#sdv nonbinary

Part 1 of probably more, depending on my inspiration and wether y’all be interested to read more of it. I’m writing with an assumption that Farmer is AFAB and is also perceived as a woman despite making small changes in their appearance, such as short hair and at times wearing a binder. Not a self insert at all. Enjoy!

To Elliott:

This subject didn’t really come up for quite a long time of their friendship. There just weren’t many opportunities for Elliott to refer to Farmer in a third person pronoun, and even when they appeared, Farmer either had something else on their mind or didn’t deem the situation a good one for coming out. But as they met with Elliott in the saloon, emotions enhanced by alcohol that was already circulating in their system, they couldn’t hide a frown when they heard writer exclaim “And wine for the lady!”. Elliott, while oblivious at times, was not stupid. He quickly noticed the change in his friend’s mood and proceeded with an immediate investigation.

“Farmer, what seems to be the culprit of this sudden despair on your face?”

“Oh, it’s nothing…” Farmer attempted to summon a realistic looking smile on their face, but their true emotions could no longer escape from the observant author.

“I see that something had bittered your emotions and I will not stand for this factor to persist! What is it, Farmer? Did I say something that offended you? Perhaps I shouldn’t have ordered you wine?”

“No, wine is fine… It’s just…” Many thoughts ran rampant through Farmer’s head, nervously wondering if coming out to their friend will be something they’ll regret once effects of alcohol on their mind will wither away. They weighted the urge to be known as their real self against the risks of being called a freak and possibly even being outet to other people. Eventually, the first impulse persisted.

“It was the »lady« part” they said quietly. “I don’t… It doesn’t feel right when you- when anybody calls me “lady”. ‘Cause you see, I am…” Farmer took a deep breath, as Elliott waited in anticipation, absorbing their every word. “I am non binary. So, I don’t feel either like a woman or a man. I am just something else, they/them pronouns, that thing… that is… if it’s not too much trouble for you?”

After looking up, the Farmer thought for a moment that disgusted writer just stood up and left them as they were talking. But this fear was quickly dispersed by a soft thump on the floor beneath them.

„Oh, Farmer, I…” Elliott was looking at them from the ground level, surprised and ashamed. Farmer reached their hand to help friend stood up, but instead of doing that, writer remained on his knees and held Farmer’s palm as reverently as if they were at the very least a monarch of medium-sized kingdom. „Farmer, I am so, so, so, so…”

„Oh” Farmer exhaled with relief. „It’s okay, you couldn’t have known”

„…so, so, so, so…”

„Elliott?”

„…so, so, so, so deeply, highly, terribly…”

„Elliott!” Farmer pulled their hand upwards, forcing the apologetic writer to stand up from the floor. „I’m telling you, it’s fine! You didn’t know that. I’m just… glad that you’re so accepting of me”

Elliott opened his mouth to say something that was hopefully not the continuation of his apology, but at this moment they were interrupted by Gus, who brought them ordered drinks.

„Here you go, Elliott. One pale ale and one wine for…”

„For me!” Elliott snatched wine from the platter with a wave of a hand, so fast that is was almost a miracle that he didn’t spill anything. „Come on, Gus” He said facing the confused bartender „You had to have noticed that I’m very in touch with my feminine side”

If Stardrop Saloon’s owner attempted to say anything, he gave up on it, leaving eccentric writer to his matters. Elliott and Farmer were drunkenly giggling about the situation for the next couple of minutes.

“But do tell me, Farmer” asked Elliott after some time, taking a sip from his second glass of enhanced grape juice “How am I to address you?”

“With my name” Farmer shrugged, also taking a swig of their drink “Or, you know, they/them pronouns”

“That is to be expected, but I mean in more… exclusive occasions. Like when I’d want to introduce you with all the deserved nobility, or emphasize special circumstances. Referring to you as a Lady is not acceptable, from what you’ve told me Gentelman also wouldn’t suit you…”

“Wow, you have a gift of inventing problems” Farmer gave their companion a friendly laugh “If you insist on having a “special” title for me it can be whatever. Call me “your majesty” for all I care”

“Yes, this is it!” Elliott slammed his fist on the counter, gently enough to not disturb anyone present in the bar. “A perfect title suitable to your merit!”

“Elliott…” Farmer’s expression was a little terrified. “Elliott, this was a joke”

We do not have an option to make a non binary farmer, so I’m left making my comics about them instead.

To Maru:

Maru was the first person to be directly informed about Farmer’s gender identity. What caused it was a combination of the girl’s friendly, open personality and the medical setting. In a everyday, vague conversation Farmer usually overlooked assumptions about their gender. It just felt weird bringing it up out of the blue. But when a medical questionnaire demands declaring a gender from you, there is no room for understatements.

„Thank you for coming to register so quickly after moving to the valley” said the doctor’s assistant. „Usually we have to chase people to remind them about their appointments”

„That’s no problem, I like to get stuff like that out of the way as soon as possible. Otherwise it would hang over my head and stress me out”

„Haha, I have the same thing with chores. Please just write your data in this template and give it back to me when you’re done. It’s all confidential of course”

Farmer took a piece of paper given to them and sat in the waiting room. They smiled, writing their new name in the form. Before changing documents they had to use their deadname in official settings, which made visits to doctor all the more stressful. Moving out and registering in a different clinic was also an opportunity for a new life.

Next point on the template caused them to frown, erasing most of the joy that lasted after using their preferred name at the top of the paper. Next to the rubric: “gender” there were two boxes: “male” and “female”. Farmer’s pen hanged above the “female” option for a few moments - that’s what they were used to and that’s what was in their biology. But it just didn’t feel right.

“Um, excuse me?”

They said in Maru’s direction after filling lower points on the template and not having any more options of delaying the conversation.

“Yes? Can I help you with anything?” Maru’s friendliness emboldened Farmer to continue on with their questions.

„Um… I have a question about the… the gender”

„I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the last part quite clearly. Could you repeat it please?”

“The gender” Farmer blurted out and started speaking really fast, in fear that the courage will leave them as soon as it came. They also stood up to show Maru the template, forgetting that she probably had it memorized by now. “Because you have only two options and I understand that’s useful from a medical point of view, but the thing is I don’t identify with either gender”

“Oh” Maru’s face lit up with curiosity, which gave her purple iris an eye-catching gleam. „So you’re a hermaphrodite?”

Farmer’s face scowled, partially against their will. “That’s… not really a term you should use anymore”

“I’m so sorry!” Maru covered her mouth in the same manner that people sometimes do after a curse word escapes them. “I didn’t know. Could you tell me how should I call it then?”

“It’s okay, thank you for making an effort to learn” Farmer smiled reassuringly. “The proper name is intersex, but I’m not one. Biologically I’m female, I guess, I mean I do have all the, uh, parts. But I identify as non binary”

„Non binary…” Maru’s face showed focus, as she was searching for this term in her memory. “Oh, right, of course! I actually read about this a little bit when I was looking into differences in responses to some drugs among genders. But there is so little reaserch about your identity that I almost forgot learning about it”

“Yes, it is very understudied” Responded Farmer, relieved that they don’t have to explain everything from the basics.

“I promise to look into it some more, so you’ll have the same quality of medical treatment as everyone else!” Said Maru with determination. “Is there anything you’d like me to know right now? Or any way I can help you?”

“For now the only urgent thing is that I prefer to use they/them pronouns. And also that questionnaire…”

“Oh right, of course!” Maru looked over the template, thinking of a way she could improve it. “You know what? I’ll bring it up with Harvey, he is our town’s doctor. Maybe there can be a “other” option, or a form where you cross on the list what organs you have and write preferred pronouns separately… For now just leave it unmarked”