your love is sunlight

With as long as they've been friends it's a wonder how Neff had never spoken with Bella before about how she practices magic.

"Even something as simple as brewing a tea, I like to give thanks for the things I've been allowed to do and the resources I've been allowed to use. If all you ever do is take and use for your own gain it comes across as greedy or exploitive. Though not everyone thinks about it that deeply. Depends on who you talk to."

And who better to ask than her best friend? Someone she knew wielded powerful magic was far better than most anyone else she could think of. And she was getting a great response.

It's taken a bit for her to actually get down to the beach. The whole fear of drowning came in full force, even if she knew how to swim. The ocean often didn't care how strong of a swimmer you were.

But, here with her toes in the tide, she relaxed. Perhaps he was right.

( 💎 ) It's been a while since she had paid a visit to Pelican Town. The last time she was here, the town was struggling to keep up with some economic demands. Demands she had no knowledge of, nor cared to know about as she didn't live here and-- had no intention of doing so. She was a wanderer after all. Putting down roots wasn't in her agenda and she certainly wouldn't put them down here.

  Still though, things had changed enough to where-- she didn't really recognize the place and was caught a little off guard. The Adventurer's Guild was still in the same place... right? Marlon and Gil should still be running it too.

  " Ah- excuse me. Miss? " Before she could really think it through, she instead sought to ask someone for directions. " Pardon me, but would you happen to know the way to the mines? I'm looking to pay a visit to the Adventurer's Guild. "

{ ♪ } -- Bella looked up from where she was sifting through a bush for berries before offering a brilliant smile.

"Hi there! I was actually going to the mines myself, so I'm happy to walk you there."

Standing to her full height (still small... her platforms didn't do her any favors out here, after all.) she tilted her head to one side and grasped the straps of her backpack. After making sure her hands were clean with a wet wipe, she held one out to shake.

"My name is Bella, I run the farm to the west of town." Once her hand was either taken and shaken or left to hang, she shrugged and offered another smile. "It's just this way, Marlon and Gil should be excited to see someone other than me for a change."

The farmer started walking, humming a cheerful tune as she adjusted the sunhat on her head. She should probably reapply her sunscreen... but she was about to be underground anyway.

"You can find shapes in the clouds if you like! I just like to close my eyes and listen to the sounds around me. We could pick flowers, make flower chains or crowns, listen to the ambiance, whatever strikes our fancy."

Her eyes were closed then, happily enjoying the warmth even in the shade. Sunshine was something she loved but that she couldn't exactly enjoy like most.

"Whatever strikes our fancy, huh?" he mused, looking at the clouds as a short silence lapses between them, comforting and companionable in nature. Though as she speaks of not being able to be in the sun, he shifts and turns his head to look at her, a soft frown marring his features, opening his mouth to ask why when realization dawns on him.

"I didn't realize that was a thing," he admits almost sheepishly. A soft huff comes from him, looking back up to the clouds.

"...Do you miss it?" he asks after a moment, his curiosity getting the better of him.

{ ♪ } -- "It's okay. It's easy to not really think about it unless it gets brought up."

She smiled again, shrugging her shoulders just a bit as she looked out from under the umbrella. There were times when it was incredibly hard for her to deal with her own inability to do something as simple as exist in the sunshine. Humming, she thought over her answer.

"I've never really been able to do it. I was born this way, y'know? I was in the sun more as a kid, of course, but it was always at the cost of sunburns or layers upon layers of sunscreen. Even then, it was best for me to stay out of direct sunlight. It's just how it is with albinism."

She smiled wide. It was easy for her to get excited about these things. The hustle of the emergency room was always intense, but it made it feel even better to be in the relative calm of a small town. Bella may be a city girl, but she had plenty of appreciation for rural life.

❝Ahhh, so you're the new farmer!❞

He was wondering who the new farmer was who'd taken over the abandoned property. It had been years, sitting empty and collecting weeds and rocks. Harvey and the rest of the town had come to terms with the fact that no one would be willing to take over. But it seemed like a relative had stepped up to the place.

Her albinism was a cause for concern though. One that was apparent on the doctor's face.

❝Please try to remember to wear sunscreen, if you can. Hats and sunglasses, as well. Being out in direct sunlight is not wise for someone with your...❞ how should he put it so it didn't sound offensive? ❝... Genetics.❞ Though he was sure he didn't have to tell her twice, as a doctor, he couldn't help but worry. Hopefully she didn't find him annoying or overstepping for fretting over her wellbeing.

{ ♪ } -- "That's me!"

She smiled wide, tugging at one of the buns keeping her hair in place. Too many people got surprised when she said she was taking on a farm, but it wouldn't be that bad. There was a learning curve and it'd take time for her to clear the plot and earn enough money to make things easier, but at least she had instructions leftover for how to make certain things like sprinklers and all that.

"Yes, sir. I just hope Pierre doesn't get too irate with me needing so much of it, though I suppose I could go through Joja..." The idea left a sour taste in her mouth, mainly based on her interactions with the owner. "But I've got plenty of UV resistant clothes to wear, hats and sunglasses galore. I just don't have a hat on for my first foray into town."

His pause had earned a little laugh.