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- Impulse outright admitting that he's just hanging around Crastle until a better opportunity comes along. He is shocked when Crastle is suspicious of his loyalties.

Cleo: "I stole from Renchanting." Martyn: /loudly clears throat

I don't... remember him going back to tell Ren about this? I gotta add a Martyn POV watch to my to-do list, because there's no way the timeline here is "Martyn keeps his mouth shut about Cleo" -> "Cleo steals Pizza" -> "Ren learns Cleo's secret, blabs, gets blackmailed, and agrees to keep it again") -> Martyn finds out Ren is keeping Cleo's secret and gets so mad that he hides the good gear and leaves Ren a note about how he can't trust him," right? I feel like I'm forgetting the specific thing that triggered Martyn to write that note... I think it was general confusion and mistrust of Ren and secret allies, but was it more than just Cleo? Hmm... I gotta rewatch.

- Martyn super dejected when his attempts to make Cleo hit him fail.

- Extreme amounts of Bdubs supporting and encouraging Cleo's chaos.

Martyn @ Cleo: "I don't think I've ever met a more chaotic player in my life other than myself. Cleo: "Chaotic neutral." Martyn: "Yeah! I'm just chaotic chaos, but you're chaotic neutral." Cleo: "I do what's best for me." Martyn: "I like that."

- Bdubs watching Martyn burn trees and yelling at Cleo "Come get your boy!"

Martyn: 'Your boy??'

- Martyn uneasy about ruffling Etho's feathers with the village raid because he's never played with him before and doesn't know what to expect, so Cleo says "He's a wildcard." -> Later, she talks to Etho and tells him she considers him a wildcard, and he's like "Yeah, that's fair."

- Extremely funny to hear Bdubs and Cleo talking about how Etho is a good fighter. Bdubs like "That's what he's known for." [Limited Life 'Etho is washed up' arc looming on the horizon.]

- Cleo was fully prepared to put water down for Bdubs when the phantoms attacked while he was up high (There's farm water behind them and a bucket in their inventory). The only reason they don't is because Bdubs said not to. He dies from his own hubris (thinking he could make the jump to the farm), not from lack of resources.

- Bdubs falls to his death. Cleo is still in the process of picking up his inventory when Tango walks over and asks "How's it going over here?" (Subject is then changed to asking about a fletcher). No time to mourn.

- Bdubs sent Cleo 19 pages of documentation on his Crastle plans?? Did I hear that right?

- Cleo saying they're 5'7" and that Bdubs is taller than them, and then Etho teasing that Bdubs has mysteriously added some extra inches to his height.

- I remember watching Cleo for the first time and being a bit put off because she is just super intimidating and I was also a little intimidated by this energy during peace times... It's really funny to rewatch, because Modern Cleo keeps saying "I don't know why everyone is scared of me" and then you go back to 3rd Life... Martyn is scared, Bdubs is scared, Ren is scared, Etho will be scared later when he runs into her again... Cleo comes in hot.

It's because she doesn't take to being pushed around, so when Ren betrays her, she really gives him an earful and he's freaking out, stuttering and trying to build away from her, but she follows and blocks his building path, and he's spinning his gears and can't get out of that situation, and that energy just... it really comes through to the watcher. Bdubs outright lied to Cleo, claiming he didn't say anything to Ren, because he's afraid of her reacting to him, and he's their partner. She cuts deep. Chef's kiss.

-> I don't think I've ever seen Impulse be scared of Cleo... I like joking about how Impulse is a bad liar and you can hear it in his voice, but every accusation Cleo throws at him later is met with a cool, annoyed tone and him doubling down on how Crastle is his Day One Crew. I would not call Impulse intimidated by them- Not in the way stuttery Bdubs and Ren are. He's just such a comedic straight man. Very funny to me.

- Bdubs after hearing Cleo left clues to desert duo about where they can find Pizza: "You like playing with your food!"

- Cleo confesses to Bdubs about the clues, thinking he'll be mad. Bdubs is more annoyed she turned bone into dye for the sign.

- Bdubs @ Pizza: "We could put its head under the river for like 10 seconds to see what happens."

- Cleo: "Grian's playing Monopoly, Ren's playing Operation... We're playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos at this point."

- Cleo and Bdubs giggling and gushing over how cute Ren is because "he's the town gossip."

- Bdubs asks Cleo if he should make a diamond pick or a sword. She says sword for the explicit purpose of "We'll go to Renchanting and bully Ren."

- Bdubs: "Cleo, watch this!" /falls off a wall

- Cleo and BigB being giggly and bonding breaks my heart knowing what's coming in Last Life...

- Cleo: "Joel has emasculated Bdubs with a house that's popped up overnight." -> /bullies Joel, who has done nothing

- Etho climbing up to the second story of the Crastle and hiding on the ledges outside the windows, then whispering he doesn't think Cleo can get him from this angle. She (on the inside) walks over to the nearest window, pokes her crossbow out, and he tilts back his head to get a perfect view of her. She promptly shoots him in the face. That would make an epic zine fanart.

- Cleo to Impulse: "We are your girlfriend." <- Crastle duo are one person, apparently.

- Bdubs leaving Martyn a long voicemail about how he's going to be 10 minutes late to dinner. Just to be clear, he's standing 2 blocks from Martyn when this happens.

- Cleo giving Impulse a hug <3

- Scott and Jimmy, freaking out over Cleo catching them about to steal villagers, protesting that they're allowed to steal. Cleo openly loots Impulse's chest in front of them and takes all his diamonds. He had 79. That's her ally.

-> Correction, she does put them back shortly after, so she probably grabbed them so Scott and Jimmy couldn't swipe them.

- Cleo overwhelmed and groaning at Bdubs taking risks... walking up and bopping him on the shoulder with their forehead like they're slumped against him grumbling about him leaving to do dumb stuff.

- ?? Not sure if I zoned out, but does Cleo's playlist not have the coffin salesman scene or Bdubs' lava trap death? I feel like that whole bit was cut. Or I was really in the art zone. Huh. I feel like I also missed her burning Joel's house; I know it happened, but maybe one of her episodes isn't here?

- I have a joke post in my drafts about how I never see anyone refer to Crastle duo + Impulse as "Crastle Trio," but..... Wow. Impulse really does not come by the Crastle at all. I need to rewatch his POV next. I vaguely knew his duo name with Etho is White Castle (after Etho's base this season), but... He is not involved with the Crastle. He and Etho really do have their own thing going on, huh? And then he goes on to bemoan Bdubs betraying him for the next several seasons. Impulse, you weren't even a player on this board.

-> I wrote a scene once where Crastle Trio were all brushing their teeth, but now I'm like...... that probably would not have happened in-universe because Impulse is never there. Did not remember how absent of a partner he was (I have fallen for revisionist clock duo betrayal history). -> Impulse even tells Cleo that Etho is his roomie, which I find hilarious in the context that he's supposed to be with Crastle duo and also, Etho will later go on to make a team called The Roomies with Cleo (Secret Life). Shout-out to Etho and his circle of buddies. He just lives here, man.

- Cleo changing the "Scar fixed your roof" signs on Joel's house to "Crastle fixed your roof." I know Joel knows it's Scar; I don't think he ever saw the Crastle signs.

- Cleo and Bdubs joking about moving to the Nether because at this point, it's more peaceful than the Overworld.

- Cleo insisting Tango was always part of Team Crastle... Why is Tango weighted more heavily in Crastle alliance than Impulse? lmao.

- "Impulse is no longer our girlfriend; he's cheating on us with Ren" gets me every time, sdflkj...

My second watch for this session, after Grian.

sdljkf, Scar's favorite bit about the octo-kill has been "Etho's been showing off to the ladies and Grian," and he just said that joke in front of Etho, who went "what" in the most under-the-breath nervously shocked/amused tone I've ever heard. Love that for him.

I like how Etho went from yelling "You were just a rebound!" at Jimmy to being confused about flannel shirts in 2 seconds.

Etho, over and over: Rebound! It didn't mean anything! Scott: Etho, you're sounding a bit jealous. Bdubs, to Jimmy: I didn't- I didn't know that you dressed like this on the usual, though, so now I'm kind of a little turned off, to be quite honest.

Geez, Bdubs ended his previous episode swinging (claiming that he was grumpy all day because he was PMSing) and he's starting this one off with equal energy. Love that for him. why is he this kind of person.

Jimmy: Are you trying to dress me now?? Is that what you're trying to do? Etho: This is a toxic relationship right here. Bdubs: The fishnets are throwing me for a loop- and the high boots.

Fascinating. Filing this away...

Etho: BigB, what's the haps? BigB: Anyone want to play King of the Ladder and DIE??

Scar: Here, let's go to the secret corner over here and I'll tell you I'm the boogey.

sdklfj... I don't even have a joke for this.

Always a fun time hearing Etho discuss his old pranks and traps from back in the day. I'd love to see an Etho win this season; it'd be so funny.

Mumbo in Joel's body: How's it going? Etho: Joel??

Crying, on the floor, devastated by Jimmy being the one to call out Mumbo for "not being Tango" and now Etho is out here unconvinced that Mumbo is Joel. Soulmates can see through even the Fourth Wall, ig... (Bonus shout-out to Limited Life Joel repeatedly calling Lizzie "Lizzie" while she was in Pearl's body, despite his best efforts not to... He love his wife).

Etho: You know what would really make me think it's Joel... is if I heard the classic [clears throat].

^ Is he STILL going on about the tiger chuff?

OH, and then Mumbo NAILS IT and Scott and Bdubs are both thoroughly convinced (in character) they're looking at Joel.

Scar: Why don't you give him something on the neck, Joel? Give him something on the neck. Mumbo in Joel's body: Of course, of course! [Approaches Etho in a crouch and makes kissy sounds]

Had to pause immediately... Me staring into the void because I made my post on Thursday about Etho being on team "Joel is the giver of neck kisses" while all his friends are on team "Etho is the giver of neck kisses"... When I unpause, is Etho going to call him out? Is he gonna go with it to keep up his side of the story despite all their friends always painting Etho as the neck kiss giver... If I know Etho, he's going to recognize it's "wrong," but it aligns with the version of the neck kisses story he always presents to their friends, so he's going to like that part.

There are some serious lore implications here of Episode 2 Mumbo remarking that he "forgot who he was playing" (when Martyn teased him for acting like Gem) and now Mumbo's back in someone else's body, pretending he's Joel but possibly not doing it well enough to slip under Etho's radar... Let's find out.

OF COURSE, OF COURSE- It's Etho; of course-

Etho, scrambling backwards: WHOA, NOOO- WHOOOOAAAA-OH-OH. Scar: That's too much; okay that's too much- Etho: I don't know about this! Mumbo: Is that more than-? Is that more than I would normally do-? ... I've always wanted to do that. Scar: I've just never heard sound effects before- Scott: Yeah... Etho: That's like, obsessive and fanning at the same time. I don't know. It's like you combined two people into one there.

Love that for them. You go, funky ninja dude. I'm not gonna make the SnifferMyFeet joke, I'm not gonna make it-

Hey, anyone want to talk about how Mumbo and Grian canonically share a soul, or... No? Just me? ok.

Scott: Then you got killed by Etho. Etho came in. Your Boat Boy came in. Mumbo, who just remembered he's supposed to be playing a character who's mad at Etho: ETHO??? Etho: [nods a lot] Mumbo: You DID do that to me! Etho: Yeah, I did. Yeah. Mumbo: HUH! Yeah! And I just kissed you on the neck tenderly! That's just so wrong. Etho, trying not to crack up: You did give me neck kisses; that's true.

It's the total lack of hesitation from Mumbo that gets me... He is so on the dot with his humor every time I see him. What a guy.

THERE IT IS! Etho pushing his "Joel is the neck kisser" agenda because he is stubborn. Nobody ever believes him, but I respect his commitment to the bit.

Etho, in response to Mumbo's attempt to retract his kisses: The Joel I know neck kisses everybody, though. Just, he just- He loves it so much - It doesn't matter - He just goes for it.

I'm pretty sure I have never once seen this man budge on this. I'll never see everything he does, but I don't think I've seen him veer from his claim that Joel is the one who kisses him, even when everyone else is saying Etho is the one who likes giving neck kisses. I can't get over him. why are they.

I like how this is followed by Etho dumping sand on Joel's head, trying to bury him alive.

Sigh... Then there's Impulse, who can take me out with a single line drop any time he wants.

Etho, in regards to the Gluten Guys selling bread: GMO gluten. GMO. Impulse: No GMO... I don't even know what that means. Etho: And full of pesticides, too. Impulse: Nuh-uh. Organically farmed. We stomp on them a little bit; there's no pesticides.

Why are you advertising the stomping, I CAN'T-

Etho: I saw you steal it from poor little villagers over there. Impulse: We saw it first. Etho: It's not even homegrown. Impulse: We saw it first.

Imagine going to a bakery and everything that's sold looks suspiciously like it belongs to the bakery next door...

It always makes me laugh when everyone stays in character and calls a possessed person by their name... Scar talking about how they left Joel in a hole when that is obviously Mumbo, et cetera... It gets me every time. I keep expecting them all to mess up more often than they do, but most seem to do it fluidly. Exception being Limited Life Joel who could not say "Pearl" instead of "Lizzie" when hearing his wife's voice.

Absolute comedy: Etho pretending Bdubs is a boogeyman, and helpfully removing ladders from the Villies' base so he can trap Gem on the bottom floor. Gem calmly walks out the door that Etho didn't know was there.

Etho: We've got to give something to Gem, because we wasted her time. Gem: I want to be in a confined space with you so little right now, it's actually insane.

Why did Etho ALSO know Grian made a baby... He just hears "New Square Hole" and instantly goes "Square Hole BABY??" Grian, what are you doing...

I know Etho's not obligated to tell his teammates what's in his inventory, but I couldn't help but notice that Scott gave everyone three golden apples, and Etho immediately turned to the crafting table and crafted a 4th without sharing or admitting he has four. Watch out, card counters...

Scott is such a menace... He's not direct, but he acts nice to your face and steals things behind your back. rude.

Etho: Can I get you sworn to secrecy, Martyn? Martyn: I mean, I think I can already put 2 & 2 together. It's 7, and I can't keep a secret.

Outstanding. This is what I'm talking about, people.

I'm glad Etho's still trying to use banana as a codeword. It's been like 7 seasons.

I like how Scott's trying to start drama with Gem by telling her the Rejects are in a band... He is having Gem & the Scotts flashbacks...

Scaaaaar, killing Bdubs AGAIN despite saying he desperately did not want to because he's already done so many times and that's his teammate.

Shout-out to Etho walking into the Villies' Lighthouse and setting his spawn in the bed Gem showed him, no hesitation. I know he did team with her and Grian last week, but... Etho. Come on, man.

-> Nvm, he went upstairs and admitted he thought it was a trap. I can't believe he didn't click on the Villies' bed also.

I like how Cleo went from "You SUCK, Etho!" to Etho giving them advice on how to make their build more menacing, followed by silence and Cleo agreeing. Perfect.

It's very funny watching Etho's episode after Grian's because apparently Scott knew the arena was rigged to blow.

Etho at the start of the episode blaming Canadian ping for his slowness vs. Etho at the end blaming his "old man reflexes"... You know what that is? Growth.

-> The fact that this is followed by Etho shouting to Scott before the creeper blows him up (Something I did not catch in Grian's POV) is hilarious.

Oh GEEZ, I actually missed that Mumbo failed to turn keep inventory on and all of Joel's diamond gear, etc. got blown up by Tango's trap... ruh-roh.

Okay, I like Grian adding the rule that "voluntary sacrifices do not cure the curse." That feels right. This is a game about BETRAYAL!

WAIT, Etho STOLE Joel's stuff before it could blow up? And gave it to his teammates? skldjf... I have nothing else to say.

Rapidfire bullet points for Joel/Mumbo's POV (My 3rd watch this session after Grian and Etho)

I'm glad every time we check in on the Rejects, they're busy complimenting BigB's muscles. I liked how Grian even mentioned that to Etho, who started laughing and was like "Yeah."

Mumbo: What else does a Joel do? ... He loves Etho! I'm on my way!

Wait- Mumbo deliberately sought out Etho with the intention of ruining relationships?? Geez. Mr. Confessions over here.

I enjoyed Mumbo trotting off to look for Grian because "Grian seems curious" about Mumbo possessing Joel's body. Even in character, "curious" is such a funny adjective to use in this situation.

I am crying over Impulse telling Mumbo about infinite cake and then when Mumbo questions it... Impulse admits he secretly replaces the cake and just pretends it's infinite. He is so funny and I'm charmed by everything he says. He could drop me in a giant sandpit and I'd thank him as long as he laughed at me.

......... I meant to pack my drawing of Impulse I had him sign at TwitchCon 2023; now I'm doubting that I did. I brought 2 of my 3 containers I use for drawings I've scanned, but I think I left that one behind, and I want to get it framed and hung on my wall. Ah, well- Next semester.

I enjoyed Mumbo's comment of "Wow, I got lost in my own base" while wandering around a world (and team) he's unfamiliar with.

Mumbo spent like 2 minutes walking through the Rejects maze, just trying to get inside.

Mumbo: Joel generally complains, but then continues doing what he was doing. Mumbo, 3 seconds later: I did tell Cleo I was aesthetically pleasing as a human being. Mumbo: It's not even really a maze, is it? BigB: No, it's just meant to be suffering.

Why does he just say things...

I like how Scott, Martyn, and Scott came over, and Scott ALSO comments on how they were watching the Rejects from afar and trying to guess what they were talking about, and Cleo said "Probably admiring BigB's arms," and then they walk over and THEY ARE.

That is all the Rejects want to talk about: How jacked BigB is. We're on Episode 4 and this is still a subject of conversation. Everybody loves hot, hardworking BigB.

I'm calling Jimmy out for addressing JumboBeans as "Mumbo." BZZZT! Go to roleplay jail.

Mumbo begging Tango for help in his fight with Scott, asking if there's anything they can do to ruin his ping... Tango like "I could make 70 redstone clocks in the area to lag him out."

It's so funny watching Cleo and Tango both build the arena. They are so incredibly sus as they tell Mumbo to go "do whatever it is he needs to do" and Tango saying "Yeah, you can't plan your own battlefield."

Mumbo: Oh, I could give [Scott] a little neck kiss, because I know that's- I know [Joel] normally reserves that to Etho, but that WOULD be threatening, if someone, like, comes into a war and then gives you a little peck on the neck.

MUMBO...

Jimmy: The hole has claimed 5 dinguses. Mumbo: ... Would it not be dingi?

So funny every time Mumbo possesses someone because he really doesn't have a filter...

Mumbo: I'm a drummer. I don't know anything about music and tone.

It infuriates me how many great gluten puns everyone's been able to come up with. You've got Glutenkhamun of the food pyramid, now everyone's greeting Ren by saying "Gluten tag..."

I love every joke Martyn and Mumbo were able to rapidfire improv about how business was booming in the new neighborhood (that just exploded) and that people are dying to get a deal, and that jobs for renovations have opened up... but I especially want to highlight Martyn suggesting Mumbo bring his kids and teach them to swim. in the exploded building.

Martyn: I do have to warn you, though, about the strange titanium egg. Uhh, we have heard that there are signs of radiation, uh, coming off of it, but! It only might make you sprout one extra limb. Mumbo: Wow! Martyn: So it's- It's a bit of a roulette? Mumbo: Whereabouts would this limb sprout? Martyn: Depends! It could be a third leg. It could be a second arm... Mumbo: A second arm? Martyn: /realizes his misspeak and starts cracking up [Both Mumbo and Martyn losing it]

I'm going to have to jump over to Bdubs' episode soon to hear better, but I appreciate what sounds like him trying to get Cleo ("Mom") involved because Scar keeps murdering him. Apparently, "Dad" isn't doing a good job watching out for Bdubs.

I enjoy Scar trying to throw the boogeyman under the bus by saying "Who's not here?" <- Man who got blamed for not being around during the octo-kill. Now he's responsible and trying to shift blame.

I love how proud both Mumbo and Martyn are that they "didn't skip a beat in improv" despite the other 6 people in the room blowing up. Imagine if that was your actual improv class and you come back and two of them are still committed to the bit.

<- Martyn and Mumbo would pass the "chicken reacting to nuclear bomb" improv test.

Mumbo to Cleo, talking about his upcoming arena fight with Scott: I must say, I'm feeling a little bit more confident now that I've discovered I'm indestructible, because I've just survived a gargantuan explosion, unscathed.

Huge fan of Mumbo and Jimmy realizing they can use the giant staircase Jimmy spent the episode building for a Rocky training montage. Perfection.

Jimmy, who pulled Mumbo aside for a pep talk: Hey! Scott, move a couple of steps back. This is backstage, dude; this is backstage. Get back a little bit. Scott: It's my fight as well! I'm allowed in the backstage!

I enjoyed the roleplay of Mumbo putting down a pressure plate so he and Scott could "weigh" themselves before the fight.

Bonus shout-out for Scott walking off saying "Wow" over and over while Jimmy runs after him, pleading "Minecraft fat is different to fat!"

Cleo: You're Steve weight. Mumbo, calling after Scott: You're Steve, not Alex!

slkdjfks... I actually do use Steve and Alex as measurement terms in 'fic (under the idea that all the default body types represent a different height and weight and that theoretically, a person can be measured along that scale), so this delights me.

[Sighs loudly]. Did Mumbo just say he uses a single finger to push his W, A, S, D keys? I've never heard him say that in all the times he's talked about his keyboard situation.

sldfjk, watching Cleo quietly say Martyn's name and nudge him a step farther back from the fight because she knows the arena's going to blow... She cares.

sldkfjsdlkfjsdlkfjsdklfj @ Martyn hopping back down as soon as Cleo's back is turned.

He looks RIGHT AT HER when he jumps down, too. And then he just keeps jumping back and forth, up and down... Does this man have a deathwish?

(A lot of these stay drafts because I don't have citations for them or I second-guess whether I actually want them on my blog, but I can't bear to delete them </3)

My 4th POV this session after Grian, Etho, and Mumbo; possibly my last liveblog for this week since they take a lot of time; we'll see.

Very big fan of Martyn opening his episode by looking around in shock and asking Cleo why their base is in a ravine now, to which Cleo responds "I got drunk, it was a heavy night... I did some landscaping." Drunken Minecrafters would be soooo dangerous swinging their tools.

I guess the implication is that Martyn dying several times and dropping to Yellow life stressed Cleo out so much, she went drinking. Or they both went drinking and Martyn ended up sprawled on the grass outside the house (Cleo did not help him home).

Fascinating commentary by Cleo that Evo SMP is "Martyn's thing," not hers, so she drags him outside so he can explain why the Evo symbol in the ground keeps changing.

Impulse giving Martyn wheat instead of bread...

I like Ren's idea of making an outer shell for the existing pyramid with the door in a different location so new arrivals have to wander around the pyramid to find the path to the inside (where the farm, chests, and beds are). Very IRL pyramid-coded.

Screaming. Gem is not beating the mom allegations [Martyn claiming Gem is his chaperone leading him back to Ren when he gets lost in the tunnels].

AHHHHHHH-

Ren: As we have discussed already, things would become a lot easier for those of us who've not won before if all of those who have won before are no longer on the server. Martyn, a prior victor currently on his Yellow life in a dark hole with Ren and no one else: ... Martyn: Wow. You're just dunking me like that? ... Look, I'm happy to fall on a blade if need be; I don't need to win again.

I really enjoy Character Martyn trying to enjoy his retirement, but his base keeps changing biomes all the time.

I know Martyn is presumably talking about his wife (Netty) when saying "We've been watching Lord of the Rings," but I also like the implication that the pick-me-up Cleo tried to give Martyn after his horrific Episode 3 was "Lord of the Rings and drinks" and somehow he went outside and passed out, and Cleo got out and mined the whole ravine. I'm not gonna let this go.

I enjoy Ren's Pearly Gates greeting being "Hello, God. Thanks for the help."

skldjf, Mumbo trying to ruin Joel's next week by explaining to Martyn that he's very passionate about rare Amazon birds and wants to talk for 10 minutes on Martyn's next podcast episode about them ("Conversations at Level 11," where you mine and chat until you hit world border).

Jimmy paying Martyn for every compliment, so Martyn just keeps ramping it up.

Ah, this is the first POV that's clarified to me Cleo isn't a boogeyman.

My first watch for this session (Busy moving in all day, he's always a fun time; let's do this).

oh my gosh, someone stop Grian from making babies... He made a baby square hole and Pearl's asking who the dad is... help. My cursed family tree can't take much more of this...

Gem, basically: We live in a society.

Grian: We should make Etho a bedroom.

I love how they need to gear up anyway, but Gem and Grian are more than happy to bury themselves underground because everyone's seeking revenge after the octo-kill last session.

MumboJoel...

I like that Mumbo seems to think BigB is Juandissimo Magnifico (Capable of destroying his diamond shirt when he flexes his muscles and magically returning it to his body).

Mumbo in Joel's body: I just went over to Etho, and I was really loving Etho... I shouldn't have been doing that? BigB: NO! Don't! Mumbo: Oh! BigB: You don't love Etho this session! Mumbo: That would explain his surprise, hahahaha! Whoopsie...

Etho suspects Pearl as boogeyman - I agree; I was sus on her too at the start - but Gem and Grian deny it. Hmm...

I don't think Scar's doing it on purpose, but I very much enjoyed him telling Grian that he "had an incident with BigB's pants and a cactus" considering what happened in Double Life (Scar regularly hurting himself with cactus, BigB and Grian being involved, etc). Everything about that is just layers of funny to me.

Tango's so funny when he's not even trying to be... "I just noodled your noteblocks." Sobbing... what does it mean...

Tango: I'm gonna change your octave!

Grian's POV is such a good shot of getting TNT dumped on his head, followed by him diving into the hole and hiding under a ledge...

Grian: I jumped in the hole for safety.

Cleo boogey!! Looking forward to her POV, but I'm glad to see her plotting murder since she's Mx. I Would Never Attack My Team When Boogeyman. I guess her only teammate in this season is Martyn who's on Yellow Life, so... slkdjf

Grian, walking into a room with one bed: Aww! Is this Etho's bedroom? Gem, confused: This is our bedroom. Grian: oh.

Crying at Grian making Pearl count her diamonds and explain to him why she hasn't made boots yet, because he wants boots. This is what being a team of villains is all about.

Gem, watching eavesdroppers flee: They just listened to us share diamonds; that's all they got. Pearl: Were they just listening? Grian: They were just listening to us have a wholesome little moment. Gem: They were just listening to us-- WAIT! Gem, distraught: They know that we're cute now! That we're not always villainous! Grian, hefting his sword: Right; let's go kill 'em. Gotta uphold our reputation. Grian, turning back to wave farewell: All right, I'm gonna go aggravate some people!

Grian, watching Impulse and Ren add another outer layer to the pyramid: Is this a pyramid scheme?

I knew they couldn't really be making all their money off the bakery, smh...

skdlfhjsdf, Grian... He just delivers improv bangers all the time.

Grian: Guys, I'm not gonna lie- I really wanna go in the clubhouse. Etho, laughing: Stay out of the clubhouse. Grian: I'm not gonna lie- Etho: You can peek if you want, but don't go in. Grian: -the clubhouse is very enticing. On like, an emotional level - probably some childhood trauma thing going on - but like, I really wanna go and look in the clubhouse.

Crying... Obviously, interpret The Villies however you want, but I'm loving the vibe I'm getting of Gem and Grian being terrible parents who:

1) Blatantly did not give their daughter a bedroom (or else are keeping her within arm's reach in theirs)

2) Excitedly built a bedroom for their new companion and express great disappointment when it's griefed. Their daughter still has no place of her own, just so we're clear.

3) Gem more or less asking Pearl why she was out late and who she was with.

4) Gem, exasperated, scolding Pearl: You know that YOU'RE a villain with me and Grian too, right? Just because you're, like, on the outskirts doesn't mean you're a good guy.

-> Shout-out to Pearl's "But I can still say something nice!"

They just want to be an evil family so badly and their daughter will never be evil enough for them... That's why they drag her outside to touch grass and send her off to military school.

Gem and Grian literally thought they saw Pearl being murdered, ran back to the base, got distressed over a griefed bedroom, waited up for Pearl to come home late, asked where she was, and then pivoted the conversation immediately to discussing the horrors of the bedroom being ruined... No further concern to what Pearl was up to or if she's okay. This is awful /positive.

Everything Pearl says is soooo sus to me... She's very boogey vibes.

OOOOH, did Tango just get a 6-way kill? ... Hm. That could be Cleo. That'd be hilarious if Cleo - infamous for hating the boogeyman - got a massive multi-kill on their first time being one (iirc).

It's adorable that Grian goes back to count all 6 kills, announces gleefully "It's not an octo-kill, but that's a BIG KILL!" and hops when he does. Joy is stored inside his soul.

Sounds like it was inside the Pokeball during improv class, so was that Cleo? It's their base.

Mumbo: Martyn's taken a serious concussion and is stuck in improv mode. Martyn: I'm here for an interview to work at the Square Hole company.

Oh man, is there a visual glitch that's showing Grian the world stuck in pre-explosion phase? He's my first POV, so I didn't even question it, but slkdjf... Watcher energy.

Enjoying that Martyn pulled Grian aside and they talked about Grian's weird vision glitch... Go off, not-quite-Listener boy.

Scar finally got his multi-kill! Good for him.

Gem to Scar: Wait... Are you on 6 lives with 6 kills?? Scott in the distance: Don't body-shame!

slkdfjs, did Cleo trap the arena and the only person she killed was SCOTT?? Oh... drama in the widows alliance house tonight.

-> Nope, it was a creeper from behind.

Grian, laughing: How were there so many of us and no one saw the creeper!? Scar: /looks directly at Grian /war flashbacks

Etho really has no ability to keep his mouth shut about traps... He's always telling people not to show up, not to play his games, not to poke around... Now he's whispering to Grian "Get higher" (Grian's pillaring up a block tower). Etho wants to be everyone's friend.

Uh-oh, Cleo's trap went off without getting anyone... I bet they're about to chase someone down on foot.

lsdkjfsd, nope... It's Tango, who's sprinting into the hills while everyone shouts at him to get his boogey kill because people are still wounded from TNT blasts... Instead, he screams "I don't deserve it!" and runs away. I love Tango.

Oh GEEZ, Tango gets sent to superhell Red next session? I thought he was gonna be Yellow.

Everything that could've gone wrong with the Tango POV Gluten Guys snuggle fic I started after Session 1 has... We got a Mumbo body swap on Episode 2, he's goin' Red next week... Tango, my lore requires you to receive snuggles to turn from blaze to wildfire and you are making this SO HARD for me.

(Lore context under the cut; some story spoilers; long post)

A great read if you like drama, moral ambiguity, and 3rd Life series. Focuses on life and worldbuilding in a digital universe where all players are hybrids born of dragons, their bodies are made from pixels, and hybrid mob behavior increases when the moon is full.

3rd Life SMP & Adjacent Series

More MCYT AUs

#ridwork guides

What Is This AU?

A series of slice-of-life stories themed around life in the Between dimension, which hybrids can explore when their human players exit Minecraft.

The lawless landscape has been griefed by anarchy players for years. New Star Station - perhaps the last non-anarchy hub left - is hidden underground, with hybrids playing on servers to distract themselves from the ever-approaching threat that one day, their safehaven will be discovered and griefed too.

Dog's Life builds tension with the encroach of anarchy players drawing ever closer. Mayor Scott | Smajor1995 will do anything to keep his beloved home safe... even if that means locking everything down.

AO3 Series

Blog tags - #Pixels Imperfect & Dog's Life art

Subseries - Grian, Scott, Etho, Martyn, and some others change a lot over time. Find subseries dedicated to their arcs here.

Meta Spreadsheet - List of characters and their hybrid species.

Tone

Mostly drama with fluff, angst, romance, and comedy mixed in.

- The vibe here is "children on the playground who never had to 'grow up and get jobs,' so they continue this playful behavior into adulthood and it's important in their culture.'

- The main longfic is Dog's Life, which is a dramedy- defined by "telling serious stories ... [about] real life situations, grounded characters, and believable situations [plus] jokes and situations intended to make you laugh." (Cambridge Dictionary & Wikipedia)

- But tbh, the whole series is one big dramedy. Buckle up!

Characters

Heavy focus on Life Series SMP characters- specifically, the Last Life SMP cast. I've written each member several times. Lots to read!

-> Also, their camera accounts, who are treated like people (All the accounts I could confirm + some OCs).

-> Did you know PiglinMyNose is actually Joel's cam account? Now you do!

-> Minor appearances from other SMPs (such as Hermitcraft and Empires), some lesser-known characters (like NPC_Grian), and some OCs to flesh out the world.

Ships

The vibe here is "A lot of relationships are roleplay, but some affect characters deeply. Everyone is friends and co-workers despite their drama." People date and separate throughout the series. We have:

- Post-3rd Life Scott and Jimmy dating in the hub (until Last Life).

- Post-Last Life Martyn and Mumbo married for a while (until Mumbo's Season 9 hiatus).

- Post-Double Life Grian and BigB dating in the hub (Relationship under light strain during Dog's Life).

- Drama due to Grian cheating chronically on the wife he was betrothed / arranged married to (i.e. the character Jimmy used for Grian's wife in his Superflat video, 14:19)

- Grian/Bdubs as the Jungle Duo while on the Dog's Life server, flirting and flouncing while roleplaying as archaeologists. Of course he's cheating on BigB too; what do you take me for?

-> Zombiewoodn't - Some Pixels Imperfect works overlap my series of one-sided Martyn/Cleo content.

- Etho teased for being "obsessed with Joel." Is he? You decide!

- Etho acting clingy towards SnifferMyFeet, who's "just like Joel, but without having to share him."

-> Sniff hates being perceived as "Joel or Grian 2.0," but he also has a lot of their memories, so it's confusing to him. He's my favorite and for this, I will not apologize.

And more... (Also, I have notes about common fandom ships that are platonic in this AU; click the Read More.)

Setting

Our story is set supposedly 11,000 years into the Between dimension's existence. The land's been heavily griefed and both the Cluckshroom Dragon and Allay Dragon have been slain, leaving their mob and hybrid offspring on the verge of extinction.

Some works explore Between at large, but most take place in New Star Station, which is hidden underground.

- Herobrine's Guide to the Between Dimension (T) describes the world and its biomes before they were griefed.

- One and a Half Birds (T) is a 15-chapter story (113,700 words) that takes place entirely in New Star Station, showcasing the living situation there (and hub life in general).

- "The Man He Sets His Spawn With" (T - 11,800 words) occurs late in the timeline and contains minor series spoilers, but it's a great look at the social culture. Everyone takes their skins off so they (in their glowing soul forms) can rinse the Secret Life mod from their code. Grian sprays his friends down with a power washer; it's great :)

-> Heads up for Joel and Etho having a huge fight about trust violations.

Is It For Me?

- This AU moves between on-server play and server hub life. If you like hybrid biology and game mechanics, you might like this AU. Characters explode into pixels when they die; no blood or gore.

- This series is Life Series-focused, but there are Hermitcraft elements (Ex: Mumbo eating Grian's soul)

- Lots of characters are recovering from drama in their pasts, such as the EVO crew. In this AU, EVO was a non-anarchy hub with super strict rules that still haunt the characters after they left.

- Characters parallel their creators in many ways. Ex:

-> Mumbo is a wandering trader who loves his llamas, paralleling IRL Mumbo's love for travel and cars.

-> Tango is married to a character based on Mrs. T's character and she puts silly hats on him like she does when he streams.

-> IRL Netty is on break from YouTube to raise her kids. In-universe Martyn doesn't know that and is sad his Netty's not around.

- Lots of drama in this series, but at the end of the day, they're friends and co-workers and they care about each other <3

Major Themes

Complicated relationships, community, trust, heartbreak, secrets, consent, recovery, growth, power, choice, friendship, love, acceptance, found family, and trying to do the right thing.

Plot Highlights

One for each character, just for kicks.

- Allay hybrids Scott and Scar pushing through life in the wake of their mother's death. Their species is prone to vex data corruption, slowly going extinct, and any death in the Between dimension will be their last.

- Imp and Skizz leaving their life of anarchy behind, but still haunted by their past... I think. One of them can't seem to remember.....

- BigB clinging to the illager culture that was stripped from him after he gained Bad Omen and went into hiding.

- Scott, Scar, and Tango running for mayor, each with drastically different visions for New Star Station's future.

- NettyPlays logged out 288 in-universe years ago and never came back. Martyn is unraveling, longing for her return and wondering if he should date again.

- Jimmy accidentally becomes captain of a pillager mob patrol. What do you mean they'll shoot him dead if he puts the banner down?

- Joel and Lizzie plan a ceremony to renew their wedding vows... and find a body in the decorations closet.

- The Grian born in Pix Impf AU and the Grian born in Neighborhood Watch AU switched places after EVO. They're both fumbling, trying to figure out each other's worlds.

- Cleo searches for their beloved cluckshroom eggshell, which was stolen after they placed it in New Star's museum.

- Ren goes on a date with a dragon. Also his hands get dissolved in a corrupted river after PiglinMyNose left him for dead, but it's fine.

- Etho finally cracks and goes shopping for new clothes. Bdubs introduces him to the latest fashions.

- Mumbo comes out of smuggler retirement to hunt down more hybrid eggs. Also, he falls in love with water skis.

- Pearl discovers a special item, once believed erased from the world, that could change all of Between.

- Newly spawned SnifferMyFeet searches for his own identity, haunted by Joel and Grian's memories that feel like his.

Ongoing?

Drafts for this AU began summer 2022, with the first work posted August 2023.

This series is ongoing, with over 1 million words to read at the time of posting this, and many more works on the way.

Warnings, notes, and explanations below so readers can learn more about this AU. Don't like? Don't read.