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The Empires princess tea party had just ended and Joel Jimmy and Scott were headed back to the limited life server.
"Well, boys it's been a lovely evening if you don't count Pix's death, but I am tired so I am going back home to bed," Scott said as he turned, lifted the ends of his dress off the ground, and left. That's right they were still in their dresses.
"You go on ahead Jimmy I'll catch up in a minute," Joel said looking at Jimmy "If your sure I'll see you at home," Jimmy said walking into the trees towards what was left of the flooded manor.
The second it felt like Jimmy was gone Joel broke down crying as he fell to the floor on his knees using his arms to hold himself. His mascara and eye makeup ran down his cheeks leaving black lines as they went, a small sob escaped.
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Jimmy couldn't stand to hear Joel cry as he silently hid behind a tree. Joel usually seemed so confident and put together but hearing him cry was breaking Jimmy's heart. Jimmy wished he could help but in this moment he knew what or more accurately who his best buddy needed.
Running towards the team T.I.E.S base in boots and a dress wasn't the easiest task but he did it. As soon as he arrived at the tower and spotted Etho outside talking with the rest of his team Jimmy rushed over as he could and grabbed Etho's hand and began running back toward Joel.
" Jimmy, what are you doing?" Etho asked as he let Jimmy drag him along, but Jimmy just remained silent. Eventually, they came to a stop behind a tree, Jimmy signaled to Etho to stay quiet they peeked around the tree to see Joel still on the floor crying.
"Etho go comfort him"
"What? why me? why not you?"
"Because I'm not what he needs right now, you are so please go comfort him" Jimmy pleaded. Now it doesn't matter who you are no one could deny Jimmy's puppy eyes, so slowly and quietly Etho made his way over to Joel and took his leave for real this time.
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Etho slowly reached out and gently turned Joel's head to look at him and Etho blushed slightly under his mask no matter what he looked like Joel always seemed to look beautiful to Etho whether he was going crazy with bloodlust or smiling and laughing or with tears streaming down his face he looked gorgeous.
"Hey, what's wrong? why are you crying?" Etho gently asked crouching down to be level with Joel.
"Why should I tell you anything?" Joel snapped "Why do I want to tell you everything? why do I want to tell you everything that's wrong so you can make it all go away" Joel asked looking away.
"Joel no matter what side we're on, no matter what happens you can tell me when something is bothering you especially when it is making you cry like this," Etho said looking deep into Joel's eyes.
sighing Joel answered "It's nothing just the stress of running Stratos, dealing with my hardcore world, and this world it's just getting to me and I don't know what happened but the second I was alone I just broke and I don't know why"
Etho gently pulled Joel close and held him and Joel could do nothing but cried into Etho's neck.
"Joel this game, the life series, in general, can be stressful, and on top of that you have other responsibilities Hermits don't have a lot going we need to do we just like to have fun but you have an actual empire to run that alone sound like a lot, how long have you been bottling this up?"
"A while, I don't like bringing my problems across servers empires problems should stay on empires, and I shouldn't let them affect me here on limited life" Joel's voice came out slightly muffled due to the collar on Ethos jacket.
"Joel that's not healthy if there's something bothering you it ok to talk about it no matter what server you're on" Joel remained silent letting the words sink in "Ok how about this just for tonight let's forget about everything and stay here in the woods nobody else just us here where nothing can get us" Etho suggested gently.
That wasn't true they were very exposed right now any mob or fellow player could randomly come across them but neither found it in themselves to care as Joel just snuggled deeper into Etho's arms, and Etho pulled Joel impossibly closer.
They relaxed in the silence content in each other's arms until Etho let out an almost inaudible chuckle "What are you laughing at?" Joel questioned raising his brow
Etho looked down to locking onto Joel's eyes smiling he lowered his mask to his chin "The princess crying in the dark woods. Sounds like something out of a fairytale"
"all that's missing is true loves kiss"
Etho slowly lowered his head to meet Joel for a soft kiss. And the world around them seemed to fade away.
All that mattered in that moment to Etho was Joel and all that mattered to Joel was Etho.