Child's Play - A Hermitcraft 8 AU

Boatem's Problematic Again - Etho

Summary: Boatem's problematic again... Again, with their issues of members dying and then respawning and needing supervision.

But this is a different case. Less chaos involved.
A case involving a certain Impulse who decided it was a good idea to push all his friends away and become a hermit for the weeks until he was back to "normal".
And Etho's been put to the task to force Impulse into a socialization of sorts.

(Author's Note: Literally forgot Wattpad existed, so after publishing this to AO3... I just didn't to here. *Insert plugs to go check out my page over there, because I have so many other projects that are incomplete... or are one-shots... for you to read, and I actually remember to post there*)

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"You busy, Etho?" Bdubs asked from the other end of the line—rather, communicator. There was background noise from around him, which sounded like two or three younger hermits—if Etho made a guess were probably under the age of ten.

"Got your hands full over there?"

"No, actually. 'Suma and Keralis are just fine. It's Boatem that's the problem."

It was almost funny, given Boatem being the problem did not tell anything of the matter while telling everything of the matter all at once. "And that's not normal?"

Bdubs fought a laugh, evident by his shaky voice. "Well... yes, but– It's actually not a kind of problem you'd expect— –Keralis, share– I'm sorry, they're being..."

"Problematic too?"

"Well –you two stop it. It doesn't matter who started it– Boatem's not problematic per se... just... Pearl called and asked Tango and I if we could check in on Impulse. Apparently he just avoids everyone post-death. Well, Tango hasn't been able to get to 'em, and we would've called Zedaph, but he either has no signal in that lab of his or is MIA. He could be dead for all we know."

That of course was said lightly, given the hermits didn't believe the scientist had killed himself yet due to experiments. Zedaph would more than likely put up a fight before dying so easily... or on the flipside get so clumsy that he died on complete accident. Either way.

"So, what're you needing me for?"

It took a minute for a response. The two small troublemakers on the other end being children in the worst sense of the word. "Well, I thought you'd understand Impulse's whole disappearing on us while he's a kid thing, so maybe you'd connect to him better? Or just... I don't know, but you're really good at making people feel comfortable so I thought..."

"You thought you'd volunteer me." To be fair, there were far worse things Etho could be forced into.

"Yeah. That. I mean, I didn't make any promises to Pearl, I just said I'd help her find someone. And it's not like he's five or anything. You're not babysitting." The words ended in a bitter tone.

"You planning on volunteering Tango to help you too?"

Once again, Bdubs fought back a laugh, voice filled with amusement and annoyance all at once. "Possibly. If these two get any worse." Etho heard a sigh at the other end of the receiver. "You willing to help out?"

Etho left Bdubs hanging for a second, if only to annoy him with a lack of response. "Fine. If I have to," he answered, still making it plain that he didn't really mind.

And this time, a more relieved sigh. "Thanks. Sorry I put this on you– Just, Pearl seemed worried and I'd help but—"

"Hands full. You take care of yourself... and the two of them."