Hiii Mouse, How Have You Been? Its Been Awhile Since My Last Ask Request. Soooo I Have Another Random

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚎𝚕𝚏-𝙳𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝 𝙲𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚎

Farmer: *leaning on their hoe, sighing deeply* Damn, I’m so useless.

Abigail: *bursts through a wall like the Kool-Aid Man* WHO SAID THAT?!

Sebastian: *appears from the shadows* YOU WANNA TRY THAT LINE AGAIN?!

Sam: *backflips off his skateboard* OH HELL NO!

Shane: *launches a beer can across the farm* THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?!

Harvey: *running in, stethoscope flying* EXCUSE ME, THAT IS A MEDICAL LIE!

Elliott: *dramatic gasp flipping his hair* HOW DARE YOU INSULT YOURSELF IN SUCH A WAY?!

Haley: *lowers her sunglasses* That’s literally the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

Leah: *grabbing their hands gently* You are nature’s masterpiece, don’t you ever forget it.

Alex: *flexing aggressively* YOU’RE STRONG AS HELL, DON’T MAKE ME GIVE YOU A PEP TALK!

Penny: *clutching a book* You are worthy of love and respect, Farmer!

Maru: *holding a literal blueprint for an invention called "Farmer Confidence Booster 3000"* I BETTER START BUILDING THIS!

Emily: *already mid-dance to cleanse the negativity* BEGONE, NEGATIVE ENERGY! I CLEANSE THIS FARM WITH THE POWER OF YOBA!

Krobus: *somehow appearing from the sewers* I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HUMAN EMOTIONS BUT I KNOW THAT'S WRONG.

Pierre: *stepping out of his shop* Yes, even I think—!

Caroline: *dragging him back inside* PIERRE, READ THE ROOM.

Wizard: *literally appears in a cloud of smoke* THAT IS A DANGEROUS FALSEHOOD, FARMER.

Linus: *nodding wisely from the mountains* You are part of nature’s balance. Never forget that.

Other Marriage Candidates: *crash through windows, doors, appears through a portal or possibly even from underground* SAY THAT AGAIN, WE DARE YOU!

Farmer: *overwhelmed, hands up* Okay! I take it back! Damn, that worked a little too well…

Gus: *sliding a drink over* Yeah, don’t do that again. We almost lost half the Saloon to a riot.

𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊 𝚄𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎

[After countless side quests—gathering rare relics, artifacts, and questionable items,—casting complicated spells (including accidentally turning their cow blue for a week and setting a tree on fire), the Farmer finally frees Caldarus from his statue prison.]

Caldarus: *stands before them, now in human form, his dragon wings unfurled, horns glinting in the sunlight, and a tail lazily swishing behind him. The air practically hums with power.*

Farmer: *gawking, inner thoughts* Oh no. He’s hot. Like, "burn-down-my-crops" hot.

Caldarus: *stretching his wings, glancing at his hands with a satisfied grin* I’m finally free… after a thousand years. I can feel the wind again. *breathes deeply* No more being a glorified lawn ornament.

Farmer: *still staring* Uh-huh. Majestic. Totally majestic.

Caldarus: *turning to them with a charming smile* Truly, I owe you a debt I cannot hope to repay. Tell me, Farmer. What reward would suffice for freeing me?

Farmer: *already holding out a bouquet, a ring, and a chest full of their finest gold and jewels* Simple. Marry me.

Caldarus: *blinking, wings twitching in surprise* ...Pardon?

Farmer: Look, you’re tall, you have wings, horns and you practically radiate ‘mysterious ancient power.’ You expect me not to shoot my shot?

Caldarus: *staring at the offerings, then at the Farmer, tail flicking in amusement* You freed me from an ancient curse and your first thought was marriage?

Farmer: *nodding enthusiastically* Yup. Right here, right now. We can skip the long courting phase. I’ve got the ring, the flowers, and enough wealth to fund a honeymoon in every region of Mistria. Let’s go.

Caldarus: *crossing his arms, smirking* I see you’ve also conveniently ignored the thousand-year gap in life experience. I don’t even know what a 'honeymoon' is.

Farmer: Don’t worry, I’ll teach you. Lesson one: It involves a lot of cake and maybe—just maybe, romantic walks under the moonlight. Lesson two: you looking like that means I have no self-control.

Caldarus: *chuckling, wings rustling* Hmm. So bold. I do admire confidence in a mortal. But tell me, are you proposing because of my power… or my devastatingly good looks?

Farmer: *deadpan*...Yes.

Caldarus: *sighing, rubbing his temples as his tail sways* I suppose I should have expected this. You were always talking to my statue about your tragic love life.

Farmer: *shrugging* Hey, you gave great advice! Plus, you could’ve warned me that you were this attractive.

Caldarus: As a statue? Should I have etched a warning plaque? ‘Caution: Restoring this relic may result in intense attraction.’

Farmer: Honestly? It would’ve saved me a lot of emotional turmoil right now.

Caldarus: *snorts, wings twitching with amusement* And you believe a mere proposal is enough? Have you considered the implications? I am an immortal dragon guardian. Marriage is a… complicated matter.

Farmer: Pfft. You sound like you’re overthinking it. I mean, you’ve been stuck as a statue for a thousand years. Surely you’ve had time to think about settling down.

Caldarus: *deadpan* Yes. Clearly, I spent every waking moment contemplating wedding registries and floral arrangements.

Farmer: See? You’re a natural. I’ll handle the registry; you just show up looking majestic and vaguely dangerous.

Caldarus: *exasperated but amused, pacing with his tail flicking* Do you always leap into life-altering decisions without thought?

Farmer: Absolutely. Did you not hear the part where I accidentally turned my cow blue? Commitment issues? Never heard of them.

Caldarus: *pauses, glancing back with a raised brow* That… explains a great deal.

Farmer: Come on. We already have a history. Remember when I told your statue self about that embarrassing date with the cute blacksmith?

Caldarus: *groans dramatically, covering his face with one hand* Unfortunately, I do recall. You spoke for three hours.

Farmer: And yet you didn’t turn to dust. Clearly, we’re meant to be.

Caldarus: *peeking through his fingers, giving them a look* You are infuriating.

Farmer: But charmingly persistent.

Caldarus: *sighing, wings drooping slightly as he gives a reluctant smile* Persistent is one word for it.

Farmer: *grinning, stepping closer* So… is that a ‘yes’?

Caldarus: *arching a brow, giving them a slow, teasing look* Hmm. Tempting. But I’m afraid you’ll have to do better than showing up with shiny trinkets and reckless confidence.

Farmer: Wow. Harsh. After everything I did to free you?

Caldarus: *smirking, wings giving a playful flick* I am grateful. Truly. But I’ve been sealed for a thousand years. I’m hardly rushing into a binding contract with a mortal who once confessed they tried to romance a merchant for discount prices.

Farmer: *groans* Okay, first off, it was a strategic decision. Second, it didn’t work anyway. Third—!

Caldarus: *laughing now, warm and rich, shaking his head* Enough. Your desperation is amusing, but I need time to explore this world again. Perhaps if you prove yourself more… convincingly, we’ll revisit this conversation.

Farmer: *grinning smugly* Oh, you’re so into me.

Caldarus: *turning away, tail flicking with mock indifference* Keep telling yourself that, mortal.

Farmer: *calling after him* Don’t worry, I will! You will be mine!

Caldarus: *under his breath, smiling* ...Infuriating mortal indeed.

𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚘 𝙼𝚊𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜

[This is a continuation for "Riddle Me This".]

Aleia: *crossing her arms and sitting back down on the couch with a huff* Anyway, speaking of mayo… I still don’t get why you refuse to acknowledge it as a good beverage.

Sebastian: *pauses mid-smirk, his grin fading as he stares at her, incredulous* You’re kidding me. We’re back to this?

Aleia: *nodding enthusiastically, leaning forward as if she’s about to give the speech of a lifetime* Listen, it’s creamy, it’s versatile, it has eggs for protein, and oil for energy! It’s basically a smoothie!

Sebastian: *groans loudly, dragging a hand down his face* Oh my gawd, please don’t call mayonnaise a smoothie.

Aleia: *completely ignoring him, gesturing animatedly* Think about it! If you mix it with a little lemon juice and maybe some herbs, boom! Gourmet drink! It could even be a café special, like 'Aleia’s Creamy Mayo Delight.'

Sebastian: *staring at her in sheer disbelief, slowly lowering himself into the chair, his head in his hands* Here we go again…

Aleia: *grinning now, clearly enjoying his misery* I mean, you’ve got people out there drinking celery juice and kale smoothies, but mayo gets slandered? Where’s the justice in that?

Sebastian: *looking up at her, deadpan* The justice is in basic human decency, Aleia. You can’t just go around advocating for mayonnaise as a drink. That’s not a personality trait; it’s a cry for help.

Aleia: *gasping dramatically, clutching her chest* A cry for help?! Wow, Sebby. That’s rich coming from someone who survives off coffee and instant noodles.

Sebastian: *crossing his arms, raising an eyebrow* Says the woman who drinks coffee like its water but coffee is a respectable beverage. Mayonnaise is... mayonnaise. It’s not even in the same league.

Aleia: *leaning forward, eyes glinting mischievously* Alright then, Mr. Respectable Beverage. How about a challenge? You try drinking mayo for a day, and I’ll-!

Sebastian: *cutting her off, holding up a hand* Absolutely not. I’d rather code for 24 hours straight than suffer through that nightmare.

Aleia: *pouting dramatically* Sebaaaastian, you’re no fun!

Sebastian: *smirking slightly, shaking his head* No, I’m just sane. There’s a difference.

Aleia: *grinning triumphantly* Fine. But one day, when mayo smoothies take the world by storm, you’ll be the one begging for forgiveness.

Sebastian: *snorts, leaning back in his chair* Yeah, sure. And when that happens, I’ll start calling you 'Chef Aleia, the Mayo Queen.'

Aleia: *smirking back, throwing another pillow at him* Deal! But don’t forget. Mayo is the future!

Sebastian: *catching the pillow and shaking his head, chuckling softly* And yet, somehow, I still love you.

Aleia: *grinning proudly* Of course you do. I’m adorable and revolutionary.

Sebastian: *sighing, resting his head in his hand* Adorable, yes. Revolutionary? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, sweetheart.

Aleia: *laughing* Mark my words, Sebby. Mayo. Smoothies. 2030. You’ll see."

Sebastian: *leaning back, groaning dramatically* Someone save me before this actually happens.

Thanks for this headcanon. 🤭😳 Makes me wonder the number of attempts do Isaac and Lance even hide their "love" bruises and hickies. For Lance, knowing the man he would just show it off to everyone, as for Isaac he would just hide it with long sleeves and scarves but remember his seasonal outfit in the summer. Makes me wonder, how tempted would Lance be to just give a bite. 😂

Hello! I just really like your IsaacXLance headcanon stories and I just have this random idea. Which one of them is top or bottom? 🤔

I sometimes see them as switches or maybe Isaac is a power bottom and Lance is a top. 😂 But what do u think? And how frequent are their "activities"? Especially with their difficult time management.

🌚 heh...

(Warning: adult talk, kinda nsfw)

Lance is definitely a switch. Depending on the situation, his own mood and Isaac's mood, Lance can be both bottom AND top. Though I feel like in some cases, he would still tease his partner and have control. All in all, a switch, with a power bottom energy.

It's a very similar situation with Isaac, he's also a switch most of the time, but sometimes Isaac prefers to be a service top or even just a top. Mostly when Lance acts like an asshole and provokes Isaac on purpose. And the adventurer with the scar is happy to "remind his colleague of his manners". Lance, in general, is well-mannered, but not with Isaac, and it’s not like Isaac himself was complaining... 🌚

Given their busy patrol schedules and the fact that both are more often than not in different parts of the world (not sure how far Castle Village is from Stardew Valley), there are few opportunities for them to be alone together. So they will make the most of every opportunity. Sometimes it's slow and passionate sex, sometimes it's quickie. But they still manage to adjust their schedules so that Lance and Isaac have enough time for each other.

Farmer: Guys, I need your help.

Camilla: Love help?

Alesia: Financial help?

Lance: Emotional help?

Isaac: Help moving a body?

*Everybody looks at Isaac*

Isaac: What?

As the wind blows, remember that I'll come home to you.

started listening to "No Choice" by Fly By Midnight and this happened :')

March x Gender Neutral Adventurer/Farmer

-0-

You had to leave.

You didn't want to, of course you didn't, but you had to.

You were an adventurer first before you became a farmer, before you decided it was time to leave the thrill of adventure. To let your body rest, to abandon the horrors that you've seen in your years on the road and settle into this little town.

The life you had built here was nice, far nicer than you ever expected it would. You made friends, you found community. You were settling down.

But you, of all people, knew it wasn't going to last.

The missive arrived days after the last snowfall of spring. You thought it was another mail from Adeline or another letter from Errol asking to meet you and Eiland at the museum. Or maybe it was from March - you hoped it was - telling you that your ass better be at the inn that night.

A chill ran down your spine when you opened the mailbox. A single envelope sat inside, snug, the golden filigree emblazoned over the plush red on the quality paper glinted once the sunlight You didn't have to see the seal, didn't have to see the signature. Didn't have to see to know the colors of your guild.

But you were retired, right? You made sure of that. Made sure that you were off the ledgers, made sure that you would no longer be contacted.

And yet here it was, the ghosts of your past sitting prettily in the mailbox on the land that you so carefully tended.

There was a punch in your gut, a deep clutch at the pit of your stomach. You didn't want to open the envelope. Felt you already know what it said. But you did. You had to.

And felt your heart ice over.

Aldaria was at war. Every soldier, every adventurer within the central kingdom's guilds, every able combatant, retired or otherwise, are required to go to the frontlines.

No one is exempted.

Those who are to run will be deemed as traitors to the Crown and will be put to death.

Fuck.

-0-

The grief of it hit you quickly.

So much that you sat at the stone bench, one that you placed by Caldarus. You didn't think you could talk, didn't think you could form any of the words. Caldarus didn't pry. You thought he could sense what it was, anyway.

You didn't know how much time passed by. Didn't care. Not even hunger, not even the rain.

You had to leave. Immediately.

Adeline and Eiland were horrified. Elsie was rendered speechless. All of you were in tears.

You packed up quickly. It wasn't as if you had a lot of belongings, anyway, even though you've already spent several months here in Mistria. It had to be quick, it had to be soon, as your heart couldn't take it anymore.

The goodbyes were the most difficult of it. More tears, more fear. Hugs, promises to come back.

But you couldn't quite look at everyone in the eye. One person, at the back of the inn, just staring. Dark, dark eyes devoid of emotion. You noticed that his drink remained untouched, his food already cold. You didn't want to say goodbye, not to him. But you needed to.

You took him aside late into the night. His body was rigid, his eyes ice cold.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, tried for a weak smile. "I guess you're right. I didn't even reach winter."

"Don't." His voice was hard, shaky. "Don't fucking blame yourself for this."

"March, I-"

He grabbed your shoulders, hard, looked directly into your eyes. "Don't die,' he murmured. "And come back when this is all done. Are we clear?"

The silence descended upon both of you as you stared at each other. Sighed. Weakly smiled.

"Clear."

And you knew, neither of you wanted to think of that promise being broken.

-0-

The day you left was a particularly rainy day.

Mistria was quiet, as if the joyous energy that usually engulfed the town was washed clean.

People tried to resume their routines, their normal, but watching you leave on horseback, alone while getting soaked, was one of the most difficult sights most of them had in recent years. And yet life has to move on. Days, weeks, months had to pass.

March was not handling it well.

He managed to easily slide back into routine. Being a tradesman, the work was never-ending, especially since he decided to expand their enterprise by accepting orders from the other surrounding towns.

It made sense to expand, especially since Mistria already rose up the ranks quickly in the months the farmer was here. Wartime was an opportunity for more profits. Times were changing and he had to catch up.

(And it wasn't because he just wanted the work to keep his mind off of you.)

Every hit of the hammer to the anvil was a second that he wasn't thinking about you.

Every nail, every screw, every project was something to keep your smile, the crinkle of delight in your eye when you give him another gift, the way the sunlight streaked your hair, out of his mind.

He didn't want to smell your scent the moment he picks up the blanket you made him. He didn't want to think about you when he eats something that you liked. He didn't want to remember the feeling of you, all the curves and angles of your body, the callouses of your hands, the scars that littered your body. He didn't want to see even the barest of glimpses of you in his dreams.

And yet he couldn't escape it. Couldn't escape the way his heart weighed him down. Couldn't escape the dull thrum of longing at the back of his head.

So he worked.

And worked.

And worked no matter how much Olric told him to take a break. No matter how much his body screamed at him to stop. Not even when Valen put her foot down and demanded he rest.

Because his hand shook when he struck that hammer. His breath hitched when he stepped away from the anvil. Because his eyes teared up when his back hit against the wall when the entirety of you consumed him, assaulted his senses, his memory.

"Fuck!"

He threw his hammer down as he crumpled to the ground, shoving his head into his lap as he breathed in the way you showed him how.

When were you coming back? He just wanted you back.

-0-

They were keeping up with the current events, of course.

It was slow all around, as messengers didn't always come or the roads were blocked off. But Balor, through his contacts, made sure that Mistria got the news as soon as possible.

The North Everett Garrison fell to the enemy a week ago and proved a heavy blow to the kingdom. Massive body counts on both sides. No news yet on those who fell.

They hoped, prayed, that you weren't there. That you weren't one of the ones who died. That you were still alive and well.

It's been over a year since you left and they still hoped.

It was three weeks after the news that another messenger arrived.

March snarled when the knock on the door came. The shop was closed, goddammit. Why can't people just leave him the fuck alone? He shoved open the door, stopped when Adeline and Eiland stood outside.

Dread pooled at the base of his stomach, his body crumbling into a cold sweat. In Adeline's hand was a familiar helmet. The perfect, silver helmet that he made for you over a year ago.

-0-

They said they couldn't find you.

When the garrison fell, it was immediately reclaimed by the arriving forces. For days, the soldiers and holy people recovered and identified the dead.

But there was nothing else that they could find of you. They only found the helmet, damaged and bloody, with March's trademark on it. By the time the forces managed to collect as much as they could, you were listed as one of the missing, potentially (probably) dead.

It was enough to send him into a spiral.

March hasn't left his room in days. The meals Olric left by his door barely touched. For days he held the helmet, his hands raw from keeping it close and tight to his chest.

His usual proud eyes were dull, the shine of it diminishing slowly ever since you left. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. This was supposed to be your start at a new life, a new beginning. He saw the grief in your eyes when you first moved in. He saw the twitchiness. He saw the strain. And he saw the way you let the shadows of your past eventually fall.

Only to be thrown back again against your will.

He couldn't feel anything. Just that steady throbbing, the heavy pulling of his heart down, down, to the depths of his despair. Couldn't feel the sunlight that streamed through his window. Couldn't feel the cold of the stone floor. Could barely feel the weight of the helmet on his lap.

Time didn't exist anymore. Every single breath he took was like inhaling shattered glass. The world seemed to have lost all color.

"March?"

"Go away, Olric."

"It's not Olric."

He whipped his head back, confusion marring itself on his face. With effort, he hauled himself off of the ground.

Opened the door.

It's been a while since you've seen him.

He's a bit thinner, a little gaunt, which worried you. A shadow of a beard rested on his face as he stood there, wide eyed, as he held your helmet in his hands.

He was just as handsome as you remembered him to be. You smiled.

"Hey, March."

He had you in his arms not one second later. You felt the shudder run through his body as his strong hands pulled you tight into his embrace. This was something that you dreamed off, the one thing that pushed you through, pushed you to survive. The thought of coming back to him was the light in your darkest days.

"March-"

"Quiet."

He took his time with you. Embracing you. Taking in your scent, memorizing your body once again. You had new scars, new injuries. But he doesn't care.

You were here and that's what mattered.

"March," you murmured as you buried you face into his shoulder, your bandaged hands digging into him like a vice. "I'm home."

He breathed in, sobbed out a sigh. Smiled.

"Welcome home, farmer."

-0-

hello, if you like my stuff i have more on my masterlist! :DD

also feel free to send some requests. I'm currently in a March headspace rn but I'm willing to try other characters too o: (might take a while to get to them tho since I'm gonna be in a convention crunch time qwq)

Okay, so I’ve been gone for a few days because of work and the moment I finally finish everything and plan to enjoy my day off, I decide to take a nice long rest. But guess what? I end up having a freaking dream where I get isekaid, straight into my Farmer’s body. At that point, I just roll with it because honestly being isekaid sounds pretty cool.

Then out of nowhere Caldarus appears. He reaches for my hand, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

"My beloved, you’re finally awake." His voice is deep, smooth...way too seductive for my sanity.

I freeze. Holy shit! He’s even more ethereal and majestic than I ever imagined, so much more than just a pixelated character on my screen.

Before I can say anything, he lifts my hand to his lips, pressing the softest kiss against my knuckles. "Have you truly forgotten me?" he murmurs, his gaze searching mine. "Or is fate merely testing me once more?"

I swear my brain short-circuits. WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!

"I… I don’t understand." I stammer.

His grip tightens just slightly, his thumb tracing slow circles over my wrist. "Then allow me to remind you." he whispers, leaning in. "Body, soul and eternity. I have only ever belonged to you."

And that’s when I absolutely lose it. Oh my god. Is this a sign that I need to update my story since I have the day off?!

Now before you think I’m making this up or just being delusional, this is real. The last time I had a dream like this was back in 2020 when I dreamt about my OC self getting married to a Countryhumans character. I even made a whole comic about it!

[SDV] "The Nightingale"

Give your thanks to anon!

Summary: You didn't expect leaving the life of an assassin to be easy. But upon arriving to Pelican Town to take care of your late grandfather's farm for a time, the dream became more and more tempting by the passing season, especially when a steadily blossoming romance was another factor.

Warning(s): [AU where the Farmer/Reader is an assassin and not a former Joja employee] Jio is a lil' gentler in this fic (still blunt though),❗️Explicit scenes where the Reader kills members of her organization❗️(Nothing too gorey though), Gentle sex, Fade-To-Black One-sided attraction low-key (The reader likes Jio more than Jio likes the reader), Jio still has sex with them out of curiosity though.

Side Note(s): God I love former assassin tropes. I had to take extra time on this one since I was in the mood for writing a bit of a short storyline, but I hope you like it anon!

P.S: Sorry that this may not be *exactly* how you wanted it anon. I had a narrative in mind and I just ran with it 😔

“The life as a Nightingale is one that is to be lived amongst the shadows. From now on, you live only to serve this organization and to never yearn for a life amongst the sun again.” 

The life of a Nightingale was...lonely.

When you were of age, this was the oath you had taken. It was a harsh one but, this life amongst the dark underbellies of society was the only one you had ever known.

Your parents were assassins, from the day of your birth, all you had known was the shadows and the oath they had taken, never once being allowed to think of walking amongst the common population. You weren’t afforded the opportunity to attend regular school and instead attended night school where every student in the school’s population was in a similar situation to yourself, a life where circumstances were…unusual, to say the least. It was hard to make friends, and when you did, you weren’t allowed to keep them. The chance to go on field trips sounded like something out of a fairytale and when you had finally graduated night school, the opportunity to go to college wasn’t afforded to you. 

Combined with the years of learning how to wield different weapon types, to the point where you could find a way to make a weapon out of a mere stick if you so wished. Not to mention learning different killing strategies such as the usage of poison, the use of allergens or other people around you if need be. 

Becoming a Nightingale was a given, and when you swore to abide by the Nightingale’s oath. It was an all too easy choice to make. Since then, you’ve been a walker of the shadows. You had taken out targets from all walks of life, from the humble poor man to elites whose pockets hung so low that you feared it touched the core of the very Earth. Because of this, you’ve dabbled in every type of illegal activity you could think of, some activities taking you places such as underground cities where the “common” law was flipped upside down to gang-run territories where each step you made could have easily been your last. 

Yet each and every single time, you completed your mission professionally and without too much trouble aside from a few new scars lining your body.

You never dared to dream much less think of life outside the realm of the Nightingales. You couldn't dream of a different scenario! One that wasn't rife with death and blood, shadows and silence. Where, instead of a bright moon looming above your head, there was instead a great yellow ball of fire. So, one night, when your leader had called you into their quarters to discuss your next job, you didn't have a mind to think of this job as too different than the other ones you had undertaken until...the location's name was spoken.

"You'll be taking a target known as 'Mr. Qi' located in Pelican Town."

Pelican Town? You had to repeat the name over in your head at least three times to really let it settle in. The name of the location wasn't something that whispered a more nefarious nature, nor did it strike you as a place that was familiar in the realm of drugs, gang activities, or trafficking. No, instead, it struck you as a place where you'd go fishing or maybe even farm a few plants here and there.

"It's a farming town out east. Nothing dangerous there aside from some monsters. You're to research the whereabouts of your target and kill him, he's an elusive bastard."

You cocked your brow. "And what will be my disguise?"

Your leader chuckled gruffly. "Guess."

Your gaze narrowed, racking over your brain for ideas until your jaw dropped slightly. "A farmer?"

"Inconspicuous, there's plenty of farmers there and a new one coming into town won't be unusual." Your leader sighed before they pushed themselves from their desk and went to their bookshelf, your eyes following the way their hands trailed over their collection of books and notebooks before they landed on a single parchment of paper. When the paper was handed to you, you took it with a single nod of thanks before you opened it. "Your late grandfather was a farmer, apparently, he wished to give some land over to you but your parents were against it."

You had heard conversations here and there when you overheard your parents talk late at night. However, all you understood was that your father didn't want you to go into the life of farming, that it was a waste of your potential and talents as another future addition to the Nightingales. Perhaps he was right, you'd never know but...you wouldn't deny that the idea of going to a farming town unnerved you a little. "I can't farm."

"You won't, you'll simply find the target and slit the bastard's throat. You'll return here and then get your payment per the usual. This is no different from your other jobs." You had a mind to argue but the leader's word was law. If they were to say that you needed to throw yourself from a cliff then you wouldn't have a single choice but to obey. But, this farming town was nothing more than that. A farming town.

No danger nor enemies to look over your shoulder for. No having to nearly throw yourself into the arms of death in an effort to get closer to your target or to simply get within better range of killing your target. The objective was simple, pretend to be a farmer and research the whereabouts of this 'Mr. Qi', once you had his blood on your hands and dagger, you'd collect evidence of his death and return back to your home amongst the shadows.

Nothing would be any more different than how things used to be.

"I'll be back soon," Was your eventual answer, stuffing your late grandfather's letter into your pocket. Your leader responded with a stoic nod before he dismissed you with a wave of your hand. "Report to the bus stop tomorrow night, you'll have someone waiting for you. Don't be late."

. . .

From then on...the rest was a blur, strangely enough.

When you had arrived in Pelican Town, under the sun no less. You had a pair of people waiting for you, an older man and a woman. Robin and Lewis, the mayor of the town. They were...friendly, and strange, but...this town was full of nothing but simple townsfolk and farmers. They commented on how they assumed no one would ever take your late grandfather's old farm and that they had bids from all over from people who wanted to take the place for themselves! The farm itself was a mess, with overgrown shrubs, and trees as far as the eye could see.

Creatures and critters made their homes in different spots on the farm too, for the past few days, you had spent time just trying to chase them all out! You weren't accustomed, much less ready for this life at all. It was like throwing a fish onto land and expecting them to excel without any training or adaptation prior. Yet you managed, when the farm was decent to the eye and you had planted a few crops to further sell the look, you then begun the process of looking for your target.

And, as if the world itself were mocking you, you only ran into more issues.

A wizard watched over the valley, the community building was in shambles and you were seeing jumping apples. People bothered you and talked to you at every turn, seeming not to understand that you had a job to do! These townsfolk were hopeless, you wondered how they managed to get on for so long without being dragged into the mud via monsters or their own incompetency yet.

'A mixture of the local wizard and Adventurer's Guild' You thought.

And the Adventurer's Guild...that was a totally different story.

Before you had even realized it, you had been within the town for months. You arrived in spring and suddenly, it was nearing the end of summer, the slight chill in the air already beginning to whistle along to signal the changing of the seasons. A job had never taken you this long, were you off your game? Or had you become busy with boring farm work all of a sudden? Or...perhaps you should stop distracting yourself with the whims and festivities of the townsfolk, however...they were so friendly. Even when you were so cold to them at the beginning, when you first arrived in town, you'd scowl and tell them that you weren't interested in mild chit-chat. Whenever you'd visit the Saloon in an effort to try and obtain more information on your target, people would try to talk to you and get to know you! In return for their efforts? You'd either ignore them or order them to leave you alone.

Now? You were starting to enjoy their conversations.

The way they'd show up at your doorstep with nothing but friendly intentions and gifts. The friendliness was nearly overwhelming, you had friends, for the first time in your entire life. Life amongst the shadows, surrounded by nothing but death and blood...quickly, you were beginning to prefer life under constant daylight and warmth. And your love for the daylight only grew when you had, one day, decided to wander into the forest that grew just outside Ridgeside Village.

It was peaceful and quiet, nothing but birdsong and the sound of a waterfall in the distance. And— "I know you're there." You said when you had stopped in front of a pond to admire the strange fish that only this village's waters contained. The stranger that decided to hide himself in the shadows of the trees...he was shocked, when he heard the news that the grandchild of the late farmer of that abandoned farmstead was coming to the valley. His lady had told him and the others to keep an eye on the newcomer. Yet rumors from Pelican Town, as well as the way you carried yourself the moment you stepped into the Ridge, said that you weren't simply a newcomer who only sought after trying to restore their relative's farmland.

Thus, the ninja decided to answer. "You saw me?" He asked.

"It was easy enough, I'm used to having to pick things out of the darkness." You answered before you turned around, only for your jaw to drop ever so slightly when the stranger had come into the light. Tall, with light brown hair that only seemed to become even lighter when exposed to the rays of the sun. Although a mask covered the lower half of his face, it wasn't hard for you to tell that he was handsome while the rest of his outfit made it clear that he wasn't a normal civilian of either Ridgeside Village or Pelican Town. And that wasn't all— "Your ears...are you an—"

His brow rose, his hand instinctively reaching to cover his ear despite the fact you had already seen the true nature of them. You were capable of sensing that he was watching you, not to mention being able to see the true nature of his ears? His lady was correct in ordering that you were to be observed. "Who are you?" You decided to ask.

"You may call me Jio, farmer. Who are you?"

You could easily tell that there was more to that question than simply inquiring about your name. Information that you weren't willing to give. "You may call me Y/N, I'm new to my grandfather's farm. I'm just here to restore it, nothing more." His head tilted, you were bad at lying. But, for now, he wouldn't pursue the question. It was good enough for now to understand that, while you may have been here to restore your grandfather's farm...that wasn't the entire story.

"You should turn back then, farmer. Beyond this forest, lies the Ridge. There's nothing but danger that no simple farmer such as yourself should see."

Danger? Though it wasn't shocking, you had seen the slimes and shadow people within the mines, you hadn't expected danger to lurk so closely to this village. "I can handle myself." You answered.

"Don't be a fool." He said harshly. "That is unless you don't value your life." And without another word, he disappeared in a puff of grey smoke. Yet, your interest in the elf lingered.

. . .

Having an...infatuation was an unfamiliar thing to you.

Back at your headquarters, there was no one good-looking enough to make you glance back at them twice much less make themselves linger in your mind for as long as that elf who called himself Jio did. All of a sudden, you found your feet unconsciously taking you back to the forest every other day, hoping to either talk to him or simply catch a glimpse of him as if he were some rare firefly! Your brain was torn apart, you wanted to focus on the farm but also on the friends you were making in Pelican Town, you wanted to see Jio again...to explore this weird feeling that was building up inside of your chest but—

The mission.

The mission.

You won't forget about your purpose.

Never once had you left a mission unfinished but...what if...just this once— "No." You scolded yourself one night as you lied down in your bed, staring up at your ceiling while your new cat, a tiny stray that Marnie had brought to your doorstep one day, slept peacefully on your stomach. "Focus Y/N." You continued before you sat up, gently placing your cat aside as you decided to step out of the house for some fresh night air. Perhaps the light of the moon would help you refocus, help you remember that these people of the daylight weren't of your concern. That Jio wasn't your concern, as well as this feeling in your chest! And as you stepped outside, the moon's light immediately soothing your rushing mind whilst the calls of nighttime critters helped you feel more in your element.

You remembered that you hadn't checked your mail.

Yet another thing you had to become familiar with, having a mailbox...where all your personal things were sent to.

It was an odd little system.

Yet...useful, it seemed. Because when you opened the box to check inside of it, all that was contained was a single black letter. You knew immediately what it meant, and the contents of the letter only read— "At the end of fall, one of our own shall visit you. Report your findings to them." And that was all that was in the message. A nervous sweat dripped down your back, you were no closer to finding out more information about your target than you were when you first came to this valley! You had allowed yourself to get distracted, accidentally focusing more on your disguise rather than the importance of your mission. Tonight, with the moon as your witness, you swore to yourself that your tolerance for distraction ended tonight.

You had to remain focused.

Thus, when the next day came around, you didn't allow yourself to speak to anyone. For the entire day it seemed, you had tracked down every possible lead you could think of whether it was scoping out the Wizard's tower in the wee hours of the morning or sometimes even observing the townsfolk during the night, all in the hopes that you'd spot something, anything that looked out of the ordinary.

But you found nothing, nothing aside from accidentally encountering the local drunk when he was in one of his stupors again, and having to waste time taking him home and lightly telling him off that he needed to stop drinking. And when you had laid him outside of Marnie's door, walking back to your farm to call it another failed investigation for tonight, your mind drifted back to Jio and you wondered if he knew anything. Although he didn't strike you as an assassin like you were, you knew that you both shared something in common. A something that unconsciously motivated you to skip walking up to your front door and instead make the short trip to the Ridgeside mountains, praying to whatever god was listening to you at that moment that the elf was around and willing to talk to you.

"Jio?" You softly called out once you had reached the forest.

Nothing, aside from the hooting of owls and crickets that is.

Your eyes narrowed in determination, remembering how he warned you to not venture beyond the forest and into the Ridge. Blindly walking into danger, especially when one had the courtesy of previously warning you about it, was foolish, that much was told to you constantly as you grew up, and from that, you learned to avoid unnecessary danger unless it counted towards you getting farther into your mission. Walking into a dangerous forest in the hopes of finding more information about this 'Mr. Qi' target...you decided that it had to have counted, and thus you made your way deeper into the woodlands. Slowly but surely, the calls of the night began to grow quieter...and quieter...until there was nothing left at all but the sounds of your shoes moving across the grass.

The scent in the air was strange as well.

Like an oncoming thunderstorm mixed with the familiar smell of iron and a little bit of fire smoke. You prepared yourself for a fight, your hand reaching to rest on the hilt of your weapon that you always kept on your person as you started to make your way out of the thick shrubbery and woodlands and out onto a clearing. You slowly scanned your surroundings for anything strange as your steps became slower and more calculated, wary even as you suddenly began to feel as if you were being watched.

Yet when you stopped briefly next to a tree, a snarl was your only warning before something lunged at you. Experienced, you took out your sword and cut the creature down without nary a single bead of sweat rolling down the side of your face, looking down at the slain beast however...you quickly plunged the end of your blade into its chest before it stopped its twitching and—

A sharp clang of metal meeting metal rung out in the otherwise quiet clearing, your eyes meeting a familiar set of green. "Jio?" You gasped, taking your blade away from his own. "Apologies, I didn't—"

"You shouldn't be here," His voice was even more muffled now thanks to his scarf covering the lower half of his face along with that mask of his. "You've ventured beyond the Ridge, the mountain spirit's protection ends here."

Your brow cocked. "I don't need some fairytale's protection, clearly I can handle myself." You tipped your head at the fallen beast. Jio crossed his arms, in his opinion, besting a mere red serpentine beast was indeed impressive but not enough to prove that one was deserving to explore this area further. But, for you, one that had taken down the beast with ease and experience, perhaps...there was something to be gained here. "Maybe," He responded vaguely. "This area holds secrets, perhaps—"

You stopped where the conversation was heading right in its tracks by holding up a hand. "I'm only here because I wanted to find you."

"Me?"

"Do you know anything of a...Mr. Qi? I need to find him."

He briefly heard his lady mention the name of the man, a strange and elusive man whose skin was blue and seemed to be intertwined with the very fabrics of this reality. But...why did you need to find him? "Why?"

"Does it matter why?" You retorted. "Simply tell me where he is."

Jio cocked a brow. Were you secretly an agent of Gabriella? No, maybe not, his lady wouldn't have trusted you if you were, but—you looked panicked. You hid it well enough, for anyone who wasn't trained to pick up the signs of nervousness, you'd appear calm and perhaps even a little bit winded. But, he could tell there was something more underneath the surface. "Tell me why you need to find this Mr. Qi then," You clenched your jaw. "No."

"Then we have nothing to discuss, you should go home. It's dangerous—"

"W-Wait." You said just as the elf turned around to probably disappear in a puff of gray smoke. "I need to find my target—"

Target.

The ninja hung onto the world tightly, that single word telling him more things about you than you probably intended to. That is, if you were even trying to hide it, to begin with, you were strange that was for sure. You were talented with a weapon as if you had been honing your skills for years and could pick him out from the shadows as easily as one would pick out a cloud on a bright day. The story of you being a former Joja employee...he didn't believe one word of it. "—my organization demands it, I must find him." You continued to insist.

"Then you will continue to have no hope here," He sighed. "Even my organization, we do not know where he is. You should give up for the time, tell your organization—"

Your eyes shot open even wider. "No." You firmly said. "They can't no, I'm not supposed to fail. They—" You words began to get choked up in your throat when Jio turned back to you, the harsh and almost commanding look he pierced into you making you snap your mouth closed and stand a little straighter as if you were suddenly placed back into the arms of the shadows, staring at your organization's leader as they scolded you for being reckless or failing at your mission. And failing as a mission? It was not tolerated.

Even now, you could still feel those lashes upon your skin.

And the memory of having to go through such a thing again, humiliated by the stares of your guildmates and your aging parents, disappointed and ashamed as they believed that they had taught you better than that. To be a perfect and willing member of the organization and nothing less— "Y/N." Jio spoke to you, snapping you from your thoughts before you watched him rub the back of his hand against your cheek. You shakily placed a hand to your face, gasping at the fact that you hadn't realized you'd been crying in front of a stranger.

Jio let out a heavy sigh as he crossed his arms. "...You have a chance to get away from your past."

Why was he saying this?

He should have been encouraging you to stay with your organization.

It seemed to be useful, worth it even. They instilled discipline and good skills into you. He was even tempted to go back to his lady and tell her that your organization may have been beneficial to converse with, however...he saw how much this valley seemed to have rubbed off on you. He saw it in your eyes, that your loyalty was crumbling and that a new one was beginning to forge, one that rested in this valley.

"This chance will only present itself once, take it or leave it." Jio continued. "If you are not ready to leave your organization, steel yourself and prepare to face them with the truth that you have not found your quarry." The harshness of his words made beads of sweat begin to prickle your skin and run down the sides of your face, yet, the elf offered little to no reassurance afterward and simply turned away again to disappear in a puff of smoke, leaving you alone with a monster corpse at your side and a whirlwind of thoughts running throughout your head.

To leave or not to leave?

When you looked around you, thought back to Pelican Town and Ridgeside Village...the first thing that came to your mind was the people. Their warmth and acceptance of you, how they made an effort to welcome you into their fold despite how cold you were to them firsthand. You thought of the festivities and holidays, you thought of your late grandfather's farm, and how you had realized that you loved caring for the farm, the crops, the animals, and every single hardship that came with it! Then finally...your mind wandered back to Jio and the crush you harbored for him. You thought about how you wanted to explore this feeling and find out exactly why the elf made your chest warm the way it did, why every time you met his gaze, your heart skipped a beat and you felt like your breath was stolen right from your lungs.

You wanted to see him more, get to know him.

So...you made your decision.

. . .

One that was easier to make than you had expected, of course. To stay in Stardew Valley and attempt to forge a new life away from the shadows of your organization. Although it was easier said than done, as the day to meeting a representative from your organization loomed closer and closer with each passing day, you tried to soothe yourself by thinking of how much you wanted to stay and how you were willing to do anything to achieve that goal.

Even if it cost you your life.

Life underneath the sun's warmth was far more welcoming than the coldness of the moon. And you let that line marinate in your mind all the way until the day you were supposed to meet a representative finally dawned upon you. You couldn't get an ounce of work done the entire day, and with the Spirit's Eve festival coming tomorrow night, you had found yourself trying to figure out what costume would fit you best rather than worrying yourself sick over what the representative would do in the face of you preferring your life here in the valley than back home!

You were hoping that they'd be understanding.

Surely they hadn't expected you to dedicate your entire life to the guild...were they? After all, how were you supposed to find love? Marry and have children?

How were you supposed to truly get to know the world around you if you were stuck in one place all the time?

It was madness— "Report your findings." The representative asked you in that same cold voice that all the members of your organization had. A black mask covered their features along with the rest of the equally colored outfit, though, you could almost see that your fellow member appeared to be...confused? Here they were in the typical attire of a Nightingale while you? You had kept on the farming clothes that you had worn throughout the day! It would've been funny had this entire situation, one that was taking place in the Ridge of all places, wasn't so nerve-wracking.

"I..." You trailed off for a moment, trying to figure out last minute if you were going to lie or if you were going to be upfront about what you wanted. "...I haven't found anything."

"Nothing?" They spoke with an even more obvious tilt of their head. "What have you been doing these last few months? Your only priority is to assassinate the target and return home, your disguise as a farmer is only something to fool the locals."

You narrowed your eyes. "I know, " you said. But I like it here." The representative was quiet for a long pause, giving you the courage to continue talking. "I want to stay. I've realized that my position in the organization isn't something that I want to be in for the rest of my life. I'm doing well here. I'm happy."

The representative was silent still.

"My grandfather entrusted his farm to me and I deserve to continue caring for it! The target be damned, I've spoken to other sources here and they said that even they haven't found the man!" The more you spoke, the more insane this all seemed. You were participating in a wild goose chase for a man who probably wasn't even real to begin with! All for an organization that probably knew this and maybe even expected you to fail! Was this a test? To see if you'd be tempted by life outside the shadows or simply want an excuse to get rid of an extra member?

You didn't even know if you truly wanted answers.

Just...anything, anything that may have helped you figure out if your organization truly cared about you—the same one that saw you grow up—and didn't secretly want you dead. Thus, you turned to look back at your representative. "Well? Say something!"

"What is there for me to say? Traitor." Your eyes shot to their hand slowly reaching for the dagger that rested obviously on their hip. In turn, you attempted to reach for your own weapon only...in your ignorance, thinking that your organization would be so understanding, you didn't bring your weapon. And the resulting conflict was bloody as you were forced to think of a hare-brained solution and simply charge yourself at your assilant, gripping the representative's hand and trying to wrestle the dagger away from them.

All the while though, you couldn't help but think about how...all you wanted was a new life.

Certainly not...this, this eventual outcome where you stood over the body of your organization's representative with cuts torn into your shirt and your handy bloodied from constantly having to grip onto the weapon's blade until you finally got the upper hand and managed to slit their throat. "Yoba..." Was the only thing you could whisper to yourself as you looked at the corpse, thoughts of the repercussions you'd face rushing through your mind as well as the question as to how you were going to dispose of the body.

What would you do to defend yourself?

How would you defend yourself? Especially against the wrath of your entire organization!? It was— "So you took control of your fate." Without thinking, you directed the dagger in the direction of the voice, only getting a glimpse of the owner until you felt a presence appear behind you before an arm tightly locked around your neck, yet, not too tight to be deadly. "Calm yourself," You blushed at Jio's voice being so close to your ear.

You huffed. "I'm calm, let me go." Without waiting, you pushed yourself free of the elf, grumbling and mumbling to yourself while Jio simply eyed the corpse before looking at your bloodied and cut-up form. It was interesting to him, seeing you be completely free of that "cleanlier" look you typically had when you massacred as a normal farmer around Pelican town. Tonight, he saw a side of you that no other in this valley would be able to see unless they wished to meet their end on the exact same night.

"You're staring," You said. Jio shook his head. "You're injured, let me help."

You scoffed. "I don't need help, I need to figure out how to get rid of this body..." Perhaps you could go beyond the Ridge and dump the body in the woods there? No one would ever go beyond that point and it was a bonus as well as that the monsters would probably eat the body and effectively get rid of the evidence in the process! Yet Jio was having none of it. "Don't be foolish," He said. "I'll get rid of it, go home and I'll help you with your injuries." And...be it from your wounds beginning to hurt thanks to the adrenaline starting to fade from your body, or the fact that you were tired and stressed from what lay over the horizon from this forbidden killing.

You simply nodded your head and turned on your heels to begin walking back to your farm.

. . .

When you arrived home, the first thing you did was strip yourself of your bloodied clothes before tossing them into a hamper for later and washed as much blood you could from your hands and other small wounds across your body as you could. In the process although, you tried not to think too much about how Jio was coming over to your home for the first time...the two of you didn't know each other that well besides the few interactions you both had, all you knew was that he made you feel warm inside your chest and left you wanting more and more each time you saw a single glimpse of him. It was almost similar to an addiction except...you weren't sure if there was a cure exactly for this other strange feeling you had.

The only clue you had was to touch him.

Even placing a hand on his shoulder would have been enough, and yet...how were you going to do that? "Hello?" You suddenly heard followed along with a few knocks.

"Come in!" You called as loud as you could as you walked back into the living room area, just finishing pulling down a brand new shirt before you sat on the couch. In Jio's arms was a small basket filled with medical supplies, herbs, and potions it seemed as well as enough bandages to cover your entire body it looked like! You chuckled at the sight. "You didn't have to bring so much, I've patched myself up with lesser items." You said softly.

Jio set the supplies down on the nearby table before he sat, already gesturing for you to give him your hand. "Maybe so," He answered. "But, it seemed like this battle that ensued between yourself and your fellow from your guild seemed to have been close." You responded with a confident click of your tongue. You had been caught off guard, that was the only saving grace that the representative had and they still lost in the end! You were perfectly molded and trained to be a weapon for the guild and nothing more, to be taken down by someone who wasn't even on equal footing in terms of skills would have been an insult to your memory.

Still, Jio began to patch you up, pouring tonics over your wounds before pressing green herbs to the cuts and bandaging you up. You took the opportunity to let your eyes roam over the elf's form, a little more slowly now that you had the time to just...look. However, your focus was mostly directed to his hands as you took notice of how they appeared to be a little larger than your own, his fingers long and lithe yet scarred and calloused from possible years of wielding a weapon. Then your eyes dragged up to his emerald eyes, focused on your wounds and bandaging you up rather than looking at you the way you were looking at him. But ever vigilant, Jio wasn't unaware of your stares.

"You're staring." He pointed out bluntly.

You blushed. "Sorry," You quickly said. "I'm just looking at you, can I not?"

Jio's hands paused in their work momentarily as he considered his answer. You were an attractive person, that he would admit to himself but to be so openly admired—it was...unusual. Not new nor unheard of, after all, Daia did the same thing to him each time they trained together but he knew that her telling him he was attractive was born from a place of playfulness rather than something genuine. As for you, however? In this moment...it made him feel warm, in a good way. Not a rush of heat born from annoyance.

"...You may," He said, almost shyly as his eyes briefly snapped to your own before looking back down again and continuing to bandage a cut on your hand.

With his permission, you continued to do so with a little more amusement in your eyes. You were in love with the way that the elf suddenly had the faintest tint of pink on his face, how his eyes seemed to struggle between focusing on what he came here to do or looking you in the eyes as well. And there were so many other tiny quirks that made the feeling in your chest continue to blossom. "...Jio." You spoke, breaking the silence. "Do you...like anyone?"

Once more, he paused. "Like anyone?" He parroted.

You nodded your head yet remained silent, anticipating his answer as his eyes narrowed in thought. "There is...one, that I'm mildly curious about." Your brow rose a little, your heart speeding up out of a sudden hopefulness. "She's fierce in combat, observant, and sharp yet surprisingly shy." Your eyes began to narrow in thought, you almost wanted to ask if he was talking about you but...you didn't want to get your hopes up too suddenly. Once you had mustered up enough courage, however, you opened your mouth. "Do you mean...me?"

He nodded his head. "I do."

You let the revelation hang in the air for a few minutes afterward. The reveal that the both of you had feelings for one another wasn't something out of a storybook nor anything decorated with rose petals and sparkles in the background. It was simply the truth of the matter, a truth that made your heart sing and your face warm while Jio simply looked to the side with his heart beating faster than it normally would! In the cult, it was drilled into his head constantly that love was something that had no priority and shouldn't take priority over any missions that the Lady gave to him and his fellows. But, for this moment at least...even if he didn't know you that well and had only managed to catch mere glimpses of you here and there when you came to the Ridge's forests.

Something about you told him that he should pursue this, just this once.

And that idea alone was only solidified when you scooted closer to him, the elf's eyes widening ever so slightly as his throat felt weirdly dry all of a sudden. "May—May I kiss you?"

It was unlike him to be shy. Blunt and cutthroat was a more appropriate term for the ones who knew him yet, as he slowly nodded his head. He felt like a fawn taking its first steps as he watched your head steadily move to tug his mask down before your lips were upon his own and...they were surprisingly soft. Not that he expected them to be anything else, but they felt like clouds and he could feel every single emotion that you put into the kiss. The nervousness, the tension, and the blossoming care that you held for him, and the only thing he could think about at the moment was how he wanted more.

Something that only grew as you slowly pulled back and smiled at him. "Your lips...they're soft." He whispered, strangely breathless although the kiss hadn't lasted long.

You blushed at the compliment. "T-Thank you, your lips...they're soft too."

Once more, the two of you fell into silence as each of you thought of what to do next. While you both buzzed with the feelings of budding romance, Jio spotted how your thighs clenched together as if your very body was begging for you to do something more.

Perhaps it was rude seeing as the two of you barely knew one another, your newfound romance barely even in the beginning stages yet but, the elf was suddenly curious about what other parts of your body were soft. Thus, he placed a warm hand on your thigh before he started to draw circles into your skin with his thumb. "...Can I kiss you again?" You didn't even consider the question for even a second before you nodded your head, Jio leaning in faster then you previously did, all the while his kiss had a lot more force and desire hidden underneath the surface of it. In your organization, although you were familiar with the concept of sex...it was forbidden to do so unless the intention was to create another member for the organization. Another future assassin was supposed to be the end goal always and never for pleasure. So, the steady heat that you began to feel between your thighs...while unfamiliar, it wasn't unpleasant, only serving to make you easily open your legs to the elf the moment his hands began to gently try to pry them apart so he could slide himself between them.

He parted himself from you. "Have you ever done this before?" Jio asked breathlessly before he started to pepper kisses on your face before he started to begin trailing kisses down to your neck.

A soft moan left your lips. "Ah...n-no..." You whispered as you felt your sex begin to throb more and more in tune with Jio's kisses as well as his hands starting to gently slip up your shirt.

"H-Have you?"

He considered the question for but a moment. "Once." And that's all he would answer upon the matter. You gasped when you felt Jio's hands graze across the undersides of your breasts, his hands simply touching and cupping them in his hands for a few moments before his thumbs started to gently move across your nipples. "Jio..." You breathed, his eyes glued to your expressions as he tried to ignore his own throbbing desire that begged to be free from its confines. He wanted to make sure that you were taken care of and comfortable first, his own desires could wait.

"So warm..." Jio whispered as he lifted your shirt, exposing your pebbled nipples to the chilly air of your living room before his mouth latched onto one of them. You moaned at the feeling, a breathless and soft sound that made Jio groan against your chest as he licked at your chest as if he were savoring a delicacy.

And in his eyes, it was.

The more he lapped your chest, let his hands explore your body, and listened to your moans. The more he began to believe that you were something to be savored and cared for until the very end. However, you could hardly stand to bear through the almost painful throbbing of your sex anymore. "Down there..." You begged quietly into his ear. "H-Hurts..." Jio briefly took his lips away from your breast to focus on where you claimed your pain was, a gentle smirk creeping onto his lips as his hands then traveled to the shorts you wore before he began to try and tug them off. You raised your hips to aid him, your blush only increasing as you were left only in your underwear and the obvious damp spot in the center made Jio hum in quiet amusement. "So wet from only kissing both your lips and your breast?" He poked at the damp spot, your thighs instinctively twitching in response to the unfamiliar touch. "How lewd farmer."

You blushed. "D-Don't tease..." You murmured.

He chuckled. "Allow me to play with you a little longer..." He whispered as his own hand started to reach for his pants, the sound of him unzipping his pants making your eyes shoot to his crotch before your eyes widened to the size of saucers at his length. It was long, with just the right amount of girth and leaking with pre-cum as well as twitching as if it had a heartbeat of its own! The very sight made your mouth water and your cunt suddenly ache to have it inside of you, however...as Jio continued to tease your sex and prod at it as if he were testing a new toy. You did your best to be patient in the face of your crush. "Please..." You found yourself whispering.

Jio chuckled at your begging as he hooked a finger around your underwear and started to pull them down. "Please?" He repeated with a mocking lilt to his voice. "You're begging already? We haven't even done anything yet..." He continued, trails of your slick still connecting you to your underwear even after they had been pulled down to the middle of your thighs.

It was a lewd sight, Jio thought. Your cunt clenched around nothing and seemed to leak even more of its slick now! Your clit was hard and throbbing, one swipe of his finger against it and your breath hitched and nearly stopped completely as if you had been shocked.

"Hurry." You murmured.

"Don't you want me to prepare you?" You shook your head, taking a bold step to wrap your arms around Jio to gently pull him closer to you before you rolled your hips closer to him, trying to entice him to finally fuck you rather than tease you for a second longer.

"I'm fine," You assured him. "Just—please." You whispered. Jio hesitated for only a second longer before he pressed his lips to your own, gently pushing you to lay down on the couch before he lined his cock up to your waiting cunt before he plunged himself in. You hissed quietly at Jio's cockhead beginning to enter you, the steady feeling of feeling so full making you tighten your arms ever so slightly before Jio began to pepper kisses along your face.

"Relax," He said. "Otherwise I won't be able to move."

Easier said than done, you thought.

But...as you stared into his eyes. You found yourself relaxing more and more until Jio let out a soft moan when he was finally settled inside your cunt. The last thing he was going to do now, was let you go, especially if it was anything before the arrival of the sun the following day.

. . .

Jio was unaccustomed to waking up to the sound of birdsong. Usually, the sky was still dark when he woke up for his morning training before he'd set off to perform his patrols for the day. However...after last night's events, he awoke feeling strangely more relaxed and rested than usual, and he expected to see you sleeping soundly beside him until—"Hm?" He hummed sleepily, rubbing his eyes and moving strands of hair from his face when he saw that your side of the bed was empty. You did have a farm to tend to, he applauded your dedication but...he wanted to see you, talk to you more.

It was what inspired him to roll out of bed and find some clothes to put on before he walked outside and...nothing.

No clucking of chickens nor the mooing of cows. Although he saw that the sprinklers had come on and that there was evidence of you being out there due to the footprints on the ground. Something was...off.

As he followed the tracks, your footprints led farther and farther away from your farm and closer to the path to Marnie's Ranch. It was then that another set of tracks joined you before...it stopped.

He tried to steady the sudden worry that began to sneak into his being. You were a fierce combatant as well as a former assassin, surely you wouldn't have been—no. Jio shook his head, Yoba had allowed him a newfound chance at peace, it'd be cruel of him to rip that away from him so suddenly, especially when he had given his everything to you last night and wanted nothing more than to do the same today and all the days afterward! He was willing to face any scolding from his Lady and whatever it took forward to make sure that he was ensured that he continued to see you! And that hope was his sole drive as he quickened his pace through the forest, his eyes wide and scanning for any signs of your person, perhaps you were fishing? Collecting wood or even visiting the Wizard for some reason.

Anything was better than...than the worry that was starting to take over him, especially when he started to see spots of blood.

They led further and further into the woodlands until the elf found himself in the depths of Cindersap Forest.

And, at the river's bank...there you were. Lying in a pool of your own blood that began to seep into the river's waters, turning its crystal clear colors into a murky red whilst a single dagger stabbed into your chest with a note in the center of it.

"A true Nightingale never yearns for a life in the sun. Those who do will be returned to the shadows once more, whether in death or in life."

Hey Mousey! It’s been a while since my last ask. Hope everything’s going well there. (◍•ᴗ•◍)

Anyway, I just had an idea. After reading your headcanon about the Farmer going full beast mode and absolutely wrecking the kidnappers to save their spouse, I couldn’t help but think… you’ve already done for SDV and SVE, so how about an RSV version?

I can totally picture the Farmer ready to throw hands if someone like Daia or Jio got kidnapped by Gabriella’s minions. Would love to see your take on it!

Hewwo again, dear moot :3 Glad to see you again in my askbox ❤️ I'm doing well, thanks for asking! Have a great day as well, and enjoy some more Ridgeside Village headcanons! (sorry for late reply 😅)

RSV bachelors/ettes reaction to their kidnapping for revenge/ransom, where their spouse Farmer, furious, comes to rescue them

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RSV bachelors:

The kidnapping of Zayne had been long and carefully planned, as the bandits realized that the disappearance of such an important figure would echo throughout the Republic. But the ransom for the young head of Amethyne made the gang dare to do this. Zayne was naturally shocked, though his Grandmother had warned him not to go out alone without servants/guards. The bandits were patiently waiting for money from Maive.... Huh, Farmer? They don't care about a farmer, even if they're Zayne's spouse. Big mistake. In half an hour Farmer whirled through kidnapper's lair, leaving a bootprint on the face of each lying scoundrel. Zayne even felt bad for mobs...

Hah! Those sneaky assholes think they can intimidate Bryle that easily? This isn't the first time he's been kidnapped to get information about the Governor, and the bodyguard will never reveal- "Screw your Governor, we want Farmer." W- what? They want... his spouse? "Don't know why Gabriella needs this farmer fool, but she pays well." They're so openly telling him the name of the client, those stupid bastards... Five minutes after furious Farmer appears, though, the smiles are gone from the kidnappers' faces (as their teeth as well). The freed Bryle immediately began to question the bandit who was still conscious, for he was worried about the whole thing.

Damn it... Jio let his guard down for a moment and the world before his eyes turned into darkness. He woke up in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by Gabriella's minions - not soulless husks yet, but soon enough.... "You and your spouse will pay for all the troubles you've set up for our queen!" Jio, unfortunately, couldn't answer anything with the gag in his mouth. And he couldn't warn his spouse about the trap, but it was unnecessary - like a ferocious bear, Farmer knocked out their husband's kidnappers, while Jio, who had already managed to free himself from his bonds and joined the fight, looked at them with admiration, because he had never seen them in battle before. Farmer indeed is an excellent fighter.

"I don't want to spoil your fun, but I'd advise you to let me go before my beloved gets here." The bandits, jubilant at the prospect of future profits for their dark deeds, looked at the rather calm June and laughed loudly at him. "Ooooh, how frightening! The little farmer who planted tulips in their spare time would come and punish us, ha!" "The little farmer" showed up immediately after gang's leader words, with their body making a huge hole in the stone wall, all red with anger. The kidnappers turned pale with fear and looked at June, to which the pianist responded by giving them an “I warned you” look. "Hey June, in the mood to play piano? You're about to play a funeral tune for this fuckers..."

"Fucking hell- why the fuck is he so big!?" Well, what did the kidnappers want - Ian is a big and strong guy, and he may not have any fighting skills, but thanks to his physical strength he was able to fight back some of the kidnappers quite well. Although, they took him in numbers. Ian was a little worried at first, but Farmer coming to rescue him gave the handyman a burst of confidence. "Ok, two of us against twenty-five mobs, that's even now." The gang leader thinks this Ian is a complete dumbass, but Farmer knocks four of the thugs out of the fight with one punch. Fuck...

"Why are you all so tense... There are other ways of making money, what's the point of kidnapping people?" Anton's feeble attempts were met with a loud cackle from the leader of the mobs. "Yo, boys, did you hear that? Hilarious. What did that Farmer even see in a loser like you?" Ouch. The architect muttered that he himself didn't know what Farmer had found of him, but a moment later a screaming and sword-waving Farmer burst into the last room of the gang's lair. "Where the fuck are you keeping my husband? Anton, my soul, I'm coming for you!" Anton forgot for fear and blushed slightly. And looked at Farmer with adoration throughout their fight with the gang.

"Hey, what are you so angry about, you got it all wrong.... "It was just a harmless prank! Yeah, we wanted to prank our old mate Sloan!" "I'm Sean," the poor bandit who had kidnapped Sean to get revenge on Farmer for some reason unknown to the handyman ("I should ask the Farmer for that...") instead of a confident man immediately started looking for ways to retreat when Farmer alone handled an entire army of his minions. The pity worked, but partially: Farmer didn't break the leader's neck, but broke his nose and sent him off to watch dreams. "So hon, how about some dinner at Pika's?" Farmer would gladly accept husband's proposition.

"Search him, boys. Maybe he's got something valuable on him." At the order of the head of the kidnapping gang, the two henchmen began rummaging through Kenneth's pockets, and the tickling sensations made the electrician squirm. "What's that?" One of the thugs found a strange device that looked like a bug. "Ah, it's just my little invention, lets my spouse know my location." "What..." An explosion went off in the next room, causing everyone to jump abruptly in place except Kenneth. ‘Oh, looks like I'm going home soon.’ Rest in peace, poor bandits.

During the kidnapping, Shiro managed to knock out one of the mobs. If it wasn't for his health problems, he would have knocked out the others without even breaking a sweat. Alright, Farmer should be arriving at the bandits' lair soon. "You seem a bit too confident for a man in your position..." "My spouse returns almost every day covered in the blood of giant monsters. What do you think they will do to you?" Such a statement made the gang leader stagger back. And went they completely pale when Farmer arrived (who had managed to beat up leader's minions). "Maybe if you ask for mercy, Farmer will forgive you..." (spoiler: Farmer hadn't forgiven them for kidnapping their husband).

Jeric had been forever telling Bryle that he had nothing to worry about him and that he didn't need any guards. Now, tied up in mob's lair, he somewhat wished he had listened to the advice of his adoptive father's bodyguard. "So pretty boy, how much would your daddy give for your life, hmm?" The bandit brought the dagger quite close to Jeric's face, causing the young lad to lean against the wall. A moment later, though, the cold steel of the sword was already close to the mob's own throat. "Farmer!" "That bastard hurt you?" Farmer made sure the freed Jeric was okay, and the two walked towards the exit, stepping over the bodies of the kidnappers that Farmer had knocked out with their bare hands.

Philip knows that he is in a rather dangerous situation. He knows that these kidnappers can hurt him and torture him. It's a stressful situation, no time for jokes. But he knows for aure Farmer will come to the rescue, and he wants to shout one phrase. "Philip, stop it, you're mature, you're mature, you're mature, you're mature..." The angry Farmer bursts in, knocking out one of the gang of kidnappers with one leg kick. "Call an ambulance, but not for me! Hah!" Heh, that brought a smile to Farmer's face before their grimace distorted again with anger as they saw the rest of the gang. Well at least Philip was alright and even managed to make a joke.

RSV bachelorettes:

"Why are you smiling, bitch? Soon you and the rest of the Cult will be no laughing matter!" Gabriella's minions stood next to Daia's cell and spat venom, promising torture and suffering, but nothing seemed to be able to wipe the innocent smile off her face. She knows her spouse is coming soon, and it's going to be truly fun. A trap for Farmer? Hee hee, it's not Farmer who ends up with the bandits, but the bandits with Farmer. And before they could say anything, they found themselves knocked out by Daia's spouse, who opened up their wife's cell and as a powerful couple started getting their asses kicked by all the kidnappers in the den. Daia was so excited by both rescue and how fiercely they fought, so strong! Maybe even a little too excited. "There's a bed in my cell, by the way~" Daia, no-

Maddie tried to be brave, but honestly, she wasn't very good at it. Just as the lab assistant was leaving her and Farmer's house to go to work, someone put a bag over her head, tied her up, and carried her off to an unknown location. With wolfish grins, the kidnappers wrote a letter to Farmer demanding 400 iridium bars or they would get their beautiful wife in pieces, while laughing at Maddie's attempts to hold back tears. To the rescue came an enraged Farmer, who beat up all the rascals, violently breaking noses and knocking out teeth, when he noticed tears on their wife's cheeks. Maddie is crying... those kidnappers will envy the dead.

"Boss, what if this farmer doesn't even have a coins?" One member of the kidnapping gang with a broken nose (thanks to Corine), was already doubting his boss's 'brilliant' plan to make a quick cash. The gang leader was about to bark at their subordinate for doubting their plans, but immediately their conversation was interrupted by the shouts of other members falling to the ground. "My dear spouse is here," Corine calmly summarized, she had no doubt that Farmer would quickly come to the rescue. "If I survive, I'll drop everything and start breeding roses." The poor gang member thought meekly, taking a second fist bump from the angry Farmer.

"Aha! Our sleeping pill plan worked! Good job, guys!" Sleeping pills... what? Flor thought she was still dreaming, as instead of a bedroom in her and her spouse's house, she sees a black ceiling in strange room, lying on an uncomfortable bed while men unknown to her sit nearby at a table discussing something. "200,000 gold!" "No, write 300,000 gold! This farmer is definitely rich!" Definitely a strange dream, Flor thought. And after a couple of moments the next thing she sees is the Farmer standing next to her and cautiously examining her. "Farmer, good morning. I'm about to make us some coffee- Where's the kitchen? W-where are we? Who's lying unconscious on the floor?!" Not a dream after all... But she's safe.

"Let me go, you brute! Scoundrel! Bandit!" Though the kidnappers had no trouble capturing Faye during her return from Ridgeside Village to Pelican Town, there was no way to shut the waitress up. The first time they gagged her, she spit the piece of clothes out, the second time... the thugs were afraid they'd lose their fingers. But when Farmer appeared before the whole company with a sword in their hands and fire in their eyes, the bitten fingers became the least concern of the kidnappers. "Can you imagine, dear, they put a filthy rag in my mouth! Yuck, disgusting!" Faye complained to her spouse, completely forgetting the fact that she had been kidnapped.

In general, Irene's kidnapping was accidental: the mobs were aiming for Zayne or other Amethyne grandchildren, but then mobs thought that this rich family would give a decent ransom for their personal chef as well. Especially since she was mumbling her spouse's name in fear.... So they'll give them money for her too, double profit! Right? Yeah, double trouble... Not only did the family members get the detectives, police and adventurers, but Irene's crazy spouse turned out to be an adventurer! In the end, a couple of kidnappers who had not yet had their legs broken by Farmer escaped while Farmer themself freed their wife from her restraints.

"AAAAAAAAA!" Instead of the desired revenge for Farmer's past actions, the leader of the gang got a headache. They caught Blair, Farmer's wife, but the fisherwoman somehow got out of the cage and now instead of logically trying to escape, she chases the leader's henchmen with a sword (where'd she get that?). Most of all, the leader is disappointed by their subordinates, since they can't catch the fisherwoman! They weren't surprised by the appearance of the enraged Farmer, because of course things are going to get even worse! "I just want a little revenge!" Frmer even felt a little sorry for them when they kicked the leader into dreamland and went home with a grinning Blair. The girl wasn't scared, even had a little fun.

Alissa had never seen a person so angry and furious. The two bandits who were holding her and preventing her from escaping were mocking the poor girl in every possible way, telling her that she would soon say goodbye to her spouse, while the leader of the gang waited patiently for Farmer. She thought she saw pure hatred when the leader told her that Farmer will pay for all his humiliations in the past. But pure hatred she saw in the eyes of her arrived partner. Hatred for the bandits who had stolen Alissa, made her cry, possibly tortured her. And with what hatred they would break the hands of the scoundrels. The girl was even a little afraid of Farmer after that rescue.

In kidnapping Paula to demand ransom from her spouse, the mob members underestimated her. They knew she was a doctor. They forgot that Paula is a military doctor and knows perfectly well how to defend herself. They didn't even get to their lair - Paula broke out of her restraints again and started knocking out her captors. Farmer joined the fight, knocking all the villains down, breaking their bones, and chasing them away. "I've done pretty well for myself here, dear." But she's so glad Farmer came up. Her duty as a doctor, by the way, calls for at least basic care for those they've knocked out.

"You will regret about that..." Ysabelle's words sounded unconvincing to the gang of kidnappers, who only laughed at the girl and went on with their business. So she just sighed heavily and waited. Ysabelle had nothing else to do but to wait for rescue from Farmer and her grandfather. But she didn't have to wait long: as if materializing out of thin air, Farmer used the element of surprise, kicked half of the bandits' asses, freed their beloved wife, and teleported home with the farm totem, leaving the other half of the bandits with.... 50 megabombs. The explosion was loud... "Yikes, kinda feel bad for them." "I don't. Do you want to visit your grandfather first?"

"Ti prenderò a calci in culo!" The kidnappers have no idea what Kiarra yelled at them throughout their time in their lair, but one can guess that the words were clearly not very polite. They generally tried to ignore it, consoling themselves with thoughts of a large share of the ransom gold they had received. Farmer, angry as a swarm of hornets, quickly interrupted their sweet dreams by appearing out of nowhere and literally throwing a few bricks (the bricks came from a hole Farmer had made with a single punch) in the direction of some of the bandits. All this to the delighted exclamations of Kiarra. "Give 'em hell, darling!"

A/N: I made a banner and dividers (I found the stars on pinterest) 😌 look at me go. But, once again this is tagged as x reader as well. Feel free to use a word replacer for this :) (I also know that March’s eyes are black. However, I decided to take creative freedom.)

Summary: Violet has been in Mistria for just a little over a week now. But she has never experienced drunk March before.

Warnings: Just drinking at the Inn on friday night!

Settling into her new life in Mistria wasn’t hard. Violet got up everyday bright at early, watered her crops and tried to clear her farm for a few hours before she’d inevitably run up to town and buy seeds to replenish the ones she harvested. She’d stop at the inn and get some soup, talk to Hemlock or Jo when they were there. Then she’d run around a bit more, stopping in to say hi to everyone. Maybe go do some fishing or check out the Western Ruins to see if there was anything else so could donate to the museum. But there was one thing she never skipped. And it was saying hello to everyone, that was always the number one priority.

She’d never skip March. Despite his prior attitude, and as much as she wanted too. Violet had to prove to him and everyone else here that she wasn’t going anywhere. But, her first Friday in town as she shuffled into the Inn after getting her farm- mostly cleared off she was met with Reina’s bright bubbly voice.

“Violet!” She grins, running around to get to her faster. God- that action alone made her want to scoop her up into her arms and spin her around. Reina was so sweet every single time without fail. She felt like a friend that Vi could talk to for hours while laying in her lap. And normally she would share the same enthusiasm as her but, Violet ended up looking up slowly from the pure exhaustion she was experiencing; those rocks on her farm were no joke. And while Reina was always a delight to see, she just wanted soup. That creamy delightful smelling soup that was bubbling in the cauldron. Was that cheese? God she hoped it was cheese.

“Mm?” She grumbles but it doesn’t deter Reina. She quickly gets her a bowl of soup and slides in next to her. Violet's whole mood increasing tenfold as she digs in and looks at Reina.

“You have to make sure to come to the inn tonight!” Reina beams, with the stupidly gorgeous smile she had. “It’s always a blast on Friday nights! Everyone has so much fun! Tell me you’ll come!” She pleads with her. And Violet is a simple woman.

With food in her system, finally the farmer smiles. “It’s really that cool? I guess I’ll have to come check it out. But i’m working on getting the bridge repaired for the Saturday Markets. So, it might be later in the night.” She replies smiling at her new friend. Reina grins and claps, reaching to give her a hug which Violet quickly accepts. It was like hugging one of those giant stuffed bears you won at carnivals.

“Yes! That’s fine! Whenever you can!” She beams. Violet had to admit, her enthusiasm was nice. Everyone seemed so excited to integrate her into this town as if she was always apart of it. It…was refreshing. Violet gives Reina a nod.

“You have my word, I’ll be here.” Vi smiles, and she meant it. She'd be there. It would be nice to relax and hang out with everyone at the Inn, she just hoped she could get the bridge done before then.

———

It felt silly. Violet felt completely and utterly foolish. Standing in front of her mirror, just minutes before she was going to head over to the Inn trying to decide what to wear. Surely everyone would be wearing their normal everyday clothes. She kicks away the little black dress. But why- why did she care so much about her own outfit?! She could just wear her normal outfit. It would be fine. At least that was what she was trying to convince herself of. But somewhere in the back of her mind, she knows that this might be a good chance to show off for a particular red head-

She shakes her head, "No." She says quickly pointing at herself in the mirror. "No, no, no, Violet. You are not falling for a red head! He's not even a real red head! You can see his roots! You are not doing this." She scolds herself. "This is your chance to distance yourself from anything and anyone. We are not fucking it up because we need therapy!" Violet lets out a big huff. Running her hand through her hair, and nodding. She'd just- wear this. Her normal outfit. Stripped shirt. Overall dress. Knee highs. It be fine.

Once, she enters the Inn she can see why Reina was so insistent. Everyone is there, sitting at various tables doing whatever it is- they were doing. It was bustling, it was lively...it felt like home.

"Violet!"

The Violet in question looks to see Reina rushing forward, a warm smile on her face. "You made it!" She cheers, god- she was so fucking sweet. Violet just wanted to curl up with her and pour her heart out to her. She was so wonderful, Violet can feel the smile spread.

"I told you! I wouldn't miss it!" She gives Reina a hug. Resisting the urge to melt into her arms. "But...everywhere looks so busy..." She whispers.

"Oh! Don't worry about that, just walk around and chat! Everyone kinda does their own thing, you'll find your place in time." Reina reassures. Those words- she had no idea the amount of tears Violet is holding back in that very moment.

"Y-yeah..." Violet nods, "Right." She gives Reina a nod before going over to the Eiland, Celine, Balor, Adeline, and Holt.

"Hello, Violet!" Eiland greets, his smile isn't as warm as Reina's- at least not in the same capcity. Where Reina's smile was like curling up with a blanket, in front of the fireplace on a cold winter morning? Eiland's was like the sunshine, like when you were a kid and played too hard during the summer falling to the ground and feelings the warm ground. “We’re playing Dungeons and Drama! You’re welcome to listen for a bit.” He offers.

“Yeah.” Violet nods, sitting next to Holt with a smile. Everyone introducing their characters had her smiling as she went to enjoy some of the other groups as well. She’d never tell a soul but The Bearded Bad Brad was her favorite so far.

At the next table, she played around of cards before she realized Olric was just- unbelievably lucky. She frowned, she hated loosing. And, everyone was starting to get rowdy because of his unbelievable luck. So, she politely excused herself from the table. Making her way over to the bar-

“Violet!” March said, but that was way too enthusiastic to be March. Slowly, she turned around, and it was in fact March. Or a clone of him? It had to be, standing there with the biggest smile she’d ever seen him have. Slight blush on his cheeks, “Come over here! Sit next to me!! You’re always so busy during the week!” The clone said.

“March is quite the lightweight.” Elsie speaks up. Violet looks over at the regal old woman. “But it is him, he’s a kind drunk.” She gives Violet a nod. She turns back to March.

“You’re telling me that’s not a clone?”

A roar of laughter from the bar. “No, dear.” Elsie smiles. “That very much so is March, our grumpy little blacksmith.”

“Violet!” He whines, “Come here!” He pouts even more. How could she refuse? Making her way over to the drunk March, she can’t help but smile at him. His hair was mused from him running his hands through it, his cheeks were rosy from the alcohol. His smile was contagious, especially as he realized Violet was walking toward him.

“Hi March.” She smiles gently. Her heartbeat picking up, starting to sound like a kick drum in her ears. He was so- devastatingly pretty. Up close, March looked so fucking good. His stupidly nice jawline, dazzling hazel eyes. Violet blinks- Hazel? Weren’t they black? She tries to subtly move further away, watching as the light hits them different changing the color. Making it appear a darker almost black color.

March, does not like that Violet is leaning away. He wanted to examine every part of her face. The way that her cheeks moved when she smiled, the perfect plumpness of her lips, how her eyes shimmered like jewels in the light. The purple hue catching the light like she melted down a purple sapphire and let it pool in her eyes. He also needed to know why she looked so confused, reaching a hand out he gently pressed her back into his side. “You look confused.”

“Your eyes aren’t black.” She mumbles, still looking at him like that. Almost like her gaze was pinning him to his spot.

March raises an eyebrow, smiling and letting out a small laugh. “No. They aren’t.” He grins, “Why? Do you think it make me prettier?” He says batting his perfectly dark eyelashes up at her. Violet lets out a soft laugh, wrapping an arm around his broad, sturdy shoulders. Caldarus strike her down now. She was touching him. She was touching March, and he wasn’t mad. He wasn’t pushing her off, she felt her stomach doing flips at the proximity.

“No, it just shocked me. They normally look black when you’re next to the forge.” She comments softly, still entranced by them. She wants to reach up, cup his cheek and tilt his head up so she can see them better.

“Mm.” March nods, leaning his head on her shoulder. Violet can feel her face heating at the action. She can feel eyes on her from the other patrons, and if she could muster a look at them she’d glare. But if she looks anywhere but firmly behind the bar, she’d explode. “Olric’s got them too.”

“Yeah?” She breathes, looking down at March. “Good to know.”

“Do you like them?” He looks back up at her. Violet’s breath hitches as she sees the swirls of green and brown in his eyes even better. The light from above emphasizing more of the green. “You look like an angel.”

Violet shakes her head. “Wh-what?” She says with a shocked laugh.

March gives her a big smile. Reaching up and tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “You look like an angel. The light is like-“ He moves his hand around her face, to signal the halo of laughter around her.

She needs air. She needs space. She can’t do this- March can’t be that sweet. No matter what Elsie said, this had to be a clone of March and the real one was plotting her demise somewhere. “M-March…” Violet says quietly, taking a step back. But he frowns, pulling her back into him.

“I like when you say my name.” He mumbles. Still looking at her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. As if he would give her the world. Violet couldn’t do this. She steps away from him, dodging his arms again.

“Goodnight March.” She whispers quickly, slapping some money down on the table to cover her food for the night and rushing out.

A/N: I know that March’s sprite has black eyes- but consider. No. Kfjjfjfksks no in all fairness I just thought it be interesting if he had hazel eyes, my brother does and they change the intensity depending on the lighting he’s in. So I thought because he’s around the forge so much it be interesting!