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 DIRK<3JAKE<3JANE<3ROXY

[fayharley]

Rec 1: Untitled John <3 Jade fill
Team: Bro <3 John
Creator: ivori
Why I’m recommending it: The prompt here was to combine Bollywood with Steampunk. Steampunk, while a wonderful genre with lots of visual interest, often gets bogged down recycling Victorian clothing aesthetics. By bringing in some Bollywood not only do you get a different set of silhouettes to play with, you also get some colors that really pop off the page. And Jade's hips. Dang, just dang. What a lady.

Rec 3: Untitled Nepeta <3 Terezi Fill
Team: Autoresponder <3 Roxy
Creator: teakei
Why I’m recommending it: Chinese mythology is a rich source of images and stories to draw from that's often overlooked. We know Homestuck itself uses Greek and Judeo-Christian references mainly, but that's no reason to limit the fan work! This work casts Nepeta as a tiger and Terezi as a dragon locked in a forbidden romance. What really makes it shine is the colors, so bright! Terezi would positively love it.

Rec 3: Untitled Rose/Terezi fill
Team: Autoresponder <3 Roxy
Creator: teakei
Why I’m recommending it: Mongolian clothing! Gosh, I just love Mongolian clothing. The colors, the cuts, the bead work, the embroidery, the hats. All of it. Just marvelous stuff. And this art brings all those great, great details together without being heavy handed. Really, I have nothing more intelligent to say. I just freaking love this. Teakai, you do a great Terezi.

FILL: TEAM ARADIA<3FEFERI

[rochisama]

(This is a list of my favourite mr1 entries.)

Rec 1: Gambling: A Powerpoint (AR <3 PM <3 WV Main Round 1 Entry)
Team: AR <3 PM <3 WV
Creator: exiletown (I don't know who actually did it, but whoever you are, you're awesome.)
Why I’m recommending it: This is just a really adorable entry. The idea of making a powerpoint on the topic of gambling was really neat, and I can imagine AR actually doing something like that. In particular, I loved the last panel of WV and PM - they look so happy, despite the fact the powerpoint is ridiculously tacky.

Rec 2: Bend Around the Blades (Dirk <3 Jake <3 Jane <3 Roxy Main Round 1 Entry)
Team: Dirk <3 Jake <3 Jane <3 Roxy
Creator: alphachronism (I don't know who wrote the story, but ferrrox did the art.)
Why I’m recommending it: This entry was just amazing. The pesterlogs (along with the rest of the text) were perfectly in character, and the art fit well with the dark tone of the fic. This entry came second in the round for a reason, so if you haven't read it yet, I strongly recommend it.

Rec 3: How Karkat Vantas Learned to Stop Worrying and Be the Bomb (Gamzee <> Karkat Main Round 1 Entry)
Team: Gamzee <> Karkat
Creator: miracrails (Again, I don't know who actually did it.)
Why I’m recommending it: This entry was just hilarious. Believable pesterlogs, a really funny idea, and good art to match. I laughed a bit too much at the idea of Rose holding Kanaya back by putting her arm through her middle, and at the repeated misreading of upside-down emoticons.

Rec 4: Untitled (Sollux <> Terezi Main Round 1 Entry)
Team: Sollux <> Terezi
Creator: 801ch
Why I’m recommending it: This art is amazing. Sollux and Terezi both look so suave in their bar tender style outfits, and the perspective is really good. I like how the roulette wheel has all the quadrant symbols, and that it's landed in diamonds.

FILL: TEAM Eridan<3<Vriska

[mafiahahaha]

Rec 1: Speak Easy
Team: Nepeta<3Karkat
Creator: Main Round 1 entry
Why I’m recommending it: Gosh, this is really pretty, I very much enjoy this piece. I really love the shading and the colours that were used. Also I really like the outfits and the little designs on Nepetas horns.

Rec 2: untitled
Team: BRO<3DAVE
Creator: sugoiprincess
Why I’m recommending it: Ahhh I like they way John, Dave, and Bro a depicted as Sonic, Knuckles and Tails, respectively. Its pretty silly and cute. Even though doesn't look very complicated, its very nice. They're such cuties. u wu

Rec 3: untitled
Team: Bro<3Dave
Creator: flarefyre
Why I’m recommending it: Wow this is really great oh gosh. Gosh this so cute and lovely, down to the outfits, wings and background. This is just fantastic, especially the lovely ladies kisses.

FILL: TEAM John<3Rose

[astrologicallydubious]

BR3 Recs Part 2: Marioverse

Rec 1: Super Terezi World
Team: Karkat<3Terezi
Creator: redquidam
Why I’m recommending it: A good edit and a cool idea. Terezi is not the first character that comes to mind when I think Mario, but this works really well. Imps as enemies, and C4NDY R3D CH3RR13S as power-ups, and especially Pyralspite as Yoshi.

Rec 2: Donkey Kong [Nepeta, Karkat, Equius]
Team: Nepeta<3Terezi
Creator: fraymotif
Why I’m recommending it: Because Karkat is Peach. Equius as Donkey Kong makes sense but you know he's not going to be able to stop Nepeta from saving the day and rescuing the princess. The art and concept both are cute and I like their expressions.

Rec 3: Stickerbrush Rapture
Team: Bro<3Grandpa
Creator: gjarble
Why I’m recommending it: I'm really glad this exists because I love mash-ups, especially with Homestuck songs. I first listened to this knowing Pale Rapture but not Stickerbrush Symphony and it sounds seamless. The songs go together very well, both in terms of the original compositions and how they've been combined.

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

[nextian]

Bonus Round 5 Recs (pt 1)

Rec 1: White Queen + Dirk gen, Prospit
Team: Dave<3Jade
Creator: asherdashery
Why I’m recommending it: You do things like the Olympics to discover amazing new creators you otherwise wouldn't encounter and dashery has been majorly one of them for me. This is fabulous, sweet and sad and cool, with a seven year old Dirk who feels both seven and still convincingly Dirk. The hints of Dirk's future relationship with the other kids are lovely, and I just adore how well this fic explores the reasons Dirk might feel so totally Your Shit Is Wrecked about Derse.

Rec 2: Stonehenge (Aradia<3Sollux)
Team: Bro<3Grandpa
Creator: gjarble
Why I’m recommending it: Because this is hilarious. Great sprite edit, great concept, very funny. I am using my third sentence for a flashing colors/gif warning and a warning that you may say "awww" out loud if you look at it in public like I did.

Rec 3: Tavros & Aradia, sky
Team: Equius<3Gamzee
Creator: brightgray
Why I’m recommending it: Great use of, uh, sky. I like these humanstuck designs a lot--Aradia's hair especially. Tavros looks so stoked to be flying and Aradia looks so stoked to be making him happy, it's very paleromantic!

Recs 4 & 5: Vriska/Terezi Sengoku Era, two entries (scroll)
Teams: Gamzee<>Karkat and Jade<3Karkat
Creators: rex and oxfordroulette
Why I'm recommending them: I couldn't pick!! These were both two great. The first one has all of the brashness and douchebaggery I love about the Scourge Sisters. The black-on-brown works very well, and so does the wheat field. I don't know what that is that Terezi's wielding (is that a bisento?) but it's totally bitchin'. As for the second, I MEAN, LOOK AT IT. Vriska's TOPKNOT. The sassy HORSE. The strong INKING TECHNIQUE. Way to go.

FILL: Team Dave<3Karkat

[lacertae_dreamscape]

Rec 1: Mist (http://hso2012-r2s1.dreamwidth.org/4703.html)
Team: Aradia<3Feferi
Creator: Round2 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: The animated drawings depicted well the two sides, Fef and Aradia, and the plot, while moving slowly, really gave off well the feeling of confusion and desire to know of Fef as she struggled with the 'ghost' she kept seeing, whom she could only remember vaguely. The story itself kind of hurts, in a way, because of what they were and why they are trapped in a loop, but it is also rather sweet, because they are still trapped in a way that keeps them together, even though they cannot touch or interact. it's beautiful even though sad, and the writing itself merges well with the soft drawings, it's a pleasure to read and watch :D

Rec 2: The Puppet and the Brute (http://hso2012-r2s1.dreamwidth.org/1851.html)
Team: Bro<3Dad
Creator: Round2 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: seriously, it's quite heart breaking, because it narrates the story of two who couldn't be more different from each other, one with the longing to touch without destroy, the other with the lack of emotions to really feel, but it's beautiful how they dance around each other, interacting and getting progressively closer, how there is no successful deus ex machina to solve immediately all their problems but they are still willing to continue, because they want to keep on trying to find their happy place.

Rec 3: Untitled Gamzee<>Karkat(http://hs-olympics.dreamwidth.org/13513.html?thread=2530761#cmt2530761)
Team: Aradia<3Rose
Creator: galacticbishoujo (bonus round1)
Why I’m recommending it: while it's short, the descriptions are sweet and flowing, and the pace is gentle as it moves on, detailing Karkat while painting Gamzee's face. The closeness it's required to make this work is really felt despite the shortness, and the moirail-feel it gives... it's really sweet and adorable :D

FILL: TEAM DIRK<>ROXY

[dejup]

(main round art entries appreciation post!)
Rec 1: I'll be your mirror
Team: John<>Vriska
Creator: Main Round 3 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: This is a really lovely piece, wow! The colors blend really well into what I think could either be a day/night or Breath/Light combo, which looks really nice. I especially love John's windsock and Vriska's thieftails intertwining to lead off into their dreambubble selves. It's great to see those two all happy and holding hands after going through all that too, aaaah.

Rec 2: Two Alien Girls Making Out on a Pile of Zombie Corpses
Team: Nepeta<3Terezi
Creator: Main Round 2 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: First off, lots of kudos and thanks to this team for whipping up such cute art fills every round!! This one in particular's really adorable. I love how Nepeta and Terezi getting their mack on is just there in the middle of a pile of corpses, too. And Terezi, just, "hey there zombie sorry i'm kind of mixing tongues with my girlfriend you are sort of in the way." I especially like how the entire picture has a green tint as well.

Rec 3: Speak Easy
Team: Karkat<3Nepeta
Creator: Main Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: Golly, look at those /colors./ I love the amazing amount of detail put into this, just the little things such as Karkat's earring and Nepeta's horn decorations. The two are obviously working really well together with the gambling, with Karkat doing the main pushing and Nepeta staring the other guy down with her pretty amazing pokerface. This is one great picture, I especially like the shading and the way their hair is drawn.

Rec 4: The Prince and the Mage
Team: Eridan <3< Sollux
Creator: Main Round 3 Entry
Why I'm recommending it: This entry fits the prompt of "Balance" really, really well! The images are nearly mirror images of each other, if they weren't of different characters, and I'm really liking how the captions are reversed from each other, but still connect. Not only that, the images themselves show Eridan and Sollux in pretty somber humors, but still illustrate their personalities really well. Good job!

FILL: Team Dave<3Karkat

[lacertae_dreamscape]

Rec 1: untitled art Kanaya<3Rose (http://hs-olympics.dreamwidth.org/13513.html?thread=2523593#cmt2523593)
Team: Bro<3John
Creator: dadkidsclub (Bonus Round 1)
Why I’m recommending it: It's sketchy, but that's exactly the reason it looks so good. the sketchy feeling gives it a sense of urgency and action and makes it feel even creepy. the undetailed zombie-trolls in the background look menacing and threatening, but the focus is on the figures in white in the middle, Rose with her back turned on the viewer and Kanaya, with a splendid, vicious grimace on her face and her weapon out to strike. it's raw and very beautiful, and it conveys perfectly the feeling of ominous danger the two are facing (and the knowledge that it's the zombies who are going to be in danger in a couple of secs).

Rec 2: Untitled Dave<3John(http://hs-olympics.dreamwidth.org/13513.html?thread=2508233#cmt2508233)
Team: Bro<3John
Creator: brodacious (bonus round 1)
Why I’m recommending it: it's hilarious. The way drunk!Dave just sort of lets his feels go in a very cute, very drunken way, messing around with his cellphone, it's adorable, and John sort of ignores him because hey, drunk friend at 1am funny but let's cut this short, and leaves Dave hanging to go back to sleep... it's adorable, fun and sort of sad, too. It's a short fill but really cute and well executed, so kudos to the author for it :D

Rec 3: Untitled Dave<>Terezi(http://hs-olympics.dreamwidth.org/13513.html?thread=2075337#cmt2075337)
Team: Rose<3Sollux
Creator: bleedsblue (bonus round 1)
Why I’m recommending it: once again a short fill, but it manages to catch both the prompt (surreal roadtrip) and the characterization of Dave and Terezi, with her enthusiastic desire to taste and feel every single thing, and his amused reactions to her, his attempts to get her to calm down but not fully heartfelt. the closeness is very sweet and doesn't need to be pointed out to be there, like a cozy background feeling as they keep on moving across california. short but very sweet :)

FILL: TEAM ARADIA<3FEFERI

[rochisama]

(I could literally make dozens of entries in this round, because everything in this competition is so quality. Everyone who's taken part in it is so quality. Including you, whoever is reading this.)

Rec 1: Gamzee ==> Be The Hero Of Myth (Gamzee <3 Roxy Main Round 2 Entry)
Team: Gamzee <3 Roxy
Creator: wonkhonk (I don't know who actually did it, but whoever you are, you're awesome.)
Why I’m recommending it: I really liked that this entry had Gamzee as a narrator - it was hilarious as well as believable. I also found it hilarious how well the team pulled off the "it was all just a dream" ending, which usually just seems tacky. Bonus points for having a story based on ancient Greek mythology.

Rec 2: Away From Keyboard (Dave <3 John Main Round 3 Entry)
Team: Dave <3 John
Creator: brolympics (I don't know who did this one, either.)
Why I’m recommending it: I thought all of the characters and their interactions with each other were portrayed perfectly in this entry. I loved how the whole thing was set up as two one-way conversations - it was a really good way of filling the prompt. The picture at the end was really cute, too.

Rec 3: RED GOES GOOD WITH GREY (Dave <3 Karkat Main Round 3 Entry)
Team: Dave <3 Karkat
Creator: redknightdistrict (Actually, I don't know who made any of these. I'll look forward to finding out once the voting for this round is over.)
Why I’m recommending it: I really like the musical Wicked, so I automatically loved this entry just because it IS a Wicked parody. However, on top of that, the art used is really cute, and the song is well-sung and has nice rewritten lyrics. I really like how this is obviously (from the different art styles) a collaborative effort from the team.

FILL: TEAM GAMZEE<>KARKAT

[rex]

Rec 1: Jade<3Karkat, pirates + film noir
Team: Terezi<3<Vriska
Creator: cest_what
Why I’m recommending it: I have no idea how someone could combine pirates and film noir so flawlessly, but they did. Straight from the opening line it's pure noir gold, despite the classy dame in this instance being played by a half-drowned Karkat. Captain Harley is the best hardbitten pirate.

Rec 2: Karkat<3Terezi<3<Gamzee, ontological mystery + exploitation flick
Team: Karkat<3Nepeta
Creator: slippy
Why I’m recommending it: Karkat, Terezi, and Gamzee wake up in a strange room with no memories, no shirts, and no idea how they got there. Their interactions as they try to figure it out are really well-done and interesting, and I think this could have done quite well as a round 1 entry! Also: what a good Terezi, oh my god. "Kanaya, not now!" Terezi made an expressive face at her. "I am doing big pimping."

Rec 3: Gamzee<3Roxy, drug addiction + hurt/comfort
Team: Team English
Creator: cloelia
Why I’m recommending it: Short but sweet! This has a fantastic Roxy narration, peppered with fun turns of phrase and little details (little freaked-out Dirk!). This is manages to be fun and kind of cute despite the subject matter.

FILL: Team Karkat<3Karkat

[doubleohally]

Rec 1: AR Protects His Family
Team: (AR<3PM<3WV)
Creator: Main Round 2 entry
Why I’m recommending it: This picture is so simple yet so powerful. It's has clear cut lines and coloring, it's nothing fancy and that's what I love about it. It shows such a powerful message that really makes me have a bad case of the ~feels~ in such a small piece! AR is clearly doing his best to protect his family as you can clearly see, he wants to make sure their safe. This is something we can all empathize with, a need to protect loved ones! Seeing such a powerful thing that we all feel played out with these characters is really heart warming.

Rec 2: Monster Under The Bed
Team: (Dave<3Kanaya<3Rose)
Creator: Main Round 2 entry
Why I’m recommending it: The story from the start felt really powerful to me, in a way I didn't understand. It's almost like something about this felt very familiar to me, like it was something I grew up with. (I mean the basic storyline, and not the classic monster under the bed thing.) I loved the whole play through, I'm telling you this is great! The way Rose and Dave don't react oddly at all to a monster being in their room is very typical of their characters. It makes me really sad that she was 'weird' and just knowing they'll die :/ Definitely a good story to read, though your heart might explode.

Rec 3: Whisper
Team: (Aradia<>Tavros)
Creator: Main Round 2 entry
Why I’m recommending it: My heart hurts from this, I started tearing up a little bit. The art is really nice, clear, and pretty. The story of it is very nice, basically Aradia gets Tavros to do her a favor and it's just to find the scrapbook she had of them together. Literally the saddest thing, it doesn't get sadder than team charge.

FILL: Team Karkat<3Karkat

[doubleohally]

Rec 1: Creatures Of The Night
Team: (Kanaya<>Karkat)
Creator: Main round 2 entry
Why I’m recommending it: This speaks to me. I'm pretty fond of this ship or at the very least I love them as friends and I love their interactions. This story clearly shows a good moiralship in the making. I love how Karkat dies and binds his body on accident. (well, not that he dies. I cried.)I love how Kanaya tries to not to show her sympathy but has it for him anyway. They're clearly a match made in pale heaven. If I had known nothing of them together or their interactions I would have still loved this!

Rec 2: Untitled
Team: Equius<3Karkat
Creator: Main Round 2 entry
Why I’m recommending it: I'm not sure what the specific story was supposed to be but that's the beauty with art sometimes, you can guess! My personal interpretation is that Karkat was one of those child experiments they locked up and tested on (things like that really make me emotional, since it happens in real life. The fact this is a 'monster' round really makes me nod in approval. Even without a supernatural thing in sight this would still be monstrous.)Equius is saving him, and the words hit really deep. The art is beautiful and I just love this so much.

Rec 3: It Could Happen To You
Team: Rose<3Roxy
Creator: Main Round 2 entry
Why I’m recommending it: Everything this team has done has had a major WOW factor to me, and this is no different. I love how the romance is there and is talked about but it also has another storyline to go with it. Roxy is clearly obsessed with this but it just shows her affection for Rose so much that the main reason shes freaking out is because she's worried about Rose. I love and hate the ending. It was such a powerful ending, they did a good job. I personally love writing endings like that myself. It just kills me IS IT REALLY A WEREWOLF THING OR WAS SHE JUST SLEEP DEPRIVED? Gosh, I love this!!!!

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

[nextian]

Bonus Round 5 recs, part 2!

Rec 1: Roxy<3Jane in the Land of Ooo
Team: Alpha!Dave<3Alpha!Rose
Creator: spandexrex
Why I'm recommending it: This has killer style imitation. Jane's little worried hands and her Dream Queen costume look boss. I love that instead of the Fionna/Finn SWORD OF DESTINY Roxy has a MARTINI OF DESTINY.

Rec 2: Jade<3Karkat, driving in the middle of nowhere
Team: Dave<3Rose
Creator: psonu
Why I'm recommending it: Partly for Jade's practical hatchback, partly for the fact that her ears don't quite fit against the roof. Karkat's railing is so great (ARE WE STILL...). The last couple lines are what make it for me, though.

Rec 3: Kanaya ♦ Karkat ♦ Gamzee, crime scene
Team: Dirk<3Equius
Creator: cypher
Why I'm recommending it: I love the idea and execution of Kanaya and Gamzee shamelessly dangerflirting competitively to get Karkat to shoosh the fuck out of them. Kanaya is appealingly exact and Gamzee is a surprisingly charming serial killer in this. And nothing will ever be as good as troll forensics including the sentence "That ain't how a motherfucking greenblood sprays when it's fresh."

FILL: TEAM BRO<3GRANDPA

[macca44552]

Rec 1: Untitled
Team: Equius<3Gamzee
Creator: Main Round 2 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: Wow, this art is just really visually pleasing. It's clean and detailed and the style is simplistic yet gorgeous. The character designs are great, especially Equius (and Gamzee also looks pretty hot, I think). Also, I really like the test-tubes in the background. Is that a weird thing to like? I just adore the way they're drawn. And it's my headcanon that the woman in the picture frame is Nepeta, haha. I could honestly stare at this piece forever.

Rec 2: Siren's Song
Team: Feferi<3Jade
Creator: Main Round 2 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: I pretty much fell in love with this video as soon as I watched it. The voice acting was great (I loved Jade's accent), the art was beautiful, and it was paced flawlessly with the music. The "I love you" at the end is so sweet and poignant. I'm also in love with the depiction of Feferi's gills. This was such a cool, creative, different piece.

Rec 3: Adaptable
Team: Dave<3Sollux
Creator: Main Round 2 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: Can I just say that I really, really loved Sollux's characterization all the way through? I loved how he wasn't "just a vampire", this team took the vampire thing and really showed how someone like Sollux would react to having this condition. It was wonderful. And Dave was suave and awesome, as always, but conflicted and realistic. The dialogue was a joy to read, and the tension, man, the tension was palpable. Great entry.

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

[fayharley]

Rec 1: Untitled Davesprite <3 Jade Fill
Team: Davesprite <3 John
Creator: chouettechouette
Why I’m recommending it: Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. Here it's mixed with a coffee shop AU to create a wonderfully sweet little slice of life. The colors are warm and cozy and I love the background. Especially all the birds on the wall, it makes Davesprite look like he's in a wacky animal people version of Portlandia.

Rec 2: Untitles Jade <3 Rose Fill
Team: Terezi <3 Vriska
Creator: skaiasthelimit
Why I’m recommending it: Another genre mash up (I really loved BR1), here Lovecraftian Horror and Slice Of Life. Horror and Rose go hand in hand, or rather hand in tentacle I guess. Who hasn't wished for a couple extra appendages when doing the dishes? Rose is one lucky gal. I love her little fancy outfit as well, with the puffy sleeves. Just adorable.

Rec 3: Untitled Aradia <> Sollux Fill
Team: John <3 Rose
Creator: jelajade
Why I’m recommending it: Like my first rec, it's the colors that really shine here. The muted palette brings a softness and a stillness to the scene. Sollux and Aradia are recognizable, even without being trolls. It's a quiet moment between two loved ones.

FILL: TEAM DAVE<3JOHN

[jamkiske]

10/10 edition - Part 1! I rate everything out of 10 which means pretty much everything I vote for gets a 9 (it doesn't help when narrowing things down when there's like 10 9/10 fics). These are the fics I've found worthy of a 10/10. PERFECTION.
(aka if you actually wrote these tell me so I can stalk you)

Rec 1: Bend Around the Blades
Team: Dirk<3Jake<3Jane<3Roxy
Creator: playerprophet
Why I’m recommending it: I absolutely loved seeing Jane really kick butt in this fic as she's one of my favorite characters, and I thin people really underestimate her. The interactions between the 4 kids are lovely and heartbreaking all at once. It works very well with canon and it's clear thought went into what sort of thing Jane might try to do to win the game. It's also very suspenseful until the very end.

Rec 2: Lingering in Doorways
Team: Dad<3Roxy
Creator: tawny
Why I’m recommending it: Is it clear I love sad fics yet? I really loved the emotions here and the portrayal of how complicated this relationship would be is great (as it is in everything this team has written). Both Dad and Roxy are full of complex feelings that are written perfectly and the reader can't help but feel those feelings too. Just a very emotional and well written piece.

Rec 3: It Could Happen To You
Team: Rose<3Roxy
Creator: welcometoinnsmouth
Why I’m recommending it: This fic is incredibly suspenseful throughout! I was literally on the edge of my seat freaking out as it approached the ending, which works perfectly with the built up suspense. Additionally the back story surrounding Rose and Roxy's relationship is well thought out for the AU setting and works to add to the depth of the situation Roxy finds herself in.

FILL: TEAM KARKAT<3SOLLUX

[astraldeveloper]

Rec 1: Untitled Alpha OT4 pesterlog fic
Team: Dirk<>Roxy
Creator: pyrokineticvampire
Why I’m recommending it: My favourite solution to all love n-drangles. This is cute and fun and I love Roxy being sick of all this romantic drama surrounding her. Also that Jake is immediately 100% onboard.

Rec 2: Alpha OT4 Minimalism + Steampunk fic
Team: Jade♥Kanaya♥Rose
Creator: true_red
Why I’m recommending it: This is a really cute little scene. I like the way the relationship between the four of them feels equal, what’s shown of it anyway. Plus, I love fic on relationships that takes the point of view of an unrelated, observing character! The waitress is so unimpressed, it’s great.

Rec 3: Alpha OT4 Minimalism + Steampunk picture
Team: Terezi♠Vriska
Creator: fortnight_dreaming
Why I’m recommending it: I love the outfit designs in this picture, especially Roxy’s and Jane’s. Also cute vests for Jake and Dirk! The machinery all looks really awesome, too, particularly Roxy’s gun. <3 They all look so ready to get down to business, where that business involves shooting things and possibly not looking at explosions.

FILL: TEAM DAVE<3JOHN

[jamkiske]

Art Recs - Main Round 1 Edition! It's important to love the art pieces too.

Rec 1: Sink or Swim
Team: Feferi<3Jade
Creator: oliviamacabre
Why I’m recommending it: This is a beautiful piece of art. It fits the theme of gambling in a way that's outside the box as Jade must gamble her life to reach Fef. The coloring is really gorgeous as the underwater lighting looks fantastic!

Rec 2: Good Cards. Best Deck.
Team: Jade<3Karkat
Creator: lattelatte
Why I’m recommending it: These are super cute! Seeing people draw playing cards was common for this round. What sets these apart are the different depictions of Jade and Karkat through time, ranging from a grub and a baby to the corresponding guardian versions of the Sufferer and Grandpa Harley. Each card features a distinctly different art style, and each artist captured their Vantas/Harley combo in a beautiful and detailed way.

Rec 3: Untitled
Team: Terezi<3Vriska
Creator: mishfin
Why I’m recommending it: Another set of playing cards! These are really cool as they show the various sides of Terezi and Vriska and their relationship. Each card is drawn by a different artist, and once again the styles are all lovely and unique. Additionally, thought was put into what should go on each card as can be seen by reading the card meanings in the description.

Rec 4: Time to Get Lucky
Team: Dave<3Dave
Creator: ghostpen0r
Why I’m recommending it: This is an incredibly unique interpretation of the gambling prompt! The slot machine concept is depicted really nicely and it is a lot of fun to watch the pictures go around until they form one complete piece. It helps that the art is really lovely as well!

FILL: TEAM JOHN<3ROSE

[para_normally]

Rec 1: Speak Easy
Team: Team Karkat<3Nepeta
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: What expert composition? And rich colours?? And soft lighting??? My mouth practically fell open when I first clicked it open. I LOVE how you keep catching little details in this the longer you look at it - the lovely decorations in Nepeta's hair, on her horns, and hanging from her ears, the cards arrayed under Karkat's elbow, the way she leans on him just so, radiating quiet confidence in her matesprit... /happy sigh. Also brilliant is the way the colours shift from cool to warm to cool again as the viewer's eye moves from one of them to the other.

Rec 2: Betting On You
Team: Team Karkat<3Terezi
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: WAY to remind me why this has been one of my very favourite ships throughout my entire time as a Homestuck thus far, Team KK<3TZ!! I was overjoyed that this fic actually reveals what it WAS that their "little moment" during SGRUB was! Terezi's voice here is wonderful: she's giddy and wicked and derisive and more than a little mean... only to realize she's been treating a matter of Karkat's personal safety with MUCH too a light a touch after all. The author also drives home what a caring and trusting person Karkat is at his core, for all his surface roughness. If the deal hadn't been sealed for me already... I would have been sold upon reading the last line, which reminds me of that ONE conversation between them in canon in which Terezi told him that she thought everyone already DID believe in Karkat as their leader. This fic shows that so does she, through and through.

Rec 3: They Gambled Past Starfall
Team: Team John<3Vriska
Creator: Round 1 Team Entry
Why I’m recommending it: I believe this fic will remain one of my favourite Homestuck fanworks of all time. (...and it is the fanwork that finally got me shipping John<3Vriska in earnest after a long period of simply being vaguely ambivalent-to-positive on it!) Their voices are PERFECT, particularly Vriska in all her tragic, wild, destructive glee and pain, and the end left me stunned and in tears. I can't give away TOO much for fear of spoiling it for anybody who hasn't had the harrowing pleasure of reading this, but I remember audibly gasping at the passage that so explicitly and surreally refers to their eventual destinies in SBURB. Author of his fic: PLEASE have much more writing squirreled away and planned for the future, because you really, really ought to be published.

FILL: TEAM JADE<3JOHN<3KARKAT

[ellipsometry]

some of my fave entries from rounds 1- 3 and the collab round (❁´◡`❁)

Rec 1: Good cards. Best deck.
Team: Team Jade<3Karkat
Creator: Round 1 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: This is a really fun entry that was obviously really collaborative because there are illustrations by a lot of different artists on the team and they're all wonderful! This entry is really fun and colorful and is a cute interpretation of the prompt. (Plus I especially enjoyed the Signless and Grandpa Harley high-fiving, haha.)

Rec 2: The Frost Witch and the Lady of Thorns
Team: Team Jade<3Rose
Creator: Round 2 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: This is probably one of my favorite pieces that I've seen/read in HSO. The illustrations are beautiful, the concept is unique and interesting, and the writing is beautiful. It reads a lot like a mixture of prose and poetry, and the word choice and syntax is just so perfect and wow I'm serious I can't say enough nice things about the writing in this just go read it ok. u__u

Rec 3: Turn Left
Team: Team Dave<3Rose
Creator: Round 3 Entry
Why I’m recommending it: This was such a clever and bittersweet interpretation of the prompt. I love how the two separate pieces compliment each other and the writing is lovely. Plus the hover-text on the last illustration is perfect.

Rec 4: This Is Not My Beautiful Life
Team: Team Aradia<>Sollux
Creator: Round 3 Entry
Why I'm recommending it: This is another of my favorite pieces I've read in HSO! :) The writing and characterization is really spot-on, the 'Khosmo Tips' are freaking hilarious and this is an over-all great read!

Rec 5: Play By Heart
Team: Team Dirk<3Jake
Creator: Collab Round Entry
Why I'm recommending it: Well this was one of the most fun, seamless 'game'-like entries in HSO! :) Everything about this was wonderful, from the concept to the characterization, to the writing and the art! You can tell a lot of work was put into this and it definitely shows. Plus it's mega replayable which is great!

FILL: TEAM DAVE<3ROSE

[psonu]

early bonus roooooounds

Rec 1: she ain't fancy she ain't fine, bonus round 1
Team: DIRK<3JAKE<3JANE<3ROXY
Creator: nextian
Why I’m recommending it: writing this fic as if it were an entry in mindfang’s journal was really clever! rpf within a fanfic. i love how terezi’s cunning is pitted against vriska’s and vriska’s misplaced self-confidence loses it for her. and how can you not rec a fic with passionate “taste testing.”

Rec 2: untitled, bonus round 1
Team: JOHN<3KARKAT
Creator: fivetail
Why I’m recommending it: this was a really cool way to combine two completely different genre, domestic realism and psychological horror. i love the juxtaposition of the domestic imagery next to the descriptions of murder. and then the tick, tocks instead devolve into dialogue and the two combine. really cool!

Rec 3: untitled, bonus round 1
Team: DAVE<3JADE
Creator: portaling
Why I’m recommending it: this was the first fill i got and i was so thrilled it was for this prompt. i was so disappointed that the beta ot4 didn’t have enough team members to become an official team, so i tried to leave plenty of prompts for them and i was really lucky to get such a fantastic fill! excellent characterization, mood building, and imagery! v good.

Rec 4: eridan<3karkat game, bonus round 2
Team: JOHN<3KARKAT
Creator: crowry
Why I’m recommending it: hosting radio talk shows was the perfect environment for eridan and karkat to argue over silly things. this fan adventure continued for a while and all the contributions were great! the whole thing was generally hilarious and well characterized

Rec 5: dave<3kanaya<3rose game, bonus round 2
Team: TEREZI<3VRISKA
Creator: mishfin
Why I’m recommending it: EVERY PART OF THIS THREAD IS GREAT. attractive ladies are not so sneaky flirts and dave is flustered. THEY ARE ALL BABES. ok now everyone kiss.

Rec 6: gen game, bonus round 2
Team: DAVE<3KARKAT
Creator: grayscaleodyssey
Why I’m recommending it: instead of bothering dirk about it, caliborn plays the sims to play out his “”naughty”” fantasies. complete with a customized screen with a BOOBS slider. it looks like a few of the contributors actually made alpha kids sims to play! v cool idea.

FILL: TEAM DAVE<3JOHN

[jamkiske]

10/10 Fics - Part 2! Too many fics in Main Round 3 were perfect to me.

Rec 1: Reach
Team: John<3Karkat
Creator: crowry
Why I'm recommending it: The art is beautiful and captures the emotions of this just as well as the words do. It provides a great interpretation of what might happen after the game and develops the characters it includes well, taking them on paths that work well. Seeing John and Karkat continue to depend on each other fits them and it is all portrayed perfectly.

Rec 2: Unspoken
Team: John<3Vriska
Creator: digitized
Why I’m recommending it: A very amazing and heartbreaking interpretation of the prompt! The art is lovely and the poetry really captures what these two love about each other. Gripping until the ending which I won't spoil; just trust me it's good.

Rec 3: You Just Have to See Her
Team: Rose<3Roxy
Creator: welcometoinnsmouth
Why I’m recommending it: This was gripping throughout. Even knowing what would happen to Rose because of canon, it was easy to become just as on edge as Roxy. Excellently written. The emotions were fantastically captured from both points of view.

FILL: TEAM John<3Rose

[astrologicallydubious]

BR3 Recs Part 3: (I'm Out of Themes)

Rec 1: Terezi Super Star - Alternia Breeze
Team: Terezi<3Vriska
Creator: blackstuffedcat
Why I’m recommending it: That is a cute Terezi. I feel like Terezi as Kirby would work pretty well; Kirby is usually so happy and bubbly and Terezi is always cackling and grinning (though a lot more sinister than Kirby, but still, that grin). Plus the putting-things-in-her-mouth bit is right up her alley. The background is also very nice, especially how reminiscent of her in-canon forest it is while still being recognizable as a Kirby setting.

Rec 2: Spyrope the Dragon
Team: Dave<3Jade
Creator: watchfob
Why I’m recommending it: I never get tired of Terezi dragons and I really like this crossover. She looks suitably Spyro-y and Terezi-y at the same time. Also, jeez, Spyrope is a perfect name.

Rec 3: Eridan: Feferi's Fury
Team: Dave<3Kanaya<3Rose
Creator: lumberjacktier
Why I’m recommending it: More Spyro! I like the details on this one, like the stripes on his front resembling his scarf, and the rings on his claws, and that kind of haughty expression. Also the title change, and the horn and spike on the E to mimic the spines on Spyro's S. Very nice.

Rec 4: untitled Tetris
Team: Dirk<>Roxy
Creator: pyrokineticvampire
Why I’m recommending it: A clever use of the troll/zodiac signs. I think I probably would ragequit pretty fast. What do you even DO with that Aquarius sign???

FILL: TEAM DAVE<3JOHN

[jamkiske]

Art Recs from Main Round 2

Rec 1: Untitled
Team: Equius<3Gamzee
Creator: sinnovedades
Why I’m recommending it: Absolutely gorgeous piece of art. Gamzee as a Frankenstein-esque monster is very suitable and a unique choice of a monster for the prompt. Despite its simplicity, there is a clear attention to detail.

Rec 2: Into the Woods
Team: Dave<3< Karkat<3Terezi<3Dave
Creator: sadisticbutsweet
Why I’m recommending it: This piece is really gorgeous. There's particularly a lot of attention to detail in the background. Terezi and Dave as monsters reflecting their lusii is really clever and their interaction with Dave as a human fits the relationship perfectly.

Rec 3: A Spider's Kiss
Team: Kanaya<3Vriska
Creator: aristh
Why I’m recommending it: The image is of a book cover of a novel written by Rose. It's a very clever way to fill the prompt, and seems to truly be the sort of thing Rose would write. Kanaya and Vriska both look lovely and their outfits are particularly gorgeous and detailed.

Rec 4: The Centaur's Forest
Team: Dirk<3Equius
Creator: cypher
Why I’m recommending it: This is really great comic from the art to the writing. The luscious forest background is depicted beautifully. Both Dirk and Equius are perfectly in character within this lovely AU.

FILL: TEAM KARKAT<3SOLLUX

[astraldeveloper]

Rec 1: Untitled Rose<3Karkat magical realism/highschool au fic and picture
Team: Jade♥John
Creator: vinenettle
Why I’m recommending it: The picture is just too adorable for one thing! Such a cute humanstuck!Karkat and Rose. I also love the idea of Karkat being impressed and fascinated by Rose and her powers. I just love the cuteness, and also this rarepair.

Rec 2: Untitled John<3Rose regency/magical realism fic
Team: Jake♥Jane
Creator: primitiveradiogoddess
Why I’m recommending it: This is just a really sweet, romantic scene. I can totally see John and Rose in this setting and trusting each other like this, and the idea of secretly magic!Rose in the past is really interesting. The writing is great, too, simple and elegant.

Rec 3: Untitled Rose<3Karkat magical realism/highschool au fic
Team: Aradia<>Dave
Creator: binners
Why I’m recommending it: This is *such a cool scenario* wow. Karkat with stigmata is basically the best thing ever. And mysterious Rose. I love the cool description of events that leaves the emotions up to the reader's imagination, I think it works really well here.