#and so does neil because they're BEST FRIENDS
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starrycassi · 3 months ago
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Ex raven Neil would be a menace for the jerejean relationship. Jeremy thinks he's scary now? Give Neil years of attachment to Jean as his one and only lifeline and you'll learn what terror really means. He doesn't even like Jean like that (definitely obsessed with that one foxes goalkeeper) but he WILL threaten anyone who even tries. He thinks it's funny. Jean is so used to it he just sighs and moves on. Jeremy ends up playing matchmaker to andreil JUST to get Neil out of his life because God is it scary to wake up and see blue eyes just staring at you. Mind you Neil is already on the foxes lineup. How in god's green earth he has enough time to show for dinner once a week Jeremy will never understand. He locks eyes with Andrew and they're both overcome by a neuro telepathical bond of suffering for whatever the hell that is. Last year it was as bad (for Andrew, at least) because Jean was still in the nest and Neil couldn't just come and go there, but now he can and does.
Jeremy is brave and all but having the known son of a Mafia boss in his face telling him very clearly that jean is first and foremost his best friend? Yeah no I would run for the hills Jeremy you stubborn fool that's a RED flag.
Bonus points if both Jean and Neil think this is Neil behaving. Jean is actually pleasantly surprised by how calm Neil is being.
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unsolicited-opinions · 9 days ago
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“you’re not immune to propaganda” applies to you too
Yes, it absolutely does!
Propaganda is baked into our daily reality so seamlessly and thoroughly that it mostly feels like common sense.
It's why we defend brands like they're old friends.
It's why we discuss celebrities we've never met and who don't know we exist as if we know their hearts, defending or condemning them based on how talented their publicists are.
It's why we confuse relatability for trustworthiness
It's why we mistake emotional resonance for moral principles.
It's why we think our opinions are purely self-generated despite being nudged by countless carefully curated narratives which have more (and more subtle) ways of reaching us than at any time in human history.
It's why we treat people's lives, public policy, and geopolitical matters like team sports.
It's why we need to constantly interrogate our own assumptions, habitually subjecting them to fact checking, methodical scrutiny, and cynicism.
It's why we need media literacy and media ecology to be taught to kids of all ages.
It's why everyone should read Orwell, Huxley, Neil Postman, and Marshal McLuhan.
It's why we should all study logic, rhetoric, and ethics - so we can understand and apply moral reasoning based on principles.
The point isn't whether or not we're affected by propaganda, because we all are.
The point is whether or not we know we're affected...which ironically is the exact blind spot that makes people think they're immune.
The moment you assume you're above that influence? That's when it's working best.
That's why, Anon, the post you're responding to didn't say "you are not immune to propoganda."
It said:
If you think you're immune to propaganda, that means the propaganda is working.
Hope that helps!
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maple-pies · 1 year ago
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AFTG from a D1 perspective
As a D1 athlete from a sport where men and women practice and compete together (thought we are separate teams) here are my thoughts ;)
Whenever the Foxes travel and stay in hotels they have to share rooms (but if Wymack is going to drop the $$ for shower stalls they def don't have to share beds like my team does) but I wonder if they randomize the rooms?? lots of potential there...
(however, USC?? They're big enough that I can def seeing them have to share beds hahahaha)
training trip? do they go on training trip Nora I need to know! Lacrosse sometimes does, so maybe exy would idk... (they go to Florida or PR, Kevin gets hella burnt and Neil gets freckles end of story)
Lift?? They have to be lifting!! I know Aaron and Andrew are really into it and Nicky and Allison fight over the aux
there are days where everyone gets along (even people who hate each other) and there are days where everyones HATES each other (even the people who are best friends) it just happens
men are always puking during practice. Aaron personally gives me big barf boy energy (Nicky canonically yaks already lol)
periods. Having men and women practice together means the women don't GAF about talking about periods while the men stare at their shoes and pretend not to hear hahahha
Abby definitely gets pissed at Wymack and lift coach (they have to have one okay??) for working the foxes too hard, it's the trainer's job to get pissed at coaches okay
just NCAA violations in general. We have to do quizzes and shit to show we know the rules we can't break/rules the school and coach have to follow. (I could make a whole separate post about all the NCAA violations broken haha)
this is no way saying aftg is inaccurate, it just means they didn't ever get caught which checks out
speaking of which, whenever Aaron get's pissed he definitely is like "And we went over 20 hours last week!! I could just report them!!" to Katelyn and she calms him down
Interactions with other teams/greek life. I know there have to be some mixers/athlete events, if not the Foxes then the Trojans for sure.
complaining about dining hall food, I know Kevin's pissed about seed oils or lack of protein, something stupid like that
hookups within the team. okay the Foxes are small, but that just makes it more messy. the trojans have insane teamcest I just know it. (being coed means even more hookups than normal) . cute relationship sex, hate sex, random sex between people you would not believe (i def don't know this from first hand experience what....)
I'm so excited for TSC because we get so see how a "normal" Exy team behaves (I put normal in quotations bc ppl need to understand that D1 athletes, esp ones on a team as good as USC, are definitely not normal people ahahha)
this is definitely just part 1
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God, it's truly one of the trickiest situations out there.
Because of course gaiman should be fired, he should not be in a leadership position anymore. But then, you have Pratchett, whose legacy does not deserve to be ruined.
And this is something I feel like people don't actually know - gaiman didn't write all of s2. Others wrote the flashbacks of s2, and many including me have said they're the best part. So there's definitive proof that gaiman does not need to helm the writing.
I'd say if @neil-gaiman actually does care about his friend, he should give all writing notes Pratchett had to other writers. Give everything there is, and all his current drafts, and then leave. Other people understand the influence of Pratchett in Good Omens, they will still honor him and his storytelling
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bee--28 · 6 months ago
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Dead Poets Society is so tragic guys, I can't. It starts off sad and ends heartbreaking.
Like, even Chris and Knox are sad to me cause well they're like so fucking sweet (when Chris agrees to go to the play and Knox does the little spin in the snow, ugh, so cute, I can't), Knox is also canonically an asshole and I hate him (in cannon).
No one gets to be happy, Neil offs himself, Charlie gets himself expelled, Cameron loses all his friends (by his own hand but like still, Neil was really kinda the only one who was nice to him and even then (they were all bystanders to Charlie's blatant bullying)), Meeks dies in war, Knox and Chris are probably gonna stay in their little toxic ass relationship because it's the fucking 50s, Pitts doesn't have a cannon tragedy but imagine you get told your best friend (and maybe more) died in war, that's bro's tragedy, and Todd loses the one person who made him feel welcomed and his only friend group falls apart within like 3 months of him being there (as an anxious person that'd break me, a friend group that was perfectly fine and functional before shatters within month of him being in it)
I want so desperately for them to be happy but it simply was never in the cards for them...
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theavantgardette · 6 months ago
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Richard Cameron SFW Alphabet . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
The long awaited content for your favorite, morally grey redhead! This is dedicated for my Cameron girlies sitting in the corner, waiting for content. I've got u.
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A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)
This is so cute because he's like... the opposite of Neil. He doesn't show affection too overtly, okay, I'm sorry. But you know what he does?
Richard has this thing where he makes sure your needs are taken care of. Often times, he slips on your shoes for you while you sit on the bed, and even kisses your ankle like a sweet oath before putting it on. But you have to pretend you didn't see or else he'll get bashful and deny it.
He calls Todd a stiff but my God is he one lol. But you find it cute. You don't mind. You like to tease him a lot about it.
He's such a 'but what will they say?' guy to a fault. Obviously. So you pull his arm and whisper real nice to his ear for him to settle down, and you have a talk to him about his problem. He listens, and you comb his hair tenderly.
It ends with him crying against your shoulder. He regrets it all, even after years being out of Welton Prep. It's like he's been doused with a bucket of ice water. He's so glad he's met you.
Richard would've worked himself to death ('m not kidding) had you not been with him. All he needs is for you to put your arms forward and softly call out his name and he'll surrender.
His touches (when in public) probably limit to a hand on your waist or a bit lower to your hips if he's tired, but he absolutely melts when you flirt with him all sweet. He just forgets resolve and does not care anymore — to home you'll go!
B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)
Honestly, I have to say you two probably met at university at the very least. He isn't the friends to lovers type y'all. If he wants you as his woman, then as his woman you'll be.
That's it. This is who you sign up for.
He'll spot you as "that cute girl across the room" (his words), and he'll begin 'courting' you. Like some wild animal.
But it's alright, he's the traditional type. Almost to a fault. He gives you roses one day, a nice dainty bouquet, and some courtesy chocolates. They're so tart and nice, and you can't help but question the rumors going around about how 'stuffy' and 'rigid' he is.
"Oh, thank you," you beamed, hugging the gifts tightly. He just looks down on you with a proud, half lidded gaze,
"It's no problem, what's not to give?"
He's entranced, girl. LOL.
C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)
(Don't tell anyone) He LOVES it. So much. Probably relies on them a little bit.
Come on, he's a man deep down alright. He loves being hugged and loved by a beautiful woman and you are the only one he wants.
You probably end up cooing and doting on him a lot because he's so cute. And this might be the right time to tell you he makes BIG money, girl (more on the next letter!)
D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down?How are they at cooking and cleaning?)
Okay, hello, this man brings home mighty cash. And he's so stable too.
Fine, in the context of poetry and art, he's an admitted loser at it. But that's only because his values align elsewhere; he's so ready to settle down, be loved by someone he devotes his life to, and treat them as they deserve to be treated.
There's a reason why he comes home at night with exhaustion on his eyelids, and somehow you still get presented with a medium-sized, deep turquoise velvet box that's shaped like a heart. Inside is a lovely necklace with an ornate ruby as the charm.
You kiss him with devotion and say your 'thank you's against his lips. He accepts them, limp with exhaustion. His briefcase plops on the floor as you take his hands. You're so proud of your husband. ଘ(੭◌ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ♡‧₊˚
G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)
He's gentle to you, not so much with himself;
Richard isn't too comfortable with anything below excellent. It's how he's been raised. When you mess up, he takes a deep breath, kisses your head and cleans the mess together with you — in any shape or form.
But when he makes a mistake? He feels like a total screw-up. He doesn't know what to do, he beats hinself up, he scowls and tries harder but he never takes it out on anything — let alone you.
One time, you noticed him being quite hard on himself, and you prepared him a cup of hot tea, some biscuits you made, and massaged his shoulders. He melted against you and cried against your lap.
This man is an anxious mess of someone who always tries their hardest. Reassure him and you'll be great.
H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)
He's the sweetest, most tender hugger. You feel so safe in his arms, it's like a shield around you.
Richard always has everything — and I mean every little thing — under control; he manages the bills, does the taxes (he prefers doing them for you, but you assure him you'd like to sit by him and accompany him. He's so thankful for this), and he always makes sure you get the best of the best. That's what he promised your father before he married you anyway, and he's big on keeping promises.
He hugs you when you're sad, brushes your stray hair away and kisses your forehead and temples. He lets you sit on his lap facing him, rubs your back, assures you you're his bestest girl and "we're gonna go through this together okay, hun?"
Yeah.
I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)
Quite slow ^_^ he wants it to mean as much as he values it, and he's a bit more modest with his emotions, so even he has to figure it out first.
But when he pursues you seriously, it'll only take him less than 2 months to profess. He knows what he wants, and he is not looking to waste your time.
He planned the whole thing out; dinner, nice refreshments, then under the moonlight will he tell you about his feelings. He even took note from Keating's lessons, albeit his love-hate relationship with them, and got a bit sentimental with it.
But it was all thrown off the hook when he saw how gorgeous you looked in your dress, all dolled up and ready to see him, smiling sweetly as you took his arm and greeted the night.
He blurted it out before the pasta even got to the table.
J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)
Richard would never admit it, but he gets more than a little bit bothered if his old alumni paid a little bit more attention to you than necessary;
They came over to your house, and of course Richard insisted you two serve them your prided jars of homemade cookies and some warm tea.
Charlie probably brags about his stocks being higher than usual or whatever it is business people discuss, and when you came downstairs, all went hurrahs in excitement to see how you're doing.
Once they all had their fair share of greeting you, of course your man had to dish them his classic "alright, alright, guys that's enough! settle down"
Yeah. You like him that way.
K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)
He does NOT want me to answer this one folks.
He kisses like a promise, like a little secret shared between the two of you. Only you know how truly sweet he can be.
He kisses to taste you, to tenderly encompass you in something that is truly his and yours, to grasp your chin between his thumb and forefinger and whisper something adoring against your lips.
He kisses like he's going to be there with you forever, like time stops and nothing else matters in this world. He knows you're his world, his globe, his life, all the essence that keeps him rejuvenated.
He needs you.
L = Little ones (How are they around children?)
Awkwardly sweet. He doesn't know what to do with his hands.
Say, you're supposed to babysit your best friend's son for the day, and for some reason he keeps babbling specifically for Richard.
You just stir his food on the stove and casually ask your husband to 'please watch over the baby, dear.'
He ends up reading a sports almanac for the tot.
Don't be mad at him, in his eyes it's genuine effort. And it keeps the baby occupied and entertained!
When the baby falls asleep after all is done, Richard smirks proudly at you.
'Ready to be a father,' he boasted, snaking an arm to your waist and leaning down to give you a kiss.
Lol.
M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)
He's a groggy guy, but he'll wake up early before the first bird even gets to chirp.
Richard kisses your temple, tucks you further in the blanket, slip into his robe and slippers and spends his time downstairs, on the porch.
He watches the neighbors go by on their bikes or on their daily stroll and smokes his pipe, polishing it with his satin handkerchief before and after each use.
Then he'll probably make you some pancakes (which lacked in sugar, so it just tasted like wheat) and diligently added a heap of blueberries and maple syrup on top.
You ate it together.
N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)
He is exhausted. The only leisure day for him is Saturday, so he'd prefer his nights then to be uninterrupted.
You'll run him (or both of you) a bath, and soak there before spending it in front of the fireplace. If it's Sunday, then he'll do his due work with the papers, pens, and manila files strewn across the carpet and coffee table. But if it's Saturday, then he'll just have an arm around your shoulder and discuss your next date out.
He has a scheduled life, okay. And you respect it (and find it attractive) 👀
O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)
AWWWWWWW If you've actually seen him, you'll know how sensitive he is.
From the beginning, he likes to talk about you, and he loves it when you talk about yourself. But when you asked about him, he nervously stammered.
He couldn't believe a girl as gorgeous as you could care so much about someone like him. It's impossible! he thought, but you beg to differ.
The more you spend time with one another, the more you knew about him. Richard told you about his mother, how he used to help her knit when his father's not home. He also spoke somewhat lovingly about his old man, how he used to take him to his work to learn all about the industry, even when he was small. But he also told you about how much pressure he faced when he was younger, how difficult it is to keep up with the others.
But he never, ever complains. Especially not when you smile so brightly each time he brings home something he bought on his own, or when he sees how beautifully you've decorated and maintained the home he's bought for the both of you.
He would never, ever think of trading his life with another. Not a chance.
P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)
He's a grumpy little baby, according to you. Never with others, just with you. His girl.
He would never openly admit if he's struggling or frustrated with something, unless you're there; then it's all "Aw, honey, I nicked my finger :((" or
"Man! I was excited for that game. Now it's all bull," and plops on your lap.
You just giggle and brush his hair back, kissing his forehead. Then he melts into your touch and you realize it was all a ruse.
Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)
Honestly, he's like a basic man, besides the fact that he stores every single thing he knows about you in his organizer.
Yes, he has a book dedicated for data inputting. That's Richard Cameron for ya.
He puts in your birth date, your favorite color, your favorite fabric, your favorite dress outlines and even ones he loves most on you, the spendings he's put out for you and planning for what's next (a.k.a. a section dedicated for you only).
Self explanatory.
R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)
Awwww he loved it when he took you to his parents' house and after (the very intense) dinner, you two sat on his doorstep and just... talked.
He held your fingers since they were freezing from the autumn cold, and you heave cold breaths against his blazer.
None of you wanted to go inside. He was giggling happily, all kissing your hair and hugging you close.
He wishes he could relive it again.
S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)
Okay, he is way too protective. It's like?? Your wife won't run or get kidnapped if you leave her side for one second dude you can chill out.
No, I'm so serious he is such a type-A so when you have to be separate from him, you have to be back at the time you tell him, or at least give him a call or a heads-up inbetween or else he'll get all anxious and worried about your wellbeing.
Your presence takes over his life girl </3 please take care of bro
T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)
A lot. And I mean... a little worryingly so.
He takes things seriously, has a principle that anything in life should be done with utmost excellence or else it's not worth it at all. This bleeds into your relationship in... interesting ways!
He gets you a teddy bear for your first anniversary. No, not those drugstore ones, an actual luxury brand teddy bear with a bejewelled neckline. Yes, its eyes sparkle too. And yes, you loved it.
He also planned a nice dinner with a view and an orchestra singing in the cafe (he aligned your schedules with the timetable the restaurant provided just to be able to see them), and you adored him the rest of the night.
In return, you've gifted him a nice watch with your initials embedded within it. He cried at the restaurant (he just couldn't hold it in) and ended up cuddling your teddy bear until you two got to the car.
U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)
This is so funny but he'd think you two are possibly the best couple out there in comparison to... like, anyone and everyone.
You've told him not to boast, but his life's hard work is invested in your relationship. It's hard for him not to!
Richard makes sure each time you two go out together that you are feeling your utmost best so he could relax the whole evening and! Well! Pridefully shove your existence to every conversation he can join.
You remind him later that everyone began rolling their eyes, but he shrugged and got some grapes for you two instead.
V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)
A lot. PLEASEEE did y'all see the GIF where he was joking around with Todd? Richard loves looking his best.
If Neil takes his time on doing house chores, Richard makes sure to put meticulous effort in ironing his shirts, gelling his hair, and even putting his trousers on the neatest he could.
He just knows looks mean everything in a shallow world, okay.
W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)
YES. Lol.
I know I talked about secure attachment and all that on Neil's post, but with this boy? If you ever leave him, his breath would be taken out of his throat.
He's the sobbing breathless and stutters, struggling to sy how he feels type.
Please take care of yourself. If you ever even fall sick with the slightest fever, he would never leave your bed. And this creates such a moral conflict because he knows he has to work but seeing his darling all red in cold sweat and whimpering in pain leaves his heart aching too much for him to think straight.
He ended up calling out of work. Don't worry, of course he scheduled it ahead. Classic.
X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)
He loves your childhood home. If you still lived there before you got together, once you did, he'd ask to visit you there almost every week.
It gives him a nice sense of optimism about the life you two could build together, and seeing your old pictures on the wall from when you were small tugged a heartstring he didn't even know he had in him.
Also he finds your bed there really snug.
Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)
He doesn't like any sense of laziness or sloth.
Richard is... a hard worker, to say the least. He's stable, he's reliable, and he's straightforward. He would be way down if his partner takes advantage of that or worse, refuses to meet him halfway.
He loves your spontaneity, but he also values the stability he could bring. If you two could find a good balance, then he'll find it so much more magical to cruise the waves of your love.
Yes, he calls it that.
Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)
He puts in snore blockers, like those clamps on your nose to keep you from snoring.
Richard read an article once or twice about the statistics of people's lives being affected negatively by sleep apnea and he's been shaken ever since.
It's okay, you take it off for him if you wake earlier and kiss him good morning right after.
Howzzat for a redemption arc, baby?
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taglist ⤷ @xpumk1n-p13x @olemotionalass @the-river-rix @freakyblud @the-undead-poets-society @irishcoffeeeyes @lc-27 @adriannlily @stephtuckerauthor @wolfstvrr
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perksofbeingpoet · 1 year ago
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☆ WHAT THE POETS' HOBBIES WOULD BE (IF THEY HAD NORMAL LIVES AND FREE TIME) ☆
MEEKS: something tells me meeks would be really into rollerblading or skating? idk i can really picture him as a skater boy, and i can see pittsie coming with him to try it out! meeks would be very chill about it, not trying to learn the coolest tricks or something, BUT he'd totally bring his skateboard everywhere and the poets would tease him about it like oh hey mr cool, do you skateboard? that's so cool i'm SWOONING, good that you brought it to the theatre in case there's a skateboarding emergency
PITTS: photography/videography. if he lived today, pittsie would totally be a youtuber, but i can see him always taking pictures or even "vlogging" in the canon era, too! he just enjoys capturing these memories, and at the end of every year, he'd do a sort of "best of this year" with the poets- i also see him as a big plant dad, not sure if he'd do it in the 60s though? but i can picture pittsie having several little succulents. oh and baking/cooking!! meeks always snacks on his stuff before it's ready and it drives pittsie insane
TODD: i know everyone's convinced todd would be into crocheting, but i honestly don't really see it? no hate whatsoever, i get where people get the idea but to be honest i think crocheting would make todd frustrated/anxious. this boy needs movement, something to do so his mind shuts up, and i think that's swimming. i honestly think todd would be a really dedicated swimmer, maybe to the point where it gets a bit unhealthy because he just throws himself into it to turn his thoughts off?
CHARLIE: yes this one is kinda obvious but charlie would totally pursue music if he had the time and means- he seems so passionate when he plays the saxophone, it's one of the few scenes where we get to see him not joking around, dismissing things with a quip and smirk, but earnestly enjoying something. charlie wouldn't only play, I totally picture him going to jazz clubs and loving to dance there and chat up girls. oh he'd also play video games as soon as they're available!
KNOX: i've mentioned this before but knox would 2000% learn how to play the guitar, and then proceed to play it at dps meetings and with chris. i know it sounds super douchy but honestly, i think knox wouldn't even notice that it comes off as annoying sometimes? he just really enjoys playing the guitar and wants to share that with others. also seems like someone who'd love running, i can see him being one of those people who go on 1 hour jogs in the morning :') Oh and drawing! But he'd be quite shy about it.
NEIL: this is so hard for some reason? 😭 i mean obviously he'd act, and probably go to the theatre quite often on top of that- i also think neil would like cycling, but other than that it's pretty difficult for me to think of what his hobbies would be- i kinda see him as just hanging out with friends a lot and going to parks etc. to chill when he's not at rehearsal. feel free to share your ideas if you have some!
CAMERON: dancing. he's SO ashamed of it and only does it in the comfort of his own room, but if cameron could do anything he wanted, i think he'd do ballet? HELP GUYS I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I FEEL SO SURE ABOUT THIS, CAMERON IS PRETTY MUCH BILLY ELLIOT IN MY MIND BUT HE NEVER GETS TO PURSUE BALLET/DANCING COS HE LIVES IN A TIME AND SOCIETY THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THAT?? WHY IS THIS SO CANON TO ME???? also crosswords.
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karmacharmeleon18 · 2 months ago
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i agree 100% with your kevin analysis wow. like truly didnt Mind him from neil's perspective but from jeans that man is a monster. jean having been almost beaten to death only for kevin to BRING HIS GIRLFRIEND WHO SUCKS to jeans recovery room without asking was just another example of how he cares what jean can give him but will never ever see him as a whole person. which leads me into my next point, i cant forgive kevin for it.
🥺 Hello anon and thank you so much for this message ❤
That's exactly it: I can't forgive Kevin either.
So I get exasperated when the fandom insists that Jean has to forgive him. Or that he has already forgiven him.
They think they are friends when Jean wants to see Kevin dead.
First example that comes to mind is how they think Jean was seething because "Kevin brother-zoned him haha" and not because Kevin was 1) comparing Jean to Riko, 2) being an absolute hypocrite because in what world do you betray your brother like that? and 3) because Kevin was inadvertently drawing a parallel between himself and Jean: Jean is an older brother, but unlike Kevin he would die to get a chance to protect Elodie, so don't you dare say we are brothers, Kevin Day, when you truly don't know what it means to act like one, when you left me to die.
Jean was a child when he was shipped off by his parents and still he blames himself for not being there to protect Elodie.
What Kevin did was unforgivable.
But the fandom has already forgiven him. So Jean is the issue here.
😤😤😤
This is also why I hate when the narrative/Nora lets Kevin act all bossy, high and mighty with Jean. Dude, you betrayed him and left him to be tortured to death??? At least say an heartfelt sorry? But no. He's Kevin Day. You're supposed to feel lucky he's even talking to you.
And I get it. I truly do. Kevin was a victim, like Thea was a victim, like all Ravens, present and past, were victims. But that doesn't mean that they can't be held accountable for their actions and words.
Jean is held accountable all the damn time and he went through horrors Kevin can't even begin to imagine.
The one time he accidentally hit Laila he was made to apologize and told that such behavior is not tolerated with the Trojans.
The coaches push him all the time to get out of his Raven ways, to the point that Jean feels publicly humiliated during training, reprimanded like a dog in front of all the Trojans.
And when he does his best to stop using Raven tricks? He is too focused, too perfect, abnormal, the Trojans dehumanize him and call him a robot.
And on top of that, Kevin Day shows up and starts telling him what to do and say, while at the same time being a complete hypocrite about his own drinking problem and personal issues.
And you are so, so right about Kevin not even asking if Jean feels like seeing Thea.
As a matter of fact, Jean is rarely asked anything. He's just expected to accept any decision that the people around him make for him.
But hey, at least this time his lack of agency doesn't come with abuse, so it's fine, right?
Ggggrrrrrr 😤
And I don't even want to think about what Thea told him anymore. This woman he looked up to as a child, who knew he was being passed around by the adults around them and blames Jean for it. I can't.
It all feels so unfair, you know?
Some characters are constantly held accountable for their misbehaviors, while others never are.
Thea and Kevin think they're perfect and most of the world agrees, so if you have a problem with it, it's your own issue.
Remember when Seth said: "I'm sick of him getting everything he wants just because he's Kevin Day -- His life is not more important than mine just because he's more talented."?
Gods how I hate to agree with Seth Gordon on anything, yet here we are 😤
Sending Jean to USC... maybe this is Kevin's way of asking for forgiveness, but... he still has so much to gain from it, you know?
He's not "helping" Jean simply out of the goodness of his heart, or in repentance.
He's doing it because Jean is the best backliner and he should be Court. And Kevin is the Queen of the Court and he only wants to be surrounded by the best.
As you said: "he cares what Jean can give him but will never ever see him as a whole person."
Two birds with one stone: he can feel better with his conscience and he gets to be responsible for the best backliner in collegiate Exy having a prosperous career in the future, which he will directly benefit from if all goes according to plan and Jean makes Court.
Wonderful PR too lol and we all know how much that matters to Kevin, how much he values appearances and being seen as the best not only on the court, but off of it. He gets to be the hero in Jean's story.
I'm so glad Nora adjusted her writing of Cat and Laila (to an extent) in TGR to reflect what Jean actually deserves: space and compassion.
Not people that just see him as a broken thing that need to be pushed into being better.
Now that I think of it, it's another parallel to Kevin and Neil.
Kevin pushes the Foxes to be better for him, because he wants to win.
The Trojans push Jean to get better for themselves, not out of malice but because they're too uncomfortable with Jean's trauma and want him to get over it.
Meanwhile Neil pushes the Foxes to be better for themselves.
And Jeremy pushes Jean to get better for Jean's benefit, because Jean deserves to get better.
And this is why Kevin and the Trojans fail, but Neil and Jeremy succeed (and now Cat, Laila and Rhemann too).
Thank you so much for your message ❤
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ulysses-s-wishes · 3 months ago
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Okay the time has come for me to elaborate: I've seen a lot of discussion about who has a brotherly relationship in All for the Game and I do think a lot of it comes down to people thinking that found family needs defined familial relationships, which is a post for a different day. So first off, I'd like to put in my two cents about which relationships are not brotherly:
Matt and Neil. They are friends. They're best friends. They're adorable together. There is nothing brotherly about their relationship. At most, Matt is the cool brother-in-law/boyfriend-of-your-older-sibling who looks out for you.
Andrew and Kevin. They have a messed up relationship (affectionate) but it is not brotherly. It's friendship. It's based in protectiveness and understanding, as some have said they are the first two who really saw each other. Andrew does have a messed up relationship with his actual brother, but it is so quintessentially brotherly it's insane. They didn't grow up together, but they understand each others' minds, they squabble and they would throw down with or for each other without a second of hesitation. Kevin and Andrew are family, but they are family because of their close friendship, not because they behave like siblings.
Jean and Neil. This comes the closest to a brotherly relationship. But in the end, they are too similar. And simultaneously too different. They care about each other and would protect each other and see where the other is coming from, but they match too well. They are misplaced forever partners. They see each others' whole backstory, and even if they had been in the nest together, they would have been two young boys struggling through together as one unit. Not as siblings.
You know who are brothers? Kevin and Neil.
Neil is the surrogate brother Riko never was. Kevin was raised to see his court partner as his brother because that was the actual Moriyama encouraged dynamic between them. (Jean simply saw his partner as that - he wouldn't have seen Neil as a sibling no matter what). So when Neil shows up, becomes striker, he is taking the role of Kevin's partner that Riko formerly held, except he actually respects Kevin - and Kevin respects him! He believes in his potential! They are just like Riko and Kevin, except they actually support each other!
Moreover, Kevin and Neil understand each others' pasts and upbringings, not because of how similar they are (like Jean and Neil) but simply because they can see it in the way they live. They resent each other for having different lives. They fundamentally cannot conceive of the other person's mindset, but at the same time they understand it perfectly. Their worldviews are inherently opposed, worldviews that have been beaten into them, and yet they both, individually, spit in the face of that for each other.
Neil was raised to put himself before everyone else, to form no attachments, to cut and run to save his own skin. He was raised to think nothing mattered short of his own survival. And yet he tells himself, tells the ghost of his mother "'one of us has to make it, Mom.' It wasn't going to be Neil...But maybe Kevin could do it... Neil couldn't leave until he knew Kevin would be okay." Neil spends two pages thinking about how it's unfair that Kevin got a family and a game even if that family was awful, thinking that Kevin has all of these people devoted to him, Andrew, Wymack, Neil himself - and Neil resents him for that. But in the same breath he reaffirms that he is devoted to Kevin, and thinks his own death would be worth at long as Kevin turned out okay. Which is so siblings stuck in a toxic environment? Constantly making sacrifices, hating their siblings but loving them more?
Neil hates him at this point, is furious that Kevin is so bossy and condescending, and this is before he even knows Kevin thinks he's court material, but when Kevin tells him how to improve, he does it, because he respects that Kevin is better than him, and Kevin respects that Neil can get as good as him - the very thing that was lacking in Kevin and Riko's partnership/brotherhood.
And on the reverse side! The premise of the books was the founding principle of Kevin's childhood: All for the game. Exy is the only thing that matters, and anything else can and should be sacrificed so long as Kevin is winning. Anything that is a distraction from the court, or the Court or the Perfect Court is a waste of time and energy, and must be disregarded. So when Kevin decides he's going to make Neil the best, it's okay because it's in service of the game. But then he finds out that Neil is going to die. Finds out that Neil has no plans of making it through the year, that even running won't save him. And Neil asks if he will still train him - it would make sense if he said no. Neil isn't going to make it to Court, he isn't going to be a phenomenal exy player, he isn't going to last long enough. He has, essentially, become a waste of Kevin's time. and yet still, Kevin promises to train him every night. Not to get him to Court, not to help them win championships and create a great team out of the Foxes, but because it's Neil's dying wish.
When Neil tells the press about his tattoo and he and Kevin fight, first of all, Andrew lets them because he knows they would never actually hurt each other - even Matt doesn't get that consideration, because Neil and Kevin's relationship is unique. But more importantly, Neil confronts Kevin. Tells him he's not judging him for his fear, but that he needs to be able to hold his own, needs to think of himself as capable of being free or this is all for nothing and most importantly says he doesn't understand how Kevin can keep his head down when he's the one of the two of them who will actually survive, will be good enough for court, will have a life. And Kevin says that Andrew had told him the same - but it's clearly hitting differently coming from Neil - and that he isn't like Neil. He admires Neil's refusal to take anything lying down so much, even though he can't conceive it. There are characters in this book who are similar, but none who are so different yet so in tune with each others' mindset.
They fight, they bicker, they insult each other, Neil smacks Kevin upside the head for being a pessimist, and then they turn around and have each others' back. They aren't protectors like Andrew is for them, but they are protectors like Andrew and Aaron are for each other. They aren't partners like Jean and Neil would have been, they're partners like Kevin and Riko claimed to be.
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eclipse-rain · 27 days ago
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How does moi imagine the jerejean proposal you ask? well sit down and let me set the scene
Jean waits around a year after same sex marriage was legalised to propose even though Cat and Laila almost proposed to each other on the spot and got married soon after. There's alot to take into consideration with sharing his family name and his contract with the Moriyama's so Jean is against it at first, once again thinking of whats best for them, for their survival, rather than what they want.
They talk about it a few times and he starts warming uo to the idea, that maybe nothing bad will happen, as Jeremy reassures him over again each time. He even asks Kevin and Neil some questions about it (reluctantly but oh the things does for love).
Eventually he decides to propose. They take a trip to Marseilles, one they've been planning for a long time and are finally doing. He proposed here for many reasons. Firstly it's where he was born, where Elodie was born, and he wants to be able to share this beautiful place with Jeremy. Secondly he has bad memories here as well as good and instead of focusing on the bad he can use this as an opportunity to gain a new memory he can look back on when he thinks of the place he was born, a good one this time.
He takes Jeremy to a daffodil field, one that overlooks the sea, like the one from the painting. The one where he remembers a small girl with raven hair standing and looking out to the ocean, where he now sees a man, who reflects the colour of the flowers around him, doing the same.
They set down a small blanket to sit down on and they've been there for a short while. Got comfortable, talked, laughed, smiled, joked, maybe they even had some food. Next thing, Jeremy is looking out at the ocean, arms around his legs, and Jean is looking at Jeremy and this is it. Jean pulls out the ring box from his pocket and Jeremy turns back around to see Jean, on one knee, proposing.
Jeremy doesn't say anything yet, doesn't want to ruin the moment, something he knows Jean must have thought alot about. So he turns to fully face Jean, his hands coming up, in almost a prayer, to rest over his lips just in case. His eyes are already filling with tears, and he's waiting, so patiently. So very patiently but god he thinks his heart is actually going to beat out of his chest.
Jean has come so far that he no longer has to surrender to a master, has to bend to the will of a captain or vice-captain, he can make his own choices now. And he tells Jeremy as much before saying "I choose you. Will you choose me?"
Jeremy just about loses it. Sobbing while saying yes and hugging him and almost forgetting theres a ring he gets to put on to make it official. But eventually when he calms a bit Jean slides it onto his finger, feeling his own rapid heart beat going back to a normal rhythm.
When they go back home and meet up with the Floozies Jeremy says they have a surprise and holds up his and Jean's interlocked hands with the ring on. (Cat and Laila knew about Jean proposing beforehand). The Floozies go batshit, start jumping around them because they know Jean doesn't like to be touched. They're shouting and screaming excitedly, happy chatter ensues and Jeremy is content to indulge them, trying to entertain all of their questions and congratulations.
Jean gets caught off guard by their natural boisterousness and silly antics once again but instead of being uncomfortable like he used to be he's relaxed into it. He glances at Jeremy and catches his smiling eyes in between their friends foolish behaviour and for the first time ever he smiles so very genuinely, without even realising it. Head titled down just a bit, calm and a little reserved with canine teeth showing just slightly. A little disbelieving but content half laugh/half sigh escapes him.
They all just stop and stare at him. They had never thought Jean would be able to smile like that after everything that happened to him. It was so much more than they could have hoped for. Never mind going batshit anymore they're all teary eyed and a few of them are actually crying.
They still end up tackling Jeremy into as many hugs as possible (Cat, Laila and Cody all hug Jean alot less violently) because look how far they've seen them both come from when they first met them and now they have their happy ending.
-
I imagine for wedding rings Jeremy has a gold band and Jean has a silver one and they have either their own or each others initials on them, maybe both. And i think Jeremy's says 'toujour ensemble' (together always) or something sweet like that, curtesy of Jean getting it engraved.
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bluemirrorangel · 9 months ago
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Dead poets' society ship headcanons feelings realisation + confessions 
these are mainly modern headcanons.
Anderperry:
 SO MUCH PINING
Todd kind of had a thing for Neil from the start but thought it was just admiration  until the scene where Neil promises to take care of him. 
And Neil always found Todd interesting but realised his feelings when Todd improv’d his poem in class.
I feel like they would have kissed after the play if they had the chance 
Wrote each other christmas cards over the winter break with sickeningly sweet messages in them.
Crazy amounts of pda, nothing huge but they're always touching each other; holding hands, arms thrown around the others neck, leaning on each other like they don’t have their own spines.
knarlie:
Charlie’d  had a crush on Knox ever since they met but assumed it would just go away naturally… it did not
Only realised how much he liked him when Knox met Chris
Tried so hard to be a  supportive best friend, would give Knox a pep talk and then go to his dorm and scream into his pillow 
The longing went crazy
Knox didn’t figure out he liked Charlie until after his relationship with Chris ended.
The moment he realised he liked Charlie he decided to woo the ever loving shit out of him.
Confessed to him at a dead poets society meeting.
The fun couple™ 
Mitts: 
Never got together officially just kind of figured out that they liked each other simultaneously and decided to go with it
Childhood friends
Always together
None of the other poets know about their relationship because they’ve always been like that
Only figure out how much they need each other when they graduate and get into  separate colleges 
Always paired up in every subject in school
They work better together because each one makes up for the other’s weakness
Chameron: 
As much as I love the idea that Cameron and Charlie used to be close pre-canon,
I personally believe their relationship has always been strained.
Cameron idolises Neil, because Neil was the only one who really made an effort to include him so Cameron would try and hang out with him as much as possible, that’s how he ended up meeting Charlie
Cameron has always liked Charlie and Envied him for how free he is (In my opinion Cameron has one of the biggest cases of eldest daughter syndrome i’ve ever seen.)
Charlie and Cameron become roommates and despite how badly they treat each other and how mean Charlie gets Cameron still does his hardest to take care of Charlie (i.e he helps Charlie with trigonometry even after Charlie’s spent the better part of an hour mocking him.) because he can not STAND the idea of being disliked by anyone.
Gets frustrated easily by Charlie because he feels like he’s wasting his potential.
Cameron realises how much he cares about Charlie because of the saxophone scene, he was genuinely taken aback by how talented and sincere he was being about something. 
Charlie has no idea he likes Cameron
 He's always been a little fixated on Cameron and  what started as thinly veiled concern quickly became resentment at Cameron’s refusal to have fun.
While Charlie makes fun of Cameron to get a reaction out of him it’s also to prove to himself that Cameron is still a teenager and not just some uptight golden boy with an inability to think for himself, he gets a strange sense of satisfaction from making Cameron loosen up and act human for once.
The closest they’re dynamic has ever come to banter was the back and forth they had  when Charlie told the other poets that his parents made him take clarinet lessons when he was younger.
It isn’t  until Cameron snitches on them that Charlie figures  his shit out, why Cameron’s betrayal  hurt him more than anyone else and that’s why he punches him.
Charlie knows he’ll get expelled but he does it anyway because he can handle liking an uptight, overly cautious, teacher's pet but he draws the line at sharing a room with a traitor, draws the line at loving a coward.  
Cameron doesn’t pine he yearns, yearns for someone he barely knew
He spends the rest of his years at Welton alone, grieving the death of one of his best friends and mourning the end of something that never even started.
The only way these two could ever have a happy ending together is if they went to therapy and if  Welton had a reunion.
leave a ship or fandom suggestions and I’ll do headcanons for them if you want :)
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dykekarkat · 5 months ago
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HTTYD AU?!?!?! pls tell me more.........
YIPPEE ^-^ A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT MY MOST BELOVED AU
i watched httyd 1 recently (one of my favorite movies of all time) and as i was sitting there i went "wow...wouldn't it be cool if this was all for the game" bcus i have terminal aftg disease.
basically in this au neil is hiccup, andrew is astrid, and kevin is toothless. originally, i thought about doing a simple 'neil on the run but this time dragons exist and the foxes run berk blah blah' but then i got the idea to put nathan as stoic which...oh it's so fun. so now you have a neil who's been with his father his whole life, the foxes who live in nathan's village, and the New Kids nicky, aaron, and andrew minyard.
nathan manipulating the situation on berk to make everyone hate dragons (neil character trait moment) and go to war against them with fervor while neil refuses to fight them (bcus men have always been the monsters in his life). all of the foxes would be the equivalent of hiccup's dragon riders so they're being trained to kill dragons, with dan being the best (and andrew would b the best if he gave a shit. which he doesn't). wymack is gobber bcus i am imagining a really elaborate hate filled slightly homoerotic dynamic between him and nathan (there's backstory here but basically nathan mutinied the village and stole the chief position from wymack), and also because having him as the one training the kids (more similar to self defense than anything) and the one running the forge with neil (ostracized similar to hiccup) is just right to me.
THE FUN STUFF is getting to introduce kevin as toothless ^-^ i'm stealing the concept of dragons being able to communicate with humans from the httyd book series, idk if i want to go the dragonese route (language in the book) or a telepathy route so tbd. neil is the one to injure kevin's tail, except this time it was purely on accident. his decision to create a way for kevin to still fly is basically him wanting to take responsibility, and because kevin is really adamant about getting back to a nest for some reason....kevin is still his haughty asshole self but now he's a dragon, and in the beginning neil and him spend a lot of time circling each other before kevin will accept his help.
IN THE BACKGROUND or well not really in the background because this will probably become a switch pov story, andrew is watching everything happening with slight curiousity. i'm not changing his canon backstory much, but know at this point drake and tilda are both dead, also no drugs bcus i dont want to <3. aaron and him are still not close / fighting, but they aren't in forced proximity at the same level bcus aaron is apprenticing under abby NOT training to kill dragons like andrew. in httyd astrid starts paying attention to hiccup out of jealousy / curiosity, but here it's more like andrew does not trust neil and he Especially doesn't trust their chief nathan so he's going to get to the bottom of it (also he's crushing not that he'd admit it). now just imagine kevin and andrew meeting for the first time similar to toothless and astrid, okay you've got that in your head right? now imagine andrew being the one forced to fly very high up on a dragon as neil pleads his case about not killing his only friend (the dragon).
anyway this got long and idk if any of this makes sense and maybe no one else cares but andreil with their dragon bestie kevin...it's everything to me...
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jtl-fics · 11 days ago
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9. Has any of them had to be saved from the brink of death? Were there any consequences after?
Torturing your OCs Ask Game
9. So.......Smith works for Ichirou after college. He tells Jackson and Matthew because they're his partners and he feels that more than anyone they deserve to know so they can make the decision on whether or not to stay with him. It's hard for Jackson because he lost Seth to Riko's machinations and it makes him hate Neil Josten all the more but he doesn't want to lose Smith.
He, however, does not tell any of the Foxes. Mostly because they're all already so entrenched with the Moriyamas due to Neil's deal with Ichirou and also he knows that if Neil found out that Smith joined the Moriyamas specifically because Ichirou threatened Neil's life then his Captain would feel bad.
This all comes to a head when Smith is with Ichirou working on making a deal with a family that goes south and Smith takes a bullet for the crime lord (not intentionally, in true Smith fashion it is a sequence of events that make him look a lot more heroic than he actually meant to). The Moriyamas get him out of there and get him to a hospital with great care but it's still looking bad for a while.
Jackson, who already has a lot of trauma regarding the Moriyamas having people he love be killed (RIP Seth), goes absolutely apeshit to Ichirou and it is only by the grace of 'this dude's partner just took a bullet for me' that Ichirou tolerates that shit.
However it does keep Ichirou back long enough that the Foxes arrive and see him in the hallway outside Smith's room and hear him confirm that Smith is one of his men.
The Foxes find out that their second youngest (of like the main squad and Robin is the youngest) is stuck working for the Moriyamas because Ichirou threatened the safety of Neil, Kevin, and Jean. Jackson, who is already feeling a lot of things and has the medical authority over Smith to make decisions, kicks them all out (The Foxes, the hospital has mafia ties so if Ichirou wants to stay then the MF is gonna stay, it just so happens that Ichirou has other things to do that day now that his translator is in good hands).
Smith wakes up finds out that the Foxes know about the whole Ichirou thing and proceeds to have a panic attack about that. He's a little a lot worried that this'll be the nail in the coffin for his friendships with them and figures that if he just....avoids them forever then they can remain as best friends forever. It is perfect logic. Don't question it.
Cue three months where Smith, with the assistance of Jackson and Matthew (mostly Jackson since he's got beef) avoids the ever loving shit out of the Foxes until they can all converge on his house and forcibly make their point that Smith is still their friend and that he should quit working for Ichirou and let them deal with the consequences of that.
Except, by this point, Smith kind of likes his job? Like yeah there is the whole 'totally illegal' thing but Smith likes to think he's done a lot of good working for Ichirou since he kind of ended up as Ichirou's little Jiminy Cricket and he has excellent health / dental / life insurance, a 401k 50% match, ample PTO, flexible hours with crime from home options, and it pays a shitload.
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5a-alf · 3 months ago
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I have two Andreil Dear Evan Hensen!AU idea and idk which would be funnier
In both, Neil is Evan, but in one Andrew is Connor and in the other Aaron is (in both cases, neither are actually dead, differently from actual Connor)
Andrew writing his name in big letter on Neil's cast to flirt while he is high. Everyone assuming they are friends, while Neil is like??? But in this AU Neil is the new kid in town (him and his mom there under witness protection) and this is the first time people interact with him, and honestly he kind of panics because he can't be involved in anything weird, and a missing/presumed dead kid IS weird, especially right after he wrote his name on your cast. So he lies. "Sure we were friends. Best of friends. Go way back"
And in all of this we have Aaron who is both wrecked with grief but also somewhat relieved, because this is the twin he knew nothing about for years and then the guy got him forcefully clean and is violent and harsh and manic all the damn time. He couldn't have friends or relationships, so now he can actually go out openly with Kathelin, and that feels good... and he feels guilt about being glad for the freedmon because he never would have wanted at the price of his brother, but now he has it...it's complicated.
And Aaron know Neil's lying. The fuck is this guy talking about, being friends with Andrew? Andrew didn't have friends. What the fuck.
They fight a lot, bicker all the damn time, but Neil is firm in the lie and then he gets invested in this guy he didn't know but now kind of does? He went through all his things, people stop him in the hallway to tell him each and every interaction they had with Andrew to remember him together ecc
And then his death just doesn't really add up?
To Neil it looks like something happened to this kid but everyone was ready to assume he committed suicide because of his history and never looked further than that. So he and Aaron start investigating and low and behold Andrew is actually alive (not well tho).
Then well, the truth comes out, everything goes a bit to shit, but Andrew is like.. damn that guy i was flirting with took the time and effort to look for me and redeem me in the eyes of half our peers ecc i'll go flirt some more ...happy ever after.
THE OTHER WAY AROUND:
In this one Aaron is Connor, and he is not clean yet (because he and Andrew are living with adultsTM and he can't just close the dude in the bathroom for a week) and he overdoses (well if he does, he dies, but if we want him alive then they presume he overdoses, he is just missing). Why would he write his name on Neil's cast? To be an asshole. Just that lol. "Oh you stare at my brother? You think he's a freak? Fuck you"
Again, Neil goes along with everyone assuming they were friends, but Andrew’s is onto him. Angrily. With knives.
Anyway.
This goes a bit more like the original DEH, with Neil and Andrew getting closer while Neil helps him work through the grief of losing Aaron.
[And if Aaron is actually alive he is aghast in discovering that the little asshole that stared at his brother is now WITH his brother. And that everyone thinks they're friends]
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theshippirate22 · 8 months ago
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Before it all happens, Charlie and Todd are friends. Of course they are; they're Welton boys and study partners and dead poets alike, so there's got to be some kind of connection between them. But they don't really talk to each other. The only thing they've got in common is Neil, and he's always there to converse between them.
But then it does happen, and suddenly there is no Neil, no middle ground. Todd is swallowed up by his own misery and Charlie is so angry, in a way that can only be attributed to unadulterated grief. He gets kicked out of Welton, and Todd isn't sure why that makes him feel even worse. It's just another loss, he supposes. Another rift in their group of misfits.
Charlie's still angry, though. He writes letters to Cameron saying horrible, cruel things because it's the only way he can get through it, and at first, Cameron is upset, only because he's guilty, and he turns in the letters to Mr. Nolan again and again, until they stop coming addressed to him, and start showing up for the other poets but with the explicit instruction to give to Cameron. The other boys don't, but they keep them with them because it's the only tie to Charlie they still have.
Todd gets one, finally, and reads it over out of morbid curiosity, and even though it's awful and inhumane, he's shocked that Charlie's anger sounds so similar to his sadness. While Todd is so overwhelmed he can barely speak, Charlie is so overwhelmed, he's bursting, screaming and biting at anyone that can get near.
Todd responds to his letter, mapping out his own circular thought trap regarding Neil, complete with his guilt and inescapable agony. Charlie responds with a similar one, this time not directed at Cameron. It goes on and on, this back and forth rant to each other, until eventually the letters' content shifts some. Charlie starts to tell him about how his new school is entirely different and Todd fills him in on what's happening back at his old stomping grounds, and it gets to the point that they both wait eagerly for mail day so they can hear from each other.
Charlie comes to their graduation. No one will look at him, or talk to him. Which isn't too different than how it's been, because Knox is the only one that will talk to Todd, and Meeks and Pitts seem to only talk amongst themselves. It's lonely, for all of them, without Neil to hold the group together.
But Todd meets Charlie's eye, and there's a moment, a singular moment, when they realize that they are friends now. That Todd has seen the worst in Charlie and been unafraid, and that Charlie has seen all the embarrassing nastiness in Todd and remained unrevolted, and they talk to each other. Promise to keep up over the summer.
When Charlie writes to tell him he's going to Yale, Todd tells his parents he wants to go to Yale too.
Todd's roommate doesn't like him very much, because he's quiet and doesn't like to drink, so he spends a lot of time at Charlie's dorm. Charlie is different than before; he's become overly aware of his own mortality and he's suddenly not interested in being reckless or stupid or defiant, because he's seen where it gets you. He's still Charlie, of course, just a little grown up.
It's awkward at first, because they simultaneously know everything about each other and still nothing, but they manage to make it work, and it's good for them, because it makes the massive, lonely world they're being thrust into a little less lonely.
They graduate the same spring, although Todd is the banker because it's quiet and reserved and emotionless and Charlie, having figured out the best avenue for his unbridled rage- which had never quite cooled off- was debate, as a lawyer. When Todd's offered a job in North Carolina, Charlie mentions he could go with him. He's been looking at firms down there... and well, they've only got each other.
And so it continues, for decades. One of them going somewhere and the other following because it's all they have. Because when both of them managed to hit rock bottom, there was only each other. Todd learns to cook, and Charlie fixes Todd's beater car when it decides it won't start on cold mornings and after long, repetitive days, Todd is eager to get back to Charlie's energy and on demanding, frantic days in court, Charlie starts to dream of Todd's softness.
Knox mentions, when he comes to visit one singular time nearly a decade after graduation, that it's an odd pairing, but it makes sense, somehow.
Slowly, friendship becomes fondness, and that becomes... something else entirely, until one night Todd is crying at the sink over something he can't quite articulate and Charlie's only response is to hold him around the waist and kiss the tears from his cheeks.
And Knox is right, in no world should this pairing work. Todd was under the impression that the only person he would ever love had died in 1959, and Charlie believed there was no romantic love that could rival the sheer platonic brotherhood he had with Neil, so there was no point, but Todd had his arms around his neck and there was something there in their needy, perfect kiss.
But it makes sense, too. That the two men who loved Neil the most in the whole world could find a way to love each other. And they do, God, they do! And its profound and excellent and perfect, odd as it is.
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cosmmicdancer · 4 months ago
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The people want to know- please share Jean Andrew thoughts 👀👀👀
hello anon, thank u for coming into my inbox and giving me the excuse to share more about my jeandrew au that's been living in my head rent free for the past few weeks
you can read the jeandrew fic i posted for kinkuary here
it got real long so im gonna put it under the cut, hope u enjoy <333
- in this au kevneil get together in college, andrew is their best friend. Jean still leaves the nest and goes to the trojans
- jean and andrew get drafted to the same pro team, neither of them interact much, maybe a nod or half smile after a good play. stays that way until they play kevin amd neils team, who invite them out after the game. kevneil are being argumentative and flirty so jean keeps making sarcastic comments under his breath and andrew doesnt laugh but he does buy jean drinks for the rest of the night
- they start bonding at an away match when neither of them can sleep they don't talk much but there's an understanding
- they're fwb whilst they play for the same team & the mutual understanding of their similar trauma allows them to experiment sexually in a safe environment
- andrew gets drafted away after a couple of seasons, cue both of them pining because turns out they def want to be more than friends
- jean flies out to whichever state andrew ends up at, legit romcom moment, standing in the rain, jean has a bunch of flowers because he is a romantic goddamit
- andrew is fucking obsessed with thia giant stood on his doorstep like a bedraggled cat & hates that he absolutely loves the fact that jean wants to romance him
- cue years of long distance, whilst they play on different teams. when they both retire they move in together, in the same city kevneil are still play. renee and jeremy are also close by. family finally together yayayyaya.
- their favourite date night is going to their local pretentious arthouse cinema then going for ice cream afterwards and shit talking whatever they saw
- jean write andrew poems, which andrew never mentions but keeps in a box in his bedside table
- they both love watching cooking shows, and andrew recreates whatever jean seems most interesting in
- kev and neil get cats and neil is convinced that cats are the source of pure happiness so when jeandrew are still long distance neil shows up on andrews doorstep with a cat hands it over without a word
- he does the same thing to jean
- kevneil love to argue about who clocked jeandrew first but what they don't know is that renee placed a bet on them with jeremy the second andrew started on jeans team
- jean is the only person andrew would ever submit to in the bedroom and jean takes this v seriously
- Andrew drives most of their d/s dynamic, jean only feels comfortable trying things that andrew wants
- jean will eventually ask for things but not until a few years into their retirement
- once they retire they get a dog, and then another one, and then another cat
- all of their pets come from Neil showing up, knowing exactly who can look after a small animal that needs a gentle home
- jeans favourite part of retirement is taking the dogs out on a hike, andrew refuses to go but saves all the photos jean sends him from his walks to a special folder in his phone
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