( nana komatsu, twenty-nine, ciswoman, she/her ) ☼ i know it’s a small town, but i run into HONEY KUMAMOTO every time i go to the TIDAL POOLS. it’s like they practically live there and not the CINDERSAP FOREST for A FEW DAYS. it must be because they’re MELANCHOLY and RELIABLE. come to think of it, that’s probably why they’re a EX-PROFESSIONAL CHEF INFLUENCER too. but i did hear they want to RECOVER FROM HEARTBREAK, and sometimes they like to BAKE. rumor has it they also like PUZZLES, but dislike ROMANCE MOVIES. what do you think?
PERSONALITY
Positive traits: reliable, kind, observant, forgiving
Negative traits: melancholy, weak-willed, self-sacrificing, standoffish
Goals / ambitions: eventually heal from heartbreak but she feels no hope in that regard, find a job, find her purpose
Fears: losing a family member
General likes: long naps, puzzles, a complicated recipe, lofi music, deep water, baking
General dislikes: couples, romantic shows or movies or books, things that remind her of her ex, herself
ⅰ. Honey grew up in relative comfort, the love of her parents for her evident in their doting and presence even after their divorce when she is six.
ⅰ. She meanders through her life, unsure of who she is, or the point of struggling.
ⅰ. Her interest in cooking stems from her bachelorette college life and her paternal grandfather who looked after her most often in her childhood and taught her how to cook traditional Japanese fare.
ⅰ. She began to record what she could make in her dorm and post it online, gaining her a few followers at first and then eventually being the reason she could afford classical training.
ⅰ. Honey met who she thought was the love of her life at her classmate's graduation afterparty and everything in her life started to fall into place. She was in a career field that she liked, had a few friends from her course, and to complete this happiness was a partner whom she could build a life with.
ⅰ. After a long-distance relationship, she moved in with her partner when they asked her to. Her life began to circumference them as the few friends she had were back in her hometown and she spent most of her free time creating content for her ever-growing platform.
ⅰ. After a year of living together, however, they broke up with her unexpectedly sending her reeling into darkness and grief.
ⅰ. She stops making videos, stops posting and eventually quits her job, unable to show up without breaking down mid-boil.
ⅰ. She moves out of town altogether, moving in to Cindersnap Forest to join her (sibling, cousin, friend) and to start her healing journey.
"i don't know," corina shrugged, tucking in another stem into the flower crown that she was weaving. "we're all winging it. i like to give the kids freedom to do what they want so they don't feel bad about it turning out super ugly. maybe start with knots?"
"Alright," Honey nodded once, taking the flower stems and trying her best to weave them together. After a few moments, all she'd managed to do was wear down the stems. She looked over at the person who had grabbed her foot and studied their flower crown.
When she realized what reaction she'd elicited from the stranger, Emery's eyes swelled and her heart dropped. "Oh, Yoba, no, I'm the sorry one! I didn't mean to touch on a sore subject. Especially in the, uh, romance department." She cringed a bit, her nose wrinkling, at her own response. Still, she persisted, her voice gentle and cautious. "Something with an ex inspired me to move here too, so you can always talk to mea bout it if you want. But I get if you don't want to."
"No, I feel like that's a normal thing to ask." Honey tried to wave away the apology, suddenly embarrassed. The gentleness of Emery's tone was comforting and she was able to reel it back in before she spiraled back into her heartbreak. "I...thank you." And she offered a small smile. "That would be nice."
"That's nice" Seline says, her smile widening at the mention of a sibling. "I live here with my twin, and the rest of our family, of course. Born and raised here." It's not that Seline never thought of leaving, she just wasn't sure she was ready to 'fly the nest' yet. She also didn't have any money, but that was besides the point.
Seline nods along to Honey's explanation, adopting just the right amount of empathy and understanding on her features. Seline hadn't really been through anything requiring her to run away just yet, but she understood wanting to be away from what troubles you. It's why she frequented the flower farm, after all.
"Before you know it, you'll have found a whole family here, I'm certain," she adds, before changing the subject. She wasn't interested in getting into a deep conversation with a stranger just now. . . or ever, really. With anyone. "Have you got a job here, yet? I could probably put a good word in somewhere for ya."
Honey's thoughts stray to the idea of building roots here, imagining herself knowing everyone and finding...something. It's a vague sense of hope, a little elusive but a little spark. Something she can work with. "I haven't yet. Do you know of any good places?"
Status: open to all !
Location: The Beach
Time: Midday
One hand held a cigarette, dangling at her side while the other held one of the latest cell phones on the market. The phone was held up as high up as her arm could reach, desperately trying to find any kind of signal to no avail. After taking so many pictures on such a nice day out by the water and having absolutely no way of sharing them online, it was one of the most tragic things about being sent here and it was getting more and more frustrating as the days passed.
"This is ridiculous!" Juliana groaned as her extended arm dropped down back to her side in defeat. "Seriously, how does anyone survive out here like this?"
There were a lot of moments where she was alone with her thoughts now that she was no longer making content. She found herself most often on the beach, staring out over the water, wondering how she'd gotten here. Her eyes were still red and puffy from her morning cry and her pockets had tissues in them just in case it started again but she had made it outside.
Honey stood in the water, digging her toes into the sand until the water receded and came back again. She watched the stranger holding her phone up, wandering around for service, and disturbing a pack of seagulls that squawked away from her. She waited a few cycle of the waves before pulling herself from the wet sand and moving closer to the stranger. "You doing okay?"
“I sure hope so, because I’m about to head over there, and I’m technically an outsider,” Danny answers with a laugh, adjusting his grip on the sack of groceries he’s carrying as he stops to chat, “We can walk down together, if you want, I just need to swing by my van first - all my best dance moves require the use of my arms, and this giant bag of boring necessities is seriously cramping my style.”
"Honey Kumamoto," Honey reflexively moves to help him with the groceries but stops shortly as he readjusts his grip. "Yes, I just moved in so I had planned on getting groceries too. Do you need any help?" She easily falls into step with him towards his car, not minding the distraction of a side quest.
"Ah, well, nice to meet you, Honey," she says, mouth turning up at the playful syllables. Hon-ey. She quite liked that, though Seline was fond of two-syllable names, having one herself. Hon-ey. Se-line. "The shop may be closed today for the festival, but there are some produce vendors around if you're in need of a few staples."
" You're staying," Seline says with mild surprise, not hearing word earlier about someone new moving in. She was sure the gossip would travel fast, along with questions over why this person was here, or if they were planning to become part of the Joja cult. Seline herself enjoyed a nice cold soda, but she was team Pelican Town all the way. Still, she couldn't understand why someone would move here, not when Zuzu City was so much more exciting. "Why, exactly...? Wait -- I don't mean it like that, I just mean, Pelican Town, well... It's a bit quaint, isn't it?
"That makes sense," Honey hadn't realized the whole of the town was here but she supposed it wasn't that big of a place to begin with. It would take some getting used to. She found herself being lifted by the other's cheery disposition, nodding along with the advice and taking note to drift around to the produce vendors. The ghost of a smile disappeared though as she was asked why she was there in Pelican Town. It seemed it would be a thing to ask her why she'd moved to a small town such as this. "I moved because my sibling was here." Her eyes started watering and she studied the glass figures with a focused interest. "I...wasn't doing well before so, just needed to be somewhere someone wanted me. You always live in Pelican Town?" She redirected the conversation as soon as she could, not wishing to delve any further into her reason for being anywhere at the moment.
"Yeah, everyone here is really friendly! Especially Conrad, I think he's the person I've gotten along with the best so far. I just keep walking around town and talking to everyone I meet." Emery's rambling proved she sure was walking around town and talking to everyone she met! "You'll know everyone too, in no time. What brings you to the valley?"
The question brought a lump to her throat and Honey took a beat to swallow around it. What should she say? Would it be considered oversharing if she was honest or should she keep it vague? Would she even be able to bear saying the words out loud again? Emery seemed nice. Kind, even. Perhaps she would understand. "I, um," tears welled up and she looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and continued, "I had to leave the city. My ex..." Nope. She couldn't say it. Honey pulled a napkin from her sweatpant pocket and wiped at her nose which was already beginning to run despite the unspent tears. She cleared her throat. "Sorry 'bout that ...what about you?"
"Yeah, Conrad got it for me...the librarian," Emery added. Judging from the other woman's confusion, this was her first flower dance too. How exciting! Perhaps she'd found another new townie to befriend. It would be nice to share the overwhelming newness of the valley with someone. "And yeah, I just moved here a couple weeks ago, so it's my first Stardew Valley festival ever. What about you?"
"Conrad, the librarian," she echoed. It seemed she had many places to discover. As soon as the thought came to her, she felt a small hesitance to do so, thinking of her room and the inviting darkness and isolation it provided. "Day before yesterday-- first night in my actual place last night though. A couple weeks and you're on first name basis with the librarian?"
"it's the best way to get to the flowers," corina explained without providing any further verbal context. "wanna try some?" she waved a few pretty petals up towards the person whose foot she touched.
corina was sitting with some of the children to weave together some flower crowns for the dance. she reached over to grab some more to add to her creation, but accidentally grabbed somebody's foot. "oh, my bad!"
She startled, looking down to see a hand on her foot and then up the hand and arm to the person it belonged to. "All good," Honey assured, trying for a smile but it came out a little strained. "Why are you siting on the ground?"
malia had gotten off a long shift in zuzu city and got off the bus with half of her crap still in her hands as she made it into the festival. she didn't bother stopping at the clinic knowing that at least half the people she saw would be here today. she wanted a coffee, or something stronger. she didn't know, either way, she would be injected something with caffeine in her system soon and maybe some food. her stomach grumbled in agreement as she walked past a group of people.
it wasn't like it was rare seeing new people, but it was surprising. she could count the amount of people that she knew here, looking over towards the person she stared at them for a moment before she spoke. "yeah, it happens every year." she says, adjusting the strap on her shoulder. "it's...." nice? cool? terribly nostalgic of childhood? neither of these things? she didn't know what to say. "it's tradition." she decides to land on. "you can join if you want."
It had been a long time since she had been out in public, unable to move through the world the way she had before. Honey didn't know who she was, she had been broken down into her basic needs: eat, sleep, work, rinse and repeat. And even working had been too much. Around her there was unfettered and vibrant life, sweet and savory scents filling the air, bright laughter and joy. She felt like a cloud passing through.
"I don't think I can." Though she was grateful to be shown such a scene or, perhaps, she would grow to be grateful, she could not watch without envy seeping into her heart. A tradition to be this joyful, to be held in warmth and community. She could feel her eyes welling up again. She cleared her throat and wiped her tears before they could get far. "I don't have a partner."
Seline stood by her vendors table, glass trinkets spread out beside her under the warm sun. She was getting a bit angsty and knew it wouldn't be long until she hid this stuff and started to celebrate with everyone else, but work was work, or whatever. Seline sighs and picks up a glass spoon (was for sale, but now is decidedly not), dipping it into a pint of strawberry icecream she nabbed from the icebox for breakfast.
It wasn't rare for newbies to come into town and attend the flower dance, but Seline always noticed them. Their inquisitive glances, kind questions about their little town; it was all so exciting to Seline, who knew everyone in the valley.
"Of course," she responds, happily nodding her head. "Though if you're looking for a partner to dance with, mostly everyone is paired up by now, I think..." Seline trails off, looking around at the crowd. "I'd offer, but I make a habit of not participating in structured physical activity." She most certainly did — Seline was often the first lined up for sunday zumba, but a stranger didn't need to know that. "Are you just here for the dance, or...?"
"Ah, I see." Was all she said, eyes straying from the vendor to their wares, then to the crowd and back. The idea of a dancing partner struck her, just another way to mourn her past relationship added to the pile. She felt like she might suffocate beneath it. She took another deep breath, and focused on the glass trinkets. They were pretty and a little blinding at some angles in the sun. "No, I...I didn't even know this was going on. I stepped out for some groceries. I'm Honey Kumamoto..." she meant to reach out a hand but it got caught in her hoodie's pocket. She shook the fabric away and then tried again, reaching a hand out for greeting. "I just moved in yesterday."
Emery was proud to report to the flower dance field, mostly because she didn't get lost along the way. She was really getting the hang of this! Never mind that it was quite simple to follow the stream of townspeople making their way to the same event. Near the field's entrance, she ran into someone she hadn't met before. "I think so! I read this book about it, and the whole town's supposed to be invited."
"There's a whole book on this?" Honey's expression turned perplexed but she looked out at the crowd gathering. It certainly looked like everyone was welcome. She continued to look for any kind of ticket booth or some barrier from those who had access and those who did not and it was nonexistent. "Is this your first time to this...thing?" She assumed per the other person's words, that they were also new to the area.
Boxes surrounded her. piled all in her bedroom. She'd been on the floor for the better part of the morning, knees tucked against her chest, staring at one particular spot on the window. She blinked slowly, fat tears weaving warm paths over her cheeks and down her chin. I need bread. The thought was a rescue rope and she held onto it, using it to spur her actions. She wiped them haphazardly away, abruptly standing for the first time in hours and wobbling when her vision went a little blurry.
Honey Kumamoto took a deep breath and left the confines of her new bedroom, pausing only to grab her purse from the hook in the entryway before leaving. She walked, not really knowing her new neighborhood to have a set path but she knew the general direction of the small neighborhood grocer. She didn't get far before she saw the signs for an event. "Flower Dance?" She stood still in front of a sign, just in time too, as children burst past her, their laughter the only thing left behind. Curiosity getting the better of her and she followed to where the vendors were.
"Is this for everyone?" She asked the nearest person who seemed somewhat approachable.
