Chapter #2 - Introductions

Stepping out the bus, inhaling the fresh air, the crispness hitting my lungs, was surreal. Though, it was quickly ruined as the old bus drove away, most likely never to be seen again, blowing CO2 into your direction in the process. It filled your nostrils, the strong burning scent of petrol also. You cough instinctively and soon get over it as you see two people approaching you.

One older looking man with a cap and simple clothes, the other a nice looking woman with ginger hair, which was put up in a loose bun. She was wearing flannel and thick cut jeans; definitely a woman with a labour intense job, especially with forearms like that...

You take your gaze away from the woman's arms, internally scolding yourself for being stupid. Then, you actually listen to them. They were just introducing themselves - the older guy was the Mayor of Pelican Town, Lewis, and the woman was a carpenter (called it), who's name is Robin. They take you down a dirt path, which leads to your new home.

That was quick, You think to yourself as you look around at the forest. On your farm, you see the state: overgrown, weeded, unkept... It was going to take a while to get this cleaned up. You groan silently and carry on listening to the Mayor and carpenter.

And there it was - your new home. It was shabby, dated and needed some repairs. Stepping onto the porch had you nervous you were going to break a floorboard. Inside was dusty, it was sad most of all, but Robin told you about upgrades she can work on when you're on your feet and have materials. This lead to Robin also providing you with starter tools to work through the trees and rocks on your farm. You appreciate it, the welcoming was a positive overall; from these two people, anyways.

After that, they bid their goodbyes and head off, but not before advising you to--

"Introduce myself?" You repeat in disbelief as you usher your way along the dirt path, this time heading towards Town's Square.

Everything is happening so quickly, you feel. Meeting the Mayor the moment you step off the bus. Realizing the whole farm is overgrown. The cottage is in shambles and you have no idea what to do. Robin said something about upgrades and materials? I can't do that, I used to work a dead office job, now I'm expected to fend for myself like a caveman or--

"Oof--" A man grunts as you bump into him, our heads knocking together. You were subconsciously staring at the ground, not paying attention, as you walked into Town Square, over thinking, as usual.

Shit, is all your head thinks of when you scramble back to a standing position. You shake your head and rub it, "I'm so sorry..." You groan slightly. Your eyes flicker open again and is met facing a tall, brunette man.

He was wearing an orange tie and white shirt with simple brown slacks and shoes with a worn, green jacket. It all strangely went together. He's tall and has thick, brunette locks, as mentioned. He has a large button nose and a mustache. He was adjusting his glasses until his brown eyes open and he sees you in front of him. His eyes widen and you start to wonder if there was perhaps dirt on your face or something.

"You're the new farmer," He comments in surprise. He gulps and shakes his head, "Goodness, I apologize... I-I'm Harvey," He stutters, holding his hand out to shake.

You glance down at Harvey's hand and back up to his eyes. You smile and scoff lightly, taking his hand and gently shaking it. "I'm Y/N," You reply, "Sorry for bumping into you. I wasn't looking," You apologize as you pull your hand away.

Harvey brings his hands back to his sides, his knuckles white. "It's quite alright, really. No worries," He replies in a quiet voice. He glances away, nervously.

Your eyes squint slightly as his voice comes out quiet and nervous. He seemed...sweet.

Then, it all comes back to you and you realize you need to meet more people and buy seeds to grow and sell, otherwise you're doomed to starvation or eviction...

"I would stay longer, Harvey, but I'm quite busy. I'm so sorry," you apologize, stammering your words a bit, "I'll see you around. You look really nice!" You call out as you walk past him, shooting him a wave goodbye and disappearing into the grocer's next door - Pierre's.

God, that was so rude. I'm such a douchebag... You grumble to yourself in thought. He looked so sweet and was so nervous, you just had to make him feel worse... Your mind continues to berate you.

"Oof--" Harvey grunts as he accidentally bumps into someone. He was just about to head back into his clinic, which was linked to his apartment. You would think that having your home connected to your work would be great and practical for ease. The two were separate, but not to Harvey.

For him, it was like a trap where he was kept and isolated. Alone and bored, longing for anything to happen. However, that day never seemed to come as he lost hope of love and fell into the endless routine of his, unfortunately, mundane life.

Until now, where he adjusted his glasses and found his eyes gazing down at a person, one he did not recognize. The first thought of Harvey's was to apologize over-and-over again for being so careless, but his thoughts are overcome by...

They're beautiful... His mind mutters as his shoulders soften slightly and his pupils dilate. He stares at them in awe.

He gathers himself and repositions himself, about to say sorry for the altercation, but, "I'm so sorry..." They murmur. He sees them observing his features slightly and he nearly gulps at how that makes his nerves crawl and stomach sink.

"You're the new farmer," He comments, nervously. First impressions, Harvey; get it together! His mind screams to himself. Harvey manages to collect himself and realizes how rude he is to make the blatant observation in this context.

"Goodness, I apologize... I-I'm Harvey," He mutters, giving the new farmer a crooked smile. He extends his arm, though tenses as he thinks that's an entirely stupid thing to do. What is this, the 1800's? He belittles himself. I can't take it back now. Ugh, they probably think I'm such a dork. Way to go, Har--

They take his hand smile, they take his hand and smile.

"I'm Y/N," Their voice is so soft spoken, so genuine. "Sorry for bumping into you. I wasn't looking," They apologize. Harvey was sure his knees were about to give in.

He powers through. "It's quite alright, really. No worries," He stammers. Am I coming off too eager or too 'never-interacted-with-another-human-being-before'? Harvey, subconsciously, looks away as his self-consciousness started kicking in even more.

But then their voice brings him back to the situation at hand. "I would stay longer, Harvey, but I'm quite busy. I'm so sorry," They tell him, a look of slightly worry on their face. "I'll see you around. You look really nice!" They give him a short wave and into the local grocery store.

It all happened so fast. Harvey let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding in. His mind was racing with their presence, though when they left it died down, though that doesn't mean what you would expect. His mind is clearer, yet he misses the way his mind raced, his heart pumed, even his stuttering words.

Harvey moves up the step to his clinic, opening the door and heading inside. The new resident was still in his mind. Their smile, their appearance, their voice. Though it was embarrassing to admit, it was the first interaction he had gotten with another person like that in years. He had been in Pelican Town for what felt like eons, hopelessly growing accustomed to the mundane life of playing doctor.

But this new resident, this new resident... This was a chance to find something new. That's it; that's why he's so drawn to them. They are a chance at breaking this cycle. They gave something new, something worth getting up to see. And despite the slightly embarrassing first meet, he was even more excited to see them again...