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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.
While apples were not, inherently, worrisome, Orcus thought as she studied the tiny stand of fruit bearing trees, these ones had managed that feat. Oh, they didn't look bad or wrong. There was no hint of Chaos upon them and what little scent she could detect was simply that of sweet apples. Literally the only thing wrong was that they were growing in the middle of winter and seemed to become more numerous after every snowfall.
This particular cluster of trees, in fact, were positively groaning under the weight of all the apples. And they were such little apples too. The biggest she'd found was about the size of a small plum. The smallest was about the size of a blueberry. Did one even need to worry about the seeds of a blueberry sized apple? She knew that it would take about forty or so apple cores to kill a person, but that was regular apples. Considering for a moment before sighing and cursing herself for being an idiot, she reached up and plucked one of the tiny apples, holding it between her fingers as she inspected it. It looked like the sort of apple you'd see in a doll's house, it was so tiny and bright and perfectly apple shaped. Twisting away the miniscule stem, she closed her eyes and popped the entire thing into her mouth and began chewing. Well. If there were seeds to worry about, they were so tiny that she couldn't detect them. But the apple itself was one of the loveliest and sweetest things she'd eaten in some time.
Coming to a decision, Orcus held one arm up, letting the fabric tied to it fall open. Then, she stuffed it with as many of the apples as she felt she could safely hold without the fabric ripping. She was careful to pick only the larger specimens and as she walked away, she munched on one of the apples, tossing the core to the ground as she went. Normally, she would worry about littering but really. It was one core, fairly small and it might help feed the weird bunnies that she'd heard about. She was pretty sure that no one would really care. Selecting another, she ate that one as well, though this time, she tossed the core into a nearby garbage can.
After a moment, she was working her way through the rest of the apples she'd picked. She was feeling rather drowsy, though and yawned mid-bite. Whooof! More than a little drowsy, actually. She felt like she could fall asleep at any moment. What a good thing that she was already heading towards home, then! Stumbling through the snowy streets, she nibbled blissfully on the half-eaten apple. Then, finally, just as she felt like she wouldn't be able to move another step, she was one her own doorstep and fumbling about in subspace for the front door key. Once she got inside and got the door closed, she felt herself powering down, heard the apples she'd been carrying hit the floor. She was so damned sleepy! She actually made it to the couch before sleep took over and sent her sprawling across the furniture.
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