#and messing with grian while joel and jimmy are chasing after them like

[possiblyawesometmblr]

saw a post interpreting this episode as the watchers forcibly dragging grian's soul back to where it belongs and while i love that angst potential there is also immense comedy to be found here. imagine you're joel/jimmy and out of nowhere, your third teammate sighs really loudly and goes "hang on. gods are trying to take me back" and then just goes catatonic. what the fuck do you even do

[smileymoth]

1 // 2 // 3  // 4 // 5. The final part of my double life writings :)

***

Scar stood above the burnt ground of the sanctuary, the light wind messing with his hair. He looked around trying to spot where all of the Jellies had travelled after their home was destroyed. The red velvet keep was gone, the panda reserve was burnt. His lives were gone. Everything was gone. The gravity felt so fragile after death, as if you were floating above the world, vision foggy yet somehow so crystal clear it scared him. It didn’t help that his body felt detached from his soul. He had stayed at the secret hideout for the past couple of days, he had been afraid of looking at the destruction fire had brought to their keep in the last days of the chaos. 

He had briefly spoken to Pearl and Bdubs in the meantime, as well as apologized to Tango and Jimmy who laughed it off instantly and gave him a big warm hug. He cleaned up the torn bamboo, throwing it all into a pile where the sanctuary used to stand, alerting the Jellies to walk toward Scar. He heard laughter from a distance, Joel and Etho, Bdubs and Impulse laughing as they chased each other down the steep edges of the ravine, being picked up by fishing rods when they fell. 

Oh the calmness, the forgiveness of floating in the afterlife with your friends and partners, with no way to hurt yourself other than the emotional damage and ache living deep in one's bones. All until the next challenge between life and death strikes. Scar felt lost, he wished he wouldn’t feel betrayed, but he did. Grian had ditched him, whether by accident or not. He couldn’t find him, nor feel his presence tied to him any longer. Laying down on the soft grass, he pushed his hat on his face to avoid the burning Sun. A few Jellie’s stomped there and curled up against him, their soft fur brushing against him -- at least someone was there for him. Closing his eyes, his mind drifted away while the soft sounds of nature soothed him. Maybe being alone wasn’t so bad.

It was a while until he felt another identity join his space. He thought it would be another of the Jellies, but when he pushed his hat from his eyes to peek, he saw Grian. He stood in silence, a bouquet of alliums and poppies in his hand, blocking the Sun from Scar. He looked worried, a bit timid and embarrassed to face Scar again. 

“Hello Grian.” Scar greeted him, pushing the hat back to cover his face, eyes closed once again. 

“I wanted to apologize.” his voice was shaking, eyes tracing his ex-soulmate and the pandas guarding him. “I’m sorry. It just… wasn’t meant to be.”

“You left me. I couldn’t find you anywhere…” his voice was apologetic, as if he had done something wrong. “I was trying to find you and then it was over. And then I… I couldn’t find you even then.” 

“I know. It just happened, you know?” 

“Oh I know full well, Grian.” as much as he tried to hide it, he couldn’t help but sound bitter. 

Grian sat down next to Scar and the Jellies in the grass. He looked at the flowers in his hand, pulling off a dried up petal from a poppy, “Look, I, I was wondering if we could still… be friends? I know I haven’t been the best soulmate and partner and, anyone, really. I’ve been awful to you. I brought you these flowers,” he raised the bouquet toward him, “as an apology. I... I had to bargain with Cleo for these, she was the only one who had alliums, I know you like them.” 

Scar sat up and leaned against one of the Jellies sleeping behind him at that moment, “Of course we can be friends, we will always be friends.” he took the bouquet, their hands brushing together for a faint moment. “Where were you?” he turned to Grian who was nervously rubbing his hands together. “I haven’t seen you in days.” 

After a moment of hesitation, Grian confessed to having been at The Box. He did feel guilty for abandoning Scar like that, but he wanted to apologize and make up for the hurt he had put BigB through. The wound between him and Scar was already rotten, it wouldn’t heal for some time. “I don’t have excuses for disappearing like that, I hope you can forgive me.” was all he could really say.

Scar nodded along, stroking the flower petals as one of the Jellie’s poked her face into Scar’s hands, sniffing the alliums before sneezing. Scar laughed and scratched the underneath of her chin, to which the Jellie purred,  “Isn’t she just adorable?” Jellie’s fur felt so light and silky to touch now, even more-so than before.

“She is, yeah. Uh, Scar, I don’t know if you heard, but Bdubs and Impulse and throwing a pool party. Are you coming?”

“A pool party?” he raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself. 

Grian rubbed the back of his head, aware of what Scar was hinting at with his question, “He promised us that no zombies would be present, Ren also gave his word.” he shot an awkward smile at him, “and Impulse said the copper has fully oxydized so, maybe it’s good luck this time.” 

“Oh that’s amazing. I better get ready then!” he felt a spark of joy in his heart for the first time in a while. 

Grian’s eyes shifted to the ground in shame, “I should also get going. I think. I promised I would be back soon.” 

“Of course.” Scar nodded, eyes tracing Grian’s movements as he stumbled to his feet and started to walk away. “Grian, wait.” he managed, before the fogginess of the world covered his silhouette in the distance. 

“Yes, Scar?” he looked over his shoulder, stopping in his tracks.

“I hope you and BigB are happy together.” he smiled, “See you at the party, Grian.” 

[stormfoxes]

3rd Life SMP: What if Martyn wasn’t recruited by Ren in session 1?

So, this thought came to me and I felt like rambling a bit about it because I feel that it could have changed the entire narrative of the series.

I am not the best at analyzing things nor as good as people who actually make “alternate history” posts/videos, but I wanted to share roughly what I came up with regardless.

For those who have not seen 3rd life, below the cut will be spoilers

[Sessions 1 & 2]

Canonically, Martyn used the enchant table at Renchanting while Ren was DC’d by a game crash. Upon Ren’s return, Martyn is recruited to be the marketing manager of the business.

In this timeline, however, he leaves without getting recruited and goes on his merry way. The Blue Swords Boys group is formed between him, Grian, and BigB, other cannonical events occur and we eventually get to the point where Scar dies to a creeper and Skizz dies to an enderman.

Martyn joined in on mocking Scar & Grian that they had dark oak saplings, this quartet of him, Jimmy, Scott, and Joel would become a faction, the Foresters. He would settle in the chunk of forest between where Joel’s house is and the flower forest of Jimmy/Scott.

The Red Desert (Grian/ Scar) and Team Crastle (Bdubs, Cleo, Tango, Impulse) are formed. Impulse & Etho settle in the swamp, BigB settles on the mountain outside Renchanting and remains unaligned.

Renchanting ends up comprised of Ren and Skizz as the duo. They remain peaceful and non-confrontational.

-

[Sessions 3 & 4]

Scar tries to buy Renchanting’s table and events follow cannon with him threatening to target them first. He then proceeds to yeet himself into the ravine later on. Ren panics and plans with Skizz to have a passageway between Renchanting & Skizzle Point.

Skizz then is robbed of all his things by the Red Desert and recruits Impulse into Renchanting as they need gear. Etho tags along.

When Scar goes to bargain for Joel’s enchant table, Martyn is a witness and helps retaliate, Scar flees with a warning that they are on his list.

Canonical deaths to Dare to Flare occur. Joel agrees to allow Etho to make a TNT flying machine at his base aimed for the crastle.

Ren is distracted by Scar within Dogwarts, Skizz keeps an eye on Grian and thus forces Grian to build the TNT trap outside the wall as he does in cannon, Skizz sees and alerts Ren.

Scott & Jimmy are at Dogwarts and curiousity gets the better of them so they also go investigate.

The TNT trap is set off by Jimmy. Him, Ren, Skizz, and Scott all die in the explosion.

-

[Sessions 5 & 6]

Everything happens cannonically in Session 5 except the whole Red Winter thing isn’t as dramatic. Ren requests Skizz kills him as, being on red, he can get away with doing so. Skizz reluctantly obliges.

Tango & Ethos deaths occur the same way they do in cannon.

BigB encounters Skizz’s tunnel and subsequently ends up joining them.

Cleo sets Joel’s house on fire and kills him. In retaliation, the other members of the Foresters plot revenge against the Crastle, recruiting Etho temporarily. Bdubs dies to a TNT trap instead of a bubble elevator.

Crastle declares Dogwarts and the Foresters enemies.

Red Desert attempts to become allies with the Foresters who turn them down in favor of Dogwarts because of Grian’s trap killing Jimmy & Scott.

The banner fiasco at Skizzle Point happens as does the chasing of the Red Desert by Renchanting and Pizza’s subsequent murder.

-

Events happen cannonically. Scar burns the wool castle while Grian builds the Red Desert bunker. Etho is then shot by Scar in the desert.

Dogwarts & the Foresters confront Scar & Grian over Etho’s gear and the fact that the wall of Jimmy & Scott’s base was burned down.

Red Desert claims they had nothing to do with the burnt down wall but it’s later revealed to the duo that Team Crastle was responsible when they come to form an alliance with Cleo (and by extension, Bdubs).

They go and mess with Dogwarts’ things but are caught and forced to flee. Cleo’s death to falling occurs as she tries to go over the fortress walls and is shot off them by Ren.

Factions & Allies at this point:

Foresters (Joel, Martyn, Scott, Jimmy) [Allied with Dogwarts]

Dogwarts (Ren, Skizz, Etho, Impulse, BigB) [Allied with Foresters]

Team Crastle (Cleo, Bdubs, Tango, Impulse) [Red Desert]

Red Desert (Scar, Grian) [Team Crastle]

Lives at this point:

Green: Grian, BigB, Impulse, Martyn

Yellow: Scott, Tango

Red: Ren, Skizz, Etho, Joel, Jimmy, Bdubs, Cleo, Scar

-

[Session 7]

Foresters & Dogwarts go after Scar & Grian. The desert blows up and no one dies to it like in cannon.

Grian dies to Martyn

Jimmy dies to Scar and is out of the game

Martyn dies to a Skeleton after being ambushed later

Team Crastle walks up on the battle and gets caught in the crossfire like in cannon.

Tango dies to Ren

Impulse dies to Grian (who thinks Impulse is part of Dogwarts)

Cleo dies to Skizz and is out of the game

Impulse betrays Dogwarts in favor of Team Crastle

Skizz dies to Grian in the craste and is out of the game

Lives at this point:

Green: BigB

Yellow: Grian, Martyn, Impulse

Red: Ren, Etho, Tango, Joel, Bdubs, Scar

Faction members at this point:

Dogwarts/Foresters: Ren, Martyn, Etho, Joel, BigB

Crastle/Desert: Bdubs, Impulse, Tango, Grian, Scar

-

[Session 8]

With both teams balanced at 5v5 Dogwarts would plan to send BigB into the Crastle with an invis potion and End Crystal.

Things would go cannonically with Crastle/Desert planing to lay siege to Dogwarts and trapping the portal while said faction is in the Nether.

Dogwarts would escape the nether and then chase the hooligans off, but get no kills out of it.

BigB is killed by Bdubs in a way similar to cannon.

Ren and Martyn get chased around the map by Impulse and Scar but rendezvous with Joel and his army of wolves, causing their pursuers to flee.

There’s no deaths until the battle at Skizzle point happens.

Impulse kills Martyn

Joel hits Grian from behind and his wolves get the kill

Tango shoots and kills Joel in retaliation.

Dogwarts then retreats.

Ren & Martyn meet up with Etho & BigB at what remains of the wool castle before heading to reclaim Dogwarts.

They get there and are ambushed by the enemy.

Alive at this point:

Dogwarts: Ren (R), Martyn (R), Etho (R), BigB (Y)

Crastle/Desert: Bdubs (R), Tango (R), Impulse (Y), Scar (R), Grian (R)

-

The Battle for Dogwarts would be where the series ends. A full-on bloodbath that only one remains standing after. Who that is I have no idea but I’d place my bets on it being Impulse, Martyn, Etho, or Grian. Whether or not the final 2 are on the same team or not also is unknown.

Anyway, that’s my random alternate timeline ramble. Hope it made sense and I didn’t bore you~