back to the officer. "I think you'd regret not trying these. This one here," she used her free hand to point to the bitten fruit, "is extremely flavourful. It's weird but delicious at the same time."
genovianprince
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 5:02 pm
Vesuvianite's eyes flicked from the girl to the tree and back to the girl again. Well, if she was eating them with no ill effects... But still. He was hesitant to show anything resembling friendliness to a senshi of the White Moon. He stretched his aura senses, and, upon detecting nobody else nearby (at least someone who was powered—anyone just taking a walk as a civilian who might be able to recognize him from their powered self could still rat him out, if they wanted to cause trouble), sat with the girl in the snow, putting his weapon down, but leaving it within reach in case something went horribly wrong.
"I suppose if they taste excellent enough you're willing to share with the enemy, how could I resist?" he asked, a teasing lilt in his tone as he reached out and plucked the apple from her hand.
A small, ridiculous, goblin that lived in his brain told him he should have taken it from her as though a horse would, and he hurriedly bit into the apple to try to ignore that inane voice. As he did, juice ran down his chin and he quickly wiped it away with a small grimace. Then the flavor of the fruit fully hit him and he looked at the apple with wide, awed eyes.
"Alright. I understand now," he said with a small laugh, swallowing. "This thing is what I imagine the fruit that the Serpent tempted Eve with tasted like. This is wonderful."
