#fic: sun bleached flies

[worldenough-and-time]

She’s here! May I present:

Not Enough to Save You

(Lesbian Wolfstar, Oneshot, 8k) (aka Remus Lupin is Joan of Arc)

Summary:

The Princess gave her a fond look. “Truthfully? I needed a friend.”

It was such a thing for a Princess to say, to anyone, really, but especially to Remus. Dirt under her fingernails, clad in boy's dress, scraping through battle with borrowed weapons, Remus. Barely even Jeanne d’Arc yet.

Remus could not even laugh, it was so absurd. What was worse was the swelling of warmth in her chest at the Princess’s words. Of course, she was used to aching for the impossible, the Patron Saint of Lost Causes- a farmhand!- dust on her knees and God behind her eyes. And she’d always looked twice at pretty girls. She looked a third time at the Princess, and realized she’d be hard pressed to tear her gaze away again. “I’m happy to be of service.”

~Remus is Jeanne d'Arc. Sirius is a French Princess. Can I make it anymore obvious?~

———

Did you know that Jeanne is the French feminization of the name John? Something to consider! 🤔

Anyway, please enjoy:

-Remus in a suit of armor

-possibly even more religious blasphemy than the demon baby cult fic

-girls kissing in 15th century France while being plagued by psychic visions of fire

-“More smut than I would have expected in the Joan of Arc fic!” (According to Mel)

Bon appetit!

[tessabingus]

this is sooooooooo kyle from project eric by cocoacremeandgays on ao3 coded

[swiftfootedachilles]

i miss making shamey edits...hrrrmmm ive been very bored lately maybe i should make some and write more!

[worldsokayestbabysitter]

a little snippet that might one day turn into more. a kind of sequel to this

-----

Steve remembers holding his mamas hand every Sunday, the only day they consistently spent together when she was home. Remembers sitting in the pews, trying to keep his eyes open in the midday heat. Remembers looking down at his hand in hers, seeing that his was entirely engulfed by her painter’s hands. Felt like he could survive anything as long as his hand fit in his mom’s.

When he woke up in the hospital, for the third time, for the last time, after he swam his way to consciousness, his mom was at his bedside. And his hand was bigger than hers, his hand was calloused, cut to hell from where he fell running from the end of the world. Her hand was still soft. More wrinkles than he remembered, but still as unblemished. She was gripping his hand like her life depended on it, even in her sleep. Same deceptive strength.

Steve knows it's only been a week since he last saw her. Leaving again, but this time he was grateful. She would be safe.

It feels like it's been an eternity. Just the weight of his mom's hand has brought him back to himself. Time feels like it's passing again, every tick of the clock and every rise and fall of her shoulders rushing through him.

His mom is here. Her hand in his, asleep, but here.

He's alive. It all comes back to him in waves. They all survived, it's over. His mama's here, and it's over.

When she wakes up and sees Steve looking at her, she freezes. Looks at him in disbelief.

They don’t say anything, at first. What is there to say? Where do they even start?

Steve wants to say, where have you been. Steve wants to say, why are you here, just you, and not dad? He wants to say, I did it all without you, I survived without you, I went through hell and lost so much and you weren't there. He wants to say, thank god you were safe, he wants to say, why didn't you protect me?

But he waits for her to speak first, doesn't think he's able to if the dryness of his throat of is anything to go by.

"Oh Steve," she finally whispers. She runs her free hand through his hair and her eyes quickly fill with tears.

"My Steve, my baby, I'm sorry," she says. She could be apologizing for a million things, for leaving him, for the long business trips, for the wounds he's starting to feel, for the years he was left alone, for the horrors he's endured, for showing up now instead of then. She could be apologizing for all of it. And Steve knows he should be angry. Knows that some distant part of him is furious and that that white-hot rage will bubble up to the surface eventually, but his mom is holding his hand, her thumb gliding across his knuckles like they used to in church, and she's here.

"Mom-" Steve chokes out. It comes out rough, through the lump in his dry throat. His mom moves from the chair at his bedside to sit on the edge of the hospital bed, hand never leaving his.

"I know, I'm here, I'm sorry," she says, her voice still soft and wobbly. Tears have started to run freely down her face, and she does nothing to catch them. She leans over and grabs a glass of water, holds it as he takes tentative sips from the straw. When he leans away, she sets it aside, helps him sit up. That same angry relief bubbles up again. Here she is, being his mom, finally. He must have really come close to death this time, he thinks.

They stare at each other again, his mom's hand running through his hair. And it's been too long since he's studied his mom's face, because he can't tell what that emotion is.

"Steve, I-" she takes a breath, struggling to find words. So different from the woman who used to pick out her sentences carefully, used to enter conversations like they were battles. "I don't know what happened, to you or to Hawkins. I know it was bad, that whatever you went through was- that it was bad enough to put you here. There's been a crowd rotating through here and I can't get a straight answer from anyone. But whatever it was, I should have been here. I should have been here a long time ago, and I'm- I'll be sorry for it for the rest of my life. But I'm here now, If you'll have me."

A year ago, hell, a week ago, Steve would've scorned the idea of it, an apology. Forgiveness past the last minute.

But his mom is here. And she's holding his hand.

[bsaka7]

thanks to dees @leclercenjoyer for tagging me to post my five most listened to songs of the month! tbh i never know if this is anywhere near accurate (which is probably better lol) because i mostly on either Spotify offline mode (terrible) or the web browser (extremely terrible). but i have been listening to home video a lot.

First Time — Lucy Dacus

Brando — Lucy Dacus

Sun Bleached Flies — Ethel Cain

Hot & Heavy — Lucy Dacus

Is This It — The Strokes

i tag @wdcseb @charlespecco @quinnfabreys @hungaropeng @gokartkid if any of u feel so inclined!!!

[hellowoolf]

SUN BEAXHED FLIES IM ON MY KNEES BEGGING

HI sweet anon i'm so sorry for the delay in responding, life has been sticky

BUT !!!

here's a snippet from the first paragraph (because i'm a sucker for openers, apparently):

it was startling, at first, to notice you did not know what you believed. to have forgone faith entirely would have been its own sort of monstrousness, but a known one to you, a cautioned one. you’d lived with the told evils of the unbelievers, and to become one would certainly condemn you, but still, you would know what you were. the reality of yourself, a faithful and a skeptic and a wretched thing, was far more unfamiliar. was anybody listening?

sun bleached flies (thank you to ethel cain for the title) is a little one shot of you and joel as your priest. you've lived a sheltered life, kept company by god and your parents, and with the death of the town's longstanding priest descends joel...and the vibe is...you're starting to lose faith and so you go to confess to him....and....think situationally fleabag but it actually goes down in the confessional....teehee

i'm so excited about this one and it's also the one i have the least done but thank you so much for asking i'm hoping to finish asap !! <3333

[moonpascaltoo]

JOEL MILLER

╰┈➤ 18+ none of these stories belong to me! this is a masterlist of all joel miller stories i’ve read and reblogged! just thought it would be nice to have them all in one spot! (if your fic is on here and you wish not to be, please let me know!) <3

MASTERLIST • PEDRO PASCAL CHARACTERS • 07/08/24

JOEL MILLER ONE TWO THREE FIVE

@cowboymarcs ✰ adoration ✰ rough jackson had made joel soft, and while you delighted in the domesticity of it all, some small, shameful part of you missed how hard he fucked you when the world was ending.

@sempersirens ✰ sun bleached flies part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6 old secrets are brought to the surface when a new arrival in jackson threatens to disturb the peaceful home you have spent seven years perfecting

@freelancearsonist ✰ make a move on me You've been teasing Joel every day since he started remodeling construction on your house. He finally works up the courage to do something about it - but not in the way you expect him to.

@punkshort ✰ hard to handle One year after Joel cheats on you and gets someone else pregnant, you run into him for the first time. ✰ the way we were You worked for Joel and Tommy a few months before the outbreak. When the outbreak happens, you and Joel get stuck traveling the country and keeping each other safe. Neither of you spoke about the feelings you had for one another pre-outbreak, and in a post-apocalyptic world, it seems like survival should be your only focus. But feelings can't be ignored forever. ✰ look what we’ve become You are tasked with taking a young girl back to her family while trying to salvage your relationship with Joel after certain events cause the biggest strain either of you have ever had to face.

@tightjeansjavi ✰ gym!joel blurb ✰ qz! joel hcs

@jobean12-blog ✰ twisted games You never win when you play games with Joel but while losing in a game of Twister you get an idea that might just make you a winner...or not. ✰ have a little pun Joel has more than one reason to smile now. 

@mrsmando ✰ after the rain when life as you know it comes crashing down around your ears, only joel can fix it.

@alrightieaphroditie ✰ moon and stars joel rears his big, brown puppy dog eyes at you while you’re stitching him back together. a promise is made.

@sawymredfox ✰ the shop around the corner Meet cutes only happen in movies, right?

@joelscruff ✰ is it that sweet you probably shouldn't let some random middle aged man on the beach take nude photos of you, right? right? ✰ imperfect for you you never thought joel miller would accidentally call you baby.

@ozarkthedog ✰ his sweet secret joel fucks you over the kitchen sink.

@hellishjoel ✰ seven days, six nights You get jumped in the QZ after a deal gone south and hide yourself from Joel to keep him safe. After eventually finding you and learning the truth behind your injuries, he heals you and promises revenge.

@kteague ✰ a future together What if Joel had been in a relationship when the outbreak started? What if they were still together 20 years later?

@leviathanspain ✰ underneath the stars you realize too late that he wasn’t just your best friend.

@cowgurrrl ✰ she’s a gun Somebody didn’t give the new guy a heads up about talking about Joel Miller’s family

@psychedelic-ink ✰ my girl now joel is used to asshole clients, and when one of them calls him an old man and basically demands him to finish his girlfriend's kitchen in time, he expects you to be the same. But you're the opposite. when he learns how you've been treated, he comes up with a plan to get back at your boyfriend. ✰ aquatic rehabilitation Joel has been experiencing knee pain for the past two months. When he finally sees an orthopedist, he learns that he has some minor damage to his meniscus. The doctor prescribes him anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy, recommending swimming. At the pool, he meets you. ✰ perfectly wrong Joel thinks you have the car battery that he so desperately needs and doesn't believe you when you say that you don't.

@quin-ns ✰ sleeping bag you can’t get comfortable in your sleeping bag, so joel invites you into his

@mellowsaturns ✰ for you, anything joel do what he does best, smuggling and taking care of you

@frannyzooey ✰ one bed

@katiexpunk ✰ overloaded w/tommy After catching your ex-boyfriend in your bed with another woman, you pack up and leave. With no money and no car, you end up hitchhiking back to Texas. You're lucky enough to catch a ride with a nice Trucker named Joel. Things quickly heat up between you two, and only get hotter when you meet his brother.

@wingzsz ✰ i can’t sleep After settling in at Jackson, Joel broke up with you. You try avoiding him in order to get ahold of your emotions but that all backfires.

@joelslastofus ✰ untitled part 2 Joel is secretly in love with Tommy’s girlfriend and comforts her while his brother is in jail. ✰ jealous joel pt 2 Joel deals with his jealousy as Tommy and you get more serious.

@mothandpidgeon ✰ forgive me When Joel finds himself in possession of some sexy photos, temptation makes him question himself as he's fascinated by a woman he's never met. ✰ aunt flo’s After Sarah gets her first period, Joel is determined to be a supportive parent despite the fact that he doesn't know the first thing about menstruation. But when he goes to the pharmacy to shop for supplies, he finds himself in way over his head.

@softlyspector ✰ picture You really want to take Joel's picture. He can't really figure out why. ✰ sea salt You need to escape an unwanted engagement. Joel reluctantly helps you.

@hier--soir ✰ fake it does joel know you well enough to know when you're faking it? ✰ back to texas joel goes back to his house in texas

@josephquinnswhore ✰ refined taste joel relishes in the taste of you.

@alltheirdamn ✰ give me tonight joel has to leave

@swiftispunk ✰ didn’t catch my bloody nose w/ tommy the miller brothers are good at sharing their toys, but god forbid the toy should break.

@supernaturalgirl20 ✰ letting go you think Joel doesn’t care, the problem is, he cares too much.

@gutsby ✰ if you like piña coladas You secretly make Joel a profile on Hinge. Then he shows you exactly why he doesn’t need one.

@thetriumphantpanda ✰ trial and error Tommy has always been the loyal and doting boyfriend, the literal man of your dreams. Ready to take things to the next step, you soon find that Tommy is unable to have children. A family is all you’ve ever wanted, and neither of you are going to let this get in your way. Enter Joel, dark and mysterious and willing to do anything for his little brother, including fucking his girlfriend to get her pregnant. That’s what brothers are for, right?

@morallyinept ✰ endure and survive ✰ move A kind, but handsome, neighbour helps you out on moving in day.

@deantfwinchester ✰ neighborhood walgreens A busy, sick Joel gets a little care from the people in his life - including the neighbor and friend he's been crushing on for the past few months.

@morning-star-joy ✰ room for three w/ arthur morgan When Joel and Arthur get caught in a storm and need a place to stay, they weren't expecting to find you—a temptress who offers them shelter in your cabin, and wants nothing more than for the two rugged cowboys to keep you warm.

@munsonownsmyass ✰ a simple trade When Joel spots some coffee, he's willing to trade just about anything to get it.

@joelscurls ✰ stranded your shitty boyfriend dumps you on the side of the road after a fight. joel miller finds you.

@stylesispunk ✰ you gave me something to lose Joel is afraid of losing you.

@talaok ✰ blushing Ellie tries to convince Joel of how obvious it is he likes you. ✰ drooling you find a lake and convince ellie and joel to take a swim, according to ellie, giving joel the perfect opportunity to confess his feelings for you. ✰ incentive Ellie makes you convince Joel to not get back on the road yet, and you find a way to persuade him.

@joelsgreys ✰ not a thing part 2 You and Joel had a private moment while Ellie was asleep. Or so you’d thought she was asleep.

@cosmictheo ✰ pistol during a stormy night at bill and frank's house, joel teaches you how to hold your gun, and this opens up the perfect opportunity for the two of you to finally release all the feelings of longing and lust you've been repressed for each other over the past few weeks.

@peterparkersnose ✰ jealously, jealously part 2 Joel is jealous seeing Y/N with another man across the bar ✰ lovers and love Y/N tries to hide that she is pregnant and Joel finds out ✰ hairspray Sarah finds Y/N’s hidden pregnancy tests

@ohraicodoll ✰ daisies Because the women of Jackson have nothing better to do than set their eyes on Joel Miller. 

@neo-nomatrix ✰ heart to heart You’ve been traveling with Henry and Sam for over a year now. Once you meet Joel and Ellie your entire world changes.

@guess-my-next-obsession ✰ not-so formal introduction

@bubbles-for-all-of-us ✰ slice of paradise Joel dream of having a farmhouse comes true. What makes it even better is that he's not there alone. He has his own little family to enjoy this little slice of paradise with him. ✰ butterfly When Joel thinks that his life is over his little butterfly sends him a new reason to stay alive. The only problem is that he doesn't know how to love but when you are the meaning of love itself how can he not fall. ✰ we bleed together what if the last day of humanity was different? What if instead of loosing Sarah, Joel lost you - the mother of his two children and the person who had built him up to a better man. ✰ cold as ice what happens when Ellie stumbles upon a memorial that turns out to have both your and Joel's kids names on it. When the past pain is brought back to the daylight even the coldest of hearts finally break. ✰ my heart is yours Jackson doesn't seem to kill the fears in Joel's mind, only awaking new kind of doubts. Can you actually be in love with him or is it a hopeless dream that Joel is chasing?

@alloftheimagines ✰ don’t let me drown in which the reader falls into the river of death, and it's joel's job to save you and find shelter. featuring ellie. ✰ first kill in which the reader is forced to take a life for the first time in order to save the man she loves.

@ay0nha ✰ lament of my heart “Tommy…”  Joel let out a breath of frustrated laughter. He disappointingly shook his head, leaning over you, “That boy doesn’t know what he’s lost.”

@wardenparker and @absurdthirst ✰ for her part 2 part 3 Low on supplies and needing rest, Joel and Ellie stop in a colony he has heard about to restock on their journey west, but Joel finds far more than be bargained for within the city walls.

@nikka-v ✰ apocalypse two guests arrive, she found a herself crushing on the handsome, older man.

[loui3e]

Sun Bleached Flies

If it’s meant to be, then it will be’

Old man!Logan Howlett x Fem!reader Summary: After meeting in a dive bar you both pursue a relationship, where Logan makes the promise to return to you always.

A/n: Written and edited by delusional me at 12 am whilst listening to Ethel Cain, so don’t expect perfection. This is also my first Logan fic so if he’s OOC I apologise.

Warnings: Nothing sexual is explicit but is implied, angst with a sprinkle of comfort(?), major character death. (I love hurting my feelings so now I’m gonna hurt yours).

Words: 1065

You met him in a dive bar.

The air thick with the tang of sweaty bodies and music far too loud, as you took a seat at the bar next to a man with a tousled suit and grey hair, nursing a whiskey in one hand. A form of him you’ve far gotten use to since then.

“Why so dressed up for a dive bar?” You chortled at the man beside you. The question sounded hypocritical coming from you, considering you sat there in a velvet dress.

“Could ask you the same thing,” he quipped in response, quirking a brow in your direction. 

“Well I got stood up, your turn.” You steered the conversation from awkward silence. A part of you was intrigued by the man, the other attracted if you were to be honest with yourself. 

“My limo nearly got robbed.”

There was a pause as you processed his words. 

“What are you some sort of driver?” 

“Exactly.” 

You come to learn his name is Logan. Seeing him consistently in that shitty dive bar. You’ve gotten use to his presence, and begin to crave it after a heated night spent in the back of that damn limo. 

That carving is dangerous, Logan warned you. Saying that he wasn’t a good man. But he made no effort to push you away, and he indulged you each time you met up. He was too old and had loss to many to care. 

Meetings in a bar turned to a familiar black limo appearing in your driveway. You welcomed Logan no matter what state he was in. Spending nights washing away blood and sin, kissing it better with untainted lips. Cause’ there’s no other place you’d rather be than with him.

“Wouldn’t you rather anyone else, than a man like me?” Logan spoke one night as he sat at the end of your bed, you stood between his legs with a wet cloth in hand; cleaning dried blood. 

The methodic movement of cloth on skin halted suddenly. 

“No, not at all. I like you the way you are. Although you could cut down on the drinking.” You said confidently, going back to cleaning his wounds. Logan admired the way you spoke with such certainty, speaking like it was the most obvious thing in the world that you liked him exactly how he is.

“You can try doll, but I don’t think I could stop if it tried.” Logan chuckled at his joke, a grin across his face has he stared up at you. For a second you saw a flicker of love in his eyes.

Logan wasn’t a religious man by any means. If he knew anything; god was both cruel and merciful for putting such a pure thing in the hands of an old bastard like him. Even when he had to slip out of your bed in the morning, wracked with guilt for leaving so soon; he kissed your forehead like a silent prayer and a promise of coming back for you. Because he wouldn’t let god rip this away from him, he was a bastard but not stupid.

“Logan?” You roused from your sleep, watching as his broad figure stood in the doorway.

“Sorry for waking you darlin’.” 

“Leaving so soon?” You whined softly, a dread settling in your heart like every other time he left. 

“Got work to do, but I’ll be back.” 

“Promise?”

Logan sighed and you knew he was rolling his eyes. “Promise.” 

And he kept that promise but this time his arrival was different, marked by a blue ram in the drive, a girl introduced as Laura and an old man sitting in a wheel chair called Charles on your porch.

You bout’ near came out the door with a shotgun at the new vehicle until recognising that familiar silhouette of the man you love.

You greeted Logan with a hug. “Jesus you scared me,” you muttered into his neck. 

“I know I’m sorry-“ Logan uttered an apology back before being cut off. 

“So this is who you’ve been running off to every few days.” Charles jested, grinning widely at your stunned expression. 

“Don’t mind him,” Logan waved Charles off. “Uh this is Laura.” Logan quickly introduced his new travelling partner, a young brunette girl. 

You nodded slowly, still utterly shocked from the whole ordeal. “Logan, you really gotta’ explain.” 

“Right ofcourse,” he nervously looked over his shoulder. Logan was highly-strung you knew that, but he seemed even more on edge than normal. “Can we come in first?” 

Logan explains the entirety of his situation, while Charles and Laura eat some leftovers you prepared for them. “We’ll be out of here in the morning, can’t stay in one place for too long.” Logan finishes his explanation off. You sit in astonished silence for a couple beats. A million questions in your head but not a voice to ask them. “Okay, I’ll set up the guest room.” You stand up promptly and make an exit. Logan has an urge to reach out for you, pull you into his arms; whisper sweet nothings and how everything will be okay. But he doesn’t, he can’t, he won’t lie to you. 

Later that night, Logan is leant against the guest bedroom door frame. Watching as you read Laura a story to get her to sleep, a pang of hope twists in his gut as he realises what he’s looking at is a glimpse into the possible future. Of what could be, a family. 

And when you’re tangle in each other’s limbs; skin to skin. The entire house quiet. Logan confesses this to you, the first time in a long time he’s felt hope. 

Once morning arrives you’re wrecked with worry, a terrible feeling settles within you. This doesn’t feel right. You’d beg Logan to stay, but he can’t, if you begged to come he wouldn’t let you. So you put every ounce of everything you’ve ever felt into a passionate kiss. Cupping his cheeks tenderly and moulding your lips to his. The tip of his tongue tastes of calamity, but you chase the feel of it because you know no matter what; the two of you are doomed.

“I’ll be back, promise.” Logan lies through his teeth, wincing at his own words. But he’ll lie just this once, now that he’s tried hope he never wants you to lose yours.

He never did keep this promise. 

[planet-marz1]

Some of my favorite fics! 💜

more of my favorite fics here

A Strangers Heart Without A Home by @morning-star-joy

A Safe Haven by @darkroastjoel

Fear Of God by @netherfeildren

Cruel Summer by @proxima-writes

Sun Bleached Flies by @breakfastatjoels

Refuge by @cool-iguana

The Way You Miss Me & Trial & Error by @thetriumphantpanda

Lavender & Yearling by @justagalwhowrites

Linger on , Surrendered Innocence , and Treat you Right by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin

I Know the End by @mondaychildsworld

A Lover's Pinch & Under the Night by @hier--soir

Reflection of the Moon & Belong to me by @chloeangelic

Aquatic rehabilitation by @psychedelic-ink

Literally everything by @toxicanonymity

Poor Baby and Hard work gets rewarded by @walkintotheriveranddisappear

Unforgivable Mistake by @lionlena

MaintenanceMan! Joel Miller by @gracieispunk

Your summer dream by @swiftispunk

Only angel by @bastardmandennis

Stockings by @atticrissfinch

Does your mother know? by @cupofjoel

Texas Sun by @from-the-clouds

The Waffle House Chronicles by @softlyspector

Wednesday Nights by @wakandas-vibranium

Dirty Lies by @lizi-writes

Soft & Sweet and Sugar & Spice by @cavillscurls

The Farmhouse by @astrid-sorensen

All glory & Sinful Reunion by @dev1lm4n

Who Do You Belong To Mr. Miller? by @tightjeansjavi

Bad Fun by @javiscigarette

Pierced by @thot-of-khonshu

Seams by @fuckyeahdindjarin

Dad's best friend by @jrrmint

Rock Me to Sleep by @randofantfic

Soft spot for trouble by @millerscoffee

A Learning Process & Exit Wounds by @strang3lov3

Rest in the cup of my palms by @tinycozycomfort

Elementary by @guess-my-next-obsession

Willow by @jenispunk

Feelings on fire by @joelscruff

Come Away With Me by @thetriumphantpanda

Deaf Ears, Loud Hearts & Of Reunions and Regrets by @blissfulbarbie

Study break by @rottenblur

Relax, baby by @party-hearses

Psycho bitch by @hellishjoel

Help, im stuck! By @nosesitter

March by @the-widow-miller

Thank you, Mr. Miller by @lovers-liability

Comfort You by @northernbluess

A Cup of Joel by @elvinaa

Of course this isn't all of them, just the ones I could remember at the top of my head I read soooo many fics💜 I'll try and keep this list updated and add more :)

If you have any suggestions send them to my inbox! 💌💗

[miupow]

THE PREACHER❜S DAUGHTER 。 ── MILESTONE EVENT

❝𝒂𝒎 𝒊 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒌?❞

i started writing on tumblr august 11th, 2023 ; in just one year this blog has grown beyond what i ever thought it would-- i'm also just one hundred followers away from two thousand! i cannot thank all of you enough for this amazing growth, and all of the wonderful friends i've made along the way. since both of these huge milestones are happening at the same time i've decided to combine them into one large event-- inspired by the album i've been obsessed with since i first listened to it around the time i started this blog, Preacher's Daughter by Ethel Cain. If you haven't listened to this album in it's entirety yet i need you to log out and do that right now, it's actually life changing.

PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - ETHEL CAIN (FULL ALBUM)

that said, the rules of the event are simple ; i will be writing ten works based off of ten songs off of the album (i've chosen to leave out the intro and august underground/televangilism due to them being instrumental tracks.) and i want you as my readers to pick what the works will be about! please listen to the album, or relisten to it if you've heard it already, and let me know in my inbox what ideas you have for the works! i will be accepting ideas as they come in, and will be updating this post as i compile a complete masterlist. after all ten plots have been decided, i will write and release them one by one in order! i hope to finish this absolutely monumental event by the end of the year or early 2025, with each fic being about 5k. I really meant it when i said i wanted to push myself for you guys. the groups i will be writing about for this event are stray kids , tomorrow x together, and ateez ! the plots must be in some way inspired by the song chosen. thank you all, have fun, and be creative!

❝𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 ; 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆?❞

AMERICAN TEENAGER 。── n/a

A HOUSE IN NEBRASKA 。── n/a

WESTERN NIGHTS 。── n/a

FAMILY TREE 。── n/a

HARD TIMES 。── n/a

THOROUGHFARE 。── n/a

GIBSON GIRL 。── n/a

PTOLEMAEA 。── n/a

SUN BLEACHED FLIES 。── n/a

STRANGERS 。── n/a

[sempersirens]

sun bleached flies | five

masterlist

chapter summary: back to reader's pov, joel is issued a firmer warning, and old vices are revisited

warnings: 18+, mdni. previous dark!joel/raider!joel. angst. threat. violence. panic attack. mention of ptsd/nightmares. lotsa swearing. alcoholism/drug overdose. suicidal ideation.

a/n: i half proof-read this but editing was turning me inside out so i called it a day and pushed post. pls forgive me. love u all

You'd be lying if you pretended that the sight of Joel breaking down on your front porch didn't tug both sides of your mouth into an uncharacteristically sadistic smile.

Big, scary Joel Miller. The man who put the fear of God in most of Jackson's residents each and every day. He was a ghost story in this town; rumours of his past life were exchanged in low voices, whispers gliding through pools of beer at the Tipsy Bison after dark.

He had been a ghost to you, too. An intangible apparition that left you feeling like a little girl afraid of the dark.

But here he was, on your doorstep, sobs racking through his body and tears falling from his eyes.

He looked pathetic. Powerless.

You had an overwhelming urge to touch him as he wept. To place a hand on his upper arm or rake your fingers through his hair and pull, pull, pull. To ground yourself in the moment, to prove to yourself this was real. Your fingertips swelled with power. The feeling was electric; you momentarily understood how men like him became infatuated with the sensation.

You'd grown to realise that men didn't like it very much when they were faced with facts of their wrongdoings. You had seen it first in your father. How he would attempt to convince you, and himself, that he was a good man. That he had tried everything to bring your mother back from the pit she called home, but that she was too stubborn. That it was her decision to crawl further and further into the darkness.

It was interesting, to you at least, how your father had slowly managed to believe his own lie. You had watched as he'd wiped his slate clean and moulded a new identity that only existed in words, not actions.

You looked on as Joel did the same. You watched him come undone, clinging onto the wooden railing for support, assuming the same stance as when you'd confirmed his suspicions about Mia's parentage.

It felt like watching a predator behind five layers of glass at the zoo. You couldn't help but stare at his insides mangling his body; his knuckles white against the railing, shoulders rigid against his neck, jaw clenched and throat humming with gulps of air between sobs. It looked unnatural, like seeing a polar bear sprawled against a cold rock on a summer's day in Georgia.

Repeatedly turning up here, at your home, was one thing. But to demand a right to see your daughter? His unrelenting audacity was astounding; it was the self-confidence only a man who had lied to himself over and over could pull off.

"I need you to quieten down, Joel. I have neighbours." You warned in a harsh whisper, afraid of providing Jackon with a buzz of gossip tomorrow morning.

You pulled him by the arm and dragged him inside to ensure his attention. Pinning him against the front door, taking a second to commend your own strength knowing he could put you on your ass in seconds, you pressed the blade from your back pocket against the base of his throat.

"You make a single move toward those stairs or do anything to wake my daughter, I will gut you. Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am." He choked in response.

You released your weight from him, finally realising just how big he actually was. He towered over you, his broad shoulders eclipsing the entire width of the doorframe. You wondered if he had stayed beneath your grip solely for your benefit.

"Sit down." You gestured toward the sofa, pacing back and forth as he obeyed.

"M'a good father, y'know." He hiccuped, face buried in his hands.

"I'm sure your Father of the Year award got lost in the mail." You retorted under your breath.

"I may not be a good man, but I've always been a good father. Took down all those Fireflies for Ellie. But now she don't wanna talk to me, she don't even look at me most days."

You weren't entirely listening as he mumbled into the palm of his hands, his body still jolting from time to time with poorly contained sobs.

"Well what did you do to piss her off?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Look, Joel. As much as I love our little heart to hearts, you nee-"

"Mommy?" You hadn't noticed Mia come into the room. Your muscles froze.

"Hey, sweetheart. Couldn't sleep?"

"I heard voices." She rubbed her eyes with little fists.

"I'm sorry we woke you little bird, let me come and tuck you back in."

You moved protectively toward Mia, herding her away from Joel like a shepherd at the sight of a fox in the distance of his flock.

"You were at my birthday party." Mia croaked, peaking around your legs to look at Joel.

He'd straightened his posture as soon as Mia's small voice had startled you both, and now he was leant forward ever so slightly.

There was something you couldn't quite put your finger on reflecting in his eyes. The effects of half a bottle of whiskey, most likely.

"Yes, I was, little lady. Did you have fun?"

"Okay, that's enough, le-" you tried to catch her before she slipped through the gap in your legs.

"Yes, thank you. But the other little girl ate the last of my cake."

Joel chuckled, resting his elbows on his knees with his fingers intertwined.

"That'll be my Ellie. You'll have to forgive her, she ain't had cake in a real long time."

You quickly caught the tear threatening to fall down your cheek.

Seeing the two of them connecting so effortlessly felt like driving past a car crash. You didn't want to look, you wanted to grab Mia in your arms and run as far away as possible, but you couldn't help but stand and stare.

All of their similarities, the quirks and characteristics you could never place in your own daughter suddenly lined up.

The way she looked through her eyelashes with those big brown doe eyes, the slight hook of her nose that you had come to terms with belonging to a stranger.

It was a haunting collision of where you'd come from and where you were headed, your past and future hanging before you with fingers and toes of their own. The man who had made you wish you could tear at your skin until there was nothing left, and the girl who gave you the needle to sew yourself back together. All you could do was stand and watch.

"That's enough, now. Upstairs to bed, Mia." You choked out, placing your body in between her and Joel as if it could stop the same blood from running through them both.

You ushered Mia up the stairs, tucking her into bed with a kiss on the forehead.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, you placed a hand on her cheek and spoke in a low whisper.

"Mia, my love. If you ever see that man in town and I'm not with you, you are not to speak to him. Do you understand?"

"Is he bad?" She whispered in response.

"He's sick, baby. He was outside and alone for a very long time. I just really need you to promise me you'll stay away from him."

"Is he infected?" Her big eyes searched yours for an answer.

"No, sweetheart. It's his mind that's sick."

"Can I get it? The thing that makes him sick?"

"Never. You have honey running through your veins, little bird." You smoothed her hair down, placing a small kiss on her cheek as she giggled.

"Okay, mommy. I promise."

"Good girl. I'll see you in the morning."

She pulled the duvet up to her chin, her eyes fluttering softly shut. You closed her bedroom door and made your way back down the stairs to Joel lingering by the front door. His hands were crumpled in his jeans pockets, eyes concentrating on the wooden floor.

You thought he was about to say something, but rather than hear him out any longer you swatted your palm flat against his chin with all the force you could muster. As the back of his head hit the door with a thud, you connected your knee with his crotch, bringing your face down to his as he doubled over with a groan.

"You must've misheard me before. Pull this shit again and I'll make sure no woman has to suffer the misfortune of putting up with you, daddy of the year, ever again."

Feeling around the side of his dangling body, you turned the doorknob and let him stumble backwards into the night.

━━━━━━━━

"We still on for tonight?" Greg pressed about an hour into your morning patrol.

You'd wondered when the dreaded topic of drinks was going to rear its ugly head. In all honesty, you were far too tired from your poor night's sleep to do anything after patrol, but you were equally too tired to argue.

One drink wouldn't hurt, you told yourself. Hell, you might even manage a full night's sleep with the help of a glass of red.

"Sure. Tommy and Maria pick Mia up from school on Tuesdays, anyway."

"Great, I'll swing by yours around 8?"

"No, that's okay. I'll meet you at the Bison."

Hesitant to host yet another unwanted guest, you attempted to put as much distance between him and your home as possible.

You weren't a particularly antagonistic woman, but knowing Joel had arrived at your front door last night just short of a suit of armour boasting about how he just couldn't stand to hear you spoken about in such a way almost spurred you on to see through your plans with Greg. Joel's southern drawl, which wasn't really all that charming, coated each syllable that fell from his mouth with a sickly, lazed attempt at chivalry. Sometimes you thought he dropped half a word simply to conceal the rot in his chest.

Let him disapprove, you thought, remind him of his place: out of your business. Out of your life.

"Won't believe who I had a run-in with last night at the Bison. Tommy's big brother, Joe?"

You rolled your eyes.

"Don't play coy, Greg. You know his name is Joel."

"Whatever. He's fuckin' nuts. Smashin' his glass around, stormin' out in a damn tantrum like he ran the place."

"That so? What did you say to antagonise him?"

"You think I'm such a troublemaker, huh?" You quietly thanked god that you were riding ahead of Greg, or you're sure you would've caught a stomach-turning glint in his eye at the insinuation you actually thought about him, ever.

As the afternoon meandered into dusk, you wondered how in hell you were going to cope with a double shift of Greg. The leftover bottle of wine from Mia's birthday flickered in your subconscious. A scene played out in your mind of Maria smelling the sweetness on your breath, backing you into a corner and locking eyes with you the way only she could manage.

You hadn't drunk alone since what Maria had coined the incident; you were surprised at her absent-mindedness in leaving the bottle behind in the first place.

Maybe she was testing you.

Perhaps she had undertaken a quiet hypothesis crafted between her and Tommy, one whispered between pillows after the lights went out.

Let's see how long it takes for her to break.

Dr. Lee's voice rang in your ears. Love is conditional and unconditional. He had said. You are not always walking a tightrope - sometimes you are simply walking. Most often, you felt like the rope.

You had watched your mother's descent into paranoia, only a couple of months before she opted for opioids instead. Maybe that was your destiny; a bottle-shaped grave with the fingers you slipped through muddying your favourite dress with handfuls of dirt.

Soon enough, you and Greg were pulling yourselves from your saddles, exchanging pleasantries and specifics about meeting later on. You found yourself on autopilot, calculating the quickest route home to swallow down whatever feeling was clawing at your throat.

Maybe you were imagining it, but your front porch seemed to linger with Joel's presence. Approaching your door, you could see the ghost of his shape leaning against the wooden railing, you could still smell the musk of his skin, hear the thud of his body hitting the door. The latter made you smile at least.

On the other side of the door sat that stillness you had to fight to not let swallow you. You could never adjust to the emptiness that tried so hard to engulf you, so instead, you sought to destroy it.

An hour passed. Relaxing into the familiar warmth finally seeping through your skin, you caught your reflection passing the mirror on the way out and smiled. Lips stained and teeth bared. You tipped your chin to the sky and searched the ceiling for any hint of a higher being.

"Jesus, if you're there, make this quick." You spoke to the peeling wallpaper.

━━━━━━━━

Maybe nobody was listening.

You had decided it was easier to surrender to Greg's ego, accepting that he in fact had no interest in conversing with you, but talking at you.

You tried not to dwell on the fact that you hadn't uttered more than a couple of words in the past hour, but he seemed content with that.

One thing Greg was good for was his willingness to keep your glass full. His stories eventually all merged in to one, you didn't care to differentiate the names or places.

You hated his mouth. The way words shaped his lips, the strings of saliva stretching from his tongue to teeth as he boasted about how many infected he had cleared a couple of months ago.

"I was supposed to be patrolling more dangerous locations, but Maria wanted someone more senior on the perimeter." He lied.

Before you could endure any more of his heroism, Tommy came barging through the door, his face flushed but simultaneously sickly pale. He only needed to call your name once before you were on your feet, jogging toward him. You hoped he mistook your stumbling for urgency.

“Tommy?” You attempted to keep your breathing regulated.

His response floated in the air around you, never truly sinking in until the words Mia and some kinda allergic reaction fell from his mouth.

You clutched your stomach, unsure if the liquor was finally catching up with you or if your gut knew something you couldn't bring yourself to process. Tommy called your name, underestimating your speed powered by instinct, an invisible string tying you to her, tugging, tugging, tugging.

"I'm coming," you breathed, words disappearing as quickly as they'd formed. "I'm coming. I'm coming."

Maria and Tommy's front door was wide open, scurrying bodies illuminated in the rectangular light running to and fro.

You squeezed your eyes tight, for just a second.

"Please." You begged.

Is anybody still listening?

taglist: apparently my tags don't always work so fingers crossed these come thru? sorry if i forgot anybody - if you want to be added/removed please lmk! @warm-tea-and-otp @mrsquill @ashleymsnodgrass @bluetattoos @mabermaple @hiroikegawa @casssiopeia @joeldjarin @southernbe @o-sacra-virgo-laudes-tibi @cool-iguana @drewharrisonwriter @none-of-this-makes-any-sense @randomhoex @ilovepedro @koshkaj-blog @ejuliet999 @love-the-abyss @jellybeanxc @mabermaple @radsanchez @powellssaturn @ok-boke @phoebe13 @ahintofkiwistrawberry @smexy-bucky-waifu @withasideofmeg @darkroastjoel @willowsvalley @forestfaeriequeen @radsanchez @moonlightdivine @noisynightmarepoetry @mysingularitybts @misshoneypaper @ezzynf @spideyyhoe @runningmom94 @disassociation-daydreams @serendipity22086 @lionlena @shotgun-shelby @daddy-din @dins-riduur-anthe @phoebe13 @bageldaddy @sunnyskyapplepie @jenispunk @zeida @joeldjarin

[daenysthedreamersblog]

DAENYSTHEDREAMERSMASTERLIST

my masterlist is a work in progress im new at this :) (i wish i knew how to make it look prettier)

🤍 completed

🩶 in progress

CORIOLANUS SNOW:

strangers (president!snow x district6! reader) 🤍

• part one • part two • part three

- sun bleached flies (part IV/epilouge)

- nothing matters (a strangers fic AU) 🤍

only angel (academy!coryo x academy!reader) 🤍

• cherry (part 2)

knuckle velvet (peacekeeper!coryo x reader) 🤍

coming soon : TBD

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

Dead Boy Detectives Victor AU Edits: Charles Confession Scene (SPOILERS)

So, I listened to "Sun-Bleached Flies" by Ethel Cain (the exact same song I listened to in order to write this scene/chapter originally) while making this and I'm legitimately crying right now. So in honor, I'll attach the song here along with the fic- thanks to Ash for destroying me emotionally by introducing me to Ethel Cain!

And the chapter in question here:

@deadboy-edwin @icecreambrownies @anonymousbooknerd-universe @ashildrs

@tragedy-machine @just-existing-as-you-do-blog @orpheusetude @mj-irvine-selby

@pappelsiin @itsbitmxdinhere @rexrevri @sweet-like-h0ney-lavender @saffirez

@the-ipre @sunnylemonss @days-light @agentearthling @helltechnicality

@tiredghostby @sethlost @catboy-cabin @secretlyafiveheadeddragon @vyther15

@anything-thats-rock-and-roll @queen-of-hobgobblers @every-moment-a-different-sound

[splendsay]

COD Fic // Callsign: Sunshine // Chapter 14: What Once Was a Woman

I'm ngl you guys, some pretty dark themes emerged in this chapter as I was writing. it's a lot heavier than I anticipated, so do accept this as a formal warning. I hope it lands for you and, as always, I'm eager to hear what you think!

..................................................................

..................................................................

Callsign: Sunshine // Chapter 14 // What Once Was a Woman

CWs: Explicit language, Canon-typical violence, Heavy themes (death, humanity), Descriptions of guns and gun violence

Characters: Simon "Ghost" Riley, Reader (You), Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, Johnny "Soap" MacTavish, Captain John Price, Kate Laswell

Chapter Summary:

Your mission to capture a zombie wraps up with some disconcerting revelations -- and unexpected challenges. The team is pushed to the limit, the morality of the mission itself called into question. Will it matter, in the end?

..................................................................... Links to: Spotify Playlist Full Fic

[alvivaarts]

Last Line Challenge!!!

rules: in a new post, show the last line you wrote (or drew) and tag as many people as there are words (or as many as you feel like).

I was tagged by BOTH @aliettali and @ochi-does-art. Thanks so much you guys!! I'm gonna be tagging @sparkchemy, @honor-strength-passion, @phoenixmetaphor, @aquarelacosmica, and @kaychen666

(Sorry for tagging some of these moots out of nowhere- I don't have a TON of active art moots on here that I actually connect with... which is something I should really fix!! At the very least, I hope you folks know I greatly appreciate and look up to you <3) Anyway, here's my current WIP. It's Simulation Swarm. I'm currently very fueled by Sun Bleach Flies by Ethel Cain, considering I don't have enough religious symbolism packed into this fic and I really need to work on that. Also to reiterate, yes they will have a happy ending, they WILL have a happy ending, I PROMISE!

[vie-interrupted]

Sun Bleached Flies

Prologue : Waiting for the day

CW: violence, time jump, homophobia(internalized and explicit), angst, fluff, no NSFW(yet), pining, ellie is bad at communicating, reader is sexy AF!!, no use of y/n, corny romance, eventual happy ending!!

AN: First official chapter of the fic!!! Sorry the end is a bit rushed, I wrote this at the end of a lecture. I have a few other chapters planned out, but not started. Again, feedback is welcome and encouraged!! Also all the chapters are named after lyrics of Ethel Cain’s “Sun bleached flies,”i’m not a complete cornball. Not proofread. Enjoy ♡

_____________________________________

Summer in Jackson was beautiful, of course, but after spending a year in the town, Ellie decided the best time of year was early autumn. The mountains’ trademark breeze was accompanied by the lingering warm air of August, making even the most strenuous of chores feel almost blissful.

After much begging and bribing, Ellie was successful in convincing Maria and Joel to allow her on real patrols. Supervised, of course, but how much more could a 16 year old want in this post apocalyptic world? So, when the morning of her first outing rolled around, Ellie threw on her dreadful converse and departed from her tiny garage room. Unfortunately, Joel was quick to catch her rubbing the sleep from her blurry eyes when they met at the stables.

“Awh, you seem tired kiddo,” he says, feigning concern. “Maybe this isn’t a good id-.”

Ellie cuts him off with an eye roll and a swift punch to the arm. Before the old man could retaliate, she trots off to Shimmer’s stall.

“We’d better go,” Ellie whispered hurriedly, unwinding the lead from her saddle horn. “You promised we’d leave before everyone else!”

It’s now Joel’s turn to roll his eyes, though he knew how much this meant to her. Regardless of the fact that the… incident at the hospital was years behind them, Ellie was still eager to prove her worth. She was a restless thing, flitting between jobs, disregarding social events and holidays, simply desperate to find something that would give her life purpose. Other than her immunity, which had been proven to be worthless to humanity.

Ellie shielded her eyes from the newly risen sun as she and Joel departed the communal stables, urging their mounts to a comfortable trot as they neared the looming gates of Jackson. The duo nodded politely at the two men at the gates, slowing as they struggled to open them. Once the towering wall was no longer confining her, it took every ounce of strength in Ellie’s body to not kick shimmers flank and charge into the rolling hills of the scenery surrounding them. Sure, Jackson was a comfort, but walls stressed Ellie out. She wasn’t accustomed to normalcy.

Instead of fleeing to live a life in the wilderness, Ellie trotted alongside Joel, slowing so that he could pull out his map.

“We’ll start slow,” he said, pointing at a circled region on the paper. “Gonna head somewhere less populated.”

Ellie nodded, not expecting more. Flicking her reigns, she bolted ahead of Joel, who swiftly followed.

The hours passed, mostly filled by bad jokes and a stray runner or two. Ellie felt lighter, content with the fact that this was how it would always be. Her and Joel, knocking out infected and laughing over outdated puns.

Ellie was in the middle of telling a (definitely not exaggerated) story about how awful and annoying their neighbor Seth was when Joel suddenly stiffened.

“I mean, how are you still gonna be a ‘republican’ when we don’t even have a government-“

“Shh,” Joel hissed, gesturing to the dense woods to their right. A light crunching noise could be heard. “Footsteps,” he mouthed.

Ellie nodded and made a circle motion with her hands, silently asking to circle behind whatever was making that sound in order to catch the culprit by surprise.

After a moment of hesitation, Joel nodded in return. Ellie pulled her gun from her belt and hopped off of Shimmer, patting her briefly before disappearing into the foliage.

Sensing a presence to her right, she crouched quietly into the muddy earth beneath her, peering in between the trees. Just a stone’s throw from her, a figure was leaning against a tree, seemingly pointing at something.

Ellie took a deep breath and tiptoed towards the figure, her eyebrows creasing in concentration. Suddenly, it dawned on her that infected were never still for this long. They also didn’t hold… what was that in its hand? She squinted her eyes, thinking more about the fact that Jackson really should have an optician than how loud her feet were in the crunchy leaves beneath her. Without warning, the now discernible woman whirled around, slow enough for Ellie notice it was a gun you were holding, but too fast for her to react. The woman, with eyes filled with fire, lifted her hand gun and brought it down upon Ellie’s cheek, causing her head to fill with blinding white light. She clutched her face, yelling for Joel before pouncing on her opponent, tackling her to the ground. Thundering footsteps told Ellie that he was close, but not close enough. The woman… no… young girl was screeching beneath her as Ellie held her down, dodging the overgrown nails headed straight for her face. Suddenly, a large hand gripped Ellie by the back of her hoodie and yanked her back.

“What the hell are you doing??” Ellie heard Joel yell over the ringing in her ears. “She’s a kid! She’s just a kid!”

He then kneeled down, calmly introducing himself as you scrambled to back away.

“Hey.. hey, it’s okay,” He said softly. “That was a mistake. She didn’t want to hurt you, we won’t hurt you..”

“She fucking tackled me!!” You yelled, pointing at Ellie like a toddler.

“You hit me first, you-!“

“Woah woah woah,” Joel interrupted, holding his hands out as an attempt to calm you both. “Let’s all just.. just calm down.” He turns to you while gesturing to himself.

“I’m Joel. This is Ellie. We have a settlement near here, a place where you’ll be safe.”

“No fucking way,” You said, shaking your head.

“He’s right,” Ellie spoke up. “We could probably trim those claws of yours-“

“Ellie,” Joel hissed, shooting her a glare. He turns back to you. “I’m serious. You’d have food. Shelter. How old are you anyway?”

You hesitated, unsure. You were slow to trust anyone, of course, but there was a certain kindness in this man’s eyes that told you he was being genuine.

“I’m sixteen.”

Joel nodded. “So is she,” he gestured to Ellie. “Look, how about we take you to Jackson. If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave. Swear it.”

You turned to look at the forest behind you, a vast sea of wood and danger. Releasing a breath, you nodded your head slowly.

Joel nodded in return, silently communicating to Ellie to be nice before turning back towards the horses and gesturing for you to follow.

You stood, turning to look at the girl next to you.

“What did he say your name was?” you asked.

“Ellie.”

“Yeah? Well fuck you, Ellie.”

____________________________________________