I wanted to test out my range in faces so I sketched out almost all of the NPCs as practice. It was a really pleasant challenge!
I left out the non-giftable characters that only show up for specific cutscenes/events. Them being the governor, bouncer, and the henchman. The only exception I’ll make is grandpa. Grandpa is cool.
My personal favourites are Willy, Gus, Marlon, Qi, and Sandy :)
I’m bored and I forget how to draw everyone so it’s time for a candidate redraw (plus some bonus NPCs that I’m very fond of design-wise / as characters)!!!
My main goal for these was to make everyone much more lively and expressive. I think I succeeded! I love how Shane, Emily, Qi, and Razz came out
Forgive me for any anatomy errors. I struggled a lot with the poses
Keep reading to see all of them on one page and the original drawings
Them but on one canvas
And… my beloved originals from many many months ago :) remember them?
The links for my full originals of the bachelors are here and the bachelorettes here!
I just thought: “If I am going to be drawing the candidates more in the future, I should probably update and establish their designs than”… and now we’re here (I greatly underestimated how many of these I wanted to do and how long they’d take to finish)
It’s kind of hard to tell who’s taller and who’s shorter so if you’re interested, the height order from shortest to tallest is: Shane, Alex, Sebastian, Sam, Elliott, Harvey :)
Stardew Valley is my cosy fall/winter game of choice so I recently got back into it and everybody knows about Shane’s depression but has anyone pointed out that Elliott clearly has ADHD?
That explains SO MUCH.
He seems to have periods of hyperfocus and periods of executive dysfunction during the game.
There’s also dialogue to suggest that Sam has ADHD, and he presents differently… because each person is an individual and the way they’re affected by ADHD is different.
Anyway, only marry Elliott if you can look past hella executive dysfunction.
Repost again! This was originally a fic with a prompt on the Flower Dance, then months later I adapted it into a Regency AU. Both the original and the regency versions are posted on AO3, but just the regency version is posted here.
Title: First Impression
Word Count:1,226
Summary: Leah attends her second Flower Dance in Pelican Town. Hopefully it will be better than last year.
Miss Leah Green tied a teal sash around her waist over a cream white dress. She braided her orange hair and tied it with a matching ribbon as she prepared herself for her second Flower Dance in Pelican Town.
It was a cute enough festival, she supposed. Last year it had only been a few months since she fled the city and her engagement to Mr. Kel. Then Mr. Kel had not yet found her new address, and Miss Green finally felt free to be whomever she wanted beyond a wife and an anonymous creator of unusual art.
Contented with her appearance, Leah fastened the buckles of her light violet shoes to her feet. She was ready to attend the ball. The ball would take place outdoors, in the clearing west of her cottage in the Cindersap Forest. She made her way to the isolated clearing on foot, careful not to tread in mud.
The grass had dried well from yesterday’s light rainshower. The warm sun made sure of it. Today was a suitable day for dancing.
Miss Emily Taylor was kind enough to sew a dress for her this year and teach her the dance. Last year Miss Green was obligated to perform in her cleanest frock and bodice; she had left her more formal attire in the city. She looked embarrassingly plain compared to the other women who danced. And despite her protesting, Mayor Lewis insisted that all bachelors and bachelorettes were needed to ensure there would be enough dancers for the fertility ritual.
Already Leah anticipated this year to be different. Her dance companion last year, Mr. Jones, moved out of Pelican Town last summer upon completion of his archeological studies on behalf of the university, leaving Professor Gunther with few displays for his museum. This had meant that the town was down a male dancer until Miss Taylor persuaded Miss Marnie Stoddard’s visiting nephew to dance with her, which now meant that the blacksmith would be Miss Green’s dance partner this year. Leah had no idea what Mr. Smith would be like. As far as she knew, the man was just another quiet guest who frequented Mr. Cooke’s Stardrop Saloon.
Leah followed the decorated path, then became aware of the commotion in the forest clearing.
“What do you mean he can’t dance today?” The mayor hissed at Doctor Harvey, visibly upset.
“What I mean,” the town doctor replied, a hint of exasperation in his voice, “is that Mr. Smith had an accident last night that left him unable to perform at this time.”
“Not even for a couple minutes?” Mayor Lewis huffed.
Miss Taylor crossed her arms, a rare angry frown formed on her face. “Mr. Smith tripped near his furnace, sprained his ankle and got burns on his limbs. Of course he can’t dance!” She turned to Doctor Harvey. “Does that sound about right, Doctor?”
“Er, yes, but…” The doctor shook his head and muttered something about patient confidentiality being almost impossible in such a small town.
Still irritated, Mayor Lewis stormed off to talk with Mrs. Caroline Marsh about decoration arrangements. It did not take him long to start sputtering “no” repeatedly. Miss Taylor whirled around and spotted Leah, and she frowned apologetically.
“Miss Green! You heard…”
“I did.” Leah nodded.
“I’m so sorry!”
Leah shrugged. “Accidents happen. I do hope Mr. Smith recovers soon.”
“I do as well.”
“Excuse me, but is there a problem here in which I may assist?”
The two ladies turned to the tenor voice. It was a gentleman Leah recognized in passing at the Egg Festival a few weeks previous. He had long ginger hair that fell past his shoulders, and he was wearing the auburn suit and emerald green tie that he wore to that more casual event.
What was his name again?
Mayor Lewis, having overheard, clasped his hands together loudly. “Yes, you may! We need a dancer! You… can dance, can you?”
To Leah’s surprise, the man grinned. “Why certainly! I was among the best performers in my class at university.”
“Perfect!” Miss Taylor squealed excitedly. “You and Miss Green can dance together for the ritual performance! Miss Green, do you know enough to teach him?”
“I–”
Before Leah could answer, Miss Taylor ran off. She spotted Mr. Cooke wheeling a cart of appetizers into the clearing and assisted him in setting up the tables for the food.
Which left only Leah to teach the routine? She swallowed nervously.
“It is just the simple Flower Dance routine, yes?” The gentleman asked.
She had to try. “Yes. Here, let us go this way and practice the steps.”
They walked over to an edge of the clearing. Leah recognized the youngest bachelors in the town, Mr. and Mrs. Mullner’s grandson, Mr. Knight, and Emily’s younger sister, Miss Haley Taylor, practicing the same dance. Leah gestured over to their direction.
“I believe you want to follow the same steps as they are…”
Even though he announced his claim of experience, Leah was still surprised that the gentleman copied the dance steps so well. They went through the routine once with only herself to provide the occasional stumble. A hop, skip, and a twirl later, they had finished the routine.
“Goodness, you’re as good as you say you are! Perhaps it is you who should be teaching me to dance.”
“Why, thank you!” He beamed. “We can go through the dance again if it will make you more comfortable, Miss Green.”
“I am fine, thank you Mr… er, what was your name?”
“Turner. Mr. Elliott Turner.”
“Mr. Turner.” Leah repeated. “I thought I recognized you at the Egg Festival a few weeks ago. I thought you were only visiting.”
“I just recently moved into town, the day before.”
“I see.” Leah nodded. “So what brings you to Pelican Town?”
“The scenery!” Mr. Turner replied merrily. “Stardew Valley is the most peaceful, beautiful place I’ve ever had the pleasure of traveling through, and I just had to return.”
“Same here!” Leah found herself grinning widely. “Don’t tell me you came here for artistic inspiration, too.”
“Well…”
“Oh, you did!” Leah laughed heartily at her failed attempt at a joke. “What is it that you do, Mr. Turner?”
“I am a writer. And yourself?”
“I’m an artist. I prefer sculpting, but I also paint. What is it that you write about?”
The two chatted for so long they nearly missed Mayor Lewis’s queue announcing it was time for the ritual Flower Dance.
“Oops,” Leah muttered. “Pardon me.”
“No, the apologies are all mine.” Then once more to her surprise, Mr. Turner took her hand and bowed– properly, low– and kissed above her knuckles. He let go to offer her his arm. “Well, shall we, Miss Green?”
Leah did not hesitate to accept. “Yes. Let’s.”
Together they made their way to the center of the forest clearing, then separated. Miss Green took her place in the line of ladies, and Mr. Turner did the same in the line of gentlemen. He stood out boldly in his maroon attire among the gentlemen with baby blue suits, but with his confident stance and precise movements, Leah was certain he looked more like he belonged among them now than she did with the ladies a year ago.
That day, Mr. Turner became the fastest friend Miss Green made in Pelican Town.
A brand new short story today! Based off of one of Elliott’s quotes: “Some people are shy. Keep showing interest in them and they’ll get comfortable around you. Everyone likes to have friends, even that grumpy blacksmith.”
Rain dripped down his coat and onto a mat. Elliott hung it on a wall hook, careful to make sure the raincoat wouldn’t drip onto the wooden floors of the Stardrop Saloon once rested against the wall. He walked towards the counter, his path interrupted by a call from Gus, the bartender.
“One pale ale, Elliott?”
“Yes, thank you.” He quickly answered back as he made it to Gus’s jukebox. He didn’t usually play music immediately upon arriving at the saloon, and he usually didn’t come over when it rained. But he did usually come on Fridays, and tonight he just had to get out of his beach cabin. His usual companion Leah would not be there to chat, as she has found herself deeply invested in work on a sculpture today. He knew better than anyone else not to interrupt an artist’s sudden spark of inspiration, especially after a block as long as she had.
Not that her artistry could pull him out of his own rut, unfortunately. Elliott scrolled through the Bartender’s Favorites custom category and settled on Marvin Gaye’s I Heard It Through The Grapevine , then looked through a different genre for the song he really wanted, an Elton John tune. It was customary; Gus requested that anyone who wanted to hear from the jukebox must pick a song from Gus’s favorites before then hearing the tune they wanted. If his customers only listened to what they wanted, Gus said, he would get too bored of the music, and he would rather hear nothing at all than Tubthumping by Chumbawamba twenty-one times in a row. (Gus learned that lesson the hard way from Sam on the boy’s 21st birthday.)
He glanced over to the table where Willy usually sat, then remembered that Willy would be on the docks fishing. He had better luck on rainy days, he claimed.
Willy’s usual companion wasn’t at the table either. Elliott looked around the saloon at all his potential talking companions for the evening. Marnie was busy chatting with Mayor Lewis, the scientist and carpenter couple were dancing in a spot free of tables and chairs. A few people sat on the barstools around the bar. He could hear Sam and two of his friends playing billiards in the game room.
And hidden in a diner booth in the corner of the room, facing away from the bar, was the blacksmith. Clint. Elliott had talked with him on a few occasions. But why did he choose to sit there tonight?
Curious, Elliott felt compelled to talk with him.
“Here’s the ale, Elliott.”
Emily walked up and handed him the stein.
“Thank you, Emily.” He fished into his pocket and gave her money. “Say, how did your clothing therapy go yesterday? So sorry I missed it.”
“Don’t worry, it went great! Six people turned up, and a few bought the clothes they chose. Robin’s wearing her dress right now. Abby wants to buy the suit of armor–”
“A suit of armor?”
“Yeah!” Emily laughed. “But she wanted to make sure she had a safe place for it in her room, so she’s going to swing by to pick it up tomorrow morning while her parents are in Grampleton. And Clint…”
Her shoulders slumped some, and her smile wasn’t nearly as bright as it was a second ago. “He chose a cute outfit, the beret was a great touch. But while I was talking with the farmer, trying to persuade them to give it a try, he…” Emily grunted. “I don’t know what happened, but I think Clint’s mad at me. He never looks at me anymore.”
Clint’s change in seating must be recent, and somehow tied to the event. But he, mad at Emily? What happened?
Emily sighed deeply. “I thought we were friends.”
“I did too.”
Emily suddenly whirled around when a customer spun around on a barstool tapped her shoulder.
“Hey, fill ‘er up!” Pam placed the empty stein in Emily’s empty hand.
“Alright, I’ll be right there.” Emily turned back to Elliott and gave a brief shrug and unhappy smile as her farewell and carried on with her work.
That settled it. Elliott gradually made his way across the saloon floor and towards Clint’s booth. He peered over the headrest, and noted Clint’s untouched bowl of macaroni and cheese, yet completely drained beer stein.
Clint nudged the stein closer to the edge of the table. “Another one, Gus.”
“I’m not Gus.”
Clint instantly flushed red. “Oh! Sorry.”
Elliott shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned with the misunderstanding. “May I sit down?”
Clint grunted. Elliott decided that it meant yes and sat down. And said nothing.
Instead he examined Clint’s face, which was still red around his eyes while the rest of his face returned to its usual shade.
“Wow. You look miserable.”
Clint scoffed. “Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Clint reached for his stein again, visibly frustrated that the glass was still empty.
“If I may inquire, what happened to you? You look like your beloved family dog died after getting hit by a truck.”
“Better that what actually happened.” Clint squinted so hard Elliott could no longer see his eyelashes. “I was a fool and a jerk.”
Elliott nodded, encouraging him to continue.
“I went to Emily’s clothing therapy yesterday. Of course I did; I’d follow her to the ends of the earth if she’d let me. I even tried on some of the clothes she made. I thought it might be nice to wear something more classy looking than scorched shirts and sweatpants when I have to go into the city. And she called my outfit cute.”
“Cute? That’s good, right?”
Clint shook his head. “I mean, yes? But from her tone… anxious me jumped to thinking that Emily might not see me as more than a friend. So when I went outside– she wanted us to let others see us as we see ourselves– and I panicked. I went back into the house, and saw her standing close to the farmer, and… oh, I’m ashamed of what I said.” Clint clenched an empty fist next to the still empty beer stein and pounded the table with a soft thud.
“I know that the farmer is legally blind. I know that. But I forgot… and when I saw them standing that close together, I thought nothing of Emily trying to lead the farmer to the racks of clothes. I mistook their closeness and her jumping in surprise when I came back as them becoming a… becoming a couple.” He groaned bitterly. “I didn’t even talk to her. All I could think to do was congratulate the farmer and get home with as few people seeing me as possible.”
Finally accepting that his glass was still empty, Clint stuck a fork into his macaroni and cheese and brought it up to his mouth, only to groan in frustration and set it back down. “The farmer came in this morning so I could upgrade one of their tools, and they cleared up the misunderstanding. They were so nice about it.” He rested his forehead in the palms of his hands, his elbows rested on the table. “And I could hardly bring myself to say anything. I was a jerk. I am a jerk. If I’m reacting this badly to a misunderstanding that could mean she’s in love with someone else, how am I supposed to cope when she finally is? She probably thinks I’m a jerk.”
Clint fell silent and didn’t say anything else. Elliott took a deep breath, allowing the silence to settle Clint’s thoughts before he spoke.
“She doesn’t.”
“She doesn’t?”
Elliott nodded. “But she does think you are mad at her because you’ve been avoiding her since.”
“Oh.”
“Now before you go beating yourself up about how you accidentally made her think you’re mad at her, have you apologized?”
Clint shook his head. “I can’t tell her why I was such a jerk. I’d look even more like a jerk, as if I were demanding she could only be with me.”
“Then don’t tell her that specifically. Do you still have the clothes you were wearing?”
Clint nodded. “I hadn’t paid for them, so I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away.”
“Okay. So this is what you do. Bring both the clothes and the money to pay for them when you go talk to her tomorrow at noon. Twelve o’clock sharp.”
“At her house?”
“Apologize for having taken them without buying, offer at least the money, but if you’ll want to, keep the clothes, otherwise return those to her as well. Also apologize for avoiding her. You can be vague about what you were mad at. Just say that she didn’t deserve to receive your anger, and you shouldn’t have gotten mad at her.”
“But I’m not mad at her!” Clint spoke only slightly louder than he had been, but it was enough to bring him to shame once more. “I’m mad at myself.”
Elliott sighed once more. “Then instead you apologize for making her feel like you were mad at her. Now, can you repeat to me what I said you should do?”
Slowly, Clint unburied his head from his hands and breathed slowly. “Um… see her tomorrow. Apologize for taking clothes, pay for them, give them back… Say sorry that I avoided her, say I wasn’t mad at her, I never meant to hurt her.” A pause. “Is that good?”
Elliott grinned. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Okay.” Clint exhaled a deep breath. “I think I can do that.”
A new glass of beer was set on the table. Clint reached for the new drink, and limited himself to a single sip before attempting again to eat his cheesy macaroni, this time with success.
Elliott glanced at his watch. This was enough high-effort social interaction for one night. “I better get going. Thanks for letting me sit down and chat.”
Clint snorted. “I should be thanking you.”
“Hey, think of it as payment from me to you for having pestered you with so many questions about iron working over the last few weeks.”
“It wasn’t so bad.” Clint smiled weakly. “Made work less boring for me.”
Elliott smiled back as he sat up. “I’ll see you around, Clint.”
“See you.”
As Elliott walked over to the row of wall hooks, he turned long enough to see Emily finish her return to the bar, smile brightly and mouth to him “thanks”. Elliott put his coat on, winked, and ventured out into the drizzling rain once more. But now he had one more stop to make before heading home; he had a bet to place with Leah: 200g that Emily will head over to Clint’s shop instead.
