I have learned that he usually gets up, takes care of his animals, then collapses on his sofa until around the time I get up.
The first drowsy day I saw him sprawled across the cushions and witnessed his gruff,Morning, Lemonade…what time is it?lives rent-free in my veins.
Sleepy couch Samson is among my top-ten favorite Samsons. Although, truly, they might all be tying at first.
I just really, really like Samson.
More and more every single day.
“This is the cue for the cherry blossom festival!” I cheer, leaping off the porch in my cute new overall dress—complete with lemon pocket—and throw my arms out as pink petals flutter in the breeze. I’mobsessed. Obsessed, I tell you. “I can’t believe it!” I swing toward Samson as petals fall into my hair. “This happens in the game, too. It’s one of my favorite visual effects, especially paired with the chipper spring background music. I’vealwayswondered exactly where the festival is held. Usually, you walk into a section of the map up near Slate’s place, and the dialogue box asks you if you’re ready to start the BlushFestival, then if you clickyes, you’re teleported to a place that you can’t reach outside of the festival time. It isfullof trees. Picnic blankets. Strawberries, cherries, apples. It’s practically Valentine’s Day.”
Leaning against a post, arms crossed, tattoos on glorious display, Samson murmurs, “Valentine’s Day?”
I flush. “That’s a…holiday for lovers. In my world. And I know the Blush Festival isn’t about lovers, or anything.” I throw my hands up, on the offense, because what? Who?Me?Talking aboutlovers? Sounds unreliable. I would never so much asthinkabout people in love. Obviously. “I just mean that the reds and pinks remind me of the decorations normally associated with the holiday I know.” And, you know, if you get a romanceable character to enough hearts by festival time in the second year of the game, something cute and romantic happens with them.
But that is unrelated to the festival itself.
And who even knows what WonderGlass was thinking when they drew the setting sprites.
The worst part ofallthe festivals is the fact that Samson simply does not go to any of them. On festival days, the best Samson content you get is the ability to come over to his house and see a special festival dialogue about how little he enjoys being in crowds.
So relatable.
But, then, when isn’t he?
I feel terrible when I begin toying with the hem of my dress, knowing what I’m about to say goes against all of his code. Softly, I ask, “Do you think, maybe, we can go?” I choke on thetogetherI was prepping to tack onto the end there, because it sounds too much liketogethertogether, and I’m dealing with a handful of question marks, not hearts, concerning how this man feels about me.
I’d be inclined to think my journal is broken.
Except, somehow, I have more than one heart with Laumon, Neptun, Lazul, Slate, Kaolin,andInes. I know the first few are due to the quests I’ve finished, but Ines? I’ve met Ines one glorious time. Care to know how many hearts I have with her?
Six.
Why?
I don’t know.
My only speculation is that she fell in love with my cuteness and decided she was keeping me. It’s a veryreal-world friendshipexperience. I think. From TV. Not personal experience. But still. If I’m right, it’s so unfair that Samson can literally let me live in his house without having a single heart under his name.
Weary, Samson blinks out of a daze, dragging his attention off the death-grip I have on my dress before his eyelids fall closed. “Can’t go.”
My chest squeezes. “Right. Sorry. You never went to any festivals in the game, either. I just thought…well. I mean. I’m trying not to think of you asgame Samson. So I didn’t want to count out the possibility that maybe real you would be different too quickly. S-sorry.” Maybe Ines would be willing to go with me? And maybe we could invite Aurelia so I can get some hearts with her, learn dirt on her brother, and plot his downfall?
There were no group outings in the game. Going on one would be a grand time. Assuming I can handle such a social situation.
Either way, this isn’t the end of the world.
And I’mfine.
Honest.
“It’s not because I don’t want to go with you,” Samson murmurs. “It’s just because Lazul canceled all the festivals until further notice. We don’t have the funds to squander on festivities while parts of the town are still being rebuilt. Also, specificallyfor the cherry blossom festival, no one’s been up the mountain path to see if the usual spot is accessible or destroyed. It’s a trek. Likely teeming with felled trees and new rivers where paths used to be.” Samson pushes off the post, lifts a hand from his pocket, and pinches a petal to pull it from my hair. “Sorry, Lemonade.”
My breath stills as my mind turns white.
“If you’d like,” he begins, putting his hand back in his pocket, “we can try to start clearing that path today. It’ll be easier with your void bag and make sure next year the festival is more of a possibility. We can treat it like a break from trying to find topaz in the mines or clearing more of your farmland. It’ll be good for Gabbro if we can leave the lumber we get with him, too.”
I gasp.
