Chapter Text
The tree branches sway as the fallen leaves are carried in the gentle wind.
Today was a perfect day for fishing. You had been so caught up in tending to your autumn crops that you hadn't taken the time to focus on your hobbies. It wasn’t like you didn't enjoy farming though, it was just nice to take a break every once in a while.
Unfortunately, the lake in the forest south of your farm seemed to be quiet today. Nothing was biting, even with the bait you had hooked on. This was extremely peculiar since every time you came here multiple fish would bite throughout the day. You'd even throw some back. But now it was well into the afternoon and you hadn't caught a single thing.
You sigh and lean back in your seat you placed on the dock. Good thing you brought one with you.
While you contemplate whether you should call it day or not, your rod jerks forward. You finally had hooked something!
You scramble to try to reel it in hoping, praying, that it wasn't trash that got caught. However you cross that off quickly. Whatever you had at the end of the line was fighting back hard .
You put up your best fight, set on making this fish yours and it seems like neither of you will let up. But then your line suddenly snaps.
The release of tension sends you and your chair falling backwards. Your mouth gawks at the destroyed line on your iridium fishing rod. This wasn’t any cheap rod either. In fact, it was brand new!
What could have been strong enough to do this?
You pout at the loss of an incredible catch and your line that you would now have to fix.
"Dammit…"
Suddenly, you hear splashing from the lake and look up to see a man in the water not too far away from you. You had never seen this man in town before so you're immediately alarmed.
How long had he even been in the water?
"I’m sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!" he called out.
Your mouth hangs open and you’re at a loss for words.
The man had long ginger hair, and deep green eyes. Along with his defined cheekbones and sharp jawline, he might as well be physically flawless. Part of you couldn't believe he was even human.
He holds out your hook, the broken off piece of your line hanging from it, and begins making his way closer to the dock.
"I apologize for breaking it, but I couldn't get it out otherwise so…."
You finally manage to somewhat collect yourself back onto your chair and try to make sense of what was happening. Surely you would have noticed someone out in the lake before you cast out your line, so how did he get hooked?
He stares at you, and you stare right back. His gaze was warm and honest, almost naive.
Breaking the momentary silence, you utter a very eloquent, "What?"
"This hook. I believe it belongs to you seeing as we’re the only ones here. Thought I would return it since my arm has no better use for it."
You give a breathy laugh and reach for the outstretched hook. “Yeah I suppose you’ve got a good point there. Thanks.”
You take the hook from his hand, your fingers just brushing up against his. The small bit of contact has your face heating up unexpectedly and you look away.
What's wrong with you?Just an ounce of human contact and you're on fire! Touch starved much?
The other equally reasonable part of you argues otherwise though.
The man is a living, breathing deity of grace and beauty! Anyone with eyes can argue that. How am I still conscious?
And somehow you agree with both.
Once you take the hook, you notice the blood on his left arm.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hook you. I’d be a sorry excuse for a fisherman if I could only fish men."
He offers a short laugh and replies, "That's quite alright. You were just trying to catch a meal.”
Oh, I caught a meal alright...
“I assure you it appears much more garish than it actually is." He pokes around the wound to demonstrate no reaction. “See?”
"Please, it's my fault you’re hurt so I can at least help you clean the wound. My farm’s not too far, I’ll grab a first aid kit and be back.”
You get up from your chair quickly and give him no time to argue. If you were fast enough you could be back within an hour, so you half-sprint the trip back to your farm.
As you look through your medicine cabinet for anything else you might need, you remember the times you hurt yourself with fishing hooks. Sure, they can be annoying to deal with, but that’s really all. You can't really say much for experiencing getting hooked and reeled though.
Catching yourself zoning out, you quickly gather what you need before heading to the dock once more.
You run down the old wooden planks to your chair and pole, but you don’t find the injured stranger there with them.
Confused, you look around in the distance to see if he got out of the water somewhere. As soon as you turn to look behind yourself, you feel something grip your ankle. You shriek and frantically try to kick it off.
“WHAT THE F-”
"Shh! Please don’t scream! It’s me!"
Your ankle is released and you fall backwards onto the dock. Again. You scoot closer to the edge and meet an apologetic gaze. The man was still in the water after all. You give a sigh of utter relief.
“I’m so glad it’s you and not a murderous mythical fish monster...Where did you go?”
“I was diving a bit while you were gone. I’m sorry. It was ill mannered of me to grab you so suddenly,” he said earnestly.
Part of you wonders why he didn't just call out to you but you shrug.
“All is forgiven.”
You place a towel and first aid kit on your fish cooler and motion to the chair next to it.
"Can you get out of the water for me? You can sit on this seat so I can clean you up."
"Um…"
"What’s up?"
He visibly tenses at the question and musters out, "I just don't think I can get up into that seat."
He moves closer to the pier and places his hands on the worn wood before trying to lift himself up and falling back in the water.
“Not a problem man! I’ll help you up.”
“Wait!”
You take a good grip on his arm, muster all the strength you used trying to reel him in the first time, and heave him onto the dock. Your eyes widen when you see that his bottom half isn't human at all. His hips were completely covered in burgundy scales and as he sits himself on the edge of the pier, you realize that his lower body tapers off into a giant tail.
For the second time today you find yourself struggling to find words.
The man--no merman realizes your shock and gives an empty chuckle. "I've scared you again…"
Immediately, you blink and shake your head. "I--I'm just a little surprised, but not scared. You’d be surprised yourself that this doesn’t even top the list!"
Supernatural beings in this town aren’t exactly few and far between, are they?
“Anyways, tail or not, your arm still needs attention. Lift it up for me?”
The man gapes back at you but does as you say. It seems he’s the one left speechless this time.
You grab the disinfectant spray off the cooler and move the bandages to the seat before approaching him.
"This might sting a little."
You spray where the hook had got him and you realize that the gash goes down further than you thought originally. It begins near his shoulder and fades out around the middle of his bicep due to you trying to reel him in. The guilt starts to set in pretty fast as you inspect the wound.
As you try to take your mind off the damage you caused you notice the merman seems lost in thought.
"What's your name?" you ask.
He seems surprised yet relieved by the break in the silence. He slips into a relaxed and elegant smile and says, “Elliott. Might I ask you yours?"
"I’m ____, but most people just call me the farmer around here."
"Then it's very nice to meet you, farmer."
You grab the bandages but then remember that the Elliott would eventually have to go back in the water. So you fiddle with the packaged roll in your hands instead.
"Well, I think I'm done. I can't wrap the wound cause it would be bad if the bandages got wet. Will you be okay?"
"You needn’t worry! It will heal in no time at all and even more so since you helped me." He gives you a very charming smile and you can't help returning it.
He’s really different from everyone else in town, you think to yourself, and not just because of the whole merman situation. Elliott had a mature and sophisticated manner of speaking which was a welcome change of pace. And speaking with him was effortless as it was enchanting. You hoped it wouldn’t be the last time.
"Do you live here?"
The merman frowns slightly before shaking his head. "Unfortunately, I appear to be stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of my home.”
"Oh, are you lost?"
"Not necessarily. I ended up here because I had nowhere else to go. The humans in blue along the coast have closed off any underwater entrance back into the ocean from here."
You tilt your head wondering what he means before it hits you.
Joja.
"The dam--They must have shut it off completely. But they said that they wouldn't!"
Your brow furrows as you try to figure out how this happened. Earlier in the year, Joja had finished the construction of their dam running along the outlet of the river bank to the sea. All you knew about it was bits of information you overheard in the saloon, really, and that helped you remember two things. That the dam was unfortunately an energy powerhouse in Stardew Valley and Joja was only allowed to build the dam under the condition that they could not mess with the river bank’s environment.
Cutting off the sea from the river is a huge interjection! They couldn't even do it without the proper authorization! What could they possibly be hoping to gain from a severed connection between the river and ocean?
Your thoughts come to a halt when you see Elliott giving you a concerned look. The last thing you want to do is give him more reason to worry, so instead you inhale deeply and do your best to comfort him.
"I'm sorry that happened to you. I wish I could help you get back."
He smiles weakly, "Your kindness and concern are enough."
The sentiment was nice but you shake your head. "No, I'm going to help you get back home. I've just decided."
The merman's eyes widen. "But how?"
"...That is a good question." You think for a moment but nothing is really coming to mind.
"I don't know yet but I'm sure we can come up with something eventually!"
Fortunately, that's enough to raise Elliott's spirits. "Perhaps you're right. They do say two heads are better than one."
You smile, but maybe you need to recruit some assistance though.