Apples and More Apples - Open

[the_perfect_pear]

There's a new stand next to the Apple Family Cart. While it was normally seen for it's apples, a surprising amount of Pears and pear produce was there, with the okay of Granny Smith that was. With the return of Pear Butter to the landscape, ponies were coming out of the woodwork to help support the displaced mother of three.

It was here that Pear had gotten out of her funk and had made some pear-and-apple jam. Something to integrate herself back into the family.

"Get your jam here, apple-pear jam, just four bits a jar! Sir? Ma'am? Want to try it out?"

Comments

[the_perfect_pear]

"Better, now that I've gotten into a routine," replied Pear, opening a jar and spreading some on a loaf of bread. "Here, have a sample. On me."

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

"I'm glad you're feeling better." His ears perk a little, curious to see what it's like, taking the 'sample' carefully to try it when she offers it to him.

"Thank you." The look on his face says he really enjoys the sample, and wonders how it would taste on some gems as he considers how many 'bits' that he has on him. "I'll buy six..."

Granted, he's not really idle while he's talking to her... using his tail like a brush, cleaning away any excess snow from around the stall in a neat path, so that ponies don't have to walk through or stand in it to do business. Because why not?

[the_perfect_pear]

She notices and appreciates it, while she puts six apple pear jam jars into a box. "Six of them, that'll be 4 bits for each jar so a total of 24 bits Skyfire."

"We also have some apples for sale too, and cider."

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

He fishes out the 'little' pouch that he's been using to store bits in from a bag hidden under one of his wings, and sets it on the stand counter. Then he very carefully picks out coins to pay her using the very tips of his claws. "Thank you. I can't wait to see how they go with different things."

Considering things a moment, he has to shake his head. "I have no place to keep the apples without squishing them, and I believe the cider will have to wait until I have somewhere to keep it as well." He'd want to buy a barrel or two of cider later, since at his size he'd go through it fairly quickly, but right now he didn't have the bits to pay for it.

[the_perfect_pear]

"I'm sure you'l love it. Don't worry about keeping them in this weather," said Pear with a nod. "Thanks for your patronage, this is lovely."

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

Skyfire smiles and nods at her as he tucks the box away in the bag, along with his remaining bits. "You're quite welcome. Let me know if you need any snow cleaned out of your way? I seem to be good at it." Well, why not? It gave him something to do.

[the_perfect_pear]

Pear nodded. "Of course, if you don't mind. There's a bit of snow pileup around the market right now. We could use a little moving of it."

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

"I don't mind at all." He looks around a bit "Where would you like me to dump the snow?... If there's enough clean snow I could likely turn it into a sculpture of some kind as well..."

[the_perfect_pear]

"A sculpture would be nice to keep the snow from piling up," said Pear with a nod. "Let's do that."

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

He nods and then starts looking around for a good spot to put it so it's not in the way. Finally he locates a visible area close to the market center that doesn't seem to have much if any impact on those shopping.

"Does this area work?" If it doesn't, Skyfire will look for another area, but if it does, he'll start piling the clean snow there and dumping the dirty stuff in a separate pile to toss somewhere outside of the town later.

A bunch of snow moving later, there will be a big block sitting there waiting to be carved. Now though, he's not sure what to make out of it. "What do you think would look good here? I'm not sure what would be appropriate... A basket of items from the market perhaps?"

[the_perfect_pear]

"A basket would be nice," said Pear, agreeing with the idea. "I think it would draw in a lot of people."

"Let's see... just right there."

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

"Right then, lets see what I can come up with..."

He sets in to work on what looks like a large, wooden bushel basket, tipped on it's side with all kinds of items spilling out. Skyfire stops now and then to go look around the market, carving matching items that match as many items as he can to what the various shops and stalls are selling.

It takes him a couple of hours, but by the time he's done it looks pretty good. He's good enough at carving that most of the 'products' in the basket are recognizable as being from the market, even if they're only white.

Finally happy with it, he goes back to ask Pear for a second opinion. "What do you think?"

[the_perfect_pear]

Pear nodded, having finished with her sales for the time and was eating an apple when she came out to inspect it. "It looks good!" She exclaimed, wandering around the statue.

"It's very nice, I wish I had a camera."

[caelum_ignis_draconigena]

Skyfire's ears perk and he looks slightly flustered by the praise, like he's not really used to it.

"Thank you..." He ponders for a moment then suggests "Well, it should last quite a while as long as the cold holds... Perhaps someone can take a photo of it for you?"

[the_perfect_pear]

"I'm thinking so, we'll have to find somepony with a camera then," said Pear, nodding. "For now, I think letting it stand there for now is a good idea. It looks like a nice centerpiece for the market."