#meraki fic | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

arts-and-drafts · 9 months

Text

Home Again (Hermempires Crossover)

(In which Tango and Jimmy stargaze on the roof of their new ranch in Tumble Town, and reminisce. This one is unbelievably sweet, it rotted my teeth writing it. Enjoy!)

CW: Mentions of death

"It's beautiful, Jimmy." Tango said, for what felt like the millionth time.

And for the millionth time, Jimmy smiled wide and flushed, shyly turning his eyes away from Tango's to the ranch he built earlier that day. Tango kept it up for two reasons; the first being that the ranch really was beautiful, and nostalgic, and the fact that Jimmy built it solely because Tango was here meant a million unsaid words.

The second reason is that Jimmy rarely smiled near the end of Double Life, and Tango missed it with an ache that surprised him. Now that they didn't have to expect death at every moment, Tango tried to make Jimmy smile every chance he got.

Turns out, when he wasn't fearing for his life, it was extremely easy. Jimmy smiled so much, and it never lost it's novelty. Not to Tango.

"I'm so glad you like it." Jimmy beamed, tipping his hat upwards to take in the cobblestone "R" at the very top. "I figured it fits right in."

"It sure does." Tango agreed warmly. He didn't feel like it was fair to attribute Jimmy's whole western aesthetic in this server to the short few weeks they spent together previously, but it was a beautiful coincidence. The ranch fit right in with Tumble Town's theme.

Jimmy's hat and badge suited him even better. Tango could tell his Soulmate stood a little taller with that title on his chest, and the responsibility fit him well. Now that he saw the person Jimmy had grown into, Tango couldn't imagine him being anyone else.

He hoped Jimmy was as respected as he looked he deserved to be. He had always deserved respect, to Tango, but the imp hoped that his Soulmate's appearance commended it from the other rulers in this server.

Jimmy was looking at him again, his smile turning shy. "What're you lookin' at?"

"Uh, nothing." Tango coughed, and turned his eyes away. "The hat is just very impressive."

"Isn't it?" Jimmy agreed with pride, readjusting it on his head. "That blue fire is something else, too, man! It's cool!"

"'Cool', you say?" Tango grinned cheekily and gestured to the frost pattern on his robes, and Jimmy laughed.

It was like sunshine, his laugh. Jimmy practically emanated light as he doubled over, hiccuping and giggling, and Tango had never felt warmer in his life.

"Stop," Jimmy giggled, getting ahold of himself and turning back to the barn as he waved an enthusiastic hand over his shoulder. "Come on, I want to show you the best part!"

Tango followed him, smiling all the way, as Jimmy started to climb a ladder propped against one of the barn posts. "I had to wait till it was getting dark."

Once Jimmy was a decent amount ahead, Tango started to climb as well, his excitement building purely from Jimmy's reaction.

Tango's head breached the trapdoor at the ladder's top, and he looked around to find Jimmy already smoothing out a blanket on the stable roof.

"Woah, a stargazing spot?" Tango grinned and climbed onto the roof to join his rancher.

"Yup!" Jimmy said, rising to his knees as he finished laying out the blanket, and turned his eyes to the sky. "It's also got a pretty good view of Tumble Town!"

Tango followed Jimmy's point and saw that yes, the part of town that was this side of the mountain was perfectly in view without strain. Illuminated by the softly glowing lanterns placed at the fronts of the buildings, it looked unbelievably quaint. If Tango didn't know better, he'd have easily believed this town had been here for at least a decade.

But he did know better, and he knew Jimmy built this whole place with his own two hands. It made the feat unbelievably impressive.

"It's beautiful." Tango said, for the millionth-first time. Jimmy's face lit up at the praise, just as before, but this time it was echoed by something soft.

"Thank you." The sheriff said, his eyes fond as they traced over the buildings. "It means a lot."

Jimmy's hand touched Tango's, and the imp curled his pinkie finger over the sheriff's and pressed their shoulders together. "Remember when you said you weren't a builder?"

Jimmy laughed, his eyes scrunching up. "I do! And I'm still not."

Tango gasped, and pulled away to whip around and stare at Jimmy like he was terribly offended. "Are you nuts?! Look at this place, Jimmy!" He waved an exaggerated hand at the sight before them, and Jimmy giggled again.

"This is downright beautiful! It's rustic!" Tango pressed, a smile pulling at his lips as he watched Jimmy's laughter. "And the way you used the stripped logs to make texture--'not a builder', I can't believe you!"

"Alright, alright!" Jimmy gasped through his laughing, pushing Tango's arm back down. "Thank you, I get it!"

Tango chuckled along with Jimmy's giggles, the two of them fading into a comfortable silence. Jimmy's hand had traveled from Tango's bicep to his hand, and he didn't pull away.

"I--I missed you." Jimmy said, quietly, and didn't meet Tango's eyes when he looked at him. His focus had turned to the stars, and Tango saw the whole sky reflected in Jimmy's eyes.

"I missed you too, buddy." Tango smiled softly, and maneuvered his hand to hold Jimmy's properly. They were close enough that the imp heard Jimmy's breath catch at the movement, and for a moment he worried he overstepped.

But then Jimmy's hand squeezed his, and a rush of a different heat than Tango was used to warmed his chest.

"Do you still--" Jimmy cut himself off and cleared his throat, staring stubbornly at the sky. Tango furrowed his brow. "...Still what?"

"We're not Soulmates anymore." Jimmy said plainly. "You don't--I mean, you don't have to be here anymore."

Tango blinked. Jimmy's hand was solid as a rock in his own, as if he had tensed it so it wouldn't shake.

"I'd argue we are." Tango said, softly, and Jimmy's gaze snapped away from the stars to look at him with wide eyes. Tango smiled in response.

"I can't feel your pain anymore, but you--the portal I went through lead right to you." Tango continued. "Can you imagine the chances of that?"

Tango squeezed Jimmy's hand gently. "I'm pretty sure that means the universe wants us together, man. And...I do too."

It was Tango's turn to look away, heat flushing his face. "If--if you'll have me."

"Yeah." Jimmy said, immediately, his voice sounding a little strangled. Tango turned back to him, and saw Jimmy's eyes were shining brighter than the stars above combined. "I would."

END.

#surprise! i CAN write things other than angst!#this was originally gonna end in a kiss but i thought it was so sweet in that final paragraph that i left it there #hermitcraft fic #empires fic #team rancher #trafficshipping #tangimmy #meraki post #tw death mention #just to be safe lol #im never going to stop thinking about these guys they've permanently altered my brain #you're honor they're home to each other #do i tag double life? it only mentions it #hmmmm

64 notes · View notes

winxwannabe · 7 months

Note

I’ll throw a vote for BTC into the ring! Mostly because I quite enjoyed the opening chapter (but also because it saves me from caving and watching the later seasons in order to read your other fics 😅). Also, think of the delightful chaos if somehow you updated BTC, I updated BTS, and BloomValyria updated Broken Pieces on the same day! We could break an entire fandom 😈

P.S. Glad that your dog is doing well!

Ok but seriously coordinating updates would be hilarious we should do that

THE TALLY NOW STANDS:

What We Do - 3 Ashes - 3 Break the Chain - 1

I can't blame anyone for not wanting to watch the later seasons. I will say though, people can probably just know S1-3 and still enjoy Roll Here In Our Ashes. There's basically no Nickbow information in it, and the most talked about S8 plot point involves Icy and Dyamond, which people involved in the fandom have probably heard through chatter by now. Though now I'm curious how many people read it that haven't watched S8.

What We Do, though...I can't talk you into that. That's fair. And I can't in good conscious recommend anyone watch those seasons. Or, not sober, at least.

#liz gets questions #mira-meraki #sparxshipping #(tagging it since ive mentioned all 3 of my active sparxshipping stories in this)#but also RHioA readers: did you watch season 8 before reading the fic?#Im genuinely curious reply to this or drop an ask and tell me

19 notes · View notes

petrichormeraki · 2 years

Note

Please imagine the hermits trying to gradually teach Tommy how to become a better builder, but in a way he would actually want to learn. So they gift him metric fucktons of cobble and let him build his cobblestone tower monstrosities while carefully nudging him towards the right direction with small/subtle tips --AA

They've all built uglier things back in their days, but Tommy for the longest time is adamant that his building style is perfect and he's already got it all down. Which isn't...technically untrue, he does make solid towers when he's actually trying! There's just so much more potential in those stone brick stairs, is all.

Then the hermits realize that the problem Tommy has always had was resources, so they fix that by dropping off shulkers full of concrete, bricks, terracotta, anything they could think of that would go well with the blocks he's inclined to use. And it happens nearly overnight.

The builds barely have interiors, but that's nothing to sniff at. Lots of the others barely do interior work either. What's impressive is how Tommy has managed to make a near entire village of houses that look so homely and quaint that they look like they've been lived in for ages.

In truth? Tommy just has that touch. He's not one for big grand statues or giant coliseums, he just is Tommy that needs a place to cook his steak so he might as well. His little starter area becomes a favorite build of a lot of hermits.

#fic response #technically #this would take place in season 8 i think :')#thank you angsty i missed you :]#meraki answers #hermit tommy au #I've always loved tommy's build style can you tell

83 notes · View notes

12u3ie · 10 months

Note

Twelve please share the phantom Grian fic you mentioned 👀 - M

Let me go find it real quick,

Here's the raw link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26702875/chapters/65136505

Nowadays, there's a fix-it sequel. But back in my day, this was angst with no fluff, unhappy ending, never-ending misery... which is why it's great and awesome! Highly recommend if you can handle loss of humanity and self.

#petrichormeraki #nice to see you again meraki! how are you?#hope you enjoy the fic!#its by 00FFFF if youve heard of him before #literally one of my favorite fic authors fr #hermitcraft fanfic

11 notes · View notes

nocoastposts · 21 days

Text

Thanks for the tags, @onthewaytosomewhere @getmehighonmagic @priincebutt and @kiwiana-writes!

It’s the first WIP Wednesday since I’ve started writing again, so I don’t have any WIPs that I haven’t already posted snippets from.

I posted my new fic Made To Be Mine yesterday, so I’m sharing a domestic/aftercare moment from this very smutty one-shot.

Once he regains his bearings, Henry fetches a damp cloth and a tube of arnica cream from the en suite. He settles down next to Alex and begins dutifully taking care of him. He makes sure Alex’s skin is clean before applying the ointment to the bruises that are forming. Alex slowly comes back into his body under Henry’s reverent, attentive touch.

Henry puts away the items in the bathroom and fetches a bottle of water from the kitchen. By the time he returns, Alex is rolled back onto his side with his head propped up on the pillows, his eyes are sleepy yet bright. Henry smiles softly as he joins Alex in bed, uncapping the bottle and bringing it to Alex’s lips.

“Thanks, baby,” Alex says after taking several sips. Henry hums and leans down to kiss him softly. Alex smiles against his lips, and Henry can’t help but do the same. In moments like these, he feels as if he’s falling in love all over again.

No one else, Henry thinks, no one else.

No pressure tagging lots of mutuals and/or those I've missed seeing snippets from while offline! @wordsofhoneydew @anincompletelist @firenati0n @anchoredarchangel @bigassbowlingballhead @eusuntgratie @littlemisskittentoes @happiness-of-the-pursuit @saturntheday @itsmaybitheway @read-and-write- @piratefalls @agame-writes @14carrotghoul @ninzied @duchessdepolignaca03 @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @meraki-yao @songliili @bitbybitwrites @jamilas-pen @sunnysideprince @theprinceandagcd @roseharpermaxwell and anyone who’d like an open tag to share. Can’t wait to see what y’all have this week!

63 notes · View notes

dotieeee · 2 years

Text

The Dream That Got Away

Masterlist

Premise:

Morpheus creates you, a Dream that inspires passion in humanity for their daily tasks and helps them discover what they want in life. He names you Mera, derived from the Greek word ‘meraki,’ meaning ‘to do something with passion, with absolute devotion, with undivided attention.’ Perhaps it’s you, his own creation, who inspires him, for he realizes his true want for companionship, and it’s you he decides to fulfill that need. So, what if, after his capture for more than a century, he finds you in love with a mortal and hears of your plans to run away from the Dreaming, from him, forever?

Status: COMPLETE, will revisit for edits

Pairing: Dark!Morpheus x You (no Y/N!)

Multi-chapter fic

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43126099

************************************************************

Overall Warnings!! Take heed:

Morpheus is DARK – in canon, he changes for the better (or at least, tries to – but we don’t do canon lol, so he goes even more batshit crazy) cue obsession, manipulation, possessiveness, powerplay

18+ ONLY – explicit scenes will be present, some explicit language

DUB-CON and NON-CON scenes

Character death (sort of)

Creator vs Creation drama

And other dark stuff that may be added in the future

************************************************************

Chapter 1: The Firsts of Many

Chapter 2: Some Words Are Better Left Unsaid

Chapter 3: True Intentions

Chapter 4: Scarlet Sage

Chapter 5: Your King

Chapter 6: The Sleep Doctor

Chapter 7: Nightmarish Visits

Chapter 8: The Dream Plan

Chapter 9: Courtships with Deadlines

Chapter 10: This Dream is Over

Chapter 11: Your Nightmare, Tenfold

Chapter 12: The Princess in the Tall Tower

Chapter 13: Under the Starry Night Sky

Chapter 14: A Festivity and A Fight

Chapter 15: Your King’s Wish

Chapter 16: Vanilla Ice Cream and Cheese

Chapter 17: Lost and Found, and Lost Again

Chapter 18: A Confession...of Love?

Chapter 19: The Dream That Started It All

Chapter 20: The Abyss Gazes Back

Chatpter 21/Epilogue: A Sibling’s Offer

443 notes · View notes

welcometololaland · 3 months

Text

UNHINGED INSPIRATION TIME

still on my break but haven't written anything (almost) in 2 weeks and god knows I need some inspiration, so thanks to @hippolotamus for tagging me ❤️

this is for eurotrip so will tag some people i know are writing rwrb: @rmd-writes @celeritas2997 @nelsonnicholas @inexplicablymine @sunshinestrand @cha-melodius @14carrotghoul @everwitch-magiks @indomitable-love @three-drink-amy @happiness-of-the-pursuit @iboatedhere @kiwiana-writes @suseagull04 @orchidscript @ships-to-sail @indestructibleheart @meraki-yao @dumbpeachjuice @sherryvalli @tintagel-or-cockleshells

and some lone star mutuals who have tagged me in stuff recently and i'm so sorry i promise i have not abandoned you and i love your creations!!! @strandnreyes @reyesstrand @whatsintheboxmh @birdclowns @freneticfloetry @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @carlos-in-glasses @heartstringsduet @carlos-tk @lemonlyman-dotcom @redshirt2 @louis-ii-reyes-strand @alrightbuckaroo

PLEASE FEED ME SOME ROGUE FIC INSPIRATION 😘

#inspiration weekend #inspiration saturday #inspiration sunday #eurotrip #when in rome #eurotrip snippet

35 notes · View notes

typicalopposite · 2 months

Text

writing patterns

@exhaustedpirate I 100% stole this from your blog :) lol

rules: list the first line of your last 10 posted fics and see if there’s a pattern.

The Perfect Dog - It’s raining when the car arrives at the animal shelter.

Kensington - Henry takes a deep breath and unlocks the door to his new house.

Just To Be Your Man - When it comes to Henry and Alex’s relationship, there are many things Henry thinks about.

the kissing hand - The building was huge.

i saw papa kissing Santa Claus - Alex is tired.

so says social media - “Damn, H, apparently we have no chemistry whatsoever?”

ten seconds ‘til - Henry is supposed to be asleep.

proud to be yours - “Made me very proud to be your boyfriend,” Henry had said.

let me hear you SCREAM - Henry knew he shouldn’t have played with fire.

and so the story goes - When it comes to parenting, Alex has always been the one to take her outside and run around in the yard.

Idk is there? What do y’all think?? :)

Tagging: @scripted-downfall @onthewaytosomewhere @luainthewild @meraki-yao @taste-thewaste @england-would-fall @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @sparklepocalypse @adreamareads :)

#tag game #writing patterns #my writing #my fics #ao3 fanfic #red white and royal blue #rwrb #firstprince #alex claremont diaz #henry hanover stuart fox #rwrb fic #firstprince fic

34 notes · View notes

thinkof-england · 16 days

Text

Several Sentence Sunday

So excited to share this week! First of all, thank you so much to @meraki-yao for making me a banner for my RBB fic! I'll be using it when posting snippets from it because I just love it so much. I think it perfectly captures the vibe of the fic. I also gave a face to Amelia and officially decided on a title!

Thank you to @duchessdepolignaca03 for the tag! Without further ado, here's a snippet from by upcoming TIOY inspired fic "Kiss Me, Just Once (For Luck)":

“They’re just people, Ams, I promise. I know it’s a huge deal to you and I will never diminish that, but they’re just people like you and me. Talk to Spencer the way you’d talk to Brent and Ruby and he’ll treat you the exact same.” Amelia slung both arms around Henry’s middle and hugged him tight for a few seconds before stepping back. “How do you know I don’t want to talk to Hunter more than Spencer?” Without thinking, Henry snort laughed so hard that he hurt his throat with the intake of air. “Everything I’ve ever learned about the band has been against my will, but even I know that Hunter is no one’s favorite because he’s a jerk and too arrogant. Nevermind that you still have a poster of Spencer in your room.” Amelia squealed and shook her head. “I do not and even if I did, I’d never admit to it!” Henry just shook his head and laughed before leading them inside.

No pressure tagging @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @bigassbowlingballhead @anincompletelist @inexplicablymine @eusuntgratie @priincebuttincebut @firenati0n @getmehighonmagic @i-am-freyja @sparklepocalypse and anyone else who wants to! Please tag me if you do so I can read when you share!

#alex claremont diaz #rwrb fic #red white and royal blue #prince henry rwrb #rwrb

20 notes · View notes

meraki-yao · 3 months

Text

This is a mess of a brain rot

So once upon a time I wrote some ideas of what would happen if we put Nick's characters in a room

Yesterday I was reading a fic from Chinese RWRB fandom where George (Mary & George, Nick) Marco (The Kissing Booth, Taylor), and Tom (The Beneath My Feet, Nick) were side characters and school friends with the daughter oc of the fic

All of them are pre-teens, Tom is an adorable, shy baby, George is the prettiest boy in school and has boys literally falling over their feet for his smile, and Marco is Tom's boyfriend who walks him home and defends him from bullies (as much as a boyfriend as a kid can be)

And I was reminded of a fic series from my other fandom (it's Chinese) where the author basically rounded up the actors' other characters (who kinda had either no chemistry or a shit relationship storyline in their original work), made them housemates, and basically paired them up and created a big cross over rom-com

And I immediately started brainstorming and thinking of an RWRB/ Taylor Nick Universe version of the same concept: Henry as an Eng Lit student and Alex a Law student, Robert (Cinderella, Nick) can be Henry's cousin who's doing a musical theatre degree, Marco, Tom, Johnnie (High Strung, Nick) (and maybe Conor (Handsome Devil, Nick)?) could all be music students, George's whole trajectory maybe can be translating into a sugar daddy situation still with some form of King James, maybe all of Nick's characters are in one apartment complex and all of Taylor's characters neighbouring them etc etc... This whole idea got me so freaking excited

And then a slew of questions flooded my mind: How do I want to do this? Comic? Ask blog? Fic? Bullet point posts? Am I gonna commit to this? Is there even an audience for this? How much bullshit can I come up with?

Also, what the fuck am I gonna do with the characters? I only really know Henry, Alex, Conor, Marco, and maybe Robert, and maybe Timmy. I don't really have the time or the interest to watch all of the boys' filmography (sorry I love the boys with all my heart but I'm a really plot-driven viewer when it comes to shows/movies), what am I gonna do with that? What am I gonna do with shipping? I say this with all the love for Taylor but Nick does have a larger filmography thus more characters than he does, and even just with Marco I have no idea who to pair him up with because there are so many possible good ship dynamics but I prefer just sticking to one ship? What the fuck?

Yeah I don't fucking know if there's a point I'm trying to make or a conclusion I'm trying to reach but here ya go Welcome to the mess that is my mind

#rwrb #red white and royal blue #rwrb movie #taylor zakhar perez #nicholas galitzine #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #henry hanover stuart fox #firstprince #marco peña #tom heath #george villiers #meraki fic #maybe?#rwrb rambles #I have no idea what the fuck this is at this point #it's half part midnight i'm delirious and depress and this is keeping me alive lmao #oh yeah Hayes was also in the fic but he was just mentioned and his setting is pretty much the same

46 notes · View notes

merakiui · 5 months

Text

thinking about writing a fanfic with self-aware twst, but the characters are aware they're in a fanfic. orz it may sound silly, but i think it would be fun to write something where [insert yan!twst character here] just interrupts the plot and addresses the reader specifically with something like: "you're probably not even inserting your real name, right, (name)?"

perhaps it's too meta, but it's so interesting to me?? i haven't the faintest clue how i'd go about writing a fic like that with an intriguing plot that progressively gets more horrifying as it goes on, and it'd likely be more of an experimental fic than anything. but omg it would be so fun to write.

hmmm,,, maybe i could use epistolary format, whether in the form of letters (to the reader) or diary entries. something where the character realizes they're in a fanfic and can only do so much, so they write their own little notes to the reader. or it's placed between the words or certain words are in another color (like red or blue) and it spells a message if you take all of the words and put them together. :O

so essentially you'd be reading a completely normal yan!twst fanfic, but when you put the words together it's the twst character addressing you and not the (name) you're meant to project onto.

AAAAA T_T i'm sorry for senseless ramblings. this is what happens when i think too much about the meta nature of a yan!rook fic i have planned.

#meraki mumbles #now who will be my lab rat for this experiment.........#octavinelle is put on the bench this time because i need to try something new #OH OH :O a yan!jamil fic but it's kalim who's giving you the message throughout the story hmmmmmmmmm #utilizing kalim's sunshine personality to deliver the most unsettling secret message ever...#methinks there is potential >:)

226 notes · View notes

arts-and-drafts · 1 year

Text

Call Them Brothers (Hermit!Tommy AU)

(A little look into the early months of Mumbo and Tommy's friendship in this AU! This one is pretty angsty, mind the CWs :)c )

CW: Abandonment, violence mentions

Mumbo had no earthly idea why Tommy chose to hang around him.

As far as looks were to be considered, Mumbo was a human in a world of otherworldly creatures. He was well dressed and eloquent, and as entertaining as a white slice of bread. But still, this feral little kid that couldn't be more of his opposite decided to trail behind him like an imprinted chick, already talking as if he and Mumbo were thick as thieves despite the fact that they just met.

He was used to foul language, and that special kind of unhinged that Tommy exuberated with everyone he talked to was just another day with Bdubs, or Skizzleman, if Mumbo was off server. But for some reason, the kid took one look at him and decided that they were friends, even when the vibe couldn't be more different between the two of them.

It baffled Mumbo, but he wasn't one to object to very many things. Besides, the kid wasn't too bad to be around once you got used to him.

Tommy made him laugh, even if most of the time it was of incredulousness at whatever in the realms just came from the kid's mouth. He would constantly beg for Mumbo to teach him redstone, only to get bored and complain within the first minute of the man explaining the rudimentary knowledge of what a redstone signal was.

"I can't just beam the information into your brain!" Mumbo had said, to which Tommy looked up at him with such an outlandish face that the man couldn't help but stifle a laugh.

"Why not? You're a genius," Tommy had replied, so matter of fact that it seemed more like he was stating the obvious instead of offering a compliment.

Okay, maybe Mumbo had an inkling as to why he let the kid hang around him so much. (An ego boost was never a bad thing--could he really be blamed?)

However, even when Mumbo started to get used to Tommy's presence, it was the protectiveness that quickly followed from the boy that he couldn't wrap his head around.

When anyone from the Hobbit Society came for a visit, the hostility from Tommy escalated so much that neither Mumbo or the hermit visiting could tell if it was a bit or not. Even spending the day with Grian was overseen by jealous blue eyes glaring holes into the back of the hermit's head from behind a tree, the request from Mumbo that they be left alone barely taken into account.

It was when Tommy started the insults that Mumbo decided it was enough.

"Tom, listen." Mumbo said, pulling the kid aside after he scared off xB. Tommy looked up at him with wide eyes of rapture, something Mumbo had to try very hard to push past to get his point across.

"You've gotta chill out, mate." Mumbo said, allowing a small bit of his growing exasperation slip into his words. Tommy's eyebrows furrowed exaggeratedly.

"What d'you mean?" the boy asked, already adapting the defensive tone he took on whenever he was caught out. Mumbo sighed.

"I'm allowed to have friends, alright? I'm flattered you want to hang out so much, but--I still have a life, you know?" Mumbo said, nervously deciding to just get to the point after seeing Tommy's expression darken.

"You've been really mean, dude." Mumbo's voice softened to genuine truth. Tommy blinked.

"I get that that's just who you are sometimes, but you won't even let me have a day with my husband without him feeling like he's gonna get kicked out by security." Mumbo continued, taking advantage of the kid's silence.

"This server is about community. It's okay if you don't feel up to that yet, but please let me continue to." Mumbo said.

Tommy was quiet, something that always made Mumbo nervous just because of how little it happened. The man was prepared to soften his words with hurried fluff that made him seem less abrupt, but the kid spoke up before he even got a chance.

"...Okay. Sorry." Tommy mumbled, suddenly void of any energy that usually fueled his words. Mumbo stared.

Tommy never apologized, especially not that quickly.

"...You okay?" Mumbo asked lamely, honestly not knowing what else to say. He sensed something was very off with the kid, but he'd never been good at deciphering that sort of thing.

Tommy hunched his shoulders and scuffed the smoothstone floor with his sneaker, not looking at Mumbo anymore. Dread started to pool in the man's gut.

"Tommy, you didn't do anything wrong-" Mumbo tried to say, but the kid violently shook his head. "No, I didn't--"

He took a shuddering breath, like he did when he saw the various buttons around Mumbo's base for his contraptions, or he was caught off guard by a firework propelling a hermit to the sky.

Oh no.

"I'm not annoying, not really," Tommy pleaded, looking up at Mumbo with eyes that broke his heart.

"No, Tommy, that's nothing like what I was saying." Mumbo scrambled, reaching out, only to awkwardly close his fist and bring it back when Tommy tensed.

"You're not annoying. Who told you that?"

"You're such an annoying little shit!" Wilbur yelled, his voice so harsh and biting that Tommy couldn't tell if he was joking. The way he mercilessly noogied the boy's yellow curls made it even harder to tell.

"Get the fuck offa me!!" Tommy yelled right back, trying his best to struggle out of the headlock his pseudo-brother had him in. "PHIIIIIIL! WILBUR'S BEING A DICKHEAD!!"

"Stop being a dickhead, Wil." Came Phil's apathetic response from his rocking chair, the angel not even looking up from his book of runes to see Tommy's peril.

"He was being a dickhead first!" Wilbur objected hotly, unbothered by Tommy's flailing attempts to escape his restraining hold. "Tommy threw my music book in the pond!!"

"I threw it because you were being a prick!!" Tommy replied, indignation behind his words.

"Boys!" Phil was looking up now, his eyebrows knotted in annoyance. "Wilbur, let the kid go! You're better than that! Tommy, get his book back and both of you apologize!"

A moment of hesitant silence.

"...Yes, Dad." Wilbur relented bitterly, releasing Tommy. Tommy immediately jumped away and made a show of rubbing his neck and head, just to earn the glare from Wilbur at his antics. Tommy abandoned the act and raised his eyebrows smugly.

"Well? Apologize, Wilbur." Tommy ordered, crossing his arms with a smirk. Wilbur glowered. "Get my book first."

"I won't until you apologize."

"Dadza SAID you had to get my book before I have to apologize."

"I don't remember hearing that."

"Yes you godsdamn do!!"

"You can't tell me when l what I do and don't remember!"

"You little-"

Philza stood from his chair, and both boys blanched.

"Tommy, stop it." Phil said, his frustrated tone enough to make Tommy shrink into himself. "Get Wilbur's book, and then go home. I think you two are done for the day."

The note of finality to Phil's voice cut off any attempt to argue that Tommy would've tried. A bit of himself ached as soon as the mention of home was brought to attention. As much as Wilbur was being a bitch, Tommy still liked him and his family.

It masked the fact that Tommy had none of that, at least for a little while.

Tommy silently waded into the pond and fished around for Wilbur's book, getting thoroughly soaked up to his shoulders before he felt the leather brush against his fingers. Tommy pulled the book to the surface, and quickly realized the extent of his actions as soon as he looked at the precious object.

It was ruined.

The ink on the now soaked pages was so streaked that anything inside was incomprehensible, and the soggy paper was barely clinging to the spine. The carefully tended leather that Wilbur tried so hard to maintain was now soaked through, and Tommy knew it'd be completely fucked up when it dried.

Tommy slogged back up to the shore, pointedly not looking Wilbur in the eyes as the older of the two glared hot malice over crossed arms. He slowly held out the book, sagging and dripping, and flinched when Wilbur snatched it out of his hand.

Without another word, Wilbur stalked back to his cottage, startling Tommy into following. He expected Wilbur to yell at him, which would've absolutely called Phil back out, and then the both of them would be in so much trouble that only siblings could get into, and Tommy wouldn't have had to leave just yet.

But this silent treatment solidified the fact that Tommy would have to go back to his hole in the ground when Wilbur closed that door behind him, shutting Tommy out from a warm family that he so desperately wanted to be part of.

Tommy moved before he realized it, and caught the door with his shoe before it was slammed close. "Wil--I'm--I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean to--"

"Didn't mean to WHAT?" Wilbur snapped, the venom in his words making Tommy's throat dry. "You're just a fucking pest, Tommy, an annoying little roach that should've died a long time ago but won't leave me alone! You fuck up everything!"

Tommy's foot was kicked out of the doorframe. He didn't hear the spruce door splinter under the force of Wilbur slamming it, or Phil's shout at the noise. He just heard Wilbur's words echoing in his head.

"Tommy?"

Mumbo saw the boy startle, and numbly touch his face where tears had started to fall. His eyes cleared, and he looked back up at Mumbo, now with a weariness that the hermit had never seen in his life.

"I'm--I'm sorry, Mumbo. It won't happen again."

Tommy turned on his heel and ran off before Mumbo could say anything else, leaving the hermit alone and concerned. For a brief moment he considered following the kid, but what would he do when he caught up? Just stand there and stutter again?

Gods, why did Tommy pick Mumbo out of everyone else? Why him? He barely knew how to read his own emotions, much less the emotions of a prickly teenager.

Mumbo pulled up his communicator and messaged Joe, hoping his ramblings were coherent enough to get the poet to his base. Joe would know what to do.

Maybe he could teach Mumbo too.

#the memory takes place a long time ago #i wanna say tommy was nine or ten #obviously wil and tommy smoothed out after that but uh. yeah those words stayed for life :)c #meraki post #hermit tommy au #grumbo #(mentioned)#hermitcraft fic #i wrote this soooooo long ago sorry if the style is a bit different than my usual #tw violence mention #tw abandonment #as always let me know if i need to tag anything else

100 notes · View notes