#not the most beautiful ship but they're making a name for themself

[bonesdontmelt]

Big Top - Buggy Pirates

And in the running for most color-clashing, obnoxious ship goes to! (Barto's and Big Mom's are the others in this category so far)

Purple heels, candystripe leggings, huge slitted skirt with the hull design, and a belt with the semicircle designs on the ship. White open-front shirt with red and yellow striped cuffs, revealing a yellow-green triangle belly warmer underneath. Starched collar and hat like the masthead, buggy ball earrings, and a red nose and facepaint reflecting that on the roger.

[leonstamatis]

on the other side of this coin, if you've never read blaseball fic before -- or heck, even if you have, but you want recs anyway -- i have a few recommendations for authors you should check out. in no particular order:

hayden waveridden - i'm biased on this one, but honestly, it doesn't matter. hayden wrote some of the first blaseball fic, ever. and also some of the most prolific across every era. if you've so much as looked in blao3's general direction, you've seen something by them. but you know what? hayden has written nearly 100 fics for this fandom, and i guarantee most of us haven't read them all. go find a new one. go read an old favorite. they're all worth it.

atticus paopuleaf - atti is. hold on i'm just kind of staring into space trying to think of the best things to say, because so many of the fics here are just. my favorite, ever. the lore takes are like nothing you'll see anywhere else, whether it's a completely original idea or a slight (but nevertheless genius) reinterpretation of widely accepted canon. start with the totluis; the characterization in those fics makes me endlessly happy. from there, everything is excellent and well worth your time.

hen waltztangocache - i think hen is like, one of the coolest people in the world. but focusing on fic, there's so much here that plays with format and genre in incredible ways. i am still not over the twists in "so much left to recover," which is one of my favorite fics of all time. but also, hen has a lovely series of ficlets about every chicago firefighter -- a huge undertaking, and a great way to understand the team dynamics and broader lore in an approachable and delightful way. hen is funny, and xir writing is, too. but sometimes it's also horrifying (positive, loving), and sometimes it's so romantic it makes my teeth ache, so there's something for everyone.

robbie babytriumphant - realizing i read a lot of firefighters fic. whatever. robbie regularly writes interpersonal dynamics that completely rewire my brain. the prose is so weighty and it has so much depth beyond just the words on the page. the characters feel real, and lived in, and reading every fic makes me feel absolutely bonkers. i know the leon/andrew campaign might have felt like a bit and a goof, but my love for that ship is 100 percent completely because of how well robbie has written them and how much those fics hurt me (deeply positive), so those are a great place to start.

stara novelsinourheads - man, it's so rare to find someone who puts so much of themself into their work this openly. stara doesn't just do prose; there are incredible twines and multimedia works, solo zines, and all kinds of fun adventures well worth your time. and somehow, no matter the format, every single work manages to feel deeply honest and personal and a little like reading a diary of someone you knew a long time ago. it's all haunting, and beautiful, and lovely contributions to the broader lore.

marn baliset - oh, you know marn. marn, the one who made derrick krueger famous? marn, the creator of tillman henderson? i'm joking a little bit because while those might be the things marn is known for, there are SO many fics here that go well beyond those bigger names and delve really deeply into other characters you probably haven't heard of. i frequently have to take breaks from reading anything marn writes because the evocative imagery and beautiful prose makes me stop in my tracks. also, the pacing? everything is set up so perfectly that you won't even realize how far along you've gotten until the end whacks you in the face. marn turns reading into a game of connect the dots and save points, and i love it. i love it SO much.

sonder moondragon8 - sonder is so clever. i love the setup of all of these fics, particularly when they delve into weird and outlandish concepts. a sentient apartment without anyone to take care of, or a fic told through a pastiche of references and quotes that will make you cackle and scream by turns. sonder also dreamed up the shuffle au concept for the zine jam, an idea that still haunts me to this day -- especially considering it's basically what fall ball turned out to be, proving sonder has some kind of future sight the rest of us can only dream of. i just really do love so much of what's here. it's all wonderfully transformative and unique.

cynda cyndakip - ah! the polkadot patterson liker!! i feel like every time i see cynda on my dash there's something about some longfic lurking just under the surface, soon to appear and ruin us (positive). cynda's works about the moist talkers provide such a perfect picture of team life and local worldbuilding, and it all engages with canon in such a heartfelt way that allows room both for the tragedy and for the recovery from it. i do not know that anyone in this fandom loves a single player the way cynda loves the dot. it's admirable, it's impressive, it's worth poking around to see what the fuss is about.

impern impernia - there are some fics that you read that just never, ever leave your brain. you move on from the fandom, you forget about canon and various other things, and still, that fic will come back and have you clutching your chest with the mere memory of it. impern has like... four of those? for me? i don't know. i don't bother counting. i just know when impern writes something, it will be achingly sincere and lovely, and sometimes it will tear my heart right out of my chest, and i will not recover. i will love it, though.

those are just a handful that i could think of without too much digging. there are always more, and you should see what you can find out there on your own. there are so, so many good writers in this fandom, and i have plenty of additional people i would love to shout out if this post were not already far, far too long. anyway, i've got some reading to do. hopefully this list helps at least one other person to join me.

also like. in general. there’s a lot of blaseball fic published in the time since s24 with <10 kudos. i bring that number up because i assume that means not many folks have seen them. it’s been pretty quiet on blao3 for a hot minute! so…

if you have any blb writers you have been fond of in your time as a fan, whether that was coronation or expansion or way back in discipline, check their ao3 profiles. chances are they’ve kept writing and there’s a lot more for you to read. the writers have never made a habit of stopping when the game does. branch out and explore the stories they’ve told, now that the sim won’t be giving us any more. and be sure to leave kudos and comment when you do!

[apolloaiden]

Guardians name: 2

Age: 4 years post rez

Race: Exo

Call signs/alias: The Guardian, The Second Young Wolf, The Hero

Pronouns: She/Her

Class: Warlock

Preferred subclass(es): Void and Stasis

Ghost's name: Ghost (yes, very original)

Their Vanguard: She tolerates all "Vanguard" personnel.

Fireteam teammates: Miriam-46 and Leo (friends ocs)

Favorite legendary weapon: Deafening Whisper

Favorite exotic weapon: Ace of Spades

Favorite exotic armor: Transversive Steps

Favorite ornament armor set: Steeplechase set

Favorite weapon ornament: On Ashen Wings

What stats do they focus on: Discipline and Strength.

Are they offense, defence, or support: Offensive and supportive.

Do they prefer being close, mid, or long range: Close to mid range.

Do they lean more "Element of Surprise" or "Upfront and Aggressive": She has more of an element of surprise, but can be aggressive.

Strikes, Gambit, or Crucible: Mainly Crucible, she doesn't like strikes and kinda forgets about Gambit.

Who was their mentor(if they had one. If it is a character you created, tell us about them!): Ikora is a mentor to her for Warlock things, Cayde was a mentor to her for Exo things.

Who are they mentoring(if they are. If it is a character you created, tell us about them!): She is now the mentor and figurative mother to Crow. She loves him with all her heart.

What ship do they have: She mainly uses the unsecured/OUTCRY ship with a Precursor Vex Chrome shader.

What is their Sparrow: She uses the Calypso.

Favorite Ghost shell: She's tied between the Rimed Shell and the Phalanx Shell.

Favorite shader: None, there's too many to decide!

Favorite color: Blue and red.

Favorite food: Pastries

Favorite piece of Pre-Collapse tech(if they've seen any): She's really interested in the Exominds, partly by being one and wanting to know how she works.

Favorite Pre-Collapse music(if they've heard any): She likes metal and lo-fi.

Favorite place in The Last City(if it's a place you created, give a little description!): The gardens in the Last City, she likes to walk around them with Ghost. She also likes to be directly beneath the Traveler.

Favorite NPC(s): Crow, Ikora, Elsie, and Osiris.

Favorite patrol location: She loves Europa and Nessus, they're both so pretty.

5 things your Guardian likes(can be anything): Her Ghost, her friends, baking, fighting, and the feeling of both the Light and Darkness.

Least favorite food: Anything too salty.

Least favorite shader: Anything green, she has too many green shaders.

Least favorite patrol location: She doesn't hate them, but the Tangled Shore and Dreaming City make her uneasy.

Least favorite Pre-Collapse tech(if they've seen any): Old electrical devices, they emit a loud ringing sound to her and it gives her a horrible headache.

Least favorite NPC(s): The Spider, Lord Saladin

Least favorite weapon ornament: Feeling Lucky

Least favorite ornament armor set: The Legatus set... e w..

Least favorite legendary weapon: Most Pulse Rifles.

Least favorite exotic weapon: Tractor Cannon

Least favorite exotic armor: Promethiumn Spurs. They're ugly and the perk isn't even that good.

5 things your Guardian dislikes(this can be anything): She dislikes Saladins beliefs (she kills because she has to, not to just kill), Guardians that get corrupted by the Darkness, the fact that you can only have one exotic at a time, keeping secrets, and Clovis Bray.

Your Guardian has to rest. What is their living space like: Her dorm is pretty clean, but she doesn't make a lot of messes either way. She has lots of little artifacts and trinkets.

Does your Guardian have any casual wear?(Y'all remember Polyvore? The website URSTYLE works very similar if that helps!): She likes flowy robes, skirts, and turtle necks.

What hobbies and/or skills does your Guardian have: She loves to cook, and loves cooking for others.

What would your Guardian's lore book be called: Probably something like "The Guardian with no Name".

Where was your Guardian reborn?(If you created the location, give us a little description!): She was rezzed in the Cosmodrome (I like to stay pretty lore based), and was there for a couple months before fixing up a ship.

What were they wearing when they were reborn: She was wearing almost threadbare clothes, just a sweater, pants, and shoes. Ghost helped her find better Warlock armor.

What was their reaction to being reborn: She was surprisingly calm, despite not being able to remember anything, like her name.

What was their reaction to their first rez: She didn't like the feeling. It made her feel cold, but the feeling eventually subsided more as she died again and again.

After being reborn, did they meet friendlies first or hostiles: Hostiles, lots of Eliksni where she was rezzed.

Who was the first other Guardian they met?(Same thing! If you made them, give a little description!): The first Guardians she really met met was Sloane and Zavala on Titan, during the Red War.

Did your Guardian get reborn with, or find, any indication of their past life? If so what do they have/found: 2 was rezzed with no memories, which was unheard of for an Exo. She only knew her reboot number, 2, by two lines carved into her collar bone. She then found evidence on Europa of her memory bank being deleted by Clovis Bray for witnessing an inhumane experiment.

How did your Guardian get their name(if they didn't rez with past life momentos): She took on her reboot number when her Ghost found it, he said it fit her. "The Second Young Wolf" was given to her by the Young Wolf themself. They had lost their Ghost and were bleeding out in the Last City during the Red War. Upon seeing 2 come to their aid, they said they had a vision of her, and dubbed her the second. Ghost used footage of this to tell the Vanguard after the Red War.

Going back to your Guardian's lore book, what would be some some quotes or passages from their book: "This Guardian thought she was cursed. Everywhere she went, something bad happened. Arrived at the Last City, Cabal attacked. Went to the Prison of Elders, Cayde was killed. Went to the Dreaming City, a curse consumed it."

Does your Guardian have a significant other: It may sound weird, but she and her Ghost are together! She sees herself more as a machine than a human mind now, like Ghosts do. While she's still a "human" in an Exo body, she's never known anything else in her life.

Did your Guardian go explore first before going to The Last City? If so, where to: She and her Ghost were stranded in the Cosmodrome for about 2 months before they found enough parts to fix a ship. They explored the ruins, and kept to themselves.

What was their reaction to first seeing The Last City: She was devastated at seeing the Cabal overtake this place she had heard was beautiful. She just saw fire and large Cabal ships.

Is your Guardian a part of a clan: Not really, no. She likes to join others in fireteams but never stays long. However she usually runs with Miriam and Leo.

If your Guardian would have a quote as a flavor text for a weapon and/or piece of armor, what would they be: "The Darkness, combined with the Light, is a force to be reckoned with." -2, Exo Warlock.

If your Guardian has had any interactions with any civilians (The Last City/The Farm), Eliksni, Cabal, Vex, Hive, Taken, Scorn, Rouge Lightbearers, or Iron Lords/War Lords(if your Guardian is an Old Light) tell us about it!: She likes to show the children in the city tricks with her Light, and teaches them new dances.

Does your Guardian have any unconventional allies or connections(By Vanguard standards): She's pretty close to Drifter, and even pledged her allegiance to him instead of the Vanguard. He's a useful ally. She also knows some Eliksni thanks to Miriam-46 and her work with The Spider.

How does your Guardian feel about themselves or others using Stasis: She feels like it's right, that it's ok to use if you dont abuse it. The fact that she wields both the Dark and the Light, sometimes at the same time, shows that it can happen and that others can do it.

Is your Guardian from D1? How did they react to seeing Taniks alive once again: She is not.

Where did they go and what did they do during The Red War: She tried to find the Vanguard, and tried to help as many people as she could after she got her Light back from the Shard.

Here are some characters that are either polarizing or have created a strong enough mass emotion within the community. What opinion does your Guardian hold on each of them(These are only a handful of characters!)>>>

Osiris, First Warlock Vanguard, originally exiled: Gay Grandpa. She respects him quite a lot, and talks to him about anything when she goes to see him, especially after Sagira sacrificed herself.

Eris Morn, Bane of the Swarm: She holds high respect for her. She feels horrible about what happened to her, but she's glad Eris has been able to talk to others. If anything, she fears her a little too.

Cayde-6, Sixth Hunter Vanguard: One of her only Exo friends who knew a little bit about the exo's past. She used to tell him everything, her patrols, her stories, Ghost would even show him recordings of them. She misses him.

Ikora Rey, Second Warlock Vanguard: 2 calls her the "Collective Mother", because she's always been open to New Lights. 2 turns to her for anything, and she knows Ikora has her back through anything. At least, she hopes she does.

Commander Zavala, Second Titan Vanguard: She held high respect for him during the Red War. When Cayde died, she lost that respect for him when he disapproved on her acts. That trust and respect has slowly been building again since.

Saint-14, legendary Titan, First Titan Vanguard: Again, Gay Grandpa. She loves to just be around Saint, and feed the birds with him. They don't talk too much, just appreciating the hangar.

Lord Saladin, Iron Banner handler, One of the last remaining Iron Lords: She's never really liked him, even if he's the reason behind her namesake. He's been too bloody for her, and she doesn't like Iron Banner.

Lord Shaxx, Crucible handler, Hero of Twilight Gap, living megaphone: Whenever she needs a pick me up, she goes to Shaxx. She loves his personality and loves the Crucible.

The Crow, New Light, Ex-Enforcer to The Spider: After what happened with Uldren, 2's been living in guilt. She feels like the Traveler gave both her and Uldren/Crow another chance, so she's doing everything in her power to better Crow and herself. She kinda took on a maternal role for him, making sure he has the best gear he can and that no stray Guardian will hurt him.

The Spider, The Shore's Only Law, founder of "House" Spider: Ohoho where do I start. She's always hated Spider for how he treated Ghosts and NEVER took her own out around him. How he was treating Crow was the last straw for her and his partnership. She's still friends, however, with another Guardian Spider has employed, Miriam-46.

Uldren Sov, Prince of the Reef, Master of Crows: She wasn't ever too fond of Uldren when she heard the stories about him. She was so angry when he killed Cayde, that it clouded her judgement. Uldren needed help, and in the end, he was right about Mara being alive.

Mara Sov, Queen of the Reef, Queen of the Awoken, Ex-Kell of Wolves: 2 has never liked her. She finds her snobby and just plain rude. She doesn't like how Mara talks down to others and thinks she's better than others.

Variks, the Loyal, founder of House Judgement: At first, 2 blamed Variks for the Prison of Elders, but after getting to know him and his cause, she warmed up to him.

Mithrax, the Forsaken, Kell of Light, founder of House Light: She's only met him a couple of times, but respects him none the less. She hopes they can get more Eliksni to join the House of Light.

The Exo Stranger/Elizabeth "Elsie" Bray, Granddaughter of Clovis I and Sister to Ana Bray: 2's very thankful that Elsie's taking the time to show people the Darkness, and really appreciates her. While this Elsie isn't our timelines Elsie, she knew about 2's memory bank, and tipped her off to it.

Eramis, of House Salvation, Kell of Darkness: 2 wonders that, if she didn't have the support of Ghost and Elsie, would she have turned out like Eramis? Seeing the Darkness seduce someone like that was unnerving, and she wants to do everything in her power to correct it.

Empress Caiatl of the Cabal Imperial Empire: 2 thinks the Cabal should just surrender. They're running their troops thin in the hopes that the Guardians will cave, and they most likely won't. Sometimes, 2 doesn't want to fight anymore. She respects Caiatl as a warrior, and nothing else.

Taniks the Scarred, the Perfected, the Abomination, the Shadow Thief: HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE, she's just, yeah she doesn't like him.

The Darkness is fast approaching. How is your Guardian handling it: She may not show it, but she's kinda scared. She knows that she and Ghost are destined to die one day, and she's dreading the day she gets the sword. She hopes that her decisions will change that fate.

And finally, does your Guardian have any advice for any New Lights: Don't get too close to an enemy when you shoot a rocket at it, and don't let your emotions get the best of you. Go at your own pace, we don't need you New Lights getting hurt or doing something dumb.