where do we go now but nowhere?

A lot of TLOU fic and the occasional other fandom. Arien on AO3. (she/her). 🇦🇺

[hypnotisedfireflies]

The Landing Page

Hi, I'm Arien and I write a lot of Tess x Joel (The Last of Us) fanfic set within four different universes. Click on the link for each to be taken to the landing page with more information, including series links.

Driftersverse

Interstellar Overdrive

Making Mirrors

Tin Star

You can find all ratings, warnings, tags etc on their respective AO3 pages.

Oh and here are a few extra unrelated Tessjoel AUs because I'm clearly out of my mind:

Cloud Nine (sci-fi) Cordyceps: A Visual History (crack) Forced Proximity (1960s, spies) Only One Bed (modern) The Puppy Interview (crack) Seedy (modern, alt universe, demons) X.Y.U (alternate canonverse meeting)

Other Fandoms

Dune (Leto x Jessica) Andor (Cassian x Bix) Fantastic Four

Banner: IO Tess, Joel and Tommy by @kenobiwanx

[szyszkasosnowa]

I love that part in Andor when the absolutely sickest banger you've ever heard drops and then it cuts to everyone sitting in the ship like:

[dyketrinitysantos]

part time sheriff, full time comedian

[hypnotisedfireflies]

I wish I could share what I'm working on, because I miss sharing my writing ... But know that I have been writing non-stop all year! It's just in a direction that can't be posted for

well

the foreseeable future, I guess 🫣

I hope we're all still here when that day comes 😂

[bugak]

Joel and Tess

[mobius-m-mobius]

It's only a 12 hour experience. Oh, my God!

MATTHEW RHYS as TOM LOFTIS in WIDOW'S BAY 1x05 (What to Expect on Your Trip)

[artgroves]

Joined a group making their way up to Boston . . . that's where we met Tess.

[hypnotisedfireflies]

what are your favorite tessjoel headcanons? :)

A question after my own heart! Thanks for asking, anon! I have many ... here are some.

They spent so many years and sacrificed so much to keep one another alive that they're incapable of healing each other. Tess knows they're probably not good for each other ... but Joel thinks he's not good for Tess, but she's good for him. He loves to torment himself by adding new things to be guilty about. Put a pin in that.

They entered the Boston QZ claiming to be married. They weren't sure if they'd be separated or how survivors were sorted behind the walls, so they decided that was the best way to protect themselves

Being together for so long has meant they can identify the slightest physical change in one another, sometimes recognising injury or strain before the one suffering does

Joel knows exactly the right pressure and motions to massage away Tess's headaches

They share as many clothes as possible - it's just more practical to consolidate resources

I wouldn't go so far as to say their love language is 'murder', not in the sense that they seek out people to kill for funsies, buuuut ... it has come to mean something powerful between them, in that they'd burn worlds for the chance (chance, not certainty) to save the other

Remember that pin? Joel adding new things to be guilty about to his pile, marinating in the self-recriminations and basking in failure? It kind of sustains him. He never moves on in Jackson. He has to get his shit together to parent Ellie, but he would never allow himself to experience that kind of personal, romantic happiness again. Not after failing Tess

Let's end on a nice note. They had a lot of good times - a lot. They couldn't heal each other, but they were one another's reason. They didn't stay together for so long just because they were good business partners. What was left in the world to enjoy was mainly with each other.

[annatorv]

you know... i am a fucking disaster.

[wistfulwatcher]

REWATCH ROULETTE FRINGE | 3.13 Immortality

[starlitsecrets]

Remember when joining fandom as a younger person meant lurking for a bit and figuring out the vibe and etiquette instead of coming in on day one and calling people weirdos for liking weirdo shit in the weirdo factory.

[menocchio-final-final]

Patricia was trying so hard to make friends in ep 4 and meanwhile Rosemary's watching her walk around with antlers on her head and serving people butchered animals and thinking, I have to be supportive, I have to be supportive. Is that not friendship? of a kind??

[goodsirs]

You need to get somewhere safe. Hide. Why? What do you mean, "why"? Why help now? Don't get maudlin. I need to know.

Fargo 5.09 "The Useless Hand"

[experienceandobservation]

Pedro Pascal | The Puppy Interview | May 22, 2026 | 🎥 BuzzFeed Celeb

[a7estrellas]

PEDRO PASCAL The Puppy Interview | Buzzfeed

[hypnotisedfireflies]

To celebrate (and ride on the coattails of) Pedro finalllly doing the BuzzFeed Puppy Interview, here's my TLOU puppy interview crack fic from way back when. 🩷

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60923014/chapters/156770320

[kokoluwie]

𐙚 The Puppy Interview!