Apollo 🍂

#1 critter lover they/he benjineedssleep's oc ask blog!!!

[apollosmailbox]

Woah, okay! I did that right! It only took me uh... never mind. The good news is I know how this all works now and can talk to you all. I can't wait to get letters. It'll be like my favorite show as a p-- kid. haha-- sorry. Well, anyway, I guess I should introduce myself. My name's Apollo and I run the sugarbush in northern Cindersap Forest. I also make jams, jellies, and a number of different sweets during the off season so you should stop by for a treat some day. Oh, also! My pronouns are they/he, I'm 27, and my birthday is in the fall (guess when!!!). I'm not sure there's much else for me to say, so send me a letter or two and let's get to know each other! :D

Heyo! Admin Benji (@benjineedssleep, he/they) here! This is my wonderful oc Apollo :3 Here are some general rules + things you should know before interacting with this account:

Apollo is pansexual and polyamorous.

Multiship/blogxblog interactions are okay but you must be 18+ for it. I'm 22 and roleplaying with a minor would just be weird. In addition, their 'canon' partners in sdv would be Sam and Abigail, Sebastian being a more qpr kinda thing. So keep that in mind too.

Friendship, flirting, and dating is cool but no explicit nsfw. Use your better judgement with this one.

Don't be mean/character bash! This is my baby child and doing so would make me uncomfortable. Angst and attempts to uncover lore are cool but be in character, y'know? Don't tell me my oc sucks.

no bigotry, real life religion, or politics! literally why would you come here for that anyway--

Apollo's Loves! ❤️

Trout Soup

Topaz

Sweet Pea

Rhubarb Pie

Strawberry

Honey

Apollo's Likes!* ❤️

Rainbow Trout

Smoked Fish

Aged Roe

Jelly

Maple Syrup

Duck Feather

Coffee

Green Tea

Frog Egg

Nautilus Shell

Rainbow Shell

Coral

*Apollo also broadly likes root vegetables (like potato), squashes, (like pumpkin), gems, and fish, other than what's otherwise stated.

Apollo's Neutrals! 🩶

All Alcohol

Dragon's Tooth

Any Bones

Any Fossils

All Mushrooms (except in food)

Apollo's Dislikes! 💔

Spook Fish 

Blobfish

Apollo's Hates! 💔

All Mushrooms (in food)

Tom Kha Soup

Eel

Sea/Super Cucumber

Tags!!! Super subject to change. I'm new here and suck at tagging lmao--

#we just got a letter -> any and all asks #apollo's journal -> non-ask posts #critter log -> bug and woodland creature facts/ramblings #apollo's buddies -> any interactions with apollo's oc or canon character friends #the pollocule -> Sam, Abigail, or Sebastian interactions or posts! #apollo lore -> any important apollo lore! #apollo angst -> anything a bit heavy/serious #benjis talkin' -> ooc yap sesh and things from me!

pixel banner credit x star divider credit x everything else in this post as well as apollo's banner and pfp were made by me!

[apollosmailbox]

I'm quite excited for salmonberry season here in the Valley! They aren't my favorite kind of berry, but I do very much enjoy using them in mixed berry or rhubarb jams.

A hack I like to use with the jam is freeze some in those itty bitty ice cube trays. Then, when I make oatmeal in the morning, I can pop a cube in for a little flavor and sweetness. It's incredibly easy and makes it so I don't have to open up any of the jars I save for when salmonberries are out of season.

[apollosmailbox]

Oh hey! I was just looking for you!

Would you like to come over for some tea? I just wrapped up the day's work in the forest. My trees are putting out so much syrup this year! I'll be sure to send some over when it's all bottled up. For now, we can use what I've processed thus far in tea. My favorite this time of year is chai. A little vanilla, maple syrup, frothed soy milk... yum! It's almost like a dessert. If you ask me, at least.

[apollosmailbox]

Though it's been a bit nicer lately, I'm really glad to have all these sweaters. The weather's been particularly brutal and farm work never quite stops, even when it slows down!

Oh, I do really hope you're layering up when you go out... Mittens over gloves as well, unless you absolute have to use your hands! If you need some, I have plenty.

[apollosmailbox]

I was a bit worried about the hens with this storm but they seem to be doing just fine last I checked on them! Those extra heaters Marnie lent me last minute are putting in overtime for certain. I'm grateful for the peace as now I can cozy up with Mariana and read. If she lets me, that is. She's a bit of an attention bug when it's cold out like this. That's alright, though! I wouldn't change it for the world!

[apollosmailbox]

;; i miss my wife tails... might bring this acc back for funsies bc of it. i think maybe i'll post my baking bc apollo also likes to bake and share recipes for basically anything and everything (including random dinners he comes up with). so yeah, don't hold me to this but i just might post again!

[apollosmailbox]

APOLLO IS THAT A GAMI GANG SHIRT??? I know you said you stole Sam's clothes so it's probably his shirt, but do you have any favorite songs by origami angel?

Hah! Yes it is!

Sam took it back because it's one of his favorites, but that's alright. I can snatch it up again when he's not looking.

Anyway! I mostly listen to them because of Sam so I don't know their discography front to back or anything, but I do really enjoy Quiet Hours as a whole. We even have the etched record.

Greenbelt Station is also quite good and a couple of songs off of Doing the Most are *mwah* just perfect to me.

[apollosmailbox]

Hi friends! Long time no chatty chat!

How have you been? I hope good!

I was back home visiting family, specifically one of my cousins who just had a pup *cough* baby, 'scuse me. Wow! I have another family member whose foster dog just had her puppies. Lot's going on is all.

Anyway, I'm glad to be back and my animals definitely are too. Although... some of my hens are acting a bit funny when I come come open their coop in the morning. They're so loud, won't even leave until I get Sam to come over. Oh, you should see how they run to him now. I suppose they've gotten attached to him in my absence.

Gods, now that I think of it, you should also see how he talks to them!

Hehe, sorry! I just love him so much.

And his clothes but shhh don't tell him...

[apollosmailbox]

Gods... I've been so tired lately. My sleep is always-- never mind. Sorry. It's just last night I slept nearly twelve hours and I'm running out of ways to explain this is just what it's like without lying to my friends. Because I really don't like to but... sigh what am I to do? It's not their fault for being curious as to why I'm calling it a day so early, especially this time of year when the sun's still out. Maybe they're just concerned for my health but I promise you it's normal.

Sorry I'm being so vague, I don't really know how to talk about it. You wouldn't get it anyway.

And you'd think differently of me. For certain.

Just don't worry about me, okay?

[apollosmailbox]

I know I spoke about tapping before but I just wanted to say it's not the only thing I do! The rest of the year my focus pivots heavily to my bees, as I keep a number of hives west of my garden. You'd be surprised how kind those little guys are. Oh, and did you know they dance to communicate? It's called the waggle dance!

I do sometimes wonder if it's actual communication or just a thing they do. Though, honestly, even if it isn't, it's fun to imagine the idea that bees dance as a form of self expression just like we do. My goodness, imagine a break dancing bee? Or a bee en pointe?

;; i <3 bumble bees especially all the lil chunky guys i see at my job. they love our lavender!!!

;; tumblr low key ate the quality of the photo but this lil guy was SO fluffy

[apollosmailbox]

It rained pretty hard earlier today. Luckily it was after I got done with most of my morning farm work, so I actually got to sit on the porch and enjoy it for a bit. The pitter-patter while inside is nice but trust me when I say it's a whole different ball game when when you can feel the breeze and smell the damp ground. I'm sure my plants liked it a ton too. Rain water is so much nicer than hose water.

I did get to lay by the river, by the way. It was quite nice to decompress there after a long day. You should seriously try it some time. Get a little dirty, a little rained on, and you'll feel so much better. I know it helped me worry a bit less about this upcoming week.

[apollosmailbox]

hi apollo!! just wondering what your favorite season is and what you enjoy most about the valley!

Well hello there LC!!! I hope you've had a great day. And if not, you should go lay in the grass by the river sometime. It's so nice and cozy there. Hmm... maybe I'll go by tomorrow...

Now let me get to your questions!

My favorite season is fall! Growing up in the forest I have really fond memories of the trees turning color and everything being so bright even with the sun going down earlier. You don't get much time with the full and colorful trees but right after you get to look forward to Spirit's Eve, which is one of my all time favorite holidays! I suppose I've kind of answered your second question as well. The Spirit's Eve festival here in the Valley is truly one of my favorites. I just love how the community comes together to have a little bit of 'childish' fun. Same with the egg hunt and whatnot! What does Abby call this... Whimsy! It has a lot of whimsy.

I one day hope to have the funds and time to set up something of a haunted hay ride or walk through. I really do want to contribute more to the festivities. Though I'm not so sure I want tourists on my property for a whole month...

[apollosmailbox]

Most of my work here on the farm has to do with tapping, but it's very much concentrated to a few weeks from late winter to early spring. The temperature has to be just right to tap the sugar maple. Over 30ºF during the day and below 30ºF at night. It's tricky too as if the weather isn't perfect, you won't get a good flow or have to close things up for the tree's health. But if you wait too long for good enough weather, they can bud, and a budding tree is no good for tapping. I think it's pretty cool but I won't bore you anymore with that. Sorry

[apollosmailbox]

What am I eating? It's just a granola bar! Or, well, most people around here call them field snacks. I'm not exactly sure why but I have a feeling it has to do with using mostly foraged ingredients. I forage when I can but most of my field snacks are just made with the dry ingredients I keep on hand. This one has oats as a base --of course-- almonds, chocolate chunks, and cranberries. I also use some of my own maple syrup and honey for a little sweetness and to hold everything together. Would you like one? I make large batches because I eat a ton, especially around now, but there's always enough to share!!!

[apollosmailbox]

hai appopo!! i gotchu a bunch of crunchy leaves and many bugs. we should go drink tea and listen to hozier together

Woah! What a haul! Looks like we've got a sugar maple leaf, a yellow birch leaf, a few isopods, a june bug and some kind of grub... Hah! This is some really lovely stuff, Cole. Thank you! I should probably give you something back but I'm not sure wh--

Hehe... ✨They take all your goodies and a bone fragment is placed in your hands in return✨

I heard you like bones and things so, here you go!

And about the music and tea, pop by whenever you want. Even if I'm working. I can always use a break.

[apollosmailbox]

Have you met my baby Mariana yet? I snuck her in from the street when I was in high school and she's been with me ever since. Through college and everything. My parents for sure didn't think I'd keep her but here we are haha!

She doesn't look so happy in this picture because she's a real stinker if you wake her up. I swear it was an accident, though!

;; i use elle's cuter cats to mod mariana into the game. i don't have any in game pics at the moment but here's a screenie from the mod listing!!! :D