Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-I
I am completely in love with this thread. It is totally amazing and your writing is wonderful.
This is the best thing. *hugs it*
Edit: There will be some delays, due to the way Fall starts the slow winding-down of my emotional and energy balance-systems. This can also be described in the following terms!
Unhappiness Twin Powers, Activate!
Form of... End-of-Semester Stress!
Shape of...Seasonal Affective Disorder!
And then they have terrible adventures in my psyche that causes me to curl up in a blanket in the middle of a scene and play Harvest Moon: A New Beginning instead.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Ok, so I've gotten some stuff done! It's just a 2-day update, but I figure "Better something small than nothing."
Chapter 22: Everywhere To Me
Spoiler
Between Summer 30 and Fall 1, XXX1
A bird's nest materializes in front of me, bringing the rest of the scene with it.
A tree. A girl, her body clambered half up it, clinging to the bark with one arm, her legs scrabbling at the lower boughs...
She coos, and leans close to the nest. Her face is bright and lively, and I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to see --
the branches look so frail, frail as a baby bird...
She laughs at how I balk, and keeps talking.
The girl seems...so happy...I try and climb the tree, just to see it: something that could make someone as happy as she is, right now.
Is that why I did it?...I don't...
It's why I do it, the me who exists outside the dream. How do you get to happiness, at the top of a tree?
and her feet lost their grip on the branches, sending her first dangling, then sliding down, snapping bits of tree in a shower around her.
She falls onto me, and we end up at a heap together...
The dream fades into laughter...
And then...
And then?
Fall 1, XXX1
I shake off the dream -- who laughs at you in a non-underwear dream, anyway?
And it looks like it's going to rain tommorow...Joy.
Since I have no crops, I decide to take care of the animals early.
And when I milk Clara, I end up needing a bigger bottle. I'm betting this will sell for a lot more money, too.
There's mail when I go to check, too. bright!
- Rick's Shop
It would be nice to have some furnishings...But I'd rather have money, at least right now.
The mountain is almost entirely in shades of gold, brown, and red. It's not half as pretty as I'd imagined fall in a place like this to be...I wonder why that is? I mean, you'd sort of picture this being the sort of place you go to see great foliage colors, right?
It is, however, host to some nice-looking mushrooms...
But the flowers all appear to have died, too.
When I head deeper, I find...
Ann, staring something in the big tree. She goes up under the branches, where I can't see her clearly...Is there something over there?
I walk up to the tree, and shake a branch to make my presence known through the veil.
"Hey, Ann. What's up?"
"It's not ready to fly yet...And the ground's started to get cold this time of year...I don't know if it'd be safe..."
"Warm it up how?"
I look down...The straps on her overalls are hanging off her shoulders, and the neck of her shirt is pulled downward, exposing the warm, relaxed line of her cleavage, present but without being forced into happening...Her skin a few shades paler there, like the lost cousin of whiteflesh peaches...
It looks happy...
"Don't look!"
She snaps me out of that gulf down which braver men than I have lost their will to fight. She looks miffed, and her face is red.
"Sorry...Why do you even put a bird there?"
"...It...wasn't moving. It was so cold... I wanted to warm it up as quickly as I could. So don't go thinking it's anything weird, alright?"
She explains, turning herself away.
"Well, it looks OK now. I guess it was really lucky you just happened to be nearby, oh saver of tiny birds."
Her expression rights itself, back into its normal cheer...
There's something about that happiness, the bird, the tree, that seems to echo through my head.
"I was looking for birds, actually. This tree has always had bird's..."
She didn't need to shout that 'hey,' you know...
"Birds?"
...Why do I keep remembering these things in dreams? Is someone trying to tell me something?
...Why did I even think that?
"I think so, yeah..."
...Has she been laughing at me, all these years, in some sort of bruised childhood antecedote?
"Well, I guess I fell, too...Actually, I got more hurt than you did, didn't I? I still have a..."
"Really?"
I lean forward and lift a branch. Yeah, there it is...A little part where the texture of her skin's off, hidden in her bangs...
It was a good bit of blood, but we didn't notice it at first; that's what I remember when I see it. We were both too busy laughing at how silly it all seemed...
Yeah, even as she was getting cut up, and I had bruises for days, she was making me laugh.
My lips curl into a nostalgic smile.
"Oh, sorry. Again." I laugh. She laughs back, and puts the bird back in its nest, her face reddening as she re-adjusts her clothes.
"I was thinking about that, when I came here..."
"...Well, I guess that reminiscing may have saved the day, huh? That's great. I'm glad a couple of dumb kids ages ago could have helped the bird, you know?"
She stares at me a moment, and darts away.
Her footsteps stop, after a while. I can't tell where she went, and I wave goodbye to the bird to go see the Harvest Sprites.
"Heya. I was wondering...These brown mushrooms. Are they OK to eat?"
When I show him the mushroom, he brightens like a christmas star.
"They are wonderful to eat! So tasty <3. They are the favorite of all the Harvest Sprites."
He's practically drooling...
"You can have it if you like it so much."
This is a lot of Lucky Charms-speak over a mushroom, buddy.
Still, nothing like a good deed getting rewarded.
When I step back outside...
There she is again. Did she just go somewhere and come back? Was she waiting for me to leave.
"What are you looking at now?"
"Next to some rabbit poop. The rabbit's..."
Why are you looking at Rabbit poop, Ann? That just sounds like a bad thing to ask...
"Do rabbits even eat Acorns?"
"...Well, there's a type of rabbit that does...But I didn't even know we had them out here! I thought they were all gone!...Not like the acorn will serve this one."
She grins.
Grey approaches from my favorite eavesdropping accidentally overhearing spot.
...He's...He's smiling.
Well, smirking.
I'm scared of this, too, Ann. Hold me.
Oh, like it's not obvious... I'm just waiting to hear the story.
who keeps forgetting about the treats she..."
This flusters Ann right away. Apparently, the power of brothers to get the goats of their little sisters is infinite and transcends age.
He puts his hands in his pockets in an attitude of total victory.
"Forget it!"
And she chases him off, trying to get him to listen to her rage.
...That was...Kind of adorable.
I swing by the bakery with an egg for Elli; her face lights up when she sees it.
"It-It's your birthday? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"
"It's not like I expected anyone to make a big deal out of it. It's just another birthday..."
"You should expect! It's a birthday! Tell me what you really want!"
She looks surprised; I can't blame her. This is the most exclamation points I've used in such a short time in years.
"I'm really fine with this."
"You are kidding me."
"No, I'm not...I know it's little, and I'll use a bundle of them just making a cake, but... All the same, it's something you worked hard for, right? The love in something...Well, not love, but care and fondness and...Well, that matters more than anything else, don't you think?"
I grin and take off my hat for a second to ruffle my hair.
"Well, yeah, but...A girl like you deserves more, you know? A nice dress, dinner and dancing on the town, a moonlit carriage ride, or something! Like, you know...A proper treat."
She takes a step back, her face flushed. Yeah, like I could do that sort of thing. I mean, I've done dancing, and dinner and a movie sort of dates... But I don't think the sort of fanciness, that sincerity, is something I could bring.
Anyway, I've said too much.
"Or, like, a party or somethin'."
She smiles.
"Heh. Like that would ever happen...That sounds a lot of fuss for an ordinary girl like me."
"You're hardly an ordinary girl, Elli. "
We stare at one another for a moment in which no breath stirs the air.
And then the moment breaks, we breathe again, and she turns away.
"W-well, we don't have many carriages or dance clubs, here, either. So It's all rather silly to imagine...But...
Thank you, Fox. For the sentiment."
"Happy birthday, Elli."
I head on out towards the library, where...
I find Ann. Again? Is the girl stalking me?
No, wait, I arrived here second. Am I stalking her? I...Don't mean to?
Anyway, she and Maria with some watermelons (this sounds like some sort of joke set-up, but I don't know what...)
And...They're arguing?
I may need to step in, but...
I don't think Ann's yelling because she's bullying Maria, easy as it is...She's not that sort of a girl.
"Well, it seemed..."
"These, since it's not really in-season, so..."
She trails off. I try and connect the dots...And it ends up covered in slimy Salesmen. Is that genetic?
Ann waves her arms, trying to keep her energy at this injustice inside. It doesn't work.
"You got..."
...Remember, Kids: Just Say No to Watermelons.
Still...I'm glad Ann's at least trying, in a shout-y way, to look out for Maria.
Poor Maria...I don't think she failed, but maybe I don't know...I think she wanted to help him, so I can't fault her there...
...Crying? Wow. Well, if it's that bad...
"Hey, girls."
Ann sees me and her face brightens up.
"Hey, don't go playing Saleslady at me...That's pretty steep."
"Isn't a paltry 300 a cheap price to pay for a lady's happiness? What sort of gentleman are you?"
"H-he doesn't have you...You don't need to, Fox..."
I chuckle.
"I never said I wouldn't. Give me a melon; I'll eat it for lunch."
I swallow it down. It's out of season, so it's a little bitter, but the two girls beam. Yeah, 300G is cheap to see them happy...
Wait. Where'd the extra 300 come from?
"What?"
"tonight. I'll see you later!"
"O-oh, alright..."
"I guess one good deed can really spread around, huh?"
"Yes, it certainly can..."
She smiles and heads inside. I follow after her, in hopes of a napkin
"Do you make it a routine to take pity on travelling salesmen?"
"Someone has to."
"Yeah, I guess so."
She's lost in thought for a moment.
"Then I guess I'm pretty flattered." I smile. "Honored, maybe even."
I mock-bow. She giggles.
"I am serious, though...I'm glad I could be someone to share your worries with."
"I'm glad, too. I'm glad I know you, Fox."
Then something that was niggling in the back of my head surfaces.
"AW SHOOT, MAN, I FORGOT TO GET SEEDS!"
And I dart away.
"I wonder if I can fit that in a story somewhere..."
The shop's pretty bare this time of year. Guess I only have one choice.
"Fall crop."
I noticed.
"One pack costs 300G."
I guess I'll grow a lot...But probably, I'll plant them 2 at a time over a few days, to keep the harvests from overwhelming me.
"Thank you very much! We'll send..."
"OK."
And at the ranch I find...
Ann again! Is she...Is she just everywhere? Am I going crazy? Am I in love with her?
...Wait.
Where did that last one come from?
Oh, wait. She lives here. It's not weird I found her here at all.
And Popuri, too... If I don't say anything, maybe I can overhear...
Popuri giggles innocently.
I guess she was telling Popuri about this morning...Wait, does that mean she told her about me?
What...What did she say about me, anyway?
Popuri flushes a little...Maybe the Grey she's picturing isn't teasing and/or shotgun Grey...But the guy buys flower seeds and can barely work up the nerve to nod...
Those are all faces of Grey, true as each other, I guess...Ann's got a lot of faces, too.
...I've been seeing them all day. Her happiness, her frustration, her tenderness, her tears...She's really...
I-I'm not going to say what I just thought. I need my life less complicated, not more, OK?
As long as I don't say it, it's not true, alright?!
"Were my brother..."
"Why would us being sisters be complicated?"
"It's that you two would be siblings. I don't mind the idea of you as a sister...But not like that."
"Huh? What?"
...Is someone a shipper on deck? That's adorable.
AH, GODDESS, I SAID IT!
And Popuri and Ann part.
As I head towards the green area...I turn back. I don't know what I'd say, anyway...
When I notice Cliff and a horse. That's...That's Cliffgard, isn't it? The one I saw on my first day?
The one that hates people?
...Still, it looks like he's petting him just fine...
Ann comes dashing up, waving at him.
Cliff blinks. Cliff also blinks.
"Maybe that's why we seem to be kindred spirits."
What, is there some sort of international Cliff conspiracy?
For some reason, this gets Ann's goat hard.
"Handsome than you. Come on, Cliff."
And she and the horse walk off.
I come up to Cliff (the man, not the horse), and watch them go.
"...That...Was a thing."
"All serious...I have no idea what she's thinking."
Thinking about the Ann who bought that watermelon, or tended that bird, and the Ann who does all that yelling...It's hard to do. She seems to just get worked up at something in her head.
...She's not a mean person, so...?
"...Who can say? She gets worked up so easily...But I think it's just the passion she has."
"...Hopefully. Man, I just don't understand women..."
I nod.
"I hear you."
"See you around, Fox."
Yeah, I think I'm just going to my nice, peaceful farm.
I go out to sow my seeds...
Completely forgetting my plans. I guess I just won't water all of them today, and the difference will....even up eventually, right?
I'm snapped out of that realization by a voice. For a minute, I almost think it's Ann...She's everywhere I go today, after all.
...It's Harris. That's a surprise.
"The craftsmen?"
"The carpenters who live in the mountains."
"...These are the safe to eat mushrooms, right?"
"Oh, I'm sure they're fine."
That...Is less assuring than I would hope.
"I had some; they're very good."
...Do I trust Harris enough to eat strange mushrooms?
Yeah, I guess I do. He's a swell guy...And the mushroom's pretty tasty, too.*
* Kids, don't try this at home - The Management
"Thanks, man."
It does warm my heart to get something in return...I guess I'll finish working with a whistle.
The rest of the afternoon is spent fetching chickens. As I grab them, I try and lure the Lambo and Clarabelle closer to the barn with my bell.
The result is chaos.
Once they're in, I feed everyone, since I think they eat at night...I'll need more chicken feed tommorow.
Fall - 2 - XXX1
More rain tommorow. Joy.
Oh, Kent's outside.
"Kent, what are you doing out here? You must be soaking wet."
"I came to tell you!"
"Tell me what?"
"There's a cow festival?"
"I knew no one told you!"
"That Clara'd win for sure!"
...Aww, thanks. I'm dubious...But she is doing great. Maybe I should.
"I'll keep it in mind. Thanks for the head's up, Kent."
He beams.
"Now go get out of this rain."
"Alright..."
I go in to take care of the animals, since I don't have to water my crops...
And I need a proper milk jug for Clara's output today.
Look at it! It just keeps getting bigger!
...I am sort of liking my chances.
My chicken-feed supplies are now bare. I better fix that.
I also have mail. Moon Mountain!
- Popuri
Awww, how sweet. I'll be sure to look at it when the sky's clearer...
In the meanwhile, I have a day to get through.
I find Cliff in the mountain cave. I wonder...Can he see the Harvest Sprites? Is that a thing?
"Thanks. I will..."
Does he have weather-predicting magic?
Or access to a TV in the hills?
Am I devolving into senseless paranoia?
(Unknown, No, No, and Yes, I think.)
Anyway, next up, time to visit the flower shop...
"Oh, is it that thing that was going around a while back?"
"Yes, I think so. I doubt she's the only one laid up, either."
"...Feel better after she sees your face."
"I can't resist a siren song like that."
...It is...
Quite pink. Warm, too, since it has that nice fireplace...
"I came here to see you; how are you feeling?"
"Cold. Mama's so silly this time of year."
"What happens this time of year?"
"Dad goes abroad to explore and find new plants to bring home...Mama gets worried and sad in the fall."
"Makes sense. I actually wasn't sure what your dad got up to at first, either."
She pouts at this.
"It's not like that!...But...I bet it's lonely for Mama, not being able to see the person she loves most."
I nod, and look around the room a bit.
"What's this?" I look at a photo on her dresser.
"Taken around 5 years ago. They haven't changed very much."
"Yeah, but it looks like you've grown up a lot."
"I wish they'd see that."
"What sort of flowers are these?"
"Made?"
"That's right. I hybridized the strain myself, and grew them from seed that way. It was a lot of work, and they won't last long...But it's a beautiful effort."
"Wow. That's...really impressive."
I didn't know she had it in her.
Let's see...
"And this?"
"That makes your wishes come true."
"Made any good wishes?"
"I can't tell you them, silly <3."
"Of course not...Not even a hint?"
"No! But..."
"I'm glad I got to."
She smiles warmly, the blush on her cheeks striking against the paleness of her fever-ridden skin.
"I need to head out, though..."
"No problem."
I hope she gets better soon; Popuri's just not Popuri unless she's bouncing about cheerfully.
Anyway, next up's the bakery where...
Yup. These things sure get around, don't they?
"Why don't you go visit her?"
"Sure. I bet it'll brighten her day."
What a sensible-looking room...
"What's this? Are you hungover? Too much birthday partying?"
She laughs, which fades into a cough.
"No. Not at all!"
"Ah, then my dearest sympathies,"
I'm glad to see she's so perky...
"It's really just a little cold that goes around on rainy days..."
"That's good. Nice digs you've got here."
"I like my room. I bet the farmhouse is pretty drafty, huh?"
"I haven't felt it yet...But I bet I'll be able to tell you by the time fall's done. Still, for all your worries about me, you're the one who got sick first...Maybe you need to take care of yourself."
"I will. I'm doing it now, anyway."
"It's the best."
Apparently they room together...It makes sense, since the bakery's a small place.
I wonder where Jeff lives...
I pace around a bit and poke the fire with a poker, followed by her eyes.
"Maybe a bit..."
"Haven't you ever been in a lady's bedroom? I find it hard to believe you haven't..."
"Yeah, but usually, it's not when she's sick..."
"...You've...Never had a girlfriend, then?"
"I've had girlfriends."
I don't like what you're implying there, Elli!
"But not the sort of girlfriend you visit when she's sick and worn out, huh?" That's neither needling nor accusatory; she says it like she's not sure what to do with the answer.
"...No, not really. I'm not the sort of guy a girl should lean on when times get tough."
Elli looks at my face for a moment, evaluating it.
"Well, feel free to look around."
"Alright...At anything?"
She nods.
I find a small book on her desk. She blushes the moment my fingers brush the cover.
"Ok, not at that!"
"What?"
There's still a girl in this world old-fashioned enough to have a diary...Still, I think a collection of memories that you can touch and hug close to yourself at the end of a hard day, soaking the feelings of a you that used to exist in your skin...
It's an image that suits her.
I search out for something else to look at, or comment on...When I notice a photo on the dresser.
It's not a fancy photo -- it looks like it was just taken at a festival. There's a little brown-haired girl I think is Elli...
And two people I've never seen, holding her hands.
...No, I've seen them...But not since I came back here. It takes a moment to remember that I've seen them, it was so long ago...
"...You look happy."
Ugh. That is the lamest thing that I could have said. A smart man would back away...And a dumb one would apologize. And me?
I shake my head and smile, sadly.
"I don't think my dad and I were ever this happy."
"Even whn your mom was around?"
So she remembers why I came here initially, huh?
"...I dunno. I can't really remember us ever getting along...But Mom died when I was pretty young. I just don't remember a lot..."
"I have a lot of fond memories...It must be lonely for you, remembering just enough to miss someone...And not enough to really know them."
I shrug. It's not a noncommital shrug...It's a 'what do you do' shrug.
"Like I said. It was a long time ago -- it was lonely then, but...That was then. I think I ended up being lonelier with my dad than I ended up being without my mom."
"Maybe he was lonely, though. He lost something...precious to him."
"So?!" My voice is unexpectedly hurt. I take a breath to try and calm down. "He didn't have to force that on me, did he? To force his stupid life on mine. I don't care about his reasons. I was just a kid..."
"Fox...I'm sorry. I'm sorry things are that way...I guess I should try and remember more, how blessed we were...To be together happily for so long..."
As she says this, she looks like she's about to cry. I'm hoping it's just the cold, weakening her resistance to her feelings.
But all the same, I put my hand on her hand, even if she doesn't need it.
"Yeah, it sounds like they were great," I try and muster as much warmth in my voice as I can. "I think you probably miss your parents more than I miss my mom."
And then, suddenly, she laughs. It's a soft, sad little laugh, as she blinks the tears away.
"What?"
[color=sienna]"I don't think we need to try and pass around who's hurt more. It was the wrong thing for me to say...What I meant was...
She looks up at me.
"Even though they're gone...I'm not alone. I have Granny, and Jeff...And..." There's a weight to her gaze, and a warmth to her hand in my hand.
I try to pull back.
"Hey, I already said I wasn't the sort of guy a girl should lean on when time gets tough."
"I think you are. I think you're a lot of things you don't think you are." She says it so gravely it gives me pause.
And the two of us look at each other -- my breath catches in our throat. Because for a moment, I think I see in her eyes...Not the person I've always thought I was, but someone totally different. Someone gentle and thoughtful and kind, someone bold, maybe chasing something he shouldn't, but chasing it with a determined heart...Someone who's not giving up so easily, no matter how easily he's been saying he gives up. Someone reliable.
I hope to the Goddess, and to any other passing god or spirit that might care to hear, that she's seeing in my eyes the girl I've been seeing: the sweet, earnest, beautiful woman, who makes any room she steps in a home just by believing hard enough, her heart full of little surprising corners of passion. Someone far from ordinary.
In that gaze, we taste what the other one's been tasting. We see ourselves the way we never thought we were.
Until at last we remember to breathe, and the clock starts ticking, and the moment's gone.
"I-I gotta get going. Sorry for...Unloading all that."
I make for the door as fast as I can.
She nods.
"I'm going to get some sleep. Thank you, for coming today, and talking for a while..."
After that...Shaking experience...
I go buy some chicken feed.
And, while I'm at it, some fodder. Just in case.
Man...These things are expensive.
"Well, I came here to talk to Ann."
He's not a monster. He's not a monster. He's a pretty chill dude...
If I say this enough, perhaps I will believe it when his eyes are on me.
"Seriously?"
"...Well, I'm glad you think so."
...Whatever he thinks I can do, anyway.
Ann and I talk in the barn -- nothing special, just about the sound of rain...Still, it makes the day -- and my mood from before -- seem brighter. People like Ann can really light up a room, you know?
I spend the rest of the afternoon and evening, after feeding the chickens, fishing.
Results are limited before I need to go to bed.
You know, excepting photos, Ann's sickness and ankle-spraining event, and Popuri's dream sequence closure...We're really almost done the general phase of wooing. It's mind-boggling.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Yeah, pretty much. I mean, I'm holding off doing the actual proposing until maybe, like, Spring or so...But we may want to, in the next in-game month and *definately* come winter, start thinking about who it's going to be. That way I can write a smoother escalation of the relationship.
Edit: Oh, while I'm at it...Everyone still cool with saving our money for a greenhouse (before the crop investments, we were halfway there!)? Here's a list of things we could get if it strikes your fancy:
More Livestock
Impregnating our Cow (which is a longer but cheaper way of getting more livestock)
A cabinet for dry-goods storage
A Rug for looking nice
Personally, I'd save the rug, at least, for later... Year 2 will, I suppose, be when we start on home improvement.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
I'm still up for the greenhouse, with impregnating the cow as a close second and more livestock a third. I think you're probably doing okay on chickens, but another cow would probably be handy.
It's a testament to your writing that I don't know who I want Fox to propose to. They're all wonderful. Is it too late to find a Tenchi Muyo mod for this game?
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-I
I'm still up for the greenhouse, with impregnating the cow as a close second and more livestock a third. I think you're probably doing okay on chickens, but another cow would probably be handy.
We actually have all the chickens we can: we only get one coop, and it's full.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3-I
It's a testament to your writing that I don't know who I want Fox to propose to. They're all wonderful. Is it too late to find a Tenchi Muyo mod for this game?
Sadly, yes (but it'd be neat if there could be one....Come to that, a game like Harvest Moon where you have a bunch of pretty freeloaders who will do work as you manage their affections would be nice). I will say that by the tenth, we'll have seen about what there is to see (give or take festivals, a scene for later, Elli's year 2 stuff) for three girls (We've already seen all of Maria, and Elli and Karen's pictures happen pretty early on in Fall)
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
If you get a greenhouse, your monetary woes pretty quickly vanish. You can get more than a thousand money every day if you plant corn and stagger harvests so that 1/4 ripens daily, and since no time passes indoors you can actually deal with all that.
Elli is somewhat more likeable with your writing, though she is still rather plain. I'd still go for Maria for a wife (especially since some of the things she does after you're married are absolutely adorable).
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Could be. I might've used corn on my last playthrough due to the different maturation cycle - I remember that I had had 4 sets of rows to walk down, and it was convenient to harvest one per day. Once your greenhouse is filled up, it doesn't really matter what you plant in there, you'll be rolling in dough quite quickly regardless.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Basically, yeah. I usually just have a bunch of stuff, with all the re-growables and then some that change depending on who we're busy caring about. If we end up with Maria, there will be a space for cabbages all the time, I'm sure.
...
Anyway, I think I may have to delay things until Thanksgiving Break. I'm sort of having a bad weekend, emotionally, so I'm not really going to be much good for working on things.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Chapter 23: The Cow Goes Moo
Spoiler
Fall-3-XXX1
I wake up to the sound of pouring rain. Autumn's a wet season here. I can sort of hear the world squelching in the back of my head. I step out into the darkness...
And notice Ann's dad standing on the lawn, rain hitting his shoulders without so much as a shiver. The only sign of the rain or cold is his rubbing his hands together...
Basically, I am saying he and his mustache have out-manned me via, like, 5 seconds of standing in the rain.
"What's up?"
"Why don't you enter your cow? We..."
I am sensing a theme.
"Well, I guess so..."
"Wait. Wait....I only have the one, you know."
This moves him out of some rote-memorized shpiel.
"Oh, yeah...Well, let's go get her."
I lead him to the barn, and try and shake the chill off of me.
"Welp, here she is."
"She's a pretty young cow..."
"Well, you said you needed more participants, right? Even if we can't win...Won't hurt us to try, right?"
We walk back out. Clara looks at the sky with a miserable expression.
"It's alright, girl...Just a little vacation. That's all." I pat her side.
"Won't behave without her owner."
"I wouldn't miss her show debut." I say with a little chuckle that just sort of settles into silence in the wet air.
Well, that's that, I guess...
I sow my final set of seeds and head out into the rain.
As I'm gathering mushrooms, the sound of water hitting water pulls my attention to...
This pond. It's got a rock in it, so it's...The one with the rock...
Um...
Is there really a kappa in this thing?
Really? Like, with the hollow head that he keeps water in and stuff?
Well, if I remember what they said...He likes fish. If the goddess appears when I toss a crop or an egg, then he'd appear...for a fish?
I've got one in my pack from last night, and I toss it in.
...Oh goddess.
There actually is some sort of duck-billed water imp.
What the heck, mountain?
"I can see that..."
"You gave me a fish...So I guess you're that guy who's got the harvest sprites worked up?"
"...Are they worked up? They just sort of seem...chipper."
"They are. It's dumb...Humans are so flimsy. You just sort of fall down and start rotting after not even a century!"
"I'm sorry I'm not immortal enough for you, sir."
"Why do they think you'll do any good?"
He sighs.
This is sort of going over my head, to be honest...But I don't like his tone.
"I'm just trying to do what feels right; I'm not sure I care what you think, or what you mystical guys expect."
He laughs.
"Well, you did give me a fish..."
He closes his eyes and reaches into...the hollow indentation on his head. He roots around in there, and then...Pulls out some dust.
I am going to be ill.
He blows the dust into the wet air, and instead of clumping...
It reforms in my hands as a bright blue berry.
"Tired in the rain...Or maybe not. When you know the difference...That's my acknowledgement of you. Goodbye."
He laughs and sinks into the pond....
I eat the berry. It's got a funny, sour flavor...But I...I guess I feel better? I dunno.
Well, it's best not to think too hard about anything this guy says, right?
Right.
Spirits of nature...Are kind of weird.
I end up sheltering in the carpenter's hut for a brief break in the rain. Cliff's got the same idea.
"Man, this is pretty awful weather, huh?"
"Ahhh....Yeah."
He's got a distant look.
"Something on your mind?"
"I'm not sure how bad the rain is, compared to them...And the cold just puts them to mind..."
He half-nods, his expression staring off into a worried inner distance.
"Important, and irreplacable..."
He sees my mouth open to ask him a question -- because who wouldn't want to ask about a guy's experiences, when he says something like that? When he's a guy like Cliff, melancholy as an autumn rain?
And he shakes his head.
"You sure you don't want to talk about it?"
Because I really want to know.
He shakes his head.
"If I did...Maybe I wouldn't be here."
Well, that's about what you can say about that... I guess you don't travel everwhere, living off the land, with your bird unless you've got a story to tell, right?
...Even if it's just an escape, I hope he finds what he's looking for here. He's a nice guy.
I drop by the vineyard -- they're probably busy this time of years, with the grapes ripening, but there's not much to do in the rain.
I find Kai in the wine cellar. Like everyone on a rainy day, he's got a thoughful look. I think since you can't really work outdoors in the rain, everyone's sort of still and introspective...
Except me, of course.
"Heya, what's up?"
"Thinking about family, I suppose."
"Who, them?"
I jerk my thumb towards the main house. Kai furrows his brow.
"...Yes and no."
"My father and brothers shouted at me, and I..."
He shrugged.
"Took the initiative, or decided for myself...Up until I left, I..."
He looks more angry at himself than anything. Boy's got a healthy head of self-esteem issues, I think.
"Well, you're here on your own, right? That's something. Even if it took you a while to get that courage...I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't say I thought it was a good call, right?"[/color]
He laughs.
"I'm really more here because..." He blushed, and changed the subject suddenly.
"Hey, you know those wild grapes you get in the mountains this time of year?"
"Yeah; I've got one with me. You want it?"
I mean, I could sell it...But it's no big deal to me.
"...You can make from berries. It's an easy home-brew. Give it a try sometime."
The only time I've ever made alcohol was when I accidentally left a Capri Sun with the staw in in my car for a few weeks in June...And I'm not sure you could really drink that.
I'm dubious, is what I'm saying.
I run back and ship a few things, before heading out maybe for some fishing...
When I find Ann sitting, drenched, in a big puddle of mud in the middle of the road.
"You OK?"
She looks sheepish and emberassed. Her overalls are coated in the mud of the road, and her white bow's a muddled grey and brown.
"I'll be fine!...Probably. I was running to get some stuff from the bakery for the festival tommorow..."
"And you fell in the mud, huh?"
"Don't say it like that! Idiot!...But...Well...Help, Help, I've fallen and I can't get up. Happy?"
I shake my head, even if I am laughing a bit.
"Nah...Well, it's a short trip to your place. I can probably get you back there without any trouble."
"Do you actually think I can leave a pretty girl in the rain? It's slightly too sad an image for me to stand back and let that happen. Besides, you'll catch a cold."
"W-wha?"
"Well, there's one that was going around, and I think Elli's still out with it and..."
"N,no, not that!...You actually meant that, didn't you?"
"Ok, OK, it's not as sad as all that..."
She blushes scarlet and mutters,
"You just don't get it..."
"What don't I get? Sure, you're a tough girl...And I know you can handle a lot of hard work, without ever losing your smile...I get it.
But all the same... I don't think that's a way I can excuse myself from helping you out."
She doesn't resist me as I pick her up. Her body is light and warm in my arms -- despite her big overalls and her big bluster, she's alarmingly delicate. Underneath her layers of wet and muddy clothes...She's probably a very attractive girl.
If I say that, though...I'm not sure what would happen.
"Besides, it's not every day I get to rescue a princess."
This only makes her redder, and she squirms in my arms.
"You know, I always hated those stories. She just sits around in her tower or whatever, right? That's boring. I always wanted her to beat the dragon up and ride off on the knight's horse."
"That does sound like your sort of story... But I have to wonder. If no one ever rescues the princess...Would the princess forget that there were people who want to help her, even if she didn't need them?"
"W-well...The knight could still offer, you know!"
It comes out with a little punch of force.
"...Yeah. He should." It's so easy to open up to Ann...But right now, I can't. I'm not a knight in shining armor, alright?
If I don't say it, though...I think about her dad, and about her own bursts of anger... I think if I don't say it, or something like it...I'd be doing that cheerful, fiesty heart of hers a disservice. Someone needs to say how disarming she can be one minute, how infuriating the next...
"Hey. You're coming tommorow, right?"
"I can't let Clara down, and not show up."
She beams.
"Yeah. You know, since the moment I saw you...I had total faith. You're the sort of guy who can really care about animals. I had faith."
...Yeah, Ann.
...I guess you did...
I smile softly.
"I'll do my best not to let you down, either, then."
Sorry, Ann...I think right now...
That's the best I can do.
I let her down outside her door, so she can maintain at least the dignity of limping in herself. She insisted.
I fish for the rest of the afternoon, standing in the rain.
I didn't catch anything. Fish were biting -- I just wasn't fast enough.
Maybe the rain here's cursed or something...
Well, that's the day.
Fall-4-XXX1
In other news...
We're actually having a sunny day tommorow! Two sunny days in a row!
To celebrate, I start bringing everyone outside to enjoy the sun and save me fodder and feed.
I can be both benevolent and mercenary. Nothing wrong with that.
Things I've realized too late:
I totally goofed on sowing those seeds here.
...My wallet will regret it, but...I guess I have to endure.
Then your animals will have food.
There's something amazing about the smell of fresh-cut grass, right?
- Ann
...I...Guess? I've never really had grass to cut before. Still, nice to know she's thinking about me.
I head out to the Green Ranch, where everyone's gathered for a festival.
"...Is fresh from the morning. You be a taste judge."
"Isn't this a conflict of interest?"
"Well, you don't know which milk is which..."
...Only one of the bottles here is the size of milk my cow produces. I am not stupid.
...Weeeellll....I guess it wouldn't be too evil for me to enjoy some milk honestly, right?
Mmmmm. Darn tasty. I never actually taste my own milk (Pasturization? Don't be such a baby.)
Well, I may as well talk to everyone. So says Nintendo Power.
"It's a tough decision."
"Well, you're always saying how you want fresh milk -- this enough for you?"
"Close by...The freshness of the ingredients really is the clincher between a good dish and a great dish."
She smiles brightly.
I notice you are drinking the wrong milk. Clara's is the big one, and it's much tasier.
You're mistaken...
Oh, who am I kidding? I'm not going to win.
Next around the table is...
Oh. Oh goddess.
Not... IT.
...How is the milk not souring in your presence?
You know...The kappa reaching inside his head is less creepy than him sniffing things.
I'm leaving the table. I can't take it, man.
Rick's measuring some stuff over by the cows.
"What are you doing?"
"Science!"
"Hows the casein? Hmm."
Hey there, boys and girls. It's time for some science with Fox. (Please, please, hold your applause.)
Casein is a thing -- specifically, it's a family of proteins that are found in milk, and are basically the core component of cheese. It supplies calcium, phosophorus, amino acids, and of course, carbs. Oftentimes, gluten-free diets are also intended as casein-free diets, since the structures are simmilar.
...
...
Yeah, I'm about done here. Anything more to add to the science corner, Rick?
Yeah. Chock-full. That sounds like a scientific unit.
"Tell if they're brushed with love."
"What if they're just brushed with a love of profits? It's the same behavior..."
"I guess love of profit is still love."
He looks a little bothered by this. I guess I shouldn't interrupt idealism.
"I can't really picture what a cow with a non-gentle face looks like..."
"Then you haven't seen one angry! They get downright scary!"
Ah, cows. One of the deadliest animals we have in our grasps.
"Should also be part of the judging; if it's a cow that's calm and curious, then that's a good sign it's been raised with more room to explore and know that things like people or other cows aren't a threat."
"You can tell it's been loved by the way it behaves, huh?"
"That's right!"
"Well, is it part of the judging?"
She blinks.
"Yeah, actually. Dad folded on this one this time."
"Nice."
"I'll just choose a cute-looking cow."
"That works." I guess...They all look kind of the same to me.
"For everyone to look at!"
"Then we'll be competition..." Well, if I'm still around when Kent's old enough to get space for a cow.
"I won't lose to you, bro!"
I laugh.
"I'll definately have to work harder to keep up, then."
"Of milk because I don't drink it so much..."
"Karen's the same way. She's just picking a cute cow."
"That may be a way to do it. I'm thinking about something else, too."
"High-quality milk tastes very good!"
"How are you finding the cows this year, Grey?"
He looks up, interrupting his intense focus.
I'll let him get back to it. I'm pretty sure with a stare like that, he needs some sort of cow-based supervision.
Cowpathy, perhaps...
"Why....Thank you."
"We mix all the milk together when we use it, so I didn't know yours tasted so good."
"Aww, shucks. Now you're just flattering me."
After all, it's not like I've shipped a lot of milk.
"At our bakery."
"I think you'd need to talk to Zack about that; he's sort of the guy who handles getting my stuff out there."
Still, if I have more value to a buyer, that could bring the prices for it up. I guess even if I don't win, the extra recognition counts.
Ee-yup.
"...gentle faces."
"You know...You and Ann have the same concerns when it comes to animals."
"Really? The way she yells at me, I didn't think we'd be able to agree on anything."
"I dunno; You both like birds, too. She's got a short temper, but..."
"She's sweet when it comes to animals. Maybe I should get Kain to talk to her."
He watches Ann across the field, a little smile on his face.
"I hope you win."
"Me, too...But I think the odds are against me. She's young, and I don't have a lot of practice with animals."
"B...but you came out here anyway."
"I did."
"That's...really brave, Fox. B-but don't give up yet, OK? You can still win..."
"I'm not giving up; I'm just being realistic. Either way, it's good to know where I am..."
Looking at her, though...I can see she's just trying to lift my spirits.
"Yeah, Ok. Thank you, Maria. Clara's going to do her best, because I've done mine. I think that's what counts."
I go and stand by Clara for a while, petting her back and whispering stuff that I hope sounds encouraging.
"Congratulations!"
Ok, I call rigged, right there.
I mean, I guess it was a blind thing...But how blind could it have been, anyway?
I guess I shouldn't be resentful, though. It's not like they're not experts.
"The cow from the Tree Bud Village farm. It was really close."
I didn't even get second? Darn.
"Blossom Farm. Everyone put your hands together!"
...Man. That bites. I guess a little part of me really was hoping to at least place...Dummy.
Better luck next year, I guess...
Shoot, man. What if my dad cares about how I do in these things? He always really cared if I won stuff or not.
Well, today was sort of a loss of a day...
Fall-5-XXX1
I step outside to another bright, crisp day. It's kind of cold in the mornings, now...But nothing compared to the chill of the rain.
And Basil's there.
"Oh, yeah...Another trip?"
"That's right."
"Good luck, and come back safe."
"I will!"
As I leave, I can't help but remember my earlier misgivings...But I feel a little sad, watching him go. He's a pretty good guy.
I stop by the Vineyard again. The grapes growing are an odd color...I'd hoped what I did in the summer would make things feel more normal, but so far, it's been to no effect.
I should talk to the Goddess about it, I guess.
Kai's looking at the grapes with the same sour face I am.
"Something wrong?"
"And not for Miss Karen."
...So there it is, huh?
"And what are you going to do about that?"
A bitter laugh escapes his lips.
"I guess that's why Miss Karen likes you so much...I don't know."
I blush at the mention of her liking me. I mean, I already knew that...But when someone else lays it out...
"I don't have the guts, either. For anyone." Saying that out-loud makes me sound...Kind of defeated. I don't like it, but the freedom of saying it's kind of like taking off an old bandage and letting your skin breathe. "So...If you work up the nerve to decide what you'll do before I do...Then I'll be happy for you."
"Thanks. You too, I guess."
I am pretty sure that's not what having a romantic rival (I guess; is it a rivalry if neither of us has the nerve to compete?) is supposed to be like...
But what do I care for supposed-tos? I'm pretty sure a no-good guy like me liking 5 girls at once is also...Not how things are supposed to go.
I go through the bulk of my day quietly after that point, visiting people, giving presents...
The usual.
Clara's home, though, and I need to bring her out tonight.
"Hey, girl. It's alright we didn't win, OK? I still love you."
I'm not like my dad. I mean, he never said he didn't love me...But even if I did my best, if I didn't place, he acted like it wasn't good enough. "Work harder," he'd say, and the noose would tighten.
I go to the bar to nurse a suddenly opened old wounds. I guess this is why I don't stick my neck out normally -- I just end up thinking about all the other times it didn't work.
There's no one there by Ann's dad.
"But he doesn't talk."
"I've noticed."
"Girls don't like boys like that."
"Yeah, but is that really what matters?" Well, I mean, besides the sex, which is pretty nice. "It's not like your standards are the *only* standards."
"But...I worry about them; they're my kids. What else am I supposed to do? If they're lonely...If people don't see them for as good as they are...
Then that's something I can't stand."
He sighs into my drink. I order another water so I can sigh into it.
Why couldn't my dad worry like that, huh? Instead of always making me do another thing to be just like him?
...ShootIforgottoBringClaraout!
"Gottagobye!"
And I run through the night.
"Oh, man...I'm sorry, girl. I got so busy thinking about my dad...I almost wasn't a good cow-owner."
Herder?
Whatever. It's late...But at least I got her into the field.
"Night, all."
Typo/Glitch Report!
Spoiler
The blue power berry is useless. From what I've heard, its use accidentally got folded into the red power berry you can get from the kappa...But more events is always good.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Yay new update! I was worried this had died off.
It's sad that you lost the Cow Competition. Is it even possible to win during year one?
Also I liked the conversation you had with the rival at the end. It was definitely... different. It also brings into perspective that we really should come to a decision soon about what you're going to do.
__________________
If my text is blue, I'm being sarcastic. No, really. Don't bite my head off for saying the Fighter is way overpowered, or how Wizards need more spells per day to keep up.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
No, it's still going on...I wouldn't abandon it without saying anything.
In terms of pre-year 2 stuff, we really only have:
Ann, Karen, and Elli's photos
Ann's sick day
and the second half of Popuri's dream sequence.
We'll probably start making preliminary choices after Elli and Karen's photos (that is, after the 9th or so), since there's a festival with dancing right after that, and make a final choice after Ann's photo, since that happens last.
Also, it's...I'd need to do some math I don't care to do, but it's probably not *completely* impossible. But I think you'd have to be devoting yourself nearly completely to that objective from day one, and I can't for the life of me figure out why you'd want to do that. The cow festival is reliant both on the affection level of your cows and the number of milks you've shipped; if I recall correctly, the number needed to win is at least 60, so...It might be possible via loads and loads of fishing and crops to get two cows early enough in your first spring (We're talking, like, before Spring 14 or so) to produce milk through the summer, but why would you want it that badly?
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Well then, I'd best moove over, since your one-upmanship has put me on the chopping block. ;p I was past-sure that no one would have such a cow over it.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Well, it clearly hasn't affected your bullish tilt on contests of wordplay in general, though I might take issue with your alhoof demeanor. I admit, I find myself on the horns of a dilemma whether or not continuing this has any value at all. But I suppose it would be cow-ardly to attempt to steer this conversation in a new direction at this point.
__________________
Magnificent Dahlia Hawthorne OotS style avatar by the incredibly talented Akrim.elf
DS Friend Code for Pokemon Trades and such. 1549 7971 5718
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Bully!
*applause*
Anyway, there's no need to bully yourself into it, Selph. I know if I tried, I'd just be stampeding about bottom-level punnery like a bull in a china shop. It'd be udder-ly pathetic. Still, after much ruminating on it, I'll join this cattle; I'll not be sheepish about it (that one's a little free ranging, I think).
Aaaannnnyyywaaay. Since it came up somewhere the other day, Here is the music that plays through Fall, and is therefore background to most of the action for a while.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Man, short and late? What's wrong with me?
Well, I do plan on doing one of the bonus chapters this weekend, so there *is* that...And it's short for a reason. A reason called "Man, I don't want to have to do the 10th, 11th, and 12th in seperate chapters, because then it'd all go crazy what with save-scumming."
Chapter 24: A Little Miracle Will Come Your Way
Spoiler
Fall-7-xxx1
Ok, first things first...Well, first things first, early morning watering. And doing some gathering and....
Ok, so maybe it's third or fourth thing! But it's a thing!
And that's talking to the goddess.
"Hey, I wanted ask you..."
"About your love troubles? Well, I think Elli suits you, but Maria's such a delicate girl...And I'm Popuri's patron, so of course I'll vouche for her."
"Wait, you're her patron? Aren't you the whole town's patron?"
"And this ruined old mountain, too, of course."
Ruined? Who knew the goddess had such a low self-opinion of her stuff?
"But she was born the day before my holy day -- they're mine generally, and because they are faithful to me... But she's mine especially. It'd be nice to have all my ducks in a line with you two."
"...Since when am I your duck, exactly?"
She laughs behind her hand.
"Weeeelll...Who's duck would you be, huh? I interceded for your first bonafide mi-" Here she stops, and looks concerned. "Alright, maybe I'm getting a weeeeee~ bit ahead of myself. Anyway, that's just my advice!"
"I see...Wait! That's now what I came here for!"
"...Really? What are you here for?"
"I came to ask...About the vineyard. What's going on with that?"
"Oooh...That. Well, the old vine's still working on that. I'll check again this evening -- you just keep your heart wanting it, alright?"
"...Ok."
I guess. I don't speak magic.
"But thing's'll get better, right?"
She lowers herself and looks at me. Her levity is gone, and for a moment, she looks like a delicate, frail girl.
"I...I have faith. Your heart wants to see that girl's heart gladdened...I believe that your wish, and hers, is enough to bring back things the coldness of this world gave away long ago."
She places a hand on my heart, and I....Feel much better, actually. Cleaner, with an odd certainty I've never felt.
I look down at her hand, and when I look up again...She's gone. I don't even know how that happened.
Anyway, I wander the village for a bit, and cross paths with the mayor.
"Hey, what're this season's festivals like?"
"Well, I'd like some secretism with that..."
Oooofff course.
"But I can say this:
"That's because it's the season when the food's so good you eat too much."
"So it's all an elaborate weight-loss scheme."
I wonder what the goddess thinks about this...
"W-well, I wouldn't put it like that exactly..."
"Heh. Well, I look forward to learning more."
The rest of my day passes pretty quietly, and I hit up my usual haunts. A stretch of days that's all pretty much the same...It sounds dull, but it's also kind of comforting. How odd.
Before, when I thought of the future stretching out...
It seemed lonely.
"Maybe feeling envious is a complex...Personally, I think femininity is overrated in a girl."
"R-really?"
"Well, yeah. It's about how a girl uses what she has...If a girl's tough, she can use it and be as attractive as a girl who's a bit more flowers and sugar...But then, maybe I've got flexible tastes."
She pouts.
"Yeah, I guess a guy who's seen more of the world would."
And now I'm in the doghouse. Just great.
"...Well...That's kind of true."
"Oh, I bet a guy like you's got *all* the ladies just eating out of the palm of your hand. Don't try that out here, alright?!"
Wow, just like that...She's like a tiger.
I'm not winning this fight today.
"...Yes'm."
It's not running away, it's a tactical retreat.
Anyway, that's the only other thing of note that happens... The days are getting shorter, but there's still so much to do...
...How exactly do you know if a wish is strong or pure? Darnit, Karen...Why do you always have to be so hard to find on Wednesdays....
Fall 6/7th, xxx1
Ooh, yeah...Right there...Just like that...
That's right...
...Now the furniture's...Laid out perfectly...
Zzzzzz.....
And then suddenly...There's a voice invading my dreams.
Well, I haven't gotten up at someone's request for years.
"This is a message from the old grape-vine! Good news. At long last, the Kiefu..."
"Wonderful grapes! Good Work! <3"
The voice in my dreams sighs...
"Humans are so fickle...But somehow, they're not too fickle...
To make a miracle happen."
------ Fall-7-XXX1
...What a weird dream...
Of course, it'd be pretty great if I wasn't dreaming; it feels like I don't have normal dreams anymore.
I head up in the mountains early...I get the feeling I want my schedule clear, you know?
And run into Cliff. He still looks very thoughtful.
"Hey...Something on your mind?"
"Any detials that'd suggest otherwise..."
"Nostalgic?...Huh...Maybe there's something here...That makes you think of something that happened once."
"Ha. With my luck, it wouldn't be such a nice feeling."
"I dunno. Everyone has a time when things are innocent, right?"
He puts his hands in his pockets and gazes off into the distance.
"...You may be onto something."
I shrug.
"Is it that way for you, too? You're new here as well, right?"
"Yeah, but...I spent a summer here as a kid. At the same time...Except for things that remind me of that, this place doesn't feel very nostalgic. Almost the opposite. I like it because it's a little bit alien."
"Hm. You're an interesting guy."
...Anyway, there's the barrier presented...By Ann, next.
"Listen, Ann, about the other day..."
She's not going to let me apologize?
"Y-yeah, the grass goes that sort of golden-brown...It seems gloomy."
She smiles brightly...But it sort of seems forced.
"You got it in one."
"...Ann? Please. I...OK, I'm not exactly the most inexperienced guy or anything. B-but I'm not trying to be dishonest with anyone here, and I'm not unfaithful or anything...I'm not here to 'try' anything. I'm just here...to prove I can be somewhere on my own."
"I guess I jumped to a conclusion there...And it's mostly true, you just said! But...I should have known better. You may be a lot of things, but you're not a slimeball."
At least not until feelings get involved, huh? Still, she seems to have forgiven me...For now.
"Yeah, I've noticed. I miss the flowers, though."
"Oh, but there's the Moon's Berries, too! At the mountain's peak...The berries of the golden tree. The Harvest Moon offers such power."
"Hmmm...I'll have to go look at those berries, I guess."
"They'll be ripe in a few days. But I like mushrooms more; they're so nice to cook!"
"...I wonder what he's doing with those mushrooms, then."
"Being terrible."
The remaining elf nods.
"and let it run. Have you been doing that?"
"Yeah, I have. He's a big help."
"...Good. Make sure he feels that gratitude, too. it matters, to horses."
"Thanks for the tip, man...But, uhh...Why..."
He looks at me hard enough I shut up.
"...I like you. So that's why."
"You're an OK guy, Gray."
He nods.
Anyway, I collect some berries and go into town. It must be about noon, since Harris is by the church.
Yeah, I'm actually setting my watch by this guy.
"Enjoying a clear fall day?"
"Oh, yes. I really like Fall, especially on my days off."
"I like winter for reading, I guess. Cool weather, snow falling outside a window...It's sleepy."
"That's true, too. I've been visiting the library more this month, though...And it's been...vvery nice."
I see...
Anyway, to the bakery I go!
And, since I'm here, and I've got a bit of money....
"I think I'll actually buy a cake today."
"We put a sticker on this card. Collect enough and you can get a raffle ticket at the end of the year."
"Neato."
Oh, yeah...The flower shop has something like that, too. It must be common here.
The handwriting is Elli's. It's a very cute card. For all her down-to-earth attitude, she's got a very cute side.
Anyway, the cake is delicious.
"Very nice."
Elli and Jeff both nod graciously.
While I finish it, we chat about things -- Jeff talks about his teas, for example. He's apparently got quite a collection.
"I'll have to buy cakes more often."
"Just don't burn through your wallet, alright? But when you have the money, thank you and come again. I'll bake up something nice <3."
Next up, I go check on the kids at the church, and help out there for a while. I work with Stu on his reading, for example.
"Then I won't have to trouble Miss Maria when I go to the library."
"I'm sure she doesn't mind. And if I'm around, you can ask me to help, too."
"Ok, Big Bro!"
Awwwww.... I walk away with a little bounce rolled into my walk.
After I eat some at the library, I find the mayor walking around, his head down. I don't actually want to step in, so I just...Listen in. A bit.
0everything's retrenching. Is there any remedy?"
"..."
I don't really have an answer to that. I mean, I'm just one person -- I can't fix a town... But I bet that's how the mayor feels, too.
Man, I can't even find a place to deal with myself without it having its own troubles. Just my life, huh?
Anyway, I'm only sort of a resident. It's all up in the air, and I can't help anyone until I get my act together, right?
I head home with that dampening my mood and...
Darnit. Now I've got to run in and get the shears from my toolbox.
So I get on Agros, rid back, go inside, get them out, go outside, get on Agros, and go back to where Lambo is.
And shear him. Good times.
I go out to water my crops, finishing what I didn't this morning...As I complete another row...
This happens. Power jolts up and down my arm, and my watering can is replaced by a can...That I am pretty sure is, in fact, not made of solid gold at all.
Don't be silly. I mean, I can grip it and it retains its shape, without even a little mark. That's not gold.
...But it sure looks like it.
I finish up the smaller rows...
"Let's give this a little try."
Oooohyeeeaaaaahhh.
The whole thing. A whole fat U shape -- maybe a little more, too. In one swing.
HECK YES. MAGIC SPRINKLER CAN GO!
Since I finished my chores super-duper early, I figure I'd get to work...
Maybe clearing things out just a bit. I don't need a bigger pen -- if my animals need more grass, I can grow it outside the pen...Maybe? I dunno.
But then I hear it...A voice from the lawn. It falls over the field like bright moonlight.
I ride over.
"...Karen? What are you doing here?"
She grabs me by both hands, her face overcome by a radiant joy.
"It's incredible!"
...It wasn't a dream. I stare blankly as that thought hits me. She shakes my hands and clasps them together in hers, the heat of her hurried touch flying up my arms.
"You'll understand --"
Even from a distance, I see the moonlight catching something -- something gossamer and spider's web light, like the wings of a dragonfly. Even as the fairies themselves are too small to be seen, flittering in the dark...
Their wings flash and bob over the grapes. Each touch is light, light, light. Each movement bobbing and darting, a million movements in one. It's transfixing, that light in a darkened world.
Beside me, Karen is ecstatic. Even as she's happier these days, this is...
This is your birthday when you're a kid and the perfect cake. This is that sudden moment on a spring day in a park when your entire body feels light, for no reason. To call what I see in her green eyes at that moment, in the way she leans forward with rapt attention, mere 'happiness' is grossly inefficient. It's using a word that gets watered down so much, by being something people want more-or-less all the time...For something that's too powerful to be anything but momentary.
When she speaks, her voice sounds like it's halfway to laughing.
[color=purple]"How beautiful! The fairies are..."
...
Wait, she can see them?
I mean, I guess that was obvious, since she brought me here, but...
What?
She leads my poor confused self by the hand, her feet barely touching the ground.
She leans forward and breathes in the scent of the grapes, an earthy smell, sweet and heavy in the night air. Her movements are smooth as a dolphin in water.
incredibly sweet!" She takes a step back, and she calms down, an awed smile on her face.
I always thought it was..."
"I guess you were wrong, huh?"
"This is definately real. I checked, so I'm not dreaming."
She shakes her head.
"Why I stayed here so long...Why I didn't leave, no matter how much I thought I wanted to."
"Really?"
"I looked out my window tonight. And I saw this. And all of the sudden, I felt... I don't even know. Like some prayer in me was heard and answered, before I even knew it existed."
Heh. If I'm the one who made this happen...Did I hear her wishes? I guess you could put it like that.
"This place is my home, and wine is my passion. I couldn't leave it...Because I didn't really want to. Yeah, I want to see the world, and yeah, I don't want to be trapped failing... But running away isn't being free. That's what I realized."
She grins, her eyes wide and fierce. Her grin is triumphant, a curved saber with which to conquer the world.
And then she laughs, looking out over her army of faeries.
"Tonight, I realized what made my grandma's wine so good. And why mine will be even better!"
Yeah, that smile...That's what I wanted to see when I started worrying about this.
A small song, carried on voices fine and inhuman as a flute, blended with the crickets and rose from the faeries flitting along the vines.
"What a beautiful song...It's perfect for dancing to!"
She rushes forward and gives herself to that music. She spins like a self-contained little world, one I was lucky enough to see, if only for a night.
Karen is radiant as she moves.
I don't want to do anything; I just want to see how happy she looks. In this dreamlike, twilight world...I'm her guest. That's how I feel, but...
But then she tosses her head, her hair flying around her, and sees me there with that dopey look. Silently, she takes my hands again and pulls me to her.
My fingers find their way into her fingers, my other hand into the warm small of her back. There isn't a thought in our minds but the music, and that's left our minds, and gone into our feet, our hands, our backs. It's gone into her eyes the color of grape leaves in spring, the most perfect green I can picture.
Like that, we dance in the darkness until the stars go out.
I guess that's what makes a miracle.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Awesome chapter as usual! I feel like in general, the Maria character would be my favorite, but I don't know if it's Harvest Moon or your writing but <3 Karen so much.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feriority
Awesome chapter as usual! I feel like in general, the Maria character would be my favorite, but I don't know if it's Harvest Moon or your writing but <3 Karen so much.
I'd guess it's a little of column a, a good bit of column B....But maybe I'm just flattering myself. Of course, I will say that I do think Karen/The Vineyard's storyline is one of the most well put-together in all of Harvest Moon history, and is the sort of thing I want more of in the games. It's a good story, and I find Karen a good character, so when I'm writing, I'm just sort of fleshing those ideas out.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Wow...that was a really beautiful way to end that story arc. And I place at least 70% of it on Deme. Just knowing how to tie it all together into her narrative...and yes it is a great arc in itself, but Deme, you have made it legendary.
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Karen has always been my favorite, though your material was making me so sure that Fox shouldn't end up with her. But the way you've handled this so beautifully...
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
I want it to be plausible that he could end up with anyone you guys pick...Though I think for Popuri, that plausibility would come much easier once chosen, since the reason we'll be chosing well before we propose is so I can write in some extra plausibility and some moving-on time for the ladies. And so we can enjoy holidays with the correct girls...
The downside of that is that it is SO HARD TO CHOOSE YOU GUYS.
Bonus Update #1: Yo Dog, I heard you like Dogs
Spoiler
Special Semi-Canon Feature Go!
Another lunch in the library... There's something soothing about eating your riceballs with a book in one hand and a cute librarian to talk to.
Today's selection is on dog-training, since I feel I've kind of been neglecting ol.... Ol... Link! Yeah, that's the ticket.
"A good dog should be socialized often, from a young age, to get them used to people..."
"Socialized? How do you socialize a dog..."
"W-well, how do you socialize?"
"Well, I go up and chat to random people, usually as many as possible, saying little things day after day under the quiet assumption no one will have the presence of mind to think I'm some sort of total wierdo."
"R-right...W-well..."
Man, I love narrative convenience.
"So you're saying I should do that with my dog?"
"I suppose..."
She looks worried.
"Alright! I'll be right back!"
"Come here, Link. We're going on an adventure!"
I'm going to show you to everyone!
First, let's go back to the start; Maria!
Awww. I didn't know she liked dogs.
Darn right!
Well, that's a random bit of backstory...Still, the mental image of li'l Harris with his dog is adorable.
"...I guess so, woman I've met, like, once or twice."
"I'm the midwife, Gaea."
"Yeah, that's nice."
"Wait, is that his name?"
Because I could have sworn we had the option to change it...
And we did.
No one told me he had a real name, anyway.
"Aw, we'll he'll have to play with Taro sometimes."
This is Taro, the potion shop dealer's dog. She's a sweet girl, and lives out here. I'm glad my dog has a doggy friend.
The Green kids are fans, as to be expected.
They take after their dad.
Also, I never have time to point this out, but look at this. This picture. He's hung up a giant poster of his daughter onb a horse...
That is adorable, man.
Oddly enough, he said something totally unrelated first...I guess he was just eager to teach me about how I can eat and sell fish.
I think this got shown off in a typo report...
This, too. But we're going for completion, and not meta!
HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, man, that's rich...But I guess he could fit their little heads in his mouth.
Their fear is wise.
For some reason, only one of the other two elves has a different response. K.
That might be a bit generous, since I'm pretty sure Link would wag his tail at a psycho axe murderer. I mean, he's a dog -- liking people they just met is what dogs do.
Anyway, I can't get up the mountain, so I guess we're not seeing if there's anyone up there to show my dog to!
"But it does seem like the source of a glitch, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it kinda does...Eerie."
That's news...But he's not so bad when he's not drunk.
A smile! An actual smile-type item! It's a miracle!
And into town we go!
She did not actually give me anything. :(
She didn't even give the dog anything, either. Unless petting is a reward. It might be.
Those are things.
All the kids like the dog, too. Of course kids like doggies, though.
"You are not doing science to my dog, Rick!"
Anyway, next door, there's another person, one you haven't really seen yet...His intro will be shown in time; but here's what he thinks of my dog!
He looked...Kind of afraid of it, really.
"By which you mean fiendishly handsome, right?"
"Whatever you want to believe, kid."
I'll finish this up tommorow...
With a trip to Cliff!
I'm not going to worry about Zack or Maria's mom right now; maybe another day...
"Well, I think we're pretty well-socialized, right boy?" "*Bark*"
Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
I'm sorry for a delay; I am getting new carpeting, and did not anticipate what this would do to my nerves (I guessed it would be bad, since I find any change inherently bad and stressful...But not this bad.) I'll work on the chapter as I can pull myself together, and maybe get some extra stuff done to compensate at some point. I'm done the short "half" of this chapter now.
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Re: 64 Times the Harvesting: Let's Play Harvest Moon 64
Is it too late to find a Tenchi Muyo mod for this game?
sacrificing minions: is there any promblem it CAN'T solve?
