#he gets hunted down by Skizz and dies

[tubbytarchia]

"Scar died so much because he was trying to protect Jimmy" NO? LITERALLY NO?

Do you guys just go into any Life Series with preconceived notions that shape the story as you want it rather than develop interpretations based on what is actually happening on screen

[the-hipster-nugget]

I think we need to talk about Scott’s third life death scene more often, specifically about the scene directly afterward with Martyn and Ren.

It’s so fucked up that Martyn chases after Scott, not hurting or actually touching him but follows him so his king can get a chance to kill him, but Martyn doesn’t touch Scott. Instead he yells after him these half baked apologies and explanations, trying to tell him “I didn’t want Jimmy to die!” That is actually insane.

As Martyn is chasing that boy he connected with at the start, the one he entered the nether with; they went through this worlds actual hell together. Now Martyn is tasked to take after Scott to not let him escape, someone he used to be close to, he chases with death in mind because his king commands it.

And Scott finally stops to face martyn, as the pathetic hand tries to tell him “we didn’t mean to kill your husband” is SO fucked up. Out of everything Martyn said, before having to watch his king murder him, he tells Scott that it was never his intention to harm Jimmy.

Upon Scott’s death, Martyn does not cheer or rejoice, he just lets out this pathetic noise of defeat after Ren murdered Scott for good. Martyn stands there feeling null and empty, while his king goes into hysterics.

Ren also, upon killing Scott, is immediately rushed with guilt and horror at himself. Starts sobbing, “how many more do I have to kill to this violence comes to an end?”

“It’s dripping into my eyes… I can’t see, I’ve been blinded by violence my hand.”

Ren sacrificed himself using Martyns hand, allowed his head to be chopped off so that he could become a red name- but even after all that, he cannot kill without guilt. Other red names like Skizz and Joel get this bloodlust and hunt like a predator. While Ren, the wolf king, kills and then he cries. He sobs and begs for Martyn to hold him. He’s a red name supposed to be thirsting for blood but it isn’t giving him that rush it should. He had Martyn take his head, and all for what? What was this all for?

He’s a red name, and the king of a red kingdom, with a red shield. He brought red winter in his wake, but he stays awake at night shivering in fear about the death of others. In his heart, Ren is too good hearted to kill without remorse. Despite it being his job, and something he sought out to do on purpose; he feels horribly guilty.

The blood dripping into his eyes blinding him is insane symbolism. Being a red name gives him this urge to kill, and it blinds the players. But doesn’t give Ren a rush of ecstasy or excitement, it scares him. Ren feels so blood thirsty that he gets dizzy, and it makes him want to cry. It makes him scared of himself, and he breaks down as yet another person died at his hand.

He begs Martyn to hold him, and all he can think about is before he had to murder another person. He never wanted to become this red king, never wanted his crown to be stained in blood. He wanted to hold Martyns hand, and enchant with him. That’s all he wanted, was a life of peace with his dear friend. Martyn was his friend, not his hand.

Ren asked for this, he prayed for red winter, but now that it arrived, he is so so cold. Ren just wanted to feel the warmth of spring.

Neither of them wanted to kill Scott. Neither of them felt satisfied watching Scott lose his final life, but they murdered him together anyway. They killed him, and then they cried about it. They hold each other in the dead of winter.

“How many more people do we have to kill before all this violence comes to an end?”

The red king just wishes red winter would finally end. He’s tired of his bloody crown weighing down his head, his weak scarred neck struggles to hold. Martyn holds his king in attempt to comfort him, but all he thinks about is how eventually, they will have to die too. Maybe if they’re lucky, they’ll die together.

[aquaquadrant]

Philophobia

Word Count: 5,271 Warnings: Shipping, inappropriate/crude humor, paranormal activity, suspense/mild horror, descriptive kissing, mild language Summary: For architecture major and paranormal skeptic Grian, his friends’ after-hours ghost hunting group was just an excuse to spend time with his crush, Scar, without having to actually ask him out. But one fateful night, he finds there just might be things in this world that are scarier than emotional vulnerability… even if only by a very slim margin.

A/N: Did someone ask for a Phasmophobia-inspired Scarian au? Oh yeah, my friend @lunarcrown did! Inspired by the art she made here.

So this is kind of a modern-day college au (not set within the fictional universe of Minecraft), howEVER there are some fantasy aspects in that non-human species (like mob hybrids/monsters) still exist cuz they’re fun and I’m not giving anyone a normal modern name cuz that’s too weird. This is only Phasmophobia-inspired in that GIGS have a ghost-hunting group that functions the same way, but rarely find any conclusive evidence, and don’t have unlimited lives cuz they aren’t playing a game. With that out of the way, hope y’all enjoy, please reblog/comment if u do! - Aqua

~*~

Philophobia

~*~

“I think this is gonna be the one, guys,” Impulse says, turning their van into the driveway.

The suspension creaks as they roll over gravel, rattling the frame in a way that hums through Grian’s hollow bones. His arm is cold where it presses against the window; it’s almost sunset and Impulse has yet to get the van’s heater fixed despite his promises. Stupid demon blood keeping him warm while Grian shivers in the stupid custom pleather jumpsuit that Scar insisted they had made, for their stupid ‘brand’ as a stupid ghost-hunting group. Great, his stupid zipper’s come down again- he stubbornly zips it back up because unlike Scar, he doesn’t like constantly having his bare chest out on display.

Of course, he hasn’t got as much to show off as Scar, who must be getting up at 3 am every morning to work out in order to maintain all that muscle. No wonder Scar prefers to keep his zipper down to his belly button, and doesn’t seem to have ever met a shirt that fits him properly.

… Not that Grian’s ever paid much attention to that sort of thing. 

Grian gives an exasperated sigh. “You’ve been saying that about every case we’ve had for three years!”

“No, no, I really mean it!” Impulse insists. “I feel it in my bones.”

“Yeah,” Scar agrees, leaning forward so his shoulder brushes against Grian’s, “you know Impulse bones good!”

The earnest nature of his statement- and the unexpected physical contact- makes Grian flush. “Scar!” he shrieks, swatting Scar’s shoulder.

“What?” Scar defends. “What, he- he’s got big and strong bones, wonderful bones…”

He acts as if he’s got no idea he said something that could be taken the wrong way. And if it weren’t for the upturned corners of his mouth and the barely-restrained laugh in his voice, Grian might actually believe him.

“Dude,” Skizz chuckles from the front seat, “shut up, that’s awesome.”

Impulse sighs. “Anyway,” he says pointedly, “the place recently had a change in ownership. Previous owner passed away-”

“From murder?” Scar gasps.

Another sigh. “No, from liver failure.”

Grian snorts. “From all the drinking he did to forget about the ghostly hauntings?” he presses, exchanging a cheeky grin with Scar.

“No,” Impulse says, with the patience of a saint, “just normal old-age organ failure. The guy was ancient, and some kinda recluse. House had been in his family since it was built, but uh, he had no living relatives, no will when he died. So the bank took ownership and it’s been sitting off-market for like, fifteen years, til some hot-shot investor thought he could flip it-”

“Ughh,” Grian groans, tipping his head back against the seat. “Investors are the worst-”

“I know, I know,” Impulse soothes, “but um, he’d barely begun when things started happening. Contractors reported it day one, then the owner experienced an event himself and called us. So it’s basically still untouched.”

They haven’t even reached the end of the driveway yet, passing by seemingly endless rows of tall, gnarled pines. Admittedly, Grian’s curiosity is piqued. When he agreed to join this stupid ghost hunting group three years ago, he didn’t do so in the hopes of actually discovering any real paranormal activity. The whole idea is laughable. Ghost hunting is a pseudoscience, at best. Just a bunch of idiots scaring themselves silly in an empty house- and now they’re the idiots! Even their name is stupid: Ghost Investigation Group Services, or GIGS, embroidered on their ill-fitting pleather jumpsuits.

But despite his outright skepticism and dislike for pulling late nights in his already extremely limited free time, Grian’s got one very good reason for agreeing to join.

And his name is Scar.

Grian spent half a semester pining away at the fellow architecture major from across the lecture halls of their many shared classes. Charismatic and easy on the eyes, it was inevitable that Grian would develop a bit of a crush. But as they spent more time together during class projects and conversations in the hallway, he found out just how kind-hearted and passionate Scar was, and how easy he was to talk to, and how strong his arms looked in long-sleeved shirts…

… Yeah, ‘crush’ perhaps isn’t the right word.

So when Impulse- the engineering major who Grian was partnered with for physics lab- got the brilliant idea to start a ghost-hunting group with his best friend and roommate Skizz, and Scar expressed interest in joining, Grian made a split-second decision in a moment of weakness. He maintained his skepticism, claiming that he wanted to tag along just to prove how silly the whole idea was. Impulse was fine with it, while Scar said Grian had to wear the same uniform as them, and the rest was history.

(To be fair, that was before Grian knew it’d be a pleather jumpsuit.)

So here they are now nearly three years later, rumbling down a long gravel road in the dark and cold, up late on a Saturday night even though he still isn’t finished with his condominium model that’s due at 8 am on Monday and he’s fresh out of popsicle sticks. Moments like these almost make Grian wish he could just ask a guy out like a normal person, so they could spend time together without chasing pretend ghosts around dusty houses all night.

But that’d require him to talk about his feelings. Ugh, he’d rather let the ghosts get him.

“Alright.” Impulse slows the van to a halt. The doors unlock with a heavy clunk. “What do you guys think?”

Grian isn’t expecting much when he glances out the window. But the sight that greets him immediately prompts a hasty exit from the vehicle, scarcely noticing the sudden chill, his jaw dropping open in awe.

It’s a Victorian. Not a house that someone has mistakenly called ‘Victorian’ just because it looks old. A genuine, honest-to-goodness, Queen Anne’s style two-story Victorian manor with an asymmetrical facade and a rounded corner tower and a generous wrap-around porch, silhouetted against the fading light of the evening sky.

Grian reaches for his flashlight. Sweeping over the exterior, his breath catches. Knots of ivy creep up the walls, and there are a few places where the intricate wood trim has been lost to previous repairs and weather damage. A couple of the windows are bricked up. Most of the paint is faded and peeling. But overall? It’s beautiful.

“Oh man,” Grian murmurs, pushing his glasses back up, “look at the shape of it... look at the dormers!”

A second beam of light joins in; Scar’s emerged from the van. “Lots of character,” he says, sounding similarly entranced. “And still in great condition! Oh, it’s beautiful. It’s enough to make a man cry.”

Impulse hops out of the driver’s seat, chuckling. “I knew you two would like it. It’s an ‘85.”

Grian gives an appreciative whistle. “Look, I still don’t think we’re gonna find anythin’,” he says with a sideways look at Scar, “but I gotta tell ya… if- if I were a ghost… I think I’d haunt a proper house like this. Not those builder-grade boxes in the suburbs.”

“Right?” Impulse says, his forked tail flicking through the air. “That’s what I’m sayin’... I uh, I think this place has real potential.”

Skizz, who’s come around the van to stand with them, nods thoughtfully. “Definitely somethin’ special ‘bout it, that’s for true,” he says, exchanging a look with Impulse. Then he claps his hands together. “Alright gentlemen, let’s get movin’!”

Impulse and Skizz turn towards the van, heading to open the back.

Grian stares after them, squinting suspiciously. That wasn’t just any look. That was a Look. A Look that he knows all too well. They had that same Look on their faces at last year’s frat mixer, when they rigged the speakers at the Heta Kappa house to play ‘Margaritaville’ every time someone flushed a toilet.

It means that they’re Up To Something.

… Grian’s sure he’ll find out sooner or later.

“Well, Grian,” Scar says, hands on his hips as he surveys the property, “if it’s any connotation, at least we’ll get to study some real architecture tonight.”

Grian gives him a bemused look. “Consolation?”

Scar blinks. “Cono- what, what’d I say? Con- coronation?”

“Don’t worry ‘bout it, ey,” Grian chuckles, patting him on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”

~*~

“Check it out, dude,” Skizz calls excitedly, “temp’s dropping in here! Five degrees colder than the rest of the house!”

Grian makes a noncommittal noise. “It’s an east-facing room and the sun’s only just set, of course it’s colder than the rest of the house,” he says, idly passing his UV glow stick over an armchair. No prints, of course. “I doubt they’ve updated the insulation anytime within the last two decades.”

“And hey, look,” Impulse chimes in from the corner, “I’ve got EMF 1.3!”

Grian doesn’t even look up. “There’s an exposed outlet in here and I’ll bet the wiring’s older than I am. And in any case, it’s still below the recommended threshold.” Ew, okay, now that’s a suspicious UV stain on the floor, but not of the supernatural kind…

“Oh, it’s definitely not up to code,” Impulse agrees. He waves his EMF reader around a bit, making the pitch warble. “But I dunno, I think this must be the ghost’s favorite room. Might not be here right now, but I’m getting some real vibes…”

Grian rolls his eyes. “Sure…” 

Twenty minutes in, and despite the house’s hauntingly elegant construction, it’s been the same old story. The house is empty and quiet, as abandoned houses tend to be. Quite sparse, as most of the furnishings probably went to auction. The furniture that’s left is covered with tarps and every surface is coated with a fine layer of dust. He can smell mold somewhere in the floorboards and there’s apparent water damage in the ceiling.

The only renovation attempted thus far was the removal of some cheap linoleum tiles that were laid in the kitchen at some point- a renovation Grian can heartily agree with, there’s some absolutely gorgeous hardwood underneath- but they didn’t get far. The removed tiles are still sitting about in a haphazard pile, hammer and chisel abandoned on the floor beside them. Frantic footsteps smeared in the dust and powder paint the scene of a terrified contractor fleeing for their life from the reported ‘ghostly hauntings’. 

In any case, they haven’t heard any activity from the spirit box, nothing unusual has stood out on UV, and the salt Impulse laid out is still undisturbed. Surprise, surprise. Grian’s spent most of his time admiring the elaborate wooden trims lining every wall, scuffed as they are. What he wouldn’t give to properly restore this place…

“Hey, Dipple Dop?” Skizz calls suddenly. “Your radio working okay?”

Impulse gives him a curious look. “Huh? What, is there-” He pauses, glancing down at his radio. “Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah, actually, mine’s on the fritz, must be overdue a battery change.”

“Oh?” Grian tilts his head innocently. “You don’t think it’s a ghoooost?”

Impulse purses his lips. “I don’t think everything is a ghost,” he says mildly. He clips the radio onto his belt, turning to the door. “I’ve got extras in the van, hang on…”

“I’ll go, too,” Skizz says quickly, slinging an arm and his wing around Impulse’s shoulders. “Buddy system! You know what, I- I’m tellin’ you, you never split up when hunting ghosts. That’s how they get you, dude.”

Oh. Oh, no.

Grian gives them a warning Look.

They give him a cheeky Look back.

“Yup, yeah, that’s true,” Impulse says with obvious feigned sincerity, steering Skizz out of the room. “So uh, you two keep at it, okay, and we’ll be right back…”

“Oh, okay!” Scar says cheerfully, busy setting up the tripod over in the corner and completely oblivious to their scheme. “Have a great time not getting murdered!”

Grian opens his mouth to protest, but Impulse and Skizz are already gone out the front door. Leaving him and Scar completely alone. Totally by coincidence, surely. Oh, he knew his drunken confession to Impulse at the school’s annual bar crawl fundraiser night would come back to bite him eventually.

It’s almost insulting, in a way. Like they think the only reason Grian hasn’t made a move is because he hasn’t had ample alone time with Scar. Like he needed them to give him an opportunity. But if he’d wanted to confess to Scar, he already would have. He’d have had it well done by now. They could give him a little credit.

See, the thing is, he’s thought about it. Plenty of times, in fact. But the issue he keeps coming back to is that if he tells Scar about his crush on him, then Scar will know about it. There’ll be no going back at that point. And if Scar doesn’t feel the same way- well, Grian can kiss their friendship goodbye. So yeah, no, he doesn’t think he’ll be making any dramatic love confessions tonight, strangely enough.

The risk of an awkward silence developing is astronomical, so Grian clears his throat. “Man… isn’t this place somethin’,” he says, then immediately fights the urge to cringe.

Scar, luckily, gives an emphatic nod. “It is, it truly is amazing.” He straightens up, dusting his hands off as he turns to Grian. “You know who’d really love this place, is Gem?”

“Oh, yeah, for sure,” Grian agrees. He busies himself with the UV, so he’s not just standing around. “We should take some pictures for her.”

“Oh, good idea!” Giving the tripod a final once-over, Scar wanders over to Grian. “So, any fingering goin’ on, yet?”

Grian nearly drops his glow stick. “Sorry- any what?!” he screeches, whirling around on Scar.

“You know, ghost fingers!” Scar says, perfectly innocent. He holds his hands up, wiggling his fingers in demonstration. “On the- on the glowy light?”

Grian takes a deep breath, face burning. “Oh Scar, buddy, you gotta think through your words better before you say them, alright?”

“Whaaat?” Scar pretends like he doesn’t know. “What, I’m just- you’ve got the stick, you know, little glow stick for when the ghost touches, uh-”

“Nevermind,” Grian groans. “Anyways, no, I haven’t found any ghostly handprints and I never will, because ghosts aren’t real.”

Scar folds his arms. “Well, hey, maybe the ghost is just polite! You know, he- maybe he’s just minding his business, not touching anything or- or anyone. Just because we don’t get anything on UV doesn’t mean ghosts aren’t real, I’ll have you know.”

Grian sees the challenge for what it is. “Alright…” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his spirit box. Holding the transponder to his lips, he belts out, “Where ahhre yewww?” in his best imitation of an over-exaggerated pop-punk accent. If Impulse and Skizz are eavesdropping through their radios, he hopes he gave them a start.

Scar laughs. “Oh man, been a while since I heard that one! You-”

I’m close.

Grian jumps so badly he nearly drops the box, his wings puffing out involuntarily. “What?! Wha- who said that?” he demands, spinning around.

Scar blinks at him. “What? Did you hear something through the box?”

“I- I dunno?” Grian says uncertainly. The box seems to be working as normal; when he holds the receiver down, there’s a faint hiss of static, and the bulb remains white. No further noises come from the speaker.

After a couple seconds of tense listening, Grian feels silly. Way to play it cool. He switches the box off with an exasperated sigh. “No, of course I didn’t hear anything through the box. Like I said, ghosts aren’t real.”

Scar hums noncommittally. “Oh, Grian... you know, there are some things in the world that can’t be explained.” 

Grian snorts. “Oh, yeah? Well, I- I got a few explanations for ya.” He counts on his fingers. “It could’ve been this old house creaking in the wind, or an electrical surge causing feedback through the transponder, or- or, not to mention, Impulse and Skizz pranking us through the radio?”

Scar snickers. “That does sound like something they’d do, I’ll give you that.”

“Yeah.” Grian slips the box back into his pocket. “And y’know, being in a creepy abandoned house, after dark, out in the middle’a nowhere... it’s easy to think you’re hearin’ things.”

Scar rolls his eyes, but his expression is fond. “I know, I know, so you’ve told me. But one of these days, mister, you’re gonna eat your words.”

“Right,” Grian drawls. “I’m so scared…”

The front door slams shut.

That makes Grian pause. They always leave the front door open while out on a job. It saves time when they have to go back and forth from the van, and saves battery life on their radios when they can just shout to each other through the open doorway. Obviously this job is a little different, because Impulse and Skizz have clearly got it in their heads to try and get him and Scar together, but he wouldn’t think they’d go so far as to-

The lights suddenly flicker and go out. But in the split-second before they do, Grian sees a shadowy figure silhouetted against the door.

Pure instinct takes over. Grian spins on his heel, grabs Scar by the arm, and absolutely flies down the stairs to the basement. He knows they’ve disturbed one or two piles of salt but right now, he can’t bring himself to care. His wings are bumping against the walls and he’s certainly never tried carrying someone as big as Scar before but he doesn’t stop, doesn’t even process the ache of it rattling through his body. He bursts into the basement, feathers flying, and careens towards the back of the room, around a tall shelving unit, and into the corner.

There’s a heap of boxes stacked up in this corner; Grian unceremoniously shoves Scar over top of them, dropping him in the narrow space between the boxes and the wall. He’s wedged in as far as he can himself, laying across the boxes, his double pair of wings preventing him from squeezing in beside Scar. He’s still got the UV light clenched in his fist, he realizes belatedly- he braces his forearms against the wall to try and cover it, fanning his wings out behind him to block it out from the rest of the room. Glancing back over his shoulder, he tries to gauge how much light is getting through when a noise makes him freeze.

Footsteps.

They’re soft and light- certainly not the heavy boots of Impulse or Skizz. No, they sound almost barefoot. And as they gently tap down the stairs, the sound of giggling fills the air. It’s a feminine voice. Young, like a child. Like a little ghostie girl is prancing down the stairs to murder them.

Grian thinks he might pass out. Can ghosts actually kill people? How would they do it if they’re incorporeal? He’s never considered the question before, he never thought he’d have to because it’s ridiculous, ghosts aren’t real, of course they can’t kill people-

The footsteps stop. 

Grian isn’t sure if he’s still breathing. He doesn’t dare move. A chill runs up his spine, making every single feather stand on end. He can almost hear the high-pitched violins that would be playing right now if this were a horror movie; the cheesy, overdrawn kind of horror movies that are always playing at the drive-in that the four of them watch while piled into the back of the van in a tangle of limbs and spilled popcorn and oh god he’s spiraling now because he’s about to be killed by a ghost-

Bye-bye!

The chill recedes. Somewhere in his peripheral vision, he sees the faint glow of light from upstairs return.

It’s over.

Grian’s mind is spinning. What was that? What was that? It seems impossible, it doesn’t even feel real to be in this situation right now but he is, there was a ghost, there was a ghost. It feels insane to even think it. But the residual adrenaline coursing through his body reminds him it was very real, he just encountered a ghost.

A ghost! Oh, after three years of very loudly decrying the entire concept as rubbish. He can’t believe it. He really can’t believe it, this is the absolute last thing he expected to happen tonight. Ghosts are real. Ghosts are really, really, real. He doesn’t know what to do, who would ever believe him? Is this how the others have been feeling this whole time? God, he can’t believe this-

“G...?” Scar’s voice pipes up hesitantly. “What... what are we doing?”

Oh, right. Grian glances down at Scar- and his heart jolts. He’d been so focused on getting away from the ghost, he’d acted without thinking, so only now does he realize the... predicament he’s put them in.

Scar’s slumped against the floor beneath him, head tucked just below Grian’s arms. His long legs are still draped over the box that Grian’s laying across, resting on either side of his waist. And due to the odd posture Grian’s in, his chest has been thrust rather close to Scar’s face, lit by the soft purple glow of the UV.

This is probably the closest Grian has ever been to sitting in Scar’s lap.

Grian’s not proud of the yelp that escapes him. “Sorry, sorry!” His wings flail as he struggles to push himself off of the wall, stumbling back onto his feet. It’s clumsy and uncoordinated and he nearly falls backwards, his heart pounding.

Scar manages a laugh, easing himself up off the floor. “No, no, it’s okay, I- I just... what- why’d you bring us down here?” he asks, dusting off his jumpsuit.

Grian catches his breath. “Wait, you... didn’t hear the creepy ghost on its way to kill us?” he asks, frowning.

Scar‘s eyes widen. “What? There was a ghost?”

No way.

“Are you-!” Grian throws his arms up. “Honestly, I- I know avians have better hearing than most but that’s insane. She was laughing! Laughing and skipping down the blumin’ steps! And you didn’t hear any of it?”

“No…?” Scar shrugs helplessly. “I’m sorry, okay! I- I don’t know, I was- a lot was happening, you- you’re grabbin’ me, pulling me down the stairs and into this little corner, I didn’t know what was going on! I didn’t know, I- I was all disconbodulated- disco- bobo, bobumated? I was a little distracted, okay. Jeeze, give a man a break…”

“Distracted?” Grian repeats incredulously. “You’re the one who actually believes in ghosts, here, how could you get distracted? What do you…”

He trails off. Scar is very clearly fighting to avoid looking at Grian, but for the briefest moment, his eyes dart down to Grian’s chest. Suddenly confused, Grian follows his gaze, and-

Oh, for goodness sakes. At some point during his frantic flight, the stupid zipper on his stupid jumpsuit came down again, exposing a frankly scandalous amount of skin. Not Scar-level of scandalous, but pretty close.

Grian immediately feels himself turn red. “Oh. Uh- right,” he hastily pulls the zipper back up, “sorry ‘bout that…”

Wait. Wait just a second. 

Scar was distracted from a literal ghost hunt going on... because Grian’s bare chest was showing? Does that... does that mean he liked it? 

Scar’s avoiding his gaze again. His cheeks are tinted pink.

“Scar...?” Grian ventures carefully. “Were you... lookin’ at my chest?”

Scar’s cheeks darken. “Ah, I- I- don’t- I mean, why would you- I didn’t mean to, it’s just...” He fumbles for the words. “What- what am I- hey, your pecs were basically in my face! I wasn’t trying to look, I- I just-”

“Scar,” Grian says, keeping his voice light and teasing, “did ya… did you like what you saw?”

Scar splutters for a moment. “Well, sure, Grian,” he tries to laugh it off, “I mean, anyone- anyone with eyes can see you’re uh, you know, you’re- you’re pretty attractive. I- I’m secure enough to say it, I don’t care, it’s- sure, of course, you’re very muscular! You’re a- you’re a muscular man, it’s just not always obvious with the sweaters you wear. Or- sorry, you call them jumpers in Britain land, right, they’re jumpers-”

“You been checkin’ me out, Scar?” Grian asks, caught somewhere between playfulness and utter disbelief.

“Uh...” Scar rubs the back of his neck. He exhales slowly, clearly debating with himself. “I... maybe? What... what would you say... if that were the case?”

Grian swallows. His heart is absolutely racing now, and he’s broken into a cold sweat that’s definitely not supernatural in origin. The air between them feels fragile; he’s acutely aware that a single word from him could swiftly plunge them back into the realm of safe familiarity, of casual light-hearted teasing between friends. Scar’s always said things that bordered on the flirtatious, and Grian can hide behind the plausible deniability of teasing. This entire interaction doesn’t have to mean anything. It can be easily moved past and forgotten.

And yet, strangely enough… Grian doesn’t want it to. Maybe it’s the post-haunting adrenaline or the fact that he could’ve died tonight, but all of a sudden, he feels like taking a chance. Like he could finally say what he’s wanted to say for the last three years. He managed to hold his own against a blumin’ ghost, for goodness sakes- he should be able to face his own feelings head on.

He takes a breath. “I’d say that’s a relief… ‘cause I’ve been checkin’ you out since day one of first year.”

Scar stares at him for a long moment. His expression is utterly unreadable. The silence draws on long enough that Grian feels a spike of panic, worried that maybe he’s mishandled the situation-

 “... oh my god,” Scar says finally. “Really?”

It sounds like the good kind of surprise. Grian offers a shy smile. “Yeah, yeah,” he admits. “I- Scar, I know I’m real good at playin’ these things close to the vest, but uh, I- I’ve had a massive crush on you since... basically since the day we met.”

“Huh.” Scar blinks. “You’re serious. You- you’re not pranking me right now?”

That startles a laugh out of Grian. “No! Scar, I don’t- we just survived being hunted by a ghost, I’m not pranking you!”

“Well, that’s- that’s amazing!” A grin spreads across Scar’s face- and man, oh man, does he have just the most wonderful smile. “Oh my gosh, G, I don’t- you don’t even know how long I’ve been waiting for this.”

The relief is almost overwhelming. “Yeah, me too!” Grian laughs, half-dazed and half-giddy, running a hand through his hair. “I- I even- look, the whole reason I even joined this group was as an excuse to hang out with you!”

Scar’s mouth falls open. “No way! That’s- that’s the whole reason I joined in the first place, too!”

Now it’s Grian’s turn to gawk. “Are you joking?”

“I’m not!” Scar insists, “I swear, I’m not- Impulse said he wanted to start the group and maybe we’d all join and get to hang out and I thought ‘hey, ghosts are cool and Grian is cool’ so I just-”

“Oh, I can’t believe this…” Grian groans, hiding his burning face in his hands. “We really are idiots, we’ve wasted nearly three years…”

Scar’s hands close around Grian’s wrists, lightly pulling them down from his face. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to make up for lost time,” he says smoothly, leaning in.

Corny, but Grian will allow it. He closes the gap, tilting his head up to meet Scar’s lips.

In that moment, everything else fades away. All the nervousness, all the second-guessing, even the bombshell discovery of the existence of ghosts- there could be one standing in front of them right now and Grian wouldn’t care. The way Scar gathers Grian in his arms, hands gently roving through his feathers- it’s bliss. It’s perfect.

Scar kisses him strong and purposefully, with no trace of carelessness or haste. He doesn’t rush. There’s intent written into every single movement, jaw working to deepen the kiss. Grian curls against him, hands splayed across Scar’s chest. He can feel Scar’s heart pounding through his flushed skin, and it’s wildly exciting- to think Scar is just as breathless as he is. 

Growing bold, Grian dares to slip his tongue into Scar’s mouth, and the noise he makes- part surprise, part delight- sends pure electricity fizzling up his spine. His mind is starting to drift away from him, lost in the sensation of weightlessness, of floating, that almost makes him feel like he’s gone completely incorporeal- like his own spirit has become untethered from the mortal coil.

Then Skizz’s voice comes down the stairs.

“G-Sharp! Scarface! You down here? We just saw a freaking ghost on the cams, and- oh my god!”

Grian breaks away from Scar, but not quick enough. He turns to see Skizz and Impulse standing at the bottom of the stairs, expressions shocked. And then, as if they’d rehearsed it, they both break into massive shit-eating grins and spin around to high-five each other.

“Woo!” Impulse cheers. “We got ‘em! Ladies and gentlemen, we finally got them.”

“Yeah, baby!” Skizz pumps his fist in the air. “Oh, I love it!”

“Oh, would you two stop it?” Grian huffs, but he’s not really cross. Hard to be cross when he’s on cloud nine. “The ghost did most of the work, alright?”

“That’s right,” Scar sniffs, winding an arm around Grian’s waist. “You know, I- I’m startin’ to think you all were in cahoots! Cahoots, I say!”

“Dude, if only,” Skizz laughs, walking over to clap them on the shoulders. “Could not have planned it better, that’s amazing. Well done, gentlemen!”

“Yeah, it’s about time!” Impulse adds, crossing his arms. “I was starting to think we’d graduate before either of you fessed up, I- I had to take drastic measures…”

“Impulse,” Grian says warningly, “if you’re about to tell me you started this whole paranormal investigation group just as a way to push me and Scar into confronting our feelings, I swear-”

“No, no,” Impulse assures him, chuckling. “I really do like the ghost-hunting deal, don’t worry. But uh, we did deliberately ditch you guys in the hopes that something would happen.”

Scar waggles his eyebrows. “Oh, things happened, alright.”

“Scar!” Grian swats at him, but he’s laughing and it feels good. It feels right. After all this time spent worrying about worst-case scenarios, about denying his feelings for the sake of maintaining the comfortable mundanity of his comfortable life, it turns out the scariest part was the fear itself.

The irony doesn’t escape his notice. A bit on the nose, if he’s honest.

“But in even bigger news,” Impulse graciously continues, “you saw the ghost? And you believed it? You, Mr. Non-Believer in all things ghostly?”

Grian sighs. “Yeah, yeah, I know…”

“This is incredible!” Skizz claps his hands together. “Okay, okay, we gotta go cleanse the area and I wanna hear everything, got it? Don’t leave a single detail out!”

Grian slips his hand into Scar’s as they follow Impulse and Skizz back up the stairs. “Yeah, alright,” he relents. He supposes he’s due for a lot of ‘I told you so’s’. But really, it’s a small price to pay for the life-altering knowledge that ghosts are real… and for finally finding the courage to believe in something extraordinary.

Scar hums. “Wait, details about the ghost or about the kissing?”

“Scar!”

~*~

[bearimba]

Ok wait I have vague GIG(G)S ideas:

Impulse: an Experienced Ghost Hunter(TM)!

He worked for whoever the in-game company is (they don't have a canon name as far as I'm aware?) for a while before going independent.

Accidentally made a pact** with a demon during his early days and is now racing to reverse it before he dies and his soul gets eaten

Something about the pact gives him plot armor so he's lowkey immune to dying (yes this is counterproductive. no I don't know why/how this works yet. probably something happened to make the contract go awry)

Surprise surprise, making deals with a demon goes against company policy, but breaking the pact like they want would also probably kill him. He makes a get-away by stealing their van, and since he's got the equipment and skills for it, he continues ghost-hunting to make a living while on the run.

He also offers services as an electrician on the side just for extra cash, which is great because faulty electronics is often a sign of EMF stuff.

He gets little demon horns? Maybe? It's for the vibe (and maybe a tail too, to hold his lighter with)

The cheat sheet is just a journal (or maybe a collection of journals?) full of notes he's taken over the years

Skizz: a literal and metaphorical angel*!

For backstory and world-building reasons I haven't figured out yet, he forms a sin-eating pact** with Impulse, and that's why they stick together (besides the fact they enjoy each other's company, of course).

He's a tradesman on the side just like Impulse, but he does more home-repair and carpentry stuff.

All his clothes are torn-up because he keeps dying in stupid ways, but he hasn't replaced them yet because he insists it makes him look cool.

He's in charge of taking pictures because his ✨angelic presence✨ counteracts the EMF stuff that messes up the camera. They used to have a much nicer one that wasn't affected by EMF back when Impulse first started, but they managed to break it and haven't been able to afford one like it since.

Honestly I don't have enough headcanons for him yet and it makes me sad :(

Gem: a totally normal… individual!

You heard of not-deer? Yeah, it's kinda like that >:]c Has she been replaced? Was she once Gem but has been transformed into something else? Has she always been this way and no one noticed until now? Who knows!

She and Grian met in middle school while causing trouble in the same arts class and have been buddies ever since.

She liked to spend a lot of time in the woods near her home partially due to a casual interest in botany and partially because she and Grian could get up to shenanigans without getting caught. Even when they moved to a different country for college (it was the only university they could find that offered decent programs for both architecture and medical science, not to mention his cousin offered to let them stay at his place rent-free), she enjoyed driving out to the nearby national park to hang out. That park was also her last-reported location before she went missing.

If you look too close, there's subtle details that hint that something's not quite right---eyes that reflect light, limbs that are a little longer than they used to be, very sparse blinking, and a smile that's a little too wide...

Grian was going to be her first victim. He was an easy target, after all---unlikely be missed under the right circumstances, and scatterbrained enough to fall for her tricks---but there was never a good time to strike without blowing her cover. Eventually, the cravings for human died down completely, and she (mostly) forgot he was supposed to be her meal instead of her best friend.

She likes to study other people and mimic their behavior, and she's gotten a lot better at it than she used to be when she first reappeared.

Imp and Skizz both realize there's something off about her, but she's not exactly aggressive or anything, so they just let her be. It doesn't help that whenever they try to question Grian about it, he insists there's nothing wrong.

She usually stays in the van because for some strange reason, the ghosts don't like to appear when she's around.

Although she didn't get to study anything in-depth, she does have more medical knowledge than the rest of the crew, and getting her to help is cheaper than going to a doctor.

Grian: a blind clairvoyant!

Despite Gem's disappearance, Grian managed to pull himself together enough to continue college in the fall. But about halfway through his degree, Jimmy pulled him along to study in a supposedly haunted part of the library because no one else would bother them there, during which the whole building experienced a blackout. The staff fixed it quickly enough, but when the lights came back on, Jimmy was confronted with a knocked-out Grian. For the rest of the semester, he'd be plagued by headaches, insomnia, sleepwalking outside and sleeptalking about the moon and eyes, paranoia, periods of amnesia, and other symptoms that almost made him drop out of college.

Ever since, he's had has this uncanny intuition for when something's about to go wrong and often suddenly knows things without any explanation as to how. Skizz swears it's like he's got eyes in the back of his head or something.

When Gem popped up right after he graduated and suggested to him that they leave on a long roadtrip, he wasn't really in a state of mind to question it. He just thought it would be a good chance to get his head on straight, and strangely enough, just being near Gem helps him to think much more clearly. He just assumes it's because they're such good friends.

He gets possessed at Point Hope, and although the crew manages to exorcise him, he still occasionally gets the urge to set sail and never come back. He's also noticed a lot more mollusks in strange places since then, though surely that must be unrelated...

Scar: a lovable salesman!

He's also considered an angel*, and he definitely likes to play the part to sell his wares.

The GIGS crew buys their supplies from him since certified sources are rare and trustworthy vendors are even rarer. Scar is still a pretty shifty guy, but he hasn't let them down yet---killing off his customers beloved friends would be bad business, after all!

He lives on the road just like GIGS for his own reasons, so they have to arrange to meet with him way both they run out of supplies.

His previous life is a well-kept secret, but he had an interest in the occult even before he became an angel. He claims it was to contact his old pets from beyond the grave, but unsurprisingly, no one quite believes him.

He loves to make outdated references, but no one knows if it's because he's that old or he's just a nerd.

Sometimes he'll join the crew on an investigation for fun, but he dies more often than not, and recovery is so inconvenient that he doesn't like to be on-site very often.

The crew:

They mostly deal in ghost identification, but they do offer extermination for an extra fee. It's more expensive than companies that specialize in extermination, but that's just the price for convenient/speedy service.

Each person has an unofficial role with Impulse as the ringleader, Skizz as the photographer, Gem as the man in the chair, and Grian as the odd-jobber. Of course, everyone has a little experience with everything, but they're most comfortable like this.

They all live in the van, and will usually stay in a town for anywhere from a few days to a couple months depending on how much work is available.

They tend to stay nights at motels and the like, but when money's short or there's nowhere to stay nearby, Imp and Skizz usually sleep in the cab of the truck while Grain and Gem get to camp in the back with sleeping bags.

Pay is split five ways: each member gets a set stipend for personal stuff, and the rest goes towards "work expenses" such as food, motel fees, gas, and the occasional treat for a job well done.

Other appearances:

Pearl, a mysterious woman with a wolfish grin and strange knack for attracting the supernatural.

Jimmy, Grian's well-meaning cousin who accidentally gets Grian possessed, freaks out when he goes no-contact on a sudden "road trip" with someone who's been presumed dead, and then nearly dies himself after an investigation gone wrong.

Lizzie (Jimmy's cousin on the other side) and her husband Joel, who contact GIGS for help and are surprised to find two old acquaintances among them (which is how Jimmy finds Grian again).

Ze and his new colleague Sneeg, two employees of Imp's old company that they run into at a haunting that got double-booked.

BDubs ("is that even a name?" "shut up. like you can judge, Mr. 'my-name-is-Grian-not-Grain.'" "yeah--- well--- at least I'm not named after some stupid stars!"), a very concerned patron who insists on supervising the investigation and gets roped into helping.

Ghostie-ghoulie stuff:

The supernatural is common enough to be recognized but isn't typically considered a part of everyday life.

"Ghost" refers to any supernatural creature that forms from human souls, which mean their appearences and attributes can vary just as much as human personalities. However, their traits can be greatly affected by the circumstances in which they were created (aka how a person died), so there's enough commonality to classify them.

Just like any other being, ghosts need energy to function. They absorb this energy in the form of heat and expel it and electromagnetic radiation. If they output enough of this radiation, they can create EMFs that can be detected by readers. This is also why haunted areas tend to be cold and events/hunts can be tracked by spikes in EMF levels.

If ghosts aren't formed enough enough energy to subsist right off the bat, they can wither away without intervention.

Most ghosts the GIGS that exist are fairly new, so they aren't strong enough to kill anyone. It usually takes at least a year of residence for enough EMF to gather for them to mess with the environment, and even longer to cause events. However, the older a ghost is, the more its sentience slips away.

The reason ghosts kill can vary wildly and may even depend on the type of ghost. Some ghosts are simply territorial, some hold grudges towards the living (though they aren't always aware enough to realize what/why), and some even want to possess the living.

Possessions are incredibly rare because it takes an immense amount of energy to possess someone, but most ghosts are no longer sentient to want such a thing by the time they've amassed enough power. Possession of a living body is even harder for the exact same reason.

*Angels and demons don't actually have anything to do with Christian mythology. Unlike other ghosts, neither are fully dead. The link between their soul and body is just messed up, though due to the rarity of both entities, how exactly this occurs is severely under-researched. For demons, their soul has been banished from their body (the still-functioning body is called a zombie and can be killed to destroy the demon), and their creation typically happens within an abundance of "bad energy" (ex: violent murder). On the other hand, angels are permanently bonded to their bodies and are created in the presence of "good energy" (ex: heroic sacrifice). They can also be killed by destroying their bodies, but unlike demons, the fact that their soul remains inside the body means they're able to regenerate even though the scars always remain. Both entities can rot (not age) to death within the average human lifespan but can prolong the wait by consuming energy, and both tend to have very clumsy/uncoordinated bodies due to the messed up soul link.

**Also, although it costs demons a lot of energy to form a pact with humans (and again, the manner in which a pact is formed/maintained is unknown), the fulfillment of a contract will grant them much more power than they out into it---it's bascially an investment. Angels can do a similar things called "sin-eating" but it works in reverse: it takes a little energy to make the pact, but the fullfilment will drain them greatly (no I don't exactly know how this works yet either. but it sounds cool so I'm keeping it >:]c )

[dmwrites]

Martyn was yelling. Martyn was yelling and coming at Impulse with a desperation and fury that rooted him to the spot. It didn’t make sense, Martyn was… cheating. Scott was dead, gone in a flash of fire that Impulse couldn’t even begin to comprehend. And he was facing down a man who was all greens and yellows and reds and-

There was a slice through the air, a pain so brief it might have been imagined, and then-

“I’m so proud of you, homie buddy!”

“For goodness sake, Skizz, put on a shirt!”

Impulse tried to extract himself from Skizz’s chest, but his friend only pulled him closer.

“Let him breathe a little, Skizz, he just died, after all.” Tango’s voice floated up somewhere to the left of him, and he felt a pat on the back. “Nice work, man, second place ain’t too bad.”

Skizz let Impulse go, finally, and Impulse was instantly being congratulated by his other friends, Scott giving him a distracted smile, Pearl sticking out her tongue before hugging him tight.

“You’re a good guy, Impulse. Thanks for sticking by me.” Etho came over and clapped Impulse on the shoulder, a small smile in his voice and a twinkle in his eye. “You fought well.”

“Thanks, man.” Impulse beamed at him. “You did too. Not washed up at all.” He chuckled, and Etho grumbled good-naturedly before wandering back over to The Clockers.

Skizz was standing next to him still, almost vibrating with energy.

“You’re being ridiculous.” Impulse told Skizz. “You should be congratulating Martyn when he dies. Or Scott, for that matter- there was no way I would have won even if we’d all played fair.”

“Come, walk and talk with me, buddy.” Skizz said, floating in the direction of the TIES tower.

They passed by the small group around Grian, who were watching Martyn below, still alive and on the ground. He caught a bit of conversation as they passed.

“We should probably slash-kill, G. Game’s over.”

“No, let’s leave him for a moment.” Grian mumbled, watching Martyn with a troubled look on his face.

The tower was empty, and Skizz and Impulse perched on the edge of Skynet, watching the other dead players float around.

“Dude, I said it once, but I’ll say it again- I am so proud of you. You’re like a warrior, man!” Skizz crowed.

“But I didn’t win!” Impulse exclaimed, although he couldn’t help but smile at Skizz’s enthusiasm.

“What- are you kidding me, dude! I told you- all of you before I died- team TIES gets top three, and you got to second place!”

“Well, second is a poor replacement for first…” Impulse grumbled.

“You know what, dude?” Skizz said, snapping his fingers, “I never did get to your affirmation, did I?”

“No, but I’m not, like, offended.” Impulse replied.

Skizz cleared his throat. “Impulsesv, my bestest friend-”

“You don’t have to do this, I’ll be okay without my affirmation.” Impulse interrupted.

“Shut your face and let me say nice things!” Skizz waved his hand dramatically at Impulse to make him shut up. “Impulse, my friend. You know, when I was doing these affirmations, I had to study people, even the ones I knew before. But you… it was easy to come up with the words. Perseverance. Focus. God, man, look at what you did. You wanted to win, and the way you hunted, killed… it was incredible. You never stopped, and I could tell how badly you wanted to win. You put your mind to it and you just go, man. If death herself hasn’t stopped you, I’m sure you would have walked right through Martyn’s axe to get the win.”

Impulse laughed. “I think you’ve been hanging out in the afterlife for too long, man, you are making less sense with every sentence.”

“I’m just proud of you, man.” Skizz smiled.

“Careful, Skizz,” Impulse teased, “people are gonna start thinking you’re some kind of angel or something, with how nice you’re being.”

“Ha! Whatever, dude.”

Skizz and Impulse started trying to elbow each other off of Skynet, laughing and waiting for Martyn’s life to end. The sun was setting, and there was that bittersweet taste of second place that settled heavy on Impulse’s tongue. Not good, not bad, but at the end of the day, there were always people who loved him, so it didn’t really matter.

[sophieeee0105]

I just want to discuss how throughout the life series, Etho’s episodes 4, 5 and 6 are always just constant fricking chaos for absolutely no reason.

third life:

Episode 4: he launches multiple missiles at the crastle, stealing his redstone back each time and is then blamed for being apart of Grian’s triple kill

episode 5 +6 (well session 5 + 6) were in episode 5: he made the Dorito walls, then death my firing squad occurred, then he made an enderporter, launched a tnt cannon at the crastle as a distraction, (also joined dowarts officially during this), and also was part of pizza’s murder, then had his castle burned down for the first time, then got sniped by Scar for tryna steal stuff from the desert (cuz his enderporter broke), and then had the entire bit of being terrified of Cleo despite being the only red in the conversation

last life:

Episode 4: Was genuinely a menance the whole episode using invisibility pots to sneak around peoples bases, and also stole the brewing stand from Cleo’s body in full view of like 4 people

episode 5: had to deal with a red roommate, no tango and also being the boogeyman, and made an enemy of scar in the process

episode 6: whatever the stack kill carnage was, bdubs boogey betrayal, tango rage crystal which became Etho’s rage crystal where he threatened 3 reds, ultimately getting skizz killed after a failed tnt cannon

double life:

Episode 4: fishing rodding the warden, near death via attempted entrance of mineshaft, death by fishing rod, murder of Pearl, near death by witch, threatening of grian and scar, becoming successful hitmen killing the ranchers

episode 5: the red army, skulk sensor trap kill, THE SHIP BURNS EVERYTHING BURNS

episode 6: red army attempt 2, literally wanting Scott dead the entire episode, Etho and bdubs cannot be separated and everyone knows that and deals with it as the server splits in two, death by trapped portal

limited life:

episode 4: green hunting day, “thank you Joel you saved me so now I can kill you”, failed attempt at trapping Scott’s bed, ETHO IS WASHED UP CONVERSATION

episode 5: blowing up bread bridge and his children, awkward family supper

episode 6: dies multiple times (mainly to his son or his own stupidity) and generally doesn’t have a good day, bucket clutches multiple times, kills scar with a fishing rod

secret life

episode 4: fails listening comprehension with Martyn, aha meme with Jimmy and becomes like an uncle tryna fit in with the kids

episode 5: be nice to bdubs day, weeping angel task causing way too many problems, somehow getting involved with the tag task because of bdubs, pearl’s hot potato book and his inability to return it to her

episode 6: bringing a warden to the surface while everyone else goes about their day normally, get set on fire but Pearl for seemingly no reason, becomes friends with Jimmy who was feral to half the server, the wither and warden fight in the centre of the server, killing 2 reds and he succeeds his hard task

[blueishspace]

Last Life with divine domains

Part 5: Session 7 and 8.

Fandom:

Well, for starters the suggestions from part 3...

@shortystack75, I loved all of them especially the idea of parallels between Hades and Persephone and Scott and Pearl...though I feel knowing the fandom only the Watcher/Listener connections are popular.

As for @easily-distracted-by-fandom I do agree that Bdubs causing Grian death not once but twice is...fascinating... Also, even though Jimmy wasn't red for long I love the idea of him going feral and I desperately need that fanart.

Now, for the ideas from last session:

Thank you @easily-distracted-by-fandom for the quotes "crying over burned flowers in the burning rain" "your tears fall from the sky", and yes everyone is freaking out because of Listener Martyn.

Exciting news, we have someone new to suggest stuff! @imnotthepersonyouseek! I love the idea of a Tango "look what u made me do" animatic, it sounds like something the fandom would come up with... I love even more the idea of a Magical Mountain found family. Especially with Jimmy starting out as an enemy, being kicked out from his team and being welcomed in by Scar...

Also, you say Justice blinds...but "Justice is blind" is like the perfect quote when it comes to the Martyn vs Grian situation.

Session 7

Pearl is chosen as the boogeyman, Grian sighs in relief at there only being one boogey.

Since Scar wasn't in this session because of being sick he doesn't get to link anyone for the session.

Martyn once again is given 3 rules to choose from: One more boogeyman is added to the session. (Two sessions in a row? That's ...unlikely) Every boogeyman must have 2 kills to be cured. Nobody is allowed to use armor. As a red all of these can help with taking out greens, I think the armor is eliminated because of it also hurting him so... Let's say he chooses two kills just because It's new.

Let's focus on the ex team BEST... while Skizz is a red and teams with the other reds Etho and Tango are split up and need allies. As they are all enemies of Magical Mountain none of them attempt an alliance with it... This leaves the shadow alliance on one side and the Scottage on the other... I feel like Etho gravitates towards The Shadow Alliance leaving Tango to go with the Scottage. I do think Tango and Cleo can understand eachother a bit as they have very similiar situations...

Lizzie as a red life definitely goes after Joel, it definitely doesn't go well for her with Joel being part of a pretty op team but she definitely tries.

At this point Pearls electricity cut offs like in our world causing another boogeyman to be needed... In our world Martyn was chosen but this can't happen since he's red so the boogeyman is *randomizer* Grian who panics as he realizes he has to get double the kills in half the time.

Mumbo and Jimmy don't die as they aren't anywhere near Grian and Grian doesn't die as he is nowhere near Martyn... BigB still dies though as he's still hunted down by Lizzie... And then opens Pearl's chest trap and explodes going straight to red.

Skizz doesn't die...yet... as he isn't working with Impulse to get a kill and he's probably with Lizzie and the other reds.

As for Grian's boogie kills... Well, he definitely goes after Jimmy and Mumbo considering not only is Magic Mountain his biggest enemy but because of both of them choosing Magic Mountain over him in some way... ....As for the wither he still spawns it as it was his objective since the start but BEST is no more and so he doesn't do it near their base... He probably does it near Magical Mountain as again they are his biggest enemies and he does it probably soon after getting his kills because of the timing of the session so...

A red life Jimmy with almost nothing on him would find himself face to face with a wither and Secret Life shows us what Jimmy does in that scenario... Die.

Jimmy is, despite everything, the first player out of Last Life. Considering he also died in Third Life...the canary curse is born... 2 of his lives were taken by Grian in some way.

Etho makes a similiar deal with Bdubs, offering a life for a death so Lizzie still dies and Bdubs is killed by the other reds for his betrayal.

The session ends with a lot less deaths then canon.

Lives

Scar and Joel have 4 lives.

Etho, Mumbo, Ren, Pearl and Scott have 3 lives.

Cleo, Tango, Impulse and Grian have 2 lives.

BigB, Skizz and Martyn have 1 life.

Jimmy, Lizzie and Bdubs are out.

Session 8

Scott becomes the boogey at the start of the session...since he's a green life he actually does something about it or at least plans on it.

Scar already had it out for the southlanders but now Grian went and killed Mumbo and permakilled Jimmy... Grian is getting linked to Impulse.

Martyn gets 3 rules to chose from (just to clear things up... Yes, being red life gives Martyn more chaotic rules to add, I use a different wheel): Nobody is allowed to use names for the whole session, All (current) yellow lives become boogeymen and All red lives must kill another red life... As a red life the second one is a fun one because it adds four Boogeymen to the mix.

Grian got confused when an extra boogeyman popped up, then he was disconcerted when as a Boogeyman he was told to get two kills... And, now suddenly he becomes a boogeyman out of nowere?!? Funny thing Martyn has no idea Grian doesn't understand what's going on anymore because of him.

A while later Etho runs into a creeper and goes boom... If Pearl still tries to use Scar's enchanter then she is also killed by either him or the skeleton.

Grian still gets Ren, just for another reason: The boogeyman curse... Meanwhile Tango doesn't explode himself as he's not in the snow castle anymore... Joel also doesn't get Pearl this time.

Cleo still kills BigB but Ren doesn't get to kill Scar...

As for Scott, well, Joel and Scar are the perfect target if we consider they have 4 lives and Scar did kill him a while ago so It's only fair.

Tango... well, he can get Etho or Ren at this point in time and Etho betrayed him as much as Bdubs did choosing Bdubs' side so... Etho goes red.

As for Impulse he could go after either Magical Mountain or Scottage... I think Magical Mountain is the better option at this point in time, maybe Mumbo of Scar? Maybe Scar can offer the bonus life for not getting killed? After all he likely still has it... Now Martyn and Skizz are both very anti-Scar by now so I think Scar still ends up dying during the session. As for Impulses boogey kill is likely Scott.

Lives

Scar, Joel, Mumbo, Ren and Impulse have 3 lives.

Scott, Pearl, Grian and Tango have 2 lives.

Skizz, Etho and Martyn have 1 life.

Jimmy, Lizzie, Bdubs and BigB are out.

Fandom

You know the drill people, I know I'm going to love what you guys are going to say.

Previous part

Next part

First part

[conivolos]

lil funky gigs thing i wrote!! link to the ao3 :D, and the yt links to the vods i based it off of (kinda), impulse, skizz

------

The drive back from a successful bust, Scar thinks, is one of the best parts of his entire week.

Impulse and Skizz sit in the front of the car, himself and Grian in the back. It's storming somewhere up ahead, but for now, there's light raindrops falling overhead, so quiet you can barely hear it over the softly playing music from the car’s speakers--one of Impulse’s old cds with a weird mix of Blink-182 and instrumental synth pop on it. Mostly Blink-182, though. The shine from the street lights outside illuminates the car in bright light for barely a second, before the night swallows them once more.

Scar watches the raindrops on his window as the desolate night speeds past, eyes occasionally catching on a reflective sign. 

His fingers quietly tap against the car door, poorly imitating the beats from the radio, before a sudden thought pops back into Scar’s head. He perks up a little, sitting up higher in his seat, a grin starting to split his features. Grian’s eyes flick up to meet him, moving from where he was looking out the window.

“Hey, remember what I said about me not dying lately?”

“You literally died just before,” Grian protests, tapping his foot against Scars shin.

“Yeah, but I only died once! So I think it still stands!” Scar says, nodding enthusiastically at everyone and surreptitiously tapping Grian’s foot back with his own.

“Who’s still standing?” Impulse asks, gaze still trained on the road ahead.

“My slurpee suggestion! I’ve survived enough this week that I think I deserve a slurpee for my good work!” he nods enthusiastically again, as if that alone would convince them.

Skizz laughs from the front, glancing at Scar in the rear-view mirror, “You’re not wrong there, bud.”

"Slurpees do sound like a good idea, and it'd be good filling up on gas sooner rather than later..." Impulse murmurs after a moment of consideration.

"Sooo, is that a yes?" Scar asks hopefully.

"Ah, why the heck not."

"Yes!"

“Where are we even going to find a petrol station out here?” Grian pipes up, less asking a question and more of just making a statement.

“I saw a 7-11 when we were driving up here,” Impulse explains, switching lanes (while indicating, mind you, just because they're the only ones on the road doesn't mean he can be reckless).

“Oh, of course. There's a 7-11 down the road from a creepy prison. Makes perfect sense,” Grian despairs, slumping in his seat.

Impulse snickers, turning off into the exit.

“Well of course there is, Grian!” Scar starts and Grian turns to glare at him. Undeterred, Scar continues, “How else would we get our post ghostbustin’ slurpees?”

“We have not busted a single ghost the entire time we’ve been ghost hunting, Scar,” Grian says plainly.

Scar shakes his head, “Slurpees are still an important--nay--vital (vital, Gri) part of ghost hunting!”

Grian rolls his eyes, Impulse and Skizz snicker from the front. “You’re right about that, Scar,” Impulse remarks, and he spots Scar’s responding grin in the rear-view mirror.

“Oh! That reminds me,” Scar starts, leaning forward slightly, “Skizz? You still got a tummy ache?”

Skizz gives a dramatic but ultimately lighthearted groan, “Yeah, but I think this slurpee is gonna fix everything that's ever been wrong with me,” he says, the distant crackle of thunder almost drowning out Impulse’s responding laugh.

“That's a tall ask,” he says, flicking on the indicator once more.

“Hey!!!”

Impulse giggles, and they round a corner. And through the slight fog and rain of just-past-one-am, the bright, flickering 7-Eleven sign blinks into view. 

Scar pumps his fist, this close to bashing it into the car’s ceiling. 

Skizz wheezes and Impulse shoots Scar a concerned look, “Don't hurt yourself, Scar.”

Scar shakes his head, nearly bashing it into the window. If he noticed, Scar doesn't acknowledge it, choosing to carry on talking instead, “You underestimate me, Impulse. I'm far too much of a professional to fall for the car’s evil tricks.”

Grian snorts and Scar turns to him, playfully affronted.

“What? Grian, it’s true--!”

“What’re you talking about? I didn't say anything--”

“Y’know, if we were any further from the stop, I'd be concerned,” Impulse murmurs to Skizz, who snickers in response.

“I know, right?”

“What’s--what’re you talking about?” Scar asks, apparently halting in his bickering.

“Oh, nothing. don't worry about it.” Impulse smiles, turning into the bay.

“We’re only seconds away from sugary heaven, homies!”

“Skizz!”

And Impulse has barely stopped the car before the both of them begin to clamber out of Scar’s door.

“You could’a just--okay.” Impulse blinks then sighs, pushing the button by the door and climbing out himself.

The gas station doors slide open at Scar and Grian’s approach, and their shoes squeak on the scuffed linoleum as they scuttle in.

“Get me one too!” Impulse calls and Skizz spins around from halfway across the bay and shoots him a thumbs-up, smoothly walking backwards into the building. Impulse laughs and shakes his head, making to fill up the car.

Skizz turns around to see Scar immediately making a beeline for the slurpee machine in the back corner, who’s loosely followed by Grian.

As he reaches the machine, Scar tugs the sleeves of his jacket down over his hands and goes to grab one of the bigger cups from the stand. After a quick moment of consideration, flips the tab for a blue looking drink.

“Why are your slurpee cups so big,” Grian complains over the sputtering noises of the slurpee machine, frowning at the rows of cups, “This doesn't make sense.” 

“Whaddya mean?” Skizz asks, sidling up next to him.

“The medium size is as big as my face, Skizz,” he exclaims, “this is too much sugar to be healthy!”

Skizz chuckles and sighs, patting Grian on the shoulder, “Welcome to America, buddy.”

“America sucks, I wanna go back home.”

“Well, too bad! You're stuck with us, G!” Scar chimes in, momentarily pausing with shoving a lid onto his drink.

And while Scar and Grian bicker over whatever in the background, Skizz hesitates over Vanilla Cola and the Traditional Lemonade flavours for Impulse. He stares them down for a second before shrugging and flipping the tab for Vanilla Cola.

“Skizz, which one are you getting?” Grian asks after he finally selects a cup (the smallest option, of course).

“Raspberry and passionfruit, or whatever it's called,” he responds, long since decided, “What about you, G?”

“The only non-sugar one,” he groans, and Skizz snickers.

As they talk, the door to the gas station slides open with a quiet squeak. Impulse walks in, quickly spotting the rest of his team and making his way over, droplets of rain in his hair. “What's happenin’?” he asks, stepping beside Skizz.

“Got you Vanilla Cola,” Skizz explains, thrusting said drink into Impulse’s hands.

“Oooh, thanks.”

“Impulse!” Scar exclaims, interrupting him before he can take a sip, “Go pay for stuff so we can leave again.”

“Need not bother, dippledop!” Skizz says before Impulse can even think about protesting or fishing out his phone. “I’ll pay for us.”

“With what money?” Impulse asks.

“You shut up!!!” 

At that, Skizz digs through his pockets for a moment before he finds his phone. He blinks. The screen’s cracked more than usual and it doesn’t turn on when he presses the button. “It’s fine, it's fine,” he stresses at Impulse’s poorly disguised snort. “I was planning on paying with cash anyway.”

“Who still keeps a wallet on them nowadays? It's 2023 for pete's sake.” Impulse murmurs, only half sarcastic, as Skizz shoves his phone back into his pocket and sets about looking for his wallet.

“Skizz baby, that's who!!”

“...Who’s Pete?” Scar stage whispers, slurpee clutched close to his chest, leaning slightly closer to Grian, who giggles not-so-quietly in turn.

Skizz eventually retrieves his wallet with a celebratory ah-ha, brushing off the lint; some of it landing on his shoes. He opens it with a grin, which it immediately drops off his face. He upturns it, shaking the wallet out; more lint falls out.

Skizz takes a sharp breath and Impulse pats him sympathetically on the shoulder. “Maybe I should just pay for it?” he suggests.

“Yeah! Impulse is the sugar daddy, let him pay for the stuff,” Grian adds.

Skizz huffs, defeated, “You’re all a bunch of jerks…”

“Love you too, Skizz,” Scar says, draping an arm across Skizz's shoulders. “You know, if we were in like a cartoon,” he remarks, “A fly would’ve flown out of your wallet.”

And Skizz has barely enough time to choke on his laughter before Impulse hands his slurpee to him and walks over to pay for the drink, a sheepish look on his face.

They watch from halfway across the store as Impulse talks to the cashier, him laughing nervously as they don't return his smile.

Grian hums, “You know what I'm craving right now?” he says, swirling the straw in his cup and properly turning around to face Scar and Skizz.

“Slurpees?” Scar suggests, taking a sip of his.

“Ice cream?” Skizz asks, shifting the things in his hands so he doesn't drop them.

“Cheese.”

“Cheese,” Skizz echoes.

“Cheese.” Grian nods.

“Why--why cheese?”

Grian shrugs and takes a sip of his slurpee.

Skizz blinks at him.

Scar sighs wistfully, shaking his head, “If only they had a cheese flavour.”

“The hell are you guys talking about?” 

“Oh, Impulse!” Scar gasps, jumping a tad and dramatically clutching at his chest, “You scared the living scars outta me!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Impulse chuckles, taking steps towards the exit and jokingly beckoning the others to follow, “C’mon, we’ve got one more ghost-house to bust-ghost.”

“Oh, please tell me it isn't another prison,” Grian gripes, falling into step beside him.

Impulse laughs, “Not exactly.”

“What? The hike school?” Skizz asks as he and Scar catch up.

“Nooo, no more walking today,” Scar stresses, and Grian nods.

Impulse huffs, unlocking the car doors, “I know, I know. The ghost-house this time is one of those suburban-y ones.”

“One of the ones by the beach?”

“That's the one.”

“Woop!”

[hptx7777]

Kind of Secret Life spoilers

Lizzie becoming our canary like Jimmy

Seablings but make it canary

Mumbo can join so the three of them become the wettest cats of the Life series /j

The fact Jimmy was so ecstatic about how he isn’t the first out INFRONT OF JOEL,, also Joel quite literally lost his close friend, wife and ally in one session in the span of like 20 minutes

Mumbo was just having a terrible episode from the strider to then his own fence posts he used to stop Martyn who then were how he couldn’t run away quick enough and get killed by the Warden

He literally speedran from being proper secure to literally out the series, probably a first lol

Also Jimmy was having such a good antagonistic session last time too dude you were over 35 hearts and somehow still died?? Well the trend of Jimmy dying when the reds start dropping still exist so. I would of loved to have seen Skizz and Jimmy ‘dance’ but It was so dramatic lmao

Joel technically was the reason Lizzie died. Had he not told her to hunt Scott down she wouldn’t be first out,, yeah man that sucks you caused your wife to die that must suck really bad

Joel mourning and being depressed about his wife dying: 😭

Jimmy right in front of him: 🤩🥳😆😁😄

[sheasshovel]

HEAR ME OUT

Scar as Apollo and Gem as Artemis…

Starting with Gem;

-HER ANTLERS!! Deer are sacred animals to Artemis and she is also the goddess of the moon and thats so shiny duo crumbs (pearl as the moon).

-Pearl could also work as a follower of Artemis though because of her disastrous double life relationship with Scott. Followers of Artemis swore off love and lived a life of chaste, which aligns well with Pearl having forgiven Scott after she won but never having the same relationship with him that she had in Last Life.

-Artemis herself also swore off love of any kind.. and guess who wasn’t there for Double life for a soul bound?

-Her only Allies in sl, besides the moon herself, were Scott and Impulse. Both of which could work as devout followers of Artemis because of their rejection of their own respective soulmates. Scott acknowledges his past lovers as his exes and never (to my knowledge) expresses wanting to get back with them. Impulse, too, never hesitated to attack the mounders even if they had Bdubs on their side. Impulse and Bdubs had a great relationship in Double Life but I like to think that, for this theory to work, they’ve just decided to keep that relationship in Dl.

-Besides the moon, Artemis is also a symbol of the hunt which is exactly what she did in sl sessions 7-8; hunt people down with the aid of the moon. Imagine moonlight illuminating her path as she stalks her prey….

Scars turn;

-Now, Apollo isn’t the god of the Sun (that would be Helios… or Grian in this case) but rather of sunlight, but the sun is still a huge symbol of him. Not to go all desert duo on you but the crumbs are there. Scar also covers himself in sunflowers in sl, a flower known to always be facing the sun, basking in its light. It’s worth mentioning that Scar was only close to winning when he and the Sun were inseparable in 3rd life, and he actually won when he was faced with the symbol of the moon and the moon herself.

-This is more silly but Apollo is highly connected with musical arts (specifically the lyre) and could you imagine if that scene where Grian and Scar were singing together wasn’t just Scar being oblivious but instead Apollo using any chance he can get to showcase his musical talent to the Sun?

-Apollo’s gift of Prophecy… Scar “we all die in the end” would be more prophetic if we all collectively gaslight ourselves into believing that he died after hitting succeed on his task. But in these death games, everyone knows by now how it ends. I think Scar acknowledging this is somehow foreshadowing how he wins though; by murdering everyone who stands in his way, not accepting sacrifices and turning on his temporary allies the second its clear that it would benefit him. When he said everyone would die he truly meant EVERYONE would die, and a majority will die to him or his twin (Artemis).

-Apollo and Artemis are both known for using Archery, but Scar is literally Hotguy come on now. His last kill was an arrow to Pearl that knocked her off of a cliff, an ARROW at the MOON. Scar is an incredibly skilled bow user and I would include this in Gem’s part too but I’m pretty sure she’s gotten more kills on sl by sword.

-Lastly, the Muses. Apollo, being the god of arts and music, was the choir leader of the 9 muses on Olympus. Now, Scar was never friends with more than 2 people at a time in the life series but lets look at his kills instead. In session 9 alone, he got 6 Permakills and 2 assists (Big B and Skizz) which brings us up to 8. Not enough but he lasted for 9 sessions, which is pretty cool if you interpret every session as a muse. Each session’s task being a huge influence on how Scar acts, even if he fails the task.

I think the 9 muses, Gem’s preferred weapon, and Apollo’s connection to medicine and Scar’s lack thereof are the weakest parts of this delusional rant but I still love the idea of the final battle in sl featuring the moon rejecting Artemis and a battle between the Twins. Apollo winning only after destroying the moon herself, who lost her will to win after the events of Dl. Apollo having once been allied with the Sun, and the Moon once having her win handed to her by her soulmate. Anyways Shinyduo Desertduo and Scar/Pearl narrative foils real and true.

[tubbytarchia]

Some Tango, rancher and Etho (!?) thoughts as I finished up Tango's POVs for 3rd, Limited and Secret Life

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is near empty in this skull of mine so bear with my poor analysis skills if you can call it that. This is walls of text that I'm not expecting anyone to fully read but it's nice to get my own thoughts in order for the future, somewhat!

ahem Tango thoughts

Tango's loyalty KILLS ME. Similarly to Impulse in 3rd Life he recognizes the value in allyship but struggles to maintain any concrete ones, and then goes from a double agent to someone playing all sides, but even so, whoever his allies are at a given moment, unless he's been severely wronged by them, he's straight devoted to them. He seems to switch on a dime in 3rd life going from team to team, but that's not because of lack of care and he puts his best foot forward for them anyway. He wants to be trusting of and trusted by Etho even after their alliance strains, he was quick to defend the Crastle and offer reassurance to Cleo even after declaring the Crastle to be his enemies, he fought against Dogwarts alongside Impulse, refusing to back off even when it became certain death after Impulse died, etc

He might have a tendency to die stupid deaths but he did seem to have his value recognized unlike Last Life, where he was allied with the same people for almost all of it. He sacrificed a lot for team BEST to ultimately get no more than a pat on the back. I already made a post about this but I'm not gonna shut up about it!! The way he kind of gets tossed around begrudgingly when he's very rightfully upset about Dbubs killing him, and others just keep joking about his anger and treating him as dispensable, ahh it saddens me. Skizz WAS nice to him but even he, in the end, came over to try and threaten and intimidate Tango once he was red. Reds in Last Life took the breaking of any previous alliances seriously, as did Tango once he was also red, but even so

Then ofc Double Life <3

And in Limited and Secret Life he seems to have his value largely recognized again and is able to secure good teams, to whom, again, he's SO loyal to. He always has been, ever since 3rd Life and even in Last Life after the boogie incident. I don't think he ever wronged his teammates in ANY substantial way. He very openly made a deal for Scar to kill BDubs and that's probably the worst he's done, and even then, not like Scar did a very good job... But Tango is also someone who often talks big game (eg "oh just wait until I'm red" etc) only to not be very fatal to anyone. He threatened BDubs a lot but ultimately, hardly harmed him

Tango's devotion is undying and he really wants to trust people. He'd rather put up with team BEST making fun of his rightful anger than leave or harm them, and he's quick to join back up with the Crastle because he wants people by his side. He makes himself a good asset to prove his trustworthiness, if even subconsciously, because he certainly trusts whoever he manages to settle with first. I was kind of surprised at how much faith he had in team TIES as he was being hunted down by the entire server for being the last green name. He hardly ever doubted them and wasn't afraid to immediately come out of hiding upon finding them (and ofc then sacrificing himself for Skizz)

Tango's response to combat is VERY often to cower away somewhere. Maybe he's just being cautious but nevertheless his immediate reaction tends to be to back away, and he's admitted many times himself that he just hesitates. I think this has happened a few times but in LimL in particular he called Etho out for fleeing combat when the Bad Boys attacked them and the Clockers, even though Tango did basically the exact same thing. As if he doesn't even always realize when he's cowering off to the side? But seeing the ways that he usually gets himself killed, yeah! Understandable! Lol. And yet when things get dicey, he more often than not goes against this nature to abstain. Third Life, instead of fleeing from a battle against 3(4?) people once Impulse dies, he goes back in and dies. Last Life, he takes one for the team by charging at a minecart (though granted, in the moment he didn't seem to think it'd kill him, he did charge in without much thought). Limited Life, he refuses to disengage and gets himself killed in his pursuit of Scar instead of eating to heal from his half a heart of health and Secret Life.... oh ho ho

Tango's not as literally sacrificial as Skizz or Scott, and he might not be very good at protecting his friends due to his tendency to abstain from combat (because he's not much good at it so again, understandable) but he's very firm about who his friends are and man, does he do his best. 9/10 times he makes a good effort at best (lest we forget, the man has gotten very few legit kills across all five seasons) but then there are times like when he physically put himself between Etho and Martyn in LimL when Etho called for his help, even when it looked like Tango was trying to maintain distance from the confrontation. And Secret Life...!!!

First of all, got half the server to support him in the last session by giving him hearts ofc, very nice, very cute, very deserved. But secondly, I will not stop thinking about him going against Scar's deal. He was so very adamant about not hurting, let alone killing Skizz and very begrudgingly accepted Scar's offer for a heart in exchange for him swiping Skizz once. Only for Tango to start attacking Scar later, proclaiming that he could never betray Skizz. My condolences to Scar but fuck yeah, king shit!! He showcases his loyalty again but also just straight up initiates combat and goes at it for a bit. Like many times before he just gets kinda feisty as things get closer to the end, I suppose! Even when he doesn't really have many hearts to spare. I'm here for this

I have thoughts about Etho and him specifically too but thats below

Rancher thoughts

Firstly just some rancher moments that I'm sure all the rancherers already have seared into their brains but I'm noting them for me because I've seen them for the first time now:

Jimmy in LimLife, all bad boy, hits Tango and then immediately turns around to apologize to his rancher

When Tango gets blown up by Joel, upon returning, Jimmy bombards Tango with questions about how it went down

And it stuck out to me because it reminded me so much of the way Jimmy tries to inquire Tango about the amount of hearts he dealt to him in Secret Life (and ofc Tango being all indirect with his replies which ends up sounding like some strange off-brand flirting). Also Tango intentionally running into Jimmy's TNT and then sticking around him instead of fleeing. Also also "I like seeing Tango's reaction when he sees me, it's nice, he makes these weird sounds". That entire ordeal in session 5 is such gold

When Skizz is doing his affirmation thing with Jimmy in LimL, Tango and Impulse eavesdrop and Tango jokes about how embarrassing that was and that he needs to throw up right to their faces. And the way Jimmy had absolutely zero hostile reaction whatsoever. Even when it quieted down and he thanked Skizz, Skizz referred to "those idiots" and Jimmy's all "what idiots?" lmao. But then maybe he was just too taken aback by Skizz's kindness (of course he's also in on the jokes and doesn't always play up the upset factor, but I mean, it WAS his rancher very loudly voicing his disgust), which breaks my heart just a wee bit after all the kindness he got from Tango just one series prior, the same Tango who barely partakes in all the jokes going around at Jimmy's expense. But then, it's not like he made any direct jabs at Jimmy, I don't think he ever has but I might be wrong? And was playfully disgusted by the corny interaction in general, including Skizz

Ok I knew of this one but Jimmy interrogating Tango when his task was to talk to Torchy, but also I just love it so much that Flower Husbands is kind of in the mix too with Scott telling Jimmy to do the thing, for Jimmy to then attempt to do the thing, then defend Tango to Scott's face, to then attempt to do the thing again and get it completely wrong even though Scott knew exactly what Tango's task was and gave Jimmy all the pieces

Pearl giving Tango a pity flower only for Jimmy to immediately walk over and accidentally pick it up. Reminds me of when the same happened with baked potatoes in DL

I don't actually have a lot to add here for the rancher stuff, except that I think it's neat how the nature of Tango's alliances aligned? Which I just went into detail about but I think it's poetic that it went from Tango struggling to find one sure alliance, to Tango being in a mostly stable alliance but his worth largely unrecognized, to assigned soulmate ranchers, where Jimmy gave him all the affirmation in the World, even as the others made fun of them, and then Tango having very dependable alliances since then. Something something the way Jimmy rightfully supported Tango, seeing him for all his worth, and then Tango not having to settle for (much) less since then. That's just the way things happened to go but hey, I don't know about you but I see fanfic material and stuff about Jimmy leaving a mark on the course of Tango's Life series, or something

Going back to the Skizz affirmation thing for a moment too, I think it's also neat to compare how good he is at voicing intricate affirmation vs, well, Tango. Jimmy seemed so very genuinely touched by Skizz's kindness, something he obviously isn't subjected to a lot, except for Tango in Double Life with all his ornately worded "Great job!"s and "You're awesome!"s. That's just the thing that I love about ranchers sooo much that they're hardly ever graceful in what they do or say, more just bundles of strong emotions than anything, but they mesh oh so perfectly

suddenly Etho thoughts

Unrelated to ANYTHING but Etho's so cute!! Like ok, what else is new but ahh, just stuck out to me, probably because Tango keeps getting allied with him one or another way for half the seasons. I grinned so widely each time he went around "team meeting, team meeting!" or "banana!" in his small voice, and for me, nothing so far has topped the moment of him running into the TIES group, yelling for someone to help him craft some powered rails

Ok anyway it was SO nice to see his undying loyalty towards Tango in LimLife after what happened in 3rd and Last Life. It reminds me so much of his heartwrenching loyalty in Secret Life where he absolutely refused to give away his teammates' locations even as the success of his task depended on it. In the manhunt in session 4, the one person who saw Tango, completely vulnerable before he could continue his escape attempt was Etho, and the WAY Etho doesn't have immediate vocal reactions like so many of the other lifers do and can just stay silent is soo. I don't know man. It works wonders to make him intimidating but then there's also moments like this, the way he stays totally silent on more than one occasion so as not to risk betraying his teammates, and when he does speak, it's to give false information or whatever it takes to protect them. And just as with Cleo and Grian, in LimL with Tango, he was defending the last remaining green/s! That adds absolutely nothing lmao just an observation that I felt the need to point out

In Secret Life Tango and Etho also team up somewhat at the very end, at which Tango says "I'll carry you, as usual" which is a line that tickles me. Like, true, Tango has done a lot for Etho in their previous alliances but in LimL, it felt a lot more balanced, if not the other way around altogether. Again, the manhunt!! Not that Etho's attempt to misguide the others helped at all, but it's the sentiment that matters... Etho had Tango's back all throughout LimL and that makes me so happy. deserved

[mcwhytubers]

i think skizz is gonna kill people no matter what this next session once he hits yellow but I’m really hoping he get boogey and hunts them down

it’ll also be hilarious if he got boogey in the half hour before he turns yellow and instantly kills someone because they think he’s not a threat yet (while also mirroring the two ways he died last session)

[panda-wearing-pants]

Best Life Series episode #4

S1E4: Jimmy invites people to play chick chance, and ends up giving Joel, Martyn and BigB access to the cows, Joel and Jimmy die attempting Dare to Flare, Grian sets a trap at Renchanting and kills Jimmy, Ren and Skizz, Joel helps Etho fire a TNT missile at the Crastle, but Bdubs stops it, Scar gives BigB a no-kill pass, Bdubs uses a golden apple and fire-protection pants to beat Dare to Flare, and Martyn uses ender pearls to do it

Solidarity: I DIED TWICE!?

S2E4: Bdubs buys the enchanter back from Scar, Ren tells the Shadow alliance that he is a boogeyman, Martyn, Jimmy, Mumbo and Impulse try to steal Scott's wither skull, Lizzie and BigB talk loudly about a villager at the top of Ren's tower in an attempt for someone to activate Ren's trap, Mumbo builds a sugarcane farms and "conceals" it with dirt, Ren kills Skizz, and BigB kills Cleo while they are at Ren's tower afterwards, causing Cleo to leave the alliance, Mumbo builds a ghast farm, which Grian is shot off of by Joel, Grian and Joel discover Pearl and Scott building the Green Life Club under spawn, Joel's trap blows up Cleo seconds after he finishes hiding it, Grian tries to get Mumbo to join him as a red,

Smallishbeans: MY TRAP WORKED!!

S3E4: Joel, Etho, Grian and Martyn use fishing rods to throw the warden into the air, eventually killing it, Grian, Pearl, Joel, Etho and Impulse try to make a fishing rod chain, but Joel dies from fall damage, Pearl steals some of Joel and Etho's gear, and Joel kills her, Joel and Etho go to the Red Velvet Keep to kill Jimmy and Tango, who are on a platform above with Scar, Grian, and an enchanter, Etho and Joel begin burning Pandas, so Scar jumps down and does a water bucket clutch, Jimmy is shot off by Etho and dies, Bdubs and Impulse throw a pool party, but the pool has a zombie bubblevator, which puts a few zombies into the pool, the zombies don't do much, but Ren kills Bdubs

Ethoslab: Hitmen Revenge

S4E4: Joel is chased by Martyn, Etho and Tango, and Etho eventually kills him, Martyn attempts to kill Etho, who turned green from killing Joel, but is killed by TNT from boogeyman Tango and ender pearl damage, Martyn accidentally kills Scar with a stalactite, Grian blows up Martyn, Scar and Impulse with a TNT minecart, BigB steals Judge Judy and Executioner from Jimmy, the yellows hunt Scott, but Scott lets Martyn kill him, Tango is the last green and allows Skizz to kill him, Jimmy takes BigB prisoner in an obsidian cage, but Pearl frees him, Joel and Grian build a submarine and bread bakery above the mansion

Solidarity: I KIDNAPPED SOMEONE FOR THE BAD BOYS!!

S5E4: Bdubs is forced to reroll, and gets the task to kill the ender dragon, Grian tries to trick people into thinking his task is to sing everything he says, Cleo gets people to read her task, which is how she completes it, Etho makes aha puns, Scar kills all of Lizzie's cows, punches Skizz twice, and crafts a diamond helmet, causing Joel and others to chase him around, telling him to take the helmet off, which he cannot do because he has to do the opposite of what people say, Impulse and Pearl try to get people to donate hearts to Skizz, Gem recruits Bdubs, Impulse and Pearl to fight the dragon, Lizzie sees Jimmy and Skizz in a strange position on love island, Martyn walks off the End platform and dies, Bdubs kills the dragon

Goodtimeswithscar: My Task Made Me a VILLAIN!

[imaginethat0327]

NO but this works so well it works so well okay.

(Disclaimer, all of this is about the character and not the content creator! And I’m also just rambling so this might not 100% make sense)

Tango in 3rd Life: drifts from party to party, doesn’t really have any allegiances, ends up sticking with Cleo and Bdubs for the most part but also not really officially, dies randomly with no big flare or drama and it’s like “well THAT was a waste of time.”

So he thinks that next time he’ll join a team! In Last Life he stumbles into Skizz and they form a duo, and then Etho and Bdubs join and they’re team BEST! But then Scar and Bdubs need lives and Skizz is constantly calling on Tango to be a savior even when Tango shows reservations or downright frustration, and it all culminates in getting turned on by someone he thought he could trust, the same person Skizz had begged Tango to feed lives to. Another pointless death wraps it all up.

Skizz isn’t in double life but that doesn’t stop Tango from having a series filled with setbacks, starting from the first explosion-caused death, the burning ranch, hearing people mock Jimmy his soulmate, and ending with him dying randomly in a forest somewhere with no witnesses. They have no true allies in that game either.

Limited Life: Skizz and Etho are back, Bdubs keeps trying to sneak his way back into the dynamic. Tango desperately is trying to survive at this point and MAKE something of himself with this game but he’s hunted down by yellows and Skizz, instead of trying to help him hide like Etho does, demands that Tango GIVE HIM HIS LIFE so Skizz can have more time. This also is the season where Tango shows a bit of bitterness over the boogey death by Bdubs and gets a revenge boogey kill specifically bringing up that past death, so he didn’t forget! Skizz gets a noble, sacrificial death. Tango trips over a bump in the grass and falls on his own sword.

By the time Secret Life rolls around, Tango is forced to shack up with Skizz because nobody else is around, but Skizz isn’t his first choice. The games start out cutesy because of tasks and he says he’ll do the heart gifting thing, but once again, it is Skizz’s idea. He is also notably more aggressive as shown in the zombie hoard episode. He dies meaninglessly AGAIN when Scar knocks a block out from under him without warning.

throughout all of these games, Tango has always been one of the most, if not THE most, loyal person to whatever team he’s in, if he has one. He has taken hits for the others constantly and he usually bows to whatever scheme or idea Skizz comes up with. Now, he’s had enough. Now, Tango rejects teaming with Skizz and he’s decided to show Skizz “HOW DO YOU LIKE LOSING A LIFE, HUH?” Kind of like how villain Scar was made in Secret Life, we might get chaos/villain Tango in this season who decides to take more agency in whatever he’s doing. Maybe he joined the weird Ethubs situation so he would be able to do more of his own stuff without worrying about affecting the team dynamic, because the true dynamic in Team BET doesn’t really factor Tango in it at all.

Anyways, I am VERY excited to see what kind of monster this series has released in Tango. I bet there will be many more shenanigans to come, even if he doesn’t win!

i really like how tango went from being betrayed to being the betrayer

it started with him being killed by bdubs in last life (i know it was a boogey kill but still) (i also know he killed bdubs in lim life but that was deserved)

to killing skizz in wild life for NO reason other than just killing him

there is so much angst potential from this lol

[a-wild-rosette]

Thinking about Ren being the Boogeyman.

Thinking about him alone in that watch tower, maybe prowling the land, growing more and more anxious as time past and still with no kill.

Thinking about Ren, finally running into his allies - who he will not kill, for his loyalty . Ren is a smart man, and the game is still long. He left the fairy fort for the day, to hunt for a better prey.

Thinking about Ren, finding Joel, and suddenly "the Red king dies tonight, fellas" was echoing through time and space, a ghost of a crown heavy on Ren'd head.

Thinking about Ren, stalking after Scott from Ren's abandoned tower, couldn't bring himself to attack him. Memories of Ren killing Scott, twice, and his army killing his husband. An image of a man with sadneds crystalised, stroke down by his blade, lives drained two times in a row under Ren's hand. How much bloodshed and carnage could he deal to a man who had fought him and lost everything he held dear?

Thinking about Ren, not killing Etho, or Skizz, or their partners. How could he, when they fought and died for him, loyal even when they both went out in a blaze of glory?

The day drew to a close, and Ren was desperate. He sought out the Southland, as a last resort. There are 5 of them, surely someone would be an easy target. And maybe he would be sneaky enough to get away.

He ignored the nagging voice at the back of his head, crying about Martyn, Martyn was there. Telling Ren he would rather die than harm his loyal Hand. Death had already done them part, and Ren had nothing to do with him anymore.

(He didn't know, as if a layer of fog had overtaken his memories, when Martyn had scaled Ren's burning tower, putting himself in danger against Ren's self-inflicted torture. He didn't remember, the way Martyn lingered behind, always moving toward Ren's side, as if trying to take back the rightful place of the Hand. He didn't know, so he could just ignore that voice in his head? Right? He could just ignore the feelings, the ghosts of his past. They are nothing but distance memories, a dream from another life, long gone in tragedy.)

That was, until he made it to the wooden walls surrounding the Southland's towers, and saw a familiar blond head somewhere between dark oak and cobblestones.

And then, Martyn saw him. Ren watched, frozen as Martyn made his way toward him and stood before him. Ren saw the look in his eyes, so blue, so full of emotions. Martyn's hand twitched, as if tempted to reach out and touch Ren.

Just like that, Ren broke. He told Martyn's about the Boogeyman curse and how he hadn't managed to kill anyone. He told Martyn, and admitted to himself, that he was afraid. He was afraid of the red mist that compelled him to kill, and if he didn't comply, he would be taken by it by next session. At some point, Ren had clung to Martyn's shirt, his forehead pressing against Martyn's chest. And Martyn let him, held him with gentle arms and soothing words. And Ren was brought back to a dark forest of time long ago, with blood on the ground and the Hand holding his King as if he could shield him from the carnage.

And Martyn. This Martyn. With his dark green names and his 4 lives - Ren remembered now, the confession Martyn told him and no one else, not even his Southland allies - held out his hand to Ren and placed a diamond axe in Ren's hand.

They both knew what Martyn was offering. To give his life for Ren, like Ren did for him on the Blackheart altar. To lay himself bare under Ren's hand, a life given willingly to protect what was truly precious.

Death, instead of doing them part, only made their fates even more entwined.

[callmecyan]

Tw/Cw: Major character death (its 3rd life and a canonical death so its expected) ; drowning (not really drowning but its kinda detailed so just in case)

  It's night, hours after the desert battle, hours after Scott saw the death message knowing he wasn't able to be with his husband on his death.

  The blood still on his clothes, all the dirt, sand and sweat of the battle still there. He wasn't able to do anything besides building the grave and burying the things that were from Jimmy he couldn't even bury his own husband, the body turned into xp minutes after Scott got there. The stupid captain america costume, the armor and the poppy, the stupid poppy that started it all.

  He sat in that mountain for hours, looking and crying over the grave, he heard steps coming towards him. He didnt knew who it was, he didnt care, if it was dogwarts then fuck them what could he do to grieve in peace?

  The steps grew louder, stopping right next to him, the black shoes followed by the white tunic answered to him. Joel, the man who burned his their walls, who wasn't there to fight in the conflict he had created.

  He was silent, as far as Scott could see, he was looking down, staring at the grave. The only sound was the animals around and the wind. Without looking at him Scott asked, his voice low and heavy, affected by the time he spent crying and screaming.

  'Tell me, do you know how it is to have your partner dying and not being able to do anything? To have to watch them disappear right in front of you?' He didn't expected a answer, he didn't even knew why Joel was there, but he didn't had much time to talk about it, he didn't want to talk about it, Grian told him it was ok, that he didn't mind if Scott wanted to talk about it with him or cry on him again. But he didn't, he didn't want to talk or think about it, he didn't want to think of how this place would be so much more silent and would look way more dead, he was fine.

  'Yes' - Scott broke out of his head by Joel's words - 'I do yeah, it's not very good is it?' For the first time he looked up, the other man had a sad and bitter smile on his face. It was weird seeing Joel without the chaotic grin on his face, without the fire reflecting on his red eyes, who, Scott noticed, were more grey than ever, like the fire had died.

  'What happened?' He asked, curious but also letting Joel know he didn't needed to talk about it, he could have conflict opinions about the red player next to him but he wouldn't force to him about his partner.

  'We were running, something, some kinda of creature, was attacking us from the water. We didn't know what it was, but it was trying to get us. She told me to run, she was always a better swimmer than me, the water was always her element. But I couldn't leave her, you know? We both knew that she wouldn't come back, and for me it would always be her over me, at any time, any circumstance. And- and she looked at me' - and he could see how Joel was lost in memories, hoe the look in his eyes was soft, it reminded Scott of himself whenever he looked at Jimmy - 'and she smiled, and god- I don't know how someone could look so beautiful in the middle of swamp water, covered in dirt and in such a messy appearance. But she looked so beautiful and I knew, I knew I couldn't convince her otherwise but even before i tried, just- the second i opened my mouth to try and make her run. It got her, I saw her being pushed underwater, I saw the second her eyes got filled with fear, her hand reaching out to me. And I couldn't do anything, I stayed there and I screamed her name, I wasn't able to swim. I knew if I did that I would die, either to the creature, or I would drown, and- and then if I did that her sacrifice would be for nothing. So I ran away' -he saw how he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again, Scott wanted to tell him that he could stop if he wanted, that he didn't need to keep going, but he knew Joel needed this- 'I ran away and I got back to our home. I built her a grave. I never knew what happened, I still don't know what happened to her. But- but I just like to think that whatever happened, whenever she is, that shes happy. I put her favorite things there, her flowers, some photos of her favorite buildings. And our ring, I was keeping it, I would ask her that week- I never did, but i like to believe she would've said yes'.

  'What- what did you do after that?' Joel smiled, and Scott saw the red player he learned to fear, the fire came back to his eyes at least for a bit.

  'I hunted that thing down, I did everything I could, enchanted and got every piece equipment that would give me an advantage on the water. And when I found it? I killed it, I make it suffer for whatever it did to her'.

  'Do you believe she is still alive?' And just like it appeared, the fire was over, his eyes got back to the dark red, and he sighed.

  'If I'm being honest Scott? No I- I don't think she is, but I don't want to think about this. I also don't want to spend my entire life hoping she's alive too, just to be crushed in the end. So it's as I said, I like to think she's happy, doing her favorite things. And that maybe, maybe one day we'll find each other again'.

  Scott stopped, he looked at the grave again, staring at the 'Beloved husband' words, in a shaky calligraphy.

  'Did it make you feel better?' he felt Joel looking at him again, he looked up, serious, hands holding the grass aggressively, angrily. 'Killing the creature. Did it make you feel better'.

  And he saw the second Joel understood, how he relaxed, how he looked at Scott with a sad smile.

  'Yes. Not for long, but on the second? On the minute I did it? I felt like the most powerful person, I killed the thing that haunted my nightmares every night since that day, I avenged her. And after that i felt empty, because she wasn't back, i wouldn't say it was for nothing, but i wouldn't say it was worth every day and night that i spend looking for it'.

  'I wont say that killing the red army will make you feel better, that killing Skizz will make everything alright because it wont. Jimmy will not come back Scott' - he looked at the grave again- 'No matter what you do, he will never come back. But I can promise you that for a second, for at least a minute, you will feel relieved. You will feel happy'.

  And he didn't even need to think about it twice, or for more than one second. Just the memories of earlier that day, how he wasn't there, how he wasn't even able to help Jimmy when he died. He wants to kill Skizz, he wants to make the red army feel as destroyed as he felt. He wants to make them feel defeated. He's not a red life, he doesn't have the bloodlust the red lives have, but Scott can feel the rage, the anger, and he only wants one thing: revenge. Jimmy was the one who kept him calm, who would make him focus on other things, and now he's gone, forever, and they will pay. Scott will make sure of it.

  He looks up to Joel, the yellow rods around his head shining, his eyes carrying the fury of a grieving husband.

  'Are you on our side then?' and Joel smiled, blood red eyes lighting with a sparkle, the dangerous smile getting bigger again. He put a hand on his shoulder

  'Down with the king, Scott'

  Down with the king