#just team up with Bdubs and be happy for once

[mysticwinterkit]

And now... Solidarity presents

Secret Life Hunger Games: An Ethubs Story

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

[raticalshoez]

I just feel the need to get this out there because this has been sitting in my Google Docs brainrot document:

I will always believe that Scar is the saddest, most tragic Life Series character.

I'm unsure whether this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I feel like if I were to ask people who they think the most tragic member is they might say Grian, or Martyn, or Jimmy simply because of #lore implications, but when I'm bored I like to reflect on the Life Series characters and...like...

3rd Life had Grian indebted to Scar, creating a narrative based around loyalty that inevitably had to end in tragedy when they were the last two standing, neither one of them wanting to be to one to lead to the dekise of the other. Everyone knows the origin story of Desert Duo, come on now. I'd argue this is one of Scar's less tragic seasons though because throughout the entire thing, he had the unfaltering loyalty of a person, and that loyalty didn't waver on his end either. One might be tempted to bring up the Bdubs friendship pass, but that was all part of a plan Scar formulated, and Grian just never happened to see the secret message sent to him. All in all, a story of companionship that's only tragic towards the end.

Then, Last Life comes, and he is lonely. People are really quick to point to Joel for being lonely this season, but if anything, I'd describe Joel as manic over just lonely. This whole season, Scar tries to make friends after losing his only one to the curse of a red life. Time and time again he's seen trying to help people, he acts as a life dispenser, and at every turn he us either dismissed and never truly seen as an ally, or he faces death, whether by natural causes or by the hand of another player. In fact, instead of making friends, he seems to make a sworn enemy out of Team BEST. This season is really what kickstarts Scar's progression into being one of the staples of Lonely Characters ™️ of the Life Series, for even his final death is practically alone, with no happy reunions with allies, and no boos from any sworn enemies either.

I could argue this is another case of Scar being faced with lonliness because his once closely knit ally in Grian, has now shown scorn for their new fated bond. Scar is left behind as Grian goes to be with BigB, and out of them two, BigB has the guilt to tell Ren the whole secret soulmate ordeal, but Grian keeps his mouth shut. Scar finds out about the whole situation on his own, bitterly offering gifts for Grian to give, and hanging out with Pearl, the girl who is quite literally the commonly accepted poster child for all aspects of loneliness depicted in the Life Series. In this series, I think Scar gets some sort of closure in Grian and him working together again towards the end of the season, but even so, the two of them die apart, in a way symbolizing the disconnect they had all season long.

Limited Life is quite possibly Scar's happiest season, and therefore I don't really have anything to say about it. I think to some degree, everyone in the Life Series has the ability to be an asshole, and I think every single character is morally grey, and with all that being said I think the person Scar needed most was Cleo. Sure, they enable him to be as chaotic as possible, and yeah, being around Ckeo thus season quite possibly made Scar the snarkiest he's been, but the connection he had with her, and just the Clockers overall was so strong. Yes, there's the whole Etho dad thing, and you could argue that's another tally for Scar's abandonment board, but really, that whole bit has always been more comedic to me than it has been entirely dramatic or angsty.

And everyone knows Secret Life. Once again, Scar finds himself in the role of the lonely merchant, running a shop solo, and constantly trying to make friends, but there is always something stopping him from doing so because something in this world HATES him. Scar doesn't make friends, no, in fact, the Secret Keeper screws him over so much that by the end of this season he is literally embracing the role of a villain. He goes on a killing spree, more successful than he's ever done before, and he finds himself face to face with Pearl, who wants him to take her life. He calls it lame, and not fair because if Pearl's good at the game, she should own it and between me and you personally, I think Scar's just got a soft spot for a fair fight between the last two standing. I think the saddest part of Secret Life is the lack of closure Scar gets because he is the only winner that doesn't get to die and meet in this sort of afterlife where everyone reunites and talks like friends again, as if they all hadn't caused each others' demise. Scar doesn't get that, and is instead stuck in, at least in Martyn's interpretation, an endless loop of pressing that succeed button over and over as he goes mad.

This is a ridiculously long post, but I just NEEDED to get it out of my system. I feel like people could argue the curse of having allies is more tragic because you have to witness their deaths, or you can make the argument that maybe trying to fund the most tragic Life Series character is redundant because with how this game is, everyone is bound to be tragic either way, and to which I say true. I just feel like in a game where it's so natural for people to split up into groups of 3, 4, sometimes even 5, Scar's a character that has ended up alone so many times. It's honestly quite insane. I will always say that Pearl and Joel are the lonely dog girl and lonely dog boy of the series, but if there was ever just...the Lonliest, that title would probably go to Scar.

[kianaisspiraling]

*inhales*

WILD LIFE WILD LIFE WILDLIFEWILDLIFEWIL—

Okay okay so so far I've only watched Grian's pov but I'm gonna be binging soooo many others right after this.

First off- Skizz, Mumbo and Grian is just. Such an unexpected and silly group, I love them. Skizz, loyal to the bone. Grian, loyal but can switch sides if needed; won't betray you first. And Mumbo; the least loyal guy on the server, goes completely bonkers the moment he turns red

They also all just like. Carry themselves so seriously? But will very quickly devolve into being incredibly silly? So so silly. They will NOT last long, they're gonna fall apart faster than the Southlands for sure with the cheating allegations Mumbo is throwing at Grian, but it'll be hilarious :)

Grian: apologizing for knowing the wild cards beforehand

Me: smiles and adds it to the pile of Watcher Grian lore

Moving on from them:

*inhales again*

MISSING DOG FOUND-?!?

AND WE GOT TREEBARK BACK!!!!!! :D

The sheer happiness I felt when I saw Ren back oh my void, we missed you buddy. Martyn immediately pairing up with Ren whenever they are on the same server has my heart. They're theatre kids your honor. Can't wait to see Ren pull out his guitar <3

We also have TEAM CRINGE-FAIL-?! Lizzie, Scar, Jimmy all on the same team-? That's amazing. It would be hilarious if THIS is the season Tim wins. SURELY having such a high concentration of loser (affectionate) energy will circle around to make them clutch. Surely. It's their moment.

Smth smth, Lizzie and Scar were the only two people alone last season. Smth smth, Lizzie died first and Scar last. Smth smth, Scar reaches out an unconditional hand to Lizzie, offering her an ally because he knows what it's like to be without. Smth smth, Lizzie accepts because she knows waiting for allies leads to none. They're friends now :)

I also heard Scar brought the reputation points back?? If that's true then oml we're so close to getting a Third Life parody. So so close, especially with Scar falling off a cliff and dying while singing, claiming that everything that touches the light is his. It is SUCH a good season for us folks that never left the desert. Bonus points if Grian ends up with Scar after the Sub-One Club inevitably crumbles.

We've ALSO got the op, terrifying duo of Gem and Joel. They are going to be SO unhinged. They will be the chaos group this season, mark my words. They will inevitably fuck shit up and I am WAITING for it. Manifesting Gem or Joel win >:)

And over here we've got three of the divorce quartet (Scott, Pearl, and Cleo) allied with the local supportive dad (Impluse). Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone outside or in between, we once again have the girls, the gays, and ImpulseSV. Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss, girldad <3

The three of them just reminiscing on Double Life while Impulse stays quiet, internally remembering his little life in the suburbs with Bdubs as they stirred the pot and watched drama unfold. He DOES NOT have anything to add to this conversation on messy divorce.

Also apparently Scott canonically believes that HE'S the reason Jimmy broke the canary curse and Scar won in secret life?? Because he stopped them from allying together last season or something?? That's just wonderful to me. I don't think he's entirely wrong either, they would've destroyed each other SO quickly

Now, getting on to BigB and whatever he's got going on. Something DEFINITELY happened to him in that hole last season, because he is getting increasingly cryptic. OF COURSE he would live in the Pale Garden with the Creaking. Where else would he go??

I absolutely love everyone making BigB a Creaking hybrid, but hear me out: BigB has ALSO been made a watcher by the fandom in previous seasons because of things like the Nosy Neighbors in Limited Life and his Whole Thing in Secret Life, right? You know what the Watchers are often compared to? Biblically accurate angels. You know what the Creaking has been compared to? Weeping Angels. BigB is a Weeping Angel.

(Maybe Weeping Angels are a type of Watcher. they're closely related to the Creaking; perhaps they made it?)

(I have not watched Doctor Who, though I'd like to. All I know is that Weeping Angels are VERY Watcher-core to me <3)

Finally we have a classic trio of Etho, Bdubs, and Tango. They're taming horses, they're non-stop bickering, they DO NOT share, it's every man for themselves. Tango is third wheeling Ethubs so much rn. They get on each other's nerves. They're besties, after all they keep putting themselves together no matter how much they bicker. Team BET ily <3

Love that Etho IMMEDIATELY tries to ally with the local Watcher for inside information, but Grian refuses to give it to him. It was worth a shot, buddy. I adore every second of screen time in which Grian and Etho interact. They are SUCH a good duo for me. One Stick Wither and Etho's Dishwasher, you will forever be famous <3

Anyhow, I think that covers everything I have to say for now, having watched one pov and scrolled Tumblr for a while. I cannot WAIT for this season, as there's a lot of stuff from previous seasons coming back, with Renchanting, the divorce quartet, Scar bringing back reputation points, and more. I can't wait to see this unfold :D

[fountainpenguin]

Secret Life finale highlights for me:

- "My strategy: Kill Skizz and Tango. Will happen at some point... Or, just maim them and watch them die in a corner." - Scar

- Scott on Grian's loyalty: "I have never seen a man drop a pair of sunglasses faster in my life [than last season after Joel died]."

- I think I reblogged someone's speculation weeks ago that at the dawn of final session, everyone's task book would just say "Win Secret Life." Congrats to them for Apollo's gift of prophecy.

- Martyn's beat of pause before saying to Joel "Welcome to the Out of Context video."

- At the start of the season, Etho said Joel was the first one he wanted to kill because "He's cheeky." When Joel is asked who he wants to kill, he says "Etho." Glad you're enjoying your rivalry, boys, smh...

- Joel, once again giving into his Shrek origins, watching Bdubs' wool globe go up in flames and chirping "My world's on fire; how 'bout yours?"

- Tango does not break his "pathetic death" curse. Just blipped out of existence. Love that for him.

- Spitting, crying... BigB panics and flees into his creepy backrooms for safety. Immediately vanishes into the tunnel maze. Scar pursues and skids to a halt because he hasn't seen it yet and is thoroughly creeped out.

- Scar coming up to surface and trying to describe how BigB disappeared. Martyn looks down at where they're standing and is just like "Oh, that's the backrooms." Mental image of Scar as that meme that goes "The. what."

- Scar describing BigB as a sneaky squirrel. "Squirrel" was the name of BigB's horse in Double Life.

- Joel's anxiety about entering a Nether portal on the final episode, specifically because of how he and Etho perma-died in Double Life

- Whatever was going on with Martyn flinging ender pearls up the ladder seconds before he died

- Additionally, people in the background commenting that they think Martyn's teamed up with Cleo and the only reason he was near them was an attempt to bear down and kill them

- Scar to Bdubs, watching Cleo and Etho from a distance: "Look at this- Mom and Dad are bringing their new ugly stepson to meet us, Bdubs." /camera pans to the warden chasing them

- Bdubs tells Scar that Cleo said he was her favorite son and Scar IMMEDIATELY, without responding or even waiting for Bdubs to finish his sentence, jumps a wall and books it to Cleo to confirm... Mental image of him swinging dramatically over it with one hand, his shawl billowing behind him

- Scar chases Cleo while they're both being pursued by a warden, asking her if he's her favorite son. Doesn't let up until she assures him she "just said it to keep Bdubs happy." what is wrong with the Clocker family.

- Joel somehow pulled off a beautiful PVP kill on Skizz despite having only 2.5 hearts

- In earlier episodes, Joel had people say "The florist sends his regards" on his behalf before striking. Before killing Skizz, he says "Scar sends his regards" since Scar really wanted to kill Skizz but bequeathed the fight to Joel instead.

- Scar trotting up to Etho and Cleo, who are watching him from a cliff, and announcing "I am not up to anything nefarious!"

- Scar's weird spiky wall design is really pretty

- slkdjfskldjfsklj?!?!?!? I had a bullet point on this list that said "Honorable non-finale mention to Scar getting both the Green and Yellow kill on Etho this season" but now I see I need to correct that:

- Shout-out to Scar killing Etho - in Etho's front yard - THREE TIMES this season. Etho rushing back to his base, tripping over his feet and saying "I'm going home, everybody- I'm dying at my home-"

- Scott to Scar: "I went down to BigB - to get him - and I see what you mean; he does just talk his way out of things so you feel bad; you just leave him." / Scar: "That's why you don't let him speak. You just inner monologue. You start talking about Star Wars so you can't hear his charms."

- As Scar drives his sword into Cleo, he says "Good-bye, Mom- This is for you telling Bdubs [he's your] favorite." Geez, dude. Scar killed both his parents; this family is a mess. Bonus points for Joel fumbling in the background like "Oh my gosh- Scar, you savage-"

- I watched multiple POVs until I was caught up to the standoff between Gem & The Scotts vs. The Mounders... So picking up from there with Scar's POV b/c his is the one I randomly started with today: I love how Joel basically went "I am once again throwing caution to the wind and charging into battle with a murderous Red rage in my eyes and no one behind me" like he ALWAYS does.

- Bdubs and Scar decide to back him up... Amazing.

- Scar has gotten 4 kills (Tango, Etho, Cleo, Impulse) and he was super close to getting BigB as well before Scott sniped the kill. Geez... The man is vicious today. During Limited Life, Grian made a comment that went something like "Of course Scar is only destructive / successful when I'm not on his team" and honestly? Yeah...

- Pearl begging Scar to kill her- Pearl warning Scar that if she perma-kills Gem, she'll go up 10 hearts- Scar refusing, insisting that he doesn't want to turn on her because it feels lame...

- Scar got Gem, he got Gem... GeminiSlay is DOWN!

- SCAR SWEEP WITH THE BOW!!

Oh my goodness, I saw his episode title ("Can Villain Scar Win?") and the words that went through my head were "Welp, that's a spoiler that he's dead." I see I was wrong.

GG, SCAR WIN!!! Man who wanted so desperately to have friends, only to trip and fail time and time again... GoodTimesWithVictor!!

My heart, Scar letting that zombie knock him down to half a heart... playing up like he didn't just watch the lightning bolt mark Pearl's demise. He wanders, calling out to Pearl, asking where she went... quietly giggling and muttering to himself as that zombie pushes at him... GG, Scar. GG.

My goodness, is this the only time we haven't seen the winner die in their perspective? Scar slams that success button for winning the game, gets 5 hearts, turns back, and that's it... That's the game. End scene.

What a LAD!!

[aoneko-lee]

Okay, okay. I know this isn't ethubs and I probably only see my blorbos in everything, but pay attention to the details:

Joel's thread is attached to Etho's finger, showing that he doesn't want this union, but there is a second one, purple, representing his chosen soulmate, coming out of his heart and heading towards Bdubs, but broken before reaching him because Bdubs is happy with Impulse

This part always hurts me cause despite apparent indifference, Etho asks Bdubs more than once how Impulse is treating him or if he's happy

And I know the animation doesn't show this, but Bdubs' actions in DL suggest that it's partly reciprocal. Like saying that he wants Etho instead of Joel but not bothering to choose anyone else from the pairs they intend to separate (in my opinion, that whole idea was just an excuse to have Etho with him without losing Impulse), or immediately team up with Etho and Joel at the end.

[charkie-ee]

💚💛❤️ Third Life Series in 2024 (happy 3 years of third life!!) 💚💛❤️

“This series went from being like ‘it’s hardcore with a gimmick!’ to ‘it’s like battle dome in here!’”

so because it has been 3 years since our beloved traffic series has started, i figured a good way to celebrate would be going back and watch 3rd life from the winners pov.

this post will basically contain notes from the 1st episode that my brain has entirely/somewhat forgotten.

if you have not watched 3rd life FULLY this is will contain spoilers! i feel like thats a given, but i'll put it here anyway.

(i was thinking about making this post just for funsies but then i checked the date and realized that it was actually 3rd life’s 3 year anniversary TODAY. fjdkjfkdjd I SO PLANNED THIS. TOTALLY!)

ONE MORE QUICK THING!!: did i forget anything? reply, or put it into the tags if theres something I missed!!

EPISODE ONE: Grian plays Minecraft… With a TWIST

. this is the first series Grian’s officially played using the proximity chat mod.

. mentioned briefly at 2:55, this is Grian’s first hardcore series he’s ever played in.

. the first person grian meets up with is BigB!

. Grian only sees RenDog once in his first episode.

. Grian was originally going to base somewhere in the flower forest (closer to where Scott and Jimmy eventually live) before basing with Scar in the desert. However, once he started building, Grian immediately disliked it, and called it the ugliest thing he’s ever built.

. Grian gives his flint and steel to Scar, which he uses to burn down Etho's dark oak tree.

. Grian hides two villagers, and originally wants to show them to Etho. However, Impulse, and Bdubs, follow, and the word gets out shortly after. *

. Scar and Grian were going to team up BEFORE Scar was killed. Scar first brings up having a monopoly on sand around the 12 minute mark.

. (not really notes but) Scar takes his shirt off for the first time at 15 minutes exactly. (i can’t believe im writing this smh)

. * Grian is invited to go back to the village after venturing to the sand biome with Scar, and trades his villagers. (he trades them for 3 diamonds, a dark oak sapling, a lava bucket, a juke box and disc, a bed, and some other lint)

. Grian explodes Scar at the 21:25 minute mark. There were 6 witnesses to his 'prank'. Impulse, Etho, Cleo, Bdubs, Tango, and Martyn. (my favorite thing about this is that Ren puts in the chat "Enchanting would have helped with that")

. Grian pledges his 1st life to Scar(didn't really forget that part, but i did forget that Grian loses his first life near the end of the series

. Pizza is first seen at the 25 minute mark exactly! (i think Pizza spawned in during a cut in Grian’s video. because i am only watching his pov, i do not know where Pizza originally cane from, this is the best estimate.)

. Grian abandons his first base in the flower forest at 26:15. This hole-in-the wall base didn’t last an episode.

. Grian and Scar originally wanted to have a monopoly over sand AND dark oak, and successfully chopped down the ‘only’ forest they saw. However, there was another not too far away from their base which ultimately ruined that monopoly. That being said, if the second dark oak forest had not been there, they might’ve had a chance at monopolizing dark oak saplings.

.💚💛❤️.

I will be doing more posts like this for all of the episodes of Grian’s pov. that being said, if i miss something that was said/a scene in a different pov, i will not include that in this post.

for now, i hope you’ve enjoyed this little forgotten-info post, and i encourage you to watch the series for yourself!

I remember watching 3rd life for the first time when the episodes were still coming out, and i’ve loved the series ever since. It was, and still is a comfort series i watch when going through tough times. I’ve met lots of people, and made lots of friends through this series, and although i don’t post a lot about it on my blog, i’m grateful to have found a community who feels the same.

thanks for reading!

.💚💛❤️.

[rainyinautumn]

right. let's talk about team BEST, team TIES, and where bdubs fits into all of this mess.

now, we all know that team TIES is remarkably similar to team BEST. 75% of the members are the same—the only difference is bdubs has been swapped out for impulse. team BEST was, in the later stages of last life, a complete disaster... almost entirely because of bdubs boogey killing tango, which was a betrayal so bad it made the group dysfunctional. it's important to remember that bdubs didn't have anything against tango—he killed him out of pure necessity. tango, understandably, didn't see things the same way. etho was firmly on bdubs' side, and skizz played peacemaker between them all (only to get left behind in a fight and be the first of them to go red/die for good but that's a story for another time).

team TIES is, so far, a fairly stable alliance. not only is bdubs (the guy who can be blamed for first putting a rift in team BEST) missing from it this time, but the group has an active grudge against him due to the fact that he killed skizz early on. this is most prevalent leading up to the showdown between them in episode two, where team TIES agrees to an alliance with the clockers with the specific caveat that they can't make any real promise of bdubs' safety.

if you've seen etho's limlife episode two (go watch it if you haven't), then you've seen the "dead weight" conversation between him and bdubs where bdubs reveals that he knows team TIES has been talking trash about him and takes offense, threatening etho. if you think about it, team TIES is pretty much bdubs' worst nightmare. everyone from team BEST is together again, but without him, and they've filled his place with the guy who was literally his soulmate during the last game. they seem to be functioning and they seem to be happy and they don't like him. despite his actions as a boogey in last life, bdubs did value his alliance with every member of team BEST. bdubs being disliked by team TIES is pretty much his own personal hell.

it's important that bdubs has that conversation with etho specifically, because he's the only one from last life that was definitively on his side after he turned on tango. he's also the only member of team TIES that bdubs has never killed. interestingly, etho holds his team at more at arm's length than anyone else does, being the first to move out of the bunker in order to work (solo) on his mob farm. in short, etho is the one with the least reason to talk bad about bdubs... which is why it hurts so much that he's the one bdubs confronts about it.

not all hope is lost, though! bdubs makes up with skizz after their fight and they walk away as allies. bdubs wronged skizz, and now those scales have been balanced. however, there are still two more members of team TIES with uneven scales against bdubs. tango came very close to killing bdubs in last life but never did, which indicates he would likely not pass up an opportunity to do it in limited life. bdubs killed impulse way back in 3rd life, and he's still carrying that grudge. I'm convinced that him giving bdubs a clock was just to lull him into a false sense of security, and that he actively plans to kill him once he's yellow or red.

once again, etho is the odd man out here. the rest of team TIES is a custom-built machine to make bdubs atone for his mistakes, each representing a grudge from a different season... with the exception of double life.

that's where etho comes in.

from the very beginning, etho wanted to ally with bdubs. he dropped hints and asked about his soulbound all throughout the season, but bdubs never reciprocated the offers. unlike impulse, tango, and skizz, etho doesn't want bdubs dead. he very much wants him alive.

etho's scale is the one it will hurt bdubs the most to balance. he doesn't need to die in order to balance it. he's done that—he went out in last life calling desperately for etho to fulfill his promise to give him a life, which he still hasn't done. it's etho who owes bdubs a life, not the other way around.

if bdubs really wants to sort out all the debts between him and team TIES, he doesn't just need to die to skizz, tango, and impulse. he also needs to kill etho.

[lunarthing159]

So bc A New TrafficLife Series Will Be Released In A Matter Of Hours, Allow Me To Share Another Batch Of Team-ups I'd Love To See! (I Did One A Few Weeks After Limited Life Which I Will Reblog After I Post This)

Ren & Scott

These Two Have Been Mortal Enemies One World, On Semi-Good Terms The Next, And Then Kinda Inbetween The Next. Their Dynamic Has Been Many Things Over The Course Of The Series And I'd Love To See How An Actual Alliance Would Work With Them! Ren's Theater-Kid-ness & Scott's Flamboyant-Gay-ness I Believe Would Go Together Quite Well!

|

Jimmy & Cleo

These Two, In 3rd Life, Were The First Two To Ever Be Perma-Killed In The TrafficLife Series Where They Both Even Got Killed By The Same Person! Skizz! Also I Want To See Jimmy's, As The Community Has Dubbed It, 'Wet Paper Bag Of A Man'-ness To Have A Dynamic With Cleo's 'Gatekeep, Girlboss, Gaslight, Guilt Trip, Gossip, ect'-ness. I'd Also Wanna See How Cleo Would React With Both Outcomes Of Jimmy Breaking The Canary Curse Or Once Again Being Trapped In It's Cage And If Cleo Would At All Try And Prevent This Fate.

|

Soup Group (Gem, Imp, & Pearl)

I Know I Know, Call It Cliche, But Let Us Not Forget That One Art From The KingRen Times Of 'Local Dwarf Recruits A Princess & A Queen To Overthrow A Monarchy' (I Do Not Remember Who Made The Art- If You Remember, Pls Tell Me bc It Is Very Good Art & I'd Love To Reblog It). Besides! Let Us Not Forget The GeminiSlay & Scarlet Pearl Combined With Impulse's Technical Knowledge Could Be A Threat If Left Unnoticed!

|

Joel & Bdubs

Listen- Both Have Teamed With Etho Before. Both Can Go Absolutely Feral & Crazy & Bloodthirsty At The Slightest Provocation. Do You Realize How Funny & Scary & Silly This Teamup Would Be??

|

Martyn & Joel

Ik- Two Joel Teams In A Row But You Cannot Tell Me This Wouldn't Be Funny & Cool! Joel Is Absolutely Feral To The Point He Can Disregard Caution Meanwhile Martyn Chooses When To Go Feral With Just Enough Caution. Also, w The Watcher Lore & Stuff, We Could Have The Watchers Acknowledge Joel's Tendencies To Prioritize His Kill Count Over Much Else And Maybe Even Try And Place Doubt Between The Two.

|

Grian, Ren, & Scar

And I'll End This List With These Three. A BirdMan, A CatGuy, And A DogBoy. I Don't Have Much Reason Other Than The Fact That These People Were At War In 3rd Life & I Think It'd Be Fun! If You're Questioning Why Not Martyn As Well, I Honestly Have No Clue Lmao. Probably Or Possibly Because I Can't Think Of An Animal Symbolism For Him lol

Anyways- Hope Y'all Enjoyed By Random Takes And, Regardless If Any Of These Teams Happen Or Not, Happy New-TrafficLife-Series Day!

[m0on-shro0m]

This is really random but it’s an observation that I’ve just had and of course I may or may not get some events right— but here’s just my thoughts.

Since in Limited Life when we all watched Martyn chased down Joel and saying the iconic line “Clear That Throat Before I Clear That Clock.” Which made me realize, despite everyone already had also and Martyn speaking of it on stream or a post I believe— c!Martyn had always been cable of having murderous moments and having the clearance to wipe out anyone down if determined enough and in the right environment.

Because I think that this season, because there wasn’t any lingering fear of dying three times out no buts- instead your death is being counted down and you have 24 hours of life, and a kill only takes 30 minutes so it doesn’t take fear into a factor until obviously your low enough. Which that made Martyn get more risky and openly showing his blood thirst without major consequences.

Thinking about all of his actions throughout the season, c!Martyn

Now onto my observation, c!Martyn has been discussed and finally revealed- if you can even call it that, it was more of wake up call that he was not all loyalty. He had always been deciding if he should be selfish for his own needs or willing to be generous to others, referencing the first episode with Etho, taking the moss. c!Martyn had to think twice before taking it all for himself.

Thinking through all of the seasons as best as I can to remember, all of c!Martyn’s actions, it is best to think of him as a survivor.

As the survivor, he takes what he needs or wants, he has priority over himself and whoever is his closet alley— but won’t hesitate to abandon the alliance if it needed.

For example, Last Life, c!Martyn has always stuck around to the very end, leaving the alliance when it was getting too risky. He also ends up breaking it and going for kills on Grian because he knew it was too dangerous for him.

And going onto the next point, which we’ll be changing subjects for the sake of my observation. Etho was once called a survivor, in either 3rd Life which is what I believe to be or maybe Last Life (I haven’t watched his povs on it nor do I remember Grian’s-) he was called a Survivor by Grian and Tango, as they teased Bdubs for trusting him.

Etho in the beginning was obviously closed off, and I can’t really say all too much for him, by how others had reacted to the situation, you can almost take that as small context (not really but please bare with me)

Through out the series, Etho had started to join in teams and giving some of his devotion to the teams. He had happened to become co-dependent on his teammates instead of sticking sorta alone. Team B.E.S.T and Boat Boys are best examples for his development through teams, especially to the very end of Limited Life where he held a strong bond with Team Ties and Grian when the sword was raised.

Back to c!Martyn in the beginning where 3rd Life started, he bumped into Ren and decided to help him with the enchanting buisness which then started to revolve into some kind of Rebellion if that’s the right term for Dogwarts.

c!Martyn had developed a sense of urgency to be by Ren’s side no matter what, becoming his right hand man. He held devotion and loyalty with Ren to the very end of death. But, of course, c!Martyn was set up for the sake of betraying Ren so as poetry said- “For spring to come fourth.” Yet, he didn’t. c!Martyn said it himself that he couldn’t betray Ren even if he did hesitate- even if he did think about betraying Ren— c!Martyn never did and stuck by the Red King’s side like a true Right Hand.

But, when it came to Last Life, c!Martyn had went his separate way and joined with The Southerners! Where he was more happy to devote himself to like wise. It was just as it was ending, their team splitting apart multiple occasions and trust broken— c!Martyn had to leave because like I said, it was dangerous to stay around sadly. In the end of being one of the last ones, his secret alliance with the fairy forest burning down- (Pun not attentional- but will be intended) c!Martyn found himself having to cut his ties off and did what he could do to survive. This is where c!Martym starts closing off.

Double Life was the season where c!Martyn was closed off for a good bit. Divorcing his soulmate and abandoning Pearl, he was set on surviving for himself. Even in the beginning where c!Martyn was traveling around and gathering supplies instead of looking for his Soulmate— it was already shown to be that he didn’t have anything in mind but to care for himself.

Of course, he does start a small alliance with Cleo for a bit and then with the Broken Hearts— but those were merely short briefed since death did due them all apart.

Then here comes the 4th Season: Limited Life. This season had probably showed the most of c!Martyn just keeping everything for himself and going out of his way to survive. The multiple hunts he had and the constant fight for time, he wanted it desperately in his eyes or else he’d to die first. He made it so clear through his plans or the way he was always out to get things done.

With Mean Gills, it was different for sure. c!Martyn was more open with Scott unlike previous seasons. But as Martyn spoke on stream, c!Martyn was gonna betray Scott in the very first place they settled for a team. So despite his loyalty for Scott was so strong and willingly protect him, in the end he didn’t care- he did but he didn’t care if it was for survival. It was a death match only for his eyes and that’s what c!Martyn believed.

Do you see my vision? Do you see my observation? Between Etho and Martyn, they had went the opposite developments throughout the series.

Etho was independent and had survival instincts.

Martyn was loyal and devoted.

By the end of Limited Life, they have swapped places.

Martyn now had been the Survivalist.

Etho now had been the Loyal Knight

Sure, these two may have never interacted in serious situations such as an alliance— but I just find these two so interesting and I found it really fun to think about them this way.

Which after this, I kinda want them to be duo if we get another season— of Tango and Martyn but ya know, you get what you get.

[hermitcraftheadcanons]

Official New Mod Announcement

Hello! New mod @mleemwyvern here. Excited to get to answering asks, but I'm just going to clear up a few things first.

why did you get added as a mod? I have had unending hermitcraft brainrot for years now and it does not seem to be slowing down.

is anything going to change now that you're here? Aside from headcanons getting posted, not really. No rules changes are planned.

what about headcanons still in the inbox? Unfortunately, most of those will probably be lost due to sheer volume. I won't be able to answer everything, and a lot might lose relevance because of how long its been. Because of that, I will be closing the inbox for a while, to go through and clean up the massive quantity of asks.

can we know a bit more about you? Yep. I go by Mleem, she/they, and my main hermits are Team ZIT and also Etho. In addition to them, I watch Grian, Mumbo, Scar, False, Bdubs, and Iskall. Although I'm passingly familiar with most hermits due to fandom immersion and friends who are insane about them. Favourite topics are nonhuman hermits, worldbuilding, and totems of undying, and if my bias shows when answering asks I apologize.

I'm happy to be a mod here and I will do my best to get the headcanons flowing freely once again!

-Mod Mleem

[riacte]

[Taps microphone] I think it’s great that Aqua29, a hermit duo team, is the first team to win MCC with none of its players in the top 10 (granted they got second in coins). Because once upon a time, the hermits were seen as nerfs and easy kills. Now it’s literally viewed as the opposite— they had no one to carry them, because they all carried their own weight. The team itself was balanced. There is no argument possibly made about carrying when they all contributed, and when their best game was Grid Runners.

12th—2413 coins (Dave), 13th—2388 coins (H), 20th—1819 coins (Cub), 21st—1805 coins (False). That is quite a small difference. And while False might have gotten the least amount of coins in the team (just 14 coins behind Cub!), we can all agree she nailed it in Dodgebolt.

Aqua29 destroyed the concept that the hermits were nerfs. Sure, that idea was already destroyed after MCC9 Blue Bats, but now it’s completely demolished. Aqua29 actually made history in the grand scheme of things. Aqua29 perfectly continues the hermit narrative that has been rolling out since MCC4 (sorry MCC1 Jevin lmao).

The hermits went from a small group joining every time, just happy to be there even if they repeatedly get 8th/9th, to a glorious underdog arc in which they were led by two mentors (False and Ren, Blue9), which was accompanied by standout historical moments (Dreamslayer, False Supremacy). This gave rise to hermits getting more competitive teams (Orange10, Cub’s first win), and once they realised it was possible, they began to sincerely, fiercely try to win MCC (Grian’s journey from MCC11 to 17). And when newcomer hermits arrived, they were greatly hyped and anticipated, they worked hard, played hard, and got themselves on the stage (Gem, Scar, Impulse, Bdubs), Now, it all ties up, with False and Cub being in an extremely balanced team, their skills having vastly improved since MCC9/10.

I once thought how lucky I was that my fave hermits are part of one of MCC’s most iconic stories/teams. Then I understood they helped make it so iconic. Same thing with Aqua29. False and Cub helped proved a point. They did it first in MCC history <3

[bigb-enthusiast]

3L bigb is so aghhghfhfhh i do remember seeing someone say they wouldn’t recommend his pov to anyone cause it was just mining like yea. Yeah he did do that and yeah he was gone with the “important” session so hush and also consider you can DO stuff with him staying in the MINES. The isolation, the loneliness of the constant dark of being buried underground for your own materials to live that you’ll lose in the end. His interactions also are interesting, martyn Literally calls him a canary then through out the series he is in the mines. Yeah no one talks about it but i do!! His interactions are also so augh owie but augh awwg. Him being frightened by skizz but still telling skizz he’ll protect and shelter him in his home when skizz needs help. And skizz saying hed protect bigb with his life only for skizz to die next session, bigb unable to save him like he promised. Then the session bigb returns skizz is dead so hes also unable to save bigb like HE promised. Also him being forced into dogwarts?? And him being the LAST dogwarts?? HIM DYING BY ARROWS ALL 3 TIMES. HIM TRICKING BDUBS SCAR AND GRIAN INTO SAYING HIS FINAL WORDS BUT ITS REALLY HIM TRYING TO KILL GRIAN BEFORE HES SHOT AND KILLED BY BDUBS. HE KNEW HE WOULDNT WIN BUT HE DIDNT GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT. Then despite him screaming in his final moments he’s then silent. Quiet as ever as others cheer and boo and laugh and chuckle hes silent. Watching, watching the three stand then two stand then the one stand In LL bigb starts off isolated again but gets to talk to others, him and cleo later agreeing to team and then they live together, they gift eachother stuff and care. They team with lizzie then team with ren, bigb cares for cleo more than the other two by far. Even showing hed fight a redlife joel for them if joel tried to hurt them. But then he gets boogey, he doesnt want to hurt his allies he doesnt want them scared so he lies. But then by the end of the session he realizes he has to kill and he killed cleo but apologizing it all hes apologizing for it all and gets their stuff and puts it away and tries to defend himself from jimmy and martyn who are berating him for what he did unknowing of the full story. Later again cleo gets on red and blames and threatens bigb and bigb due to this refuses to sleep and also gets so scared he tries a new identity aka terry he discovers this doesnt work so he gives up that shtick and sees cleo burn fairy fort and he tries to be normal with this stuff, he fails and later its just him and ren after lizzie dies. Lizzie appears and tells bigb he was her downfall and kills him. Him noticing ren didnt even try to help. Bigb later dies again due to a tnt chest and is on red. He is with scar and apologizes and tries to kill ren but suddenly more greens appear and hes killed with an arrow by cleo, he dies and is silent once again watching as martyn and cleo celebrate his death and he ends off that episode there. DL he joins and says how he hopes cleo is his soulmate, he is happy despite what shes and hes done. He also says he hopes jimmys his soulmate. In the mountain he is mining in cleo appears and they try for soulbound and discover its not eachother. Bigb mines more before he decides to look for his soulmate, he asks the frogs to lead him to where they lead him to a cave with joel, scott, etho, and cleo. He tries to see if cleo is his soulmate again and is sad once again tries with scott then tries with ren and discovers it is after miscommunication happens. The two team and build box! Bigb also shows he cares for pearl deeply but is scared of her also with the deaths and all. He slowly becomes more sad seeing ren talk with martyn more and believes ren will abandon him for martyn, thats why he agrees to the secret soulmate thing. He just believes ren would leave him. This also fails as grian leaves him too and ren finds out and kicks him out of box. But bigb dies again and bigb wants revenge but before that he talks with ren but immediately ren goes to martyn as he tries to explain everything When ren returns he explains the revenge

[poppyseed799]

LIST OF PEOPLE I’M ESPECIALLY ROOTING FOR IN LIMITED LIFE

Jimmy - I actually kind of prefer he dies first but if he doesn’t then he NEEDS to win. LET HIM WIN. If not… DEATH!!!

Impulse - CLOCK!!!! THEME!!!! HE DIED TO A CLOCK IN THE FIRST SEASON. LET HIM WIN CLOCK SEASON!!!! IT WOULD BE AMAZING

Bdubs - CLOCK THEME!!!! But people associate him with clocks more often (he has been wearing the clock that made him kill Impulse for multiple seasons now). IT WOULD BE AWESOME- BUT!! He doesn’t have a pov. Which kind of makes it even cooler imo? Imagine how like… mysterious and haunting it would feel for the winner to be the one guy who you can never really know what he’s up to. I think it’d be cool and everyone would be watching second place pov instead lol

Scott - I am a Scott is best life series player truther. I want him to win so he will have basically won 3 out of 4 seasons (double life can technically be counted as a Scott win if you decide that soulmates win together). I want people to be like “ugh scott wins every time 🙄”

Martyn - HE BROUGHT BACK THE LORE!!! AND THIS TIME HE’S TEAMED WITH SCOTT??? I’m unsure if the watchers still care about what Scott did in Last Life, or Double Life for that matter (I feel like Scott’s actions in DL would’ve also upset the watchers had they spoken to Martyn) but if they are still upset then the drama… plus they wanted Martyn to betray Ren in 3L too I think, so they might just want Martyn to betray Scott this time too, and win. I want to see that. The lore.

Skizz - pretty much the same reasons anyone was rooting for Joel in Last Life. I hope Skizz gets to at least go on a killing spree too.

Tango - because Martyn joked about leaking the script on stream and said Tango wins

And then I’d be happy for anyone else to win cuz I like everyone! Nosy Neighbors win could be fun (if it was Pearl it would almost feel like double life lol), Cleo and Scar I’d also like to see win, any of TIES so that one of those teams ACTUALLY succeeds for once… Joel cuz he’s my blorbo. Grian cuz I want a two time winner. Am I the only person who wants someone to win multiple times lol I think many ppl might hate that actually but I think it’d be fun.

[errornameredacted]

through thick and thin, i'll be here

note: this isn't about the actual life series, just a rp server based on them (the one I've been insane about for the last 2 months)

Bdubs had grown used to the shadows that curled and twisted, stretched out as if they are just short of reaching something most desirable. He'd seen them many a night, watching them warp and disfigure with the setting sun. Like the sun that ever so slowly dropped right now. Bdubs was sat on a little patch of grass, one of the very few not covered in flowers or weeds, head rolled back to embrace the golden glow. It was just reaching twilight. It wasn't very often he gave himself a break like this, so he made sure to soak up the moment. The way the clouds drifted through the air, the way the leaves danced with the light breeze. His hand dug into the ground, but no dirt was lifted. Ah. Bdubs had forgotten he was a ghost.

The last few days had been...quite the ride. It was another on of the games, with the watchers monitoring their every move. But this one was different. Not everyone felt that pull, that need, that bloodlust. Only some had that little voice that told them to burn the world to the ground. They were given the name "The Hands," and they had one mission: leave no one alive. And there was only one other difference, but it would change everything for everyone, Hand or not. There was no second chances, or third chances , or any for that matter. One life, that's it. And, of course, Bdubs lost it. Skizz had somehow made his way into the Crastle, and it was like killing a fish in a barrel. He'd tried to defend himself, but there was no point. A 6'1 behemoth of a man versus a 5'4 stick isn't a fight up for debate.

Which is why he's sitting here now, the light passing through his semi-transparent body, most notably the ebbing gash ripped through his gut. Void only knows why it hasn't closed yet, though it's probably a dead thing. But a positive (depending whether your a glass half full kinda guy) is that things like food, water and, most obviously, sleep. He didn't do anything incredible during the night, just watched the mobs stumble around brainlessly. And watched over Cleo, of course.

Once everyone was gone, when the town lost its final stand, only Cleo was left. She never could die, so they left her to rot. Only the ghosts could stay with her, but they all went their own ways. Bdubs didn't have anything against that, they had all been through absolute hell, but he just couldn't leave Cleo. He had nowhere else to go anyways. So, he just, kind of, stayed. He stayed by her side, desperately trying to play a part, even though the credits have already rolled.

Cleo was alone. Well, mostly, but we don't talk about Skizz (no no no no), and Bdubs and Sausage stayed with her. She was nothing but a shell of the person she was. No more cocky remarks, no more piercing laughter, just hatred and fire. The flower valley was the first to burn, the memorials of the fallen lost in the blaze. Next it was the crumbled remains of Dogwarts, then Monopoly Mountain, and the simple but Shelby and Katherine lived in, and the Plainer's house. Last of all was the Crastle, tore down and built back up, Bdubs could only watch as it fell once again.

There was nothing left for Cleo then, so she left it behind. All over the world, she wander hoping for a way to end her misery, but the two ghosts still followed her. Now, Bdubs can't speak for Sausage, but for him, staying with Cleo was a easy choice. He had made a promise to her, they're still a team, and that means no abandoning the other. Despite only talking twice since coming back to this hellhole, despite her tearing down the one thing that distracted Bdubs from the chaos outside, despite everything, he stayed.

Cause they're still a team, right?

Right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

soooooo i did a thing m'lao. I wrote this in like, 2 hours in the car and. honestly, im happy with it. planning a sequel now, it's probably exactly what you think it'll be.

[good-chimes]

Double Life Episode 1 Primer

Hi tumblr, I wrote this to drag in my friends but you get it as well. Intended for newcomers and people who need some quick initial grounding for DL-set fic. I make no pretensions to total accuracy, we're running on 100% Vibes.

It is a BEAUTIFUL DAY in a small area of Minecraft and fourteen people are FINDING LOVE.

We start with BDUBS, who is Just A Little Guy with a powerful voice and a nose for drama. Bdubs is fresh out of a series of entanglements with friends ETHO, IMPULSE and other hermitcrafters in a previous series where they had a variety of tumultuous relationships and all got murdered. Bdubs is excited to quickly realise his soulmate is IMPULSE, a large, quiet, agreeable type also in the hermitcraft polycule, who given enough time and thinking space is able to break minecraft apart like a rubik's cube. In this quickly functional and loving relationship, Impulse inspires Bdubs to build for beauty over defence, and they settle into a MID-CENTURY MODERN HOUSE and keep being hit up for food by all their less competent friends.

'Less competent' does not include ETHO, a murder machine with a keen fighting edge and no sense of direction, who has tragically been ejected from the hermitcraft polycule because they've all married each other and/or Scott. Etho is initially wary about being soulbonded to JOEL [Smallishbeans], largely known for stealing other people's wheat and being Grian's best murder friend in Last Life, something that doesn't often endear you to anyone. Joel switches all his energies to being a Huge Etho Fanboy and Etho is reluctantly charmed. They build the RELATIONSHIP--a two-masted schooner on top of a hill--commit some minor crimes, and look forward to the PvP endgame when SmallEtho will be the most terrifying team on the server.

Meanwhile having no luck with mining is TANGO, a positive ball of energy who tells everyone he is not a builder despite being one of Minecraft's most impressive redstone architects. Tango is hopefully prodding everyone, excited to find a soulmate (as long as it's not Scar, because he doesn't want to die). Tango's long history of redstone projects do not stop him from ping-ponging haphazardly around the server failing to equip himself until he is blown up by a creeper, leading to a very awkward chat at spawn with JIMMY [SolidarityGaming], who has just blown up as well, because it turns out they're soulmates.

JIMMY, a wet cat relentlessly bullied by everyone who knows him, is initially gleeful to have the high ground for once in his life, but quickly realizes Tango is both good at bullying people and also distraught at having killed them both. They fall into a sweet and incompetent flurry of supportive activity and mutual hype during which Jimmy takes twenty minutes to make a water bucket and Tango is delighted for him. Against all odds, they collect several animals and start to build THE RANCH.

BIGB is still looking for love, and can optimistically find joy in being bonded to any one of his friends (except Scar please not Scar). After a series of disappointments where everyone else is also devastated not to be bonded to the sweetest person on the server, BigB eventually finds REN, a character who could make a convincing three-act drama out of mildly spoiled milk, who immediately evicts everyone from his cave so he can choose carpets with BigB. Ren has prepared multiple plans for his soulmate and is excited to tell BigB about them in a monologue that lasts through the entire construction of BOX, a cobblestone box meant to repel invaders through its sheer retro ugliness. Ren proceeds to invite everyone for tea. They do not show up.

GRIAN, a prank-motivated chaos nexus, is horrified to find he is soulbonded to SCAR, a previous ally of Grian's whom he beat to death with his bare hands on a desert mountain and then divorced so hard it nearly set the server on fire. Scar, a happy-go-lucky type prone to fatal accidents and surprisingly chill about their mutual history, is nonetheless easily distracted by animals and ignores the soulmate race in favor of obsessing over a herd of pandas modded to look like his cat. Grian decides not to tell Scar they're soulbound, instead following him around in affection and exasperation until he finally drops several stalactites on Scar's head to drive the point home, hooks him with a fishing rod, and drags him back to his base. Grian has started to build the spiked wooden RED VELVET KEEP; Scar, after his pandas are cruelly evicted from the keep, builds the PANDA RESERVE.

SCOTT, a man rapidly running out of patience with everyone else's shenanigans, and CLEO, who never had any patience in the first place, efficiently round the whole server in hope of finding their soulmates. This act of emotional vulnerability goes unrewarded when their respective soulmates fail to show up, and Cleo and Scott decide to defy destiny and settle down as a pair on their own terms, where they begin to plot crimes of their own, an opportunity which honestly they deserve. They build TWO PERFECTLY OKAY HOUSES separated by a nice BRIDGE and are FINE WITHOUT THEIR SOULMATES.

MARTYN, a man who when two or more people are gathered magically turns it into an event of which he is the emcee, has spent the first episode accomplishing a series of daring deeds together with PEARL. They raid the Nether and sell what they can find. This does them no good when they finally trail back to Scott and Cleo, by process of elimination their soulmates, who immediately divorce them for abandonment. Presumably to keep the streak going, Martyn breaks up with Pearl as well and RUNS OFF.

PEARL, rejected in turn by Scott, Cleo and Martyn, is Absolutely Fine. No, Really. She hasn't just experienced repeated trauma at all, and is definitely feeling on good terms with humankind. Pearl settles down with a WOLF, which is definitely not going to come back to bite anyone, and the EPISODE ENDS with the PIECES ALL ON THE CHESSBOARD.

[mochiwrites]

20 BDubs and whatever ship you choose?

send me a prompt!

Being teamed with Impulse for this game is unexpected, but certainly not unwelcomed. Of all the people Bdubs could have been soulmates with, he's confident on his chances of survival with Impulse. The man is a genius redstoner (though his redstone is nowhere nearly as perfect as Bdubs'), and he's great at survival. Bdubs has no worries about the two of them!

(there's unease sitting beneath his skin, buzzing at him)

Besides, they hit it off incredibly well after determining their soulmate status! They're in love, for crying out loud. And it is a very happy marriage, thank you very much Etho!

Bdubs doesn't have a single problem with hanging back while Impulse goes off to gather some supplies for them. In fact, he busies himself with humming and throwing together a floor plan for their little home.

(he ignores how familiar it feels)

He chops down trees for spruce and gets a little farm started so they don't starve. Impulse doesn't hurt him once, and Bdubs is in pretty high spirits when his lovely husband gets back. They've got a wall of spruce and steadily growing farm, and a little dug out space within the mountain.

(he doesn't give himself time to think)

"Honey, I'm home!" Impulse's cheerful voice rings out, making Bdubs grin.

"Welcome home dear!" He replies, sounding equally as cheerful as he heads out to meet the other. Impulse smiles at him, and Bdubs is nearly blown away by how lovely his smile is.

"I've got a gift for you!" His soulmate declares, and Bdubs thinks he may just have to marry this man again when they return to Hermitcraft.

"OOOOOO! What is it? What is it?" Bdubs questions, immediately crowding his space, eyes shining.

Impulse chuckles at his reaction, and he brings him inside. He turns toward their furnaces, "Hold on, let me just put it together real quick. Close your eyes!"

"Oh I see, you're trying to drag it on!" Bdubs teases, though he does close his eyes as told. With his sight taken away from him, a sudden fear takes hold of him. Impulse could kill him right here if he wanted to. Or Impulse could have formed a pact with someone while he was away, this could all be a trick.

Bdubs swallows thickly, but tries to ignore his racing thoughts and growing anxiety. He reminds himself that his and Impulse's lives are tied together, that Impulse wouldn't do that to him. That Impulse isn't like him in that regard.

And when Impulse gives him the all clear to open his eyes, there's a part of Bdubs that wishes there was a sword waiting for him.

Instead, there is a clock sitting in Impulse's hands, outstretched to him.

"A clock!" Bdubs exclaims, trying to ignore the way he wants to run away or take the clock and smash it to pieces. Whichever urge he gives in to first. He stares at the golden thing, and it stares back; as if mocking him. Memories flash in his mind, and he can only run from the pain for so long.

Perhaps the final nail in the coffin is when he looks up at Impulse's face. He's still smiling, but his eyes act as windows to his old wounds. It's like a knife to the chest, and Bdubs feels frozen. He isn't sure what kills him more, the fact that the first thing Impulse had done was make a clock for him, or that he worried Bdubs would make the same decision twice.

His breathing hitches, "I-I can't." He says weakly, looking at Impulse. Grief encapsulates him, and his hands tremble.

Impulse's expression turns pleading as his smile fades into a ghost, "Please. For me." He begs, voice bordering on something low and sorrowful. He holds the clock out to Bdubs, and Bdubs' gaze flickers down to his hands.

He inhales through his nose, and takes a step forward. "...Okay. For you." He sets his hands over the clock, and he takes gentle hold of Impulse's fingers. "For you."