Summer

The farm hand came into the valley with no fanfare. She gave only enough notice for the Mayor to be there with the carpenter. And the farmer…

"Welcome to Stardew Valley, ma'am! A pleasure to make your acquaintance," the Mayor cheerfully greeted. "I hope you'll grow to love this place as your new home. Now admittedly there aren't a lot of job opportunities right now, but you said you were interested in getting into farming?"

"Yes, that's right," the woman said, smiling cheerfully.

"Well we have just the thing for you. This here's our resident farmer. Got himself a thriving business going on in that farm. Main source of income for the town, that one," Lewis said, gesturing for the farmer to approach. He did so silently, eying the newcomer warily. "His farm's big, a lot of work. I'm sure he wouldn't mind the extra help."

The farmer was silent, watching the woman with eyes narrowed. Soon, though, a smile crossed his face. "Not at all, Mayor Lewis," he answered. "It would be my greatest honor." He bowed to her.

"Alright, that's settled then! Of course, she's going to need a place to live. I can build her a house on the farm, just say the word," Robin said, smiling at the farmer.

The farmer gave her a shocked look, not expecting them to volunteer his land for this stranger to live on. The very idea of it disgusted him, and the disgust and displeasure crossed his face briefly before he put on a fake smile. "Yes. Of course. You are aware I have all you need. The sooner started the better," the farmer replied. He turned to the farm hand. "If you would come with me, lady, I will show you to the farm and the fields you will be tending."

"Of course, sir," she said with a little flirty wink at him, taking his arm. He was unfazed, gently extracted his arm from hers, and walked ahead of her away from the bus stop and back to his farm. She started and frowned, but followed nonetheless.

Stardew

She gaped at the farm, the garden, in shock and awe, looking all around.

This was not cultivated by mortal hands…

She looked at the farmer sharply. "Did you do this? Really?" she asked.

"I do not doubt you have heard tale of the elf king who wanders this land. I am… a friend of his. It was he who helped me cultivate it," he answered.

"Oh. Where does this elf king live?" she wondered.

"Lady, do not chase what is so plainly beyond your ilk," he warned. "Enter the woods in which he resides, and you will not return… If you value your being, you will not be out in the garden come nightfall. That is the only rule you must without question obey. That by dark you will be inside and not come out. Nor will you go ever into the secret woods, come evening."

"Very well. I have rules of my own too. You…" she began.

"The only rule within this place that I must follow is to not set one foot inside the house you will have as yours unless invited. You have no authority to make rules beyond that," he cut off firmly. She was quiet, glaring at him. He was unfazed. "You will sleep in the shed, until your home has been built. You will not enter into my halls." She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could he had walked away, and she was left fuming and offended. She scowled and looked around the garden in disgust.

She entered the shed. The moment she did, her disguise vanished. Her true appearance came through. The witch! Grumbling, she took out a tome and laid it down, opening it and reading through it to get a sense of how to tackle an elf in the forest. As she read, a smirk began to cross her lips. You know, she may not have to do a single thing to the children. If she played this game well, the elf would do it for her. It was in his nature, after all… She cackled coldly and shut the tome before setting about making herself a temporary place to stay until the cabin was built by the carpenter. Perhaps she would help the woman and see what gossip she could glean that might help her in her endeavor. She would also need to pry into the farmer's relationship with the elf, when she could. She doubted, though, he'd be of much use to her.

Stardew

"So, what can you tell me about the neighbors, before I head out to introduce myself?" the farm hand asked Robin as she helped the carpenter build. Robin had been ecstatic to learn she had a trade skill. Well, thought she did. Honestly she'd just slipped in some magic use here and there to make it seem like she was a handywoman.

"Oh, where to even begin?" Robin asked with a breathy laugh. "Stardew Valley's full of great people. Let's see… Kent is a recently returned war vet, home from the front lines. He was fighting in the war against the Gotoro Empire. He's suffering from PTSD, I think, so you need to kind of be careful when dealing with him. Loud noises spook him, he's jittery, he's kind of paranoid… But he's a good man. Jo's thrilled to have him back, and his boys are happy to see their dad again. Let's see… I don't even know where to start, honestly."

"Tell me what Kent's so paranoid over," the farm hand replied, frowning in worry. Inside, though, she was thrilled. War and paranoia were perfect starting lines to sew dissention in even the tightest-knit of communities

"Gotoro has a lot of spies around, as I understand it. Some in the most unlikely places. Kent's taken to looking at all of us with a measure of suspicion. He'll get over it eventually, but it's a bit unnerving right now," Robin said. "Dr. Harvey's taking good care of him, though. Helping him with the PTSD and everything. He's a good man, Harvey. He's actually recently started dating my daughter, Maru. My husband Demetrius isn't happy about it, Maru's daddy's little girl, but he's slowly warming up to the thought of them together."

"Why doesn't he like Harvey dating her?" the farm hand asked.

"Well, Harvey's probably at least a decade older than her, to start. It's not that huge of a gap in the grand scheme of things, but it's big enough to raise eyebrows and Demetrius doesn't like that he won't be able to protect her from biting insults or acid tongues, when word gets around about it. He wants to keep her safe and sheltered, but he won't be able to guard her from this. Maru's a brilliant girl. Great at engineering and inventing, good at the sciences. Demetrius wants that to be more her focus than a relationship. She has a lot of promise. You could pick her brain for hours and she'd still have info to spill out," Robin replied.

The farm hand nodded, logging this away for later. "So, Harvey is the town doctor? He must have some experience in psychology too if he's treating this 'Kent' for PTSD," she said to Robin.

"Harvey's very talented," Robin confirmed. "Graduated high school early, went right into medical school, did the whole course and a few specialties on top of it. And he still had time to take some aviation studies courses. He's always loved planes and wanted to be a pilot at some point, I've gathered from what Maru's told me. He knows coordinates, lingo, everything. He even has a radio in his flat. More than once Maru's come in and caught him on it talking to pilots or giving coordinates or weather reports."

"Oh?" the farm hand said, straightening up a bit. Now this was interesting. An ongoing war, a paranoid and suspicious fresh-home war vet, a doctor who kept to himself and used a long-range radio… The pieces of the puzzle were just falling into place so perfectly! If she did this right, she could throw this place into chaos in days. "So far everyone sounds pretty interesting. Can't wait to meet them. Maybe I should head out now, see as many as I can, then get back here in time to help the boss."

"Sure thing," Robin chirped with a bright smile. "Thanks for the help." The farm hand waved, walking off.

Stardew

"Kent, right?" the farm hand greeted the man sitting at the bar with a drink.

"What's it to you?" he asked, not even looking up at her.

"Oh, it's nothing, really. I was just introducing myself to everyone in the town. It's a cute little place, interesting people… I can see why you settled here. You can trust everyone," she said.

"You can never trust everyone," Kent replied. "There's always that one joker who'll stab you in the back. Sometimes they'll even be a friend."

"Wow, that's… jaded," she remarked, grimacing.

"This is war time, ma'am. Don't expect anything from anyone," Kent said. "You'll just be let down."

"I guess. Hey, is anyone helping you through all this? I heard you were a war vet and just… I wanted to know if you were being taken care of," she said.

"I'm seeing a doctor," Kent replied.

"A good one?" she asked.

"He'll do," Kent replied. "Doubt he was stitching up wounded on the battlefield. Takes a special kind of grit for that. He doesn't have it."

"Maybe he has. You can't know," she said. Kent huffed in a way that sounded like he wanted to laugh but didn't have the energy for that nonsense. "What?" she asked.

"Harvey's scared of everything. Heights, embarrassment, shadows…" Kent began.

"Yet he can talk you through PTSD like it's just another day, and as a doctor he obviously doesn't have any issues with blood and gore. I mean I know they're trained to be ready for that stuff, but you can't rule out the possibility he's done it hands-on at some point," she said.

"Would have seen him out there on the field at some point if he was army," Kent said.

"Not if he was Gotoro army," she added with a joking tone. It did its job, though. Kent visibly tensed up and looked at her warily out the corners of his eyes. There was silence. "What?" she asked, playing oblivious.

Silence. "What made you say that?" he finally asked. Good. He'd taken the bait. Now to reel him in…

"Oh, well, nothing. It was just a joke. I mean Robin mentioned he has a long-range radio in his apartment than he uses regularly, and that he knows all the jargon especially for weather and coordinates. Apparently, he was interested in flying planes when he was small but never could," she answered.

"He has a what?" Kent asked, sure as night followed day focusing in on the radio.

"Uh, a long-range radio. I mean, it's not that weird," she said, frowning in confusion and concern. "You hardly need to make a mountain out of it."

"A long-range radio in wartime? That he uses?" Kent said.

"Are you implying he's a traitor or spy? Even if he is, it could be for our side! Harvey isn't Gotoran. At least not as far as I know," she said. "But then I've only been here a day or so."

"Gods you people can't be this naïve!" Kent exclaimed, standing and slamming his hands on the table. "Who else knows about this radio?!"

"I-I don't know. P-probably Maru? The farmer I work for? Maybe everyone! I've only been here a very little while, I don't know," she replied quickly, putting on a perfect mask of fear. "Don't jump to conclusions! It could be nothing, sir."

"Or it could be everything," Kent said, rising and leaving the bar quickly, grabbing his coat on the way out. The woman watched after him and smirked darkly to herself before ordering wine and sipping at it on the barstool. That went better than expected. And hey, if the doctor really was a Gotoran spy, it just worked out for her plans all the better.

Stardew

Maru and Harvey sat together in his apartment sharing some cool lemonade that Maru had made and brought over. Maru was curled up on the couch. Harvey lounged, one leg curled up and the other still on the floor, his arm resting over the back. "I say we use these," Maru said, picking up two wineglasses. "It's too early in the day to be drinking, I think, but let's not be totally without class," she teased.

Harvey smirked and chuckled, reaching out and taking the one she handed him. "I'll drink to that," he replied. She gave him her sweet little grin, tilting her head in the cute way she had, and reached for the pitcher, pouring the drinks. Harvey smiled at her and sipped at his.

"So… It's a year since we got together, you know," Maru said, twirling a strand of her short hair around a finger a bit nervously.

"Mmm. How could I forget?" he replied, smiling down at the lemonade in the glass. "I'm afraid your father's much slower coming around to us than I'd expected he'd be."

"He'll never warm to this," Maru said with a sigh, moving her finger around the rim of the glass and making it sing. "His little girl's flying the nest."

"A hard thing for any parent to swallow, I realize," Harvey said, smiling at her affectionately.

"Yeah… Sebastian and Abigail's wedding was beautiful," she remarked after a while.

"Are you hinting at something?" Harvey teased. Her blushed immensely satisfied him.

"N-no!" she quickly said. "I-I mean not that I wouldn't want… Just… That is…"

He laughed. "Maru, it's alright. There's no need to be flustered. I understand," he said, covering her hand with his. "We don't need to rush into anything. You're still very young. I get it if you don't feel ready for a step like that."

"Oh, like you aren't young," she half teased and half chastised, flicking a strand of his hair.

Harvey smirked, rolling his eyes affectionately. Just then the door was knocked on loudly. He frowned, curious, and looked over. He stayed quiet. "Who is it?" Maru called out.

"Maru? That you? Where's the doc? It's me, Kent," Kent's voice replied.

"Kent? Why on earth are you calling me on my day off? Is there an emergency?" Harvey asked.

"Invite him in or open the door," Maru muttered as a reminder.

"Oh, right. Uh, hold on, I'll get the door!" Harvey said, putting down the glass of lemonade and getting up to answer. He reached it and opened the door to the man, who looked quickly at him and made to go for a gun that wasn't there anymore. No doubt a reflex that would take time to dissipate. Kent relaxed, but suspicion remained in his eyes as he summed Harvey silently up. "Do you want to come in?" Harvey asked, raising an eyebrow at the scrutiny.

"Hmm? Oh. Yeah. Yeah, I would," Kent replied. Harvey nodded and moved aside, gesturing for him to enter. He did so and paused on seeing Maru. He gave the doctor an odd look. "Am I interrupting something?"

"You are, but if this is important it can be put on hold," Harvey said with a sigh. He looked at Maru apologetically and nodded.

"Say no more, Doctor," Maru said, setting down her glass and rising. "Let me know when you're finished up here and we can resume."

"You don't have to leave on my account," Kent said to her.

"No, it's fine. Really," Maru replied with a kind smile at the man. She went towards them and paused, kissing Harvey's cheek before walking out.

Stardew

Harvey shut the door behind her and turned to Kent. "So, what's the issue?"

"It's nothing, just… Things at home are a bit tense… I feel like I'm a stranger to my own family… I think they feel that way too and it's just… it's hard…" Kent replied, beginning to move around the flat looking at things. Which Harvey was fine with because it seemed to be a coping mechanism for the man. He didn't easily open up about things when talking face-to-face. He needed to be moving, examining, feigning indifference, pretending it wasn't a big deal when it was.

"I believe you," Harvey replied, watching the man explore his flat and taking a seat on a chair, entwining his fingers and observing. "Has something happened that makes you feel like you're a stranger to your family?"

Kent shifted. "I can't… I'm having trouble. Connecting with my children. Sam especially... It feels like these days he resents me more than anything… And Vincent… He's just, he seems so confused. Like he sees something in me I don't… Or don't want to acknowledge… They know I'm different…"

"That doesn't have to be a bad thing," Harvey said.

"Doesn't it? I snapped at Jodi recently. She didn't do anything wrong, just tried to do something nice for me and just… And my kids… I feel like-like I'm not the man she fell in love with anymore. That I'm a cheap imitation of Sam and Vincent's father, not the real thing," Kent said. His eyes found the radio and he stopped, eying it warily.

"Have you talked to Jodi about these feelings?" Harvey asked.

"You know how well I do with that, doc," Kent answered. He moved towards the desk, brushing away some of the papers piled on the radio. It didn't go escaped by him that suddenly Harvey was very quiet.

There was dead silence a long moment. "What's caught your attention, Kent?" Harvey finally asked.

Kent was quiet. "This. This radio. Long-range… The type you communicate with pilots and stuff with… They were common in the military as well as popular with intelligence agencies and the Underground. Spies and saboteurs. Bad memories, I guess… Do doctors need things like this?"

"Rural ones, yes," Harvey replied. "The more rural, the more they need them. Stardew Valley is a long way from the city. Long enough that it matters. The radio could be the difference between life and death one day."

"Been well-used. More than I'd think this little slice of heaven would need it to be," Kent said.

"I sometimes communicate with planes. It was a dream of mine, when I was young, to be a pilot. I studied aviation like mad when I was little. Took courses about it when I was older… But my eyesight wasn't the best, as you can plainly tell, so that was a strike against me, and then on top of it I developed a fear of heights which effectively put a stop to that dream once and for all. I regret it to this day, how things played out regarding a career in aviation, but I'm happy where I am anyway. And every so often I get to indulge myself by making contact with planes soaring overhead and pretending. A bit childish, perhaps, but it's fun. We all need a hobby. It can help us deal with a lot of things life throws at us… Do you have a hobby, Kent? It might help you deal with a lot of the stuff you're going through," Harvey said.

Kent still focused on the radio, examining it. "Show me how it works," he soon said.

Harvey hummed. "You're very… fixated on that radio, aren't you?" he finally replied.

"Show me how it works," Kent repeated, tuning to Harvey with eyes narrowed. Again there was silence, heavy and a bit unsettling. Like waters were being stirred up. Kent glared at Harvey, Harvey stared back calmly with a slight frown on his lips. It could be concern, Kent knew, but a more paranoid part of him tried to insist it meant Harvey was getting antsy about the questioning and demands, which meant the man had something to hide. Finally, though, Harvey rose and went towards Kent, taking a seat and setting the radio up, putting a headphone to his ear as he went through the frequencies until finding an aerial one. "Go through all of them," Kent said. "Don't stop there."

There was a long pause. Harvey did nothing, Kent did nothing. Finally, though, Harvey put down the headset and turned to look at Kent, eyes narrowed warily. "Is something the matter Kent? I need you to be honest with me here. I must confess, I'm suddenly feeling very… cornered."

"Keep. Going," Kent darkly said, eyes almost slits at this point.

Harvey frowned, fingers drumming a bit on the desk. "This frightens you," he finally said to Kent.

"It makes me… antsy. So do me a favor and make me not so antsy by flipping through the rest of the channels, won't you doc?" Kent said, holding his stare. Already Harvey was being gutsier than he'd thought the man was. That was always a warning sign it seemed.

Harvey seemed to weigh his options, the way to best handle this situation. He wouldn't flat out tell him no, that would be too much a provocation for Kent in this mental state. Nor could he necessarily agree to do so. Kent needed to face his traumas, needed to learn to trust, needed to understand he couldn't always be in control anymore and didn't need to be. That was probably part of what was isolating him from his family.

"In the military you have to keep everything under control. If you don't, people die," Harvey remarked finally. "You feel like you need to know everything. There are no secrets among the men. There's little for privacy… It's an unhealthy way to live in the real world."

"What would a guy who's never known war understand about any of that?" Kent asked with a sneer, almost growling it out. "Flip. Through. The damn. Channels."

"And if I refuse? What then, Kent?" Harvey asked. Kent's nostrils were flaring a bit.

Harvey saw it coming before it happened. One second Kent was keeping his distance, the next Kent had seized his shirt, white-knuckled and almost wild-eyed as he glared mercilessly down on him. "Do it!" the man spat.

Harvey was silent and calm, holding Kent's wrists tight like he was willing to fight if need be. Finally, he reached out to the radio. Kent wasn't in a place to be tested right now. This would have to come later, working on his need to be in control and know everything that was going on. He began to go through the rest of the frequencies. Nothing but static or generic conversation being picked up from afar. Harvey reached the end of the frequencies then went all the way to the start once more, then back to the aerial frequency he'd been on once again. Just to satisfy Kent totally. Kent listened close, eying the radio warily. When Harvey finished, Kent let him go tentatively. "Are you satisfied?" Harvey asked.

"What do you need with this thing?" Kent demanded.

"I use it for medical emergencies and my hobby," Harvey reiterated.

Kent glared darkly at Harvey, trying to read him it seemed. Just as it seemed that the man would let it go, though… "Dr. H? Come in Dr. H," a voice said over the radio. Harvey probably would have facepalmed, if he'd had time to. Kent just reacted. He didn't want for an explanation, he didn't wait for anything. Just went at him and tackled Harvey to the ground. Harvey almost panicked before quickly regaining his composure and starting to fight back. He was dragged to his feet and grappled frantically with an enraged Kent who looked both terrified and wild with anger. Kent slammed him against anything and everything. The walls, the desk, the couch, trying to pin him and beat him to a pulp, no doubt, but Harvey managed to get away when Kent almost tripped over a chair, breaking loose and bolting from the flat instantly, Kent hot on his heels.

"Maru! Maru, get in the exam room! Harvey shouted as he charged down the stairs.

"Huh, what? Har…" Maru began.

"Get in there now, dammit!" Harvey shouted, sounding in a panic. Maru, though flustered, didn't question and instead bolted into the exam room. She gasped as she saw Harvey and Kent reach the bottom floor. Kent through himself at Harvey, knocking him to the ground.

"Harvey!" Maru screamed in shock, throwing open the door and racing out.

"Get inside!" Harvey shouted, kicking up right where it hurt. Kent gave a shout of pain, thrown just long enough to Harvey to slip away. Harvey raced to Maru and shoved her into the room, slamming the door behind them and locking it tight. "Call Jodi, now!"

"What's happening?!" Maru freaked, holding her hair in shock and stress.

"PTSD, trauma, and war flashbacks, that's what!" Harvey summarized. Kent was there, suddenly, throwing himself against the door and trying to break in. "Call Jodi now! And literally anyone else who might be able to help!"

Maru, shaken, moved to do so. "Should I try and reach the police?" she asked as she dialed.

"They'll never get here in time from the city. Ready a sedative. I don't want to use it, but if I have to…" Harvey began. He trailed off, shaking his head as he pushed against the door, trying to keep the larger man out.

"Why the hell am I calling Jodi when the sedative's more urgent?!" Maru demanded.

"Do whatever you think is best," Harvey replied. "My focus is currently elsewhere, in case you haven't noticed!"

"What happened?" she demanded again, immediately starting to prepare the sedative. She had to make it strong, so it would act fast, but not too strong.

"He's afraid I'm a spy or something, thanks to my long-range radio and the fact someone tried to contact me on it instead of the other way around," Harvey replied. "I'll try and explain later." Maru nodded, but she didn't need much more explanation to guess what had triggered this reaction in Kent. The Gotoro Empire was notorious for sending out spies in wartime. And even in peace time. They loved their spies. "Kent, calm down! It was a commercial pilot I befriended that called!" Harvey shouted out. "It was just some man!"

Maru quickly finished preparing the sedative as Kent began checking the door to try and break it down. Harvey was gritting his teeth, straining to keep it shut. "It's ready!" Maru said.

"I'll keep him down. Be ready to inject him," Harvey quickly said, opening the door suddenly as Kent went for another check. Kent flew in, and was thrown off balance, yelping as he fell. Harvey leapt on top of him immediately and Maru dove with the sedative, injecting him as quickly and safely as she could manage to. Kent began to thrash and Maru quickly helped Harvey keep him down. In only seconds, Kent's thrashing slowed down more and more and eventually stopped with one more movement. They stayed on him for another two minutes before finally Maru and Harvey tentatively got off of him. They were silent, staring at him.

"I'll call Jodi now," Maru finally said.

Harvey nodded. "Help me get him onto the bed," he said. She went to his legs while Harvey got under his back and shoulders and lifted him from there. The two moved him to the table, laying him down. "I'll make more of the sedative. In case when he wakes up he's still reliving war." Maru nodded and went to make the phone call to Jodi. She had no idea what she'd say to her, but she hoped she handled it the right way…

Stardew

It was tense and awkward in the clinic. Maru was behind the desk, nervously dealing with paper work and general clerical stuff. Harvey was in the room lingering a good distance from the bed and monitoring Kent. Jodi, Sam, and Vincent were all there. Sam was hanging out closer to Harvey than his father, though, looking immensely disappointed but also worried for Kent. Vincent was scared. Jodi looked heartbroken. And afraid. Kent wasn't looking at any of them, staring instead at the wall and keeping stubbornly quiet.

Maru sighed as she stapled some documents together. The lemonade sat forgotten in wine glasses in Harvey's flat. So much for a peaceful day off, she wryly noted to herself. But at least Kent was getting help? She believed? She looked back as the door opened. Harvey came out of it with a sigh, resting his head on the door. "How is he?" Maru asked.

"He's… having trouble," Harvey said. "Which is probably the understatement of the century."

"Are you and him alright now?" Maru asked.

"We seem to be, but it's… hard to tell. It might be best if I refer him to someone else. If he doesn't trust me, I can't help him," Harvey said. "But it's a long trip into the city. A big inconvenience and expense that'll take away from the time he has to spend with his family and repair. It's… not going to be easy on them, if I do that. So we'll have to discuss it in detail."

Maru nodded, put down the papers, and looked at him. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Harvey nodded. "He isn't the first patient to physically attack me, he won't be the last," he said. He looked at her. "And you?"

She was quiet, lower lip trembling slightly before she drew a deep, calming breath. "I'm fine. Shaken but fine. I just… I've never seen a patient like that…"

"It's common. In victims of trauma or PTSD or who are dealing with high emotional stress. "He'll be alright. Eventually. It'll just take work is all. A lot of it. I'm sorry you had to see it."

"You're the one who got attacked. You shouldn't be reassuring me," she said with a weak laugh.

He smiled ruefully. "It's something I've gotten used to," he replied.

Just then the door to the exam room opened. Harvey and Maru looked back. Jodi was coming out, looking deeply troubled. She looked up at Harvey. "Doctor, I'm so sorry," she said, voice wavering a bit. "I don't know what came over him or why he reacted like he did. Did… did he hurt you?" Her last sentence came out quiet, almost a murmur.

"I'm fine, Jodi," Harvey replied.

Jodi winced, shifting a bit. "I… is there a way we can make up for and settle this without… without calling the authorities at all?" she asked, sounding almost afraid.

"Oh Jodi, no. No, I'm not pressing charges against him," Harvey said, tone becoming immensely sympathetic. Maru smirked at the ground. She loved that about him. How good a heart he had and how gentle he was. Jodi perked up a bit, looking hopeful. "It's not his fault. Don't worry. I can handle him… You might want to talk to him, though. About whether he wants to retain me as his doctor and psych. I'm afraid that if he doesn't trust me, I might not be able to help him. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that, but if it does, I can try to make alternate arrangements that won't be so horribly expensive and inconvenient for you."

"Thank you, Harvey," Jodi said gratefully, tears misting her eyes but not falling. She let out a breath. "Why is everything so hard?" she asked quietly.

"It'll get better," Harvey replied. "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure of it."

Jodi smiled gratefully at him then looked back at the room. "Can… can you tell me what triggered him? So I can make sure I avoid it. And my sons?"

"He saw my long-range radio and got it into his head I was a Gotoran spy. It didn't help that someone tried to contact me on it, instead of the other way around. I tried to explain it was a commercial pilot friend I'd made, but no dice," Harvey said with a sigh.

"A Gotoran spy? Wow," Maru said, a bit surprised at this. "Isn't that a leap?"

"Not necessarily," Harvey replied. "You have to admit, a long-range radio in war time and a nickname that sounds like a codename aren't exactly pinnacles upon which to establish trust. Especially not for him who's probably seen… a lot of really bad stuff."

Jodi nodded. "Thank you, Harvey. Again. I can't even express how grateful I am to you for all this," she said.

"It's alright," Harvey replied, smiling. "Now go in to your husband. Spend time with him. Your presence really helps him, you know. You and the boys. More than you think it does. You make him feel safe again…" Tears burned Jodi's eyes and she swallowed, nodding and entering the room again.

"You're a good person," Maru murmured to him gently. "A really, really good person."

"Hmm… Maybe," he finally replied.

"You are," Maru insisted.

Harvey winced, glancing away before turning back to her with a soft smile. "Thank you." She smiled, nodding at him. "Sorry our anniversary date got interrupted."

"It's fine. We can make it up when this thing with Kent's all cleared away. Even if it means putting if off for tomorrow or even a week from now," Maru said.

"You're wonderful, Maru," he teased, smiling at her.

She smiled back, then frowned in concern. "You should go up to your flat and rest a bit. That must have been a draining experience. If something happens that you need to worry about, I'll come get you, but just rest for now. I'll hold things down here," she said. He nodded and dropped a soft kiss on her temple before heading up to his flat. Harvey shut the door behind him and let out a long sigh, leaning against it and pressing the heels of his hands against his forehead. He shook his head then stood up and went to the radio, tuning into the frequency he'd been on right before Kent went at him. "Dr. H here. Are you still there?" he said into it. "...Good..."

Stardew

The farm hand came, the next day, to visit Kent and Jodi in their home. More specifically Kent, but she had to at least put on a show. The moment Jodi left to finish up whatever it was she was doing, the woman turned to Kent. "I heard about your little… incident at the clinic the other day. I'm sorry about that. I know I probably made you suspicious of Harvey. Kent stayed quiet, jaw hardening a bit as he glared at the table. He sipped from his mug in response. "Did you hurt him very badly?"

"No," Kent immediately said.

"Really? Wow… You're really off your game," she said.

Kent frowned, looking up at her. "What do you mean?" he asked, sounding a bit indignant.

"I mean, look at yourself in comparison to Dr. Harvey. You're muscular, he's lean. You're both tall but even then you're still probably a head taller than him. You're a trained military man, he's a doctor. I mean, how else could he have gotten off so unscathed? Either you're off your game, like I said, or he's…" She stopped, shutting her mouth quickly and looking surprised like she'd been about to say something she probably shouldn't.

Kent was glaring at her now, though. "Hiding serious training or talent," the man finished for her, tone a bit cold and uneasy now.

"He's probably just lucky," she brushed off.

"He has an understanding of what happens in the military that I wouldn't expect of a common doctor," Kent said.

"So maybe he served a term and just doesn't want to talk about it," she brushed off.

"He became… so quiet when he saw me scrutinizing the radio… The air just… it seemed to thicken when I started prying," Kent murmured.

"No one likes to be scrutinized," she replied. "No one likes to not be trusted… He's trying to help you, not kill you."

"He didn't come to the door, when I knocked. It didn't even cross his mind. He didn't even answer. Maru had to. He asked what I was doing there before he even thought to get up, once he figured out it was me," Kent said.

"That… has an explanation. He was with a lady friend on his day off and he didn't want to be interrupted," she said, but she sounded less and less sure.

Kent was dead silent. "Yeah. Yeah. Just… just paranoia… He's done nothing but help me since I got home. Me and my family all… Didn't even press charges against me for what I did… He's a good man."

"And highly intelligent," she said.

"With a long-range radio," Kent said a bit darkly. He winced and shook his head. "No. No, I can't keep doing this. Not trusting. Harvey's done nothing but help. Harvey's a good man. Harvey's done nothing but help. Harvey's a good man."

"Making a new mantra?" she said. "You know, it might help you feel better if you took a sample of his blood or DNA and got it analyzed. Just to prove that he's not Gotoran and therefore not likely an enemy spy."

Kent was quiet. "How could I do that?" he finally asked. "I doubt asking the guy for a sample of his blood or spit is gonna fly. Just make me seem crazier than I probably already seem to him."

"So do it secretly," the farm hand said, a smile pulling at her lips. She held out a thorny rose to him. He looked up at it vaguely. Had she had that the whole time, he wondered? Where had it come from? She must have just been holding onto it. "Go to him, rose in hand. Thank him for all he's done for you. Ask if he can talk for a bit. He'll agree, no doubt. When he does ask him to put the rose in some water because you're going to give it to Jodi when you get home. He'll take it for you. He'll prick his finger on a thorn. Badly. Then you'll have all the DNA you need. You can figure out what to do from there."

"It sounds like a fairy tale," he ruefully said, smirking dryly.

"Not everything told of in fairy tales can be totally disregarded," she answered, smirk growing on her pretty lips. He stared at her with a slight frown for a long while. Finally, though, he reached out and took the rose from her, looking at it. He heard Jodi heading back and tucked it away quickly before going back to his drink in silence.

Stardew

He went the next day to the clinic, conscience pricking at him. He paused outside of it, looking at it uneasily. This was ridiculous. Harvey wouldn't hurt a fly! The man had devoted his life to helping people. He was helping Kent right now! Harvey didn't… he didn't deserve this suspicion. This uncertainty… But dammit, something just wasn't ringing right. There was nothing big, no, but there was this constant stream of little tiny coincidences and questions that just… it kept snowballing. There was a point where you couldn't just ignore all the little things anymore! The long-range radio, the amount of knowledge he had on aviation and coordinates, people contacting him over said radio and him contacting them, the strange 'Dr. H' nickname, his seemingly acquainted knowledge of what went on in the battlefield, the man's caution, the way he'd been able to fend off a trained army man long enough to get away practically unscathed… His antsy behavior when he'd started to pay attention to the radio… He shook his head. Maybe it was all just coincidence, but he needed to settle his mind. This DNA test might help him get over this once and for all. Of course, Harvey having no Gotoran in him didn't mean a thing, necessarily, but it was a damn sight more likely, then, that he wouldn't be bothered with those people either.

Kent took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Harvey was behind the desk this time. Either Maru wasn't working today or hadn't arrived yet. Harvey looked up and smiled kindly. "Kent, hello. How are you today?" Harvey asked.

"I've been better… A lot better…" Kent said.

Harvey frowned in concern. "Flashbacks?" he questioned, tone sympathetic.

"No. Guilt. Can we talk?" Kent asked, gesturing towards Harvey's flat. Harvey hesitated at first, but soon nodded and stood up straight, leading the way up. Kent followed him.

Harvey shut the door behind them. "Sit," he said, gesturing to the couch. Kent did so and Harvey joined him. Kent, he noted, held a rose in his hands, twirling it gently between his fingers. "So. Guilt. Survivor's? Or is this more remorse for… the things that happened there."

Kent shuddered visibly. Harvey didn't press. "I just… No. Guilt for what I did. For attacking you the other day. I just… I shouldn't have… I don't know what came over me. I'm… I'm sorry…" Harvey nodded. Kent shifted. "Can you put this in some water for me? Gonna bring it to Jodi, but I don't know… how long I'll need to be here before going for it."

"Of course," Harvey replied. He reached out for the rose. Kent hesitated, wincing, but then gave it to him. The moment Harvey touched it he gasped in pain, quickly withdrawing. "Damn! Oh, excuse my language. I just didn't see a thorn there. Sorry." He reached into a pocket, pulling out a tissue and holding it over the wound. "Wow that's bleeding." Kent was quiet, looking at the rose. It had punctured deep. Blood dripped off the thorn that had pierced Harvey's skin. It ran down the stem slowly. He shuddered, memories of battle returning in force. Harvey took the rose again, getting up and moving to put it in water. Kent sat utterly still then took the bloody tissue, tucking it into a pocket. Soon Harvey returned and looked at him. He frowned in concern. Kent was unnervingly pale. He didn't speak to the man. Just sat there with him.

Kent was quiet. Finally, he drew in a shuddering breath. "Sorry," he said.

"It wasn't you," Harvey said.

"I'm sorry…" Kent repeated in a whisper.

Harvey was quiet. "You did what you had to, to come home… No one can blame you for wanting to come home…" he softly said. Kent was quiet, tears threatening his eyes. Harvey mentally noted that he was probably dealing with a mix of remorse and survivor's guilt.

"I'm… I didn't want to hurt you… I just… I have to know…" Kent said.

Harvey frowned at the use of the present tense. "Have to know what?" he finally asked.

"I just… I want to trust again, Harvey," Kent said, head hung low. Harvey was quiet. Kent glanced up. Harvey was looking away, visibly uncomfortable now. Maybe even guilty… Another little coincidence that just served to make him more suspicious… "I want to trust again," he repeated again.

Harvey was quiet. "What do you have to know?" he finally repeated.

Kent was quiet. The question was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't get it out. It was too dangerous a question to ask… Far too dangerous… But then he wasn't exactly all that self-preserving lately. He bit back the question though, bowing his head again. Harvey watched him quietly, looked like he wanted to say something, but ultimately also chose not to. "No where's safe, it feels like… I can't escape this war anywhere I go…"

"You aren't the only one who feels that way," Harvey gently said. "Believe me." Kent nodded.

Neither spoke again for a long time. "I should go," Kent finally said. Harvey nodded and rose, retrieving the flower and giving it back to Kent. Kent rose and left without so much as a goodbye. Harvey didn't watch after him, just staring ahead at his walls quietly. The door shut, and Harvey closed his eyes tightly, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

Stardew

Kent stared at the results of the DNA test a couple weeks later. He was dead silent. Jodi was off at aerobics, Vincent was being schooled by Penny, Sam was with his friends. He was alone here. The answers he'd sought were in font of him. He hadn't opened them yet, though. His jaw twitched and finally he tore it open. Just rip off the bandage, he said to himself. Just get it done. He reached in and paused. He didn't want to know… But he had to… He had to know. He had to keep his family safe… But what even did he think he was going to do when he learned? If Harvey was Gotoron, what was his plan? Go in there and accuse him on circumstantial evidence? Condemn him because what? He wasn't like the rest of them? Because he had the blood of an enemy nation inside him? That didn't mean anything! It didn't… it didn't mean anything… At least it wouldn't at any other time in history… But this wasn't any other time in history… He pulled out the paper, read it through, then covered his mouth, shaking his head in denial and closing his eyes. He sobbed, bowing his head low.

Gotoro Empire – 70%

Stardew

Harvey stared down at the paper Kent presented him with. He was completely expressionless as he read it through. Kent was silent. Finally, Harvey took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. He looked up at Kent once more, putting them back on. "If you wanted to know my race, Kent, you could have just asked. I would have told you," he said, voice a bit cold.

"I think you knew it was what I wanted to ask. At least in part," Kent replied.

Harvey hummed. "Confessing to something like this in these times can be… dangerous. Especially when you confess it to someone already suspicious of you, and who already went at you with less-than-friendly intent," he said. It came out more biting than he'd wanted it to, but he didn't retract his words. He was genuinely upset and a bit offended at this. Kent might as well be aware of that fact before they got into this further. Kent tensed a little, but didn't say anything. "There's a Gotoran trader who comes into town regularly, you know. A refugee. She's just trying to make her way. Find a better life in a land that isn't being sieged from every side including its own… Innocent... You told me you were a prisoner there, for a while. In that place. I know what those can be like."

"How?" Kent immediately demanded.

"I read," Harvey replied.

"But you've never been in a camp yourself!" Kent snapped sharply. "You can't know unless you've been there, damn you!"

"...You're right... I'm sorry... Kent, I don't want to hurt you. You or anyone here," Harvey said. "I wanted trust because you needed to be able to trust. I want to help you through this, the psychological scarring, the issues, the everything! I don't want to cost you and your family and arm and a leg by referring you to someone in the city. I kept quiet because I knew that if you figured out I was mostly Gotoran, the trust you and I need between us to make this work, would be gone."

"I never had the trust to start," Kent replied, turning and storming out. Harvey was quiet, frustratedly staring at the DNA results in front of him. He cursed under his breath and grabbed it, crumpling it up and throwing it into a trash bin in disgust. He folded his hands in front of him and began to think. This? This significantly complicated things. Now where did he go from here, he wondered? Dammit Kent…

Stardew

The farm hand watched as the very worked up and angry looking Kent left the doctor's office, already plotting something no doubt. Perhaps a way to deal with this 'Gotoran Spy'. Frankly with all the little coincidences surrounding the good doctor, she was almost starting to believe she hadn't just pulled that implication from nowhere. It might actually have a base. If it did, that made everything absolutely beautiful, she thought. The seeds of dissention and strife were sown. The children would, of course, be affected most by it. And that was what she was counting on. The more distressed they became, the more likely it would be that the elf king that lingered somewhere in these forests would come to take them away from all the pain and anxiety… If he liked them, he wouldn't approve of seeing them suffer. He would move to take them far from the grief and to a place where there would be no more. Or very little. He would move to preserve their innocence… The fae did so like preserving innocence… Well, generally.

Stardew

In the summer came the Luau. There was no sign of the farmer. There had been no sign of him last year at this festivity either. Last year he had attended only the Flower Dance, the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies, Spirit's Eve for the purpose of finding something but not for participating, and the Festival of Ice. It seemed perhaps the pattern would repeat.

Except at the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies, he failed to appear…

He failed to, but from out of the woods walked an ethereal white stag that wandered to the edge of the sea and gazed out over it in silence. The jellies gathered around it, all of them, and it bowed its head to touch each one of them as it walked out into the ocean waves. It began to swim there, out to the lonely rock, and clambered onto it before staring at all the villagers… In their hearts they knew who and what it was… It stayed there until every one of them had gone…

The witch trembled in anticipation. It was really there…