#stardew valley leah

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.