Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Grian made a chat

Grian added Smajor1995 to the chat

Grian added fWhip to the chat

Grian added XisumaVoid to the chat

Grian added SolidarityGaming to the chat

Grian changed the name to Wannabe Admins

XisumaVoid changed their name to Xisuma

Smajor1995 changed their name to Scott

SolidarityGaming changed their name to Jimmy

Scott: Sooooo… What exactly is this?

Grian: A group chat, obviously.

Grian: If we’re going to be roommates, then we should probably have a way to communicate easily so we can inform the others if/when we’re going to be out for an extended perios of time, or for homework helo, things like that.

Jimmy: How did you get our numbers?

Xisuma: They were on the form with the info about our roommates.

Grian: You don’t need to know that.

Grian: Dang

Grian: Got the message in first.

Grian: Yeah, they were in the sheet.

fWhip: You all have your schedules?

Xisuma: Yeah, mine probably looks different than yours, but tha’ts because I’m a junior Admin already, and am helping out on a world.

Grian: Dang, that’s impressive.

Scott: What world?

Xisuma: Hermitcraft.

Scott: Isn’t that the world that’s run by GenerikB?

Jimmy: From teh rumours I’ve hrear, yeah.

fWhip: Ah, I don’t have my schedule yet.

Xisuma: You should probably head to the office then, they should have someone there who can give you your schedule.

Xisuma: While we don’t start for another week, to give us time to settle in, you shoudl still have your schedule.

fWhip: I’ll do that tomorrow, need to get my room set up.

Jimmy: How are we splitting the rooms?

Jimmy: I know there are five rooms for the five of us, but I don’t think they’re all the same sice.

Grian: I don’t have a lot of things, so I can take the smallest one.

Grian: That’s the one on the far left, I’ve already claimed it.

Xisuma: I’ll take the one next to it, I think that’s the second smallest. 

Xisuma: I’m only here four days of the week anyway.

Scott: Can I claim the largest room? I’ve got quite a few things.

Jimmy: If that’s okay with fWhip, it’s fine with me.

fWhip: I don’t care, I’ll just take the room second on the firht.

Jimmy: That leaves me with the middle room, as it looks like the room on the far right is the larges.

Grian: Sounds good to me.

Grian: I’m going to unpack and then get some stuff done for orientation and all that.

Grian: Talk later!

Two days later

Jimmy: SO, does anyone want to explain the noises last night?

fWhip: Noises?

Scott: That was probably me, sorry.

Jimmy: What were you doing?

Scott: I’m a starborn! I like looking at the starts! 

Grian: He tripped on his way back in.

Scott: …

Scott: How do you know that?

Grian: Eh, it was a bad night last night, so I was out on the couch.

Grian: Did you not see me?

Xisuma: Doesn’t sound like it, but I sure did.

Xisuma: Scared the life out of me.

Grian: SOrry not sorry!

Xisuma: Eh, it’s fine, I couldn’t sleep either.

Xisuma: Miss the Void.

Xisuma: I’ve been in the Overworld for years, but sometimes I just get homesick, even if I wouldn’t be allowed back home anyway.

Grian: Trauma?

Xisuma: Yeah, trauma.

Xisuma: Lots of trauma come to think of it.

Xisuma: Not that it matters, tho.

Xisuma: I lived, unfortunately.

fWhip: Dang. My family just didn’t like that I was beiming an Admin so they kicked me out.

fWhip: They waned me to start a traditional family in the mountains, being a goblin and all that, but I said screw that and left to become an Admin.

fWhip: Who cares about romance?

Scott: I would say mood, but honestly, I am so looking for a partner.

Grian: ANy relationship I’ve been in has crashed and burned.

Grian: Literally in some cases.

Xisuma: Should we be concerned?

Grian: That’s up o you!

Jimmy: How has this become about our love lives?

fWhip: Not sure!

fWhip: But are you looking for a partner Jimmy?

Jimmy: Not sure. 

Jimmy: Parents wanted to set me up for an arranged marriage due to some thing that happneed, but the person they wanted me to marry ended up getting arrested, so, honestly, I’m not sure!

Scott: Well, if you do want a relationship, hit me up, I wouldn’t mind a date with a cute boy like you.

Jimmy: Hakdjfniaudwbfkajsdnfiuabdsfkjadsnfun

Grian: Dang, that was smooth!

Xisuma: Very smooth.

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Five days later

Grian: I need someone to kill me

Grian: THis was a msitake!

Grian: Like, yeah, this was my only path in life after everything that I’ve been throught, but it’s the first day!

Scott: Only path in life?

Jimmy: What have you done that this is the only pathe in life you have?

Grian: You need level five friendship to unlock that trauma!

Grian: However! 

Grian: What the heck was that day?

Grian: Exams already!?!

fWhip: Yeah, I thought we had orientation today?

Xisuma: I did.

Xisuma: But I think that’s partly because of our schedules.

Xisuma: Typically they’ll want to see where you are before they do orientation so that they know where to place you.

Xisuma: There’s a possibility that there will be changes made to your schedules in the near future.

Jimmy: But we’ll have orientation tomorrow, right?

fWhip: I hope so.

Xisuma: More than likely.

Grian: Great, well, Im going to collapse in my room now.

Grian: I used too much brain power today.

Grian: Was not expecting that.

Jimmy: Make sure you eat.

Jimmy: I didn’t see you at lunch.

Scott: Were you looking for him?

Jimmy: I was looking for all of you.

Jimmy: Grian was just the only one who didn’t eat.

Grian: Why were you looking for us?

Jimmy: None of you seem to have good eating habits.

Xisuma: I eat!

Jimmy: Not enough!

Jimmy: You all need to eat three meals a day!

Jimmy: The most I’ve seen any of you eat is two!

fWhip: Hey!

fWhip: I’ve eaten three meals a day!

Jimmy: Once in the past week!

Jimmy: ONCE!

Jimmy: That’s supposed to be a daily thing!

Grian: At least I have soemthing to drink.

Jimmy: Grian.

Grian: I feel like I’ve mdae a mistake.

Jimmy: Avian safe energy drinks don’t count as something to drink.

Grian: It’s a liquid?

Jimmy: Grian H. Dreamslayer.

Grian: Oh-

Xisuma: Well, it was nice knowing you, Grian

Scott: Wait- 

Scott: Do you know all of our full names?

fWhip: That’s a terrifying thought.

Jimmy: If you do not have water in the next five minutes, I will hunt you down and foce water down your throat.

Grian: Finding water now!

Jimmy: Times’ ticking!

Two weeks later

Grian attached one image

Grian: Does anyone know what to make of this?

fWhip: Uhhh, it looks like a message made from cut out magazines?

Jimmy: That looks like a threat

Scott: It is a threat

Scott: A very terrifying threat reading it.

Grian: How do I already have enemies!?

Grian: I’ve been behaving!

Scott: Ome people are just like that.

Grian: Dang, guess this is just like my parents then.

Grian: Hating me just for existing.

Grian: This is normal

Jimmy: Do you need a hug?

Grian: Nah, it’s fine.

Grian: I’m used to death threats.

Grian: Happened all the time in hugh school.

Grian: Heck, I make suicidal jokes on the daily!

Jimmy: We’ve noticed.

Jimmy: You sure you don’t want a hug?

Scott: I would say give him a hug.

Grian: Touch me and I’ll bite you.

fWhip: Probably no hugs then.

Grian: Like I’ve said, relationships tend to crash and burn.

Grian: And come to think of it, I don’t just mean romantic relationships, even if most of the relationships were in fact romantic.

Jimmy: Can I make you something to eat then?

Grian: Can you even cook?

Jimmy: Just because my parents tried to send me to an arranged mariage, doesn’t mean they were bad people.

Jimmy: THey do love me.

Jimmy: It was just a bad situation at the time.

fWhip: Bad enough to arrange a marriage?

Jimmy: It was complicated.

Jimmy: Very complicated and not something I want to think back on.

Grian: I mean, it always could have been worse.

Jimmy: Yeah, but anyways.

Jimmy: I can cook.

Jimmy: So do you want food?

Grian: What would it be?

Scott: You can cook?

Scott: Makes you even cuter!

Jimmy: kdnfiuahdnfkjdnasiufbkajsdfnioabsdf

Jimmy: Not right now!

Jimmy: I can’t hadn this right now!

Jimmy: But it would probably be a curry of some kind.

Jimmy: I picked up some chicken and curry cubse when I ran to the store.

Grian: I will never say no to curry.

Grian: Sure, some may think it’s canabalism, considering you and I are avians, but we’re also part Player, and Players eat meat, as do some birds, we’re not full bird people! We’re also not chickens! 

Jimmy: Thank you!

Jimmy: I hate when people do that!

Jimmy: I’m a canary!

Jimmy: Not a chicken!

Jimmy: My wings are yellow for Void’s sake!

Grian: And I’m a crimson sunbird!

Grian: I have duo coloured wings!

Grian: Sure, I primarily eat fruties and vegetables because of the whole bird thing, but I’m still a Player! I can eat meat!

Scott: You two seem very passionate about this.

fWhip: I take it this happens a lot.

Grian: So, so much!

Jimmy: WHenever I try to get meat at a restaurant, I get so many judgemental looks

Xisuma: What’s going on?

Grian: Xisuma!

Grian: I thought you were on Hermitcraft?

Xisuma: I am, I’m just having a break.

Jimmy: Good.

Jimmy: Have you eaten?

Xisuma: Yeah, I have.

Xisuma: I’ve got a friend who won’t let any of us get away without eating.

Jimmy: Good.

Grian: You know, I think the message I got was an omen.

Xisuma: Message?

Grian: Read up.

Xisuma: …

Xisuma: What?

Grian: Yeah, that happened!

Grian: And I’ve just fallen in a puddle.

Grian: So now I’m soaked.

Grian: Ever since I got the message things like that have happened.

Grian: And I got it like, half an hour ago.

Xisuma: Know who sent it?

Scott: Considering the way it was sent, I doubt it.

Grian: No clue.

Grian: Not that it matters.

Grian: It happens like that sometimes.

fWhip: That’s probably not a good thing.

Scott: Definitely not.

Grian: Eh, it’s fine.

Jimmy: Get back to the dorm, dry off, and have soemthing to eat.

Jimmy: Xisuma, you returning tomorrow?

Xisuma: Yeah, tomorrow evening, why?

Jimmy: We’ll have food for you when you return.

Grian: WHen did you become the mom friend?

Jimmy: When all of you were incapable of taking care of yourselves.

Grian: Hey!

Scott: I think we do just fine with taking care of ourselves!

fWhip: We really should have someone looking after us, huh?

Xisuma: We do just fine thank you!

Jimmy: When you guys eat three meals a day, I’ll believe it.

Scott: …fair enough.

One day later

Grian attached one image

Grian: It happened again.

Grian: I don’t think this is a good thing.

Scott: Have you told a teacher?

Grian: They never help.

Grian: No matter what happens, they never help.

fWhip: I think they would with something like this.

Grian: My former teachers never cared when I had a knife held to my throat.

Grian: THere were notes posted around the school saying that if someone was dying to not call an ambulence because it would be a waste.

Grian: That we should just let them die.

Grian: THe police were just as bad.

Grian: Heck, any authority figure was bad.

Grian: Our own Admin didn’t care.

Grian: An that’s not something I want to look into too much

Grian: I wouldn’t even be becoming an Admin if I had a choice.

Grian: But here I am, becoming an Admin because if I don’t then death is my only other option.

Grian: And while I want to die, like badly, I don’t want to die becuase of soemthing like that.

Grian: And that was just high school!

Xisuma: Well, that was dark.

Grian: It’s fine.

Grian: It’s all fine.

Grian: THat’s normal

Grian: No one cares about me anyway.

Jimmy: We care.

Jimmy: You’re stuck with us in this dorm, which automatically makes us family.

Jimmy: SO you better believe that we’re going to hunt whoever is sending you those notes down.

Scott: Oh absolutely.

Scott: You deserve to be safe and not be threatened over nothing but someone’s grudge against you.

fWhip: 100%

Xisuma: You sure you don’t want a hug?

Grian: I’m sure

Grian: As sure as I can be anyway

Grian: Honeslty, I’m not sure of anything anymore.

Grian: Why me?

Grian: Why is is always me?

Grian: Haven’t I suffered enough?

Xisuma: Unfortunately the universe isn’t always kind.

Xisuma: It mat be kind sometimes, but most of the time it isn’t.

Xisuma: It enjoyes out suffering.

Grian: Yeah.

Jimmy: I have a stirfry if you want it.

Grian: Is your go to cooking food for us?

Jimmy: Yes.

Grian: Good to know.

Grian: I’m fine though

Grian: DOn’t want to eat.

Jimmy: FIne, but you’re eating this eving when Xisuma gets back.

Grian: We’ll see.

Three weeks later

Grian: Did you gusy ever find out who was sending the messages?

Xisuma: I did.

Xisuma: It won’t be happening again.

Xisuma: I made sure of that.

Scott: Name?

Xisuma: ONly if it happens again.

Xisuma: But trust me, the kid who did it probably won’t do it again.

fWhip: Dang, I waned a go at them.

Scott: Same.

Scott: No one messes with our sunbird and gets away with it.

Grian: And wh’y shts?

fWhip: Probably because you’re the younges and the smallest.

Grian: I’m only half a year youner than Jimmy!

Jimmy: Still the youngest!

Grian: I hate you guys.

Xisuma: No you don’t

Grian: *sigh* No I don’t

Jimmy: Besides, you are the one getting threats, or you were anyway.

Grian: Xisuma seems to have fixed that, though!

Jimmy: We still don’t know why it happened though.

Grian: I guess

Grian: Probably just because I existed.

Xisuma: People are just cruel.

Xisuma:  You’re an amazing person, Grian.

Xisuma: Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.

Grian: Hkjdnfuasdnfkjadsnifuhsakdjfn

Grian: Noooooooooooo

Xisuma: Yeeeesssssss

fWhip: Accept the love!

Jimmy: You have no choice!

Scott: Well, you don’t have to accept it, but we’ll probably force you to anyway.

Grian: I’m going to go jump off a cliff now!

Jimmy: NO!

Three months later

Xisuma: Ready for our first break?

Grian: I mean, I’m staying here, so it’s not really much of a break for me.

Jimmy: I’m heading home, so it’ll be interesting to say the least.

Xisuma: I’m stuck on Hermitcraft for the week, playing Admin.

Grian: Isn’t that what the Admin is supposed to be doing?

Xisuma: Yes.

Xisuma: He doens’t tho.

Xisuma: He leaves that to me when I’m there.

Scott: Need a murder commited?

Xisuma: Nah, it’s fine.

Xisuma: Good practice.

fWhip: If you say so.

fWhip: If you need anything, just say the word though.

fWhip: We’re here for you as well.

Scott: And we’ve found the dad friend.

Grian: Is that wha parents are supposed to be like?

fWhip: …

fWhip: I would so hug you if you wouldn’t bite me.

Grian: Maybe when you get back.

Grian: WHere are you going anyway?

fWhip: friend’s place.

fWhip: THey’ve got a server that they run that I’m whitelisted on, so I stay there.

Grian: Good to know.

Grian: I’ll do my best to not burn down the dorm while you’re gone.

Xisuma: Please do.

Jimmy: I have two hours before I leave, do you want me to make some meals that you just have to heat up?

Grian: Nah, it’s fine.

Grian: If I could make it through high school then I can make it a week without you guys.

Grian: Besides, it’ll be nothing new.

fWhip: Should we be concerned?

Grian: Nah, it’s fine.

Grian: It’s always fine.

Grian: Why wouldn’t it be fine?

Grian: I have to be fine.

Grian: I have no other choice but to be fine.

Grian: So it’s all fine.

Jimmy: DO you want me to stay?

Jimmy: I can tell my parents that I can’t make it.

Grian: No, you go home.

Grian: Your parents sound like good people.

Grian: I don’t want to take that away from you because ou have to babysit me.

Jimmy: It’s fine, my parents won’t mind.

Grian: No, no, it’s okay!

Grian: I’ll be okay!

Jimmy: If you say so.

fWhip: If you need any of us though, we’ll be back as soon as we can.

Scott: For anything you need, we’ll be here.

Grian: It’ll be fine.

One week later

Grian: The dorm stands!

Jimmy: And how are you holding up?

Grian: I’m alive!

Grian: I’m fine!

Scott: Grian, it looks like you’ve lost weight.

Grian: Pffft, nah! It’s fine!

Scott: Grian, I can see your ribcage.

Grian: It’s fine! It’s not anything new!

Jimmy: Did you eat while we were away?

Grian: Of course!

Grian: Why wouldn’t I eat?

Grian: I ate!

Xisuma: But how often?

Grian: Enough!

Jimmy: I’m making something when I get back.

Xisuma: Can I bake something?

Scott: You can bake?

Xisuma: Yeah! I love baking!

Xisuma: I just can’t do it often with how busy I am.

Jimmy: I’ll probably be out of the kitchen by the time you get back, but even if Im not, I’m sure the kitchen is large enough to share.

Xisuma: Sounds good to me!

Grian: It’s fine, honestly!

Grian: This is nothing new!

Scott: That only makes it worse.

Scott: Would you like a mocktail?

Grian: A what?

Scott: A non-alcoholic cocktail.

Grian: Those exist?

Scott: Yeah?

Scott: Have you never had one?

Grian: Nope! Just alcohol.

Grian: Nearly died of alcohol poisioning, but it’s whatever.

Grian: I lived.

Jimmy: Alright, I’m back.

Jimmy: Let’s see what I’m amking today!

Two hours later

Jimmy: Dinner’s ready!

Xisuma: We have cake for desert as well!

Xisuma: Tried my hand a a victorian sponge.

Xisuma: I think it turend out alright.

Grian: Do I have to eat?

Scott: Grian.

fWhip: If you don’t get out of your room and havie something to eat, Im breaking down the door and dragging you out to the kitchen.

Xisuma: The sponge has raspberry jam.

Xisuma: I think that’s your favourite, yeah?

Grian: You remember that?

Xisuma: Mmhm.

Xisuma: It even has the seeds because you like the texture of them.

Grian: …fine

Jimmy: And we have pasta bake for dinner.

Grian: Alright, alright, I’m coming.

Grian: Just for you guys.

Jimmy: Thank you.

Four months later

Scott: If we have one more test, I’m going to kill myself.

Grian: Mood.

Grian: But seriously, this is ridiculous.

Xisuma: I get we have another break coming up, but this many tests is ridiculous.

Xisuma: We’re only like, what, halfway through the year?

Jimmy: That’s probably why.

Jimmy: It’s the halfway mark.

fWhip: It’s still ridiculous.

Scott: I’m too pretty to go down like this!

Scott: Exhaustion is killing my beauty.

Jimmy: I don’t know, I still think you look just as pretty.

Scott: Really?

Jimmy: Mmhm.

Scott: Thank you!

Jimmy: Of course!

Jimmy: Just telling the truth!

Scott: Not really. 

Scott: I look like a mess.

Jimmy: A hot mess.

Scott: Jskdnfiuasdnfkjansdfiubasd

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Xisuma: And there goes Scott.

Xisuma: Death by compliments.

Grian: He will be missed.

Grian: Dearly missed.

Xisuma: Probably by none other than Jimmy.

Jimmy: kajsndfiuahsdfkjnasdfn

Grian: And there goes Jimmy.

Grian: Dang, lost both Mom and whatever parental figure Scott is.

Grian: He’s parental.

Grian: But I don’t know what role he plays.

fWhip: Shall we hold the funerals?

Grian: I can have a eulogy prepared in five minutes tops.

Xisuma: That fast?

Grian: I’ve written a lot of eulogies.

Grian: Don’t ask why.

Jimmy: That’s concerning.

fWhip: He lives!

Xisuma: Scott doesn’t tho.

fWhip: Gess we’ll have to bury him.

Scott: Absolutely not!

Grian: He also lives!

Xisuma: Bet they’ll get together by years end.

Grian: Probably!

fWhip: Ew, romance.

One and a half months later

Scott: Break time again, though this time it’s for a month.

Scott: Will you be okay Grian?

Grian: I’ll be just fine.

Jimmy: There’s meals in both the fridge and freezer for you.

Jimmy: All you have to do is heat them up.

Jimmy: There’s more than enough to last you for the month.

Jimmy: Enough for you to have four meals a day if you wanted.

Xisuma: THere’s also some baked goods in the freezer, and there’s some stored away in the pantry as well.

Scott: So you better be eating!

Scott: If I can see your ribs when we get back then there will be trouble mister!

fWhip: A lot of trouble.

Grian: I’ll be fine!

Grian: Promise.

Xisuma: If you need us though, we’ll be here.

Xisuma: I may not be able to leave right away, but I’ll be here if you need me.

Grian: It’ll be all fine.

Grian: I was fine last time as well.

fWhip: Grian, you lost so much weight then.

Grian: That’s nothing new.

Grian: Besides, I have that weight back.

Grian: It’ll all be fine.

Grian: You don’t have to babysit us.

Grian: I’m an adult!

Grian: I can handle myself!

Grian: I’ve been taking care of myself since I was seven!

Grian: I would hope I would know how to take care of myself by now.

Jimmy: Hmm…

Grian: What?

Jimmy: Nothing, nothing.

Jimmy: If you need us though, we’re just one message away.

Jimmy: FOr anything Grian.

Jimmy: Even if it seems insignificant.

Grian: I know I know

Grian: But before you guys go.

Grian: I want you guys to have one of my feathers.

Grian: Please.

Xisuma: Of course!

Scott: You’re so sweet, Grian.

Scott: THis is why we must protect you at all costs.

Grian: NO!

Grian: You don’t need to protect me!

Xisuma: Hmmmm, no

Jimmy: Guys lay off a bit.

Jimmy: BUt I would be honoured to have a feather.

fWhip: Feather!

fWhip: Oooh! I need to give you all rocks! 

fWhip: Shiny rocks!

Grian: Shiny?

Xisuma: Shiny?

fWhip: Shiny.

Scott: Shiny!

Jimmy: We love shiny here.

Grian: Ye!

fWhip: We’ll have to be fast tho!

fWhip: We;ve got to leave soon!

Grian: Then get over here!

One month later

Grian: You can’t see my ribs!

Grian: I was good!

Scott: There’s still like half of the food left.

Grian: But I did eat more than I did last time!

Grian: So I did good!

Jimmy: Very proud of you!

Grian: Hakjfadsubfkjasdnfuasdbfkjasndfunasd

Grian: Noooooooo!

Grian: No be proud!

Grian: You shouldn’t be proud of me!

Grian: It’s basic self care!

Grian: I ate!

Grian: That’s not something to be proud of!

Jimmy: Too bad, I’m proud.

fWhip: We;re all proud.

Grian: Hakdjfnaiusdfkjasdnfuasnf

Grian: Noooooooo!

Xisuma: Yes!

Xisuma: Always proud!
Grian: Dead

Grian: THis is how I die

Grian: Compliments

Grian: Fake compliments

Grian: But compliments nonetheless

Scott: Not fake

Scott: We really are proud of you!

Scott: We’er very proud of you for eating.

Scott: It can be difficult.

Scott: So eating even when it sounds simple is something to be proud of.

Grian: I’m jumping off a cliff.

Grian: I can’t do this!

Grian: I can’t take this!

Grian: Ahhhhhhhhh!

Scott: I’ve caught him, don’t worry.

Scott: askdjfnoaiusdhfnkljasnfgouhsadklfjansdukfn

Scott: He bites!

Scott: His teeth are sharp!

Scott: That’s going to scar.

fWhip: I’ve just made it back, I’ll grab the med kit.

Scott: I’m having a glass of wine after this.

Six months later

Jimmy: Was that the final exam?

Jimmy: Please say that was the end!

Xisuma: THat’s the end.

Xisuma: For now.

Xisuma: We have four months off for a break, and then it’s back to school.

Grian: First day back next yer is going to be tests and then orientation, isn’t it.

Scott: If it is, I’m taking a page out of your book, Sunshine and jumping off a cliff.

Grian: Sunshine?

Scott: You’re a sunbird, and our ray of sunshine.

Grian: akdfniaudsnfkdajsnfaunsd

Grian: Noooooooo!

Xisuma: Wait!

Xisuma: I lost the bet!

fWhip: Bet?

Xisuma: Scott and Jimmy aren’t togehter!

Scott: Hmm?

Scott: Oh, we got together three months ago.

Scott: We were at that one party, you know, the one in Dorm Three?

Jimmy: Yeah, we got together that night.

Xisuma: WHAT?!

Grian: And you didn’t tell us?!

fWhip: Ew, romance.

fWhip: Seriously tho you two, congrats.

fWhip: It’s been a great drama.

Jimmy: You would be the one to say that, hih?

Scott: I mean, you’ll still be getting your drama, there’s still one couple left to get together, even if they haven’t realised it yet.

Grian: What do you mean?

fWhip: AH, I see.

fWhip: Yeah, that’s going to be drama to the max.

Xisuma: What?

Xisuma: What do you mean?

Jimmy: Don’t worry about it!

Jimmy: Will you be okay on your won for four months, Grian?

Grian: I survived a month on my own!

Xisuma: This is three more months than that.

Scott: We’ve got enough food for you, so you won’t go hungry.

fWhip: And we’re always one call away.

fWhip: Or even just a message away.

Grian: I know, I know.

Grian: I’ll call or message if I need to.

Xisuma: We know you will.

Xisuma: But it never hurts to remind you.

Grian: You all still have my feathers?

Jimmy: Safe and sound.

fWhip: Yep! Never go anywhere whouth it.

Scott: I made it a necklace!

Xisuma: I’ve got it safe with me, where nothing can hurt it.

Grian: I’ve still got the rock!

fWhip: Is it still as shiny?

Grian: Shiny as ever!

Jimmy: They all are!

Scott: Shoot! We’re goint to be late if we don’t leave now!

Scott: Love you sunshine!

Jimmy: Stay safe, Gri!

fWhip: We’ll be back before you know ti!

Xisuma:  Just one message away! We’ll even message while we’re away, just in case you don’t alright, Sunlight?

Grian: Love you guys as well! See you later!

Chapter Text

Four months later

Scott: So, how did everyone hold up during the break?

Grian: I lived, and that’s all I can say.

Xisuma: Can someone kill me? I’ve done way too much Admin work recently.

Xisuma: The council really must be corrupt if a Junior Admin is doing all the work a licenced Admin should.

Grian: But I though the council was here to protect us and keep us from overworking?

fWhip: That’s what they like to say.

fWhip: However, before we can delve into that rabbit hole, one that will probably end with doors being slammed and everything, my break went alright.

fWhip: Helped out my friend with their world. If I keep helping them dring breaks then by third yer I’ll be a junior Admin as well.

Scott: Nice!

Jimmy: I had fun! My parents and I went out to see some other servers and everything, so I ended up being pretty busy.

Grian: That sounds like fun.

Jimmy: But, more importantly, how are you doing, Grian?

Jimmy: I know you said you were eating when we messaged you, but I’m not entirely sure how much I believe that, knowing how you deal with food.

Grian: I ate! Enough to get me through while still leaving food left, before I would actually kill myself if there was ntohign left.

fWhip: But there was more than enough to get you through?

Xisuma: Trauma does that to on.

Xisuma: But that’s something to work through slowly, and definitely not throught text.

Xisuma: Does anyone want any hugs though?

Xisuma: It’s been a long few months, and while I love the Hermis, I could use some physical affection from someone who I’m not tasked with looking over, even if it’s still technically not my job.

Jimmy: I’m alwasys down for hugs!

Scott: Hugs! 

Scott: Physical affection!

Scott: I need so much more of it.

Scott: I don’t see enough people in my life lol

fWhip: One hug, that’s it.

Grian: …

Grian: We’ll see.

Xisuma: I’ll take it!

Grian: Oh, and when someone returns, can they see if they can find my glasses?

Grian: I misplaced them again, and while I can see the screen if I squint (plus autocorrect saving me on some occasions), I would really like the ability to see properly back.

Jimmy: Why don’t you have some kind of chain to keep them around your kneck so you cna’t loose them?

Grian: …

Grian: I’m an idiot.

Scott: Considering we’re all becoming Admins, we arel all

fWhip: True

Xisuma: It’s too late to back out now, isn’t it/

Jimmy: Yeah, considering we’re in our second year, starting tomorrow, yes we are.

Grian: Kill me.

Four days later

Grian: Please, kill me

Grian: I can’t do this anymore

Grian: Like, not even high school was this bad, and I nearly died multiple times there!

Scott: You what?!?!

Grian: Haha, yeah, there was a lot that happened there.

Grian: That’s where some of my food trauma stems from!

Grian: THere’s other reasonw why as well, but that’s pat of them@!

Scott: Is here anything particular that caused you to crave death this time?

Grian: Well! There’s all the pop quizzes, there’s the people glaring in the halls, still don’t know why they don’t luke me, uhhhh, gener stuff that I’m reusing to think about because I’m not ready for that crisis, the teachers are being strict and overbearing, and I could go on, but we don’t have time for that.

Xisuma: The teachers are just a glimpse as to what the Admin council is like.

Grian: But theyve been helping!

Xisuma: Not as much as one might think.

Jimmy: Well, regarledss of them right niw, I would say that most of that is because of stress and stuff.

Jimmy: Or the students things anyway, people tend to be more hostile under stress and becoming an Admin is one of the most stressful things that one can do.

fWhip: While that might explain the messages from last year, that still doesn’t excuse it.

Jimmy: Oh, it very much does not, but there’s not really anything we can do about it.

Scott: Well, we could always fight them.

Xisuma: I’m down for that.

Xisuma: They can’t kick me out, not since I’m a junion admin

Grian: Please don’t ge tinto a fight over me.

Grian: I’m really not worth it.

Grian: I’ not worth a lot honestly.

Xisuma: You’re worth so much

Xisuma: So so muh more than anyone can see

Grian: Are you trying to make me cry?

Grian: Because it’s working and I hate it/

Grian: DOn’t make me feel emotuons

Xisuma: Too bad, we love you and you’re going to have to deal with emotions because of it

Scott: Xisuma’s right.

Scott: We love you Sunlight

Scott: You’re stuck with us/

Scott: My family will love you, and you’ll probably get a mocktail maned agter you.

Jimmy: What?

Scott: My brother, Xornoth, he runs a bar with his partner Xander, who does alchemy most of the time, and likes to name mocktails after people important to him, and you guys will become important to him once he meets you.

Xisuma: Wait, what?

Scott: Where did I lose you?

Xisuma: Your borhter is the one who’s in a platonic relationship with my older brother?

Scott: Your brother is Xander?

Xisuma: Yeah!

Scott: He makes some mean mocktails

Xisuma: I wouldn’t know, he’s never made me any

Xisuma: And I’m going to kill him for it.

Xisuma: He’s never even taken me to the bar!

Scott: You want some help killing him?

Xisuma: Please.

Grian: I know how ot hide a body without it being found for months!

Jimmy: That’s concerning.

Grian: One of the skills I pucked up in high school

Grian: Along with the ability to eat plastic and throw it back up without utterly destroying my throat like the first few times

Xisuma: Being bitten is going to be so worth it, you’re getting a hug.

Grian: It’s your arm that’s goint to suffer.

Xisuma: Ti’ll be wirht it.

Five minutes later

Xisuma: I was right, it was worth it.

Scott: How’s your arm?

Grian: Say anything and I’ll kill you.

Xisuma: I’m not at liberty to say.

Jimmy: You didnt get bit and Grian melted into your embrace, didn’t he?

Grian: Shut up

fWhip: Grian being soft for Xisuma?

Xisuma: What’y usur point?

Grian: I can still bite you.

Grian: I can bite you all.

Jimmy: Is the little baby embarrassed by being given affection?

Grian: You’re only half a year older than me

fWhip: THe little baby is embarrassed by affection!

Grian: I’m going to kill myself.

Xisuma: You;ll have to leave my arms first.

Grian: …

Grian: I’ll kill mysel later

Grian: You’re comftorable

Two weeks later

Jimmy: I’m making dinner

Jimmy: What do you all want?

Xisuma: Can I bake while you cook?

Jimmy: As long as I don’t need the overn then sure

Xisuma: You guys had better choose something that dones;t need the over

Xisuma: I havent’ baked in weeks

Grian: Do I have to eat?

Scott: Yes Sunshine, you do

Xisuma: Yep, need to eat

Xisuma: You didnt eat last night

Xisuma: No getting out of ti today

Jimmy: Knowing that, you definitely do

fWhip: Can we have panckaeds?

Jimmy: What?

fWhip: Pancakes

fWhip: I can’t type

Scott: Can’t wait to get an Admin comm

Scott: No more mistakes

Xisuma: That’s the deram

Xisuma: *dream

Xisuma: You would think autocorrect would be better

Grian: It’s saved me a handful of times

Grian: Ut yeah, it sucks

Grian: But pancakes?

Jimmy: Ugggh, if ou all want pancakes, I’ll maye you all pancakes

fWhip: Panckaes!

Scott: I’m down for pancakes

Grian: I have no choice as to whether or not I’m eating, so I don’t care

Xisuma: Pancakes lets me bake so yes, pancakes.

Jimmy: FIne, whatever, pancakes it is.

Three months later

Grian: Alright, we go over this ever time so you don’t have to say it.

Grian: Yes, i know there’s food in the fridge and freezer

Grian: Yes, I promise to try and eat it all even if we know it won’t happen

Grian: Yes, I’ll make sure the dorm remains standing

Grian: Yes, I’ll stay out of trouble

Grian: No, you won’t be able to get me to leave the dorm even if I’m one of the only few students here

Grian: Have I forgotten anything?

Xisuma: The fact that we love you and will be messaging you

Jimmy: the most important part

Scott: How dare you Sunshine

Grian: Very easily

Grian: Because emotions are a no

Grian: Their messy and complicated and don’t like them.

fWhip: Mood

Jimmy: Well, too bad

Jimmy: We’ve said it once, we’ve said it twice, and we’ll keep saying it

Jimmy: You’re stuck with us and we love you so emotions are something you’re going to have to accept

Grian: Leave and let me suffer alone

Grian: You’re going to be late

Xisuma: Awwww, sunshine are you crying?

Grian: Shut up!

Grian: I don’t cry!

Grian: And not over things like this!

fWhip: Alright, alright, well’ leve you to cry in peace

Grian: You’re all being bitten when you get back

Xisuma: Love you too

Two weeks later

Xisuma: Can I just- stop existing?

Xisuma: Or at least no longer have to deal with this?

Xisuma: I’m just-

Xisuma: So done

Grian: What’s up?

Xisuma: Hermitcraft’s Admin has basically abandoned us, leaving me in charge, when I’m only there three days most of the time, and Xander’s pissed about that, so hes mad, and even though I know he’s not mad at me, I know he’s mad, and it’s just making things harder, and I’m just-

Xisuma: Done

Xisuma: There’a a party happening in Dorm 3 tonight

Xisuma: If you need me, I’m going to be getting blackout drunk so I don’t have to remember anything

Grian: Just be careful

Xisuma: I will be.

Five hours later

Grian: Hey guys, X is very much drunk, he’s basically fallen into his instincts, so just be careful and quiet when coming in.

Scott: Yeah, we saw the messages.

Scott: DId you go and get him?

Grian: Yeah, I had a bad feeling, so I went to go and get him.

Grian: Had to drag him back, but he’s here nad safe, so that’s all that matters right now.

Jimmy: I’ll leave out some water and painkillers for him come morning.

fWhip: Will he be going to classes hungover?

Grian: I’m calling us both out

Grian: I’m not leaving him alone like this.

Scott: Does this have to do with the alcohol poisioning you mentioned last year

Grian: No comment

Scott: Right

Scott: Well, we’ll all be quiet coming in, and we’ll leave you tboht alone for thie night

Grian: Thank you

Scott: How are you handling a cuddly Xisuma though?

Grian: Die star boy

Jimmy: Pffft-

One day later

Xisuma: If anyone ever lets me drink that much again, they need to be hung

Xisuma: I feel like death warmed over

Scott: But you got to cuddle with Grian!

Scott: Something we all want to do!

Xisuma: Doesn’t negate how had I feel

Grian: He’s thrown up like six times already

Grian: ANd I’m not to be trusted in the kitchen unless it’s heating something up

Jimmy: Just keep him on the sofa with you, keep him as comfortable as you can, and when lunch rolls around I’ll come back and make some broth for you both

Jimmy: And yes, you have yo eat as well, Grian

Grian: Uggghhhh, fine, but only for Xisuma

fWhip: I see what you were talking about with the love drama now

fWhip: While i normally say, ew romance, or something along thise loans, this is actually kinda cute

Jimmy: Oh, so Scott and I get, ew romance, but they get kinda cute!

Scott: How dare you

fWhip: I dare easily

Grian: What?

Scott: Oh, nothing!

Jimmy: Nothing at all

Jimmy: I’ll be there in a few hours

Jimmy: Has he taken the medication?

Grian: threw it up like three minutes after taking it and refused any more

fWhip: Honestly, valis

Scott: Give it two hours and then see if you van get him to try again

Scott: That’s what my mum always dones with ym Dad when he drinks too much

Scott: Or it was before they were attacked and killed and I was left under Xornoth’s care.

Grian: I will

Grian: He’ll be okay though, right?

Jimmy: He’ll be alright

Jimmy: He’s just very hungover

Jimmy: Nothing to worry about

Scott: Yeah, this is kinda normal, depending on species, alcohol consumption, and how they hold their alcohol.

Grian: I’m trusting you on this

Scott: that’s an honour coming from you

Scott: Thank you.

Grian: Get to class

fWhip: And ther’s our grouchy sunshine.

Two months later

fWhip: SO, is anyone going to be staying (other than Grian) for the break?

fWhip: Like, we get the option to, but I don’t think we ever actually think about it

Xisuma: I don’t have a chice

Xisuma: GenerikB’s abandoned the others.

Xisuma: I’m only a junior Admin

Xisuma: I’m not an Admin

Xisuma: But they need me to be

Scott: Honestly, this is why we hate the Admin council

Jimmy: They’re just letting this happen?

Xisuma: Yeah

Xisuma: Xander tried to appeal to them, get a new Admin for while I’m at school

Xisuma: But with GenerikB still listed as the Admin, and he hasn’t fully withdrawn his powers, they refuse to do anything, despite the fact that I’m the only one doing anything and he’s gone

Xisuma: So I have to go.

Scott: I would stay, but I’m helping out at the bar

Scott: Gotta make some pocket cash soemhoe

Grian: You all know I’m stuck here

Grian: That’s what happens when you ge abandoned

fWhip: I have to head out, almost a junion Armin, and I’m not about to lose that potential title

Xisuma: Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be

Jimmy: I’m staying this time

Jimmy: It’s my parents anniversary, so they’re out traveling together 

Jimmy: And I don’t feel like being at home alone, so Grian’s stuck with me

Grian: Oh joy

Jimmy: DOn’t be like that

Jimmy: We’ll have fun!

Grian: You’re goint to force me to eatt

Jimmy: You ebt I am

Jimmy: You may not be able to tell, but the four of us can see the weight you’re loosing

Jimmy: And it’s not healthy.

Grian: It’s fine

Grian: This is normal

fWhip: It shouldn’t be

Grian: It was worse dring hight school

Grian: This is honestly better than anything I could have hiped for

Jimmy: Well, you’re stuck with me, so get used to the idea of following the schedule you have with all fo use here

Grian: I’ll just jusmp out the window

Jimmy: Jokes on you, I can also fly

Jimmy: Canry hybrid

Jimmy: You can literally see my wings

Jimmy: You have been in my nest

Grian: …shut up

Scott: You know, instead of this chat being called wannabe admins, it should be five idiot wanna be admins

Grian: …

Grian changed the name to Five Idiot Wannabe Admins

Grian: If we gradate it’ll turn into five itiot Admins

fWhip: So you’re admitting you’re stuck with us

Grian: SHut up

Xisuma: I have to go before I’m late.

Xisuma: FInal hugs before I go?

Grian: …

Grian: One hug

fWhip: I’m leaving with you, so I’ll grab my hug at the potal

Scott: Same

Jimmy: Hugs!

Grian: Only one hug each

Scott: Yay!

One month later

fWhip: How was staying with Grian?

Jimmy: It was a lot of fun!

Jimmy: He kept to himself more than he does when you guys are here, but he still came out and socalised, and he ate at least once a day

Scott: Okay, I know this is going to sound really bad, but he sounds a bit like a pet with those descriptions

Xisuma: I ahte to agree, but yea

Xisuma: Sounds a bit like one of those review a pet sitter would leave

fWhip: Or a babysitter!

Grian: I hae you all

Grian: None of you are getting welcome back hugs

Xisuma: Wait-

Xisuma: NO! 

Xisuma: I take back everything I just said!

fWhip: Wait, we were a tially going to get hugs without begging for them?

Scott: Jimmy what did you do to him?

Jimmy: He’s been anxiously pacing around the dorm while waitnng for you all to return

Jimmy: I think he’s gotten used to our presence

Grian: shur up

Grian: *shut

Grian: You guys happen to be people I can tolerate

Scott: Wait-

Xisuma: Has our love actually broen through to you?

Xisuma: Do you accept our love!

Jimmy: He probably accepts your love more than ours

Xisuma: Shut

Grian: I’m going to kill you

Grian: Or myself

Grian: Probably myself

fWhip: Well, that’ll have to wait 

fWhip: We’re back now!

Scott: I also have gifts

Scott: Xornoth made you all some mocktails

Scott: Apparently Xander helped?

Xisuma: Yeah, he did

Xisuma: He finally took me to the bar 

Xisuma: It was a night you weren’t there

Xisuma: Nive place

Scott: It really is

Scott: Not too loud or overbearing

Jimmy: We should got there when we graduate!

fWhip: Yes!

Grian: If we all live that long.

Xisuma: I’m sure we will

Xisuma: Hopefully.

Four and a half months later

fWhip: Exam cram?

Jimmy: Exam cram.

Xisuma: I’m baking for the cramming

Scott: Xisuma, you’re a godsend

Grian: No, a Void send

Xisuma: DId you-

Xisuma: Did you just make a pun?

Grian: No.

Jimmy: Oh my stars you did!

Scott: Was that one, darling?

Jimmy: No

Jimmy: Shut up!

Scott: Youre so cute

Jimmy: You’re cuter!

Jimmy: However, this is going to turn into a fight that will just end with fWhip going ew romance, so back to the cramming-

Scott: Fine, but you are cuter

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Grian: What topics fo you all need help with?

Xisuma: I’m good with them all

Xisuma: Probably because I’m already fiong the work

fWhip: Same, but that’s mostly because my friend is showing met he ropes and putting int he note for me to be a junior admin

Jimmy: Uhhhh, code and world stuff is my greatest weakness

Scott: Ive’ got a handle on most of it

Grian: Mostly just player wrangling and the likes

Xisuma: Well, between all of us, we’ve got all the skills, so we should ace it all@

Grian: If you’ve jinxed it I’m going to murder you.

Two weeks later

fWhip: Exams are done for the year!

Grian: If that was only the second dyear exams I far what the final year will be like

Jimmy: Don’t make me think about it

Scott: Probably ten times worse

Jimmy: Nooooo!

Jimmy: Don’t!

Grian: So, death?

Jimmy: Yes!

Scott: No!

Scott: I can’t live without you, petal!

Jimmy: adknfadsnfkjadsnfljan

Jimmy: nooooo!
fWhip: Ew, romance

Xisuma: Oh this is chaos

Scott: Isnt’ it great!

Xisuma: Well, it is home

Xisuma: So yes, yes it is

One and a half months later

fWhip: Well, that’s the second year over and done with!

fWhip: Any new couples?

Xisuma: I have no idea what you’re talking about

Jimmy: Danng

Scott: Well, maybe next year

Grian: Am I alone for these four months?

Xisuma: Unforutnetly I thin you are

Grian: I take it same as normal then?

Jimmy: Yep!

Jimmy: THough, thistime there’s more variety

Jimmy: I was experimenting, and I think you’ll like most of this

Jimmy: Let me know!

Xisuma: Yeah, I was in a bit of an experimenting mood as well, so the pastries and stuff are a bit more out there

Grian: THat’s fine.

Grian: I’’l do my best to try them all

Grian: No promises though

Scott: That’s all we ask

Scott: Just tey and eat at least once a day

fWhip: Hate to be the one to say it, but if we don’t do hugs and all then we’re foing to be late leaving

Xisuma: Can’t I just stay?

Xisuma: Do I really need to be a junior admin?

Xisuma: Can’t I stay with Grian?

Scott: I know you hate it, X

Scott: We all do

Scott: But you cant leave the Hermits alone

Scott: We’ll be here for anything you need ‘Suma

Jimmy: We’re just one message away.

Grian: …even if that message is asking to murder the official Admin

Xisuma: Thanks Sunshine

Grian: Anytime Stardust

Scott: I thought I had the star themed nicknames?

Grian: You have to share them

Grian: The Void is filled with stars after all

Scott: Fine

fWhip: ALright!

fWhip: Hugs before we’re alte!

Scott: Yes!

Scott: Right!

Scott: Love you, Gri!

Grian: Love you guys, too.

Chapter Text

Four months later

Scott: One last year, here we come!

Grian: Please, just let me die

Xisuma: No can do.

Xisuma: We need you

Jimmy: We really do sunshine

fWhip: Well, at least most of the food is gone this time?

Grian: Yeah, we’re not reading too much into that because that just makes my relationship with food even more complicated than it already is.

Grian: And we don’t need to explore that more than we already have.

Xisuma: Mood

Xisuma: But besides that, you didn’t loose as much weight as you normally do, and we’re very proud of you for that.

Grian: No.

Grian: Absolutely not.

Grian: No being proud alout.

Jimmy: Too bad

Jimmy: Accept the love

fWhip: It’s a lost cause at this point

fWhip: Mostly

fWhip: If we get our hugs we can coax him to accept that we’re proud

Scott: Hugs!

Scott: It’s been four months!

Scott: If we don’t get hugs then I’m committing a mirder

Grian: Can I come commit a murder with you?

Grian: I’ve commited my dair share of murder, and most of them I don’t regret considering the situations, so I’m well adept at murder/

Xisuma: …you’ve what?

Grian: Uhhhh, well, I helped destroy a world before, but that wasn’t entirely my fault due to the whole necronomicon being there and dealing with the powers there, and well, I had to kill someone or I would have been killed, done some other things I’m not proud of, killed and burned an entire camp of people for what was done to me there, and a few other things, but hey! It doesn’t matter!

fWhip: Concerning.

Jimmy: …

Jimmy: With that out of the way though, no murder, Scott, that’s not something we’re doing wven if we don’t get hugs.

Scott: Dang, got the three dots of disappointment.

Scott: FIne, no murder.

Scott: Whatever.

Scott: How was everyone’s break tho?

Grian: It went as it normally did.

Grian: dull and borning without you four being here.

Grian: So you do get your hugs

Grian: Maybe even two hugs if you’re lucky

Scott: Two hugs?!?!

Scott: A miracle!

Xisuma: Well, the Hermits lived and Hermitcraft still stands.

Xisuma: THat’s all I can say

Xisuma: I honestly don’t remember most of what happened during the break

Xisuma: I don’t even know if I had a break at all?

Xisuma: Is that normal?

Grian: Blocking out traumatic memories is!

Grian: Not to mention overworking can cause lapses in memory

Xisuma: Oh great

Jimmy: We’ll look more into that once we’re all back.

Jimmy: My break went well though.

Jimmy: I’ll probably be staying here for the breaks this year though.

Jimmy: My parents are travelling this year, 

Jimmy: ANd I don’t want to be alone in the house.

Jimmy: So you’re going to be stuck with me Grian

Grian: As long as I’m not alone this time

Grian: You were right about last time

Grian: I’ve grown used to you guys

Grian: You’ve really broken my walls done

Scott: He admits it!

Scott: Do we get more than two hugs then?

Grian: DOn’t push it

Xisuma: I’m almost there

Xisuma: I left as soon as I could

Xisuma: I’ll be there in three minutes

Xisuma: Scott and fWhip, how were your breaks tho?

Scott: Spent it at the bar with Xander and Xornoth.

Scott: I got drunk, had so many mocktails, and made a lovely chunk of money

Scott: I had a lot of fun

Scott: I alos brought you all more mocktails

fWhip: I’m officially a junior Admin!

Grian: Congrats!

fWhip: Yeah, I’m the junior Admin on my friends world, so my schedule now mirrors X’s schedule.

Scott: So it’ll only be Jimmy, Grian, and myself for the entire week?

Grian: Abandoning us

Grian: We’ve been abandoned!

fWhip: Oh calm down

fWhip: This just means that you guys can make more friends

Jimmy: We have other friends!

Scott: You do?

Scott: Who?

Jimmy: One’s a member of Dorm 5 working on decoming part of a Dev team like Noxcrew

Jimmy: And the other is Lizzie, you know, from out coding classes?

Jimmy: She’s in Dorm 9

fWhip: I thought we were all woking on becoming Admins? What’s up with the Dev team?

Jimmy: Yes, we are. Dev teams are groups of Admins that work together and not alone.

Jimmy: Those wanting to be part of a Dev yeam are in dorms 1-5

Jimmy: Those who want to work alone or with moderators lije we plan to are in dorms 6-10.

Grian: And how long did it take you to learn that?

Jimmy: We literally learned it last ear.

Grian: We did?

fWhip: Oh, I remember taht now!

Scott: I hated that lesson.

Xisuma: Very interesting though.

Xisuma: We can go over it again if you want to, Grian

Xisuma: It may come up on one of the test tomorrow

Grian: Yeah, alright.

Grian: Was that you coming in by the way?

Xisuma: Yeah, finally back

Xisuma: It’s quiet here

Xisuma: And I am going to revel in thakajdnfianbskjf

Scott: You good?

fWhip: I think Grian tackled him.

Jimmy: If they’re not together by the end of the year, someone;s going to die.

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Three days later

Grian: So what does it mean when being called a guy feels wrong

Grian: Because lately it’s been feeling wrong

Grian: ANd I hate it

Xisuma: Well, there’s a lot of things that it can mean

Xisuma: You could not be a guy

Xisuma: There’s a lot of different identities out there

Grian: Yeah

Grian: I’m going to have to research this, aren’t I

Scott: Probably

Scott: I know I did a lot of research when I realised that I didn’t like girls

Scott: Lead me down a lot of rabbit holes during my research

Jimmy: Yeah, I feel that

Jimmy: I did the same thing

Jimmy: But probably not as thoroughly as you did

fWhip: Falling down rabbit holes like that are common with things like this

fWhip: Guess it’s your turn to fall down the rabbit hole and end up in Wonderland!

Grian: Great.

Grian: Well, if anyone needs me, I’ll be having a mental breakdown while falling into this.

Grian: I’ll be back later.

Xisuma: We’re here if you need us.

Grian: I know.

Five hours later

Grian: I think I’ve figured it out.

Scott: In only five hours?

Scott: Impressive

Grian: Listen, I’ve had one too many mental breakdowns over this.

Grian: This is as far as I can go while keeping it together.

Xisuma: Well, what have you found out?

Grian: I’m pretty sure I’m genderqueer and use ae/aer pronouns

Grian: I’m comfortable using they/them though

Grian: Prefer ae/aer tho

Grian: He/him is off the table now

Grian: It just doesn’t feel right anymore

Scott: And that’s perfectly valid

Scott: Things change

Scott: There’s nothing wrong with that.

Grian: Are you sure?

Jimmy: I know someone in Dorm 5 uses they/them pronouns and they’re just as valid as anyone else here.

Jimmy: Just because you no longer use he/him or identify as a guy anymore doesn’t mean you’re any less of the person you were before you realised that you used ae/aer and they/them pronouns.

Five minutes later

Jimmy: Grian? You there?

Xisuma: Ae’s busy sobbing in my arms.

Xisuma: I think ae got overwhelmed by the love and support.

Scott: Ah, makes sense

fWhip: Well, we’re all here for aer when they are ready to come out.

Jimmy: You getting cuddles tho?

Xisuma: Shut up.

Scott: Please, for the love of the Void, get together.

Scott: This is painful to watch

Xisuma: kjnadfnaskdnfiausndfj

Xisuma: SHut up!

fWhip: Ew, romance.

fWhip: But seriously, please get together.

fWhip: The drama is fun and all, as is how oblivious you both are, but it’s a bit ridiculous at this point.

fWhip: I thought that it would happen when it happened, but come on, you’ve been pinning for one another for two years now.

Xisuma: I’m going to murder you all.

Jimmy: Can’t do that if you’re holding Grian.

Xisuma: As soon as ae’s no longer crying, you’re all dead.

Scott: I’d like to see you try.

Jimmy: Well, no we’re screwed

Jimmy: You jinxed it.

Three weeks later

Xisuma: Can I kill myself?

Grian: THat’s my line

fWhip: No, I wanna claim it this time

Scott: What’s happened?

Xisuma: Admin stuff

fWhip: Ditto

Grian: I’m just suicidal and crave death

Xisuma: But seriously, if GernikB doesn’t come back to do mentiinece then I’m going to die

Xisuma: I may have mods to help out with this stuff, but still, most of it falls on the Admin’s shoulder, and, in the case the Admin isn’t here, the junior Admin.

Xisuma: And guess what

Xisuma: The Admin isn’t here!

fWhip: Yeah, my friend got called away by the Admin council for something, and they looked very worried about being called away furing maintenance time

fWhip: Wanna do maintenance together?

Xisuma: At this rate, we don’t really have a choice

Jimmy: Any way we can help?

fWhip: No, it’s alright

Xisuma: This is normal for me now, but I still hate it

Xisuma: It’ll be fine.

Grian: Hugs when you get back?

Xisuma: I’ll never say no to hugs.

fWhip: Hugs are aleays appreceated

Xisuma: We’ll be back as soon as we can

Xisuma: Don’t know how long this will take though

fWhip: How long does this normally thake?

Xisuma: It can take anywhere from an hour to a week

Xisuma: Typically on the longer side of things though.

fWhip: Death?

Xisuma: Death.

Grian: Nooooooo, no death!

Grian: Not without taking me with you!

Jimmy: No death whatsoever!

Scott: But then we would have the dorms to ourself!

Jimmy: sajfdaisuhfnkjasdnfiuansdkjfln

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Two months later

Grian: Week long break! Dorm all to myself!

Grian: If I don’t die that is.

Xisuma: Sorry, Sunlight

Xisuma: We’ll be back before you know it.

Jimmy: And we’ve left food and baked goods

Jimmy: And some of your favourite ones to be precise

Grian: No promises I will eat

Grian: I’ll do my best, but no promises will be made.

fWhip: Your best is all we can ask.

fWhip: Well, your best and hugs.

Scott: And I’ll be bringing back mocktails for you all

Xisuma: I may be stoping by the bar this week

Scott: Try to get there when I’m working

Xisuma: I make no promises

Xisuma: But I’ll try

Scott: Yay!

Scott: It gets boring working there after some time

Scott: Bring some kind of spice with you

Scott: Make the night exciting

Xisuma: …I may have some pictures of my brother that I can show your brother

Scott: YES!

Grian: SOunds like you guys will be having fun

Jimmy: You and I’ll have some fun as well!

Jimmy: I’m dragging you out of the dorms this week and am bringing you to the park for some enrichment.

Grian: I’m not a kid.

Grian: I’m 20 years old.

Grian: I don’t need to go to the park.

Jimmy: We can get boba

Grian: …

Grian: We can go to the park.

Scott: So, we have a kid then?

Grian: Death.

Three months later

Scott: Can we go to the park?

Scott: Get some boba and play on the equipment?

Scott: I need to get out of this dorm

Grian: You had me at boba

Scott: This place also sells mocktails so…

Jimmy: I’m down

Xisuma: Enrichment?

fWhip: ANything to get out of Admin work for the time being

Scott: To the park!

Half an hour later

Xisuma: If anyone pushes me on the swings I’ll kill them

Xisuma: I just want to sit here

Grian: Can I sit next to you?

Xisuma: Sure!

fWhip: Ew, romance

Grian: ?

Xisuma: No clue

Scott: THey’re so oblivious it hurts

Jimmy: Yeah, just a bit

Scott: Wanna play on the jungle gym with me?

Jimmy: You know it!

Jimmy: It’s always so much fun, especially with my wings.

Scott: Race you?

Jimmy: You’re on!

fWhip: Well, guess I’m babysitting today!

fWhip: At least I get to realx while doing so.

Three hours later

fWhip: So, Scott and Jimmy spent the entire time kissing, Grian and Xisuma ended up holding hands and giggling about soemhign over on the swings, and I’ve just been reading.

Scott: Enriching!

Xisuma: It was fun

Xisuma: We should do this again

Grian: I wouldn’t mind doing it again

Jimmy: Same!

Scott: We’re so making this a monthly thing

Scott: Boba and then park time

Scott: Mark it on your calendars people!

Scott: We’re doing this again same time next month!

Scott: And this’ll keep happening until we grow old and die!

Grian: Yay.

Xisuma: That was such an unenthuseastic yay

Jimmy: It really wa

fWhip: As long as I don’t have to play parent each time to you two couples then I’ll be good.

Xisuma: There’s only one couple tho

fWhip: Mmmm

Scott: For now

Three weeks later

Scott: Mid erm exams!

Scott: Wh’s ready for that?

Grian: Death?

Xisuma: Death

Jimmy: No death

fWhip: Death.

Scott: I’m with Petal on this, no death guys

Scott: It won’t be so bad

Jimmy: The end of the year exams is when we die

Scott: Yeah

Grian: So we just have to make it to the end of the year to die?

Xisuma: Seems like it

Grian: Well, only a few more months then

Grian: Death will take me then

Grian: Hopeflly

Grian: Please

fWhip: Just a few more months

Xisuma: I’ll be free from the Hermits!

Xisuma: No more Admin work!

Xisuma: No more Admin Council!

Xisuma: No more anything!

Grian: THat’s the dream

Jimmy: Mmmmmmno

Jimmy: I take it back

Jimmy: No ndeath

Grian: Nooooo!

Grian: But-but Death!

Grian: Please!

Grian: I want to be free!

Xisuma: Freedom would be nice

Xisuma: A break would be nice

Scott: After the exams are over next week, we’re breaking schedule and going to the park for enrichment.

Xisuma: FIne, but only because we’ll be on break when we’re supposed to go.

Jimmy: Actually, speaking of the break, I’ll be leaving dueing it.

Jimmy: I know I sid I would be statiying while my parents travel and all, but I’ve got a friend who wants to see me, so I’ll be going to see them.

Grian: You know I don’t mind being alone

Grian: I’ve been alone so long that it pens’t phase me anymore

Xisuma: So the pacing and tackling people is normal for you then?

Grian: Shut.

Two weeks later

Xisuma: The unthinkable has happened

Xisuma: Grian, you’re not oing to be alone for the break

Grian: What?

Grian: How so?

Xisuma: GenerikB has returned to HC, so I’ve called in a month long break

Xisuma: And there is nothing he nor the Admin Council can do about it

Xisuma: As I’m a junior Admin, I’m allowed to call in for a break as long as the Acting Admin is there

Xisuma: And I called in this break the moment he stepped foot back on Hermitcraft, so there’s nothing he can do about it, nor can he get out of his Admin duties now that he’s there and I won’t be.

Xisuma: So I’m staying with you.

Grian: Really!

Grian: Yay!

Jimmy: COngrats!

Jimmy: THis has been long overdue

Scott: You two should come to the bar one day!

Scott: Please! 

Grian: Nope, that’s too far for me right now

Grian: Sorry!

Scott: *Sigh*

Scott: Guess I’ll just have to bring you back mocktails

Jimmy: I van stop by the bar!

Scott: You better!

fWhip: SO we’re leaving Grian and Xisuma alone then?

Scott: Please let something actually happen

Jimmy: If they realise it’ll be a miracle

Grian: What?

fWhip: Nothing sunlight

fWhip: Whishful thinking

Scott: Yeah

Jimmy: Well, anway, hugs before we go?

Grian: Yeah, I guess

fWhip: Yay!

One month later

fWhip: Get all the pictures

fWhip: Like all the pictures

Jimmy: What the heck happened?

Scott: Are they finally together?

Jimmy: They seem pretty heavily asleep

Scott: Should we move them?

Jimmy: They’re in a nest

Jimmy: Absolutely not

Scott: AH, right

Scott: Nesting thing

fWhip: So, we just wait for them to wake up?

Scott: Guess so.

Jimmy: At elat they’re finally ogehter?

fWhip: Hopefully.

fWhip: I mean-

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Scott: It’s too late

Scott: We know you’re excited they’re probably together

Jimmy: We’ve all been waiting.

Scott: INdeed

Two hours later

Xisuma: Oh, you’re all back!

Xisuma: How long have you been here?

fWhip: About two hours

Scott: Soooooo

Scott: What happened last night?

Grian: Nightmares

Grian: Like bad ones

Xisuma: Very bad

Jimmy: So cuddle pile tonight?

Xisuma: I won’t say no to that.

Grian: If I have a nightmare I’ll join

Scott: Please tell me you two are finally together

Scott: WIth how you were curled up it looks like it

Scott: It was so hard to tell you tow apart with how close you were

Xisuma: I think we’re together?

Grian: Yeah

Jimmy: FInally!

fWhip: Almost three years later

Scott: Yay!

Scott: We so have to go on double dates

Xisuma: Maybe

Grian: Maybe indeed

Grian: People, a lot of them anyway, scare me

Grian: Why I don’t want to go to the bar honestly

Scott: Oh, you don’t have to worry about that

Scott: It’s a really quiet place.

Scott: We call it a bar, but it’s more like a-

Scott: Honestly I have no idea what to call it

Scott: It’s not like any bar you’ll find on the street corner or whatever

Scott: More sophisticated

Grian: If we graduate then we can go

Scott: Score!

Jimmy: I think you’ll like it Grian

Jimmy: It really is a quiet pleace

Jimmy: Nothing like anywhere I’ve been

Jimmy: And Xander and Xornoth are really sweet

fWhip: Do you have a mocktail named after you?

Jimmy: Yeah- Canary Song

Xisuma: Mine’s Void Rising

fWhip: Cool!

fWhip: I’ll have to visit as soon as I can

Scott: Hopefully just a few more months before we graduate and we all go.

Grian: If we live that long.

Jimmy: You and Xisuma just got together, you can’t be thinking about death now!

Grian: I’m just that tallented

Scott: You’re something alright.

Four months later

Grian: You ready for exams guys?

Jimmy: Nope!

Xisuma: Are you?

Grian: Absolutely not!

fWhip: Well, we’ve ot no choice anymore!

Scott: Let’s blow these exams out of the water!

One month later

Grian changed the name to Five Idiot Admins

Grian: Well, we did it

Xisuma: We all have licences.

Scott: And Admin comms

Jimmy: No more spelling errors!

fWhip: Finally!

Grian: Honestly, that’s the one thing I’m most excited about for being an Admin.

Grian: Can’t believe we passed though.

Xisuma: Yeah, while I’ve been a Junior Admin for four years now, it’s jarring to actually have a licence.

Scott: Sooooo… Are we heading to the bar tonight?

Grian: As long as it’s not crowded.

Scott: Leave that to me.

Scott: I can just ask Xornoth to close the bar tonight.

Scott: Then we can have it for ourselves.

Xisuma: Well, ourselves and Xander

Xisuma: Xander’ll want to celebrate our accomplishments.

fWhip: I’m excited to meet them both!

Scott: Fair warning, they might be overbearing for a bit.

Xisuma: Oh definitely.

Xisuma: Xander is the one who raised me in the stead of our parents after something happened with these powerful beings and almost being sold to them, and while Keralis is the main one who looks after me on Hermitcraft, Xander is basically the closest thing to a parent that I’ve had before Keralis decided that I needed to be looked after and taken care of.

Grian: Yeah, that’s what Jimmy did to me.

Grian: As long as they aren’t too overbearing and loud it should be fine.

Grian: I get to hide if I need to, right?

Scott: Absolutely.

Grian: Fine, we can go out to the bar and celebrate.

Scott: Then let’s get going! 

fWhip: Time to leave the dorms behind!

Jimmy: We’re Admins now!

Grian: And still alive.

Xisuma: Let’s take that next step into our new lives!

Chapter Text

One year later

Jimmy: Sooooooo… How’s everyone holding up?

Grian: Evo’s almost up and running!

Grian: I just have a few more kinks to work out, and then it’ll be done!

Jimmy: Yay!

Jimmy: I’m very excited to be there!

Scott: It’s going as well as it can be expected to.

fWhip: Yeah, I feel that one. 

fWhip: Even after an entire year it’s still hard to wrap my head around the fact that I am, in fact, an Admin, and I am the main one responsible for these Players.

Xisuma: Kill me.

Xisuma: I am so done with my Players.

Xisuma: If there is one more explosion, I’m turning to alcohol.

Grian: I have some free time if you want me to come over so we can cuddle.

Grian: I could also use your help with the code.

Xisuma: Cuddle.

Xisuma: Please.

Grian: Alright, give me five.

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Scott: Wait, Jimmy, where are you right now?

Jimmy: Main Hub getting some shopping done, why?

Scott: Once you’re done, cuddles?

Jimmy: Alright!

fWhip: I’ll reiterate- ew, romance.

fWhip: Also, Jimmy, what was the point in getting your Admins licence now if you’re not going to be an Admin for another few years?

Jimmy: I had the time now, and didn’t know if I would have it later.

Jimmy: Besides, I got to meet you guys, and I got a boyfriend out of it, so I’m not going to complain.

Jimmy: If I didn’t get my licence now, would we all have even met?

Xisuma: Question of the year.

Scott: You getting your cuddles?

Grian: He latched on and refused to let go.

Grian: Keralis said he’ll drop some food off later though.

Grian: Said something about us both being too skinny?

Grian: Don’t know what he’s talking about.

Scott: Grian, I swear to the Void, if you haven’t eaten anything in the past three days, we’re going to have problems.

Grian: Uh, so, about that…

Jimmy: Grian Hydrangia Dreamslayer.

Grian: How do you know my full name?!?!

Jimmy: When was the last time you ate?

Grian: Unimportant.

Jimmy: Uh-huh.

Jimmy: And you, Xisuma?

Xisuma: Also unimportant.

Jimmy: Who is this Keralis person and how can I get in contact with them?

Xisuma: Good luck with that.

Seven minutes later

Xisuma: How the heck did you get Keralis’ contact information?

Grian: That’s both impressive and terrifying.

Grian: I also hate it because now I have no choice but to eat.

Jimmy: Simple.

Jimmy: I contacted Xornoth, who contacted Xander, who gave me Keralis’ contact information.

Scott: Xander also knows you haven’t been eating properly, ‘Suma.

Xisuma: Death is kinder.

Grian: It really is.

Xisuma: Alcohol?

Grian: If I die from alcohol poisoning then that’s a good thing.

Xisuma: Anything is better than a lecture from Xander.

Scott: I’m telling him you said that.

Xisuma: No, wait-

Two months later

Grian: Get packing Jimmy!

Grian: Evo’s going to be up and running in two days!

Grian: All the kinks in the code have been worked out thanks to the help of my very amazing and wonderful boyfriend, the world has been found, and everything’s ready!

fWhip: That’s amazing!

fWhip: Very proud of you, Grian!

Grian: Not something you should be proud of, but thanks!

Xisuma: No, it’s something to be very proud of.

Scott: I’ve already called my brother.

Scott: He’s closing the bar for us for the night!

Scott: We’re celebrating this!

Jimmy: I’m already packed.

Jimmy: Not too much to pack, considering how far back we’re going with the code and all that.

fWhip: Are we all whitelisted?

Grian: Are you seriously asking that?

Grian: Of course you are!

Grian: We’re some kind of messed up family.

Grian: There’s no way that I’m doing this with only Jimmy to keep me company all the time.

Xisuma: Good.

Xisuma: I need someplace to escape to.

Jimmy: And cuddles?

Scott: And cuddles?

Xisuma: And cuddles.

fWhip: Why must you guys be like this on main?

Grian: You find it entertaining, don’t deny it.

fWhip: I will neither confirm nor deny this information.

Jimmy: You literally got upset when Scott and I started dating because you thought that you were going to lose your drama and entertainment from the two of us dancing around one another.

Xisuma: You were actively betting on when Grian and I would get together.

Scott: Pretty sure when we got drunk one night you said that if you didn’t get to be the one to officiate our weddings when we eventually get married, you’re going to kill the four of us and then yourself.

Grian: You literally only say ‘ew, romance’ because it’s a running joke and it never fails to make us laugh.

fWhip: …

fWhip: Shut up.

Two days later

Jimmy: This is it!

Scott: Honestly thought Grian would be more excited.

Scott: I’m shocked ae’s not blowing the chat up.

Xisuma: Ae’s with me

Xisuma: Got here last night, probably hasn’t eaten anything since the celebration night, and just clung to me.

Xisuma: I think ae’s scared that ae’ll do something wrong.

fWhip: As if.

fWhip: Ae’s one of the most careful people we know when it comes to things like this.

fWhip: Heck, for everything that we all did back in Admin school, ae’s the one who topped us all with the courses, even with two junior Admins there.

Xisuma: Fear isn’t always rational.

Jimmy: Do we need to postpone the start?

Jimmy: I can technically do that as an Admin.

Grian: No.

Scott: Ae lives!

Grian: I’ll be there soon.

Xisuma: Keralis came in.

Xisuma: We’re being fed.

Jimmy: Good.

Xisuma: I also baked before Grian got here, so I’ll send some with aer to share with you before you guys enter Evo for the first time.

Jimmy: Are you three not going to be there with us?

Scott: Not today.

Scott: Tomorrow definitely, but as we aren’t official members, due to being whitelisted for family reasons, we’re only partial members, so we’ll leave today to you and the other handful of people, and we’ll be there tomorrow.

Xisuma: Well, uh, I might be there.

Grian: You’re going to be there.

Grian: I’m not doing this alone.

Grian: I can’t.

Grian: Taurtis is going to be there.

Grian: And while I’m glad I’ll get to see him again, somewhere safer than before, I can’t do it alone.

Grian: Not that you aren’t great, Jimmy, I just-

Jimmy: You need ‘Suma there.

Jimmy: Don’t worry, I get it.

Jimmy: Scott’s definitely going to be by my side when I inevitably open my first server.

Scott: As if there would be anywhere I would rather be.

fWhip: Actually, with how often Grian’s been hanging out on Hermitcraft for cuddles, what do the Hermits think of aer?

Xisuma: Oh, they know ae’s a gremlin.

Grian: I’ve pulled a few pranks, and found an old, old friend of mine.

Grian: One from before high school and Japan as a whole.

Grian: Honestly, I’m shocked Mumbo even recognised me.

Grian: He was tiny back then.

Grian: I think he was only three and a half or four when I was sent to Japan.

Xisuma: I recorded the reunion.

Xisuma: Remind me to send it to you guys later.

Scott: You got it!

Grian: Alright, alright, whatever.

Grian: Jimmy, we’re heading your way now.

Xisuma: We are?

Grian: We are.

Scott: That’s like, three hours early?

Grian: When have I ever been late anywhere?

Xisuma: Fair enough.

Jimmy: It also gives us time to eat the pastries.

Xisuma: True enough.

Grian: We’ll let you two know how the first few hours go.

fWhip: You better!

Scott: Jimmy, you could always live commentate.

Jimmy: Too much work.

Scott: Fair enough.

Chapter Text

Three hours later

Grian: So, we’re in the world.

Jimmy: I’m here too!

Xisuma: Moral support boyfriend is also here.

Grian: Shut.

Grian: Anyway, there’s a weird symbol on the ground?

Grian: And that wasn’t me.

fWhip: Did you get the world from the Admin Council?

Grian: Yeah?

Grian: Aren’t most worlds bought from the Council?

Scott: Depends.

Scott: Let’s hope the Council haven’t done anything to the world.

Xisuma: I don’t like the symbol.

Xisuma: I feel like I know it from somewhere, but I can’t remember where.

Grian: Hopefully we’ll be fine.

Grian: The rest of my Players are arriving in just a few minutes.

Jimmy: I’m ready to meet new friends!

Grian: This is probably going to be one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made, and I survived Admin School.

Xisuma: Same tho.

Grian: It’s go time tho!

Grian: Time to actually be an Admin.

Five hours later

fWhip: How are you all doing?

Xisuma: Well, it seems like they are settling in well.

Xisuma: Grian went over introductions, and relayed a few rules, before they all went off in various directions.

Xisuma: Grian and I went off in hunt of some snow for Grian’s base, while Jimmy-

Xisuma: Well, I’m not entirely sure where he went.

Jimmy: I went to go make friends other than you guys.

Jimmy: Love you all, but you guys can be a lot.

Scott: That’s fair.

Scott: Will you be staying there permanently though?

Jimmy: Of course not. 

Jimmy: We have our weekly dates after all.

Jimmy: But this will be my temporary home for the time being.

Scott: As long as we get out weekly dates then I’m happy.

Grian: Snow!

Xisuma: I can see that, love.

Xisuma: What exactly is your plan for the base?

fWhip: I would like to know as well.

Grian: A sunken empire!

Grian: This far back in time, water worked weird, so I’ll be able to make walls out of water without the water flooding my base.

Grian: I’ll have to do it fast, because an update a few updates in the future fixed the water thing, so I need to have the walls all done before we hit that update.

Grian: I plan to do a few updates per jump, considering how many fixes were being developed for everything, but we should be all good to have our first jump just a few weeks in, considering beds technically don’t exist yet.

Xisuma: So no cuddles while we’re here until then?

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Jimmy: Wait-

Jimmy: No beds?

Grian: Technically.

Grian: We can make something to sleep in, but it won’t skip the night (not that it would unless everyone went to sleep at the same time this far back in the past), and it won’t set our spawn, so every time we die we end up back at Spawn.

Grian: It is not any fun.

Xisuma: Your grumbling is cute though.

Grian: Shut.

fWhip: Again- ew, romance.

Scott: Oh enough

Scott: We all know you think it’s cute.

fWhip: Shut.

Jimmy: We know the truth!

fWhip: Next family get together, I’m going to kill you all.

Grian: Please do.

Xisuma: I welcome death with open arms.

Scott: Death is a welcomed force.

Jimmy: You all need therapy.

fWhip: Yeah, you really do.

Jimmy: That means you as well, fWhip.

fWhip: And you, Jimmy.

Jimmy: Touché

One week later

Xisuma: Well, I’m back on Hermitcraft.

Xisuma: And the fact that only half of the server burned down is nothing short of a miracle.

Xisuma: I was expecting to come back to ruins.

Scott: From the stories Xornoth has told me, yeah, I can understand that.

Jimmy: I have made more friends!

Jimmy: And I’m basing with one of them.

Jimmy: I think you would like them, Scott.

Grian: Who is it?

Jimmy: Martyn Littlewood.

Grian: Oh! Him!

Grian: He seems cool, honestly.

Grian: I should probably talk to my Players more, huh?

fWhip: More than likely.

fWhip: Having a healthy relationship with your Players is important in keeping the world stable and not losing Players due to neglect or something like that.

Grian: Fine, fine, I’ll go out and talk with them tomorrow.

Scott: And speaking of worlds and Players and the likes, I’m working on the code for a world myself.

Jimmy: Oh?

Scott: Yeah, while I’m working part time at the bar, that leaves me enough time to brainstorm and start working on a world, and I have a few fun ones planned.

Jimmy: Oooh, that sounds like it will be fun!

Grian: Knowing Scott, I’m sure it will be.

Scott: Aww, thank you!

Scott: That’s quite the compliment coming from you, Sunshine!

Xisuma: Sunlight, Mumbo says ‘hi’ by the way, and wanted me to also tell you to check your messages more.

Grian: I’ve been busy though! 

Grian: Let him know I’ll call him tonight before I call you.

Grian: …actually, maybe don’t mention that I’ll be calling you.

Grian: I really don’t need Mumbo asking me about that.

Grian: I love the guy, but he knew me as a kid.

Grian: And that should tell you all you need to know about that.

Scott: Oh, it very much does.

Scott: Mention it.

Grian: Betrayal!

Xisuma: I won’t mention it, don’t worry.

Xisuma: Though the rumours and bets that the Hermits have going about us, well, I think there may be questions regardless.

Grian: …

Grian: Void damn it.

fWhip: Well, sounds like you had as good of a run as you could have.

Grian: Kill me.

One day later

Grian: Okay, so you know the symbol that’s on the ground at spawn on Evo?

Jimmy: Yeah?

Grian: Well, it’s here on the cliff by where Tom’s living.

Jimmy: What?

Grian: Yeah, there’s a much larger version of it, and it’s made of bedrock.

Grian: No one but me has Admin, and we don’t have any mods.

Grian: There’s no way anyone should have had access to bedrock.

Grian: And I didn’t make this.

Xisuma: That’s definitely not good.

Scott: Oh, 100%

fWhip: And this is where you call the Council.

Grian: Yeah, that’s on the agenda.

Grian: I’ve got Mini and Zee here with me, checking it out, and there’s something under it.

Grian: Like a room of some kind.

Jimmy: Should we leave?

Jimmy: This suddenly doesn’t sound like a safe place to be.

Scott: Let Grian talk with the Council first, as there’s really only two real ways to shutdown a server, and that’s an emergency code, or the Admin Council grants permission for the world to close.

fWhip: Ah, so that’s just how corrupt they are?

Xisuma: We saw how they were with Hermitcraft when I was the one in charge despite only being a Junior Admin.

Xisuma: Most people just tend to overlook that, or they also don’t care.

Xisuma: To most people, Admins are just the ones who keep the server running, and while they’re important, they have no care for them.

Grian: Uhhhhhh, anyone want to tell me what to make of this?

Grian attached one image

Jimmy: Please tell me that sign doesn’t say ‘we are watching’.

Scott: Hate to break it to you Petal, but that is exactly what it says.

Xisuma: Sunshine you need to call the Council now.

Grian: Doing that now.

Scott: Hopefully they’ll shut it down.

Jimmy: There’s no way they won’t.

Chapter Text

Seven hours later

Xisuma: Grian? You there, Love?

Scott: It’s been seven hours.

Scott: You would think the Council would be done talking with aer now.

Jimmy: None of the Evolutionists have seen Grian since ae left to talk with the Council.

fWhip: I think we’ve reached concerning territory now.

Grian: I’m back.

Xisuma: Grian!

Xisuma: Is everything alright?

Grian: The Council is refusing to send anyone to look at the strange symbol, are insisting that the world is fine, and that there’s no reason to shut the world down.

Grian: They didn’t care about the sign that was there, only claiming that it was a prank from one of my Players, despite the fact that none of them even knew about the symbol until I asked about it, and it is made of bedrock .

Grian: So, without the Council sending help, or letting me shut the world down, we’re stuck here until something either goes so wrong that the Council has to step in, or we die.

Jimmy: Don’t say that.

Jimmy: We’ll make it through all of it!

Jimmy: Plus, you have the four of us to help you!

Xisuma: Jimmy’s right.

Xisuma: We’re here for you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Xisuma: You’re stuck with us.

Scott: Heck yeah!

Scott: You were stuck with us back in Admin School, and you’re stuck with us now!

Scott: We can help with whatever you need.

fWhip: They’re right. 

fWhip: Like we said in school, we’re only one message away if you need anything, no matter how small it may seem.

fWhip: And now that we’re all Admins, we can help in more ways than we used to be able to.

fWhip: So just say the word and we’ll be there.

Grian: I hate you all so much.

Jimmy: Ae says, as ae’s actively crying aers eyes out.

Grian: Shut.

Xisuma: I can be there in an hour for cuddles?

Grian: …Please.

Two months later

Jimmy: So, Gri, you and Taurtis used to know one another?

Grian: Yeah, we met back when my parents abandoned me in Japan, and we were friends throughout high school and what happened after, though, I don’t know if he’s still my friend considering-

Jimmy: He seems a little off.

Grian: I can’t really blame him, not after what we went through, but at the same time, it hurts a bit.

Jimmy: Is he staying with you?

Grian: He has been, but with how things have been going, he’s been talking of starting his own empire just to go to war with me, so…

Grian: I don’t know if he’s going to be here much longer.

Jimmy: Well, I’m here if you need me to be, and the Property Police Station is always open to you if you need a place to hide.

Jimmy: And if Martyn wants to start trouble, then he can take it up with me.

Grian: You don’t have to protect me, you know.

Grian: You’re only half a year older than me.

Jimmy: I know.

Jimmy: But at the same time, there’s not too much I can cook around here, not with how far back in time we are, so I need something else to do to show my love for you.

Grian: And Mom Friend Jimmy strikes again.

Jimmy: Shut.

Grian: Never!

Three and a half months later

Grian: The code isn’t supposed to be purple, is it?

Grian: I distinctly remember being told in school that it was supposed to be cyan, and any other colour was something to worry about.

Xisuma: Wait- What?!

Grian: Yeah, the code is purple, and it takes a few minutes to respond to me.

Scott: Have you told the Council?!

Grian: Well, I tried to, but they brushed me off once again.

Grian: So I’m turning to you guys to see if I should be concerned.

Jimmy: Uh- yes!

Jimmy: Do you think this has something to do with all the symbols?

Jimmy: I know you mentioned that you weren’t making the update portals, and yet they were still appearing, paired with those random riddles.

fWhip: I’m sorry, what?

Grian: Yeah, so I actually haven’t made an update portal since the first one, and it didn’t show up where it was supposed to, and then all the others just kinds showed up once we solved a puzzle or two, but the Council said it was fine, and nothing bad has happened, yet anyway, so I didn’t think it was too big of a deal to mention?

Jimmy: Nothing too bad?

Jimmy: So we’re ignoring the obsidian covering your chests because you took some clay from a structure that these beings built?

Xisuma: What?!

Grian: I had a pickaxe on me, so it was fine!

Grian: I’m used to dealing with stuff like this alone!

Jimmy: Be that as it may be, you don’t have to do this alone anymore.

Jimmy: We’re here to help.

Jimmy: We want to help!

Grian: I don’t need help!

Grian: I-I need to just be!

Grian: I need to prove myself!

Grian: My parents said I would fail, Sam said I would fail, Taurtis thinks I will fail, the Council seems to be setting me up for failure!

Grian: If I lose, then I really am just a failure.

Grian: And then there really would have been nothing to live for.

Grian: No reason for me to have fought as hard as I did to make it this far.

Xisuma: There was a reason though.

Xisuma: Even if you can’t see it, there is always a reason to keep punching forward.

Xisuma: Pushing forward brought you to us.

Xisuma: Pushing forward reunited you with Mumbo.

Xisuma: Pushing forward got you an Admin Licence.

Xisuma: Pushing forward brought us together.

Xisuma: Pushing forward allows you to live and prove those who doubted you wrong.

Xisuma: One failure doesn’t make you a failure.

Xisuma: And from the sounds of it, if you do fail, it won’t be on your hands but the Council’s hands.

Xisuma: You said it yourself- the Council is setting you up for failure.

Xisuma: They’re not helping when they should be.

Xisuma: They never do.

Xisuma: But all that means is you have to push a little bit harder to keep going forward.

Xisuma: And each day that you survive is something to be proud of.

Scott: Xisuma’s right.

Scott: You’ve already made it this far.

Scott: You can’t give up now.

Scott: That would be quitting, and I doubt you want to quit after you’ve put so much time and effort into this.

Scott: Plus, if you quit now, then all you are doing is proving those who doubted you right.

Scott: In situations like this- spite is going to be your best friend.

Scott: Spite those who doubted you by pushing through.

Scott: It’s not going to be pretty, it’s not going to be fun.

Scott: But you’ll have done it and made it through this, and, in the end, that’s all that matters.

fWhip: They’re right, you know.

fWhip: If you give up now, if you throw in the towel then they win.

fWhip: And that’s not what any of us want.

fWhip: You’re better than them.

fWhip: You’re so much better than them.

fWhip: And we love you for you.

fWhip: Who cares about those who think that you won’t make it?

fWhip: They don’t matter.

fWhip: It’s the people who care, the people who support you who do matter.

fWhip: We’re here for you.

Jimmy: We’re all here for you.

Jimmy: No matter what, we’re here.

Jimmy: And we’ll face this together.

Jimmy: No matter what happens.

Jimmy: So, what do you say?

Jimmy: Will you let us help?

Grian: I-

Grian: You guys really want to help?

Scott: Of course we do! You’re our sunshine!

fWhip: Our grumpy sunbird!

Jimmy: A menace to society that we love!

Xisuma: You’re the love of my life, and I don’t plan on losing you anytime soon. 

Xisuma: We’re here for whatever you need, no matter how big or how small.

Grian: A-Alright.

Grian: Let’s do this then.

One and a half months later

Jimmy: So not only are we being judged, but now we have to travel halfway across Evo to find the next clue?

Grian: Can we just throw in the towel?

Grian: This feels like torture at this point.

fWhip: Why not use the Emergency code?

Grian: Subsection 1.4.5b- All Players must be in agreement to use the emergency code, unless the world is actively corrupting, the Players’ lives are in danger, or the Admin Council agrees that the world needs to be shut down.

Jimmy: We’re stuck, and leaving the world is starting to become a problem as well.

Xisuma: Yeah, you guys mentioned something about the Main Hub portal glitching out?

Grian: Mmhm, the Council insists that it’s just because of the version we’re in, but I’m not buying it.

Scott: Not to mention none of us can find anything on the symbol.

Xisuma: It feels familiar to me.

Xisuma: I know I’ve seen it before.

Xisuma: I just don’t know where.

Grian: It’s fine, Darling.

Grian: We just have to make it to the End and then we’re done here.

Grian: Just a few more updates.

Five months later

Grian: People aren’t supposed to be able to bypass the whitelist, right?

Jimmy: Does this have anything to do with the newest member?

Scott: I thought with the code and everything no one else was supposed to be joining?

Grian: Yeah, so did I.

Grian: The whitelist is locked, no one was set to join, and, from the tests we ran, no one should be able to hack their way in either.

Jimmy: Not to mention she seemed confused when she woke up and fell from the platform.

Grian: And that weird symbol was on the platform as well.

Xisuma: And I take it the Council still don’t care?

Grian: At this point, I think they're actively ignoring me.

Grian: It’s either that, or they are no longer receiving my messages, which, if that’s the case, then something is very much wrong.

fWhip: Is there any way to find out if they’re ignoring you?

Grian: Unfortunately not.

Grian: So it’s up to yet another vote with the others as to whether or not we should use the emergency code.

Xisuma: Good luck.

Two months later

Grian: I don’t know what to do, I don’t know what to do!

Jimmy: Whoa, slow down, what’s happened.

Grian: The code isn’t responding to me at all anymore!

Grian: It was responding yesterday!

Grian: Very, very slowly, but still responding!

Xisuma: Are you sure it’s not just going slow?

Grian: It’s been an hour!

Grian: I-I can’t even input the emergency code!

Grian: I can’t contact the Council!

Grian: I-I can’t-

Grian: I don’t know what to do!

fWhip: Can anyone get on the world?

fWhip: I’m in the middle of something, so I can’t test that, but Scott, Xisuma, can either of you join?

Scott: I’m on my way over now to check.

Xisuma: Same over here.

Jimmy: I can’t leave!

Jimmy: I just went to the Main Hub portal, and it’s closed down.

Jimmy: There’s no way out.

Scott: And if there’s no way out-

Xisuma: Then there’s no way in.

Grian: We’re all going to die.

Grian: Oh Void, I’ve doomed us all!

Jimmy: Hey!

Jimmy: No you haven’t.

Jimmy: You did everything you should have in this situation.

Jimmy: If anyone has doomed us, it’s the Admin Council.

Scott: I knew they were corrupt, but I didn’t think they were that corrupt!

Xisuma: We can contact them for you guys.

Xisuma: Since the Main Hub portal is down, and the code is no longer responding to the Acting Admin, they will have no choice but to extract everyone and shut down the world.

Grian: Will they even care, though?

Grian: They didn’t care before when we brought up all of our concerns.

Jimmy: I hate to agree with Grian on this, but ae’s right.

Jimmy: If they didn’t care before when we have all the evidence we needed that there was something wrong with the world, then why would they care now?

fWhip: Well, it’s worth a try, isn't it?

Grian: I guess.

Two weeks later

Xisuma: I know what the symbol is.

Xisuma: I don’t know how I didn’t realise it before!

Xisuma: I’m so sorry.

Xisuma: I could have prevented all of this if I wasn’t so stupid!

Scott: Whoa, hey, easy now.

Scott: You’re not stupid.

fWhip: Just because you didn’t recognise the symbol immediately doesn’t mean you’re stupid.

Xisuma: But it does!

Xisuma: Because, not only is the Admin Council not doing anything about what is going on in Evo, and not doing anything to help, now Jimmy and Grian are trapped on a world that’s being controlled by the Watchers!

fWhip: The who?

Scott: Tell me you’re joking.

Scott: Please tell me that isn’t the Watcher’s symbol.

Xisuma: I’m sorry.

Xisuma: I’m so sorry.

Scott: It’s not your fault.

Scott: Heck, knowing that, I should have recognised it.

Scott: My parents were murdered by the Watchers.

Scott: Why didn’t I recognise it!

Xisuma: I was nearly sold to them for Void’s sake!

Xisuma: I should have recognised it!

fWhip: Hey!

fWhip: Enough!

fWhip: It’s okay that neither of you recognised the symbol.

fWhip: From the sounds of it, both of your encounters with the Watchers were heavily traumatic. 

fWhip: It’s normal for memories like that to be blocked out.

fWhip: All we can do now is hope and pray that Grian and Jimmy make it back from the End and the fight with the Ender Dragon.

Scott: Yeah.

Xisuma: Actually…

Xisuma: Speaking of Grian and Jimmy, where are they?

Xisuma: Normally, when something like this comes up, they show up as well.

Xisuma: But neither of them are here.

Scott: You don’t think-

Xisuma: That the Watchers cut off all communication for them?

Xisuma: I do.

Scott: But there’s still, like, two updates before they reach the End!

Xisuma: I know

Xisuma: I hate it too.

Xisuma: But like fWhip said, there’s nothing we can do other than hope and pray that they make it back.

Scott: When Jimmy gets back, I’m never letting him go.

Xisuma: Oh, trust me, as soon as I have Grian back in my arms, ae’s never being let go either.

Three and a half months later

fWhip: Check the news.

Scott: What?

fWhip: Check the news, NOW!

Xisuma: What’s going on?

fWhip: It’s Evo.

Xisuma: Wait-

fWhip: The Council is talking about Evo.

fWhip: And it’s not looking good.

Xisuma: No.

Xisuma: No!

Scott: Please, please let them make it out.

Xisuma: I can’t watch.

Xisuma: I can’t do this.

Xisuma: Not again.

Scott: Jimmy’s okay!

Scott: He’s made it out!

Scott: Oh thank the Void!

Scott: Oh, he’s never leaving my side again.

Scott: Oh, oh, thank everything.

fWhip: More people are coming through the portal!

Scott: Where’s Grian though?

fWhip: Ae would have to be the last out, as ae’s the Admin, right?

Scott: Unless-

Xisuma: No!

Xisuma: Grian has to make it out!

Xisuma: Ae has to!

Scott: The portal!

Scott: But what about Grian!

fWhip: …

fWhip: I’m going to murder the Council.

Xisuma: A noble sacrifice.

Xisuma: A NOBLE SACRIFICE!?!

Xisuma: What about being taken to save your Players lives when they had all the chances and opportunities to save the Players of Evo makes what happened to Grian a Noble sacrifice?!?

Xisuma: They could have saved aer.

Xisuma: They could have saved them all before it got to this point.

Jimmy: I’m sorry.

Jimmy: I’m so sorry.

Scott: Jimmy!

fWhip: It’s not your fault.

fWhip: The only ones who are to blame are the Watchers and the Admin Council.

Jimmy: Ae was right there tho!

Jimmy: Ae just smiled and said aer loved us, and to let you guys know ae loved you as well!

Jimmy: I wanted to grab aer, but-

Xisuma: It’s not your fault.

Xisuma: It’ll-

fWhip: We’ll find a way to save Grian.

fWhip: The Watchers and the Council won’t win this.

fWhip: We’re getting Grian back, no matter what.

Chapter Text

One month later

fWhip: How’s everyone holding up?

Scott: Jimmy’s been mostly quiet.

Scott: We’re currently living on my private world, open invitation to you guys by the way, but he’s not as energetic as he used to be.

Jimmy: I’m still alive, though.

fWhip: We’re all very glad you’re alive.

fWhip: How are you doing though?

fWhip: I know you’re refusing to talk to someone about what happened.

Jimmy: It wouldn’t matter if I talked to anyone.

Jimmy: Besides, I wouldn’t put it past the council to strip me of my licence if I did.

Xisuma: They would.

Scott: Xisuma!

Scott: It’s good to hear from you.

Xisuma: I’ve been busy.

Scott: I know.

Scott: And that’s okay.

Scott: Just remember that you have to take care of yourself.

Xisuma: What does it matter anymore?

fWhip: The Hermits need you.

fWhip: If you can’t keep going for yourself, then keep going for them.

Jimmy: Any updates about finding-

fWhip: Not too much yet.

fWhip: From the looks of things, Watchers are just myths to most people, and it was really only with what happened with Evo that their existence was proven to those who had only ever heard of them as fairy tales.

Xisuma: And what of those who knew about them?

Scott: Unfortunately, most of them are all dead, either by the Watchers hand, their own, or of natural causes.

Scott: That, or they just blocked out the memories and don’t remember like you and I did.

Jimmy: That’s fair.

Scott: That doesn’t mean we are going to give up though.

Xisuma: Grian’s been there for a month now!

Scott: I know, but there’s only so much we can do on our own.

fWhip: And it’s not like the council will help.

fWhip: But we’re looking as hard as we can when we don’t have to manage the codes of our worlds.

fWhip: And we are making some progress!

Xisuma: I just want my partner back.

Scott: We all do.

Three months later

Scott: We all need to go out.

Scott: Get away from our worlds and servers for a bit and just hang out.

Scott: None of what we are doing right now is healthy.

Scott: I expect to see you all, within an hour, at that one boba shop we go to for enrichment day.

Xisuma: Go without me.

Xisuma: I don’t trust the Hermits to not burn down the world if I’m away.

fWhip: Oh no, buddy.

fWhip: You’re coming as well.

Scott: I will call Xornoth and Xander if I have to.

Xisuma: They won’t be able to do anything.

Scott: You wanna place a bet on that?

Jimmy: Is the Main Hub even safe anymore?

fWhip: It is.

fWhip: The code records for the Main Hub and all of its protections are available to the public, and they’ve been updated recently to add even more protections, so we’ll be safe there.

fWhip: I promise.

Scott: Plus, like I said, we’ve all been holed up in our worlds and servers, we need to get out.

Xisuma: I can’t leave the code.

Xisuma: Besides, I’m fine.

Xisuma: I’m not going out.

Scott: Welp, the call’s been placed, so let’s see how that’s going to turn out for you.

Xisuma: It’ll turn out fine.

Five minutes later

Xisuma: He’s going. -Xander

Scott: Thanks!

Xisuma: No problem, just, maybe have him back in three hours? Four at the max. -Xander

Xisuma: I can keep the Hermits under control for a while (plus Keralis and Joe are here to help), but I’m not sure how well Cricket will handle being out after everything that’s happened. -Xander

fWhip: Yeah, we won’t be out too long.

fWhip: Probably an hour and a half at the most.

Jimmy: We’re just getting boba, right?

Jimmy: Nothing else?

Scott: Just boba, I promise.

Scott: We can save the park for when we have Grian back.

Scott: Plus, I know you’re not overly fond of the idea of leaving either.

Jimmy: I think I can manage a few hours.

fWhip: Let’s get going then!

Three hours later

Xisuma: Never again.

Xisuma: I’m staying on Hermitcraft, and that’s final.

Scott: Xisuma, I know you’re hurting, but that’s not healthy.

Scott: You still need to go out.

Jimmy: Do we really need to, though?

Jimmy: People just kept staring at us!

Jimmy: Can’t we just stay here?

fWhip: Hiding away will only make it worse.

fWhip: And as much as it hurts, we can’t let Grian’s kidnapping lock us away.

fWhip: Ae wouldn’t want that.

fWhip: We all fought so hard to become Admins, fought through the grueling school years, not to mention everything life threw at us, and made it here.

fWhip: We can’t give up now.

Scott: fWhip’s right.

Scott: Giving up would be a disservice to Grian.

Scott: Ae loved us, and wouldn’t want us to suffer due to our grief.

Scott: We have to look after our Players, but we also have to look after ourselves.

Scott: Drowning in our grief won’t help anyone.

Scott: Not to mention there’s no one to protect our worlds if we get hurt.

Scott: If not for yourself, then push forward for us, for Grian’s memory, for your Players.

Scott: I can’t lose you guys.

Scott: You’re part of my family.

Scott: And family sticks together no matter what.

Scott: I love you guys.

Scott: And I just want us to be healthy, and if that means dragging you guys back out for enrichment time, even if it’s not our traditional enrichment time, then so be it.

Scott: I’m not losing anyone else.

Six months later

Jimmy: fWhip, is your world still open?

fWhip: Yeah, it’s nothing big, and most of my Players are no longer here, but it’s still open.

fWhip: Why?

Jimmy: As much as I love being on Scott’s private world, I think I need to start getting back out.

Jimmy: I don’t want to waste away here.

fWhip: Well, it’s an open world, and doesn’t have a whitelist, or not a whitelist like Hermitcraft does, but it does have a Player limit unlike the minigame servers, so feel free to stop on by whenever you want to.

fWhip: My base will always be open to you, Scott, and Xisuma.

Scott: I may take you up on that offer as well.

Scott: I’ve been working on the code for a world again, one with a whitelist and need some more motivation to keep going with the code.

Scott: I’ve got some Players who want to join, old friends of mine from when I was younger, Xornoth knows them, and I’ve been meaning to get back in touch with them, so what better way to do that then to make a world for us?

Jimmy: I think I’ve heard about these friends.

Scott: You definitely have.

Scott: Honestly, I’m excited for you to meet them.

Scott: If you want a place on the world that is.

Jimmy: You’re crazy if you think that I’m not going to be there.

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Jimmy: Hey!

Jimmy: That wasn’t even sappy!

fWhip: Mmmm, debatable.

Jimmy: Rude.

Scott: Actually, completely off topic and I apologise, but has anyone heard from Xisuma in the past three months?

Scott: It just occurred to me that I haven’t heard from him, and last time I was at the bar, Xander was asking if I had heard anything.

Jimmy: Isn’t Season Five of Hermitcraft starting soon?

Scott: Yeah, I think so.

Scott: In like a week or so, I believe.

fWhip: Maybe that’s it?

Scott: But he normally messages us at least once while changing seasons.

Jimmy: Xander’s on Season Five, right?

fWhip: I think I heard something about that.

fWhip: Something about being a menace to his younger brother and being his ‘evil clone’.

Scott: Yeah, calls himself ‘Evil Xisuma’ or just ‘EX’ for short. 

Jimmy: You know, I would have thought that talking about him would have brought him out.

Scott: I’ll message Xander in a bit to see if he knows what’s going on.

fWhip: Honestly, with how much he’s been pulling away, I think this was bound to happen.

fWhip: I think the grief is still holding him back, and he’s probably hoping that if he throws himself into his work, and the research of the Watchers and if there’s any way to get Grian back, then Grian will come home.

fWhip: It’s not healthy in the slightest, but considering the situation and how it happened, not to mention how the Admin Council handled everything, it’s understandable.

fWhip: But definitely contact Xander or your own brother to check up on him.

Scott: Petal, don’t you have Keralis’ contact information?

Jimmy: Yeah, I’ll probably shoot him off a message as well.

Jimmy: Hopefully he’s alright.

Five months later

Private message between XisumaVoid and MumboJumbo

MumboJumbo: XIuma, I need you og get to my redsonte testing worls apas

XisumaVoid: Mumbo? What’s happened?

MumboJumbo: It’s Grian!

MumboJumbo: Ae’s here and hurt!

MumboJumbo: Ae jsut fell out of the ski, there's a lot of blood, one of aers wings is only hald connnected, and I don't know what fo do!

XisumaVoid: Apply pressure to any major wounds.

XisumaVoid: I’m on my way.

Chapter Text

Seven hours later

Five Idiot Admins

Xisuma: I don’t know what to do.

Jimmy: Xisuma?

Jimmy: What’s happened?

Scott: He lives!

fWhip: It’s so good to hear from you again.

Xisuma: What do I do?

Jimmy: ‘Suma, we can’t help if we don’t know what’s going on.

Jimmy: But what I can say is, take a deep breath first, gather your thoughts for a moment, and then let us know what’s happening, and if there’s a way we can help, I promise we will, but we need to know what’s going on first.

Xisuma: It’s Grian.

Xisuma: Ae’s back.

Xisuma: Mumbo found aer in his redstone testing world, called me, and now Grian’s with Doc in surgery because aers condition was that bad, Doc doesn’t know if aers wing will be alright, or if ae’ll ever fly again, and there’s just so many injuries, and there was so much blood, and I just don’t know what to do!

Jimmy: Okay, okay, let’s start with a deep breath, alright?

Jimmy: Are the three of us still whitelisted on Hermitcraft?

Jimmy: I know you normally have us on the whitelist, but you did just make a new server.

Scott: I’m on my way there now.

fWhip: Same here.

Xisuma: I think so?

Xisuma: I don’t know.

Xisuma: I don’t remember.

Jimmy: That’s fine, it’s alright.

Jimmy: I’m also on my way, so I guess we’ll find out soon, huh?

Scott: I’m on, so we are.

fWhip: Yep, same here.

Jimmy: Okay, ‘Suma, have you cleaned up yet?

Jimmy: You mentioned the amount of blood, and, knowing you, you were the one to carry Grian, so you are more than likely covered in aers blood if you haven’t cleaned up yet.

Xisuma: I can’t.

Xisuma: I don’t want to leave.

Scott: You won’t have to leave.

Scott: You said that you were at Doc’s place?

Xisuma: Yeah, he’s our most experienced medic for things like this, but Cleo’s here to help with stitching, and Cub’s also here, along with Zed.

fWhip: Surely Doc wouldn’t mind you cleaning up in his base.

Xisuma: He wouldn’t, but I don’t want to leave.

Jimmy: Alright, I’m on Hermitcraft.

Jimmy: Where’s Doc’s base again?

Scott: North of the Shopping District.

Scott: Keralis can point you in the right direction if he’s still there.

Jimmy: Yeah, he’s here, and is coming with me.

Scott: Oh, that is indeed a lot of blood.

Scott: Jimmy, when you and Keralis get here, fWhip and I will probably be with Xisuma.

Scott: We’re getting him cleaned up whether he likes it or not.

fWhip: Is that a good idea considering the situation?

Scott: It’s certainly not ideal, but with how much blood there is, it’s definitely adding to X’s stress, and you and I will probably have a better chance to manhandle him into getting cleaned up.

Jimmy: So Admin school all over again?

fWhip: Ah, party nights all over again!

fWhip: How I didn’t miss them.

Scott: You act like we didn’t do the same thing with you as well.

Jimmy: It was also for sick days.

Jimmy: But yeah, I’ll go ahead and leave that to you both.

Jimmy: Keralis and I should be there soon tho.

fWhip: Just wait in the living room. That’s where X was waiting, so it should be fine.

Jimmy: Will do.

Four hours later

Scott: Why are we still texting?

Jimmy: Because Xisuma just fell asleep, and I don’t want to risk waking him.

fWhip: Probably a good idea.

fWhip: It looks like it’s been days since he last slept.

Scott: Where did Keralis go?

Jimmy: To get us food and water.

Jimmy: Which, fair.

Scott: Hey! No it’s not!

fWhip: I think he also mentioned something about finding Xander and letting the rest of the Hermits know what’s happened, as all they’ve gotten was some jumbled messages from Mumbo, who’s currently with Scar and Impulse, and a half baked explanation from Xisuma while he was panicking.

Scott: So should we just wait?

Jimmy: It’s all we can do at the moment

***

It was another few hours before they received any news. 

Xander had joined them shortly after Xisuma fell asleep, taking a seat next to his younger brother, while Keralis, who had followed the older Voidwalker in, set down some water bottles in front of them all, and handed out a few snacks that he had grabbed from his base, wanting to make sure that everyone there had eaten something, though he left X to sleep, knowing that the Admin of Hermitcraft had spent most of the previous few weeks awake, working tirelessly on the code to make sure that the next season of Hermitcraft, Season Six (that they were planning on moving to within the next few months) was as perfect as he could get it, so he knew that letting him sleep was slightly more important that having him eat.

It was another few hours before the door to the medical room that Doc, Cleo, Cub, and Zed had been treating Grian in opened, with Doc exiting the room, glancing at the gathered Players.

He waited a moment for Xander to shake Xisuma awake, knowing that the Admin would want to know exactly what had happened, and only started speaking once X was both awake and somewhat alert, Keralis having pushed a bottle of water into his hands.

“Well, I have good news and bad news,” the creeper hybrid started, all eyes on him.

“Can we start with the bad?” Jimmy asked, wanting to get that out of the way quickly.

“Certainly. I’m unsure if Grian will ever be able to fly again. The damage to the left wing, the one that had been mostly torn off, was bad to put it simply. Even with Cleo’s help, and their own experience stitching limbs back on so they would work, she doesn’t know if that wing will ever be anything but dead weight for Grian. 

Secondly were all the various lacerations and the blood loss they caused. Some of them were shallow enough to just bandage, or stitch together, but there were a few that looked like chunks of flesh had been taken, so we did the best we could with fixing those areas up, and the cuts that were deep enough to see bone were also taken care of to the best of our abilities. 

I’m concerned about the risk of infection, especially considering where he was found, as, knowing Mumbo and how redstoners have their testing worlds set up, plus not knowing how long Grian was there before being found by Mumbo, paired with how bad the injuries were, leads to a high chance of infection. We do have Grian hooked up to various machines and i.v.’s to hopefully stave off any infections, and let us monitor aers condition so we’ll know of any minute changes. 

There were also the various broken bones that had to be re-broken and then properly set, some of them being months old that had healed wrong, while some of the others were likely from earlier today or this week.

That being said, that’s just about everything from aers physical condition for the bad, but that’s not counting aers mental condition after everything that happened. 

Judging by the injuries, the branding, and the nearly torn off wing, and from what we know of the Watchers, it’s clear that Grian was being tortured, and possibly manipulated into becoming a Watcher as well, though, judging by aers state, ae resisted any attempts made at becoming a Watcher, and more than likely fought back at every turn.”

Doc’s explanation had everyone silent.

Xisuma was shaking slightly, tears filling his eyes, prompting Xander to pull his younger brother into his side, holding him close, muttering softly to him to keep breathing.

Jimmy had buried his face into Scott’s chest, trying to hide the tears that were dripping from his eyes, as Scott just sat there, white as a sheet.

fWhip was silently crying as well, hands gripping the cover of the sofa he was sitting on tightly, bleaching his knuckles white.

Keralis had closed his eyes, head bowed as he listened to Doc’s explanation, silently hoping that the good news really would be good, considering everything they had just learned.

A few moments passed in silence after the bad news, before Xander sighed, squeezing his brother closer for a moment, before looking at Doc, asking, “and the good news?”

This time Doc smiled, even if it was small.

“Despite everything, it’s clear that Grian’s a fighter. Cleo, Zed, Cub, and I will, of course, do everything we can to make sure Grian makes a full recovery, or as full of a recovery as ae can, but I’m confident that, so long as ae survives the first three nights, those being the most crucial as that’s the most likely time for infection to take hold, Grian will be just fine.

Ae made it out of the Watcher’s hold after all, and managed to find Mumbo’s redstone testing world, even if it’s possible that doing so was accidental. 

You’ll be able to sit with aer tomorrow. For now, you all are to return to your bases, I’m sure Xisuma wouldn’t mind hosting you three if you wish to stay, so long as you don’t have servers of your own that you’re supposed to be Admining.” Here, Doc held up a hand before he could be interrupted. “I know you all want to see Grian, but ae’s still too unstable to have visitors. I promise you’ll be able to see aer tomorrow, but you all need time to process the information you just received. Go home, have something to eat, clean yourselves up, and rest. It’s been a long and heavily emotional day for everyone.”

Xander and Keralis nodded, while Xisuma, Scott, Jimmy, and fWhip all looked like they still wanted to protest, but Xander only helped Xisuma up, bid Doc a farewell, letting him know that he would keep an eye on the four Admins, before ushering them out, shooting a glare at Scott when he went to protest.

“Thank you, Doc,” Keralis said, cleaning up the small mess that had been made.

“It’s no trouble. Grian may not have been an official Hermit at the time aer was here, but ae’s one of us, especially as aers dating ‘Suma. Plus, there’s no way I would leave anyone in the condition ae was in,” Doc refuted, making Keralis smile.

“Still, thank you. I’ll go let Mumbo know that Grian’s probably going to be alright. Though, knowing you four, there’s no way ae won’t be.”

With that, Keralis took his leave, letting Doc slip back into the medial room to check up on Grian, and discuss the plan moving forward for the crimson sunbird hybrid with Cleo, Zed, and Cub, wanting to do what was best for aer.

Chapter Text

Three hours later

Five Idiot Admins

Scott: Why can’t we just break in and see Grian?

Jimmy: Because ae needs time to rest, as do we?

Xisuma: Also Xander’s watching over us.

fWhip: Wait, he is?

Xisuma: I am -Xander

Xisuma: And I think all of you are supposed to be resting? -Xander

Xisuma: You’ll all be able to see Grian tomorrow. -Xander

Xisuma: And as you all have eaten at least something, and have all showered, it’s time to rest, just like you were told to. I will get Keralis and Xornoth involved if I have to. -Xander

Scott: You wouldn’t.

Xisuma: I would -Xander

Scott: Ugh, fine.

Jimmy: It is late anyway.

Jimmy: And Doc was right about it being a heavily emotional day for us all.

Jimmy: Plus, us seeing Grian right now probably won’t help aer in the long run.

Jimmy: We need to let aer rest and recover as well, and listening to Doc will probably also give aer a better recovery chance as well.

fWhip: So we just wait?

Xisuma: We rest. -Xander

Xisuma: Just like we were told to. -Xander

Xisuma: Don’t make me force you like I did with Cricket. -Xander

fWhip: Wait, is that why you have his comm?

Xisuma: Yes. -Xander

Xisuma: He’s already asleep again, honestly just had to push him to lie back against the pillows and he was out. -Xander

Xisuma: Then again, he has been pushing himself harder than he ever has since Grian was taken, so I’m not entirely surprised. -Xander

Xisuma: But you all need rest now, too. -Xander

Xisuma: I have a feeling you all have been pushing yourselves harder than necessary as well. -Xander

Xisuma: I know you have, Scott. -Xander

Xisuma: Xornoth’s been worried about you. -Xander

Scott: I’ll message him and then rest.

Xisuma: Thank you. -Xander

fWhip: I guess it would be nice to sleep when the sun’s actually down and not when I collapse. 

Jimmy: Can we cuddle, Love?

Scott: If we didn’t then I was probably going to cry.

Jimmy: I’ll be there in a sec.

Jimmy: Do you want to call Xornoth instead of messaging him?

Scott: Want to talk to him as well?

Jimmy: I wouldn’t mind talking with him.

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Scott: Oh, hush.

Xisuma: Alright, alright, you lot. Jimmy, Scott, call Xornoth and then get some rest. fWhip, you finish up whatever you need to and then also get some rest. -Xander

Xisuma: I’ll get some rest once I’m sure you all are asleep, and not any sooner. -Xander

Jimmy: We won’t be long.

Xisuma: I know. -Xander

Xisuma: Because if you are, I’ll call Keralis and Keralis can be more terrifying than I can all things considered. -Xander

Scott: Oh, we know.

Xisuma: Then hurry up and get some rest. -Xander

One Day Later

fWhip: Are you guys ready to see Grian?

Scott: Very ready.

Jimmy: Beyond ready.

fWhip: Xisuma?

Xisuma: I don’t know.

Xisuma: I saw aer yesterday on Mumbo’s redstone testing world, and it was bad. It was really bad.

fWhip: Do you want to come with us anyway, and wait before seeing aer?

Xisuma: I think I would like that.

Scott: Let’s get going then!

Five minutes later

Jimmy: Do you want us to message you while we’re in there?

Xisuma: You can.

Xisuma: I’m sure I’ll survive either way.

Scott: So messaging it is.

Ten minutes later

Xisuma: You guys there?

Scott: Sorry, yeah, we’re here.

Xisuma: You all okay?

Jimmy: Just got a bit overwhelmed.

Jimmy: Like, Grian’s not in great condition at the moment, but ae’s all cleaned up, or as cleaned up as ae can be, and completely covered in bandages, but ae’s alive.

fWhip: I know you probably still need more time to collect yourself, especially with how you last saw Grian, and how much blood you were covered in yesterday, but I don’t think it’s as bad as you’re probably thinking it is.

fWhip: It’s certainly not good, but Cleo, Zed, Cub, and Doc did a good job on patching aer up and making sure ae was cleaned up from all the blood and stuff.

Xisuma: Are you sure?

Jimmy: As sure as we can be.

Jimmy: Though if you need more time, then take that time.

***

Xisuma took a deep breath, putting his comm away.

He knew that he really didn’t need to go in and see Grian right now, knew that his partner wasn’t going anywhere, especially not in the condition aer was in, but he needed to see Grian, needed that proof that the Watchers hadn’t taken aer away, hadn’t taken someone he loved away.

Pushing the door open, he was greeted with the sight of Grian laid out on the medical bed that was set up in the middle of the room, surrounded by various machines and tubes that were connected to aer.

Grian looked tiny on the bed, completely covered by bandages, various tubes and wires connecting aer to the machines and medications that ae was on, with ae’s eyes closed, looking peaceful for what was probably the first time in months.

Scott, Jimmy, and fWhip were all gathered around Grian’s bed, tears staining their faces. None of them had noticed him come in, all three just sitting in silence, gathered on the left side of Grian’s bed.

With silent steps, X made his way over to the right side of Grian’s bed, managing a tiny smile when his three friends jumped at his presence.

Taking a seat next to the bed, he carefully grabbed Grian’s hand, taking care to not disrupt anything, and just rested his head on the bed next to Grian’s hand. 

***

The three sat there for hours in complete silence, only being disturbed by Doc or Cub coming in to check up on Grian, when the silence was finally broken by Xisuma’s voice, sounding smaller than any of them had ever heard, even when Grian had been taken.

“Grian’s going to wake up, right?”

There was silence as the answer was thought over, not wanting any false hope to be given out, but also not wanting to crush Xisuma’s hope either.

Eventually, Jimmy found an answer.

“I don’t know, ‘Suma. I honestly don’t know. What I do know, though, is that Doc, Cub, Cleo, and Zed are all very skilled at what they do and have done, and will continue to do, their best when it comes to looking after Grian. None of them are going to let aer go without one heck of a fight. Plus, we know how strong Grian is! Aer’s a fighter! I’m sure ae’ll be just fine in the end, and will wake up. It’s just a waiting game for now.”

And that’s what it was- a waiting game to see if Grian would recover, and if he would wake up.

Chapter Text

Four months later

Scott: Any updates?

Xisuma: Still unconscious.

Xisuma: We’ve had to push back the move to Season Six because we can’t move Grian, but all of the Hermits have been more than happy to wait for Grian to be awake and safe to move.

fWhip: I’m sensing a ‘but’ here.

Xisuma: I’m not sure what you mean.

fWhip: Mmhm, sure.

fWhip: What’s up?

Xisuma: I just feel bad that we have to push back the move.

Xisuma: I know none of them mind, and I’m certainly not going to risk Grian’s life to move aer to a new season without everything that we need to care for aer prepared, but at the same time, I can tell that some of them are just a touch restless due to how much we’ve already accomplished in this season.

Jimmy: So what do you want to do about it?

Xisuma: Well, we’re staying here until Grian is awake, that much is for sure, and while the Hermits are a bit restless, none of them are going to say anything. There were all there when I brought Grian back- they saw how bad of a condition ae was in, saw my panic and tears, probably put together the fact that we’re dating because of it and the hints they got before Evo, so while they’re restless, their restlessness isn’t going to be too big of a problem, not when they are able to go and do their own things in the Main Hub while waiting.

Xisuma: Not to mention, Doc did say that the machines are picking up on more brain activity and Grian’s healing is going well, so he’s expecting Grian to wake up within the next month or so, and then, with how well our Sunshine has been healing, he’s predicting maybe a week or so before ae can be moved to the next season, so I’ll probably send the Hermits off once Grian’s awake, and Doc has confirmed the week needed before ae can be moved, so they can all start getting set up, and Doc can get a medical area set up where Grian can be moved to.

Xisuma: It won’t be the main medical area, as Grian’s still going to need more specialised care, but there will also be a main medical area set up by the end of the first week.

fWhip: Is Grian’s room going to be attached to Doc’s base again?

Xisuma: I’m going to see if I can get Doc to let Grian live with me.

Jimmy: That’s fair.

Jimmy: Have you seen any activity though?

Jimmy: I know you haven’t left aers side since we had to leave and get back to our own servers.

Xisuma: I don’t think so.

Xisuma: Though the machines have been beeping more, which Cub and Zed have both said is a good sign, so I’m going to take their word for it.

Scott: Hopefully ae’ll be awake soon.

Scott: Do you have a world for the next season picked out yet?

Xisuma: I do, actually!

Xisuma: I’ve been able to do most of my Admin work by Grian’s side, and as the move will be after the next update, and the update has to do with an ocean expansion, the Hermits all requested a world with more water and less land- more along the lines of one large island with lots of smaller islands and plenty of water for them to explore the new oceans and build there.

Xisuma: I found a world that looks perfect, and when I showed it at the last Hermitcraft meeting they all seemed to like it, so I put through the request to purchase it, and got the confirmation that the transaction was completed earlier today!

Jimmy: That’s wonderful!

Xisuma: I’m really happy with the world.

Xisuma: Normally I like to scout them out beforehand, but I’m happy enough with having seen the layout of it and the pictures that we’re given when looking at the worlds, and the Hermits seemed happy with that as well, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it goes.

Scott: And is everyone coming to the next season?

Xisuma: Yes and no.

Xisuma: A few have mentioned that they want to go there but they’re not sure if they’ll stay for the entirety of the season, having plans to go off and do other things, while both Keralis and Bdubs are going to take a few months vacation, possibly taking a year to just explore other places and the likes, so they won’t be there at the start, but will return at the end. Etho won’t be there at all this season, but will be coming back for Season Seven, having some things he has to do that he’s not sure how long it will take him, so he’s going to be taking the season off.

Xisuma: Xander’s moving back in with Xornoth, so he won’t be here, though he’s promised to visit at least once a month to make sure I’m taking care of myself, and Xornoth had made me promise to bring the Hermits to the bar at least once as he wants to meet them, and I’ve been keeping him updated on Grian’s condition as well.

Scott: Why do I get the feeling that my brother likes you more than he likes me?

Xisuma: Well, he has been talking about asking Xander to marry him, so I think he’s trying to get on my good side for when he asks my permission to marry my older brother, as if I would ever deny him that when he makes my brother as happy as he does.

Scott: Okay, that’s honestly so cute.

fWhip: Ew, romance.

Jimmy: You know you love it.

Jimmy: But if we don’t get invited to the wedding, we’re crashing it, right?

Scott: Oh, obviously.

Xisuma: Is that even a question?

fWhip: Duh.

Jimmy: Good, good, just checking.

***

Xisuma huffed out a laugh at his friends’ antics, as the three delved into ways they could crash the wedding, when the steady beeping of the machines suddenly picked up, the beeping faster and slightly more erratic.

Just before he could pull up the group chat he had made with Doc, Cleo, Zed, and Cub to send off a frantic message that something was happening, Grian’s hand in his twitched, causing Xisuma to freeze once his head whipped down to stare at their joined hands.

“Grian?” He whispered, hope and disbelief colouring his voice.

There was a broken whine at his voice, making X’s heart stutter in his chest.

“It’s okay, Grian, it’s okay. You’re safe now, Love, I promise,” Xisuma babbled, starting to spout off whatever comforting words he could think of as he frantically texted the medical group chat that he was fairly sure Grian was waking up and he could use some help if they were free.

Grian’s eyes flickered open for a brief moment, before slamming shut once more, but that was more than enough for Xisuma, who, with tears in his eyes, and now clogging his throat, could only praise his partner, promising that ae was safe, that it was okay, that he was there, and that ae was doing so, so good.

Doc arrived only moments later, standing by the door for a fraction of a moment, scanning over the scene, before ushering Xisuma out of the room, despite the Voidwalker’s protests, as the creeper hybrid started checking the machines and Grian’s vitals, making sure that everything was just fine.

Once out of the room, Xisuma collapsed onto the sofa closest to him, his tears running freely down his face, as he pulled the group chat back up, smiling like an idiot despite everything that had happened over the past few months.

Five Idiot Admins

Xisuma: Grian’s awake.

Chapter Text

One minute later

Three people are typing…

Three minutes later

Jimmy: What?!?

Scott: Are you serious?

fWhip: Really???

Xisuma: Yeah!

Xisuma: Ae opened aers eyes!

Xisuma: Ae was awake!

fWhip: That’s amazing!

Xisuma: Honestly, I think the only reason why my typing is even legible right now is because of the Admin comms.

Xisuma: I am crying so hard right now, I won’t even lie.

Xisuma: I'm only half sure of what I'm typing.

Jimmy: That’s so fair, honestly.

Scott: Do you know when we’ll be able to see aer?

Xisuma: I don’t know.

Xisuma: Doc’s with aer right now, I’ve been kicked out, and I have a feeling that Xander may be on his way knowing my Hermits, and the fact that he was probably with Zed when I sent out the message, but I should be let back in once Doc's done examining Grian and making sure that everything is just fine and ae’s recovering properly and won’t strain anything or worsen any injuries being awake now, so you lot will probably be able to visit tomorrow if all is well.

Jimmy: I’m sure everything will be fine.

Jimmy: Grian’s strong.

Jimmy: Probably stronger than any of us, if I’m being honest.

Jimmy: If anyone can pull through this, it’s Grian.

Scott: Heck yeah!

fWhip: You know, the first thing we should do once Grian’s healed is an enrichment day.

Jimmy: As soon as ae’s able to, I’m bringing boba.

Jimmy: Enrichment day or not, it will be boba day.

Xisuma: I’m sure Grian will love that.

Xisuma: I have a feeling ae’ll be stuck on a liquid diet for a while while ae recovers, and considering ae’s currently getting aers nutrients through i.v. and will then be transferred to liquids and then soft foods, once Doc deems aer able to handle them, the boba will be a wonderful treat.

Jimmy: Oh definitely.

Scott: As soon as Grian’s able to, we’re all going to the bar to celebrate.

Scott: I’ll have Xornoth close it for the day, the customers are honestly used to things like that at this point (plus the regulars love us), and we can just spend the day celebrating, and just revel in the fact that we’re all together again.

Xisuma: Sounds good to me.

fWhip: You know, if we ever have all of our servers opened at the same time, or we are all on two servers that we Admin, we should have one big crossover event.

Scott: That would be so much fun!

Jimmy: Oh, I’m totally down for that!

Xisuma: There will be so much chaos, you do know that, right?

Xisuma: Possible a war knowing my Hermits.

fWhip: Oh, obviously!

fWhip: That’s what will make it so much more fun!

Xisuma: If you say so!

***

It was at that moment that Zed and Xander burst into the room, both panting as if they had run the entire way, and, judging by the tattered remains of the elytras strapped to their shoulders, they probably had.

“Sorry, would have been here sooner, but our elytras broke part way here,” Zed gasped out, collapsing on the sofa nearest him, while Xander, only slightly more composed, sat next to his brother, noticing the tears that stained his face.

“You okay, Cricket?” Xander asked, making X nod.

“Yeah, Grian woke up while I was there, and then got kicked out once Doc arrived. I’m doing better now though, and was talking with Scott, Jimmy, and fWhip, letting them know that Grian’s awake. I should probably message Mumbo-” Xisuma said, trailing off at the end, pulling out his comm to message the younger redstoner, knowing that he would be ecstatic that Grian was awake, or at the very least, in the process of waking up after so long.

Xisuma was quick to send off the message to Mumbo, getting a keysmash back, and then a frantic message asking if he was being serious, to which he replied that they were waiting for Doc to finish up checking on Grian, but Grian had opened aers eyes about ten minutes ago, Mumbo promised to stop by later that day, as he had been every day, joining his Admin in sitting by Grian’s side day in and day out.

It was then that Doc entered the room, not even reacting to the two new presences in his base, as he just started talking, knowing that they were all eager to know how Grian was doing.

“Grian’s awake, and is healing just fine. Due to how long Grian was asleep for, ae’ll be coming in and out of consciousness for a few days as aers body gets used to being awake again, and functioning on its own. We’ll be slowly weaning aer off of the pain meds and antibiotics we’ve got aer on, but if all goes well, and there are no adverse reactions, we should be set to move Grian to the new server by the end of the month.”

“And we’re all good to visit aer?” Xisuma asked, making Doc smile softly at him.

“Grian’s awake currently, if a bit dazed and confused, so go and see your partner. I’ll fill Xander and Zed in on the rest of the information. Tell the rest of your crew that they can visit tomorrow. We don’t want to overwhelm Grian right now.”

X nodded, and then moved as fast as he dared to get to Grian’s side, slipping into the room and closing the door softly beyond him.

He smiled when he saw Grian’s eyes find him, watching as his lover lit up at the sight of him, lifting a clumsy hand in an attempt to beckon the Voidwalker over, which Xisuma was quick to do.

Taking his usual seat next to Grian’s bed, Xisuma grabbed Grian’s hand, rubbing his thumb over Grian’s knuckles.

“Hi,” he whispered, not wanting to speak too loudly.

Grian didn’t verbally respond, but the tears that had been slowly gathering in aers eyes started to gather quicker, and when the first one finally fell, Xisuma cupped aers cheek, rubbing his thumb under Grian’s eye, catching any tears that fell.

Grian leaned into his hold, eyes fluttering shut under the soft ministrations, as the pair sat in silence, so much needing to be said, but, at the same time, nothing needing to be said.

They were together again, and that was all that mattered.

***
The next day saw Scott, Jimmy, and fWhip returning to Hermitcraft for the day, immediately making their way towards Doc’s base, stopping to talk to a Hermit or two for a moment, before continuing on, desperate to see Grian, especially as they had confirmation from Xisuma that Grian was awake at the moment.

When they eventually arrived, they made their way to the medical room, Scott hesitating at the doorway with his hand hovering over the doorknob.

Jimmy laid a hand over his shoulder, giving his boyfriend an encouraging smile when Scott looked back at him, and with that Scott found the courage to push the door open, stepping inside with Jimmy and fWhip hot on his heels, the three piling into the room, tears gathering in their eyes when they saw Grian awake, eyes open and filling with tears as aer looked at them.

“Grian,” Jimmy breathed out, before breaking away from the group and moving over to aers side, collapsing into the chair that was there, doing his best to not break down into sobs as memories of the last time he saw Grian awake, with purple chains attached to aers wrists, being dragged to the Watcher’s Domain, Taurtis standing amongst their mists, a cruel smile on his face, with a broken smile gracing Grian’s features, as ae called out that ae loved them, and to let the other three know that ae loved them as well.

Grian could only smile as tears fell down aers face one more, letting Jimmy grab onto his free hand, Xisuma, sitting on the opposite side of him, holding aers other hand, squeezed the hand Jimmy was holding, causing the canary hybrid to break, sobs shaking his form, prompting Scott to make his way over, laying on hand on Jimmy’s back, between the golden canary wings, the other hand moving to rest on Grian’s knee, smiling at his friend.

“It’s so good to have you back,” Scott admitted, his own eyes wet.

“Beyond good,” fWhip added, moving to stand next to Xisuma, one hand resting on the Voidwalker’s shoulder, the other coming up to ruffle Grian’s hair, making the crimson sunbird hybrid pout.

The group of five lapsed into silence after that, the only sounds breaking the comforting quiet being the steady beeping of the machines that were still hooked up to Grian, and the periodic sniffle and hiccup as various members of the group cried, the pure relief that they were all okay and together again washing over them all.

This was where Cub found them all, hours later, when the Vex hybrid came in to check up on Grian, finding all five of the Admins sound asleep, all slumped against one another, a hand on Grian in some way to remind them that Grian really was alive and okay, and it was where Cub left them, after glancing over the machines, noting down that Grian was holding steady and should be able to be moved sooner than the month timeline that Doc had predicted, leaving the five to sleep peacefully for once, finally free of the fear that Grian was gone for good thanks to the Watchers.

Chapter Text

Five Idiot Admins

One week later

Grian: Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3!

fWhip: GRIAN!

Jimmy: You’re back!

Scott: And the Five Idiot Admins are back together!

Xisuma: The rest of the Hermits are moving to Season Six today, leaving Grian and I alone for the week while they get everything set up and ready for Gri and I.

Grian: I get to base with you, right?

Xisuma: I managed to convince Doc to let the medical room that you’ll be moved to be part of my base, so yes.

Grian: And once I’m let free of the medical room?

Xisuma: My base will always be open for you.

Xisuma: I love you.

Grian: I love you too.

Grian: More than anything.

Scott: That’s cute!

Jimmy: Wait for it-

Scott: Wait for what?

Scott: Ohh, yeah, okay.

fWhip: What are you two on about?

Scott: What, no 'ew, romance'?

fWhip: Nah, they deserve to be a bit sappy on main, but only for now.

fWhip: Every other time will get an ‘ew, romance’.

Jimmy: Okay, fair enough.

Scott: Yeah, I won’t fight this one.

Grian: We really are all idiots, huh?

Xisuma: Well, we all became Admins, didn’t we?

One week later

Xisuma: Moving day!

Grian: Yay.

Xisuma: Your lack of enthusiasm has been noted.

Grian: It’s going to hurt though!

Scott: Don’t they plan on drugging you up with the good stuff for this?

Xisuma: Yep.

Jimmy: Oh, loopy Grian’s going to be so much fun.

Xisuma: Absolutely not.

fWhip: Oh, don’t be a spoilsport!

Xisuma: I’m confiscating Grian’s comm while ae’s doped up.

Grian: But why?

Xisuma: Do you really want to be sending messages while you have no filter and could say anything?

Grian: …

Grian: Good point.

Grian: I’m just glad that I still can’t really talk yet.

Grian: Otherwise, not even I’m sure what I would say.

Scott: Okay, actually thinking of it, that’s fair.

fWhip: Still not any fun though.

Jimmy: But without knowing just what Grian would say, it is probably a good idea to confiscate aers comm so ae doesn’t say anything before aer comfortable with talking about something.

fWhip: Ah, yeah, good point.

Grian: Can we just get this over with?

Xisuma: Doc and Cub will be here within the next hour, just a bit longer, Darling.

Grian: But that’s so long!

Scott: Do you want to bug Xornoth?

Grian: What?

Scott: Xornoth is busy stressing over something, and he’s no longer phased by me, so…

Grian: Being a menace for an hour sounds like fun!

Grian: Mumbo’s been busy with his redstone, so I can’t bother him, and Xander has been fussing over Xisuma before he leaves to head back to the bar.

Jimmy: Has X been neglecting his health again?

Grian: Is there ever a time where he’s not?

Xisuma: Betrayed by my partner! Oh, how could you?

Grian: Easily.

Xisuma: Ouch.

Scott: Alright, well I’m sending over Xornoth’s information, so have fun messing with him!

Grian: Will do!

Three weeks later

fWhip: Daily check in!

fWhip: How’s everyone holding up?

Grian: Well, I’m able to talk properly again, even if it hurts to talk too much still.

Grian: Still bedbound, but talking.

Xisuma: The code is holding up well and it looks like everything is running smoothly.

Scott: Working on some code of my own, but we’ll have to see if it goes anywhere.

Jimmy: I’m busy planning something, but I don’t know if I’ll be going through with it anytime soon.

Grian: Oh?

Jimmy: I wish it was something big, but honestly, it’s only something I’ve been thinking about, but it’s not something important.

Scott: If you say so, Petal.

Xisuma: How are you doing, fWhip?

fWhip: I’m working on the code for a server I’m planning on calling Empires.

fWhip: I have an idea for it, but there’s some custom code that I have to figure out how to make, which will make this take longer than it probably should to get the code finished for.

Xisuma: And you need to have the code finished before anything else.

fWhip: Yep.

fWhip: How’s the new season going though?

Xisuma: The Hermits are having so much fun honestly.

Xisuma: I’ve been showing Grian pictures of the world, as has Mumbo, and a few of the other Hermits are visiting Grian and getting to know aer better now that ae's an official Hermit, so it’s all been good.

Jimmy: And how’s the teasing?

Xisuma: Shut.

Grian: Teasing?

Xisuma: The Hermits figured out we’re dating, and have been relentlessly teasing me over it now that you’re back.

Xisuma: Mostly because they got to watch me beg Doc to let me base with you while you’re still recovering.

Xisuma: So, it’s been a time with the Hermits and their teasing.

Grian: Are you okay with that?

Xisuma: Yeah, the Hermits know when they cross the line, and they know how far they can push. It’s all light hearted and for fun, Love, I promise. 

Grian: Up until I met you guys any teasing from friends was never fun.

Jimmy: Considering who your friends were, I’m not surprised.

Grian: He wasn’t as bad when we were younger, but I guess everyone changes.

Jimmy: Yeah.

Scott: Do we want to know?

Grian: Maybe I’ll tell you one day.

***

Grian huffed out a sigh as ae set aers comm to the side, eyes glazing over as aer thought about the old days, the days where Taurtis was actually aers friend and wasn’t the crazed maniac he became, just like Sam was.

Ae still remembered the days chained up in the Watcher’s Domain, Joeyish, the Watcher that Taurtis became, standing over him with a knife, just like Sam used to, taunting aer, and reminding aer that ae had no power there, that ae was at the mercy of the Watchers and there was no escape, that ae’s only options were to submit and become a Watcher like they wanted aer to be, or death.

Ae also remembered the days in high school where Taurtis would protect aer from Sam, stepping in whenever Sam would get a bit too trigger happy and Taurtis would step in to calm the rabbit hybrid down, directing his ire away from Grian and towards something else, effectively saving Grian from more harm.

This was how Xisuma found aer a few hours later, tears dripping down aers face as Grian sat there trapped in memories.

“Darling?” X asked, stepping closer, causing Grian’s eyes to snap towards him.

“‘Suma?” Grian rasped out, tears starting to fall faster.

“I’m here, Gri, I’m here. What do you need?”

Grian could only shake aers head, eyes now locked on the bedcovers, which had Xisuma cooing softly at aer.

“I know it’s hard, Sunshine, I know, but I’m here for whatever you need, alright?” X whispered, coming closer, and taking a seat next to the bed.

“I don’t understand why,” Grian whispered, “he used to be my friend, he used to care about me, and then-then he was just like him . Just like them.”

The tears were falling faster now, Grian shaking as the memories washed over aer again, leaving X to sit next to aer, helpless to know how to help.

They sat like that for a bit, before Xisuma got an idea, and he immediately started scanning the tubes and wires that were still hooked up to Grian, taking note of where they were and what they were hooked up to, as well as the injuries that Grian still sustained.

Once he was sure that he would be able to enact his plan without disrupting anything, he stood up, drawing Grian’s tear-filled eyes to him, fear filling them as ae thought that X was going to leave aer.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, it’s okay, Sunlight, I’m not going anywhere, I just want to try something, alright?” The Voidwalker immediately soothed, taking one of Grian’s hands in his for a moment before letting it go, setting it carefully back on the bed.

Confusion now filling aers eyes, tears slowing to a stop, Grian watched as Xisuma looked aer over once more time, before nodding determinedly to himself, and then proceed to, very carefully, scoop Grian up into his arms, cradling aer for a moment, before sitting down on the bed, Grian still in his arms, and got settled, setting Grian down on his lap, and letting the small crimson sunbird hybrid curl up against his chest, head pressed to his chest to hear his heartbeat. 

“There we go,” Xisuma cooed, brushing back a strand of Grian’s hair, “that’s better, hmm?”

Grian couldn’t find it in aerself to respond, far too caught up in the fact that he could hear Xisuma’s heartbeat to register anything else, making X chuckle fondly, holding his lover close.

He knew just how much Grian had been suffering, spending countless nights by aers side, both of them awake long past the time they should be asleep, going days on end without getting a wink of sleep, and, when they did manage it, one or both were torn from their slumber due to vicious nightmares of what had happened, both in the past before they had met, and after they had met.

Grian had broken down just a few nights prior, sobbing that ae didn’t want to keep living like this, that ae couldn’t keep living like this- fearing everything, and just waiting for when the Watchers would find aer again, and not even seeing the code, and how heavily protected it was could help alleviate some of the fear; Xisuma couldn’t blame Grian for that, not when the code of Evo had been taken over so easily, and not when the Admin Council did nothing to help save anyone, only called aers sacrifice a tragic but necessary loss and a noble sacrifice for the greater good.

They were both scared, if Xisuma was going to be honest, all five of them were scared, but he had hope that this could be a new start for them all, a way for them to heal from the past and the pain it had caused them, so they could move forward, start their new lives with each other by their sides.

It would be a long and hard journey, but Xisuma had hope that they could accomplish it, and that they would soon be able to leave the past in the past, and that all had to start with taking that first step, and for him and Grian, that first step would be Season Six; for Scott it would be his new world, Jimmy by his side, and that would also be the first step for Jimmy, what with how closely intertwined the two were; fWhip’s first step would be the new world he was working on the code for, a world that Xisuma knew would be beautiful.

They all had their first steps, all they had to do now was take them.

Chapter Text

Five months later

Grian: So, I’m finally free of daily check ups, soft foods, and being completely bedbound, so what the heck do I do now?

Xisuma: Well, you could always come on a walk around the server with me if you want.

Xisuma: Actually see it outside of pictures and get to meet the rest of the Hermits.

Scott: Uh, you get to come out with us to the bar sometime soon as well, obviously.

Jimmy: Let’s let Grian get back up on aers feet before actually going out and doing anything offworld. 

Jimmy: But congrats on finally being let out!

Jimmy: I know you were getting restless not being able to leave the bed.

fWhip: Yeah, the messages begging us to break aer out were starting to get more and more wild.

Xisuma: Honestly, if I didn’t know that Doc would have my head, I probably would have.

Grian: Yeah, yeah, so what if I was getting a bit tired of being trapped in bed. 

Grian: ‘Suma you mentioned something about a walk though?

Xisuma: I did.

Grian: You’ll probably have to help me walk.

Xisuma: If you think that I’m going to be letting you go, then you have another thing coming.

fWhip: He says as if he’s also not going to need help walking due to lack of sleep.

Xisuma: Shut.

Scott: Oh, you know you love us.

Grian: But walk?

Xisuma: Walk.

Jimmy: Have fun you two!

Three hours later

Grian: The world has changed so much.

Jimmy: Yeah, it was a lot when we got out of Evo and saw just what had changed.

Jimmy: Especially after being trapped there for months with no outside contact.

Grian: I know I’ve seen pictures, but it’s so weird to actually see it in person.

Scott: Are you holding up alright?

Grian: It’s a bit overwhelming, but I’ve got ‘Suma so I should be alright.

fWhip: Wait, are you currently walking or are you resting if you’re messaging us.

Xisuma: We’re in the shopping district, and I’m getting food for us both before Keralis finds out that it’s been two and a half days since I last ate.

Xisuma: The only reason why we know Grian’s been eating is because ae hasn’t had a choice.

Grian: I also needed a break.

Grian: I may have been slowly working my way up to walking in the past few weeks, but this is a lot.

Xisuma: We also ran into Mumbo.

fWhip: How long did you guys talk?

Jimmy: I have a feeling there’s a reason why they’ve only made it to the shopping district after three hours.

Xisuma: Shut.

Jimmy: Alright, alright, I’ll behave… for now.

Scott: He says that as if he ever behaves.

Jimmy: Hey!

fWhip: And this was the reason why I babysat you four on enrichment days.

Grian: Can we have an enrichment day again?

fWhip: Let’s wait until you’re feeling better and can walk without nearly tripping over your own feet, and then the bar will be our first enrichment day.

Grian: Do Xander or Xornoth know how to make boba?

Scott: I honestly don’t know.

Scott: But if they don’t then they get to learn!

Grian: They don’t have to learn on my account!

Scott: Nah, it’ll be fun to bug them about learning something new.

Scott: Plus the menu is getting to be kind of bland nowadays.

Scott: It’s all just the same old stuff.

Scott: They need to spice it up!

Grian: If you say so.

Jimmy: I think we all do.

Jimmy: Plus, it would be nice to have some new things on the menu.

Xisuma: You know Xornoth tried to hire me to do baking there once?

fWhip: You’re kidding!

Xisuma: Nope!

Xisuma: Xander had brought over some of my stress baking baked goods and Xornoth loved them so much he wanted to hire me.

Xisuma: This was before I knew any of you guys, back when I was just starting out as a junior Admin, and before I had even met my brother’s platonic partner.

Grian: Wait, how much older is Xander compared to you?

Jimmy: Actually, that’s a good question!

Jimmy: We only know that he’s older than you.

Jimmy: Same thing with Xornoth honestly.

Xisuma: Oh, Xan’s five years older than me.

Scott: Xornoth’s got six and a half years on me unfortunately, and he loves to remind me of that.

Xisuma: Xander mostly uses it to remind me that he’s my legal guardian, even if I’m of age now, and can technically still tell me what to do if the situation calls for it.

fWhip: I don’t have a legal guardian anymore. 

fWhip: As soon as I left home, I no longer had a family.

Grian: Mine abandoned me, but honestly, it’s not that bad being alone, or it wasn’t.

Grian: Saved me more trouble in the end when they sent me away for their divorce.

Grian: Actually, come to think of it, I don’t know if they actually got divorced after they sent me to Japan.

fWhip: That’s horrible!

Grian: Eh, I’ve come to accept it as that being how it is sometimes.

Grian: Plus, I’ve got you guys now!

Grian: You’re all infinitely better than my birth parents.

fWhip: Who needs a blood family when you have your found family?

Three days later

Grian: Screw it, I’m making a base.

Grian: I love living with X, but I have to prove to myself that I’m not broken and a base is probably the best way to go about that.

Jimmy: Are you sure that’s a good idea?