Chapter 1: Workers.
What am I doing here? Who knows, felt like writing and had fun with it. I guess that counts.
Own nothing but the OC! Enjoy!
Life in the fields is not much really, let me tell you about it. You work on the farm, the fields, you milk the cows, feed the chickens, pretty much routine. In itself all is routine and repetition, caring for the seasons, protect yourself and the home from the climate. Rinse and repeat.
That's life in the fields, repetition and relaxing, making sure to feel proud after making a good work and being able to see the results of the hard work is the advantage that comes with it. Physical works humble the soul, and if there was a thing the people of the farm have. Is humbleness.
"Come on sunny boy! Cheer up, you are a man now! Don't you feel great knowing your genius grandpa got such a deal?!"
Everyone is humble. Except for my grandpa…
"I still don't see how this deal of yours is going to work…"
Grandpa is over seventy years old, but he is too stubborn to rest and too strong to let death take him away. He promised he wouldn't die until he was over a hundred and fifty, so far I think he is on a good road to that goal.
"I am telling you! Is a great opportunity, they offered to buy the farm, so that means I can go around the world, see some islands, finally have some of those infamous tacos of Mexico, see the Aztec temples, see the Coliseum of Rome, who knows, I might even be able to see the Great Wall!"
I nodded at his enthusiasm, he had been hoping to travel around the world, but he insisted on staying in the farm until he was sure I could keep the place myself.
And he doesn't believe I can keep it myself.
"This is great Tom, they buy the place, and I can relax knowing the farm will make it without me here"
I nod and speak that little detail he forgot.
"The contract of the farm won't let you sell it though, you are not the owner gramps"
You see, Joe and July got married long ago, they decided they would have a farm. And one day July decided she wouldn't let the farm go to someone who wasn't in the family, so there is a legal document stating something simple.
The Ownership of the farm passes to the oldest son of the last owner when he becomes an adult.
That was my great grandma decision. So you see, the current owner is me.
At the middle of my twenties, I find myself as the owner of the farm due to a legal binding document, that also forces me to stay in the land.
The Owner of the farm cant leave for ten years. Otherwise, ownership goes back to the elder of the family.
So you see, I been the owner legally, for barely… three hours since I became an adult… so I got nine years, three hundred sixty-four days and close to nine hours. Before I can leave the farm.
"That's the greatness of this boy! They don't know! They just handed me the money, so I and your grandma will be going away right now!"
I sighed. Impulsive, and the same swindler as always. Got to hand it to gramps. He knows his stuff, even if is bad stuff.
"Oh… so granny and you are out then gramps?"
He nodded vigorously as he pointed to our small house. I could see grandma with her bags ready. I will miss her cooking.
"Indeed… know boy, I need to remind you, this place is going to be your home for the next ten years"
It has already been my home for the last eighteen.
"So when the guys that bought our farm come, well, you know what to do"
Deny I know where you are going.
"Yup, take care gramps. I will make some calls then"
Gramps gave me a solid hug that left me flinching. I swear he is made of iron.
"That's the attitude boy! You already know how to manage the farm, plus if you get to feel lonely…"
Gramps took a card with a number for… I don't feel like explaining that.
"Gramps…"
He laughed before nodding.
"Hey! All am I saying, is that you are not going to get any action with the goats or the cows… you are not into that right?"
I have done plenty of stupid stuff. But punching gramps in the arm has been the most stupid. My hand simply hurt clashing against his iron body.
"Ho ho, relax Tom, you will be spending ten years as the owner of this place, enjoy the power, you are now the boss"
The boss of a farm in which only three people worked. And now will be reduced to one.
"…I will miss you, gramps, call me each time you got to a new place"
He smiled, the same smile he has given me since I can remember.
"Will do boy, now I wish you luck"
He nodded and proceeded to walk to grandma. She waved at me. And I waved back.
We are simple people, no need for big goodbyes. Especially when is not a goodbye.
"See you later gramps!"
They wave one last time. Grandma screamed as they got in a taxi.
"See you later Tom! Don't burn the fields!"
One time. One time. And they will never let me forget it. Who sits a five-year-old on a tractor with the keys in it, to begin with?!
And so. That's it. I am now the owner of a good land. I own a farm. And I can't abandon the grounds for ten years. Solid.
"Oh, time to feed the chickens"
Rinse and repeat. Repetition and routine. Nothing much to do there. Is going to be one cool decade.
Black Lily Innovations. Skirting the law, a group that managed to be the best at what they did. And what they did was business. Simple as that, they bought properties, they managed great advances in products, they were a branching business looking to get into many fields. So, when he was promised a plot of land that could rival the last farm they had obtained he just couldn't say no.
He was the president of one of the biggest companies in rising. He wasn't like his brother Kasegi. Oh no, he was better than that elder brother who simply couldn't make a proper business. He always thought he was someone who wouldn't be fooled.
And now he had been fooled.
The young man with glasses who was carrying a sack of seeds in his back was proving to be rather dull. Yet in his dull words, there was no lie. Pure unaltered truth.
"Gramps swindled you. He couldn't sell you the farm, I am the owner. You should have asked for more documents"
The farm was bigger than the last one they had bought. He committed a mistake. One that could be easily fixed. He offered his best grin to the short farmhand. He looked dull to him. Barely over a meter and a half, a modest physique and glasses. He was a simple by. He could convince him with money.
"Oh well, since you are the owner, why not sell me the farm? I could easily give you the same I amount I gave your grandpa"
The owner smiled. Money always wins in the end.
"No"
Money has seemingly failed.
"What do you mean no?"
The boy smiled.
"I said no, the farm belongs to me, and I won't sell it. This place is my home"
There must be a way to get the farm… it would be a huge loss to be known as the man who got swindled… he needed the farm to work for him… at least until he could convince the owner…
He took notice of something. A huge farm. No workers around. Just one…. Maybe…
"Well, I guess you won't sell it… but what if we made a business deal?"
The boy looked at him with curious eyes. Seems he got interested.
"I am willing to listen"
Got it! He could still save this mess.
"I cant avoid seeing your farm seems to be lacking workers… what would you say if I were to get you some extra hands?"
His eyes were dull. Truly this kid seems to be one unable to express much emotion.
"I would appreciate the hands… but what would you get out of this? You are not doing this for kindness"
Dull and sharp.
"I was hoping you would let me use your facilities, let me get some equipment, and the products from the farm would be sold directly to me. You get money, I get products. Simple commerce interaction"
He seemed in thought before speaking.
"Simple and too good to be the truth. What products you plan on getting?"
Ah, too sharp for my tastes. He is the kind of people I would appreciate working for me, not the one I appreciate asking questions. He is similar to Rachnera in the way he sees through me…
"Well the products are something of a company secret, I just can't share it"
He nodded.
"And I can't go letting you use my farm for illegal activities"
I wouldn't say illegal… more like skirting around the law.
"Is nothing bad or illegal I assure you"
He seemed to be in thought.
"I want a contract… whatever ends up happening, is going to be your fault it is the result of your products"
A contract?
"Arent you thinking too much into it? We could just shake hands"
He denied with a wave.
"And be swindled? No thanks, paper is firmer than a handshake"
Ah, I do need to consider getting him to work for me. I could use someone with a bit of common sense.
"I will go make the contract then, would you like to come to our office in the city?"
Another wave.
"Sorry, but I don't like leaving the farm. I am the only one here, so I will stay here until you bring the contract. Trust me I am not going anywhere"
He smiled as he said those words. Curious, he must really like the farm.
"Well, I will be getting the paperwork, I should take this as you are accepting my offer for the workers?"
He nodded.
"I accept the workers, but I am not selling the farm… and whatever products you plan on making here will be your responsibility. I am not getting into anything illegal"
Well, is not illegal, is barely skirting the law, nothing illegal in minimal selling their products.
"Agreed. I will be coming soon, meanwhile, would you like to meet the workers?"
He seemed in thought for a moment before nodding.
"I would appreciate knowing who will be working with me"
With a handshake and the promise to come later with the contract I left the farm.
Ah. Is good to know I could save this situation. Who knows, with time he might end up accepting selling me the farm once he sees the income he will be getting out of this. But still.
He looked at his hand noticing the pain in it.
He has a rather firm handshake.
When the man left, I went home and made a call to gramps.
"Yo gramps, he came. I didn't know you actually swindled him"
"Well, he didn't seem like a trustworthy fellow either, if he didn't say he would take legal action, I am taking it either you sold the farm, which I doubt it. Or he made a deal"
Gramps, sharp as always.
"He offered to get me workers for the farm, Black Lily Innovations, I never heard of them before, he will be bringing me a contract to seal the deal"
"Nothing illegal I hope? I mean, the farm is yours, but I would like to know that you aren't doing anything illegal so fast, I mean we barely left yesterday"
"Nothing illegal, I would dare say he is just selling something he is not fond of sharing, but not illegal"
"Well… whatever the case, I hope you are not feeling lonely on the farm, I know this is probably the first time you have been alone like this"
Well, it is the first time I find myself alone knowing no one else will be coming around. I honestly appreciated the funny guy from the company visiting…
"You have always been good at keeping your emotions in check, but that is mostly causing your face never showed emotion, but seriously… how are you holding?"
"I am holding well gramps, say hi to granny from my part"
"Will do, Tom, we love you, you know that right?"
Of course, I know that. They are my family.
"You know that you guys don't go forgetting it anytime soon"
"That's my boy… well, take care, I will call you when something cool happens"
Meaning you will be calling me tomorrow? Or maybe even sooner?
"Don't worry gramps, you and granny enjoy that trip"
"Will do, take care Tom"
"Take care gramps"
I guess it would be more appropriate to tell the people to take care from gramps, the man is made of iron, I still think he is secretly a cyborg…
I went ahead to check on the chickens and the cows. Nothing bad. All a bit of the same and the usual.
Rinse and repeat. Routine and repetition… though is the first time I find myself without gramps teasing me getting a girl, or granny telling me to be careful… or both telling me to not burn the fields…
Geez… I knew loneliness would hit hard. But I didn't expect it to hit dirty like that. Sneaky little thing… he would start getting the guest rooms ready for the workers. It would be nice seeing those rooms full of activity again.
"And so, I was hoping you wouldn't mind offering me your services once again, I would pay you even more than last time for the work as this farm is bigger"
Merino and Cathyl were in thought. It sounded like a great opportunity for business, they would get a lot of funds to make their business grow. And all it would take was manage a farm. Albeit a bigger one but a farm still.
Cathyl seemed to be in thought.
"So, who is the owner?"
She nodded at her friend question. It was a good point. Was the owner bad? Messy? Kind? They had to know who they were working with.
"He is… dull honestly. He doesn't strike me as a bad person. If anything, he is just a simple farmer"
Cathyl chuckled at it.
"In other words, you got no idea"
He chuckled nodding.
"He is too dull, he didn't show much, but he isn't bad at all. If anything, maybe too straightforward in his words"
Merino nodded.
"What his name?"
He seemed to sit more straight for a moment.
"Ah, I forgot to ask his name…"
Merino couldn't understand how someone could go around without asking the name of someone they were working with.
"That's not the point, point is, do you accept?"
She looked at Cathyl. She didn't have any trouble working with the owner of the farm, but she wouldn't go if her friend didn't want.
Cathyl was in thought. She didn't get any bad feelings on the deal. If anything, it was too simple. It would be a shame to lose the deal.
"I do, Merino?"
Merino nodded with a soft smile.
"We agree, when do we go then Mr. President?"
He smiled nodding.
"You can go right now, I will ask for them to drive you there"
Both nodded. A new farm and a new work. And hope that it would be with a hopeful new friend.
When Merino saw the gates of the farm she was expecting a lot of things. But the loneliness in the area was palpable. One could see that it was a lonely place. The owner was truly alone it seemed.
"Well, no use in waiting, let us knock the door"
They could see the home and approach. Merino looked at Cathyl. The minotaur seemed to be thinking the same. It was too late at night to be doing this, but the lights were still on. So without much care, Cathyl knocked the door.
"Oi! Your new workers are here!"
Merino was gasping at the rash action from her friend. But they could only hear footsteps and someone saying "coming"
"Almost there just a sec"
The door opened and they were met with a simple guy. Common in most of the senses, his dark hair, glasses, and modest physique were nothing new. What was new was the pajamas of sheep he was wearing. He didn't seem to care to be seen in them.
"I didn't think you would be coming today, I thought the workers would be coming with the contract tomorrow"
Cathyl chuckled before speaking.
"We heard of the job and offered to come early, hope you don't mind"
He nodded.
"Not at all, just follow me, the guest rooms are done already"
While he walked motioning for them to follow Merino was in a state of shock at the man pajamas. Sheep. He had sheeps printed all over the pants and shirt…
Cathyl brought her out of her thoughts.
"Oi, don't fall behind, you can wonder of his pajamas later"
She got red-faced before walking behind her. They were guided through the home to a room with two beds, a room meant for people who would work together and share living spaces. It was obvious that they would need to tell the president to get a remodeling team to build up proper living installations for the other workers, but for them, this would work just fine.
"I know is nothing too fancy, but is habitable enough, my room is at the end of the hallway if you need anything just knock on the door"
Cathyl nodded.
"Thanks, we will have a proper chat in the morning"
He nodded and looked at Merino.
"Are you well? You are looking rather red, you got a fever?"
She motioned in denial but couldn't let out a word. Cathyl came to her rescue by taking her into the room.
"She is just tired, see you on the morning"
He nodded and left. Once Cathyl saw him entering his own room she closed the door to her new room and placed Merino on the bed.
"So… should I take it you are wanting pajamas like that close to you?"
A loud gasp and a shout was all her answer.
"Cathyl!"
She was never going to stop teasing her about it.
"Cheer Merino, at least we know he doesn't have a thing against minotaurs or pans, if anything, he took it rather well to our presence. I mean, we came late, yet he was kind, so at least we know he is going to be a good co-worker"
She thought about it, it was true. He wasn't bad at all. He took their presence with kindness.
"Though be careful, he seems to like sheeps"
"Cathyl!"
Oh, she wasn't going to let that go anytime soon.
Thoughts? Hope you enjoy this silly thing.