Chapter Text
All hermits knew about the invitation; some more than others. Signed by Doc and Ren, every hermit was invited to a manor for dinner. The mansion with its twelve floors, hundreds of rooms, and secrets galore, was an experimental experience designed to give each hermit a thrilling evening.
“It's a horror experience." Ren smiled, handing the detailed envelope to Iskall.
“Okay…" Iskall said, slowly opening it.
“Come on, dude!" Ren clapped him on the back, “it's not like you didn't help us make some of the redstone!"
“Look; I have a very poor memory, you know this." Iskall said, eyes scanning over the letter.
“I know horror is not your thing, but I promise it's gonna be really good." Ren laughed. “Plus; free food."
Iskall nodded. “I'm convinced." He turned to his bro, creasing his brow, “If I want out, do I get out?"
Ren smiled back comfortingly, “Of course. I'm not gonna make any of my friends sit through something uncomfortable like that." He barked a laugh. “Unless you need improvements! Then I won't let my friends sit in comfort! I'm gonna push you!"
Iskall laughed with him. Etho jumped down from a cliff, agilely landing beside the two. Ren handed the redstoner another letter. Etho eyes creased up as a sign of a smile.
“This is it, huh?” Etho said, opening it up.
“You bet it.” Ren grinned “You two really did numbers for me and Doc with that redstone!”
“It’s my pleasure to help out.” Etho read through the letter. “Wait: did you get someone else to write this?” Iskall leaned over to reread the letter. Ren nervously smiled and scratched the back of his head.
“Well…”
“You got Joe to write this, didn’t you?” Iskall asked, smirking.
“What? Did you want it to look nice or what!” Ren said. “Me and Doc go through all of this trouble and ask all of you for help and you are making fun of our handwriting?”
Etho nodded. “Yes.” Ren just laughed.
“I hope I see you duds this weekend.” Ren said.
“Oh we’ll be there.” Iskall promised.
“And we’ll beat your silly little horror house.” Etho Added.
Grian and Keralis worked for days to form some of the outer shell of the manor. Bdubs, Wels, and even Xisuma did work on the interiors. Many of the other hermits worked on redstone, while the rest were tasked with detailed work. Scar, Gem, and Pearl teamed up to make the gardens that shrouded the place in mystery, though Ren and Doc handled the hedge maze. It was a combination of all the hermits' work, working with each other. It came together like a puzzle, Doc and Ren at the head of the massive construction.
It was almost frightening how well it happened.
But nonetheless, the town of Boatem was ready for when Doc arrived with the letters.
“I won’t have to kill anything, right?” Mumbo asked, reading through his personalized note. He snorted. “Oh, it says it right here: I don’t!”
Grian, Scar, and Pearl couldn’t wait to get back to the thing that cost them sleepless nights to finish.
“I can’t wait!” Scar said, placing his hands on his hips. “This has to be one of the coolest things we’ve ever done!”
“It really is!” Grian agreed.
“I am quite sad it's a horror experience.” Pearl smiled fondly. “I think I’d have more fun if we’d spent a month working on an underwater wonderland.”
“Well, you can find those sorts of maps anywhere.” Doc crossed his arms. “This- This is a technical and aesthetic marvel, one of a kind experience, and if I want the guests to walk away with one thing…” Doc walked forward, grinning. “It’s that you’ll never want to go back.”
“So it had to be horror?” Impulse laughed. Doc smiled warmly.
“Yes!”
“I don’t know…” Mumbo said, reading the invitation over. “I’m a little freaked out by the idea of being trapped in a mansion overnight…” He looked over the horizon of Grian’s cave. Even all the way from Boatem, he could see the spires grabbing at heaven and pulling dark clouds down.
“Oh, don’t get cold feet now!” Grian said. “You helped make the dang thing, what are you scared of?” Mumbo looked and down at the letter, rereading it over and over. While the rest of his friends talked and marveled at each other's work, Mumbo couldn’t help but get a sick feeling in his stomach.
“I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.” Impulse smiled at Grian and Scar. “With Tango and Etho’s stuff? Heck yeah!”
“Have you guys seen the handheld dispenser Mumbo’s made?” Pearl said. “It’s incredible!”
“What?” Impulse smiled. “Is it like a gun?”
“Yes!” Pearl answered, eyes gleaming. “Doc said it opens up new redstone solutions.”
Grian leaned in with a smirk on his face. “I bet Mumbo’s too chicken to even show.”
Scar glanced over at Mumbo. “He does look a little nervous about it.”
“Maybe he’s too scared.” Pearl laughed.
“I’m not too scared!” Mumbo shot back, feeling pink in his face.
“More scared than I am, apparently.” Pearl hummed. Mumbo turned away and read the letter for a fifth time.
“Don’t worry about it!” Impulse said. “Doc and Ren won’t make you go. They already said TFC couldn’t make it, and he helped build a whole maze under the thing!”
“No I-I’m going!” Mumbo said. “It’s just a spooky mansion… what’s the worst that could happen…?”
“That’s the spirit!” Grian cheered, shaking Mumbo’s shoulders. “I can’t wait to get all dressed up and stuff!”
“It’s gonna be a lot of fun.” Scar said, comforting Mumbo with a pat on the back. Mumbo smiled at them, trying to look confident in his choice to go. It was just one night…
Mumbo caught up to Doc as the creeper began to leave.
“Hey Doc?”
“Yeah?”
Mumbo sighed. “Do you mind if I bring my camera?”
Doc smiled at him. “Why not? Of course you can.” Mumbo smiled back, giving Doc a small wave as he walked away.