Nearby blue-tinted waves crash ashore, fading smoothly into soft breakers, the smell of brackish, fresh seawater stung the local’s noses, albeit a welcomed familiar tid-bit of their daily routine. The noises of water overlapping its own waves faded into a soothing metronome, almost able to lull an innocent bystander into a tranquil slumber, albeit everyone had somewhere to be it seemed. You stood leisurely, leant against a stone fence that guarded a steep ledge, that led down to the surging combers, that tinted the vast sea a glassy blue-green hue mixed in with a cream-white foam. Entangling your fingers into a locked position, you exhaled softly, briefly shutting your eyelids peacefully before fluttering your eyelids back open. The setting sun shedded its final moments of warmth onto your very presence, the sight almost picturesque, the radiant orb gradually dipping behind tall, snowy-topped mountains in the far distance.

Almost unintentionally lulling yourself into a lethargic state, you leant your chin against your palm, the sweet embrace of slumber almost swept you right under.. if it weren’t for the sudden cough that emitted coldly from behind you. Whipping yourself around curtly,— your gaze fell onto the towering man that stood ominously before you, ah.. Netherlands. Could he be any less.. I don’t know, monstrous? intimidating? He stared daggers through you, like he knew your every secret, although his stare felt less heavy, more like an instinct hammered into him. Parting his lips, a soft, bitter plume of grey smoke exited his lips as he plucked his pipe from his lips, he glanced towards the crate of fresh pink lady apples you had picked up earlier on. The price tag stapled to the crate read 9.26 euros, to the stingy man stood before you? That was a fair deal, considering they were ripe and in a good bunch.

Although, his aloof, hardened face had become strangely prominent within your daily life now,— it’s not everyday you sell these apples, but when you set up shop nearby the shore, he’s always first, strangely so. He also lingered even after purchasing, seemingly not in a rush albeit being an important figure within these regions. He was making deliberate time for you..— odd.