With the haul of goods needing to be sorted and the excitement of the coming auction slowing it down, Mia had needed to spend all night and the following morning sorting the loot. There were more than a few choice pieces of loot, but nothing else so special when compared to a unique carapace drop. Having finished around noon, Mia had missed most of the harvesting being done by Brad, which was quite a bit. And so by the time she had finished at the home, she was immediately caught up in the sorting of their harvest. Covered in dirt, mud, and bug bites, the couple had made their way up to the house that night exhausted, but ready for the next day.
Holding Mia’s hand on the way back up to the home, Brad looked over and couldn’t help but look at her sweaty, somewhat dreading the next day even with the big plans they had discussed. “Are you sure that you will go alone tomorrow? I worry that something may happen..” Brad stated with rosey cheeks.
“As much as I wish you could go with me, I do not think that we should miss our now daily harvests. With the new cost of potentially upgrading the plot so soon after starting, our budget is suffering from a type of lifestyle inflation. We keep finding new ways that we can make money, but we also keep finding ways to spend it… sadly not so much on comforts this season it seems.” Mia said.
“If I am working tomorrow instead of going, then at least get us something to enjoy once you get back!” Brad hastily responded. “I mean, I am sure that we can spare some cash now that we have the carapace to put up for sale…” He added with a bit less haste.
With an eyebrow raised Mia asked; “Are you trying to make an impression with your new girlfriend?” laughing afterwards, with her newfound comfortableness with the situation.
Realizing what was going on, Brad interjected; “Well, I just think that we can enjoy ourselves more than what we have.”
“Oh is that so? I was pretty happy with how sweet you seemed…” Mia said, releasing a sigh.
“I am not going to win this am I?” Brad asked with an air of defeat.
“No, no you are not. But I am glad that you tried. I can also see what we can spare in regard to our finances. I will try to make it something that we both can enjoy.” Mia said with a sweet smile looking up at her blushing companion.
And so the night continued with banter back and forth. Supper cooked, Rumble back with loot, and the pair going to sleep under the soft light of the peace-bloom.
With Rumble now snuggled up with the peacebloom, the morning light had them both unfurl their leaves, drinking up the morning light. But with it, one of Rumble’s thorny appendages made its way over to smack Brad across the leg.
URG! Brad grunted through clenched teeth. With the horrendous routine now seemingly permanent, Brad was awake and about to sit up when he noticed something new.
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With no terrifying storm to speak of, Mia’s presence of resting her head against his shoulder was a new development. Still new to the interactions of being together with someone, Brad was unsure if he should stay where he was or if he should lay her head down off of him. Somewhat stuck in place while thinking, he only barely noticed Mia now looking up at him.
“Well good morning, sorry if your arm is asleep. It was quite the surprise for me to wake up without neck pain and it was also quite pleasant figuring out why.” She sweetly smiled up at him.
“My arm is just fine, but to be honest I doubt that I would admit it if it wasn’t.” Brad teased back. “I am still getting used to this though, I was not sure what I should do when I saw you still asleep on me.” Brad added.
“You could have left that last part out. But being truthful is a good thing, so I will let it slide this time. So what will we have for breakfast today?” Mia said moving the conversation along, not out of desire but due to her need to leave for town while the sun was still low in the sky.
“Well, I don’t want to get experimental with you having to walk so far… so I figured that I would just make some juice and eggs. And since I have the bucket for water here, I was going to send you off with my waterskin filled with juice as well. You will also be taking a few boiled eggs for a snack as well.” Brad listed off while getting up and preparing the listed meals.
“Be sure to include a few extra eggs for my lunch. I will refill my water in town, so I should be good on that front.” Mia added to the list.
“Okay, will do! With all of the eggs we eat, I sure wish that we had some chickens.”
“You and me both, eggs are going to be one of our biggest expenses at this rate. But they are way cheaper than other alternative sources of nutrition. They are honestly a great bang for the buck.”
“Well, see what you can do about some actual meat. I am wanting to try my hand at some barbeque.” Brad said.
“I will see what I can do on that front.” Mia said as her stomach started remembering his last experiment.
With preparations and morning routines complete, Brad and Mia set down towards the road hand in hand.
“Be safe, I want to see you back here tonight before it gets too late.” Brad was telling Mia.
With a squeeze of his hand and a bump of her shoulder against him, Mia replied. “I will, I already cannot wait to get back. My feet are hurting just by thinking of the trip there and back.”
“Well, if you need, then stay in town until tomorrow. Be sure to take care of yourself.”
“Do not worry Brad, I will be back before you know it. Just remember to think of me today!” Mia told her boyfriend as they reached the road. And so letting go of his hand, pecking a quick kiss on his cheek, and running ahead down the road, Mia was off.
Knowing that Brad would just talk in circles when he was flustered, Mia had to get on her way. Even so, she wished that he could’ve come with her to town. But she knew that the fastest way back was to leave him quick with something that he really would think about. And a kiss goodbye would definitely have him standing there for the next few minutes. So with a huge smile on her face Mia was jogging down the road trying to make a new record on getting back.