✿✿𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗✿✿

Bruh! Its a cat?! *looks at the picture on wiki* Are my eyes deceiving me!? Me and my blind eyes! I thought its a teddy bear but when I look at the picture on the SDV wiki it doesn't have whiskers. Yeah, it looks like a cat but I swear it looks like a freaking teddy bear or maybe its the ears. 😂😵

A random thought, you remember the achievement when we get the Statue of Perfection or Statue of True Perfection. Everyday we received iridium ore or random items, then how will the SDV/SVE Bachelors, (can you add the adventurers and mages) gonna react to this huge looking (gold/iridium) teddy bear appear in the farm and everyday a random item pops out.

(I mean I would find it weird and intriguing, that I woke up the next day just to see a huge looking teddy bear appeared on my spouse's arms.)

...A teddy bear?

*looking at a picture on the SDV wiki*

It's a cat, isn't it? I always thought it was a cat. *Looking again* Although the ears are a little round, it does looks like a bear. Kinda...

Anyway, good to see you in my askbox again! Enjoy some headcanons 💕 And I'm interested to hear from others, who do you see in these statues, the bear or the cat?

_________________________________________

SDV bachelors react to Statue of Perfection/True Perfection:

...Was there some kind of strange fashion for huge jewelled statues or something? It wasn't enough for Shane to find a gold statue of Lewis in Marnie's room (of course, she refused to say how it got there in the first place), but now Farmer had one. Well, at least Shane's spouse had chosen a cute animal instead of one with the hideous mayor's face on it. "Why?" "That statue gives us ore every day." "...So you can do nothing and you'll make a profit. Wow, that's handy stuff." A useful statue and a nice looking one, so Shane didn't mind.

Imagining the life of a rich and famous athlete, which Alex aspired to, he still didn't understand some of the oddities of people living in luxury. For example, the habit of ordering gold statues with encrusted gems. Alex's spouse had received a statue of Perfection as a reward for their deeds, but those who just bought them and tried to pass them off as some kind of achievement? Weird. They usually also ugly looking, not like Farmer's statue that looks like a bear, or maybe it's a cat, and... ??? Did the statue just give him a prismatic shard??????

"Darling, where did you get this?" "One statue was given to me by Grandpa. The other I got as a reward." Never before had Harvey seen statues as tall as himself made of pure iridium. The doctor hadn't paid much attention to it before, thinking they were just strange decorations made of inexpensive metal. But later, while rearranging the bedroom, Harvey began to scrutinise each of the statues. "Your Grandpa had unusual taste in furniture." "It's not about taste, it's about to get ore." And Farmer took the iridium ore and the prismatic shard from the two statues, leaving Harvey in complete shock.

To be honest, Sebastian was a little disappointed when Farmer told him that the Statue of Perfection wasn't some sort of totem for worshipping spirits or gods. Too bad, he was already prepared to listen with interest about how these statues were connected to all sorts of occult stuff, but alas. "Well, I wouldn't say the statues are simple, hon." When Sebby saw with his own eyes that these metal figures yielded ore, he opened his mouth in amazement. "Cool." Okay, now Sebastian was even more interested in how this magic statue worked.

Sam's been doting on the cute faces of the iridium statues for about half an hour now. "Heh, adorable. Where did you acquire that statue?" "Got it from Grandpa's Shrine." "...Huh? From where?" The young guitarist guessed that the statues were unusual, but he didn't realise that there was a whole adventure story behind them with all the weirdness. "And one of the conditions of getting statue was to pet your dog?" "Yeah! Well, I'd pet the dog anyway because I love our dog, statue or not, but yeah." Sam doesn't understand anything, but he's still interested! Like wow, cool magic statue!

When Elliott was touring for his book signings, he managed to visit several museums in Zuzu City that were full of similarly unusual statues and figures. At least the statues his spouse purchased weren't the spawn of nightmares (Elliott doesn't judge art, but he certainly wouldn't want those decorations in his home). "They're not just cute, dear" When one of the statues produced a prismatic shard, the writer was speechless. But then he had an idea... "The hero went on an adventure in search of a statue of eternal wealth... Not a bad plot for a novel, don't you think?"

SVE bachelors react to Statue of Perfection/True Perfection:

Magnus can't believe his own eyes. "This is an endless source of iridium ore - a dream for treasure seekers, and a topic of discussion among mages and witches as to the origin of this relic. But also the cause of death for many, ruined by their own greed and envy." The wizard hopes that his spouse will not meet the same fate. He also tries to restrain himself from the urge to study the Statue of Perfection by being cautious. Magnus knows that Farmer's intentions are pure, and they have earned such a reward through hard work, but just in case.

"You definitely had to go through many trials and do incredible things to obtain such a treasure, my dear. A worthy reward for someone like you." Lance knows very well that even the richest person in the world cannot afford such a magical statue, it only has to be earned. And his dear spouse has earned not one, but two whole statues. Lance knows how these statues work, so not surprised about that. But the pink-haired man is more interested in the exact merits for which Farmer was so honoured. Lance wouldn't mind hearing their story over a glass of wine.

Oh, it's.... the Statue of Perfection! It's real! What? Of course Victor knows about it! Well, not that he knows for sure, but he's read books about various artifacts and relics that were covered in mysteries. The books themselves were written by adventurers, and there were at least a few mentions of a legendary Statue of Perfection that would bring the owner happiness and wealth. Or something like that. But now Victor's spouse has been given a true legend for their hard work! It's impressive, and he is very proud of Farmer!

_________________________________________

Bonus reaction from non-marriage SVE adventurers/mages:

"What do we have here~ Sweetie, you have no idea what powerful magic these statues contain." It wasn't even the fact that the two pure iridium statues yielded ore and a prismatic shard every day that interested Camilla. The Castle Village witch believes there is something else stored inside, something that would be good to study. Wealth doesn't interest her, but potential magic does.... "I wonder how the Farmer got such a treasure, hmm? You'll tell your friend Camilla, right?

The first time Alesia saw the statues of Perfection, she thought Farmer worshipped some kind of animal spirits. She herself is an Yoba worshipper, but has no dislike for other beliefs. "If this is not totem, then what?" From the information she's received about the statue, the sniper is silent from shock for a few seconds, then says, "According to the legends, people, blended with greed, killed each other to get their hands on these relics. Do not repeat their fate, young adventurer. And be careful who you share this information with." Alesia hoped Farmer wouldn't get themself into trouble...

Jadu is going to faint with happiness. These are the same statues of Perfection that wizards and adventurers have been searching for for centuries! The metal artifacts made of pure iridium simply radiate magic! They have a rather lovely appearance, the wizard should note, very cute.... But he's distracted! Jadu almost begs Farmer to let him study them. Like Camilla, he's interested in the knowledge hidden in the statues, not the iridium ore itself.

Are these THE statues of Perfection that half of all adventurers and wizards would kill themselves over? Pfft, it looked like some cheap obscure bear-faced thing. Isaac is not impressed. And the presence of ore in the statue didn't surprise him much either ("I've seen stranger things"). Still, the grumpy adventurer will not deny the fact that Farmer has achieved this, albeit silly-looking, reward by hard work. So they're worth something. Maybe Farmer is not as hopeless as Isaac previously thought. ("Thanks Isaac. I guess...").

Camilla: Isaac is okay.

F. Thalia: What do you mean okay? He said he was going to break my legs! And don't tell me he didn't mean it, okay?! 'Cause they gave me the mackerel eyes, they meant it!

Camilla: Thalia sweetie, Isaac threatened me. He even threaten your other farmer friend, Rosemary every day. They probably threatened Lance before dinner this evening. It's what he do. Grow a pair.

After 3 Years

After years of sudden interest, declarations of love, budding romance, passionate moments and a series of misunderstandings, the decision was made. He turned to her and asked the question, "Will you marry me?" The shock of the sudden question overcame her, tears streamed down her face, then she hugged him, "Yes..."

Finally! Finishing the dating phase with Sebastian. Now I'm on the road to get those marriage heart events with him and my farmer.

Since 1.15 now released, I was looking through the Stardew Valley Expanded changelog hoping to find new updates and particularly any new marriageable NPC options. However, to my disappointment, I discovered that only Scarlet has been added as a marriageable candidate. Where are the other desired NPCs like Isaac, Alesia, Jadu or Camilla? It's quite disappointing to see they're still unavailable for marriage in the game. Damn it! •́ ‿ ,•̀

Summary: Aleia, a farmer with vibrant magenta hair, approached the carpenter's shop in the mountains. Little did she know her visit would lead to a surprising adventure.

Fall had settled upon the land like a colorful blanket and it seemed almost alive with the rustling of leaves dancing in the wind. Aleia, the farmer with her distinctive magenta hair, briskly walked through the mountains, heading towards the carpenter's shop. Little did she know that this visit would lead to an unexpected adventure, and not just in terms of renovation plans.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a crisp breeze that carried the distant scent of a wood fire from a nearby hearth. She shivered and continued her trek, feeling the leaves crunch under her boots.

Aleia finally reached the carpenter's shop, situated among the trees. She pushed open the door, the creak sounding loud in the quiet air. The room was warm and cozy, filled with the scent of cut wood and sawdust. Robin, the carpenter, greeted her with a smile. After exchanging pleasantries, Aleia asked about the renovation plans for her farmhouse. Robin began to lay out the diagrams and sketches, explaining the different options they had. However, despite Aleia's attempts to pay attention, her mind kept wandering to Sebastian, the carpenter's son and the emo boy who had captured her heart.

As she was about to leave, Aleia decided to go downstairs to Sebastian's room. She opened the door and found the room empty, the only sound coming from the creaking of the old floorboards. A pang of disappointment shot through her. Sebastian was not there, as she was about to turn and leave, something caught her eye, a small piece of paper lying on Sebastian's desk. Curious, she picked it up and at the top, written in Sebastian's neat angular handwriting, was her name.

Aleia was surprised and intrigued, she unfolded the piece of paper and saw that it was a riddle. It seemed that Sebastian had gone to the trouble of leaving her a game, like a scavenger hunt. The farmer only chuckled, feeling a flutter of excitement in her chest. She'd always found Sebastian's secretive and enigmatic side endearing.

The first clue led Aleia to the mountain lake. The water shimmering like a giant jewel in the sun. Pinned into the bark of one of the trees, she noticed a piece of paper. She pulled it out and unfolded it to reveal the next clue. It directed her to the saloon. Aleia strolled towards the town, her thoughts filled with anticipation.

When she reached the saloon, it was quiet, save for the low hum of conversation. She spotted the next clue resting on top of the pool table. She glanced around the room but saw no sign of Sebastian. The only patrons in the saloon were a few old regulars, who paid her little attention as they sipped their drinks and played cards. Aleia carefully retrieved the clue without drawing any attention. The paper indicated that the next clue could be found at the beach. She folded it carefully and placed it in her pocket then left the saloon and began walking towards the beach, the wind toying with strands of her hair.

When she reached the beach, Aleia immediately spotted a trail of rose petals leading towards the dock. She followed them, her boots crunching softly in the sand. The sun was lower in the sky now, the long shadows of the trees stretching out like fingers across the beach.

Finally, she reached the end of the dock, where Sebastian stood, his back turned towards her, looking out over the water. The setting sun cast a golden glow over him, making his dark hair even more intense against his pale skin. As if he heard her footsteps, Sebastian turned and smiled, his eyes seeming to light up at the sight of her. The rose petals swirled up from the dock around her feet, the fragrance of roses mixing with the salty smell of the water. One petal floated away, caught by the gentle breeze and landing on Aleia's cheek.

Aleia caught it with her fingers, feeling the velvety softness as it fluttered against her skin. She looked up at Sebastian, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of him standing there alone on the dock, waiting for her.

Sebastian took a few steps closer to her, the deck creaking slightly under his feet. He reached out and took her hand gently, his fingers intertwining with hers. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through Aleia, and she found herself wondering what was going through his mind. For a moment, they stood there in silence, just looking at each other. Sebastian seemed to be working up the courage to say something, his fingers playing nervously with the hem of her sleeve. Aleia waited, her eyes never leaving his face.

Finally, Sebastian spoke, his voice soft and low. "You found all the clues." he said, trying to sound casual, but unable to keep the slight tremble out of his words. Aleia nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I did." she said, squeezing his hand gently, "And they led me here."

Sebastian blushed slightly, the pink creeping up his cheeks. He swallowed hard and opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked down at their hands, still joined together, and then back up at Aleia. His expression was a mixture of nervousness and determination. "I had this whole sappy speech prepared." he said suddenly. "But now that you're here, I can't remember a single word."

Aleia chuckled, her eyes growing soft as she looked up at him. "I don't need a speech." she said, her voice gentle. "Just tell me what you wanted to say." Sebastian took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. He looked deep into her eyes and, without letting go of her hand, "Aleia, you're the most important person in the world to me. I've been holding back for too long, afraid of what might happen, afraid of messing things up. But I can't hide my feelings any longer."

Aleia felt her heart skip a beat as she heard his words. She'd known that Sebastian felt something for her, but hearing it out loud made her feel giddy and light-headed. She moved a little closer, her fingers tightening their grip on his hand.

Sebastian continued, his words coming out in a rush. "I want to be with you." he said. "I'm tired of waiting and pretending. I want to be your boyfriend. You're the sun to my night, the light to my dark, and I can't imagine my life without you anymore."

Aleia felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back, not wanting to ruin the moment. Instead, she closed the distance between them in one stride and ran her fingers through his hair. Sebastian's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't pull back. Instead, he leaned into her touch, his lips just millimeters away from hers.

For a moment, neither of them moved, the silence between them thick and full of expectation. Then, Aleia spoke. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say that." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Sebastian's eyes flickered with hope and relief. "So...does that mean-!" he began, but Aleia cut him off with a kiss.

Sebastian was taken aback by her unexpected move, but he quickly recovered and kissed her back, his free hand sliding around her waist and pulling her closer. Aleia wrapped her arms around his neck, their bodies pressed firmly against each other. The kiss was tentative at first, a gentle, soft press of lips, but it quickly deepened, becoming more urgent and passionate. The air around them seemed electrified, the only sounds their laboured breaths and the gentle lapping of the waves against the dock. Aleia's heart was racing, her mind a whirl of emotions as their kiss continued, neither one of them willing to break the connection between them. She lost herself in the sensation, the feeling of Sebastian's lips on hers and his arms around her, pulling her even closer.

Eventually, the need for air became too overwhelming, and they pulled apart, gasping and panting. Sebastian rested his forehead against hers, his eyes still closed as he fought to control his breathing. Aleia laughed softly, the sound breaking the silence between them and making Sebastian's eyes flutter open.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." Sebastian said, his voice rough with emotion. Aleia smiled, her fingers tracing the lines of his face. "I think I do." she whispered, her own voice shaking slightly. "And I'm guessing that it's been as long as I've wanted you to do it." Sebastian returned her smile, and the two of them fell into a comfortable silence, standing on the dock surrounded by the peaceful sound of the waves and the setting sun.

Finally, Sebastian spoke again. "You know, this wasn't exactly how I planned this." he said, looking a little sheepish. Aleia chuckled and leaned her head against his chest. "I like it better this way." she replied. "Spontaneous and heartfelt. Just like you." Sebastian let out an embarrassed chuckle and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

The sun was sinking lower now, the sky ablaze with purples and oranges as the day gave way to night. Aleia and Sebastian stood there on the dock, wrapped up in each other's arms, not wanting to let go. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you for waiting for me." Sebastian whispered. Aleia looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "It was worth it." she replied, her voice thick with emotion. "Every second." They kissed again, their lips meeting in a gentle, tender kiss, sealing the promise of a future together.

As the sun sank below the horizon, the sky turned a deep, inky blue, and the stars began to twinkle. Sebastian, reluctantly, pulled back from Aleia, his hands still resting on her waist. "We should probably head back." he said, his voice laced with disappointment. "It's getting dark."

Aleia sighed but nodded her agreement. However, she had a different idea in mind. "You know." she said, her tone casual. "You could stay the night at my place."

Sebastian's eyes widened at her suggestion, his cheeks turning slightly pink. He hadn't expected her to say that, and the thought of spending the night with her alone, made his heart race faster. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice cracking a little.

Aleia smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Of course, I'm sure." she replied, leaning against him. "I have a comfy bed, plenty of blankets, and we can make breakfast together in the morning."

Sebastian tried and failed to keep a straight face. The thought of sharing a bed with Aleia, even just for one night, was both thrilling and a little bit scary. But he couldn't say no to her.

"Okay." he said, his voice a little shaky. "I'll stay the night." Aleia's smile widened, and she gave him a quick, triumphant kiss on the cheek. "Great!" she said, taking his hand. "Let's go then."

They walked together in silence for a while, their footsteps crunching on the dirt path. Sebastian's mind was racing, thinking about what the night might bring. He glanced at Aleia, who was walking next to him with a small, satisfied smile on her face as they reached the farmhouse, the warm, inviting light from the windows spilling out onto the path, Sebastian couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and excitement. He was about to spend the night with the girl he adored, and he couldn't wait to see what the night would bring. With one last squeeze of his hand, Aleia led him inside, leaving the quiet night air behind as the door quietly closed behind them.

(Here's a bunch of screenshots that inspired me to write this oneshot.)

Ngl this cutscene was just perfect. The fall leaves gently drifting into the wind, and the dock surrounded by those rose petals, making the scene super romantic. Perfect setup for a real heartfelt talk under the sunset. 😍

Mod: "Maggs Immersive Sebastian Dialogue and Custom Events Spicy or Sweet" by @maggplays (I apologise for tagging you everyday. 😣 I just really love your mods and each cutscenes I encounter during my playthrough its giving me writing inspiration. You deserve to be mentioned.)

Summary: A word of advice, when the fortune teller warns of bad luck, don’t tempt fate… or risk limping home from the mines.

Winter had arrived in Pelican Town, casting a chill that seemed to seep into everything. The cold winds whipped through the air, carrying snowflakes that fluttered down, blanketing the town in white. While most residents of Pelican Town sought warmth by the fireside or tended to their animals, Yvonne had different plans. After checking her kegs and making sure her animals were warm and well-fed, she grabbed her gear and made her way to the mines. Her goal: to upgrade her pickaxe. She might have been content with her farming, but Yvonne knew a stronger pickaxe would make her life a lot easier.

But before heading out, she stopped by Moonlit Mire Farm to visit her best friend, Aleia. Yvonne always marveled at Aleia's farm—how did she do it? The crop fields stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with wintermelons and giant ones at that. A golden clock stood proudly by the fields, surrounded by fish ponds and sheds filled with her various wines and jams. Aleia had even raised a dinosaur!

Yvonne couldn't help but sweatdrop at the sheer magnitude of it all. Her friend truly was a farming demon. As she stood there, lost in thought, the door swung open, and Aleia appeared, brushing her roseate hair out of her face.

"Hey, Vonnie! What's up?" Aleia greeted, her usual cheerful self.

Yvonne grinned, despite herself. "Aleia… please tell me you sleep at night and aren't secretly a farming demon."

Aleia chuckled, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Hard work, my dear, and a sprinkle of obsession."

Yvonne shook her head. "Well, wanna come to the mines with me? I need to upgrade my pickaxe, and having an extra set of hands wouldn't hurt."

Aleia smirked. "You had me at ‘mines.’ Let me grab my gear."

The two women set off towards the mountains, unaware of the fortune teller's warning that it was a bad luck day. They didn’t think much of it, of course, as they were well-prepared for a day of mining, treasure hunting, and monster-slaying. Aleia was no stranger to the deeper parts of the mines, often coming out victorious even against the most vicious of foes. Her Galaxy Sword and skills were more than enough to protect herself and her friend. Yvonne, on the other hand, relied on her Obsidian Edge and her sharp instincts.

Their time in the mines started off fine. They encountered waves of monsters—slimes, rock golems, and bats—but were able to handle them easily. Yvonne’s grip on her sword tightened as she swung it with precision, while Aleia made quick work of any approaching enemies, her sword flashing like lightning.

"Guess this day isn’t as bad as the fortune teller said." Yvonne quipped, breathing heavily as another group of slimes disintegrated at her feet.

Aleia smirked, her face still calm despite the chaos. "Yeah, but we shouldn’t get too cocky. The mines are always full of surprises."

Just as she spoke, the ground beneath them trembled, and a group of shadow creatures emerged from the cracks in the stone, surrounding them. Before either of them could react, they were thrust into a brutal fight. Yvonne barely had time to react before a creature swiped at her, sending her sprawling to the ground.

"Yvonne!" Aleia yelled, her voice sharp as she cleaved through another group of monsters. She rushed to her friend's side, but not before another creature lunged at her.

With quick reflexes, Aleia threw a bomb to disorient the monsters, using the distraction to scoop Yvonne up and race toward the elevator, her legs burning with exhaustion.

Yvonne, wincing in pain from her sprained ankle, protested weakly. "Aleia, you can’t carry me—"

"Don’t argue with me, Yvonne." Aleia replied firmly, her voice barely a whisper as they both darted into the elevator. "We’re getting out of here, no matter what."

As the elevator doors began to close, the sound of their enemies' footsteps echoed in the tunnel. The two women were in a race against time, the monsters’ pursuit growing louder by the second.

The elevator went upward slowly, and just as the doors began to open at the surface level, Aleia collapsed against the wall. Yvonne, barely conscious, rested her head on Aleia’s shoulder.

"I’m sorry." Yvonne whispered weakly. "I didn’t mean to hold you back."

Aleia shook her head, smiling faintly. "You’re my friend, Vonnie. I’ve got you."

Marlon found them shortly after, dragging them both back to the clinic. Doctor Harvey worked quickly, patching them up with the help of his assistant, Maru. Aleia’s body was covered in bruises, blood staining her clothes, while Yvonne’s ankle was swollen and bruised.

The two women were placed in the same room, but they were too out of it to even realize what was happening. Maru kept watch, making sure they were stable, when suddenly the door flew open.

Sebastian and Sam stormed in, both panting and frantic. Maru held up a hand. "Calm down, guys. They’re resting."

Sebastian didn’t listen. His violet eyes scanned the room, landing on Aleia first. "What the hell happened?" he demanded, his usual cool demeanor completely gone.

Maru crossed her arms. "She’s fine, Sebastian. Just bruises and exhaustion. They’ll be okay."

But Sebastian wasn’t convinced. He sat down beside Aleia, brushing her reddish pink hair away from her face with gentle hands. "You’re an idiot." he muttered, voice full of frustration. "A reckless, stubborn, battle-crazed idiot."

Even unconscious, Aleia stirred, as if ready to argue back.

Meanwhile, Sam had already thrown himself onto Yvonne’s bed, cradling her like a lifeline. "Vonnie! Babe! Love of my life! Are you alive?" His voice cracked with panic.

Harvey arrived to check on his patients and only sighed, rubbing his temples. "Sam, she’s fine. Just let her rest."

Sam didn’t hear him. "Don’t ever do that again!" he cried, squeezing Yvonne’s hand. "My heart can’t take it!"

Yvonne, still groggy, blinked at him in confusion. "Sam, I think you’re suffocating me."

Sam immediately loosened his grip but didn’t let go. "Oh. Right. Sorry. Still not letting go, though."

Sebastian, meanwhile, was still glaring at Aleia, muttering under his breath. "You really need to stop making me worry like this."

Maru smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Like you’re one to talk. You used to sneak off to the mines all the time."

Sebastian shot her a death glare. "Not the point."

Yvonne, despite her pain, grinned weakly. "So… uh, bad luck day, huh?"

Aleia, still half-conscious, managed to lift her hand and smirk. "Next time… let’s just make tea or sleep instead."

Sebastian sighed heavily, rubbing his face. "That’s the first smart thing you’ve said today."

Sam nodded vigorously, agreeing. "Agreed. No more death trips, just chill inside."

Harvey, already exhausted by the chaos, muttered, "Can I prescribe all of you a week of common sense?"

The room erupted into laughter, the tension easing with every chuckle. Despite the pain, exhaustion, and near-death experience

Aleia and Yvonne would probably do it all again.

Maybe.

…Definitely not on a bad luck day.

[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."

𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝟰 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗖𝘀, 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗿𝗲𝗻:

Aleia

Before she fell down the shaft, Aleia accidentally grabbed on Wren's shirt and they both fall together. Ouch! That's gotta hurt. Atleast the floor they landed on are full of iridium ore and its monster free zone!

Rosemary

For Wren, she doesn't need to push Rosemary because by the time the red haired girl saw a hole, she immediately jump down with no hesitation. Good thing there's no broken bones or else another trip to Harvey's clinic and have to listen a tirade from her worrywart of a sister and boyfriend.

Cerise

Cerise immediately step aside, thinking its some monster pushing her down, she look just to see Wren about to fall down and with fast reflex grabbed her shirt to stop her fall. "Phew that was a close one. Are you okay?" and Wren just gives her the thumbs up.

Thalia

Thalia just grabbed on to Wren's collar and scream, "If I go down. You go down with me!" and they fall 15 floors down. Oof! Landed on with a few broken bones and look its an infested floor. Great!

wren pushes ur farmer down a shaft in the skull mines just to see how deep it is before she jumps in

Here's a random headcanon for my future character in Fields of Mistria

It has been mentioned in the game that before your farmer moved to Mistria, they were also a member of the Adventurer's Guild. (I believe) Then what if, your main character in Fields of Mistria used to live in Stardew Valley until something significant occurred that took a toll on them.

One day, Marlon received news from one of his old adventurer friends in the Capital about a request for help from Mistria. Recognizing that his comrade and student needed a change of scenery, he informed your MC about the opportunity of a new farmland in exchange to assist the town. After a lot of thinking, the MC (soon-to-be mc in FOM) decided to start anew, bidding farewell to their cousin, the MC of Stardew Valley, before relocating to Mistria.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿!

Like literally the dude just have to flirt with my farmer everytime they passed each other and whats funny is that he tried it againt but this time infront of Aleia's husband.

Skit idea & OC Caspian by: @antifacatra

Sterling: So…what’s the key to winning you over? I’m ready for the challenge.

Caspian: *snorts at this*

Aleia: *laughs, clearly oblivious* Oh Sterl, another one of your jokes again?

Sterling: Well I heard you love yourself a motorcycle ride? Well I bet you that Sebs never taken you to the coastline, cutie. *winks*

Aleia: *chuckles* Good one but do you have to use me and Sebby as examples.

Sterling: Just messing with ya, Aleia~ *gives her a side hug*

Aleia: Well, I have to go now. I still have stuff to do at the farm. Bye! *walks out*

Caspian: *waits for her to leave out from earshot, looks at his bestfriend* Damn Sterling! You homewrecking bastard can’t keep your sights on a married woman? You outta betray my man, Sebby like this? Hell he even has a kid now. What’s the matter with you?

Sterling: Oh you love giving me shit, Casshole. Remind me how many older women have you tried to court in town?

Caspian: Well Robin comes to min-

Sterling: Exactly! You tried to fuck his mom, can’t blame you she’s got stuff. You’re no better than me a fellow horn dog of a man. You and I.