Bonus Round 6

[hso_mods]

Bonus Round 6

Recs

Hey, shippers! This is the last bonus round, which we’re all very sad about. So let’s talk about some of the awesome stuff created throughout the HSO!

Rules

1. Rec at least three fanworks from the main or bonus rounds! They do not have to be connected to each other in any way.


2. You may not recommend material created by members of your own team.


3. Each recommendation must include at least three full sentences about why it’s awesome. Please use the format specified below.


4. You may recommend as many sets as you like, so long as each set has at least three recs in it.

Title & Rec Format
If you are doing a fill, use this format in your title.
FILL: TEAM [YOUR SHIP]
Replace [YOUR SHIP] with the name of the team YOU belong to; please use the characters and quadrant, not whatever portmanteau or nickname you've come up with.
If your team name is not in this format and in the title we cannot guarantee that it will be counted.

The content of the post should be in this format (extend as necessary):
<b>Rec 1:</b> (title) <b>Team:</b> (the team the creator belongs to) <b>Creator:</b> <b>Why I’m recommending it:</b> (please be as specific and descriptive as possible!) <b>Rec 2:</b> (Title) <b>Team:</b> (the team the creator belongs to) <b>Creator:</b> <b>Why I’m recommending it:</b> (please be as specific and descriptive as possible!) <b>Rec 3:</b> (Title) <b>Team:</b> (the team the creator belongs to) <b>Creator:</b> <b>Why I’m recommending it:</b> (please be as specific and descriptive as possible!)

Posts not using this format in the title will be understood to be unofficial discussion posts, no matter what they contain. They, like all comments on the comm, are subject to the Wank Policy.

Scoring
For fills (as stated here):
First 5 entries in each post: 30 (per entry)
Entries 6-10 in each post: 20 (per entry)
Entries 11-15 in each post: 10 (per entry)
Entries 16+ in each post: 5 (per entry)

If you have any questions, please ask them at the FAQ post here, or email them to us (homestuck.shipping at gmail). Otherwise, we cannot guarantee that we will see them in a timely fashion!

Comments

FILL: TEAM KARKAT<>SOLLUX

[grausam]

SELF-LOVE EDITION
six Karkats and two Daves!

Rec 1:DEAR FUTURE ME...
Team:Bro<3Granpa
Creator:gjarble
Why I’m recommending it: The prompt was Last Man on Earth + Existentialist Fiction, Karkat<3Karkat. It has a well thought out set up and manages to be really sad and still kind of hilarious. Karkat stays very in character and believable, with a mixture of paranoia, self-loathing and determination. The cherry on top is a wonderful atmospheric illustration in the style of Salad Fingers!

Rec 2: CURRENT carcinoGeneticist [CCG] RIGHT NOW opened memo on board ALSKDFASKJDHFLAKJSDHFLAKJSHDF...
Team: EQUIUS<3ERIDAN
Creator: messageredacted
Why I’m recommending it: Prompt: Karkat <> Karkat, Hurt/comfort + horror.
It's similar in premise to my first rec, but trust me, read both. They still manage to be very different. Rec 2 is set on the meteor and has a short, but suspenseful plot. The described situation did haunt me for quite some time afterwards! And the way Karkat manages to care for and comfort himself is really touching!

Rec 3: You get his letters infrequently...
Team: KANAYA<3VRISKA
Creator: memyselfandi
Why I’m recommending it: Karkat<3dreamself!Karkat This one has the very interesting twist that the relationship is between Karkat and a Karkat who grew up on Prospit. The described differences really piqued my curiosity! It's not as neatly written as the other two, but it's nevertheless enjoyable and creates a good melanchonic atmosphere.

Rec 4: YEEHAW
Team: Dave<3Dave
Creator: round 2 team entry
Why I’m recommending it:This one is totally hilarious and the epitome of why one should ship Dave and Dave, namely because Dave. It doesn't take itself too serious and also showed the bizarreness of the situation, which I liked. It's very competently written, with wonderful and fitting Dave dialogues!

Re: FILL: TEAM Karkat♥Sollux

[grausam]

oooh cool, thank you for the compilation!! I haven't read any of those yet :D Have you seen this Karkat<3Sollux Western AU with some nasty parasites yet?

FILL: TEAM DIRK<3JAKE<3JANE<3ROXY

[nextian]

BR4 recs, pt 1 (because gosh, I'm only up to page 7)

Rec 1: Untitled Vriska & Aradia art
Team: John<3Rose
Creator: jelajade
Why I'm recommending it: The hovertext says "I'm fearless now, but it cost my soul," and that's exactly what this picture is of--dead Vriska and alive Aradia, surrounded by all their varied bad and good choices! Plus this art style could not be more adorable if it was painted in kittens. This is like the Blue's Clues guide to illustrative symbolism and I love it.

Rec 2: Untitled Terezi/Vriska fill
Team: Bro<3Grandpa
Creator: apollosglare
Why I’m recommending it: This piece is in incredibly delicate balance, er, literally; Vriska leaning off the chair and Terezi leaning into it just enough that you can't tell if Vriska's being pushed, saved, or jumping. Perfect for a piece partially scored by The Cave. I also just love this Terezi's long face.

Rec 3: Untitled Jane fill
Team: Eridan♥Feferi♥Sollux♠Eridan
Creator: mementomoryo
Why I’m recommending it: The soundtrack is a series of variously misleadingly cheery anime soundtrack pieces. Jane in full Victorian dress as Snow White flips the brightness of the soundtrack and capitalizes on the tragedy of, for example, Madoka. And it does so with gorgeous art!

Rec 4: Untitled Roxy piece
Team: Equius<3Gamzee
Creator: brightgray
Why I'm recommending it: Okay, I'll admit I'm assuming the he in this is Equius due solely to the use of colors and pronouns. But the sense of void about the picture--the dark blue shading to black, the pixelation and vanishing of her scarf and the ice--is so good regardless. (The pixelation matches the soundtrack incredibly well, too.) The bulk of the scarf around her neck makes Roxy look tiny and determined. On a more technical note, I love the overlay technique used to paint the ice walls.

Rec 5: Untitled Aradia/Sollux piece
Team: Nepeta<3Terezi
Creator: fraymotif
Why I'm recommending it: Using this soundtrack for Aradia and Sollux was inspired; it is exactly as fatalistic and sad and hopeful as them. Using close variants on their colors + green was even better; those are not colors that naturally go together, let's be real here, but the piece hangs together really well with a sort of sepia feeling to it. Aradia's AMAZING pants and Sollux's massive grin are serious bonuses.

Rec 6: Untitled Rose & Dave perv on their parents fic
Team: Dave<3Rose<3Terezi
Creator: megaparsecs
Why I'm recommending it: UGH THREE SENTENCES FOR THIS IS SO HARD. I don't know why I can't just copy-paste "THIS IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE FIC FOR THIS PLAYLIST" three times, but here goes. 1) Dave's rambling bullshit is exactly correct. 2) "and technically Jade's half dog" made me splutter laughing. 2) THIS IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE FIC FOR THIS PLAYLIST.

Rec 7: Untitled Terezi<3Equius fill
Team: Team Karkat<3Nepeta
Creator: slippy
Why I'm recommending it: I'm not sure how this fic got me shipping Terezi/Equius, which I can confidently state that no other power on God's Earth could do. It might have something to do with the use of the medics from Oglaf or it might have something to do with the idea that Terezi is, you know, a pushy mastermind. I think my favorite part though is the conceit--of course Equius smelling irrevocably and constantly like Equius would cause hilarious medical problems for Ms. Pyrope and of course she'd exploit the fuck out of that.

Rec 8: Untitled Dave<3<Gamzee fill
Team: Dirk<3Equius
Creator: cypher
Why I'm recommending it: I love how fabulously uncool Dave is about his new hateboner. His running monologue sounding a hell of a lot more like Karkat's when freaked out by how much he's turned on is uh, extremely Dave Strider. I also love that this is convincingly balanced between sexy hate and actual, maybe-I-should-kill-this-dude hate.

Re: FILL: TEAM DAVE<3TEREZI

[playerprophet]

Ahh! Thank you for the rec. ;w; I had so much fun with that Silent Hill fill I'm making it into a multi-parter ashhdkfhs;f I hope you like what I do with it UwU

FILL: TEAM DIRK<3JAKE<3JANE<3ROXY

[nextian]

BR4 recs pt 2!

Rec 1: Untitled Jade & Rose fill
Team: John<3Rose
Creator: jelajade
Why I'm recommending it: I almost prompted this exact soundtrack, and when I was piecing it together I was thinking, oh, sexy femme fatale Rose/Kanaya. This is completely different from that and completely perfect all the same--Jade the upright bassist in a jazz band is of course obvious but brilliant. So is Rose's Dinah Washington hand.

Rec 2: please don't put your face into your hands (we could be friends)
Team: Autoresponder<3Roxy
Creator: teakei
Why I'm recommending this: Yes, yes, yes, YES, THIS IS WHY I SHIP THEM PALE. Omg. The narration is lyrical and light, and Roxy is charming and a little desperate, and Dirk is not that charming and a little desperate, and it's great. You should read this if you like good, convincing narratives of human palemance because this is proof they are delightful!

Rec 3: Untitled alpha OT4 fill
Team: Team Autoresponder<3Roxy
Creator: pyrokineticvampire
Why I'm recommending it: Well, as my icon and subject line handily show, I am pretty fucking into the Alpha OT4, because they are the most delightful goobers. Damn if this fic doesn't make this case as well as any of our entries. Roxy's problem solving is perfect (tipsyGnostalgic [TG] opened memo on board LETS ALL KISS). (pls refer to memo board title.) (for. FCUKS. SAKE!!!!!!!)

Rec 3: Untitled Aradia/Sollux fill
Team: Terezi<3<Vriska
Creator: fortnight_dreaming
Why I'm recommending it: Most trivially, Sollux looking like one of the Gorillaz works extremely well. But I love the way they're very slightly ghostly and starlit--the choice of a chalk effect was great for that. The composition is unusual and striking.

Rec 4: Untitled Eridan/Feferi fill
Team: John<3Karkat
Creator: crowry
Why I'm recommending it: The red-and-green lighting in the first pic is killer, and makes the black & white in the second that much more dramatic. The selection of lyrics is ideal. But I'm really reccing this because holy shit, yes, Eridan with apparent angel wings, ushering in the end.

Rec 5: Untitled Aradia triptych
Team: Dave<3Rose<3Terezi
Creator: gomimushi
Why I'm recommending it: In comments playerprophet called this reminiscent of "old school shoujo manga", which is dead on. The very subtle differences between expressions between ghost, robot, and living Aradia are beautifully done. Using Aradia's hair as a framing device works very well!

Rec 6: Untitled Jake & Jane fill
Team: Aradia<3Sollux
Creator: icylily
Why I'm recommending it: This is as fucked up as you'd expect from the mix, and delightfully so. Jake and Jane just look so stoked to be potentially shooting each other. I would award this "best use of transparent blood spatter in BR4".

Rec 7: Untitled Vriska/Tavros fill
Team: Eridan<3Feferi<3Sollux<3<Eridan
Creator: mementomoryo
Why I'm recommending it: Look, we both know that when mementomoryo gets all massive symbolic painting, an angel gets its wings. But WHO KNEW that a literal reading of "This Tornado Loves You" could be this gorgeous? Or that a tiny Tavros in the bottom-left corner of the painting could make me laugh so hard and feel so terrible about it?

Rec 8: Untitled Feferi/Vriska fill
Team: Equius<3Gamzee
Creator: brightgray
Why I'm recommending it: This has gotten retroactively really tragic, but at the time of posting it was just incredibly sweet. It's very playlist appropriate--the intersecting curves of the composition evokes the waltzy piano mood of the pieces, for one thing! I love the very convincing idea that Feferi would still be trying to go fetch her murder friends even in the face of both of their untimely deaths.

Rec 9: Untitled Rose/Vriska fill
Team: Terezi<3<Vriska
Creator: fortnight_dreaming
Why I'm recommending it: ...And part two of the "people rescue dead Vriska" series. This playlist is way more intense and more vicious, and the fill is likewise. Rose looks smug, successful Light player and all, and Vriska looks pissed at needing a rescue, which is super in character for both of them. Also I love these rich colors.

FILL: TEAM BRO<3GRANDPA

[macca44552]

Rec 1: A Rum Deal
Team: Dave<3Jade
Creator: Main Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: Prohibition era New York? Hell Yes. The atmosphere was chilling and effective--the setting became a character, which pretty much makes me flail happily whenever that comes across in a fic. Adding to that would be the art used in the piece, which was absolutely stunning, gosh. And the dialogue! The dialogue was particularly strong, and the way the author(s?) made the two interact and play off each other was a delight to read. Also features Jade being incredibly badass and awesome, which is what everyone wants, isn't it?

Rec 2: 69 to 1 Odds
Team: Jade<3John<3Karkat
Creator: Main Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: It's entertaining; it's adorable; it's well-paced; it's hilarious. The characterizations were fantastic, and it was nice seeing Jade and John come together as an epic tag-team of annoying the hell out of Karkat Vantas. The art that accompanied this fic was adorable and meshed with the mood of the piece quite well. I don't really know how much I should give away, but I thought the ending was great; it wrapped everything together and established this fic as an overall delight.

Rec 3: Know when to fold, boys.
Team: Eridan<3Feferi<3Sollux <3< Eridan
Creator: Main Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: Okay, so I know absolutely nothing about art. All I know is that just looking at this piece gives me feelings. I like the color choices (especially the blue used for Sollux as;lkfj), the texture, and all of the great details, like Feferi's jewelry. The expressions on their faces are fucking ace. I looked at this piece and I came up with my own story as to what might have happened to lead up to this point (and what might happen after), and I think that shows just how great it is.

FILL: TEAM DAVE<3JOHN

[jamkiske]

Round 2 entries I voted for that didn't make it to Phase 2 edition.

Rec 1: Freedom
Team: Davesprite<3Doomed John
Creator: celestialsymphony
Why I’m recommending it: This was one of the most unique interpretations of the Monsters prompt that I saw. The interpretation of John being doomed withing the AU is really cool and works really well. If I had to give a complaint it's just that the formatting doesn't have any line breaks, but it's totally worth reading despite that formatting haha. So yes overall a really unique fic that captures the dynamic of these 2 in canon well in a different AU setting than anything I've read.

Rec 2: I've Dreamed Of You
Team: Karkat<3Karkat
Creator: doubleohally
Why I’m recommending it: This is a really cool full fledged game that requires some thought. I found it very clever that the team implemented Tumblr blogs with passwords in order to make it so that the reader/player actually had to come up with the right password to progress (though there is also a list of the passwords for those who just want to enjoy the story). The story itself is also pretty sweet and the inclusion of other characters is done in a very clever way.

Rec 3: Throw Me In The FIRE To Save My Life
Team: Davesprite<3Jade
Creator: rhedbird
Why I’m recommending it: Another very unique interpretation of the Monsters prompt! I really liked this AU that features Jade as a teenager who has summoned the harpy Davesprite in an attempt to use the occult to bring back a dead Dave. It's a very emotional fic that touches upon both of their points of view rather well.

FILL: TEAM BRO<3GRANDPA

[macca44552]

Rec 1: Up the Creek Without a Paddle
Team: Dirk<3Jane
Creator: Main Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: Enjoyable all the way through. Dirk and Jane are absolutely adorable, and Jane's emotional anxieties were practically tangible--it was hard not to feel sympathy for the girl! The woods setting was very effective--there was Jane, Dirk, and nowhere to run from their feelings. The interactions were believable and, I'll say it again, adorable. All in all, very cute and very fun to read.

Rec 2: The Chance to Abscond
Team: Grand Highblood <3< Summoner
Creator: Main Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: The atmosphere of this piece is astounding. Not to mention the compelling characterization of the two lead characters, as well as the intriguing chemistry between them (I loved the author's take on kismessitude). The most noteworthy thing about this piece, though, is definitely the art. It's unique, beautiful, and fits the words so well.

Rec 3: Untitled
Team: Equius <3 Eridan
Creator: Main Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: World building. So much world building, so many details and feelings and yes. Equius' point of view is a joy to read--he's older, more mature, and yet still has some of the quirks we'd associate with "current" Equius. Eridan's characterization is just as excellent--aged, but still recognizable. The gambling theme was incorporated both literally and metaphorically, which is something that I was rather pleased with.

FILL: TEAM DAVE<3ROSE<3TEREZI

[megaparsecs]

KANAYA/ROSE


Rec 1: untitled
Team: Aradia<>Sollux
Creator: possibly_thrice
Why I’m recommending it: A short bonus round 5 fill, features Rose<3Kanaya in Ankh-Morpork, which is a thing that I never knew I wanted. Kanaya makes the classic clothes-maker related blunder that all newcomers to Ankh-Morpork make, of course she does. My only regret is that I do not get to see Kanaya and the Seamstresses interact more.

Rec 2: Im So Cold, Let Me In Your Window
Team: Nepeta<3Terezi
Creator: grannypix
Why I’m recommending it: What can one even say about a piece of art that manages to capture both the essence of Rose<3Kanaya and the essence of Wuthering Heights? One says, halleluia, or perhaps thank you dreamwidth user grannypix. Officially requesting entire Wuthering Heights Homestuck adaptation drawn by the creator.

Rec 3:untitled
Team: Terezi<3Vriska
Creator: mishfin
Why I’m recommending it: WOW BABES. Rose and Kanaya with masquerade masks, yes thanks, I'll take another dozen. Am in particular a fan of Kanaya's hair, that shit is not the easiest to draw.

Rec 4: untitled
Team: Bro<3John
Creator: deadkidsclub
Why I’m recommending it: Kanaya and Rose fight zombies, with magic. A Nice Art, and Kanaya looks hella buff. Rose also looks as if she is about to kick some major zombie ass, and the whole glowy-eyes thing I think communicates the Freakish Undead thing well in a b&w picture.

FILL: Team Karkat<3Karkat

[doubleohally]

Rec 1: Untitled
Team: Jane<3Roxy
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: It's super cute, and really adorable. I love the way there is so much detail put into the picture. Not only is it very beautiful it also has witty things stamped on it, not to mention the fact 'feels' come out as coins. How neat is that?

Rec 2: Untitled
Team: Sollux<>Terezi
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: This is very well drawn, and has beautiful coloring! I love the poses both of them make, and the roulette wheel is just positioned nicely. I like the added touch of the wheel having quadrants and it stopping on diamonds.

Rec 3: Untitled
Team: Meenah <3< Roxy
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: I like the positions of the characters, and the art style. The coloring is very easy on the eyes, plus the whole picture in general is great. I love the fact the hot sauce is in one of them.

FILL: TEAM KARKAT<3KARKAT

[janeybriggs]

some round 1 things that I couldn't vote for at first because sector

Rec 1: Says the Dragon to the Mama Cat (http://hso2012-r1.dreamwidth.org/7039.html)
Team: Nepeta<3Terezi
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: First off, the art is gorgeous. The style is super adorable, and I really liked the use of colour as well. Second, with good-looking comics I often find that the writing is... not that good, but this is not the case at all. It's pretty simplistic, but I think it really works, well enough to stand on its own, although it's obviously even better together with the illustrations.

Rec 2: Bets Worth Taking (http://hso2012-r1.dreamwidth.org/6223.html)
Team: Aradia<3Rose
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: I don't think I even considered Aradia<3Rose before I read this entry, but now I ship it?? One of the things that really sold me on this fic is that it manages to establish the AU and do a lot of exposition in such a short time without it seeming trite at all, which is pretty impressive if you ask me. I really enjoyed it. Also, the dialogue is really enjoyable.

Rec 3: Sopor Face (http://hso2012-r1.dreamwidth.org/7749.html#cutid3)
Team: Gamzee<3Roxy
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: It made me laugh. I'm generally really impressed with people who are good at rewriting songs to fit fandom stuff, and whoever did this is def. one of those people. I just wish there was more. Also there's pretty art, so you have something to stare longingly at while you listen. Generally really well put together.

FILL: TEAM KARKAT<>SOLLUX

[grausam]

SOLLUX & KARKAT LOVE EDITION

Rec 1:He had been bitten...
Team: Jane<3Roxy
Creator:flyingchaucer
Why I’m recommending it: One of my favourite HSO entries! It has a very intriguing Western!Alternia setting and great world-building. I would love to read more about this setting (although Westerns aren't even my thang). The body horror is gripping and well-written, while the dialogue is witty, heart-wrenching and very IC in my opinion.

Rec 2:[Office romance, spy thriller]
Team: JADE<3JOHN<3KARKAT
Creator:zoamh
Why I’m recommending it: This is a good, short and snappy Karkat><3Sollux. The banter is nice and just flirty enough to make the kismesitude believable without slipping into why-do-they-even-bother-with-each-other one-sided hate fests (at least I don't like those). The ending line is great, too.

Rec 3:“You’re needed in the helmsblock..."
Team: Karkat♥Sollux
Creator: noveltyhorns
Why I’m recommending it:This one also flew under my radar, so I'm happy to recommend it here! The prompt was Dystopian + Military, Karkat <> Sollux. Helmsman!Sollux isn't much more than a vegetable in this story, so their relationship and the whole set-up is accordingly depressing, interesting and heart-wrenching. A disillusioned, codependent Karkat is maybe even more tragic. I alo liked that core conflicts of the military genre got depicted without writing an outright war setting.

Rec 4:Denudation
Team: Karkat♥Sollux
Creator: noveltyhorns, round 1 team entry
Why I’m recommending it: Another one from noveltyhorns. Well, D stands for quality Solkat :D I love the premise of them trying to one-up each other in their dares, although it first looks like it would lend itself better to kismesitude. But that's also the strength of this entry. The masked vulnerability fits the characters and the prompt of gambling very well.

FILL: TEAM KARKAT<3KARKAT

[janeybriggs]

incest recs, part uno
(wow sorry)


Rec 1: Just Jump
Team: Alpha!Dave♥Alpha!Rose
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: The dialogue is really, really great. It feels very true to the characters, and it manages to be really funny without breaking the tension. And I love the colour scheme in the art and also especially Rose's faces!!! The whole thing is really neat and well made and babies. yes.

Rec 2: Bingo Royale
Team: Jake<3John
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: Quite possibly the greatest thing ever. John and Jake are old and they're playing bingo! And John is totally tsundere! How great is that? Really great. Anyway, the writing is really good. It's hilarious, and the hilarity seems like it's totally effortless. I really liked the ending, and also the illustrations are cute as fuck. I really enjoyed it.

Rec 3: And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even
Team: Rose<3Roxy
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: If you ask me, Team Rose<3Roxy is consistently the greatest team in all of HSO. This fic is incredibly well written, and I think the writing style works really well; it reads almost like a series of poems or something, and it really works. I really like how the story is built up. The illustrations look great, too, and they fit the mood and style of the fic perfectly.

Rec 4: ==> John: Tell everyone (in gross detail) about your vacation to Vegas
Team: Dad<3John
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: To quote one of the comments on this entry, "oh my god whoever did that reading is a comic genius i am CRYING". I may also have cried. It's just that funny. The fic is pretty great in and of itself, but the reading is what really makes the whole thing stand out. It's magic. It also has a really good John voice, both literally and in the writing sense.

Re: FILL: TEAM DAVE<3TEREZI

[alouetta]

oh jeez thank you both so much! dave and terezi are my favourite pair in any and every quadrant, im glad you enjoyed it

Re: FILL: TEAM KARKAT<>SOLLUX

[alouetta]

aw yes i wrote the davecest one, thank you very much for the rec!

Re: FILL: TEAM KARKAT<>SOLLUX

[memyselfandi]

oh gosh, thank you for the rec <3

FILL: Team Karkat<3Karkat

[doubleohally]

Rec 1: Untitled
Team: Davesprite<3Karkat
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: I just really love card games okay! I also love this picture of course, Karkat's face is totally the bees knees. I also like the fact they included instructions for the card game. Extremely adorable!

Rec 2: A 1-in-8 Chance
Team: Terezi <3< Vriska
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: This story clearly shows the dynamic between Vriska and Terezi. It's completely wonderful, amazingly in character, and totally believable. I love the way it describes their feelings and how at the end Vriska was right because that is just so lovely to me.

Rec 3: Facets
Team: Eridan<3Roxy
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: This was perfect to me. It shows how things could go wrong and how Eridan was willing to gamble on that. Honestly, my favorite part was how in character Eridan was. It was so simple not to ruin things with her i.e don't kill her, don't leave her for fef, and don't be mean to the chess pieces but too Eridan it is difficult not to do. All the different timelines really were beautiful, I loved them all. Some were happy, some were bittersweet! My favorite was the baby.

Re: FILL: TEAM DAVE<3ROSE<3TEREZI

[cloudling]

hi! i'm on team dave<3rose, and for 'turn left', myself (cloudling/cumulae.tumblr) and helen (efthemia/efthemia.tumblr) wrote, editing done by stacey (lovelytoken/lovelytoken.tumblr), megan (heirbrusch/gikerot.tumblr) and helen (efthemia), the first picture done by jennifer (psonu/gottiger.tumblr), scratch gif done by stacey (lovelytoken), and third picture dave and rose lined by megan (heirbrusch), background and colors by jennifer (psonu).

for my girlfriend... A GHOST?, the main writing was done by helen (efthemia) and with contribution from sarah (cloudling), editing done by stacey (lovelytoken), helen (efthemia) and megan (heirbrusch), the first picture done by jennifer (psonu), second done by megan (heirbrusch), third lines done by stacey (lovelytoken) coloring by caitlin (imperfect-forger/asking-for-a-smaller-heart.tumblr), and butt by jennifer (psonu)!

all of the raps were written by stacey (lovelytoken)! aaaaaand that's all the credit (i'm so sorry lmao each entry was a huge collaboration effort by basically everybody)!

your comments are making us go all giggly and happy wow, you are a++ and we all love you. thank you so much aaaaah!

FILL: TEAM JADE<3KARKAT

[sakiexcel]

I have a couple recommendations for Jade/Rose fanworks.

Rec 1: Untitled
Team: Dave<3Tavros
Creator: milkbar
Why I’m recommending it: Jade/Rose is one of my favorite ships, and I'm a real sucker for post-apocalyptic survival stories. This particular fanfic is a really cute and sweet story of Jade and Rose surviving a horrorterror apocalypse (along with a group of unimportant survivors). There is very little angst considering the basic plot; there is some well-written worldbuilding at the beginning, but it mainly focuses on the two girls interacting.

Rec 2: swallowed by the waves and the weird fishes
Team: Dave<3Rose<3Terezi
Creator: megaparsecs
Why I’m recommending it: I did mention in the first rec that I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories, and this is another one, but with urban fantasy as a bonus. :D This one is much darker than the first one, though, and relies more on prose describing their surroundings. The prose describing the fantasy aspects is lovely, and the ending between the characters is very sweet.

Rec 3: Untitled art
Team: Vriska<3Terezi
Creator: skaiasthelimit
Why I’m recommending it: I hope it's alright that the last rec is something I wrote the prompt for, since neither I nor my team had any hand in actually making this. This is such a great drawing, though. Jade and Rose are both so cute in it, and it kind of gives off the impression that there's more of a story behind it, even though it works perfectly as a stand-alone image.

FILL: TEAM John<3Rose

[astrologicallydubious]

BR3 Recs Part 1: The RPG Edition

Rec 1: LoZ: Ocarina of Time [Noir, Jade, Dave, Terezi]
Team: Jade<3Karkat
Creator: masthya
Why I’m recommending it: I love Ocarina of Time crossovers with Dave as Link, and I love them even more when Jade is Zelda. She's no helpless maiden -- look at her, she ain't taking none of your crap Noir -- and I could easily imagine her doing badass things as Sheik. Bec Noir would also make a good Ganon and I never get tired of Navi!Terezi. Also the format, with the profiles in the Triforce, looks really cool.

Rec 2: LoZ: Ocarina of Time [John]
Team: Eridan<3Feferi
Creator: magedon
Why I’m recommending it: As much as I dig Dave as the Hero of Time, I also really like seeing John as Link. (He is the Wind Waker, after all. It's him.) He looks so serene, and this art is wonderful. I like all the little details of the outfit against the more open background.

Rec 3: Final Fantasy [Scratch, Midnight Crew]
Team: Bro<3Grandpa
Creator: gjarble
Why I’m recommending it: Good edit, best battle. Spades would have a command list made up only of "stab." Scratch looks so harmless but he must be a terrifying boss. The four-letter character names are also really great; I almost kind of miss having to give characters ridiculous shortened names.

FILL: TEAM JADE<3KARKAT

[sakiexcel]

Bonus Round 3 recs

Rec 1: Spyrope
Team: Dave<3Jade
Creator: watchfob
Why I’m recommending it: I had to recommend this on the basis of the pun alone. It's also adorable; I love the way the feet are drawn, especially. Terezi is the perfect choice for a crossover with this game series, which I was a huge fan of when I was a kid.

Rec 2: Earthbound
Team: Nepeta<3Terezi
Creator: fraymotif
Why I’m recommending it: This is adorable! Visually, John and Rose fit perfectly into the roles of Ness and Paula. Plus, I really love the style it's drawn in. The expressiveness is awesome, as is the coloring and shading.

Rec 3: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Team: Eridan<3Feferi
Creator: magedon
Why I’m recommending it: Does this really need to be explained? This artwork is gorgeous! Look at the coloring! And the detail! This is simply an awesome work.

Rec 4: Legend of Feferi: Link to the Past
Team: John<3Rose
Creator: jelajade
Why I’m recommending it: More Zelda. :D This is really really cute. I love Aradia and Feferi as Link and Zelda, not to mention Karkat and Sollux being included with the seven maidens. The artwork is simplistic but expressive and fun.

FILL: Team Karkat<3Karkat

[doubleohally]

Rec 1: Just Jump
Team: Alpha!Dave<3Alpha!Rose
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: I thought it was very creative and well thought out. I really liked the art and the flash design. The story wasn't long or complex but definitely fit well with the prompt and also made a whole lot of sense fit into canon. I could have totally saw it happening at some point!

Rec 2: Bets Worth Taking
Team: Aradia<3Rose
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: The story and setting alone could be an entire reason to read this all on it's own. It reminded vaguely of an old story I read forever ago even though they weren't that similar but I like things with this sort of theme. It made me really sad specifically the Dave part and Aradia guiding her to the afterlife was a nice twist and very adorable!

Rec 3: Rigging Expectations
Team: Autoresponder<3Roxy
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: The storyline was wonderful, funny, sad, and cute all at the same time. I loved the pictures and the dialogue between them during the whole thing. I love how he's a hologram and they were being careful and I just like the way they played out the way they were treated and certain things like that. Worth the read!

FILL: TEAM Karkat♥Sollux

[noveltyhorns]

Rec Post 2: Special SBaHJ Edition
(i have a legitimate appreciation for things like this)

Rec 1: Untitled
Team: Dirk♦Roxy
Creator: pyrokineticvampire
Why I'm recommending it: This fill, in addition to startling onlookers' senses of aesthetics, embodies the true spirits of horror, Shakespeare, and JPEG artifacts. Of especial interest is Gamzee's honk, which here is rendered "hOnL." One is left to wonder if this is merely a typo, or if (as Gamzee's unsettling visage, rendered uncanny by the unfamiliar JPEG artifacts littering his hair, implies) it is instead a sinister acronym of some sort. One wonders what it stands for and then, one must admit, it is perhaps best not to understand.

Rec 2:Untitled
Team: Karkat♥Karkat
Creator: janeybriggs
Why I'm recommending it: However the pixelation in this image was achieved, it was a masterstroke, really well done. Even as the Daves embrace one another, the true objects of their gazes are left vague. Though both face the viewer somehow, their eyes are obscured by dark glasses; therefore, even in the bright surroundings and amidst declarations of mutual affection, the tone of this image remains haunting. There is, one feels, an element of the uncanny at work.

Rec 3: Untitled
Team: Jade♥John
Creator: buttonhole
Why I'm recommending it: The flesh-colored guns in this image convey the western+erotica theme perhaps better than the scantily-clad, flexible figures playing with the guns. Viewers might question whether these are, in fact, guns at all. In true SBaHJ fashion, Hella Jeff's pink blush despite the Western genre undermines Western canon as something that can be held apart from globalization; "consider the spaghetti westerns," it says with a knowing wink. Could it be time, the discerning viewer wonders, for kawaii westerns?

Rec 4: Crash Team Racing
Team: Eridan♥Sollux
Creator: rawrimamidget
Why I'm recommending it: The quality of the art here is good and true to the game despite the presence of Hella Jeff, here depicted in a small cameo at the bottom right. The map itself, so to speak, is Hella Jeff; the macrocosm of all things as portrayed by this image is, perhaps, Hella Jeff. Perhaps, one thinks, when pixelated works are examined closely enough, the normally unsightly pixels melt and resolve into a dew really clean and charming homage to Crash Team Racing. Perhaps, in some way, we are all within Hella Jeff.

FILL: Team Dave<3Karkat

[lacertae_dreamscape]

Rec 1: Never or Later (http://hso2012-r3s2.dreamwidth.org/1433.html)
Team: Bro<3Grandpa
Creator: Team Entry Round3
Why I’m recommending it: Holy damn. Why wouldn't I? The pace is sweet, and it's divided in two different sections. Each one starts where the other ends, and ends where the other starts. They fit together like puzzle pieces, telling the story from two different points of view, depicting the first time Bro met Grandpa, and the first time Grandpa met Bro (and those are two different instances, too). I love the characterization so much it hurts, and this fic wrenched my heart out of my chest and stomped on it on both parts, so much I had to wait a bit to read the second after finishing the first. The complementary art is gorgeous, too, and I couldn't ask for anything better for this fill, for the domesticity it gives off, for the way it fits with the canon universe, for the sweet and bitter sides of it, and everything. I just... it hurts so much but it's so, so good.

Rec 2: RUMPLESTILTSKIN NEVER RAPPED (http://hso2012-r1.dreamwidth.org/8452.html)
Team: Gamzee<3Jane
Creator: Team Entry Round1
Why I’m recommending it: This fic made me fall hard for this pairing. The pace, the way the plot worked out from start to end, the sweet interaction of both Jane and Gamzee, and just how well the characterization was written, making it easy to fall for them, all the slight hints and things dropped, and how Karkat just pops around at the end, worried and doting... everything fit so well with the idea of a gamble, and i truly enjoyed reading it. it was one powerful fic, with feelings and sweetness abound. gods it was SO good.

Rec 3: The Centaur's forest(http://hso2012-r2s3.dreamwidth.org/1213.html)
Team: Dirk<3Equius
Creator: Team Entry Round2
Why I’m recommending it: this is... perfection. The art is gorgeous and breathtaking, and the way the comic is made, with darker backgrounds and the plot moving so nicely along only makes it better. the delicate style of the comic, its colouring, the way the two characters are portrayed, and how they interact, with Equius being a Centaur... hnnnng. it's just so beautiful and fitting, and my heart is full of love for this artist and this particular entry. Seriously. Just go and read it. worth it.

FILL: TEAM KARKAT<3KARKAT

[janeybriggs]

some daves kissing


Rec 1: Time to Get Lucky
Team: dave<3dave
Creator: team entry round 1
Why I’m recommending it: There's a really great idea behind this, and it's executed beautifully. While there's nothing wrong with just great art, having an interactive element to it is always nice. It fits both the prompt for this round (gambling) and Dave's character really well. All Daves look great, as does the slot machine frame.

Rec 2: Untitled
Team: John<3Vriska
Creator: tehstripe
Why I’m recommending it: The prompter asked for dave<3dave in the genres medical drama and surrealism, and that's exactly what it is. The whole thing is understandably pretty confusing, but it's amusing and interesting rather than off-putting. I imagine if Dave ever abandoned SBAHJ and tried his hand at writing prose, he would probably come up with something like this.

Rec 3: Untitled
Team: Gamzee<3Karkat
Creator: sempiternalserpent
Why I’m recommending it: This was my prompt!!! I hope that's okay. Anyway, the art is amazing. Look at them jpegs! I especially enjoyed their poses, and Dave's incredible Yaoi Hands. The background is also really great, as are the speech bubbles.