Context: Your father passed fairly recently, much to the dismay of you and your family. In his will, he left you the old family home and farm, provided you could do two things: fix it up and get the approval from his oldest friend, John. So, you went to meet John, who is still a grumpy mountain of a man. You're not sure how long you'll last running a homestead with him while fixing up the old place. One way to find out...

Setting: The old family home

Tags:[M4F][Friends to ?][Older Tsundere Himbo Farmer Speaker][Stressed Listener][Dad's Friend][Older Gentleman][Grumpy]but[Caring][Slow Burn][Country][Family Drama][Mean][Snapping][Drama/Angst][TW: Mentions of Death/Dead Relative/Yelling]

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[Scene opens in the old family home]

[SFX: Roosters crowing/early morning farm symphonies]

[As you venture down the old stairs of your family home, you can hear your father’s friend, John, is on the phone, surly as ever]

“Yes. She’s been putting in work on fixing the house up, Gary. No, I haven’t let her slack. Not that I’ve damned well needed to. The woman practically chases me down, begging for things to do.”

[Pause…]

[He sighs and goes to get a cigarette]

“I need a smoke for this. I know we’re farmers, but calling at 4 AM without prior warning just to hand me your damned opinion on Small Fry’s performance is worthy of a punch to the jaw.”

[Pause]

[John rubs his eyes, cigarette dangling on his lips]

“Gary. The girl lost her father not six months ago. I know I ain’t exactly family, but her Dad was my best friend. I’m gonna respectfully ask you to stop being a damned vulture and give her some space to grieve!”

[SFX: John pacing back and forth on the porch]

“Yes, she’s doing a doing a good job at fixing the place up. Again. For the eleventh damned time. Why is that such a damned problem-? You know what, I ain’t got time for this. I got a farm to help rear.”

[SFX: The call ending and John fumbling for his lighter]

[Pause]

“Hm?”

[He glances up at you as you greet him]

“Nnhhm, morning.”

[Pause?]

[He rolls his eyes]

“Yes, I was going to smoke a cigarette. But since her highness is about, I’ll save it.”

[SFX: Him grumpily tucking the cig away]

[Pause…]

“Yeah, yeah… ‘Worry about my health’. Girlie, I’m a farmer. I’ve taken a damned bull kick to the ribcage and-”.

[PaUsE ]

[He gives you a mean side-eye, even as you giggle]

“-AND walked uphill fifteen miles to my one-room classroom, to and fro, damned right. Hmph. You’re really damned bold to make fun, lil girl. You know I’m gonna make you feel it today?”

[...]

[Were he capable of smiling, he might have then]

“Mmhm. We’re laying down floorboards in the living room today once the farm chores are done. You’re gonna be more sore than you’ve ever been, so make sure you get your damned compression socks and good boots.”

[Pause…?]

[John sighs and plods on into the kitchen]

“How are you doing? Well, your craftsmanship ain’t great, you can’t paint in a straight line, and I’ve never seen someone nearly drive a tractor over TWO scarecrows…”

[...]

[His tone softens a little. A little]

“...Yer good with the animals, though… That’s worth something.”

[Pause?]

“Aye, really. Don’t got time for jawing about it, though. Grab your coffee, grab some breakfast, and let’s get to it.”

[Pause??]

[He gives you an annoyed look]

“Yes, I made breakfast. Not hard to throw bacon and eggs in a cast iron for a few minutes.”

[Pause <3]

“Lord, and she’s thanking me. C’mon, woman, let’s get to it. And, remember, what I said at the beginning of this still stands.”

[Pause?]

[He looks at you, eyes serious, making you feel as small as possible]

“Same stands. Your Dad said this house was yers if you fixed it up AND I approved. Don’t why that bastard of a fart would leave me to deal with cousins and aunts and uncles with their damned, ‘Oh, but Uncle John, it’d make for a great rental!’. ‘Oh, Uncle John, think of the family!’. Feh.”

[...]

[He sighs]

“Yeah, you’ll do yer best, I know… I’ll believe it when I see it.”

[...]

“Girl, I ain’t being mean. I’m being straightforward without having any tact. Big difference.”

[SFX: Them getting coffee together]

“Here. I found that silly purple dragon mug you were all fussed over… You were right, it was in the basement.”

[Pause <3]

[He heaves a sigh]

“Yeah, yeah… I happened on it. You got lucky. Now, I need you to listen to me, Small Fry, alright? Really, really listen.”

[Pause.]

[He sizes you up again]

“...You’ve been shakier lately. Unfocused. This is a farm near a creek… If your brain is acting up, you need to tell me… If you’re too damned shy to do that, then I don’t want to hear any guff when I have to correct you.”

[...Pause.]

“Good girl. C’mon, let’s get the farm chores sorted, then we’ll break for lunch, then start laying the new floors. Keep your radio on you at all times, stay hydrated, and report back regularly.”

[Pause…]

[SFX: The two of them heading out onto the farm: wooden floorboards creaking/a rooster crowing, etc.]

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time Passage: 7 Hours

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Scene re-opens in the living room]

[SFX: John hammering a board down/the Listener’s phone being blown up]

“Gah damnit, can’t you shut that yippy little spybox up, girl?? I’m trying to hammer in peace!”

[Pause…]

“Aunt Tammy said it made her anxious if you silenced your phone. For the love of… Fine. Whatever. Nails, please.”

[SFX: The Listener handing him a cup of nails]

“....These are screws, Small Fry…”

[Pause!]

[SFX: The Listener handing him a cup of actual nails]

[He huffs, clearly annoyed. Your body aches and you want to sit down, but you know he’ll give you the side-eye]

“Lord almighty, do they always bother you so that?!”

[...]

“I thought they normally ignored you, too! They normally ignore me as well… I guess they’re just torn up…”

[SFX: More alerts]

[Pause…?]

[John scoffs, hammering in another board before he answers:]

[Pause - SFX: Sarcastic floor laying]

“How am I doing? Fine. Working.”

[...?]

“Do I miss your Dad? Girl, we’re trying to fix up a floor. Cut the chair talk, alright? Hand me my tape measure.”

[SFX: More alerts/the Listener handing over the tape measure]

[Pause]

“...All of that sound is driving me up the damned wall. Tammy’ll live for a few hours, Small Fry, shut it up.”

[P-Pause]

[His tone is intensely edged and exhausted]

“Girl… Either shut it up or I’m tossing it out the window. This is insufferable!”

[SFX: More alerts]

[P-Pause…?]

[He throws his hands up in frustration, shattering the tension as he finally snaps:]

“God DAMNIT, GIRL! CAN’T YOU FUCKING LISTEN?!”

[...]

[He jumps back with a grunt of surprise as you do the only thing your brain will let you do: sob]

“Hey-!”

[SFX: The boards getting dropped and the Listener running off]

“Small Fry!”

[You run and run and… run. It’s all your brain remembers and you quickly hear John’s heavy footsteps fade behind you]

[SFX: Fade out on the Listener vanishing into the fields/nighttime ambiance]

[To be continued]