This idea of a 'fall festival' really interested Rose Quartz. It was like a… ritual, but it wasn't. It was like a… party, but it wasn't. There weren't too many citizens lingering the fair grounds, something about it being too cold- not that she could really tell a difference.
Rose had lost Greg (or did he lose her?) only five seconds after being introduced to this new place. The sights, the sounds, even the smells- how did humans deal with this… overload of experiences? Was it because they were used to it, and therefore were desensitized? Did this 'cold' feeling they receive during the apparent drop of temperature effect them mentally so that it wasn't as invigorating? If so, how… disappointing…
"Apple bobbing! Apple bobbing!" one particular voice rang out, leading Rose to draw her attention to the source. "Apple bobbing for all! You've got the teeth, I've got a tank full of apples for you to sink into! Apple bobbing! Apple bobbing for all!"
Curious about this mysterious tank of apples, Rose found herself partially disappointed to find that it was filled with more water than apples.
"Wanna try it out pretty lady?" the man in charge of the apple bobbing asked her with a wink. He was a rather thin man, dressed in overalls and wearing a small brimmed straw hat with tattered edges.
"Oh, I don't have any money..." the Gem told him, attempting to be kind, "Greg has..."
"First apple's free madam." the apple bobbing man told her, giving her a grin so wide she wondered how it was possible on a human face. She took a moment just to appreciate how stretchy his face seemed.
"A-alright then..." Rose carefully agreed as she walked closer to the apple tank.
"Put your hands behind you back," the apple bobbing man then instructed to her, "Then open up your pretty little mouth real wide, and chop at those apples!"
Rose Quartz thought this over before she inquired, "Like this?" as she reared her head back, made her entire head morph into that of an alligator, then plunged into the apple tank. When she pulled back up, Rose had an apple stuck to every other tooth as she looked back at the apple bobbing man for approval. At first, the poor man stared at her before the corner of his mouth started to curl into a rather impressed smile.
"Just like that!" he agreed with an amused chuckle. "Good job sweetie, you took every apple out of my tank it one go!"
Rose morphed her head back to what it was, the apples that were in her teeth fell to the ground at the change, and she gave the apple bobbing man a warm smile. She liked this tradition, or game, or whatever it was. Maybe she'll even do it again next year.
