#omg tess is writing again

[withclawsandsympathy]

ROSEWOOD

Art: @witchy-worm

Writing: @withclawsandsympathy (AO3: callsigntango)

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Other Tags: Angst, Animal Death, Case Fic, Claustrophobia, Mentions of Torture, Mild Body Horror, We Talk About Purgatory

Word Count: 5.5k

Summary: Months after Mrs. Butters leaves the bunker, intent on finding a home of her own, a peaceful section of pines set deep into the American heartland becomes anything but. Haunted by Purgatory at every turn, and forced to confront the consequences of decades of torture and abandonment at the hands of his predecessors, Dean and Cas set off to solve a string of disappearances in the forest where they stumble across a familiar face -- and an all-too-familiar feeling.

Excerpt:

Dean believes a lot of things. He believes the manner of his death was decided by his father the very night that yellow-eyed demon ripped his mom away from him. He believes he’ll die, broken and bloody and alone on a hunt, and anything Cas does only delays the inevitable. He believes he doesn’t deserve to be saved. Dean knows Cas will do it anyway. He realizes a moment too late that he and Cas have been staring at each other silently for several beats. Dean clears his throat, pushing off from the tree he was leaning against. His jacket, half-stuck to the bark and sap of the pine, makes a ripping sound as it peels away from the trunk. The tree emits an eerie groan with the sudden absence of Dean’s weight against it. Scowling, Dean scrubs a palm against the canvas sleeve to wipe away the sap. His hand comes back dark red. The smell hasn’t quite hit his nose before Cas speaks the word forming in Dean’s thoughts. “Blood.” The tree groans again, the sound cutting through the silence as several more pines join the rising chorus around them. The hairs on the back of Dean’s neck rise in return. The sound Dean had once mistook as trees creaking and swaying in the wind now formed the painful wails of something wounded. Then the trees began to scream.

Coming this October to @deancashorrorfest!!

[messrmoonyy]

omg hi messr! i hope you are doing well<3 do you think you could write something along the idea of tess who’s in denial of her feelings for reader and reader who’s got no clue about them but likes her back? i absolutely love your writing !! 💟

Tess servopoulos x reader

Wc- 1k

Navigation | Tess masterlist

Jackson knew how to throw a party, that was a fact. And Maria also seemed to take any and all excuses to do so. Tess didn’t actually know what the current one was in aid of, only that she didn’t really wanna be there. She’d only turned up because Maria had practically dragged her there. Telling her she needed to mingle. That she couldn’t just keep to her family and go on patrol and nothing else. But she was quite happy with that if she was honest.

“ y’know it’s a party right? “ Joel spoke, startling Tess back to reality again. Unknowingly having been zoned out for… she didn’t even know how long.

“ I don’t like parties “ she mumbled into her glass, sipping at it slowly and glancing over at the man beside her. He was so different in Jackson. So much more… loose. Free. She often wondered if that was how he was before. If the man she saw glimpses of so often now was the same man that had been a goofy girl dad, running Sarah around to soccer practice and sleepovers.

It was nice. She liked it. She liked seeing him find some joy.

“ I know. But you could at least pretend. Mopin around over here on your own “ she scoffed at that and turned on her stool to face him a little more

“ I like watching “ Joel scoffed then

“ yeah I know. Watching her “ her eyes darted over to him in a glare to find him not looking at her, but out towards the crowds of people dancing.

To you.

You were spinning around with a couple of the kids. Holding their little hands above their heads so they could twirl in circles without falling over. Earlier you’d been dancing with numerous others, an old guy whose wife had died last year. The kids. Literally anyone that had come up to you. You were so loved in town. In fact she’d never heard a single person say anything bad about you.

“ this ain’t the Tess I know “ Joel said, voice almost sympathetic. God they were getting soft “ Tess I know goes after what she wants “ Tess simply shrugged

“ and who said she’s what I want? “ Joel scoffed and folded his arms across his chest. He looked like such a dad.

“ you must think I’m stupid. I hate to break it to you Tess. Anyone with a working set’a eyes knows you’re fawning after her “ she rolled her eyes at him. Even though it was very much the truth “ y’know she likes you too right? Ellie was paired with her the other day. Wouldn’t stop askin after you apparently “ that did peak her interest but she tried to look unfazed.

“ oh like everyone knows somethings going on with you and that woman who tends the greenhouses? “ she said with a smile trying to deflect the conversation over to his equally as odd love life.

“ don’t you change the conversation “ she didn’t blame the woman honestly. Truly it was hard to resist Joel and his southern charm when he truly turned it on. And she was happy for him, she was. Joel deserved a little light. More than most. “ just tell her you like her so you can stop lookin so miserable over here. Ask her to dance god damn do somethin “

Truth was maybe she did had a little crush. Which was so unbelievably pathetic. She was a grown ass woman and yet she felt like a giddy schoolgirl anytime you entered the room. She hadn’t even realised she’d liked you at first. In fact Joel had been the one to point it out. Which was stupid, again. She had never been scared to go after what she wanted. Cocky and confident enough to get what she wanted when she wanted it.

And yet… you. You that she hadn’t even noticed she was falling for. The one she found herself looking for on the patrol rota to see if you had been paired. The one that she felt so comfortable around. Felt like her old self. Not the one that had to be that cocky confident person to seduce some random girl into her bed.

She was so unbelievably fucked. Not that you knew. She was far too embarrassed to ever even mention it.

“ it’s not like that “ she watched as you stood with Maria now, laughing at something she said. The kind that made your eyes crinkle and your teeth show.

Joel sighed beside her and took a seat on the stool next to hers.

“ Tess “ he sounded a little more serious now “ you deserve… you deserve to have love “ it sounded awkward coming from him. Like he didn’t really know exactly what he wanted to say or how he wanted to say it. Joel had never been very good at voicing emotions or discussing them. Much like herself “ I mean… damn I am no good at this “

She still hasn’t stopped watching you and to her slight embarrassment you finally looked over in her direction. You seemed confused for a moment, trying to process who you were looking at. Then your face grew into a beaming smile, waving at her before excusing yourself from your conversation with Maria.

Joel seemed to notice too and stood up as you weaved through the crowds.

“ Tess. Just stop acting like you don’t have a future. Because you do now… you deserve to be happy. Alright? “ he excused himself as you reached the bar where Tess had been sat all evening, bright smile still on your face. Your cheeks were rosy, skin a little shiny with sweat from all the dancing you’d been doing.

“ you been hiding here all night? I was wondering when you’d turn up and you’ve been here all along huh? “ you’d been waiting for her? Looking for her?

“ parties aren’t really my thing sweetheart “ you gave a small laugh, leaning back against the bar and turning your head to face her.

“ no? So don’t wanna dance with me then? “ she looked over at you, mouth a little dry even after only just having sipped her drink. You were looking at her carefully, seemingly intensely interested in her answer. She wanted to kiss you. And that shocked her. But god did she want to kiss you, looking at her like that. So beautiful that it made her chest ache. And it terrified her.

“ I don’t really dance “ you pouted slightly and your eyes seemed to be genuinely sad with her answer

“ not even with me? “ part of her wanted to. Wanted to shake off all the stupid reasons holding her back. Shake off her pride. But even with you standing there, offering her a chance to be around you some more. She couldn’t.

She downed the last of her drink and stood up from her seat with a small sigh. Mostly in annoyance at herself and her unwillingness to let herself be vulnerable. To let herself be… normal.

“ I’m out on patrol early. I should probably get home “ the sadness in your eyes was unmistakable and she had to look away.

“ okay… I’ll see you tomorrow? “ your bright smile had returned and she nodded, watching as you slipped back through the crowds. She stopped by the door on her way out, looking back to see you dancing with someone else. She ignored the odd feeling in her chest and headed for home.

[from-the-clouds]

joel miller x reader who used to be his neighbor that he had a thing for. she was close with sarah and would even watch her sometimes. years later they see each other again when she’s sent by marlene to help tess and joel deliver ellie and they catch up and there’s still a spark. reader finds out about sarah and maybe she’s even wearing a friendship bracelet sarah made her back then to make it even more sentimental.

omg it's crazy you sent me this ask because i've been turning a concept in my head over like this for the past week or so!!!

I definitely want to write it, but I was thinking of it as maybe a 3-4 part series with flashbacks between past and present.

if i do write it i will absolutely tag you!! love this idea

[mistermaxwellboucherdieasilived]

Doing @charlottan's book tag game Hiiiiiii Charlotte :) And thanks Skippy for tagging me

Favorite books: We'll Fly Away by Bryan Bliss, The Street by Ann Petry, Notes From my Captivity by Kathy Parks, Hunger Games trilogy (Catching Fire is my fave I think), Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram SOOOOO GOOD, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, More Than This by Patrick Ness

Favorite authors: Sorry for this some of these I've read literally one of their books. But anyway. Jason Reynolds, Lemony Snicket, George Orwell SORRY, John Webster, E. Lockhart LOVEEEEE HER

Favorite genres: Realistic fiction, lgbt coming of age/romance, YA but I don't consider that its own genre, novels in verse, early modern british drama sorry, survival narratives (idk if theres an official term)

Book(s) you're currently reading: Sort of The Hunger Games trilogy because I'm writing a paper on it, about to start reading Stone Butch Blues (for fun) and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (for class)

Books on your to read list: Stone Butch Blues, The Poet X, The Hate U Give, The Handmaid's Tale, House of Leaves (THIS SUMMER I WILL)

Books you loved as a child: STARGIRL BY JERRY SPINELLI <3333, Nature Girl by Jane Kelley, Captain Underpants (the whole series), Animorphs series, any scary stories collections but especially David Lubar's Weenies series, A Series of Unfortunate Events <33

Preferred book length: Like 300-400 pages

Books you couldn't finish: Omg so many.... Sense and Sensibility, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, The Scarlet Letter, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar... these are just for school

Fiction or nonfiction: Fiction<333333333 I <3 narratives

Buy, borrow from library, or read online: Library LOL. I also love thriftbooks

Author you've read the most of, but DON'T recommend: Laurie Halse Anderson. Sorry. Okay.

Favorite book character: At the moment, Katniss Everdeen.

If you at some point stopped reading but then started again, what book/books got you into reading again: What most sparked my interest in literature for school was probably Macbeth or Heart of Darkness. I stopped reading much around freshman/sophomore year but one book that really brought me back would be You Asked for Perfect by Laura Silverman. I remember reading it in one sitting and feeling like myself again because I read it so fast lol. Smiles

Tagging @verpaso and anyone else who wants to heart

[cuntdestroyer3000]

Fictional men Lana album assignments

Ok so I’m always thinking about this, my fave fictional men are literally so lana coded and I have decided to assign them her albums hehe

Javier Peña- Honeymoon

First up we have my husband, Javi. Javi is 100% Honeymoon like COME ON. He’s so Salvatore coded. Honeymoon is all about romanticism but the darkness within it. And Javi is so cunty in his little tight pants like he’s so honeymoon. Also the lyrics of 24 align with him so well it drives me insane.

“Catch me if you can working on my tan, Salvatore. Dying by the hand of a foreign man happily.” Salvatore

“If you lie down with dogs then you’ll get fleas. Be careful of the company you keep” 24

“We both know the history of violence that surrounds you. But I’m not scared, there’s nothing to lose now that I’ve found you” Honeymoon

“It’s no wonder every man in town has neither fought nor found you” Honeymoon

“When I’m down on my knees you’re how I pray” Religion

“I was so wrong not to doubt your Medellín, tangerine dreams” Salvatore

Joel Miller- Norman Fucking Rockwell

Next we got Joel HEHEHEHEHE JOEL omg ok so this one is a no brainer: Joel is Norman Fucking Rockwell. Like come on how is he not. Like so many of the songs remind me so much of him. I could write a whole ass essay on this one. The whole Joe(L) part of How to Disappear like AHHH R U SERIOUS?? Also happiness is a butterfly and hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have- but I have it. HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING FOR A MAN LIKE JOEL TO HAVE BRO. I feel like the aesthetic of NFR isn’t very frilly either, she’s in her wetsuit at the beach, in her lil shorts yknow? And I feel like that fits with Joel. Also the color green is very prominent in that album and I rlly associate that color with Joel. I feel like NFR can reflect the relationship Joel would have with a love interest but also the relationship he has with Ellie, like if you take her lyrics out of context I feel like it could relate to the relationship he has with her bc she really healed him and changed him and like broke down his walls which imo is all that NFR is about.

Anyway here’s some lyrics that I associate with him:

“You’re just a man, it’s just what you do. Your head in your hands while you color me in blue.” Norman Fucking Rockwell

“Maybe I can save you from your sin.” mariners apartment complex

“All the pills that you take, violet blue green red to keep me at arms length won’t work” cinnamon girl

“Joe(l) met me down at the training yard, cuts on his face cause he fought to hard. I know he’s in over his head, but I love that man like nobody can, he moves mountains and pounds them to ground again.” How to disappear

“If he’s a serial killer then what’s the worst that can happen to a girl who’s already hurt?” Happiness is a butterfly

“You don’t ever have to be stronger than you really are when you’re lying in my arms.” California.

-This is so him he j needs to be held. The fact that he was the little spoon w Tess :’(

NFR is just so Joel don’t even argue with me.

Negan Smith- Ultraviolence

Next we have Negan and I feel like the choice is pretty obvious. Ultraviolence is probably Lana’s darkest album and it fits him so fucking well. He literally wears a fucking leather jacket like that is Ultraviolence in and of itself. He’s also just a violent person and violence is how he deals with things. I can really see the relationship between him and a female oc being like ultraviolence: really toxic but she can’t get enough. So many lyrics for him. So many

“He hurt me and it felt like true love” Ultraviolence

“I can see my baby swingin’, his parliament’s on fire and his hands are up” West Coast

“When he calls he calls for me and not for you” Shades of Cool

“You’re fucking crazy” Cruel World

“Lay me down tonight, I’m your favorite girl.” Fucked My Way Up to the Top

“You didn’t warn me at the time, but you were worth it anyway” Guns and Roses

“You’re my cult leader, I’ll love you forever, I’ll love you forever” Ultraviolence

“If you send for me you know I’ll come and if you call for me you know I’ll run” Old Money

“Get a little bit of bourbon in ya, go a little bit suburban and go crazy” Cruel World (when he went to Alexandria, got drunk, played pool and murdered a dude)

“But I can’t fix him, can’t make him better” Shades of Cool

“Loving you is really hard” Ultraviolence

“I wait for you babe that’s all I do babe you don’t come through babe it’s just what you do” Pretty when you cry

HE DONT GIVE A FUCK ABT U BITCH CAUSE UR PRETTY WHEN YOU CRY

Tommy Shelby- Born to Die

At first I was vibing with Tommy being Ultraviolence but he’s more Born to Die. His whole outlook on life is very consistent with born to die- when lana said I wish I was dead already. Tommy feels like he’s already dead after surviving the war. He’s Born to Die because although he’s dangerous and a lil toxic he can be very loving and he’s always so gentle with his ladies. And when he falls he falls hard (i.e. Grace) also Off the the Races?? That’s literally Tommy bro

Lyrics:

“My old man is a bad man but I can’t deny the way he holds my hand and he grabs me he has me by my heart” Off to the Races

“Come take a walk on the wild side let me fuck you hard in the pouring rain. You like your girls insane” Born to Die

“I’m in his favorite sundress watching me get undressed” Video Games

“No one even knows how hard life was I don’t even talk about it now because I finally found you” Radio

“He headed out on Sunday, said he’d come on Monday. I stayed up waiting anticipating and pacing but he was chasing papers. Caught up in the game it was the last I heard” Blue Jeans

“I don’t know how you get over, get over someone as dangerous tainted and flawed as you” Million Dollar Man

FINALLY

Pedro Pascal- Did you know that there’s a tunnel under ocean boulevard

Ik I said fictional men but Pedro is the source of my comfort in this cruel world and I had to include him. I feel like Pedro is this album because it’s Lana’s most personal album. In the other albums on this post she’s kind of creating these stories but with tunnel it’s very personal and real. Since Pedro is an actual real person I feel like this is an appropriate choice since he has a lot of depth just like tunnel. Also Pedro really cares about family- his relationship with his sister, and has suffered loss to suicide just like Lana has. And tunnel explores themes of family, loss, healing and trying and struggling to find love. Like bro Pedro is Sweet. He’s sweet and he’s Sweet. Yknow?

Idk abt lyrics bc idrk what he’d resonate with but here’s the songs i associate with him:

The Grants, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under ocean boulevard, Sweet, Kintsugi, Paris Texas, Fishtail, Let the Light in, Taco Truck x vb

Ok that’s all thanks for listening🖤🖤

[thewulf]

Hii

Love your writing first of all! Just read everything and I'm dying for tlou.

Can you do a Joel Miller x Franks Younger sister reader?? I haven't seen any fics with her. Maybe she's a bright ray of sunshine to Joel's grumpiness?

Can it be a 3/4 and 1 (cross was my fav omg)? where each time he comes to Bills compound he starts liking/falling for her each time? One of the scenarios he does fall for her it's when Bill and Frank make her go with Tess and Joel back to the QZ because they're going to do the deed?? Then maybe the last one is when they have to go back after Tess dies and she can't get herself to go into the house knowing what they did? Super angsty but hella fluffy? You're so good at that!

Sorry if it's too detailed. You can change whatever!

Ahhh! I've been dying to get a Joel Miller request. I've been obsessed with The Last of Us!

Babe this is so good (and thank you for all the compliments!!). I'll definitly add this to this list.

I'm finishing up a Bucky Barnes x Reader and then I'll probably get on this one! Unfortunately my next class just started up so I'll be slowing down a bit again but I'll be trying my best!!

[hypnotisedfireflies]

Can you rank your stories from your most to least favorite? Interested to know now there are so many.

HA.  Omg anon.  Okay.  This will be hard so you’re getting an explanation under each as to why it is where it is on my list. 💙

1. Drifter’s Dawn

It’s the OG and it’s the thing that got me writing again. There are parts I would like to improve but I think I’ll pretty well leave it alone.

2. Spite

I feel bad putting this above Dusk but Spite accomplished a lot that I didn’t include in Dawn and wish I had.  Plus I’m proud of the little arc across this story?  Of all the things I’ve written, stuff in Spite is stuff I most wish had found its way into Dawn (excepting that one chapter in The Knight of Cups which I did then include in Dawn).

3. Drifter’s Dusk

First time writing Joel’s POV, plus Tess lives, blah blah blah.

4.  The Knight of Cups

So loved writing for Tommy and being able to examine Tessjoel from an outsider POV.  I also liked being able to extend the early days which I feel I rushed over in retrospect in Dawn, like the learning to shoot stuff, the caravan of people and the graveyard, etc.  This is kind of the stuff I most want to go back and write more of when I get the chance.  It’s quite a narrow period of time really, but I would like to explore it some more.

5.  Cassius blue

This is my least-read story which could be down to it being only two chapters?  But I like that it was just Tessjoel for the majority of it and I got to get inside Joel’s head at kind of a crucial time in their story, when he really started to drift away from Tess and become the Joel we see in TLOU.  You know, they’re somewhere they’re kind of safe, Tess doesn’t “need” him and he can wilfully or subconsciously disconnect to torment himself with the past.   This couldn’t really get much of a look-in in Dawn because it was all Tess's POV.  I also liked writing Sarah for the first time and making nature kick their asses.

6.  Blood Orange

Got to play with a different narrative style and that was fun.  Wrote this one totally different to everything else in that I basically wrote the chapters out of order and rearranged it – blocks of text and action into other chapters, etc.  Also it’s fun writing Tess fucking up.

7.  Shots Fired!

I really meant the whole prompt thing to be works of about this length but I prefer longer-form so this is likely to remain the shortest work at 8k.  Anyway, I was happy with being able to accomplish a lot in a shorter amount of words, ie, Tess realising she has family blah blah blah.  Also establishing some stuff with Ellie.

8.  The Last Day on Earth

I don’t hate this or anything, it was just a pain in the ass to write and the least enjoyable for that reason, but I am fine with the finished product.

Snowqueen of Texas and the Ensemble aren’t finished so they don’t get ranked yet.

Thanks for your question anon – I’d love to hear readers’ rankings of this series so far, too!

[justagalwhowrites]

Bestie! Today, I got enough courage to read "Yearling's" new chapter. I knew it would hurt, but it hurt way more than I thought. You have a gift for writing. I love it. The whole chapter felt like a spiral of hurt, despair, and hopelessness that broke my heart for Joel and Bambi. In the middle of all this, two things felt like an arrow to the heart. I don't know if it was your purpose, but the image of Bambi leaving Joel's shirt and coat over Maria's couch, even if it was just out of necessity for warmer clothes, feels like a tangible action that will translate into the physical and emotional distance between them in the upcoming chapters. I’m not ready for it.

The other one was Joel's. Seeing him swallow his feelings, pain, and tears (not completely successfully), trying not to scare Ellie, hurt. I feel like he accepts and thinks he deserves the pain and loneliness that is coming from him, and now that he fully understands how important Ellie is to Bambi, he doesn't want to be the reason for it to break and cause Bambi more pain even if it causes him more pain. Have I gone too much down the rabbit hole? Joel loves Bambi. Your words make me think that taking care of her in any way he can from the sidelines, protecting her, and giving her everything he can (like keeping the bond with his daughter) is what will keep him somehow sane through this time. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

Also, Ellie taking care of him in her gruff way was a balm to my heart. Seeing their relationship almost fully mended gives a little hope. I hope the next chapter will come soon. Until then, I'm crossing my fingers, hoping those hands and broad body are Joel. Thanks for the chapter!🥹❤️❤️❤️

OMG Hi Bestie!

I'm so sorry it took me so long to get back to you OMG!!

For starters... yeah the coat thing was on purpose. I knowwww 😭 there's a lot of push pull coming soon and the physical mementos of their relationship are going to play a part. But that Bambi found the coat to be such a place of safety for her that she wore it even in the heat only to strip it off in the snow and leave it behind?

And definitely not down the rabbit hole, you got that exactly right! Joel is trying to cause minimal damage right now, both to Bambi and to Ellie, and he figures the best way to do that is to absorb it all himself. He's trying to swallow it all, he's being the human shield from the shrapnel . In a way, I think Joel defines himself by who relies on him in some way. When he was a young man, before Sarah, that was his brother. Then he had Sarah, too. Then he didn't and it was Tommy again, then Tess, then Ellie. He is, at his core, a caretaker. He picks his people carefully because once he cares about you he CARES. He'd kill for you, die for you, do anything and everything for you. And that includes bearing the brunt of the emotional pain of the relationship imploding.

And OMG Ellie being full on daughter Ellie 😭I love her so much, she's so sweet and she loves so hard. She tries to be cool about it but she cares so deeply, she loves Joel so much. I just adore them.

Thank you so much for reading and for being patient while I got to this ask!!

Love you!!!

[writernopal]

Here come the gecks! Kamala, Carol (after Captain Marvel) and Sokka! I have more they just hate posing for me.

OMG LOOK AT THEM AHHHHHHH, they're so cute WAAHHHHH (for those unaware of where this is coming from, it is related to this ask and I mentioned wanting to see Tess's lizard buddies!)

Also you have no idea how feral that tiny hat is making me. I want to write a Western with Lizardfolk in it SO BAD. I've said it once, and I will say it again: I WILL NOT REST UNTIL AXTAPOR SAYS YEEHAW.

[bacarasbabe]

How would you describe your writing style?

Does what you like to write differ from what you like to read?

What are your favorite fics at the moment?

if you want, dear Tess! hope you're doing well, I adore you and your writing!

- elle/@ohheyitsokay

Oh my dear Elle 🥹 thank you for the ask! I'm doing well, thank you for asking! I hope you've had a good weekend and are doing well yourself 💕

50 - How would you describe your writing style?

Hastey, rushed. Revisiting my fics after taking a break from writing, I wish I would have forced myself to slow down. I can tell when I'd have an idea and rush to publish it because I was just so excited about the story. When really I should've refined it a bit more and taken the time I think they deserved. That's one of the reasons I haven't published anything recently. I'm actively working on stuff right now, and I have a few chapters of BTDT that past me would've posted without thinking. But I'm really trying to take my time now and make my writing something I can be proud of later on.

51 - Does what you like to write differ from what you like to read?

Not to a huge extent. I think I read a lot more fluff than what I write. I also read a lot more multi chapter fics than what I write. But other than that, I'm pretty predictable in the types of things I read. Happy endings, romance, smut. I'll verge off the beaten track every now and then sure, but who doesn't.

69 (hey oh!) - What are your favorite fics at the moment?

Oh man! Ah, okay this was actually really difficult to answer because there are so many good fics and writers. There's a lot I've been rereading for comfort lately that are kind of older and some newer ones in completely different fandoms. So here's just a FEW of the things I've been reading lately.

Hot Venom by Startabi (Adrian Chase x Reader)

This — which isn't necessarily a fanfic, but a response to a story promt (science fiction, war, ai)

Omg, there were two others I was going to put on here, but for the life of me, I can't find them anymore! I searched for them for over 30 minutes—I'll have to try again later, unfortunately. There was a writer who was writing a really cute story about a medic and Master Chief from Halo. It took place before and during the events of the first game, I believe, and was really interesting.

The other fic I can't find anymore was an amazingly smutty fic about Simon "Ghost" Riley from Call of Duty. I've been playing COD since high school, so I'm very glad that his character has gained popularity recently. And the pics some of these artists create 🥵 damn

I kinda feel like that was an anticlimactic answer 😂 but I'm tired. I'm also very behind on my tbr. One day I'll he 100% caught up. Might take a few years but *one day!*

[slidersimp]

i just wanted you to know i think about “at my side” every day. how adorable Tess is how amazing the usage of ASL is, plus found family and dealing with trauma and icemav and mavdad 😭 it’s a fic specifically catered to me!! i’ve been trying to make my way through your other fics but at my side gives me comfort so i’m rereading it yet again. i love that you included the picture of inspiration for piper and tess theyre BEAUTIFUL animals

Me, looking at the absolute devastation I have in my docs to kick off chapter 4: haha angst who???

But seriously though, thank you so much!!! You've really got me crying at the club rn omg this is so sweet! Honestly I feel very similarly about this fic, I'm the one who wrote it and it still feels catered to me, it's very funny. My sister has made fun of me so much for it, the amount of tie-ins to my real life is unreal. The ASL is less personal but definitely something I'm very into as I'm studying it at the moment but omg the trauma and the found family is sooo close to me. A lot of the stuff I've been writing about with Mav is very informed by my dad's experience with PTSD, Mav has it worse but that experience has definitely given me a window into seeing what if might be like for Mav. For people with PTSD, community is really important to the healing process and just making them remember they have people around them, and for Mav I think that would be getting his family all together which is what I'm trying to do with this fic. Hence the found family, which is also one of my favorite tropes.

Not to mention, I think my experience with my dad also informed me on how PTSD doesn't just affect the person who has it, like obviously Mav has it the worst but it hurts to see someone you love in a state like that, so Mav's family is going to do everything they can to help him. Some of that works itself into the fic unintentionally on my part, but I see it there in the moments with Bradley and especially in how Slider is acting around Mav. (Omg Slider in this fic too, I wrote it and I'm still like what the hell, how did he get such a main role in here?)

And then of course the animals! I'm so much more of a dog person than I am a cat person (I love cats, I have absolutely nothing against them, I think they are wonderful, lovely creatures) but DOGS. Omg. I have had dogs that have been so fucking smart they could probably do math better than I could and I have had dogs that are funny and silly and sometimes a little stupid but I love them!! I love Tess and I love the idea of her being a wonderful conniving genius and I love the idea of her supporting Mav and helping him and just jakghkjskjsd. Also I'm glad you liked the pictures! I had to include them lol, they're so beautiful, I think if I saw Tess (the real one because I stole her name too) in person I'd just die on the spot. She's gorgeous.

I just realized I didn't talk about Icemav! I have so many feelings about them because their situation seems soooo difficult to me considering their work and their shared trauma. The end of the last chapter was me kind of trying to address those complications but I'd really love to get into that going forward. I will be writing some solid Icemav fluff for this fic I swear.

Omg okay I need to wrap this up but thank you soo much you've inspired me to keep writing and I really hate that I have to do homework today instead of just writing this fic omg. I'm so sorry chapter 4 has been taking me so long but I am trying and I can't wait for you to read it!!

[stormyoceans]

[VICE VERSA episode 5 parts 1&2]

Someone pointed this out ages ago but it suuucks that Tun’s dream is coming true and he isn’t even there for it

DAMMIT WHEN UP AND AOU GRABBED EACH OTHER’S FACES IN CELEBRATION THEY SHOULD’VE KISSED

Uh Puen, you went from “I’m not messing with you” to “ayyy thanks for the kiss it worked wonders for my script”, not a good look

Omg I loooove the director

Again, as an ace person, the “I’m not into love” “just open your heart” dialogue is a little……

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH SHOUJO FFS, FRUITS BASKET IS ONE OF THE BEST MANGA OUT THERE

“It’s about a very nosy man” “you mean me?” Yes thank you Talay that was the joke

“I see you like it, so it has my attention” Puen: *d-doki*

So, uh, Puen? Here’s a lesson about love: most people in a serious relationship are open about themselves

Ugh, I understand how painful it must be for Talay to see how much distance Puen has been keeping between them

“I’ve always wanted to date younger boys” UHH–

Imagine being stuck in the wrong universe alone because the only person who made it bearable went back, fuuuuuuccckkk

“That answer means you won’t wait for me, right?” TALAAAAY ;;;;;

THE “MOUTHING WORDS” THING CAME BACK IN THE BEST AND CUTEST WAY POSSIBLE

It’s one thing to have different rules and materials but now we have proof the whole-ass /climate/ is different, good god

I just feel bad for Talay because it feels like he won’t allow himself to fall in love with Puen because Mr Cool Guy insists on keeping that emotional distance despite obviously being head over heels, RELATIONSHIPS NEED TWO (or more) SIDES PUEN

Someone pointed this out ages ago but it suuucks that Tun’s dream is coming true and he isn’t even there for it <<<<< yeah universe travelling pretty much sucks no matter how you look at it, because the person you switch with can either a) ruin your entire life (IM LOOKING AT YOU TESS YOU TWAT), or b) make it better, which is obviously the preferred option, but it’s still hard in a way because you weren’t there to experience and earn all that, which is also why i think tun will never really become a part of 'friend credits'

DAMMIT WHEN UP AND AOU GRABBED EACH OTHER’S FACES IN CELEBRATION THEY SHOULD’VE KISSED <<<<< IM SORRY I CANNOT SPEAK ON THIS however you are very right and no one can convince me that these two haven’t at least kissed a couple of times as practice in the past

Uh Puen, you went from “I’m not messing with you” to “ayyy thanks for the kiss it worked wonders for my script”, not a good look <<<<< king of making his life so much more difficult by hiding himself behind the ‘it’s just for my writing’ excuse!!!! but also i think it’s very important to notice that when talay points it out in the flashback puen replies “i kissed you because i felt like kissing you”. since puen is so bold, i feel like we tend to forget that he also never had a real relationship or any big experience with love before talay, so most of the time he’s just playing it by ear and learning as he goes. the kiss was such a big step forward in genuinely acting on his feelings, however he’s still gonna make a lot of mistakes, even if they come from a good place  

Again, as an ace person, the “I’m not into love” “just open your heart” dialogue is a little…… <<<<< yeah unfortunately the show isn’t too aroace friendly since it’s so big on romantic love and some things come off as pretty distasteful since talay is so against it at the beginning, i just hope it’s not gonna make you too uncomfortable!!!

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH SHOUJO FFS, FRUITS BASKET IS ONE OF THE BEST MANGA OUT THERE <<<<< HALLELUJAH AMEN PREACH IT FRIEND!!!!!!!!!

“I see you like it, so it has my attention” Puen: *d-doki* <<<<< I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS MOMENT because the show focuses way more on puen taking down talay’s walls rather than the other way around so i deeply cherish all the little scenes where you can see just how much talay is affecting puen too. puen acts so confident most of the time but as soon as talay flirts back or shows genuine interest for him he turns the puppy eyes on and he's like 'you're INTERESTED in puen? you're interested in puen for real? oh! OH! love for talay. love for talay for one thousand years!!!!!!' AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH FOR IT he is both confident and shy and likes shoujo and just wants to love and be loved AND IM SORRY FOR BEING SO DISGUSTINGLY BIASED BUT I WOULD DIE FOR HIM

“That answer means you won’t wait for me, right?” TALAAAAY ;;;;; <<<<< the way it breaks my heart to remember all the times talay expressed his fear of being left behind and how puen reassured him over and over again that he wasn’t going anywhere only to have the universe separate them anyway later on……. CURRENTLY CHEWING ON AN ENTIRE TRAY MADE OF GLASS

THE “MOUTHING WORDS” THING CAME BACK IN THE BEST AND CUTEST WAY POSSIBLE <<<<< MOST PRECIOUS MOMENT IN THE ENTIRE SHOW THE LITTLE RUN AT THE END WAS DEVASTATING. bet he spent the rest of the evening writing puen + talay all over his notebook and drawing little hearts around it

I just feel bad for Talay because it feels like he won’t allow himself to fall in love with Puen because Mr Cool Guy insists on keeping that emotional distance despite obviously being head over heels, RELATIONSHIPS NEED TWO (or more) SIDES PUEN <<<<< it’s so interesting to see how other people view the different stages of their relationship because the first time i watched the show episode 5 was actually a big turning point for me. coming from episode 4, i was still very attuned to talay’s feelings, but weirdly enough this was the moment where i started to feel puen’s honesty and understand his wish for talay to get to know him without any preconception tied to ‘puen the actor’. i do understand how closing that part of himself off and not telling talay his real name can be perceived as emotional distance though, that’s definitely valid, please don’t get me wrong!!! i’ve just never felt like it mattered that much because to me puen is letting talay know a part of himself that he hardly ever shows to anyone, the real puen, and that's what's important

[almostfoxglove]

Sorry I’m back

LOCK THE GATE IS JUST SO 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡

I laughed so hard at the whole Joel is Tess puppy thing cause really that’s what’s I thought always

The end of pt one when she just cried baby and just wants to meet Walt again god that was agonizing but beautiful. I think it’s so realistic to be in a situation when the world’s just gone to shit and instead of actually making the best of it you’re tired and you just want an out. I related to that so much.

It’ll be interesting to see Joel’s side of everything why he cared so much we all that that loser is a grumpy old man with a heart of gold

Again girl you’re working your magic 😭😭

-Pep

UHM NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR BEING SO KIND WHAT?? I'm screaming hollering blubbering over here ahh

1) JOEL IS ABSOLUTELY TESS' LIL LAP DOG I AM SO GLAD YOU SEE IT TOO :,) it was too good to pass up the chance to have knives mock him for it but we all know fr it's the best like yes, big scary strong man heeling at tess' feet :,) I love him

2) thank you so much oh my god. the end of part 1 had me in my feelings fr!! I feel like the characters in my other series are all "gonna make the best of this" sorts even in the face of ruin, so I was soo pumped to write someone who sees the end of the world and wants no part of it :,) poor sweet (not sweet) knives <3 my baby.

I am sendin you the BIGGEST THANK YOU HUG. this is honestly so fuckin thoughtful of you to send omg <3 <3 ILY ANON PEP!

[messrmoonyy]

OMG. OMG. OMG YOUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WRITING TESS!? WHAA WTF THAT'S GONE BY SO FAST 😭😭 OH MY GOSH. I've only been reading your fanfics since like February/march. But the first one I read. I was OBSESSED with your writing. Still can't believe you've been writing for her for a year 😭. You're probably the best writer I know in existence like how tffff do you write that amazingly for Tess. (And any character in general) Anyway just wanted to come on here and say congratulations for having such a nice community who loves your writing and I hope it stays like this.

Eee thank you! Thank you for always being so supportive! I feel like the lil community around my fics has had its ups and downs lmao but it is at a pleasant place rn. And again I am so grateful about each and every person that lends their time to my writing.

I literally can’t believe a year had passed that’s mad.

Ty again!!

[simpingcowboy]

General Thoughts on the first episode writing through my tears No spoilers:

I'm so glad I didn't go back and watch play-throughs of the game! It's exciting getting to experience this all over again!!!

There's overall not a lot of dialogue so far which I like. It has that "cut-scene" feeling when you're playing the game! I hope that makes sense lol. But the visuals are gorgeous!! Trust your eyes and mind will not be bored for lack of talking!!!

I mostly forgot the actual backstory of these characters, seeing Joel's again fucking broke me. I was sobbing for like 10 minutes.

I love who they picked for Sarah!!! She was darling! I know alot of yt men are upset about some of the casting choices but I do not care. Sarah was perfect!! And I will stand by the casting of any women or POC in this series <3

A note on the visuals. They're just incredible. Seriously. Each scene is crafted so perfectly. The color palette changes to fit the mood. It's a really immersive experience! The last wide shot we end on is the kind of stuff I'm really looking forward to!!! I know we'll get lots more of that in upcoming episodes

Not too much to say on Bella in this episode, other than she plays bratty annoying teen really well lol

Pedro's acting is top tier! The mannerisms he's already established are so lovely. I do see what he's said about it being similar to a lot of varying other roles he's played, but Pedro manages to make it totally new! He's always exciting to watch! He embodies Joel beautifully! And I can't wait to see how he pushes Joel's character even further!!!

TESS IS FUCKING BADASSSS I LOVE HER!!!! Omg my queen <3 I don't want to say much...but if anyone is writing/or knows of a Tess x Joel pegging fic...I would love to read it lmao

So much is given to us in this first episode it's just a tad overwhelming for me but still enough to follow. I am excited to see more of the story unfold!!

[cursivebloodlines]

not me thinking of open starters for characters i have not written in ages just so i can come back like “yo whats up” lmfao