#aritv

Sterling had already seen the newly arrived farmer a few times: a pretty young woman who had bought seeds at Pierre's store, where Sterling worked, and didn't seem in any hurry to make the first move to get to know the locals, including Sterling himself. Well then, the next time she comes here again, Sterling will take the initiative to get to know her better, because they're neighbors now, right? And she looks cute too...

Ah, there she was again, holding a wicker basket full of ripe parsnips she's about to sell to Pierre, and while his boss is busy vigilantly inspecting the quality of the vegetables, Sterling is finally making conversation.

"So you're the farmer the whole town has been talking about? Nice to meet ya~" Sterling smiled radiantly, turning the gaze of his azure eyes to the girl who jumped slightly at the sudden approach. "... Hi." Slightly flushed cheeks and averted her gaze to the shelf of groceries beside her.

"The name is Sterling. I'm new here myself. And you?" The man moved a little closer. "Uh... I'm [Farmer's name]. I'm trying to get settled in here... Nice to meet you too..." The girl mouthed uncertainly, not knowing how to keep the conversation going any further.

"[Farmer's name], what a beautiful name. Fits perfectly for a pretty face like you~" The farmer's cheeks had already turned the color of tomatoes, but Sterling couldn't continue the conversation anymore: like thunder in broad daylight, Pierre's irritated voice rang out across the store, reminding Sterling that "we need to get those wine bottles to the warehouse, and fast!" "Oops, I gotta run. See you later, [Farmer's name]!" He ran toward the warehouse door, leaving the farmer alone.

The following days were similar to the first, Sterling being the first to strike up a conversation with the farmer girl, telling her about himself or chatting about the latest rumors in town and what festivals were coming up. Not forgetting to compliment her, of course, which would make her face turn various shades of red. But Sterling usually didn't hear much of a reply, the farmer gave him a simple "hi" and "bye", sometimes answering some of his questions, but quickly went about her business.

He listened later in the Saloon as the locals chattered about her: nice and kind girl, obviously not talkative, mostly chattering if she brought some crops, fish, gems and other things that were required by the local folks. But everyone decided to give her time, a chance to make the first move herself. Sterling, on the other hand, decided she needed just a little push.

It went on like this for a long time, Sterling mostly talking and the farmer listening. Accustomed to her new life, the farmer could afford a little more free time and stayed in the man's company a little longer. Nevertheless, she still didn't say much about herself or how she had decided to change her life so drastically.

With each passing day like this, Sterling's confidence began to waver. Maybe she didn't like his company at all and was making up any excuse to get away from him. Maybe he's acting like the ultimate ass who doesn't get the hint that she's uncomfortable? Sterling thinks back to all their conversations, and feels like a creep. "Pretty face," who says that to a stranger the first time they meet, he's such a dumbass... Especially since he gave the new member of the community a bad image, still feeling ashamed of that incident with the Saloon trash can, and all his bickering with Pierre lately.

He wants to apologize to her.

Lunchtime at Pierre's store, Farmer came in as scheduled to pick up another shipment of seed and fertilizer. "Hey, [Farmer's name]..." he called out to her, and she responded, but once again the look in her eyes was directed somewhere else. "Listen, I... I wanted to apologize for, well, all the awkward conversations, inappropriate compliments and... that incident with the trash can." He sighed. "I can see that you're uncomfortable, and... Just wanted to tell you that I won't bother you anymore..."

At what she heard, the girl pierced Sterling sharply with a surprised look. "What makes you think that?" She said confidently, and now Sterling was a little confused. "I don't mind your company at all, and believe me, if I was uncomfortable, I wouldn't have been with you for so long. It's just... I'm kinda awkward, and I prefer to listen. Some of your compliments might be... a little too much, though." "Roger that." "But I don't mind hanging out with you at all." Well, this conversation ended much better than the brown-haired man could have imagined. At least he knows for sure he's not making the farmer uncomfortable with his chatter and company.

Their chatter continued, Sterling telling her everything he thought and what was going on in Pelican Town and Sunberry Village, and she listened. Later he noticed that farmer was slowly opening up to him: about how she despised her old, soul-sucking job to the core that made her feel trapped, how her first year here at Stardew Valley had been hard enough, but she loved it and would not leave the community. How those people in the big city that she thought were close friends had stopped talking to her after she moved, wondering if they were friends at all. Here Sterling made an sympathetic grimace, it was exactly the same way he'd felt when he'd moved in with Mia and Henry here.

Topic after topic, and before he knew it, the two of them had managed to become friends. How Farmer still stayed by his side, how they shared their worries and anxieties with each other. And how Sterling accidentally gave one not-so-family-friendly compliment again, but no sooner had he apologized than he heard the woman's cute giggle who didn't mind the infrequent praise. How she'd agreed to the adventure of swimming in the river with him, and how she'd ridden a motorcycle with him. How she'd shouted a loud hurrah when finally they'd both hit right on target at the booth at the festival and won a huge teddy bear. How much they have in common with each other, how Farmer became more confident in conversation, how Sterling began to brighten at the sight of his new best friend...