Ranboo's Not-So Party Birthday Party

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I vauqley remember in the first or second season of Origins that Tubbo and Ranboo agreed to have their canonically romantic marriage from the Dsmp onto the Origins SMP, but I'm not too sure if it's still relevant now. So I'm sticking with calling them soulmates/best friends in my Origins fanfics :)
And yes, I am aware it's nowhere near Ranboo's birthday...
Please Do Not Repost!!
⚠️TW's: Very lightly mentioned past trauma/abuse!
This story is part of a series, but can be read alone!
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'Tommy and Tubbo's Basic Guide to Endermen/Enderians
Facts Approved (and Proven) True by an Enderian Himself.'
Pg I:
Endermen are crow-like creatures. The find interest in anything they can get their hands on, grass being their favorite. Their home, the End, is not as wide-variety as the Overworld. It's often you'll see an Enderian type to treasure the chunks of grass or tree log they pick up. If you're lucky, you can grow a bond with them like you can a crow. Giving them random trinkets and things. You'll soon enough find possibly more valuable items on your doorstep. Forewarning, if an Enderman feels you are trying to take advantage of them, you'll most likely not see them again. They take friendships very seriously and cautiously.
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"Oh, Boo! Your birthday is coming up pretty soon, isn't it?" Tubbo chirped, looking up from his garden.
"Hm? Yeah, what about it?" Ranboo hummed, pulling his hair up into a messy-bun. Tubbo was glad that he and the other hybrids managed to get it through the ex-prince's thick skull that he doesn't have to be so tight and fancy anymore. Still didn't stop him from constantly wearing his crown or flashy jewelry, as according to him, he actually liked it and felt comfort in the weight and flare. But he did stop wearing his hair all pretty or wearing corests and super royal clothes. His clothes still seemed a bit in the rich catagory, but if you made him a homemade sweater or something, he'd make sure to wear it. He actually cried once when he accidentally got a hole in a knee-high skirt Niki made him. The merling patched it up easy and assured him that it was okay, mistakes happen. Everyone always called the ex-prince a spoiled brat when he first came round, since he always acted snobby and... Well... Spoiled. But in honesty, he just didn't really know how to act around other people. Tubbo has definitely seen the hurt in Ranboo's eyes whenever someone would even jokingly call him 'spoiled brat' or anything insulting like that.
Shaking his head from his thoughts, Tubbo planted another tulip seed. "Well I was just wondering if you had any plans or anything you wanted to do 'bout it. Y'know, since you're turning 18, right? Big boy day, bro." He smiled.
Ranboo furrowed his brows. "What do you mean 'do something'?"
Tubbo looked up at his friend, "I mean like, do you wanna have a party or something?" At Ranboo's even more confused face, pieces in the Bee's brain slowly clicked. Or so he thought. "Do... Enderman not celebrate their birthday or something?"
Ranboo fiddled with one of the many rings on his fingers. "I mean. From what- from what I've heard, most do. Yeah, yeah. But... Mine never really was... Celebrated. They were just treated like, like normal days. The only thing special that happened was the, um, servants making my favorite meal and me being allowed to stay in the library an hour past bedtime." He shrugged "I was told that, um, I-I shouldn't be doing useless celebrations. Plus, I don't really like parties anyway, y'know? T-the ones I've encountered are always filled with too much people and with too much flashy lights. Always hurts my head and makes me feel all gross." He shuddered.
Tubbo stared in shock, mouth slightly agap. Ranboo grunted under his gaze and began to take off his rings, setting them on the little bench next to him. "It- it's... Not really something that bothers me, honestly." Once all rings were off, he kneeled onto the dirt to help plant seeds. "That's just how I-I grew up. I don't really know what to say 'bout it." He drug a long, sharp, nail through the dirt, making another line for seeds. Tubbo was still in shock, but he felt like he shouldn't be anymore. All of what Ranboo has said about his life seemed like absolute shit. Seemed like the Enderian's parents didn't care for him. How he never got to really see them unless he was seated with them in the throne room for some formal crap of citizens. Or how they locked him in his room for hours whenever he didn't follow protocol or messed up something. There was a lot more and Tubbo hated that Ranboo thought this was completely normal and okay.
That's it. He wanted to do something special for his friend's birthday. Try to make up at least a little for what Ranboo missed out on. It didn't exactly have to be a party, obviously. "You said the servants made your favorite meal? What's your favorite meal?" He asked, watching the taller cover the seeds in dirt. Humming, Ranboo sat back on his legs, tail coiling limply around his waist as he put his hands in his lap and stared at the ground. Silence hung in the air for a good minute. Tubbo knew to be patient with his friend, since the Enderian sometimes needed time to process even simple things. The Bee dusted his hands on his pants and sat next to Ranboo, looking around the greenhouse at all the plants. Another moment of silence and he realized his friend had dazed out again, probably daydreaming like he did often.
Carefully, Tubbo gently tapped Ranboo's leg. The Enderian chirped and snapped his head towards the shorter. "Hm? Oh-oh, right. Um, it's uh, Chicken and Dumpling Soup... The servants had found a-a recipe book with that in it. Y-yeah, it's kind of a, um, strange thing to have as a-a favorite meal. But we, we don't really have much... Overworld stuff out in the End. And it was hard to get some Overworld stuff, I- I think? I don't, I don't know. Like I've said before, I wasn't really allowed to- allowed to socialize much with people outside the palace. Yeah." He squeezed his tail, looking away from Tubbo. The two remained silent, Tubbo took that silence to think about ideas. Ranboo didn't like parties but maybe it could just be a little get-together of all his friends. Since the hybrids haven't all been together in one room at the same time for a while, always off to do their own things. Maybe Niki and Phil could make some food. Tubbo remembered last time a get-together was for Schlatt's birthday in September. Which became a bit awkward since it turned into a drinking contest between the adults. Niki, thankfully, brought the teens down to her lake to tell stories of her adventures in the oceans.
Ranboo shifted next to him, dragging Tubbo out of his thoughts. The Enderian face was twisted up. The brunette tilted his head, "what's up, Bossman?"
"Still feel like crap." Ranboo grunted, sticking a tongue out in disgust.
Tubbo chucked and rubbed circles on the taller's back, causing him to purr softly. Around three-ish days ago, Phil made pumpkin pie since there had been tons of Pumpkin's growing 'round. Ranboo had tried a piece, only to find out he was allergic. Ended up puking just about every hour and was dog-sick for two days, having to lay in bed the entire time. Techno ended up nagging Phil for letting the Enderian eat pumpkin, saying how the Elytrian should've known that Enderman are allergic. That was definitely a crazy couple days, Phil, Techno, and Tubbo taking turns to watch over Ranboo. The other hybrids helped when they could, but it was mainly just the three.
Fuck. Okay. He really needed to stop and focus on what's happening right now. What's going on? Oh. Ranboo's talking.
"-urts, honestly. But I think I-I'll be okay. Maybe. Probably. Okay, yeah I'm a bit woozy. But yeah."
"Hm? Oh. If you're not feeling great, why don't you go lay down? All I got left is to water the seeds and other flowers." Tubbo offered in concern.
The Enderian warbled and waved a dismissive hand, "Yeah, yeah. But first- do you know where Sneeg is? I promised I'd help him with the, um, new axolotl farm today."
Tubbo shook his head, "No. But Phil probably knows."
Ranboo nodded and scooped up his rings, shoving them into the pocket of his shorts. He stood and Tubbo followed suite, dusting his pants off. As if that would help any with the layers of dirt, grime, and pollon coated on them. The taller bent over and gently butted his head against the Bee's, purring softly. The brunette buzzed happily, letting his fluff-tipped antenna's tangle with Ranboo's long horns. A moment of peace, the only sounds were Ranboo's soft purring and Tubbo's quiet buzzing. It was broken by the sound of a communicator going of and the Enderian grumbling in annoyance. "Alright, alright. I gotta go. Mhm." He straightened back up and Tubbo frowned. Ranboo fished the tatered purple comm out of his pocket and looked at the messages. He smiled at the shorter and the tip of his tail brushed against the brunette's ankle.
Tubbo smiled back and waved as Ranboo turned to the exit and teleported out. Grin widening, the Bee stepped over to the yellow wateringcan on another bench across the greenhouse, careful not to step on the newly-planted seeds. He poured the rain-gathered water over the dirt mounds, making sure to get every spot- not forgetting the fully-grown flowers. Satisfied, Tubbo threw the can to a corner and rushed out the door of the greenhouse, he had to get to Phil. In the distance, he saw Ranboo bending over and picking up somthing about the size of his head, setting it on his shoulder and swaying his tail. Tubbo assumed it to be Sneeg, the Inchling always loved sitting on people's shoulders, especially Ranboo's since he was the tallest. The Bee chuckled and buzzed over the water that flooded the ground bellow the Pub(e) after a large storm. He climbed up the ladder, his flying was very slow and kind of painful. He didn't know why, that's just kinda how he was born. The wood creaked underneath his hold. It had started weakening from being used so much. Wilbur said that if he gets around to it, he'll build a sturdier ladder, maybe out of stone. Tubbo knew that the Phantom would do nothing until someone got injured from how worn it was or it completely broke on itself.
Tubbo hauled himself up onto the grassy Pub(e) grounds with a dramatic groan that no one heard. Grumbling, he pushed past the large, wooden, doors. Heightened to let Ranboo's tall figure walk in and out without constantly smacking his head or having to bend over. Phil and Tommy were over at the small kitchen-like area, Phil seeming busy with chopping potatoes as Tommy rambled about how his flying was starting to get better. The open area of moss and azelea flowers beamed in rays of yellow sunshine behind them, letting the dust and pollen particles be seen. Phil looked up from the counter and flashed Tubbo a warm smile before going back to chopping and listening to Tommy with "yeah" and "wow" 's. Tubbo smiled back and sat on one of the stools next to Tommy, who had just finished his ramble.
"Hey, Tubs!" The blonde beamed "I managed to get myself two whole feet into the air without help!"
Matching his best friend's energy, Tubbo grinned from ear to ear in excitement, clapping Tommy's back "That's great, Bossman!"
Tommy nodded and puffed out his chest, "I bet by the end of this week I'll be flying all the way up to the Pube!"
Phil grunted from the other side of the counter, "Maybe not to the Pube, mate. But I'm sure you'll be able to get up onto a small tree, maybe. Things like this take patience, Tommy."
The avian grumbled and crossed his arms, but didn't bother to argue, thankfully. Tubbo took this moment of silence to bring up what he came here for. "Phil! Ranboo's birthday is in-" he paused, glancing at the butterfly calendar Wilbur bought from the market, counting his fingers. "Five days! I was hoping we could do something for him. He didn't have any plans cause apparently he never got to celebrate it." Phil frowned at that, sliding the chopped potato pieces into a pot of water. Tommy stared in disbelief, with a slight curl of his lips. There was silence as Phil looked to be thinking while he pulled carrots out of a barrel.
"He said he doesn't really like parties so I kind of just thought maybe we should do another get-together and decorate a bit like we did for Schlatt." Tubbo shrugged and smiled, messing with a loose string on his sleeve.
Phil nodded and smiled, "Yeah we could do that. Although..." His smile faltered, resting a hand on the unchopped carrot.
Tommy snorted, "didn't Ranboo say he hates surprises or something?"
Phil made a so-so motion with his hand, "sort of. If it's crowd surprises like what Tubbo is suggesting, he much rather prefers to know beforehand. Learned that the hard way when I tried surprising him by taking him to the Summer Market. Absolutely freaked him out. Not in a good way." He grimaced and bit his lip.
Tubbo 'oh'd and looked down at the counter, eyeing the designs of the wood. "He seemed fine at Schlatt's birthday? And I'm pretty sure we didn't even tell him about what we were doing for Schlatt's birthday." Tommy said. "Maybe it's a stranger thing?"
"True." Phil mummered. "I'll message everyone else and let them know the plans. Tubbo, just keep Ranboo busy. I'm sure Sneeg'll also do so." He gave a small smile and pulled out his communicator.
Tubbo grinned and hopped off his stool. He only had five days to think up a present. Tubbo began listing in his head, things Ranboo liked. Ranboo liked jewelry, knitting (which had caught the other hybrids by surprise, if Tubbo was being honest), skirts, small things, grass blocks, amethyst-
Wait. Amethyst, jewls, skirts-
Tubbo gasped, he had the perfect idea. Tommy and Phil looked at him in concern. "You okay, mate?" The older asked, setting down his communicator.
Tubbo beamed at the Elytrian, "Perfectly fine, Phil! I'll be right back!" The Bee was barely touching to wooden floors as he darted out the door, nearly tumbling onto his face. He didn't bother with the slow ladder, jumping straight for Niki's lake bellow. Just ten feet away from falling into the waters bellow, his thin wings went to work and flapped as hard as they could to pick Tubbo up. Some would call him reckless for that, but he did it almost daily. Something about that rush, despite the pain it causes for his wings to suddenly be put under the pressure of gravity like that. He spotted Niki over at the shore, her tail glimmering in the sunglight. Wilbur was sitting under a tree in front of her, laughing at something the merling said. Tubbo hovered over to them, couldn't help but grin at the two.
"Niki!" The Bee exclaimed as he landed on the muddy ground that the small waves lapped.
"Hi, Tubbo!" The pinkette gasped, she quickly dunk her head in the water to take a breathe before coming back up with her usual big, warm, smile.
"Hey, Tubs" Wilbur waved, leaning back onto the tree he sat under.
Tubbo waved back and turned to Niki, "do you have any fabric left? I don't need too much."
His fish friend frowned, "No. I'm sorry, Tubbo. I used the rest of my fabrics to make Schlatt's travel backpack. I haven't been able to go get more because the waters outside the lake are too cold"
It was true, all the hybrids had gotten some magma and other Nether resources to keep Niki's lake somewhat warm during the fall/winter times. But the waters beyond her lake wasn't touched, so it was cold and unuseable. Tubbo suppressed a sigh and chewed at his lip, looking around. "I'm pretty sure Fundy has some fabrics he snuck from the market" Wilbur chirped, cocking his head towards the snowy mountain the Fox hybrid lived in. Tubbo nodded, not really excited for that encounter. The redhead, or orangette if you wanna be specific in the color wheel, was as sly and tricky as people consider a fox to be. Always stealing and if you asked something from him, there was a deal to be made that only ended up in doing him good. Of course, Fundy made exceptions for the other hybrids. Cause all them are friends in the struggle of living against humans and hunters together. Still didn't stop him from his little pranks and shenanigans.
"Ugh." Tubbo muttered, rubbing his face.
Niki giggled, "Good luck with him."
The Bee grumbled and waved goodbye to his friends, making way to the mountain. It wasn't that tall of one, it would've taken a bit of climbing, though, if Phil hadn't helped make a path to walk on up the oversized hill. The brunette kicked up snow with a huff, pulling his jacket closer. There was some clinking of bottles and shuffling around. Tubbo looked up to see Fundy seeming busy with potions, muttering and kicking the furnace in frustration. Tubbo chuckled and stepped into the cave, shaking off all the snow. The Fox looked over to him and smiled, straighting up. "Hey, Tubbo! What brings you to my humble abode?" He took a bow.
Tubbo shook his head at the Fundy's goofiness. "Do you have any fabric?"
Fundy hummed, "Yeah I've got a few, what color?"
"What'chya got?"
Fundy tilted his head and turned towards a chest against the wall, opening it. He shuffled around a bit with a squeak, pulling out a pile of six different folded fabrics. He set them each out onto a, pretty unstable, wooden, counter. Tubbo looked over them, each a different color of the rainbow. He reached over and picked one up, it was a dark midnight blue that had a bit of a purple tone and felt like cotton. He looked over at Fundy, "Mkay, now what's the other side of the coin to this?" He raised an eyebrow. Fundy hummed softly and looked at his communicator that he'd left next to the brewing stand.
"No trickery to this one, Bee-Boy. I know Ranboo's birthday is soon, which is probably why you want the fabric. If anything happens, I'll probably hold you to a favor." He shrugged.
Tubbo squinted in suspension, but dropped the look and smiled, holding the fabric to his chest. "Thanks, Fundy. Do you know how much fabric is here?"
"About 2 yards, length and width."
Tubbo nodded, heading for the cave exit, "Thanks again! See you later!" He waved and skirted down the path.
Fabric: aquired. Next up: Amythyst.
Which he also had none of.
He could just steal from Ranboo's cave. But then again, the Enderian seemed to always notice when things are missing, even just the tinniest feather. Something nagged at Tubbo in the back of his head that it'd be more special to go get the crystals himself. He really didn't want to go searching the ocean for hours, but this was for Ranboo. Rubbing his cold arms, Tubbo kicked a rock as he reached the end of the path. Welp. He had to do it. Maybe he could also do a quick stop to a cave for gold and diamonds, Ranboo liked those as well. Not as much as Amythyst, of course. With a over-dramtic sigh, the Bee put the fabric in his backpack and checked for his pickaxe. Satisfied upon seeing the enchanted tool, Tubbo headed towards the lake to follow the stream to the ocean.
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It was now 3AM. On Ranboo's birthday. And Tubbo was struggling to finish the dang skirt he decided to put off to help the other hybrids get a present these past few days. Ranboo usually woke up around 7AM, so the Bee only had 'bout four hours to finish the clothing. Cause then when Ranboo woke up, Tubbo had to keep him away from the Pub(e) so the other hybrids could decorate. God why was it taking so long to finish this skirt? He knew how to make a skirt, heck- he knew how to make clothes ranging from simple undergarments to semi-complicated dresses. Back before he was offered to come live with the hybrids around the Pub(e), he learned to make almost any clothes to sell at the market for some money to pay rent for the tiny house on the village border he lived in. Those were not fun times. Lot's of hybrid discrimination and days coming home in blood and bruises with little-to-no money cause either it all got stolen, or no one would buy from him just because he was a hybrid.
Tubbo slammed the needle down in frustration. The Amythyst shards were not making this easier. His plan had been to make a skirt that reached Ranboo's ankles with Amythyst and other gem strings just above the knees. The droop of the string would be decorated with gold circles, which was surprisingly easy to find, and the tops that connected the droops would be Amythyst. He had gotten some Amythyst and shattered them into thumb sized, filling them down into rhombus shapes. But he had to make holes into the Amythyst and Gold in order to string through it. Which was near-impossible since he didn't really have anything to do that. Tubbo had broken three needles already just trying to use them to drill through the jewels. He would've wrapped the string around the Amythyst and Gold, but that just makes it look ugly in his opinion. Not only that, but him and Phil had went to the market the other day and Tubbo bought some black lace that "was just PERFECT for the skirt."
God he was tired.
But thankfully, he was on the last Amythyst, chipping away a small hole through the top so he could finally finish the skirt. All that would be left is to sew the lace on. The lace was the average flowery pattern, Tubbo planned on sewing them to the bottom of the skirt. He grinned and let out a silent victory scream as he finally finished making the small hole. "Fuck you, bitches!" He whisper-shouted to the Amythyst and Gold chunks that shattered when he tried making tiny holes into them, holding up a middle finger. With a breathy chuckle, he threaded the needle and string through the last of the Gold circles and Amythyst, sewing it into the skirt. With a final knot, he tossed the needle down onto the fabric, luckily not loosing the small thing into oblivion. His back crackled as he straightened up from being bent over the desk for so long.
"Okay" Tubbo muttered under his breath. "Let's get this lace done."
Sewing was entrancing. Up and down, in and out. A pattern to be followed but so freely. All it took him was a tired blink and- oh. The sunrise was peaking through his door. And he was tying off the last knot to hold the lace to the skirt. Huh. Why couldn't making holes into the jewels slide by so quickly? Oh well. Tubbo slid out of his chair and lifted the skirt, admiring his work. It wasn't the most fancy, but it was pretty. It was long and flowy, the Gold circles dangling in arcs as they're connected at the tips with rhombus Amythyst. Tubbo realized now that he put them more at the waist, but it didn't matter anymore. The black, flowery, lace stood out, but not too much, at the bottom and Tubbo was just now noticing they had a slight shimmer of glitter to them. With a satisfied huff, he carefully folded the skirt and set it into a pretty, yellow box he found at the market. It wasn't too big, actually pretty shoebox sized in the shape of a square. But it had sunflower and tulip outlines on it in a darker yellow color and Tubbo just couldn't resist. Plus it was actually the perfect size.
Tubbo turned towards his nightstand and picked up the fake Allium a little girl at the market made for him, it was a bunch of felt scraps in different shades of purple.
"Hello sir! We're making felt flowers! Would chu like one?" A little girl with red hair in two ponytails ran over to Tubbo. She seemed to be 10 years old and was covered head-to-toe in freckles.
Tubbo pulled his cloak closer, hoping his wings and antenna weren't visible. "Um. Sure, sure." He smiled, knowing he wouldn't have the heart to tell the girl no.
She grinned widely, clapping and jumping in joy. "Yay! Tank chu! What flower would chu like? We can make olll kinds of flowers!" She pointed to a small stand with two other kids.
Tubbo looked to the stand, 'Felt Flowers - 2 Iron' was crudely written in multiple colors. He thought for a moment. "Oh, actually. My best friends birthday is coming soon, and he really, really loves Alliums. Do you think you can make that?" He asked, kneeling down in front of the girl.
The girl gasped, eyes brightening. "I wuv Alliums, too! I can, I can! Fowow me!" She grabbed Tubbo's wrist and drug the Bee to the stand.
So he ended up sitting there for a good half-hour, watching the girl expertly and carefully make a felt Allium while her friends made felt flowers for other people. "Alliums are WEALLY big flowers! But I don have much porple left, so I had to make it a bit smoller, if tats okay?" She said, holding up the finished product. Tubbo gently grabbed it and smiled, nodding. "It looks amazing, thank you!" He reached into his backpack and pulled out a diamond from when he found a 6 vien. The brunette handed it to the girl, who nearly screamed.
"For me? Weally?! Are chu shore?!" She asked excitedly, holding the gem super carefully as if it could shatter at the slightest gust of wind.
"Of course" Tubbo smiled, "Thanks again, I gotta go now!"
He quickly stood and waved to the girl who was shaking in excitement. Grin never leaving he face, she waved back and turned to show her friends the payment. Tubbo chuckled and left meet up with Phil at the town exit.
With a smile, the brunette placed the fake Allium in the box with the skirt. Putting the lid back on, Tubbo shoved it into his hammock and looked at the ticking clock on his wall. 6:44 AM. He had around 15 minutes until Ranboo normally woke up. With another crackling of his back, Tubbo pushed past his door and headed for Ranboo's cave. The sky was turning into a light blue as the sunset washed away and the sun rose. The grass was wet with morning dew and birds began their morning songs. Tubbo never really woke up in the early morning, he was more of a lunch-time or afternoon guy. Even back when living at the village. But this was relaxing in a way, the birds, the silence, and the sun being just inches in the sky instead of directly above.
The brunette softly hummed as he reached Ranboo's cave. There was some quiet shuffling and a sigh. Tilting his head, Tubbo pushed past the glowberry vines and saw Ranboo making his bed with his back faced towards Tubbo, seeming like he just woke up. "Hey, Boo." The shorter smiled. The Enderian snapped his head up and turned around, heterochromia eyes landing on his honey ones and darting away for a brief second. Only to look back, realizing it was Tubbo.
"H-Hey, Tubbo." He said tiredly, letting his shoulders slump.
"You okay?" The brunette asked in concern.
Ranboo snickered, "I'm good. I'm good, just didn't sleep, um, very well. I should be the one a-asking you, you look like you haven't slept in days."
Well now that he said so, Tubbo began to feel the exhaustion of not sleeping all night. "Oh. Yeah." He chuckled, "Yeah I'm good. I didn't get much sleep, either."
Ranboo hummed and put down a brown cow plush that Tommy made him about two months ago. There was silence that was only filled with the clicking of Ranboo's claws as he walked around the cave to organize and grab his rings, arm bands, and earrings. The Enderian picked up some clothes he left on the end of the bed and looked at Tubbo in silence. The Bee blinked, looking Ranboo up and down to realize- oh. Ranboo was in pajamas. Oops. "Oh. Right. Sorry." He muttered, turning around.
Ranboo chuckled, "Don't worry."
Shuffling, claws clicking, and otherwise, nothingness. Tubbo also realized it was probably weird and awkward he just came in and didn't really say any reason as to why. But it also was kind of normal. The two often times liked to visit each other without word and just sit together, doing their own thing. "M'kay" Ranboo muttered. Tubbo turned around as the Enderian sat on the bed, wearing what he normally wore. A white button-up undershirt with large sleeves, a black corset (despite being naturally bone-thin), black leggings, and a long purple cape- connected together by an eye of ender. The Enderian was expertly putting on his earrings without a mirror. Tubbo went over and sat down next to him, the bed dipping under his weight. He picked up one of the golden bands Ranboo sometimes wore on his upper arm, examining the jewelry. Just a simple gold circle, small enough to fit around the taller's upper-arm. He had four arm band and two wrist bands. Tubbo vauqley remembered Ranboo having smaller ones for his tail but the Bee guessed those were ditched since he hadn't seen them in a while.
He was dragged out of his thoughts when Ranboo gently took the band out of Tubbo's hands, clicking it over his arm. "Don't those feel- like- restrictive or something? I dunno. It seems like they'd make you feel prisonerish." Tubbo asked, not taking his eyes off the bands. Ranboo unconsciously tapped a nail on a wrist band, "Y-Yeah. Sort of, I guess. But it also, um, kind of brings comfort, like my-my earings and stuff. L-like. I like the, um, weight. And plus- they were a gift from an... Old friend, and... Yeah. It's hard- hard to explain. Sorry."
"Oh, okay. It's fine, you don't need to apologize." Tubbo said, pulling his knees to his chest. The two sat quietly, staring into nothing. He glanced at Ranboo, the taller was picking at a fresh scab on his elbow.
Tubbo lightly smacked his hand. "Don't do that. How'd you get it anyway?"
Ranboo flicked his tail, "Tripped and, um, scrapped my elbows when I was going to-to the axolotl farm yesterday."
"Ah" Tubbo clicked his tongue, glancing at his comm as it beeped.
>Crowfather Pog: You and Ranboo away from the Pube yet?
<dhoot yeh one secod
He pocketed his comm and stood, turning to Ranboo. "Hey, do you wanna come with me to- uh... To..." he pause, realizing he didn't have a plan. Ranboo raised an eyebrow, his tail flickering lazily on the bed. "Fuck." Tubbo muttered.
The taller laughed and stood up, straighting the wrinkles on the blanket. "N-no thanks. I'd rather you- you take me to dinner first." He gave a toothy grin, flashing his sharp fangs.
"No! That's not-" Tubbo groaned and buried his face in his hands, couldn't help but grin. "Touché."
Ranboo gave an overdramatic theater bow, earrings clinking together. "Thank you, I try- I try my best."
The shorter rolled his eyes, "Well would you like to come with me maybe to the market or something?" He asked, coming up with the first thing that came to mind.
The taller grimaced, seeming uncomfortable. "Egh. No. I-I'd rather not."
Oh, good. Tubbo didn't have much money anymore, anyways.
"Mkay, that's fine. Do you have any plans today?"
Ranboo blinked in thought, "Well. I was gonna go, um, go to the Nether to find some Netherite and stuff. I need t-to upgrade my tools."
Tubbo beamed, "Cool! I'll come with! If- that's okay with you, of course."
The taller fixed his tilted crown, "Sure, sure. I don't mind."
The Bee grabbed Ranboo's wrist, dragging the Enderian with him. "After the Nether trip, if we have enough time, I found this really cool Mushroom biome that we could go to!" He sneaked a quick 'leaving now' text to Phil.
"Oh?" The taller warbled in interest, following Tubbo out the cave.
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The sun was almost setting as Tubbo and Ranboo began climbing up the Pub(e) ladder, a little more scuffed up than they were meaning to be. A ghast and some skeletons just wouldn't leave them alone, luckily no major damage was caused. At least, nothing a health potion couldn't fix. But they still had some scratches and bruises that time could easily heal. Tubbo grunted and looked up at Ranboo climbing above him. The paw pads on the Enderian's bare feet were torn up from when they both were running from a Piglin and Ranboo had to ditch his shoes when they got caught in red vines. Leaving him barefoot for the rest of the trip, which was hours. Tubbo had offered his shoes but the Enderian was stubborn and said he was fine.
The brunette frowned and climbed up the last few steps of the ladder, rolling onto the grass in front of the Pub(e) with a groan. He smiled at the slight tickle of the greenery under him. He hated climbing that dang ladder. Ranboo scooted next to him, sighing from the relief of not being on his feet anymore. "I offered my shoes." Tubbo chuckled.
The taller rolled his eyes, "I'm fine. Plus- they- they wouldn't have fit anyway. My feet are skinny, long paws, l-like a bunny. Yours are..." He looked at the shorter's feet, covered by normal-looking shoes, and made a twisted face. "Human-ey."
Tubbo laughed, wiggling his toes, "Yeah, true."
The two looked at the sky that was slowly turning from the day's blue to the night's dark purple. Tubbo perked up, "Oh! Right! I forgot to tell you- Happy Birthday, Bossman!" He smiled, looking at the Enderian. Ranboo's face was unreadable, but more so confusion.
"T-thank you, I think?"
Tubbo opened his mouth to say something, but the sound of the door opening caught both of the hybrids attention. They looked over to see Tommy poking his head out, staring at the teens. His eyes landed on Ranboo and he grinned mischievously. "Boob boy! Happy Birthday! Come on, let's go inside before it gets colder than it already is!" He glanced at Tubbo, smile softening. The brunette smiled back as Ranboo grumbled and got up, muttering something about being too tired and important to move. Classic Ranboo. Regardless though, the Enderian bumped his forehead with Tommy's, letting out a soft trill. The blonde chuckled, "Alright, c'mon. Let's go."
Tubbo got off the ground, excited to go inside, he grabbed Ranboo's wrist and the three walked in- only be greeted by a cluster of different reactions. Mostly conveying;
"Shit!"
"Wilbur!"
"Surprise!"
Sure enough, Wilbur was hanging upside down from a purple and blue triangle banner and there was a few more triangle banners on the floor beneath him that'd fallen. Other than that, the place seemed well done. The Pub(e) was cleaned up and there was flowers, paper pom poms, balloons, and more neatly placed or scattered about. Phil and Tommy were quick to try and get Wilbur back down. Tubbo looked up at Ranboo. The taller had his mouth covered, but Tubbo could see the familiar squint of his eyes  whenever he was smiling. His shoulders slightly shook with quiet laughter. Tubbo grinned, glancing over to Wilbur. The Phantom was now sprawled on the floor, getting gentle kicks from Tommy as Phil shook his head, tiredly.
"Ranboo! Happy birthday!" Niki said, coming over and hugging the Enderian. She was wearing the water bubble around her head that lets her stay out on land longer.
Ranboo kneeled slightly to return the embrace, resting his head on the glass globe. "I- thank you, I think? I-I don't know... What I'm- supposed to... I don't know? This isn't normal for me."
Niki just smiled sadly and thunked her forehead against the glass, Ranboo's ear flicked as he did the same. Thumping foreheads wasn't really a normal thing until Ranboo came around. Of course, he didn't start doing it immediately. But after a couple months of living at the Pub(e), he would thump his forehead against specific others, like Phil, Tubbo, Wilbur, Niki, Sneeg, and even sometimes Tommy. Everyone was confused and tried to comment on it, but Ranboo would just ignore and move on. Eventually Wilbur found out in a book he bought that thumping foreheads for Enderman are basically their way of saying "You're my family." Tommy would not leave Ranboo alone after that one.
"Awwwww, you consider me a family? The almighty prince considers little ol' peseant me a family?" Tommy said in a high baby voice, clearly just trying to peaster his friend.
Tubbo glanced up from painting Ranboo's nails, seeing the taller slowly smirk.
"Oh so you're finally admitting to be lower than- than me, huh? Finally realizing I'm better? Admitting to being a peasent, are you?"
Tommy sputtered, face going red. "No! I am the superior man! You fucking bitch-boy! I am so much more better than you! I was- I was simply using your dumb phrases! I am the higher man here!"
Everyone, except Tommy, laughed. The sound echoed gently thought the Pub(e). Wilbur closed the book he was reading and looked at Ranboo. "You should tell us next time. Cause honestly we all thought you were a little crazy thumping your head against ours with no explanation."
The Enderian shrugged and Tubbo put aside the nail polish, examining his work. Ranboo mummered something along the lines of "was too scared you wouldn't accept me" but no one else seemed to catch it.
Everyone was now sitting around the kitchen, talking loudly while waiting for Phil to finish making the chicken 'n dumpling soup. Tommy and Beau made jokes about the chicken being their long lost cousin, and they fake cried until Phil shoved sweet bread into their faces to shut them up. Tubbo looked at Ranboo, who seemed to be trying his best to act interested in whatever Schlatt is talking about. The two were standing near the entrance of the green porch. Schlatt handed Ranboo a large, dark, chunk, something he said was pirate glass. It was about the size of a palm, and looked like more like a rock. The Spider hybrid grabbed Ranboo's elbow and lifted in front of a lantern, pointing the glass to it. The Enderian slightly gapped, tail swishing in awe. Tubbo, confused, got off the barstool and went to stand next to Ranboo. He looked up at the glass and the once black chunk was now a foggy, sort of see-through green. "Oh that's so cool!" The Bee exclaimed in surprise.
Ranboo nodded in agreement and lowered his arm, turning to Schlatt to hand back the glass. The older raised a hand, shaking his head, "You keep it dude, consider it your birthday present."
The Enderian blinked and looked down at the glass, "Oh. T-thank you" he smiled softly.
Schlatt nodded and began to talk about the smells of many beach things. Tubbo, not wanting to listen to another ramble from the  Arachnid, went back over to the kitchen, giving a sympathetic smile and shrug to Ranboo's 'please don't leave me' look. The Bee sat back down on his barstool and watched Phil stir the pot of soup. "I'm thinking about getting a moth, soon. They are much better pets than a mangy cat or dog." Tommy said, taking a bite of a carrot he stole from Techno. Sneeg, who was in the moth hybrid family, looked at Tommy in sheer horror, causing Beau and Tubbo to burst into laughter, Phil shook his head, and Tommy remained a dead-serious face. Jack, seeming interested in what was going on walked away from his conversation with Niki, Fundy, and Wilbur, leaning over the counter. "Whatta we laughing about here, boys? And- girls." He nodded to Beau.
"Moths and offending Sneeg" Phil scoffed.
"Ah my favorite hobby" Jack grinned.
Tubbo nodded in agreement, offering his hand for Sneeg to climb onto his shoulder. The Inchling flipped Tommy off and scrambled up Tubbo's arm, his fingers and kicking tickled slightly. Ranboo came over with Scott next to him and Charlie, now Sneeg-sized, on his head and sat on the barstool next to the Tubbo. "Alright" Phil groaned, stretching his back and arms. "Dinner is done. And yes Tommy and Beau, I made some that's safe for you two." Tubbo chuckled and felt Sneeg jump off his shoulder, back onto the counter. The Bee looked at Ranboo, who was tilting his head down for Charlie to slide off. Phil began grabbing bowls to distribute to each hybrid. The Pub(e) now filled with the smell of bread and chicken, and the sound of clinking, 'thank you's', and scattered mummering.
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Once dinner was finished, everyone had chatted a little more and some of the hybrids had given Ranboo their presents. He was slightly confused but thankful regardless. Tubbo took another bite of the sweet bread and his antenna's twitched at all the noise and senses around him. It was definitely nice seeing everyone again. Phil came over and started cleaning dishes as he chatted with Techno and Schlatt. "By the way, where is Ranboo?" Techno asked, looking around. Tubbo sat up and scanned the area, not seeing his Enderian friend anywhere. It's not like he could easily hide, being over 7ft and all.
"He said he was going to the roof to get some fresh air." Phil said, putting away a bowl. "He's a little socially tired right now."
"Being an introvert is hard, Phil!" Tubbo said dramatically. Though he wasn't really making fun of Ranboo or anyone, considering he's pretty introverted himself.
Techno nodded in agreement, "I'm surprised half of us are still up and talking, honestly."
Schlatt snorted and took another sip of tea, which was probably laced with some sort of alcohol. He promised not to drink at Ranboo's party, but everyone knew that was a lie. Ranboo didn't seem to really care so no one else cared. Speaking of, Tubbo was honestly feeling a bit socially burnt-out as well. And he still needed to give Ranboo the present he made. Shoving the last bit of bread into his mouth, he waved to Phil and the others, who just waved back and continued on with their conversation. The Bee slipped out of the Pub(e) with no one else's notice. The loudness and laughter slowly hushed to the night's silence as he and hopped off the floating island, catching himself just before landing in the water. There was lots of skeletons and zombies prowling around, not one seemed to care about the brunette flying over the lake to his house. Tubbo's feet landed at his doorstep and he rubbed his wing base in a slight ache, shouldering the door open. He never bothered to lock it. Everyone here trusted each other. Heck- Ranboo and Fundy don't even have a door!
Tubbo grabbed the box from his hammock, checking to make sure everything was inside. Yep. Satisfied, he raced outside and flew back towards the Pub(e), using his antenna's to hold the box to his head as he climbed the ladder. Eventually, the Bee floated up to the roof, spotting Ranboo laying in the nest Tommy and Wilbur built a few months ago for stargazing. Tubbo smiled, quietly stepping into the soft bowl of blankets and pillows. Ranboo glanced at the Bee, flicking his tail lazily. With a hum, Tubbo sat next to him and yawned, greatful for the comfort of the nest and not a hard barstool. The Enderian chuckled in understanding, sitting up to match Tubbo.
"Mm'sup?" He mummered tiredly.
Tubbo shifted the box in his hands, if it wasn't for the moonlight, he wouldn't have seen it that well. But Ranboo had mentioned before how he could see in the dark "not exactly like it's daytime, but more like the slightly dark, but light moment before sunrise." He had explained when offered a night-vision potion while mining one day, way back when he first came around to the Pub(e). The Bee handed Ranboo the box, "Don't think you were getting away without something from me" he chuckled.
Ranboo shook his head, grinning. "Kinda suspected it the moment I saw your head peak over the roof."
He, with careful hands, took the box and looked at it. Tubbo, now nervous and thinking of anything and everything that could go wrong, wrung his hands together and apart. Ranboo slid the lid off and paused, blinking at the felt Allium. The brunette bit his lip, not wanting to look up at Ranboo's face, in fear that it would be bad. But the Enderian's tail swished happily as he picked up the flower with a soft grin. He mummered something along the lines of 'oh that's so cute.'
"A little girl from the towns market made that for you, she said Alliums were her favorite, too. And then I made you that." Tubbo said quietly and he pointed to the skirt still in the box, still nervous. Ranboo gently set the Allium down next to him and pulled out the skirt. He let out a soft gasp as he held it up, the gems clinking together. The jewels shimmered in the moonlight. The taller was silent, carefully moving the skirt around before settling it in his lap to run his fingers over the fabric. Suddenly seeming to remember words are a thing, Ranboo's ears flicked as he looked at Tubbo with a large smile. "It's beautiful, Bo. Thank you." He pulled the Bee into a hug, purring loudly.
"Of course." He grinned, tightening his arms around Ranboo's thin frame.
The brunette pressed his face into Ranboo's shoulder, listening to the soothing rumble emitting from the taller. He could feel himself begin to nod off, tired from no sleep and the party. But Ranboo started shuffling around, removing an arm from Tubbo for a moment. The shorter grumbled watching Ranboo gently fold the skirt with his free hand and set it next to the Allium. He shifted back to laying down on his back, tugging Tubbo down with him. Tiredly, the Bee obliged and curled into Ranboo's side, throwing an arm across his chest. The taller simply tucked his own arm under Tubbo's head and sighed. "N'ight, Tubbs." He mummered.
"Night, Boo. Happy Birthday."
Ranboo just hummed and placed his free arm over his stomach, setting his hand above Tubbo's. The only sounds were owls, muffled chatter from the Pub(e) bellow, and the duo's soft breathing. Eventually, blissful sleep grabbed at the tired Bee, making him almost unaware of the clicking of talons against the roof tiles as Phil laid a soft blanket over the two. Tubbo nearly didn't feel Ranboo's tail wrap around his ankle, nearly didn't hear the Enderian whisper a small 'thank you' to Phil as the father figure expertly flew away in silence.
Tubbo wasn't a believer in higher spirits such as God, but he thanked whatever almighty up there for leading Tubbo to his true family.
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