Bad Apple Bob - Burnt Rubber

Momo was a spring kind of girl... Truly. But there was something just so enticing about Halloween. Maybe it was the crisp fall air or maybe it was the hint of fear that shivered along your skin - but she loved Halloween and all of it's corresponding merriment. When she'd heard there was a Halloween carnival in town, she made explicit plans to go - and tonight was that night. She was alone, but she didn't mind: there was something freeing about wandering the "spooky" carnival while night blanketed the world. The smells, the sounds, and the warm lights of the stalls and rides were more comforting than they were frightening. 

As she wandered, a strange scent caught her nose, mixed in between the faint smell of damp ground and streetfood. Following her nose, she landed in front of a large booth with the words "Bob's Every Flavored Apples" written off to one side. She tilted her head curiously, failing to realize that "Bob" was sitting right there, manning his apple booth. In the center of the booth was a large, wooden tub, filled with water and apples... Or at least, something reminscient of apples. The problem was, they were all colors of the rainbow and some definitely looked like they'd seen better days. And, of course, they smelled nothing like apples. 

After a few more moments of staring, a smug voice drifted from the side of the stand. "Aye lass, you plannin' on giving it a shot? Pick an apple!" 

She blinked, pulled from her trance, to look up at the greyish colored man. "What do I get?" 

He rolled his eyes: "An apple, obviously." 

She opened her mouth to protest, then closed it. It was pretty obvious, after all. She started to reach in and he immediately chided her; "Oye! Haven't you ever bobbed for apples? It's an apple Bob, lass." He tapped his muzzle: "Use yer mouth." 

Her lips curled into a deep, perplexed frown. She sighed in resignation though: "Fine." It should be easy enough, she thought; I'll just choose the one that smells best. Scent is half of taste, after all. 

The young shiji closed her eyes, leaning towards the apples in anticipation, letting her nose guide her. Towards the far side of the tub, she smelled something lovely - faintly sweet, faintly floral... It would make an absolutely wonderful perfume, really. That's the one. Eyes still closed, she ducked her head towards the promising fruit. Bob watched from the sidelines as she b-lined for a light pink apple and then smirked as she inadvertantly smacked it away with her nose, her teeth landing instead in a rubbery looking black apple floating next to it. As her canines sunk in, he called out "Y'might wanna look where yer bitin' girl. Open yer eyes." 

The flavor hit her all at once and she spit the apple out immediately - but it was too late: the rancid juices had permeated her mouth and it was clear the flavor was not going away any time soon. The scent of burning trash filled her nose as the putrid flavor of burning rubber flooded her mouth. She nearly gagged. "What the hells was that?!" 

Bob shrugged, still grinning: "You won! An apple. Congrats, lass."