#from general shy to more scared to mutism and verbal/speaking levels

[self-indulgent-devils]

Valentino with an extremely shy reader. Him just loving to tease and push your comforts all the time. He loves to see the way you get all flustered and blush, giving his big toothy grin as he feels so much power from controlling you. If you're a bigger demon (more height wise, but can be weight too, just closer to his size) then he will especially find it adorable how someone so large can be so shy and sweet.

People wouldn't expect Valentino to like shy people since he's surrounded by confident whores most of the time. But he secretly loves someone that is so shy. They're easier to take advantage of and easier to mess with. Plus he can control them far easier since they'll most likely rely on him.

If you're someone nonverbal or semiverbal or just deal with selective mutism, he will treasure every sound you may give off. He will love to hear what you have to say if you use AAC. (We are semiverbal and so haha big fantasy there ngl.) He'll just watch you with his smug little grin and wait to hear what you have to say. He doesn't mind being patient for someone so precious and trying their best.

You may not be what he typically surrounds himself with. Nothing like Summer or Dia or Angel Dust. Nothing like Vox or Velvette. Even if it makes you insecure, Valentino doesn't care. He'll enjoy every second of you. He likes you after all. And if anyone dared to make you cry or feel like shit because you're shy or semiverbal or scared of people or struggle in any way, Val would lose it. He would kill them on the spot unless he knew it would scare you. Then he'd just have his guards take them away for him to deal with later. He would stroke you just under your chin and speak a soft voice, reassuring you that you are perfect. And if you weren't perfect, he wouldn't be there paying attention to you right now. That he loves you the way you are. That you're a rare treasure. It's not often he meets someone like you in his line of work and so he's going to keep you close and treasure you like you're the most precious and rare gemstone he's ever laid eyes on. He doesn't care what anyone has to say about it and he won't tolerate anyone making you upset or cry. Only *he* can make you feel anything like that. Only *he* can make you feel insecure for his own entertainment. Because you're his and his alone.

He adores you the way you are. Valentino wouldn't want to see you change just because the world expects someone confident and talkative. Valentino doesn't want to see you change because you feel insecure being nothing like his employees or friends. It's you being this way that has caught his attention. To lose what makes you you would be a travesty to him. So he will make sure that you always look to him for love and acceptance and help. Because he wants you to know that he is the only one able to give it to you. He would spend all the money on you because a rare gem like yourself deserves it.

Valentino won't let anyone mock you or shame you for being shyer or easily flustered or even struggling to communicate. No. It's only him that's allowed to tease you about it just to see you get all embarrassed or upset. He loves your reactions to things after all.

And no matter your size, he would love to wrap his wings around you and hold you close against him. Feeling how warm you are and keeping you there like you're sharing a blanket. He rarely does it with anyone aside from Vox and he used to do it with Angel until Angel started pissing him off. So now you're the special one he does it with. It doesn't matter if you're way bigger than him in height or weight, he will still do it. Because you. are. his. And he gets to do with you what he wants. And in that moment, it is wrapping you in his wings. Especially if it makes you feel safer because *he* should be your only sense of safety.

(I have so many ideas omfg. I gotta write a fic of a scenario like this sooner.)

[sirens-gemberry]

So For anyone who knows the blog well enough, ya’ll know about how I did a reference sheet for Ren way back in early-late august. However, alot of the colors were....outdated, to put it lightly. Since then, my art and coloring style has improved; and I wanted to show that through a more updated reference sheet. And yes, I know I didn’t do the fancy highlighting hair thing as I did in other photos- however this is more-so to keep a reference on their base-colors. I could’ve-- and should’ve-- done a color pallet on the side, but eh. It’s a school night. 

Below will be separated in base-game information, route information, and lore information. Proceed carefully, as underneath the readmore is a lot of heavy topics, including all forms of abuse, alcohol, psychological disorders, and suicide. Note; that things are also very, very long underneath the readmore. Stay cautious, farmers! 

Base Game Info (Since it’s hard to read) 

Name: ‘Soren’ Ren E. Sharp 

Age: During Y1, 22

Birthday: Summer 17th, Cancer Zodiac

Pronouns: They/Them

Relations: Crushing on Abigail through Y1, Crushing on and Inevitably Marrying Shane Years 2 and Onward. Best Friends with Emily Fry, and Sam Velarms. Familial relationships with Yasmine Sharp; their sister, and eventually Harvey Lancaster- her husband. By Years 5, they are related to Nova Hale, their daughter, and Year 13; Finch Hale, their adopted daughter.

Hates: Rocks, Cave flies, Smoking

Dislikes: Milk, Alcohol (Post Year 3), Wild Horseradish, Fish (Aside from Tuna)

Likes: Cranberries, Fairy Flowers, Ruby

Loves: Fire Opal, Peaches, Apples, Summer Spangle

Proficiencies: Creative Arts, Creative Writing, Fishing, Animal Ranching 

Inept Skills: Mining, Combat, Social Interaction

Route Interactions (Ments of Alcohol, Suicide, etc. Proceed with Caution.)

0-2 Hearts: Very Suspicious and On guard, However they appear lighthearted and cheerful- even going as far as to regard the player as a friend upon first interaction. However, when asked about certain aspects of their life they immediately shy away from it, instead diverting the topic back to the player. It’s not until 2 hearts that they talk about their sister, and her somewhat aggressive nature; mostly apologizing for it. The more time goes on though, the more times they’re found in the saloon- very drunk- or just not within the town; instead opting to stay home. 

3 Hearts: At this point they start trusting the player more, and in one noted scene they are caught drawing on their front porch. They ask if you want to watch them draw, and eventually asking if you wish to draw something as well. They seem happy to do so, however there’s a noted touch of some melancholy under their tones. 

4 Hearts: As time goes on, the cheerful facade has started to fade, giving away to something darker that they either don’t know about or- more likely- refuse to acknowledge. 

5 Hearts: The player finds them in the midst of a suicide attempt gone awry around 12 AM, and ends up having to haul them over to Harvey’s clinic in the middle of the night. It’s there once having to go through being patched up and what-not that; that they come clean to the player on how everything they’ve been feeling, but still being uncertain about getting help. Through the player’s choices, they either will then or will within a later point in the game. 

6-8 Hearts: A lot happens within this time frame; including coming out to the rest of the town as a transmasculine nonbinary, as well as bisexual. Depending on the 5 heart event, the 7 heart scene includes helping them go to counseling for the first time; as they’re too scared to go on their own. Through this, you find out more about their true personality beyond the depressive and cheerful facades they put up. The 8 heart scene follows a touch more on their romantic aspect, asking the player to dance with them on the beach as one of their more spontaneous acts; but for the first time they seem genuinely happy. At least, the slight sliver of happiness that starts coming through. 

9-10 Hearts: After properly asking them out-- usually a much more teary cutscene than the normal one within the game itself-- they start acting more on their own accord, and visually brightening up around the player. Gifts from them will be more plentiful than in other heart levels, and notes will be genuinely romantic and well written. Their 10 heart Cutscene goes into how they’re happy that they met the player, and thanking them for being patient with them. Depending on the 5 Heart scene, they’ll either thank them as well for either encouraging them to go, or if they didn’t- that they do plan on going after today. They do then initiate a small but nervous kiss with the player just as its starting to rain, before nervously scampering off with a nervous apology- not giving the player ample time to respond to it. 

11-12 Hearts: If the player is within a relationship with them for over a year, there will be a cutscene where they propose to the player on one of their dates. However, if the player proposes to them first, they’ll get emotional and- depending on the player’s treatment to them- will say yes or no. The wedding is usually 3-4 days after the proposal all the same, and they wear a genuinely ambiguous outfit for their wedding. Afterwards, when they move in; they act usually very sweet and patient with the player, however there are instances where they won’t leave bed or the house due to a depressive mood. It’s noted that after the 10 heart cutscene, that they’ve started an antidepressant which the player will occasionally remind them of. They seem eternally grateful for the player, always having something either sappy to say- or borderline creepy due to their possessive nature. 

Lore Insight

Living with their sister, Yasmine, isn’t quite the walk in the park that they expected to on the farm. After all, dealing with their past mistakes and their past life is difficult- it constantly seeming to find a way to sneak back into their life. Especially considering there seems to be alot of bugs, and glitches, sneaking into the game. This is due to the nature of the 4th wall’s breaking coming with Yasmine knowing of her ability to shift between games other than Stardew Valley- and eventually Ren coming through with this ability as well. However, with Ren, the case is different since they cannot remember their adventures, besides what they see in their dreams. This explains how they hop between different save-files, and such of that nature. 

Depending on the year, they can go from a fake kind of bubbly behavior, to a depressive and anxious mess; however in later years they seem genuinely calm and happy. This is due to over time that their boyfriend and eventually husband; and their whole family being there through the recovery process as they come to terms with themselves, and get the help they need. Unlike in Shane’s route; they take much longer to recover and to start feeling something other than suicidal thoughts. 

Also depending on the year, they can be refered to as feminine or nonbinary/masculine pronouns, as they do come out as LGBTQ+ in late year 3. 

They are good in many things, especially in the creative department- and strive to try everything within the creative aspect at least once. Their other interests include gaming, cooking, taking care of animals, and spending time with their loved ones. They also enjoy riding on their horse, Jynx, and spending time by the small makeshift pier by the river down past Marnie’s farm. 

Depending on the time of the year, they either wear a daisy, tropically colored clip, or earmuffs on their head. It’s usually never drawn, mostly due to the artist’s forgetting. Shhh I’m sorry- 

Their mental disorders include Chronic Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and possible specks on the Autism Spectrum. Due to this, they have issues trying to maintain relationships due to their social ineptness, and sometimes need to be alerted as to what social cues are when, and to what’s going on during some aspects. They also have many sensory issues, mostly tactile and listening processing. Due to this; they absolutely cannot go to the city without noise cancelling headphones, or just headphones in general for their own music. Otherwise, they’ll go into a sensory overload, which usually involves an internal panic attack, selective mutism, and in most times as a result they end up exhausted and falling asleep at any chance they get. At any time like this, they usually get verbally despondent, and emotionally detached from themselves and others. And usually, simply some time alone in a more quiet or desolate environment will calm them back down to their usual self. With their anxiety, it’s the exact opposite, instead getting overwhelmed with emotion to the point it debilitates their logic and reasoning. They usually turn into a shaking, sobbing mess that only company and time can solve, and sometimes the aftereffects take hours, or even over the span of a day or two to mend. This goes for their depression as well, and their PTSD mostly plays into their nightmares, or certain triggering people and names. Usually, this ends up with a mixture between their anxiety and sensory overload, where they will have a silent panic attack, a shaking wheezing mess that usually only their music can get them back in touch with reality. Usually they’re hardly able to speak during this time, so all that can really be done besides leave them be to listen to music- especially during the nightmares- and if they permit it, physical affection or attention. It’s also due to their PTSD that they are hesitant to have any sexual relationships. It’s also due to this, that it takes over a year after being married to decide to take the next step in their relationship and have a child of their own- even after insisting they never would want one. 

Alot of their PTSD surrounds their home life previously, and their past relationships. After all, they dealt with physical and mental abuse from their parents, psychological and emotional abuse from their past partners, and sexual and psychological abuse at work. Ontop of this; many of their friends had left them over the years, due to their own their own lack of social adeptness. 

Despite eventually getting beyond their sexual fears, they are actually less sexually active than most of their friends. Also despite this; Yasmine still likes teasing Ren that they’re sexual every other day. Their therapist does mention on occasion that being more sexually active might be more healthy for their marriage with their husband, but have yet to follow on that due to their inexperience with following through. 

Underneath their bandages along their arms are many, many scars. Depending on the year, they look either more recent, or faded in time as they stop doing self-harm as a means of unhealthy coping. They also have scars along their cheek, neck, and their right shoulder and arm as time goes on- due to their injuries and misadventures. Underneath however, they seem to have chest scars from the transitioning chest surgery they have in year 11, and a scar along their stomach from a stomach surgery back in year 1-2. They have one last scar along their back, from yet another misadventure leading to a need to be patched up later by Harvey. 

Because of their ADHD, they can sometimes space out entirely for several moments at a time, before snapping back to reality. This is due to their focus, which definitely wanes between having hyperfocus days, and ones where they can’t even focus on anything around them. They also have days of super high energy, and severely low energy. 

Because of their past relationships, which were either abusive or emotionally detatched, they didn’t have much of a sense of how they should be treated. Just as well, they feel like they need to earn simple little things like compliments, affection, and such of the like. Overtime though, due to their touchstarved nature, they become almost addicted to the physical touch- especially so of their husband. As a result, they can be overly affectionate.

Despite their lack of knowledge of intimacy- due to a lack of knowing of anything besides the abuse in the past- they seem to have a poetic grasp on it. To them, it’s the little habits that no one else sees, amongst friends, family, or romantic partners. To them; intimacy isn’t inherently sexual, but it’s personal. Something they do try to explain to Shane, even if he may or may not understand as well as they do with the way they explain it. 

Due to the stress of their past, and sometimes of the present- their immune system is absolute garbage. Because of this, they have a severe tendency to get very, very sick. Because of this, also, they have small more permanant illnesses, such as a stomach disorder that can cause them severe pain without specific medication. 

Going off of that, despite how often they get sick- they have a horrible habit of refusing to take medication. In the past; Yasmine, Harvey, and Shane would need to keep them pinned down so they actually take the medication- going so far as to waterboarding them to actually take it. 

Ren is also a very water-spirited person, despite nearly drowning many times in their life. They love involving themselves with things water related; including taking showers and swimming often enough. Though usually they are sheepish about swimming due to body discomfort and swimsuit self-consciousness, so they just tend to shower often- especially after a bad day. It’s also for this reason they love storms and rainy weather so much. 

Despite not feeling like they’ve earned compliments, and such, they absolutely revel in them despite how modest they act about it. Especially ones about how appreciated they really are, considering they constantly feel like a pain in the ass.

Their natural personality is actually surprisingly goofy and cheerful, which is possibly why that the original facade they hold up within the game. However, their goofiness and cheerful is very genuine as they recover, that side of them returning full force. While they can be very mature at times when its needed, they do prefer acting more soft and lighthearted. 

Due to either their abuse in the past, or perhaps their autistic probability, they do have days where their natural empathetic personality can be completely nonexistent- instead falling into an apathetic state. They have a higher tendency to get in trouble in this kind’ve mindset, so it’s best to keep them inside.

They can also be extremely possessive, similarly to a Semi-Lucid, but Selfish yandere. These days usually can be resolved with a day of physical attention. However, in this state, their jealousy and self-consciousness goes into overdrive.They have the capacity to hurt others, though not their lover, in this state- out of fear of losing them.