#guys do you want more ethubs

[will41n]

gay people i enjoyed shading clothes sm

[megabuild]

i just think it's so awesome guys. that all 3rd life+ partnerships are doomed from the outset to have one die before the other with the exception of the soulmates in double life so very rarely do the characters actually acknowledge this is going to happen in more than passing comment. because it's too much to discuss or it's a given so what's the point in talking about it. but then in the midst of it all you have 3l desertduo and 3l flowerhusbands and ll ethubs which are alliances built upon and defined by the fact one of them will die before the other and they all know which one it is going to be and they're all right. i just think it's cool. i think that informs a character so much, even if they don't directly comment on it or discuss it, to have a partnership that is Defined by that in a world where this is the norm. i think that is so fucking awesome. does anyone want to throw bricks at my head until i pass out btw?

[aquaquadrant]

Title: poor language

Warnings: Shipping (Ethubs, past Impdubs, kissing), session 4 spoilers, references to past seasons

~*~

“You know, Impulse came with me to kill the dragon.”

Bdubs says it casually as he slides off his horse. They’ve officially ended the session, but a few players are still hanging around, catching up on the session’s chaotic events before heading back to their respective worlds. So naturally, he had to stop by Etho’s place to gloat some more about his legendary accomplishment.

Etho, doing some last minute work on his chicken farm, doesn’t look over at Bdubs’s arrival. “Oh, yeah?”

(‘You know, our old thing- if things come down to it, we don’t betray each other.’)

“Yeah.” Bdubs ties his horse to one of the fence posts of Etho’s sheep pen. “Yes, he did, he- it was me, him, and Pearl first before those other- those sneak- snipers, freaking kill-stealers came in after, of course. But Impulse, he- you know, he couldn’t actually kill anything this session so he was just helpin’ out, shooting th- the uh… end crystals… moral support…”

Etho nods, his back still turned to Bdubs. “Good, good.”

“Yes…” Bdubs clears his throat. He puts as much admiration into his voice as humanly possible. “He did amazing.”

(‘Guess what? Impulse and I are in love.’)

“I’m sure he did,” Etho replies, his tone perfectly, infuriatingly neutral.

Irritation flickers through Bdubs. He pauses for a second, working his jaw. “Eeugh- you know it was my task, right?” he presses. “I ha- my hard task, most impossible task in’a world, kill the ender dragon in the life series…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Finally, Etho climbs out of the chicken hole, dusting his hands off. “I- I kinda figured, ‘cause you know, you were pushing real hard for it…”

“Uh huh.” Scowling, Bdubs puts his hands on his hips. “Well- thanks a lot, then, for the help!”

(‘You could’ve went for me, and you chose not to.’)

Etho’s grinning behind his mask. “What, you expect me to fight a dragon just to help you out?” he asks teasingly.

(‘You clearly don’t know how Etho works.’)

Bdubs’s voice dies in his throat. He swallows, glancing alway. “No,” he lies. “No, I don’t…”

“Gotta play smart in these games, you know?” Etho puts his hands in his pockets, walking over. “Going to the end, uh, it just doesn’t make logical sense. Like, especially if it’s not even my task.”

(‘Etho, I feel like if this whole thing falls apart, alliances and stuff- it’ll still be you and me. We’ll still stick together.’)

“Right,” Bdubs murmurs sullenly. He folds his arms. “Right, right, right, of course.”

Etho comes to a stop in front of him. “So like, why else would I go?”

“Why else, right…” Bdubs echoes. His chest feels tight all of a sudden.

(‘He’s a survivor, that’s all he does.’)

Etho sighs. “What- what’re you doing, Bdubs? Why are you here?”

Bdubs’s heart jolts. “Uh- jeeze, can’t I just stop by to chat?” he demands, throwing his arms up. “Goodness sakes!”

Etho tilts his head. “Well yeah, sure, but you’re always here,” he points out. “Like, since day one you’ve just been finding reasons to come over here…”

(‘Where’s your boyfriend, Bdubs?’)

Bdubs feels his face heat up. “Oh, would you- maybe I come over to see Cleo, did- did you think of that?”

“Cleo’s not here right now,” Etho says evenly.

“Ah hah…” Bdubs rubs the back of his neck. “Well, that’s- yes, yes, okay, you’re right. So what?”

“So, if you wanna be around me so bad, why didn’t you team with me at the start?” Etho asks, taking a step forward. “Why’d you go join up with the Mounders?”

(‘The first thing I wanted to do was… well, yes, of course! Of course, team up with you, yes.’)

“Uh…” Bdubs takes a step back. “I mean, I didn’t- things happen, you know, organically, and- and I didn’t really… I had to build a- a house, upside-down house, other people started buildin’ around me while you- you ran off into the middle’a nowhere!”

(‘Etho has no loyalty to you. He’s just immediately teamed up with the next guy that’s come along.’)

“I think we both know why.” Etho starts walking forward again, forcing Bdubs to take equivalent steps back. “We’ve known each other a long time, Bdubs. We’ve got other worlds outside of these games, where we can spend time together without all the uh, the manipulation and deception and killing.”

Bdubs’s back suddenly hits a tree- he has nowhere else to go. His heartbeat pounds in his ears. “Uh, yeah? And…?”

Etho shrugs, looming over Bdubs. “But that’s just part of the game. So like, we can make all the promises we want, but uh, we both know that sometimes… things don’t end well. So maybe it’s better to keep our distance this time. That way it’ll hurt less, when it happens, and we won’t ruin what we have outside of the game.”

(‘I have a strong feeling we’re not gonna be friends at the end of this.’)

“So that’s it?” Bdubs challenges, indignation rising inside him. “Just- just avoid me, so you don’t feel bad if you turn ‘round and stab me in the back, huh?”

(‘You know I would never kill you, Bdubs.’)

Etho’s eyes flash. “You wanna know why I didn’t go to the end for you, Bdubs?” He leans in. “Cause I don’t have to prove anything to you.”

“Oh, is that a fact?” Bdubs breathes incredulously, staring back up at Etho. “You know what I think? I think you’re just scared. Not of the dragon, sure enough, but of what it’d mean t’go fight it for me.”

(‘I gave him the courage! He was scared.’)

Etho’s expression betrays nothing. “You think so, huh?”

“Yeah!” Bdubs puffs out his chest, a fierce grin spreading across his face. “Impulse didn’t care, as a matter of fact he was happy to do it!”

(‘Now, is this a happy marriage?’)

“Yeah?” Etho’s voice is dangerously soft, almost playful. “Then why aren’t you at his base right now?”

Bdubs deflates again. He should’ve known better than to try and make Etho feel threatened by his history with Impulse. They both know their connection goes deeper than that, than a single season of bound hearts and souls.

(‘Um… I want Etho.’)

“Okay, okay,” he says sheepishly, face burning, “you got me. In fact, I think Impulse- he was already planning on goin’ before I was, not even to help me out specifically.” He shakes his head. “Sheesh! I was just- is it too much to ask for a- a little attention?”

(‘Why can’t you be normal about Etho?’)

Etho hums noncommittally. He braces a forearm against the tree above Bdubs’s head, leaning in so their faces are mere inches apart. “You’ve got my attention now.”

Despite the tension, Bdubs huffs a laugh. “So much for- for keepin’ your distance, huh?” he jokes, reaching a hand up to tug Etho’s mask down.

This time, he can see Etho smile. “Well, we’re not technically playing the game right now. Session’s over.”

“Good point,” Bdubs chuckles, tilting his head up to meet Etho’s lips.

He knows this doesn’t come easy to Etho. He doesn’t have the same boldness as Bdubs when it comes to love, doesn’t throw his entire self into it with reckless abandon. He’s more cautious than that- always has been. He shelters his heart behind his aloof nature, his uninvested ‘easy-going’ attitude, and he wraps his words up in clever metaphors and the guise of amusement- lest anything he say be taken seriously as a weapon to wound him. So words aren’t always enough to convey what he really feels.

But they don’t need words for this.

Bdubs is well-versed in the dialect of Etho’s hands, the way they grip his waist to pull him closer. He’s memorized the divots that Etho’s scar has left in his lips, the way it feels against his own. He knows the slant of Etho’s jaw beneath his fingertips, the way his head tilts and shoulders bow to accommodate their difference in height. Every movement, every touch, every breath between them is part of their own unspoken language, communicating everything Etho’s left unsaid in his own unique way- and Bdubs remembers why he never should’ve doubted.

(‘He loves me. He cares. He does.’)

~*~

[thecoolerliauditore]

big post now that the adrenaline is cooled down a bit. thoughts on each team so far.

overall: ohh I really didn't think I would be enraptured again I really didn't think I would be. Like don't get me wrong I'm not one for wanting the series to end or anything but I was very, very happy about the year long break after Secret Life because it was feeling like quite a lot of content to the point where it was overwhelming.

That break was crucial, I think, to the vibes since I don't know if it's just me but the players just feel like they have so much more energy and excitement for the new season. Etho and Mumbo especially are so quirky this session.

The new mechanic is. shrugs. Really no way to judge it yet seeing as we've pretty much barely seen what it can entail. The fact that everyone has six lives though is making me think some of them are gonna be crazy in future sessions cus that's a ridiculously generous number otherwise and I assume Grian doesn't intend for this season to be twice Third Life's length.

EIGHTEEN PLAYERS! EIGHTEEN PLAYERS! Lizzie, Mumbo, Rendog, Gem 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 I don't have much to add I'm just so happy we're finally getting a season with All of Them. Rendog Ren Ren Diggity Dawg I'm so happy. I'm so happy.

The lag on the server looks um ..... ? Aternos lookin ass. I hope it doesnt impact them too much beyond this episode and they get that fixed cus whoagh that is um bad. Joel being soooo fucking angry about it is so funny please never change Joel.

~

Renwood Mound: First of all horrid name but I would be disappointed by anything less sexually suggestive. Second of all please check up on your Treebark mutuals this is a difficult time. Refeeding syndrome might just kill a couple of you I'm so sorry.

I'm not a big Ren/Martyn understander but my dash has been more celebrating their reunion than crying tears of anguish like the other toxic rebounds (ethubs, tango, pearl) that have popped up so I can only assume it's going to be okay we're all gonna make it.

If they do stay as a duo this season is going to be crazy for Martyn specifically I think. He's already gotten the betrayal he wants, he's already achieved the villainous role he so wants to play, and now it's just him and Ren together with no Dogwarts to lead. I genuinely have no idea where this one will go. o7

~

BAM Boys: I really hope the "boys" part stays in the name despite Lizzie joining them at the end for my very specific Lizzie headcanons. It would tickle me.

Anyway we're finally freed from the grasps of blue man and get the Scar/Jimmy team up this time with added Lizzie flavour. I'm very excited and like. I've seen a lot of people doubting this team will go far which confuses me because I don't know if you guys are aware but Scar won last season. And Lizzie, despite her early death in SL, really is no pushover either (she had one of the highest body counts in LL and I wish more people talked about that).

Scar specifically is in a great spot with pretty much full diamond armour already. He gets all giddy while mining and says to himself something like "ooh I get to share some with Jimmy!" which is so sweet to me.

Scar remaking the reputation board from Third Life is actually insane. What is he doing.

All this to say I think this team looks wholesome and I'm optimistic for their future. This could be Jimmy's Mounders. Or it could be Fairy Fort 2 idk let's see.

~

I think Bigb's possessed again.

~

The Hobbits(???): Hilarious to me that they stole Flower Husbands' original branding. Anyway Grumbo is back idk if I know them well enough to make a statement but I'm mentally chucking them into the toxic rebound box in my head just to get the number up.

This is the POV I've seen the least of but they seem fun. I wonder if being out of the horrific environment that was the Southlanders will do any good for Grumbo's relationship. Skizz being there also tends to bring the mood up 400% (unless it's Dogwarts).

~

Joel & Gem: IM SO EXCITED. This is pretty much the Bdubs/Joel team-up I wanted originally but now we get Ethubs too which is even more awesome for me. Very cringe take from me but they are both shounen anime.

Despite what Scott says I really don't think they'll "spontaneously combust". They're both high energy and aggressive but historically loyal to the people who accept them, the sample rate for Gem is not exactly scientifically viable but. Vaguely gestures to all of Secret Life.

I kind of wanna see Gem kill Pearl.

~

Whatever the fuck the Ethubs + Tango team is called: Why.

No like seriously Tango I thought you hated these bitches why are you third wheeling them. He's also surprisingly Bdubspilled like he sides with him on the horse thing and tries to warn Bdubs about Etho lying later. Like, don't get me wrong I really don't think Tango has spite for Bdubs comparable to like. Pearl for Scott for example but he certainly isn't fond of him after he um Fucking Murdered Him and was completely unapologetic.

I'm not really a Tango guy so I can't speak on what's going on inside his head regarding that it's just. Interesting to observe. At least the brief ranchers interaction was cute (and really funny to see in the background of ethubs yelling at eachother).

Anyway Ethubs are insane. It's so funny to me that their horse argument literally lasted an entire in game day.

It's fun for me specifically because I always viewed Secret Life as somewhat of a soft end/reboot point for the series for multiple reasons - the year long hiatus, scars win bookending things really well, pearl and scotts arcs wrapping up (oh how naive) and, of course, the conclusion ethubs reached.

I think I've made a post before about how beautiful of an ending SL is for Ethubs. The distance allowing them to overcome their own personal issues with Bdubs learning he's capable and to care for people who aren't himself or Etho and Etho learning relationships don't have to be minefields, leading into HC10 where Bdubs moves into the rural countryside away from everything and Etho hanging out with his new coworkers at the post office. They can still talk and visit, of course, but the time away from eachother does them wonders and adds a bit of hope for how they will be in the future.

So how should I even fucking feel about Etho pulling a Limited Life and almost killing Bdubs for a prank. Or Etho asking Bdubs what he's done for him. Or Etho in general being a little shit about the horse thing and Bdubs being equally stubborn.

Bdubs even kinda?? Talks like they're a couple who've gone to therapy with the "I should express how I feel and how I feel is.." and the way he catches himself when he's halfway through yelling. Like I'm not insane you guys hear it too right.

Like don't get me wrong I'm very stuck in my ways of insisting Ethubs isn't really toxic, at least not anymore, but I can totally see someone else being horrified by them and I would cheer them on for it. This episode is especially going to be horrible for that person. At least for me it seems like Bdubs' character development is very real i.e. him rejecting Etho's chestplate with the classic "I can take care of myself", a stark contrast to LL/DL Bdubs and he bites back when Etho is weird.

I have hope for Ethubs is what I'm trying to say and it's totallyyyy not because they're my first ship and I'm biased. I need to figure out what's wrong with Etho and why he's doing this. I saw a post that theorized Etho wanted Bdubs to get mad at him and kill him this season which I'm rotating a bit but I'll have to keep watching. Ethubs girls we're in for it we really are. Tango girls I'm um sorry.

~

PICS / the Islanders: My 13th reason why.

Trying to not repeat too much here from whatever happened to me emotionally last night but this is what hell looks like. It's what I expected but like. DAMN. I wasn't expecting it to be. That bad.

Seeing a lot of people say that the team is just. Pearl, The Horrors and Impulse who is just 🧍‍♂️and I don't think that's completely wrong or anything however ☝️I must say that Impulse continues to frighten me and him being here is making me personally shake like a chihuahua. Like I can't really explain his character if you put a gun to my head I just think the guy might have some issues communicating emotions and prefers to hold grudges/be passive aggressive like with the psychological horror that was the impdubs DL POV and I can't imagine him being particularly Good for Pearl. Also he's done several insane things in the past e.g. the Bdubs grudge, laughing at Tango when he tries to kill himself in SL, being excited(??) for gem to kill him in SL, trying to kill Skizz in SL wow wait maybe it's just proximity to gem and scott that fucks this guy up. Idk though I don't trust his ass.

Anyway. Yes like we are all Martyn Inthelittlewooding it up for Pearl in here. I have so many somewhat misogynistic fantasies in my head about her being saved by Gem or Bdubs or Joel or Bigb for that matter. Emotionally that's what I would want. HOWEVER I don't think that would actually be anything that would help Pearl in fact I think she'd just run back to her team because she's loyal like that. So now I kind of just want to see the consequences of her actions. Whittle her down to nothing 💥💥💥💥💥It would break me it genuinely would.

Cleo fucking catching herself and correcting "trauma" to "damage" mid sentence is insane can we kill. can we kill them.

So yeah um I'm excited for this season

[karma-creations]

My favorite bits/lines from every Secret Life session after watching all POVs

Session 1

tango trying to ask multiple questions at a time to get scar talking for a little while and scar outright telling him to shut up so he can infodump

joel’s response to lizzie, his ACTUAL WIFE, saying "I love you": "oh thank you"

joel: "hey bdubs your house is upside down" bdubs: "YES I KNOW IT'S UPSIDE DOWN- i'm sorry. i'm sorry"

bdubs not-so-subtly begging mumbo not to build a house inspired by his and mumbo straight up going going "uh huh" before suggesting a house inspired by bdubs's

cleo catching etho with the bed shrine

mumbo: "it could be like the alps, but bad. like, much worse."

martyn: "we can do a bit of, uh, tankin' and spankin'" gem: "……bit of what?"

skizz: "all of us are pretty old, maybe our island's called heart problems"

tango: "well, i'll be honest, skizz… everybody's teamed up, so… you're all that's left, we're gonna have to shack up" skizz: "well! it’s like a giant hug!"

Session 2

everyone going "OOOOHHhhhhhhhhhh…….." after skizz's creeper got put in a boat

mumbo: "I'm happy to be in whatever group you guys- oh hey bdubs"

bdubs: "I DON'T NEED NO MOM, I'M A GROWN MAN!" cleo: "really? how do you explain the everything?"

cleo (to bdubs): "you're just a horse girl at heart, aren’t you?"

skizz going "BREAK IT UP BREAK IT UP" at the same time as tango chanting "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT"

scar: "was this your idea, pearl?" pearl: "no" scar: "this is amazing, only you would have come up with something like this"

martyn: "that's right, I'm a yellow life, and I've come to KILL you" bigb: "….wow, dude"

grian: "I've had the weirdest interactions whenever I see you" bigb: "y'know, I hope they get weirder"

everyone singing happy birthday off-key and out of sync

mumbo: "is there anything that I can help with? I come with no resources and very little talent"

bdubs: "I know how to crit punch, so it's gonna hurt you more than it hurts me!" gem: "..I also know how to crit punch" bdubs: "oh"

scar: "can I give you a ride, bdubs, wherever you're going?" bdubs: "freaking no, not on that thing! you kidding me?" scar: "aw. well I was just offering!" bdubs: "…all right, fine."

Session 3

*joel and lizzie arguing* grian: "aren't you guys married"

grian saying "I don't like what this has become" then immediately joining in the chanting when it’s joel's turn to fail

grian: "I love you, etho" etho: "……thank you?"

mumbo: "right, show me the gear knob on that camel" grian: "I’d rather not"

cleo: "yes, tango, the thing that I know about you is you don't know how minecraft works"

cleo's constant ethubs jokes

etho waterboarding everyone

scar: "losers will be beaten with my beatin' stick"

joel: "you are a FAILURE!!" martyn: "wow that was whole chest" joel: "sorry I’ve had a really rough episode"

bigb accidentally picking up torchy and tango being DEVASTATED

cleo: "why are we coming out this way?" bigb: "so no one can hear!" cleo: "well impulse is right there" impulse: "who?"

torchy out for blood the entire time

Session 4

cleo accidentally hitting etho with her sword and etho's immediate response: "I'LL DO THE DISHES I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT"

cleo: "hey grian" grian: "🎶hellooo theeeere🎶" cleo: "hello, are you singing?" grian: "🎶absolutely not, I would never sing🎶"

mumbo: "what's your favorite welsh town" grian: "……….🎶let me googleee🎶"

grian: "I don't know what to do with myself now, cleo, what do we do?" cleo: "I don't know, I think we should burn things down"

grian: "ignore the stairs, they wouldn’t burn"

scar: "you guys are still here? I went and stole a bunch of stuff and you guys are still yapping over here"

jimmy: "I'll go in BigB's hole" scott: "you're gonna do WHAT????" cleo: "I always knew there was something about you two"

scar singing back at grian with no hesitation

grian and scar spotting martyn hiding behind the tree

jimmy: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING" scott: "hi, I’m just making the path connect-" jimmy: "STOP CRYIN' AND TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOIN'" scott: "I'm making the path connect like lizzie did"

joel: "anyway, just came over here to ruin your day"

bdubs: "okay, you count us in" bigb: "okay. seven"

mumbo: "what do I win?" bdubs: "uhh- you win.. eight baked potatoes!" mumbo: "YEEEEESSS!!!!!"

bdubs: "you can't hit me! I can say and do whatever I want! okay, going to the house real quick though, to lock myself in"

people gaslighting jimmy and martyn (mostly jimmy) into thinking there’s a zombie/skeleton horse spawner somewhere

bdubs: "hey, hey! I consider you a friend! apparently it’s not reciprocated." gem: "it’s not. what do you want?"

jimmy: "martyn I think he can see you-" *beat* martyn: "WELL HE DIDN’T UNTIL YOU SAID THAT YOU IDIOT"

martyn: "oh yeah, wait! why are you wearin’ that?" scar: *incoherent cop sounds* (/ref)

jimmy: "he'll come back like nothing's happened now" mumbo: "hey guys 😀"

skizz: "here's the thing, I'm not too bossy, I- Boppers, go home for a second, I gotta talk to these guys"

[v1neyy]

Can you do 7, 10, or 21 ethubs for the mwarch thingy majiggy if you feel up to it :]

This was supposed to be a short lil drabble as a break from my event gifts and I. I don’t know what possessed me to write 1k words but it happened?

Since this went over 1k it’s also been posted to my ao3!

Etho/Bdubs - #7 & 21, a jealous kiss and a kiss to shut them up.

WC: 1022 || original post!

—————

“Impulse treats me well, y’know,”

Bdubs stands above him, looking down on white hair. They’re right on the edge of the hill, just far away enough from the pillager outpost to not be attacked. Somewhere in the world Joel takes damage, causing him to flinch and nearly cut his finger.

Etho looks up from where he’s sharpening his sword. It’s currently a break period after the first session of Double Life and while he can’t say he hates it, he certainly doesn’t love it.

The soulmates were randomly assigned, logically he knows that. But something ugly deep down in him is fuming—how could Bdubs be paired with Impulse?

The guy he killed for a clock two seasons ago?

How could they be soulmates? Last Life was everything to him, the snow fort haunting his dreams and unfulfilled promises thriving in all of his nightmares.

That game had filled him with regret that still hadn’t left. If he had just given him the life, had protected him better, done anything to save his ally, maybe things would have ended differently for them.

While he doesn’t doubt Joel’s ability to be a good soulmate (he did launch that missile at the crastle with him, all that time ago) but he’s just not Bdubs and he doesn’t want a soulmate if it can’t be him. He’s not jealous.

Bdubs rubbing it in his face doesn’t help one bit.

Sometimes Bdubs doesn’t know when to shut up. Maybe sometimes he doesn’t shut up on purpose, because he knows it’ll get a rise out of him. Either way, hearing the man you’ve uselessly pined over talk about how amazing and perfect his soulmate is to him is not a fun way to spend what’s supposed to be downtime.

“That’s great.” Etho looks back to his sword and continues to sharpen it.

He hears shuffling and feels another leg press against his, Bdubs plopping down in the grass beside him.

“You’re jealous.”

Etho freezes.

“I’m not.”

“You are. You’re so jealous.” He glances over at the man to find a sly grin plastered across his face.

Lowering his sword onto the ground next to him, he turns his head towards Bdubs,

“What’s it to you?”

“Well-“

He doesn’t let Bdubs get any more words out. He’s sick of his rambling, he decides rather impulsively, pulling his mask down and leaving a quick kiss against the other’s lips.

Etho smirks as he pulls away and brings his mask back up. It looks as though Bdubs short circuits, eyes wider than usual with a stunned look.

He’s about to say something cheeky, maybe even a little flirty, when his mask is yanked back down (that poor thing, no regard for its well-being) and he’s thrown into yet another kiss.

This kiss is different—there’s something more intense between the two. Bdubs kisses like a hungry wolf who’s been starved for far too long, taking all he can get and then some more. It’s desperate and messy and feels like heaven.

Once Etho regains his composure he kisses back with the same energy. He needs Bdubs just as much as the man needs him, neither wanting to part when the last of their air slips from their lungs, doing so reluctantly. Mere centimeters hang in the space between while the two regain their breaths.

A warm hand brushes a few strands of white hair that had fallen in front of his face behind his ear. He looks into Bdubs’ eyes to see nothing but a reflection of his own love and admiration shining back at him.

Etho smiles and lets his eyes flutter closed when lips find his own once again.

It’s as if all the fierce passion from before has morphed into something new. Something that wants to give and give until he cannot receive any more, passion and care spilling out from the sides.

He finds himself leaning more into the hand that’s cupped his cheek, his own running through the man’s hair.

A thousand words pass between the two without any voices being heard. Their hearts, while tied to other’s, beat as close to in sync as they can get. Maybe they weren’t assigned to be soulmates but they always manage to come back together, forever circling in each other’s orbit.

There’s something about Bdubs that always pulls Etho back in, no matter how hard he tries to run and hide from all these scary feelings. He could never fully leave despite how hard he’s tried. It’s terrifying to be known like this, to have someone know your every thought and emotion just by looking at you.

To have all his feelings out on display, leaving him vulnerable and weak, just for Bdubs to come in and polish them. He’s done something irreparable to Etho’s head and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

They pull apart for a final time, both smiling and laughing like schoolgirls on a playground.

Bdubs’ hand doesn’t leave its spot on his cheek. The man has seen Etho’s bare face before, but this time it’s meaningful. He watches big eyes trace his features—from his eyebrows, to his eyes, nose, mouth, chin, all of it.

“You’re beautiful.”

Any insecurities he had left vanish. He’s not sure how Bdubs’ words have such an effect on him, they’ve flirted before but this time it’s filled with sincerity rather than their usual joking banter.

Etho waits for him to pull away, to laugh, to mock and belittle, to tell him it’s all a joke, but minutes pass and it doesn’t happen.

Just as he’s about to speak an arrow flies right above their heads, causing them to jump apart.

One of them screams (it was not Etho, for the record) as another arrow shoots past. The men look up to see an angry pillager firing at them, reloading its crossbow to prepare another shot.

He stands and kills the pillager quickly, turning back to Bdubs with a laugh.

There’s no more need to punch Impulse in the face consuming him as the shorter man stands and glares at him, sputtering out some nonsense.

He’s not jealous (Anymore.)

[violet-fire-cat]

👀

Been meaning to do another of these for a few days and finally got around to it! Another 👀 ask, another AU!

Let's see... Today I'm gonna go with ~

Prince and his Guard AU For lack of a better name, because I'm awful at names pfft. Royal aus are done a lot, I know, but this ones mine! Actually based on another AU I did for a different fandom ages ago, but then reworked for different characters pfft I hope you're ready for more Ethubs nonsense from me, because that's what this is. (There's Rendoc crumbs too, though it's only mentioned briefly here.)

Anyway! Bdubs is a prince of a small kingdom somewhere. He's not the heir to the throne or anything like that, but he's still pretty important. For the most part though he's not too fussed about royal duties. He'd much rather be caring for the horses at the stables or tending to or sketching the beautiful plants in the palace gardens.

Etho works for the royal guard and has done for quite some time. He's a skilled swordsman and well respected amongst his peers. One day, he's given a new assignment and is placed as Bdubs' personal guard. His job is to accompany Bdubs when he's out and about, and of course to keep him safe should anything happen. Not that he's in any immediete danger, but he is a prince so it's needed!

Bdubs has had personal guards before, some he's liked, others he hasn't. With Etho he's- not sure what he thinks at first. Etho is quiet and hiding half his face behind a mask. He's polite though, just- different. Bdubs tries to befriend him from early on, but that's easier said than done when the guy doesn't talk much.

Gradually though, as they become more familiar with each other they do start to become friends. They find that they have things in common (a love for horses and riding being one of them) and they get along well. It's not long before they're starting to like each other more than they probably should. But neither of them really acknowledge it yet.

Bdubs realises he's got a crush first. Etho is always hiding his face, but Bdubs still thinks he's beautiful. He's kind and nice to talk to as well, Bdubs likes being around him.

Etho comes to terms with it much slower, and refuses to accept it when he does have that realisation. He can't have a crush on the prince are you insane!! Beef, who works in the palace kitchens and is friends with Etho, tells him that falling for the prince is a bad idea. Etho says that yes, he knows, he didn't do it on purpose!

For a while they just sort of admire each other from a distance. A romance between them is not allowed. Their relationship must remain platonic. They would both get in so much trouble if they tried anything more.

Bdubs, however, decides one day that he doesn't care. Screw it! He really likes Etho! So he's gonna flirt with him! Subtly, of course, just in case. Etho doesn't notice it straight away, and when he does he tries to ignore it. But he's blushing at how sweet Bdubs is being. He should tell him to stop but he can't. And eventually he does recupricate. It can be their little secret ~

And that is preciesly what it is. What it must be. A secret. No one can know. It stays in the privacy of Bdubs' quarters. But they love each other. They're happy with their secret forbidden romance ~

Until things change, anyway. Bdubs is told that he has been betrothed to the prince of another kingdom. A man he's only met like, once, very briefly, years ago. Bdubs isn't happy. Mostly because he's in love with Etho but also just because he doesn't want to get married! Unfortunatly, though, there's not much he can do, and soon plans for him to meet his new fiance properly are made.

The new fiance is Doc, who doesn't particularly want to get married to some guy he barely knows either. Still, when he meets Bdubs he's polite and they chat. They get along fine, and are both able to admit to each other that getting married isn't exactly something they want to do. But their families are the ones in control here, so all they can do is make the most of it.

Etho, meanwhile, meets Ren, who is one of Doc's guards. And they talk idly between themselves whilst their respective princes meander through the gardens in conversation. Ren susses out Etho's affections for Bdubs pretty much straight away. Etho denies it, but as far as Ren is concerned it's very obvious.

With the engagement quickly becoming public knowledge and Bdubs' life suddenly becoming much busier, Etho pulls back from Bdubs a bit. He's still doing his work of course, but keeps outside interactions to a minimum. Bdubs is getting married. So that means that their romance needs to stop. At least, that's how Etho sees it. Bdubs notices, of course he does, and he hates the sadness in Etho's eyes, but he isn't sure how to address it.

The wedding is extravegant and beautiful. Bdubs looks stunning all dressed up. Etho wishes he was the one marrying Bdubs, but he knows it's not possible. Bdubs still doesn't really want to get married, he likes Doc just fine, they get along and have become friends, but there's no romance there, neither of them are interested in the other like that. He misses Etho. But he thinks he knows why Etho has pulled away, and he understands, he hates it, but he understands.

Bdubs and Doc basically spend their honeymoon hanging out as friends, but that suits them fine and they enjoy it. Ren and Etho are often close by. And one evening Ren admits that he knows it sucks, seeing the guy you like getting married to someone else. He's kinda in the same boat, he likes Doc a lot too, but you just kinda have to accept it. You know? Etho knows that Ren is right, but he wishes he wasn't.

It's only so long before Etho and Bdubs come together again. They both know it's stupid, reckless, could get them in so much trouble. But they love each other so much that they can't quite help themselves. It's their secret. But it won't stay secret. People will find out, it'll become the gossip of the palace staff and the royal family alike. Both Etho and Bdubs will be faced with accusations that they hate and that aren't even true. Doc doesn't know what he thinks of it all, but despite everything, when he learns the truth he stands by Bdubs' side throughout.

Everything does work out in the end, but there's some tricky times ahead before any of that can happen..

Oh, you wanted to know exactly how that all goes down? Sorry. I'm trying to limit myself to about 1000 words per au (because otherwise I will unintentionally write thousands and thousands of words) and it seems I've hit that limit here!

I'm a sucker for royalty aus, I don't know why. This one is very fun and another I would like to write some day. We'll have to wait and see though!

There's still a few more of these asks in my inbox, so I'll probably be typing up another one of these posts very soon. In the mean time, if you want to ask questions about my aus please do! Give me even more reason to talk about them pfft

But yeah, thank you for the excuse to ramble! I really want to draw some boys for this au now lol

[epicfranb]

So. Mythical Sausage and Bdubs, huh. Mythdubs. You may have heard me talking about it, or maybe you haven't, since I'm so focused on ethubs (hope you will forgive me!! >.<) But truth is, i like them so much!!! And with the mcyt rarepair nominations opening up, i need to spread some MYTHDUBS PROPAGANDA!!! So here's a little messy "essay" i wrote about them. It's pretty much just recounting Canon, but maybe in the future i will write about how i personally see them in my own fanon. I want those guys to make it at least through round 1, so!!! If you are convinced by my rambling, you could maybe nominate them for me as well… 👉👈 Please, enjoy!!!

Bdubs is a Sun God, maybe just proclaimed that by Gem, but it doesn't matter since Sausage still worships him. Bdubs first thing calls him "mythy mythy sauce sauce" and continues to call him variations of Mythy and Saucy throughout their time together. and Sausage calls him "my sweet god". he (seemingly) throws away his faith in Pearl so easily to kiss Bdubs's bed and put on his sunglasses. Kissing the bed involves jumping up to Bdubs standing on two blocks, which lands Sausage's face right into Bdubs's Minecraft crotch and everybody in the room comments on that but Sausage just KEEPS KISSING HIM HE CAN'T STOP!!! Sausage showers him in like 18 green beds and gifts him a clock, which, as you may know, is a universal symbol of love to Bdubs.

Then Bdubs asks him to see Sanctuary and literally starts living there!! Sausage immediately showers him with gifts: wings, diamonds, netherite, Bdubs jokes "if i don't stop you, you're gonna give me the whole city!" and of course Sausage goes "would you like Sanctuary as well?? :D" They discuss recording kissing ASMR videos and creep Gem out with it.

He builds a giant sun overlooking all of Sanctuary in honor of Bdubs. But also Sausage puts Joel and Pearl above Bdubs in his god tier list, and then lies when Bdubs asks him about it and says it's just an order in which he met them. Bdubs knows Sausage is lying, IT'S OBVIOUS, but he can't be angry at him, he just wants to be higher on Sausage's tier list and he asks him what he would have to do to get there. Afterwards Bdubs sees the giant sun Sausage has built for him!! And he goes "oh... Oh... You built that for me? <...> That's so sweet. Can we see it up close?" HE SOUNDS SO TOUCHED!!! But Sausage, he is A LYING BASTARD so of course he twists the truth in such a way to gain a favor from Bdubs, he tells him that he felt guilty after saying that tier list and that's why he built that sun. CAN YOU SEE THE MIND GAMES BETWEEN THEM??? Bdubs knows Sausage is lying and tries to get his loyalty, not by shaming Sausage into it but by doing something for him that would convince Sausage — which shows Bdubs's selfless nature. But Sausage KNOWS Bdubs knows he's lying, but he doesn't stop, he lies again and he twists the truth and he wants to love everyone and be loved by everyone, even if it just means more lying and more people-pleasing. They make me insane sir. Two sides of the same coin.

So, in his typical Bdubs fashion, he tries to impress Sausage by standing on magma (which is part of the giant sun build), saying that it heals him (whilst it actively hurts him) because he's the Sun God!! And also of course to make him laugh, cuz that's Bdubs's love language, right?? :D So Sausage calls the sun The Eye of Bdubs, Bdubs says he's gonna use it to watch over Sanctuary, and over Sausage, to make sure he remains loyal; and Sausage says yes, watch over me!! I need your guidance! When Bdubs shrinks, Sausage calls him the cutest god, and Bdubs asks "are you still gonna worship me, even though I'm that small?"

After this in his own episode, Bdubs complains about Sausage's tier list and claims he's going to MAKE himself number one. He builds a beautiful Sun temple in Sanctuary, and you can already see how both of these builders use BUILDING to win over each other's hearts!! BUT AT THE SAME TIME they have a little back-and-forth going, where Sausage brags about ALWAYS doing interiors, clearly mocking Bdubs, so Bdubs leaves the interior of his temple for Sausage to figure out, and "it's a difficult puzzle, with weird rooms all over the place!" And whaddya know?? Sausage delivers. It's so mossy and colorful and overgrown, it's beautiful!!

And later on, Sausage assembles this magical staff from bits and pieces that his friends have given him, including a mushroom from Bdubs. And how he starts one of his episodes standing near the sun temple, talking about how much he misses his "god daddy" Bdubs and his beautiful giant eyes, how sad he is that Bdubs is now on Hermitcraft and he can't talk to him or see him???

And then he gets sent a piece of Bdubs's mossy cloak through dimensions, and he gets a new outfit with it that he wears for like the last 10 episodes or so of his series?? And on his very last episode, he manages to see Bdubs one last time... As a hologram, but still!! And Bdubs praises him for all the heroic deeds that he's done, and tells him to always embrace the light...

Sausage's connection with nature and Bdubs's ties with plants, moss and vines? Bdubs having a rich history with jungles and Sausage's empire being in a jungle? Sausage's empire connects with sunflowers because of Pearl, but it is a fun coincidence, because i have been also connecting Bdubs with sunflowers in my mind pretty strongly!! And both of their personalities, so expressive and warm and sunny!! They're so similar aren't they? Silly, fun-loving, kind and generous, but also a little bit chaotic and wild, amazing builders who are insanely loyal to their person of choice, who can't not compliment their friends All Of The Time, who are just so full of love for everything, always willing to help, but also not hiding their thirst for blood and liking for a little bit of chaos. They fit so well together!!! They're just. Two little guys full of happiness and love, who's favorite thing is to make people laugh.

I have much more to say, but this is all for now. Bye-bye! And please nominate mythdubs for me if you're convinced o7

[setacin]

Hiiiii i . put this in the replies of the flower post but im deranged about the peony ant dichotomy and ethubs . do you have any thoughts on this. i also have been thinking about climbing invasive vines like kudzu amd how loving someone makes you stronger and can destroy them. thats not necessarily related to ethubs i just needed to share (im.noramla(do not look on my blog)) AMYWAY ETHUBS FLOWER SYMBOLISM. i should write abt them for my senior thesis .

headinhands... <- guy who saw this ask & went omg!!! then went to go research kudzu and proceeded to forget about said ask for multiple days anyways. rambling below. proceed at your own risk /silly

ANYWAYS the peony and ant one is sooooo... auauauau the "your flower will outlast you" is just. they make me so insane. the best part about that is that yes a flower will outlive an ant but even when the ant is alive it may decide that the peony has fulfilled its purpose. the mutualistic relationship only survives so long as the ant decides that the flower still has pollen & is still useful to them which goes Crazy with etho's on again off again loyalty. i would argue that they were built to love AND to need its just that in the life series no one is ever enough. there is never one True protection from anything because either you get teamed up on, or the one that was going to protect you becomes a red life, etc. they are the ant and the peony but not by choice. they want, they love, they need, but the setting that theyre in just wasn't built for that to last. the ant will die, and peony runs out of pollen, and they both die in the end.

the kudzu one seems like it would fit one of the life series teams (cough cough renchanting) that had more of an overtly obsessive way of presenting their team? like. martyn strengthening ren by being his hand and feeding in to the red king storyline to the point where ren is 'destroyed' (asks martyn to take his yellow life) for the sake of that narrative & the 'kingdom' that they've built together. augh

the type of flower symbolism i usually put them in situations with is more oriented towards victorian flower language type stuff in their setting/ thats implied to have been given to one another BY each other and whatnot but i love hearing about this sort of stuff :D

[catmaidetho]

assigning my favorite guys crane wives songs

aka, in honor of the crane wives being my #1 artist on spotify this year, have some insanity. this list is loosely based on the life series, but each song aims to encapsulate a character as entirely as possible w/o focusing too hard on any specific event. i'll also say that i actively tried to choose songs that i haven't seen us as a community talk about that much.

Etho - Volta volta is a song about making the conscious decision to be present in your life, taking back control. etho is someone who constantly jumps from thing to thing, never really staying put, and i personally interpret volta as not just consciously taking back control of your life, but also making the decision to settle into something. it is about fighting your nature of running away and choosing to stay. i will admit that this song is about vibes more than lyrical content. still, have some lyrics

"Do you remember being young and eager? My heart was buzzing like a wire Give me a reason to connect, be nearer"

Bdubs - Little Soldiers ON THE BROKEN BACKS OF ALL THE WORDS WE SPARED, LIKE LITTLE SOLDIERS IN THE TRENCHES. IT WAS A MARCH WE MADE TOWARDS RUIN AND DESPAIR BUT WE HELD HANDS ALL THE WHILE. I SWEAR THAT I LOVED YOU. I SWEAR THAT I LOVED YOU. I SWEAR THAT I LOVED YOU---I SWEAR, I SWEAR!!!!

LOOK ME IN THE EYES AND TELL ME THAT DOES NOT FUCKING SCREAM BDUBS. HE LOVES ME. I FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL BEFORE THE FLAG HAD FLOWN BUT YOU WERE ALREADY GONE!!!!!!

sorry little soldiers is one of my favorite crane wives songs. two people tied together with barbed wire, knowing that what they're in isn't good but refusing to let go out of a desperate attempt to cling onto love. tell me that isnt ethubs, especially the way we as a fandom dramatize them.

Cleo - High Horse high horse is a song about being a petty, spiteful motherfucker. it is about looking at someone you hold dear who has hurt you, and saying, "you know what? i won't stand for this" and throwing them under the bus.

"I'm done thinking about it You're never gonna get what you want So why feel guilty about it?"

Grian - How to Rest listen. look me in the eyes. i know we all like to pretend, especially in regards to scarian and the desert and double life, that grian did not/does not love scar. that the love, that the friendship, that the real connection they shared was not there because it makes for some juicy angst. look me in the eyes and tell me that grian being outright cruel towards scar is somehow more interesting than grian pretending he does not love scar, when in reality he does. tell me that blatant angst for angst's sake is more interesting than grian looking out for scar, not because of an obligation, but because scar is his friend and his ally and maybe sometimes people just chose to be around each other.

"Here's the truest thing I've ever known The heart is just a muscle with a rhythm all its own It doesn't stop when you decide not to move on The heart knows nothing of your love or of your loss"

Joel - The Wolf oh joel wants SO BAD to be a threat. he wants so badly for people to fear him, to take him seriously, to be the bad guy. however, his attempts at this often fall short, usually due to his own brazen overconfidence and snappy, petty nature. all of this, of course, pushes anyone who he hasn't latched onto away because who would want to align themselves with someone who wants so badly to be a loose canon?

"Can it be Can it be easy for once Cause I’m no good at being kind to myself Or anyone [...] I am a beast at your back You better run for your life"

Jimmy - New Colors i am by no means a jimmy expert, but this song is just so jimmy to me. he is so desperate to do well. new colors is a song about desperation. he is so desperate to be taken seriously, in a similar way to joel, but the difference is nobody ever does. i'm just going to leave you with these lyrics.

"Don't tell me that I can't Oh Lord, don't tell me that I can't I need this so damn bad"

"I give up my sight To see I give up my air To breathe"

Scar - Down The River i'm gonna admit, i really struggled to find one for scar, but i think this one works. scar doesn't put much stock into past grievances if it isn't convenient for him, he will simply move on and pretend he didn't do anything. this is ESPECIALLY relevant in moving between series---all bridges are burned, and must be rebuilt.

"Now, tell me, when you start again Where will you house your skeletons? Or will they stay behind Your settlement in kind?"

this post is getting kind of long, and im gonna admit im not confident enough in my characterization of the rest of the cast to assign them a song, so i'll leave this here for now :)

[katkat030]

I just saw something you reblogged about Pearl being drawn as a moth? My desire to draw has whacked me in the face because of that, but I don’t know much (I’m not even sure what her mc skin looks like XD)

Could you tell me some stuff about her?

(I’m mentally making the polite grabby hands people do when they’re excited and want to have (or in this case know more) about something)

I'm going to STRUGGLE to keep this short.

Pearl/Pearlescentmoon is a part of both Hermitcraft (joined in season 8) and the Life Series (joined in Last Life)! She's typically drawn as a moth hybrid, with moth wings and quite often little feathery antennae to match. Which type of moth seems to vary on like. Symbolism I suppose. No set design!

In the third Life Series season, Double Life, she's known for having a very distinct storyline.

The gimmick for this season was for every player to get a randomly assigned "soulmate"/life-linked partner. They share both a health bar and their 3 lives; if one partner takes damage, so does the other. If one partner dies while they're on a green life, they both move from that shared green life down to a yellow life.

Early on in the game, Pearl made the decision - in the first session! - to risk her life (and that of her later-to-be-discovered soulmate) and go to the nether and collect resources with a guy called Martyn [his in game name is InTheLittleWood].

(By the way, any time I ever mention Martyn imagine someone yelling lore in the background. it's. kind of insane /pos but not particularly relevant to her story.)

This decision, which could very easily have gotten them both killed, kickstarted a chain of events in which Pearl was cast out when she eventually discovered her soul bound partner, told she was cursed, a sign that death was near in just about any alliance she tried to make, and unwanted. Her one companion was her dog, Tilly. For a good lot of Double Life, her base was one lone tower.

As the only Australian there, she had to wake up at 5am to participate in the series (don't we love timezones), so her double life character was coined "5am Pearl" and associated with a "crazy" <- depending on who you ask. from an outside point of view she was definitely called that, incredibly lonely wet cat of a woman. She also has a very well known red life skin for it:

someone created this absolutely incredible one and a half-ish minute animatic which gets the vibes of the series across much better than I could.

In Hermitcraft, Pearl is a multitalented, wholesome chaos gremlin. Her buildings and organics are absolutely jaw dropping, and she even picked up redstone this season to make a version of Wordle in Minecraft! She's actually headcanoned as Grian's sibling pretty often, which has been dubbed skyblings by the fandom (they knew each other outside of HC for a while, and they definitely can get up to mischief together).

In season 10 (the current season), Pearl has a different skin from her default because she's running a postal system - she's been dubbed "postmaster Pearl".

In Season 9, she also had a different skin because she was "cleaning lady Pearl", and took care of recyling resources and all the chest monsters on the server.

In Season 8, she wore star pajamas briefly (boatem my beloved <333 will always be famous to me.)

S10 skin:

S9 skin:

S8 skin (only for a few episodes, I think):

that moon is totally normal sized don't worry about it <- lie

Default skin:

you're welcome to make grabby hands about any of em any time :D I'm currently obsessing over Scar and Pearl, but I'm also insane over Etho (AND Ethubs/Etho and Bdubs because oh my GOD. the way they act about each other), Pearl and another content creator who isn't involved in Hermitcraft save for the one time he voiced over one of her builds <- one minute clip :D recommend watching his voice is super soothing (gosh they are the loveliest together!)

Plus a bit of treebark (Ren/Rendog and aforementioned Martyn ITLW) and shinyduo (Gem/Geminitay and Pearl/Pearlescentmoon) on the side :)

[liauditore]

For Secret Life asks

3, 13, 16

Watching what you'd manifest this time <3

life smp ask game !!

16 is here

3. favourite overall alliance/teamup?

i mean. my pinned does Not Lie

TEAM BEST TEAM BEST MY BELOVEDS.... i need to draw them more please yell at me to do this. with the skizz and tango love island situation and whatever ethubs are on w/ this season they seem to be getting more callbacks which i 🥺🥺🫶🫶🫶

also divorce quartet if u guys can call them an alliance lmao

13. predict something. anything. come back when the season is over and check if you got it right!

OH GOD UH. putting on the pressure. Uhm.

I have No Basis for this and I mentioned this in the last one but I really think Lizzie's gonna. mess up Scott in some way. I have no idea why I just think she would if she got the chance to??

I hate to say this considering I really Don't want Impulse to win this season for reasons (I LOVE IMPULSE DON'T GET ME WRONG BTW 🫶🫶) but I do think him and gem and scott are gonna be pretty strong the entire run, especially considering their start. gem specifically i think will cause pvp chaos and her permadeath's gonna be real iconic.

someone sets someone on fire at some point.

i have the feeling either joel or jimmy's gonna grow really frustrated with their alliance at some point, run off and almost get killed only to waddle back like a sad puppy.

Etho wins (<-- unhinged)

[b-dubs-valdubs]

a little ethubs fic. they experiment with eyeshadow. enjoy!

fic under the cut, or you can read it on ao3

reblogs appreciated! <3

CW: none! this is pure fluff :)

---------------------

"Hey, Etho," Bdubs called, practically tumbling into the room with armfuls of brightly coloured products, "Which one do you want?"

Etho looked up. "Uh, do you have any turquoise?" he asked.

Bdubs wrinkled his eyebrows, in thought. "I should have? Let's have a look!"

And with that, Bdubs dumped all of the sparkly products onto the bed, alongside the various brushes needed to apply the makeup.

Bdubs had never given someone a makeover before. It was a similar sort of passion to when he'd opened a barbershop back in season seven; he loved making things pretty, and wanted to extend that philosophy to people too.

He'd always wanted to experiment with makeup, like how he'd experimented with hair, but trying to teach himself on his own face was very difficult. Luckily, Etho had volunteered to be his test subject- uh, he means, his canvas.

"Hmm," Etho hummed to himself, looking at all of the different colours availible. "That one," he stated, jabbing a finger towards a glittery teal colour.

"A fine choice, good sir, a fine choice," Bdubs nodded, trying to act professional (which earned a raised eyebrow from Etho, and an answering glare from Bdubs). The professional character soon returned, as Bdubs branished his utensils and proclaimed: "Step into my salon."

Etho looked around him. "What salon..?"

Bdubs narrowed his eyes, "Very funny. I guess the bed is the salon for now, but just you wait! Once I'm done with you people will be begging to have me work my makeover magic on them, I'll practically be forced to build a salon!"

"Yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiight," Etho rolled his eyes, "More like they'll see what you've done to me and ban you from ever using makeup again."

"HEY! Just remember that I'm the one with the makeup here, wise guy. So you better be careful!"

Etho chuckled. "Okay, okay, sorry! Just get this over with."

Bdubs stared at Etho, thinking through his process. "Close your eyes."

Etho obliged. Bdubs dabbed the small, spongy brush into the sparkly powder, before applying it as gently as he could to Etho's eyelids, being sure not to get it everywhere.

Etho huffed. "Feels weird," he mumbled, "Like you're pressing on my eyeballs."

"I'm being as gentle as I can," Bdubs whispered in reply, too concentrated on what he was doing to make any form of snappy remark.

Bdubs worked dilligently, ensuring that the touch of the brush was as light as it could be, while still concentrating on staying within where eyeshadow usually goes.

After Bdubs was done, he brandished a small mirror. "You can look now."

Etho cracked his eyes open one by one, and nervously looked at his reflection. He hummed. "Well done, Bdubs, this is actually decent."

Bdubs practically lit up. "HA! YES! SEE? I TOLD YOU!"

Etho just nodded along, accustomed to Bdubs's bragging by now. "Can I have a turn now?"

Bdubs's face suddenly contorted into an expression of confusion. "You..? Huh?"

"I want a go with the sparkly stuff. May I?"

Hesitantly, Bdubs shuffled a little closer and handed Etho the brush. "Okay... you can take your pick of the colour, I dont mind."

Closing his eyes, Bdubs was beginning to regret giving Etho so much control - but he couldn't find it in his heart to tell Etho to stop, not when he was humming a little tune as he worked.

Etho took a little longer than Bdubs did to finish the eye shadow, and from the amount of pauses that he was making, he seemed to be struggling a little bit. That's okay, Etho was only a beginner, no way he could match up to Bdubs's prowess right away. That would take years of training, at least.

"Hmm, okay. You can open your eyes now," Etho said, sounding a little timid.

Oh, no. What had he done.

Bdubs nervously opened his eyes and looked at his reflection in the mirror, before spluttering in indignation.

It was... beautiful???

Green glitter blended into the gold glitter effortlessly, the sparkles swirling together in a soft gradient that melted into his skin.

"H- how did you... What? Etho?"

Etho simply giggled. "I dunno, beginner's luck?"

Bdubs gasped dramatically. "BEGINNER'S LUCK?? OH, YOU-"

"Hey, dont worry Dubs!" Etho grinned, "You'll still be able to have that salon someday, just a little more practice!"

Bdubs pouted (and Etho found it hilarious). "You're a freaking jerk."

Etho smiled softly. "I know."

[stitchthesewords]

📓👀

-🍂

Okay so you get maybe the only ethubs-centric idea I have ever had, for some reason. I need more ethubs thoughts.

So there's this series of games called My Time At Portia and My Time At Sandrock which are both incredible fun farming/life sim style games. So that's where this idea comes from.

Okay so first, the setting would be a Minecraft fantasy world [of course] but like, far more clearly post apocalypse than I normally do. They're building new citys in the shadows of the ruins of old, or sometimes on top of them. And since this is based on hermit builds, the builds are for sure like MASSIVE - whereas comparatively the 'city' they live in is comparatively simple. I kind of want to set it on the outskirts of a jungle, which is like an ancient manmade planted forest that has WAY overgrown in the apocalypse and so there's tons to explore, along with the ruins around the city. You know, for the vibes.

Bdubs is a Builder - one of the people tasked with getting civilizations feet back under itself. He takes on any tasks - big or small. Someone needs a new chair, he builds it. There's a baby, he builds the nursery. The city needs a new wall - yep. Bdubs. And in order to encourage a ton of work getting done, Hermit Town's builders are pit against each other in friendly competition. And Bdubs absolutely wants to win at the end of the year - they earn points by getting commissions for the other citizens and city done. So obviously there's a huge draw for him to do a ton of stuff. I'm thinking Pearl and Scar are the other two like Official City Builders because I think the three of them would have a really interesting dynamic.

Etho is a part of the Civil Corps - basically the security force of the city. Also on this team are False and Gem I think. They're supposed to patrol, act as a sort of police force kind of? But also they keep the mobs at bay even in the outskirts of the town like where the builders tend to live. They're whole thing is making sure no one dies of unnatural causes. They ALSO go in and secure ruins so people like Bdubs can go claim materials and parts from the old world to be used in the new one - and info too. You see, in the ancient ruins is ton of lost redstone knowledge, and civilization has been working on relearning their roots here. So you've got like - I think Cub, Tango, and Mumbo as researchers who want that information, and Etho and Bdubs as the people who provide it.

So all that out of the way I think the plot is actually pretty simple. Bdubs is trying once again to beat Pearl and Scar at the end of the year Builder Awards by taking on more and more commissions throughout the year. More commissions means he's out and about collecting materials and building things around town and at his workshop. Being out and about more also gives him a GREAT excuse to see that smug bastard civil corps guy who he's definitely NOT infatuated with, thank you very much, which is definitely not why he conveniently needs help only when Etho is around.

I think it would be a softer plot than I normally go for where its Bdubs and Etho learning more and more about each other as the year goes on and falling in love while exploring the ruins around their city and helping each other, all the while Bdubs is working himself hard in order to win the commission competition and FINALLY beat Scar, which is what the story's plot is working towards. A lot of soft moments, some mild to moderate dangerous situations, 1 very hot civil corp member coming to save the day....do you see the vision. This would definitely be one that I would play out like Rift AU where its a series of connected stories instead of linear but god I can just like. FEEL the softness from here. The falling in love, the friendly competition. Its very different from most of my aus tbh but they deserve it.

[fryingpan1234567]

domestic! actor au! ship headcanons!

yeah you heard me go see @zzzaru ‘s stuff for more info (I’ve contributed as well lol)

Scarian (I’ll add Mumbo later I swear but I want to focus on these two; maybe they haven’t started dating yet idk)

My boys! they’re almost too cute to handle but we’re gonna try

As previously mentioned, they are married. I like to think that happened when they were still fairly young, but they knew they were soulmates and all the cheesy Disney shit that Scar is always quoting

To that point- Scar is a such a ‘happily ever after’ nerd, and there are CONSTANT Disney references at Grian

(THE IDEA OF SCAR CALLING HIM HIS PRINCE CHARMING- I’M IN TEARS)

They slow dance. all the time. when they’re sharing AirPods on-set in between recordings, in the living room after a long day, in the kitchen early in the morning while they’re waiting for the water to boil for tea and hot cocoa

You have no idea how many outtakes there are because Grian and Scar’s characters aren’t supposed to get along in the movies but theY CAN’T STOP FLIRTING WITH EACH OTHER Y’ALL THIS IS NOT PRODUCTIVE-

The Hot Guy fit had Grian kinda👀👀 (also previously mentioned)

Grian doesn’t sing very often, but when he does, he’s gotta be in character! it’s either Anne Boleyn, Cute Guy, or Ariana Griande. somehow… all very similar characters

And then Scar’s the one all red because his husband is amazing and also will be the death of him via flustering

Grian does not let Scar do chores. ever. it doesn’t happen. if he catches Scar doing anything, even just the dishes, he’ll literally drag him away

(That’s why Scar is a sneaky boi and does as much as he can when Gri leaves him home alone)

AND ANOTHER THING. pet names. there are too many

”My love, could you come get Jellie?”

”Raw sugarcane isn’t edible, dear.”

”I swear, love, if you don’t go sit down and relax you won’t be shooting anything for a week.”

AND THAT’S JUST GRIAN. SCAR’S ALMOST WORSE

”Grian! Honey! Look what I built in Minecraft!”

”BABY BRING THE CAMERA THE CATS ARE ALL SLEEPING TOGETHER.”

”Aww, gorgeous, look at your amazin’ face! I could just kiss it forever!” (for context, Grian literally looks like shit. he’s got all the makeup on for a big fight scene that he is not winning)

All three cats are besties fight me

I’ve been informed that Gri and Scar do in fact have a child that they’ve adopted, and his name is Yeuri

Scar is the ‘as long as there are no casualties it’s fine’ parent and Grian is the ‘oh, you got in a fight? did you win?’ parent

That kid is raised on Disney and Minecraft I tell ya

In fact, an entire wall of his bedroom (which he’s been in for his whole life- it was the nursery when he was first adopted as bb) is a massive Disney mural with a ton of characters and art styles and it took Scar like four months but he loves it almost as much as his son

Yeuri made wheel covers for Scar’s wheelchair and a mug that is now the only thing Grian drinks his tea out of. they’re very artsy (what did you expect, honestly)

So one of my favorite songs is called Mariposa by Peach Tree Rascals, and I’m serious, go listen to it. Grian and Scar slow dancing. You can see it

Massive! group! dates! with! the whole! cast! I swear everyone’s got a partner on set or at least who’s an actor as well like jeez

A set of ships outside of confirmed canon by Zaru that I think would be lovely (canon are Scarian, Ethubs, Rendoc, Team Rancher):

• Hypnocrafted

• Welsuma

• GLASS. SPOUSES. FIGHT ME

• Nature wives OH YEAH

Yes I love them but I need to move on (this is gonna be a long post TvT)

Rendoc

HAHA YOU THOUGHT SCARIAN WERE BAD WITH THE FLIRTING? HOO BOY YOU HAVE NO IDEA

there’s a reason Ren and Doc are not both in Double Life. it would be impossible to achieve a relationship other than with each other like dudes get your shit together

it’s all good tho! they’re my chaotic overly-suggestive boys and I love them :3

Ren is entirely Monster-powered disaster pansexual and we love him for it

Doc is scary bi who hasn’t slept in a month and is very territorial of the husband (no touchy the doggo unless you’d like an equally prosthetic arm)

They don’t have any kids, but they have two dogs!

Draco and Brit(ney Spears) are both Great Danes, and they’re sisters, but Draco is bigger (Brit is much louder tho)

If Ren isn’t sitting on a set piece that he definitely shouldn’t be, he’s sitting in Doc’s lap

Everyone on set has learned the hard way that you don’t walk into an empty room unless you’ve knocked- it only takes catching these idiots making out once to convince you to never do it again

Doc is taller by like three inches and ugh height differences my beloved <33

Whenever Ren is trying to shoot a serious scene, which is difficult in itself, Doc is in the background making goofy faces to try and get him to break

We’re just… not gonna talk about how Doc speaking German to Ren is a huge turn on for him like we’ll just ignore that bit

The fact that one of them is a fashion legend and the other one wears crocs everywhere really says something about the two of them (it’s great)

When Ren is tired after a long day of shooting, he’s genuinely a lovesick puppy and just curls around Doc and d o e s n o t l e t g o

When people don’t know them, they genuinely think they’re straight until they make out against a wall in public

Doc could listen to Ren sing forever and ever

Mmmm shot competitions

They’re the competitive couple that would trade each other for a singular corn chip to win a round of Uno

”Prepare to lose, baby boy! You’re gonna owe me for this one-“

”In your dreams, puppy. I’m about to kick your ass.”

Team Rancher

MY!! BOYS!! They won Double Life in my heart okay shh let me live my fantasy

They also adopted a kid! Siria is surprisingly levelheaded for who she was raised by- Tango says she gets it from Impulse, who also practically co-parented her (and Zed too but we know he’s just as crazy as Tango and Jimmy /lh are they poly? Exes? I haven’t decided yet)

Siria is in choir and has a very good voice, but J and Tango found out the hard way that her temper tantrums when she was younger are HELL on your hearing (no one has ever beaten her in a screaming contest)

Anyways can we talk about the sheer amount of dumbassery in their household like Jesus Christ how did Siria turn out so functional

Jimmy is blacklisted from the kitchen and finds ways to trip over literally nothing

Tango starts too many projects without finishing most of them and hasn’t slept in like three days on average

It’s okay tho. You wouldn’t expect two high end actors to be living on a ranch at the edge of the city with a bunch of animals, but there they are

(Yeuri loves all of them and has helped Siria name every single one)

Tango is shorter but stronger

Jimmy is the only one able to calm down Tango when he’s overstimulated or has a panic attack quickly (Siria has second place)

Tango wasn’t a cat person before Jimmy, but suddenly when they move in there’s two and Jimmy’s entire camera roll is the cats cuddling with Tango because he’s naturally warm-running

Tango is protective but not the jealous type

He also drives like a psychopath 🤣 Jimmy’s not ready

Pet!! Names!!

”Birdie! Siria and the cows are requesting your presence!”

”Come on, Cowboy, let’s go home.”

”Oh, no, Love, I don’t think so GIVE ME BACK MY HAT-“

”Starlight, you can’t use polynomials to measure the area of a rectangle. Let’s go to bed, okay?”

Say it with me, kids: DO. NOT. GIVE. JIMMY. CAFFEINE. His poor birdie heart can’t take it

Tango on the other hand needs at least two cups of coffee a day to function at the bare minimum

I’m so tired TvT I will do the others later I promise but I’ve got a lot on my plate atm!! Hope you liked, have a good morning/ night/ 4am

more about my actor au :)

- tango and jimmy do in fact adopt a kid after double life, and their name is siria! ((they were made by my absolute best friend in the world- unfortunately though, they don’t have tumblr)) thank you to @fryingpan1234567 for adding that in ur thing cuz i already had the idea and you just convinced me :)

- grian and scar do as well, and his name is yeuri! he and siria get along really well, siria being older than him by a year. siria’s nine, yeuri is eight!

- who’s dating in this AU? well, Bdubs and Etho are married, so are Ren and Doc, Scar and Grian, Tango and Jimmy, (Fwhip and Scott are Jimmy’s exes- they get along of course!) Mumbo is boyfriends with Scar and Grian, Grian and Scar are planning to propose to him in the Summer :]  polyamorous relationship baby!!

- The reason scar jumped off the building to save the “jellies” was because Jellie- yes, jellie herself- got onto the set somehow. so he needed to grab his cat in order to get her out of the set

- scar walks with a cane on set, and off set, he has his wheelchair

- the scene in double life where grian kills ren and big b (and etho if im remembering right), that was completely an accident. during that scene, something had happened with the lights, so they ended up falling- injuring ren and etho in the process. (big b was fine, but he was absolutely TERRIFIED) as well as the rest of the people on set- ren and etho were fine of course, they only got some bruises- grian was incredibly apologetic afterwards of course, and doc and bdubs, who were there at the scene, absolutely freaked the hell out when they saw it happen. 

- doc then proceeded to coddle ren for a while and was very reluctant to let him on set, while bdubs did the same for etho. (it took a while to convince them).

- usually after filming is done, X would take everyone out to get ice cream!

(that’s everything else i have for now :])

[swamp-chicken]

for the writing prompts, maybe ethubs with “you’re my happy place” “dont get cheesy on me” hehe - 👻

Sorry you waited a month for this LOL

happy place 2903 words // cw intoxication, alcohol use

Bdubs was fast asleep, dreaming of something pleasant like horsies or rabbits, when he was woken abruptly by a loud clatter. Bdubs was instantly wide awake. Bdubs’ clock, barely visible in the moonlight, showed it was past midnight.

The monolith was mob-proof, but Bdubs had still been surprised a few times. Once, he had been woken up by a rogue skeleton that must have snuck in a window. Now… he peered through the dark, eyes focusing immediately on a shadow closing in on him. Bdubs shrieked and flung a pillow at the creature.

“Agh! Bdubs, it’s me!”

Bdubs slowly lowered the second pillow he held at the ready. “Etho?”

The figure drew nearer, and yup, it was Etho, hair shining silver in the moonlight. He stumbled into Bdubs’ nightstand. “Ow.”

Bdubs frowned. “Um, what are you doing here? Are you okay?” Bdubs kept Etho’s bedroom in the basement clean in case Etho wanted somewhere to crash near spawn, but this was very much not Etho’s bedroom.

“‘M fine,” Etho said, “just wanted to see you.” He tipped forwards onto Bdubs bed.

Bdubs scrambled back towards the wall. “Are you… are you drunk?” No. Impossible. Bdubs had known Etho for years, and the guy—while he had no issue consuming massive amounts of caffeine—mostly steered clear of alcohol.

In fact, Bdubs had only seen Etho drink once before. An evening long, long ago, in another world with another group of people. A little server get-together. They had been much younger then, Bdubs still tripping over himself to impress Etho. His stomach had given a flip, then, when Etho had chosen to sit next to him.

They were sitting on the ground, a couple of nearby dirt-and-timber houses the only infrastructure in this newly-discovered world. Genny passed some beers to Bdubs, and Bdubs offered one to Etho just to be polite. Etho had always demurred in the past, choosing instead to quietly watch them all make drunken fools of themselves. Usually he would cut out early, when things started to get too rowdy, and went back to his base alone. That night, though, Etho had taken the proffered beer from Bdubs’ hand with a shy smile.

Bdubs grinned. “You finally joining us plebs?”

“It’s a special occasion,” Etho defended, cracking open the can. “New world and everything.”

It was a new world, Bdubs marveled. Unexplored, unbuilt, and Etho sitting at his side.

The conversation that night was winding, people making plans, making toasts. Bdubs quickly learned that Etho laughed more when he drank. Bdubs liked making his friends laugh, he liked entertaining them, but there was something special about the way Etho leaned into Bdubs’ side while he laughed breathlessly. Something that made Bdubs’ chest warm.

As the night wore on, Etho leaned into Bdubs’ side more and more heavily, and Bdubs increasingly began to put on a performance for one.

“Hey, are you two listening?” Guude’s voice snagged Bdubs attention.

He reluctantly unstuck himself from Etho’s side. “What’d I miss?”

Guude gestured around the circle. “We’re deciding who’s building the nether hub this season. No one’s volunteered.”

Bdubs glanced around the group, most of whom were sitting silently. He cleared his throat. “I mean, Genny and I worked on the expansion last season… If you really needed someone, I guess I could…”

Etho leaned forward. “I’ll do it,” he said.

Bdubs glanced at him sidelong. “Really?”

Etho shrugged, smiled at Bdubs. “Yeah, it sounds fun.”

Bdubs found himself smiling back. “Yeah, it could be fun. I’ll help, too.”

Guude stifled a laugh. “Then that’s that. You guys are the nether hub team. Now you can go back to… whatever you were doing.” The group started chattering to each other again, a tone of relief in their voices.

Bdubs turned to Etho. “You know, they’re going to hold you to that. You can’t wiggle out of it by claiming you were under the influence.” Bdubs grimaced, remembering some past promises he had made while tipsy.

“I know.” Etho seemed unconcerned. “I really have been wanting to work on something big. A community project.” He hesitated a moment. “Something with you.”

“Aww,” Bdubs said. It took every ounce of his dwindling self-control not to leap to his feet and punch the air. Etho wanted to work with him. “Well, it’s going to be awesome. Got any building ideas in that genius head of yours?”

Etho settled back against Bdubs’ side. “Maybe,” he said, fighting a smile. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“It’s gonna be so cool,” Bdubs blabbered. “I want to do something massive. Something with a dome? Like, a cathedral or something—”

Etho laughed, stifling a yawn.

Bdubs broke off. “Hey,” he said, wrapping an arm around Etho. “Tired?”

Etho nodded into Bdubs’ shoulder. “Should probably go to bed.”

Bdubs stood, brushing the dirt off his pants. “Come on, then.” He offered Etho a hand.

Etho rose to his feet, stumbling into Bdubs as he did. He was maybe a little more drunk than he seemed.

Bdubs was, too. “I’ll walk you back to your house. Protect you from any creepers.”

Etho snorted, leaning forward into Bdubs space, so close that Bdubs’ heart skipped a beat. “Right, you’ll protect me.”

Bdubs straightened indignantly. “What, you don’t believe me? I’m a stone-cold monster killing machine. Creepers run from me, skeletons cower in fear!”

Etho was giggling helplessly. He pulled Bdubs towards him and it took a moment for Bdubs to realize he was being hugged. “I’m so glad I met you, Bdubs,” Etho said into Bdubs’ hair, voice curling with fondness.

“O-Oh—“ Bdubs stuttered, his heart suddenly pounding. “That’s very… You’re sweet.”

Etho pulled back and his eyes were crinkled into a smile, warm. “I think I can make it back on my own. Thanks for offering, though.” His gaze traced over Bdubs’ face, lingering long enough that heat rose in Bdubs’ cheeks. “Goodnight.”

Bdubs swallowed. “‘Night,” he replied, but Etho was already walking away.

That had been the first and last time Bdubs had seen Etho drunk. After that, he kept up with his old habits. Refusing drinks, leaving before things got too rowdy. But something had changed between them. The warmth that blossomed in Bdubs’ chest when he saw Etho, the answering warmth in Etho’s eyes. The nether hub that they had sunk countless hours into, that had turned out even more glorious than Bdubs had imagined.

It had been a good night.

And now here Etho was, lying facedown in Bdubs’ bed and very clearly intoxicated.

“N’mnk,” Etho said, muffled against the blanket.

“Come again?"

Etho wiggled forwards, swinging his legs on to the bed.

“Shoes!” Bdubs shrilled.

Etho huffed against the mattress and kicked his shoes off. They landed on the floor with a thud. He turned his head to the side, out of the way of the blanket, and tried again. “‘M not drunk. Cub had me test some new potions.”

“Right… potions.”

“I was walking by Keralis’s place, and he and XB invited me in, asked me to try Cub’s new concoction…” Etho trailed off, blinking into the distance. “Oh my goodness. Those were drinks. I am drunk.”

Bdubs laughed. “What, you didn’t know?”

Etho seemed a little dazed. “I was wondering why Keralis seemed so surprised when I agreed to take a shot.”

Bdubs choked. “They were shots?”

Etho glanced at Bdubs and cracked up.

“Oh, brother,” Bdubs snickered, unable to hold in his own laughter. “You need a chaperone.”

Etho squirmed himself further onto the bed. “Maybe.”

Bdubs smiled down at him. “I kept your place downstairs just how you left it. Want me to get you set up down there?”

Etho hummed noncommittally.

“Ah,” Bdubs said. “You want to stay up here so I can tell you a bedtime story.”

Etho giggled and wiggled closer. He was practically in Bdubs’ arms by now. “Yeah, that’s it.”

Bdubs heart gave a little thrill, like it did every time Etho came near. Right, a story. He cleared his throat with a dramatic flair. “Once upon a time there was a guy name Etho. He was an okay redstoner, I guess. Maybe even decent. Then one day he met Bdubs, who taught him everything he knew…”

Etho laughed. His face was very close. “I think I know this one.”

Bdubs wanted to smooth the hair out of Etho’s eyes but he kept his hands firmly where they were. One propping his head up, the other braced against the bed, almost curled against Etho’s chest.

“You’ll let me stay the night, right?” Etho asked, quietly.

“Of course.” Bdubs’ mouth was dry.

Etho’s eyes were shining in the dark. He reached out and cupped Bdubs’ face, hand warm. Bdubs was frozen, he felt pinned down by the featherlight touch of Etho’s thumb tracing the line of his cheek. “You always take such good care of me,” Etho murmured. “Thank you.”

Void knows you need it. The quip was right there, ready to be lobbed at Etho so the moment could be laughed off and Bdubs could roll over and go back to sleep.

Bdubs didn’t want to laugh the moment off. He nervously wet his lips with his tongue, Etho distractedly tracking the movement with his eyes. “Well, I care,” Bdubs said instead. A little too honest, a little too exposing.

Etho smiled. He pulled his hand off Bdubs’ cheek but shifted closer, Bdubs’ knuckles bumping against his sternum. Bdubs lifted his hand obligingly and then Etho was actually in his arms, smiling at him dopily. Bdubs stroked his hand down Etho’s back and tentatively dropped the arm propping his head up, lowering himself down until he and Etho were level, their noses almost touching. They made uncomfortable eye contact for a long moment.

At least, it was uncomfortable on Bdubs’ end, his heart rushing in his ears, feeling like he had just scraped off a layer of skin telling Etho he cared. Etho seemed completely at ease, however, his eyelids lowering with each second that passed. Bdubs snorted. Etho was falling asleep.

“Hey,” Bdubs said, wanting to get an answer before Etho nodded off, wanting to at least try and level the playing field. “Why did you come see me? Really.”

Etho’s eyes were mostly closed. “Bedtime story,” he said, and chuckled at his own joke.

Bdubs rolled his eyes.

“No—“ Etho’s voice was so quiet Bdubs had to strain to hear it, despite how close they were lying. “I told you, I just wanted to see you. You’re my happy place.”

Bdubs felt like he had been hit by a truck. “Don’t—don’t get cheesy on me,” he stammered.

Etho blinked one eye open, peeking at Bdubs face. He flushed at whatever he saw there, then resolutely rolled over, his back to Bdubs.

“Hey!” Bdubs whispered hoarsely.

There was an unmistakable smile in Etho's voice when he murmured, “Goodnight.”

———

Bdubs woke early, like usual. Etho was still passed out in his bed, snoring soundly. He had rolled back towards Bdubs in the night, tucking his head against Bdubs’ shoulder. Looking at Etho curled against him, there was a pressure in Bdubs’ chest that was almost painful. He didn’t want to investigate it too deeply

Bdubs decided to get up instead. He carefully dislodged himself from Etho’s embrace, dressing himself and dithering around his room. Etho didn’t budge the whole time. Bdubs stood in his doorway for an extra moment, watching Etho sleep, before remembering himself. Right, he had things to do today.

His first task was some inventory-taking. His storage was a mess by now, shulkers practically carpeting the floor of the monolith. He sorted through them until he found what he needed for his next project, organizing it as he went. After an hour there still hadn’t been a noise from the bedroom. Bdubs was a little concerned by now.

Bdubs had an old potion recipe tucked up his sleeve, one that had come in handy after many a late evening with good company and good drinks. He didn’t use it that much these days, but he could still brew it without much thought or effort. He was only a few minutes at his brewing stand. Bdubs stoppered the bottle and carried the final product upstairs.

Etho was still lying in Bdubs’ bed, covers drawn up to his nose. His eyes were open. He gave a guilty start as Bdubs walked in.

“How are you feeling?” Bdubs asked dryly.

“Horrible,” Etho answered. His voice was muffled by the blanket.

Bdubs snorted. “Here, try this.” He held the potion out.

Etho’s snuck an arm out from under the covers and snatched the potion out of Bdubs’ hands. He brought it close to his face, inspected the contents of the bottle with his brow furrowed. He glanced at Bdubs suspiciously.

Bdubs could have gotten offended by Etho’s obvious mistrust, but the vision of Etho in his arms, giggling and relaxed, was too fresh. He swallowed a laugh instead and sat at the edge of the bed. “Relax, it’s a hangover cure, not a special ‘concoction.’”

Etho, apparently satisfied by that explanation, uncorked the bottle and downed it with one swig. He grimaced at the taste, but Bdubs was no slouch at potion-making. A second later, Etho’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s strong.”

Bdubs sat back against the bed post, crossing his arms smugly. “Now does Bdubs know his stuff or what?”

Etho sat up, tentatively, leaning against the headboard. The blankets pooled in his lap. He worried his lip, glanced towards the door and then back at Bdubs again. “Thanks,” he said quietly.

This was normally the part where Etho would be scrambling out of the room, calling goodbye over his shoulder, and Bdubs wouldn’t see him for a few weeks. But for some reason, Etho wasn’t moving from his spot on the bed. He picked at his fingernails instead.

Bdubs let the silence stretch awkwardly. He was curious where this might go.

Finally, Etho spoke up. “Did I… say anything last night?”

Bdubs bit down on the smile twitching at the corner of his lips. “You mean last night, when you broke in to my room?”

Etho pressed his lips together and nodded.

“Last night, when you climbed into bed with me?”

Stiffly, Etho nodded again.

“Yeah, you said something.”

“Bdubs,” Etho whined. His face was red with mortification.

Bdubs let out a bark of laughter and Etho glared at him. “You said cute stuff! Like how I was your happy place!”

Etho covered his face in horror. “I did not.”

“Oh, you did,” Bdubs grinned. “It’s fine, though! You don’t have to be embarrassed or anything.”

Etho groaned, his face still buried in his hands.

“You really shouldn’t be embarrassed, though.” Bdubs fidgeted, then spoke before he lost his nerve. “’Cuz I feel the same way.”

Etho slowly pulled his hands away from his face. His brow was creased, expression impossible to read.

Bdubs leapt off the bed, stomach clenching wildly. “Yup! So. I’ll see you later. Gotta get to work.” He turned to leave.

Etho lunged forward and grabbed Bdubs’ wrist. He blinked up at Bdubs, looking surprised by his own actions.

“What?” Bdubs asked.

Etho pursed his lips. “Bdubs… that’s so cheesy.”

“That’s what I said!”

Etho was just staring up at him, eyes wide. “You—“ he started, then cut himself off. His expression firmed. He rose to his knees and reeled Bdubs in by his wrist. Bdubs stumbled towards him, confused.

Etho was bracing himself for something, eyes darting around Bdubs’ face. And then, abruptly, he leaned forward and pressed a firm kiss to Bdubs’ lips.

Bdubs froze, heart knocking painfully against his ribs. This was… Etho was…

Etho drew back, scanned Bdubs’ face anxiously.

“Oh,” Bdubs managed to say, voice weak.

Disappointment flickered across Etho’s face.

Bdubs shook himself. Surely Etho didn’t think… Etho couldn’t think… Did he not know how Bdubs felt?

Bdubs scrambled. “No, wait, I mean… here.” Bdubs took a deep breath and smoothed his hands along Etho’s cheeks, watching Etho’s gaze soften. He pulled Etho towards him and kissed him gently. More gently than Etho’s kiss, at least. Not that it was a competition or anything.

Etho melted against Bdubs, the tension falling out of him, and then they were kissing in earnest; Etho’s mouth moving against his, hesitantly, but with more assurance after Bdubs gave an encouraging hum. They were kissing, Bdubs moving his hands to cup Etho’s jaw, tilting Etho towards him. Etho’s hands settling lightly on his waist.

Bdubs pulled back, chucking Etho affectionately under the chin. “There.”

There was a flush staining Etho’s cheeks. “What, that’s it?”

“Yeah, I got stuff to do,” Bdubs said with a smirk, rocking on his heels.

Etho narrowed his eyes.

Bdubs snorted at his expression, stomach fluttering. “I guess I could be persuaded to stay a little longer…”

Etho tugged Bdubs down on to the bed. “I don’t know why I need to persuade you, since I’m your happy place and all.”

“It doesn’t work like that! You said it first, so you can’t tease me without teasing yourself.”

Etho hardly seemed to hear him. He was staring at Bdubs mouth again, expression hungry.

“Oh, fine,” Bdubs sighed. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “I don’t have anywhere to be until… noon? Maybe? I’m yours until then.”

Etho pounced.