Doc, Xisuma, and Ren oneshot.

Taking place in Octagon Season 8 because I am very behind in Season 9 already, and have no idea what Ren and Doc are up to at all, or if they even are baseing together again.

~~~

"Honey?" Xisuma asked nonchalantly, expecting a polite no before he heard it, and starting to put the jar to the side-

"Yes, thank you."

Xisuma paused, and raised an eyebrow at the creeper who looked- normal? Casual? Not totally different from normal? "Wait what?"

Was Doc actually accepting honey in his tea for once? Was he sick? Sore throat? Replaced by an alien? Delusional?

Xisuma shook the confused look on his face- "Don't be rude, X." He told himself- and handed the jar over to Doc, half-expecting him to either put it to the side without another word because of course X misheard him and he didn't ask for honey, and Xisuma probably looked really stupid right now-

Doc was opening it again, and lifted a spoon to scoop some out.

Ok so, Xisuma didn't mishear him at least, and Doc, actually him, was asking for honey in his tea. And now putting honey in his tea. This was real.

X quickly pinched himself and felt it- and felt stupid. "Ok, he's probably going to out a tiny insignificant drop-"

That was a big scoop. That was a really big scoop of honey, on his spoon, that he was putting into. his. tea.

X needed to sit down. He was overthinking this completely, and honestly being rude for over analyzing the situation. Maybe Doc was just trying something new? He was fine with that, encouraged it in fact! But something felt- off.

"Nope nope nope! I'm not assuming the worst and asking anything personal. This is fine and normal and I'm not going to think about it more, or tell Keralis after, or freak out or-"

"X? You ok buddy?" A low German voice snapped him out of his spiral, bringing him back to reality.

"Yup!" Xisuma replied quickly. Grabbing his own mug and heading to the living room a few blocks over. "Just spaced out a little is all, maybe the caffeine in this will help." He explained.

"Heh, that was the only way Ren convinced me to try it. Caffeine." Doc said, also walking to the living room.

"You know Ren. After his hippy phase in Season 6, he basically begged me for honey for all of these new types he was trying in Season 7. I gave him a few discounts at my honey shop too."

"We tried owning a hive once, but it stung both of us too much. I only gave into tea this season as "repaying him for my break off the server" as he argued."

Xisuma chuckled, slightly shaking his head at the thought. Ren was always roping one hermit or another into something new, and it seemed like after a ton of badgering, Doc finally gave in. So that explained it all really. Both the tea and the honey. Doc was just forced to try it, and apparently liked it? That was good.

"Well i can show you some tips for hives this season if you want later, but you know I'm here to talk about your- ahem, experiments on the server."

"Ah yes, come to marvel in my master mind?"

"I'm here to make sure you don't crash the whole thing."

---

"So that's how I've made sure it's entirely safe. And what's a little risk if it's for science, ey?" Doc said. He put his cup down on the table, and Xisuma noticed some tea still in it. Doc didn't mention it, so neither did X.

"You're too smart for your own god sometimes Doc, but as long as everything is in control, and I don't see any more spawners or lag spikes in this area, I'll let your "scientific studies" slide. I've talked to Zed enough about that sort of stuff, and at least you aren't trying to make antigravity pigs or color changing sheep."

"Not yet-" Doc started as a joke, but was cut off by someone else.

"Ah, Hey Xisuma!" A cheery voice sprung out of the doorway. "I didn't know you were stopping by!"

"Yeah, just had to see what the latest game breaking technology could do!" Xismua smiled, "and had to make sure it was safe for the server, I can't have a repeat of the 404's or uhm, some other server break anomalies making a return, as you know."

"Weren't you the one to let Evil X come back this season?" Doc remembered and chuckled from his chair, picking up his tea again.

"He promised to behave, or I'd ban him again." Xisuma deadpanned.

"Hey we don't mind him, Derp Coin and all is making us bank!" Ren cheered as he wandered further into the room.

There was a beat of silence, but it wasn't stiff or uncomfortable. Laughter echoed, and even when no one was specifically talking, it still sort of felt like someone was.

"Hey Ren," Doc started casually, and X almost tuned it out because it sounded like he was about to list something they needed to buy or mention a quick reminder, but Doc lifted his tea cup, and Xisuma felt himself staring. "Wanna finish this? I'm not thirsty and I don't want it to go to waste."

And if X ever heard Doc lie, this was a blatant one. Ren didn't seem to notice though, scooping up the cup with a grin.

"Aww yeah, thanks man!"

Xisuma was still staring, and he knew it, but the other two were so focused on each other they didn't notice and so he didn't try to stop himself.

Ren drank it up, his shoulders relaxing as his face melted into happiness. "Oh all of the honey was at the bottom! That was so good, pure gold in my mouth!"

"Oh I didn't notice." Doc said. "Glad you liked it, Xisuma's tea and honey."

Xisuma would have analyzed that all more, but they were looking at him now, and with a quick forced cough, he nodded quickly. "Yup! Personal brew and bees!"

"Well as Scar would say, it's amazin'!" Ren said, imitating Scar's phrase. "You should sell this stuff and you're sure to get even Grian to buy Derp Coin."

"Thanks, that sure is a compliment if I've heard one. But Grian didn't even like the free Derp Coin he got for that dripleaf spleef!"

"Well he spent it on our shop, so I'd still call that a win." Doc added, and Ren nodded along with him.

"I'll let you two keep talking about server breaking lag- that's not caused by Mumbo for once- and I'll put your cups away if you're done?"

Xisuma nodded and thanked him as he handed it over- "best dadmin" scribbled on the side as a gift to him from the whole server -and since Ren already had Doc's (now actually empty) cup, he walked off to where Xisuma assumed the kitchen was.

When Ren left the room, Doc looked about as casual as normal, leaning back against the couch with his hands now free again.

There was a beat of silence, quieter with just the two sitting down, and before Doc could start the conversation again, Xisuma spoke.

"You don't like honey." Xisuma stated, slightly accusatory, and slightly realizing it all over again.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about." Doc brushed off.

"Ren does huh? Ren loves honey." Xisuma pieced together, glancing over the kitchen. He didn't lower his voice.

"He might have a taste for it, but I'm not sure what you're implying?" Doc said, raising an eyebrow.

He was a good actor.

"Ok Docm77, I'll let you have your secrets." Xisuma said, a slight knowing smirk tracing his lips under his axolotl helmet. Doc couldn't see it, but it was clear in X's voice all the same.

Xisuma spoke before Doc could again, completely changing the tone of his voice.

"I'll come back for my tea cup later, since my inventory is full and I prefer not to fly with it in my hands in case I could drop it." Xisma said, standing up. Doc was a little confused at the sudden change of- topic? Was that even a topic of conversation before? But he shrugged it off and nodded along anyway.

Xisuma pulled up his inventory, a curved blue screen in front of his face, and pulled out his elytra. He could just equip it and save time, but he preferred to put it on manually, something many hermits teased him for.

He shrugged it on rather quickly, pretty used to doing it by now, and smiled at Doc who had stood up now too.

"Nice talking X, see you around." Doc bid goodbye at the door. Well, door? More like opening in the wall to exit. Close enough.

"More soon if you decide to shut down the server with whatever game breaking mechanics you're trying. Please just try not to spawn in an ender dragon here or barrier blocks- those are always a pain to clean up." Xisuma flashed a smile, a tad bit of fake exhausting lining his words.

"I'll try to avoid that." Doc chuckled. "We'll leave the tea cup on the counter for whenever you want to pick it up, the door is always open."

Xisuma laughed too, and nodded for the second half. He waved goodbye before turning and jumping off the virus shaped structure as he spread out his wings to glide downwards safely.

Doc was a good actor, Xisuma would give him that, but a horrible liar.

---

2 days time, Xisuma reached for his favorite mug only to find it missing "Oh right!" He remembered, and decided to take a trip to retrieve it. He cleared out his inventory enough to keep it there this time and put on his elytra, only bringing the basic essentials.

"I'm going to get my mug from Ren and Doc, don't explode the place while I'm gone!" He shouted out to nowhere, hoping his housemate would hear it and actually listen for once.

"K!" Was the only response he got, and Xisuma shook his head, grabbing a water bucket and preparing for the worst when he got back. It wasn't like he didn't trust Evil X at least a little, but sometimes, the man had a habit of letting things get out of control.

"Water is just a precaution," He told himself as he stuffed it into his inventory.

He flew over, swiftly and freely, and smiled at the free floating feeling he got when he soared higher to the clouds. The rockets under him, clouds parting as he swooped through them, it all felt so magical, and he was glad he never got tired of it.

It was an easy landing- even if a weird sight had him double take and almost forget to slow down- and within no time he was inside.

"Were those boats?" He questioned as he regained his balance on a solid floor. "Hundreds of boats just lying around?"

He'd have to ask Ren and Doc about that later, but for now, he had more important matters to attend to.

Sitting right there was the cup, kindly polished and cleaned courtesy of probably Ren, and Xisuma now felt more glad he had brought a little thank you gift.

He switched them out quickly, propping up the note that he sorta hoped Doc would find first, put his mug into his inventory safely, and flew off without another thought.

---

"Uh, Doc? What's this note? X's handwriting, but it feels- like vague? Mysterious? I dunno."

Doc took the note from Ren and read it over quickly, immediately so so so glad that Ren was confused. He would be teased endlessly if Ren understood this.

"Here's some honey for you and Ren! Since you love it so much, and Ren has such a taste for it. Remember to stir it if you actually want to taste it this time instead of letting it all pool at the bottom, and if you want more, just ask!"

Doc stiffed a sigh and fakely seemed confused. "He just gave us honey; What's the big deal?"

"He italicized words- like, took the time to write it out that way- all slanted. You don't find that odd?"

"Nah, X is weird like that. He dyed his suit pink just to look like an axolotl, remember."

"Ok, if you're sure it's just a weird Xisuma thing." Ren said. "Tell me if it's a treasure hunt though, I want in on that if it is!"

"Will do."

Ren walked off with a quick offer to check the shops, and Doc stayed put, half glaring at the honey and note, annoyed at Xisuma's too-observant self.

At the same time, if Ren really loved honey as much as Xisuma thought, trying it himself couldn't hurt too much right? Maybe Ren would even-

Doc scrunched the note and stuffed into the pocket of his worn lab coat, spinning on his heel and forcefully ignoring the thought before it could finish. He had some server breaking mechanics to mess with, and a new idea on how to spawn barrier blocks onto X's base as a subtle payback. Subtle prank for subtle prank. 

~~~

If you couldn't tell, I was drinking tea when I got this idea.

Also, I planned it to be probably less than 900 words. It's 2184. I have a problem with pacing. I didn't really mean to make it so shippy, just it just sorta happened towards the end. It was literally just gonna be Ren popping in and drinking the honey pooled at the bottom of Doc's cup and Xisuma understanding that Doc only put the honey in for Ren. That's it.