I have no idea how I ended up in this rabbit hole, one second I was researching something about the second game and the next I was crying my eyes out watching that part where Ellie goes back to Joel`s house and ho boy! When I tell you I went through all the stages of grief all at once I mean it. And now I have to process this, cause I have thoughts!
This always gets me, cause look at all those flowers and cards! Joel was LOVED, people in that town knew him, cared about him and now they are grieving him. Not only that, they know and care about Ellie too and they want to support her through this awful time, show their love. They both live in a community that cares about their own. There are no words to make a loss like that better, nothing could possibly fix it, but having people care and be there for you? It still makes all the difference.
And now we go in, the house looks so peaceful and inviting. And it’s just a small thing, but I love the figurines on the coat rack. At this point Joel is gone, but you can feel his presence at every turn, as if he`s about to step into the room and invite you for coffee. There is so much personality in that house.
I love the living room, there is so much light and space and it`s filled with books and art and things to enjoy with other people. And there is the TV! So that means this is where the movie nights were held! And that table is perfect for board games. And on the mantel there is Ellie's drawing of Joel. He actually framed it and displayed it in the central place of the most public room in his house, you know, like a proud dad!
Also at this point I have to bring back this gem! May I present to you Joel's drawing of Ellie. I guess it`s safe to assume that the talent skipped a generation. (It was a collectible that never made it into the actual game, but I love it so much I just kind of ignore that fact!)
And right next we have a dining room, with a big table and another fireplace. It’s a room ready for entertaining, for friends, for family, for dinner parties and game nights. And in the corner there is a bar cart and a wine rack with some fancy looking bottles. There is also a nice tea set and an electrical kettle (although why would it live in the dining room and not in the kitchen beats me).
There are also two jars labeled “beans” and “seeds” on the shelf for some reason and one that I`m scared to ask about. I guess you need snack with all that alcohol?
We also have this photo, it looks like it was taken at some sort of party, Christmas perhaps? We can see Jessie, Ellie, Tommy, Maria and the fifth person that kinda looks like Joel? His general outline and the flannel would suggest its him, but why is he seated so far away from Ellie? Unless it was taken sometime during their estranged. Or Joel was sitting on Ellie`s right and was actually taking the picture. If the first I have so many questions!
Now that’s a huge ass kitchen! And it`s so well equipped, I don’t have half of those appliances in mine. It looks like a kitchen of someone who not only knows how to cook, but also enjoys it a lot. Also that to-go coffee cup is killing me, don’t ask me why.
Nothing to see here, just a girl crying over an owl mug. Let’s move on!
I love all of those details, because they show how much Joel was taking care of his house and himself. He was keeping it nice and clean, the things have their proper place and he was doing or planning on doing some DIY projects or remodeling. It`s all so intentional and comes from a place of care. Also he has linen shelves and even an iron and an ironing board. You better believe all those flannels were always nice and ironed.
I`m going to repeat myself, but I love this house and how bright and specious it is. And the fact there are painting all over, mostly of horses, it’s just so Joel. And on the landing we have this photo of Miller brothers.
This is my favorite room in the house, it always moves me so much, because there is something so human about it. Once Joel was no longer forced to burn all his energy on survival he turned towards arts almost immediately. He spent over 20 years barely being human at all, refusing to live, refusing to see the world. And now he`s healed enough to search for beauty, to let himself be surrounded by it. You can survive without it art, but you can’t live without it. And I like to think it gave him some peace.
I just wanted to include this too, because Joel and Ellie`s studios mirror each other so much, just like the artists themselves. And it always makes me cry that Ellie kept that rodeo figurine, Joel`s very last work of art…
Just a quick detour into this bathroom, because it`s just another way to show that Joel took really good care of himself, he spent time on his grooming routine and he wanted to look presentable.
(Although the twigs have me baffled again, what are they for?)
I also had to include this, cause it’s the most contraaactor thing, just look at this contraption! I bet it works like a charm!
Joels closet, with all his jackets and his pack. I wish we got to see him rocking that pink-sleeved jacket! I mean, c`mon!
Just a quick look into the second bathroom, because it’s a very silly place and I need a breather before we do the next part. There is a mirror missing here for some reason (I have a hunch it`s the one Ellie has in her garage house thing) and there are some mysterious bottles in the bathtub and a pot on a counter for some reason? And it sits on an electric cooker? What is going on here? What are you cooking, Joel? Meth?
Okay, this place really pulls on my heartstrings. The photo of Sarah, that once upon a time Joel was unable to even have in his possession, let alone look at it, is now on full display. He is able to live and be reminded of her every day and for those memories not to kill him, but rather hold him. He`s finally able to look at that photo and feel something other than pain. And right next to it, there`s a photo of him and Ellie (and a horsie, Shimmer perhaps?), Ellie looks very young in that one, so it`s most likely from their early years in Jackson. And both of those photos sit on a dresser right next to his bedroom, so he sees them every day right after he wakes up.
There is also a candle right next to Sarah`s picture and I believe it`s for both of his daughters. In memory of Sarah and as a guiding light for Ellie, to help her find her way home.
Joel`s bedroom is such a cozy place, he has a nice chair for reading and listening to music and he even has one of his guitars there. I also really love that wooden Texas outline, I bet he carved himself. And he has a silly throw pillow, we have so much in common!
And it`s time for some more crying, because “Space for Dummies” and reading glasses. They were 2 years into their estrangement and Joel was still not losing hope that someday she`d come round, that they’d get a chance to repair what was broken in their relationship and just hang out again. And then he would impress her with all his fun space facts? You know? He never lost hope…
And just to round this trip up let’s get outside for a sec and see the backyard. I think the vegetable garden is a nice detail since Joel cooks and fresh produce right form his own backyard would come in handy! And of course the back porch, the one for playing guitar and having heart to heart with you daughter.
Also I need to include this, because fishing. Ever since I read "Catch and Release" by SentientMassTransit (I can’t recommend it enough, go read all of Ellis`s stories they are brilliant!) I have fishing brainrot and just looking at this thing makes me so happy, just imagine Joel and Ellie going fishing! They are so so lucky, they have all the time in the world to chill and be happy, right? Right?
Anyways, I love this house and how it tells you a whole story about Joel and his journey. Because this is a house of a person who cares about themselves and their space, a person who knows how to live, how to enjoy fine alcohol and a fine meal, how to throw a party, how to make art, how to listen to music, how to create, express and enjoy.
Compare it to his apartment in Boston:
How dark, empty and desolate it was. I know it`s not really fair, since a lot of things that are possible in Jackson would never, could never happen in any QZ, but I still think that those two places represent Joel a lot. And they tell you a story about his growth, his change and his healing. A difference between those two spaces is a difference between a man surviving and a man living a full life.
It wasn’t time that did it, it was his relationship with Ellie that set in motion this whole process. And it was crucial, but it was just a beginning for him. Everything that followed was his decision and it required a lot of hard work. He rebuild his relationship with Tommy, he had a meaningful role in the community and he made friends! And after his falling out with Ellie it would`ve been incredibly easy for him to go back to his old patterns, but he fought against it, held onto life, art and people. He chose every day to live, to take care of himself and his house and he had enough passion for life to turn it into art! It shows how much he`s healed, how much he`s grown and how far he has come.
In this house we belive TLOU2 ended here actually, he went on fishing, playing guitar, making art, spending a lot of time with his daughter and even becoming a grandpa! He`s very happy, thanks for asking!
Most of the photos come from this page: https://thelastofus.fandom.com/wiki/Joel%27s_house
29 notes
·
View notes
"Hair dyes or perms or just a quick snip, you can always count on your ol' pal Clip!"
it's about time i officially shared my design for Clip from my hairdresser au! here's the silly boi himself!
a.k.a. the most complicated character i've ever designed...
close ups and additional comments under the cut!
that's my boi, despite his crazy design, i love him. his silly top knot hat, the horn-like points around his faceplate, his speckled colours, his four arms, and his funky pants. he's just soooooo fun.
Clip likes to play games and knit! he even made the patchwork pants he wears (he made Sun and Moon a pair too, but they're too precious for them to wear... also a little gaudy to wear in public—doesn't stop Clip tho!). He actually makes everything the boys wear, since there's not a lot of things in their size/shape.
instead of resting at night, he can be found in their living room, playing Kirby 64 for the nth time and/or knitting something. he's just too restless to stay still, he's always gotta be doing something and if it isn't gaming, knitting, or hairdressing, then he's up to No GoodTM.
Clip... likes popping balloons. he says "Goodnight!" with each popped balloon and once he's done, he tosses up the scraps like confetti all while giggling joyfully.
needless to say, he is not fun at parties. Sun and Moon don't let him near balloons for this reason.
and yes, he has sewing needles on hand at all times. for fashion emergencies... and for unsuspecting balloons.
Clip's not allowed to have a phone (just imagine all the in-app purchases Sun and Moon would have to deal with), but he likes to keep up with his customers and their games, even if he doesn't get their fixation over bluenets he'll never openly admit it but he prefers curly-haired blond hunks that look sweet in soft pastels but could also squash him like the spider he is
also, he's great at microbraiding! though i imagine if Sun and Moon are free, they'd come help to shorten the wait but also to compete and see who braids the most (Clip always wins of course—make anything into a game, and he's winning)
aaaaand there's this! i wanted to make sure Clip would be able to freely rotate his waist so his arms could have their full range of motion, and this was the solution i came up with: a crop top on top and a wrap around his waist. and Clip here is being a sneaky little scamp about it.
823 notes
·
View notes