Trigger Warning: Sorry to anyone who clicked on this chapter before I remembered to add this, but self-harm is referenced in one scene. It is marked with a TW at the beginning.

Silver Scars, Golden Flames

Shane woke up to water the crops first thing that morning, noting to himself that he should remind Violet that the grapes and amaranth would need harvesting. He bet Marnie would love to get some of the amaranth for her cows, but she would have to wait for the farmer to decide what to do with the crops. Shane noticed Violet always kept a few of the crops for her own consumption and offered a selection for his perusal as well. And why not? That was one of the huge perks of growing your own fruits and vegetables.

The hot peppers Violet grew over the summer had been especially good. He hoped the newest member of the community would not get bored of all the work involved and continue to provide fresh crops to the village. He ought to speak with her about that at some point - as mayor of Pelican Town, of course. Not because he was imagining all the pizzas that could be made with fresh, flavorful ingredients.

Shane knew that Violet was interested in automating the farm to reduce the labor spent, however. She said something about having to get gold bars, which frankly made her sound ridiculous - but Violet promised Shane that he would not have to water the crops for much longer and instead would be given a coop to tend on the farm. There might be a bit of overlap, if the material to make the sprinklers could not be obtained right away, but Shane looked forward to having friendly fowl around. He missed having Charlie so close when he needed to talk something out. Emily was not always available. She had a steady job with regular hours.

As he finished with the crops, Shane stood to admire his work. He used to get a workout lifting heavy cans at Joja Mart, but this kind of manual labor was different. Even a grump like him could admit it was cool to see the seasonal delicacies grow bit by bit each day until they were ready to eat. His favorite foods grew in the summertime, but that did not mean he could not enjoy anything the rest of the year.

Shane returned to his cabin to wash up a bit before heading out to try and assess the state of the town in terms of structural issues, its financial situation, and how the populace felt about the current state of things. Never in a million years would Shane have believed he would be the one seeking other people out, but it was all part of the job. Ironically, as little as being a small-town mayor paid, it still gave him more financial security than working at Joja Mart.

Now that Shane was not spending all his income on alcohol, he finally had some funds to spend on other things. He hoped to get Jas a nice present soon and maybe something for Marnie, too - just because. Shane acknowledged he put his family through a lot over the years and he wanted to express his appreciation for sticking with him through the roughest parts of his recovery. Not that the journey was ever at an end, but even after his relapse earlier this week, Shane still felt more optimistic about the future. Maybe Emily was rubbing off on him.

As if summoned, Emily knocked on the front door before entering the house. "Good morning, Shane!" his girlfriend greeted him in a voice way too cheerful for this early in the day. She leaned over to kiss him briefly before pulling away to view his face. "Do you have any plans this evening?"

Shane eyed the woman suspiciously, his large hands resting on her slight shoulders. Despite his hesitations, he gave an honest answer. "No…" The mayor braced himself for what might come. Please not a big social gathering, the dark-haired man begged silently. "What are you up to?"

Emily beamed as if her happy nature could literally brighten the room. "During that fun game on Sam's birthday, you mentioned that you've never been camping before," the optimistic woman began to explain. "And tonight's weather is going to be perfect for it." She squeezed his hand encouragingly. "Would you like to go with me?"

The old Shane would have immediately turned down the opportunity. While he was hesitant about the idea of camping, the farmhand felt he owed it to Emily to try out some of the things she enjoyed. Shane's lips turned slightly upward at the corners of his mouth. "Okay, just as long as it isn't too far from town in case of an emergency." Shane did not expect Jas to run into any problems, but as her godfather, he did not want to wander off too far.

Just the grin on Emily's face made whatever was to come worth it in Shane's mind. Emily threw her arms around him in a hug. "Oh, thank you, Shane! I just know we're going to have a wonderful time." The scent of her favorite essential oils still lingered on his skin even after she pulled away. "I will come by to pick you up later this afternoon. Now that Pam isn't frequenting the saloon as often, Gus let me have most of the day off." Emily winked at him, her kind brown eyes sparkling with excitement. "See you soon!"

Shane watched her practically skipping off back toward town and wondered what made this trip so special to her. Then again, this was the first night they would be spending together alone. Would they be in the same tent? Shane realized quickly that they probably would be sleeping within the same shelter. He felt the anxiety creeping in on him. Although he had never really tried pursuing a romantic relationship during his life as a depressed alcoholic, his medication had basically killed his libido.

As always, Emily was almost annoyingly understanding when he clarified that it was not that he did not want to take their relationship to a more physical level, it was just the side effects of his prescription made it more difficult for him. Emily had found ways to slowly ease into physical intimacy. They held hands often, kissed whenever they could - whether it was peck on the cheek or making out on the sofa, and Emily had even encouraged him to feel her up under her blouse several times. Was Emily trying to move things along by giving them complete seclusion?

Shane was not sure if he was ready. Part of him still felt so unworthy of Emily, she was the ideal partner and so very out of his league. He wondered how long it would take for his girlfriend to recognize there were other, better options than a charity project like him. But Lynn was doing her best to help him with coping skills to get out of that way of thinking. Sometimes he had to kick himself in the figurative ass to knock himself out of that headspace and some days were more successful than others.

No matter what her intentions, Shane made a commitment and he wanted to make Emily happy. "Guess I better get all my errands taken care of…"

Since Violet visited Talla's trading cart on Friday, she was fully prepared to face the enormous brown bear tending shop that day. She waved to the furry omnivore before she approached the business window. "Good morning!" the floral-haired woman hailed, pulling out a jar of maple syrup to ensure their professional relationship stayed on the positive end.

The bear's beady eyes disappeared beneath the fur of his face as he stretched his lips back to smile. "You brought more today?" he sniffed happily as he caught scent of the gift.

Violet smirked. "Of course, it's best to take care of your neighbors, don't you think?" the farmer reasoned, surrendering the vessel to its recipient. "May I check out today's inventory?"

Obliging, the furry animal slapped the list between his hefty paws and allowed Violet to tug it free. She could not believe her luck. "You have a rabbit's foot!" With all the money she received from Krobus, the farmer could easily afford the rare item and the chicken coop she planned to purchase from Robin later that day.

With half the bottle of maple syrup already down his gullet, the bear simply nodded in confirmation. Violet waited patiently for the beast to finish the sticky treat before making her purchase. Robin would be excited to know Violet finally had a rabbit's foot to lend to her, but the farmer had her own plans for the lucky charm in the meantime. She and Sebastian were overdue for a talk and the farmer needed all the help she could get.

Sebastian left the farmhouse yesterday after stating he needed a break from social interaction. From his absence, Violet felt a pang of fear seep into her like icy-cold water. She sat down to self-reflect on her emotional hang-ups and a solution dawned on her when Krobus came by to collect his dark ale and wine shipments.

It did not feel right to keep all the money, so after setting aside Shane's salary for the next few seasons just in case, Violet chose to split the remainder three ways. She would never have made this kind of money without Sebastian and Maru's help, so it was only right she gave them their fair share. Violet was not sure how Maru would spend her cut, but she had an inkling of what this kind of money might mean for her boyfriend.

The selfish part of her did not even want to suggest it, but Violet knew in her gut that suggesting Sebastian move out to ZuZu City was best for him and their relationship long-term. She did not want Sebastian to resent her in the future - like her mother harboring a grudge against her father for holding back her career.

Sebastian had dreams he wanted to pursue well before she came into the picture and Violet decided to be mature about the situation. Still, she could not help but sense the lump forming in the pit of her stomach. If Violet was being honest with herself, she did not want to do this. She really liked Sebastian, and maybe the seedling taking root in her heart was the start of actual love. But better to find out now that things were not meant to be, otherwise the pain would hurt ten-fold later on. Violet bit her lip as she accepted the rabbit's foot from the bear, clasping it in her palm tightly. She knew her heart was not ready, but it had to be done. Violet prayed this little white rabbit's foot would give her budding relationship a chance to blossom before it withered away for good.

Maru tapped the tiny pink eraser of her newly sharpened pencil to her chin. Business was slow today in the clinic and she had finally gotten all the files and paperwork organized to her liking. Copies of invoices had been electronically submitted to the proper agencies, her supplies were well-stocked, and the villagers were healthy. The nurse charged with the well-being of the villagers of Pelican Town could not have been more pleased with the progress she had made in half a season. Maru conceded that while she may have been able to make it to this point unassisted, Alex had been essential in keeping her in good health and spirits.

Her friend made sure to swing by each day to eat lunch together and chat for a while. Maru had unexpectedly become quite the social hermit while living in Harvey's apartment on the weekdays, choosing to work on her robots and other long-term projects in the quiet solitude. Since the medical professional did not have to commute those days, Maru ended up staying up later than usual, sometimes well into the night. Still, she had not expected to miss the company of others in the house as when she still lived with her parents and brother the entire week. Luckily, there were the Tuesday night dinners with the Mullners and gridball training to break up the monotony.

Maru was examining the cobblestone she discovered outside the night of the concert, comparing it to the photos she had of the splintered dock boards. They were practically identical in their supposed method of application, like the acid had been forced out suddenly, splattering the medium it corroded. Much like the water droplets from a puddle when someone decided to stomp in it with their feet. But there was no sign of a large pool of acid that could have caused the striations in the manner of her hypothesis.

The scientist was deep in thought when Alex's voice stirred her to perceive her immediate surroundings. "Still looking at that rock?" the aesthetically pleasing man queried, setting down a pair of lunchboxes upon the service counter. "Any new ideas?"

Maru exhaled deeply, leaning her head into her hand as her elbow rested on the smooth surface. "If I could just find more clues about the cause of these marks, I think I would make better progress," she explained to her daily visitor. "I suspect they came from the same source, but I don't know what they have in common, other than the general location of Pelican Town."

Alex scratched his head. "I don't know about the wood," he confessed, indicating the photo in Maru's hand, "but I do know that I heard shouting the day before the concert when I was feeding Dusty after our job around town that day."

The researcher perked up at this news. "Shouting?" she repeated curiously. "What was going on?"

"I kinda… shut down and tune things out a bit when I hear couples fighting," Alex professed, avoiding Maru's gaze for a moment to compose himself before his hue-rich green eyes rested upon her. "I couldn't hear what was being said, but it was definitely a man and a woman," he relayed the information with a grimace.

Maru considered this additional data, making sure to speak aloud to include Alex. "I have to wonder…" the auburn-haired woman mused vocally. "Were these acid splashes purposeful or accidental? Were they simply the result of someone spilling chemicals used for their job? Acids could be used in many professions, after all."

Alex titled his head. "Really?" he inquired.

The nurse nodded. "Blacksmithing uses acid to etch metals with designs," she elucidated, "or a fisherman might use some to convert scraps into good fertilizer. Both hydrochloric and sulfuric acid are strong acids that could do the job," Maru verbalized, though her tone was doubtful. Alex picked up on that.

"There's a 'but,' isn't there?" he sniffed with amusement, leaning onto the sterile white counter with interest. Maru always loved when he got excited about her conjectures.

Maru humored her friend, continuing to articulate her inner dialogue. "While Willy might try to make fertilizer on the dock, he probably would not do so in the middle of town," she laid out for Alex's benefit. "And Clint, who is more plausible the culprit for the cobblestone sample, also spilling acid causing identical damage would be more than a coincidence."

Alex's sculpted brows raised in time with the corner of his lips. "And what are the chances of a coincidence like that?" Maru grinned in reply. He caught on so quickly.

"It's statistically improbable."

The male across from her pondered the data for a moment. "So, you're thinking the same person caused both, but probably not the obvious suspects?" Alex asked to clarify they were on the same train of thought.

Maru tapped the stone lightly with her fingertips. "Neither of the two men are in relationships with women in Pelican Town that might prompt an argument like the one you overheard," she pointed out. "So, I think it's more likely a third, unknown individual."

"More likely someone dating or married?" Alex proposed.

The rookie investigator flashed a smile at her companion. "Exactly!" Maru praised the athlete. She quickly scribbled the names of every couple in town, and quickly crossed out George and Evelyn. "I think you would have known if the people fighting were your grandparents," Maru reasoned, and Alex agreed.

Maru slid the list across the counter so they could both see.

Robin - Demetrius

Jodi - Kent

Caroline - Pierre

Evelyn - George

Marnie - Lewis

Abigail - Sam

Emily - Shane

Violet - Sebastian

"Didn't Marnie dump Mayor Lewis?" Alex questioned, still using the man's former title.

Maru bobbed her head. "Yes, but I figured that might be a source of conflict, so I kept them on the list as potential sources of the markings." Alex concurred with her assessment but pointed out that these were all couples in romantic relationships and that perhaps the pair were not involved that way.

"Yes, that's true," Maru accepted, nibbling the eraser of her pencil slightly as her brows knit closer together. "Pam and Gus could potentially argue," she speculated, "since she often has an unpaid tab at the saloon." The two were added to the list of suspects, but Alex decided that from what he knew of Pam and her desire to keep others out of her business, she probably would have sought a quiet solution to the problem.

"If Pam can avoid shouting out in public, she would." Alex evaluated his neighbor's tendencies carefully. "She seems to do all her yelling at home, where she thinks other people can't hear." Maru wondered what kinds of things Alex had overheard over the years being Pam and Penny's neighbor, but now was not the time for gossip.

Maru began to write notes next to each pairing as they came to her. "My parents were unlikely to have been in town at the time. Mom's got her shop to run and dad is usually taking samples out by the lake."

Alex's lips thinned as he contemplated the rest. "Kent's still in Gotoro," he reminded Maru, who quickly crossed off the pairing in response.

"Pierre would be working, then, too," Maru ruminated, "but that area is just outside the shop, so he and Caroline are still a possibility." Alex admitted that was plausible but pointed out that the opposite conclusion could be drawn for Marnie.

"Even if Mayor Lewis and Marnie did fight, it would have probably been at the ranch instead of the middle of town," Alex deduced.

"That leaves the younger couples," Maru noticed, pursing her lips pensively.

"Emily would be at The Stardrop Saloon," Maru pointed out, "but that puts her in the same situation as Pierre, where she could easily step out for a moment."

Alex frowned, "My dude Shane would never yell at Emily," the brunet asserted confidently. "He practically worships the ground she walks on."

Maru paused, reflecting on Alex's assessment. "I'll trust your judgment, then." She scratched out their names.

"That leaves Abigail and Sam as well as Violet and Sebastian," the woman figured. Maru was curious to hear Alex's ideas, considering how well he seemed to read the rest of the villagers thus far.

She could see the gears in his brain spinning rapidly from his serious expression. "Honestly, I don't think I've ever heard Sebastian say more than a few words," Alex confessed sheepishly. "I know he's your brother, but the guy hardly talks to people. I can't imagine him shouting at anyone, but you'd know better than me."

Maru chuckled. "He does know how to yell, especially when he and my dad get into a fight."

Alex's face fell. "It doesn't get… bad, does it?"

"Sebastian usually storms out if it gets to be too much for him," Maru revealed with a nervous laugh. "Dad tends to mutter under his breath for a few days after that."

The tanned man bowed his head, running a hand through his spiky hair. "You know, I'd put my money on Abigail and Sam," Alex concluded. "I've heard Abigail and her mom go at it every once and a while, so I know she's not afraid to dish it out when she's pissed." The man in the letter jacket sighed, "Though I don't think Sam's the type to shout at a girl."

"It's natural to respond in kind," Maru reasoned, circling their names. She praised her sleuthing partner. "I think your deductions were rather insightful, Sirius." She grinned, "You have the makings of a great detective. Do you care to join me for further investigation?"

Alex smirked at her. "Sure thing, Glasses."

Sebastian lay awake, staring at the cloudless sky outside his window from his spot on the bed. He was too tired to do anything with himself now. Between the concert, Andi, and all the other time with people he spent this week, Sebastian felt spent. If only he could hibernate like animals did in winter until he did not feel so worn out.

The introvert was not sure of the time, but Sebastian swore he could hear Violet's voice upstairs talking to his mom in the carpentry shop. After a few minutes of their verbal exchange, Sebastian was sure that it was his girlfriend upstairs. He checked his phone, but there were no unread texts from Violet. Why had she not told him?

When he heard the twinkling of the tiny bell at the shop's entrance, Sebastian realized that Violet left his house without so much as saying "hello" to him. He sat up and stood on his bed to look out the window toward the lake. Sure enough, he spied his girlfriend rounding the corner of his house and heading east. Fumbling, Sebastian pulled the latch and opened the window to call out to her. "Violet!"

She jumped, not expecting the shout directed at her, but Violet relaxed slightly when she saw him wave. His girlfriend approached the window and crouched down to better see him. "Hey, 'Bastian," Violet greeted him cheerfully. "How are you feeling today?"

"Feeling?" Sebastian repeated, confused by the implication that he was somehow sick.

Violet fretted. "You said you were exhausted by all the social time lately," the blue-eyed woman explained. "I thought you needed some alone time to recover."

It clicked with Sebastian. "Oh, so that's why you didn't come down…" The programmer supposed social exhaustion was a kind of ailment, but he was a bit embarrassed that Violet assumed his casual commentary yesterday meant that she was included in the general statement that he did not want to be around people today. Then again, how was she supposed to know that unless he said so?

"I didn't mean that you weren't welcome…" Violet's face tinged pink in a really cute way as his words sunk in. Sebastian beckoned her closer, "C'mon in through the window."

Violet chuckled. "We're not teenagers, I can come through the door in broad daylight!" But she still humored him anyway, tossing her boots and her backpack through the portal first so she did not get dirt all over his bed, and then shimmying through the narrow gap herself.

Once she was safely inside, Sebastian pulled her down to cuddle in his bed, holding her close like a well-loved teddy bear. He breathed in slowly, taking in her scent and the feel of her in his arms. "That's better…" he released the air in his lungs audibly, closing his eyes as if he intended to doze off. Not that his girlfriend seemed to mind.

Violet kissed his cheek and nuzzled her face into his chest since her own arms were pinned to her side. "Rumor has it you prefer to spoon with dogs," she teased, referring to how Sebastian woke to find a fluffy German shepherd in his embrace rather than his girlfriend.

"I can't help your dog likes me better," Sebastian shot back jokingly, his eyes still closed as he took slow, even breaths. "And I can't be held responsible for things done while unconscious."

Violet pouted but did not argue. Instead, the two enjoyed each other's touch until finally his girlfriend had to tap out because her arm fell asleep. As she sat up in the bed, she pulled her bag closer to her. "I have something for you," the farmer proclaimed, prompting Sebastian to rise as she extracted a small storage chest that gave off a metallic clink eerily similar to an alarming number of gold coins as the weight inside shifted around.

Sebastian's obsidian eyes grew wide. "What is this…?" he asked hesitantly. How the hell had Violet come across so much money? Shit, is she from a mob family?

With a shy grin, Violet placed the wood chest in Sebastian's lap. "This," she clarified, "is your cut from the sales on the mutant ale and wine I sold to Krobus." She had another box to give to Maru as a finder's fee for discovering that the samples were not fit for human consumption.

Even after a brief glance Sebastian could tell it was enough money to get him a new computer - a nice one at that. He could even pay off the rest of his tuition and have money left over to live comfortably for a few seasons. "I can't accept this," he answered, pushing the small trunk away. "All I did was cast one spell and it was an accident."

"Spells usually cost something, even in-game," Violet countered firmly, placing the chest back into his lap. "And not only did you create mutant crops for me this season, but I have a small separate garden for the ones for this season, too. Not to mention you introduced me to my buyer."

Sebastian could not argue that Violet would likely not have gone into business with Krobus if not for him, but it made him feel uncomfortable. "I guess…"

Violet shrugged, "I already bought a coop and a few other things for the farm from your mom with my money," the farmer disclosed. "You can either save it or spend it." Her sapphire eyes darted in his direction for a moment. "You could even use it to move to the city like you always dreamed."

Sebastian glanced down at the chest full of gold before him. She's right. He would eventually have to get a job, but this money would cover rent and living expenses for a while. The black-clad man noticed his girlfriend's fidgeting before she stood up to leave.

"I spent a lot of time thinking about it since you left last night," Violet divulged in a soft voice that concerned Sebastian. "And not only would I feel guilty, but I don't want you to give up your dreams because of our relationship and then regret it later on." She exhaled sharply; her lips pulled back in an anxious smile. "And as much as it sucks, I think it's best if we don't see each other until you feel comfortable with your decision. I don't want you to make your choice one way or the other because of me," she stated, laying out the ground rules without consulting Sebastian. Her voice sounded sad, but no words came to mind with which to reply.

"No matter what you decide," Violet's voice cracked, and his hand reached out to her, but she pulled away. "Just please promise me I won't be the last to know…" Before Sebastian could stop her, his girlfriend hurried out the door and up the stairs to his mother's shop.

Sebastian felt numb as his dark eyes rested on the glimmering gold once again. Would moving to ZuZu mean taking a break from their relationship, too? He did not like the sound of that. Strangely, he doubted everything about his old plans as his inner voice went silent. What did he want? All Sebastian knew was that the atmosphere felt oppressively heavy, despite the light streaming in from outside.

TW

Emily met Shane outside his home late that afternoon and together they walked to the Secret Woods in the Cindersap Forest to set up camp. Once their tent was erect and their campfire started, Emily requested Shane help her roll a log toward the fire to sit on while they roasted the sausages. The drippings made everything smell incredible and Emily hummed happily as she slid the meat off her roasting stick and onto a bun.

"These are actually really good," Shane stated as he took another bite into his second helping. Emily was flattered he liked them so much and offered some of the vegetables, beautifully blistered by the cooking fire to release their best flavors. He accepted a serving and began to munch, his expression sparkling with delight. Emily loved to see Shane so content, and she could tell that his aura had changed significantly in the past season. While it was still not as bright as her own, the spiritualist was confident that Shane's would be a jewel-tone like hers. A deep sapphire.

When they were done eating, Emily made sure to show Shane how to properly store their leftovers so the wildlife would not be drawn by the scent of food into their tent. That was one of the greatest threats posed to campers, she educated the rookie camper. Shane was quick to catch on, and secured the bin that Emily brought far better than she could have done on her own. The experienced traveler then tied it to a rope and hung it high from a tree on the other side of the clearing.

As the sun dipped deep into the horizon, Emily stoked the fire while Shane went to retrieve firewood. He came back with more than enough, but the barkeep could not help but giggle at his eagerness to please her. "Thank you, Shane," she articulated, directing him how to stack it properly so it would dry from the fire's warmth, but remain far enough away that it would reduce the risk of catching from a powerful gust bending the flames of their contained campfire.

It was a moonless night, so the stars were given center stage on the velvety black sky. Emily loved nights like this. The moon was gorgeous, but the stars were by far her favorite. Emily appreciated the little things best. As they sat before the fire wrapped in a blanket together, Shane reached for her hand. "Well, this is fun, isn't it?" Emily smiled.

"Thanks for inviting me out here," her boyfriend said, holding her hand tightly in his own. Emily enjoyed the affection of the gesture, both physically and emotionally. She was so immeasurably proud of Shane. Emily petted his arm with her free hand as she leaned her head to rest on his shoulder. She hoped that since they were not in public, Shane would not be so flustered by the touch and from the way his body decompressed a fraction more with each exhalation, Emily suspected this trip was going just that. Everyone needed some time to commune with nature now and again.

"It's kind of spooky, actually," Emily observed. Half the trees were nearly bare of leaves and creaked each time the wind blew. She sought to distract her creative mind from thinking of things that could be lurking in the forest just outside the firelight. "Have I ever told you about the time I met a fairy here in the woods?" Emily solicited Shane. She knew that her partner was not the type to believe in such things initially, but after seeing a talking mouse manning the traveling merchant's cart, the sapphire-haired woman could tell the shell of disbelief was beginning to crack.

Shane shook his head. "No, I haven't heard that one," he replied. Emily did not detect a hint of mockery in his voice. It made her heart flutter with joy.

"I was camping out here on a night like tonight," Emily set up her story. "I was not in a good place, with the bullying at school and I needed some time alone to meditate and cast out all the negative energy to a higher power that could convert it into something beautiful."

She grinned at the memory as she resumed her account. "I saw a light through the trees out in the darkness, and I thought it was the glow of another campfire. I wandered out into the woods to find my fellow camper and found a tiny, winged person bathed in dazzling radiance."

"I greeted her respectfully, knowing I was in the presence of someone wonderful," Emily shared with her significant other. "And she introduced herself as the local crop fairy, blessing wild and cultivated fruits and vegetables as she went upon her nightly travels."

Shane urged her on. "So, what happened?"

Emily beamed, pleased to hear Shane was interested in her tale. "Well, you have to be very careful about the words you speak in the presence of a fairy. Words - if used carelessly - can get you spirited away to a fairy court," she warned. "So, I simply introduced myself as a mortal who appreciated her generosity." Emily laughed, seeing in her mind's eye the way the fairy smiled at the gesture. "She enjoyed being admired, so she informed me that I was once blessed by fairy magic and that one day I would find a soul mate whose aura matched the hue of my hair."

"For ages, I assumed the crop fairy meant my natural color, so when I found Martin in college, I assumed he was the one. When it didn't work out, I was sad for a while before it occurred to me that hair can be any color you want, so I should dye my hair a color I liked." The fashion designer pointed to her pixie-cut hair. "I was originally inspired to dye my hair this shade when I saw the same color on an eye-catching pattern at the Egg Festival last year," she explained to her boyfriend. "And lately… I've seen glimpses of the same color around someone else in town."

"Is this…" Shane balked for a moment, "your way of saying you found someone else?"

Emily frowned, wrapping Shane in a tender embrace. "Shane, why do you always try to push me away like this?"

The man in her arms squirmed away, turning his gaze up toward the twinkling stars in the night sky. "I know you keep telling me it's okay, but… Why do you even want someone so broken, Emily? I don't get it."

"You assume you're the only one who has ever had to piece themselves back together again, Shane…" Emily whispered sadly. "Perhaps it's time I showed you how similar we are." She unlaced her grey boots, then stood to gently peel her leggings down toward her ankles.

Shane whose gaze had been caught by her movement, regarded her with confusion, his cheeks ruddy. "W-Why are you stripping?" he demanded with a stutter, though he did not look away.

Emily sat back down on the log, folding her discarded leggings, and set them down beside her. "Come closer, there's something I want to show you," she instructed her significant other. "Make sure not to block the light, it'll be hard to see without the fire on a night like this."

Although he was confused, Shane knelt beside her as she slid the hem of her ruby red dress back toward her hips. "It's okay," she assured him, taking one of his strong hands in her free one, placing it on her inner thigh.

Shane's thick brows furrowed as his eyes strained to see the silvery lines that crossed her soft flesh. His rough fingertips brushed against the raised ridges of old wounds. "They're scars…" he realized in a trembling voice.

"They were my way of keeping myself grounded when the world lost its color from all the unkind words, I heard from the people around me." She bit her lip contemplatively. "One day I accidentally pricked my finger on a sewing needle and saw that my blood seemed just as vibrant as before my life became so monochrome. From then on, I started to make myself bleed on purpose." Emily communicated solemnly. "I made these cuts where no one else would see," she revealed. "They were my secret weapon – proof there was still vibrancy in the world, even if it meant harming myself to see it. Red is still my favorite color, but now I wear it on my body."

"I had no idea," Shane replied in a low voice, caressing the skin long-since healed.

Emily nodded. "My parents and Haley know I was hospitalized, but they don't quite know all the details," she informed her partner. "I got help while I was away at art college. That's actually how I met Martin - my first boyfriend." She traced one scar that was longer than the rest and her gaze softened as her eyes rested on Shane. "It breaks my heart when you say that you're broken as if someone who is working so hard to put themselves back together is somehow unworthy of love. Because that would mean..." her voice trailed off.

"Oh, fuck." Shane shook his head furiously. "No, I was stupid to say shit like that to you without thinking about what you've been through," he apologized profusely, sweeping her up in his solid arms. It made her feel so safe when he pulled her in close like this. "It's like you said, it's just that voice inside trying to sabotage me, you know?" He kissed her cheek, and suddenly Emily became aware of the tears flowing down her face. "I love you, Emily," Shane declared, kissing her again and again. "I'm so sorry…" he stroked her hair affectionately and Emily could sense how desperately he wanted her to get his feelings across.

"I'm not holding you responsible for hurting my feelings before I told you what happened," Emily advised him, resting her head on his broad chest. "But you aren't allowed to say such things anymore, or you're in big trouble!"

For a while, the two sat intertwined in each other's embrace, watching the fog of their breath rise into the dark night sky. But soon Emily sensed that the animal noises around them had gone silent. She lifted her head to better listen and heard the crash of something large coming toward them through the underbrush. A snuffling sound became louder as the creature approached.

Emily tapped Shane's shoulder. "Bear!" she warned him in a hushed, but urgent tone. Without a word, her boyfriend scooped her up and made a mad dash for the bright purple tent. He dove inside, protecting her head from impact on the ground with one arm and for his own body with the other.

"Close up the flap," Emily ordered, trying to wiggle out from underneath Shane to assist. But the man sprang into action and zipped up the tent with quicker reflexes than he had ever seen Shane perform. It was colder inside the tent without a fire and Emily found herself shivering within seconds without her leggings, which were still outside the tent.

Shane quickly attended to the issue, pulling her into his lap. Emily nestled herself as close to her partner as possible to keep the cold at bay. "Oh…" the young woman discovered a problem. "The other sleeping bag is still outside…" Her milk chocolate eyes were wide with fright as she clung to Shane. "No way am I going back out there!"

The mayor chuckled. "Don't look at me, it's not safe."

Emily traced the lines on Shane's palm anxiously. He had earth hands with a broken life line about a third of the way down his palm, but it continued on to the wrist and a long love line that began near the base of his index finger, she noticed. All good signs, Emily believed. His recovery would go well, and this was the start of the rest of Shane's life. He was someone Emily could rely upon to be there for her.

"Um, Shane?" she whispered in the pitch-black of their shelter. "You don't mind sharing a sleeping bag with me, do you?"

Shane's body shifted beneath her as he groped the ground to find the sleeping bag. Kicking off his shoes, the dark-haired man scooted into the cozy cocoon and beckoned Emily to join him. Emily did so, though she still shivered at first, prompting Shane to roll over on top of her, resting his head on her abdomen. "I'll be your blanket," he promised quietly. They were still not sure whether the bear had left.

Emily blushed for the first time in a long time. "Thank you, Shane."

"So… whose aura do you see everyone once and a while that matches your blue hair?" Shane dared to ask. Perhaps it was because Emily could not see his face without the glow of the fire outside the tent.

She stroked his head, massaging his scalp with her fingertips. "It's you, silly. It gets closer and closer each day."

"Does this mean you wanna marry me someday?" Shane inquired boldly.

Emily smiled, though her partner could not see. "Only if you ask nicely!" she insisted with a stifled laugh. She gasped as she felt Shane's body shift downward and slowly hiked her dress up toward her hips. "Just tap my head three times if you want me to stop, okay?" he asked in a husky voice as his hot breath tender hovered over her skin. Slowly, gingerly, Shane kissed each of her scars one by one.

"I- I love you, Shane." she panted, squirming under his weight, unable to escape the mounting pleasure.

"I love you, too, Emily."

Emily felt blissfully overwhelmed as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Never had she been so thankful for the tale of her pain carved into her skin. In this moment, they were tally marks with which to count the kisses from her lover. Neither of them would want for warmth tonight.

Author note: And thus, Emily's tent becomes a sauna.

Also, I know the rabbit's foot itself does not raise luck, but the characters - like many players such as myself before discovering the wiki page - assume that it does. Placebo effect, am I right?