norinenglish - Tumblr blog

[norinenglish]

Joining the reblog with rises the moon and hello my old heart. (I will listen the suggested song I don’t know tho, thanks for the Recs)

Adding;

The Scientist by Codplay

Almost Gone and If You Knew by My Terrible Friend

Passerine but the Oh Hellos

If I Go, Im Goin by Gregory Alan Isakov

Nothing New by Rio Romeo

What Was I Made For by Billie Eilish

Soothsayer and Ghost Towns from Haunted Like Human.

Sorry most of them are sad. That’s how I cope.

@chickabot do you have anymore suggestions?

maybe... reply with songs that reminds you of Team Rancher. I want to make a playlist <3

[norinenglish]

Stardew Rancher AU - Quest: Getting Started

Here's the beginning of Jimmy's Day 1 as a farmer! I like the quest approach to things. Don't hesitate to request things about this au!

>> Part One | Next Part

Jimmy wakes up at 6 am. He’s a bit stressed about his new life, although he slept well. He figures it’s not so bad. 

“I’m a farmer now,” he says after sitting up.

He looks around the small one-room cabin he lives in. It’s not much. It doesn’t even have a kitchen. But somehow, it feels so much more heartwarming than the studio he rented in the big city. This is his.

He gets up and pokes at the fire’s embers to revive them, putting a log in the chimney to keep it burning. He turns on the TV, surprised that something pops on. Most of it is static, but there are two clear channels. The first one is the weather forecast and the second one is a weird show with a mysterious person giving a fortune reading. 

He turns it off and turns around to the small round table. There’s a package on it waiting for him and a note: “Here’s a little something to get you started. - Mayor Grian.” Ripping the wrapper reveals a pack of seeds. He can plant 15 parsnips with that.

“You can do it,” he tells himself. 

He puts on fresh clothes and walks to the door. Before opening it, he notices the old wooden chest next to it. He pushes the lid and peer. A surprised sound escapes his throat when he sees what’s inside. 

There are five items carefully set there. 

An axe, a pickaxe, a hoe, a scythe and a watering can.

They’re old and battered, but clean. Another person might scoff at them, but it feels like Christmas to him. 

He’s a farmer now. 

He doubts it, but he tells himself that those tools are his grandpa’s. That they’ve been used and cherished and left aside for him. And with them, he can follow in his grandpa’s footsteps. 

🌿 loading🌿

He takes to it quite quickly. Using the scythe to clear out some of the tall grass in front of his porch, clearing some dead wood and mining a few rocks to have enough space for a small field. The nearest pond comes in handy when it comes to watering the crops. 

Once all of that is done he straightens back and wipes his forehead. He’s incredibly tired already, but he takes the time to admire his work. 

The sun is shining. The air feels fresh. Jimmy feels alive.

[norinenglish]

I'm tempted to have Pearl be a customer rather than a worker, though

Guys, I am working on a Plate Up fic. (It’s been in my draft for so long but that’s beside the point.) It starts with Skizz cover a shift at Ren and BigB’s café and meeting Jim there. Two other workers were sick. Who should they be? Help me decide.

I’m hesitating between False, Pearl, Martyn or another hermit maybe?

It’s so inconsequential to the story but I still want it to be perfect 😅 What do you guys think?

Just FYI, things have been mostly Double life inspired so far but I’m up to be swayed.

[norinenglish]

Guys, I am working on a Plate Up fic. (It’s been in my draft for so long but that’s beside the point.) It starts with Skizz cover a shift at Ren and BigB’s café and meeting Jim there. Two other workers were sick. Who should they be? Help me decide.

I’m hesitating between False, Pearl, Martyn or another hermit maybe?

It’s so inconsequential to the story but I still want it to be perfect 😅 What do you guys think?

Just FYI, things have been mostly Double life inspired so far but I’m up to be swayed.

[norinenglish]

Dude y’all are INSANE! It’s only been a few days and this video is already approaching 10k views. Absolutely BONKERS!

Thank you all for so much love on this little project, I’m so so happy everyone has been enjoying it as much as they have! From the bottom of my heart, thank you so very much. 💕

(And to all of you in the comments saying you hope Grian finds it? Or that you want Martyn and Jimmy to react to it? My god I might actually lose my damn mind if they do AUSBDJD.)

[If you’re curious, the video can be found here.]

[norinenglish]

They both didn’t expect it. They both fell so hard it’s dizzying. Jimmy was expecting to be angry at Tango after their first death but then Tango was there, apologizing so much, and Jimmy softened. Tango didn’t know what to do, especially with everybody else’s expecting him to be upset and/or betray Jimmy. Every time he tries to put on a front (and he did try) and be wary or say Jimmy wasn’t doing anything for them, Jimmy came home and Tango melted. It turned out it became them against the world and I love this pair so much for that

I need this for an au

Wanna know which direction the fandom thinks the fell first, fell harder trope is

[norinenglish]

Chapter 10 is up!! Posting it today to celebrate the Gamers Outreach charity. If you're reading this on thre 6th or 7th of April 2024, please consider donating! Even 1 dollar goes a long way. <3

(Also Ranchers Meeting IRL!)

[norinenglish]

And here's a teaser for chapter 10 👀

Zed Memes for The Canary of the Black Mines

About Chapter 4 (available on AO3)

[norinenglish]

Zed Memes for The Canary of the Black Mines

About Chapter 4 (available on AO3)

[norinenglish]

PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. I unstuck myself. My friend tells me it’s fine and I’m going to trust them. The chapter is about 90% done. I’ll wrap it up and edit it. Will post Sunday at the latest.

Current word count: 4,8k

The Canary of the Black Mines - writing update on Chapter 10

Chapter 10 (of this fic) is the second part of things I wanted to cram into the last chapter. Basically, it's more Hermits meeting Jimmy. I started with some writing already but I've made some more progress with Gem! Current word count: 3,3k.

[norinenglish]

just for giggles and bc i only just learned how to create an image grid (thank you @crokitheloki) here's a little tag game of my own!

go to pinterest and search: 1. the color top you're wearing + aesthetic 2. the current weather + core 3. first word of your most recently listened song + aesthetic 4. your favorite mythical/magical creature + core 5. last meal you ate (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, etc) + aesthetic 6. a word from the title of a favorite childhood book + core

i am genuinely just curious what will happen

it's a little goofy but it was fun hehe

all mutuals welcome to join!!! but i'll tag a few people just for fun (: @random-knowone @constable-rohza @firelight-amber @crokitheloki @catenpointe @comm-o-dorable

[norinenglish]

Sorry guys it’s taking so long. I am absolutely terrified of messing up Pearl’s characterization. I don’t know how to write her. I’ll try to not let that stop me and you guys can well at me in the comments if it’s too bad 😩

Current word count: 4,2k

The Canary of the Black Mines - writing update on Chapter 10

Chapter 10 (of this fic) is the second part of things I wanted to cram into the last chapter. Basically, it's more Hermits meeting Jimmy. I started with some writing already but I've made some more progress with Gem! Current word count: 3,3k.

[norinenglish]

HERMITCRAFT SEASON 9 MAP FREE ON BEDROCK YOOHOO

[norinenglish]

Next Stop: Pelican Town // Stardew Valley AU

Ever since @norinenglish posted about their stardew ranchers fic concept I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head, so I've decided to make it everybody's problem.

I'm not going to be following the farmer's story beat for beat, instead, I'm just taking it as a loose inspiration and seeing where it takes me. Is there going to be more? Who knows, certainly not me!

First draft of Jimmy coming to the valley can be found under the cut :D

The bus travelled down the lonely highway, the slight unevenness of the road sending Jimmy’s head bumping against the window. There were endless mountain ranges just on the other side of the glass and peaking between the small crevices he could even see the ocean. Verdant grass covered every inch of the place—such a far cry from the dull greys of Zuzu City. 

Which, he supposed was the point. Looking back at it, it was only a matter of time before the city chipped away at the last bits of himself until all that remained was just a shallow husk of a being. It was too loud, too full, too much. 

Though who was he kidding? He could blame all his recent troubles on the city all he wanted, it wouldn’t get him anywhere. There was no guarantee things would get better in Pelican Town either. 

Positive thoughts, Jimmy, warned Pearl’s voice somewhere in the back of his head. Positive thoughts. 

Right. Things at least—probably?—couldn’t get any worse than they had been. And now he at least wouldn’t have to burden his cousins with coming all the way out to Zuzu City to keep an eye on him. 

It had been their idea to have him move back to Stardew Valley in the first place. Grian had suggested he stay with him up in the spare bedroom of his cabin, though Jimmy had resisted the idea with all his might. He’d caused them enough trouble as it was. The last thing they needed was to have him leeching off their kindness at all hours of the day and invading their personal space. 

After that conversation though, the incessant need to move out of that city to get away increased tenfold, until his small apartment full of stuff that wasn’t even his own began closing in on him, until there was no longer enough space for him to even breathe. 

“What about Gramps’ old farm?” Grian had asked as they were lounging on the couch one evening. “You wouldn’t have us breathing down your neck all the time there and we’d be a few minutes walk out if you ever needed company.” 

“Have you been to that place at all in the past few years? It’s so overgrown you can barely get to the house!” Protested Pearl. Her legs were draped across the both of them while she nursed a bowl of popcorn in her arms. 

“Okay, so it needs a little bit of cleaning up—”

“Understatement of the year.” 

“—but it would solve our conundrum here, right Timmy?” 

Two sets of eyes turned to stare at him as Jimmy shifted uncomfortably in his seat and pretended he’d still been paying attention to the long-forgotten movie playing in the background. 

“I… I think I’d need to sleep on it.” 

Up until that point he hadn’t thought about the old ranch much. Though he had spent most of his early childhood there, he and his mum moved to Zuzu City after Grandpa passed away. He can’t even remember if they ever came back to visit, although that’s not exactly something he could ever blame her for. What was there to return for besides memories now painted over by grief?

He had loved that place to bits as a kid. How could he not? It was a pocket of the world that always felt as if it had been carved out just for him, endless fields and meadows he could run around until he could no longer catch his breath, chasing around friends whose faces he could barely recall anymore. And the animals—the chickens, the cows, the goats, creatures that at times understood him better than any person could. He wanted to become a vet because of them, though that dream was now long forgotten, locked away with every other ambition. 

It had been the happiest he’d ever been. 

That realisation had hooked its claws underneath his ribs and refused to disappear, reminding him of its existence with each breath he took. 

He could have that again if he gave it a try. 

At first, he attempted to squash that idea down as best he could, to lock it away in a small box tucked at the very back of his mind. It tasted too much like the sickly sweetness of false hope and he wouldn’t—couldn’t let himself be overtaken by it again before he inevitably came crashing down into reality. 

But it was too persistent, growing louder and louder the further down he attempted to push it. So, when he had gone through the few things he still owned from back then and found the deed to the old ranch tucked between photo albums and Grandpa’s old books, it felt as though fate had made the decision for him. 

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

It was all too soon that the bus hissed to a halt at a small clearing with barely any indication that there was a bus stop to begin with, besides a ticket machine tucked to the side that anyone could miss easily if they didn’t know it was there. With dread and anticipation both mixing in the pit of his stomach, he stepped out into the open. 

“Timmy!” 

Before he processed what was going on, there was an arm that hooked around his neck, pulling him down enough for Grian to reach and ruffle his blond hair. It took him a moment to pull out of the grasp. 

“What happened to a good old-fashioned hello?” 

“Welcome to Stardew Valley!” A theatrical voice boomed from the side, immediately catching Jimmy’s attention. 

On the dirt path leading to the bus stop stood a man dressed in elegant reddish clothing. He leaned heavily on an ornate cane while his other hand held a matching tophat. A wide smile overtook his features. Behind him he caught a glimpse of Pearl, sitting on a wooden fence.

The stranger made his way over to them. “I’m Scar, mayor of Pelican Town.” He offered a small bow, before placing the tophat back on his head and offering Jimmy the now free hand. 

“I’m—I’m Jimmy Solidarity.” He stumbled over his words as he shook the hand of this clearly important man. His brain wasn’t going to let him forget that for weeks to come. 

If he noticed anything amiss, Scar didn’t comment on it. “I’ve heard a lot about you! It’s not every day someone new moves it. It’s quite a big deal! The entirety of Pelican Town is anxious to meet you.” 

The words sent Jimmy’s stomach tying up in knots and though he attempted to cover that up as best he could, the pitying look Pearl sent his way told him he hadn’t done a good job at it. 

“How ‘bout we take him to the cabin first, yeah? I’m sure others are gonna be able to wait until he gets settled in.” 

Scar’s smile never wavered. “Why of course, of course. Just follow me!” 

An uncanny feeling crept up his spine as they walked down the dirt path he must’ve walked through thousands of times as a child. It seemed much smaller now, the wooden fences surrounding it were much worse for wear. Something so familiar growing into something foreign. 

They stopped once they reached another big clearing and oh—he’d thought Pearl had been exaggerating about how overgrown the property had become. But weeds and debris stretched as far as he could see and where there used to be fields full of crops now grew sturdy trees. 

And the house… Well, it looked as though no one had set foot in or around it in more than a decade, which he supposed must have been the case. 

“Told you it was bad,” Pearl half-snickered, though there was no real malice in her tone. 

“You’re exaggerating! With enough time this can all be fixed up easily.” 

“Says the carpenter. The house looks like it’s being held together with duct tape and Gramps’ old stubbornness! Are you sure this is even safe to stay in?” 

Grian waved a hand in dismissal. “I went to check it over a few days back. It’s not a luxury hotel or anything, it’s covered in about an inch layer of dust and I’m pretty sure most of the wiring and plumbing needs to be redone, but it’s not going to collapse at a moment's notice.”

“Reassuring,” Jimmy chimed in, though his gaze wouldn’t leave the old house. It stood tall, with warm-toned wooden walls and a big front porch leading to the reddish front door. The attic window had been broken, with plastic stapled on from the inside to prevent rain from soaking the inside. 

This was what had become of his childhood home. A broken, empty mess. 

“I mean, it’s got character, it’s rustic!” Scar jumped in.

“Crusty’s a better way to put it—” 

“Listen,” Grian jumped in, cutting off whatever Pearl was about to say. “I’ll help you get it back into proper shape as long as you’ll get all the materials, deal?” 

Jimmy mumbled something vaguely affirmative as he continued staring at the overgrown ranch in front of him. 

It was going to be one hell of a fresh start

[norinenglish]

Made some progress! Now Pearlo's in the game. Not entirely sure I like how it unfolded so I'm goign to continue picking at it.

Current word count: 3,8k.

The Canary of the Black Mines - writing update on Chapter 10

Chapter 10 (of this fic) is the second part of things I wanted to cram into the last chapter. Basically, it's more Hermits meeting Jimmy. I started with some writing already but I've made some more progress with Gem! Current word count: 3,3k.

[norinenglish]

Stardew Rancher AU - Quest: Introductions

Meeting Tango

At this point, things are non-linear. You're welcome to ask for scenes you'd like to see!

>> Part One | Next Part

Jimmy walks into the house, which, by the sound of the bell ringing when he pushes the door, he figures is a shop. There is indeed a counter directly in front of the entryway and further away a huge furnace with an anvil. 

A man is standing next to it, with his back to him. He’s wearing a sturdy leather apron, gloves and goggles. He’s using a hammer to it on something. 

The blacksmith, Jimmy thinks. 

He puts whatever he was hammering into a bucket of water - the water puffs as it cools the hot metal down. The man straightens up and clicks his tongue. 

“I told you, Impulse, I already gave you all the gold I- Oh.” 

His surprise makes Jimmy flounder uncomfortably. He removes his protective gear and approaches quickly, hesitating before offering a hand to shake. 

“Er. Hi. I’m Tango. I'm the town blacksmith. If you ever need to upgrade your tools, I'm your guy.”

His hand is warm and firm, and a bit rough. It’s the hand of someone who’s used to manual labour. Pretty typical around here, Jimmy’s realizing. 

“Oh. I didn’t realise I would need to upgrade them,” he comments stupidly, staring into the man’s reddish eyes. 

“Well, I’ve only given you spare ones,” Tango says. “They’re good for the basics, but they could be more efficient. I don’t have the materials to make them though, so you’ll have to procure me copper, steel, and so on.”

They’re still holding each other’s hand, even though they’ve stopped shaking after Tango’s first sentence. Jimmy clears his throat and lets go. 

“Sorry. I’m Jimmy, by the way. I moved here yesterday, in the-”

“The Ranch, right? I used to go there when I was a kid. I’m glad someone’s taking care of the old thing.”

Jimmy smiles timidly. “I’ll try.” 

Tango returns his smile, chasing a bit of his anxiety. Perhaps meeting people can be easy. It feels very easy with Tango. 

“Imma head out. Thank you for the tools. I’ll see you around?”

He kinda hates how hopeful and pathetic his voice sounds. But Tango grins at him and nods several times, so he guesses it’s OK. 

“Yeah, it’s bound to happen in a small town like ours. You’ll see a lot of me.”Good, Jimmy doesn’t say.

[norinenglish]

OKAY SO I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE WRITTEN AN INTO CUTSCENE FOR @norinenglish’s RANCHER SDV AU

I haven’t been able to get it out of my head so it all kind of just fell out. Scene is under the cut :)

The buzzing of the fluorescent overhead lights is loud in the silence of the warehouse. It’s freezing, but Jimmy’s been working for so long in this miserable place that he barely feels the cold anymore.

Jimmy glances to the side, his focus lingering on the Joja observer for just a second too long. The green light on his desk buzzes - his first warning to get back to work before a supervisor comes out to set him straight. He shakes his head and focuses on the screen again.

All around him is the sound of the lifeless husks he’s supposed to call co workers doing their own work. They’re basically Joja robots at this point; unresponsive, bland, fun-resistant bags of flesh. Its crude, but it’s reality. It’s what Joja does - the place sucks the life out of you until you’re nothing but a cog in the corporate machine.

When Jimmy first moved to the city he remembered being full of spirit. He was ready to take on the world, to make his own way in life. Then the money started running out and he had to resort to working for Joja. He’d forced himself to endure the soul sucking 9-to-5 with the intention of only working there for a few months until he found something more permanent.

That was three years ago.

Joja has a way of sucking you in. When you want to leave they offer some new bonus or minor pay rise, often barely better than what you were making before. If that doesn’t work then it’s time for the guilt trip. You feel obligated to stay because Joja helped you survive in the city up to this point. Whatever you do, you can’t leave.

Jimmy is twenty-three now and his life has gone nowhere. He had prospects as a twenty-year-old moving out on his own, he had it all going for him! Uni, a loving family, friends by his side. That was until he joined Joja, until the hours got longer and the gap between him and those he loves grew wider and wider until it’s now too far to fix.

He’s totally and utterly alone. He was given a harsh reality check moving into the city. When he couldn’t afford his rent and was almost kicked out before he marched into that small Joja branch with his resume in hand, needing work for a couple of months until there was something better. Now he’s still there, and he hates it.

The realisation comes crashing over Jimmy like a wave. He hates his life. There’s no ignoring the fact - he just hates it. Now that he thinks about it there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where he hasn’t lamented his situation, hasn’t missed the true things in life.

Jimmy misses it all. He misses running through long grasses in the park as a kid, chasing his friends to the swingset. He misses his mum taking his hand and leading him out to the garden, spending Autumn afternoons picking blackberries. He misses reading a book in the light of an oil lamp during a thunderstorm - listening to the rain pound against the window.

A memory springs forth in his head - of a firelit cabin and his grandfather’s warm hands clasping his for the final time - and it clicks. Jimmy slowly reaches for the drawer beside him and pulls out the yellowed parchment letter with a purple wax stamp. He opens it with shaking hands.

Dear Jimmy,

If you’re reading this, you must be in dire need of a change.

The same thing happened to me, long ago. I’d lost sight of what mattered most in life… real connections with other people and nature. So I dropped everything and moved to the place I truly belong.

That emptiness you feel, the misery, that’s not what life is supposed to be like.

I’ve enclosed the deed to the place i mentioned, my pride and joy: The Ranch. It’s located in Stardew Valley, on the southern coast. It’s the perfect place to start your new life.

This was my most precious gift of all, and now it’s yours. I know you’ll honour the family, my boy.

Love, Grandpa.

PS. If young Grian is still living in town, do say hello for me. I believe he’s around your age.

Jimmy folds the letter and tucks it close to his chest, tears spilling down his cheeks. He remembers his Grandfather clearly now that the Joja fog has dissipated. It strikes him how the images of his life before Zuzu City have faded into a blur, and how empty he feels inside, living here.

He needs a change. He needs to start over.

***

It takes less than a day to get his affairs in order.

After reading the letter, Jimmy stomped into his manager’s office and quit. His house is full of rented furniture, and what he does own he can fit into a big duffle bag. He paid the last of his rent then ended his month-to-month lease with his landlord.

Now he sits at the bus stop, bundled in his Grandpa’s old cardigan, waiting for his ride into the valley. He has the barest memories of the place from when he was a child - a small, homely cabin with an expanse of painstakingly grown crops out the front, the old oak tree he used to spend his afternoons in while his Grandpa worked on the farm.

The letter is a weight in his pocket, and the words that his Grandpa wrote loop through his head like a broken record. It’s his driving force, a reminder of why he’s leaving.

This isn’t what life is supposed to be like.

Jimmy gets on the bus when it pulls into the stop, and for once, he doesn’t look back.