An apple a day...

A friend once asked me what the point of the game was, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to respond other than calling it a de-stressor. Isn’t that supposed to be the point of every game? Anyways, I’ve been playing on and off since my older brother got a copy of the old game cube version and when I found out about New Horizons, I went out and immediately bought a Nintendo Switch. Sorry if this makes anyone feel sad, but this little fanfic is sorta a window into where I was at when I first started playing New Horizons. I’m a complete sap, so I gotta say, it felt kinda like coming home.

Reckless Residents

She's shaking like a loose propeller when he pulls her out of the water, eyes clamped shut and small frame jerking at random every few seconds as her body tried to control the shivering.

The water has been unseasonably warm for July, but the sun's already sunk below the horizon and the air is chill. There's a summer storm on the way and he hopes to the high heavens that the girl he tucks close to his chest as he hauls the both of them back into the seaplane had no idea of the coming weather when she decided a premature dip in the ocean was a good idea.

She's a trouble-maker, that's for sure; always sporting dark clothes and going around barefoot because one ankle was stuck in a cast last month and she grew intolerant of wearing shoes.

Wilbur does not dislike the girl. Sure she arrived on the island in a maelstrom of frantic activity and poorly concealed coping mechanisms, but she gets along with his kid brother like a house on fire and she's got a good head for heights. He might wish she used the brain he's pretty sure she possesses a bit more, but on the whole, she's not a bad addition to the island.

Peeling her off him once they're inside and out of the rain is like trying to get a damned octopus to release it's hold and she's shivering so miserably that he yanks off his own pullover (only slightly damp) and helps her into it before buckling her into the passenger seat.

He settles a headset over her ears before buckling himself in and going for his own pair. “Dodo Tower, this is Dodo One – you copy?”

The response is immediate and he winces when his little brother's frantic sounding voice crackles over the com. “Will! Did you find her?! Are you guys ok out there?!”

“Cool your engine there, Dodo Tower. The package is on board. She's fine; just cold and wetter'n a fish.” He relays as he's flipping switches and readying the plane for takeoff. “We're looking to make a speedy takeoff here, Dodo Tower. How're the skies lookin'?”

Slight pause, but Orville's brought his panic to heel enough that his voice is steady when he responds. “Dodo One, you are clear for takeoff, over.”

It's not as if he's unable or even particularly uncomfortable making a takeoff in a storm, but, as he runs through a speedy pre-flight checklist, he can't quite quash the tiny flame of irritation in the back of his mind. He's willing to give her the benefit of the doubt concerning the turn of weather. No, the problem is that she didn't call for help. That's something she's simply never done, blatantly ignoring the very handy app Nook's ensured gets installed on each resident's phone. Oh, he's chased enough swarms of wasps off her, found her fainted on the grass and administered enough scorpion anti-venom to last them both a lifetime. But she's never actually asked for help. Hell, he wouldn't even have been out here if Orville hadn't seen her setting out earlier and grown worried when she didn't return.

It's rough, and his passenger emits a small yelp when they rattle and bump over the waves, but Wilbur pulls them into the air without mishap and aims for the island.

Excepting that one yelp, the girl doesn't say anything as Wilbur guides them home. It's not unusual really, she's not exactly the chatty type. But this silence is charged with something unbearably awkward.

He brings them in as gently as he can and Orville's there, waiting anxiously on the dock with an umbrella in hand.

It’s easier to pass the girl off to his little brother, so Wilbur does, trailing behind as Orville ushers the girl inside.

He knows the futility of his actions, knows that in a day or so, this achingly lonely kid is going get into something else he’s going to have to pull her out of. He’s made his peace with that. But for now, it’s got to be enough to wrap her up in as many blankets as they can and feed her hot tea. He’ll let Orville do the scolding, but he’ll back him up with a few well-chosen words whenever he feels the need. And the kid will be fine. Wilbur and Orville together will make sure of it.

4/3/2026

I got Piper to move in!

I didn’t find too much when searching online especially for angel stuff. My island is angel themed, so white, pastel and Christmas colors!