schneefink

I want to make a longer Murderbot rec post eventually (shout-out to sholio who did that already, part 1 & part 2), but I'm very busy right now and already procrastinating way too much - the bug game is very good okay so this is a short one.

The Art of (Flame) War by sholio
0,7k, TV-verse, gen MB & Gurathin, post-canon
Summary: A dispute on the Sanctuary Moon future chat boards.
Why I like it: Aww. MB has many feelings about Sanctuary Moon! So now does Gurathin, but he is less happy about it, but it does have upsides.

Down with the Ship by ramshackle_fey
5.5k, book-verse, gen
Summary: Sometimes people are Just Wrong about your favorite media serial on the feed. And sometimes, if you're very lucky, you've got human friends and a giant asshole research transport to back you up in a fight.
Why I like it: This story did such a good job portraying terrible fandom discourse about aspec characters that it made me wince to read at times. It is good to have friends to back you up! I enjoyed Ratthi especially. And ART is scary.

RADIOACTIVE by Murderbot (vid) by pollyrepeat
vid, TV-verse, Sanctuary Moon
Summary:A vid or fanvid is a video edit, often set to music, produced by fans, known as "vidders."
Why I like it: Yess Muderbot would make a great fanvidder, excellent.

The promised part 2 of MCYT AUFest Battleship recs! I still have a few dozen works bookmarked to read later, but this felt like it was hanging over my head so I wanted to get it done, especially since I easily had enough for a list. There might even be a part three, but no promises.

( 9xfic, 2xwebweave, 2xart; Hermitcraft, Life Series, QSMP, DSMP, MCYT RPF )

The main gameplay phase of mcytblraufest Battleship is over. Team Nether! *raises fist in triumph* We finished third (out of five teams), and we fully cleared all three boards, before work reveals even. I had such a great time on my team, with our two strider mascots Dirk Slow and Aragorn Steady. Massive props to the mods, everything ran very smoothly. In the first board every field had very cool flavor text even, and the bosses were very cool (we defeated the Wither Storm!)

I ended up with ten (!!!) gifts!
And I'm proud to say that despite that I reached my semi-serious goal of creating more gifts than I received. Though if I get more treats after this I'll give up. I've never received so many comments on one day as I did yesterday, it was great.

My wonderful gifts:
Sharp teeth and spring rain by Anonymous, Hermitcraft SMP
3.4k, Mumbo & Etho, fantasy AU, platonic kink
Summary: That anticipation, now cooled, mingled with fresh dread as the blank, flat space on the horizon tore open.
A thousand-year old dragon emerged from the void and blocked out the sun with his wings.
Mumbo gulped.
“Oh, Gem!” he fretted. “You expect me to dom that?”
Why I love it: Excellent premise, very cool worldbuilding, great character voices and development of their relationship.

Careful People by Kaesa, Hermitcraft SMP
1.3k, Cleo/Etho, cyberpunk AU post-divorce
Summary: "We'll be careful," says Etho.
"We're not careful people," Cleo reminds him.
"Maybe we know better now!"
Why I love it: I love the banter. Them. So divorced and yet.

( seven more shorter ones and one piece of art under the cut because this got long )

The three weeks of the event were very intense. Multifandom Battleship starts soon and I don't think I'll sign up for it even though I had a great time last year, but that'd be a bit too much. Unless...

And now, off to read more from the collections! All Ages and 18 Plus, almost 1.200 works in total already, and there are still almost two weeks of the anon period.

It's one of those no-brain days, but it's almost the end of the month and I appreciated the excuse for "productive procrastination": it's monthly recs time. Four excellent Hermitcraft fics.

attempt thirty-three by Bee_4
13.6k, Joe &Cleo&Cub& Scar gen, time loop
Summary: A glimpse at the thirty-third time Joe Hills has woken up on Monday at 6:00 AM, and the attempt he makes to stop doing that, ideally, or at least get closer to a state where he doesn't have to live these four days ever again.
Why I love it: Heartbreaking, with just enough funny moments to make it better/worse and just enough hope at the end not to make it a tragedy, and a fantastic Joe voice.

fault lines by januarymorning
24.8k, Xisuma/Evil X (background polyhermits), NSFW
Summary: For a moment Xisuma feels as though the world has dropped out from under him— as though he has been sundered from it, and there is nothing below or around him as far as the eye can see— as though there is no anchor and nothing to grab hold of, only himself and a vastness on all sides. This world that he has built, the world his players have built— negligible, at best, hardly realer than a flicker on a silver screen. It would crumple like wet paper, if he told it to.
He is the universe cradling his players, holding them in his palm above a silence that’d claim them if he let it claim them. It would have had Scar. It would have had Cleo. It would have Joe, now, if he allowed it. They are so terribly fragile.
-
aka 4 times xisuma gets propositioned by his players who are expecting him to make use of certain admin privileges, and he is really not whatsoever interested in hurting them even though he theoretically should be according to some people. and 1 time that is, uh, NOT what happens.
Why I love it: Exploration of and different takes on admin powers on Minecraft servers are always interesting, and this one is great and gave me many Xisuma feelings.

so enlist every ounce of your bright blood by springbeetle
5.3k, Grian/Scar&Cub, captivity
Summary: “Actually, I was thinking of building a permit office,” Scar said carefully, and Grian’s feathers bristled up. “Don’t freak out, though, okay? I’m not reusing ideas, never, perish the thought. We’re free thinking men, I’m taking inspiration. Opening doors to new experiences, really— digging deep.”
The basement, then. Grian skittered his gaze away from Scar’s, stared at one of their shulker boxes and envisioned the contents with gusto. He’d gotten fantastic at counting his inventory if he was having trouble thinking correctly, within the boundaries their new admins preferred. He had to keep his thoughts in order if he was going to come up with phrases like well, batter my fish sticks and fry me at the fair— the one time he’d tried that one out, Scar had laughed so hard that he’d fallen off a battlement and died, and One had punished Grian for the delay. Clearly he needed better material.
“And here I thought vex didn’t need to open doors,” he said lightly.
“Oh, we don’t, really,” Scar said, and alright, that was Cub. Cub was here. Cub was here.
Why I love it: Grian and Scar are captives of the Watchers and they do their best to make it through; Cub ~attempts a rescue. Hurts so good.

Snapshots from a Hermitcraft Wedding by Vanyel
2.3k, Ren/Doc, fluff
Summary: Making it official. Because they can.
Why I like it: Something light and sweet to end the list on.

For March recs, four of my favorite fics from fffx.

( Hermitcraft, Harry Potter, original work, Assassin's Creed )

I almost failed my plan for monthly rec posts in January already... And I didn't participate in snowflake_challenge, though I'm still vaguely considering doing it a bit later. Definitely after my exam.

I didn't have anything planned so I just browsed through my fic bookmarks until I found something I wanted to rec, and that's why you get recs for three amazing Animorph AUs.
I read all of the Animorph books they had at the library as a teenager, then I mostly forgot about them, and then many years later I discovered some excellent fic online. Since then I keep vaguely thinking that I might reread them one day (they're available for free online) but it hasn't happened yet because it's a big time commitment and there's so many other things to read.

Eleutherophobia by SoloMoon
series of 15 works, 322k words; more might be added but it has a good stopping point
~post-canon canon-divergent AU, gen focus with background relationships
Summary: Eleutherophobia: n., Greek, the fear of freedom
Tom survived Rachel's assassination attempt; the yeerk in his head did not. Now he's left dealing with his overprotective but traumatized parents, a little brother battling survivor guilt in a world that thinks he's a superhero, his terrifyingly awesome ex-neighbor determined to change the world, the girl from high school who he loved enough to follow to a Sharing meeting, and a whole bunch of other former hosts who think that just because a yeerk wearing his body once led a revolution Tom actually knows what he's talking about half the time.
Why I love it: This is so good. The aftermath of a "happy ending" but there is still so much left open; this story does an excellent job looking at the after-effects of what Tom, the Animorphs, and the world have been through, and it delivers great h/c, politicking, relationships, worldbuilding, just so many cool things.

Daemorphing by Poetry
series with 31 works, 710k words, WIP (though only missing an extended epilogue)
His Dark Materials fusion, gen focus with background relationships
Summary: They can't tell you their real names, or their dæmons' names. The Yeerks are everywhere. But they're going to fight back.
Why I love it: The worldbuilding is fantastic (especially in regard to other races), the canon divergences are fascinating, the adventures and relationships are so so good.

The Unending Lull by SoloMoon
35k, gen focus with background relationships, canon-divergence AU
Summary: Overnight, every single yeerk on Planet Earth suddenly dies. The Animorphs, and the former yeerk hosts, try to figure out what to do in the aftermath of the war's abrupt end.
AU that picks up between #19: The Departure and #20: The Discovery.
Why I love it: I really like the perspectives in this and the examination of the aftermath and the different ~factions and both where they are powerless and different ways to fight.

Have you read the Animorphs books? What are your favorite parts? :)

I had a busy week and then I got so distracted by MCCI fishing that I didn't even post about FIAB yet (nor read or commented as much as I wanted, or do Christmas shopping...)

I got two great gifts:
somewhere a clock is ticking by Odaigahara, Life Series SMP
10.9k, gen, Grian & Cleo & Etho, space AU
Summary:
Scar had sounded friendly, over the comm. Delighted to hear Grian’s voice, the longing of a terraformer who’d been stuck away from living planets for ages creeping into his tone. Wait, Grian, are you coming in person? Can’t you stretch your delivery window a little? We could always say there were asteroid beasts trying to eat us. Etho would back me up, and it’s not like they could extend our contracts–
If there’s asteroid beasts, I’m staying right in my pilot’s seat where I can flee them in style, Grian had retorted.
No, no, only good things here, Scar had protested, the reports of beasts have been greatly exaggerated, and you know, we have algae, we all like algae, we’re all about eating your greens–
Scar had aimed for Grian’s center of mass. His stunner had been set one level below lethal. If it had hit where he was aiming, Grian would’ve had worse heart palpitations than this, bordering on deadly. Trouble breathing.
Certainly trouble escaping.
Why I love it: The worldbuilding is very smart and cool, the action and tension work so well, the character voices are excellent, the mix of serious and banter is great, the writing is so good and so is the pacing, many feelings. (Do mind the "ambiguous ending" tag!)

How to tell if Etho likes you? Asking for a friend by alice_not_alice, Hermitcraft SMP
1.2k, Etho & Scar & ensemble, Hermitcraft season 10
Summary: “I have a question. Don’t ask me why I need to know, that knowledge lies beyond the realm of any mortal mind. My question…is this: how do you tell whether or not Etho likes you?”
Why I love it: This is very sweet and touching, so many of the answers and interactions were absolutely perfect, and the ending is great.

So it has been a very good FIAB for me. I got a very nice comment from my recip on one of my stories; not yet on the other work but I did get some comments from other people which helped me rein in my anxious impatience.


Plus, some recs for FIAB works not for me: ( 2x Hermitcraft, DSMP, 2x Star Wars, Naruto )


I don't really understand why I got so into MCCI fishing (but at least it happened to many people.) ( MCCI fishing )

I'm definitely not using the monthly rec post to procrastinate on finishing my last FIAB fic and/or making dinner. Ahem.
4 warm Hermitcraft fics, canon knowledge required for the first three.

tall enough to reach the branches by springbeetle
4.8k, Grian&Mumbo & Grumbot, Hermitcraft s7 kidfic
Summary: “Maybe we should go through it again,” Mumbo said. He abandoned his own project, an attempt to diagram an automatic dispenser so a baby player could memorize it, and wandered over. Grian batted him with the top of a wing on principle. Mumbo sputtered and stepped pointedly out of range. “Right, take a gander at this, yeah? Watch me extremely carefully.”
He crouched next to Grumbot, suit jacket crumpling a bit, and started explaining what he carried with him all over again, slowing his cadence like he was giving a redstone tutorial to a clueless builder. Grumbot inched closer and pressed against his side, peeking up at Grian like he was making sure he was still there.
Grian’s heart flipped in his chest, making a good faith effort to crawl up and block his throat.
Why I like it: Grumbot turned into a baby player. Grian and Mumbo struggle because they have never seen a child before, usually players come into existence as adults, but they care so much and they try their best. I love this as worldbuilding and the fic is very sweet.

Washed Up Together by buildinblocks
2k, Etho & Gem, Hermitcraft early s10 slice of life
Summary: Gem and Etho discuss the merits of being washed up.
Why I love it: Great character voices, and such a good side-by-side of their experiences with reputation, very touching and warm.

special delivery by vexcraft
1k, Pearl & Scar & Cub, Hermitcraft s10
Summary: Pearl was fairly certain this was not in her job description.
She supposed she had agreed to do special deliveries – this was still something she would have called Scar for. If he was available that was. Which brings her to the next problem.
Scar was currently very small, very gray, and a little feathery. And also in her mailbag.
Why I like it: Adorable.

a pesky bird in the hand by Odaigahara
2k, Grian & Mumbo, Borrowers AU
Summary: Mumbo looked at the sticky note saying I want to see you burn the world for a long, long moment, blinking in mustachioed astonishment, before saying flatly, "Absolutely not."
"Aw, come on," Grian muttered to himself from his vantage point atop the display shelves. He scribbled out another sticky note and crouched, waiting for Mumbo to turn around, then got tired of waiting and sneaked to the side to place the sticky note just to the right of him.
It took some effort. The sticky notes were three-quarters of his height, and they kept sticking to his hands.
Why I like it: Very funny and sweet.

Wdym leaving fic comments does not count as being productive when I should be studying or doing chores, mean.


For my August recs, first 4 recs of my favorite stories from the MCYTBLR AU Fest Summer 2024, and then the Hotguy Comics zinethology, all of which require no canon knowledge.

( a faerie AU, a mech AU, a cyberpunk AU, and a zombie apocalypse AU walk into a fandom... )


The HOTGUY COMICS Zinethology by the hgcz team and contributors (Hermitcraft)
410 pages of comics fics and art, gen, Scar & Grian et al, superhero AU
Summary:As with all tales, this one is a labor of love; inspired by the character Hotguy from GoodTimesWithScar, HOTGUY COMICS is an original Hermitcraft au told seamlessly across nearly 60 separate contributors. In it, we give you a peek into the life of Scar Goodtimes, a B-list actor aiming for vigilante fame. With his trusty bow in hand, Scar is ready to take on the dazzling metropolitan streets of Hermitopia—and the villains within—while meeting a few allies along the way.
Why I love it: It's finally out!! They decided to call this a zinethology when it became far too big to be called a zine and that was a good decision imo. It's in turns hilarious, warm, exciting, and/or angsty, with great worldbuilding and storytelling and fantastic art and writing, and just overall excellent. I really love the in-universe social media too.
(My new icon is from the additional merch folder btw.)

I need to get June recs out of the way because they are stressing me out. (I have a busy 2.5 weeks coming up.) So I decided to rec some SMP Earth fic because I just found two more in the Hurt Comfort Exchange 2024. I haven't read many, only those I found either via authors I followed for other MCYT works or via fests/exchanges, but those few were very good. All of them Technoblade & Philza.

In "preparation" I rewatched Techno's That Time I Conquered SMP Earth video, and it was still a lot of fun, but I think I preferred SMP Earth in stream format. And by that I obviously mean Techno's streams because those were pretty much the only ones I watched, maybe one or two of Phil's. (A very limited view on SMP Earth but I was never very interested in checking out more tbh.)

hit the continent running (engines were humming) by Odaigahara (SMP Earth)
15.4k, gen, Technoblade & Philza, ~interview format
Summary:
Philza: Transatlantic, the Corvarians, all those motherfuckers who couldn’t handle us having a stronghold and good mines, they cut us off from everything in the darkest time of the year. They trapped us in the cold, in eternal night, because they figured if we starved to death, Port-aux-Francais would give them whatever deals they wanted, and they didn’t care who they were fucking killing.
We were peaceful, before the embargo. We just wanted trade deals, we collaborated with anyone who’d help us build our railroads. We never struck the first blow. After the embargo– after that winter– we figured that wasn’t gonna work.
Interviewer: So you adopted some new technologies.
Philza: Yeah, we had innovations in our manufacturing, our greenhouses, our fucking sanitation– but that’s not what you’re talking about, right? Forget the emperor shit. If you’re interviewing me about this, you don’t want to hear about the greenhouses.
You want to hear about the planes.
Why I like it: Excellent SMP Earth worldbuilding and wonderful Techno&Phil friendship. The interview + flashback format works very well.

on the wings of strong winds by StorytellerSecrets
15.6k, either gen or pre-Techno/Philza, AU
Summary: It's probably a bit fucked up to admit, but Phil's marrying the Emperor because he's funny.
They'd send some experienced politician to marry the man in a more sensible world. But, yeah, Phil is kind of jeopardizing his entire nation’s stability because he doesn't want to marry a complete and total stranger. Oops?
Yeah, oops. Mostly “fuck em” but a little bit oops. When everything goes to shit because of him he'll probably feel a little bit sorry.
-
Or: How To Marry Your Enemy War Buddy Years After The War: The Guide
Why I like it: Great character voices, great slow relationship development, cool worldbuilding.

Silhouette Figure In The Smoke by antimony_medusa
9k, gen, h/c
Summary: The smell of blood filled the flier’s cockpit as Phil coaxed it over the landscape, wings wobbling as they crested a hill. The machine was solar-powered and they’d stolen it off the field before it recharged, and with the cloud-covered sun going down now, he’d been getting emergency power - land immediately warnings blinking at him from the display for the last ten minutes. It was taking absolutely all of his concentration to keep the machine in the air, using the last gasps of the machine’s energy reserves to rise over obstacles and then glide down on the other side. “You doin’ okay there, Techno?” he managed, attention on the darkening landscape in front of him. There was an updraft over there, if he could just catch it and glide further-- they were so close to making it out.
Or: AEduo is on the run. They just need to make it through the night. They just need to make it through the night.
Why I like it: Good classic h/c.

Portrait of SMPEarth Technoblade by blockgamepirate
Digital art
Why I like it: It looks cool. There is a bunch of cool emperor Techno & Phil fanart but this one I remembered off the top of my head.

Bonus, SMP Earth fics I already recced at another time:
move your feet from hot pavement, rec here
Who Are You Really (And Where Are You Going)?, rec here