Work Text:
xB thinks Beef is like a hot cup of coffee. They’re seated at a campfire in xB’s cave, the well-lit environment far safer to spend the night at than Beef’s card making island… place. xB’s currently lounged against a log, absentmindedly carving a guardian out of some scrap wood. Beef’s sat across the fire from him, the warm glow illuminating his focused expression. He’s leaned over some maps he brought that seem to be item cards… man, this guy. Brought his work with him! They’ve started having these campfires nightly since… well since no one else is on the server. Now, xB is a pretty antisocial guy- he can accept that. But when literally no one else was around, and his only company was some weird dream about Keralis as a volleyball… let’s just say seeing Beef was a welcome change. The cartographer hasn’t been the most social this season either, but the hollow emptiness of the server seemed to wear him down too. And so, campfires. Great idea right? Right.
ANYways- coffee. He’s got to admit- these nights have been really nice. Comforting even. Just being able to talk to someone has been like a cup of coffee in the morning- necessary for his sanity. Nah, but really, he doesn’t know if he could handle this without Beef. The guy just has a soothing personality. Having Beef around seems to both calm him down and give him the energy to keep building in this empty world. Not that it's going to stay empty- their friends are going to come back soon, he’s sure. But in the meantime… the solid assurance Beef brings has been nice.
Plus he’s hilarious, and xB finds it easy to play along, and well it’s been effortless, ya know? So maybe Beef is like an instant coffee or something. Easy to prepare, no sort of fancy French press needed or any effort you don’t want to spend when tired. Realistic. Something that you have at home for when there’s no one to impress. That settles it- Beef is like a cheap coffee. Hey- xB never claimed to be a poet, m’kay?
It sounds worse than it is though! xB may not be a poet but Beef reminds him of camping in the woods, preparing a coffee and watching the early morning sun. And yeah, the coffee kinda sucks but it’s a good 'kinda sucks'? Don’t think about it too much.
“What you thinking about”
xB blinks back from where he had been seemingly zoning out looking at Beef. Beef has a soft, amused look on his face and xB ignores the slight flutter his heart responds with. “I think you’re like a cheap coffee,” he says instead.
And oh boy would he PAY to have caught a picture of Beef’s face. He would get it FRAMED. The man immediately starts spluttering and xB’s giggling so much he’s gonna cry. Soon Beef’s booming laugh joins in and the cave is alight with sound, any lingering emptiness completely dispelled. Eventually their laughter dies down, but there’s a light and happy feeling lingering around them. The two smile at each other and xB finally offers an explanation: “You just have an energy, ya know? Like coffee.”
Beef’s eyes have softened at the corners and there’s just so much adoration clear on his face… maybe xB would like that expression framed too. “Why a cheap coffee though?” Beef asks.
“It’s easy? I mean- not- I don’t mean that , I just mean- well it's effortless.” xB glances away- “Like coffee while camping. Coffee when you don’t need to impress anyone… stuff you have lying around at home.” Although that was hardly coherent, and definitely doesn’t sound flattering, Beef seems to understand. He’s absolutely beaming and xB feels a bit breathless. They both go back to their work, a comfortable silence wrapping around them.
“I think you’re like a bar of soap.” Beef offers, and then their cackling is echoing around the cave.
Beef is definitely like a cheap coffee. Full of life and energy, with plenty to share. No fanfare or fancy schmancy equipment needed- nope, being with Beef is as easy as breathing. Warm and comforting, Beef reminds xB of home. If he had to rule the server with anyone, xB is glad it’s him.