selphia is home

Writing some sincere fanfiction about a MySims character because I loved him as a kid and I still love him now.

Rusty likes to style himself as a kind of outlaw. He wears it well and he won't deny that causing trouble around the Junction was a lot of fun — even if it makes Ginny's nose wrinkle up in annoyance. He plays the surly, sharp-tongued character well.

Right up until you come around for a visit.

You always seem to catch him off guard, sidling up next to him with a little smile and a cheeky greeting of "Howdy there, cowpoke."

Then all at once he feels like a young buck with wobbly knees with how you have him tripping over his spurs and stumbling over his words. Really, for as cool as he wants to act he doesn't know what to do when he's face-to-face with someone with a strong personality. They can run roughshod all over him if they don't give him a chance to think and he's so sure you know that.

And the worst part is, he doesn't think he minds. You're different from most of the Junction folks, and he doesn't know if he really has anything to offer you. You're from the Captial Island, given a mission — a purpose — by the King himself. You're from a place of royalty and fancy gowns and he's... he's just Rusty.

He doesn't have a lot to his name these days. He doesn't even take what he can't afford anymore because he knows you wouldn't like that. And you gave him everything he does have. You've got fancy Wandolier magic and he's got a cliff he can sit and feel sorry for himself on. But you always come to visit him. He doesn't get it. Someone like you could have anyone from anywhere, he's sure. You come around and tell him stories of all the places you've been, the things you've seen, and the people you've met... but you always find your way back to him.

Like he's your home. Like he's worthy of being your home.

The thought of it alone is enough to make him wish for his bandana. He might have to get a new one just so he can pull it up high over his blushing cheeks. Maybe then his crush on you won't be so obvious that ol' Gabby won't roll his eyes or Gino'll finally stop "subtly" hinting that he'll set up his cafe really well if he ever wanted to stop by with a special someone...

Rusty swears he can hear your laughter in the crackle of the firepit. Bright and comforting and warming him up all the way through like it does every time. Every time you visit he swears he'll be smooth. He'll find a way to charm you, make you swoon, and steal your heart the way he does best. There are a lot of good people out there, on all those far-flung islands who he's sure would love the chance to vie for your affections... but Rusty has always been greedy. And more than that, he's always been more stubborn than any mule.

There are more men out there as polished and pretty as you deserve. But he knows deep down in his soft heart he tries to act like he doesn't have that none of them stand a chance.

A hand runs through his soft blonde hair, and a laugh that warms him from the inside follows it. He peels his eyes open from where he dozed off at the firepit. He lolls his head back and there you are. A small smile, a cheeky greeting, wearing his hat that you must have stolen off of his head, and Rusty feels himself fall in love all over again.

They don't stand a chance because even with all his faults and things he doesn't have — you still choose him.