Culled most of my followers on insta last night… the rush. Followed by the immediate shame/guilt. Followed by remembering that I don’t care ? I only follow people I care about or want to bone
TLDR: 5K more of ch 7 edited today, about 18K out of 20K done.
God I really wanted to finish this today but my mind was literally melting out of my ears by the end lmaooo. I’ll have plenty of time to finish it up tomorrow though. Then it’s off to beta, whoop whoop!
I’m very excited to release this with the comms. Have I screamed enough about how much I love these lol? I haven’t gotten any figured out for ch 8 yet ‘cause I wanna make sure I solidify the chapter a bit more first but I’ll probably get one as soon as I do. Being on twitter/instagram has been great because I can super super easily find artists lol
a/n: Prompt for today is go on a hayride from this list by @rubymemes. I'm constantly falling in love with Jackson!Joel
Directory, Day 3
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Several years into Jackson’s founding, everything seemed to be running smoothly and the community could move on from doing things only for necessity and survival and start including things that enriched life. Some of this was holidays or celebrations that people wanted to bring back, although everything was updated and some things were left out when they didn’t really fit the existing worldview anymore. But things that were fun, meaningful, encouraged betterment, and that were feasible were regularly included in the docket to be voted on and most passed.
This year, you had wanted to do a harvest celebration since more crops than ever had been planted in the spring and everyone would deserve a celebration after all the work they did when it was done. Since Maria was your close friend, she worked with you on your proposal, going over what was feasible and the amount of work you’d be signing up for so it would have a better chance of being accepted by the council. You were incredibly nervous while they debated, but needlessly so because the movement to hold a harvest festival was passed unanimously.
It was July and you immediately set to work. Now, the harvest was wrapping up and almost everything was in place for the festival in two days time. The people helping you were those that didn’t participate in the actual harvest very much because their other duties conflicted with it like the bakers and main patrollers. Since the festival would be during the afternoon to early evening, they would mostly be available to help out.
Everything was going smoothly and covered until someone accidentally told an entire class of kids that there was going to be a hayride. There was not, but you couldn’t disappoint them now, so you rushed to fulfill that wish. Thankfully, there were two free horses and a wooden wagon and plenty of hay, though you opted for spreading the hay out like bedding so you could fit more kids at once. And adults. The only thing was that you didn’t know how to drive a wagon. And everyone that was available already had positions to fill. You didn’t want to ask anyone that was supposed to be celebrating to work the festival instead, so you went to Maria for help with what you should do.
After a brief rundown of what was going on, she told you, unequivocally, that she would get someone and not to worry about that. Instead, you should worry about where exactly this wagon was going to go since you couldn’t take a group of children in a slow moving wagon outside of the commune.
Two days later, you had your plan and everything was starting without a hitch. You were just finishing the prep for the wagon and had started brushing and tacking the horses up until the point that they would be attached to the wagon because you still didn’t know that part.
“This the hayride?” You heard a deep voice ask from behind you. You turned quickly and found yourself looking at Joel, who was Maria’s brother-in-law. You had seen him around quite a bit but had only said a grand total of maybe 10 words to him since you always got tongue-tied just from his presence. You liked his kid though, Ellie. She helped you relax. She wasn’t here right now.
“Um, y-yeah. Hayride, that’s me. And the horses. The horses— they’re doing the work. I don’t know how to attach them,” you babbled, hoping anything you were saying was intelligible.
“I’ll get them, you just tell me where I’m driving this thing,” he told you, picking up part of the tack and getting to work setting up the horses. You got lost watching his movements for a second before Joel said your name and brought you back to the present.
“Right, the drive. Um, we got permission to go along the perimeter of the outside fence until dusk,” you told him, focusing on the logistics that were dull and boring and not at all as fascinating and beautiful and distracting as the man before you.
“Kay, I brought a pistol and shotgun, so that should be fine. Are you coming too?”
“Yeah, I promised to be here to watch our surroundings so you can focus on driving the horses,” you explained, not wanting it to seem like you were trying to micromanage him.
“Good. When do we start?” Joel asked, just finishing the last attachments to the wagon. He petted over the neck of the horse he had just finished with, Paisley. You patted the horse closer to you, Argyle, subconsciously mimicking his movements.
“Right at 3:30. We should be able to do at least four half hour rounds before it starts getting too dark.”
Joel just nodded this time and you let the conversation end naturally.
A couple hours later, you were on your third go round. It had been a lot of fun so far, a packed and very chatty wagon every time. You were sitting up front by Joel but could still hear what everyone was saying and loved hearing them praise what the festival had going on.
Every so often, you commented on something someone said or some sort of plant or animal life that was visible inside the fence. By the way he responded, you could tell he had been paying attention, he was just kind of quiet. You had been in a companionable silence for the first third of this go round when Joel surprised you.
“Everyone seems happy. This was a good idea.” “The festival or the hayride?” You asked, maybe a tad overeager.
That brought a chuckle from Joel at your enthusiasm, “Both, I guess. But the harvest festival. Maria told me how much work you did for this. Nice of you.”
The praise of your work made you feel like you’d been dipped in warm honey. You couldn’t help the little thrill of a shiver that had you shifting in your seat. “Thank you, Joel. I really appreciate hearing that from… someone like you.”
“Someone like me? What am I like?” Joel asked, his tone light but you felt like you saw a certain guardedness in his posture.
“Someone that I admire,” you said softly, but sure that Joel heard you. “I see the way you interact with the people you care about and for someone like that to think I’ve done something nice for others is really flattering.”
“Then… you’re welcome,” he said, the most awkward you had ever heard him.
You couldn’t help the laugh that came from you, but it was as much a laugh about how happy you were as it was about the moment.
Almost back to the start again Joel spoke up, “Maria said there’s food for the volunteers.” “Yes! Are you hungry? We only have one more round, is that too long to wait? I can run and grab a snack,” you offered, wanting to show your appreciation fully.
“No, I’m good to wait. I just wanted to see if we should eat together since we’ve been working together this whole time,” Joel replied.
You tried to sound nonchalant but still interested and happy to share a meal with him, “Yeah that works… I’d be super happy to share a meal with you.”
Joel smiled and he was looking at the horses and where they were going, but you knew that smile was for you.
