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lucky-slice · 1 month

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Do you understand how much kevin respects neil? And i don't mean when it comes to exy, like sure there's a whole lot of you're not good enough followed by you will make court bluh bluh bluh, i mean fundamentally as a human.

Kevin and Neil's conversation after the truth of Neil's father is revealed drives me absolutely insane because I think it highlights a lot about how Kevin views Neil.

so indulge me for a bit....

I think a lot of people forget, in light of Andrew choking Kevin for not telling him the truth, that Kevin's initial reaction was to tell Neil to run.

*sorry for the quality - these are all screenshots off my phone

Kevin's instinct is to tell Neil to save himself, despite what that would mean for the team's success and for Kevin himself. This is significant to me for two reasons.

It highlights that Kevin genuinely cares about Neil outside of his exy potential. For most people, this would be a pretty obvious response to finding out your teammate has a guaranteed death sentence if they stick around, so it might not seem all that meaningful, but Kevin was raised in such an environment were you continued to play no matter what - even at the risk of death. Kevin is unflinchingly callous when it comes to exy and his teammates (*see his reaction to Seth's death), but he is frantic in his concern for Neil in contrast to his fairly passive response to basically anyone else's wellbeing outside of exy. Neil's death will have no real impact on Kevin. If Neil dies or goes to the ravens, nothing changes for Kevin. He is not at a greater risk of being hurt by Riko or the Moriyama's nor will his exy career be effected. That's not to say he would tell Neil to stay if he cared about him any less, but there is a desperation that implies a depth beyond just that of a teammate.

The fact that Kevin is frantic and desperate for Neil to leave, gives weight to his decision to keep teaching Neil in the aftermath of the revelation.

Neil doesn't want to run - he wants to be Neil Josten until the end. He gave Kevin his game and now he's asking him to keep it and Kevin obliges.

This is essentially Kevin promising that he will keep Neil's secret. He will allow Neil to wear his mask and continue teaching him despite the fact that Neil is essentially a dead man walking. This, to me, is Kevin ultimately respecting Neil and his choice. At any moment, Kevin has the ability to got to Wymack or Andrew and give Neil the chance at surviving, but that would mean betraying Neil.

Some people (certainly the foxes) would view refusing Neil's request as the proper and morally correct thing to do. But I think Kevin's immediate acceptance of Neil's decision is both immensely meaningful to Neil and also a signifier of a shared understanding between to two.

Imagine how impactful it must be for Neil, who has never had autonomy over his own life and has been marked for death basically since he was born, to be told that not only will his decisions and his autonomy be respected, but there is someone who will stand by his side on the court, knowing the whole truth, until the very end.

Kevin doesn't have much to offer Neil at this point. He can not give him a future - he'll be long dead before he can ever make court, and Kevin is a coward - he is not andrew, he can't stand up against the Moriyama's or Riko or Neil's father. Kevin can not protect Neil in a way that matters. All he can do is promise to keep Neil's secret and offer him a few more months of being Neil Josten.

I'm not including this to disparage Andrew or to suggest that he does not respect Neil, but this highlights that Kevin knows the decision to keep Neil's secret is one only Kevin would make. Andrew without a doubt would immediately try to get Neil to leave or attempt to get him into protection. I'm not passing a judgement of morality on what would've been the right thing to do, but I do think Kevin's reaction is indicative of the fact that Neil and Kevin understand each other in a way that no one else really will.

Neil and Kevin are a parallel's in a number of ways. Kevin lived the life that Neil was supposed to have and they are two parts of one story.

To them exy is not a game, but it's not really about exy either. It's about deciding to stay just to play for a couple more months even though you'll wind up dead because playing means you finally get to live after years of being a ghost. It's about playing to be the best no matter what, even though the consequences are having your hand smashed and the life you know completely demolished. It's about playing even though you're shaking with fear and anxiety because you need proof that your life, whether it be running to survive or living under an abusive hand, was not a waste.

Kevin agrees to keep Neil's secret because if the roles were reversed, Kevin would like to believe that he'd be strong enough to ask Neil for the same thing. This is obviously conjecture and a heavy heavy reading between the lines, but I'd like to think there's some truth there.

Finishing up with this line because it makes me a little emotional.

Kevin starts the conversation by calling Neil "Nathaniel" and ends it by calling him Neil again. Its right there in the text, "it was a promise". Kevin is offering Neil a life that is fully his - not his father's, not Riko's, but Neil's to do with what he would like, even if its only for a couple more months. If that's not respect, than I don't know what is.

#kevin day #neil josten #gnat be quiet #aftg #screaming and smashing bottles and shouting do you get it at the top of my lungs #do you get it?#this is what kevin does #he believes in people until the very end because that's only thing he can offer #I think there's a lot to delve in here about choices and freedom and growing up without either #and about what it means to live for yourself #even when that means dying for yourself too #maybe kevin doesn't know how to be brave but he knows how to give other people the chance to be

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cultpastorkevin · 4 months

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Cult Tips for AFTG writers

notes from the resident ex-cult pastor

If you’re in the cult, there is nothing bizarre abt what’s happening and in fact the normal stuff that happens outside of it is what’s bizarre to you. Target? Weird. McDonald’s? Even weirder. I can like guarantee Jean and Kevin never had McDonald’s until they left the Nest.

When you leave, you’re gonna be paranoid as fuck. All the time. Ngl at least for weeks but sometimes for years. Nightmares and insomnia 24/7. Hallucinations too lmao Riko is in every corner of empty rooms and you can hear his voice echo in the confines of the lockers.

I see a lot of Jean wanting to go back to the Nest, but not a lot of Kevin wanting to go back. He definitely struggled, 100%. In fact when he was in the pits of agony from his broken hand, was when he probably wanted to go back the most. Cult is home, cult is safe. Four walls you’ve always known and while it’s a cage at least it’s dependable. They hurt you but by god it always works out and the reward of pushing through this tragic incident is greater than the terror it caused in the first place. It’s a gift, actually. A gift from Riko. He saved Kevin. Cults save you. Cults make you wanna return to them like damn homing pigeons bruh. Give me more shattered hand Kevin screaming at Wymack to let him go back home and having a breakdown when he’s denied fics thanks

Piggybacking off the last one: cults are saviors; you’re nothing without them and they make sure you truly believe that; that everything that is done to you is for you and you’re blessed for it to be happening. You’re lucky even, to be allowed in it. Everything is as it’s supposed to be and order must never be challenged, because it works, and you’re the Edgar Allan Ravens, and this is the most honorable place you could be. All the pain you go through is you earning the right to be saved and to prove your worth every day on court. Only the worthy are honored.

You justify everything that happened and you will start fights and get angry with people who try to correct you and tell you it was wrong what went on.

On the other hand, you blame yourself for everything ever that happened there whether you were at fault or not. Hurting others, hurting yourself, gaslighting the fuck out of yourself over things maybe you could’ve prevented and over things you never could’ve stopped. The guilt is crippling and it eats you alive and haunts you.

There’s a lot of shame too. I see more guilt written than shame but shame is a huge portion of emotions that cult survivors have. Shits embarassing dude like “god how did I end up thinking this wack ass shit was normal” 😐 Shame comes later in the healing process usually, it’s after you have come to terms with shit that’s happened and you understand it. Looking back, you go “Jesus fucking Christ that was a red flag what the hell. Should’ve left then, or then, or then, or then” and then you’re just plain fuckin embarrassed.

Please look up how hive minds and brainwashing are created and work; also Stockholm Syndrome; understanding these would be incredibly helpful tbfh.

Diets are big; everyone eats the same thing; food is used as a reward and a punishment.

Hype hype hype. They whip up a frenzy of one singular emotion and use that to push you into a blind hysteria because you’re more suspectible to their influence when you’re out of your mind.

Drugs. Depends on the cult. But yeah these little bitches can be a huge factor for shit and can help with the brainwashing and hysteria and stockholm. Sometimes you don’t even know you’re being drugged or poisoned until you leave.

OH I ALMOST FORGOT. Dehumanization and then being treated like a person again can be traumatic as fuck yall!! Holy shit! Sometimes it feels worse than being dehumanized!

EDIT AGAIN: you don’t know what mental illness is !! Cults don’t fucking tell you these things lmao. if you show symptoms it’s your fault. Kevin being depressed his mom died was gonna get blamed on him and he was never going to be told grief is normal and it’s okay to be insanely sad. Jean also never got told his anger was correct or his trauma responses to being raped were realistic! They just got blamed for any reactions ever that weren’t neurotypical !! that is all; do with that what you will.

Idk if I think of anything else I’ll write another one but that’s all for now; I haven’t slept much lmao 🫡

#aftg #all for the game #edgar allan ravens #jean moreau #kevin day #riko moriyama #riko was a cult victim too yall #smh keep seeing people forget this #tetsuji moriyama #cult stuff #psycho analysis of aftg #kinda #it’s close enough #castle evermore #aftg fanfic #cultpastorkevin

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jtl-fics · 11 months

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Fluent Freshman - Part 28

FF does not like being on pain medication.

Everything feels floaty and it is so hard to focus on anything around him.

He’s almost glad that his Gran has given him something to focus on that something being helping her sell her lie to the Foxes that she only knows Polish. Coach Wymack must know but the man is a steel trap and FF finds himself envying his Gran that HER secret keeper is Coach Wymack.

“Smithy! My sweet beautiful idiot!” Nicky cries when Gran gives Wymack the OK for them to come back in. FF finds himself on the receiving end of 2 forehead kisses and a kiss to each of his cheeks from Nicky. “Next time you see a crazy mafia hitman looking to kidnap me you just grab me and RUN.” He orders pointedly, “No more cool guy shit where you take ‘em out in the weird sex alley.” He runs his fingers through FF’s hair and…

Yeah it’s okay that Nicky is the one that knows.

Nicky is so nice.

“What about Aaron?” FF asks.

“If Romero could grab Aaron when he is in whacky inflatable tube mode then I don’t think he’d be taken out by you and Andrew.” Nicky says with a watery smile.

“Hey.” Aaron’s voice is offended.

“Learn to dance at a club already. We’ve been going for years.” Nicky shoots back but never takes his eyes off of FF’s face.

“I dance just fine. I’m better than Kevin.” Aaron argues.

“Hey.” Kevin’s voice is offended.

“You are better than Kevin, but that’s not a real standard of good.” Nicky dismisses, “Regardless, next time grab me and I’ll grab Aaron and the three of us can hide literally anywhere other than the weird sex alley. We could go to the back room with Roland or, if it means you not ending up in the hospital with a stab wound, I would even tolerate hiding down in the straight swingers club in the basement.” Nicky says.

He sees Andrew and Captain Neil tense off to the side.

Oh, that’s right.

Oh fun another lie for him to focus on instead of feeling floaty. Gran always talked about the virtue of telling the truth but the only thing set free would be Nicky in a club that he’s not supposed to know about.

“I wouldn’t ask that of you Nicky.” FF says instead.

Nicky laughs and kisses his cheek one more time. “You’re my favorite family member now. Sorry Aaron, you’ve made me endure the horrors of a heterosexual relationship for too long.” Nicky says stroking FF’s face as he looks up to where FF assumes Aaron is.

“Hey.” Aaron says in the exact same way he said earlier.

“Andrew-“ Nicky starts but is cut off.

“I don’t care.”

“That’s the spirit.” Nicky says, “Neil-“

“Nicky, I also don’t care.”

“At least you have one another to support each other.”

“Wait, what about me?” Kevin asks.

“You won’t even LEARN the family language Kevin, you were NEVER in the running for my favorite.” Nicky dismisses and doesn’t bother to turn back to the “So Smithy is my favorite family member now with Aras coming in second.”

Two things strike FF in the wake of family conversation.

First, when in the world did Kevin get here? Why is he here? Is he going to ask the doctors to run tests on FF to figure out stealth mode?

Second, Nicky just used his Gran’s nickname. The nickname that causes FF no small amount of embarrassment. It was a youthful indiscretion! He had thought he understood Lithuanian quite well! He had wanted to impress his Great Gran and his Gran with his knowledge.

“You’re looking pale Smith, do you need more pain medication?” Captain Neil asks.

“No, I’m fine.” He is pretty sure that pain meds can’t numb the psychological pain of his friends hearing about his youthful mistakes and he doesn’t care how bad his stomach is going to hurt he wants to only take the absolute minimum amount of pain meds required to get through this so he can stop floating.

Having friends nearby makes it so much easier.

Conversations go on with him and around him. He’s tired still from everything and when a nurse comes in to try and give him more pain medication he declines. All present in the room except Gran try to convince him to take it but he declines all but the most minor amount to take the edge off.

He finally realizes that Kevin had not been with them and asks why the hell he’s here. He gets an answer that makes him reconsider being on any pain medication at all because it doesn’t really make any sense. Why in the world is Kevin telling him not to trust the nutritionist?

Neil lets him know that the FBI are going to be coming around at some point to talk to him. He says that Agent Browning is a dick but generally fine and that there will be a local agent Iruma Matsumoto stopping by before him, probably today. He looks right at Andrew and says “Yeah, I’ll talk with them about how Romero stabbed me.” Andrew lets out an amused puff of laughter that makes FF feel like he might be doing alright at this friendship thing.

He apologizes to Andrew that he can’t make the pie today and gets a flick to his ear.

He finds out that he slept through all of Saturday and that it is Sunday morning. Finds out that his Gran and Wymack had stayed over at the Columbia house last night and that Wymack has him excused from his classes this week. He also finds out that Nicky has given his grandma a key to the house in Columbia so she could stay there while she’s visiting him.

He apologizes to Nicky for messing up the clothes he’d let him borrow and earns another flick to the ear from Nicky.

Wymack hands him a new phone that Nicky has apparently set up for him. His lip quirks up slightly when he sees that Nicky registered it as ’Smithy’s phone’. Neil shows him some stuff since he has the same phone model but Andrew rolls his eyes.

“You’ve barely figured out how to set anything on your phone Junkie. You still haven’t even set a screen lock.” He says as he pulls Neil back from FF’s space.

“I’ve figured out how to change the notification ping.” Neil argues but lets himself be pulled away and if Andrew keeps his arm around Neil afterwards? No one comments on that.

He translates things for his Gran when it seems important for her to be able to respond to and helps Nicky with some pronunciations.

He falls asleep a couple times and wakes up to his friends and teammates in all sorts of different configurations. Nicky gets him some good sugar-free Jell-O from the nurses while Aaron smacks Kevin upside the head when Kevin complains that it’s not good for him and not part of the diet he’s making to get FF back on the Court ASAP. “He’s gotta be on a clear liquid diet for 24 hours after his surgery.” Aaron hisses.

“Why does it have to be clear? I can put it in a blender but it won’t be clear.” Kevin grumbles.

“He’s not going to be on puree’d food for at least two weeks idiot.” Aaron smacks his head again.

“Stop that.”

He hears from Wymack the other Freshman Dealer won’t be returning and that Sheena is now their only Dealer and she does not do defense well. Kevin’s disapproval for the Jell-O cups only grows stronger in light of this news. His grumbling only stops when Gran looks at him and says “Maybe someone should help you pull that stick out of your ass young man.” In her nicest most grandmotherly voice.

When Kevin turns to FF for a translation Nicky beats him to it, “She said a handsome young man like you shouldn’t ruin your face with worries.” He says without a hint that he’s lying.

Kevin preens at the grandmotherly approval of his looks and FF gets to know that he, Nicky and his grandma all have lying in common.

Eventually it’s lunch time and the natural hunger of college athlete boys trumps anything else. Kevin won’t eat anything at the cafeteria since he doesn’t trust the nutritionist so they agree to head out of the hospital to grab food. He’s more tired than hungry so he tells his Gran to go with them. She pats his face and promises she’ll be back with some clear soup for him per the Doctor’s order and despite Kevin’s grumbling that he could make a clear protein shake.

His Gran kisses his forehead and tells him that she’ll be back soon and that he should rest as much as he can.

***

FF can’t sleep.

He tried.

He really did.

But without the noise of everyone else his mind keeps going back to the last time he was in a hospital. He closes his eyes and he can see Gran’s pale face when she tells him that his dad didn’t make it and the tears when she tells him neither-

He can’t sleep.

So he gets up against medical advice and decides to go on a walk. He’s not been connected to any of the monitoring equipment since he had first woken up, just the IV keeping him hydrated. FF decides he wants to get his dad’s leather back because it would make him feel better. The leather jacket has weight that would keep his feet strictly on the ground and it’s something his Gran had given to him when he went off to college so that he could keep his dad close. He could call a nurse but it feels like he shouldn’t distract them with something as stupid as getting him his dad’s jacket so he doesn’t have a panic attack.

So he lets himself slip into the background and heads towards the nurse station. He thinks that might be where they’re holding his belongings. It’s a good first stop if nothing else.

He can’t help but notice a strange number of men in suits but figures that maybe they’re just there to talk to people who seem to have gotten caught up in some sort of mass casualty incident.

He makes it to the nurse station and when a whole 5 minutes goes by without a single nurse clocking that he exists he considers speaking up until he sees a nurse bagging up some clothes, slapping on a label, and heading away.

It’s nice when things work out for him.

Another suit wearing man comes up and a different nurse sees him there immediately and comes up, “What can I help you with?” She asks.

“I’m looking for someone with the last name Smith, he has a stab wound?” The man asks.

“You’re going to have to be more specific.” The nurse responds with exasperation but FF is already almost out of earshot when he hears it because he’s following the nurse with the bag.

He follows her down the hallway and she thankfully takes an elevator instead of going down the stairs because FF doesn’t know how he would have gotten his IV stand down with him.

FF walks in with her and he watches her slump as the doors slide close. Relaxing like most people do when they think they’re alone. Her shoulders go straight back when the elevator opens again and he follows after her.

He follows her to a door that she unlocks and proceeds to enter and FF sees a room full of the same bags with belongs all tagged with a last name and a room number. “Christ, why are there so many fucking Smiths in here right now?” She grumbles but takes him straight to the S section and he sees his own ‘Smith’ and room number.

He grabs it and heads out the door before the nurse and heads into the elevator.

His phone pings with a text message. He opens it and sees a text from an unknown number.

“Come to the Cafeteria. - IM”

FF stares at his phone for a few minutes before the initials click.

Iruma Matsumoto, the local FBI agent who was coming to talk to him today according to Captain Neil. It’s weird to be texted like this but this is the first time he’s ever had to talk to the FBI. Maybe it’s normal? He doesn’t really want to bother Captain Neil about what getting interrogated by the FBI is like since Captain Neil is out at lunch.

He decides to go to the Cafeteria.

FF follows the directory in the elevator and then the arrows that point him towards the cafeteria. He takes a moment to pull his dad’s jacket out and it does help him feel better. He realizes the McDonald’s toy is still in his pocket and thinks that he really should probably turn that over to Agent Matsumoto.

When he gets to the cafeteria he sees even more of those guys in suits and then he sees a well dressed Japanese man sitting by himself at a table. FF has a moment where he thinks ‘Wow that FBI agent sure does look like a member of the Yakuza.’ Before he squashes it because ‘OMG that’s such a fucking racist thing to think. Thoughts from the abyss are the worst and Agent Matsumoto is probably a perfectly nice guy.’

He takes a seat in front of the man who is surrounded by two other of the men in black he’s seen. Oh that guy was probably looking for him to bring him here so they could have the talk.

None of the men seem to notice him and FF realizes that he’s still in stealth mode. He sets the bag with the rest of his clothes to the side and clears his throat.

Three sets of eyes are on him immediately and FF breathes through the anxiety as the two men at either side of Agent Matsumoto seem to reach for something at their holsters.

“Captain Neil said you wanted to talk to me.” He says.

Captain Matsumoto raises a hand and the two men on either side of him return to an at ease position.

***

Ichirou Moriyama could admit to himself that he had been startled when a young man seemingly appeared out of nowhere in front of him without any warning. He sees a bulge in the man’s pocket that says that he’s armed and he could have done anything before bringing attention to himself. He had men throughout the hospital and no one has spotted Wesninski or any of his cohorts but they had their eyes peeled for the uninvolved civilian who had taken out Jackson on his own and had assisted Wesninski’s guard dog in taking out Romero.

Interesting.

Ichirou clasps his hands together in over the cafeteria table.

“Yes, let’s talk.” He agrees.

MASTERPOST FOR ALL PARTS OF FLUENT FRESHMAN AU

@i-have-three-feelings @blep-23 @dreamerking27 @andreilsmyreligion @belodensetdust @rainbowpineapplebottle @yarn-ace @iwouldlikesometea @lily-s-world @obscureshipsandchips @booklover242 @whataboutmyfries @sahturnos @pluto-pepsi @dreamerthinker @passinhosdetartaruga @leftunknownheart @aro-manita-muscaria @hologramsaredead @Chaoticgremlinswishtheycouldbeme @tntwme @tayspots @nick-scar @crazy-fangirl2524 @blue-jos10 @stabbyfoxandrew @splishsplashyouropinionistrash @sammichly @the-broken-pen @bitchesdoweknowu @very-small-flower @ghostlyboiii @its-a-paxycab @bisexual-genderfluid-fan @cheesecookie @theoneandonlylostsock @foxsoulcourt @blueleys @adverbialstarlight @elia-nna @can-i-just-stay-in-the-corner @nikodiangel @foxandcrow-inatrenchcoat @hallucinatedjosten @satanic-foxhole-court @vexingcosmos @chalilodimun @insectsgetcooked @angry-kid-with-no-money @queer-crows @lillyndra @themundanemudperson @readertodeath @apileofpillows @mortalsbowbeforeme @hellomynameismoo @next-level-mess @youreonlylow @interstellarfig @notprocrastinatingatalltoday @percyjacksonfan3 @queenofcrazy27 @bsmr261 @ghostlyscares @spencellio @adinthedarkroom @harpymoth @sufferingjustalilbit @anxietymoss @oddgreyhound @ohno-myhyperfixation-itsbroken @ken22789 @atiredvampire @isoldescorner @not--a--pipedream @azure-wing @bushbees @roonilwazlib-main @crumplelush @foldedaces-paperbirds @thesenseinnonsense @let-tyrants-fear @ketchupandfries @legowerewolf @deadlydodos @but-we-respect-his-craft @cariniqe @zanypersonapricotbiscuit @lesbian-blackbeard @lesbiansupernatural @silvermasquerade @thepeachfuzz @minniemariex @kazoo-the-demjin @gaypomegranate @ji-nk-ies @neilimfinejosten @omgrubelangel @itsyouitsmeorpheuseurydice @percabethotplove @cozyrosykay @foxyatlas @theoneandonlylostsock @cindersapsecrets

The requests to be added to the tag list keep being spread out across a few different areas. If I missed you please just ask again in the replies I promise I just missed you.

As stated before if you’re up here and I spelled it right but you didn’t get a notification there might be something switched around in your settings that won’t let me tag you properly?

If you didn’t get notified on the last part it’s probably because I used tumblr mobile to post and our most beloved garbage fire site just didn’t like that.

#Fluent Freshman AU #Guess who accidentally took FF's phone?#It's Neil #He realizes it halfway through the grocery store run #Sorry FF your grandma is now the Monster Grandma #She's got knitting projects planned for each of them #She's already asked about allergies #She jokingly tells Nicky she'll knit Kevin a muzzle because he's commented on the amount of butter she uses four times #He always shuts up when he eats it at least #Neil is blissfully unaware that he has FF's phone and FF has his #Some poor Moriyama grunts are wandering through the hospital having to check every single Smith room for the one they're looking for #Ichirou was planning some mild intimidation shit on Neil #But was hampered because JFC why so many Smiths #Does Ichirou know Smith's first name?#Perhaps #Does he use it?#Probably not #AFTG #AFTG AU #AFTG OC #Andreil #FF - Pt. 28

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otdiaftg · 1 month

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The King's Men - Chapter Fourteen (16)

Day: Sunday, March 17th / 18th* Time: 2:45 PM EST

Wymack isn't any happier about their callous calculations, and he tolerates it for only a few more minutes. "Look," he breaks in, ignoring Whittier's gesture to stay out of it. "Look," he says again, louder, when the others keep talking over him. Wymack gives them a couple seconds then starts talking loudly anyway. "Since day one you've questioned every single decision I've made. Time and time again I've proven that I always know what's best for this team— both for the players and for the school's interests. Haven't I? "This should be an easier call than signing off on Andrew was," Wymack pushes on without waiting for their agreement. "With Andrew I asked you to have faith and patience because I knew it'd take time before you saw your endorsement pay off. This time the results are already in. You've reaped the benefits of Neil's presence since August. "Neil is a critical member of my team," Wymack says, stabbing his finger against the desk for emphasis. "You can ask any person on my line- up and they will all agree: we would not be where we are today if he wasn't here with us. And where we are today is on the cusp of finals. We are four games—four!—from being NCAA champions. We are on the verge of being the first team in the nation to best the Edgar Allan Ravens. We have a line-up that will graduate to pros and Court. We are reshaping the way everyone thinks about Palmetto State's Exy program. Taking Neil off the team won't save face and it sure as hell isn't the smart decision. It will backfire so hard you'll never want to see a reporter again."

Art used with permission by Rhyva. Thank you @rhyva!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

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palmettoshitposts · 8 months

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foxes with less trauma au: foxes dare contest, because truth or dare is pointless with this lot. they’ll either flat out lie or whack out their traumas (because even with less trauma, there’s still trauma). the majority of them are either ridiculously drunk or high.

neil has been clinging to seth’s back all night like a koala, because this is the first dare. renee and andrew arrive slightly later but do not question this at all. seth doesn’t even give a fuck but keeps forgetting neil is there while they’re sitting down so he accidentally throws neil into the couch when he gets up. neil keeps clinging on and matt is basically wetting himself with laughter.

aaron insists he’s not playing as soon as he arrives and seth drops neil on his head as a punishment. matt adds sound effects by screaming ‘BONK’ as this happens.

nicky is dared to wear one of allison’s skin-tight, bright red dresses. his only response is ‘you didn’t need to dare me to do that babes, but sure’. he looks fucking amazing.

kevin has to wear a paper crown that says ‘dumb fuck’ all night. neil made it in 20 seconds with a yellow crayon and cackles ever time he sees it.

seth calls wymack to ask if he’s seen their pet dolphin. wymack tells them to have a glass of water before they sleep and hangs up.

renee is wickedly creative with the dares while remaining sober. she’s responsible for aaron having to walk with one foot in stilettos and the other in nickys dinosaur slippers that roar if you put your foot down hard enough, matt trying to force himself into his shorts as if they’re a top and nicky rollerblading around the dorm. nicky has no coordination at all so that one’s particularly deadly.

dan whacks out her face paints entirely unprompted, which results in andrew with his face drunkenly painted like a fox. aaron has a dick painted on his cheek and allison has a cute yet wobbly unicorn on her forehead.

jeremy executes what would be a perfect handstand, if his legs weren’t against a door that swings open, making him flop to the ground.

theres a quick detour out of the dorms, where they all pile into the cars, just so neil can get his nipple pierced. aaron was so sure he’d back down from that. andrew makes sure neil knows he doesn’t have to do it if he doesn’t want to. ‘go big or go home, bitch’ neil says while swigging from a whiskey bottle in the back of the car.

while they’re at the piercing shop, kevin gets a tiny tattoo of an emoji shit on his ankle thanks to a last minute dare from allison.

jean dares neil to ‘do a backflip off the roof’ much to jeremy’s horror. andrew has to stop neil by telling seth to sit on him because he was genuinely about to go and do it.

andrew has hidden his knives (which he probably just has for throwing purposes in this au, thats what made him and renee late) because neil was gonna do something stupid as fuck for a dare and now, slightly high and very drunk, he can’t find them himself (they’re in the washing machine, along with renee).

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knickknacksandallthat · 5 months

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I was watching hockey the other day and the announcers were talking about how on the penguins, there are three player who are setting the record for the longest tenure as teammates. they've been playing together for 18 years, i'm sure you can see where my brain went

Anon, yessss!! Omg I can literally just see the interview now:

(Jean, Jeremy, and Kevin sitting in a room with an interviewer)

INTERVIEWER: Well, thanks for sitting down with me, guys! And listen, a few of us were just talking about this - the three of you have been together on the same team for around 10 years now, right?

JEREMY: *smiling* Yep!

JEAN: If you say so.

INTERVIEWER: Wow, that's quite the tenure! Did you know, in fact, that you three are close to setting a record within the league?

KEVIN: What record?

INTERVIEWER: Most consecutive years together on a team.

JEAN: *raises eyebrow* they have records for this?

KEVIN: Who currently holds it?

INTERVIEWER: uh...well I think it's technically Neil Josten and Andrew Minyard with the Dragons.

JEREMY: Awww, good for them!

JEAN: *snorts*

INTERVIEWER: *clears throat* well, in any case, uh...that's quite the achievement, you know? Tell us - what's your secret? What's the magic between you three?

JEREMY: *still smiling* hmm, I wonder.

KEVIN: Practice, hard work, and experience.

INTERVIEWER: Well, I'm sure the time you train together accounts for a lot, but...there's nothing...else you'd say helps?

JEAN: Like?

INTERVIEWER: Um, like...well, you know...like friendship?

JEAN: *blinking* Friendship.

INTERVIEWER: Yeah, man...I mean, after all this time, I would think the three of you have grown so close that you'd be more like bros, you know?

JEAN: *frowning now* Bros.

JEREMY: *biting lip silently against grin* Ohhhh, right. Got it. Yeah man, for sure. Bros.

INTERVIEWER: Exactly! Homies, man.

KEVIN: *tone dripping with derision* Homies.

INTERVIEWER: Three dudes with the most sacred of all bonds - sports.

JEREMY: *now shaking with repressed laughter* Oh, for sure, my dude. Homies. Brotherly bonding. Soooooo hetero. The most.

(Kevin turns to scowl at Jeremy.)

INTERVIEWER: You know, it actually kind of surprised many of us that you didn't end up on a team with Neil and Andrew, Kevin. If anyone, those two are who many of us would have thought you'd be setting this record with.

JEREMY: Oh my god. *doubles over laughing*

JEAN: *smirking* Yes, tell us, Kevin. Why aren't you on a team with Neil and Andrew? Accomplishing this sacred connection of brotherly bonding?

KEVIN: *pinches bridge of nose with fingers before sighing* Let's just say being on the same team with them at the Olympics is more than enough.

KEVIN: *grumbles under breath* The damn pair of menaces.

-------------------

INTERVIEWER: Josten and Minyard, we were just out talking to your rivals on the West Coast last week - Jeremy Knox, Jean Moreau, and your former PSU teammate, Kevin Day, from the Warriors.

*Both stare silently at him*

INTERVIEWER: *coughs* Right, so, we were just saying how that trio is coming up on your record for teammates with the most time spent together on one team.

NEIL: And? What's your point?

INTERVIEWER: *loosens tie* oh, well, there was a little curiosity, I guess, around why Kevin chose that team instead of coming to play for the Dragons - with the two of you, I mean, his former teammates. Um...do you know why that is?

NEIL: Because Andrew would probably stab him.

INTERVIEWER: I...what?

NEIL: *waving hand back and forth* Yeah, I'd probably give it two weeks at most.

INTERVIEWER: ...

NEIL: See, Kevin would whine and nag, and Andrew would get pissed but he promised Wymack he wouldn't, no matter how much Kevin annoys him. So...yeah. It's probably better that they both stay on opposite ends of the country.

INTERVIEWER: ...

ANDREW: *pulling lollipop out of mouth* Never let a sad, forty-something year old man convince you to promise shit.

#anon this was brilliant #I had so much fun with this #thanks for letting me run with it #kerejean #kevin day #jeremy knox #jean moreau #neil josten #andrew minyard #AND THEY WERE TEAMMATES #lolz #all for the game #aftg #the foxhole court #fic asks #lovely people #thanks for ask anon!

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serialadoptersbracket · 1 month

Text

Round 2, Match 56: David Wymack vs. Ash Ketchum

Submitted kids:

David Wymack: Kevin Day (biological), Andrew Minyard (spiritually adopted), Aaron Minyard (spiritually adopted), Neil Josten (spiritually adopted), Dan Wilds (spiritually adopted), Nicky Hemmick (spiritually adopted), Matt Boyd (spiritually adopted), Renee Walker (spiritually adopted), Allison Reynolds (spiritually adopted)

Ash Ketchum: Many of his Pokémon

Propaganda under the cut!

David Wymack:

1. “He purposefully made a college sports team to take in fucked up kids and give them second chances. He gave them a home and support when no one else would. And he’s sooooo grouchy about it, like he doesn’t love these kids and fight for them every second of every day. For fuck’s sake, he adopted his ex-girlfriends son when he was escaping major abuse before he even knew he was ALSO his OWN biological son!!! The woman he loved had a kid and he took him in without hesitation and he didn’t even know! He didn’t even know!!! Wymack fights the media, the college courts, the legal courts, the fucking Mafia, all because he loves his kids and knows they deserve more than the world has ever given them. I wish Wymack was my dad. DILF of the year”

2. “- He is the coach of a college sports team

- His team is comprised only of kids who need second chances

- This team is entirely found family

- He works very hard to make sure these kids get a chance to shine

- He gives second chances. And third chances. And whatever amount of chances you need

- He once spoke to a therapist about one of his athletes, saying I trust you to do what's right by my kids"”

3. “His whole thing is literally adopting the children who have had a messed up childhood. The violent ones and the ones who runway from stability. Without spoiling the series he gives Neil a place to live without question. He cares for all the the foxes (the sports team he coaches), and gives the opportunity to change and find family.”

4. “He just wants them to get the second chance he never had!!!!”

Ash Ketchum:

“Ok. You may question what I'm talking about it, but think about some of his Pokemon here.

- Charizard: Abandoned by their trainer. Ash stood by them and watched as their abilities grew.

- Infernape: Abandoned by their trainer for being too “weak”. Ash helped raise them without the cold abuse and helped them show their original trainer the mistake they made.

- Incineroar: Took in after the passing of their mentor.

There are dozens of instances like this. He’s left multiple Pokémon behind because he’s helped them find happier lives, and he can still keep in touch with them from time to time.”

#aftg #all for the game #david wymack #coach wymack #the foxhole court #pokemon anime #pokeani #pokemon #ash ketchum #serial adopters bracket #round 2 #tumblr tournament #tumblr polls

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dvrcos · 2 months

Note

what are your thoughts on a kiss cam at the foxes' games?

Oooo this is fun! I think for sure there’s a kiss cam at the Foxes games, it’s a given for college sporting events.

I don’t think the Foxes pay attention too it though, yaknow too busy playing the game. I think Nicky and Allison would have fun watching it together when they’re sitting on the bench (the Nicky and Allison duo is so dear to me because you can’t convince me they wouldn’t have the most fun talking shit with each other).

Anyhow, one day Nicky meets the guy who runs the kiss cam camera in one of his classes. And they hit it off and as soon as Nicky learns he runs the kiss cam, he knows he has an opportunity brewing that he just cannot miss.

So he goes to Allison and they scheme. They bribe this kiss cam dude to point the kiss cam at the Foxes bench whenever Kevin is out of the game. And they make sure the upperclassman are in on it, they leave the monsters out because they don’t want it getting back to Kevin too quickly. Plus it’s just as fun to see their confused reactions as it is Kevin’s.

And lo and behold, during their next home game the kiss cam lands on the Foxes bench the moment Kevin gets off the court. And by some luck of the draw, Nicky is the one he decides to sit down beside. Nicky is absolutely rolling with laughter when Kevin sees himself on the kiss cam with Nicky.

So Nicky places the biggest, sloppiest kiss he can muster right on Kevin’s cheek before Kevin can pull away. And Kevin is so confused and caught of guard, he’s wiping the spit off his cheek and shoving Nicky’s shoulder (but he’s also smiling a bit).

The next time Kevin gets called off the court he sits in between Allison and Renee. And Kevin doesn’t even see that he’s on the big screen this time so he’s even more surprised when both women kiss his cheeks at the same time. And he’s spluttering and again so fucking confused.

Even Wymack and the new recruits catch on. Kevin walks off the court and Wymack grabs his cheeks as he walks pasts, pulling him down and pressing the shortest kiss to his forehead. Kevin starts sitting next to the freshman to get away from whatever the fuck is going on with the upperclassman, not yet connecting the dots. And the freshman just have to play along and kiss his cheeks and temples whenever they get put on the cam.

Kevin is so genuinely confused by it but he also can’t bring himself to be too pissed off. He just pushes whoever it is away lightly, wipes his cheek and smiles to himself while watching the game. The upperclassman have never seen Kevin so casually happy and relaxed. Their prank has kind of backfired but in the best way possible and they’re alright with that.

But oh that one fateful day. Kevin, of course, gets called off the court to be subbed in for Neil and he takes Neil’s seat. Which is right next to Aaron. And of course the kiss cam focuses right on the pair and Allison (also on the bench) just dismisses it, Aaron doesn’t know about the prank so there’s no way he plays along with it.

Until one of the freshman nudges Aaron’s shoulder to bring is attention to the kiss cam. And his pale cheeks light up bright red. Kevin follows his gaze and Allison watches the smug, shit eating smirk spread across Kevin’s face. He turns to Aaron and rest his hand on jaw and kisses him square on the lips.

And Allison is just baffled because Aaron Doesn’t Pull Away ??? He not only doesn’t pull away, he Kisses Kevin Back ???

Allison is shocked and if she could she would stop that game right there and then to ask every single question that’s running through her head. She does interrogate them during half time and they give her nothing.

Nicky and Allison of course don’t call off the kiss cam guy so The Foxes, excluding Neil and Andrew, continue to mess with Kevin whenever they’re on the kiss cam. And it’s still always shocking whenever it lands on Aaron and Kevin and they kiss each other, no embarrassment.

#the foxes appreciating Kevin <3 #even if it started as them messing with him #kevin day the foxes resident babygirl #also yes I made this kevaaron sue me #my kevaaron demons are loud #aaron minyard #kevin day #aftg #all for the game #allison reynolds #nicky hemmick

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exy-shmexy · 1 year

Text

Have we ever stopped to consider the impact Robin's arrival had on Aaron? Because like I'm almost 100% positive she had a great impact on Andrew (and on Neil as well) because it showed he was ready to open his tight circle to yet another external person, but what was Aaron's reaction to that?

Nora said in the EC the twins were making progress in (re?)building their relationship, albeit almost too slowly to notice. They are becoming proper brothers, through the highs and lows of it, and it's a long process for the two of them. And yet, here is Andrew handpicking someone to replace him after he graduates to everyone's surprise when she has, seemingly, nothing special (I'm paraphrasing Nora a little bit here so don't hate me, I personally love Robin). But it is his choice, imposed to Wymack by a short note and a bottle of whiskey, so no one asks. Perhaps Aaron doesn't notice at first, but the more time she spends at PSU, the closer she seems to Andrew. He encourages her to fight back against the teammates who torment her, he takes her to Columbia and then she moves in with the cousins in the dorm where Andrew gives her his own bed so they have enough room to fit her in.

I mean, don't tell me this wasn't a shock to him. He has been fighting for Andrew's attention almost this entire time and yet, here she waltzes in, and grabs it so easily. I'm sure this must has been a major setback in their relationship because he must have felt so betrayed considering Andrew almost seems to be considering her as some kind of little sister. Of course he probably doesn't know everything about her past, so it must hurt him so bad to see his brother get attached to someone else so easily when he is right there. I bet their therapy sessions are either quite animated or deadly silent.

Nora also says eventually all the cousins end up coaching her after hours so honestly I would absolutely not be surprised if the first time he has to do it he just lashes out because what the hell makes her so special? Eventually, perhaps Robin stops right there and explains to him her entire past, and perhaps Aaron suddenly understands why Andrew would find interest in helping her because sure their past is a bit different, but also it has many similarities and now Aaron can see it. He probably feels dumb as hell for letting his own emotions cloud his judgement. They are all Foxes, all of them have a messy past and it shouldn't have come as a surprise that Robin's would be a bad one too considering Andrew is so keen on offering her his protection. Once Robin is done talking, Aaron definitely finds himself at a loss for words. His anger is gone, now replaced by something else he cannot quite pinpoint so he just goes back to coaching Robin as if nothing happened. It's only after this day that he begins accepting her among his family as well, going so far as introducing her to Katelyn who immediately becomes her friend because Katelyn is awesome and we love her in this house, and perhaps he also has a little talk about this with Andrew, who knows?

#please do feel free to tell me your thoughts on this because my brain is buzzing #I was peacefully eating my lunch when this came to my mind so if it makes no sense please ignore me lol #I can just see Aaron being so pissed sad and betrayed because of all of this #and then he starts treating her as a little sister too?#maybe?#idk?#anyway I love Robin #all for the game #robin cross #aaron minyard #andrew minyard #aftg headcanon

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codename-adler · 29 days

Note

Can I ask for some PiP information on Eva Josten and/or Matt Dan and Her?

so sorry anon for the delay!!! but be proud of me bc i wanted to crack down on Baby Girl, Good Luck and instead chose to focus on you!!!

>>> Dan, Matt & Her under the cut

Adler's PiPs ~ Project: Eva Josten

There was an idea… to bring in a remarkable spy-assassin… to see if she could become something more… so when they needed her… she could kill the one person they never could… The Butcher’s son, Nathaniel Abram Wesninski.

Enter the Butcher’s daughter: Aleksandra Eva Wesninski.

Lost to Mary, not even remembered by her own brother, the little Wesninski is on a mission, one she was raised for, one she did not choose, but one she damn sure is embracing now that goddamn Nathaniel has ruined everything. His death would be sweet, sweet ambrosia to her. If she had to dispose of all the other puny sports junkies along the way, she would. Where her own father had failed, where Lola Malcom, Riko and Ichirou Moriyama, and Stuart Hatford had fallen short, she would rise up to the occasion and annihilate the stupid bastard. She would die, not trying, but succeeding. Such was her purpose.

xxx

Adler's PiPs ~ Project: Dan, Matt & Her

Dan x Matt x FOC ot3 AU

New Fox recruit (20F) has had a baby recently whose father she claims was another student in her year (lie);

She kept playing Exy until (X) months and with prowess at that;

Kevin is wildly against picking her (somehow she reminds him of his mother) and thinks a team like the Foxes isn't for babies (like every other team) and that a mother like her isn't for the Foxes;

Dan isn't bothered by the recruit's background and baggage but she does wonder why Wymack pushes so much for her;

Abby convinces Kevin and Dan;

The recruit will live at Abby's with her baby as long as it's viable;

Abby will help take care of the baby; she is quite excited despite the circumstances because she has a really, really good feeling about the recruit and the potential she has to bring the team and Wymack closer together;

Dan isn't very comfortable with the baby and the recruit when they arrive, because they remind her too much of her own background and the adult position she has been forced into at a very young age;

The recruit looks up to Dan so much, though, she can't quite avoid all contact

Andrew very much steers clear of the recruit and her baby despite finding them interesting somehow, and them drawing him in for reasons he can't explain (yet);

Neil is traumatized just at the perspective of having to captain the recruit and being in the same room as a live baby; it's almost enough to make him run away again (almost);

Kevin is very stupid about the whole thing, but the least afraid of the Kandreil triad, and his stupidity ends up being endearing (with the baby, not with the recruit);

Renee & Nicky are the most excited of the Foxes, and also the most apt to babysit;

Aaron really doesn't give a flying fuck about the baby, which is why the baby likes him so much; Katelyn, reasonably, really doubts the safety of having a pregnant-until-recently recruit on the Foxes' roster, and of having the Foxes trusted with a baby, which is why she's relieved when Aaron's got baby-duty, but also pissed he has to have another weight added onto his shoulders; she watches the situation from afar but very much disapproves; she bonds a little with the recruit, tries to help her at times, but sets clear boundaries about 'no babies';

Allison buys a shit ton of baby clothes so as to avoid baby-duty, which she couldn't care less about, as does she for the recruit herself;

And Matt... Matt doesn't really concern himself with the baby nor the recruit until /incident/, because despite each Fox having an opinion, it is mostly Abby (and Wymack) taking care of things when the recruit absolutely can't (and she's doing the absolute most);

Matt tries to support Dan as best as he can, which means a lot, lot, lot of talking about the recruit, which means Matt knows exactly when things start to get personal for Dan, knows the exact moment when Dan falls;

Which means he doesn't even notice himself falling for the recruit as well;

Dan falls first and Matt falls harder.

Basically I wanted the Foxes to have a baby but didn't want to do that to any of them, so I created my own OC and then rocked her shit in a very bad way. As you can see, I have not much (if anything at all) figured out. Title is temporary, just a file name. The OC isn't fleshed out (i know how she gets there, idk wtf she does after that) nor baptized, her baby isn't named or gendered either, I don't know what major incident pushes Dan and Matt to really care, I don't know how Serena Williams or Alyson Felix did to compete while pregnant/recently pregnant but I'm looking into it, and...yeah. I also wanted to explore Matt and Dan's characters, and relationship, because I feel they are wildly underrated and swept aside in fics as just the lovey-dovey couple, and I thought, 'Wouldn't it be wild if the most established couple of the Foxes suddenly got with a 3rd partner?' and thus this idea was born (like someone else's baby I know...) Enjoy this shit show!

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stabbyfoxandrew · 12 days

Note

mafia au please!

tsc has broken me and i need your beautiful kevjean to cheer me up

WIP Wednesday (4/17) | Mafia Front Restaurant AU (Part 136)

The smell of pancakes cooking is simultaneously mouth-watering and… trauma-inducing. The first time Kevin had ever had them was in Palmetto, the morning he’d dragged himself onto the Foxes’ team bus. Despite Abby’s doctoring, his left hand was totally unusable and his right didn’t fare much better with a fork. But being the kindest nurse he’d ever met, Abby had noticed him struggling and cut his pancakes into bite-sized pieces for him and drizzled them with enough syrup to make his eyes bulge.

He’d slowly eaten them as his father started talking criminal charges against Riko. The very idea of challenging him made Kevin’s stomach roil and it was then and there he broke. He told Wymack the horrible truth about the Moriyamas and swore him to secrecy. That, of course, didn’t last long once a certain goalie stuck his nose into Kevin’s mess of a life.

Andrew had come to Abby’s house the next day and demanded an explanation. For some reason, Kevin couldn’t not tell him. Despite holding all those secrets for a lifetime, he let them flow as soon as Andrew rounded on him. He’s still not sure why. Perhaps it was his desperate need to be understood. Or it could’ve been fear. But he told Andrew the bulk of his life story then and there, omitting a couple details. Namely a pair of backliners with sharp tongues and pretty eyes.

Speaking of that, Jean is watching his skillet like a hawk. What he’s expecting to happen, Kevin isn’t sure. Apparently it does though, because Jean moves in with a spatula to flip a pancake over. It’s less than graceful, but Kevin is impressed regardless. He gives a little round of applause, which startles Jean.

He rolls his eyes playfully at the attention and does a little bow while he’s at it. As he turns back around, Kevin steps off the stool to watch Jean pour more batter. There’s another plate he wasn’t aware of and it’s got what must’ve been a test pancake on it. It’s smaller than the ones Jean’s been stacking and burnt to a crisp on the top side. How ridiculous that a burned pancake could be so endearing.

“Can I have that one?”

Jean turns his head and grimaces. “If you want it. I was going to throw it outside, at those birds that show up sometimes. I told you about them before. One of them snatched a cigarette out of my hand a couple of months ago."

"And you want to give them food?"

"I said, 'at them' not for them," Jean clarifies. "But I suppose, even if I hit one with it they'd eat it."

“If you feed them they’ll stay.” Kevin says, making Jean’s mouth quirk.

“Like Neil?”

“You can stop making the stray cat jokes, he’s not in here. And we both know how we feel about him.” Kevin says, plucking the pancake off the plate and pulling part of it off to stick it in his mouth. Oh, it’s… definitely charred. And a bit bitter.

“I told you it wouldn’t be good.” Jean says, glancing over at him. He notably and predictably doesn’t reply to Kevin’s comment about Neil. Or maybe that is an answer to the Neil thing.

“Mm,” Kevin hums thoughtfully. He knows it would be.

#teehee here lovely. have Kevin waxing poetic about Jean's ability to burn a goddamn pancake :)) and thinking about neil too :)) and andrew:)#aftg #kevjean #Mafia Restaurant AU #WIP Wednesday #🕊️#answered #anon

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kazzyboy · 2 years

Text

Andreil and arguing.

So, I’m pretty sure Nora mentioned something about them fighting in the extra content— I could be just making this up, considering I have the memory of a walnut, but apparently they’d give each other the cold shoulder. Again, that could be wrong, but I disregard half of the extra content anyway.

I don’t exactly know what they would fight about. Maybe Andrew kicked the upperclassmen back too hard. Maybe Neil is in a nasty mood and Andrew says something wrong. People are bound to fight, over one thing or another. It could be stupid. It could be Andrew pushing Neil to stand up to Jack. It could be Neil pushing Andrew’s buttons a little too hard. The one thing I do know, however, is that they are both petty as fuck. So, things heat up and snap and there are harsh, biting words exchanged, because that’s how they are, what they were raised (by themselves) into— and then it is deathly silent. Shoulders cold enough to give the rest of the team frostbite. The upperclassmen end up with Neil hanging out in their room more— Dan, Matt, and Allison all expected this would happen, that Andrew would be too hard-headed or violent, but they stay quiet about it, unwilling to beat a dead horse. Renee doesn’t talk to Neil about it, but hangs around him more than usual. Neil is pissed that he has a chaperone, but reminds himself he’s not mad at her. He’s not even mad at Andrew, really. He’s just mad. Instead, Renee (gently) confronts Andrew about it. His gaze is dark— he tells her they stepped on each other’s feet, and that’s just how it always was. Renee takes this and they spar. Andrew is angrier than usual— his blows are sloppy and fueled by emotion. Renee leaves with more than a few bruises, but also with reassurance.

Andrew takes the monsters to Eden’s more, and worries a drink in his hand without ever taking a sip. He spends the nights chewing on a unlit cigarettes, tells everyone who tries to talk to him to fuck off and eat shit. Kevin has to pound on his door in the mornings so they can get back to Palmetto.

It lasts for weeks. The Foxes are getting worried— Wymack asks Neil about it and isn’t graced with a response. Neil is tired, wants Andrew back, but he’d be damned to give in. He survived years on the run and years alone. He didn’t need anybody— especially not Andrew, or his cunning words or his golden hair or his bordering-on-amber eyes. Wymack leaves when the grinding of Neil’s teeth gets too loud.

Andrew gives in first. He goes to the roof, where he knows Neil is because there are gray clouds on the horizon and Neil loves this kind of weather. Neil is sitting there, legs dangling off the edge. His school bag is thrown half-hazardously a few feet behind him, notebooks full of Fox doodles spilling out. Andrew walks to the edge, a few feet from Neil. The cigarette between his lips is unlit. He stands there until the sun starts to slip below the horizon. Practice will start soon. Andrew sits down, a little closer to Neil. If Neil notices him, he doesn’t show it. A couple of minutes pass before Neil moves, slow and gentle, and nudges an unopened bottle of whiskey towards him. Andrew doesn’t touch it, but takes the cigarette out of his mouth, lights it, and sets it on the edge. Neil knocks it off just to watch it go flying.

“That’s a fire hazard.” Andrew says, stomach flipping for a second before he stops watching the cigarette plummet. Neil only hums. Andrew lights another. It’s quiet for a long time, before Neil’s ringtone knocks him out of his trance. Kevin is demanding to know why he isn’t at practice yet. Neil tells him they’ll be there in a second. Andrew’s phone goes off three times before they drag themselves from the roof. They’ll talk about it later, but, for now, there’s a truce.

The Foxes are bad at hiding their surprise when they show up, but no one says anything to them directly as they show up together, practically attached at the hip. Renee offers a smile and Wymack’s voice is less grim than usual as he divides them into teams— Renee, Dan, Allison, Aaron and Matt, Andrew, Neil, and Kevin. The freshman and Nicky are subs.

To no ones surprise, Andrew and Neil completely obliterate the competition.

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fallenstarzz · 6 months

Text

The Kayleigh Lives AU - Part Two

And now for our check in with the World's Most Normalest Exy teams

Do you know who is 100% no exception capital T Thriving in this AU? Danielle Wilds.

I mean, she's still the first female captain in the NCAA, but in this universe she has actual support from inside the ERC board due to Kayleigh's insistance through the years

It has to do something for your ego when the creator of your sport namedrops you in multiple international interviews and also sends you a gift basket when you get nominated captain.

So yeah, even though the Foxes are still a mess and didn't pass the fourth game, Dan's having the time of her life. Good for her, honestly.

Kayleigh always attends the NCAA banquets because it's an easy excuse to be close to Kevin. Also the team spirit award isn't named after her, but she is the one to announce the winner every year. The Trojans have a running gag of the captain always making the exact same silly pose so they have a wall filled with basically the same picture a dozen times with minor differences – the main one being the five stages of grief on Kayleigh's face as she realises what's going on

Kayleigh's been avoiding Wymack at these things for ages because, look, when you decide you're gonna keep your baby a secret from your ex it's not a general expectation the two of you are going to meet face-to face regurlaly and be expected to make stilted small talk where he's very likely to ask about your son. And she doesn't need any rumors about them rising up again after all her efforts to kill the Baby Daddy speculation stories. If they come back, eventually someone is going to do the math right.

Also Kayleigh's pretty sure that after enough glasses of wine she'd hit on him again and even she's self aware enough to know that would be kind of a dick move

But she has always kept an eye on the Foxes, not only because she still has a little soft spot for Wymack, but also because his ideals of giving troubled kids a second chance trough Exy aligns itself a lot more with her ideals than wathever the hell the Ravens are doing now

(she would however like them a lot more if they were actually good at the sport)

So on these things she usually alternates between schmoozing with the ERC and being plastered by Kevin's side. She never wears red or black just to mess with the color scheme but claims it's not to show favoritism. She takes blatant advantage of the fact that Kevin never had an "embaressed of your mom" phase and frequently sits herself between Kevin and Riko.

Most of the Ravens don't complain because they are taught not to question authority but most importantly because Kevin's mom is hot. So she can disturbe the vibes a little, as a treat

Kayleigh is a frequent point of tension between Riko and Tetsuji, because she is of an almost equal standing to him in hierarchy (in that weird grey area where they both are important assets to the side branch with some autonomy but, ultimately, their leash is only as slack as Tetsuji decides to allow), so he's supposed to owe her some respect, but she is also his only competition for Tetsuji's affection and Kevin's obedience. The only reason he hasn't acted out against her yet is that Riko's waiting for Kayleigh and Tetsuji to fight so he can be sure his is the side his uncle will pick.

Jean is also not her greatest fan. Mostly because he sees Kayleigh as someone who willingly put herself and her son in a position Jean would do anything to get out of, but also because she's the safest person for him to hate. Jean learned the hard way not get in the Master or Riko's bad side, and Kevin is his only support inside the Nest. But she has very little direct impact on his life besides protecting him by proxy when she watches over Kevin, just because Riko's generally not allowed to hurt ANYONE during those times. It always gets a bit worse when she leaves, however, and Riko has pent-up frustation to take off. Jean hates her a little bit for that, too.

Neither of them could get Kevin to think badly of his mother, though. His faith in Kayleigh is one of the only things the Nest never managres to beat out of him.

At the Winter Banquet, the only time she leaves the Raven table is to approach Dan. She wants to congratulate her personally on the efforts this season and maybe offer some words of encouragement and advice.

Despite her many efforts to avoid the coaches' table like the plague, however, she ends up going up to the Foxes' table right when Wymack was coming to check that they hadn't set anything on fire.

It's an extremely awkward interaction. She calls him by his first name but looks like she's swallowed a lemon the entire time. He feels like there is no safe place on her person to look and so stares slightly over her shoulder into the distance. They can't decide wether to hug or politely shake hands and end up with stilted nods. They HAVE talked before, but it always feels like it's the first time they are seeing each other since the break up. It's been twenty years and at this point both of them have given up expecting things to get lighter. It's just that it's kind of hard to get over the multiple elephants in the room.

The Foxes eat it the FUCK up.

Allison could smell the divorce like a bloodhound. Seth however doesn't believe Coach could actually pull Kayleigh Day.

The SECOND Kayleigh and Wymack awkardly turn away and flee in opposite directions, the betting pool starts

The score is as follows: Coach hit on her when they were younger and got rejected (Seth, Fifth Year Seniors) / They had a one night stand a long time ago and it was Very Bad (Nicky) / They had a one night stand a long time ago and it was Very Good (Renée, Matt) / They dated but Kayleigh ended it (Allison) / They dated but Wymack ended it (Dan)

Andrew refuses to bet. When Nicky presses the twins a bit too much, Aaron gets annoyed and decides to bet that Wymack is actually Kevin Day's biological father. No one takes him seriously.

The team sat across them tries to pretend nothing happened

Some time between the reunion and her 100th check up on Kevin, Kayleigh ends up missing a very important discussion between the ERC and Tetsuji

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jtl-fics · 10 months

Note

For Want of a Nail

New Kings If Neil hadn't gone to Hernandez's house? (@stabbyfoxandrew)

New Kings AU | Unusual Fic Asks - Closed

Andrew felt like he was going to crawl out of his skin. It'd been a month and a half since anyone had heard anything from Neil Josten. Neil Josten may not even exist anymore but everyone was telling him to be calm, telling him to wait.

He snapped at the upperclassmen who did not matter and drew his knives more than once just to make them shut the fuck up. He wants to leave, wants to head out and start tracking down clues to find Neil and bring him back.

If he has to go to jail then he'll go to jail. It's never scared him before and it's not about to scare him now. He is more than happy to be Neil's trophy husband this time around when he gets out.

He makes plans to leave in the dead of night. He writes letters to Aaron, Kevin, Nicky, Wymack, and Betsy to explain himself but in the end that's the only kindness he can give them.

Neil had long been the highest thing on his totem poll. He has no idea what it would take to have someone come above Neil or to have Neil's importance to him wane.

He has plans to lock himself in a storage unit he's rented that is temperature controlled and remote so no one will hear him screaming for his medication. He can't be going through withdrawal on the meds.

He leaves the Tower in the dead of night and makes his way over to his GS having already started to come off of his medication slightly so that he'd be sober enough to drive out of town.

"Where are you going? It's not safe for you to drive." comes a voice and oh great he's hallucinating Neil. It was something he'd often done back at East Haven, his perfect pipedream always just out of reach.

"I'm going to go get you. I'm sober for the next hour before the effects start to hit." he returns with a roll of his eyes.

"Get me?" his hallucination asks. Andrew doesn't want to turn and look into Neil's young face. He's not sure he can handle seeing it.

"You ran off before Wymack, Kevin, and I could get you." Andrew scrubs a hand through his hair wondering why he's talking to this figment of his withdrawal. Except he knows why and that reason why is that he misses Neil desperately.

"Andrew...are you..." he hears the figment of his imagination trail off and then footsteps and then-

His hallucinations have never been able to actually touch him.

He whips around and there standing in the parking lot at 3 AM is a young and exhausted looking Neil Josten. Andrew's hands shoot up to cup Neil's face and he is alive and warm under his fingertips.

"Drew, it's you." Neil says with a watery smile and that was all he managed to get out before he pitched forward and utterly collapsed into Andrew's arms.

"Neil?" Andrew questions before realizing that Neil had truly lost consciousness, he can feel Neil's forehead burning against his shoulder where it lay"Neil!" he exclaims and gets a proper arm around Neil before he falls to the ground. He manages to get the passenger door to the GS open and puts Neil inside before rushing around to the other side.

Abby's old address in mind he twisted the key and started her up. Stomach churning as he broke speed limits and ran lights.

#New Kings AU #For Want of a Nail #In this Neil decided to just go straight to the Foxes #He was kind of desperate and couldn't wait it out in AZ #He's still pretty banged up tho #The cross country trip got him pretty sick from an infected wound #He'll be okay but he needs a lot of TLC #Which in this universe he would absolutely lovingly get from Andrew #It's probably about a week before Neil's coherent enough to explain it all #AFTG #AFTG AU #Andreil #Unusual Fic Asks

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