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 Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:40 pm
Harvest Moon themed onexone between me and Foxi The Farm Owner of Mineral Town: MelodyThe Ranch Owner of Mineral Town: HataruStory: The old farm in Mineral Town became to much for one person to take charge of. Melody's grandfather in his will left the farm split in half the farm itself to Melody and the ranch to be sold. Not the happiest about her grandfather's decision to sell half of the farm. Though from the time she was little she has been taking care of the farm. Waiting to see who will take care of the ranch and be her new neighbor.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:03 pm
Calendar: Spring 01: New Years Day 08: Goddess Festival 10: Spring Horse Race 14: Spring Thanksgiving 19: Sheep Festival 24: Cooking Festival 29: Spring Crop Judging Summer 01: Beach Day Opening 07: Chicken Festival 15: Minging Festival 23: Horse Fesival 24. Firework Festival 27: Melody's Birthday29: Sumer Crop Judging Fall 03: Musical Festival 08: Harvest Festical 13: Festical at Mother's Hill 14: Hataru's Birthday16: Cow Festival 24: Rice Festival 28: Fall Crop Judging 30: Pumkin Festival Winter: 04: Snow Festival 10: Dog Festival 14: Winter Thanksgiving 20: Fishing Festival 24: Starry Night 25: Stocking Festival 30: New Years Eve It is comprised of these two games. Friends of Mineral TownIsland of Happiness
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:53 pm
It was the start of spring and the birds chirped merrily as the sun rose higher into the sky. Flowers swayed gently under the soft breeze that raced across the rolling hills. The road stretched on for what seemed like forever, but as all journeys have an end, this one too lead to a quaint little hamlet called Mineral Town.
Hataru had always wanted to start a ranch, dreaming that he could spend his days tending to animals, riding horses and winning prizes for his livestock. It was a far more interesting prospect than landing a dead end job in the city where he had nothing to show for his efforts. He hardly liked people as it was, but animals always liked him. They had simple needs and were honest, unlike his own kind.
Holding the newspaper clipping up to his face, he reread the advertisement, barely containing a smile. It had to be more than just luck that made him pick up the paper that day, hoping to find a coupon for a free burger and instead getting a smack in the face real chance at doing what he'd always dreamed.
He barely remembered telling his family that he quit his job at the coffee shop, pulled all his savings that had been stored for college and was heading off to some far off place to chase his biggest lifelong dream. Though he laughed at the memory of their open mouthed-horror struck faces when he walked out the door with nothing but a backpack full of his possessions and an airy farewell.
"Nothing but open skies ahead," he murmured as he stuffed the paper in his pocket and continued his hike over the ridge. At the crest of the last hill he came upon it at last.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:16 pm
Picking out her tools the brown haired girl left her house to start a new year. Spring had finally arrived and it was time to start her new fields of crops. Year after year it was the same cycle for her. She'd get up and walk outside to the great fields that where now hers. It had only been a year or two since her grandfather died leaving her this little piece of land to do as she pleased. Looking across the fields that she now tended to.
Had her new neighbor arrived yet? It made her grumble slightly, but it wasn't the rancher's fault. Her grandfather had left her the land to sell after all. He knew she'd never have a real life if she took over all the choirs. Pulling a bag of seeds from her bag she started planting her turnips just like her grandfather had taught her long ago.
Her mother had died not long after she was born. Her father ditched her with his parents and never came back. Her grandmother had died in her teens leaving her to her grandfather's care. Now here she was the owner of the farm with her cat and horse. Taking out her water can she went to fill it up and started watering the crops before moving starting the process over with the next seed.
Potatos, a few rows of cucumbers before she planted her beloved strawberries. Melody loved the berry, it was her favorite, and this was the only time of year she could grow them. So she ended up growing as many as she possibly could and selling half leaving her as many as she needed for the year. Predicting a good spring she knew it was going to be along one as it always was, but a good one none the less.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:28 pm
As the hills and fields gave way to farms and homesteads, Hataru watched as people sprang into view. They went about their daily tasks, unaware of the newcomer and having little time to spare while they planted and tended to their livestock.
The road became fenced on one side as he walked, rows of tended soil waiting to be planted. He spotted one lone girl moving at a measured pace along each row. It was almost robotic how she stepped, dropped a few seeds, sprinkled it with water then stepped to the next spot. He wondered how long it would take before he was as apt. Before he could think of all the things he was going to do, he knew there was business to attend to first.
His pace slowed as he watched her work, the breeze brushing his streaked hair. He didn't know how, but he knew he had arrived.
"Hey!" He called out to the girl.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:36 pm
Raising as she heard a voice. Resting against her hoe as she raised her hand to see who called out to her. Tilting her head as the answer quickly came to her mind. The new rancher had finally show up. No one new ever came to Mineral Town. Unless it was summer which was rare as well. "Hello there."
"I'll be with you in a minute okay!" She finished her last few seeds in the pack and lifted her tools up she sat them to the side out of the way. Dusting her hands on her apron before she dusted her cloths off. Her body was physically fit from all her years on the farm.
"You must be the one I spoke to on the phone about the ranch." Obviously she knew it had to be. Who else would he be after all. Looking at him, she wasn't exactly sure if this city boy was good enough to be in charge of her grandfathers ranch. Mel didn't have any say in the matter though. She knew it wasn't this boy's fault, and her anger shouldn't be at him. Her grandfather just wanted her to have a happy life and not worry about work all the time.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:03 pm
"Uh yea, I'm Hataru," he replied with a slight blush and a ruffling of his hair. He was surprised that she knew who he was, but quickly recovered as he came up closer to the fence.
The closer he got, the taller he seemed. Hataru was well over six feet and slender but broad shouldered like a swimmer. His white hair had black undertones, but it looked natural on him somehow. His eyes were big and dark, sometimes looking dull while others shining with a hidden mischief.
Hataru noted the stiff way the girl put her tools away, though he couldn't imagine the cause for the agitation. Maybe he had forgotten something? Country etiquette might be a bit different than he was used to. Then again, he wasn't about to go around calling everyone sir and ma'am. He wasn't here to make friendly with the locals. In fact, he would rather have as little interaction as possible. The better for them all in the end.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:36 pm
"I'm Melody, but please just call me Mel." Taking a deep breath she tried to give a nice smile for him. She doubted it came out pleasant at all. Sighing, "Follow me, I just need to get you're keys from the house then I'll take you to the property." Heading up to her house she went in grabbed the keys before heading back out. Even though she didn't want anyone to take over the ranch she didn't want it to completely die and be gone forever.
"So have you ever has experiences with animals before?" Walking across her property to the dividing fence keeping animals out of her crops and keeping his animals from wandering off. "This ranch use to belong to my grandfather. I would like for it to be taken care of please. So if you have a single question please don't hesitate to ask me. I live next door, I've been raising animals from the time I was practically born. If I don't know the answer I know where you can find it."
Leading him to the new house she had built when she realized she would be selling the property. It was a fairly decent size, more then comfortable for one. "There is a cow in the barn as well as a sheep, a horse in the stables, a chicken in the coop. Any questions before I leave you to you're work."
Honestly she doubted he would have any clue on how to treat any of the animals. It wasn't even noon so she had plenty of time to teach if he needed. If not then her crops clearly called to her. Looking at him again she really hoped he was strong enough for this. Her grandfather would have rather her gone against his wishes then see the ranch go down to ruins.
Her green eyes reflected in the light some as she looked at him some more. Studding him with trained eyes like she did her crops. Always perfectly telling the perfect time to pick for the best quality.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:39 pm
Hataru nodded at her introduction. He could tell that she was trying to be courteous, though he could see by the glint in her eye that she rather be in the fields than giving a tour. With a fluid motion, he climbed over the fence into the field.
"My aunt used to raise goats. Those are kind of like sheep," he admitted with a shrug. As he saw the border between the two halves of the property, his eyes glazed over in wonder. The barn, painted a warm sienna, sat homely near the far side. A nice little stable, complete with paddock connected on one side, and a little coop sat nearby. It took him a moment to realize that there was a little house too.
Hataru had never lived alone. His family was far too big and too poor to afford such spacial commodities. Out here, next to the towering barn with it's open hayloft and spacious stalls, the house seemed far smaller, for which he was thankful. A home larger for him alone than the animals he cared for, it wouldn't have seemed right.
"Thank you," he said as he took the keys from her callused hands. He could have said more, maybe accepted her offer for ranching lessons, or maybe answered her question a little more fully, but in the end he nodded and walked off. Hataru had enough sense to know when his presence was a burden and enough willpower to stay silent and calm until he was able to politely leave.
"If I need anything, I'll give a holler," he added as he dropped his bag by the door and wandered towards the barn.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:34 pm
Rolling her eyes slightly, she gave him three days to last. "Please don't hesitate to ask." They didn't like each other already....good. The last thing Mel needed was a distraction from her work. Quickly she returned to fields. Planting her last rows of produce she took her newly upgraded scythe and began to clear weeds. It helped clear some of her anger. She was one to make friends, but she knew with him living next door, and him owning the ranch she was raised on. It wasn't going to be easy at all.
Sucking it up like she always did she continued to kill the weeds that threatened to overtake her fields. A late winter wind kept the warm spring sun from over heating the farmer getting over winter. Mel looked at her fields, rocks and wood had been long since taken care of.
Taking a break she took a sip from the creek that flowed by her land. It was melted water from the icy mountains. It hadn't killed her yet, nor did she know much better. Taking her lunch from her bag as she sat under the few apple trees she owned. Leftovers from the New Year festivals. She'd be eating them from the next week it seemed. Not that she didn't know how to cook. The past few years she had managed to secure places in the cooking contest. Always tying, but a win is a win in her book.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:18 am
Hataru went on a stroll around the edges of the place, taking note of the water source, a small pump with a troft. After he was more acquainted with the land he now owned, he made his way back to the barn.
Along the way, he stopped to peak his head in the coop. The lone chicken, a feisty brown hen, immediately charged him. With an easy going laugh, he tossed her some grain he had snatched from a bag just outside the door and departed before she could scratch or peck him.
In the first stall of the barn, he saw the sheep, her wool thick and full with eyes good-natured and mild. He put his hand near her muzzle, letting her get used to his scent before patting her on the head. The sheep responded in kind with a light bleat.
At the far end of the barn, a dairy cow chewed its cud with little interest for the new arrival. Hataru easily made his presence known and the cow quickly grew accustomed, the transition made easier when the cow saw the handful of hay in the boy's hands.
Seeing that the rest of the barn was empty, save for a stall that looked like it belonged to the horse, Hataru went next in search of said beast.
Out in the paddock, a circular area meant to help train or hold horses, he found him. Thick necked, broad shoulders, a wide short muzzle and taller than most riding horses, Hataru knew this guy was not a run of the mile draft horse. His barrel was wide and the tail flicked in a thick wave at the flies. He had black eyes and was a rich auburn color with a white patch beneath his ears, under his chin and above each hoof.
"So, you're going to be my big helper eh?" Hataru asked as he folded his arms on the fence. He watched the horse run around the enclosure, wondering if riding a horse was as easy as everyone made it look. Being from the big city, he'd never had the chance, but it was his first shortcoming of the day. The first of many, he imagined.
"I suppose I could always ask her for some help," he said to the horse, his eyes wandering towards the tilled fields. In answer, the horse whinnied and stamped the ground. Hataru grinned.
"Nah, I suppose not. At least not yet," he agreed.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:30 pm
After her lunch break Mel rose to her crops. Add extra water to this, or add extra dirt there. It didn't take long her work the first time around was good enough, but she wanted the best. Heading into her home she took a shower and cleaned herself of dirt. Before long she actually looked like the young woman she really was. Heading into her kitchen she prepared a nice dinner out of the left overs from all the festivals of late. Usually she didn't fix a big meal. Not since her grandfather had passed at lease. Sighing she looked at pictures on the wall. Mel missed him, but knew his spirit was guiding her when ever she needed it.
Taking a deep breath as the aroma from her cooking filled her nose. Having cooked just as much as she had tended to the animals and crops. She lived in a small town what else did she do during the winter and on rainy days.
Cooking helped clear her mind, and she did somewhat need to make peace with herself. No one would think highly of her if she ran the boy off. Hataru...she didn't have to like him, but she could be neighborly at least. A small tradition to welcome the new neighbor. Even if it was using left overs. She didn't exactly make good money in the winter. Mostly mining and hunting herbs. Now that the ranch was gone she might need to rethink her life during the next winter.
Finishing the meal she set everything to cool or finish baking. Moving to sit on her small porch that now consisted of one swing her grandmother would sit her in when she was small. Sitting down she looked to the sky. The door cracked so she could hear her timers.
Mel tried to find some peace. She was adjusting to her life still, just as much as that boy was. Still it wouldn't be long before the free boys her age would come around seeking to court her. Other old traditions, she had dated all three boys her ages sure there where always older and younger. Mel was to dedicated in her farm to really care. No she didn't want to be alone, but she didn't have time ti date. Do all the filly girly things, that wasn't her.
Hearing the timer she get up and finishes the dinner. Planning to just drop it at the boy's door. Really not wanting to speak to him again at the moment.
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:14 pm
Hataru saved off riding the horse, instead luring it into its stall with the easy temptation of food. After all the animals were fed and watered, Hataru realized there was still one animal he had not fed. Cupping his growling stomach, he made his way back to the house, his face calm and steadfast. He didn't mind going without food, if it meant helping others fill their's first.
But as he stepped into the house, a pressing silence made him stall a moment. The place was cozily furnished, if a little simply. Sunlight beamed in through all the windows and the playful breeze squeezed passed the door he held open to tickle the curtains and tablecloth. This was the first time in his life that he was truly alone. No other person to share his space. Hataru took a calming breath before venturing in further.
He realized all too quickly that working on a farm had a few drawbacks. Chiefly was the smell and how it clashed with his vision of clean. He was glad that his bathroom was connected to his bedroom, not wanting to wander around nude if he could help it. Tossing his bag on the plush quilted bed, he made a beeline to the bathroom.
The sound of hot water, the billowing of steam and a sigh of contentment soon filled the air. Thank goodness hot showers still exist out here, he thought. The idea of heating his water all the time manually was a frightening one.
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:11 pm
Packing the food up in a pretty presentation she knew it wasn't near close to dinner time yet really, but she honestly did care. Holding the basket carefully as she walked across the farm onto the ranch. It felt weird as the word trespassing entered her mind. It was odd to her and she put some more speed in her step.
Mel wasn't even sure if the boy was home or not. Still she placed the food at his front door and knocked. Not wanting to stay around she quickly left. This wasn't her land anymore, she no longer lived here. A pang in her chest as she remembered so old times with her grandfather. I was hard for her, but she would make it. Knowing good and well that hopefully Hataru would make it as well.
Coming backing into her farm she picked up her watering can. Fixing her plants with another fix of water. There was going to be a long summer, which only meant a longer winter. She shivered at the idea, she was a summer girl. Warm weather was her life and soul. Finishing her short job she put the watering can away and headed back for her house.
Heading to her own shower she filled up the bath tub and put her hair up. The heat allowed herd muscles to relax. It had been a ruff day and she usually hated bubble baths, but well today had been an emotional uproar. Goddess, she wanted this day to be over already. Mel missed her grandparents, her ranch, all her animals she raised for such a long time now.
Yes Mel was sulking, and knew it wasn't healthy. Trying her best to get over it. Time was the only way her wounds would heal. For no she locked them up and locked everyone else away. Sighing a little more as she leaned her had onto the wall of the bath tub.
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 12:55 am
A few days later, a heavy rain made most of the valley stay indoors. Hataru was adjusting to ranch life quite well. He hit a snag with riding, but after a stubborn day of trying to get to everyplace he needed to on foot, he finally asked Melody for help. He wasn't the best rider, but at least he didn't fall off anymore. Not wanting any of his animals to get sick, he made sure they were all fed and happy in their barn stalls. The chicken still hated him.
Overall, he felt content with the life he was beginning to build. Yet something still kept him on edge, so much so that he hadn't yet traveled to the town center or introduced himself to the other neighbors. He knew it was rude, but Hataru felt a growing unease that needed tending to before he tried being social.
That night a thick cold fog descended on the valley.
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