#there is an overarching narrative

[sotvtaughtmehowtofeel]

Nothing Bad Here - Part 1

Joel and Ellie return to Jackson, but readjusting to life after being out in the wild for so long isn’t easy. Fix-it fic beginning immediately following the events of “Look for the Light” Note: The Last of Us Part 2 does not happen. Part 2 does not exist for the purposes of this fic.

If you ship Joel x Ellie, keep it away from me/this fic and remember that Joel would fully murder you for it.

Please engage if you enjoy this. Scream about it in the tags (that’s what tags are for). Send me heacdcanons you want to see (I’ll give you credit in the author notes). This show broke me. I’m writing this to preserve my own sanity, let me help you preserve yours.

                                             ------------------------        Joel thought about what he’d told Ellie the entire walk down into Jackson. He didn’t regret lying, and he didn’t feel any guilt. He’d been right to lie to her. The Fireflies had lied to her too, let her go into surgery believing she’d wake back up. Their deaths didn’t weigh on his conscience at all.         He worried that she’d see through him. She was a smart kid. He didn’t deserve the trust she placed in him, but he didn’t want to lose it. He’d nearly died getting her to that hospital, nearly left her alone out there. She’d been captured because of his weakness. He-He drew in a deep breath, pushing the doubt down. She did trust him. She wouldn’t know. He had been right to lie to her.         Ellie didn’t think about what Joel had told her at all. He swore. She’d had time to think about the fact that she wouldn’t be able to help anyone on the walk home. It wasn’t that surprising, really. She’d tried to save Sam and hadn’t been able to. No reason to believe that some fucking doctor would be able to magically turn her blood into a cure. Honestly, it was stupid of her to think she was so fucking special to begin with.         Tommy spotted Joel walking Ellie into Jackson from across the green. He waved and motioned for them to come over, frowning curiously at them. Joel waved at him, but put his arm around Ellie protectively and steered her back toward the home they had been staying in. He frowned, turning his back on Tommy. They’d talk later.         Joel laid his pack on the kitchen table of the house. Ellie dropped her backpack on the floor, taking off her coat and throwing it over a chair. Joel threw his over the supplies left on the table. He swiped at his nose with the back of his hand, turning to Ellie. That town- that fucking town- had been weeks ago. She hadn’t spoken much since then. Something was wrong.         He nodded toward the stairs. “Go take a shower. I’ll heat something up for you to eat.”         Her mouth quirked into a smile briefly, and she nodded, heading up the stairs.         “Take off your shoes!” he called up after her. Her shoes came tumbling down the stairs a few seconds later. “Punk,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head with a smile.         Joel looked around the kitchen, running a hand through his hair. There was one more can of Chef Boyardee in his pack. He fished it out and poured it into a bowl. He glanced up the stairway after Ellie, back at the bowl, then left it on the counter and took the stairs two at a time. The water wasn’t running yet. He knocked on the door.         “What?” Ellie called.         “You all right?” he called through the door.         She snorted a laugh. “Yeah I think I can make it to the shower, Joel.”         “All- right,” he said too quietly for her to hear. Of course she was fine.         He shook his head, heading back to the stairs. He took one step down but hesitated. He took a step toward his own room. He could sure use a shower too. She was fine. She was safe, and she was fine. He sat down at the top of the stairs, shaking his head. He just sat there.         Joel jumped to his feet when the door jostled as Ellie was coming out. Plan was to pretend he’d just been heading down the stairs. Ellie frowned at him, pushing past him to run down the stairs. He sighed and followed her.         A pang of guilt hit him when he saw the bowl of ravioli on the table. He’d told her he’d heat it up. He put it in the microwave, leaning against the cabinet next to it.         Ellie didn’t seem to notice. She was standing at the window, idly drying her hair with a towel. She didn’t react when the microwave timer went off, or when he moved his coat and pack from the table to place the bowl by the other chair. He had to say her name three times before she responded.         She came back to the table, flinging the towel over a chair, and took the fork. She looked at him.         “Aren’t you eating?” He had forgotten. He just shook his head, but she took another fork from the drawer and handed it to him, pushing the bowl into the center of the table. They sat down and ate together in silence. Author 2nd note: I saw a post about Episode 6 saying:          “love love LOVE how this episode portrayed ellie and joel as a pair of feral cats that got picked up off the street and have a tag on their enclosure at the shelter that says “they are bonded and cannot be adopted separately” – tumblr user weirdgirlcore This text post is the entire premise of the fic. 

[arainaizevran]

good lore =/= good storytelling btw

[trainwreckgenerator]

hey do you guys remember razias shadow? cause i just did

[starbylers]

Honestly? Byler isn’t a ship (I mean within the show not the fandom) as much as it is an incomplete storyline that doesn’t really showcase them romantically yet but is about the trials they go through coming of age as queer kids, theorised to end in their romance. You can’t evaluate how “good” it is the same way you would canon ships, it just wouldn’t make sense. It’s not even a slowburn, in the way Jo/pper was for instance. It’s closer to a twist, more an inevitable result of the progression of the plot than a romance currently existing within the plot like others on the show.

Byler is about their potential as opposed to shipping solely based on presently available material, at least that’s how I see it. The building blocks are clearly being laid for it to go fully canon but as of now, Mike and Will do not really have in-universe textually romantic interactions. We see romance in those blocks because we have the foresight of understanding what’s being built, but it is subtle and requires close attention. If a person isn’t bothered to think critically about their entertainment media (which is fine of course that’s their choice), it’s almost inevitable they’ll not get it or even dislike it. Many people just aren't interested unless something’s explicitly happening in front of them. But still, as I said…completely incomparable to established canon ships. Apples and oranges. It’s enjoying watching textually romantic scenes vs interpreting the inner mechanisms of storytelling and theorising…both are valid interests but they don’t belong in the same conversations. In a way it’s like comparing Lu/max as a couple to the theories about Will’s connection to the UD. Because Byler is, essentially, a theory (an extremely well-evidenced correct theory lmao but it is still that for now).

When talking on-screen canonicity, Byler is an in-progress storyline (one in which the twist is being actively obfuscated at that), rather than a ship you can go and witness interacting overtly romantically, and it does call for analytical thinking and a little imagination to understand and appreciate in it’s current form. It’s okay though they’ll kiss on everyone’s screens next year and get their deserved flowers 💐

[leavesdriftinginthewind]

I think what pisses me off most about the Wednesday fandom is that so many are intentionally ignoring the fact that Tyler is MEANT to be a tragic character because he is a Hyde. We basically have it beaten over our heads that Hydes are the outcasts of outcasts, deemed too difficult to help, and therefore abandoned and left to their own devices, basically giving them no way to NOT be tortured into being someone’s slave or ultimately having something tragic or awful happen to them that forces out their Hyde and leaving them to become a monster and/or get killed.

So many people blame Tyler for every bad thing that happened in this first season when he LITERALLY had no option but to do exactly as Laurel wished. He was TOLD to go murder the people he murdered, he was TOLD to get Wednesday to trust him, he was TOLD to go after Eugene, he had no CHOICE but to obey, it’s literally in the show’s lore. And we are both told AND shown what lengths Laurel went to to literally torture this teenage boy into becoming a monster that was FORCED to obey her. Not only that, but all that “mama” talk and physical touch is gag-worthy. SHE is the true monster who wanted everyone dead, and she ruined that boy’s life to try and get what she wanted. And the show INTENTIONALLY shows AND tells you all that.

We are SHOWN how Tyler was chained, beaten, poisoned to bring the Hyde out, to become Laurel’s perfect slave. And still so many see HIM as the “true villain,” stating that if he was truly “good” he never would’ve done all he did. Meanwhile the lore has TOLD you, Hydes have no choice. But WAY too many disregard this plot point entirely simply because they see it as something to cling to for their preferred ship to happen. That’s infuriating to me, truly. Not only from a standpoint of really loving Tyler as a character, but also from a standpoint of it being apparent to ME of where the story is going, and knowing that so much of the fandom is gonna be pissed off about it because it’s Tyler-centric.

We are given so much information about “Hydes have been banned from Nevermore for 30 years,” “Faulkner was studying Hydes but he died before he could finish his research,” “nobody knows for sure if, once unlocked, Hydes are only monsters or if the person they were is still in there.” Between all this within the narrative itself and Hunter talking about how he’s excited to explore the duality of the Real Tyler versus the Hyde next season, I think it’s obvious that Wednesday and Tyler are basically going to get to the bottom of this “are Hydes all 100% bad and dangerous” problem themselves, and the result of their research will probably get Hydes accepted back into Nevermore.

Wednesday already knows how unjust the whole system is, she mentions it FREQUENTLY in the first season. Once she gets past feeling betrayed by what happened in season one, it’s likely going to weigh on her that someone she cared about deeply enough to bring her walls down for, to actually seek out to KISS, was so hurt by this system that he ended up doing all he did. And Tyler is inevitably returning, the writers have talked about how we’re going to learn more about Tyler and explore his true feelings for Wednesday. They’ll be brought back together, no doubt. And thus, the deep dive on Hydes will probably begin.

I don’t care what you ship, I don’t even care if you really LIKE Tyler as a character, but I DO care that so many have made him out to be a pure villain simply because that suits their own personal narrative better, and makes them feel like it’s more likely their preferred ship will win the “war.” Like, try and WATCH a show, actually WATCH it, and not simply cling to bits and pieces that suit the storyline you’ve made up in your head. You’re SUPPOSED to hate LAUREL, you’re supposed to, at the very least, wonder if the Real Tyler is still in there, if he can be helped, and you are SUPPOSED to feel some pity for the boy who was forced into becoming an enslaved monster.

[mxmarsbars]

made a little analysis thread on twitter and thought I’d share it here too if that’s chill ^_^

anyways traffic!impulse using self destruction and the destruction of others as a way to cope with his own frustration and resentment throughout the life series: a messy ramble-y post because I’m crazy.

most of this behavior really only starts after third life. his destructive behavior before then is usually outward and not with malicious intent. instead, he hurt others in third life because he was asked to. it was a part of a greater plan he was undoubtably loyal to and that would later get him killed and tarnish his reputation for seasons to come.

that’s why in last life, he’s much more open to antagonistic behavior (which he barely partook in before and only would if asked of). this mostly includes all the stealing he did that season, the numerous break ins, and of course, spawning the wither. this could also include his personal insistence on becoming the boogeyman and even planning it out in advance (which would later get him killed, his own hubris). he was itching for it to be his turn.

it’s such a huge shift from how he acted in third life, and why? personally, I think it’s because of all the strain and pressure put on him by others and their disdain towards him. specifically the rumors spread about him and the reluctance of others to believe and trust him after what he’d done the season prior. which for some people is justified, like ren and etho, but for others, like bdubs, is not. and this was shown to upset impulse a lot, given how it resulted in him being thrown under the bus, even by his own teammates.

but he’s supposed to be nice and considerate and smart to make up for all he’s done, right? that’s why he sticks with his alliance the whole time and makes a point to be loyal to them and them only. but that doesn’t stop the resentment and anger boiling, and he can only take so much before he has to let off some steam, and destructive behavior seems to be a means to do so.

it turns from him doing bad things because he’s asked to to him doing it because he wants to, to cope. which is why when all else fails and the southlands fall apart, despite him taking the measures to prevent it earlier on, he helps grian spawn the wither, even with the risks and deaths. and he insists on doing it at best’s base, because they ruined him. it gets him killed. he should’ve been smarter.

it gets worse in double life, specifically when homewrecking is proposed. while he’s not the one to bring it up or start the rumors, he soon grows comfortable enough to start talking smack himself. him and bdubs deliberately try to ruin the relationships of others, and they tell themselves it’s to steal away half of each pair for their own benefit, but maybe there’s more to it. maybe they ARE projecting, just like joel had said.

it doesn’t help that impulse is having his soulbound questioned and bdubs “needs” a clock and the horns won’t shut up. when they’re exposed, he takes his destruction to the deep dark. he throws snowballs, he spooks unsuspecting people, he yells into the dark when he finds out his voice can trigger the sensors. throughout the season, he makes multiple efforts to cause distress in the deep dark, malicious intent or not. and maybe it’s to cope with the fact that bdubs keeps sending him down there or etho won’t stop yapping about how bdubs doesn’t want him or how bdubs put a major target on their backs.

and this is when self destructive behavior really starts, too. impulse gives away valuable resources when he realistically could’ve not, he takes risks he absolutely doesn’t have to take (despite how much he values his and, by extension, bdubs’s life), when he’s linked to the fishing rod sequence of death, all he says to bdubs is that it was fun while it lasted. and then he loses their first life trying to get a music disc.

whether he means to or not, he’s slowly killing himself and his soulmate, too. and eventually, by the time he’s red, he just gives in. he starts blowing horn (surely there’s some symbolism there), he terrorizes those better off than him, he wants to cause problems. yet there’s always still some humanity in him that shines through, regardless of his destructive ways of coping.

but this isn’t about that. before the final fight, he even grabs the golden apple him and bdubs had been stashing away, saying if they can’t win, no one can. he would’ve ate it. he should’ve ate it. yet he didn’t, and he died by bdubs’s hand again. more resentment grows.

by limited life, it’s obvious he’s open to dabbling into more chaotic pastimes. bdubs’s ignorance and unwillingness to see his flaws and apologize only fuels the fire. when he’s chosen as the boogeyman, he has a time with it. but he still has the mind to know not to hurt his team, even refusing to use skizz’s accidental death to cleanse himself. but he bombs bread bridge freely, somehow even getting tango and skizz to help him. it’s almost concerning how much fun he has with it.

then of course there’s the complete destruction of bread bridge, which he happily takes part in. and tango’s boogey kill on bdubs, in which he lures bdubs to his demise (something he had been itching to do for seasons). he amasses a huge kill count over the season, his first time murdering anyone since third life.

most of his behavior this season turns more outward, and he grows more keen on sustaining himself the more faith his team puts in him. he is also shown to hold other alliances much less dear than ties, even if they benefit him. this results in the betrayal of many, most notably mean gills in the finale. he fights like hell, he gets his final revenge on bdubs and ends his season, and yet it still isn’t enough.

he begs martyn to kill him, because he’s alone, and he’s scared, and he did all he was asked to do. but they keep him around, despite his pleas. he’s given the illusion of free will, a chance to win, to be given a fair fight. martyn slaughters him in cold blood. a cruel betrayal.

secret life feels like a reset, and most scores are settled, and secret tasks heavily dictate how the sessions go. he isn’t given the chance to cause mass destruction like he could the season prior. he’s not sure if he wants to. most of his mistakes are honest, no self destructive or malicious intent, same with his tasks.

he’s with a team he can trust and confide in. they help him. they care about him. his first two deaths are consensual and willing, something’s he’s never known. the season is rough, but he’s happy. he tries to use his trap as he’s being chased, risky as it was, a final act of stubbornness.

he dies, alone and scared, hearts quivering. nothing’s new. he’ll just have to be ready to cope again tomorrow. get some blood of his hands, whether it’s his enemies or his own.

[kingofmyborrowedheart]

I don’t think any of the forthcoming vaults will recontextualize the album in quite the same way that Red’s vault did.

[eastgaysian]

succession character rpg classes thoughts:

fire emblem edition: kendall - obligatory lord roman - dancer tom - knight/potentially cavalier, wanted to be a pegasus knight shiv - dark mage connor - mage or potentially a priest? i lean mage though. stewy - wyvern rider for the cool factor greg - obligatory villager

dnd edition: joke/serious: everyone is a warlock whose patron is logan and/or capitalism. serious/joke: still a pretty unplayable party. kendall - i'm inclined towards some kind of cringe monk, but i could see the argument for cringe bard roman - gotta be a bard. college of eloquence probably connor - don't know why i'm so fixed on con as a caster but sorcerer imo, though i can see wizard. wild magic would be funny and fitting tom - either a bog-standard fighter or kind of a shitty paladin (oath of devotion probably) shiv and stewy - still both warlocks to me. greg -

there's a succession dragon age au also in my mind but that's a whole other thing. not accepting constructive criticism at this time

[gertritude]

Normally I don't recommend fanfics but I've been reading the akechi-centric p5 fanfic "the green-eyed monster" and I feel like the low kudos amount it has vs how well it's written is kind of insane. Like I know it isn't something that most people would read (plot-heavy casefic featuring almost no major p5 characters and only a hint of any kind of shipping), but the way the author utilizes minor p5 characters in a way that elaborates on them while still keeping them true to what we see of them in-game is genuinely impressive to me. It also has a really interesting take on the popular "akechi gets erased from public cognition after the end of the game" headcanon!!

[spacedlexi]

are there any narrative decisions/themes in twdg (the entirety of the series) that you really disliked/thought could be handled better?

*gestures vaguely at seasons 2 and 3* i dont think i really have anything new or groundbreaking to say about the ways those seasons were handled

honestly for the most part though even when i find the narrative decisions to be lacking or disappointing theyre able to at least stick to their themes and emotionally come to satisfying conclusions. clems personal running narrative throughout the series i think holds up pretty well. and her journey is like... the whole point of it all. so other characters or aspects of the series falling through the cracks is unfortunate but acceptable for me if its still working towards developing clementine as a character. seasons 2 and 3 might be messy and contentious among fans but like.. regardless of the issues i have with them i like where they push clem emotionally

leads to the kind of situation where i might not agree with the decisions that got us here, but i can at least appreciate what the Intended goal was narratively and thematically

but since im talking about clem the ONE thing i will say is: they pushed the "mother" shit especially in s3 way too hard. she got called a big sister Once and then they promptly moved on. other characters telling clem how motherly she is? sick ew yucky nasty. clementine herself choosing to raise aj because hes all she has left in this world and wants whats best for him? yes and also im crying. at least if you take the alone endings you dont hear that dialogue from kenny or jane so its less in your face but ugh 🙄 i actually liked in s2 that after aj is born clem can be uncomfortable with him or completely uninterested, but by the end of the season (especially if shes left all alone and its partially why i like the alone endings so much) clem decides to look out for him regardless, because theyre all each other has. hed die without her. and she needs something to fight for, to remind her that theres still good out there, because the toll this world has taken on her only continues to rise. they need each other equally. in a normal world they could have just been normal siblings. but in this one? shes ajs everything. and hes hers. and we can see All of that without characters telling clem what a "natural mother" she is 😒

[gaylactic-fire]

Ok last bit of TOTK saltiness for now but can we agree that trying to tell a linear story via the same collecting memories system was fucking dumb as hell

[rollercoasterwords]

still pondering but. i actually don't think it's possible for "[x thing] was unnecessary" to ever be a valid or useful or productive critique of fanfiction....

[wakingstarstuff]

meet me in the woods is still undefeated imo

[lelianasbong]

i've got five meticulously crafted world states for dragon age and when i tell you that they each fill a perfect ecological niche in the landscape that is my fandom-saturated brain, know that i am saying it from the belly like a satiated dragon digesting its food

[sendmyresignation]

i've tried for literally maybe a decade to get into coheed. and every time i fail. sorry guys.

[miquellah]

im 100% of the belief that miquella is of course flawed and fallible and pretty fucked up in his methods to achieve his goals, despite his apparent earnestness and innocence in intent. however. really funny and really easy to go full blind miquella apologism for practice

[puts hands over my eyes] uhh yeah no miquella really did charm mohg only out of self-defense. the npcs getting charmed? just so they would stop fighting. ansbach is an unreliable narrator. the bewitchment branch in the first place was only a cookbook recipe by some random guy from the haligtree and had nothing to do with miquella’s magic. yeah actually the charm was all figurative for real still. you’re the one who killed mohg and he WANTED to be his consort, you killed radahn who WANTED to fight forever, so actually miquella blending body and soul together like that was a favor to them both. trina wasn’t actually right about anything she was locked away because SHE was the manipulative one. i could go on forever