Here's one fill from each of the three Main Rounds that I read for Phase 1 and I wish made it to Phase 2.
Rec 1:Bingo Royale Team: Jake <3 John Creator: unknown (Main Round 1) Why I’m recommending it: We need more elder!fics in the world. Hell, we need more elderly characters in general, and my team affiliation is in no way an indication of any bias. >_> The characterization and the way the retirement-home scene is set are perfect, and the fic's sense of humor is excellent. The links denoting when each song starts in the fic's implicit FST make for quite a clever flourish. I loved the watercolor-y art style, too- John and Jake are still adorable after all these years (and I like the interpretations Equius and Sollux, too).
Rec 2:from my heart and from my hand Team: Dave <3< Gamzee Creator: hupsoonheng [AO3 username; unknown DW username] Why I’m recommending it: By far the creepiest of any of the Main Round 2 fills I read. Considering the "monsters" theme and my love of creepy, that's a huge asset. The descriptions of Dave's new body are so visceral and beautifully detailed; I could actually imagine how Dave physically felt, and it sent shivers down my spine. It's one of the strongest interpretations of kismesissitude I've read, too- it really nailed how to psychologically reconcile hatred with romance, and yet how difficult it is for humans to empathize in precisely the way trolls feel it. Had this one made it to Phase 2, I would've voted for it again there. It's just that good.
Rec 3:Fire and Ice Team: Psiioniic <3 Sufferer Creator: unknown (Main Round 3) Why I’m recommending it: This was one of my favorite interpretations of the "balancing act" theme. While many fills had two writing sections with parallels in their language or actions, few of them did it quite like this. Most of the fills used their parallels to point out the similarities between two situations that had similar meaning, or to show the same situation from different perspectives. However, this one chose to draw completely opposite meanings from nearly the same events! There must be some wizardry involved here, because they managed to make the same exact phrases sound comforting from the Signless's mouth, yet sinister from the Condesce's mouth. I admire the feat, and the art showing the true differences between the two situations is icing on the cake.
FILL: TEAM BRO<3GRANDPA
Rec 1: Bingo Royale
Team: Jake <3 John
Creator: unknown (Main Round 1)
Why I’m recommending it: We need more elder!fics in the world. Hell, we need more elderly characters in general, and my team affiliation is in no way an indication of any bias. >_> The characterization and the way the retirement-home scene is set are perfect, and the fic's sense of humor is excellent. The links denoting when each song starts in the fic's implicit FST make for quite a clever flourish. I loved the watercolor-y art style, too- John and Jake are still adorable after all these years (and I like the interpretations Equius and Sollux, too).
Rec 2: from my heart and from my hand
Team: Dave <3< Gamzee
Creator: hupsoonheng [AO3 username; unknown DW username]
Why I’m recommending it: By far the creepiest of any of the Main Round 2 fills I read. Considering the "monsters" theme and my love of creepy, that's a huge asset. The descriptions of Dave's new body are so visceral and beautifully detailed; I could actually imagine how Dave physically felt, and it sent shivers down my spine. It's one of the strongest interpretations of kismesissitude I've read, too- it really nailed how to psychologically reconcile hatred with romance, and yet how difficult it is for humans to empathize in precisely the way trolls feel it. Had this one made it to Phase 2, I would've voted for it again there. It's just that good.
Rec 3: Fire and Ice
Team: Psiioniic <3 Sufferer
Creator: unknown (Main Round 3)
Why I’m recommending it: This was one of my favorite interpretations of the "balancing act" theme. While many fills had two writing sections with parallels in their language or actions, few of them did it quite like this. Most of the fills used their parallels to point out the similarities between two situations that had similar meaning, or to show the same situation from different perspectives. However, this one chose to draw completely opposite meanings from nearly the same events! There must be some wizardry involved here, because they managed to make the same exact phrases sound comforting from the Signless's mouth, yet sinister from the Condesce's mouth. I admire the feat, and the art showing the true differences between the two situations is icing on the cake.