Spring-2-xxx1
The next half-day is a blur of paperwork.
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"Yes, I've checked them six times." I know Fox is not a normal name, but they don't have to ask me about it 6 times...
Anyway, I kind of like it: foxes are a lot of cool things. Sly, slick, clever, crazy... All pretty good stuff.
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My grandfather called "clover"...Well, I think it's because of a story he told me about clover leaves.
"On a four-leaf clover, all the leaves have a meaning. The meanings are hope, faith, love, and luck -- and that's what you need to get through life."
...Or maybe I heard that in a videogame. Don't take things too sappily.
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WHY DO THEY EVEN WANT TO KNOW THAT?! That has nothing to do with my ownership of the farm!
I think they're just trapping me...Maybe they're padding the paperwork out so that it'll trap me under an avalanche and they can turn the farm into an amusement park...
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Anyway, it's Link.
I do manage to finish it in time to have lunch at my new place.
...It's not very impressive. And I'm applying that to both my cooking and my residence.
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Still, this isn't much less furnishing than I had in college, and the room's much bigger.
...On the other hand, my TV in college had more than 4 channels... Not that the 4th one functions.
I step outside to see the Mayor on the lawn.
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"..You have lots of questions."
"Yeah, I remember you from yesterday."
"I thought I'd help you get acquainted with things! Shall I show you around the village?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
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"...Towards Moon Mountain, and our lovely vineyard."
Wine, you say?
"They have a daughter about your age, actually."
Young women with wine, you say?
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No, no, go back to the wine.
"They'll teach you how to raise animals. Oh, and they're looking to find a home for a young horse of theirs."
Oh, that's interesting. I guess we can leave behind the wine. For now.
"So you should drop by before the end of Spring."
"Yeah, I'll do that."
We head on in to town.
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"They sell vegetables and grass seeds, and they can tell you what to do."
The young woman with the bright pink hair and eyes to match offers me a wave and a chipper smile. She's probably a little bit younger than me, but she gives the impression of a bigger gap.
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"...And vegetables."
"Hey, now, I don't need a sales-pitch. I've got a farm to run..."
She's actually really cute, in a bubble-gum pop idol sort of way... So I give her my introductory flirting gaze: a single sweep of her figure, not too lingering but clearly focused at her, then hold the eye contact for a few seconds -- I'm a fan of three, but you can go as long as five if it's crowded -- and then you flash a little smile and look away. Maybe punctuate the looking with not-looking.
"But I'll be sure to stop by and see you."
"Alright then. We'll see you around!"
I realize then that she is completely unaware that I was trying to open the door to some flirting. It's not that she's not interested (well, she might not be). It's that she just has no clue.
Her pink eyes are like bright, innocent abysses.
The girl's mother gives a sad little head shake. She knew what was what.
After that we see the church, which apparently doubles as a one-room school for the local kids.
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Booze, you say? I approve of this town.
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But not if you keep rhyming, man.
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That's where the wake was, too.
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That looks like there are two shops, actually.
"You can buy farm tools and sundry goods there."
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"Sup?"
"Well, I'm considering this space-distorter..."
Dude, I did not mean that literally.
"Space-Distorter?"
"I'm more of an inventor than a salesman. I'd like a few test subjects for my newest project, so if you can find some plants -- flowers, maybe? -- and bring them over, it'll be a big help."
What is this, an RPG fetch-quest?
"I'll see what I can do, man." Because if it is, it's a fetch quest with *mad science*. And I'm down with that.
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I bet you're already expecting me to say 'muffins, you say?' and you'd be right normally...
But my train of thought is completely derailed by the pretty girl standing in front of it. She's got a very different sort of charm than her neighbor; a sort of hard cider girl to pinky's pina colada, warm and earthy (I can always tell what a girl drinks; it's a very handy superpower on Singles' Night). This girl... She's got this charming little smile, but it's got a bit of thoughtfulness to it. She looks like a real warm and friendly person, the sort I'd really like to get to know. Like the pink-haired girl, she has this purity, this gentleness to her expression, that makes my heart beat faster. She looks like a real warm and friendly person, the sort I'd really like to get to know.
...Of course, this does not preclude some
very friendly time. Of course, girls in this town seem to need a magnifying glass to find a clue...
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"Oh, I definately will...But I doubt there's anything sweeter than you."[/color]
So subtlety's out the window.
"We make the best cakes in town, so you'll just have to try."
...Ok, she's not offended... She's not teasing... She's just completely oblivious.
Please don't tell me these boonies don't train their girls to flirt. That's...
In that moment, it occurs to me that I am completely unprepared for country living.
"I will, though I think money's going to be tight for a while."
"I can only imagine. Those lawyer fees are something, aren't they?"
I think I'll have to take it the slow and old-fashioned way. Maybe even flowers and chocolate-style.
"Yeah. Well, wish me luck!"
We walk over to the other side of town, where I notice some kids playing. This town... There's probably more here, but there's not a lot of people.
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There weren't a lot of kids when I came here... But I remember playing some games with the kids I could find...
I wonder if any of them were the girls I've been meeting...
Meanwhile, the mayor is blathering about the potion shop or something. It's not like I have much money for medicine; like I told the bakery girl, things are tight. Between quitting my job, my dad cutting me off, moving, and lawyer's fees to get this done quicky, the money went away fast.
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"...Good use of it."
Another building, another pretty girl. This one tries to hide behind her mother, but glances at my nervously over the rim of her glasses, hitting me hard with a glance from these big grey eyes. She bows and whispers something inaudably, but her mom (I'm guessing) starts up before I can ask her to repeat.
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"Well, I think I've showed you all the main places. Take care and good luck."
"I'll do my best!"
Otherwise, I'll be my father's slave for life.
Anyway, I guess I need to go handle the rest of the paperwork and moving. I turn and walk away. I actually do like reading, so I'll have to see if I can't get something out of the library girl next time.
"W-welcome to our t-town..."
"Maria, honey, he's gone... I'm sure you'll get another chance to say hello. But with volume this time."
And then I meet this guy when I'm heading back.
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"That's right."
"Nice to meet you. I'm a buyer. Your grandfather and I knew each other for a long time."
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Ok, yeah. Mental vacation time.
I basically tune out the rest of his tutorial on putting stuff in boxes so he can give me money. It is an elaborate and mysterious ritual.
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Everyone keeps saying that... I guess I look like I need all the help I can get.
***
Spring - 3 - XXX1
Another morning, another riceball. The town's going to be sleeping for a while, and I don't know how far my seed money will last, so why don't I go check out those mountains?
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I pick up some stuff that's lying around and looks useful -- a berry, some herbs. Maybe some flower for some ladies... Because that's how it works out in the boondocks... *twitch*
And I run into this guy.
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"You know what they say about all work and no play... It's good to have a hobby."
Man, don't I know it?
"How about fishing?"
"Yeah, I like to fish well enough."
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"After you equip it, use the B button to cast."
What's all this B button business?
"If you get a bite, quickly release the B button!"
Yeah, I'm just nodding and smiling, and leaving mister fisher-guy to his delusions of a B button.
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...Low-expenditure money-making method, you say?
Well, my time's not infinite. More mountaineering a-go!
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From here I pick up a few more flowers, a nice-looking berry, and another herb that looks like it might be healthy.
And I'm ready to hit the town!
...But first, I think I'd like to see that vineyard. After all, I like me some wine. Maybe they'll have a use for this berry.
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As I approach the vineyard, I get the feeling of a sudden strained atmosphere. Yes, I smell...
*a filial argument!*
And out comes barelling a slender, tear-stained beauty with the greenest eyes I've ever seen. I don't think she's noticed me yet. I don't want to get involved.
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"You should let me have my way!"
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She goes rushing out past me...
And a man I assume to be her dad follows.
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"What an undutiful daughter!"
...Man, I wonder if my family squabbles sound like that.
He goes storming back, and I decide to see if there's anyone I can get more information about this scene from. I find a guy standing a little uneasily. He flashes an awkward smile.
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"She's the Vineyard Master's daughter. She says she wants..."
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"Ah. Well, hang in there."
Maybe I'll see her around sometime. But that guy, her dad... He can't stop her from doing what she thinks is best for her. It's not about "duty."
Well, since things'll be open now, I may as well hit up the flower shop.
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Hey, bakery girl's here.
"Hey! I didn't expect to see you here."
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"So we need to get the freshest ingredients from the florists' greenhouse. I usually go on my days off."
"Oh, that makes sense." I guess. I'm not sure what they'd sell here that'd be good for baking with...
"I'm sorry to keep pushing you, but you really need to try some. They're great. <3"
"And you need the business?" She laughs
"You've got me there, Mr...?"
"Fox."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Fox. I'm Elli."
"A pleasure. Ah...I picked up something I think'd suit you..."[/color]
I take out a flower I picked and handed it to her. Flowers and chocolates indeed.
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"You're welcome."
Now, to do some shopping...
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"One package costs 200g."
200g! 200?...That's almost all my money. I can't even afford two packets of seeds... That's...Kind of pathetic.
"Well, guess I got to spend money to make money."
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I spot the florist's daughter outside the shop, happily watering the...sidewalk? Well, whatever makes her happy.
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I stop her mid-sentence. "Uhhh... I sort of met you yesterday. Remember?"
"Oh, yeah! Silly me." She bonks herself on the head with a little smile.
"No worries. Here, have a flower to make up for it."
She lights up like the sun when she sees that. Even if it's slightly mussed from being in my backpack, she just glows.
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"I-it's just a flower from the mountains..."
"Still! It's a wonderful gift. People who give others flowers must be really good people -- it's like a secret code that lets you into the secret organization of good people. Or something like that <3"
...What? Well... I guess...?
Next up...Maybe I'll take a lunchtime break at the library. It sounds like a good idea, anyway.
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I was kind of expecting the woman I actually spoke to to be there. The Librarian burrows her head in a book when she sees me. Her expression looks like a frightened rabbit.
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Huh. A kid's section, huh? I actually kind of have a soft spot for fairytales...
"T-that's my favorite section."
It spoke!
"Yeah, there's something about a good fairytale that follows you forever, right?"
She nods. I walk over.
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"I'm Fox, by the way."
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"A pleasure."
She edges around nervously, avoiding my eyes. I heft the illustrated book of fairytales in my hand.
"Is it alright if I borrow this?"
She nods.
"Alright...You know, I've got a spare flower or two in my bag, but I don't think they'll sell for anything."
"N-no...You're better off giving them as gifts. Or k-keeping them. You don't have to if you don't..." She trails off.
"Well, then, here."
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Ah, now that's a really cute little smile. But I don't think she'd be able to function if I told her that.
There's just one more place I want to check out today... The ranch. They said something about a horse.
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There's no one around the front portion...
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But there's a nice-looking horse in the pasture.
"Hey there, big guy... Where are your people? They inside?"
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I reach to pet him, but he snorts and turns his head, his ears pinned back. Message recieved -- back away from the horse.
That's when I hear someone approaching and see -- you guessed it -- yet another girl. Rather than being upset with me about messing with her horse, she flashes me a bright smile.
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"Yeah, I like horses well enough...Actually, I came here to see about getting a horse."
I'm not even going to try. Nope, not even gonna.
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Let me guess: liking horses is another password for the secret organization of good people.
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She looks me over and seems to give me some thought. This is a completely different sort of analysis than I'm used to getting from a girl -- that doesn't surprise me. Nothing's normal here. After a while, she nods.
"Say, I need to ask you something."
Still, I kind of like this odd little town.
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"Wait here a minute."
She leaves, and comes back...
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With a very scowly gentleman. And by gentleman, I mean some sort of angry cowboy... There was something odd about his walk, but I couldn't place it before he was staring at me with eyes so blue they seemed to pierce my soul.
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"Reflexes are quick. Seems good, don't you think?"
He gave me a look that implied two things.
#1: His internal systems were, in fact, made of ice. His eyes were actually portals to his inner glacier-heart.
#2: He thought I was the worst dude to ever step onto this ranch.
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That's a wonderfully succint summary of my assesment of your opinion, Mr. Angry Cowboy.
And, with that, he storms off.
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"Eh, no hard feelings."
"Truth is, we want you to enter in the local horse races. Good competition will really show our ranches' best features, right? So to help you enter the..."
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"Really? Awesome!"
At this time, an older guy -- I guess their dad? -- comes walking up, leading a young horse. I wonder how all that happened so fast -- when I notice mr. glacier in the distance, watching us and leaning against a fence. ... Maybe he's not so bad, for an angry cowboy.
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"...responsible and giving, you can take the colt."
"Yeah, I can do that."
In for a penny, in for a pound, right?
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He leads the pony off and the rancher girl gives me a smile.
"Thank you! Do your best and..."
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"Please take good care of him. If you can treat him with love, he'll grow up to be strong."
"I'll do my best."
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It occurs to us both that we've not introduced ourselves. She laughs.
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"specializes in animal care, so if you want to raise animals, talk to my dad!"
"Nice to meet you, Ann." I give her my intro.
...And, I figure I still have a flower to get rid of.
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No problem.
I see that angry cowboy's still watching us.
"Sup? I'm Fox."
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"...Well...See ya round?"
He glares.
"...Alrighty, then."
I figure with this, it's time to get to work on the farm. There's a lot to do.