Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“ Thanks for shopping with us, have a nice day miss! ”   

The lady he was attending leaves the cozy shop, the doorbell made of flowers and little gems making an echoing sound in a subtle way. Tubbo yawed slightly, trying to blink away the sleepiness he felt since the start of his shift, he looked around the room, feeling very bored now that the usual rush of the capital had ended for the day. The shop he worked at was small, but was neat and very pretty, there were shelves full of herbs used for medical reasons, others with tea packets lining the walls and delicate crafts near him in the counter, and even with the pristine snow outside, the sun glowed warm and lifted the atmosphere.  

Tubbo has been working in the shop for about 4 months, and has been enjoying it a lot, but it could be lonely since he was the only employee who would work in his shifts. It didn’t bother the boy but made the experience very boring with no one to talk to and pass the time, especially after the rush when there were almost no customers to attend. He mentally shrugged, deciding to start cleaning everything since he would soon be able to go home anyways.   

Cleaning didn’t take much time, and soon he was in the backroom changing into his normal clothes. Putting his hood on, carefully avoiding his horns, he checks himself and his bag one more time to make sure he didn’t forget anything important, after he deems it good enough, he leaves the shop, and bristles at the cold weather the Antarctic Empire always seems to have. The brunet walks along the streets to where he knows there will be vehicles that go out of the capital, since he lives in a village not that far from the place, he arrives at the place quickly, going to one of the black vehicles so he can finally go home and rest for tomorrow. He passes a poster as he reaches for the carriage, and stops briefly to read it, scoffing when he notices what it is.  

When someone turns 17 year old, they receive their soulmark, an image on your body that only you and another person in the world have, your soulmate, and meeting your soulmate means falling in love with them, happy ever after you know? The mark consists of 2 symbols, one for you, one for your soulmate, and even though it is very rare to find your other half, it’s something everyone wishes for at some point. Tubbo... definitely does NOT wish to meet his soulmate, like, at all.  

Back to focus, it has been 6 months since the crown prince reached his 17 years old, and the royal family has been searching for their soulmate for all that time, but there’s been no clue of who it could be. The poster was to advise anyone that suspected of being the lucky soulmate to go to the nearest checker, which in Tubbo’s opinion was a bit unnecessary since there was no one who didn’t know now. The person probably hadn’t gained their mark yet anyways.  

Tubbo entered one of the vehicles, reaching for his coins bag as he said, “ L’Manburg Village please ” The man at the driver’s seat nodded, responding with a short “ 4 silver coins please ” before starting to move to the destination.  

The brunet reached for a little cup the carriage had, placing 4 coins made of silver on it, all the coins had 2 discs engraved on it. He then lay down on the seat, wanting to rest until the journey ended so he could have the energy to collect wood before dinner.  

Tubbo got out of the carriage, nodding to the driver as a quick thanks, before walking the familiar path to his home, a cottage in the border of a medium size village named L’Manburg. He waves at some people he recognizes, and a nice lady with a rose crown strikes up a small conversation with him, Hanna, if his memory serves him well. “ Hi Tubbo! Had a nice day? ” She smiles kindly when he answers with a small shrug.  

 “ Yeah, nothing really amazing about it, busy day with the flower shop? ”  

“ Actually, yes! That idea of yours was really smart, thanks again for the help ”  

“ No need to mention it! I’m glad your business is doing well Hanna ” He grins at her as they stop, finally reaching the boy’s cottage. He’s about to say goodbye to the older when she suddenly pulls out a bouquet of white lilies from the basket she was carrying, she gives it to him before saying cheerfully. “ It’s going to be your birthday soon, right? Seventeen is an important age, so I decided to give you an early present! ”   

He takes the bouquet gingerly, ram ears flopping happily as he looks at the flowers, he smiles brightly, speaking in a cheerful tone, “ Aww, thank you so much Hannah! They are so beautiful; you really didn’t need to! ” The girl giggles, shaking her head before replying. “ Of course I did! It’s not every day you reach such an important age! Besides, it’s also a way to thank you silly, now come on little bee, it’s getting dark. ”  

Tubbo flushes hearing the nickname, laughing a little embarrassed before gently bumping his head in her shoulders, turning ways and waving behind his back as he enters home.  

“ Bye Hannah! Stay safe! ”  

“ You too Tubs! Have a good night! ”  

The ram boy closes the door, sighing in relief as he feels the last warmth of the house seep into his bones, the cottage isn’t big, having a kitchen, a sort of living room with a fireplace and a small hall with a supply room full of things, his bedroom and a bathroom, but it had a homey feeling that he wouldn’t change for anything. He opened one of the cabinets in his kitchen, getting a big enough vase for the bouquet, filling it with some water before putting the flowers in it, he yawns, moving to the supply room so he could light up the fireplace before going to sleep, he takes the wood he needs, moving back to the small room with couches and a small rectangular table, placing the wood inside the compartment and using an old lighter to set it to flames.  

He finally takes off his gloves and scarf, putting them on the table and his coat on a hanger by the door, the brunet goes to the kitchen, putting some tea water to boil while he made something to eat. As a ramflos, one of the subspecies a ram person could be, he didn’t need to eat a lot of meat, so it was a very rare thing to find in his kitchen, he opened the cabinets, taking some apples and a small plant, yellow flowers dry so they wouldn’t be affected by the freezing weather, he takes a small pot and a knife, cutting all the apples and putting them in the recipient, followed by the plant, which he had chopped with his hands.  

He mixtures the two ingredients with some honey, whistling a small tune as he lets his mind wander into the recent topic he just had with his friend. Tubbo’s birthday was at the end of the week, three days before he was officially seventeen, and three days before he finally received his soulmark that would forever tell who his soulmate was, Hannah wasn’t lying when she said it was an important date, every person in the world desired for their day to come and bless them with a soulmate. Now, don’t get Tubbo wrong, it’s not like he never thought about the person that should be the one to complete his pair in a way no other could, it was just the implications of meeting your soulmate that made it so nerve wreaking!  

It’s common sense how soulmates always fall in love with each other, and sure, most people don’t end up with their soulmates, most of the population doesn’t even have the chance to meet their other half, but no matter how delusional you are about the thing, if you meet your soulmate you’re sure that they will be with you forever. And Tubbo... Tubbo can’t give that to his soulmate, not in the way one would expect.   

Tubbo never fell in love, not at all because, sure, he did find boys attractive even when he never spared a single glance at girls like this, but the love people always talk and talk about was so strange and unusual for him, that he couldn’t help but to fell out of his deep when he thought of it. He couldn’t understand what was so magical about holding hands in public, neither how a kiss in someone’s cheek could leave people a mess, and the boy tried, really tried multiple times to resolve such a confusing concept that looked so simple to other people.  

Tubbo doesn’t fall in love, so yes, maybe Tubbo wasn’t really excited for his birthday like he usually was, and maybe he always planned to never find his soulmate, and sure, he might avoid really hard any topic that involves romance. But it’s not like he would ever be one of the “luck ones” to meet his soulmate, so there wasn’t anyone that could judge him other them himself.  

His attention was suddenly brought back to the present when the tea kettle made a piercing noise, the boy moving quickly to take it off the stove and finish his dinner.  

Meanwhile, a boy with a crown made of intricate gold sat with his family at their dinner table, wondering about a person he never saw or heard, but that had a matching mark of an allium and a bee, made to only match theirs hidden in fine clothes.  

Chapter Text

It was a complete chaos in the castle, servants were in a constant rush to finish something for the great event the public would soon have, and Ranboo couldn't be more tired.  

Ranboo Beloved Craft, the middle child of the royal family and crown prince of the Antarctic Empire, one of the greatest empires of the world with the best military force someone could wish to have, they were in such prestigious place that it sometimes made him feel lightheaded. But with the now not so newfound title, came responsibilities that they could not ignore, like, you know, needing to marry his soulmate to make his ascend to the throne definitive.  

The reason couldn’t be more simple than it already was, Ranboo, even though beloved by his people, did not have royal blood running through their veins, which put him under incredibly old rules, rules under such ancient magic that not even emperor Philza could break them. The ancient rules were clear, for Ranboo to truly reign when his father passed away, he would need to marry his soulmate and undergo a spell that would connect their souls until both were dead. A bit of an overreaction if you asked the prince himself, but they couldn’t blame his antecessors at all since that same rule had saved the empire from more dark ages than he could count.  

But Ranboo still found himself musing about how difficult it made things, dodging the running servants on instinct, already used to the frenetic pace everyone had. They had been looking for the prince’s soulmate ever since he received their soulmark on his seventeenth birthday, a beautiful image of an allium and a single bee surrounded by green and purple sparks, located on his left chin. But luck was not on the royal’s side for the last months, and none of the people that reached had the true match.  

Which led them to this moment, planning for a ball that would invite practically everyone that would have reached the Mark age, where people would show themselves for the royal family in hope of being the person they looked for. Ranboo sighs, he has always hated big events like this, but it was a necessary evil, and they would need to endure it if he wanted to find his other half. “ At least we already sent the invitations, it’s not like they would refuse right? ” he mused to himself, shrugging and moving to the gardens silently.  

“ YOU WHAT?! ”  

The ram boy winces at his friend’s shout, nursing the sweet tea in his hands to avoid the incredulous look in Hannah’s face and the looming presence of the pristine letter just in the middle of the dark wood table. It had been just a few hours since he had been invited for the Crown Prince’s ball, and Tubbo couldn’t be more determined to avoid going no matter the cost, of course, he should have known that Hannah wouldn’t take no as an answer.  

“ Do you know how long it’s been since the last time the royal had a soulmates ball? It’s a lifetime chance! You can’t just not go?! ” The girl said in an exasperate tone, disbelief clear on her face as she read the rich-looking envelope for what must be the fourth time.  

“ I know that sounds bad, okay? But, uh, you know how I feel about parties! ” He takes a sip from his cup before adding a quick afterthought “ Besides, I don’t have proper clothes to attend royal ball, specially a ‘soulmates’ one! ”  

It was the truth, kind of, Tubbo wasn’t shy and was quite charismatic, but hated parties with a passion and didn’t have the greatest social battery to endure any, and while he does have some fine clothes from his parents, they aren’t exactly appropriate for the weather of the Antarctic Empire. Anyhow, it’s not like the boy would ever say the truth about his refuse, or that his friend would understand his fear of actually being the prince’s soulmate.  

“ Tubbo, Tubs, I know you have your preferences, but refusing the only chance of ever seeing the inside of the palace? ” Hannah replies exasperated “ For heaven’s sake, most people from here would kill to even stand near the gates! And you know I can help you with the clothes! ” The boy bites his lip, looking at the girl in silence. She sighs when it’s clear that he won’t say anything, and gets up from the table, patting herself as if to take soot off her clothes and going in the direction of the front door.  

“ I still think you should go, see you tomorrow Tubs, and if you ever change ideas... Well, you know where to find me! ”  

Tubbo hears the door open and close, still staring at the letter and taking sips from his cup, contemplating what he should do about it, he finally decides that this was a future Tubbo’s problem and gets up, now, it was time to prepare things for his birthday.  

The streets of the center of the capital buzzed with energy, hundreds of humans and diverse hybrid people walking along the streets, occasionally entering or leaving different kinds of shops so they could fulfil their objectives. Tubbo walked among the mass, taking the moment and observing the vitrines with a serene expression, the boy always found joy in doing that and letting the constant buzz of the crowd fill his mind. A mindless task has always been Tubbo’s favorite way to avoid his worries and problems, after all.  

He enters a small bakery, taking the sign of the cozy place and the heavenly smell of fresh goods, there are currently two young looking boys talking to the baker, and some other clients sit in comfortable looking poufs and couches. Tubbo approaches the baker with a shy smile, waiting patiently for his turn, the boys take their order happily and go sit at one of the tables, leaving space for the young Ramflos to take the duo’s place, who does exactly that. He reaches for his coin bag, opening it as he makes his order.  

“ Good evening miss! Hmm, may I have five of those honey buns and six of the sugary spikes, please? ” The baker, a nice looking woman with strawberry blonde hair, grins at him complying almost immediately and talking as she moves to make the order. “ Of course! You’re actually very lucky, those were the last honey buns of today y’know? ” The boy makes a happy noise “ Bless Prime, I really wanted some of those for my birthday tomorrow, special day and all of that. ”  

The baker giggles surprised. “ Really? I’m flattered kiddo, but hey, does that mean that you were invited for these Soulmate Ball of the prince? ” Neither notice how the boys from earlier start paying attention to the conversation, so Tubbo doesn’t think much when he says “ Yeah, I was! Took me by surprise, haha, my friend almost lost it when she discovered! ” The baker nods, humming understanding.  

“ Well, what do you think? Also, this will take 2 gold coins kiddo ” She gives a paper bag to him with his order, putting the coins she receives away. “ Going to the ball and test the luck? ” The boy gives a shake of his head, and the girl answers him with an understanding smile before waving him off, shouting a have a nice day for good measure.  

Inside the shop, the two young men look at each other with arched eyebrows, before standing up and leaving the nice bakery, trying to follow the ram boy before he was lost in the organized chaos of the center of the capital.