#Neil josten the man you are

[amuli-jl]

“Jeremy,” Kevin said, half-away from the phone. Jeremy heard a muffled voice somewhere in the background. “No, Jean is fine. As fine as he can be, anyway. Yes, I know.” He sighed a little as he came back on the line.

“We’re about to head to the court. Is there anything else you needed?”

I love this detail because we are reminded once again that Neil cares about Jean, that he is worried. He could have waited until the phone conversation was over, but when he realized that the conversation was about Jean, he demanded an explanation immediately

[andrew-minyard-stan]

Someone mugging Neil, a knife to his throat: I’m going to kill you if you don’t give me your wallet

Neil: no, not with that knife. Is the dollar store selling my first knife kits now?? Also that grip is atrocious. If my serial killer dad was alive I’d ask him to teach you how to hold one. And another thing, does it look like I have money-

[daily-all-for-the-game]

"Focus,"

"I am,"

"They just scored an impossible goal and you didn't even twitch,”

“I should be on the court."

[andrewsleftarmband]

I think the reason that conversation worked so well with Ichirou is because he didn’t technically lie. He manipulated the truth to make it look like how he wanted to. And that’s an even greater skill than just lying.

I mean yeah we all know that Neil is a good liar and all, but I think sometimes we forget to what extent.

Like he got literally plucked from class one day and put in front of is father’s boss, totally unprepared, and put on an oscar-winning performance of a lifetime. Bitch was like “I am not saying your brother is out of line my lord 😔😔😔 I am afraid of what will fall back on you 🤔🫢 🤧” and fucking manage to convince ichirou to kill his own brother.

What a man…

[ionlydrinkhotwater]

I think nothing really speaks to Neil's complex character the way Nora's answer to someone asking what's Neil's favorite memories are in the EC does where she said that both coming home from a run to find Andrew napping with their cats and Riko being shot in the head are some of his top favorites.

That's Neil/Nathaniels favorite thing: domestic bliss and the violent death of his enemies

[joejhang]

y'all ever think about when someone asked nora what would happen if the moriyamas killed andrew as a warning and neil crashes out SO BAD he literally ditches the "neil josten" persona just like that and reverts back to nathaniel hb pulled out ALL the stops he literally hunts down proust, goes to JAPAN just to give himself over as a HITMAN to the moriyamas' rival mafia family so he can take down the moriyama empire from there...thinking about that au. obv i would never want it to happen but GOD the power he holds.

[saintofsacrilege]

“he should be at the club” HE WAS AT THE CLUB!! and he still paid a guy $100 to punch him in the face and knock him out, lest he reveal his traumatic backstory 😔

[boringsideeffect]

one of the things i love about Neil Josten as a character is that not once did i have to go “god i wish the protagonist told the villain to go to hell. i wish the protagonist fucking killed the abuser and didn’t go Oh im gonna be the bigger person.” no. Neil went and did all those things i’m so proud.

[inafieldofstarflowers]

i love matt boyd bc he spends the whole series pre-baltimore trying to give neil openings to tell him he has a thing for andrew and likely trying to figure out how to say “i support the fact that you like men but i think we need to talk about your taste,” and then baltimore happens and he’s like “oh nvm i don’t have to get into all that, i get it now”

like yes it is very funny how many times he aggressively side eyes neil and unsubtly prompts him to talk about his feelings, but it’s also so genuinely sweet how much effort he puts into being a safe person for neil to talk to if he wants or needs it, and how seeing the strength of andrew’s care for neil is enough to change his mind about them being together

[tankuare]

Andrew was such a yapper when he was on his meds I like to think that when Neil and him get comfortable in their relationship he goes right back to yapping 24/7

[mapbottakeamap]

I find it so funny that Neil had the breath to insult Riko, but not to literally save his life lol.

[sylviabit-thehand]

I appreciate the fact that Kevin is canonically hot but instead of being charismatic and charming, he’s just a complete asshole and his personality will clash with everyone because screw anything that isn’t Exy.

[andrew-minyard-stan]

I will never get over the fact that Neil is constantly jealous of the other foxes parental issues. Or there horrible situations. Like when Renee is trying to have a lil heart to heart with him about her background and problems he’s just internally like “ugh lucky. I would KILL for your situation.”

AND THAT PART WITH ABBY SEEING HIS SCARS where she’s talking about how she’s probably seen a whole lot worse to make him feel better and he’s like “*sigh* fuck I hope not. I mean *sigh* honestly you can’t even IMAGINE the shit I’ve had to deal with.” Neil is so petty I love that man

[unfortunately-not-a-chip]

Neil Josten is an amazing protagonist and here’s why‼️ first off he gets into the juicy stuff from page one! “Oh? Wanna hear about my dead mom? Sure! Why would I lie to myself when I can lie to everyone else?” Also ever read about a character being a bitch and you wanna jump their ass and tell them they’re a stupid bitch? NEIL JOSTEN WILL!! He will not hesitate to go for the damn throat. Abuser you wish would die? Boom he took out a hit on them. Character being a bitch? You know I get it. Also he sees problems and he fixes them‼️ bob the builder ass over here rekindling connections n shit. You see the twinyards and wish, damn wish they would talk to each other, well good for you Neil Josten is going to poke them with a stick until they do!! I just love Neil so bad can you tell…

[k-arina1-3]

No because Neil is the coldest motherfucker in all the world. He never falters.

Like Andrew, I get it. Doesn't mean I wouldn't blow him, too.

[ionlydrinkhotwater]

I still think about the fact that according to Nora, the man Neil and Kevin watched the Butcher murder in the East tower when they were kids was an assassin who came to murder Riko. And Riko MADE Kevin and Neil watch to send them a message. Especially Neil (you're dad works for ME and I can make him kill you too).

Then at the end of TKM Neil watches with satisfaction as Riko is murdered by his own brother who Neil manipulated into killing him. In the same east tower.

Also Tetsuji who tried to force Neil to bow was forced to bow his own head while his protégé was killed beside him and his exy career and legacy forever diminished.

Neil didn't just beat these guys at Exy is what I'm saying. Then he goes back to his team with a big grin on his face

When Jean thinks this about Neil RIGHT before the game where this all goes down:

"The smile that curved Nathaniel’s mouth was slow and hungry and hateful. It twitched a bit as Nathaniel tried to force it away, but he finally had to use the side of his hand to smooth it off his face. The look he turned on Jean was almost serene, but Jean still saw the madness in his eyes.”

I mean the layers to this are so good, I'm obsessed with the Neil/Nathaniel dynamic that goes on inside Neil