forum "Happy Hallowee- why is there a bow on your forehead?" "I'm going as God's gift to humankind." // One-on-One // Closed, unless I let you join // Stalkers, come hither //

Started October 19, 2020 by @murphysgirl

tune

"Sure." She shrugged and filled a plastic cup with root beer.

Apollo waited for her, before starting to wander around. Eventually he found a table, sitting down at one of the chairs. "After you eat, what do we wanna do?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

Apollo pursed his lips, nodding a little. Glancing around the room, he hummed softly as he tried to find something to do. "Mm… looks like there's games. Over there."

"Oh! Yes! Do you want to find someone else to play with us?" She trotted through the crowd, clutching her cup and plate.

"Oh- um sure." Apollo hummed, following after her when she got up. He was attempting to follow her, hands in his pockets as they walked. "You're the social bug, is there any interesting people around?"

She looked around. "I could find Mira again."

"Mmm… she's a little bit much for my taste. I don't mind excited, but she's a little loud…" Apollo admitted sheepishly, laughing weakly.

"You think she's loud? Try going to college with her. It was a new boyfriend every week, I swear."

"Oh gosh…" Apollo laughed, playing with the sleeves of his shirt. "I bet that was a lot… were you two roommates?"

"Yeah, we were."
Someone tall and lanky paused them to ask about Apollo's costume. Insufferingly patient, Ayala explained, and they were on their way again.
"Let's find someone to play with us," Ayala said, looking around. "If I could find Forrest… but she's probably lurking in some corner somewhere with a book…"

"Forrest?" Apollo asked softly, seeming intrigued. "Mm, we could go look for her. If you want, I mean."

"She's another one of our roommates. She's not… great with people. Mira probably dragged her here - and I mean that literally - but she's probably hiding somewhere. I'll ask Mira."
Ayala darted off into the crowd and returned a few minutes later.
"She said she saw Forrest heading for the basement, which I think is this way." She pointed, and together they pushed through the crowds of people towards the basement stairs.

Apollo quietly followed besides her, a gentle smile on his face. He hummed some as they walked, pulling his phone from his back pocket.
"Am I going to make her uncomfortable? I don't want to bug her." He asked softly, tucking his phone back after checking the time.

"She might squeak and run, but she's a sucker for fluffy hair and a smile." Ayala grinned and turned the corner. "You might want to hang back a bit, though. Forrest? Forrest, are you down here? It's Ayala."
No reply. Ayala sighed. "Forrest!"
"Noooo," came a distant reply from the shadowy hall beyond.
"Forrest, come here." Ayala put her hands on her hips and descended the rest of the way down the stairs; the lights clicked on automatically, casting light into the hall and revealing a twig-skinny, freckled girl with mid-thigh-length red hair. She was clutching a book to her chest as though it was a portal that would swallow her up and teleport her away. She eyed Ayala warily, but when she spotted Apollo, she made an odd squeaking noise, turned tail, and scurried away.
"Oh my word," Ayala muttered.

Apollo did as directed, staying up closer to the doorway. He didn't want to frighten the girl. But when Ayala flipped on the lights, he flinched at the sudden brightness.
"Geez, give a guy a warning next time." He muttered, looking around the basement. He noted the girl, but didn't try to introduce himself quite yet. She definitely seemed nervous, and he didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"Sorry. I guess the lights are automatic. Forrest!" Ayala hurried away down the hall. "Forrest, it's just me. Do you want to play a game with me and Apollo?"
"No-o-o," came the distant reply.
"Forrest."
"What game?"
"We don't know yet. Come out."
"Tell me what game."
Ayala poked her head around the corner. "Apollo, what game do you want to play?"

"I dunno, whatever really. I don't have an opinion really." Apollo shrugged, yawning a little. "Whatever you ladies want to do." He hummed with a little smile. He stayed up by the doorway, playing with his sleeves still.

Ayala sighed. "Forrest, what do you want to play?"
Silence, and then, "Egyptian Rat-Slap."
Ayala groaned. "Forrest, you're too good at that."
"I want to play it."
"Fine, fine, we'll play it. Come out, will you?"
"Get me a deck of cards."
Ayala sighed and hurried upstairs and back as fast as her short legs would take her, eventually fetching a pack of cards. "Forrest, we've got cards."
"Show me."
Ayala disappeared down the hall again and waved the pack of cards in the air. "Come out!"
Forrest reappeared, still clutching her book. She huffed slightly and followed Ayala back to the main room, eyeing Apollo warily. In a thin voice, she said, "Why is there a bow on your head?"

Apollo looked up, giving Forest a sweet smile. He chuckled some as he played with his sleeves.
"I'm God's gift to humanity." He hummed, giving her a little smile. He kept up a decent pace, but stayed by Forrest's side.

"Let's play. Apollo, can you shuffle the cards? You know I'm rubbish at it." She handed him the deck.

Apollo nodded, smiling lightly. Shuffling them up good, he looked up at her. "Do we get cards? And how many do we each get?" He asked, still shuffling the cards up.

"Yeah, give us each a pile. Facedown. No looking, Forrest."

Apollo nodded as he set the cards out. He slid a stack to each girl, keeping one for himself. He hummed a little, looking up at the girls. "You two are gonna have to give me a quick refresher. I haven't played this in forever."

Ayala explained it to him, with Forrest occasionally jumping in.