only ever meant to watch

It was a gloriously perfect day outside. Sunny and warm, but not too hot thanks to a nice cool breeze in the air... the perfect day for a nap in the shade, which exactly what Impulse and Jimmy were doing.

Impulse, Tango and Skizz had all planned a fun day filled with activities for when Jimmy was going to visit the Hermitcraft server, but things rarely ever go to plan and Tango and Skizz had to dip away for a moment to take care of a few things, leaving just Impulse to entertain Jimmy.

Impulse obviously knew Jimmy fairly well after all the life series they'd played in together, but he'd still never had much one-on-one interaction with him before, so his initial attempts at conversation were a little stilted and awkward. He liked Jimmy and thought he was pretty cool and fun to be around... and if he was being honest, Impulse might admit he had a bit of a man crush on the handsome blonde man.

Fortunately, despite Impulse's awkward attempts at conversation, they found themselves slipping into comfortable conversation fairly quickly. Jimmy's smiles and giggles directed right at him had Impulse feeling a little funny, almost as if he were a schoolgirl talking to her crush. But how could he not feel like that when someone as handsome as Jimmy was paying attention to him and no one else in that moment? It felt like they were the only two players on the server when Jimmy spoke to him like that.

"Say, Impulse...?" Jimmy started hesitantly, "I know you 'n Skizz 'n Tango planned out this whole day for when I visited but, uh, since we have a moment, d'y'think we could maybe just... lay on a blanket in some shade and take a nap? That last round of Hungry Hermits really wore me out." Jimmy smiled apologetically and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, looking expectantly at Impulse with those beautiful brown eyes.

"Oh, sure! Yeah, of course, Jimmy! That sounds like a great idea! Here, lemme grab a blanket for us..." Impulse reflexively took Jimmy's hand and led him over to the shade of the nearest tree, rummaging through his ender chest before pulling out a large blanket and laying it on the grass. He put away the ender chest and knelt on the blanket, patting the ground next to him to invite Jimmy to lay down, which the avian happily did, flopping back onto the blanket with a relieved sigh.

"Ohhhh yeah, that's the stuff...." Jimmy heaved a big sigh and closed his eyes, leaving Impulse to fidget a bit by himself, unsure if he should lay down next to Jimmy or just stay as he was.

"...Well? Are you gonna lay down or what?" Jimmy cracked one eye open to look at Impulse, "You were gonna take a nap with me, right?"

"Oh!" Impulse felt his face flush at Jimmy's words, "I uh, wasn't sure if that's what you meant, or--"

"'Course its what I meant! Now get your butt over here, its absolutely perfect nap weather." Jimmy smiled so warmly at him, Impulse couldn't refuse his request, sliding down to lay next to Jimmy on the blanket, close but still a respectful distance between them. Jimmy seemed unhappy about this.

"Do I stink or something? I thought we were going to take a nap _together._" Jimmy pouted, "What's a nap without a bit of cuddling?"

"Well, I guess you're right... naps are better when youre cuddling!" Impulse giggled, trying to mask how flustered he felt that Jimmy expressed a desire to cuddle with _him._

"Of course they are, now get over 'ere!" Jimmy motioned Impulse closer, and the demon hybrid scooted closer until Jimmy could nestle into Impulse's side, resting his head on Impulse's shoulder while Impulse wrapped his arm around Jimmy's body, his hand resting in the bright yellow feathers of Jimmy's wings.

Impulse hoped Jimmy wouldn't be able to hear how hard his heart was beating in his chest at their proximity. Jimmy was so close Impulse could smell the scent of his shampoo in his hair and feel Jimmy's breath tickle his collarbone.

"Ohhh yes this is nice~" Jimmy sighed, practically melting in Impulse's arms, "I always wondered if cuddling with you felt as good as it looks and now I can say that it's even better~"

Impulse was too stunned at the compliment to respond, his cheeks flushing even hotter at the compliment. He was sure Jimmy had to be hearing his heart pounding against his ribcage at this point and must just be teasing him to hear it flutter some more.

"The only thing that could make this better is... y'know, if you wanted to, maybe run your fingers through my feathers? It always feels so nice and relaxing when someone does that...." Jimmy peeked up at Impulse with those cute brown eyes and there was no way Impulse could resist.

"If--" Impulse cleared his throat when the first word came out more high pitched with nerves than he'd wanted it to, "If you want, yeah I-- I can do that..."

The effect was almost instant as soon as Impulse began to card his fingers through Jimmy's soft, golden feathers. The avian hybrid shivered and sighed, melting against Impulse even more, closing his eyes and seeming lost in the calming sensation. His breathing slowed and for a moment Impulse thought he'd fallen asleep and stopped running his fingers through Jimmy's feathers, eliciting a breathless, pleading whine from Jimmy that gave Impulse pleasant goosebumps.

"Noooo please don't stop.... it felt so nice...." Jimmy pouted. "I haven't had someone run their fingers through my feathers like this since the last time Tango did it... oh his claws felt so nice running through them..." Jimmy sighed, lost in his reminiscing for a moment before remembering who he was cuddling with, "Oh! I mean. You're doing a great job too, Impulse! Tango's just got those claws that run through my feathers differently..."

"I mean... if you like it, I could use my claw for you, too." Impulse offered shyly, trying not to blush. What was he doing? He liked Jimmy, but he wasn't close enough with him to know how he might feel about Impulse relaxing more of his glamor around him. Normally Impulse wouldn't even consider something like that until he was more confident that whoever it was wouldn't get scared of him afterwards. There was just something about Jimmy... Impulse wanted to do everything he could to make him happy.

"You... have claws?" Jimmy glanced between Impulse's face and free hand with a bit of confusion, "I didnt know you had claws, Impulse."

"O-oh, um, yeah... usually i keep them hidden with magic, I've found that people are less scared when I hide them.... _Anyways-_" Impulse cut Jimmy off just as he was opening his mouth to respond to Impulse's comment, "I can undo the magic that keeps them hidden if you want..." Jimmy frowned for a moment, noticing Impulse's evasion of the topic, but choosing not to press further.

"If that's okay with you.... yes, please that sounds so nice!" Jimmy smiled so cutely at him Impulse felt his heart jump into his throat for a moment.

"Okay then, then, just close your eyes and I'll-"

"Actually... could I... see? Your claws I mean. If its okay with you!" Jimmy nibbled his lower lip a bit anxiously, "I promise I won't be scared or anything!" He hastily reassured Impulse.

"Well..." Impulse hesitated for a moment. He wasn't sure if he should let Jimmy see, but the avian puppy dog eyes won him over in the end. "Sure, if you want to see, that's fine."

Impulse smiled and Jimmy beamed back at him, his face alight with excitement as he cuddled even closer, resting his head against Impulse's chest and twining their legs together.

Impulse lifted his hand up for Jimmy to see as he slowly undid the glamor that hid his claws, the illusion melting away to reveal his claws and scaled hand, the tough, scaly skin running up his entire forearm.

_"Oh. My. Gosh!!"_ Jimmy squealed, "That is so cool!! Impulse, your claws are so pretty!"

Impulse could feel himself blushing ten times hotter at Jimmy's compliments, his heart racing again at the genuine expression of appreciation and Jimmy's proximity. Evn Impulse couldn't keep his tail from instinctively curling around their legs possessively, his tail tip flicking back and forth in a pleased motion as Jimmy grabbed Impulse's hand to examine his claws and scales up close.

Jimmy narrows his eyes, "Right, why are you complimenting me like this?" He crowds a little into Impulse's space, keeping their eyes locked. This close, he gets a whiff of Impulse's cologne— a faint sharpness to it that matches his getup completely. "Earlier, you were trying to get Skizz hearts. It's your task, isn't it?"

Impulse just shrugs, a coy tilt to his head. He hooks a finger under Jimmy's chin, a large, gentle hand guiding his face side to side— "I just never noticed," He purrs. "You're gorgeous, you know that?"

The low timbre of Impulse's voice almost shakes him, heat flaring in Jimmy's cheeks as he forces himself to breathe, slow and steady. Easy, cowboy. Jimmy resists a shiver.

"You didn't answer my question," Jimmy points out. Impulse only hums, a glint in dark eyes. Forget Jimmy, has Impulse always looked so—

Impulse licks his lips, eyes flicking down. "Is that your guess?"

Jimmy's breath hitches in his throat.

...Goodness.

He pulls away, his heartbeat booming in his ears, rumbling in his chest— "Yes. No," Jimmy shakes his head, think, Jim, think, "That's—"

Impulse looks smug, the absolute menace-!

"You know, I never realized," He keeps going, of course he keeps going, "But your outfit looks great, suits your body type."

Impulse grins, his smile turning just that little bit sharp.

"Flatters all the right places."

Jimmy flushes a deep pink. A giggle bubbles from his lips, his mind caught on how he wouldn't really mind if Impulse showed him exactly what places he meant— "That's— alright, enough of that, what-?"

Jimmy, distantly, wonders how Scott would react if he were seeing this. Impulse only laughs.

"If you're gonna guess, Jimmy, you should do it now," Gem chimes in, making him jolt. Gods, he forgot she was there. Dry amusement shines in mismatched eyes.

"Right," Jimmy says, voice faint as he looks back at Impulse. There's a teasing glint in Impulse's eyes, the torchlight's soft glow painting his face a— dare he say it— handsome picture, his stubble a bit more prominent than Jimmy ever remembers it being.

He clears his throat.

"Right," He says, firmer this time. "Is your task—"

("D'you think they forgot we were here?" Pearl whispers to Gem. Gem huffs.

"Just Jimmy, I think," She replies, laughing a little when Jimmy guesses wrong, shaking her head at his misery. "He's so easy."

Pearl laughs, "I'll tell him you said that."

First and biggest example, BigB.

Double Life and Scarian fans have forever tainted his reputation in the series. All he's known for is cheating on his soulmate and lying. Why does he lie? Who cares! He just does, that's enough for that to be his entire personality apparently! Getting in the way of the most beloved ship in the series means you're getting the electric chair, apparently.

Another example, Pearl before and after Past Life.

Before Past Life happened, you would've thought Pearl is a spawn of satan. A crazy witch of the woods who is unhinged and can't be trusted not to backstab you. After Past Life? A pathetic wet cat. Incompetent, clumsy, and reckless. If you're not the best at the game, you're the worst. There's no inbetween it seems.

Scott has been the trademarked gay guy in the series who has overtime been upgraded to the EVIL gay guy.

Joel is the haha funny mad man with anger issues.

Scar is a clumsy dumbass and all his kills and manipulation skills are either coincidences or thanks to his teammates.

Jimmy, despite his successes in Past Life, is still denied being anything more than the pitiful underdog. Forever a canary stuck in the coal mines.