#tess is a badass

[toointojoelmiller]

taught myself how to make (shitty) gifs today solely because I love these quick little glimpses of bamf Joel and Tess in ep 2 soooo much

[shirks-all-responsibilities]

THIS FICCCC!! I pull it up for a re-read when I wanna experience the enthralling slow burn of tension and the clever dialogues and storyline and scorching smut washing over me. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time, to experience it again anew? My eyeballs not moving from word to word fast enough because I was DYING to know what came next and YOU DELIVEREDDD.

The way you write Tess and Joel's individual dialogues and preserve their dynamic is PITCH PERFECT, it feels like they've jumped straight from the show and into this fic? And your take on grumpy post-outbreak pre-TLOU Joel here is just DELISH!! With some of those tags (angry, semi-enemies, manhandling, slight sadism) I was expecting a different tone, but you've characterized Joel with a more nuanced flavor of these things, with more softness…

the drivers behind them driven more by his misery and sadness and self-loathing and guilt than anything else. He has this little soft vulnerable center hidden in the middle of him to be drawn out at the right moments, and along with his need for release and catharsis, it all coalesces into something INFINITELY HOTTER than your average grumpy rough dom character and I melt for this type of complex subtext every time I see it in fic. Thank youuuuuu.

The LISTEN motif? That “Like hell you listen. No one does. Not even Tess" line might be one of my favorite Joel lines in fic? The attitude, the exasperation, poor grumpy Joel bby! 😆 But THENNN you go and up the ante, shifting the concept into their sexytimes dynamic: "you gonna listen?", "you gonna listen as good as you did last night?" Hot as fkkkkk? "I'll be good for you" ??? "I'LL LISTEN" ??? HALP?? And alsoooo, “You say my name when you cum, y’hear?” might be a contender for another all-time favorite Joel fic line? Classics, every one.

The WATCH motif? The teasing flirtation of seeing vs. watching in their early conversation? Then later as she rides him, how "rather than close his eyes, he wants to watch…his eyes never stop watching…so you watch, too." The shifting depth of meaning? How they listen and see and watch each other in different ways early on and later in the fic? I love this?

And OK, I would sell my soul to hear the "positively sinful" sounds of Joel's voice when he comes, and when he rumbles that dialogue right next to her ear, there would just be no recovering from that. NONE. DED.

This conception of their both needing the same kind of thing as the other, "I just wanna…feel something, even if it hurts a little"? These two little damaged bbys? "You want to be used. You want to be ruined" just hits different? The mix of softness and roughness in Joel's lovemaking, the slow savoring and taking in of her mixed in with the rough devastating pace? How it culminates with her telling him she sees him, them forehead to forehead, THAT KISS HE INITIATES WHILE THEY COME? I am in horny shambles??? 🥵🥵🥵

The story is SOOOO engaging, the way the reader got wrapped up in Tess's dealings and the high stakes at hand, the slow reveal of what happened, the implications of her violence and parallels with Joel, the anguish of the long hours waiting and not knowing…so well written?!

A few other things I loved…I love the way that little studio apartment feels so small, so stifling. The way reading chapter 3 had me wanting to crawl the walls just like she was. And I love how she still respects the privacy of his notebook, how this says so much about her regard for him? The few passages where you focus on the sounds of the environment are also a personal fave of mine, the way that grounds a scene, conveys the comfort, domesticity, or uneasiness being felt…love it. And it's more clear in Reckless (which I need to READ AGAIN NOW), but I love how their age gap really isn't THAT large, especially since she's older (doin the Zepellin math) yet he treats her like she's some young kid, which is SO JOEL and I love it.

And a few other lil things that tickled me? Those "mostly fresh sheets" Joel acknowledges 😆. That little "(Thanks, Tess.)" mental side eye when she learns Tess told Joel she asked for him first thing. 😋 And bless you for the iconic Joel visuals that shined here, the spread knees and hand movement, the wall lean with The Stance moment. BLESS.

And that epilogue, the angst, the unsaid yearning, how he leads her through that threshold, so open ended!

Just ALL THE FIC BLESSINGS UPON YOU for this one. A forever keeper.

SEEING YOU, SEEING ME THE COMPLETED SERIES

After handling a life-or-death favor for Tess, you're in deep shit. Until she can make things right, she suggests you lay low at her place for the week. The issue? It's also Joel Miller's place, and you're pretty sure he hates you.

Pairing: Joel Miller x F!Reader (Joel x You) Rating: Explicit ( 18+ ) Word Count: 16K Tags: No Spoilers; Pre-TLOU, Mentions of death and violence, Age gap/difference, Slow burn, Angry!Joel, Eventual Smut, Semi-Enemies to Fuckers, Alcoholism, Mention of drug abuse, Masturbation, Manhandling, Light choking, Slight Sadism, Touch starved idiots, Guided Masturbation, Oral sex (f/m receiving), Protected p-i-v (wrap before you tap!), Dirty talk, Pet names, Open-ended epilogue Series Playlist: Found on Spotify

CHAPTERS

01. THERE, EVERYWHERE

02. BREAK IT TO ME GENTLY

03. THEY ARE TWO ALONE

04. CAN'T QUIT YOU, BABY

05. IN THE AIR TONIGHT

06. REACH OUT, TOUCH FAITH

EPILOGUE

ADDITIONAL STORIES

reckless. (a future one-shot.)

                                        ( Visit the AO3 story. )

[catherine-brown-24]

Ellie's hair looks EXACTLY like Tess' hair from the first season! 😭

[messrmoonyy]

Craig Mazin saying he’s not ruling out the possibility of TLOU spin-offs. GIVE ME THAT PREQUEL WITH JOEL TESS AND TOMMY IMMEDIATELY

[novelconcepts]

It’s such a comparatively small detail, but I keep coming back to the physicality of the infected dude who chases Joel and Sarah—how completely that actor hurled himself into it, how it gives the sense that this man no longer has care or control of his faculties, has nothing but the hunger as he bangs off of objects and skitters back to his feet. It’s so mind-numbingly terrifying to imagine that coming after you in the dark.

[elialys]

some people read about the character of Tess having a backstory, including a husband she had to kill and an infected son she left behind and go 'ewwwwwww no she's a badass DON'T MAKE HER A WIFE AND MOTHER OMG EW'

while i go HAHAHA YES TRAUMA GRIEF PAIN HORRIBLE GUILT AND LOSS

which in my opinion makes her even more badass but ah well

[spacevixenmusic]

Source: My Dad The Bounty Hunter [2023]

[businesstiramisu]

It took me 17 chapters to notice b/c I haven't been reading the comments, but is the background of @comicaurora's website basically "do you love the color of the sky"?!?! LMAO EXCELLENT

[jojoqin]

I get that the tendril kiss thing was meant to be disturbing but it does kind of go against why Tess wanted to end it the way she wanted to; the thought that at least she could have agency in her death before the cordyceps could have a chance to control her. Maybe the writers wanted the audience to know that characters may not have a say in their death but imo it’s a bit of disservice to Tess. Especially knowing she went down in the original making a stand and that the show could’ve basically erased that kiss part and it would’ve been similar to the game. But I guess it depends on the person.

[dissonantdreamer]

tess sounds so out of breath when she's telling joel to set things right. it looks like the fungus suffocates its host as the tendrils seek to exit out of the mouth. i wonder if she could feel it growing inside her and start to choke her life out.

terrifying if yes.

[theskyexists]

Holy shit, just reread how Joel and Tess are depicted in the game. Tess is NOT kidnapped, NOT arrested by Fedra, is NOT putting everything on the line to save Joel's brother.

She was trading pills for ration cards (something Joel gets to do in the series). TESS is feared more than anything - not even Joel. This is made explicit. The opposite happens in the show.

They are trying to get a WEAPONS cache back. Tess leads the way through the zone, she uses her contacts to find a way to Robert, she gets propositioned for a smuggling deal but she says she's busy, Joel gets provoked but Tess just sends the other guy away with sheer authority, she negotiates and trades ration cards for info like she's got the plan and the control. You can tell that she's known and respected and feared in the qz.

Then she literally breaks Roberts leg, has Joel torture him, then kills him.

SHE THEN GOES AFTER THE FIREFLIES just for... weapons. (because scarcity. And living on the edge. Weapons are essential and valuable. And they scrape by despite being feared because that is the world). Joel asks what now? And doesnt ever question her. He also needs zero fucking soothing or coaxing or calming.

She agrees to smuggle Ellie - FOR WEAPONS. no saving Tommy nothin. She's the brains and ration cards are everything and they get them through smuggling. No honest work burning corpses for Joel. THEY SHOOT PEOPLE. THEYRE RUTHLESS AWFUL SURVIVALIST PEOPLE.

And FEDRA sucks and makes it a NECESSITY.

Why did they change so much of that. 'were not good people' Tess tells Ellie in the show but we don't see any of that shit.

In the game you KNOW they fucking aren't. The world is GRIM. And they've responded accordingly. It's a SHOCK. Normal world. Trauma. 20 years later and everything has clearly gone to shit.

The whole point of her choosing to die later trying to give Joel and Ellie time is that it's a CONTRAST with her survivalist dog eat dog attitude so far. It's selfless and suicidal and BRAVE. It's a formidable woman choosing to go out on her terms.

[smol-stardust]

there's Max shes loud she hates authority and she drums like crazy and shes a boxer and she barely cares about her parents lmao shes the opposite of amy ig

Ooohhh! Max sounds so badass and cool!!

Love that she drums and boxes!! Those are super cool hobbies agshsh!! And yes, let loose and ignore authority, I support

[bumblepony]

Here's my first entry in the Bad Things Happen Bingo "Ransom Note" hope everyone likes it. @badthingshappenbingo

Joel knows something’s not right the moment he walks into their shitty ass apartment. He drops the bag of food he’s carrying into the chair by the door and scans the room.

“Tess?” there’s no response. Then he sees the note pinned to the wall over the couch by a hunting knife. He can’t help but scoff when he sees it. Who the fuck pins notes to the wall with knives nowadays. It's fucking ridiculous. He strides to the couch and rips the message from the wall.

It reads, “You and your bitch have stepped on one too many toes, and now it's time to pay up. If you want to see her alive again, come to the docks tonight at midnight, alone, with all of the pills from your last run. If you don’t come, she dies. If you bring anyone else, she dies.” Then it’s signed, Robert.

Of course, it’s Robert. He always had a flare for the fucking dramatic. The docks at midnight? Joel sucks his teeth with disgust. Roberts, a goddamn idiot, the docks are too open. There’s no way he’s got enough men to defend it properly. What is he thinking? And at midnight, that’s when FEDRA’s the most active. He would be better off having the meet-up just before dawn. By then, the assholes are ready to be home in their beds. They wouldn't give a fuck about some exchange at the docks, a small bribe, and they’d happily turn a blind eye.  But to have it at midnight means he woulda had to pay a pretty penny to get them to fuck off.

But all of this is in Joel’s favor, and he’s not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. This fucker has Tess, and that just won’t do. Joel yanks the dagger from the wall and smiles, thinking about how he’s going to make sure to give it back to Robert later. For now, he goes to their stash and pulls out the pills from the last run and his and Tess’s guns. He stuffs it all in his bag and shrugs it onto his shoulder.

It's time to call in the calvary.

--------

Robert stands at the end of one of the piers, a goon on either side of him. He’s twirling a cane in his hands and has a stupid smirk on his face. He looks absurd like he’s trying to be some sort of kingpin in a comic book. Joel just keeps his face neutral as he stares him down, one hand holding the bag of pills in front of him.

“Here’s half of the pills. The rest are hidden. I’ll give you the location when you show me, Tess.” Joel throws the bag so it’s halfway down the pier. Robert nods, and one of his guys gets it and brings it back to him. He opens the bag so Robert can see inside. Once satisfied, he nods again, and the guy steps back to where he was.

“Joel, I gotta tell you I'm surprised at how easy this was. For years, you have had everyone in this zone shaking in their boots, and in the end, your attachment to each other took you down.” Robert smirks and smacks his cane into his hand. “All I needed to do was wait until you were separated and Tess was easy prey.”

“I very much doubt that if that shinner you have is an indication. Both of your goons look a little worse for wear as well.” Joel says, giving Robert a wide grin, all teeth, no warmth. “Now, where the fuck is Tess?”

Robert flushes red and grips his cane hard. Joel realizes now he might actually need the cane. When he looks at his ankle, he sees it's wrapped in a brace. Joel feels a surge of warmth when he thinks about Tess giving as good as she got.

“Fine,” Robert says and twirls his cane in the air. Joel can see movement in a building to the left of them through a window, and suddenly, the door is being yanked open, and two men come forward with suspending a hogtied and gagged Tess between them. Joel grinds his teeth when he sees the state of her. Only one of her eyes is open the other is swollen shut. Her lips are split and puffy. Her jaw is red and distended on one side. One of the fuckers must have punched her. Her neck is wobbly when she lifts her head, but Joel can see the heat burning in the hazel depths of her one good eye. She must have been sleeping when they came to take her because all she’s got on is a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top. Her skin is raw and abraded where the rope rests. She also has bruising all over her bare arms and legs. Joel can barely see from the haze of red that clouds his vision.

“Where are the rest of the pills?” Robert demands. Joel turns slowly to look at him, and something of the fury coming from Joel like heat waves must have finally penetrated Robert’s tough guy act because he flinches back. “Please?”

Joel locks his eyes on him as his voice comes out slow, smooth, and oh so calm, “Look what you fuckin did to her, Robert. Look what you fucking did.”

Robert finally seems to realize what shit he’s in because he steps back closer to his guys, but it’s too late because they're not there anymore. Robert turns and watches in horror as they’re pulled into the depths of the dark water. Red mingles with the bubbles of their last breath as they disappear. Two shots ring through the air, and Robert turns again to see the two guys holding Tess fall dead to the ground. She falls as well, but it’s not too far, and the bodies of the two men do a fair job of breaking it.

Robert turns again and nearly falls into the water like his men but is saved by Joel’s crushing hand on his arm. Robert hadn't even seen him move. He’s seen Joel tear people apart, beat them black and blue, and turn their bones into dust, but he’s never seen this part of him. For a man as solid and imposing as Joel is, he’s also fast, so fucking fast and quiet when he needs to be. Joel tries to keep that part of his abilities well hidden to use for moments like this.

He’s right up in Robert's face. He reaches for the cane and rips it out of his hand. Two more shots ring out, dropping the two guys rushing out of a building to the right, fucking morons didn’t even check to rooftops before they came out. Joel doesn't even flinch, but Robert does. Two figures dressed in tight-fitting black clothing welding wicked-looking knives slither out of the water, dripping wet and smiling. One is pale and petite with brown hair done in a single braid down her back. She’s got bright brown sparkling eyes and a scar bisecting her right eyebrow. Joel smiles at her and says, “Great job, Kiddo.” he turns to the other girl, who’s taller than the first. Her hair is done in small tight braids and held back by a bandana at the crown of her head. Her skin is a deep chocolate color, and her smile is wide and mischievous. “You too, Riley. I knew I could count on you.”

He looks to Ellie, his hand still tight on the trembling Robert, and says, “Can you two get Tess set to rights? I have to have a conversation with my friend here.” The teenage girls nod and make their way over to Tess at a fast clip.

“It’s all clear, Joel. He had two more guys stationed in the buildin’ behind ya, but I took care of them.” Joel turns to see Tommy trotting up, snipper riffle in hand.

“Ok, thank ya, Tommy. Now you should clear out those shots are goin’ to have FEDRA on our ass in no time. Can you make sure the girls get Tess home safe?” Joel's gripe on Robert has not slackened, and he can hear the man starting to whimper.

“No problem, big brother. But I think the lady has somethin’ she wants to say first.” Joel looks up and sees Tess, now freed from her bonds, making her way stiffly over to the two men.

She stops and leans against Joel, standing on her toes to kiss his lips fiercely. Joel can taste blood where her lips are split, but he wraps his one free arm around her waist and kisses her back just as fiercely. Eventually, she lets him go, falling back to the flat of her feet and holds her hands out. Joel knows what she’s asking for. 

“Tommy, can ya take the girls back to the apartment? I got some canned fruit cocktail for them this afternoon.” Joel asks Tommy as he hands Tess the cane and lets go of Robert's arm.

“You got it,” Tommy says, and he can hear Ellie’s “Fuck yeah” and Riley's laugh as they jog away.

He turns back to Robert and Tess. Tess stands before a frozen Robert. Piss is trickling down his pant leg and pooling at his feet. Tess raises the cane above her head, bringing it down with a guttural roar.

---------

It's only a matter of minutes before Tess and Joel roll Robert's bloody and mangled body, now weighed down with bricks in his pockets, into the water. Tess stands with a groan, and Joel moves quickly to take her weight against his side.

“Tessa.. I was afraid I was gonna lose ya,” Joel says, his voice soft. He holds her gently, worried that he’ll hurt her.

“I’m ok, Tex, I promise,” Tess says, pressing her forehead to his. They hold each other, needing to know the other is safe and whole. Finally, Tess pulls away and says. “Now, let’s go home. I want some of that fucking fruit cocktail. The girls better not have eaten it all by the time we get back.” Joel laughs and hefts the bag of pills onto his back while wrapping his other arm around Tess’s waist. Without looking back, they make their way home.

[the-carlos-cow-eyes]

RIP Annie Wersching. You will be missed😔

[multifariousmayhem]

maybe i am pulling a joel miller and being a hater™ but i really didnt like that ending for the second episode

me watching the last minutes:

what the fuck???

[scentofdriedflowers]

Pouring one out for THE BADDEST BITCH.