Chapter Text
This was a stupid idea.
What did Rus know about farming? Absolutely nothing, that's what. He was lazy on a good day, he hated physical work, and he'd barely stepped foot out of the city.
But he also couldn't stand another day pushing paper and inputting data at EbbottCorp. If he ever saw that stupid logo ever again, he might kill someone, or maybe himself. His brother knew that, which is why he suggested moving to Osseus Valley where he spends his training seasons, since he saw there was a farm for sale that nobody was buying. At the very least, he had visited Blue out here a few times and he enjoyed the quiet, and the forest had plenty of great items for foraging. If he can forage, he can farm…right?
Besides, Blue told him the laziest person he knew here was the other farmer, Sans, and he was super successful. He supposed if he could spend the day in the sun to garden without a soul sulking corpo job eating 8 hours of his life each day, it's possible he might enjoy it.
Regardless, what's done was done. He quit his job the moment Blue had told him there was another option and now he had no choice but to lay in the bed he'd made.
The mayor was a gentle goat man named Asgore, and he couldn't quite place it but there was a strange, ethereal feeling about him. He laughed loud and hearty, and Rus was comforted in his presence. Even when he saw the ruin his new farm was in, in Asgore's presence he didn't think it would be so terrible. He even left him with some free tools and seeds to get started, and told him nobody minds if he takes his time getting started.
“We all know this old plot of land is a lot of work,” Asgore told him, patting his shoulder. “Your brother helped you buy the land outright, so you don't need to worry about mortgage or rent. Just take it slow.”
“thanks, i was kinda worried,” Rus said with a chuckle. “i don't know the first thing about farming.”
“Sans lives just across the way if you have questions,” Asgore said, gesturing to where he could see Sans’ farm in the distance. “We had Undyne come take a look at your home, and she's made sure there are no rotting boards or anything like that. If you'd like to upgrade your home you can go see her in the blue building on Main Street, next to the lab. I think if you bring materials, her wife can research things to make your farm more productive, as well.”
“wow, that'd be great,” he said, feeling the smile forming on his teeth. “what about my tools? i…not to be ungrateful but they don't seem like they'll last long.”
“Ah, yes, you can bring those down to the blacksmith, Slim. His forge is on Cherry Road, next to the antique store. He can upgrade them for you when they stop being useful, or if anything breaks he can fix it.”
“okay,” Rus said, looking over the overgrown farm. He already had a handful of ideas, things that might make clearing this stuff easier if he had the right tools. He hadn't been able to tinker with his mechanical skills in a long time…this might actually be fun. “blue is gonna help me clear some space tomorrow to start planting. guess i got my work cut out for me.”
“Indeed. Besides your farm, there's also plenty to do around town and in the surrounding forests,” Asgore informed him as he put his floppy fishing hat back on. “Be sure to take the rest of the day, look around, introduce yourself to the townsfolk. They're all mighty curious about you.”
“oh, yeah, sure, will do!” He said as Asgore bid him goodbye.
He looked out over the derelict farm. It was in bad shape, and it wasn't much…but he'd never thought he'd ever own a home in this economy, let alone an entire plot of land.
He doesn't know the first thing about farming, but he can learn…right?
The town was lively in a lazy sort of way. Not like the city where everything was far too loud, too fast, too dizzying. There were people milling about the streets in the distance, but the only one he'd met so far was his neighbor, Sans, who was leading him down the street to the restaurant he'd passed on his way in.
“this is my bro’s place,” Sans drawled, taking his straw hat off as they stepped in. The farmer had graciously explained everything about Rus’ farm to him over the last two hours, from the delivery box where he'd put anything he wanted to sell to the decrepit barn and chicken coop and what he'd need to fix them. Sans’ farm was mostly for cows and basic vegetables; hint hint, Rus was probably expected to fill the other kinds of crops and livestock once he got on his feet. He didn't mind that, he liked chickens and he'd grown up gardening with his mom on the weekends. He remembers the taste of her favorite fresh greens, and his father's blackberry pie.
If he can have that again, and keep his mom's spirit alive with his own little farm, then that's all he really needs. Besides, he's heard there's some good local plants one can plant that require little to no upkeep, so if all else fails he can just do some of those!
“Welcome!” The skeleton behind the register waved him down excitedly as Sans took a seat at the counter. “You must be the new farmer. Rus, was it?”
He took the outstretched hand and his answer was a little stuttered as the man shook his hand like a cowbell. “y-yeah, nice to meet you…?”
“Papyrus!” He supplied, giving him an award-winning grin.
“hey, that's my name,” Rus teased as he let go of his hand. “though nobody calls me that unless m'in trouble.”
Papyrus chuckled. “I thought that might be the case, Papyrus was a popular name for skeletons our age. I hope you don't get too caught off-guard when someone calls out to me!”
“i'll try not to be too surprised,” Rus said, sticking his hands in his pockets. Damn, this guy is cute as heck. Hopefully he's single.
“Well, in any case, this is my inn and tavern! I only have a few items on the menu, unfortunately our father left some pretty big shoes to fill,” Papyrus said, chuckling nervously. “Please, sit! I'll get you something to eat! On the house for your first day moved in.”
He sat, letting the man scamper off to the kitchen. Sans leaned over.
“be nice,” Sans warned him, and Rus gave him a puzzled look. “i already took the farm, so he hadta take the inn…he's not quite got the hang of cookin’ yet. just…be nice. he's tryin’.”
“oh,” he said, nodding. “right. my brother can't cook either, i'm practiced at faking liking food.”
Sans nodded, satisfied, and the wait continued.
It wasn't as bad as he'd expected, from Sans’ warning, but he's glad he had warning. The risotto was a little runny and also slightly too crunchy, but he'd never liked risotto anyway, so what does he know? The fish was well done, but he suspected it was from frozen. Regardless, he complimented his use of spices, and Papyrus beamed at the praise.
“I just wish I had more fresh ingredients,” Papyrus sighed as he collected the empty plate, sliding a glass of white wine towards him. “All of Sans’ crops generally get sold out of town because it's the only way the farm can turn a profit. But maybe when you get your farm going, both farms will be able to sell more of their stock locally! It will be so nice to have more variety! At the very least we have good wine, thanks to the Aster Vineyard.”
Rus almost choked on his wine. “a…aster?”
“Yes! Wine and Coffee are their names, they own the vineyard and the large house on top of the hill,” Papyrus informed him. “Have you heard of them? They do make world-renowned wine!”
More like world-renowned criminal activity! He remembers stories of Wine Aster and the rest of his mafia family back in the city. He'd paid his safety dues in his own run-down apartment to Aster thugs for years! He does remember hearing that Wine had retired, though. Far be it for him to judge him now he's left the life, or whoever Coffee was.
“Speak of the devil!”
He froze as Papyrus started waving behind him, and he turned in his seat, expecting to see the face he'd feared for so long…but only finding a timid skeleton in a black sweater. He waved back at them shyly, approaching the counter and giving Rus a curious look.
“Coffee, this is Rus,” Papyrus said, his hand slowly spelling R-U-S in sign. “He's the new farmer that bought the lot!”
Coffee nodded, waving at him and pulling out a notebook.
Papyrus caught his attention and Rus looked back at him. “Coffee is mostly deaf! He can talk some, and he can read mouths, if you can't sign like me. I'm trying to learn.”
“oh, i know sign,” Rus said, signing it as well as saying it. He turned to Coffee, sliding his palms past each other and then turning his pointers upwards and meeting his palms. “nice to meet you. i'm papyrus, but everyone calls me rus.”
Coffee lit up in recognition. He pulled his hands up to swirl his fingers towards himself before tapping his chin and palm. “you sign good!”
“signed since i could toddle,” Rus said, indicating being young. “me and blue both. our mom was also deaf.”
“I should have known!” Papyrus said cheerily. “Blue could sign so well, too. I never asked why but it makes sense now!”
“impressed,” Coffee signed. “now i have two people besides my brother who are fluent in town! that's very exciting!”
“I got ‘excitement’!” Papyrus said cheerfully, proud of his recognition. “And ‘brother’!”
“he says it's exciting to have some people in town besides his brother who are fluent,” Rus translated. He signed as he spoke to keep Coffee in the loop. “if you want, papyrus, i can…”
He paused, turning and asking Coffee if Papyrus had a name sign.
Coffee chuckled, showing a 'p' up by the teeth.
“That's my name sign!” Papyrus said happily. “P-smile!”
“certainly fits,” Sans chuckled, and Coffee waved at him, drawing his open palm across from cheekbone to cheekbone, the sign for 'farm', and closing into an ‘s’. “yyyuuup. farmer sans. that's me.”
“blue already had a name sign, you have one too?” Coffee asked. “from your mom, right?”
He shrugged, signing R-U-S. His nickname was short enough that nobody had ever felt the need to give him a name sign, though his mom had often called him “honey” or “sweet/sweetie”.
Coffee nodded, pointing a finger up by his skull. “i understand.” He pointed to himself and did the sign for ‘coffee’ with a shrug .
“makes sense,” he chuckled. “sorry, am i in your way? do you want to sit at the bar?”
He started to move and Coffee shook his head, waving him away. “i have a to-go order.”
He handed a piece of paper over to Papyrus, who gave it a quick read. “I see! You need extra on your usual meals for a bit, then?”
Coffee nodded. He caught Rus’ curious gaze, raising his hands up to explain. “cousin is sick, he and his brother are visiting until better. air is better out here than in the city.”
“coming from the city myself, i have to agree,” Rus said, wondering which cousins he was going to meet. He'd run in with a few folks from the Aster mafia in his life, but Coffee seems sweet, perhaps it's not right to judge them without meeting them.
Papyrus had Coffee's order shortly, alongside a few smoothies that looked too green for Rus’ taste. Coffee bid them all goodbye, but not before making Rus promise to come visit him soon at the mansion.
He stayed for a little while longer, but ultimately decided he should try to meet a few more townsfolk before sundown.
“It was really nice to meet you!” Papyrus said, shaking his hand again.
“it was nice to meet you, too,” Rus said in return, giving him a smirk. “as i was saying earlier before i got distracted, maybe i can teach you some sign sometimes. i have a few apps you might find useful, too.”
Papyrus beamed at him. “That would be wonderful! Coffee is my very best customer. I would love to be able to talk to him in his own language!”
He bid both Papyrus and Sans goodbye and left the inn, looking around the main street at all the lush greenery and cobblestone walkway.
If everyone in town was as nice as Coffee, Papyrus, and Sans, he thinks he'll be fine here.
He begins down the main path. He'd like to meet a few more people before he calls it a night.