Wizard Coco

Efe closes their book and stares at Alex. All piglins have gold-tinted eyes from the Netherian atmosphere, and theirs is blazing like fire. "I- nah, nah, you're joking."

"I mean, I'll always support you!" Alex says. "But you're not- it's really obvious, are you just- don't tell me you're oblivious."

Efe swings their head around, gaze searching, before grabbing Alex's shirt collar and hissing, "Don't tell xem!"

"I wasn't- I'm not gonna tell xem," Alex says, biting back a yelp - Efe is really showing their brute training now. "I'm just saying, pretty sure everyone else is in on it, I think I saw Sunny trying to build you both a treehouse in your backyard-"

"He did what?"

"-so like, it's not- we're all super supportive, but that, that is certainly a thing-"

"No, no, go back, Sunny's building us what."

Alex clicks her tongue. Wow, Efe's tusks really are quite sharp. "A, uh, a treehouse."

"You are-" Efe lets go of her, and Alex lets out the yelp as she falls to the floor. "I'm gonna put Sunny in hardcore and see if he can stop me."

"Efe!" Alex snaps, dusting herself off. "I was joking!" She wasn't, but Sunny definitely does not need a furious Efe after him. "Joke's over!"

"You better be," says Efe stormily, huffing. "Don't tell a single soul, especially not Makena!"

"I mean," Alex says again, "okay. I guess that's fair. But xe is gonna find out at some point, you know how Steve is..."

Efe buries their head in their hands. "Nether's tears, I- am I really that obvious?"

"Uh, yeah, kinda?"

"I'm- pick a number, one through ten." Efe glances up at her, and Alex sits next to them. Their rings glint on their fingers.

"Seven."

"Then I'll tell xem." Efe dusts themself off, tugs on their shirt. "I mean, I survived the Nether, how bad can this be?"

"I'm single, so like, I don't think I can answer that well," Alex says. "But that's cool, that's- I mean, after you propose, it's not like- I'm pretty sure the feeling's mutual?"

"Yeah, probably," Efe says, but they look like they doubt it. "I mean, I can always just say I'm joking. Or blame it on you. Blaming it on you is definitely an option."

"Oh, that'd be fun," Alex says, flicking a glance to the book. "What's that book about?"

Efe's ears go red, and they clutch it tight to their chest. "Nothing," they say in a voice that definitely means there's something there.

"Oh-kay, I won't pry." Alex shrugs. She's not particularly nosy, unlike Steve. "Is it- I don't know what xe'd like, but like, I can definitely pay Sunny a few diamonds and a pretty shell to get you something-"

"It's bad enough you know!" Efe hisses, turning their bracelet on their wrist. "I'm not- it's gotta be a surprise. Sunny'll spill it or something, I don't trust him, and- well. It's gotta be something special. I need to make it so- xe's gonna be blown away, but it's all gotta be me. I can't let xem fall in love with someone who isn't-" They bite their lip. "I just-"

"No, it's-" Alex runs a hand through her hair. "I understand, I suppose. Xe's- I won't get Sunny involved, but if you need any help, it's not- xe's not gonna suddenly not love you because you got a little help with a few things. Makena'll love you for the effort you put in for xem. Trust me."

"But I-" Efe exhales, moves their ring so it catches the sun and reflects it. "I'm not- I have to make sure xe's my- if I get someone else to help me, is that really me xe loves, or the person who made the thing I asked them to build? Whatever. I'll ask xem. Sometime."

"Soon," Alex says, standing. "Makena isn't the type to blow up at someone. Xe's just- you'd do well together, I should think. How's the, ah, the creeper situation at your base?"

"Not well," Efe mutters. "I thought- I tried glowstone, but I just- it looks ugly! You've been dreaming longer, how do you do it?"

"Secrets of the trade," Alex says, moving to a patch of grass with light spilling from a hidden place beneath. She brings her fist down on the brightest spot, and moss uproots into item form, revealing a shroomlight beneath. "Carpet doesn't obstruct light levels."

"Wait, really?" Makes sense they wouldn't know it; the Nether is always bright and burning, and Efe's not used to the way that the dark beckons mobs to come creeping into Player settlements. "That's about as odd as an Enderman in the Nether."

"Well, the Watchers like their light and their prettiness." Alex shrugs and places the carpet back over the shroomlight. "Just a suggestion, I know you're living in a big tree so you can use brown carpet..."

"Thanks." Efe sniffs. "Why'd you use the shroomlights as lights, though? They make a pretty good pie, or jam. Sweet but not overly."

"I'm pretty sure they're toxic to nonaurum creatures," Alex points out.

"Oh," Efe says quietly, and then, "So I can't give some to Makena."

"Don't think so," Alex says. "But xe- doesn't xe like spicy things? Give xem some crimson root salad, as long as you don't get any warped plants in there it'll be good."

"I- thanks." Efe wiggles their ears. "Hoglin on the table, then. But don't tell anyone, don't forget."

Alex smiles kindly. "I told you, I'm trustworthy." She takes Efe's hand and rubs her fingers over the shiny rings. "I can't imagine how xe'd hate you."

"Just stuff like this." Efe gestures vaguely. "I was about to serve xem shroomlight pie. And that would've killed xem."

"That's why you need friends," Alex says. "But I'm sure it'll be fine. Xe's gonna love you, I bet."

Efe glances at Alex, then blinks hard. "Sure," they say, staring at the moss carpet. "Sure, we'll go with that. I hope xe-" They exhale shakily. "I said I would. I can't go back now."

"You'll do great," Alex says.

"Okay," Efe says, straightening, dusting themself off. "I can work with this. I know how- thanks again, Alex. But Makena'll- I can do this, I can do this! After all, after the Nether...