Chapter Text
Etho sighed as he sat down in a chair in his base. It was night, one of the few that he was awake for. He had started losing more sleep ever since Tommy had shown up, no fault of course to the boy himself. Etho was just busier. He heard a ding on his communicator and picked it up, revealing a message from Callahan.
Direct Message >> Callahan
Callahan: Sending another one your way. He might be a bit feisty. He’s not one of the ghosts from here, but I think he could be done good by Hermitcraft.
EthosLab: Do you ever actually ask for real permission sometimes?? You’re lucky X can’t say no to the traumatized.
Callahan: He’s also 17
Callahan: Did I mention that his home got blown up recently
EthosLab:...Or children. Fine. When should our mysterious visitor be expected?
Callahan: Soon! Once I can actually get a rift portal working over here. Someone has one over there, right?
EthosLab: Yeah, Grian has it.
Callahan: Cool. I’ll probably use it multiple times once it’s set up. Tommy’s friends will probably want to see him. Plus it might be easier for me to move his soul that way.
EthosLab: Okay. I’ll let X know we’ll have more… arrivals soon.
Etho sighed again heavily. It had been a few days since the meeting with all the hermits, with a few stopping by Scarland to meet Tommy officially. The ghost was still refusing to see Xisuma, but Etho couldn’t really blame him, although he wondered why.
EthosLab: Do you know why Tommy might be adverse to meeting Xisuma?
Callahan: Yeah, Dream basically tortured the poor boy when he was in his exile. I wish I could’ve done something to stop it.
Etho blinked. He forgot how blunt Callahan could be. Wait, exile?
EthosLab: Exile?? Give me a rundown of everything that’s happened on this server, please.
Callahan: I mean, if you really want it.
EthosLab: Please
Callahan: Tommy, his brother Wilbur, and his best friend Tubbo all decided to make their own sovereign nation on the SMP here for fun. But Dream didn’t like the lack of control. Tommy gave up both of his discs, his prized possessions, and two of his canon lives for the freedom of a budding country. It’s more complicated than that, but it’s really not my story to tell, nor do I even know what really happened at some points. There were a lot of explosions and canon deaths from everyone on the server. It’s important to know that canon lives work differently. Some deaths you can come back form normally, like stray mobs or a regular spar. But if something is significant enough to one or both of the people involved, it will dissolve one of their three. Very few people have all three, myself included.
Etho felt his jaw drop.
EthosLab: And how long did these conflicts last?
Callahan: The war for independence lasted roughly three years, the following resistance was one and a half, and then half a year after that Tommy got exiled. He was in exile for roughly two months.
EthosLab: And Tommy is 16 now ?
Callahan:...Correct. Unfortunately.
EthosLab: He was 11 when his brother dragged him into a war. And I’m assuming that “Tubbo” is also a child?
Callahan: Yes. There were a total of 4 children on the server. Tommy, Tubbo, Ranboo, and Purpled. Ranboo showed up at around age 15, and no one is really sure when Purpled arrived but he’s been around since at least age 13.
EthosLab: And which one are you sending here?
Callahan: Purpled.
EthosLab: Okay. This is a lot of information. Should I be telling any of this to Xisuma?
Callahan: Just the part about Purpled. Tommy will remember and tell his past in his own time. I’m only telling you because you’re basically his guardian right now with Kristin out. I talked to her, and she said she used a lot of built-up energy moving Tommy’s ghost to Hermitcraft.
EthosLab: I see. I’m not the only one taking care of him, but I think you probably guessed that just from knowing about the hermits. I’ll keep the secrets in mind, and tell Xisuma about our upcoming visitor.
Callahan: Thanks, really. I owe you a lot for this.
Etho set his communicator back down on the table and put his head in his hands. That was so much information to process. Even with minimal information, Etho knew that the Dream SMP was basically hell. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. Behind him stood Tommy.
“Oh, hello Tommy. Did you need something?” The boy nodded.
“I can’t sleep. Nightmares,” he wrote in his journal.
“I see. Did you want some tea? I think I have some here somewhere,” Etho stands up and walks to his kitchen to rummage around the drawers. “Ah, before I forget, do you remember anyone named Purpled from your former server?”
Tommy shakes his head no. “That’s alright kiddo, just asking. Callahan mentioned him to me. He’s going to send Purpled to Hermitcraft.”
Tommy’s eyes widened. “Will he recognize me?” he writes.
“I don’t know. Probably, since you’re from the same server. Callahan warned me that he might not be friendly at first so it might not be a good idea for you to show up all ghostly and have him think we were the ones that killed you, yeah? I’m going to have someone else go get him when he shows up. Ah, I need to remind Xisuma that he’s coming.” Tommy nods. “That makes sense.”
As Etho continues rummaging, he doesn’t notice Tommy starting to drift off to sleep again. Once the tea was ready, the boy was completely asleep. Etho ruffled his hair slightly and whispered a goodnight. He decided to go to bed as well. Carrying the ghostly boy back upstairs, Etho could only hope he wouldn’t have more nightmares tonight. Universe knows he needed the rest.