#hm skye

How I feel about this character:

Harvest Moon DS was one of the first titles I played, and I was so eager to play it on release day on my chunky blue DS.  All glitches aside, I think it’s a wonderful game.  My previous game being the original for the SNES, I loved all the new features.  I was tickled to find a copy of HMDS Cute at a pawn shop for a few dollars, as I heard that they had fixed a lot of the bugs and had a few new features.

One of those being a special bachelor.  (Technically there are special bachelors, but Mason is a completely different story.)

I remember starting both of my files - one as Pony and one as Claire.  Being a veteran to HMDS, I already had plans on how I wanted to differ the farms.  Pony was going to focus on livestock, while Claire grew crops.  I had already played as Claire in MFoMT, so I was eager to start my file as Pony and marry the special bachelor, Skye!

I knew very little about him other than his appearance and that he was an exclusive character.  I loved the cast of Forget-Me-Not Valley, so I was so stoked to have a new face show up.

But then he opened his mouth to speak.

I quickly learned that Skye was not my type AT ALL.  Using eloquent words and flaunting his pretty-boy looks, he smooth-talked people out of their hard earned goods.  He fancied himself the Prince of the Stars and often talked about how mysterious he was.

(No, Skye, I really don’t.)

His events were very different than the rest of the marriage candidates in the game.  Skye would leave a note at a location, stating he would steal something, and then he would attack the proprietors with his “Chick Beam” (more thoughts on that later) and make off with the goods, not without casting a flirtation at the main character on his way out.

I’m aware the whole elusive phantom thief trope is a thing, and it feels like an odd mix in a small farming community like Forget-Me-Not of all places.  The only place that really seems to have anything expensive in it would be Romana’s mansion - other than that, these are just humble people living in the middle of a small farming community.  I doubt Griffin was raking in the cash at the Blue Bar, so it felt strange to rob him, unless Skye was really that desperate for a drink.  I can imagine Vesta being a little more wealthy, selling seeds to other farms in the area (including Mineral Town in my headcanons), but I still can’t figure out why Marlin didn’t/couldn’t go after him, as he wouldn’t be affected by the Chick Beam?  Anyway, I felt that a lot of the thief scenes felt a bit forced and that the main character was living one of the episodes of the cheesy weekly specials they show on the in-game television.

Skye does open up to the main character briefly during his blue heart scene, confessing his love of experimenting with making different kinds of curry, but he has trouble getting it to taste just right.  You can suggest that he isn’t cooking with enough love, which he finds amusing, but he seems to take to heart.  It seems like we’re going to finally get to see a more vulnerable side of Skye…

That is, until his final heart scene.  The whole town decides to work together to catch Skye and stop him once and for all.  Honestly, it’s pretty neat to see so many characters in one scene together who usually don’t interact working together as a team.  I love how Rock is leading the team, eager to be the one to catch the thief.

Skye obviously doesn’t want to get run out of town and bumps into the main character.

If we agree, he tells the MC she looks pretty in his usual overly flowery way and leaves her to deal with the mess of betraying all the townsfolk.

Lying to all of the townspeople that I had been befriending up until then really left a sour taste in my mouth.  It really felt like I had to pick between him or the rest of the town. And it was at that point where I realized every single heart event revolved around Skye getting what he wanted by using others, including the main character.

We never find out why Skye is robbing people, either.  I got the feeling that Skye’s overly confident air was a bit of a defense mechanism, but we never really see him drop the “act”, even after marriage.  So maybe that’s just the way he is?  It felt a little hollow, and I would’ve liked to see a more down-to-earth Skye who realizes he doesn’t have to get by from stealing.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Sorry, I don’t have any. 😓 I feel that Skye needs to get his life together and realize that he can’t get by on his charm alone to get whatever he wants.  And since we are given so little about his actual character, it’s really hard to tell who he would be compatible with.

My non-romantic OTP for this character

No one in Forget-Me-Not Valley, for sure!  They all are eager to run him out, as he is constantly trying to steal from their businesses.

Perhaps Skye and Gourmet could talk curry recipes together, as they both really like it.  Maybe Gourmet could give him tips to get that perfect flavor.

My unpopular opinion about this character

Skye’s behavior raises a lot of red flags for me.  My biggest complaint is if you choose to propose to him, he plans on coming to your house to steal your blue feather.

It’s a bit of an “if I can’t have you, no one can” mentality, and I find it really uncomfy.  Just as he steals objects, he plans on “stealing” the main character’s heart.

Skye’s “Chick Beam” leaves girls literally paralyzed and he continues to have conversations with them, whether they want him to or not.  If this ability really works, it’s kinda scary when you think of how it can be abused.  Red flags all around.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I wish they had elaborated on Skye a bit.  A lotta bit. 

Yeah, I get he’s mysterious, but what is he doing in a small town like this?  Why not go somewhere with more valuables - is he currently hiding from a theft that ended badly?  Why did he choose to become a thief?  What is he saving his money for?  What is the “Chick Beam” and does it truly work?  Is he human, or does he possess similar powers to the Witch Princess?  We honestly know so little from him outside of this “mysterious air” he puts on as a security blanket, and I don’t really feel like he removes that after marriage, either.

Outward appearances are very important to Skye.  He presents himself in fashionable clothing and speaks in honeyed words.  Whether this is for him to work his charisma to steal more easily, we’re not entirely sure.  Maybe he just came from a wealthy family that dresses and speaks that way, although my gut points to the first reason.

Skye might not be my favorite character in the series, but he definitely stands out and leaves the player with a lot more questions than answers.  And unanswered questions are fun for headcanons!

Skye woke the next morning in the abandoned house he was squatting in, looked at the rising sun and groaned. He always joked he did his best work at night, but in reality, he just wasn’t a morning person. He laid in bed, half-awake, trying to convince himself to go close the dilapidated shades so maybe he could sleep, pointedly ignoring the gnawing anxiety in the pit of his stomach. He had kissed the guy. They guy he swore he would never fall for. How was he supposed to come back from that? He was self-aware enough to know his suave, detached personality was a front to keep people at bay, but the fact that it hadn’t work at all on Rock had been a kick to the chest to begin with. When had he gotten under his skin? Skye turned over in bed and covered his head with a musty pillow.

His life was far from glamorous. He tried to pick back to where he’d gone wrong, but he had nothing. Nothing, at least, that he could change. He’d spent most of his life having things happen to him. Why would he not resort to stealing? To have a sense of control, of power. It had started out as an impulse and he’d cultivated it as an art. He’d done the same with his cooking. Skye sighed. How different his life would be if he’d ever caught a break on that one. 

He told Rock he had no heart to steal, and he did believe that. His heart had been beaten to nothing too many times. Too many lovers who saw him as nothing but a pretty face and a good time. Too many people who let him down or left him on his own in times of need. A softer part of himself didn’t want to count Rock among them, didn’t want that dopey smile to carve itself into his brain as another hurt. If he was honest with himself, Skye liked him. He liked his uncomplicated smile, his free personality, and how damn easy it was to be around him. Too easy. Too nice. Too painful, because he wanted to kiss him again.

Skye let out a groan into his borrowed pillow. The day was young and he knew he wouldn’t sleep. Wouldn’t do any work tonight...

 Wait, he thought. When was the last time he’d even stole anything? It seemed all he did these days was go to the Goddess Pond to be with Rock. Even when he was adamant there was no chance he’d ever feel anything but contempt for Rock. He’d spent every night with the other man. Skye groaned again. 

It was going to be a long day.

                                                       ----

“Hey are you okay?” Rock asked, coming up behind Skye. Skye yawned. He’d been there for at least an hour before Rock got there, trying to clear his head. Rock had made a joke about it when he’d finally showed up with Skye’s curry, but Skye hadn’t laughed. 

“Just tired. Didn’t sleep well,” Skye mumbled.

“Do you just sleep all day?” Rock asked. Skye’s lips twitched into a wry smile.

“Usually,” is all he said. He took a bite of his curry, savoring the taste. There was something there, a spice he couldn’t name, that gave the curry a new depth of flavor. He wanted to ask, but he doubted if Rock would share the secret. Skye knew that he wouldn’t, if he were in that position. 

They were silent for a while, and the sounds surrounding the pond were soft around them. It was all so damn romantic, and Skye blanched at the idea he’d never noticed it before. He set down his empty dish, and looked over at Rock. His golden hair framed his face, and Goddess, his lips looked so soft. He knew they were soft, Skye realized, and he wanted to kiss him again. Wanted to wrap his arms around him and lay next to him. He wanted so much. 

He didn’t move from his spot. He wanted to keep Rock in his memory like this forever. Sweet, and kind, and too earnest. Didn’t want any of that tainted by the future fallout of loving someone like Skye. 

Skye felt sick.

He rose and made to leave.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Rock asked, shuffling to his feet. Skye stopped but didn’t turn around. He should end this, he knew, but somehow that was more painful. Rock needed to hate him. Rock needed to give him up so he could be free to let him go. He couldn’t, as long as he knew there was a chance. As long as he knew Rock loved him, he wouldn’t be able to walk away. 

“I have work to do tonight,” Skye said over his shoulder. Rock’s brows knit together, confused. 

“Work?” he asked.

“I’m the Phantom Thief Skye, what kind of work do I do, Rock?” Skye replied with more venom than he meant. 

“I just...I mean I thought...” 

“Thought what?”

Rock closed the distance between them, grabbing Skye’s arm softly.

“Stay,” he said, looking into Skye’s eyes, and Skye knew he was done for.

“Stay,” Rock repeated, pulling Skye closer, and Skye melted into him.

“Okay,” he said swallowing, “okay.”

They met in the middle, a kiss that was far from chaste. Skye put every one of his emotions into it. His fear, his desperation, his budding feelings. Everything, he gave to Rock, until the other man was breathing heavy and soft under his touch. Skye gave himself up to him. Under the lights of fireflies and the soft sound of the frogs  and crickets, they stayed, touching again and again, until the sun rose on the horizon and Skye dressed reluctantly.

It should all be so simple, was the only thought he had as he returned to his borrowed bed, in his borrowed house. 

It should all be so simple.