Rec-Cember 2025 Day 17: Life Series [25]

[mrsluigivargas]

I heard the Life series is going on indefinite hiatus? That’s wild. But honestly, they all deserve a break after all that, lol.

act of kindness, never wastedby Anonymous
General Audiences | Gen
Joel SmallishBeans
Drabble
100 words | One-shot
One day, someone other than ghosts may visit the land of the slaughter.

And The Birds Stopped Singing by do0zy-writez (HollowWish)
Teen And Up Audiences | Major Character Death | Gen
Jimmy SolidarityGaming, Skizzleman, Joel SmallishBeans
Hurt/Comfort
3,680 words | One-shot
Jimmy dies first again and he hates it. He hates how familiar it is, he hates the stupid afterlife that always comes with death.
Luckily he is not left to wallow for long. Friends join him, and comfort ensues.

Better by Moonsetvoid
General Audiences | Gen
Grian & GoodTimesWithScar
Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending
3,246 words | One-shot
Everyone is screaming and yelling, running, chasing after Joel. There are zombies as far as he can see, in groups and alone, groaning and gurgling into the night. It fills his ears, wraps itself around his mind like a vice, catapults him back to when he was just a kid, fighting the world with his teeth bared and no one at his back.

Bleeding Heart Ranch by HitheePrithee
Teen And Up Audiences | M/M
Jimmy SolidarityGaming/TangoTek, Jimmy SolidarityGaming & PearlescentMoon, PearlescentMoon & TangoTek
AU - Western, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Found Family, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Supernatural Elements
6,824 words | One-shot
Tango is a rancher, Jimmy is hard on his luck and needs a home, and Tango has never been able to say no to a hard luck case.
But Jimmy isn't the only one looking for home, and soon Tango's bleeding heart must find room for a dog who won't bark, a horse who can't be ridden, and a girl who's been told she's a witch.

Graveyard Shift by patchysocks
Mature | Graphic Depictions Of Violence | Gen
GeminiTay & Joel SmallishBeans
Canon-Typical Violence, Mild Angst
5,456 words | One-shot
Joel considers just leaving the body to rot on the mountainside – it’s not like anyone will be able to bury his body, after all, because this is a death game, which means that everyone needs to die eventually. However, as Joel steps past the corpse, intent on returning to Gem and giving her a proper burial, he feels a whisper in the back of his mind.
“You’re not just going to leave him, right?”
Joel looks around. His eyes dart across the night sky, the stars speckling above. The world is empty, empty of living, breathing creatures; all except him are dead. Even most of the animals had been killed and replaced by the wild cards randomly activating all week. It was just Joel. Just him. Empty, lonely, gone and gone. He’s felt loneliness before.
The sky knows not of the devastation below. It’ll take hundreds of years before the stars know of the events that unfolded here.
*~*~*
Or, Joel buries about fourteen bodies, recovers memories from previous lives, and reconciles with his victory, all while Gem's ghost commentates from beyond.

(hopeless boy) seeking someone who will share this feeling by butterfly_wings
General Audiences | Gen
PearlescentMoon & BigB
Canon Compliant
2,110 words | One-shot
BigB and Pearl have a conversation at the base of Frog Tower. They have more in common than they thought.

how to show your heart on your sleeve by Tiny_Minecraft_Rabbit (Peter_Rabbit)
General Audiences | Gen
Grian & PearlescentMoon & GoodTimesWithScar
Friendship, Fluff
1,131 words | One-shot
After the events of how to growl and bare your teeth by Odaigahara, Pearl begins to learn, with the unintentional help of Scar and Grian, that she is not unloveable <3

I am Done Dancing to Alarm Bells by WyvernsFlight
General Audiences | Major Character Death | Other
Martyn InTheLittleWood & ZombieCleo
AU - Canon Divergence
264 words | One-shot
Cleo never thought they would make it this far in the death game. It's only because of Martyn. It's always Martyn.
They both agreed PVP would be too easy for Martyn, but.. But. If they left it up to chance... The Square Hole loomed in the distance awaiting a final meal.
Or
Cleo said on a stream a few days ago that if it had ended up just them and Martyn at the end; they would jump into the square hole together.

love like lavender by deityoftherain
Teen And Up Audiences | Gen
Scott Smajor1995 & PearlescentMoon
AU - Regency + Historical, Friendship, Fluff and Humor, Fake/Pretend Relationship
2,129 words | One-shot
Scott and Pearl loved each other, but not in the way their society wanted. Their love for one another was more like lavender, devoted and pure, but not romantic in nature. With pressure from their families and the rest of the ton, the two form a plan...

love seemed like a joke (and lonely was the evening) by Hypno_Cat, Skiaeral
Teen And Up Audiences | Gen, M/M, Multi
BdoubleO100/GoodTimesWithScar/impulseSV
Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, Hopeful Ending, Angst, Fluff, AU - Canon Divergence, Soulmates
73,600 words | 14 chapters
“Grian left me,” Scar says dully, and Bdubs feels his lungs constrict all at once in his chest. Impulse glances over at him, alarm bleeding through every bit of his expression as he glances between the two of them.
“He- he’s with Bigb now, so, uh, at least he’s happy,” Scar continues, bitter, cloying cheer in every inch of his expression. He sets down his fork, gently and carefully, still staring into the middle distance.
“You were right! How about that, huh. There you go.” His face twists into something that might have been an attempt at a smile, and his Adam’s apple bobs thickly.
“Oh, Scar,” Bdubs hears Impulse say gently.
Or: Bdubs and Impulse scheme, just a little, to try and split up soulmates. It goes a bit differently than they expect.

my diamond, my pearl by aeriedwelling
General Audiences | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings | F/M
Joel SmallishBeans/Lizzie LDShadowLady, EthosLab & Joel SmallishBeans, Joel SmallishBeans & Jimmy Solidarity
AU - Steven Universe Fusion
5,752 words | 3 chapters
Well. Running was stupid. He dashes around a corner, immediately crashing into a quartz. He looks up, eyes going wide-
"Etho! Etho- poof me!"
(or, joel fuses with a diamond)

my hand, my heart (my throat, my wrist) by soldiersummonersaint
Teen And Up Audiences | Multi
Lizzie LDShadowLady & Rendog, Joel SmallishBeans/Lizzie LDShadowLady, Joel SmallishBeans & Rendog
Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Violence, Grief/Mourning
3,448 words | One-shot
“Do you have her flowers?”
This man who tragedy adores; kissing his eyelids and cradling his hand the whole way. This man who has no sovereignty over Ren; no alliance or pact or promise. No moonlit devotions. There is nothing tying them together except for the unspoken.
Wife and Queen and ghost and corpse; skin giving way to bones deep underground. Flowers are the least Ren can do for Joel. It’s all he can do.
or: Ren and Joel, and the aftermath of Lizzie's death.

"No thanks, I'm good" by HydeOmonster
General Audiences | F/M, Gen
Joel SmallishBeans, The Watchers
Crack Treated Seriously
2,032 words | 2 chapters
"So, what will it be?"
"I don't get it."
Joel would like to go back to Hermitcraft, debrief with his beautiful wife, celebrate his *well deserved* win with his friends (who no longer want his head on a stick) and rest after the utter chaos and nonsense that was Wild Life.
But instead here he is.
Or : Joel has to choose which celestial body he represents as a winner. He chooses to be a nuisance.

once more, with feelingby wrenkitchens
General Audiences | Gen
The Watchers, Life Series Ensemble
871 words | One-shot
it’s not exactly the same every time. it’s altered by what they went through, and why they’re asking, and how it all ended. but it’s always close enough that it may as well be the same.

part-time lover, full-time friend by stormsanddrizzles
General Audiences | Gen
Martyn InTheLittleWood & Scott Smajor1995 & PearlescentMoon & ZombieCleo
Queerplatonic Relationships, AU - Modern Setting + High School + Theatre, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort
2,524 words | One-shot
“Scott? What’s wrong?”
Scott’s half-smile immediately falls, face dropping into a petulant pout. “Pearl,” he whines, and she giggles.
“That’s right! I know you too well, you can’t hide from me. What’s going on?”
Scott sighs, picking at the fabric of the beanbag. “Are you—you’re doing okay? With the play, with our storyline?” he asks, something achingly earnest in his voice.
Pearl blinks. That… was not what she was expecting. Still, she supposes it makes sense. In real life, Scott is the best QPP Pearl could ask for, and she can’t imagine anyone she’s closer to, or anyone she’d rather give such a role in her life. In the play, though… well, in the play, Pearl and Scott hate each other, to put it bluntly.

pressure plates by atthebell
Teen And Up Audiences | Multi
EthosLab/GeminiTay/ZombieCleo
3,554 words | One-shot
“Cleo,” Gem’s voice comes from behind her, and she watches her slide from behind a tree, her expression full of earnest affection. “That was amazing,” she says, almost shyly, and Cleo loves that Gem is capable of both endless confidence and utter vulnerability.
“It was,” she agrees. “You were amazing.”
Gem blushes, the first time Cleo’s gotten to personally experience the pink flush rising on her cheeks, her head ducking and then raising again as if in challenge to her embarrassment. It’s good, Cleo thinks, and she plans to make it happen again and again.
“She was,” Etho says, stepping out of the foliage, and Cleo wonders how these two are so good at being sneaky. “Amazing, that is,” he adds, as if they wouldn’t realize, but when Gem’s blush turns towards scarlet, Cleo is glad he repeated it. She wonders how red they could get Gem, working together.
Cleo, Gem, and Etho solidify some alliances. With arson, of course.

push and pull by solarcafe
General Audiences | Gen
Life Series Ensemble
Mild Hurt/Comfort
1,011 words | One-shot
Post-Limited Life is a safe, short time before participants go their separate ways. Hugs, congratulations, and few apologies are exchanged.
(Or, each faction's reunion after Limited Life's finale.)

soldier, hand, king by justanaveragewriterbuddy
Explicit | M/M, Multi
Martyn InTheLittleWood/Rendog/Skizzleman
Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Missing Scene, Fluff, Love Confessions, Threesome
21,431 words | 3 chapters
Ren gently places his hands on Martyn's shoulders, getting his attention. "Do not send him to the barracks after you are done," he says.
Martyn frowns. "What do you suggest I do, then?"
Ren pauses. His tongue flicks out to wet his lips. "Is he still wearing his armor?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Divest him of it, then bring him here," Ren instructs. "I… would like to assist you in caring for him, if you are amenable."

Take a Bow by Vanyel
General Audiences | Major Character Death | Gen
Martyn InTheLittleWood & ZombieCleo
527 words | One-shot
A great showman can play roles of any kind.

The Final Order (But Really the First) by FireQueenOfficial
Not Rated | Major Character Death
EthosLab & impulseSV & Skizzleman & TangoTek
Angst
2,706 words | One-shot
"My time is not going to anyone else!" Skizz insisted, turning away like he couldn't bear to look at them. "I can't get it done, it's going to one of you! It's going to a member of TIES!" When he turned around, there was resolve in his eyes, and Tango knew they were already too late. Skizz's mind was made up; not even Impulse would be able to change it now.
Not that Impulse seemed inclined to try. He still hadn't moved.
"What is happening?!" Tango couldn’t care less that he sounded hysterical. This couldn't be real, it couldn't! Skizz couldn't just- he couldn't! Not Skizz.
---
How do you kill your best friend? Your closest brother? Your leader? The person you've trusted since day one to carry you to the end? How do you live with that? Can you?

there's a patch of dirt where scott's pacing has worn away the grass by wrenkitchens
Teen And Up Audiences | Gen
Joel SmallishBeans & Scott Smajor1995, GeminiTay & Joel SmallishBeans
1,594 words | One-shot
there’s a patch of dirt where scott’s pacing has worn away the grass entirely, but he doesn’t stop — can’t stop. the hole is officially filled, bricked up to dirt with deepslate, all stalagmites gathered in a chest hidden away from the view of any — anyone who might come here. bigb was conspiring against him — that’s fine, it’s fine as long as he doesn’t — he can see it coming now. they won’t get the jump on him, not again.
out of the corner of his eye, he sees movement, and before his brain can catch up, scott has his sword pointed at the throat of a surprised looking joel. it occurs to him too late that this isn’t the way someone who was dealing well with something would react, and he sees that recognition mirrored in joel’s grin.

Ties that Bind and Spaces Left Behind by ZodiacDragon334
General Audiences | Gen
impulseSV & Skizzleman
Grief/Mourning, Angst, Hurt No Comfort
1,715 words | One-shot
"Maybe if he kept his eyes shut, he could still pretend Skizz came back to the tower with them like normal. That he was just down the stairs or up in the tower with Tango and Etho as he always was, laughing and plotting to drop TNT on the Bad Boys or the Clockers. Or bugging Tango about the tower being crooked for the millionth time. Any minute now, he'd come sauntering up the stairs with the same red-tinted bloodthirst in his eyes from earlier, only for it to fade the instant Impulse met his gaze. Skizz would sit in the chair to Impulse's left. He'd laugh and joke and encourage him. Tell him that he was amazing and he could do anything he wanted. As he always did.
But he wasn't there. He wasn't where he should be."
Or: After Skizz's final sacrifice in Limited Life, Impulse struggles to come to terms with the gaping void his death has left behind in Team T.I.E.S.' base.

TrustFall by Moonsetvoid
General Audiences | Gen
Jimmy SolidarityGaming & GoodTimesWithScar
Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort
1,141 words | One-shot
The beauty of it is not the surprising part. It's not even that he spent the better part of the day eating dirt or leaves or shovels. No, the strangest thing on the mountain is the people. The strangest thing about them is that they're there at all. With Scar. On purpose.
He can't quite figure it out. The why of it. Jimmy had made it look so easy to say he would stay, like he couldn't think of a million reasons not to. And then Lizzie, who he had invited, and then still been surprised to see her there when he got back. They do it without obligation. Scar had almost forgotten what that felt like.

unspoken conversations by wrenkitchens
General Audiences | Gen
EthosLab & Joel SmallishBeans
Hurt/Comfort, Arranged Marriage
1,000 words | One-shot
etho isn’t sure if joel even likes crosswords at all, judging by the utterly murderous look he’s giving the one he’s attempting right now. it’s like he’s trying to destroy it with his mind. it’s rather interesting to watch, and etho wouldn’t be surprised if that was something joel could do, but only saves for particularly annoying newspaper quizzes. a man’s gotta have some morals in life.
maybe joel isn’t the evil wizard etho had once thought, but he certainly isn’t as warm and mushy inside as etho had hoped. honestly, he’s.. kind of boring. which is not something etho expected to call the king who everyone assumes is plotting world dominance in his evil wizard castle. though, if joel’s expression is anything to go by, this crossword might be his origin story.

Wild Times by painted_fl0wers
General Audiences | Gen
Joel SmallishBeans & Life Series SMP Ensemble
Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst
1,678 words | One-shot
Joel has won the games. Now what?
—
After winning Wild Life, Joel joins the other Victors in waiting for the next game.

your half of the ransom by definitelynotshouting
Teen And Up Audiences | M/M
Grian/GoodTimesWithScar
Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Unreliable Narrator, Post-Canon
2,113 words | One-shot
Trader Scar's is too-empty for so comely a morning, a hollowed-out shell long rebuilt and bristling with more wares than he has those to sell them to. But it's a familiar charade— Scar slips into the back with a single sunflower clenched tight in his palm, bruising the petals and scratching against the insides of his fingers.
When Scar steps back out to the front, a ghost is waiting patiently for him at the counter.
"Oh," Scar says, and the word scrapes like rust from the well of his throat. He'd recognize those wings anywhere."Well, hello there, Grian."

[Masterlist]