#tlou but make it happy

[maremote]

to be honest i think you fundamnetally have to have a bit of an ego to make any sort of good art. you have to believe that you have a unique perspective to offer or a good idea and you need to follow through on that without worrying about if other people like it. and if they don't like it you have to be able to look at your work and determine if they're right or not. and sometimes you have to decide that everyone else is wrong and you're right about whether your work is good or not.

#thinking about tlou hbo. #if you're so concerned with what people will LIKE to see then. idk. go write fanfiction #you have to believe strongly enough in your own ideas to assert yourself beyond what will make people happy #og

[be-an-echo]

Happy bday Joel!

#happy bday old man #to a dude who isnt showing his age - or acting it - either #tess burned the cake but hey cupcakes are great too #but she makes him feel special all day #ellie and sarah are not in the picture because they ran to the store to buy a new cake #so now they have like 20 minutes to “eat the cupcake” #sorry im drunk #anyway #joel x tess #tessjoel #tess lives #tess tlou #joel tlou #tess servopoulos #joel miller #the last of us

[oreolesbian]

something fulfilling in watching two projects (stranger things, thor: love & thunder) hype up their “queer content” as if they’re doing something groundbreaking by doing the same bullshit we’ve seen w/ poorly done queer rep for ages

meanwhile projects like our flag means death, a league of their own, heartstopper, first kill, the owl house, etc. (all in the same year as the other two projects, may i add) perfectly demonstrate how behind those projects are when it comes to rep. how dumb they look for even attempting the dumb “up-for-interpretation”, token queer character shit.

showing how simple it is to, if you are marketing for a queer audience, not to treat us like shit. showing queer people in casual lights, showing our stories in multiple genres for multiple ages, showing multiple queer characters across a spectrum of identities, whether that be sexuality, gender, race, etc.

all it shows me is that i won’t settle for the bullshit queerbaiting. not anymore.

#bit of a ramble #but i feel this deeply #seeing these large queer ensemble shows popping up all in the same year makes me so happy for the content we get from here and to the future #yes i’m thinking fondly on the tlou show 🥹 #lgbtq rep #representation in media #stranger things critical #thor love and thunder #mcu critical #ofmd #a league of their own #heartstopper #first kill #the owl house

[actual-changeling]

for Meg, cause you're having a hard week <33 @ellie-licious

now on ao3 here

-

"What the fuck is a snowman?"

Joel blinks, fingers still curled around the cup he just set down. It's early November and the universe has decided to fuck her over by sending Jackson one snow-heavy cloud after the other, topped off with an early overnight snow storm that left them with several inches of snow. The last few days have been rough for both of them, her nightmares crawling out from their hiding places like bloodhounds finding a promising trail, and Ellie has abandoned her bed for his with the first dusting of snow; her sheets are starting to collect dust.

She presses her hot cocoa closer to her chest to feel the warmth seep through her sweatshirt and the two layers of clothing beneath them, not that she needs them while inside, but it gives her a sense of protection, an armor to wear. Her plan for today is, well, was apparently, to curl up with Joel on the couch and either try to catch up on the sleep she is missing with the daylight ready to keep her vampiric memories away, or watch one movie after the other until she passes out from sheer exhaustion. Joel, however, is oddly motivated to get her distracted outside of the house rather than inside, and suggested making a snowman once the coffee machine stopped gurgling behind him on the counter.

"You have never built a snowman?"

"Joel, have you ever seen a FEDRA soldier that isn't allergic to everything remotely fun?"

He snorts, sipping his coffee with a smile tugging on his lips, and she tries to swallow enough of his happiness to replace hers, bits and pieces of it gradually disappearing into the cold.

"A snowman is pretty much what it says on the tin, you roll up a bunch of big snowballs, stack them on top of each other and give it a face."

Ellie tries to imagine it, blurry memories of her very first visit to Jackson scratching somewhere at the back of her mind, and while she can't come up with a satisfying enough picture, she's sure her creativity will make up for it. Then, the last part of Joel's sentence fully sinks in, and she surprises herself with the ball of excitement that makes her bounce, almost spilling her cocoa down the front of her shirt.

"A face, you say? Any face?"

Joel is very, very glad the mischievous glint in her eyes has found a different victim today.

The next five minutes are a messy rush as they wiggle themselves into their winter clothing and tie up their boots, almost tripping over each other more than once when Ellie is incapable of standing still, idea blooming in her head. Yesterday, the cold draft alone made her flinch, but when she rips open the door now, gloved up and with a beanie pulled deep into her face, the sting of snowflakes on her cheeks is powerless against her excitement.

Joel shows her how to form proper snowballs, not satisfied until he approves them as 'structurally sound', whatever the fuck that is supposed to mean, and once she gets the hang of it, her ambition rises to the sky. They spend over two hours rolling and pressing together an almost life-sized snow person, with Joel doing the heavy lifting and Ellie carving out more details and giving helpful instructions.

"To the left, no, my left Joel not yours. Lower, it's lopsided now, Joel I said left, are you deaf?"

He stops, snowball, well, snow boulder at this point, really, dangerously balanced against his hip.

"Right, yeah, you are. Still no excuse for sloppy work though," she continues, not the least bit apologetic, and her cheeks hurt with the smile frozen onto her face, Joel's eyes brimming with an adoration that makes her blush.

They are finally done around lunch time, only noticing they missed it when the first people start to trickle back to their houses, heads turning when they pass their front yard. The sky stayed a piercing blue all morning, not a single snowflake in sight anymore, and when she presses herself against Joel's side as tightly as she can with with half a person of fabric between them, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her in, she no longer needs his happiness to stay warm, brimming with her own. Joel nudges her hat to the side so he can press a kiss to their temple as they admire their piece of art.

The real fun happens a few seconds later, though, when familiar footsteps come up behind them.

"What- Joel what the fuck is that my jacket?"

The snowman is exactly as tall as Tommy, facial features intricately carved by Ellie, a threadbare black blanket imitating his hair, and, to top it all off, Ellie may or may not have stolen some of his brother's clothes to make it as true of an imitation of Tommy as a bunch of snow and stones can be. She turns around, still holding onto Joel, and the stunned look on Tommy's face melts away when he sees the smile on hers.

"He was cold, Tommy, and besides, it suits him way better than you."

Maybe winter isn't going to be so bad after all.

#alex writes tlou #the last of us #tlou #joel and ellie #miller family #joel miller #ellie williams #tommy miller #ellie and tommy #ficlet #building a snowman #winter traditions #joel stops laughing really quickly when tommy helps her build an imitation of HIM #and then they all build one of her too because she's part of the family now #and for the entirety of winter their lawn has all the miller family snowmen that ellie takes care of #so they keep looking good and don't melt away or get covered in fresh snow #it makes all of them really happy #hope u like it meg <33

[haikyuul-kid]

episode 6 and beyond in a nutshell

#the last of us #the last of us episode 6 #tlou #the last of us spoilers #ellie williams #joel miller #this show makes me cry every episode #i just want them to be happy #god dammit

[a-little-bit-of-everybody]

when i finish reading a fic i just stare at my phone like this

#the fics i be reading do be fire tho #the fics i be reading do be making me question my entire reality tho #the fics i be reading do be heavy on the angst and homophobic parents tho #the fics i be reading do be making me very happy tho 🩷 #the last of us #ellie williams #ellie the last of us #ellie tlou #tlou #abby the last of us #abby anderson #the last of us pt 2 #the last of us 2 #mommy

[mariatesstruther]

thinking about maria miller having a super intense nesting phase of her pregnancy that ends up extending to ellie at some point

like she starts off knitting baby blankets and lil gloves and booties and suddenly she’s thinking “hm u know what i wonder if ellie gets cold i bet she does let me make her something” and then before she knows it, she’s made ellie three scarfs, beanies and gloves sets and two blankets in one week

she goes over to miller house b with tommy hauling 15 pounds of yarn behind her. she gives them to ellie and gets all preggo emotional and is like “idk i know we’re not that close but i feel really bad for throwing your clothes away last time and i noticed you only have one set of gloves so i started making you gloves and then i started making you a beanie and then this happened. they’re red and green i hope u like red and green and i hope we can be friends because i think you’re really cool and i want you to like me okay bye. if you need these washed just let me know”

and ellie is like “?????? thanks i guess. are u good????? tommy?????” and tommy just shrugs and goes “idk bro just take them or she’ll cry. she’ll also prolly cry when you use them around her, so. just expect some crying”

#maria and ellie #maria makes stuff for joel too #she makes his a shawl and some gloves and a cute lil woven holster for his gun #nesting maria #i loveeeeee thinking about her having a happy stress free pregnancy where nothing bad happens #thats totally cannon right craig #right???? #maria miller #ellie miller #tlou #maria #ellie #the millers #the last of us #tommy

[yondublanky]

*slaps roof of joel miller* this baby can fit so much trauma in it

#so who was gonna tell me that facial hair makes expressions so much easier to draw #I wasn’t happy with his face in the last post so now you get this #tlou hbo #joel miller #the last of us #tlou #i’m not an artist

[be-an-echo]

let's go my love, we don't belong here anymore...

#THIS HURTTTTTTTT #when i say i wanna cry... #why internet why? #im feeling very miserable rn #after i counted both twitter and tumblr votes i wanted to punch myself for giving u this option #pls dont make the same mistake and dont listen to sad music #its just a bad dream because they are still happy and alive in jackson #its one of joels nightmares #tess always comforts him afterwards #she hugs him so close joel's not sure if he's still breathing #he tells her about the nightmare so tess lets him listen to their hearts steadily beating in their chests as a proof that they are alright #because they are #and it was just a bad dream #tess servopoulos #joel miller #joel x tess #tessjoel #tess tlou #joel tlou #tess lives

[elliespuns]

I'm overworked and underfucked. But at least there's Ellie and Joel.

#they make me happy #fluffy duo #the last of us #tlou #ellie williams #ellie tlou #joel miller #joel tlou #ellie and joel #joellie #the last of us game #tlou game

[actual-changeling]

This post is something that can actually be so personal and no I am not done talking about it. There's a whole concept behind it and the fucking hair ties are just one way of channeling it but oh boy is it a good one. This works so well with the hair braiding too and i cannot think about it to much or i will spontaneously combust, but I had to so I hope you enjoy the result of it.

-

Joel has a hair tie on his wrist because Ellie forgets to take a spare and when the first one breaks or she loses it somehow, he can offer it to her before her hair becomes an annoyance.

He has one because she gives it to him sometimes when they're laying on the couch and her ponytail makes resting her head on a pillow or against his chest uncomfortable. At times she also takes it out simply because her scalp is especially sensitive that day and the constant pull becomes painful after a while. There's always another one in his jacket pocket, too, so when Ellie asks him for braids afterward or allows him to do her hair he isn't limited to simpler styles.

It starts with hair ties in Jackson but there are months of different acts preceding it.

Joel carried whatever he could for her, taking more than necessary sometimes because the slim line of her shoulders being weighed down by her backpack made his heart ache even when he couldn't admit it to himself back then, not at first at least. There are water bottles, sweatshirts she cannot quite fit into hers that day, all of their food, whatever first aid materials he can find, even a spare bar of soap.

Then he starts carrying hair ties once they get to Jackson and suddenly he needs to keep a brush on him, too, and with the brush comes a comb and with the comb comes a hat and with the hat comes a homemade creme he traded for since her hands are uncomfortably dry sometimes (she never said so but he knows her), and after that what started as a small piece of twisted fabric turns into him carry a bag around that is filled with everything his brain thinks Ellie might require at some point. Sure, maybe he is being a little bit overprotective and maybe Tommy jokes about getting him a purse several times, but he can offer her sunscreen and a bottle of water during summer, he gives her gloves and a scarf in winter when she doesn't remember to put them on before leaving, there's always one of her books in a side pocket, too, and as soon as he finds her a new one, her Walkman gets an especially safe place in his bag.

And yes, he fusses over her a little bit too much, maybe even to the point of being smothering sometimes (she always tells him to back off when that happens and he does without complaint), but Ellie grew up utterly alone and without someone to look after her for fourteen years, she deserves to know what it is like to be cared about by someone. Whatever she asks for, whatever she needs, he gives it to her even when she could walk home and come back with the thing in question in less than ten minutes. There's always a snack, a spare sweatshirt in case she gets cold, space for the one she takes off when she gets too warm, a small sketchbook and a pencil both as a distraction and so she can draw whenever she feels like it.

No one pays any attention to it, and while Tommy softly teases him about it from time to time, the smile that blooms on Ellie's face when he quietly gives her something she needs based on nothing but hardwired instincts before the words leave her mouth tells him everything he needs to know.

Joel might not be good with words, but he continues to carry a bag and hands her little pieces of his love time and time again, hoping she can put the puzzle together, hoping she knows.

Ellie does the same, hoping Joel notices it, hoping he knows what it means, that with every time she tells him to rest, every cup of coffee on his nightstand, every night spent in his bed when she wakes to the mere suggestion of a nightmare and brushes them away before they can settle so she can put herself in their place instead, every trashy action movie she borrows from the library for their weekly movie night, every handmade guitar pick she gifts him, every single gesture she does not have to do but does regardless because she wants to, she is saying I love you, too.

They notice, they care, they willing hand over carefully chosen parts of themselves and the puzzle they piece together is one and the same, because paying attention to things is how they show love and it is oh so easy when there is nothing to look at but each other.

#alex writes tlou #the last of us #tlou #joel and ellie #joel miller #ellie williams #fanfic #miller family #episode 3 reference because i go insane over half the lines they say fucking craig i hate you i hate you what did you do to my brain #also i finally got the bill and frank strawberry shirt and i am wearing it right now and i am in love #two old gay men living a happy life in the apocalypse is actually so defining to me as a lesbian #does that make sense probably not but its true #anyway inbox open as always it is easier to write you something if it's related to my current brain rot topic but i get to everything #eventually i just wanna do it properly

[sundayruby]

ELLIE in The Last of Us Part I (2022 remake)

#ellie williams #ellie tlou #the last of us #tlou #tlouedit #the last of us part i #naughty dog #tloudaily #naughtydogsource #dailygaming #gamingnetwork #chewieblog #sol makes things #i am so insanely happy this is happening!!! #and that they're going to release it on pc as well #because stars know i'm not gonna buy ps5 #everything i needed is on ps4 #but ahhhh!!!! it looks so pretty!

[cowgurrrl]

how's our LFTL fam doing?? these are what the late night thoughts are tonight lol

Oh I'm so glad you asked (ps thank you for always asking me about LFTL 🥺🥺🫶)

When You Wash Your Hair

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem!reader (plus platonic!Ellie x fem!reader)

Summary: A Miller tradition comes full circle [1.3k]

Warnings: the slightest touch of PTSD symptoms, domestic fluff, mentions of teen pregnancy???, uh I think that’s it

When you first met Joel, one of the very first things you noticed about him was his hair. The way the curls sat on his forehead and moved with the wind. Joel and Tess had been smuggling partners for years when you came into the picture and certainly didn't take well to outsiders like yourself. Still, you stuck with them and noticed all the little nuances of their personalities, like how Tess stuck to Joel's right and how he always let her lead, and how their hair would get to the brink of unruly before showing up in the morning with fresh cuts. A month or so after settling in Jackson, you noticed his hair becoming even more unkempt than usual. One night, he woke you up with big eyes and shaking hands and asked you to cut his hair.

You didn't have viable scissors the whole journey from Boston, and even if you did, Joel didn't trust you with them so close to his head. That is, not until that night. He sat on the closed toilet seat and traced anxious patterns into the backs of your thighs as you stood in between his legs, gingerly snipping away wild curls and giving some shape back to his hair. When he stood to look at his reflection in the mirror, it was like watching a piece of him come alive again. He looked younger and, somehow, lighter. Wordlessly, you switched places, and he cut a couple of inches off your head—the pieces of the people you left at Jackson's gates intertwining on the floor. It felt like a new beginning or as close to a fresh start as either of you could ever be afforded. Thus, began the monthly Miller haircut night.

Your and the girls' hair grows much slower than Joel's, but all four of you need haircuts every few months. Charlie is usually first with all her squirming and tricky ringlets. "Mommy, did you know that the moon changes every night? It's called the lunler cycle." She asks, whipping her head around to look at you. You pull the scissors away from her hair to avoid impaling her and take a deep breath to calm yourself down.

"I didn't know that. Can you draw them for me?" You ask, sliding her a piece of paper and a crayon. Finally, your four-year-old settles enough for you to cut a few inches of hair. Ellie replaces Charlie while Joel gets her down for bed, and you pull leaves from Ellie's hair. She tells you about her patrol and how Dina's pregnancy is going. She's busy and doesn't get to come home as much as you would like, but at nineteen, she still lets you cut her hair, so that's a win. She makes up excuses like Dina can't cut her bangs like you can, or she's just looking for a homemade meal, but you know it's something deeper even if she won't admit it quite yet.

Even though it's been years of cutting her hair and keeping her in the bubble of Jackson, she still tenses when the cold metal grazes her skin. Her breathing gets shallow, and you can feel the panic knotting in her chest. You immediately put the sheers down and far enough away from her that they're out of sight before crouching to look at her. You grab her clammy hand and take a deep breath, a silent request for her to copy you. She does but not without it catching in her throat, breaking it into two breaths instead of one. You know not to rush her or speak before she's ready, so you sit in front of her, squeezing her hand and breathing deeply enough for the both of you. After a few minutes, she looks at you and nods, swiping at the tears collecting on her lash line. "Sorry." she breathes, and you shake your head.

"Nothing to be sorry about, bug."

"Just felt," she twinges, rolling her neck like she can feel the metal again. You know she remembers when David rattled the cleaver by her ear and how that sound echoed in her brain with the promise of a brutal, early death. "Scary."

"D'you want me to stop?" You ask. She shakes her head and takes another minute or two before giving you the go-ahead to continue. You're slow and careful to avoid touching her neck and fill the bathroom with talking about Shimmer, Jesse, and Dina— anything to keep her mind far away from that winter day. When you've finished snipping the dead ends away, she looks at herself in the mirror with a small smile, feeling the new length out and letting her spine relax. She gives you a hug and a quiet thank you before returning to the farmhouse.

"My turn?" Joel asks as he peeks his head into the bathroom. You smile as you pick up the pile of hair on the floor and dump it in the trashcan before turning to him.

"Charlie asleep?"

"Barely. She fell asleep in the middle of our conversation like she was afraid she would miss somethin'."

"Maybe she just likes talking to her dad." You say, and he chuckles as his hands land on your waist, pulling you toward him. Your hands land on his chest when he kisses you, tasting vaguely of the decaf coffee he drank on the porch and the beeswax chapstick someone in town makes. He hums against you, and you smile. "Take a seat, cowboy." You push him toward the toilet, and he groans but lets you go long enough to sit down.

Then, like always, you stand between his open legs and trim his curls to a more manageable length. His hands run a circuit from your hips to the backs of your knees before massaging into your lower back. The weight of his touch is welcome, and it takes all your focus not to lean into his warmth. You brush stray curls off his shoulders as he stands to check out his new look in the mirror, not that it's anything radically different, but he still smiles and leans down to kiss you.

"Perfect." He gently slips the scissors out of your hand and flips your positions, so you're closer to the toilet. "Your turn." He says, and you sigh as you oblige and let him examine your hair. Despite his rugged looks and tough attitude, Joel knows how to handle hair. He cut Tess's hair for years, and before that, he did Sarah's. He's usually putting Charlie's hair in pretty pigtails or a braid before school, even going as far as to wear a hair tie or two on his wrist at all times in case one of the women in his life needs one.

So you're not worried when your hair starts falling around you. You relax under his touch and close your eyes. He takes his time to ensure everything is the same length and looks correct, pressing kisses to your face between thoughts. You can hear an owl hooting nearby and feel the night settle over your quiet house. Ellie is safe with her partner, Charlie is asleep in bed, and Joel is in front of you, doing your hair like it's the most important thing he could ever do. When he's done, he runs a hand through the shorter length, and you open your eyes to see him staring at you like you created the universe with a single touch. You smile and reach for his waist as his hand rests on your jaw, tilting your head up.

"Perfect." He says, but he's not looking at your hair. You smile and pucker your lips so he'll kiss you, and he does. Then, without breaking away from you, Joel reaches into the shower and turns on the water. Because what would a Miller haircut night be without a warm shower with your husband to get all the loose hair off you?

#look for the light #knowing they end up happy makes my heart soar #especially because I’m writing WYLITD #joel miller fluff #joel miller x reader #dad!joel miller #joel miller the last of us #joel miller fic #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x fem!reader #tlou fluff #the last of us x reader #the last of us fluff #the last of us

[azoraahai]

HBO: THE LAST OF US 1.01 When You're Lost in the Darkness

#tlou #tlouedit #useramily #userjen #userconstance #tusermich #uservhagar #tusernicky #tlou spoilers #the last of us #the last of us spoilers #mine* #gifs* #i tried something new i hardly ever make my gifs like this #but i kinda like it?? #anyways im so happy with this show

[beforeyougo-turnthebiglightoff]

someone help bc what actually is 'female rage'?? is it just. anger as a woman??

#i dont get it #that female rage sound is just women yelling and like #they dont have a single common denominator other than the fact Theyre Women and i dont see the like. the point? #like the one from hidden figures i think its called that is nowhere near the same as thr others?? like #its anger because people dont respect her because shes black (as far as i remember) like. how are you putting that #in the same category as ellie williams in tlou screaming because someones dying? idk it just doesnt make sense like #isnt it just the same as saying “girl happiness!” or something. like its just Being Angry #i could understand if it was ALL based on issues you face As A Woman #but its not?? its just. issues #ok whatever #blah blah! #not 75 stuff

[skoulsons]

It’s really tiring hearing so many complain about how there’s not enough violence or action in the show. Sure, these people don’t dive as deep as we do. They don’t listen to the podcast or look at the inside the episodes or look into the micro expressions in every scene and listen to the way certain lines are delivered or what have you. They haven’t heard Craig talk how it’s a love story or about why they toned down the violence so that, when violence does happen, it’s more impactful (ie QZ soldier, Bryan, sniper section, the guy at the university, and we know what’s to come in the last two episodes which I believe they’re saving the bulk of it for, iykyk).

But what I don’t get is people saying there’s too much talking and drama. Yeah, majority of the game is actually playing the game, and what ‘playing’ is is action and actually doing something, not being in constant conversation. That would make for a boring game if all it was was talking. I understand the notion of wanting more, considering the people who’ve played the game would want something like the game gives them. But it is a video game. That stuff is made extra and couldn’t happen irl, like listening mode?? Or Joel surviving his game injury?? Or the fact that none of it is real??

Even in the game, there’s still so much talking that goes on, even in gameplay. In those little conversations. Some being optional, some not. It’s not like talking isn’t a thing. It’s not like drama is nonexistent.

But this game, this story, is a drama. In a way it is for me, at least. It’s about Joel and Ellie. It’s about love in the midst of an incredibly broken and terrifying world. It’s about these two people finding each other and being the parts of each other the other needed. Even parts like the cache of guns (car battery in show) is still drama. Having to smuggle Ellie. Even the fireflies are drama in their own sense. Ellie finding her worth in her immunity. Joel trying to get rid of Ellie. Joel and Ellie’s growth into father and daughter. Something like that isn’t just the flip of a switch. Things actually have to happen, and those ‘things’ aren’t violence; its bonding on their journey together. The main themes in the show are drama between characters and the fate of the world as they know it. It really is the whole point.

They’ve balanced and adapted the show very well, I think. And to hear a lot of these people saying “it’s not faithful!!” Or “there’s too much talking!!” Is getting annoying. You want a faithful adaptation? Good luck, cause I think every other video game adaptation has been shit on. As for not liking the amount of talking and not enough violence, go play Dark Souls or Assassins Creed to fuel your need for murder. We will not wait for you to come back

#rant? kinda? #I hope this made sense. I’m just sick of people #i haven’t seen anyone on here complain #but other socials it’s getting annoying #it’s mostly guys like #‘I’ve played the game three times!! it’s so bad!! #my brother I have put more time and effort in the last year and a half to understanding this game and relationship on such a deep level #it’s good. you just need to be happy when something is good. #but I guess you can’t always make everyone happy ✌🏻 oh well #the last of us #the last of us hbo #tlou spoilers