In This House We Appreciate Philza Minecraft

Happy MCYTAUfest 2026! Aufest is an event where writers and artists pair up to create an AU over the course of two months.

I had the privilege of being an artist for leviathan_tells, and got to work in tandem with the other artist, Caro. Together, we are Team Chess! Leviathan has come up with a great world for this one, a whole Chess AU! I’m so excited for everyone to see what we have created.

Personally, I made a Web Weave encompassing the general events of chapters 1-4. Oh boy, no one is happy. I guess a failing political marriage can do that to you.

Link to Leviathan’s fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/88929736/chapters/236027516?view_adult=true

Sources are under the cut!

Edit: adding @mcytblraufest, thank you for the fun event!

Link for anyone interested: https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/233681561?show_comments=true&view_full_work=false#comment_1252414996

Like it was always my interpretation for the dsmp that Wilbur was accidental child acquisition in some way. Because like personally Phil doesnt read as like. Wanting to be a parent or someone who was like oh boy Ive always wanted kids. But he does care too much and too deeply especially if he thinks something is his responsibility or his fault. So he tries. And it's fumbling and blustering and a bit awkward at times and he doesn't really know what he's doing but he's trying to make sure Wilbur is happy.

My personal headcanon is that Phil saved a witch / some powerful entity. Who then went here's a child as a reward. And Phil is like uhh what do I do with this. But the kid is his now so he can’t just abandon them. So he tries his best.

But THIS! Oh god, this. Sure, yeah. Sexual assault is definitely one way to explain unplanned child acquisition and also why Phil keeps him. Because no, he never really wanted kids. And god does he hate that king guy. But you’re mine. Thats all that matters. Which is SUCH a Phil thing to do. He always tries a little too hard, holds on a little too long. Because Phil always looks for there to be a reason. It has to matter. He stayed in new lamanburg for so long because there had to be something worth it. Something in that country had to be worth his son’s death. There had to be something worth fighting for. Worth dying for.

So Phil lies to himself. That it doesn’t matter how it happened. That it doesn’t keep him up at night. That he can’t still see the Kings face. He keeps Wilbur because that's a gift isnt it? Maybe he doesn't have to think about the...what happened, because he has Wilbur. Wilbur is his son. Isn’t that enough? I didn’t want you, but I kept you.

And Wilbur. Poor Wilbur. He developed depression at age like 14 and it went downhill from there. He has been depressed since he hit puberty and he hit that early. And he thinks he's broken, that there’s something wrong with him. And again Phil is trying! He is trying his best. But Phil’s best...isnt enough to pull Wilbur out of that darkness. Wilbur needed more of a support system that he just didn't have. Which isn’t his fault, and it isn’t Phil’s fault. Really it's no one's fault.

And that almost makes it hurt worse. It would have been easier if there was someone to blame! If Phil had hated him, that would be easier because Wilbur could tell himself all his bad thoughts came from having a bad dad. But he didn’t have a bad dad. He had Phil, who was fine. Sometimes even good. He had a happy childhood. Phil loves him. So why does he feel wrong.

So this has to be the reason. He’s a product of rape. That’s why he feels so tainted, why he hurts everyone he touches (his thoughts, not mine). He can’t see the joy he brought Phil, the joy he brought others, because all he can think about is that his existence started from pain and hurt and betrayal. Even if it was pointed out to him that how you’re born doesn’t define you, that you can become your own person, Wilbur wouldn’t be able to hear it.

This solidifies my personal belief that Wilbur's death was assisted suicide. Phil didn't murder him, and I’m using that word intentionally. He more helped Wilbur stab himself. Wilbur was hurting and Phil didn’t know why. So he tried to help, tried to do what Wilbur asked. That’s why he cries out “you're my son!” I don't care where he came from. I don't care what you've done. You're my son. Thats all that matters.