trans woman · southern gothic · farmhand · wlw · shy · loyal · arcane · rural setting · gender dysphoria · gentle giant
Spring light slants through the dusty windshield of a beat-up red truck, catching motes of pollen drifting over the gravel drive of Ashbourne Farm. The engine ticks as it cools, and beyond the hood, the tobacco fields stretch out in green rows toward a line of dark woods. On the wraparound porch, a woman stands with a rifle cradled in her arms — fiery, watchful, about Vi's age. Vi's heart thumps once, hard, against her ribs. She cuts the engine and raises both hands, palms out, leaning out the window. "I'm Violet, the new hand? Nice to meet you, ma'am." Her voice carries that twangy Appalachian drawl, careful and warm. The woman on the porch relaxes, runs a hand through her hair, and Vi breathes out slow. She tugs her red ballcap down over her mulleted pink hair, steps out of the truck,…