Day 13: Joel

it's only a matter of time... ♥

Okay WOO I'm back. Hasn't quite been 8 hours of sleep, but like, who cares about the specifics??

Okay first, I just want to say amazing chapter as always. First and foremost. It will never cease to amaze me how Impulse and Skizz are completely different characters. You do such a good job of creating individual voices for them, but yet in a way that doesn't feel like a dramatic change? I don't know if that really makes sense? Reading from each pov feels different, it feels like it's genuinely a different person we're viewing, but it also feels like they're one in the same. Like they're the same person in a different font, like they genuinely are made for each other. I'm getting way off track and over analyzing something as simple as an author writing multiple pov's. Okay then. Back on track. This chapter was a delight to read, and knowing most of it probably wasn't even planned and just. Spiraled into existence is very funny to me. Never been this excited to see Skizz's chapter because the things you have the potential to do. My god.

Okay now talking about the ACTUAL CHAPTER!! I'm assuming this takes place the same day as the apology pastries, but I could be wrong. Having Tango as the TA is genius and genuinely threw me for a loop because I forgot Impulse didn't personally know him at first. My first thoughts were something like "wow another blazeborn thats cool. To bad its not tango, or impulse would have thought about him directly by now". And then it. Was Tango. SHAKSJK. This could majority effect the plot or just be a silly thing to add onto the miscommunication pile and I love it. (Also impulse calling him Tongo?? Fucking amazing.) I don't really have much to say about Tango right now, but I'm very excited to hopefully see more of him in the future

Impulse physically counting down the minutes before he gets to leave class, and more importantly, look at the messages skizzley sent? He is incredibly real for that, but also, that man is down BAD. Impulse thinking about and then proceeding to RESEARCH angle culture. The WINGS. His CLAWS. I hate him. I hate him so much. An angles ability to sense others emotions? Walleye the things you've done and set up in a relatively short chapter. Insane.

Now the main thing i wanted to talk about. Certainly not last, and potentially the furthest thing from least, Impulse can see enchantments. First, that is SO insanely cool. Only certain species can see enchantments?? That's such a cool thing?? Not only as a plot device (i see what you're doing. I will be talking about it in a second.) But also just, a super cool thing? I know I'm repeating myself but, I love that?

I'm not really going to try and sort out my thoughts about how this will effect impulse as the classmate because I will be here for a while, and instead just focus on how GENIUS of a miscommunication plot point this is. The moment I read the line "this time noting the white feathers" I knew it was all over. Of course impulse would specifically say white feathers, he wouldn't be able to see enchantments through a picture. Of course he wouldn't have any reason to think Skizzley is an angle, much less his classmate (yes he does. He DOES. he has EVERY REASON TO THINK THAT-) and this is just touching the surface of everything you've set up within this single conversation.

Impulse is now way more attracted to his online friend, he knows he has wings, he doesn't, even for a SECOND, consider the possibility of skizz being skizz, and on top of that. You made Impulse indirectly insult Skizz's wings.

Now, this might not be important, it might not effect anything, I might be reading too far into it. But from skizz's perspective? He shares a personal picture for the first time, it includes a snippet of his wings, and his online friend whom he's grown so very attached to, says some other guy, who ALSO has the name skizz, has prettier wings? Keeping in mind skizz can't sense or feel any emotions online, he has no way of knowing Impulses true intentions. He has no real way to tell if impulse is playing it up for the bit, or if he genuinely thinks this other guy, in every sense of the word, is more attractive. Again could mean nothing.

While I'm here I might as well scream about the emotion thing a bit more. Stepping away from the chapter and plot points, not being able to tell what Dipple Dop is feeling must be so refreshing and so fucking terrifying at the same time. Anyway, back to the story. We know skizz doesn't know what exactly impulse his classmate is feeling towards him. (Something something everybody loves skizz and skizz loves everybody, he doesn't know the different between platonic love and romantic love because nobody has ever cared about him as a person that much vs a really good friend etc etc) he can't know what dipple dop is feeling. For the first time in probably a long time he is almost completely in the dark. We're assuming skizz hasn't put the pieces together what so ever about another skizz with wings, hey! I'm a skizz! I have wings! Because, well there probably wouldn't be over 20 more chapters if he did SKSKAJ

Also SCREAMING AT YOU. SCREAMING AT YOU SO HARD BECAUSE RAAHAHHAHJ if the knowledge that angels can sense emotions gets to impulses head, there is a very high likelihood he will start to avoid his classmate, also maybe gaslight himself into trying to feel anything other than attraction to this man, which would make skizz think he did something wrong, etc etc. Impulse now firmly believes skizzley is somebody else and it's just an insane coincidence. Skizz is one devious author away from spiraling into a mess. There are so many other directions this could go I just DONT KNOW HOW TO PUT THEM INTO WORDSS. There are so many other THOUGHTS that i dont know how to explain. There are so many different paths i can see this taking. you make me so mad. In a good way. I'm angry that you're writing a story that is basically specifically tailored to drive me insane/pos. There are so many more things i could probably talk about from this chapter alone but ive forgotten them because the only clear thing right now is just "they should kiss. For fun. As a reward. Let them kiss".

At this point I've been here over an hour trying to make sure this is somewhat readable because to be honest I haven't fully woken up and it's way to early for me to try and use my brain for sophisticated thoughts! but! We persist! Because you have completely taken over every thought of mine with half baked concepts and ideas on how insanely stupid these idiots are. And if I don't get them out I won't be able to do anything today. I hope you're happy, I hope you're proud of what you've made me (don't stop. I'll gladly embrace insanity if skizzpulse miscommunication college au is the result/silly)

Hi hi hi!!!!!! have I ever told you how much I love your comments and things because I love them dearly and read them regularly for motivation :))

That said, you need to SLEEP. It is critical for your mental and physical health, and you need to be in peak physical condition to handle what the next chapter holds ;)

ALSO THANK YOU SO MUCH I TRY SO HARD TO GIVE THEM UNIQUE VOICESSSSSSS. they ARE made for each other, soul mates, destined to be together in every universe <3 But I appreciate you noticing this so much you have no idea, and I'm thrilled that you liked the chapter :D and I'm glad you're hyped for the next one ((EVEN IF IT"S BEEN A MONTH AAAAA-)) because it's coming soon to an archive near you

That last chapter did happen on the same day as the pastries, you're correct (though, I'm not gonna lie, I haven't payed attention to the timeline at ALL until recently, things just kinda vaguely happen at some point in the week. That said, I did make schedules for each of them that I might release soon). Also YES ta Tango is one of my favorite things, because Impulse needs more friends 👍 (ngl Gem and Pearl were added in the spur of the moment for the same reason because I decided he was going to be in a group project now lmao. That had NOT been the intent when I started the chapter, I can tell you that much). Impulse calling him Tongo made me laugh so much tho, it's just so stupid and I giggled every single time I read it xD

He is down bad, and it's far too late for him to recover >:) I just thought, "what would a stupid idiot do if he had a massive crush on someone?" and the answer was, of course, do extensive research on every aspect about the man that he can think of. Totally normal and not at all obsessive behavior, not at all.

Hehehehehe I love adding little things like demons being able to see enchantments (they can see something else, too, but you'll find out what that is soon enough...). I love adding niche worldbuilding things just because I can :D And demons being able to see enchantments just so happens to be majorly relevant to the plot >:)

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE the enchantments don't go through the screen >:))))))))

honestly, I wasn't expecting everyone to get it immediately, but ig my readers aren't as dumb as Impulse is (/lh). I also love how angry everyone is over this little thing, because he has absolutely no reason to be comparing the two in his mind, now that he has what he believes is solid evidence that they're not the same person--not that he would have ever thought that in the first place. It's simply a coincidence that they have the same name :)

(also, side note for this lil moment: it was directly inspired by the post that started this whole thing from Chipper, which said that Impulse knew they both had wings, but thought that online Skizz was a dove hybrid or something)

oh my, Impulse indirectly insulting skizz's wings? ......

I'm sure that won't come up later :)

I'm not going to confirm or deny any of your theories on how Impulse may or may not behave given that Skizz can sense emotions, but that said, I love your theories and eat them up for breakfast, please please keep them coming. Impulse avoiding him and Skizz spiraling into a mess would be funny though, wouldn't it...

Thank you thank you again for sending this ask in!! I love every bit of it, and also some of your thoughts have inspired me to make... slight edits, let's say, to future chapters ;) What those edits are, you'll never know. because I'm evil.

Look forward to the next chapter in the coming days ((potentially even hours if I get around to it O.o))

Day 12: Pearly Pop!!

The third and final member of the soup group! And as such, I can finally release the full photo from Skizz's journal :D

This is the first drawing I did for this challenge, so I'd redo a few things in hindsight, having finished many since then, but I still love it! lmk what you guys think, and, as always: All journal posts, @hermitadaymay fundraiser post, and go follow @enkays-den for all the hard work they do!! + click to see our fic ao3

he’s so gorgious

speedran this trend on twitter dot com ^.^ I love turning middle aged men into cutie pies

awwww he’s so cute tryna pull the massive locket XD

I love him dearly

also idk what you’re supposed to do now, I just thought they should have matching jewelry lol

give him this please, he needs some shinies. what does he think of it?

((I wonder who has the other half...))

he loves it!

now to find who has the other half...

(cough @dailyimpulsedoodles cough)

Chapter 8 is HERE! I REPEAT: Chapter 8 is out and available to read!!!

The aftermath of the coffee incident... ((rambling below))

I have a few things to say about this!

First, sorry it took so much longer to get this out than previous chapters D: I kinda hit a wall with inspiration because I kept getting sucked into other fics (coming soon to a walleye near you ;) ) and then spent a month drawing some stupid squishy lil guys that I love with all my heart but you can't see because it's TOP SECRET. SECRET, I say!! I don't even have permission to tell you about their EXISTENCE so nobody say anything to anyone! Anyways, I aim to do a chapter a week from now on, we'll have to see if that happens :]

Second, I am obsessed with art. Like, I've had my drawing tablet for years, but haven't ever seriously used it until recently and guys. it is the best thing ever. Anyways, I think this is my favorite drawing for the series yet, for both the lineart and the colors. I used a fancy color palette picker thingamajiger and it's beautiful and I'm in love. Skizz's wings look so much better cream than they did that weird purple-blue that I couldn't let go of. The colors make me so happy, and then the LINE ART. Probably one of the cleanest line arts I've ever done (I especially love Skizz's shirt). I couldn't not share because I'm so pleased with my progress; this feels a hundred times better than my stuff just two months ago, so I hope you like it, too! Not to mention the coffee drips looking more realistic, and the poses and AUGH.

Well, that's all. Gushing over! Enjoy the chapter :3

PS: here's the link AGAIN in case u missed it in the title :]

"Why am I a white dude?"

There is water here that can quench your thirsty bones and make you well (make you well)

Sarandiel is not present for the first half of the meeting.

He is sitting outside.

It's being held in Xisuma's base, because apparently there isn't actually a meeting house built on the server. Sarandiel privately thinks that's a bit of an oversight, considering what Impulse has told him about what IS on the server, but he's keeping his mouth shut.

He's making his peace.

They're going to kill him, he's sure.

Why wouldn't they? This server is in the neutral zone but that won't stop Command from coming, if she ever finds a way to reach him again. He's a liability. He doesn't have the skills this place seems to require at all. The city beyond Impulse's has sprouted two new buildings over the week, and their brief foray to the actual spawn area had shown an entirely new structure- a playing field, maybe?

Sarandiel can't build anything.

He can DESTROY it, sure enough, but these people don't need an angel bringing down beacon rain to take apart their builds.

Nor, to be frank, can they afford to let him go.

What if Command catches him traveling the void? What if she finds out they sheltered him? No.

It makes the most tactical sense to just be rid of him, quickly and quietly.

Sarandiel supposes that thought should make him afraid, or furious. After all hadn't he disobeyed? Hadn't he run to live, left everyone else behind to bleed out on their beacons? What is any of that worth if he just rolls over and dies here?

It's a choice, he thinks. A choice to stay here, a choice to not simply fly off while they debate. That would make it the- what, second? Third choice he's ever made?

No, he might actually be up above ten now. Ten choices, made all by himself. Not bad.

There's a small chance they'll let him stay, maybe. A tiny one. Does he trust that? Can he?

He shakes his head. It doesn't matter. He's spent his whole life fighting. He doesn't want to fight anymore.

He just hopes whoever they choose, it won't be Impulse. Impulse makes the most sense, Sarandiel has spent the most time with him so he'd let the demon get in close, probably, but- but it would be cruel.

Whatever the Hermits are, they aren't cruel.

Still it's been really nice, these last few days. Impulse has been kind, kinder than Sarandiel can sense he really wanted to be and he appreciates that. He appreciates BDubs' neat haircut, and even Grian, strange little Grian, swooping down to say hello.

He appreciates the quiet he's had. The not so lonely nights on Impulse's beacon, falling asleep to the songs of angels who aren't begging him for help or issuing orders because they're dead. They don't need help anymore, and no one can give them orders where they are.

So if he's going to die at least it's here, on this strange server. Maybe they'll keep his remains, keep his skull and find two others. Becoming the monster, that might be hard. Will he be aware? Will he know he has become a monster?

Might be worth it, he thinks as he gazes idly at a pot full of blooms he doesn't recognize, gainfully ignoring the raised voices beyond the door. Someone is shouting about a lost- bean? No, Queen. The word is Queen.

Funny. Sarandiel almost recognizes the voice.

The meeting room goes quiet. A consensus has been reached. Impressive- far faster than the Second Circles arguing endlessly about theory.

The door opens and Impulse gestures for Sarandiel to come inside.

Sarandiel puts his wings away- better to fit, easier for someone to get in a quick strike to his back- and obeys the beckoning hand.

Inside the room there is a large table and many chairs. The people sitting at them- well. It's quite the variety. Sarandiel hasn't seen so many different hybrids and mob-folk since the last time he was at a multi-world hub.

He spots Grian and another avian, a woman with blonde hair and eyes like glacial ice. There's a slime-mob at the end of the table, but instead of the standard green they're a soft, cloudy blue. Bdubs waves, because of course he does. There's the strange spliced goat-man from the first day, and two wolf hybrids- a man and a woman, different species, Sarandiel's pretty sure, but each just as attentive to his movements.

Then there's the man in the suit and his companion.

Sarandiel thinks, with some bitter relief, Oh. Oh that's who's going to kill me.

He hasn't seen a redstone demon in that good a shape in centuries.

There's a sheep mob in a pink suit and a blaze demon, his tiny rods chiming around his head. There's a girl with fins instead of ears, long red hair tied back with a blue bandana. There's a vex hybrid in a lab coat spattered in dye, a- a zombie beside what certainly looks like a full size puppet but Absolutely Is Not.

There's a series of human-ENOUGH-men, or at least they play the part well. The blonde one with the black bandana can't quite hide the extra eye on the forehead, though, not from Sarandiel. Takes one to know one, as it were.

And then there's-

Sarandiel stares.

Well.

He's found where the Gloamingking and the Lost Knight went.

Okay. So maybe it won't be the redstone demon.

"Sarandiel, sit down," Xisuma says and sure, why not. Sarandiel slowly sits beside Impulse, doing his best to look directly at the table and not at any of the people around it.

"So we've had a vote," Xisuma says, "and we've all agreed that it's probably best if you stay here on Hermitcraft, if you're amiable."

Sarandiel blinks.

He blinks again.

It's probably best if you stay here on Hermitcraft.

He looks at Xisuma, blinks a couple more times.

"Did we render him speechless?" The zombie asks.

"Believe it or not that's hard to do," Impulse says. "Sarandiel? Hey. You in there?"

"Give him a moment," the puppet-that-isn't says. "He looks a little shellshocked."

"More than a little," the girl with fin-ears says. "I think he's turned whiter than Mumbo's shirts."

When a hand touches Sarandiel's shoulder he jumps almost half a foot and Impulse (because of course it's Impulse it was always going to be Impulse) says, eyes creased with concern, "Hey. You okay?"

Sarandiel inhales, exhales, says, "So you're not gonna kill me?"

"Wha- no!" Xisuma says. "No that was never on the table!"

"Oh. Okay. I, uh. hm. I was pretty sure that- I mean it makes the most SENSE to-"

"Sarandiel." the goatman- Doc? yeah, Doc- eyes him steadily. "We are not a military organization. We are not a terrorist organization."

"Depending on the day," murmurs one of the Too-Normal men, the one with a straw hat hanging from a braided cord around his neck. Grian snorts.

"as Xisuma said," Doc continues with a look at the man, "ending your life was never an option. Asking you to leave was. We decided to ask you to remain, instead."

"We made you wait for the question, we can wait for the answer, if needed," Xisuma says.

Sarandiel shakes his head. "You don't need to. I don't have anywhere else to go. But- I don't- know what to do?"

He laughs and the laugh turns into a soft sob.

"I'm good at one thing," he whispers, "and I don't want to do that anymore. Not here, not on another server, nowhere. I don't have a purpose. Why let me stay?"

"Holy hell," says a man in full armor, "are you SURE we can't just sic Grian on these people?"

"He wouldn't last fifteen minutes," Doc snaps.

"I mean I'd help," the Lost Knight offers.

"Sarandiel," Impulse says, "you don't need a purpose to be alive, man. You just do it."

Sarandiel can't help but laugh at that. "Dippledop I don't know HOW!"

"Dippledop?" The blaze demon murmurs. The sheep beside him shrugs.

"Oh well that's easy." Grian says brightly. "We show you. We can start right now."

"How about we DON'T let Grian be in charge of deprogramming the living weapon?" suggests the fin-eared girl.

"Well who would you suggest? Scar?"

"I think I'd do a great job!" the Lost Knight says.

"Considering what was discussed previously, pass." Xisuma says. "For now. Sarandiel, Impulse has agreed to let you stay at his base- you seem comfortable there. Explore. Look around. Meet with us, let us meet you. That's where you start."

"Or don't," the Gloamingking says. "It's all the same."

"Joel!" says the other wolf.

"No," Sarandiel says meekly, "no, he's. Got a point."

A big one. A big, server destroying one.

How had the Gloamingking voted to let him stay?

The Gloamingking- Joel- nods firmly. "Good enough."

"Okay but I still think we need enrichment outings," the Lost Knight says.

"Scar he's not a baby you aren't teaching him how to walk!"

"But Gem, a man must learn to walk before he can run!"

"I already walk fine, thanks," Sarandiel says. Bdubs snorts and Xisuma sighs. "Alright. Meeting's done, good lord, all of you get out of here. Welcome to Hermitcraft, Sarandiel."

Somewhere in the multiverse, an axis inexorably tips to balance just a tiny bit more.

-

A/N: title is a line from the Gray Havens song Ghost Of A King!

[Day 77]

I never realized they all be walking like gamer posture

Day 9 (kinda): Martyn!

Like we said before, we're doing life series members as well as normal hermits in our au! Instead of outfit swap, we have Martyn today for Hermit a Day May! Also notable in this fic is that he's in a poly relationship with Ren and Doc <3 (More on that in our future posts)

As always: All journal posts, @hermitadaymay fundraiser post, and go follow @enkays-den for all the hard work they do!!