#loose ends

[iknityounot]

(Long post, sorry y'all)

A little more than two years ago now, my grandmother passed away. She and my grandpa had moved down to my home town a few years before so we could take care of them. I brought them groceries once a week, helped them write checks, fixed tvs, and found lost things. I was really close with my grandma.

In addition to her hilarious personality and dry wit, one of my favorite things about her was that she was a painter and a crafter like me! She used to crochet, and I took her to the craft store a couple of times so she could get more yarn and books on crochet. But her arthritis and the shaking in her hands kept getting worse, so she eventually had to stop.

She kept her most recent project, a granny square blanket, safely packed away in a plastic bin. She told all of us she was going to finish it one day.

Her hands never got better, and when she got sick, and we found out it was cancer, she rapidly deteriorated.

After she passed, I went to work helping my mom clean out my grandparents apartment so we could move my grandpa in with her. In our frantic cleaning, I found that bin again:

DOZENS of granny squares, dozens of half used skeins. I asked my mom what she wanted me to do with it, and she said she didn't care. I set it aside and later took it home.

Maybe a month later, that tumblr post about the Loose Ends Project was going around. It felt like a sign--I was never going to learn to crochet in order to finish my grandmother's blanket. But they might be able to help!

So I filled out the interest form. They got back to me SUPER quick. And maybe 2 weeks later, I was paired with volunteer in my state (only 2 hours away!) and the box of yarn, granny squares, and my grandmother's crochet hook were in the mail. That was at the end of January this year.

Over the next couple of months, my "finisher" emailed me regular updates on her progress, and asked me questions on my preferences for how she constructed the final blanket.

At the end of August, the blanket was done!

I had always intended the blanket to be a gift for my mother. So I cleaned it up, put it in the only bag I had big enough to fit it, and drove to my mom's. I gave the blanket to her and she was gobsmacked. I explained to her all about Loose Ends, and how someone volunteered to finish the piece for us. She was speechless. (I was quite pleased with this, because I am not the best at giving gifts, so this was a pretty exciting reaction!)

She said that it was the most thoughtful gift she had ever been given. She said "your grandma would love this". To which I replied, "yeah, I know she really wanted to finish it a couple of years ago". But that was when my mom dropped the bomb of a century on me--she told me that my grandma had started making those granny squares OVER 30 YEARS AGO. She had started the blanket when my grandpa was staying in the hospital, but that was back when my mom was younger than I am now! My grandma had packed them all away, planning on finishing it, when my grandpa was sent home from the hospital. Then it went from house to house, from condo in Chicago to their apartment in my hometown. All that time and my grandma had wanted to finish it, but couldn't. First because she was busy, then because she forgot how to do it, then because of her arthritis, and then because of the cancer. My mom said she had given up on expecting my grandma to finish it. 

She said I brought a piece of her childhood with her mom out of the past.

And really, all of this is to say, if you have seen or heard about the Loose Ends Project and have an uncompleted project or piece from a loved one who has passed away--these are your people. They were so kind and treated my project with such care. That box probably would have been found by my own grandkids one day if I hadn't heard about Loose Ends.

Five stars, absolutely worth it!

(From what I understand, you can sign up to volunteer too! If you have time to share, it might be worth checking out!)

#loose ends #the loose ends project #joy knits #text #long post #knit #knitting #crochet #crocheting #craft #crafting #diy #crochetblr #yarnblr #yarn #knitblr

[flanaganfilm]

The Midnight Club - Season Two

I'm very disappointed that Netflix has decided not to pursue a second season of THE MIDNIGHT CLUB.

My biggest disappointment is that we left so many story threads open, holding them back for the hypothetical second season, which is always a gamble.

So I'm writing this blog as our official second season, so you can know what might have been, learn the fates of your favorite characters, and know the answers to those dangling story threads from the first season.

So for those of you who want to know what we were planning to do, here's a look at what would have been season 2!

AMESH Season 2 would open with Amesh, his glioblastoma advancing quickly. He would tell the first story of the season, but would be struggling to make it through. We'd focus on his love story with Natsuki for those first few episodes as it becomes clear that Amesh's death is imminent.

Meanwhile, Ilonka is trying to reconcile how she was fooled by Julia Jayne, all while falling further in love with Kevin, and she realizes he may be fading faster than he lets on.

Ilonka begins a serialized story in an effort to encourage him to "stay alive a little longer," like he did in season one. And the story she tells is... REMEMBER ME.

This was the thing I was most excited about for this season.

REMEMBER ME is one of my all-time favorite Pike books - it tells the story of a teenage girl who is pushed off a balcony, and awakens as a ghost. She has to navigate being a spirit while trying to solve her own murder. We would have stretched this story out over 5 episodes. We were going to use it as a vehicle for Ilonka to try to come to terms with the fact that she is going to die, and to begin to trying to wrap her head around being a ghost... but this is the coolest part... the lead character of Ilonka's story wouldn't be played by Ilonka. She'd be played by...

Anya.

Because this is how we live on, isn't it? In the minds of those we leave behind. And Ilonka would use REMEMBER ME as a way to imagine her dear friend Anya, waking up as a ghost, navigating the afterlife. And this sets up one of the best mechanisms of the show - even if a character dies, as long as they're remembered by members of the club, they live on in their stories.

As the story starts to pick up steam, though, the group will have to deal with the death of Amesh, which he greets with grace and bravery.

In his final moments, he sees someone in his room - the Janitor from the first season, as played by Robert Longstreet, who says comforting things to Amesh even though he can't respond.

In his final, final moments, the SHADOW descends upon Amesh, and he is engulfed into it, which reinforces the idea that the Shadow is DEATH...

With Amesh's death comes something that upends the entire thing: a NEW PATIENT. We didn't work out too much about who this would be, but it would be a new roommate for Ilonka. Someone taking Anya's old bed. Ilonka would find herself being initially cold to her - just as Anya was when Ilonka arrived. Even feeling like this new girl shouldn't necessarily be ushered into the Club. But of course they would develop a beautiful friendship over the course of the season. The new girl joins the club, where something else exciting is happening - Cheri is telling a story. We hadn't decided which one, but I think it might have been MONSTER.

Natsuki would be the next to die, which would be heartbreaking. And again, she would talk to the janitor just before it happened... and again, the Shadow would come in the final moments.

For Spence, though, things would take a different turn.

The advancements in HIV treatment in the late 90's would come into play, and we'd see his prognosis change. The HIV cocktail came out in Dec 1995, and we really wanted to explore that.

Spence would ride the swell of antiviral advancements, and by the end of the season, he'd no longer be classified as terminal. In the finale of season 2, Spence would leave Brightcliffe just like Sandra did in Season 1, heading off to manage his disease and live the rest of his life.

But onto the BIG MYSTERIES of the season one... here are some answers: What is up with Dr. Stanton's tattoo and bald head? Well, a few things. First, Dr. Stanton is actually the daughter of the original Paragon cult leader, Aceso. Her nickname was Athena, she wrote the Paragon journal that Ilonka found in S1. She turned on her mother and helped the kids escape, but because she was part of the cult in her teenage years, she had the tattoo.

It was her initials that Ilonka found carved into the tree in season 1 (her maiden name was Georgina Ballard, hence the G.B. that Ilonka finds carved in the tree).

She hated what her mother became, and the atrocities of the cult. She reclaimed the property after her mom was gone, and wanted to change it into a place that celebrated life. She was trying to undo her mother's legacy and leave something behind that was beautiful. She is wearing a wig at the end of S1 not because of a sinister reason, but because she is undergoing chemo. Dr. Stanton has cancer. Having helped so many people deal with disease, she now has to deal with it herself.

Her treatment would be successful, and she'd go into remission, but having to face that - while caring for the terminal kids at Brightcliffe - was going to be a very introspective arc for Stanton.

What about the Living Shadow? It's Death, right? Well... no.

At the end of the season, Kevin will die... followed shortly by Ilonka. And as she is dying, two things will happen. First, she'll find herself talking to the Janitor, played by Robert Longstreet... and she'll make a discovery.

HE is Death. And nothing to be afraid of. It turns out no one else ever saw this character. Stanton has a cleaning service, and the Nurse practitioners make up the rooms - the only people who ever saw this mysterious Janitor were the patients. He is Death, and offers them kind words before they die. Then what was the Shadow?

This is an idea we take directly from the book REMEMBER ME, and we'll see it play out in the final moments of Ilona's final tale. In Pike's book, Shari is pursued by a dark entity called The Shadow. When it finally catches her, though, it turns out it is not a bad thing at all.

The Shadow is THEMSELVES. It's the Unknown. As it engulfs someone, in the last moment of their life, it takes them through a place of understanding and catharsis, preparing them for the next step.

THIS is what happened to Anya in S1 when the Shadow finally reached her - that's why she fantasized a life beyond Brightcliffe, which ultimately let her find acceptance of her death. It looks different for everybody, depending on their mind-set - because it is simply an extension of themselves.

The Shadow is just the final catharsis, a return to our original form - it is a moment of true understanding, and once we experience it, we move on to the next place.

We see the Shadow in full effect when it finally comes for Kevin. KEVIN DIES with Ilonka at his side, and it leads to the biggest reveal of the season:

Who were the Mirror Man and the Cataract Woman?

They were Stanley Oscar Freelan and his wife, who built Brightcliffe (fun trivia, he is named after the real-life Freelan Oscar Stanley, who built my favorite hotel in America - the Stanley Hotel. The Stanley is also the inspiration for THE SHINING!).

But more than that... there's a reason that Ilonka only sees Stanley in the mirror, and sees the Cataract Woman whenever she looked at Kevin. This is something else we took from Pike's original book... these aren't ghosts, but glimpses of PAST LIVES.

Ilonka WAS Stanley Oscar Freelan, and Kevin WAS his wife. They've lived many lives this way, and are true SOUL MATES - they always find each other, and they always fall in love. In this life, they knew it would be a short one, so they agreed to find each other in the house they built. They've been "remembering" who they are, and glimpsing their former selves in reflections, and sometimes when they look at each other. This is also why Ilonka's very first words to Kevin in S1 were "Do I know you?" and why Kevin thought she was familiar as well. They are two souls who always find each other, again and again.

The story is this: Stanley was dying, and built this cliffside home hoping that the seaside air would help him. It did, and he far outlived his prognosis (this is also true of the real-life Freelan Stanley). However, his wife began to succumb to dementia.

She would wander the halls, looking for him ("Darling!") and would even forget to feed herself ("I'm starving...") and she eventually refused to leave the basement. Heartbroken for her, Stanley painted the walls to resemble the woodland view, and the ceiling to resemble the night sky, so that it would be a little more beautiful for her.

He also painted a labyrinth on the floor, which was a technique used to try to curb the effects of dementia. She'd walk the pattern of the maze and it was believed it could help her cognition. Eventually, she developed frightening cataracts, but Stanley loved her through it all.

They were soul mates.

So while they seemed scary in season 1, that was just how Ilonka and Kevin's mind were trying to remember their pasts. We even had their faces distorting in ways consistent with how memories degrade over time. When the Shadow comes for Ilonka, and gives her this understanding - this "remembering" - she realizes she has nothing to fear. She and Kevin will shed these personas and be reborn, and have the joy of finding each other another way. The Shadow comes for her, Death takes her gently, and Ilonka goes off with Kevin back into the cosmos, ready for their next incarnation. The series would end with Cheri telling this story to a whole new table of patients, including our new series leads. Most of our original cast now would exist as stories, a story told to the next "class" of storytellers at the table, all of whom we will have met by the end of the season. A story called "The Midnight Club."

Well, that's it... that was what we had in mind. It's a shame we won't get to make it, but it would be a bigger shame if you guys simply had to live with the unanswered questions and the cliffhanger ending. I loved making this show, and I am so proud of the cast and crew. Particularly our cast, who attacked this story with incredible spirit and bravery each and every day.

But for now, we'll put the fire out, and leave the library dark and quiet. To those before, and to those after. To us now, and to those beyond.

Seen or unseen, here but not here.

I'll always be grateful that I got to be part of this Club.

#the midnight club #season 2 #cancelled #netflix #what might have been #flanaverse #mike flanagan #christopher pike #intrepid pictures #remember me #unanswered questions #loose ends #heather langenkamp #farewell brightcliffe

[knithacker]

"It takes 35,000 stitches to make a pair of socks, so that's 35,000 actions you're doing to produce this item that will hopefully take care of somebody, it's kind of like magic." 🔮✨🐇🧶❤️

I love this project - they complete UFOs left behind by loved ones.

#loose ends #love #handmade #knitting #crochet #good news #good news story #the humanity #love wins

[reddie-fancomic-by-slashpalooza]

Loose Ends Part1 Chap45 by Romax @slashpaloozawebcomics

💕💖HAPPY VALENTINES’S DAY!💖💕2023

⭐🎈Hello, to all of those who endured this comic since 2017 [ and newer readers as well] I want to THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. You are the fuel to a content creator’s engine, without a fandom, people like us would just be sending our work to a vast void. But, your likes, your comments, your reblogs and further engagement as fandom is what makes it work, what makes it worth it. I love you for being here reading the comic and these words.

It’s been a ride, and to be honest, you made it better, you pushed me to keep going and finish it... for now. 🎈😉

I loved TUMBLR because of you and hope to come back soon, because of you. I still have some REDDIE content I would love to create and eventually share here.

I hope to see you soon, 'cause one can leave TUMBLR, but TUMBLR won’t ever totally leave you, and that’s a treasure, the treasure of FANDOM, the treasure of YOU.

I LOVE YOU DEARLY.

END OF LOOSE ENDS Part1...

⭐ Flowfo  ⭐ Patreon  [if so, better subscribe on the 1st of the month to avoid being charged twice.

Questions: [email protected]

#reddie #loose ends #slashpalooza #richie x eddie #it #webcomic #gay webcomic #lgbtq webcomic

[grechka-zhest]

AAAGHHH I'M FINALLY DONE

so sorry for my poor editing and translation skills it's 2am🥀🥀🥀

some roach angst for you people

+comic version with no text

#call of duty #cod mw2 #cod modern warfare #simon ghost riley #gary roach sanderson #ghost cod #soap cod #cod fanart #john soap mactavish #john price #captain john price #price cod #gaz cod #kyle gaz garrick #loose ends

[pyr0cue]

They consume my every waking thought

#they won’t leave me alone so expect more art soon #cod #cod art #ghostroach #ghost roach #ghost mw2 #simon ghost riley #simon riley #gary roach sanderson #gary sanderson #call of duty #loose ends #modern warfare fanfiction #call of duty modern warfare #ghost cod #roach cod #ghost x roach #art #digital art #mousey art

[mumblelard]

manifestations of my familiar or first five favorites shuffle

#battered old bookshelves #battered old books #boba #brazil #mumblelard #reversed #melonheads #crescent shadows #creatures #tokyo tower #loose ends #glimmers #glyphs #quonset huts #blue tarps #first five favorites shuffle #friends of bob #rattling bars #lost words #second blue moon epoch #first spring

[writersblockedx]

Loose Ends: Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Relics 

Based off - Episode Two Pairing - Joel Miller x Fem!Reader Warnings - Implications of sex, violence, language (let me know if I’ve missed anything) Words - 12K

A/n - I’m planning on writing each chapter as each episode comes out. And I’m hoping to always have them posted on a Monday!

⇦ Prevous Chapter / Next Chapter ⇨ Read also on: AO3 Wattpad

Masterlist

2007 Sure it wasn't the squeaky clean hospital and labs she was once used to (despite the fact they were all suddenly much more aware of germs), but it was what to be expected. Y/n had what they could find or what they could make and she made due. Only problem being knowing exactly what you needed to save someone who was ill from something disconcerting the outbreak, and not having that something to hand.

Which was why she much preferred appointments like these. The less devastating ones. The ones which she could prescribe some on-demand painkillers. "Joel Miller?" She called, leant against her desk as dark-haired man stood between this office of hers and the doorway.

He flashed a grin, scanning his surroundings before his gaze fell to Y/n. "That would be me." The girl returned the smile, putting her notebook to the side which she had been reading from. When she looked back up, she found Joel walking further into the room, still seemingly amazed by what was around him. "See they brought in a load of nice, shiny supplies for the new doctor."

"Not just a doctor." Y/n spoke as she gestured to the hospital bed that was situated by the window, "Take a seat, please Joel." He did so, quietly as he observed her closely. She put on clear plastic gloves as she stood in front of the man, a grin still hanging from her lips as he looked up at her through narrowed eyes like he was trying to work something out. "I'm also a scientist."

"Scientist?" He reiterated. "But you're a doctor too right? You know how to do doctor-things?" He didn't realise until the words left his mouth how stupid he must have sounded. Especially in front of someone like her.

"Bachelor's degree in biomedical science. That's what makes me qualified enough today to treat you."  Joel nodded but chose to keep his lips shut this time in case words just slipped from his tongue without intention. "Now, what exactly am I treating today?"

Joel only needed to raise his hand, displaying the bruised and bulging wound which burdened his knuckles. "I mean, I don't have a biomedic-whatever, but I'm pretty sure it's broken." Y/n delicately took a hold of the battered hand, inspecting it.

She glanced back up at him and a smile grew at her lips. "Almost." She dropped his hand and wandered over to a supply cupboard, rummaging through it as she continued on. "Your actual hand isn't broken." She started to explain before returning to the man with several supplies he didn't bother to take note of.

"Okay, then what is?" He questioned.

Once more, Y/n took his hand. And with her index finger, she pointed to the dark purple, almost black swelling that lined two of his fingers. "This here. This is broken. Small bones on your fingers which will likely repair themselves over time." She informed, always making sure she stole a glance at him. And always finding that his eyes were already trained on her. "You don't have any need to write or anything?"

He shook his head, "Not anymore, no."

"Good. It shouldn't cause you too much trouble then." She said before her finger moved down to the man's knuckles which were too littered in cuts and dark circles. "This here, this part of your knuckle, looks to be sprained. Not bruised, probably just sprained."

When she looked to him, she found his brows raised. "Probably?"

"You see an  X-ray machine around here?"A lack of equipment the girl could deal with for appointments like these. "It's likely your hand will repair on its own. But, for now, I can tape your fingers up."

She was already reaching over to the supplies she had brought from the cupboard. Some cleaning wipes, a bit of cloth and tape. "And this 'll fix 'em?" Joel asked as the doctor took ahold of the two broken fingers.

Y/n placed them close together with the cloth on the back of the fingers. "It'll help your body fix them, yes." She said, tapping the two together carefully as to not harm the man more so.

A small snicker left Joel's lips, "It's a bit of tape." He thought aloud, meeting her pooling gaze that seemed to keep him trapped here with her - not that Joel was complaining.

"Trust me," She started in a hushed tone, "That's all you need."

She finished bandaging up his fingers, slowly removing her touch from his, leaving the man yearning for the feeling once again. "So, no painkillers?" He pushed his luck once her back was turned, scribbling something down that he couldn't see.

Though, his words had earnt a small laugh from the woman as she flicked her head back around at him, "No painkillers." She finished writing before finally turning to face him, a glint of curiosity in her eye. "But, if it looks to be getting infected, come right back here, alright?"

"And then you'll give me some painkillers?"

"Well, I won't be now." She replied with a grin hanging at her lips. "Could I ask you something Joel?"

The man wasn't sure where she was going with that. But, still, he hummed, nodded his head and mumbled something along the line of, "Sure."

And Y/n went with it. "How many hours of sleep are you getting?"

Truth was, Joel was expecting something more like when are you free? Or, what are you doing tonight? "Well, that depends. If the couple in the apartment next to me are feeling excitable, then 4 hours. If the roof looks like its about to crumble again, 3. And sometimes, though, only on rare occasions, 6 when none of the above takes place." He informed with a light-heartedness to his tone.

"So not enough sleep then?" She questioned.

Joel shrugged at that; he hadn't a clue how many hours people were supposed to get at the end of the world. "I mean, if you're offering to give some methods of relaxation, I wouldn't be opposed." The smirk on his lips was drooling in pride and truthfully, Y/n didn't want to break that pride.

"Not quite." The smirk faded. Y/n took a grasp of a murky bottle and wandered back over to the man. "There not painkillers, alright? But they should help with the sleeping." She advised, handing them over to Joel as he started to inspect them for himself. "I would also recommend requesting a new apartment too if it looks like the roof is about to cave in."

He didn't glance up from the bottle as he responded, "I've tried, don't you worry." The man finally stood, almost too close, shoving the pills into his back pocket. "Thanks for the check up, Doc."

"Of course." He was about turn and leave but Y/n couldn't seem to help herself. "And Joel," The man noted her hesitation. "I may not have a psychology degree, but if there's anything you want to talk about-"

He interjected before she could continue, "That's alright." A smile flashed at his lips. Though, it was one of which Y/n could tell was forced. Joel started walking, peering over as he spoke, "I'll be alright." He assured.

She never broke eye contact. Not even when she followed up with, "Just needing to find some relaxation methods?" And then, at Y/n's lips, there was that smirk. The same smirk Joel had once held.

The man stood in the door way, deabting for a long moment as to what his final words would be to this woman he already seemed to be awing over. "It'd be nice to start getting as much as my neighbours do." And like that, with one final grasp of eye contact, Joel turned his back and exited the building. With a stitched up hand, a bottle of sleeping pills and the yearning ideas of this doctor he left.

Y/n knew after that encounter that Joel Miller was someone she was going to see again.

Y/n awoke to the feeling of being watched. It took her a moment after her eyelids fluttered open to adjust to the sight looming over her. She noted the two figures. Though, it was only when she processed the rifle pointed between her eyes that she jumped. "Jesus, Joel!" She snapped, loud enough to stir the sleeping girl next to her.

Him and Tess were seated on two battered chairs, staring ever so menacingly at her and Ellie. Y/n pulled herself to sit up, Ellie doing the same as she turned to find the gun still pointed right at them. "Morning." She scoffed.

Though it wasn't until Ellie went to get up that the rifle followed her. Joel wasn't threatening Y/n, no, he was threatening Ellie, the girl with the infected bite, the girl who should be dead. Ellie sat back down nd Y/n's stare turned just as menacing as theirs. "Joel." She seethed, her gaze flickering to Tess, only to find she had no intention on helping her; what a surprise.

"Do I look like I'm infected?" Quipped the young girl who's only armour right now was Y/n's body.

"Show us your arm." Joel demanded.

Ellie looked to Y/n first as if silently asking permission. Only once the woman had nodded her head, did she roll her sleeve up, showcasing the white scar which painted her skin. It was rigid and bumpy, but it wasn't bright yellow or red, it wasn't what it should be. Both Joel and Tess suddenly took interest in the mark, "Yeah." Said Ellie. "It's not getting any worse, is it?"

Y/n tilted her head at the pair, "Why else do you think were moving her?" That question seemed to evoke thought as the two looked to another, a similar expression shared between them.

"If we're in open city, why aren't we getting swarmed?" Wondered Ellie as her innocent eyes scanned their surroundings.

"Don't worry about that." Joel snapped, determined to keep on topic.

Though, Ellie still raised a brow and said, "Well, I'm gonna." And Y/n couldn't disagree with that.

Tess looked to Y/n, hands in her pockets and settled in narrow eyes as the cogs in her brain started to turn. "What were you and Marlene doing with an infected kid?" She inquired.

With a gun still pointed at her, Y/n only felt inclined to answer. "Why do you think, Tess?" Her hand gestured to the girl. The perfectly normal, the perfectly healthy girl. "Does she look infected to you?" That didn't seem enough for either of them, still staring blankly. So Y/n huffed and continued to hand out information, "Look, Marlene found her after she got bit."

"And she didn't shoot her?" Joel uttered, harshly.

"Clearly not." Ellie answered before Y/n had the chance to.

"Marlene got a message to me when she realised Ellie was turning into one of them." Y/n went on to explain.

A scoff left Tess' lips, "And I bet FEDRA loved that their favourite doctor was working with the fireflies."

"You two aren't the only ones who know how to get around without being noticed." She replied as her expression turned stern. "I visited almost every other day to see if she was getting sick, checking her vitals, doing tests-"

Y/n was about to point out how Ellie was obviously not getting sick, but Tess cut in, "What tests?"

Her lips didn't move. A pause followed and neither Y/n or Tess looked like they were about to break. Then came Ellie's voice, "I need to pee." She voiced.

And so Tess leaned forward, not breaking her eye contact as even firmer, she asked, "What tests?"

There was no getting out this and Y/n knew it. The gun pointed at her head knew it too. "We'd get her to hold out her hand and keep it steady. Then she'd count to ten. Followed my blood pressure, temperature, every test that I could physically fit in that little bag over there." Y/n pointed to her backpack in the corner. While theirs were filled with food and weapons, all she had were basic medical supplies.

"Though," Ellie's voice rang again and Y/n knew what was about to follow was unlikely to help the current conversation. "I think what really impressed everyone was the fact I didn't turn into a fucking monster." Then she stood abruptly, the rifle following her. "Now, can I please?"

She didn't start walking until Tess said, "Fine." Then her eyes flickered to Y/n who still sat on the ground. "The adults can have a talk." She reached down, grasping a magazine which was soon thrown to the girl. "And here. Tear out a few pages."

Ellie caught in, stole one last glance before turning and wandering into another room. "There isn't gonna be anything bad in here, right?" She yelled.

"Just you." Joel commented as he and Tess stood from their seats.

A scoff came from Ellie, "Ha. Funny." And with that, she disappeared into the other room.

Y/n watched Ellie for as long as she could. Though, the woman wasn't sure if she did so in a want to protect the girl, or if she was just attempting to avoid what was about to come. Once Ellie exited the room completely, Y/n turned. And she turned slowly, finding the pair were towering over her. Lucky, Joel had ditched the rifle by now, letting it hang on the back of his chair. Not that it made his stare any less deathly.

Huffing, Y/n rose to her feet too, as if making herself known as one of the adults too. "What are you doing here, Y/n?" Joel questioned first.

"Didn't I just tell you?" She argued with a snap in her tone. "I'm here because she is." He gestured towards the room Ellie had wandered into. "And trust me," A scoff escaped her lips. "That was not apart of the plan."

"And what was the plan?" Asked Tess.

"None of your business."

"Alright," Tess shifted in her stance and Y/n grew nervous in the uncertainty of what was about to follow. "Whats actually up with her? Was she bitten?"

"Yes, but as you've both clearly just seen, she's not infected." Y/n reminded them.

But even with it right in front of them, they weren't convinced. "How do you know?" Tess pushed.

"How do I know?" A moment passed. Irritation bubbled in her gut. So much so, it urged her forward, a stern glare burning into the eyes of the other woman. "I may not be a smuggler, may not buy guns left, right and centre, but I do still have a biomedicine degree. And a forensic science honours degree and I was just about to get another one in neuroscience before the outbreak hit. I'm a certified genius whose been working as a doctor for the past 20 years. You'd think I know what the fuck I'm talking about."

This time, Tess was the one whose lips seemed sealed shut. A smile filled her expression in an attempt to fill the silence which followed. Y/n took a long exhale, letting her gaze wander, only to land on Joel's hand. The hand which was battered and bruised from killing the soldier. "Your hands broken." She soon pointed out before her eyes jumped back up to his.

Instinctively, his fist clenched. He shrugged it off in the face of Y/n, "It's just a hairline. It'll heal fast." He excused but if Y/n knew anything about Joel, it was his need to hide anyway any sign of weakness.

"Since when did you become a doctor?" She raised a brow at him and the man chose not to answer. Y/n was already walking over to her backpack as she continued on, "I didn't really have a chance to go home and pack, so all I have is this." She showcased the inside, the various machines and supplies. "If there's anything I can actually help with while were out here, it's making sure you all stay in one piece."

Joel's eyes flickered to Tess, silently asking if it were okay. She must have given an indication of permission as the man sat down and held out his palm. The girl kneeled down in front of him, grasping some wipes and tape as she started cleaning the blood which still littered his knuckles. "I think we should take her back to the QZ." Joel voiced, prompting both pairs of eyes to jolt to his. Though, Y/n found that Joel's gaze was centred on the other woman. "We find another way to get our battery."

"They'll kill her if you do that." Y/n told them.

And by the looks on their faces, that certainly wasn't a deal breaker for them. "Not really a priority for us." Joel replied.

"This is our best shot." Said Tess, leaning forward.

Y/n reached for the tape, having to cut it off with her bare teeth before applying it to Joel's fingers. "As long as you get her to that State House, I'll make sure Marlene gives you whatever you need."

Joel looked down at her, "You're talking about this kid as if she's got some kind of life in front of her."

And Y/n came with such a simple reply: "Because she does."

Timing seemed perfect as Ellie came back into the room, throwing the magazine to Tess. Y/n put her focus back to the man's hand, taping the two broken fingers together. "That should help it heal and make sure you don't do any further damage." Which, considering it was Joel, was likely to happen.

The woman shoved the supplies back into her bag, standing and walking back to where Ellie was seated. "You hungry?" Tess inquired as she sat back in her seat and rummaged through her own bag. "You can share some of ours."

"Thanks, but Marlene sent me with my own." And so Ellie pulled out a freshly baked sandwich as Joel and Tess chewed on their jerky.

With nothing but medical supplies, Ellie offered half her sandwich to Y/n. An offer of which she had accepted with much gratitude. "Is that chicken?" Tess thought aloud as the two savoured the food.

Ellie nodded, "Yeah." She seemed to look back at her sandwich to analyse it, "Marlene says she gets it from smugglers." Her eyes then jumped to the pair and her expression tightened. "Guess not you guys."

Her words only seemed to spark Tess as she stood from the chair, walking toward the two. In an act to combat whatever was about to follow, Y/n stood too. But Tess didn't look to Y/n, she just looked down at Ellie. "Why are you so important? And don't lie to me or we'll take you back." She threatened, shoving her hands into her pockets.

Not that such threat seemed to have any effect on the young girl. "You take me back, you don't get your battery."

"You heard that?"

Y/n glanced over at Joel as she reminded him once again, "I did warn you." Ellie may be young, but she was smart and definitely disliked the idea of not being in the know.

"Well then, you must have also heard that he wants to shoot you." Tess nodded her head back to the older man who didn't seem to break at such. Tess crouched down and Ellie nudged back a little, "I'm gonna talk to you like you're an adult, okay? Joel and I aren't good people like your nice doctor over here." Y/n stiffened, unsure as to where Tess was going with this lecture of her's. "We're doing this for us because apparently, you're worth something. But we don't know what you're worth if we don't know what we have. So, one of you is gonna answer my question."

The two looked to each other. Both as uncertain as each other. But Tess certainly wasn't one to give in. "She told us not to tell anybody..." Ellie whispered to herself, shaking her head.

To save the girl the torture of going against Marlene's orders, Y/n admitted it all instead. "I told Marlene about some doctors out West. They always had better supplies and lab environments than we did." She paused but Tess could read on her face there was more coming. Y/n just knew the reaction which was sure to follow. "They were able to start working on a cure-"

And that one. Just that one, four-letter word, ensured a reaction always. Whether positive and hopeful, or in the case of Joel Miller, pessimistic and dismissive. The second the word left Y/n's lips, a scoff came from his. "I've heard this before." His eyes were drawn on Y/n, referring to something only the two of them could recount.

"What happened to me-" Ellie went to start, but her words were cut short.

"Is the key to finding the cure." Joel finished for her. "That's what this? We've heard this a million times before. Vaccines. Miracle cures. None of it works." He stopped and his gaze met Y/n's again, practically stepping on that hope of hers until it faded into nothing. "Ever." He emphasised.

Ellie stood, abruptly. Even though she was much smaller, she had no trouble standing up to Joel. "Fuck you." She snapped. "I didn't ask for this."

"You and me both!"

Y/n stepped forward before the anger in the room could drown out the logic. "Look, I get that for the longest time, I had to have enough hope for the both of us. And yeah, some of it was bullshit and some of it was just a dead end. But this." She pointed back at Ellie. "This is real. And it's right in fucking front of you and you still deny it." The woman paused, suddenly aware of how close she was to Joel, how freely she was speaking and how intertwined it seemed their eyes were. So she gazed back at Tess too, "Both of you." She added, in hopes of covering up her mistake.

No one spoke. Not at first. It seemed everyone took a breath, everyone took a moment to fucking think for once instead of letting emotions guide them any which way. Y/n was awaiting their denial once more, their plans of killing Ellie or taking her back. Plans of which she knew she couldn't argue against anymore. She may be a genius, but there was no way she could protect the girl from those who held the guns and the muscle and the lack of morality when it came to hurting a young girl.

"Let's finish it." Y/n jolted around, staring at Tess in utter disbelief. A part of Y/n was convinced she had heard it wrong. "It doesn't matter if she is or isn't what the fireflies say. If they believe that she is, then we get what we want." And, in way, so did everyone else.

Joel looked between Tess, Ellie and Y/n. But he gave in, "If she so much as twitches-"

Ellie lacking such understanding of bad timing, decided it would be a good idea to do just that. Her shoulders tensed and she mustered out some croaky noises, somewhat resembling an infected. Y/n snapped her head to her, and in the most scolding mother voice she could gather, she said, "Ellie." It was a warning and a warning she listened to as she relaxed and the noises stopped.

Her head dropped and Y/n could have sworn she heard a, "Sorry." In her mumbles somewhere.

Y/n looked between Joel and Tess, brows raised as she asked, "Happy?"

It took them a moment, but Tess nodded, "Yeah."

"Then lets go."

They each disbanded, grabbing their individual bags, Joel making sure to grasp the rifle too. "Can I have a gun?" A voice queried behind Y/n.

In sync, there came multiple responses.

"Absolutely not."

"No!"

"Not happening."

All of which had done well to send Ellie a certain message. "Okay! Jesus!" She mumbled. "I'll just throw a fucking sandwich at them."

With that, they headed for the door. Everything they needed hung on their backs and once they left the room, security left them too.

They came out into the midst of fallen, rotting buildings, masked by the leaves which had littered the forgotten city. Y/n glanced back at Ellie, one hand on a bag strap as a smile came to her lips due to the amazement that fell to Ellie's expression. Y/n couldn't lie, despite all it's ugliness, there were parts of this new world that were natural in their beauty.

"Woah," Muttered Ellie as her feet dragged forward.

The other two gave the girl a look, peering between her utter stupefaction and the view settled in front of them. "Looks better in the daylight, huh?" Tess voiced.

Y/n nudged the young girl's shoulder, "Better than school?" She raised a brow.

Ellie took one last, long look at what was in front of her before nodding. "Definitely."

"We should get moving." Joel suggested. His stares around the city weren't in awe, but instead, they were stares of observation, of making sure there wasn't something lurking around the corner waiting to jump them all.

But they did as he said. Tess led the way, weaving through what was left of pavement and roads. "It's like a fucked up moon." Ellie said, bringing their gaze to the not-so-pretty part of the city. The gigantic creator hole in the middle of the road was certainly an eye-sore. "Is this where they bombed?" She questioned.

"Yeah." Tess answered as they slowed, all taking a peer over the hole. Well except, for Joel, who had just continued walking. "They hit most big cities like this. They had to slow the spread somehow." Y/n's gaze jumped back to Joel, various thoughts passed her mind. Various thoughts she didn't have the courage to voice. So rather, she started walking too. "Worked here. But it didn't in most places."

Not much further passed the hole, they came to the dead end. Two skyscrapers which had fallen in together, blocking the rest of the road. "Statehouse is across there." Y/n informed, slowly taking a glance at Tess who was already looking at her with her brows furrowed.

"Ten-minute walk if we go straight." The woman added. "If we could go straight."

"So?" Urged Ellie.

And for what seemed like the first time in the last twenty minutes, Joel added to the conversation, "Long way or short way?"

Tess tilted her head, "I mean, it's the long or the we're fucking dead way." No need to put it lightly.

"Well, I vote long way just based on that limited information." Ellie uttered.

Y/n nodded, "Looks like we all agree on something." She paused and glanced at Joel who was still silent. Though, his silence had been assumed agreement. "First time for everything."

"We have to check it from the hotel first." He planned. So it was the hotel they headed to.

Getting to the hotel meant going on the freeway. It was still littered with several cars. Many of which were nothing but junk now as they each slithered through them. Tess was still leading the way, Ellie now at her side, badgering the woman with questions. Y/n wouldn't have any complaints about such, apart from the fact that it then left her with Joel.

The two weren't side by side. Not really, close, but not side by side. They were silent. Any movements, any noise that came from either of them echoed. It was practically torture. And it didn't end until Joel finally spoke up. "Since when did you start working with the fireflies?"

There was an uncertainty to his voice. When Y/n glanced to him, there was an uncertainty in his pupils too. "I never had anything against them. If anything, I think a whole load of things would work better if we all actually worked together." She explained.

A scoff left the comfort of his lips, "And you really think that'll happen?"

Y/n kept walking, her gaze dropping to the ground, "I have hope, Joel, but I'm not delusional."

That seemed to prompt Ellie as she turned back around, walking backwards a little as a grin tugged at her lips. "Jurys still out on that one!" She giggled.

"Eyes forward you." Y/n instructed. "You don't wanna break your hand too, do you?" That seemed enough to urge the girl back around as she continued walking by Tess' side.

The pair seeped back into silence. Y/n's eyes were trained on the young girl in front of her, while Joel's kept stealing glances. It was as if they were learning new boundaries. Before now, their break up meant avoidance; couldn't avoid the woman who was living and surviving at his side now. For the first time in a long time, Y/n and Joel's goal matched. Sure, their motives for such goals were different, but it was a step.

"What happens when you go back?" Questioned Joel, breaking the suffocating quietness.

Her eyes met his, uncertain and wary. She shrugged, "I don't know." Her gaze drawn back to the road ahead. "I don't know if I can even go back." Y/n was sure there would be questions. Ones of which she probably couldn't answer, not without certain consequences.

"So what?" Joel pushed. "You've got to live somewhere."

"I know." A sigh left her lips. Between running away from that soldier and trying to survive, Y/n's future wasn't something her brain had the time to think about. "I think maybe- maybe I'll just stick by the kid."

Ellie was still stuck close by Tess' side, deep in a conversation. "I might be wrong here, but surely the certified genius should have a better role than the babysitter?" Y/n peered over at Joel and his raised brows.

"The certified genius isn't just babysitting, but protecting one of the best shots at the cure." She defended. And, as always, that word sparked a scoff from the man. "I'll be alright." Y/n said as if he must have been worried about her.

"Good." He uttered before nodding to the teenager walking in front. "She's gonna need you."

And without thinking, Y/n replied, "And you." When the words slipped from her lips, her eyes jolted to him. In a scramble to recover her slip-up, she went on, "I mean, I can fix broken bones, disease, whatever, but I'm a bit shitty at aiming a gun." Joel nodded as realisation sunk in. Though, he never replied. They didn't look back at one another, didn't say anything and instead, basked in the overwhelming silence.

Luckily enough, the silence didn't last for a prolonged time as they soon came up to the hotel.

Similar to the city, the structure of the building was still there. It was like a skeleton, with some lingering memories of what life used to be like: tables, chairs, even wine glasses still occupied parts of the hotel. But the main spectacle of this skeleton was the lobby. The lobby which was now more of a makeshift pond. A piano stuck in the middle of it, a reception desk which was surprisingly still standing and decaying walls.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Ellie exclaimed with excitement as she scanned over the view. She glanced over at Y/n, a glint of interest in her pupils. "You ever stay in a place like this?"

A grin tugged at her lips and she shrugged, "Without the pond? Sure." Her old job, before the outbreak, had been one of travel and some fancy hotels. Fancy hotels with marshmallow mattresses that were a forgotten memory by now.

"How do you even know what this is?" Joel inquired.

"Have you heard of books?" That response left the man in a scowl, listing the many reasons as to why he still wanted to shoot the young girl. With that brewing, he started walking down the stairs which led into the green pond. "Wait- are we-" She turned to look at Y/n as if she didn't quite believe it. "Are we going in there?"

"Unless you see another way across." The doctor answered before following in Joels footsteps. Neither of them made it close to the pond before Ellie spoke up again.

"There's a stairwell on the other side we need to get to." Tess added as she too started to wander towards the stairs.

But Ellie still firm in her stance. "I- I don't know how to swim."

They are looked back at her if she had just loss several brain cells in one go. "Seriously?" Joel critiqued.

Ellie was still lost at what the man was getting at. So she continued to defend herself, "You think we have pools in the QZ?"

Joel only needed to jump off from the final step, his shoes thudding against the floor. The water reached up to his knees at best. It was only then did Ellie realise, muttering, "I don't know how I was meant to know that." And then she joined the rest of them in walking towards the end of the room.

Y/n shifted through the water, weaving her way through the odd bug and patches of grass which had grown atop the pond. She looked back as she noted the water splashing behind her, checking that Ellie was in fact still alfoat. "You alright?"

The young girl's head was frantically turning from place to place. "This is so gross." She noted with a strange glea in her tone that no one else seemed to understand. Joel and Y/n were almost at the other side when Ellie shouted, "Oh, check it out!"

They turned, Joel huffing as they did so, finding Ellie by a golden trolly and the reception desk. She leaned over, pressing the bell repeatedly adding her own sounds, "Ding-ding!" She sung. Then she straighted her back and pushed out her chest as her impression went on. "Yes sir I would like your finest suite, please." And then in a lower, harsher tone, she went on, "Yes Ms Y/l/n. Like me to take your luggage?" Ellie continued by pushing the trolly forward. "Ah, thank you, yes most appreciated." Said in the squeaky tone.

Y/n had been watching with nothing but a smile, catching the girl's gaze. "That's not what I sound like."

She kept pushing the trolley, "I think it was a good impression personally."

"You're such a weird kid." Said the man next to Y/n.

At which, Ellie's glea faded and she stiffened, "You're a weird kid." She combated. And Y/n looked away for a moment, to get a glimpse of Joel. Which was when, "Oh, fuck!"

She was already moving before she had realised what was wrong. It was only when the woman turned the corner, her eyes settled on the bones that floated in the water alongside Ellie. Y/n reached out a hand that Ellie took, walking around the dead body. "Are you okay?" The question was stern and concerned.

Something which only calmed when she answered, "Yeah, yeah."

Y/n's worrisome eyes flickered to Joel, "Lets get going." They joined back with Tess and finally made it across the pond and towards the stairwell.

They climbed up towards the tenth floor where they would be able to see if this path they wanted to take would be clear or not. Joel got to the top first, Y/n by his side, Ellie lingering right behind her and Tess scurrying to keep up. The man slowed, peeking around the corner until he entered the tenth floor.

Once he deemed it safe, he started walking, Y/n following after him. "Fuck." Complained Tess once she finally made it out, a sigh stuck in her breaths.

She leant against the wall for a moment as Ellie passed her, "Oh, come on," Ellie practically sung in return. "It wasn't that bad."

"You try climbing ten fucking floors with our knees. See how you feel." The woman snapped in return.

There came no reply from the young girl as they wandered through the hallway. Joel seemed certain of the way. Well, that was right before they turned once basic corner and were met with a dead end that wasn't expected. "Well when the fuck did that happen?" Tess thought aloud.

They each stared at the many rocks which had fallen in through the floor above, crashing ontop of another and making it impossible for them all to pass. "Try the doors maybe?" Y/n suggested, twisting the door nobs and finding them locked; they were suddenly left with few options.

Tess walked forward, eyeing the rocks like they were a puzzle. "Alright, well, maybe I could climb up there, work my way around, open it up from the inside." She planned, not so certain in herself.

"Doesn't sound very safe." Y/n commented under her breath.

At which, the other woman chuckled, turning to face her. "Since when did you give a fuck about my safety?"

Y/n chose not to answer that. "What about me?" Asked the voice at the side of Y/n. "I am the smallest, surely I should go-"

"Not happening." Y/n interjected before she could take it any further.

"She's right." Uttered Tess. "You go up there, you die, we get nothing." Then her eyes were pulled to the doctor and a mischievous smile rose to her lips. "But, prestige here, I'm sure you wouldn't mind helping, right? Gonna need someone to help me move the rocks."

Y/n knew that there was no refusing this. Tess was already walking over, Joel holding his palm out as he lifted her up. Which left the doctor glaring at what was awaiting her. "Oh come on, it's a few rocks. It's nothing compared to some of the infected."

With that, the girl huffed, stepping onto Joel's non-wounded palm as he pushed her up onto the rocks too. As if in an instant, the feeling of captivation consumed her. The rocks were at every turn, suffocating her. And all she had to keep her sane was Tess. "It's a mess up here!" She called back. "We're gonna need a few minutes."

And so Tess started dissecting the rocks she wanted to move, the ones she wanted to stay and then ordered Y/n to help. "Here, this side." She gestured to one of the larger rocks.

Y/n hovered her hands over it, not daring to break the path Tess had created so far. "Like this?" Tess nodded. They each grabbed either side and started pushing until it fell. A few small pebbles fell with it but nothing to drastic.

With that moved, it made a way for them to jump down. Tess shimmied through first, grunting and huffing as she fit her body through the hole they had created. Y/n would have followed straight after if her ears hadn't pricked at the sound of name. "You know Y/n says you're just old friends." Came Ellie's voice.

The woman looked back. She had only moved a couple of meters away and well, Ellie's voice had a tendency to echo. "What do you care about it?" Responded Joel in his usual stern tone.

"Because Y/n's is shit liar, that's why." There came a pause. Y/n glanced back to Tess who was still slowly working her way down. "So what were you really?" Another pause in which Joel seemed to refuse to answer. "You were like together weren't you?"

"Pass."

"So that's a yes?"

"No!"

Y/n knew her eavesdropping was likely wrong, but she couldn't help but feel curious about how her ex-boyfriend was dealing with this situation. "What happened?" Asked Ellie, clearly having no idea about boundaries.

Again, Joel replied, "Pass."

"Are you with Tess now?"

"Pass."

"Do you not wanna be with Tess because you're still in love with Y/n?"

"Hey, Prestige!" Another, thrid voice, snapped her from listening in. Y/n turned back to face Tess who now had both feet planted on the wall. Though, by the looks of things, she hadn't heard any of what Y/n had. Or she was just really good at hiding it. "You need some help down, or?"

Y/n was already shuffling to the edge, mumbling, "No." She did the same as Tess, shifting and moving until she was able to dangle from the rocks, jumping as her feet thudded against the floor. "Least we didn't die." Y/n shrugged, but the other woman was already walking around.

"Come on," She urged.

They didn't get far before they had to stop once again. The two emerged into the balcony, the muffled, distant sound of groans met them instantly. "Is that-?" Y/n already knew the probable answer.

"I think so." Tess muttered before the two wandered to the edge. They leaned over slightly, consuming the sight below. Hundreds over them, tossing and turning as they fought to spread their rancid disease.

"Shit." One word which captured all thoughts and feelings in that moment. Y/n shook her head, parting from the wall as she turned, finding her gaze settled on a door. A door which likely led to the hallway. "Here," Y/n instructed, urging Tess to follow her as they left the balcony.

The girl dragged herself along as they headed for the room which would lead to the pair inside it. They took one step into that room when the occupants on the other side jolted. Their footsteps heavy and the sound of something familiarly metallic rattled. "You can put the gun down, Joel!" Tess yelled before unlocking the door.

None of their expressions matched. And Joel could tell within one moment, within one look, something wasn't right. "What is it?"

Tess and Y/n simply looked back at one another, a daunting sense growing between them. They chose it not wise to explain. Instead, they led the way back out to the balcony where that view was awaiting Joel and Ellie. "There's so many." That was one way to describe it, definitely.

"Last time we were here, they were still deep inside the buildings." Tess informed.

Y/n glanced over, "Guess this means long way is out the window too?" Maybe that was already assumed.

"Which way do we go then?" Questioned Ellie with concerned pupils.

The adults all looked to one another. But it was Joel who came up with the suggestion: "Museum."

A new plan set in. They went back down the ten stories and wandered the haunting streets to find this new building. And this one would hopefully reveal a safe path for them to get to the Statehouse. It was similar to the rest of the city. The museum was tangled in leaves as newly grown trees comforted the walls on either side. But the more concerning decor of the museum was the fungi that infected the stairs, travelling onto the pavement and right into the door.

They all huffed at the sight, stopping right before their feet dared to brush against such fungi. "You've got to be fucking kidding me." Complained Ellie.

Tess pointed to the roof of the building, "There's a way across from the top floor."

"Well, then I guess it's fine." Ellie quipped in response, her tone dripping in sarcasm.

"Better than hundreds of infected." Y/n commented before looking over Ellie to Tess, raising a brow, "Right?" The expression Tess gave in return was lacking any slither of hope.

"We used to take it all the time." She tried to offer some assurance, but with that look on her face, it truly wasn't working. "It used to be fine." Emphasis on 'used to'.

Even a scoff came from the youngest girl, "Awesome."

Joel walked out in front of them all, getting the closest to the fungi. He leaned down slowly as he stared at it like he was expecting something. His fingers placed some pressure against it. Nothing. So he took his rifle by the wrong end, plummeting the blunt end into the fungi. It crunched as ash splurted out. And with that, his answers were gained, and Joel stood. "It's bone dry." He informed. "It could mean they're all finally dead in there."

Y/n peered over at the man, "Could?" It didn't fill her with great security.

"It's our best bet." Tess uttered. Like that, they seemed to collectively and rather silently, decide this was what they were going with. Tess and Joel shrugged off their bags, grasping a torch each, along with Tess grabbing her own gun.

Joel was holding up his torch as he looked to the two other girls who were still stood mindlessly, "Marlene pack you one of these or just sandwiches?"

Ellie nodded, reaching for her bag. "Yeah." She mumbled before pulling out her own.

It seemed it was only Y/n who lacked her own source of light. But what she did have was still tucked into the waistband of her jeans. Her hands reached around her back, pulling out the pistol Marlene had lent her. "You don't have one?" Joel was the first to observe.

Quietly, the girl shook her head. "Alright," Said Tess as she stood to her feet. "Then you don't go anywhere without one of us."

"Wasn't planning to, don't worry." She replied.

Tess then looked over at Ellie, "And if we come up against anything, you get behind us." She instructed.

She nodded sternly, "Yes." And with that, they faced the museum that seemed to tower over them. Tess grasped her pistol with one hand, the torch with the other, prompting Ellie as she pointed out, "I have a spare hand."

"Congratulations." Joel took the lead on this one, walking to the double doors as the other three trailed behind him. He dipped his head through, scanning to then look back and give that expression of 'it's clear' before stepping through.

They switched on their torches and wandered through. Maybe it was the darkness, but Y/n noted how much she had preferred the hotel. This place, it was a simple mess. If it weren't the fungi, you were stepping over past relics which once would have been bought for millions. And now, they were just a part of rubbish that would likely never be cleared out.

Each of them kept their eyes straight and their feet light as they crept into the several rooms which led to the stairs. Joel's torch lit the other side of the wall where the fungus seemed most prominent, with a body wrapped between it. "Yeah, cooked." Said Joel.

"Oh, finally." Tess responded from behind Y/n. "Some fucking luck." Though, they all doubted that luck would last long.

"I guess we should have gone his way in the first place." The man continued, following the fungus.

They were turning the corner when, "Oh, shit!" Y/n's eyes snapped to Ellie and then the blood-soaked, lifeless corpse which was lent up against the wall. Joel and Tess soon followed as they all gathered around this body. "What the fuck did that?"

That wasn't the question that they needed answering. "How do we know it's not still in here?" Y/n spoke, her voice suddenly lowering at the thought of the creatures which could still be roaming.

"Maybe he was attacked outside." Tess assumed. "Crawled through the doors. The door was open. I don't hear anything."

"Who would you hear?" Asked Ellie, much louder than the rest of them now. At that, they all jolted, firm in their glares as they silently told her to shut the fuck up. So then her voice lowered, and in a whisper, she repeated, "Who would you hear? Are you saying an infected did that?" Y/n's pupils boiled with a concerning terror as she shushed Ellie. Not that it had stopped the young girl. "Because I've been attacked by one and it wasn't like that."

"Okay from this point forward we are silent." Joel's gaze was mainly directed at Ellie, but he sent glances to both Tess and Y/n as he went on. "Not quiet. Silent." His breath was raspy with his hushed tone, his stare in itself threatening.

"Wha-"

He didn't let Ellie finish her breath, "No. No questions." He told her. "Just do it." Ellie may not have been happy about having to shut up, but it was that or further risking their safety.

Joel started walking first, weaving through the rooms, bodies and fungus as they followed. Y/n's grip on her pistol tightened in anticipation, her paced breaths soon becoming uneven as they took the first step to the next floor. As silent as possible, they proceeded up the grand stairs. Joel was only two steps from the second floor before the roof rumbled above him. A few pebbles dripped down, followed by ash and a grumbling noise which filled the space.

Each of them stood completely still. Each of them held their breath. Once, and only once, did the grumbling noise stop did Joel continue, climbing up to the second floor and continuing towards the third and final one. Though it was here where the bodies piled high - as did the fungi. Suddenly, it seemed impossible to step over it all. But Joel took his chances and Y/n found herself analysing his every step so she could make the same ones.

She had been hoping that Ellie, the young girl behind her, was doing the same. But as they reached their fifth step, a crunch erupted. Her and Joel tensed, snapping back around to the girl who looked ever so sheepish. While Joel wore a scowl, Y/n had a moulding sympathetic look on her face, which could simply read: it's okay. Even if, maybe it wasn't so.

When nothing seemed to jump up out at them, Joel continued up the stairs. Luckily, they made it to the top without any more stepping on the fungus, or making any harsh sounds. Joel slowly pushed the double doors open. They creaked and cracked before revealing the dusty room on the other side. Like the rest of the museum, it was filled with relics. But most of them seemed intact. Suppose not many infected made it this far up.

As they each wandered through, rumble started falling from the roof above. Until a large thud was heard and it must have finally caved in. Y/n jumped for Ellie, pulling her forward as Tess slid onto the floor to avoid any of the littering rocks attacking her. It was loud. Loud enough that anything outside of the museum was likely to have heard it. And as Y/n glanced away from Ellie, she found they were barricaded in.

"Everyone okay?" She whispered. There was no bother in being silent now that had just fallen, she had thought.

Ellie caught up with her breath as she responded, "Great."

Y/n looked to Tess who was sitting back up. The woman nodded. It was once they stood to their feet, when terror kicked it. Somewhere, from someplace on the floor they were now trapped it, there came the ever familiar shriek which echoed against the walls. One was in here with them. One was here, one of which they couldn't see and they had just lost their exit.

Y/n's arm reached over, hovering over Ellie's stomach, slowly gesturing for the girl to get behind her. Her gun rose, her knuckles turning white with how tight her grip had become. The infected kept screeching as they manoeuvred their way around. They watched as through a doorway, one of them made their way into the room. They dragged themselves over as the group slowly moved backwards as silent as they had been.

It seemed fine until another screech from another part of the museum alerted them. They jolted around to another doorway. There were two of them. The other crawled through the doorway and they moved back away from it again. Suddenly, they were cornered. Their backs hit the glass of a showcase box as they watched the two infected roam the floor.

Each of them listened closely as it travelled across the other side of the glass. It's grunts were haunting as it filled the very silence the group fought to keep. It rushed across from the glass. It was right in front of them. A moment passed in which they didn't know whether it was going to spot them. Maybe one of them had let out a breath too loud or shuffled their feet too much but it knew and it roared at them all.

Joel moved first, pulling the trigger on his gun as the creature tumbled backwards, away from Ellie. "Run!" He screamed.

Tess grasped Ellie's jacket as they stumbled the other way. Y/n found most of it a blurred as she worked out what to do. She saw the two girls face the second infected. And then gun shots followed. Y/n made the assumption that Tess would keep Ellie safe as she turned, facing Joel's back as he fought single handedly against the other infected. Which, within one glance, Y/n could tell he was losing.

The woman raised her pistol, shooting a few times at the monster before it faced her. She circled around it as it stumbled closer to her. That gave Joel the chance to get one bullet in the back of it's head, securing that it slowed down. But it was still alive, still clinging on, still fighting to kill them. "Go!" Joel ordered. Not loudly at all, but stern, very stern.

Y/n did so. She went one way, Joel went the other. A few steps into a hallway and suddenly she became remind of the warning Tess had given her. Don't go anywhere without someone else. The darkness was all around her. She was quiet on her feet as she wove through the narrow hallway to find somewhere with natural light that could guide her. All while trying to listen out for the dying infected.

She heard a gun shot not too far away, followed by the sound of glass shattering. She couldn't work out whether that was Joel, the infected, or Ellie and Tess. But still, she swirled, trying to make out the shadows as she wandered into the next room where there was a window. A wave of relief passed. Though, it hadn't lasted long.

Y/n's whole body jolted at the feeling of touch on her skin. Something, someone, pulled her back. One hand around her back, the other covering the gasp she had been sure to let out. Silence followed and she settled, connecting the feeling to Joel. Y/n's gaze was drawn up at him as he still wore that stern expression. The screeches erupted from behind them. And Y/n realised that was the reason as to why Joel had grabbed her.

Delicately, Joel lowered his hand from her mouth and Y/n didn't stop him. It glided along her waist until reaching her hand. There, his palm slipped over her's, taking a grasp of the pistol. His other hand slid around her waist. And with both arms seeming to cup her body, he reloaded the pistol. Once finished, the two looked to each, ever so close yet that didn't seem to faze them.

Joel nodded, silently saying it was time to move. Y/n leaned around the glass cage that they were hidden behind, finding herself stiff when the infected was only a few feet away. She didn't make a noise. And so, it carried on, without attacking her or Joel. The girl returned back around and looked to Joel for their next move.

She first felt his touch leave her, though he still held the pistol. The man crouched down and started to head towards the further part of the room. Not wanting to be left alone again, Y/n trailed on after him. A few steps in and Ellie came into view. She was hidden behind a display case, right where the infected was about to walk around. Joel and Y/n joined her and nodded their heads for the girl to follow them.

They tiptoed around the display case as to avoid the infected. Slow and steady. So close they had almost reached it but Joel hadn't been watching his feet enough. His toes crunched against some lingering shards of glass. While it wasn't a bang or a gun shot, it was enough. In an instant, they were on their feet. Y/n was able to get ahold of Ellie but Joel tumbled to the floor. The infected hovered over him and it seemed as if he was dead already.

The woman grasped the largest piece of glass she could. It slipped against her palm, slicing her hand first in her act of panic. But, she was far to terroised to take note. Instead, she leaned forward, pushing the sharpest point of the glass into the back of the infected's head. It slowed and gave Joel enough time to recover the pistol he had taken and reloaded. With that in his grasp, his finger tip didn't leave the trigger. Not until it was lifeless. Not until there were no bullet left.

Soon enough, the creature fell and the three scurried backwards. Ellie was tightly protected in Y/n's hands as Joel stood in front, right over the body.

Their moment of peace hadn't lasted long.

Another piercing shriek boomed through the room. They all turned. Defenceless. The second infected was running right for them and they had nothing. Well, they had Tess. The woman rushed through a space between the displays, shoving a 14th-century axe right into the infected's neck.

It hadn't killed it but it had stopped it. The creature waved it's arms around, willing to grab one of them as it croaked out. Joel was the one to move. He took ahold of the rifle he had once lost, aimed and shot. And he didn't stop until it was on the floor.

A long moment passed. Everyone caught up with their breaths and several shared glances were given. Until, in a huff, Y/n spoke up, "Is it over?" Her weary eyes looked around, looking to each of them.

"I fucking hope so." Snapped Ellie, loud enough that, if there were any more infected, it would have come after them by now.

"You all right?" Joel asked Tess who had just limped back up to her feet.

The woman nodded but it was stiff like she wasn't so lucky to be alive. "Twisted ankle, but yeah." Her gaze then jumped to Y/n. Specifically her hand. "What about you? That looks nasty."

Y/n hadn't even realised. Maybe it was the panic, maybe it was the radiating pain, but the harsh cut across the centre of her palm had gone unnoticed until now. It was gushing red. So much so, it seemed to have tinted her skin, pooling over her shirt and jacket. "Shit." She muttered before swinging her bag over and grabbing some cloth.

"You alright?" Tess repeated. This time, to Ellie.

"Well, I didn't shit my pants so." She shrugged off as Y/n wrapped her bleeding palm in the cloth. A sharp inhale left her lips at the sting of the feeling. One of which didn't start easing off until she tied the cloth together, putting her supplies back in her bag.

By the time she had looked over, Ellie's jacket was rolled up, showcasing the bite from the infected. "Shit!" She said again, this time harsher and louder.

"You fucking kidding me?" Ellie swore. "I mean, if it was gonna happen to one of us..."

Suppose she made a point. "Hey," Tess spoke up as they all glanced to her. "Lets get the fuck out of here." That they could all agree with.

They were led towards one of the back windows. Joel pulled it up, slipping through first and holding it up for the other to walk through. "Thanks," Y/n uttered as she stepped onto the roof, her eyes drawn to the view set in front of her.

Ellie proceeded behind the girl, rushing next to her side to catch the view for herself. Though, Y/n turned right back around at the sound of grunting and the words, "Oh, fuck." Tess, while she may have gotten through the window, was struggling.

Her ankle had forced her to sit as Joel joined her. "I can help." The girl offered. Well, it wasn't much of an offer, more of a warning that she was about to help.

Though, such was still declined, as Joel hovered his hand out. "No, no, it's alright. I've got it." He said and the woman shut her lips. "Just give me some of that tape would you?"

Y/n nodded but said nothing. She rummaged from her bag and retrieved the tape, passing it over with a stare caught between the two. Maybe it was wrong to, but she thought back to them questions Ellie was asking Joel earlier at the hotel. Maybe such questions were echoing in her mind also.

"Over there?" Ellie inquired from behind them all. Y/n was the one turn, searching for an excuse to look away.

She was pointing to the building across from this one. The one connected by a long piece of wood. "Yeah, I know it looks scary." Answered Joel.

Ellie was already stepping onto it as she replied, "That was scary, this is wood." And without a flicker of a worry she walked across. She turned when she reached the other building, a grin spread over lips as she looked to the doctor. "You coming?"

Y/n had to look back first. Look back to the man who was patching up Tess like he probably had done a million times before. Then she flashed a smile, one forced and tricky to uphold. "Yeah." She yelled back, tiptoeing across just as Ellie had.

At this new building, she couldn't hear the conversation happening between the couple. She could only watch Joel's sincere, worrisome expression as he ever so carefully taped up that broken ankle. For a moment, and Y/n swore to herself that it was only a moment, a flicker of a memory washed through her mind. A flicker of a memory which urged on feelings of regret.

"Oh. My. God." Said Ellie, snapping the woman out of her thoughts. She jumped back around to the girl who was smiling a devilish smile. "You're in love with him too." She stated as if it were fact.

"What-?" Y/n cut herself off, eyeing the couple once more. "I've got no idea what you're getting at Ellie."

"Yes you do." She argued as Y/n walked passed her. Not that such had stopped the young girl from trailing behind. "You know exactly what I'm getting at! So I was right? You and Joel were together?"

Y/n stopped and turned around, "Well we're not anymore so what does it matter?"

"Because you both obviously still want each other."

That was something she had scoffed out. They didn't spend years avoiding each other because there was still love there. No, they avoided each because- well, because that was what you were supposed to do after a break up. "Ellie, we don't."

"I think you need a new pair of eyes." She giggled at the idea and Y/n knew this wouldn't be the last time she heard about it.

Y/n moved passed Ellie, towards the other end of the building where a view stared back at them. The rest of the city. Still decaying and covered in speckles of green, but as Y/n had gathered, it was nice to see something of natural beauty growing again.

Her gaze hadn't moved when she felt Ellie join her side. But when another figure wandered up, coming to her other side, her eyes did jump. "Is it everything you hoped for?" Joel asked. His eyes weren't on Y/n, they weren't on Ellie, they were settled on what was in front of him and what awaited him.

Ellie shrugged, "Jurys still out." She said and Y/n chose it best to tear her gaze away from Joel before he cared to notice. "But, man, you can't deny that view."

"Think it's even prettier without all the skyscrapers and road rage." Y/n thought aloud. And, as if roles had just be revered, Joel was the one staring at her as she glazed off into the distance.

The man thought about giving something in response, but that idea was broken when another voice came. "Come on, let's get there before dark." Tess prompted, breaking them from their captivated views.

The other woman gave not a second to take in the view. As if a switch had been pulled, Tess was suddenly in full survival mode, not wanting to waste a moment they had. She went down the ladder first and no matter how delicately she placed her footings, it still urged groans of pain. The other three didn't dare comment. Instead, Y/n gently pushed Ellie forward as they all trailed down the ladder too.

Tess was right about wanting to get there before dark. Even with her ankle and the pain Y/n was certain was plaguing her, she led the group, fast in her pace. It took half the time to get to the StateHouse than it usually did. But even in that short space of time, Y/n wandered to herself about this change in mood. Prior to this, she was walking at the side of Ellie, bouncing back and fourth, explaining with great enthusiasm what the world used to be like. And now it seemed she was burdened with apathy.

Y/n was towards the back of the line, though she rushed forward slightly to reach Joel. And ever so quietly, she whispered over to him, "She normally like this?"

Joel looked back with knitted brows, "Like what?"

The doctor huffed and checked off the several attributes she knew all too well: "More irritable than usual? Desperate?" She spoke carefully as she always did. Beating around the idea rather than giving it directly to him on a plate.

But Joel was used to Y/n's careful words and could see right through it. "She's not infected, Y/n." He uttered, stern in his expression that it made Y/n regret saying anything.

Yet, the girl still went on, "Just keep an eye on it, alright?" She told him. Without another second, she walked passed, joining Ellie's side.

Y/n wouldn't push it. Tess was Joel's friend and not hers. Maybe if more symptoms started showing, she might. But for now, she would keep quiet and keep her mind on the task at hand: get Ellie to safety. Which was right where they were. The state house seemed quiet. The only thing to suggest the other fireflies were here was the truck parked right outside.

The four of them crouched down by some rocks, keeping a watch on the doors and the truck. "Where the fuck are they?" Tess had queried, hushed in her tone.

Joel turned back to face her, lightly shaking his head. He took a long moment to think before he stood to his feet and started walking. The others stood but made no move to follow Joel. Instead, they watched. He slung the door to the truck open first, his rifle shaking in his grip, only to find nothing but blood-soaked metal.

Though, that seemed enough for the man to spin around, holding his hand out. "Keep back." He instructed before continuing on.

Even if they weren't the ones searching the truck, Tess and Y/n still equipped their weapons. They waited a few moments, hearing the sound of the back doors pull up. It was then that Tess nodded her head, "Come on." She said, going against what Joel had told them as they wandered around the back. "Joel?" She called. "What the fuck is going on?"

The back of the truck was empty. "I don't know." Answered the man. And while their focus was pulled to the truck, Y/n's dwindled. Her eyes were pulled to the stairs of the Statehouse, noting the splotches of red which littered the concrete.

"They went inside." Y/n informed as all eyes landed to her and then the blood.

She swirled around, facing their puzzled looks. Tess was the one to move first. She huffed and seemed to snap. "Come on." She ordered, hooking her palm around Ellie's wrist and dragging her into the state house. "Come on." She repeated.

"Tess!" Joel had yelled but the woman seemed to have no intent on stopping.

Y/n rushed up with them and without a second thought, raised her weapon. And much quieter than Joel, but much more threatening, there came the hushed order of, "Tess." The woman stiffened and slowed. She turned with glossy eyes that were mustered between feelings of fury. "Let Ellie go. We're all going to go in there but not until you take your hands off her."

It took Tess a moment before shoving Ellie out her grip. Y/n took the young girl into her hold, scanning her once over to make sure she was okay. "Lets go." Said Tess as she went on as if nothing had happened.

In that moment, Y/n met Joel's eyes, a sense of realisation seemed to have dawned on him.

The three followed Tess into the building and they all took sight of what was left. Bodies and blood and devastation. The fireflies had been taken out. "Holy shit." Cursed the young girl.

They wandered further into the building and more and more bodies emerged. It seemed as if there were no survivors. "I mean there's gonna be like a fucking radio or something." Tess rambled on aloud. She rummaged through the many boxes, scurrying through the supplies they had left.

I mean, not mentioning the bodies, this place would be a gold mine to smugglers like Tess and Joel. "Who killed them?" Y/n heard Ellie question. "FEDRA?"

"No." Joel had uttered and Y/n turned to watch as the man's boot spun one of the bodies over. "One of them got bit." And there, on the lifeless corpse was the remnants of the infected, yellow vines and a red rash surrounding it. "The healthy ones fought the sick ones. They all lost."

"God, Marlene's gonna lose it." Y/n thought, giving a scan over all the bodies once more.

"Tess!" Called Joel as he walked over to the woman. "What you doing?" She was still scavenging like her life depended on it.

Though, of course, Tess didn't give an answer to Joel. Rather, she walked right passed him to where Ellie and Y/n were roaming. "Where was Marlene taking her? Huh?"

"West." Y/n informed, tense at the very firm stance Tess was giving. "That's where the doctors are." As long as they weren't all dead either.

"That it? Just west? That all you fucking know?" Y/n had no chance to respond to her outburst as the woman turned her back and started wandering around the boxes once more. "Well one of them's gotta have a map on them right?" She leaned over one of the bodies. "Joel? Can you help me-"

"No!" The atmosphere chilled. "Tess, it's over." And it seemed they all knew that but her. He started walking over to her as she gazed up from the body. "We are going home."

"That's not my fucking home!"

Joel backed off and everything went silent. All that remained was the echo of Tess' screams. It took a second before the woman climbed to her feet, facing the man she had stuck by for years now. "I'm staying." She said with more depth than it needed. "I mean, our luck had to run out sooner or later."

Y/n had already been well in the know, Joel in denial but Ellie, well Ellie had only suddenly come to the same conclusion. "Fuck. She's infected."

Now, the atmosphere wasn't just chilly, but it was as cold as fucking ice. "Show me." Joel requested in such a gentle tone.

She took a cautious step forward, "Joel-"

He took a rapid step back. The woman's fingers gripped at her shirt, pulling it down to reveal the yellow vines and the red rash. "Oops right?" She let her hand go, covering the mark. "Guessing it's not something you can save me from, right, doc?"

Y/n swallowed and wondered if maybe it had happened later, if maybe they had understood Ellie's blood and her genes, maybe Tess would have had something, some hope. Tess' gaze jumped to Ellie, "Take your bandage off."

And so, the girl followed, rolling up her sleeve and showcasing her arm. Her perfectly healthy, perfectly normal arm. No yellow vines. No red rash. Tess walked over, taking a tender hold of Ellie's hand, "Look, this is real." She uttered, knowing this was apart of her last words. "Get her to Bill and Frank's." Joel had shook his head at that plan but Tess kept going. "They'll take her off your hands."

"No, no, no." The man repeated. "I can't. They're not gonna take her-"

"They will because you're gonna convince them." Joel was quiet again. "I never- never ask you for anything, not to feel the way I felt-"

He attempted to interject, "No-"

But Tess wasn't having it. "Shut the fuck up cause I don't have time." Which would have explained the rush she was in prior to now. "This is your chance. You and Y/n. You get her there. You keep her alive. And you set everything right. All the shit we did. Please say yes, Joel, please." She was a begging, dying woman and Joel looked as if he had no choice.

A grunt came from behind them as one of the bodies started moving. They jumped out from their sentiment as Ellie, screamed, "Oh, fuck!" Both her and Y/n rushed away from it as Joel stormed forward, pistol in hand, shooting the infected right between its eyes.

But with that gunshot, further noise erupted. Noise of which they couldn't bare to ignore. Grunts and groans which echoed from outside of the State house. Joel jogged over to the front doors, getting one glance of the outside to know what was coming for them. More were coming. "How many?" Asked Tess once Joel had started walking back again.

"All of them."

A scoff slipped from Y/n's lips, "Fucking great." Her panicked pupils met Joels, "How long?"

"Maybe a minute." He rushed to the centre of the building again, terror started to consume his thoughts.

But it was Tess who made the next move. She picked up the rifle of a dead man, popping the top off one of the barrels. Kicking it down, as gasoline pooled over the floor. "What are you doing?" Ellie inquired.

The woman continued onto each of them, "Making sure they don't follow you." She replied, kicking down another.

Once all the barrels were down and the smell became intoxicating, she threw over grenades. They scattered the floor as the murmers of the infected slowly got louder and louder. With that, she walked to Joel, looking up at him with only inches between them and she whispered, "Joel, save who you can save."

He seemed to hold eye contact with Tess for as long as he could. His eyes glossy when he broke and glanced over to where Y/n was stood, holding Ellie close to her chest. But he was looking at Y/n when he said, "Go."

And she listened to him. She tightened her grasp on Ellie as they stormed out of the Statehouse. The girl cried, "No! We're not leaving her!" She screamed but it seemed just empty words now. Joel was the one who had to make the decision and it certainly was never an easy one.

And they got as far away as they could. When the statehouse inflamed, they knew apart of the many bodies of infected, there was Tess. But there was no time to mourn in the midst of an apocalypse. All they could do was run.

-

Taglist -  @janikaaaw @berarenado @khaleesihavilliard @fanficfanatic1997 @kitdjarin1 @endurexxsurvive @batgurl42 @karacaroldanvers @luvelyxp @cleocat246 @Shesa-riott @elliejelliee @@luvwanda @hellf1reclub @moshpot24x @f4n-page @loveelisee @peterwandaparker @dreamer7black @takeabreathdeath @monbrat @alexiaricciardo @m-7770 @ambrosiagf @mxxkingdom @fairyboysworld Join the taglist here

#tlou #tlou rewrite #joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller imagine #joel miller x you #joel miller x y/n #joel miller fanfic #ellie williams #joel miller fanfiction #the last of us #the last of us x reader #tlou x reader #the last of us imagine #tlou imagine #the last of us rewrite #pedro pascal #pedro pascal x reader #tlou fanfic #loose ends #rewrite #fanfiction #imagine

[ligercat]

#his boyfriend's gonna come make you regret this #burn notice #loose ends #sam axe #bruce campbell #gifs #mygifs #for those curious #this one is not from a gag reel

[night-market-if]

Spoiler Ask

General spoilers

We have not! That's actually a loose thread I wanted to keep in there for there to be no denial come book 2 that things aren't really fixed. That will be addressed in book 2 once everyone kind of gets back on their feet again. I might even have it happen again to just kind of bring the true problem to the forefront.

#the night market #book 2 #loose ends #world development #interactive fiction

[reluctantjoe]

GABY KETTLE & MATHEW BAYNTON Loose Ends | BTS: 27.01.2024

#loose ends #gaby kettle #mathew baynton #mat baynton #bbc radio 4 #bbcedit #actoredit #dailyactors #radio edit #musicianedit #dailymusicians #rj: photo #rj: loose ends #rj: mathew baynton #rj: 2024

[iknityounot]

I am going to make this a separate post, since the other one got so long.

So, like I mentioned there, I sent my grandma's granny squares off to my Loose Ends "finisher" with the intent of giving my mother the blanket when it was complete. I had NO thoughts in my head at all for saving something for myself.

When I received the box in August with the completed blanket, it had two additional things in it. It had a letter and a bag. The bag had two and a half skeins of left over yarn (please peep the picture of all they yarn I sent this lady, I was SO surprised she was able to use so much of it!) my grandmother's crochet hook, and a single granny square. In the letter, my finisher, Katherine, wrote that she set aside one of the original squares my grandma made--she specifically said the one she guessed may have been one of the first--in order to put it in a central place in the finished blanket. But then she forgot about it when she went to put the blank together, so now there was one left over. She said she sent it along with the blanket, hoping it would still find a home.

So, like I said in my last post, I gathered up the blanket and brought it to my mom....but I kept that lone granny square for myself. I immediately knew what I wanted to do with it:

I bought this little shadow box on Amazon, pinned in the granny square, and added my grandma's hook. I plan on hanging it in my little crafting zone in my apartment ❤️

Just another reason why the Loose Ends Project has my heart in a chokehold. There was so much thought and kindness that went into what Katherine did--for both me and my mom.

#joy knits #text #loose ends #the loose ends project #knit #knitting #knitblr #craft #crafting #craftblr #yarn #yarnblr #crochet #crocheting #crochetblr #diy #granny square #i cant not shill for them now #i just wish i was good/consistent enough to volunteer?

[harleymonster]

Let's play a game, it's called "jfc, why didn't you weave in the 2 (TWO!!) loose ends from the hat you made 6 years ago?"

[image description: a dusty pink hat with a ribbed brim and small bobblish body lying on top of a plastic box of yarn and a small container of knitting supplies such as stitch markers and scissors. One loose end can be seen from the brim and one loose end can be seen on the top of the hat. End description]

#ufo project #Didn't even realise I hadn't done it #knitting #loose ends #harleymonster makes

[ominous-synths-records]

Slow Down (Dub Version) - Loose Ends

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#Loose Ends #80s #r&b #lost media #out of print

[reddie-fancomic-by-slashpalooza]

Loose Ends Part1 Chap44 by Romax @slashpaloozawebcomics

2023... If there’s still #reddie fandom here 😅

😁 THANK YOU and apologies to all of you who wait patiently for an official update here 🙏💜

🚨I HAD TO EDIT AND CHANGE COLOR SINCE I DON’T WANT TO HAVE PROBLEMS HERE AGAIN. I CENSORED THE LESS THAT I COULD.🚨

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

💕 LAST UPDATE TOMORROW FEBRUARY 14TH 💕🎈💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

It’s been CENTURIES... if you’re still there 😁ENJOY!!

⭐ Flowfo  ⭐ Patreon  [if so, better subscribe on the 1st of the month to avoid being charged twice.

Questions: [email protected]

#reddie #loose ends #Richie x Eddie #richie tozier #richie trashmouth #slashpalooza #gay webcomic #webcomic #lgbtq webcomic

[duffertube]

#Ronnie & The Rainbows #Loose Ends #Music