OKAY SO THIS IS A SUPER-LATE BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR sixth_constellation SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y'ALL- ALMOST TEN DAYS LATE, BUT Y'KNOW-

No warnings!

WC: ~2550

Enjoy!

The Hermits didn't have many large gatherings.

Unfortunately, they simply could never find enough time to get together and do things.

However, at some point, Grian had suggested a server slumber party, and everyone wanted in.

After a lot of planning and a lot of debating, they settled on a date, leaving Grian and Xisuma to plan the occasion.

A month of tedious preparations, and they were ready to have the night of their lives.

"Are you sure everything's in place?" Xisuma called to Grian, who sighed.

"Yes, 'Suma," he grumbled. "You've asked me like seven times. I checked your list and all that other nonsense, so we are definitely ready."

Xisuma's list was really just three pages of stressed scribbly handwriting- that was still better than most people's- ranting about "what happened last time", whatever that meant, but Grian read it anyway, just to make Xisuma feel better.

"Oh- what if-" Xisuma stressed, turning to run off somewhere else in the base. Grian grabbed his arm before he could though, stopping the Admin in his tracks.

"Calm down, Twilight Sparkle," Grian snorted. "Everything is totally under control!!" Xisuma sighed, running a hand through his hair. His helmet had been left at his base, Xisuma deciding that there was no point in wearing it to a slumber party, especially since they had asked the Hermits to show up in their pajamas. (No, Ren, Xisuma had said. You cannot show up shirtless.)

Xisuma fidgeted with the sleeves of his shirt. It was light pink with printed axolotls all over it, to celebrate the end of the season and the mobs that were to come with the new update. Grian was wearing a parrot-based onesie, and it suited him wonderfully.

"I don't think you've been around here long enough to realize what we're dealing with," Xisuma chuckled. "But alright."

"I've been the cause of enough chaos to know," Grian said flatly. "Come on, I think I hear rockets!!"

A little while later, everyone was there and situated. Xisuma had helpfully provided snacks, which, as he predicted, were greatly appreciated.

The sound of chattering filled the room, but it was broken by a scream from Grian.

"WHO WANTS TO PLAY TRUTH OR DARE??"

The response was excited and instantaneous, and soon everyone had formed a circle to start the game.

"I'll start," Grian offered, turning next to him. "Mumbo! Truth or dare?"

"Uh," Mumbo chuckled. "Truth?"

"Coward," Grian giggled. "Truth, okay. Kiss-marry-kill- Iskall, Scar, and I."

"What?" Mumbo cried as the rest of the Hermits dissolved into laughter. "I wouldn't want to kill any of you." he paused. "Well... actually- kiss Iskall, marry Scar, and kill you."

"Wow," Grian snorted. "What's the logic behind that?"

"Scar has it for someone else," Mumbo said flatly. "So he'd be the least unhappy with a divorce."

"That's not how the game works!" Grian protested. "You can't marry someone just to divorce."

"People do that all the time!"

"Moving on," Xisuma cut in. "Mumbo, ask Iskall."

"Dare," Iskall said before Mumbo could say anything.

"Uh... hm," Mumbo paused for a moment. "Imitate a Hermit until someone guesses who you're pretending to be."

"Oh, easy," Iskall laughed. He shook himself out, then slumped over. Holding a hand as if he were holding a cup, he somehow managed to look completely exhausted.

"Hey, name, are you okay?" Iskall said in a normal voice through his teeth, mimicking a hypothetical bystander.

"Yeah, I'm totally fine!! Why do you ask?" Iskall, now fitting into his impersonation, 'replied'. His voice was cheery, though it held the air of fake enthusiasm. It also held a certain accent-

"Xisuma," Wels laughed.

"Wh- what?" Xisuma sputtered. "I am nothing like that-"

"He nailed all the details," Wels pointed out. "He has the tea, the accent, the exhaustion, and he said that everything was fine when he looks like he's lived a thousand years."

Xisuma opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again under Wels raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not that obvious," the Admin grumbled, drawing laughter from the rest of the Hermits.

The game continued, certain truths and dares standing out more than others.

"Eat this," Ren dared Cleo. "Straight." He held out a packet of hot sauce.

Cleo smirked, then took the packet from Ren, ripping it open. She squeezed it into her mouth like toothpaste, then handed Ren the empty packet with a satisfied smirk.

"Mortals," she snarked as Ren gaped at her.

"GG," he mumbled, chuckling softly.

"What's the biggest lie you've told your parents?" Doc asked.

"I told them that I was straight," Ren snorted, earning laughter from the rest of the Hermits.

"That's the biggest lie I've heard in my life!" Tango cried, clutching his chest. "I'm ashamed of you, Ren!"

"You're all hopeless," False muttered.

"Talk in a British accent until your next turn," Zed dared Tango a while later.

"No fair!" Tango cried over the laughter. "Like- half the people here are British!! Including you!!"

"Gotta do it, Tango," Impulse hummed, smiling.

"'Onestly, I hate this bloody game," Tango grumbled, causing Zedaph to double over, wheezing. (A/N: sorry not sorry)

"Give me your communicator," came Xay's dare to Xisuma. "And let me message whoever I want."

"But all the Hermits are here!" Xisuma protested, handing his communicator to Xay. "Who are you even going to send the message to?"

"Biffa," he replied. "Telling him that you're a better Admin than he was."

"Don't you dare!!!" Xisuma cried. "That's so mean!!"

"Too late!" Xay laughed, handing the communicator back. "Watch out for traps in your base, 'Suma."

"He's not whitelisted anymore," Joe pointed out.

"Do you seriously think that'll stop him?" Xisuma groaned.

"How many stuffed animals do you own?" Bdubs asked Doc with a smirk.

Doc's face flamed at the question, sending a chorus of 'oooh's and 'awww's around the circle.

"One," he mumbled after a second.

"AWWW!" Bdubs squealed. "What is it?"

"A goat," Doc replied, ducking his head.

"What's its name?" Bdubs pressed, his smile growing.

"You got one question, DoubleO," Doc hissed. "Moving on."

"What's the worst physical pain you've experienced?" Jevin said. Wels whistled, then paused to think.

"Good question," he snorted. "I mean, getting stabbed in the shoulder hurt a lot."

"Please," Hels laughed. "I think you mean that one time with the Wither? And your arm?"

"Oh yeah!" Wels agreed. "Wait- actually- maybe it was the time-"

"You know what," Jevin cut in. "Question answered, let's move on."

"What were you two doing before Hermitcraft?" Xisuma sounded concerned.

"A lot," Hels snickered.

"If you could be invisible," Beef said. "What would be the first thing you'd do?"

Etho glanced away, an embarrassed flush rising around the mask.

"I'd probably mess with you," he chuckled. Beef gasped in mock offense as Etho giggled.

"You're the worst, you know that?" he laughed.

"I know," and Etho's eyes crinkled into a smirk. "And I love it."

And, of course, a certain dare made its way into the circle.

"Kiss the hottest person here," came Etho's dare. xB paled, teal eyes going wide. A chorus of 'aww's went around the circle.

"I could change the dare," Etho offered after a second of xB staying silent. "You don't have to do it."

xB looked like he was going to agree, and maybe for a moment, he truly was going to.

But instead, he turned around and kissed Hypno.

The Hermits burst into cheers and squeals as Hypno recovered from his shock and kissed xB back. The pair broke apart after a second, Hypno still shocked and xB a blushing mess.

"I'm gonna kill you, Etho," xB mumbled.

"Your welcome," came Etho's reply. Hypno suddenly stood up, taking xB's hand and dragging him out the mansion.

"They're probably having a moment," Stress reasoned, a small smile on her face.

"I think that's a good note to end Truth or Dare on," Grian said cheerfully. "Come on, we can watch a movie!!"

Soon enough, the scene shifted to everyone huddled up in front of the screen, a Disney movie on, courtesy of Scar.

Hypno and xB joined them a couple of minutes later, and Etho certainly didn't miss the way that Hypno's bandana was on differently, as if he'd taken it off then put it back on.

xB sat by Etho, glancing at him. Etho's lips turned up into a smirk.

"Still gonna kill me?" Etho whispered, his voice teasing.

"Only a little," came xB's response, his voice equally soft. His eyes flickered over to Hypno, then back to Etho. "You're just as bad as me."

Etho elbowed him sharply, glancing around to make sure no one overheard.

"You're doing that as if the entire server isn't already aware," xB giggled. "Except Beef, of course. You're just as obvious as he is oblivious."

"I'm not obvious!" Etho argued.

"In what world?" xB chuckled. Etho simply responded with another elbow, which drew another giggle before xB turned his attention to the movie.

Etho tried to focus on the flashing lights and the sound of Scar belting out lyrics when the song started playing, but his mind kept drifting over to Beef and what xB had said. How many people knew?? Surely it was just some of the troublemakers, not the Hermits that were oblivious to everything.

Xisuma, who was sitting with Hypno, glanced over at him, gave a small smile, then turned back to Hypno.

Scud.

Etho pulled up his mask and pretended like he knew nothing.

The movie finished, everyone getting up and idly chatting about the end results and various events of the film.

Hels talked with Xay, both laughing at how stupid the movie was.

"No one even died!" Xay pouted. Hels snickered.

"True, true," he agreed.

"Only because it had to be Scar-safe," Xisuma came up behind them. "Otherwise, I'm sure someone would've prompted something worse." Xay giggled.

"You're probably right,"

Tango glanced at Impulse and Zed with a smirk.

"We only got Hypno and xB together," he pointed out. "Come on, we can get at least Beef and Etho together."

"They're practically already together!" Zed cackled. "Except one is too shy to confess, and the other is too oblivious to notice!"

"I feel like they'll sort themselves out," Impulse chuckled. "But Bdubs and Doc? They'll never figure it out."

"Also true," Tango laughed. "So how do we knock out as many as we can?"

They all paused.

"You could stop poking your noses into everyone else's business," Xisuma offered as he passed by. "Just a thought."

"Where's the fun in that?" Tango laughed. Xisuma chuckled to himself and shrugged.

"Also," Xisuma added. "You might've missed your chance with Truth or Dare."

"Right about that one," Zedaph sighed.

"Well, if you three are done scheming," Xisuma's laugh was affectionate. "Could you get the attention of everyone else? We should set up sleeping bags."

Tango cleared his throat.

"HEY, EVERYONE," he yelled. "WE'RE SETTING UP SLEEPING BAGS. COME HELP. OR ELSE."

"I can always count on you to be loud," Xisuma said with a grin.

Soon enough, everything was set up for sleeping, but that didn't mean that they were going to bed anytime soon.

"Pillow fight?" Etho whispered in Beef's ear. Beef turned towards him, looking jokingly horrified.

"Etho!" he laughed. Etho giggled, and the weird feeling returned to Beef's stomach.

It was almost like nausea, but it was somehow more friendly. Like a pleasant punch to the gut.

And it always came with Etho. Just as addictive as every second with his best friend.

Beef shook off his odd thoughts and feelings and tried to focus on what was going on in the real world.

He caught Etho's eyes, and crap- there was that feeling again. There was some emotion in Etho's eyes, but no matter how good Beef had gotten at reading Etho, the emotion was still undecipherable.

It made him feel out of the loop, a feeling that he'd never liked. Out of the loop with his closest friend's thoughts, as well as with his own emotions.

"Beefers?" Etho waved a hand in front of his face, looking concerned. "Do I need to bonk you with a pillow?"

"Nah," Beef snapped back to his senses nearly immediately. He reached for a nearby pillow. "But I do."

Etho yelped as Beef hit him with the pillow, then recovered and hit him back.

And that was how everything dissolved into pure chaos.

Hels couldn't help but grin as he chased after Wels, who had hit him on the back of the head, then ran off.

"You're dead, Wels!!" Hels called, his smile only growing as Wels laughed.

Suddenly, he was knocked off-course, and he turned around to see Xay, a crap-eating smirk on his face.

Hels really, really wanted to wipe that smirk away.

"If you're anything like how you are with a sword," Hels snickered. "Then you're a dead man walking."

"Oh, shut up," Xay retaliated. "Says the guy who was just chasing after his brother like a child."

"You're just as bad, idiot."

All their insults and threats were lighthearted, simply part of their relationship. Though he'd never admit it, it was something Hels liked. Maybe a little too much.

That didn't really matter though.

Hels grinned and launched back into the loud action of whatever that gathering had dissolved into.

Leaving for a minute or two to come back to a bunch of grown adults screeching at each other and wapping one another with pillows was quite the sight.

Xisuma stared in disbelief at the scene before him, a soft chuckle escaping him. Cub and Scar looked like they were planning something, which was never a good sign, Cleo and Joe were throwing pillows, and Keralis came over to him with a grin on his face.

"Shiswammy!" he called out, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"What happened here?" Xisuma's question was half-hearted.

"A lot," Keralis offered. "I think Etho started it." Xisuma shook his head with a chuckle.

"I'm not surprised."

Etho slowly blinked his eyes open, memories of what had happened rushing in. After the pillow fight, everything had cooled down, and they all ended up turning in.

Etho quietly crawled out of his sleeping bag, pleased to see no one else was awake. He'd always been an early riser, and that so happened to pay off in this situation.

It was nice to just head outside, have the morning to himself, and it really felt like the jungle was silent and peaceful with everyone asleep.

Etho sat down at the top of the grand staircase that led up to the equally grand front doors of the mansion. He sat there for a while, lost in thought, before the sound of footsteps beside him jolted him back to attention.

"Morning, Etho," Beef said, sitting by the ninja.

"Hey, Beefers," Maybe Etho was still tired, but something possessed him to take Beef's hand. He held it, certainly not missing the way Beef twisted his hand to clasp around Etho's, returning the gesture.

The pair chatted quietly for a while, and Etho couldn't help but love every second.

It was nice.

"Last night was quite the slumber party, wasn't it?" Etho asked with a small laugh.

"It was," Beef agreed. "Everything with the Hermits is 'quite something', honestly."

Etho grinned.

"I'm with you on that one."

if that ending seems crummy and rushed, then bravo, you're entirely correct!!

-Storm