#marnie deserves better than mayor lewis

[rebelscumlena]

Space Sailor

Pairing: Marnie x Willy (Stardew Valley)

Word Count: 2.4K

Summary: It’s common knowledge in Pelican Town that there’s something going on between Marnie and Mayor Lewis. But how exactly did Marnie end up with Lewis? Wasn’t she seeing someone prior to him? Could it possibly be the fisherman who’s constantly watching her from across the Saloon? Why aren’t they together anymore?

A/N: Not the way I expected to get back into fanfiction, but I’ll take it. The Dynamic Writing Duo is back at it again! This idea was developed a week ago when @javier-djarin​ and I went down a rabbit hole of SV conspiracies, and the song Space Cowboy by Kacey Musgraves made it complete. Thank you as always to @javier-djarin​ for being my beta on my stories and giving me encouragement to write. Your usual recipe of teeth rotting fluff and soul crushing angst is here! Enjoy! ��

The music from the jukebox and the smell of pizza flooded Willy’s senses as he entered the Stardrop Saloon. Another Friday night meant just about everyone had shown up to celebrate the end of another long week. The younger ones were off playing pool in the side room, Robin and Demetrius were tearing up the dance floor, and Clint was waiting at their usual table with a cold pint ready for him. 

“How’s the ocean, Willy?” Clint asked, sliding over the glass of beer as Willy took his seat.

“Same as usual. How’s the forge?”

“Same as usual.”

The two friends chuckled at their little banter before clinking their glasses and taking a swig. They fell into some light conversation about their weeks, occasionally getting up to get another round. Although Willy always made sure that it was Clint’s turn to get drinks when Emily was up at the bar counter. He was a good friend in that way. He understood more than most what it meant to pine after someone. 

Willy finished his pint just as Clint went up for another round.  He focused his gaze on the little droplets of ale running down the side of his glass before pooling at the bottom. He knew what would happen if his eyes wandered across the Saloon. But desire got the best of him. Willy’s eyes swept across the bar, landing on her.

Marnie had always been able to draw his attention in a crowd. At all the festivals and events held over the years, he never failed to miss her. As painful as it was to think about their past, he preferred her attention then compared to now, because every time he took notice of her nowadays, Lewis was always lingering in her shadow.  It was no secret the mayor was interested in Marnie, even though he was adamant there was nothing going on between them. 

Lewis returned to the petite woman with another round of drinks, drawing a huff out of the old mariner. Sure, nothing going on, Willy thought as he drew his attention back to the droplets in his glass. Where was Clint with a new one?

Marnie had seen Willy’s lingering gaze. She always noticed when he was watching her. She could feel his gaze like a gentle caress: warm and comforting. Despite the many years that had passed and the fact that Mayor Lewis had been keeping her attention as of late, she wished Willy would look at her the same way he used to all those years ago. Back then his gaze was tender and loving, now it was always filled with remorse.

It was the summer before Marnie turned 20 when Willy and his Pappy had decided to settle in Pelican Town. She remembered seeing him around town as she grew up, but he always seemed to disappear the next day. Guess that’s what being raised by a mariner meant. But Willy’s Pappy was getting on in years, and so Willy had decided to open the Fish Shop down by the docks. He could make money and still let his Pappy enjoy the salty air.

It started as all young love usually does with a summer romance. She had just gone to buy a fishing pole and some bait for her older brother, and suddenly she was being charmed by Willy. The slightly older young man was tanned from all his time being out on the water and he smelled of mead and the ocean, instead of the piss and vinegar she heard most sailors described with. Willy was mild mannered and humble. That day she left with her brother’s birthday gifts and a promise to meet Willy that evening on the docks. And every night after that…

“Marnie, dear?”

Marnie jolted back to the present, her eyes focused on Lewis who was looking at her in slight annoyance.

“I’m sorry, Lewis. What were you saying?” she asked, taking a sip of her drink.

“I was just saying that Pierre claims I’m going to have to start special ordering truffle oil from now on since it’s too expensive to keep in stock. Isn’t that just ridiculous? And after all the corners I’ve cut for him.” Lewis guffawed in derision before taking a long pull from his drink.

Marnie gave a light chuckle, her mind beginning to wander again when she noticed Clint showing Willy a crystal he pulled from his apron.

Quartz, Marnie mused. He’s always been a sucker for quartz.

She had noticed he was collecting quartz one summer after his Pappy had passed. Not thinking much of it, Marnie ended up bringing him some quartz she had found on a hike up near the mountain. 

“I don’t know why you’re collecting them, but I saw this one and figured you could use it,” she stated, pressing the little crystal into the palm of his hand.

He gave her the warmest smile, his eyes watering a bit before pulling her into a deep embrace. Without a word, he then pulled her up from the dock they had been sitting on and took her inside the Fish Shop. Behind the counter, he pulled out a little wire hanger that had bits of quartz hanging off of various length strings: a sun catcher.

“I was thinking of hanging it up in the windows. Figured it would make this place a little more homey,” Willy said, a blush slowly rising to his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his head, “especially when you come around.” 

Marnie had jumped across the counter to plant a firm kiss on his lips, the largest grin on her face. She’d known how she felt about Willy for a while, but she waited for him to give her some sign that he felt the same: this was her sign.

After that day, it was rare that Marnie wasn’t down at the docks. Her parents were initially against the idea of Marnie spending all her time with the fisherman, but so long as her chores at the Ranch were completed, there wasn’t much they could say. Marnie was happy, and there were worse options than the fisherman.

Meanwhile, Willy was still in slight disbelief that he had managed to catch Marnie’s eye in the first place. She was the prettiest woman in town, and surely had better prospects than a weathered man who would perpetually smell of fish. Yet she had agreed to meet him that evening all those years ago, where he taught her how to bait a fishing pole so she could show her brother. She had come back almost every night since, joining him to watch the sunset and chat about their days. After a few months, they’d shared their first kiss on the docks. They’d exchanged birthday gifts, told each other secrets no one else would know, and even renamed his Pappy’s boat the Manatee. It wasn’t too long after that Willy was presenting Marnie with a bouquet of flowers.

But then he’d received a job offer out in the Fern Islands. It would make good money, but it meant Willy would be out at sea for months. He’d been nervous to tell Marnie about it one evening as they sat on the docks to watch the sunset. But when she told him to take the job, he was stunned. “And when you come home,” she had said, “I’ll be here on this dock waiting for you.”

The disappearing sunlight outlined her face perfectly, and he swore she’d never looked more beautiful than she had in that moment with a daisy from her bouquet nestled in her braid.

A week later, Willy and Marnie shared a passionate kiss on the docks before he set off on the Manatee. The inevitable months seemed to drag, but then a year passed. Willy had finished the job, but had picked up another with the prospect of catching an extremely rare species of fish. But the fish eluded the fisherman, and by then, the Manatee was in desperate need of repairs. More months passed by before the Manatee was ready to set sail again. Having used most of his money for repairs, Willy needed to take on more jobs to make up his losses. Then there were the storms that forced him to try alternate routes back to Pelican Town, which drained more of his supplies and money, and required him to take on more jobs.

Before he knew it, five years had passed by the time he docked back in Pelican Town. The Manatee was in worse shape than when he left, forcing him to retire the ship until he could come up with more money and materials to get her properly fixed. What little money he had managed to earn was barely enough to be called a profit after losing so many years at sea. But worst of all was the knowledge that Marnie wasn’t waiting on the docks for him.

He couldn’t blame her, especially since he had stopped sending letters after the first year. Between all the jobs he had barely found enough time to sleep, let alone write and send a letter. But more than anything, he felt ashamed. After the first job finished he realized how much he had missed the sea. The thrill in his blood when he woke up bobbing to the rhythm of the waves, the rush of excitement as he navigated through both calm and storm, and the sheer joy of just being out on the open water. It was his first love, and it had managed to surpass the love he felt for Marnie and the desire to start a life with her. So he stopped sending letters and instead let the sea take him wherever she deemed fit, hoping that somehow Marnie would understand.

So it was no surprise when he ventured into the Stardrop Saloon on his first night back and found Marnie and Lewis occupying a table together. Admittedly, Willy was surprised it was Lewis at the table with her. Then he remembered how the mayor had always had an eye on the young woman even when they were together. Marnie’s gaze moved to him, and Willy waited with anticipation for what she might say or do. He expected wrath from her, but instead was given a small smile and a nod before she turned her attention back to Lewis who was rambling about the governor coming to visit. Too stunned to do much else, Willy nodded back before heading to the bar. 

Marnie found herself thinking back to the day he left and everything changed. Somehow as she watched the Manatee take him away, she had a sinking feeling that he might not return. She would tell herself every time that wasn’t the case, that he would return after a job or maybe two and they’d turn the Fish Shop into a home and raise cows on the beach. Then the letters stopped coming and suddenly waiting on the docks made her feel silly rather than hopeful. Such is the life of a mariner, she would tell herself. So she forced herself to move on, and over time came to the conclusion that the sea would’ve called to him one way or another. She had noticed he was getting restless, and sometimes found him gazing longingly out into the horizon. Perhaps it was better that it happened before they had actually started a life together.

So when he walked into the Saloon that night, she felt every emotion she had bottled over five years run through her before she landed on contentment. Willy had chosen his path, and she had learned to become okay with that. She gave him a small smile to convey her understanding and a nod to welcome him home. All the while she focused on tampering down her beating heart as she turned her attention back to Lewis. Yet without fail every time he walked into the Saloon after that night, her heart would speed up in a way it never would around Lewis.

Before long, Gus was making the announcement for last call. Most everyone had cleared out aside from the late nighters. Pam was slowly falling asleep into her drink once again, and Elliott was visiting the toilet before his walk home. Lewis had gone to settle the tab with Gus, leaving Marnie to finish her drink and prepare for the walk back to the Ranch. She noticed Clint saying his farewells to Willy, throwing one last gaze at Emily before making his way out into the night. Willy nodded after his friend, puffing away contentedly on his pipe as his gaze moved to Marnie.

When their eyes locked, all the good memories flooded back: Marnie showing Willy how to bake pumpkin pie, Willy teaching Marnie how to rig up a crab pot; summer nights drinking mead on the deck of the Manatee, winter days making out in the hay loft while the cows watched in a mixture of curiosity and boredom. Then for the briefest second, Marnie thought of what life would’ve been like. Waking up to the call of seagulls or bringing the cows in at night? Teaching their kids to fish at the Festival of Ice? Holding hands while watching the Moonlight Jellies? A giddy grin broke out on Marnie’s face that was for Willy’s eyes only, which caused the edges of his lips to move up just a tad.

“Ready to go, Marnie?” Lewis called, walking back over to her.

The grin morphed into a more reserved smile as Marnie turned her attention to Lewis, nodding and getting up to follow him out.

Willy watched as the two departed, Marnie’s gaze every so subtly going back to him before she disappeared into the night with the mayor. The fisherman softly chuckled around his pipe, wondering what she was thinking about before getting up to stretch as Elliott joined him.

“Ready, Willy?” the younger man asked.

“Aye, lad. Let’s get going,” Willy responded, following him out. They made their way south through town and back to their homes. They passed Lewis’s house on the way, and Willy tapped out the ashes from his pipe on the steps of the Manor.

Elliott gave the older man a smirk, shaking his head in amusement. “Must you do that every time we walk by?”

“Gotta give him some actual work to do,” Willy responded, a cheeky smirk on his face as he stowed his pipe in his pants.

The two men continued their walk, and once Elliott parted ways to his home, Willy was left to approach the docks on his own. The wood creaked under each step, and he took a deep inhale of the salty air. For a moment, he was a younger man sitting next to a pretty woman underneath the stars and figuring out how to raise cows on the beach. As he gazed forlornly out into the dark, Willy realized that kind of love ran deeper than the sea. And perhaps one day, the tide would come back in his favor.

[majorbisexualpanic]

the rage i feel when i play junimo cart will be the death of me. i get so physically angry. i’ve been playing this stupid ass mini game for 4 hours and i have yet to beat lewis’ STUPID ASS 50K.

on god, if it didn’t effect perfection. i would bully lewis so much to the point he just leaves the town and i become mayor.

fuck you, lewis. die <3 :)

[stardewremixed]

Justice for Stardewies

Because people need jobs and purpose...

Jodi

has been a single mom for so long, even though Kent returns in Year 2. She was a Registered Nurse, and replaces Maru at the clinic when Maru decides to go back to school. Jodi starts to feel her confidence grow as she works outside her home. And Harvey is a good boss, letting her work around Vincent's school schedule.

Maru

Inspired by Harvey, Maru wants to pursue and advanced degree in medical technology. With her poor eyesight, her dreams of becoming an astronaut faded. But she still gets to tinker and play with technology, which is something she loves.

Marnie / Marlon

deserves better than a "secret" relationship with Lewis. His family has wealth and historically held positions of power. The Governor is his cousin after all. Still Marnie deserves real "out in the open" love. Marlon asks her out one day after she visits the Adventurer's Guild with the weekly dairy delivery. Their first official date is the Flower Dance. And they dance together for the whole town to see. Lewis is jealous but... he had his chance. #sorrynotsorry

Shane

is sober and working at the movie theater during the evenings. He attends vet school during the day. Shane wants to open an animal clinic, with an emphasis on chickens... 🐔 er... farm animals. And he makes his famous pepper poppers for all town events.

Pam

Pam went to rehab. She is now reemployed at Pierre's. She really enjoys helping customers find what they are looking for, and she joined Caroline's class to get fit. She has already dropped almost 20lbs.

Robin

Robin does so much for the town. She is convinced by the people to run against Lewis. And then she actually wins. Since she finally has help from Alex, Robin's business is booming. She is able to hire on another employee so she can focus on her new important duties as Mayor of Pelican Town.

Linus

Is anyone surprised he actually has money? And lots of it? Linus gets involved with other veterans like himself with much encouragement from Gus. Now with properly flowing taxpayers' dollars, Linus is able to build a tiny Veterans Village for former military men and women to "get off grid," find healing, and a fresh start. Kent gets involved too after he starts counseling for his PTSD.

Alex

Robin hired Alex as a handyman. Alex is surprisingly good with his hands and figuring things out, especially electrical. With no formal training, he can rewire televisions and stereos. At first, he just tinkers in Robin's workshop. But then he starts doing bigger projects. After getting an electricians license, Alex helps wire houses and rewire faulty electrical in other homes and businesses around the Valley. It's blue collar work but it pays really well, and his skills are sorely needed. And he can work as he wants. So he still has plenty of time to toss the gridball around with friends, and take Dusty to the dog park, and even help Granny in the kitchen.

Evelyn / George

Ev still helps out at the community garden. She starts growing spices and herbs to bake in her breads and cookies. Once the Community Center is repaired, Evelyn hosts a bake sale to help with the upkeep. And Haley joins her in organizing a cake walk. George gets motivated, with encouragement from Jodi (since she is a vet's wife), to do the Valley's own version of Special Olympics. Alex helps his grandpa train.

Abigail

finally graduates after six years. She knows what she wants. She is going to pursue a master's in folklore and mythology. While it isn't business like her dad wanted, Pierre is still proud of his little girl. Abi leaves for Zuzu City (on the repaired bus line). She also has an internship lined up, translating manuscripts (since she learned ancient Dwarven).

Sebastian

takes coding to the next level. He finds a partner in Zuzu. They start a tech company together. Seb still comes home on weekends to spend time with his family (he and Demetrius patched things up ever since his stepdad got his official diagnosis as autistic). Seb always brings rice pudding for Demetrius, from the Asian Market he lives above. Seb is also working on releasing his first video game, inspired by his experiences in the mines.

Sam

After the band breaks up, Sam decides to go solo. He leaves for Zuzu City for some gigs. The first weekend he is there, he makes a connection with a talent scout who thinks Sam is really good. Sam starts landing bigger and bigger shows. Next thing he knows, he's traveling the world, opening for big name bands. It is a dream come true. He never stays in one place too long, but that's just what he loves about his "work."

Elliott

publishes his romance novel. And then his editor suggests a series. It is super successful. With his new steady income, Elliott upgrades his cabin to a proper beach cottage. He teams up with Penny to write a children's book.

Penny / the children

returns to school and obtains a proper teaching license. With help from Robin, she opens an after school enrichment program for Vincent, Jas, Leo, and a few other children. And she partners with Professor Snail to offer summer camps on Ginger Island. Penny also organizes a beach clean-up day.

Vincent starts an entomology club with the Prof, much to his delight.

Jas works with Emily to create costumes for a play. The story of the Winter Star is the first show they put on for the town. And this seriously helps Jas' confidence.

Leo repairs the treehouse with the help of Alex. And Pam, who attended cosmetology school, gives him a proper "big kid" haircut.

[snogards]

Mods I need in Stardew Valley (I would make them myself if I knew how to do it)

Romancing Caroline. I would do literally anything to steal Pierre's wife away from him. I hate this man. If I didn't hate Joja more, he wouldn't be getting a cent from me. Also, Caroline is lovely and deserves the world. And I don't like Abigail. Ruining her parents' marriage would make me so happy on the inside.

Edit: Nexus mods gaslit me by thinking this didn't exist. Upon a third search (on the same website, might I add), I have found that I can now fulfill my dreams. Omw to marry Caroline 🥰

Marnie breaks up with Lewis. My girl deserves better than him. I'm rooting for her healing and loving herself, but I wouldn’t be mad if she decided to get with Marlon 👀

Farmer can run for mayor. I hate Lewis. You ain't shit without me, bucko. I basically run Pelican Town anyway.

[charactersmashorpass]

"she deserves better than mayor lewis"

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

Hihi! Hope you're doing well.

I just wanna ask some headcanons where Marnie dumps Lewis in favor of Marlon (the better guy she deserves), because I feel bad for her man. And Lewis is too sketchy and weird and Marnie deserves someone who loves her <3

Also, I hope I'm not clogging up your asks. I know how full asks blogs inboxes can get, I just wanna say take your time answering them and don't stress.

Stay hydrated! (Seriously, we're roasting over here in the equator).

Hewwo, dear anon :3 And don't worry about it, you're not clogging up my inbox! Thanks for the wishes, and I hope you're escaping the heat too (we have +20⁰C at the moment, but summer is coming soon and it will be unbearably hot 🥲). Have a good day! 💕

_________________________________________

Yoba witness, Marnie had the patience of a saint and could understand many things. She waited and endured. She waited. And waited some more. And then some more, more, and some more, truly believing Lewis' words of true love for her.

But to be honest.... it wasn't how she'd envisioned "true love".

Hiding in the shadows, pretending nothing was going on between them (even though rumors of their relationship were flying around the Pelican Town)? Watching the mayor come through her window at night so they wouldn't be caught by the locals during the day? Lying to her own niece and nephew that they've heard nothing and there's no one else in the house but the three of them? Justify the dates with business meetings at her ranch?

How long will this last? How much longer do they have to hide each other for fear of "public judgment" (when really everyone has known everything for a long time and they don't give a damn!)

It's spring now - the time of flowers and love, and Marnie has to stand apart from it all. Immersed in sad thoughts of wasted youth and wishing in the past that she could find the one person she would be happy with. Really happy with.

Marnie calculates how much chance she, an old nag, has of finding someone, and sighs conciliatingly, realizing the dire result. Lewis had good qualities and flaws, like every human being, but why he acted like he really are embarrassed by her presence? And why was she herself afraid to say everything she thought about it? Why can't she-

"You look beautiful today, Marnie."

Those words brought her out of the fog of confused thoughts and bad memories. She didn’t realize that she was now at one of the most beautiful festivals in the Stardew Valley - the Flower Dance.

"Huh?...."

Marlon, whose compliment had helped Marnie out of her trance, was a little worried that he'd said the wrong thing. "Are you alright?"

"Uh, yeah...," Marnie added a little uncertainly. "Just... I got a little dizzy from the smell of the flowers." Marlon's emerald eye was perceptive, but still didn't probe his old friend further. 'You look beautiful today, Marnie...' it had been so long since she'd heard those words....

Why should she keep waiting...?

"Say...," Marnie began cautiously, turning her head toward Marlon, "would you like to dance with me?"

Normally the old adventurer's face was stingy with emotion, but Marnie's question caught him off guard. "Are you sure? I haven't danced in over twenty years..." "Neither have I." Marnie was more sure of her own words than ever. "And don't worry, I don't remember much of the moves either. But who knows what will happen tomorrow? Maybe tonight will be the last chance to have some fun?" Why is she lashing out at him? Why is she even trying? How silly of her-

Marlon stood in front of her and extended his hand to her, asking her to dance. "Then I ask for your hand, and let's go have some fun. Just like old times."

To the smooth music, gathering surprised but approving glances from the other dancers and one indignant glance from Lewis, Marnie held Marlon's hands, letting her forget all her problems and troubles. It was as if time itself had stopped. Just him, her, and their dance.

[ambersky0319]

Yknow what I ship Marlon with both Marnie and Gil he has two hands

But like seriously, I love the idea of Marlon and Gil being the adventuring power couple that grew old together, and I love the idea of Marnie and Marlon because Marlon shows actual interest in her and Marnie deserves better than Mayor Lets-make-a-gold-statue-of-myself-instead-of-helping-the-community Lewis and I just think they'd be cute

So

Why not have both?

Anyway

I have fic ideas now :D

[stardew-confessions]

I wish you could marry Marnie in the vanilla game because she she deserves so much better than Mayor Lewis tbh

.

[kalithefarmerhasnolife]

MARNIE DESERVES BETTER

This thought has been stewing in my mind for awhile now and I just gotta say it.

The whole Marnie&Lewis plot absolutely drives me up the wall, because if I were Lewis, a do-nothing “mayor” who wastes tax dollars on a gold statue of himself and makes the farmer do all the ACTUAL work, I’d be PROUDLY flaunting my relationship with Marnie because she is a goddamn CATCH

First of all, ma’am is absolutely STUNNING. The fact that Lewis managed to get with her at all is still a complete mystery to me.

Second of all, UNLIKE LEWIS, she’s a hardworking woman, running her own business and keeping a roof over Shane and Jas’ heads.

Third of all, even though she doesn’t fully understand Shane and his struggles, she still TRIES to help him to the best of her ability. Even though her financial situation is rocky, she doesn’t charge him rent after JojaMart closes bc ma’am ain’t about to put any more stress on him than he already has, and that’s commendable.

Not to mention Marlon is interested in her, as per his Flower Dance dialogue, and you KNOW he’d give her the love and respect she deserves(even if his business practices are shady af), but no, she keeps running back to Lewis 😤 I love Marnie to pieces, and she deserves a man who’ll truly appreciate her!! Not a man who keeps her stuck sneaking around like a goddamn teenager bc he doesn’t have the balls to go public with his relationship 😭

thank you for coming to my ted talk

[nevershootamockingbird]

[ image one: a screenshot of tags by user @/theladypirate that read “3WHERE ARE THE TAXES YOU COLLECT GOING LEWIS #THEYRE SURE AS SHIT NOT GOING TO BETTER THE TOWN #IS THAT HOW YOU GET THE FUNDING TO MAKE SOLID FUCKING GOLD STATUES OF YOURSELF #LEWIS WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU HOW DARE YOU BETRAY YOUR PEOPLE BY EMBEZZLING THEIR TAXES #YOURE LUCKY THE FARMER IS SOME KIND OF MAGICAL ENTITY THAT CAN TALK TO SPRITES AND SHIT #AND USES THEIR POWERS FOR GOOD #FUCK IT PETITION TO ELECT MY FARMER AS MAYOR #SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY CARE MORE ABOUT THE TOWN THAN YOU”

image two: a screenshot of a tag by user @/mosswife that reads “#i fucking hate lewis”

image three: a screenshot of tags by @/eldritch-cove that read “#he’s a political pig that abuses tax payers money while not providing anything to the towns folk #i dislike Pierre as much as the next guy but fuck lewis”

image four: a screenshot of tags by @/i-am-worth-something-now that read “with mamrie- a WELL RESPECTED and LOVELY local pillar (PILLAR!!!) of the community!!!!!!! #bastard. marnie does more for this town than you do”

image five: a screenshot of tags by @/pfaerie that read “i’m gonna take your job mayor lewis #u r a sham”

image six: a screenshot of tags by @/garahels that read “#stardew valley #HE DOESNT DESERVE MARNIE PERIOD”

image seven: a screenshot of tags by @/defira85 that read “#VOTE OUT MAYJOR LEWIS #i will destroy you old man #watch me become Mayor I’ve paid for everything in this town anyway #the spirit of queues”

image eight: a screenshot of tags by @/bisexual--mothman that read “#HE’S ALSO BUILDING A SOLID GOLD STATUTE OF HIMSELF #HE’S EMBEZZLING AND USING THE MONEY FOR HIS MANSION AND STATUE #FUCK MAYOR LEWIS”  / end id ]

Mayor Lewis be like the only bus leading to and from our town is broken, the local farm is abandoned, the community center in ruins, the last museum curator ran away with everything we had, I can't provide housing for all my citizens, there's garbage everywhere, but if my relationship with Marnie becomes public my political career might suffer :/

[bluupxels]

1, 5, 30!

thank you sam!! i am giving you a gentle kiss on the cheek 😚

1 - Favorite video game?

the Dragon Age series and Mass Effect trilogy (sorry andromeda) are my babies 🥰 the Fallout series, Cyberpunk 2077, and Skyrim are up there too. Animal Crossing is also special to me but i was kinda let down by NH :/ i cant just pick one i play so many dksjdks

5 - Least favorite video game character?

Aveline from DA2 is the first one that popped into my head 😭 almost everything she says irritates me, always saying racist shit, and she's a narc. oh also Mayor Lewis from Stardew Valley, like i dont think the townspeople will care if you're publicly with Marnie... she deserves better!!!!

30 - Why do you game?

games are my preferred escape from reality, being able to interact with the story and make my own character and get achievements is more fulfilling to me than reading or listening to podcasts. it's easier for me to focus bc i have a clear set of goals to accomplish but there's still room for me to choose how i go about completing those goals and then i get to see what impact they've had on the story. there's a game for every mood and as i get older more of them become nostalgic comfort games that are associated with good memories or certain periods of my life they helped me through (dragon age and sims have the strongest ones). god i could talk about video games forever i totally love them in a normal way 😁

Ask me about video games!

[glameowr]

well now i GOTTA hear the mayor rant

oh man okay. this is gonna be long again …

he says hes been mayor 4 over 20 years and that he likes 2 think its bc hes doing a good job. ARE you though ???

so the town is not in an amazing state especially when you first arrive in town:

- theres a broken bridge that leads 2 the tide pools, a broken bridge that leads 2 the quarry, and nothing but a few wooden planks on the cliff leading 2 the flower dance when the holiday arrives (WHICH GEORGE HAS 2 CROSS … IN HIS WHEELCHAIR …)

- theres trash in all of the water sources

- mud/rock slides that other people had 2 get rid of

- the bus is broken down

- the community center is in shambles

- when you first arrive theres nothing in the museum and the books are missing

mayor lewis did NOTHING abt any of this and it comes down 2 the player 2 fix it all. the town seemingly has no outside income, so it could make sense that the mayor just doesnt have the funds 2 fix it (and i guess just never wants 2 make a plan 2 raise funds) maybe lewis bringing joja into the town helped ? lets see …

- it would be good 2 help the local economy if the prices were lower than pierres (a decrease in price leads 2 an increase in quantity demanded, therefore increasing the supply of goods and overall increasing the amount of money made) … BUT THE PRICES ARE HIGHER so that isnt helping people (even though villagers say that joja prices are better than pierres which isnt true), and people arent buying local goods anyway so this really didnt do anything since the money isnt going 2 the local economy … the corporation is getting all of the money instead of the town !!!

- if you get the joja membership instead of fixing the community center, its still the FARMER who has 2 pay joja 2 fix anything, with no help at all from lewis

- actually, i think a lot of the damage caused 2 the town and environment is BECAUSE of joja

so … what is lewis getting from this then ??? if its not helping the town then … i guess hes just getting money from them idk. hes obviously really well off whether its money from joja or not:

- you can find a solid gold statue of lewis behind his house. if you put it somewhere, itll be gone the next day and lewis will send you a letter like “dont put my PRIVATE stuff where every body can see it !!!” and sends you 750g. assuming he payed clint 2 make the gold bars (bc lets be honest i dont see lewis mining 4 his own ore) the cost of the gold ore and coal 2 make 1 bar of gold would be 2160g (so hes paying you less than half of what this is worth in hish money woww) … im assuming hed be using a lot more than 1 bar of gold in order 2 make this stupid fucking statue, so instead of using those funds 2 pay joja 2 fix up the town, hes using it 4 THIS ??? hes using the town’s funds 4 A FUCKING STATUE OF HIMSELF.

so besides being greedy and having a big ego, the main reason i dont like lewis is because of his relationship with marnie (SHE DESERVES BETTER)

- theres the famous quest mayor lewis sends us on 2 find his purple “shorts”, which are found in marnies room (how many places does he take off his underwear that he wouldnt know where 2 find them himself ???), a secret note can lead you 2 finding them together in a bush at midnight then zooming off when you catch them, and theres a few other clues 2 their secretive relationship

- (as a side note before i get into this more, he also asks you 2 get him truffle oil and tells you 2 not ask why, then when you give it 2 him hes like “ah yes … very slick very good …” so uh … you see where im going with this)

- ANYWAY so in marnie and lewis’ 6 heart event, marnie and lewis are seen talking abt their relationship. marnie wants 2 go public while lewis says that making it public would “undermine [his] position of authority in the town” … WHO WOULD CARE ABT THIS RELATIONSHIP ??? NO BODY !!! THERES GENUINELY NO REAL REASON THAT THEY NEED 2 KEEP IT SECRET !!! so clearly, lewis’ job is more important 2 him than marnie !!! im not the biggest fan of marnie, but i feel so bad 4 her :<

tldr: mayor lewis is a greedy and corrupt man who spends all day staring at a calendar and getting drunk with the woman he’s stringing along all while lamenting about the bad state of the town despite clearly having the ability and authority 2 help the town himself.

[chocochipbiscuit]

For the fandom ask meme: Stardew Valley!

The first character I first fell in love with: Penny is an absolute sweetheart and I love how gentle and caring she is. I wish there was an option to help her move out from her mom’s place without marrying her, though I am glad that one of the recent updates helps give them a house instead of a trailer.

The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Robin’s so sweet, I love her as the hands-on capable carpenter that she is, also she is very cute and quite frankly I wish she had been a romanceable option! Robin has two hands, I can share!

The character everyone else loves that I don’t: Shane! I can appreciate his character arc and the way he slowly opens up about his depression, but he was never a personal favorite the way that I’ve seen the rest of fandom embrace him. He’s nice, I like him, but he was never my first choice for love interest or BFF.

The character I love that everyone else hates: Is there a character that everyone hates, other than the JojoMart guy? I’ll settle for character that I love and think is underappreciated by the broader fandom: Marnie! She is super sweet and caring, including not just her adorable animals but also taking care of Shane and Jas. She deserves much better than Mayor Lewis and his weird secrecy about their relationship!

The character I used to love but don’t any longer: Mayor Lewis! When I first started playing the game, the sort of meddlesome but friendly small town mayor vibe felt really sweet (and a nice contrast from the more malevolent oversight of JojoCorp), but the more I play, the more ‘eh’ I feel on him. He has weird conversations about authority and ‘the kids these days’ (like one of his cut scenes with yelling at Sam about skateboarding), his obsession with maintaining his image as the mayor (especially by refusing to be public about his relationship with Marnie, which obviously hurts her!), and the weirdness of his ‘secret project’ being a solid gold statue of himself? In this small town where he collects the taxes regularly (and for WHAT, does he pay Evelyn to tend the town garden? Maintain the roads? Set up the festivals?) and the region is economically struggling, just where does he get the money and why isn’t it being better put into the town?

Honestly, I usually just gently ignore the solid gold statue; it’s an Easter egg and I feel like it’s meant more for laughs rather than anything more sinister, but the rest of it is just. Ick.

The character I would totally smooch: Penny! I adore her.

The character I’d want to be like: Maru! She’s clever, driven, and absolutely gonna change the world with SCIENCE.

The character I’d slap: Lewis!!!

A pairing that I love: Maru/Penny is my favorite ship for this fandom and I think it’s TRAGIC that there’s less than 30 fics for it on AO3!

A pairing that I despise: My first tongue-in-cheek reaction is to say Morris (JojoMart guy) with anyone, because he’s terrible, but I don’t think anyone actually considers that a valid pairing? Otherwise, I’d say Lewis/Marnie for all the reasons I previously mentioned about Marnie deserving better.

Stardew Valley remains my precious bubblebath-brain game, thank you for asking! <3

(From this ask meme!)

[morethanithoughtofficialblog]

5,6,7

5 - Favorite Farm Map?

I actually really like the forest farm. There’s a little pond near it, it’s calm, has a lot of trees, the interior also has trees, the space for crops is nice... it’s just my type of place, y’ know? I love that it looks so green and full of life and peace and it just fills the purpose of my farmer moving from the city and- have I mentioned there are a lot of trees???

6 - Least Favorite Characters?

I hate Pierre’s guts. Seriously, he just thinks of money and of eliminating the competition. He doesn’t even bother to take some time for his family on Pelican Town’s events. There’s actually this dialogue from Caroline on the Flower Dance that says  “I wish Pierre would spend this time with the family...”. Who does he think he is?! He has a beautiful daughter i’m gay for Abigail, a nice wife, and an already pretty okay business! 

I also, well, don’t despise Lewis, but I certainly think that he doesn’t deserve Marnie at all. No one gives a fuck that he is dating her, why not make it public??? I wish there was an even where we can a) make him say it or b) open Marnie’s eyes and find her a better man. I actually ship her with Marlon ‘cause he says on the Flower Dance that  “Marnie looks lovely today...” She definitely would be a thousand times better with Marlon than with this pathetic excuse of a mayor (I’m sorry Lewis I’m just really angry with you. Also, I hate the golden statue you made of yourself. Fuck you). 

7 - Favorite Activity (Fishing, Mining, etc.)?

I love farming and being with my animals, especially chickens. There’s just this calm nature of watering crops, collecting them, and planting more. Since I’m on the Shane train (i also love many other characters but let’s focus on the chicken boy), I have a blue chicken called Sapphire, and I just love her! Along with Emerald and Ruby, of course! 

I don’t know if cooking counts, but I like doing stuff for the villagers and also when I go the mines (I like mining as well, but uh, it makes me kind of anxious so I don’t go often). I just like giving Plum Pudding to Jas, bake some cookies for Granny (she deserves more love tbh), make some Pizza or Pepper Poppers for Shane, and... kind of waste all my crops on making food for them.

Maybe that’s why I’m broke asf

[awastelandheart]

coming out

          in a small town, information   &   differing experiences are hard to come by, so if you end up not fitting in with the norm, it’s exponentially worse   &   that much more lonely. 

          growing up   &   sharing a room with Maru, Sebastian realized that his feelings pertaining to his gender were quite different early on. changing in the same room as children with only a handful of years between them, he snuck glances with a sense of shock that Maru seemed comfortable in her skin. from what he saw, she did not spend hours in front of the mirror, subtly pulling on her undershirt in an attempt to lessen her chest. he never saw her fixating over how square her shoulders could be held. one tank-top in the summer was enough for her   &   as puberty neared, she seemed to embrace the curves of her hips with complimentary jeans instead of cringing away from the idea of womanhood.

          there was no attainable language to enunciate these feelings, however;   no definitive reason that Sebastian could see, at least, why he felt no attachment to things like bras   &   or the hair his mother shamed him in confusion for cutting so short. 

          the computer in Demetrius’ study yielded few responses. in such a public setting as the family browser, even with his knowledge of cookies clearing   &   history erasing, Sebastian could not bring himself to search for specific strings of words that’d make everything clear. a very big part of him did not want to find the answers. the world around him grew darker, lonelier with each passing day due to the intense neglect he felt stemming from Robin’s quick remarriage  --   this, too,   ( whatever this feeling was that made Maru’s relation to her body something of envy   &   disgust for him )   estranged him further from a family that seemed to lack space for his existence.

          Sebastian was 16 when Maru’s casual reference to feminine things such as their shared box of tampons   &   similar sized bras finally made him snap. with anger   &   frustration he demanded a space of his own. i don’t want to share a room with Maru anymore !   --   oh, stop being dramatic, she’s your sister   &   you’re both girls around the same age. don’t make Demetrius turn his lab into a bedroom.

          i’m not a girl, i -- don’t want to be around a girl all the time anymore.

          but you’re a girl too, what’s the big deal ?

          i don’t want to be !

          no one really seemed to know how exactly to handle that proclamation. it had hung in the air uncomfortably until Sebastian raced out of the house. it was a combination of speaking with the town doctor   &   finally getting courage enough to seek information on his own that shed light on the situation. a vocabulary to enunciate his feelings was slowly attained. in the process, Sebastian became less shunned from the family   &   more independent in his own right. he was something different from them   &   while shame was what he had felt at first, understanding brought a sense of peace   --   perhaps not pride, but at least a lack of self hatred.

          the basement was converted into his new bedroom, which took less than a handful of weeks with his mother being a carpenter. despite Sebastian’s new understanding of himself, it brought no reconciliation into his family role. Maru was still disingenuous in his eyes. Demetrius was still a man stepping on territory that wasn’t his. His mother was still a flawed woman who deserved better than her impulses implied. Sebastian was very much a black sheep still;   the almost forgotten child of his mother’s first marriage, something incongruent with his own body   &   identity, something doomed to be perpetually misunderstood. any attempts made by his family to make Sebastian feel more included were lost on him in his perceived status as the outcast. 

          he became of-age in the basement, grew his hobbies   &   chose a career in the quiet shadows down there. Sebastian turned himself into the man he wanted to be, far away from his familial influence.

          at 17 he acquired his first binder. by 18 he had scheduled an appointment with doctor harvey by himself to talk about medication options. on his 20th birthday he finally had to buy himself a facial razor with a sense of victory. 21, 22,   &   23 passed with slower results but eventually even mayor lewis seemed to forget there was a time Sebastian had presented any other way. it was a process, having to come out in certain ways with tact to the villagers his mother had introduced him by dead-name in infancy to   --   the re-introductory process was either handled on a person to person basis, like his awkward conversation with sam that connected many pieces of their childhood, or ultimately ignored in hopes that people like marnie   &   pam would simply catch on.

          by 25 in canon, he passes very well   &   is comfortable in his presentation. surgeries seem to be a pipe dream   &   something almost scary to think about, but the hope it brings that with them he’ll feel happy finally is something that contributes to his dream of leaving the valley, hopefully soon.

[gojo-stan]

least favorite sdv character? and do you have any ships within the game besides your farmer and seb?

I honestly don't think I have- ACTUALLY NO I think mayor lewis is actually my least favorite. he was okay at first but I don't like his treatment of marnie, she deserves better than him tbh. also because he wastes people's tax money for some goofy ahh statue😭

speaking of marnie, I think her and marlon is a pretty interesting ship! I've seen a couple of pictures of them together and it's really sweet!