Physics exams loaming? Who cares, here's another chapter instead. Harvest Goddess help me.
She ran a hand through her hair, pulling back the blond tresses, her bangs immediately falling back over her face. The recipe had seemed simple enough but… She sighed doubtfully at her concoction. Whenever starting something new it always seemed like there wasn't much room for error when you had a paper full-out telling you what to do be it a blueprint, manual or a recipe. She had never really had shrimp chilli before but it looked normal and it did have a rather alluring scent that made her stomach growl.
Truthfully, before moving to the farm she had only been a master of one type of cooking, the microwavable kind. After a while of living on her own though she was steadily coming up with a list of things she could cook but she didn't tend to deviate from her top ten dishes. She sorted through her left drawer where she kept her utensils finding a spoon and was prepared to give her finished piece a taste test but paused, hearing a ruckus outside.
She shuffled on her boots at the front door, kicking her toes against the foot to get them on properly and stepped out curiously. Sparky stood near the entrance of the farm, barking excitedly. Down the path she recognized the bright shaggy mop of hair that only belonged to Neil. He was distracted by the dog and hadn't yet noticed her standing one foot out the door onto the ragged welcome mat.
Sparky continued on in excitement at the visitor immediately running up to the dealer, jumping at his heels. Rio smiled slightly at the dog's antics, and wondered briefly what power Neil seemed to hold over her animals that always had them obsessing over him. Neil looked a little surprised but then he smiled and knelt to pet the dog, ruffling the top of his head, cupping his chin, immediately pin-pointing of his favourite spots. "Hey you're a cutie aren't you" He said with a sweet voice laced with affection. Rio eyes widened in surprise, the words came out of Neil's mouth but just seemed utterly foreign from his usual way of talking. She could actually feel herself unwillingly swoon, and then shook her head frantically.
"Yup." The dog barked shamelessly.
He ruffed his fur more aggressively and Sparky's tail wagged vigorously. "Who's the good boy?" Neil smiled wider, the corners of his mouth forming actual smile lines.
"Is it me?" Asked Sparky excitedly.
"Who's the good boy?" Neil repeated.
"It's me right? Sparky said propping himself up on Neil's knees.
"It's not." Said Mittens dryly as she slinked over.
"It's not?" Asked Sparky immediately turning to the cat and visibly deflating.
"You're the good boy!" Exclaimed the blonde and the dog pounced on him.
"Yay!" He woofed. They rolled for a moment in the grass and Neil laughed. Mitten's scoffed "What's the big dea-" He stopped to scratch that special spot behind her ear and she melted. Pawing at him when he stopped.
Rio quickly fled back into the house knowing that Neil would probably never speak to her again if he knew what she had just witnessed. Finally the truth to Neil's popularity was out. For the briefest of moments she wondered how she'd react if he looked at her like that and nearly felt her legs buckle. His power sure was fearsome, it's a good thing he didn't use it on humans. Waiting a minute she opened the door making as much noise as possible to give him ample warning. Yet was still disappointed at the very different scene awaiting her. He stood coolly, hands in pockets looking at her. A scuff of dirt on his pant leg the only piece of evidence that what she saw before really happened, besides the two animals rubbing against his shins.
"They like you." She commented as she approached him.
"I guess." Neil said indifferently.
"So uh… what's up?" She asked.
"I just thought, we're both going to the same place, why not walk together? I mean, if you want." He said gruffly with shrug. "I can help you carry whatever."
"Alright thanks." She smiled. She quickly rushed back into the house, retrieving the chili and hastily wrapping the dish in tinfoil and then a soft lilac cloth. She packed the package into her old wicker basket where she had already stored away the other necessities and then lifted it off the counter, wincing at the weight that would probably get tiring on the trek there. She picked up the rolled up checkered blanket resting against the dining chair's side as well and headed back out.
She offered Neil the blanket to carry but he shook his head and took the more cumbersome basket from her despite her protests, "its fine." He said curtly and began to walk she skipped a little to catch up and match his pace. "Have fun you two!" She glanced over her shoulder to the now very large cow. Jessebelle gave her "that look" which was really all it could be described as. Cows don't wink or wiggle their eye brows but over time Rio began to pick up subtle differences in animals' posture or facial expressions depending of the things they said and learned to read them as clearly as if an actual person was standing there.
Rio smiled and waved at her barn animals behind Neil's back. Ignoring how she caught the cat in the act of swatting at the dog when she thought her owner's back was turned.
Neil didn't talk much on the hike but that didn't really concern her too much. As before stated, she had become very accustomed to reading facial and body expressions to an advanced level and she had known Neil long enough to know that he was calm. It was the way his jaw was slackened or the way his shoulders sat comfortably, a little pushed back in his straight posture. When he was irritated, he would unwittingly transfer his weight to his hips, his hands and facial muscles would go more rigid too.
His eyes rolled over to her in the comer of his vision, "You'll bore a hole through me if you keep staring like that."
She averted her gaze quickly "Sorry." She squeaked.
"What are you looking at anyway?" He asked.
"Nothing really." She said contently as they ducked into the underbrush of their secret pathway, beginning to look a little more obvious from it's over use. She purposely shook the plants a little, scattering seeds. There wasn't much magic to a secret place if it wasn't secret. She turned back to him walking backwards after emerging first, standing a little taller than him while he was still hunched. "Just observing." She finished with a smile.
For once, the weather seemed to be agreeing with them. The sun shone warmly through the trees, drying any residual mud from the rain the day before, the air enhancing the forest's piney scent. He shook his head at her nonsense and lifted the basket a little, "where's this go?" He asked. She skimmed the clearing finding a partially shaded spot to the side and draped the blanket over the grass in one motion. "Here." She signalled.
He placed it down and a moment later plopped himself down as well, propping one leg up casually. She ducked down onto her knees as, sorting through the basket. "I have garlic bread, I wrapped in tin foil so it should still be warm." She commented putting the wrapped loaf down of the blanket, "Milk… although it's store bought since obviously Jessebelle isn't making any right now, and Shrimp Chilli" She beamed unwrapping the main dish, followed by all the things they'd need to eat it. He dished out a portion and tried it, face remaining utterly neutral, then he took another bite.
She looked down at her own portion and scooped a mouthful. She cringed and coughed, reaching for the milk to drown out the taste. "Why didn't you tell me it was off?" She asked, "Or why did you keep eating it?"
He shrugged, "I'm not exactly sure. It felt like I should?"
She frowned at the plate and then grimaced, "you know, I think I know exactly where this went wrong."
He tilted his head.
"The chicken got into my house again. I had to fight to get her out and she knocked extra chilli powder in. I figured it would be ok, maybe just chilli-er?" She sighed.
"Betty?" He asked.
"Who else?" She shook her head, "Her syndrome is sometimes a little out of hand."
"Syndrome?" He rose an eyebrow.
"Did I say syndrome? I meant behaviour." She quickly covered up.
He leaned back and closed his eyes before looking back at her, "I'm sorry, I caused you a lot of trouble choosing her for your first chicken."
Rio sat up in surprise and waved her hands, "No, no, don't be!" She smiled a little, "All of the animals in the farm are a little off but, they're like family to me, I wouldn't trade a single one of them. Plus, they make my days a little more exciting."
The corners of Neil's mouth twitched up, "I'm glad that I can work with someone I know will take proper care of them. I've told you in the past but, I really respect you for that."
Rio blushed, heat reaching the tip of her ears and she quickly averted her attention to cutting a slice of bread, and eating it heartily while determining how to respond to the compliment. She swallowed it sent him a shy smile, "Thanks, and I've always trusted your judgement, you understand them all so well."
They ate the rest of the bread, Rio periodically apologizing that that was all they had to eat.
"So you're really not going to the dance tonight?" She asked him after they finished. The pair relaxed under the shade, Rio on her stomach and Neil leaning against the tree.
"It's really not my scene." He said.
"That's too bad." She sighed, "I really wish you'd be there."
"Really?" He asked.
"I've never danced with a guy before, obviously. Just the thought has me at near hyperventilation." She admitted burying her chin in her arms.
"I'm a guy too you know." He said almost a little offended.
"Yeah but it's different, I'm at least a little used to you." She protested.
"Either way, at these small town events you end up with everyone at one point or another. You wouldn't be able to stick with me the whole time even if I was willing to dance. Luckily you can dance with the girls too. At the very least Rod will want to dance with you though, he's the kind of social person that moves around to everyone." Neil explained.
Rio sighed deeply feeling light headed, "But if you were there it could be like a warm up, get me used to it. I feel like if it was you, I could try…Maybe it would be best if I just didn't go."
"But you want too." He objected, "Right?"
"Yeah." She said gloomily.
He scratched his head and closed his eyes tight, fighting an inner battle before sighing and standing up. She looked up at him in confusion as he extended his hand, looking away with a blush. She took it and he helped her up. She waited for an explanation. "I'm definitely not going." He said assertively, "But I guess, I'd be willing to give you a practise run first.
"Practise… run?" She asked doubtfully.
He grabbed her hand a little forcefully to hide his embarrassment and lead her to the center of the field, she tightened her grip on his rough hands. She could feel calluses as a mixture from barn work and likely the guitar. She herself always wore gloves to protect her skin but Neil would of course not be concerned with that sort of thing. "You're skin's too soft." He scoffed, obviously making the same sort of assessment on her. "Are you sure you've been working hard?" Only he could take what would normally be a compliment and warp it.
He readjusted the hand and brought his other around her waist and she squeaked despite herself he chuckled a little at the sound and she flushed still painfully aware of the feeling of his hand on the small of her back, radiating warmth throughout the rest of her body. They stood awkwardly for a moment, she tentatively reached up to his shoulder, remaining an entire body's width apart. "This is a little embarrassing without music." She admitted. He let her go to rustle through his pockets, pulling out a worn iPod and handing her an earbud. He shuffled through his song list and then put his own ear bud in, she followed suit.
A soft classical song played through the earpiece and he dropped the player back into his pocket, returning to their hold. They were forced a little closer by the length of the wire, and she stood eye height at his shoulder. They shuffled on the spot, with identically red faces at what they were doing but eventually they fell into a rhythm and calmed a little, he brought her a little closer still and she rested the side of her face without the earbud on his upper chest, feeling his heartbeat through his black shirt.
This wasn't too bad. It wasn't quite scary but there was this giddy rush welling up inside of her, filling her to the brim with something similar to adrenaline. The music eventually ended but the two made no initial moves that indicated any wish to part. She closed her eyes. The moment was cut short when the next song began to play, heavy metal that made the two jump apart earpieces falling out in the process. "Sorry." He said quickly.
"Y-yeah." She breathed still a little shaken.
"Do you feel a little better now?" He asked.
Rio bit her lip, "Yeah," She nodded, "I think I do. I'm pretty sure I can survive going after all, thank you."
"No problem." He looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Checking her watch she frowned, "I have to get moving, the girls are meeting up to get ready."
He nodded wordlessly and they packed up. He handed her the basket where they parted ways and he found himself stopping to watch her go, a sort-of smile creeping up his face as she tottered down the walkway, determinedly balancing all of the picnic equipment. In fairness he did offer to help carry everything back but she refused.
It wasn't all in an instant like popularly portrayed in novels and movies but slowly and surely, he was coming to admire a lot more about the farmer than just her professionalism.
Wow there were a lot of reveiws last chapter, this'll take awhile. Takes a tonne for all the input and encouragement guys.
Spicy the Fox- That's a little bold for this Rio in it's own way. LOL. Maybe my other Rio from RP6 would have done something like that. No probs, thanks for reviewing!
CAPJHMPAgirl- I have finally gotten to the point where I don't have to check if I spelled your username right! Here is more... that came relatively soon. What can I say? Life is hectic, you get it though I'm sure, I creeped your profile to see what CAPJHMP stood for and saw you're also a fighter in the war that is uni/college exams. (Good Luck!)
CheetosPotato- The animals approve of this picnic (Five hooves up).
Adonis1218- I also totally sympathize with Rio there, I used to avoid dances like the plague. (Awkward people unite!)
SaturnWolf3- The dance was going to be this chapter but it started to get to long so now its briefly next chapter. Mwhaha keep waiting. Well at least she danced with Neil that's the important part right?
Pikachu- By have his events, you mean like the heart events? I incorporated an aspect of the purple heart event into this chapter after the recommendation... though I'm not quite sure that's what you mean but I absolutely love that event! Usually I don't put in heart events though because they're already done in the game and most other fanfictions repeat them as well. Hehe thanks for taking the time to read and reveiw!
Striky-Chan- Looking back I totally see what you mean. It's difficult with Player characters since they kind of are Mary Sues in the practical sense to begin with. Like in this game your character steadily become loved by everyone, wins every festival, possesses every talent, (carpenter, farmer, beekeeper, fisher, miner, mechanic?, top chef, blacksmith, etc) and based on the cover art, is beautiful. Although when Allen and Rod requested dancing with her, they meant it in the way that Tina was like, "Now I just gotta go find Rio." and they'd be like, "Oh, tell her to save a dance," not that they exclusively want to dance with her. Thanks for the warning though I'll try to keep off the path of the Sue, fanfiction's worst plague. It's a tempting and slippery slope.
Sealing Mistress- Thank you! I was afraid it might be a little boring but every so often you need a cool down/build up chapter to reset the pace.
Peachie- Yeah, I had just been thinking that they hadn't been around for a while, they just didn't quite fit into the last "arc". There'll be more barnyard shenanigans soon.
TomateBueno1617- D'aww , I'm blushing. That made me so happy to hear. Thank you so much for reading and the nice reveiw.