#adhdprincess

[be-an-echo]

- The shark tooth settled at the edge of her shirt collar. He wouldn’t do shit. Every few seconds Joel flicked his eyes up, his gaze growing sharper, his mouth a set line. Finally, he stopped looking, instead scowling into the fire.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Commission for @adhdprincess 🧡

[seethesunny]

Hey Vane! I have an ask for you. What have you written recently that you're proud of and would you share a snippet? ❤️❤️

- @adhdprincess

Hello beautiful! Thanks for the ask and hope you have been doing better ❤️

I haven't been able to write as much as I've wanted, and I've been torturing myself being a perfectionist so this is the worst combo to be in and I haven't been as creative as I usually am, so since that I returned to a fic that I actually love and I like to add periodically.

Not only is the writing there great, but I know it would be a solid plot if I ever posted it haha modern day au shenanigans with a grieving deeply tormented Tess trying to wrap her head around someone like Joel (a single father at the top of his game) being in love with her when they've just been fooling around for some months. Lots of miscommunication and angst but eventually things will get better for them. Oh and there's a baby Ellie because that's my brand and she's my daughter.

Snippet under the cut 🫡

Saturday night, Sarah's at a friend's house staying over to study, and they have the house all to themselves. Ellie's been a bit groggy, catching a cold that mortified them, but the kids pediatrician told them she would get over it quickly.

All things considered, he's been trying his best to stay home and help, yet Tess commands him without excuses to go to work. At least he's glad today is his day off, he's been prioritizing his daughter since he woke up.

He bounces Ellie in his arms, rubbing her little back as she cries—yet it doesn’t soothe her.

"What is it? What's hurtin'?"

Ellie scrunches her face and rubs her eyes, screaming with more intensity. He stares at the ceiling, changes the baby's position to drap her over his shoulder, patting her back gently. However, she doesn’t burp, and he's helpless.

Grabbing her feeding bottle, he moves around the living room to reach the baby formula on the table, yet he stops when he hears footsteps behind them.

"She's not hungry." A voice adds, and when he whips his head around and meets Tess's warm, hazel eyes, he sighs.

"That was quick." He grins at her softly, cradling Ellie’s head carefully while she sniffs and stares at Tess.

Opening her arms— he notices she has one of his oversized t-shirts after her shower—Joel passes their kid until she's being held by her mama.

"She's sleepy." Tess states matter of factly, and arrays her between her arms to rock her slightly, humming lowly. Ellie melts in the embrace, nose pressed on the grey fabric, and he watches mesmerized as she calms down immediately, shuffling closer and babbling. "Aren't ya, Ellie girl?"

It doesn’t seem real. Their kid snuggles her small body in the crook of her elbow, and Tess doesn’t flinch anymore. There's a peace that paints her expression, an ease that overflows in her movements, a coy smile spreading in the corner of her lips. The lullaby is so low he can't really hear it, but he cherishes it all the same. It feels like a win, and he doesn’t say it as to not ruin the perfect moment.

"Stop smilin' like a fool." It startles him when she catches him, but he shrugs helplessly.

He can't avoid it; to be so in love with her, and the baby, and the hard-earned peace they have nowadays.

"You ain't need my help anymore, Tessa."

[rowenasamuel]

Hey Liz!! Can you tell me a quirk you have when you write?

Like do you make faces when you type or think "how could he do that!?" when you make a character do something? Just curious ❤️

- @adhdprincess

hi friend!!

i think my biggest writing quirk is that i sometimes say the dialogue under my breath as i'm typing it, to make sure it doesn't sound clunky when it's spoken aloud, haha. i do sometimes make faces when i write too, but the muttering to myself is probably my weirdest/worst habit lmao.

[seethesunny]

#23 for the ask game!

- @adhdprincess

Fanfic ask game

Hey Mimi! Thank you so much for sending this, and I hope you've been doing well :)

23. What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

*Hides a long list of ideas that are sitting inside my head* just... just one?????

I have had vague ideas over certain stuff, and they clatter around my brain often, but if I had to pick something I would love working on, then I must say Spy AU is up there!

As usual this idea is a collaboration with my best friend/muse/biggest fan Koku and we have talked about this often, we have a board for it on Pinterest and we have certain important narrative beats for when I wrote it, IF I wrote it, so it's a neat idea that I haven't been able to focus on and work on it and the more I think about it the less I feel suited for an au of this kind even though I watched certain noir films and for some reason got a burst of inspiration lol

It's not the most groundbreaking AU ever, but Joel and Tess get paired up by Marlene even though Joel hates it at first because he always works alone and well Tess is Tess and she doesn't do teamwork but she'll manage. Joel is a retired soldier and a grieving dad, Sarah got killed and he divorced his wife, so he's closed off and surly most times and he's kind of living with no goals since he lost Sarah. Meanwhile Tess never ever had such a thing as a family bc all this time she was merely a weapon since she was a spy and she hasn't had a good life either so that's what eventually gets them to be more closer. At some point they have to fake being married and that is something fun to imagine. They almost die all the time. There's some betrayal at some point. There's so much denial of feels.

There's also like a very au of an au of an au (au-ception) and the simplified version is that Joel doesn't lose Sarah and he's a regular dad living his life and Tess is his neighbor who just moved there for a mission and wasn't supposed to care for Joel and Sarah, and Joel ends up falling for her before she leaves (after the mission is done) and then one random day ELLIE HAPPENS, a few years later there's Marlene at his door with a little girl who happens to be his (he already knows who the mom is) and he's so worried for Tess wherever she is because they clearly didn't keep in contact and of course her life is dangerous so she can't be close to them. But then they reunite somehow!

[seethesunny]

Crack fic!! - @adhdprincess

Ask me about my wips!

Hi friend and thank you soooo so much for asking + sorry it took so long 🥹

The most basic explanation for this is: accidental baby acquisition.

I had this idea around of Ellie turning into a baby somehow and Tess and Joel find her like that, mistaking her for a random baby dropped in the garage/her place. Anyway they soon realize that's really Ellie and wonder if she's trapped IN a baby body OR she's legit a baby and well, she's just a wailing tiny baby who needs them.

This was pure Crack but I've let it marinate a bit and I took it seriously, so borrowing an OC — @clairenovaking Jackson doctor Nina, she's the one they immediately go visit to see if she's okay and if there's something she can do. It's immunity related in a sense because it seems like somehow, Ellie's body went back to get the cordyceps rid of it and it aged her down.

They get to Maria because someone has to have baby things and she's like the major of the city so. They knock on her door with a baby less than a year old and she's so confused. Tess is panicking because she doesn't deal with kids and Joel is just dad. They're trying.

This is also the period where Ellie has kind of strayed far from them/hinting their estrangement so having her back around being a baby who is dependent on them gives them major whiplash.

Behold, a snippet:

There was a blue onesie with white clouds resembling cotton that she rested her flat palm on, a tiny thing, and in her hold Ellie reached for her chin, giggling as she did so. 

Joel remained near them, his hands folded and his expression stern, calculating. Ready to intervene if needed. Back when they had to smuggle the girl, Tess had been the one to guide her and instruct her on what to do, but now… 

“Easy there.” Told her Tess, running a finger across the next one, a popsicle printed in the front and it was better than the diaper Joel had put on Ellie (nagging Tess about how she ought to learn this, too), so she opted for that one. 

Joel was hovering over them and her eyes flicked to him, rubbing Ellie’s chubby arm while she cooed and showed she wasn’t upset anymore. She dreaded the time she would get hungry. However, Maria had offered them a crate of milk to feed her, and that had to be enough. 

“What?” She told him, irritated, and Ellie tugged at a strand of hair, she hissed. “Ow- hey! Why don’t you hold her?”

Something seemed to flash in his eyes, for he stroked his beard, and shook his head. “I'll pass.” 

Looking down at the infant, Tess sighed inwardly and motioned for the bed, the little clothing attire laid out there as Ellie reached for her again where she was on her back. She pouted, green eyes glassy, and Tess rubbed her round tummy while she shushed her. “Don’t cry, Ellie. You can’t be outside in a diaper.” 

Joel was looking over her shoulder, and she tensed. “Do you mind?” 

It was his turn to look at her puzzled. “What did I do?” 

“You're actin’ like a damn papa bear calm down, okay?” She hissed at him, taking a breath. “If I need your help, I'll let you know.”

Joel recoiled, knowing she was right, but they had never been around a baby in a long time and even to him getting used to his would take practice. It wasn't wise to argue with Tess. He left her to be. 

“Yes ma’am.” Agreeing, Joel did, and settled at the edge of the bed while Tess was oddly careful, delicate as she helped Ellie to dress up even if she fussed and whined, annoyed at not being held. 

“There.” Tess remarked triumphant, buttoning the last one and tickling Ellie under her chin with her pointer finger to receive a gummy smile from her. “As easy as pie, Texas.” 

The little hands were up again, and Tess was quick to lift her into her arms, rocking her. “So much noise for a little thing.” 

“Yeah,” Joel rubbed her little head, “she's like you.”

She promptly kicked him on the leg. He jolted, hissing. “What was that for?” 

“You got what you deserve.” 

[rowenasamuel]

Heyyy! Can I as for 19 and 28?

- from @adhdprincess (mimisak on discord)

19. share your favorite piece of dialogue.

i have genuinely written too much to ever remember any of the dialogue i've written haha. i do think, however, that in particular my dialogue in my tyler/kate road trip fic, and all of this wild joy, is some of my most in character dialogue ever.

28. if this were an awards show, who would you thank?

easily @seethesunny. vane has been my biggest cheerleader this year and is half the reason i'm still posting tessjoel fic at this point.

[seethesunny]

Can ya tell me something 'bout "Let us outlive the wolves"??? That title is fire 🔥

- @adhdprincess

Fic titles ask game

Hello there, love! And sure! :)

Let Us Outlive The Wolves

This was a short thingy I wrote for the word prompts I did a while ago (I still take those, but I haven't done another round) that's set in canon. Tess and Joel deal with some unpleasant weather, it's almost the end of the year, and Joel sort of acknowledges he's still very much alive and thriving alongside Tess. I enjoy doing slice-of-life one-shots of these two, and writing this was part of their routine :)

So with those sorts of vibes of living despite their hardships, I remembered this poem from Rhiannon McGavin, titled "Prayer for the new year." That goes:

For the new year, I won’t count it down like a / uranium bomb. The last days / came as a plague ship over the horizon, I / know, so I’m swimming to meet it. Let the / desert bloom through ruins we can look out of, let us / outlive the wolves. Fresh air is the only kiss I / need and I will carry you like honey and / apples. Bless the body between / love and fear, bless who / dares the skyline, and who holds / thieves accountable from the lamp posts / as fireworks blaze into red dandelions, / and what’s the future except an / unfolded table cloth? / Midnight led by the shifting light / of wounds across white rose / petals? I / I will / I will see / I will see the moon and morning and hope.

I generally take inspiration from poems, and this was one of the many I borrowed a title from 🫶🏼

[seethesunny]

Ask game! Finish the sentence: RIP Joel. He would've loved [blank].

- @adhdprincess

Whoa idk how I missed this! Sorryyy

But RIP Joel. He would've loved busking 🙏🏼