Notes: Mentions of alcohol drunk by minors, Jack being crass.
Tommy paced back and forth on the wooden floor of the Pub. He had invited as many people as he could to the grand opening of the Pub, but there was a part of him that was incredibly worried that no one would show up.
"Tommy, you are making me queasy watching you pace back and forth like that." Jack Manifold said from where he was setting out bottles.
Those words opened the floodgates, and Tommy fell into a long, drawn out babble of words and panic. "What if they don't like it Jack. Like, oh my god, what if it ends up like that story that weird guy in all those colors said. What if no one shows up? They should show up cause they are my friends, but I don't know some of them very well so they might not show up, since they might not consider me a friend. Oh my god Jack, what if Tubbo doesn't show up? He's my best friend and I want him to show up but him and that Ranboo kid have been getting along really well and Tubbo might ditch me for them-"
"Tommy." Jack snapped. "Shut up. Listen to me. You asked everyone right to their face, and they all said they would show up. You know how shit some of them are at lying."
"Yeah, but…" Tommy trailed off.
A sharp rapping on the door frame drew the pair's attention. "Hey mate." Philza drawled.
"Phil!" Tommy said, a wide grin spreading across his face. "You came!"
"'Course, mate." Phil replied with a head tilt and a smile. "Had to stop and pick up some finger foods just in case," he held up the wicker basket in his hand.
"Thank you Phil." Tommy took the basket and set it on the counter. He lifted the lid a bit to peek at the food. The golden shimmer inside made his eyes go wide. "Golden carrots?"
"Best food for their cost-oof!" Phil started, then let out a sound as Tommy grabbed him in a hug. He reached up and patted the young Avian's head fondly.
"Hey guys!" The slightly echoey voice of Wilbur said as he faded into view.
"Wilbur! Hi!" Tommy released Phil and grabbed Wilbur in a hug. "Thank you so much for coming."
"Always Tommy." Wilbur smirked. "Now, I was promised a drink. Jack! Alcohol!"
Jack flipped Wilbur off, but grabbed a mug from under the counter and turned to the small barrels against the back wall.
A tentative taping at the door frame made Tommy look over. The familiar lanky figure of Ranboo waved an elbow. "Hi." He lifted the bundle of cloth in his arms. "Tubbo is slow to wake up."
"Er...okay." Tommy walked over and poked the bundle in Ranboo's arms. "TUBBO!"
The cloth jerked at the pressure and Tommy's shout. "I'm up! I'm up!" The cloth lifted and the very tired face of Tubbo poked out. He slid out and yawned.
With Ranboo's hands freed, he waved at the gathered group. "Nikki said that she'll be up in a few. She's over at her turtle farm."
Tubbo marched over to the bar where Jack had handed the beer to Wilbur. He slammed his hand on the counter, making Jack jump. "Mead me!"
Jack turned and set a mug on the counter. Tubbo grabbed it, took a sip and made a face. "This is water."
"You are a minor." Jack snapped back.
"What…" Tubbo looked down at the mug. "But…"
Jack sighed at the young bee's tired and forlorn expression. "Phil- no wait. Wilbur." He turned toward the Phantom. "Are you willing to be responsible for the kids?"
"Uhhhhh" Wilbur started. "Are you sure you want me to be the responsible adult here?"
Jack frowned. "Phil is the personification of an angel of death and chaos, I'm barely an adult and bartending," he lifted an empty mug pointedly, "and Nikki isn't here yet."
Wilbur's brow furrowed. "What about Schlatt?"
"Maybe. But, I'm betting he'll be trying to get drunk, so I doubt he would want to." Jack sighed.
"My ears are burning." The voice of the Arachnid pastor commented as he walked in. "Bartender! Beer me!"
Jack shook his head, but set a large mug of beer on the counter for Schlatt. The man nodded and picked up the mug. He tipped it back immediately. It took less than ten seconds for the liquid to vanish. "Hmm. Tasty."
"Ye-ah…" Jack drawled. "I don't think Schlatt is going to be the responsible adult here."
"Naw." Schlatt knocked on the counter. "I'm gonna try and get drunk! Now, beer me!"
Jack sighed and filled up the Arachnid's mug. "Tubbo, I'll give you one mead, but after that, you've cut off." He turned to look at Tommy and Ranboo. "The same for you two. One alcoholic beverage, then only water and fruit juice."
"Okay!" Ranboo chirped. "I wasn't planning on drinking anything with alcohol anyway." He shrugged, and bobbed his head happily.
Jack smirked and set a mug of fruit juice down for the Enderian.
Tubbo took his mug of mead with a pout, and took a sip. "Blackberry, apple and rose." He stated.
"Da' fuck you on about mate?" Jack snapped.
"Bee." Tubbo stated, taking another sip of the mead.
The splash of Nikki emerging from the airlock drew Tommy's attention. "Hello!" Nikki chirped. Her arms were full of parcels and bottles. "I bring snacks!" She said, smiling.
"Ohh! Thank you, Nikki!" Tommy replied. "Uh, put them on the counter. I'll unpack them."
Jack sighed as he watched Tubbo sip his beverage. "I will never understand you. Never want to try." He turned to the bundle that Tommy was eagerly unwrapping, and his expression perked up immediately. "Oh damn! Prawns, whitefish, and squid! Thanks Nikki." The Blazeborn grinned at the bundle of goodies. "This will make a good fry."
Nikki nodded happily and trotted over to the balcony where Phil had settled down and was now gazing out into the sky. "Hello!" She chirped. "How have you been Phil?" She asked, seating herself below the shower.
"Hmm? Oh, I'm do'n alright. Missing Trixten." Phil shrugged.
"Oh! When will she be back, do you think?" Nikki asked, tilting her head.
"Sometime tomorrow." Phil nodded. "Can't wait to see her again. This trip is supposed to be the last time she needs to leave."
"Can't wait, Phil."
Phil nodded, his gaze turning toward the sky again. A sparkle of light across the dark sky made him smile and close his eyes to make a small wish.
Unbeknown to all present, there was a tiny observer in the rafters. A friendly one, but an observer, nonetheless.