#fic: covermeup

[almostfoxglove]

📧 wip wednesday! 💗

tysm for the tags <3 @joelmillerisapunk @sawymredfox @galway-girlatwork @milla-frenchy @toomanystoriessolittletime

@baronessvonglitter

I've got a whole fuck-ton of wips right now... so how about a few? up first is a peek at my entry for @jolapeno's dearuary challenge - my prompt was MAX PHILLIPS + EMAILS/POSTCARDS: A long-distance relationship blossoms through emails, or postcards, but the tension of being apart grows.

and here's a peek at MEANT FOR SOMEONE, my no outbreak!au one shot for joel & his girl from COVER ME UP... because it has me feelin SOME TYPE OF WAY (weepy, mushy, weak)

aaaaaand one little peek of the next chapter of SEE YOU AT THREE! explicit(ish) 18+ mdi :,)

npt: @guiltyasdave @ak-vintage @penascigarette @iknowisoundcrazy @thundermartini

@pedgito @whocaresstillthelouvre @secretelephanttattoo @eupheme @evolnoomym

[almostfoxglove]

ahh thank you so much for including cover me up on this spectacular list!! I am so honored <33

my 2024 favorite things (that others have made)

I read a lot of words this year. A LOT. 🫣

~8 million words (yes, I kept track 🤓 for S&G) that made me laugh, cry, feel squishy, inspired, and continue to live rent-free in my brain. Below are some of the words I loved the most. This is by no means an exhaustive list. I compiled mostly from memory and I’m sure I’ve missed some. A lot of y’all are just churning out 10/10, no notes gems on the regular and it is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your beautiful brains with the world! 🫶🏻 I can’t wait to read more!

18+, MDNI. Please read the warnings on each respective fic.

Joel:

Halcyon @justagalwhowrites

Meet Me in the Back @joelstummy

Dress up Joel @covetyou

So Much to Lose @auteurdelabre

Never made it as a wise man @almostempty

Daddy Can Fix It @baronessvonglitter

Roommates @punkshort

Cover Me Up @almostfoxglove

Teacher’s Pet @javiscigarette

Touch @eff4freddie

Click Here @strang3lov3

Maintenance Request @burntheedges

The Falling @getitoutofmymindwrites

Guilty Pleasure @for-a-longlongtime

See How She Rides @arcanefox207

Defying Algorithms @yxtkiwiyxt

Javi P:

Paranoid Heart @goodwithcheese

Pump @morallyinept

Fantasize @gothcsz

Lost & Found @oliveksmoked

Pretty Boy @joelmillerisapunk

A Litany of Lethe @kiwisbell

Frankie:

The Pilot and His Girl @avastrasposts

Do Me Yourself @jolapeno

Tonight You Belong to Me @intheorangebedroom

Brand New Babygirl @tieronecrush

Learning Curves @moonlitbirdie

Table for Two @hellishjoel

Transient Nights @pedgito

Sympathy for the Devil @encasedinobsidian

The Realm of Love @80ssong

Other characters:

Marcus Pike - Your Ride, Best Trip @qveerthe0ry

Dieter - Purple Haze @schnarfer

Mr. Ben - Visiting @ladamedusoif

Din - Fifteen @whocaresstillthelouvre

Ezra - In The Dark @frannyzooey

Javi G - Rhapsody in Blue @maggiemayhemnj

Dave York - Wildest Dreams @guiltyasdave

Marcus Acacius - Work of Art @ak-vintage

Multiple characters:

Rumor Has It @senorabond - Javi P x Marcus P. x reader

Listen/Watch/Touch @luxurychristmaspudding - Joel, Frankie & Santi x reader

Baby, I’m-a Want You @perotovar - Joel & Javi P

❤️

[almostfoxglove]

Freya bb I'm so curious about "meant for someone", pretty please 👀👀👀

ajksdakfjha MILLA ANGEL HI!! oh gosh. my heart. okay, as you may know, this will be a no-outbreak!au one shot for my series COVER ME UP, where joel & his girl meet in another life.

there's another peek from this wip wednesday post - BUT the one shot will sorta be split into two parts: the first half will be the first time their paths cross when they're quite young, and the second half will catch up with them the next time they see each other, when they're the ages they were in CMU (cel 40s, joel mid 50s).

because it's a no outbreak!au, sarah and merry will of course be alive and well (sobs uncontrollably)... so they will make appearances as well <3 here's a peek at their first meeting where a young joel makes, as one might guess, a *not so great* first impression :,)

📝 wip folder game

[almostfoxglove]

end of year bookends game!

tysm for the tags @burntheedges @guiltyasdave @sizzlingcloudmentality @sawymredfox <3 I'm late on this, but think it's such a sweet idea!!

Rules: Snip first and last line/paragraph/section/artwork you created this year - bookends, if you will 💖

first lines posted: COVER ME UP - chapter one

joel miller x ofc [series complete, 97k]

The rain comes like it always does: all at once. One moment is crisp; September sheer and striking through the fractaled canopy as spongy forest floor bows under your feet. The next—no amount of treetops can shelter you. The sky opens like a wound you don’t bother stitching. For a moment, all the world is a violent hush. Leaves shuddering in coded whispers. The hiss of pelted ferns. You lift your face to the shower and let rain pour over your cheeks, through your hair, down your neck. No use fighting—there’s no hiding from weather like this, not even in the woods.  You almost laugh when the storm cranks up, when raindrops become wet slaps. It’s the kind of weather that used to stop everything, that could scatter crowds from the sidewalks in five seconds flat. What did Merry used to say? Oh, right. Best rain’s the kind that kicks the breath right outta you. You open your mouth to drink the sky, because like always, Merry was right. Didn’t matter that she was younger; she had the whole world figured out by the age of nine. By eight, you hear her say. That closes your mouth, pinches your lips into a frowning bracket, and sends your feet back to stalking through the drowning woods.

last lines posted: ONE NIGHT EARLY - one shot

joel miller x f!reader

You don’t cut him off, jump to yes. Instead you lower your hands from their hold against your chest at last, letting the box sit in your lap, open to his regard. Evening lamplight makes ice of the clear stone set squarely on its ring, and the heat of his breath kisses your cheek as he leans in to mumble, “Y’gonna make me get down on one knee?”

I'm so late on this, probably you've already done it, but npt just in case (and so sorry if I missed yours!!): @yxtkiwiyxt @myownwholewildworld @gothcsz @gutsby @joelmillerisapunk

@jolapeno @perotovar @frannyzooey @whocaresstillthelouvre @chronically-ghosted and anyone else who sees this and wants in - tag me so I can come read & love on you!!

[almostfoxglove]

as a certified member of the dead sisters club you should know the final chapter of cover me up made me cry for a very long time. it’s very very beautifully written and you should be incredibly proud of it

ANON BB I am hugging u so tight rn!! this is so kind. thank you so much for reading it <3 cover me up's last chapter was so close to my heart and had me crying like every time I made an editing pass at it, so knowing it struck a chord with you means the world. and I love you. and this might make me cry about them all over again, but in the 'my heart is very full' kind of way. holding you in my heart w cel & merry too :,) thank you again <3

[milla-frenchy]

I usually don't read long fics, or series with several chapters - unless I started reading them from the beginning and am attached to them. English is not my first language, and I can have a hard time concentrating on long fics. But I saw this series on my dash. 97k words. 27 chapters. I don't know why, but I NEEDED to read it.

I started reading it two days ago, and I finished it yesterday.

What else can I say to express how much I loved it?

I cried, I smiled, I fell in love with them. The angst, the slow burn, are so perfectly written. This reader is one of my all time favorites. She's amazing, she's so REAL

Of course I love this Joel, and Ellie.

Freya, I cried and screamed and praised you in the comments, but I gotta do it here a little bit 😘❤️

You're such a talented writer, the sensitivity in your words is amazing. The way you write grief is chef's kiss

Thank you so, so much for this series. I'll keep them in my heart for a long long time. And I'm already wondering what they're doing, right now ❤️❤️❤️ And I already miss them 🥹🥹🫶🫶🫶

COVER ME UP

Rating: Explicit (18+ only)

Pairing: Joel x f!Reader OC

Status: COMPLETE (97k words)

SUMMARY: After you spare the lives of two kids who break into your isolated cabin in the woods, they lead you back to their settlement. You intend to get in, trade for valuable supplies, and get out, but end up staying. Four years later, you're a solitary but respected pillar of Jackson's close-knit community when Joel Miller shows up, kid in tow. You think nothing of him or the kid. You like your quiet life. Too bad it won't stay quiet for long. Or: Joel and Ellie make you human again.

READ ON AO3 | masterlist

chapter links & content warnings below the cut!

chapter one | chapter two | chapter three | chapter four chapter five | chapter six | chapter seven | chapter eight chapter nine | chapter ten | chapter eleven | chapter twelve chapter thirteen | chapter fourteen | chapter fifteen | chapter sixteen chapter seventeen | chapter eighteen | chapter nineteen | chapter twenty chapter twenty-one | chapter twenty-two | chapter twenty-three chapter twenty-four | chapter twenty-five | chapter twenty-six chapter twenty-seven (finale)

CW: Description of and reference to canon-typical violence, gore, illness, and body horror. Descriptions of / mention of panic attacks. Explicit smut, allusions to smut. Reference to pregnancy (NOT reader), childbirth (NOT reader), the death of a child, and the death of a sibling.

[almostfoxglove]

Hi love 🧡 just wanna say been following since cover me up and just been a huge fan of your work you’re insanely talented 🤯 and I’d been waiting to read see you at three bc usually series I much prefer if they’re almost finished to start reading or else I forget the plot bc I got goldfish brain 🤦🏻‍♀️ but anyway last weekend I couldn’t resist and gave in and read all 15 chapters over the weekend and it was just everything I hoped it to be and so much more 😭 you are amazing and you work is amazing 🥹

ANON oh my gosh I can't with this, what do you mean you've been here since the beginning?? MY HEART IS SO FULL. I'm so touched you gave see you at three a chance before it's done (I suspect it will be a long while until it's finished) and am SO happy you liked it so far :,) that means a lot <3 thank you sosososo much for reading & being here & being so kind - this was so sweet of you to send. I've been having a pretty bad week and this felt like a hug. so thank you for that too <3 ily honey :,)

[almostfoxglove]

Not sure if you like talking about your WIPs, but if you do, what’s something you’re really excited about/to work on? I just finished Cover Me Up, I’ll Carry you, and what’s up of The Prettiest, and all three blew me away so I’m totally hooked on your work!

oh my gosh, this is so kind!! hi honey :,) thank you so much for reading THREE series what the HECK that's so nice, I might cry. it means so much that you enjoyed them!!

I've got a few things in the works right now... but I'm pretty excited about a jackson!joel fluffy one shot I've got cookin atm - lord knows I am weak for a soft! older jackson joel (*clears throat* ahem cover me up *cough*) so it's been so fun to dream up another version of him for something short n sweet!

our reader will be a fellow jackson resident who's trying to set up a small library to get everyone reading again, and our man joel, well, he may be willing to lend a hand. maybe! possibly! but not because he has a crush on her. absolutely not. just seems like the right thing to do. neighborly, or whatnot. you know. his actions are very normal platonic acts of service and imply nothing else nothing AT ALL

thank you sm for sending this and asking it's so nice to hear someone's interested!! ILYSM. you are the best, anon <3 hope you're having a lovely tuesday!!

[almostfoxglove]

I just read cover me up in its entirety in one sitting and oh my… that last chapter really did it in for me. you wrote the characters so well that by the last chapter I really felt so connected to the relationship with celeste and merry that reading the last chapter made me cry 😭 I started it for the the Joel relationship and ended it for the sister relationship, truly so well done thank you for sharing it

OMG anon honey this made me smile so big :,) I am so so touched that you felt so close to the sisters - they mean so much to me, so it makes me so happy to know you loved them too <3 thank you SO much for reading cover me up and then coming to say hi, this ask brought me a lil zing of joy :,) you are the best, yeah? ily anon!!

[milla-frenchy]

freya I'm so fn hooked!!! (as you can see, sorry for the tons of notifications loooool)

I'm all over the place with my feelings but damn, baby... what a fn masterpiece 😍😍😍

(this is me while reading btw)

😘🫶🫶🫶

so some lovely people have been reading through cover me up for the first time and anytime I see comments in the chapter 15-17 range I go hehehe and then they get to chapter 18 and I just.... wait... for them to get to 19 like.... 😳😳😳

[almostfoxglove]

I just began reading Cover Me Up and girl I’m obsessed! I can’t believe how you can pack so much description and understanding into chapters that are so relatively short. Great writing :)

scrEECH! hello omg you absolute cutie pie!! this is so kind of you to say / send holy cow. my heart's so full rn - I'm so glad you're enjoying cover me up so far!! that story's real close to my heart :,)

thank you so much for sending this it made my morning. I really hope you like the rest of their story <3 I'd love to know what you think at the end (or at any point tbh) :,) tysm for reading & being so sweet!! ah!!

[almostfoxglove]

I just finished Cover Me Up and I am DEAD I AM DECEASED I SIMPLY CANNOT HANDLE ANYTHING I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW.

your use of slow burn was exquisite, your ability to make these characters feel so FLESHY and REAL is insane. the final chapter has me crying into my bathtub.

bravo, bravo

UHM HELLO AGAIN YOU SWEET SOUL THIS IS SO KIND??!! I can't with this it's too nice omg :,) I'm so happy you liked cover me up!! that fic has such a special place in my heart since it was my first one <3 thank you so much for reading that behemoth ahhh - it means so much you liked the finale too :,)

KISSIN UR CHEEK OK this is so sweet ty ty ty <3

[almostfoxglove]

Hi! I just finished your series “Cover me Up” and I just have to talk about the last chapter.

Oh my god, writing it from Merry’s point of view was the best way to end the series. It made me think of people I’ve lost, thinking about them being with me even if I can’t see them. Thinking about them being there for moments of peace and moments of distress. It’s so comforting to think of it that way, our love tethers them to us forever, they always exist with us because of our memories of them, our love for them keeps them alive. They exist in smells, sights, dreams, and songs, their love surrounds us in ways we don’t expect.

Thank you for this amazing series! 🤍

omg you angel, hi!! it’s so thoughtful of you to come say hello after reading ahh :,) it means so much that you enjoyed cover me up and that last chapter, so really thank you <3 merry’s pov felt so special to write and I’m so so touched that it resonated with you 😭 as the haunting of bly manor put it, dead doesn’t mean gone <3

thank you SO so much for reading & then sending this sweet ask, it made my morning!! I am sending you the biggest hug honey <3 you’re the bee’s knees.

[almostfoxglove]

I binged cover me up yesterday and I think I'm still alive???

I have this tendency to not leave comments on a series I'm reading for the first time (because I'm usually too eager to get to the next chapter 😂) so I'll need to go right back to chapter 1 and scream into the comments LOL

cel and joel 😖😖😖 they can take my heart and stomp on it all they like because they got me feeling so many things. had me crying one chapter then kicking my feet in delight the next 🤣

anyway, ellie, sarah and merry buddy comedy next? 🤣 just them being "little rats"

OMG you absolute cutie this is so sweet!! I'm glad you're still alive post-read :,) and that you enjoyed the fic ahhh - cel & joel are my bABIES so I'm so happy you liked them <3 they can stomp all over me too tbh, whatever they want I would accept :,)

thank you SO much for reading (would absolutely love to read any screaming comments if you ever do want to reread, which is so sweet) and sending this - it made me grin SO BIG <3 you're the best. thank you thank you angel!

p.s. MY GOD can you imagine the hijinks those three would get up to?? like ellie + merry would be DEMONS together and I just knowww sarah would be secretly running the show. MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT oh my god. I have plans to write a no-outbreak!au one shot for cel & joel in which obvs merry & sarah would be alive and thinking about all of them interacting is gonna make me weeeeeep :,,)

[almostfoxglove]

Hii, I am gonna read it, but can i learn the characters ages if it is okay

https://www.tumblr.com/almostfoxglove/752571255057711104/read-cover-me-up-on-ao3

hi sweet anon!! I'm so touched you wanna read cover me up <3 of course you can ask!!

reader/cel is 40 at the start of the fic (in the fictive present, not the first flash back), and joel is the age he'd be when he & ellie first arrive in jackson (if I've got the numbers right), so in his mid 50s! and ellie is 14 or so, however old she is at the end of part one <3

I hope this helps!! if you have any other questions don't be shy ok? ily!! I hope you like the fic :,)

[almostfoxglove]

okay i am so sorry to the lovely ao3 reader who bookmarked my fic for sharing the screenshot of your bookmark tags but they made me CACKLE

AUTHOR TOOK ME OUT BACK AND SHOT ME LIKE A DOG/POS IS ACTUALLY CRAZY like I'm gonna lose it that's so fucking funny thank you so much for this oh my god