(Not proofread.)

Spoilers to the DreamSMP, but I doubt you haven't heard.

This is focused on Evil X and Tommy, though it's more on Tommy. Evil X does play a large part in this though.

And this is one of few concepts I have that might write out because I've got enough plans and motivation to do so.

Mock Story
Conflict on the DreamSMP is genuine and the justice system is scuffed. It's way more serious than the streams are. Hermitcraft doesn't have much conflict unless they're joking around, but each of the members' backstories are either dark, deep, and/or violent. They've learned how to cope.
TW: mentions of trauma, fightning

Tommy was not just exiled from L'manberg, but from the server. He was banned to the void and subject to float there for eternity until he was brought back.

(In this concept, the Void affects the player their own ways. I don't know how it would affect Tommy, but Evil X has white hair, pale skin, wayyyy more scars than before, and looks more tired than he should because of the Void.)

Evil X finds him there. They have a conversation that mostly consists of Evil X calling Tommy a child and Tommy yelling at him to not call him that. Then, Evil X decides to hack into Hermitcraft and brings Tommy along.

(Evil X could have hacked in earlier, even just after he was banished, but he didn't to respect Xisuma's wishes.)

The Hermits are incredibly confused. Some know Tommy from MCC. Tommy knows some of them because they're the Hermits.

Evil X and X have a heated argument of why Tommy should or shouldn't stay. Some points of the discussion are he's too young, we don't know him/his backstory/if he's a good person or not, he might not be able to handle Hermitcraft, ect. Evil X countered with xB was 13 when he joined, they didn't/still don't know many Hermits' backstory, the kid handled however long in the Void, ect. Evil X gets passionate about the Void part, and that was what made his brother finally cave and agree. However, Evil X leaves before Tommy could say anything to him.

He's awkward at first, and doesn't swear at all because f a m i l y - f r i e n d l y Hermits. Over time, he's gets more comfortable around them and actually starts participating in some of the activities. Some of the Hermits teach him how to build and/or redstone properly.

Evil X actually visits a few times (unbeknownst to the Hermits), and each time Tommy asks him to take his helmet off. Evil X declines, making up some random excuse. They talk, and Tommy figures out that Evil X has this way with his words, able to get a lot of information from someone without giving much info himself. Evil X knows more about Tommy than vice versa.

Throughout his time, the topic of Tommy's life in his past server comes to light to the other Hermits and Evil X. Tommy was hesitant when sharing it, but he did open up to a few people. (I'd guess Stress, Joe, and Xisuma, but eventually everyone knows with his permission.) Both parties were outraged. Who would subject a teenager through multiple wars, so many conflicts and unnecessary deaths, and at the end, banishment to the Void?

It's safe to say the Hermits begin to become protective of him. Some may not particularly like Tommy due to his brash and arrogant attitude, but none can deny they pitied him and only wanted the best for him.

So over time, the Hermits try to help him heal from the past trauma. Tommy becomes less jumpy and paranoid (which caused a few panic attacks when someone accidentally snuck up on him), he becomes more gentle and caring though is still strong and passionate, he gets a sleep schedule and doesn't scream when fireworks get launched, ect.

He's the same kid, but more mature.

But obviously, his trauma wasn't what he always talked about. He talked about the sleepyboisinc including Tubbo, the times when the DreamSMPers weren't at each other's necks, the fun and fond memories, ect.

And in return, the Hermits tell them what shenanigans they have been up to.

And during his recover time, Tommy asks a lot of the Hermits about Evil X without the latter knowing. He wanted to know more about his savior without directly asking. He knew the Void must have been bad for the two brothers to get into such a heated argument. He wanted to genuinely thank him for giving him another chance to live and not rot in the Void. Because not many know what actually happened to him, they told him as much as they could, but it wasn't enough to satisfy his curiosity.

What he really wants to know was what he looked like underneath the helmet. C'mon, can't a kid be curious?

Evil X never shows him.

Now, of course Tommy sometimes gets into a bit of trouble and conflict. Of course he's scared of causing a full on war and them taking it seriously, but it never gets as bad as he's had it.

And after everything was going well, inevitably, Xisuma receives a message from the DreamSMP. They're looking for Tommy and want him back.

Xisuma tells Tommy this, and he hesitates. The admin replies to Dream, telling him that he's in the server but it's up to him if he wants to return.

Tommy thinks about his time here and there. He's torn between the two servers because on the SMP, he has his old friends and family, but the Hermits welcomed him when they didn't even know anything about him. The SMP cast him away with no possible redemption but the Hermits taught him what they knew. Tommy's old family banned him from the server without a real reason and no chance to explain, but Hermitcraft gave him then chances he needed.

He tells X this and X thinks of a solution. Talk it out somewhere, peacefully. No weapons will be used, but they will be brought. Dream replies with he has better PvPers than the Hermits (which is true, both know). Xisuma only mentions that any form of magic can outplay any weapon used against him. Dream offers to open his server to the two so they can talk.

Tommy expresses his concern. Talking on their server is dangerous--not only do the SMPers know their land, but can use it to lay traps prior to the meeting. Xisuma tells him to not worry. Worrying only causes more problems. (Xisuma has actually once said, "To worry is to suffer twice.")

Dream whitelists Tommy and Xisuma. The two Hermits join the server, preparing for anything that could be coming their way.

The air is tense. Xisuma stands slightly behind Tommy with a hand clamped on his shoulder. (Depends on how you headcanon, but in this story Xisuma is half-enderman or a Voidwalker, meaning he's probably taller than his normal 6'3 everyone headcanons him as.) Because of the height and the sheer amount of powerful Void and admin magic that radiates off Xisuma's skin, the SMPers decide it's a good idea to not attack like the originally planned.

So they talk. It's more of yelling match. The SMPers are stubborn and just want to take Tommy back like a snap, but Xisuma is not letting him go until he knows it's what Tommy wants. X is incredibly patient with all the yelling directed at him, and it's only after five or ten minutes that Dream finally takes control of the situation and talks it out.

They never reach an agreement, and what Xisuma is asking for is ignored so many times that his obvious his patience is wearing thin. The SMPers don't know what Tommy went through, what they put him through.

Evil X finally shows up, fuming at their stupidity. He yells at the SMPers, screaming about how they didn't know where they sentenced him to, its affects, and how Tommy could have been more broken than ever before. He screamed about how the kid didn't deserve it. The monologue (for once not evil or served to boost his ego) left him heaving, because never had he yelled at anyone as much as he just did. The SMPers only yell back, accusing Evil X of not knowing what the void does and just taking general stereotypes.

So Evil X takes his helmet off.

The white hair, pale skin, tired and stress likes, and bags under his eyes were no lies or myths. His dull red eyes instantly find Tommy, and in them are unspoken apologies.

The SMPers finally give up the useless battle they were fighting and stopped trying to force Tommy away from Xisuma with blatant guilt trips and what not. (Everyone except Techno, Wilbur, Phil, and Tubbo did that. They stayed silent for the most part, only sending uncertain glances to X and Evil X.)

Both parties came up with a compromise that was mostly decided by Tommy. At the end, Hermitcraft kept him whitelisted, but he could go between the two servers. (Evil X was also whitelisted after his obvious change of heart from his time in the Void and the good word Tommy put in.) Everyone on the Hermitcraft side is happy.

On the DreamSMP side, it's... hurting. Techno, Wilbur, and Phil are hurt Tommy didn't choose them over the Hermits, but they understand. Dream feels guilty for putting the kid through it, but he can't fix the anger management of the server, and whatever happens on there happens. Tubbo is happy for his friend's recovery, but is slightly hurt Tommy hesitated when he had to choose. The reactions of the other SMPers are undetermined for now, but not all of them are heartless. They just didn't show it.

Tommy spends time on the DreamSMP for his friends, and goes to Hermitcraft when it gets too overwhelming or just needs a break.

It ends with Tommy and Evil X sitting on a cliff, watching the sunset and reflecting back on the weird events that brought them there. It's an unlikely friendship (platonic, nothing romantic) for sure. They both understand what it's like to be banished. To be pushed away by who they thought were friends.

And to bring it back in a full-circle ending, Evil X calls Tommy a kid, Tommy claims he's not a kid, and the sun disappears over the horizon, casting dark shadows over the land (reminiscent of the Void) with the shine of the moon rising behind them.

_____

Now the reason I made Evil X such a big character in this  despite him being still a side character is not just because I have an unhealthy obsession, but because I didn't want to just sweep him off my desk after he brought Tommy to Hermitcraft. Throwing away his character is a completely missed opportunity. And here's why.

1. Meeting in the Void and Evil X taking him out of it (thought begrudgingly) would show character development when Evil X comes back defending the kid.
2. Having an unlikely friendship is great.
3. Being introduced in the beginning of the story usually means the character is a big character. If I didn't have him do all the things he did, what happened to him? Did he just return to the Void, forgetting what he did for Tommy? Did Xisuma connect the dots and understand what Evil X went through?
4. I needed someone to tell the DreamSMPers what happened to Tommy. Xisuma doesn't quite know since Evil X never speaks of his experience, Tommy wasn't there long enough for it to permanently affect him, and the Hermits didn't ask about how he got there. Evil X has personal experience, knows what Tommy would have went through, and is the closest to Tommy.

He appears through the story more than I mention, so that's why the face reveal and ending would be important.

Anyways, if I feel like it, I might start an actual story with this.

Thank you for reading <3 Have a great rest of your day