:c

Shane, My Beloved

Shane had never considered himself a romantic person. In fact, Shane never considered himself at all, really. He had a routine that he followed, didn't think about how he worked a minimum-wage job at thirty-three, and when pretending that everything in his life was totally fine got to be too much, he drank. A lot. It was almost certainly unhealthy, but it got him through the day - for the most part.

When the new farmer moved into the dingy cottage north of his aunt's ranch, he didn't think much of it. He went to Joja Mart that day, same as always. He stocked the shelves, same as always. He saw the other town drunk wandering the aisles of Joja, same as always. He went straight to the Stardrop Saloon after closing, same as always. He saw the drunk again, same as always. He saw all the other Monday regulars at the Saloon, same as always.

But.

There was someone new today. It must be that new farmer, Shane thought to himself. Where did they move from? Was it Zuzu City? Somewhere across the Gem Sea? Hmm, I can't seem to remember... Whatever. It doesn't matter anyways. Not like I care. Even if I did, everyone always leaves. No use getting to know anyone new, Shane finally settled on that thought and took another sip of his beer.

Suddenly, a shadow crossed the floor to his corner by the bar. After introducing themselves to the local chef and the blue-haired barmaid, they seemed to walk toward Shane. He looked up. The farmer was staring at him, obviously exhausted from a hard day's work and socializing, but, curiously, appeared to be satisfied. Happy, even.

This perplexed Shane. He understood that his niece and his chickens and the boy with the bright yellow hair were all happy, but this was because they had never left Pelican Town. They didn't know what else was out there. They were blissful out of ignorance, not out of true joy. This farmer, they seemed different. They certainly weren't ignorant to the richness of city life. So why? Why did they seem so content? He had half a mind to ask them right out when the farmer asked him a question first:

"You're Shane, right? You work at the Joja Mart? I have to ask... Is it because you hate the shopkeep in town as much as I'm beginning to?"

Shane laughed out loud. He couldn't remember the last time he'd done that. It felt nice. The farmer smiled, bigger, this time, somehow. It made Shane feel... Well. He didn't know how it made him feel, but he knew that it was a feeling that he'd not had in a very long time.

He finally answered the farmer's question after a moment. "Unfortunately, my employment at Joja is not a condition of my spite, much as I wish it were. The store in town doesn't keep any staff at all. That's why the store's closed on Wednesday."

The farmer nodded and said "oh well. I simply had to ask." Then, after a short pause, they said "I'd better head off, I have some more planting to do tonight." And with that, they turned on their heels and walked out of the Saloon.

Shane watched the door for a long time after the farmer had closed the door. He hoped that they would turn around and run back inside. He hoped they would trip and fall over the threshold on their way out the door. He hoped they'd leave and never return.

He didn't know anything about the farmer but after this interaction, he knew one more thing about himself:

he was totally and utterly fucked.

teehee I love Shane ok anyways im thinking I might make this into like a series but we shall seeeeeeeeeeee xoxo

im on tinder (god knows why) and not seeing ANY sdv bachelors or bachelorettes on there like wtf???????? sam, harv, leah wya?? I CANT KEEP RESPONDING « nm » TO « wbu »

the consequences of desire

Apple Music - Web Player

Read your Mind by Sabrina Carpenter on Apple Music

Song · 2022 · Duration 3:27

restorations // chapter three

read on ao3 here!

on my fifth day in the valley, i opened my mailbox to see a flyer informing me that a mine had opened up on the mountaintop. after grabbing my pickaxe and a few parsnips, i made my way up the mountain to be greeted by an older man with an eyepatch. 

he introduced himself as marlon and warned me about the dangers i’d face below. with the wimpy sword he’d given me to protect myself with, i swallowed my fears and descended. 

i’d already nearly exhausted myself on the third floor. just my luck, i’d supposed. i swung my sword wildly as a bat nearly knocked me off my feet. i reached in my pack for a parsnip, only to find that i’d brought only three with me, all of which i had already eaten. 

gone already? what is wrong with me today? i thought to myself. 

it suddenly occurred to me just how unprepared for the strength and energy that was required for this journey i was, leaving aside the simple fact that i had barely any of the required materials… my pickaxe was far too weak, my sword was falling apart, and i’d only just finished growing my first batch of parsnips (ninety percent of which i’d sold to lewis that morning). 

these are the reasons i gave myself as why it was okay that i’d woken up in Harvey's arms as he carried me out of the mines and into town, maru trailing behind him with a worried look on her face.

i floated in and out of consciousness as we walked past the large house on the mountaintop, past the old, broken down community center, and finally toward the door of the clinic where he readjusted our positions so he could unlock his door. 

i groaned as he cradled me in his arms and saw him look down at me, almost frightened. 

the last thing i remember before everything going dark is making eye contact with the doctor as he walked us across the threshold of his clinic.

–

when i opened my eyes next, i was in a hospital bed with Harvey leaning over me. 

he didn’t notice me open my eyes immediately so i just regarded him for a moment. i think he could feel my eyes on him after a moment because he suddenly remembered himself, his body covering mine in a way far too intimate for a doctor and his patient.

he tensed and i couldn’t help but reach up to touch his shoulder in an attempt to try to get him to relax a bit. he regarded my hand for a minute before meeting my eyes.

with a huffed breath, he whispered “hi. um, you got in an accident today. when maru found you in the mines, it appeared as though you’d been knocked out. by what, we still don’t know. i was able to repair all of your injuries without much trouble. do you have any insurance? i’ll need to bill you for the service.”

he paused for a moment before saying, “you know what? nevermind. let’s worry about that later. how much pain are you in? do you need more penicillin? i can get you some acetaminophen or maybe some benadryl but it’s a little late in the day–”

i was obviously still high as shit from the effects of whatever kind of drug the doctor must’ve put me under because in the middle of his diatribe, i brought up a finger to his lips and shushed him. 

he seemed surprised at first, maybe even a little rattled, but softened almost immediately. “you’re right. i’m sorry, Calliope. i’ve been hovering, and i should give you some time to rest. or, at least, some time to be alone. maru told me that you have plans tonight at the saloon.”

had i not been “up in the clouds,” as it were, i might’ve wondered why the town doctor had asked his colleague if i’d had plans tonight, but as such, i simply said “come with me.”

his eyes had wandered to where my fingers had landed following their personal space invasion but snapped back to mine as he processed my words.

“n-no. i.. i couldn’t. i wouldn’t want to intrude on you four. and.. i wouldn’t feel comfortable. the old man in the corner… you’d feel obligated to include me in conversation and it’d make you miserable,” he said, taking a step away from the bed, and, suddenly, the room temperature dropped noticeably.

“wait,” i said, sitting up (and immediately wincing), “it’s not going to be like that. i promise. plus, it won’t be four of us and you. sebastian’s not coming. something about a looming deadline. it’ll be me, sam, and abby. and you. hopefully. and i need someone else there so that i don’t get caught third wheeling! they haven’t admitted it… but there’s something going on there, i just know it…” 

as i conspired about a budding relationship between two of my neighbors, i turned my head and began chewing on my fingernails, a habit i’d picked up as an anxious eight-year-old and hadn’t been able to kick since. i had, however, not done it in public since fifteen. 

when i finally realized that i was, of course, not alone, i immediately pulled my fingers out of my mouth and felt my face get hot with embarrassment. i couldn’t look him in the eyes as i mumbled an apology.

his mouth parted in a small smile before saying, “don’t be. i think it’s cute.”

my eyes widened, my head snapping over to him again. “what?” i said. 

it seemed the doctor, too, was rendered speechless. he swallowed before pausing, as if to make up an excuse. finally, he said, “well! you are all patched up and free to go. let me know if you need anything else from me, Calliope.”

before i could reply, he turned on his heel and practically ran out of the room. 

minutes later, i walked out into the waiting room of the small clinic, after gathering my things and ensuring i looked decent enough for the outside world. Harvey was there, and appeared to be busying himself with various papers. 

i didn’t manage to catch his eye, but before walking out, i repeated my offer to him.

“just think about it,” i finally said. without a look back, i left the clinic, still in pain, definitely exhausted, and scared as hell that i might just fall in love after all.

Onions caramelizing on the stove, shane smut cooking on the computer. Life can be beautiful sometimes.

It’s a difficult time nowadays so mentally I am here

GASP

Nobody's Son, Nobody's Daughter

Read it on ao3.

TW: drxg useage, alcohol consumption, kissing, light dirty talk

Fourteen. Six days. Six fucking days since I’ve kissed Sebastian. Well, a little more than kissing. We made out. A lot. But that’s as far as it went and when dawn started to creep over the mountain peak, we stopped and went back inside like nothing happened. We haven’t talked about it. Maybe it was just a spur of the moment thing. Maybe it doesn’t need to be talked about. We still hung out of course but it was like it had never happened. I’ve never felt this way about someone before, how do I bring it up without freaking him out? It would have to wait though as we were celebrating Abby’s twenty-second birthday today. The four of us were supposed to take another trip out to the city to celebrate but Caroline sprung a last minute birthday dinner on Abby so we’re going to hang out at Sebastian’s again and chill.

“If I have to hang out with my parents beforehand, then I just wanna relax,” I remember Abby saying. It was decently sunny out today with a light breeze so I was wearing a dark red sundress and a cream colored cardigan to cover my shoulders. I tied a cute little bow on the wicker basket that held a blackberry cobbler and a monster compendium. I planned on dropping it off at the Pierre’s because cobbler tastes best fresh out of the oven anyway. As I’m about to head into town, Abby bursts into the farm house.

“Hey, I was just about to go see you,” I say while tucking the basket behind my back.

“They are driving me insane!” Abby says as she sits down at my kitchen table, clearly talking about Pierre and Caroline. “I’m twenty-one! I finish school next year, I don’t understand why they insist on treating me like a child!” She buries her head in her arms and I slowly set the basket down on the table. She lifts her head up from the table ever so slightly and asks, “is this for me?”

“Happy twenty-first!” I exclaim while going into the fridge. I was gonna save this bottle of mead for later but Abby seems like she could use a drink now.

“Aw black berry cobbler! I knew something smelled good when I walked it. Oh!” She takes out the book and hugs it, “how did you know I’ve been looking for this?” she asked while smiling like a child on Feast of the Winter Star.

“I had a hunch,” I say as I set the mead down on the table and grab two wine glasses. I pour the mead half way into the glasses and we sip and talk until the sun starts to set. “Hey, Abby, what time was your birthday dinner supposed to be?” She looks up at me with droopy eyes.

“I think eight? No-seven… What time is it now?” she giggles and I lift up the empty bottle of mead. Oh shit. I glance at the time on my phone and it’s six o’clock.

“Fuck,” I stand up and take my phone off the table. I excuse myself into the bedroom and call Sam. In college, I could finish a bottle of wine or mead in a day with no issues. I should’ve taken into consideration that Abby, being freshly twenty-one, is probably a lightweight.

“Hello?” Sam answers.

“Hey so, we have a bit of a predicament,” I say.

“Predicament? What do you mean?”

“Well, you know how I was gonna bring over that bottle of mead for Abby’s birthday later?”

“…Yea.”

“I think you should just come over. Is Sebastian with you? Bring him.” I hang up before Sam can ask more questions. I go back into the kitchen and give Abby a glass of water. I also made her eat the now cold blackberry cobbler. Literally giving her anything that would soak up the alcohol in her stomach. Sebastian and Sam arrive a little later.

“Look, it's my friendssss!” Abby exclaimed. I give the two boys a weak smile and they shake their heads.

“You dumbass,” Sam says to me as he sits next to Abby, “you were supposed to save that bottle for all of us!”

“I know!” I say, “it’s just, she came over, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to crack it open. I didn’t think we’d finish the bottle…” I sheepishly look down at the floor. Sebastian sits down next to Sam.

“Abby’s a lightweight, you didn’t know,” he says.

“Mom’s getting take outttt,” Abby says in a sing-song tone.

“I thought your mom was making dinner?” I ask her.

“Mom hates cooking. I don’t know why she made a big fuss over a birthday dinner,” she sighs. An idea came to mind and I start pulling out ingredients from the fridge.

“What are you doing, farmer?” Sam asks while patting Abigail’s back. Her head rests on his shoulder and she takes a swig of some water.

“If I make Pierre and Caroline dinner, maybe they won’t care if Abby doesn’t show up for dinner?” I suggested while pulling out tuna that I had filleted earlier as well as octopus tentacles I had also cut up.

“Gross, Farmer, you just keep that in your fridge?” Sam asks while holding his nose.

“Hey man, I caught an octopus. What else am I supposed to do with it?” I ask while dumping oil into a pot and sticking a thermometer in it. As the oil heats up, I throw the tuna into a different pan and start searing it.

“Didn’t realize you’re quite the cook, Farmer,” Sebastian says from behind me. I shrug and look over my shoulder.

“Who else was gonna cook for my sister? Seb, could you get Abby some more water?” I turn my attention back to chopping up cabbage then coating the octopus in flour. Sebastian places a hand on the small of my back while he moves around me to fill up Abby’s water from the sink. My skin tingles at his touch. The Taco was the easiest to make. Sear the tuna, spread the mayo on the tortilla, then add the cabbage and tuna. I take the basket off the table and add the tacos in there.

“You’ve gotten very cottage-core these last couple of months,” Sam says. I hear an affirming “mm” from Abby, signaling to me that she got her water.

“I guess so,” I say while dropping the flour coated octopus into the oil, “I grow my own produce, raise my own animals, and am essentially living off the land besides the occasional thing I’ll buy at Pierre’s.”

“You have two chickens and a duck,” Sebastian says, “is that raising your own animals?”

“I’ve had them since they were chicks!” I say while facing them and leaning my hip against the counter, “I’m also thinking about getting a rabbit.”

“Awwww so cute!” Abby says, sobering up a little bit. I checked the oil temperature one more time.

“Then I’ll be making my own clothes, how's that for cottage-core?” I laugh and scoop out the now fried octopus onto some paper towels and pat them dry.

“Well, what I was going to say before Seb started teasing you, is that you look happy,” Sam says as I assemble the basket, making everything look nice for Caroline and Pierre. Compared to when I first moved here, I am a lot happier. My only issue is getting my sister away from Dad. I had a feeling that he’s going to try and sink his claws into her though.

“I need you boys to take Abby back to Sebastian’s. I’m gonna drop these off and play dumb, sounds good?” The guys nod and Abby smiles into Sam’s shoulder.

“Thanks guys, I didn’t want to eat Gus’ spaghetti again.” They left and took the shortcut up the mountain while I made my way into town. If my calculations are correct, a nice gesture should make the couple forget about their, now drunk, daughter. I mean when I first met Pierre he couldn’t even remember how old Abby was. I enter their home above the shop and the two of them are sitting in front of the fireplace sipping tea.

“Hi Farmer,” Caroline says, “what brings you here?” I place the basket down beside them.

“I was fishing earlier and I made some calamari and fish tacos. Gus told me they were your favorites!” I say, giving them a simple smile and also hoping that they wouldn’t see right through me. Gus didn’t tell me directly about their favorite foods, I might have been eavesdropping at the saloon yesterday while talking to Shane.

“Oh this is wonderful! Now I don’t have to cook,” Caroline laughs.

“Speaking of,” says Pierre, “have you seen Abby?” I shrug.

“She might be at Sebastian’s. I was just on my way over there,” I say, batting my eyelashes, smiling and giggling, doing everything to make myself look as innocent as possible.

“Will you tell her that dinner’s canceled?” Caroline asks, “we’ll take her out another time. All that produce you’ve been selling to us has been making us money!”

“That’s wonderful! I do have to go though, they’re probably waiting for me,” I say and turn to leave, “I’ll see you soon!” They say goodbye and thank me for the dinner and as soon as I exit the store, I exhale. I thank Yoba all the way to Sebastian’s place. I’m greeted by Robin when I walk in through the front door.

“How’s that coop holding up? I think it’s some of my best work,” she says proudly. I agree and get to chatting with her. “You know, Sebby helps me with my work sometimes,” she says.

“I didn’t know,” I say, trying hard not to picture Sebastian swinging an axe over his head with his shirt off and his sweat glistening. I didn’t need another fantasy to push down like the one time I caught him working on his bike outside. Shirt off, skin covered in soot and oil, tattoos practically begging me to lick them. If I were smarter I would say that she’s doing this on purpose. As Robin goes to open her mouth to say something about Sebastian helping her with her carpentry, I feel a calloused hand on my wrist and a soft yank.

“No more stories, Mother!” Sebastian yells as he drags me down the stairs to his bedroom. I look back at Robin as her son drags me away and she giggles. She’s definitely doing it on purpose but not to tease me. I look down at Sebastian’s hand around my wrist. His slender fingers with the different black and silver rings on them, his manicure fresh with black nail polish with a glossy finish. I used my other hand to cover the blush creeping up onto my face. No way. No fucking way. I know we kissed and everything but what am I supposed to do with this information? When we enter his bedroom, Abby is laying down on Sebastian’s bed, curled in the fetal position, watching anime. Sam is sitting at the tea table with a can of beer in front of him, a joint between his two fingers, and a handful of cards.

“Are you watching the Ghost Stories dub?” I ask, referring to the anime.

“Huh? Oh yea! It’s a classic. Figured it would keep her entertained while she keeps sobering up,” Sebastian says and gestures over to Abby, glued to his tv.

“Well if you’re gonna stand behind me, stand closer I can’t feel it. And they wonder why I like black men!” the tv says and Abby bursts into a fit of giggles. I laugh at her giggles, knowing exactly what episode she’s on.

“Do you watch anime?” Sebastian asks as I sit down with them, he deals me a couple of cards.

“Just finished the last season of Demon Slayer. The movie is going to be so devastating,” I say as Sam hands me the joint.

“That’s Sebby’s favorite,” Sam says through a fit of coughs. I inhale and let the weed fill my lungs.

“Oh?” I sigh the weed out of my lungs. If there’s a way I could test my little theory, this would be it. “I used to cosplay as Kanroji.” I scroll through the photos on my phone as one of them coughs, like their choking. I hold the joint out for someone to take it as I keep scrolling and scrolling.

“That's- OW,” Sam says as I finally find the picture, I make eye contact with Sebastian as I show him the picture and his face turns a blush pink. But that could mean anything right? I mean the cosplay was pretty revealing…

“I used to have the best costumes for Spirits Eve,” I say with a sigh while taking my phone back.

“Wait wait,” Sam says while grabbing my phone, “where’s the snake guy?”

“Iguro?” Sebastian and I ask at the same time.

“Yea! I see a lot of people who dress like them together,” Sam says while giving me my phone back. I shrug.

“I’ve never had a boyfriend before.” The room falls silent and even Abby is paying attention to our conversation now. “Okay geez,” I say,

“I didn’t realize that was the equivalent of killing somebody.”

“Really? Like no heartbreak that caused you to hoe around?” Abby asks and I snap my heart around.

“Okay, rude! I didn’t need a reason to hoe around, I just liked sex okay?”

“No, no. Her trauma is what caused her to hoe around like that,” Sam says.

“When did this become a therapy session?” I ask while snatching the joint out of Sam’s hands.

“If I dated someone it meant I would have to bring them home to my dad. It’s not that deep, I just didn’t want someone to get that close to me,” I say while puffing the joint.

“Oh Farmer,” Sam says and opens his arms to hug me. I push his forehead back with my palm and continue to smoke the joint.

“It’s not a big deal!” I say, struggling to keep him back. Sebastian starts laughing, harder than I had ever heard him laugh before. He takes the joint out of my hand and smokes it.

“You,” he points at Abby, “sober the fuck up and watch tv. If you wanna drink with us again, figure out how to keep up without getting trashed.” Abby curls back up on Sebastian’s bed.

“Yea, Yea,” she mutters, knowing that he’s right.

“And tell the Farmer thank you for getting you out of that stupid family dinner,” he continues.

“Thank you, Farmer,” she says barely above a whisper.

“And Sam,” Sebastian continues, “if you want to play therapist then go to fucking college.” Sam opens his mouth to speak but decides against it and hands me an unlit joint instead. I thank him and light it.

“Farmer,” he says while putting out the old joint, “what are you going for Spirits eve this year?”

“All my old costumes are in the city and I’ve been so busy this year, I think I’m just gonna go as a devil,” I say, “what about you?” I ask him.

“If you’ll go as a devil, I’ll be an angel,” he says. I laugh at the thought of him in white and gold instead of his black and silver. He pouts and I try to calm myself down. “Damn, after all that defending I did for you,” he huffs and snatches the joint away from me again. “You’re cut off.”

#

Sam had left with Abby a few minutes ago. He had to get up early for work and we all agreed it looked better for her to come home late than to stay the night at Sebastian’s. Sam offered to walk me home too but Sebastian insisted that he would. I’ve come to the conclusion from his reaction to my cosplay, the little stories that Robin will tell me, from the hints that Sam gives him when they think I’m not looking. He definitely thinks I’m pretty. But I can’t understand why it’s so hard for my brain to comprehend that he might like me back. Because why would he? I have sexual experience but anything romantic I’m blind to. There were people who wanted something more from me besides sex but the thought of bringing them home to Dad made me sick and there have been people I’ve wanted more from than just sex from but I don’t think they saw me as dateable. I shiver as we walk the shortcut back to the farm.

“Cold?” Sebastian asks and before I can answer he pulls off his hoodie and gives it to me. I put it on while admiring the way his t-shirt sleeves hugged his shoulders and biceps. His hoodie was a little oversized on me and engulfed me in his scent. Cigarettes, wood shavings, oil, a bit of sweat, and some faint cologne. If they could bottle this up and sell it, I would lose all my money. We walk in silence for a bit but I decide that I have to know what that kiss was about.

“About the other day,” I start, “was that just spur of the moment or…” Sebastian laughs and digs his hands into his jean pockets.

“Oh Yoba, it definitely wasn’t spur of the moment for me. You know how hard I had to work up the courage to even touch you? Thanks for bringing it up though, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about it,” he says.

“...You…You wanted to kiss me?” I blush but hope the darkness hides it.

“Of course I did! I’m thinking about attacking those pink plump lips right now. Obviously you’ve seen how I act around you, right?” He laughs again, “you really are dense, huh Farmer?”

“You gotta spell it out for me,” I say as we walk over the highway. I knew what he was saying but I wanted him to say it out loud. Lips, teeth, tongue, vocal chords, I need him to say it.

“I’ve been thinking about how sweet you might taste since the day I met you.” I wasn’t expecting that. In that moment, I felt the lust pour out of my body but it didn’t feel like I needed to fill something. It felt like I needed to have something.

“I said spell it out. That was the whole fucking alphabet,” I say while picking up my walking pace. Teasing him. That’s all I could think to do. If you truly want me, come get me. I could see him coming for me out of the corner of my eye so I picked up my pace but he grabbed me by my waist, fingers gripping into the fabric of my dress, and I felt my feet lift off the ground. In one swoop I’m suddenly sitting on his shoulder, his arm wrapped over my lap. He looks up at me with a soft smile and once I realize I’m fully off the ground and he’s not putting me down anytime soon, I wrap my arm around his neck. “W…What?”

“Sleeper build baby,” he says as we get onto my property, “all that wood chopping does a man wonders.” It’s like he knows my every thought, my every feeling, how the hell can he do that?

“Put me down,” I say, still in shock that he could lift me that easily, “if this is what it’s like to be tall, I don’t want it.”

“Please,” he says when we reach my house, “you weren’t telling that to Shane at the concert. Watching you on his shoulders, man, I was so jealous that his head got to be between those pretty thick thighs.” My breath gets caught in my throat when he says that and my thoughts race back to when I fed him lunch that same week.

“Pumpkin soup isn’t the only thing you were hungry for?” I ask as he squats and my feet reach the ground again. His arm doesn’t remove itself from my waist though. He’s walked me home but once I let him inside there’s no recovering from what's about to happen.

“I was starving,” he says, voice lowering. A shiver runs down my spine and a shock zaps between my legs. “But not for the soup. My sleep deprived ass just needed to see you.” I bit my bottom lip as his face moved closer to mine. I was confident being the domme, the one pursuing. I’ve never been on the receiving end of it though, is this what it’s like for someone to yearn for you? His slender fingers grasp the base of my chin and I look up into his deep brown eyes. Everything about him is screaming hunger, passion, need. My skin prickles as his grip on my jaw tightens. “The thought of being in your bed made me dizzy,” he says in a near growl. I extend my lips ever so slightly but he pulls his face away. His eyes roaming over my face and body, drinking up every bit of me. “Be honest,” he says while his other hand grips my waist, he doesn’t break eye contact, “did you touch yourself after I left? You were staring at me like a dog deprived of meat.” He licks his lips, revealing the ball of his tongue piercings. Yoba, he can read me like an oracle. “Like how you’re looking at me now?” I grab the hand that’s holding my waist and bring it up to my lips to kiss the pretty rings that rest gently around his fingers.

“You’re gonna have to show me if your fingers work better than mine.”

the consequences of desire

Apple Music - Web Player

Some Place Else by MorMor on Apple Music

Song · 2019 · Duration 3:34

read it on ao3 here!

i moved to the valley in the spring. it was so full of life, and nothing like i remembered it. the people i met were kind - for the most part. this is exactly what i was looking for, i thought to myself. 

as i meandered around on my first day in town, i caught sight of him. clad in a forest green blazer and an orange… no, bronze tie, he sat on a bench in the park by the old, battered community center. i was tempted to approach him, but i didn’t dare. 

it’s true that i fall in love easily. my mother used to say i must have been blessed by aphrodite. it sounds great to fall in love like that, but the other part, the part no one considers, is the falling out of love. to feel my heart break over and over again was torture, so, before moving to the valley, i’d decided to lock my heart away, to keep her safe from harm.

so yes, i decided not to approach him out of a fear that i’d fall just as naturally as breathing. 

and it was easy, at first, to avoid him. he keeps weird hours, the doctor. so when i’d finally visited the saloon, on the first rainy day in the spring of my first year, the mayor asked me if i’d met everyone in town yet, i’d simply said no. i’d been busy. he’d understood, of course, but when he had asked me who i hadn’t met yet, i’d told him only to have him escort me to where he was sitting at the bar, sleeves rolled up, hair disheveled, and nursing a half-full glass of red wine.

“i’ll let the two of you get to know each other,” the mayor said with a smile before returning to the rancher sitting patiently at his table. 

i caught the attention of the barmaid and said “i’ll have what he’s having!” emily smiled and nodded before walking away. 

when i finally looked over at him, the doctor was already looking at me. watching me. he looked like he was running some calculations in his head.

i blushed before saying “what? do i have something in my teeth? oh, yoba, that’s so embarrassing!” 

he laughed quietly before shaking his head and saying “no. no. nothing like that. i was just trying to figure out why you hadn’t introduced yourself to me yet.”

my eyes widened and i stuttered out “i-i.. i’ve been busy! lots to do on that farm. i’m sure you’ve seen it. it’s hideous!” i paused and sighed before saying weakly, “no. no, not hideous. but. um. i’ve been busy. really.” 

“oh. okay. well, good, then. i was a bit worried you were avoiding me–oh my. how rude of me. i haven’t even asked your name yet. do forgive me, please,” he said before looking down at his glass.

i flushed before saying “um, i’m Calliope. it means ‘beautifully-voiced,’ but my singing is about as impressive as my farm is right now… anyways, my friends all call me calli. you can call me whichever you prefer!” i smiled, slightly embarrassed of how i’d just rambled on about my name’s etymology to the man who had figured out that i was avoiding him. “um.. what’s your name, doctor?”

“Calliope is a beautiful name. i’m Harvey, the local doctor. although i suppose you figured as much calling me ‘doctor’ and all. um. it’s lovely to finally meet you, calliope.” he smiled at me, and his moustache bristled against his upper lip. not that i noticed. i didn’t notice his moustache or his stocky fingers tracing the rim of his glass or how his forearms looked with his sleeves rolled up.

i didn’t notice even one of those attractive qualities. how could i have when i was captivated by his eyes. the way his thick glasses magnified his eyes just enough that i could see that his eyes weren’t brown, they were amber. amber, my new favorite color.

when i eventually pulled my eyes away, i felt… lonely. but this was the problem, wasn’t it? i couldn’t get to know Harvey because i couldn’t fall in love because i couldn’t get my heart broken again. so, in favor of protecting myself, despite my heart’s desires, i paid for my drink, got up from my stool, and said “good night, doctor.”

i thought i heard a disappointed sigh before he responded “good night, Calliope.”

on my third day in pelican town, i walked home in the rain, alone.

hi everybody!!! new fic alertttt!!! this is coopted from my original harv drabbles so worry not. more of that cutie pie to come ;)

OC’s profile while i work on the next part:)

music enthusiast

former english major

marijuana user

can be found at the spa during winter

book hoarder

fondest memory is farming with grandpa

(will be) married to sebastian

pets

miso (brown/orange cat)

eclipse (will eventually adopt)

birthday is spring 25

likes

cherries

fire opal

triple shot espresso

morels

pumpkin soup

dislikes

haunted skull

dried mushrooms

bug steak

radish salad

cockle

likes going in the mines

dislikes public transportation

favorite villagers

sebastian

sam

abigail

robin

linus

everyone's blond husband <3

When you first met him, you were a bit overwhelmed by his “pep.” The boy with the spiky, blond hair who always wore a smile despite his ever-healing lip piercing. He did have a wonderful smile. No wonder he was always showing it off. It made you smile to yourself, just thinking about it. 

In your first year on the farm, you were swamped with work. From chopping down trees to make room for sprinklers to trying your best to fix up the old community center in the middle of town, you’d just barely make it into bed on time every night. This meant you had barely any time to meet your neighbors, much less get to know them. Your over excited neighbor, however, seemed to have made it his mission to spend as much time with you as possible.

One day, in mid summer, when you were replanting melon seeds, his shadow darkened your property. You’d heard him coming before you saw him; he’d been humming to himself a song he’d been writing for his band. He had asked you, in the spring, what genre of music you liked and you’d tried to answer in a way that he would’ve approved of: “hi-energy dance music.” He seemed to accept this answer and promptly started writing such a song with his long-time best friend.

“Hey,” he said as he approached. 

You greeted him without looking up from your field, “hi, Sunshine.” 

This was a nickname you’d started calling him after he’d lost at pool for the seventh time in the three weeks you’d known him. You had always known him as a ray of sunshine, but when he lost at pool, he seemed to get downright depressed. The nickname was born from insistent teasing, but after a while, it became a pet name of sorts.

The boy rolled his eyes when he heard the nickname but you could swear you saw his cheeks tinge pink in the afternoon sun. 

“Whaddya need? I have about fifty more seeds to plant today, but then I can hang out if you want,” you said, face buried in your work.

“Hmm,” he said. Then, “can I help? I dunno how you want me to plant, but maybe I could water some of them? …if that’d be helpful, I mean.”

You looked up at him. “Yea. Yea, that’d be great. Thanks, Sunshine,” you said and smiled at him.

He smiled back at you and picked up the copper watering can that had been discarded early in the morning when you found your crops ripe to be plucked. 

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

About an hour later, you had both finished your chores, and you were sitting on your porch while he stood in front of you. You leaned in just enough to examine each of his features closely. He was quite beautiful, you thought to yourself. His silver lip ring, his enormous blue eyes, his golden hair, covered up today with a baseball cap. You reached over and pulled it off his head. He started. 

“Why did you do that?” he asked.

You shrugged before saying “I wanted to see your face better.” You reached up to brush his hair out of his face and smiled. Suddenly, he grabbed your hand and pulled you toward him. You were about to say something, but he kissed you, and it felt like you were on fire. He was maybe the third person you’d ever kissed and, by far, the best one. 

He smiled brightly and said cheekily, “alright. I gotta go. Mom’s making dinner and she needs me to swing by the general store before she can start cooking.” He looked you up and down before simply saying “bye!” and turning on his heel.

HEHE hope u like it is my first sam post :3