The Void - A higher species entity that is both a creature and a place.

A void - An area in which a child of the Void is near (not necessarily in world). a void blocks the magical sight of a Watcher and/or the hearing of a Listener from the outside. If a Watcher or Listener were to enter the affected area/world(s), they would be able to use their magic inside of it. 

also, long ago I once mentioned trying to explain various higher beings' genders. So uh:

Void. Void is the closest to female, but not exactly? But in the deficit, ... I don't think she has gender? Like I'd say that it feels like 50-60% no gender and 40-50% female. As such, it is comfortable in female roles/titles/etc but also wants to be recognized as a thing if that makes sense? Because the Void is a place, and as a place it doesn't exactly "have" gender much like a field doesn't-- 

As a vessel, she is more keen to femininity, while the realm is less keen to it. But void is both so that's kinda confusing if talking about it in the general sense. It/void/she.

So uhh... I think that would be described as an agender demigirl maybe? Idk.

♡『♡』♡

Grian had spent the rest of the day making a small base for himself. It wasn't much, just something buried into the wall of a cliff. The wood of the building marked its location to the outside. It wasn't much, but it would do.

Having set up before dark, the night was uneventful. At least, that was what he wished he could say. Sure, he had no monsters to fear, no unknown dangers of this world making themselves known. His own mind was a different story, however.

In all the ruckus, he hasn't had much time to think about it. But now, with his head on the pillow and staring up at the ceiling, his mind had ample time to make his worries known.

Just where were they exactly? And as glad as he was to see BigB and Martyn, why were they there? What did it mean?

Martyn had said that they were all placed into the Void, frozen in time. He had also fallen into the Void. Did that mean they were in the Void currently?

Something told him that wasn't it. The Void felt... different, from this. The details seemed more vivid; and why would Void make up such an elaborate story about Martyn when a memory would have worked just as well?

Martyn's story was another thing to consider altogether. He hadn't said much at all, but he had said that he had somehow found his way out of the Void. Meaning, like Grian, he hadn't been in the Void before he had arrived. Had he fallen into one of the rifts too though? He hummed out loud. Martyn hadn't said anything about that either, come to think about it. He had been rather vague about everything, really. Had he been keeping something a secret?

Shaking his head, he decided that didn't matter. What did matter, however, was that Grian needed to know exactly where they were in the universe. Were they in a void, hidden from the eyes of the Watchers like Hermitcraft was?

If not... he gulped, tightening the grip on his abdomen and curling his body in on itself. He didn't want to think of what that meant. It made him nauseous. It made him sweat, and his heartbeat quicken, and his hands grew shaky and—

He forced himself to take a deep breath. "Nothing good will come of worrying about something I can't control." He told himself, trying to settle his fears. It was hardly effective, his mind whispering that the Watchers could be on their way at this very moment to pick him up. Or maybe, they had already found him from his little show he put on earlier. Maybe this was his punishment. Maybe... maybe...

He shivered in the night, hiding under his blanket, consumed by his fears.

♡『♡』♡

When morning came, Grian wasn't so sure that he had fallen asleep at all. Exhaustion clung to him, and rubbing his eyes, he could feel deep bags underneath them. Nonetheless, he couldn't afford to stay in bed all day.

"Why did I have to be Admin again?" He grumbled as he forced himself out of bed. First things first, he needed to figure out how to enable chat. Second, gather everyone. Thirdly, make a portal and finally, get the heck out of there and back to where they all belonged.

If only it was so simple. Maybe it was, for an Admin that had been properly trained, like Xisuma, or Joe or even Doc. All the experience he had was more or less an honorary title; there wasn't much he could moderate on Evolution even if he had wanted to. It was so little that he had never brought it up to the Hermits.

He made himself a low chair, placing it next to his crafting table. He set his comm down on the table, pressing a few buttons so that the display projected a hologram above it, much larger and easier to see. It was time to get to work

♡『♡』♡

It was a few hours by the time Grian had just about tried everything he could think of, aside from throwing his comm on the ground and stomping it into a million pieces. That option was starting to sound more and more like a good idea with each passing minute.

Putting his head into his hands, he heaved a great sigh. "Why won't it just work?!" He exclaimed to no one in particular. He lifted his eyes to the ceiling, narrowing his eyes. Could this be the same interference he was met with on Evo? Were there eyes around him, watching him, laughing at him? Or was this really a skill issue?

This all was driving him mad, to say the least. He massaged his forehead, nursing the headache that had been steadily growing since he started working. And after all that, he had nothing to show for it. He pushed the chair back and hummed, not even wanting to look back at his communicator anymore.

One thing was for certain: he needed a break from this. And with a growl of his stomach, he knew that breakfast was also probably in order as well. With that thought in mind, he found himself looking over at his chest. In this small space, he could probably almost reach it from where he sat. Almost, but not quite. He stood up in order to walk over to it, but before he could, a knock came at the door.

He froze for a moment, wondering who it could be. Was it Martyn or BigB? One of the Hermits? Or was it someone he hadn't met yet? As he wondered that, the person knocked a second time. "Hello? Is anyone there?" An unfamiliar voice called from the other side. It was certainly not a Hermit, nor an Evolutionist, that was for sure.

"Yes! I'm coming!" He called before heading to the door to open it. Standing there were two men. The one standing directly in front of the door was a blue-haired elf that balanced a large dish of food in both hands. In a strange way, he seemed almost familiar for some reason, but Grian couldn't place as to why. The person behind him was none other than--

"Jimmy! It's nice to see you!" Grian called, his expression turning quickly into a smile. Then, looking back at the stranger, he asked, "Oh, where are my manners? Here, come right on in." He stepped back, holding the door open. The stranger said a quick thank you before heading inside and setting his dish on the crafting table, eyeing the comm but not mentioning it.

Jimmy, on the other hand, took the time to give Grian a big hug. "Grian! It's been... Void knows how long. How did you-?" He began to ask, but Grian cut him off.

"Please, let's talk about that later. In private." His eyes fluttered over to the elf, gesturing to him with his eyes. Then, letting go of his old friend, he turned fully to the other. "And you are?"

"My name is Scott Major. Yours is Grian, I assume?" He replied, offering a hand that Grian quickly shook. "We were on our way to where we're going to build our base when we saw this place. I figured that I'd make a little something and see if anyone was home. Nothing connects people like food, right?"

Grian couldn't help but smile, looking over at the dish. Hot buttered apple slices on pieces of toast. A simple dish, but a good one when one had limited supplies. "It smells amazing, Scott. Thank you." He replied. "Here, let me see if I have something to eat with." He went over to his chest and dug around before finding three wooden plates and forks from yesterday. He handed them to Jimmy without looking, who then placed them on the table. It was getting pretty cramped on the crafter, but with a little help from Scott, who picked up the stray communicator, there was just enough room for it all.

Turning back around, Grian took a seat on the floor by the table. It wasn't as comfortable as the chair, but as the host, it would be rude to take the only seat. Scott chose to sit across from him, also on the floor, as he continued to hold onto the comm silently. Jimmy sat in between the two, across from the unoccupied chair.

"Neither of you wanted the chair?" Grian asked them.

"Nah, that's alright. I figured that I'd let Jimmy have it, but I guess he chose the floor too." Scott chuckled.

"Was that an option?" Jimmy asked, causing the others to giggle.

"Yes, of course it was! Now we just look silly, all surrounding this one chair." Grian commented, gesturing to it. His words were enough to get Jimmy laughing as well, shaking his head at his own stupidity.

"Well, at least we all look silly together then." Scott replied with such a genuine tone that it was hard to laugh at the blunder any more. He set Grian's communicator in his lap before grabbing his fork and plate. He brought them over to the food and scooped some out, Jimmy doing so after him and Grian getting some last.

"Now Grian--" Scott began to say, but Grian pressed a finger to his lips, glancing over at Jimmy. The man had closed his eyes and folded his hands, pressing them to his lips to conceal them. With the impending silence, Jimmy muttered words so quietly that only the elf was able to understand them due to his enhanced hearing. Scott mouthed a sorry to Grian, and waited until Jimmy sat back up to speak again. "Now Grian, you wouldn't have happened to suddenly wake up here, say... yesterday or thereabouts out of nowhere?" He asked before beginning to dig into his food.

"Actually... yes, I did. Oh! And Jim, I saw Martyn and BigB yesterday, too. They had the same thing." Grian replied before he took his first bite. He wasn't sure what all Scott had done to the dish, but it melted right in his mouth. He made sure to take a moment to tell him that.

"They're here, too?" Jimmy asked before he too started eating.

Grian nodded. "I haven't seen anyone else but them, though. What about you guys?"

"Oh, we found a ton of people! And they all had the same thing!" Scott exclaimed. "We all took cover in this tiny little mine entrance because we got caught out late." He and Jimmy both seemed to find the concept funny because they showed a knowing look and a laugh. "There were... Gosh, how many do you think were there, Jimmy?"

Jimmy hummed. "Let's see... uhh-- eight, I think? Including us?" He glanced at Scott for confirmation, who nodded.

"So that means there are..." Grian paused, setting down his fork to count on his fingers. "At least... eleven people here? And to our knowledge, we all appeared here at around the same time?"

They both nodded.

"Was—" Grian paused, wondering how to phrase his questions without dumping them all out at once. He cleared his throat, decided which one was the most important. "There... didn't happen to be someone named Scar, was there?" As much as he was worried for all his friends, he worried the most for his best friend and godchild. The others could manage themselves, but Scar? Scar needed extra help and the thought of him being alone in these circumstances made him nervous. He hadn't had his wheelchair when he fell and that thought was one of the many that lingered in Grian's worried mind.

"Oh yeah— there was! Do you know him?" Jimmy asked.

"I— yeah. Say, was he...? You know?"

"Hot? Yes, yes he was." Scott nodded with a slight smirk.

Grian had thought he had prepared for any possible answer that could have been given, both the good and the bad. Apparently not. He choked on the food in his mouth, and he had to take a few minutes to cough up what he had inhaled. Once he felt better, he noticed that a light pink had grown on his cheeks. "W-what?"

Scott waved, chuckling. "You should have seen him! He had all the guys drooling all over him! I don't think I've ever seen such a body!"

Grian genuinely wasn't sure how to react to this. Scar? Were they talking about the same Scar? Sure, he had always been a charmer, but... "You... don't mean GoodTimesWithScar, do you?"

Jimmy nodded. "It's so unfair! How can someone even look like that?!"

Although Grian was confused, he couldn't help but feel a protective anger bubble from within him. "Jimmy, he can't help it." He replied, very much in a warning tone. But Jimmy didn't seem to understand why his comment was offensive, his face twisting in confusion.

"Right..." Scott said, his eyes awkwardly shifting between the two as though he too didn't understand. "Anyway, there were a lot of other people there. Do you think any of your other friends might be here, Grian?"

As much Grian wanted to fight them, he decided to let it go. He forced his shoulders to ease, turning back to the topic at hand. "Yeah. Was there anyone named Tango or Ren?" He asked.

They both hummed, looking at each other. "I think there was a Tango?" Jimmy replied, trying his best to remember. "But Ren? Hmm..."

Scott tilted his head a bit. "Ren doesn't sound familiar to me, at least." He replied, shaking his head.

Could it be that Ren was here too, Grian couldn't help but wonder. He silently pocketed the question away for later. For now, though, he could ask about Tango and Scar. "Are they... you know, alright? Last time that I saw them, our world was being destroyed and then -- yeah, now we're here." 

"Destroyed?" Both Scott and Jimmy asked in horror. It was almost off putting to Grian, who had said it perhaps too casually. As much as he had worried in the night about a hundred different things, that part had yet to really cement itself in his brain. Saying it felt almost like a lie, an exaggeration. Surely, it wasn't as bad as it had looked? Surely, the others were already planning the way to clean up the shopping district and everything else, right? Not to mention, Scar's volcano had always meant to be erupting, so maybe it'd just look cooler now. 

Their expressions were too painful for him, so he had to avert his gaze. "I, uh... yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly. What exactly was he supposed to say to that? "It was... yeah. So anyway, how are they?"

Jimmy reached out to rest his hand on Grian's shoulder, letting him know that he was there for his friend. "They're fine. Don't you worry." He assured. 

Grian closed his eyes, allowing himself to focus on the physical contact. "Thanks, Jim." He hummed. Opening his eyes again was enough of a signal for Jimmy to withdraw his hand. "Do you happen to know where they are now?"

"Last we saw them, they were at the refugee camp. I think Tango was just heading out when we were, though." Scott explained before he stabbed another piece of his food with his fork and slid it into his mouth. He hummed to himself, wishing that he had been able to season the dish with some blaze powder and sugar. It was still a good meal, but it tasted a bit too bland this way. 

"The refugee camp?" 

Jimmy couldn't help but giggle, almost choking on his own food as a result. "Yeah, yeah, that's what we called it because we were all running into this tiny space to hide from monsters." Scott couldn't help but join in on the laughter, but Grian only stared at them. 

"I guess it was one of those things you just had to be there for." Scott shrugged as he recovered. "But anyway, my husband can take you there if you'd like?"

"Husband?" Grian echoed as Jimmy's face turned bright red. Grian slowly shifted his gaze to his fellow Evolutionist, slowly becoming aware as to why this might be. "Jimmy." He scolded. 

"Waa-- b-before you say anything, I just want you to know--!!"

"You know Martyn is not going to approve you marrying someone you just met." Grian's words made Scott chuckle all over again.

"Man, I don't know who this Martyn guy is, but I can't wait to meet him!" Scott nearly sung.

"I-I know!!" Jimmy exclaimed to Grian, face darkening even further. "But Grian, I swear to you, I had nothing to do with it! You see, we aren't even--!!"

"That serious yet." Scott finished for him, nodding along before he laughed again. 

Grian narrowed his eyes as he stared at the two of them, frowning. "I don't know. Marriage does sound rather serious to me, guys." He replied. 

His words made Jimmy place his head in his hands, trying to conceal his bright red face. "No, stop it!" he cried. He had fully expected one of the two of them to interrupt him, but this time, they didn't. "This man -- this elf, rather-- he just walks up to me, throws me a flower and claims that because I picked it up, we're married? I don't get it! We aren't married! I didn't do no ceremonial dance with you or anything!" Admitting that, his face had begun to cool down, and he was able to look back up at the two of them. 

"Yes, and giving you a flower is called a proposal, Jimmy." Scott reasoned, smirking. Upon glancing back at Scott, Grian finally understood and he smirked as well. 

"Oh no-- Grian, not you too!" 

"Yup, you're married now, Tim. Good luck explaining that one to your brother. That is -- if I don't see him first and blab the news!" Grian snickered along with Scott. 

And just like that, Jimmy's face was beet red once again. "Grian-- no! Please! This is all just one big misunderstanding! I swear to you-- Please -- stop I'm--" He positioned himself so that he was on his knees, hands clasped together as he faced Grian. "Begging, pleading you--"

"I mean, he's going to find out sooner or later, Jimmy. We can't keep us a secret forever, babe." Scott teased with a flirty wink. 

"But guys, I'm not even gay!"

Grian shook his head, forcing himself to put on a solemn face as he patted Jimmy's shoulder. "Don't worry, Tim. You don't have to hide in the closet anymore. We know." Saying that, he couldn't hold his act any longer and he started laughing all over again, this time much more forcefully than the times before. He clutched his stomach as he leaned forward so fast that he almost got a face full of what little was left on his plate. The indistinguishable flustered squeaks from his friend was enough to push Scott off the edge as well, barrels of laughter pouring out of him. The two of them laughed and laughed, until they ran out of breath and simply couldn't continue any longer for that reason. 

"S... Seriously though... Jimmy... were you... always this easy to... tease?" Scott panted, trying his best to catch his breath. 

Grian wiped the tears out of his eyes, taking a few deep breaths, lest he start all over again. "As far as I've known him, yes... yes he has. It sure is fun, isn't it?"

"What? No! No it isn't!" Jimmy exclaimed, his face still maintaining a reddish color. He buried his face in his hands once again, shaking his head.

"Sure it is, babe." Scott winked, giggling to himself when Jimmy made another angrily flustered squeak. He took a few moments to compose himself, taking a long, deep breath and letting all the tension leave his body. After he had done so, the playful grin he wore simmered down into a flat line "But seriously though... There is something I do have to ask." 

Whatever silliness and flushing that was happening ceased in that moment. "What's that, Scott?" Grian asked. 

Scott readjusted himself so that he was even closer to the table, to Grian, who was opposite of him. He made sure to move carefully, as to not disturb the stolen communicator that still rested on his lap. "So let's assume that we really all did just appear here twenty-four hours or however long ago. Just like, poof!" His eyes widened as his opened his closed fists for dramatic effect. "Who, then, is the Admin? Is it some creepy guy who brought us here? Or is it one of us who just kind of crash landed? And if so, then who? Because like-- there are some rather crucial issues with the comms, as I'm sure you've noticed, and I sure would like to have them fixed as soon as possible." he placed a hand on his chest to gesture to himself before clarifying, "I'm an Advanced admin. An Admin-less world is supposed to be handed off to the most qualified Admin in the world automatically if there isn't one. But if that's the case, I can't imagine that an Expert or another Advanced would stand idly by, either."

Now that he had said it, Grian had to admit that Scott certainly gave off the aura of a true Admin -- cool, calm, collected. Straight to the point when need be, stating important information as factual statements to avoid confusion. He had his priorities set straight, and even not being the actual Admin of this server, he was more than eager to step up in a way that would benefit everyone.

"That... Would actually be me." He admitted, shyly lifting up a hand as he gave an awkward chuckle. Heat flooded his cheeks, giving him a pinkish glow. Scott hadn't even tried digging into the world's files, and yet Grian could tell that he was far more qualified to attempt a repair it than he was. 

"Wait, you're the admin?" Scott asked, his eyes widening slightly. "What is your rank?"

Grian gave a nervous chuckle, sharing a look with Jimmy. As any of the Evolutionists already knew, he was no trained Admin. He had been thrust in the role without any instruction and flailed about. He had picked up some very basic things, but he certainly did not feel comfortable calling himself such a title. "Uhh... Self-Taught?" he guessed, tilting his head and giving a nervous chuckle. He was pretty sure it had been a thing long ago, but if they existed now, Xisuma had never brought them up before. So much had changed since he had joined the Watchers that even now, two years later, he was still discovering new things about the worlds and how they worked now.

He glanced over at Jimmy, who nodded, backing him up. Then he looked over at Scott, who had narrowed his eyes since Grian had looked away. "Self-Taught, huh?" He hummed, his tone far from amused.

"I-- wouldn't say I'm exactly good at it--" Grian tried to clarify as he waved his hands in front of his face. The last thing he wanted was someone, especially an actual Admin, thinking he had any idea as to what he was doing. 

"I'd say." Scott replied. He took ahold of one of the straps of Grian's communicator and lazily lifted it above the table to show him. "You didn't even realize this was missing." He said, keeping his (not) straight face on. 

"Hey!!" Grian exclaimed, quickly swiping it back before quickly putting it back on his wrist, where it belonged. Scott smirked, his serious demeanor giving way to a teasing smirk. 

"Scott!" Jimmy exclaimed. 

"I was always going to give it back. Just wanted to see how long it'd take for you to notice. Never, apparently." He rolled his eyes, his smirk turning into a full grin now. "Anyway, how about we clean up here and I can see what I can fix on your comm?" 

Grian couldn't help but smile. No longer did he have to worry about fixing some problem he had no idea how to. Their ability to all exit this world no longer rested solely on his shoulders. He may not know Scott well, but he had a good feeling about this. 

♡『♡』♡

After writing about Scott keeping a straight face, I had to pause and realize just how ironic that sounded. So asked a friend on call if that made sense given the context, and they said no and dared me to keep a (not) in front of it. So... There you go.