This story is not set in any specific city because Southern Italy doesn't technically have a capital.
Written for CrystalMapleLeaf
Story Idea by Blazing Inspirit
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You've always been a warm weather kind of girl. You love the summer and spending time under the sun. The Mediterranean seemed like the perfect place to go for vacation, so when you were offered the chance, you snapped it up in a hurry. It's a decision you're never going to regret.
Italy is a beautiful country full of rich culture and the warm weather you love. The sea breeze that sweeps over the country brings with it a slight humidity, which adds to the amazing atmosphere of the place. You wish you could never leave.
You had spent the first week of your trip in the northern half of the country. It was a week full of touring famous sites and eating lots of pasta. The people were very friendly, especially when they found out you're a tourist. You're now spending a week in the southern half of the country where the weather is a little hotter, but that's the way you like it. Unlike the northern half, the southern half of Italy has a lot of agriculture. That's why you're visiting a small farm today.
There was an advertisement in a tourist newspaper for tours around a local farm. You say farm, but it's more like an orchard than anything from the looks of it. You got a ride from a kind man with a rickety little truck, and you're just seeing the farm now for the first time. There are so many trees surrounding the sides and back of the house that it seems as if the house is some kind of intruder in this grove of trees.
You look around for a sign that someone is at the farm, but it looks really quiet. It's actually quite beautiful in its own way. Grape vines creep up the red walls of the house and are heavily laden with red grapes. You fight the urge to pick a couple as you approach the house, but in the end you grab a couple and pop them in your mouth. They won't miss a couple grapes. A couple of really good grapes.
Sweet tartness bursts in your mouth as you chew each grape slowly. You've never tasted grapes this good in your life. You pick a few more and savor them as you walk up to the front door. There's no doorbell or anything, so you knock on the door tentatively. You wait, but no one answers.
"Odd," you mumble before eating a few more grapes. You're going to have to get away from the house or you'll eat all of the grapes within your reach.
You decide to walk to the rear of the house and see if the owner is back there. A breeze ripples through the trees next to the house, and you see the branches swaying under the weight of bright yellow lemons. You tuck some stray hair behind your ear as you take a closer look at the trees surrounding the house. The ones on this side look like lemon trees, but the ones further toward the back of the house look different.
Your curiosity gets the best of you, and you jog over to the other trees. The fruit hanging from these trees aren't like anything you've ever seen before. They smell familiar, but you can't quite put your finger on it.
"Figs?" you wonder.
You lose interest in the trees when you remember what you came back here to accomplish in the first place. A quick glance around the backyard makes it apparent the owner isn't here either. What you do find is a lovely little vegetable garden surrounded by a white picket fence. You find the gate on the fence and let yourself into the garden. There are row after row of tall tomato plants thriving in the dark, rich soil.
One plant in particular catches your eye, and you walk toward it excitedly. A very large, red, juicy looking tomato hangs precariously from a thin branch of the plant. It would be a shame if it were to fall, you tell yourself as you prepare to pick it. If the tomato is anything like the other things growing on the farm, it'll be the best tasting tomato you've ever had. Your hand reaches out to pluck the shining tomato when a loud voice scares the crap out of you.
"Hey, you! Who do you think you are?"
You turn around to see a round, white object with a curl hanging off its left side glaring at you from the entrance to the garden. Several thoughts and questions bounce around in your head, and you're not sure which to voice first.
"I-I'm sorry," you end up saying.
"Well, sorry's just not gonna cut it," the thing says. "I should call the cops on you for trespassing!"
"I'm not trespassing!" you insist. "Well, I guess I am, but I came back here because no one answered the door. I'm not a criminal or anything, honest."
"Likely story," the object huffs. "All you tourists always show up here and cause nothing but trouble. Screw the cops, I oughta kick your butt right here can now!"
Despite the fact that the thing, probably a he from the sound of his voice, is threatening you, you laugh a little at the idea. "How do you plan on doing that?"
"Just watch me," he growls as he takes a hop toward you.
"Woah, woah, woah! Wait a minute!" you say waving your hands in front of you. "I was kidding! I just came here for a tour! I don't want any trouble!"
The moment the word "tour" falls from your lips, the demeanor of the thing changes. "Oh, a tour? Why didn't you say so?" He hops out of the garden and turns around to wait for you. "Well, are you coming or aren'tcha?"
"C-coming!" you tell him. His sudden change in attitude has left you unsure of what to think. "What's your name?"
"Why's that matter?" he practically spits at you.
"Just wondering," you say quietly.
"It's Romano Mochi," he says. He looks a tad guilty for shouting at you.
"Okay. I'm (y/n)," you tell him with a smile. "How is it you speak English?"
"What's with all the questions?" Romano Mochi growls. You flinch back at his outburst, and he sighs. "When you get a lot of tourists it's good to know a lot of languages."
The mochi hops toward a vehicle that looks kind of like a golf cart without a roof that's parked on the opposite side of the house. He hops into the passenger side of the cart and stares at you.
"Are you getting in?" he asks in an annoyed voice.
"You want me to drive?"
"Does it look like I can drive?" The mochi rolls his eyes. "I assume you're not too big of an idiot and actually know how to."
"No, I can drive," you inform him as you climb into the driver's side. You swear you hear the mochi mumble something that sounds like "idiota donna (idiot woman)". You start the engine and turn to look at Romano Mochi. "Where to?"
"Follow the path," he instructs you. "It goes in a circle so you can't possibly get lost."
A dirt path winds its way through the grove of trees, and you turn the cart to drive through it. You drive for a while in silence as lemon trees gently brush you with their citrus scented leaves. A sideways glance at the mochi makes it clear to you that he's been watching you this whole time. He blushes and turns away when he notices you looking.
"So, why did you suddenly want to take me on the tour?" you ask in reference to his sudden reversal in attitude earlier. "I thought you were gonna beat me up or something," you say with a nervous laugh.
A smirk tugs at Romano Mochi's lips. "A tour means you have to pay me," he explains.
"All you want is the money? I thought maybe you like me or something," you tease.
"N-no!" the mochi shouts. "I just want to get paid. I could care less about a stupid person like you!"
"Whatever you say," you tell him with a flirty flutter of your eyelashes. This makes him blush brighter than before.
"S-stop that!" Romano Mochi sputters. "Just want the road, dang it!"
You continue to drive in silence for a while as the mochi fumes next to you. The trees change from lemon trees to something different. Olives by the look of it. You smile happily as the gentle breeze ruffles your hair slightly and brings the scent of lemon blossoms. It's actually very peaceful in the grove of trees, as long as the mochi isn't shouting at you.
"Who takes care of all this?"
"I do," Romano Mochi answers. "With some help of course."
"It must be nice," you say with a sigh.
"You think so?" The mochi looks at you quizzically.
"Yeah. Warm weather, lots of good food, delicious wine. This is the life." You give him a warm smile that matches the sun in radiance.
"I-I'm glad you like it," he says without making eye contact. He looks rather embarrassed, but his words ring with truth. "Do...do you want to stay here for a while?"
You bring the cart to a sudden stop, shocked by what the mochi just offered. "You'd let me stay here with you?"
"If you want to," Romano Mochi mumbles. He's a deep shade of red, and glances at you slightly. He sees your big grin and immediately becomes defensive. "I-it's not because I like you or anything! You'd have to pay me for it! It's purely for business."
The mochi yelps in surprise when you grab him up in a big hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" you squeal as you squeeze the life out of him. "This is going to be amazing!" You pinch his cheeks like an old woman would, and the mochi squirms in protest.
"Yeah, yeah! Just stop pinching me!" he shouts. "You're as bad as that Spanish bastard," he mumbles after you let go.
You put Romano Mochi back in his seat and put the pedal to the metal. The cart's wheels spin and kick up dust. Then it shoots off down the path with you and the mochi holding on for dear life.
"Donna pazzesca! Rallentare prima che ci uccida! (Crazy woman! Slow down before you kill us!)"
