Mistria Brain Rot

It had been yet another long day spent at the forge, March didn’t prefer it any other way, but with winter just around the corner, today brought a relentless chill. Thankfully his work kept him busy, and the forge always burned hot. All throughout the day he had been visited by various villagers, whether they were seeking a completed order, or just saying hello. 

The day passed uneventfully, and as March was finishing up his work when Olric emerged from their home. 

“I’m heading to the bathhouse! Wanna come?” Olric was always so chipper, even after days like this. 

March thought about it for a moment. Now that he had been done working, he had begun to feel the cold air settling back in. A bath would be nice, but everyone else was probably thinking the same, and he liked his solitude. 

“Not tonight,” March finally muttered, before turning away from the forge and seeing Olric had already started down the street, eager to get a warm bath. 

The redhead scoffed slightly, and shoved his hands in his pockets, observing the rest of the street to find it mostly empty. It was strange, he had only seen the farmer once today- she ran by early in the morning, simply offering a wave to him as she passed the forge. 

Ari was an enigma to March. He didn’t understand her. When she’d first arrived he thought she’d only come for the land, but as the seasons passed, it was clear she was intent on helping Mistria. The blacksmith would be lying if he said he still disliked her. Though he hated admitting that to himself. 

Still, he couldn’t help but keep up his act whenever she came around. Something about her still irked him. He couldn’t tell if it was how cheery she always seemed, or how she took his spotlight all the time, or how she made his heart skip whenever she stepped into the Inn on Friday nights, or the way his name sounded rolling off her tongue when she teased him. 

March hated the way she would creep into his thoughts all the time. Everyday it was getting harder to keep up the act, when all he wanted to do was pull her to him and- 

The blacksmith realized he was getting lost in his thoughts, out in the cold street, so he huffed and walked into his home, hoping to find something to distract himself from thoughts of the farmer. 

March made some dinner, and sat at his desk, looking over some papers and blue prints he had. Focusing on work was always a welcome distraction. 

That was, until the front door opened. 

March initially ignored whoever walked into the shop, annoyed that they were here so late. But then he heard a breathless, “..March?” 

The redhead finally turned, looking over his shoulder, his eyes widened as he saw the farmer standing in the doorway, looking positively frozen. 

“What the hell, Ari?” March huffed, standing quickly and taking quick strides over to her to close the door, and usher her into the warmth. She was wearing a dress he couldn’t stand, something she just started wearing this season. The fabric was thick, a wonderful dress for the fall, it looked amazing on her, and that’s why he hated it. 

“Where is your coat? Why are you out in the cold this late?” March’s tone was biting as he took hold of one of her arms and led her over to the hearth. 

“I was in the mines this morning and got hot, so I took my coat off. But then I forgot it as I kept going deeper..” Ari shivered against his touch, but relaxed slightly as she felt the warmth of the fire. 

March’s brows were furrowed, annoyed that she made such a stupid mistake. But he could scold her later- right now he just needed her to get warmer. March walked over to his desk and snagged his jacket off the back of the chair before returning to the Farmer’s side and draping it over her shoulders. 

March paused then, the sight of his jacket on her made his brain short circuit. 

“Thanks,” Ari said, turning to look up at March with her big eyes, “I found this for you,” and with that Ari reached into her bag and pulled out a perfect silver ore. March’s eyes widened, looking from the ore back to Ari, his cheeks already significantly warmer. 

“You couldn’t remember to grab your coat but you could haul this thing around?” March rolled his eyes. 

“I’m not leaving a find like this behind!” Ari couldn’t stop her smile, though it was evident she was still trying to fight off the cold, “Besides, I like seeing you blush whenever I bring you one.” The farmer pressed the ore into March’s hand and giggled. 

March’s cheeks flushed even more, and for a moment the blacksmith stared at her in silence, unsure of how he wanted to respond to her. 

Ari hummed in amusement, “Ooo, did I get ya March?” She braved a step closer to him, her eyes watching his, with a mischievous glint. “I didn’t think you could be shut up so easily-” 

The farmer was promptly cut off when March’s hand rose and found the back of her neck. His fingers found purchase in her hair, and he pulled her to him. Ari gasped, her hands landing on his chest, just as March crashed his lips into hers. 

The blacksmith was tired of playing this game with her, if she liked seeing the red in his cheeks so much, maybe it was his time to return the favor. 

March was unrelenting in his kiss, his lips consuming the farmer’s. She sighed into their kiss, and March took the opportunity to deepen it. His tongue dragged against her lower lip, demanding access to her mouth, and she happily complied. March moaned as his tongue slipped into her wet mouth. His hand on the back of her neck kept her in place as his other hand moved to her hip and pulled her body flush against his. 

March broke away from the kiss then, his cheeks flushed- but now so were the Farmer’s. The redhead smirked down at her and released the hold he had on her. “That is how you shut someone up.” 

The farmer stared up at March in delighted shock, scrambling to find any words. 

March hummed in amusement before turning on his heel and walking back to his desk. “You can borrow the jacket until you get a new coat- but don’t be stupid and leave it in the mines again, and make sure you return it.” 

The farmer continued to watch in shock, until she gathered herself and looked down at his jacket. She smiled and then headed back to the door. “If you ever want it back, then you’re going to have to pry it off me.” And with that she shut the door behind her and hurried down the street.