#how would you as an exy fan even feel

[ninyard]

do you think there's conspiracies in universe about what Neil said to Riko to make Riko try to hit him

Oh definitely.

And I feel like there would have to be someone who can read lips who at some point makes a youtube video or something about what Neil said to him. Like, Neil didn't have his helmet on. SOMEONE would be able to see what he said.

Also it'd be a body language analyst's dream. The buzzer goes off, Neil looks at the scoreboard, Riko looks at the scoreboard. Neil doesn't even have the energy to smile, maybe relief or disbelief in his shoulders, and he takes that deep breath. He says something, then Riko tenses up, his face changes, hands tighten around the racquet (and then Andrew starts running).

[afurtivecake]

One thing I've been wondering is how much did Riko really see Kevin as a brother and how much did he see him as a possession? (And is there really a distinction between the two in Riko's eyes?) Because, I don't think Kevin was ever meant to be Riko's brother or Riko's equal on the court. I think Tetsuji took Kevin in as an investment, nothing more:

"Tetsuji never formally adopted Kevin. Do you know why? Moriyamas don't believe in outsiders or equals. Tetsuji took Kevin in and took over his training, but he also gave Kevin to Riko—literally. Kevin isn't human to them. He's a project. He's a pet, and it's Riko's name on his leash. Sakavic, Nora. The Foxhole Court (All for the Game Book 1) (p. 88).

To the outside world, Tetsuji taking custody over both Riko and Kevin would have looked like him adopting them and making them brothers, but "Moriyamas don't believe in outsiders or equals" so what reason would he have had to lead Riko to believe that Kevin would be his brother? A brother implies a level of equality. He probably thought this will be a learning experience for Riko: give him something to be responsible for, something that he has to learn to control because he's a Moriyama and it's about time he learned how dominate lesser beings. He probably imagined Kevin to be something like Jean was: an obedient servant who can take being beaten within and inch of his life semi-regularly, no sense of autonomy, blindly submissive, and still able to be one of the top players in his position. A valuable right-hand man perhaps, but nothing worth kicking up a fuss over.

I think (and this might just be me wanting a good story) that the whole "brothers" thing came from Riko. A neglected kid with nothing and no one to call him 'family' receives a boy, who doesn't have anyone to call him family either, and is told, "This is yours now. This is yours to mind. Do whatever you want with him but make sure he knows his place and knows how to obey the right people." To a kid who's longing for something to call his own and someone to recognize him as family, that could easily have sounded like, "This is yours now, your person, to be by your side always. Yours to tend, yours to keep, yours." I think Tetsuji said "possession" and Riko heard, "brother". And if that's not what a brother actually is, well, who's going to tell him that? It's not as if there's a single example of a normal family relationship to be found among the Ravens.

I think Riko made Kevin his brother because he wanted something more than a possession. He wanted an ally, someone who always has his back and would never leave him. Riko making Kevin his brother instead of just a pet as was intended, gave Kevin a degree a freedom that Tetsuji probably wouldn't have allowed otherwise: travelling outside of the country with Riko, not always being stuck inside Evermore, studying what he wanted...he even got to have interests and to enjoy exy even when he wasn't playing (being a Trojans fan) and he managed to have friends outside of Evermore (Jeremy). Ravens don't have family or an identity outside of being a Raven, but Riko made Kevin his brother and gave him the chance to become his own person.

If Riko considers Kevin a brother, how can he turn around and hurt Kevin like he's nothing more than a possession, you ask? Well, I'm not sure he sees any conflict between the two. To Riko, beating Kevin up isn't outside of what Riko understands as "family" and doting on Kevin as a brother doesn't go against what Riko sees as ownership. To Tetsuji, ownership might only include being able to treat a person like shit without consequence. But for Riko, allowing Kevin freedom and indulging his "whims" probably feels as much like ownership as hurting Kevin without recourse does.

It seems impossible and stupid for their relationship to be anything other than toxic and deeply fucked up, but I think Riko selfishly believed that so long as he kept things in check, so long as Kevin stayed exactly where he was, he'd get to keep him. Even when Riko starts suspecting that other people are starting to see that Kevin might be better than him, even when being brothers is no longer useful to him if he wants to prove that he's really a Moriyama, Riko can't let go of their brotherhood. He doesn't give Kevin up until the very end. He can't. No matter how angry he gets at Kevin, no matter how much he comes to enjoy seeing Kevin hurt and sorry, there are lines he can't quite bring himself to cross. Because Kevin is still his brother. Because for better or for worse, he made Kevin mean something more to him than a possession when he made him his brother.

I don't think Tetsuji expected Riko to cling on to Kevin as though Kevin was actually important. He didn't think that by partnering the two, by giving them a common goal and a common enemy, that it would create a bond between them. But they did and maybe, in some ways, their dysfunctional relationship both saved them and doomed them.

[palmettoshenanigans]

What I love about TSC is that Jean's pov of the championship game gave us an insight into what literally everyone paying attention to Collegiate Exy was probably thinking. Like, no one believed in the Foxes. Not even because they may have been Raven fans, I'm sure plenty of folks were rooting for the underdog here but I don't think anyone actually believed the underdog would win.

Like, there was no chance! At most people were tuning in to see how good of a fight the Foxes gave before losing, to see how many shots Andrew could block, to see how Kevin and Neil would fair against Riko again. That's it. "They'll lose but they'll put up a hell of a fight before they do" and that's what was exciting about that game.

The Foxes will lose. That's a given. Let's see how hard they fight regardless. It'll be interesting.

But then, when everyone starts to notice that the point gap is closing??? Neil switching positions??? Kevin switching hands??? Andrew shutting out the goal???

PARADIGM SHIFTING ENERGY - everyone's minds got rewritten in less than ten minutes and it's like,,, really??? Is this really- are they- is it- are they gonna- what the fuck-

AND THEN THEY WIN!

I love me a good AFTG socmed but the best ones are live reactions to the final game, the ones that encapsulate this fuck wild ride

Thank you Jean for showing us first hand what that feels like on the inside

[boytoykevinday]

Exyblr Dashboard Simulator based on what I personally see on sportsblr:

6/?

📜 realexyblog

jean moreau stans make me SCREAM like you know NOTHING about that boy. like good for y'all but. i'm pretty sure no one has ever even heard him talk.

👁 jean-mor-uhoh

we know that he is french, tall, and a defenseman. we don't need anything else

👨🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻 talk-exy-to-me

*u forgot the sad grey eyes, dark hair, and bad posture.

#bout to create a whole ass man w the knowledge he's a backliner and french, watch this space

547 notes

👸🏻 kevindazed follow

if no one calls kevin day princess to make him blush what's even the point of it all. huh. what's even the point.

#🙄 better be calling that girl princess every day of his life!!!! neil do it for the people!!!!

430 notes

🫡 exyisntreal follow

hey exyblr how we feeling about neil josten being the son of a gangster

🐋 sexyexy

wasn't on my neil bingo but maybe it should have been

💃fox-me-up follow

makes this kevneil mafia au i'm working on,,,,a little awkward askdhf

🙀 catboyneiljosten

ngl. kinda hot.

#kevneil mafia au tho 👀

589 notes

🥰 boytoyjeremyknox follow

had a dream i asked jeremy knox to sign my thigh so i could get it tattooed but dream jeremy spelled his name wrong. dream me still got it tattooed tho

jerm knox fans rise!!!!! dumb blonde rep we need

😎 foxyknoxy

JERM

🏳️‍🌈 gay4stickball follow

jerm and jean bout to take over the world babbyyy!!!!

#wonder how he feels knowing your dream version of him is a himbo #i mean same lmao but whatever

256 notes

👅 nastyneiljosten

oh, you chose your favourite team based on something that ISN'T 'breedability' ??????? unrealistic

🧸 mreow-bearcats-mreow

you are not seeing heaven (affectionate)

👅 nastyneiljosten

tbf sometimes i choose exy teams bc of how good the fic for the team is.

#you chose to be friends w me so u have to deal w this

189 notes

🙈 ittybittyminny follow

love the concept of andrew minyard. like. he's 5'0". he's almost killed multiple people. his bro HAS killed someone. could be the best in the world if he tried. he's a fox, so ya know. whatever comes with THAT. ugh he's a bug i want to study............always around but never at the forefront so you don't really KNOW. he's a martyr. he’s never done anything wrong……besides the whole juvie probably/almost killed someone……he is a girl……..he is the bestest boy………..he is a malewife………he’s a poor little meow meow……probably would rip me to shreds for even THINKING that. also he's a goalie.

#the being a goalie part adds an entire layer to him #zero goaliess are at all normal #andrew minyard #psu #goalie tag

679 notes

🌸 a-softer-exy

kevin day

#kevin day #psu foxes #palmetto foxes #exy #poetry #palmetto #edgar allen university #web weave

760 notes

[trekbait]

The perfect pet doesn’t exi-

Your starship is your home and keeping a pet in your quarters can be essential companionship while on a multi-year mission in deep space. We give you a rundown of some of the most popular pets kept in Starfleet!

Sehlats

These lovable fannged teddybear like creatures make wonderful companions with their soft fur and loyalty. However, they are surprisingly large so you may struggle to find space to take them for walks. While not as threatening as their wild counterparts, domesticated Sehlats are still particular about their dinner time and we would not advise you to miss it!

Dogs

Favoured on Earth and spread as far as humans themselves, Terran dogs are easily trained canines who form close bonds with their owners. While they are used for hunting, unlike many other species most humans do not also eat their pets and will get judgemental with you if you suggest it even once and not let it go. Note that traditionally dogs do not talk or fly but this depends on the breed.

Targs

Is it a pet? Is it livestock? Who knows when Klingons form companionship with some and hunt others in the forest for dinner. But they are highly popular and more aggressive than a Terran dog. The latter point might rule them out on some smaller starships where your fellow offers may object to being bitten by it as you let it run through the ship’s arboretum. Despite their nature, they’ve become ever more popular thanks to the children’s character Toby The Targ (if your child is a fan and wants a targ, try visiting a Klingon farm first so they can see how the real thing is slightly less cuddly than the toy).

Cats

Another Earth animal, this feline isn’t trainable like a dog and is far more independent. They do however emit soft purring sounds that can have a sedative effect on some humanoids. Humans may also favour cats so much due to the fact that they can regenerate nine times, extending their lifespan considerably, especially in hostile situations.

Tribbles

Tribbles make ideal pets for most species given provide the calm, reassuring companionship of a cat with almost no maintenance necessary. Do note that only neutered Tribbles (except for the pink breed) are allowed on Federation starships due to the catastrophic potential of their breeding habits. 

Fishes

With their isolation in a tank, fish can be ideal aesthetic pets however some may feel the level of companionship may be low for needier, more insecure officers. Fish cannot survive outside of water so ensure their tank is firmly secured and enclosed. This is in case there is a shipwide disturbance that might knock it over or if your devolved first officer attempts to eat it.

Unicorn canines

Similar to a dog but originating on Alfa 117 and sporting a sashing horn and gold antennae, these creatures are fast overtaking the Human’s favoured pet due to their dashing good looks and lovable nature. Due to their popularity and favoured status with royals, this lovable creature may be beyond your means to obtain.

Humans

Powerful beings such as the Q often consider intelligent life as their pets; in particular, humans as their affable nature makes ideal companions. However, while serving in Starfleet it would be seen as inappropriate to consider your fellow crewmen as pets even if the relationship is consensual (if you wish to find a human as a pet, there are many groups on Earth where you can find eager individuals - be beware that they require constant attention).

Vines

Looking for something you can keep closer? A Betazoid vine can be wrapped around your arm and kept with you at all times. The botanical creature can reach out and interact though given many species are not familiar with plant-based sentience it may disturb the uneducated such as your sister-in-law to-be. As it's not an item of clothing, it doesn't technically violate the uniform code but that doesn't guarantee your commanding officer will be happy about it.

[orange-foxes]

The Minyard-Josten Rivalry

💥 Secrets and Honesty by fullyvisible (43k, series: Part 1 of 3)

Neil and Andrew aren't on the same professional teams, but that doesn't mean they're any less together. When a photograph gets taken out of context, they decide to go with it, as long as they're both having fun. And they are. Right?

💥 The Crooked Kind by youreyestheyglow (10k)

Neil went pro a year ago--and not on Andrew's team. The problem: they're private people, and when the press takes their declarations of hate at face value, Andrew and Neil find themselves unwilling to end the rumors.

💥 Minyard-Josten: A Rivalry For The Ages by dustbottle (4k)

After four years of playing together at Palmetto State University, Neil and Andrew end up on different professional teams. Neil is the new striker for the Atlanta Hawks; Andrew is goalie for the Boston Rebels. This is the story of their so-called rivalry. Three guesses as to who starts the rumours. (Spoilers: It’s Neil.)

💥 Captured moments by simplydevotedtoyou (9k, series: part 3 of 3)

Neil has finally made it to pros, joining the RedSock Lions in Chicago. Andrew however is with the Houston Hornets. When Andrew is asked about how he feels about seeing his ex team mate on an opposing team, he makes a comment which starts the supposed 'rivalry' between the ex team mates. What the majority of people don't know is that Neil and Andrew are in fact together and have been since college, well that is until someone releases photos of them which show that the whole rivalry wasn't 100% real. or Neil and Andrew are both too stubborn to let the other have the last word.

💥 The Truth Behind It by wematch (3k)

Neil finally makes a Twitter account the year after he leaves the Foxes. His PR has been nagging him about making a social media account since he joined the team but ultimately he uses it to annoy Andrew. Of course things escalate and the rumours of a rivalry between the two form, that is until Neil clarifies everything.

💥 Reputation by lemonicee (8k)

The rise and fall of the Minyard-Josten Rivalry. Usually when Neil starts shit in a post-game press interview, he does it on purpose. This time, he really just meant for it to be a joke. “How do you feel about the possibility of ending up on a team with a former Fox teammate?” is the next question. “Great,” Neil answers, sincere. “I would love to play with Matt or Kevin again.” “What about Minyard? Would you sign with Atlanta?” Neil says, “Andrew? He’s a nightmare.” He knows it’s a joke. His team knows it’s a joke. Andrew will know it’s a joke. The press does not seem to know that it’s a joke.

💥 Rivalry? by loverloverlover (3k)

"In their first pro-game against each other last year, Andrew had greeted him with a middle finger and his signature two-fingered salute. Neil had shot back a mockingly flirty wave, but no one else saw the affection behind their gestures—only the taunts." OR Andrew and Neil are on different professional Exy teams, and after being apart for months, their teams are finally playing each other. In true Neil Josten fashion, something goes wrong.

💥 Minyard vs Josten ;) by introvertedtiger (2k)

ever since Neil and Andrew had gone pro and started playing AGAINST each other, the media thought they hated each other. in reality they’ve been married for two years and Neil’s getting bored of the rivalry and is finally ready to change the name on his jersey.

💥 The societies we despise by This_Witch_Writes (5k)

Technically it all started because of two cats. Andrew’s phone number had been leaked and he was waiting on a new sim card. So when Neil saw the cats, one black and one ginger, play fighting beside the Chicago Bean, he had tweeted the picture to him instead of texting it. An innocent enough tweet on the surface, tagging Andrew and adding the caption “us”. To Neil, Andrew and their family, an obvious and even uncharacteristically sappy statement of long-held affection. To exy fans on the internet, a declaration of war.

[mostlyvoid-partiallyflowers]

Okay I just speedran The Sunshine Court in like 12 hours. I will be rereading it soonly and giving more coherent thoughts but here’s my main takeaways:

- Thought #1: Holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck this book exists. I am on the floor I’m so fucking excited.

Spoilers below the cut

- I absolutely love that we get both Jean and Jeremy POVs. It’s great especially because Jean is an oblivious and traumatized and if we just see things through his eyes we would never get to see Jeremy PINING like an absolute icon. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s about the pining, the waiting, the yearning. I’m simple man, I like my books gay, angsty, and with tension you could cut with a knife. This delivers on all accounts.

- I love getting to see the end of tkm from Jean’s perspective. Getting to see him watch the Foxes v Ravens game was incredible. I’m a very big fan.

- Renee and Jean time! Renee giving Jean her cross necklace. I’m in tears, I’m dead, I’m on the floor. It’s not the right time for us 😭. Excuse me? I’m unwell.

- Kevin Day, queen of my heart! Getting to see how someone other than Neil canonically sees Kevin is an absolute treat for me. Jean’s weakness for beautiful men has become known. Me too Jean, me too.

- Jeremy, light of my life, I can’t believe you’re rich. At least your family sucks because I don’t think I could take it if your family was wealthy and nice.

- Jeremy + Jean meeting for the first time. Jeremy trying and failing to play with a yo-yo. I’d die for you. They are ADHD 🤝 Autism solidarity me thinks.

- Montana has a pro Exy team which is not at all plausible but I’ll let it slide because one Montana mention for the win and two the team is called the Rustics which is absolutely what we’d call a pro sports team if we had one. The only reason Montanan’s at large would commit to indoor lacrosse is that Kayleigh Day was Irish and so solidarity.

- Laila and Cat, my beloveds. The description of their apartment has me yearning for the same. They have a bay window with a window seat okay. That’s like in my top three desires for a home.

- Carboard cutout dog with a classic Nora pet name. I’ll love Mister B forever. I love how Jeremy keeps moving him around. I love how Jean hates it.

- Trans characters! Poly characters! Nonbinary characters! Nora, my birthday has come a little late but damn this was a gift!

- I am absolutely pronouncing Jean wrong in my head probably 70% of the time.

- I’m so fucking angry at the Ravens. My blood is boiling and I want to cry. Jean deserved better, Kevin deserved better, Riko deserved better. All the Ravens deserved better. I want to put Tetsugi Moriyama into a blender and feed him to the crows.

- Jean was 16. I’m absolutely incandescent with rage.

- Jeremy is so patient with Jean and I will forever love him for that.

- This book was a lot shorter time frame than I was expecting, mainly because I keep forgetting there’s going to be another one.

- The food control but is driving me crazy. It makes me so fucking mad. Let my boy eat. I want him to be happy.

- Jeremy has seen Jean looking 👀 ummmmmm hello? “More exclusively than you do, I think.” I’m on the floor.

- Laila buying Jean a sex toy?!? Oh my god. What would she even get him? I feel like he deserves a vibrating cock ring or something fun like that. That way service top™️ Jeremy Knox can use it on him when they finally get together.

- I love seeing Neil from Jean’s perspective. It’s funny how different he is from my perspective and Jean’s/everyone else’s. I’ve spent so much time thinking about him from Andrew’s pov that it’s weird seeing him through anyone else’s. Everyone is like this scrappy irritating son of bitch is gonna get what’s coming to him, and Andrew is like, well I can’t not fuck him.

- The second Jean mentions Drake to Neil. And then Neil immediately calls a hit out on Gr@yson. Neil, you will always be famous to me.

- Jean-Yves! I hope he starts using his full name again at some point.

- Elodie :(((((( I can imagine what Jean’s going through and I am so afraid for him. If he keeps pushing all these feelings down he’s going to break sooner or later, but probably sooner.

- Jeremy’s unconditional support of Jean has my whole heart. Jean has friends now. I’m crying.

[codename-adler]

aaron for the ask game 🫶

ofc don't we love to break his ass 😈

How I feel about this character

have to admit, was not a die hard fan at first, but i also wasn't a hater at all. i think coming out of the tripping-balls adventure that was the trilogy, from Neil's pov, you just can't help not having Aaron on your radar, yk? but the second time, and all the times after that... ohohoho what a delight!! his one-liners are as bomb as his twin's - he is an overflowing pot of trauma and it is so so sooo yummy - man's is MOTIVATED - he's so fun to play with and put in the torture labyrinth - he is good at Exy - and his Barbie doll goes with almost everyone! he is my sweet, sweet boyo, and perhaps one of the Foxes' i most resemble? so much potential to unlock fr. we haven't even looked at the iceberg below, trust me.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

MY SPECIALTY. We got:

Kevin - Katelyn - Kevin & Katelyn & Thea - Kevin & Thea - Jean - Jeremy - Jean & Jeremy - Seth - Kevin & Seth - Matt - Matt & Seth - Matt & Kevin - Neil (crack) - Allison - Robin - and i think that's enough, rizzleman

My non-romantic OTP for this character

i think Matt? oh and Kate.

My unpopular opinion about this character

i don't see him going into Pediatrics. i'm thinking smth more like orthopedic surgery, or traumatology/ER? maybe oncology, even. he likes bones i feel. don't look into that. like obviously he'd be good with kids, and he would ace it in that department, but i just don't think it's what he likes best.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon

neilaaron bestfriendisms.

[runoutofsteam]

Omg you read the sunshine court before the foxhole court?? I've been dying to know what it would be like to read tsc without any context. How was it for you, if you don't mind me bothering you about it?

No bother at all! It was really easy to follow! I ended up looking up a few things for clarification as I was reading - but not too much. The most confusing part was Exy - I picked up plot from context but did not understand this weird made up sport even a little bit and I kept getting the positions and characters confused in my head until I found the fan wiki.

I'm in the middle of The Raven King right now and I think I got a good intro to all the characters with Jeans POV. The one that gave me the biggest surprise was Kevin. I fully expected him to be a soft boy/fine upstanding man stereotype and the like moral compass of the foxes and then I read the foxhole court and I was like who is this??? My Kevin Day would NEVER. (but I think that just speaks to how much POV matters b/c Kevin is 2 completely different people to Jean and Neil) But other than that I think TSC introduces characters well enough even without context!

Honestly, I saw a jerejean fan art on my dash the day it came out and immediately said to myself "I need to read this gay grumpy/sunshine but I'm not reading 3 books before I get to them context be damned." Now I'm reading aftg and kicking and giggling over andreil every moment of spare time I have. (Also I totally lost my shit over the 2 sentence reference to Jean in book 1 so I cant even imagine how I'm gonna feel when he's like a real character involved in plot - probably how everyone else felt about reading about the .25 mentions of "Kevin's pet goal keeper")

[doorhanginoffthehinges]

hi erm i dont know why im asking but what is all for the game? like ive seen alot about it and i really want to consume this piece of media but i also do not know what it is at all?? pls help

ah jeez. aftg is complicated yet the best thing that’s ever happened to me fandom-wise. worst thing to happen to me productivity-wise. first books called the foxhole court, then the Raven king, then the ravens men. there’s physical copies of the books, but i haven’t ever seen it sold at any bookstore ever, only off of Amazon, but the kindle prices are real cheap and you can find almost any book online free via questionable websites.

all for the game is a book trilogy centred around a runaway w loads of trauma, but he’s running away from his kinda mob boss dad—gasp— which may be off putting but it’s like you don’t think of it as a mafia book it’s just a book that has bad guys who happen to be the mafia. i don’t think that’s a spoiler.

it’s also centered around made up sport, but it doesn’t feel like it’s centered around to but it totally is. it also doesn’t feel made up? like it’s not fantasy it’s just not real.

its gay, which you probably know if you’ve seen any fan art, but it’s not really sweet gays it’s kinda course and gritty but absolutely lovely and heartwarming. but also I have hazy memory bc I read the trilogy in a week but im pretty sure that only gets started midway through the series, so it’s not the WHOLE plot but it’s like a portion of it. their relationship isn’t really problematic, it’s basically the opposite, and all the angst is in the plot and characters themselves rather than how they interact w each other.

speaking of, this trilogy covers A LOT of heavy heavy topics, I’d say what was most off putting for me was the past rape and pedophilia which is touched on pretty briefly but at the same time very largely, but im sure somewhere there’s a list of tws somewhere if youre at all concerned about that.

it’s a fun read! it’s not at all too long (i mean, you read the goldfinch, not at all on the same level as that regarding word count im pretty sure) and i hear it reads like a fanfic, which might be why i consumed it so fast. it has no fantasy or sci fi, its basically a novel or slice of life I guess. i don’t really know the proper terms. there’s action that comes in the form of some violence, but i think most action is really on the exy (made up sport) court. oh also im pretty sure there’s an on page bj and the like. but no sex.

if I knew you in physical life I wouldn’t rec you this bc a) u might read it and hate it and it would ruin me and embarrass me b) u might read it and find it mediocre and it would ruin me and embarrass me c) you don’t read it and I feel annoying and finally d) u love it and it ruins you.

anywho, I hope u have a fun day/night, idk your time zone, and happy reading/non reading/watching. Thank you for giving me a reason to rant about my little obsession on this random monday evening! hope this helped/was what you were looking for

[kevinsdsy]

hiiii hope you’re doing well!!

saw your post about your brocedes / kevjean fic and i brought a bunch of ideas tgt

feel free to discard anything ofc!!

1) some even/scene that represents the climax of the rivalry/friendship falldown like barcelona 2026

2) not sure about this one but a title/name?? for the situation that the fans use like the silver war for brocedes (use it for angst or drama idk)

3) if you plan on making jean retire like nico did, kevin’s reaction being kind of different from lewis’ reaction. idk i feel like kevin would kind of lose it, if not in front of the cameras then as soon as they’re alone ("how can you quit? giving up isn’t what we do? kind of way cause HE CANT COMPREHEND QUITTING EXY

4) again if jean retires, him interviewing kevin but like much later and it’s kind of emo idk

that’s it i think, again no worries if you don’t like any of those and i literally cannot wait to read this fic

hii omg im doing well today :)) hope you are doing well too!!

AHHH so glad you’ve come with your ideas omg i really want to talk about the brocedes/kevjean dynamic so much they’re on my mind 24/7 fr

1 | omgg so i’ve been really brainstorming about what the incident can be for kevjean. i was thinking it could be kevin leaving the ravens to go to the foxes (and leaving jean alone in the nest)— although it’s not really the equivalent of brocedes, because brocedes has come out of a rivalry within the team itself (but then again exy doesn’t have a constructur’s and ‘player’ championship so their rivalry can’t go to that extend if i keep them as teammates which is why i like kevin going to the foxes as their turning point)

but also this would mean their “downfall” has started in class i exy already so i’m still brainstorming about that one. i also want to have some lighthearted scenes of them sharing hotel rooms etc so i would have to let go of the extend of the buddy system within the ravens, so there’s a possibility where kevin isn’t always with riko, but he’s spending time with jean instead you know. so i’m a bit puzzled about that one.

2 | OHHH i was actually really worried about what to call the fic omg, but i think i’ll call it the silver war, so it still references brocedes omg thank you so much for this one hehe 🙂‍↕️🙏🏼

3 | OMGGG so yes i wanted jean to retire hehe but i hadn’t really thought that far ahead about the reactions but i LOVE the idea of kevin freaking out behind the scenes, especially when he’s going to react really calm and collected in front of the media when they ask him about it— while both kevin and jean know he doesn’t really feel that way omg i love this i’m going to take note of this.

maybe i could have them be teammates again after the whole class i exy incident and have that moment hang around them when they’re teammates again later mhmmm i’m thinking (lemme know if this makes sense or if it won’t work out well for the brocedes lore)

4 | still thinking about if i want to go as far as jean doing dome media and press related things for exy after he retires but i have collected this brocedes moment in case i want to include it hehe

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK and if u have any ideas for the incident if kevin leaving doesn’t really won’t work out for this AND THANK YOU BTW FOR COMING INTO MY INBOX YOU DONT KNOW HOW DELIGHTED I AM TO DISCUSS THIS HEHE

[ninyard]

Thank you for the answers ! I really loved hearing about ur ocs 🫶🏾 🌷but by curiosity how would vic be if she fell in love with someone or from some reason in particular started playing exy and got to the foxes? How would that go ? Sorry for all the bothering and questions in advance haha, I’m just very curious.

oh thank you!! i feel silly talking about them sometimes so i'm glad you enjoy <33

if vic fell in love with someone, it would be a passionate shitshow. vic has a problem with obsession, and for a while she would do anything to please riko, because all she wanted was his validation and approval, and even still she wasn't exactly in love with him. if he asked her to kill for him, she would. if vic fell in love, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from devoting everything to the person. but she's also manipulative, and a very good actor, and her connection to them would be bordering on stalking. she'd "accidentally" bump into them in different costumes, looking like a different person, or she'd use her skills to find out everything about them, she would leave them gifts, or things in her kills that show they're for them (like the number 1 circled on a menu left next to or near a body to show that it was for riko). obsession, devotion, unhinged love and destruction because all she wants is this person. chances are once she "has" them, she'd be bored, because it's the chase and the admiring from a too-close distance that gives her a thrill. she loves to know that she's there, and the person has absolutely no idea at all.

i like to think that if vic/the foxes ever cross paths it's because she was tasked with a) finding out anything she possibly can about neil or b) killing proust. how i imagine it happening is that she's so intrigued by neil being the butcher's son that she just watches him for a while. she's in eden's when they are, she's in the crowd at games, she's pretending to be a cleaner for the foxhole court just to be close by, in the locker room, breaking into his locker just to look. she's breaking into betsy's office, or david's, or abby's, and nobody will ever know that she was ever there. she pretends to be a server at eden's just to take the glasses from their table, but only once would she ever stand in front of him and look him in the eyes and speak. maybe she has a soft smile on her face, and she tells him she's a big fan, and she loves how brave he's been after everything that's happened to him. neil obviously doesn't know how to respond, but she shakes his hand anyway, or maybe asks him to sign something, but all she sees when she looks at him is the butcher. it's admiration in a way, but there's a part of her that resents him for how everything ended with his father. she loves neil, she hates neil.

i don't think she'd ever play exy, unless it was the only way to get a job done. it's just not her scene, it's not her skillset, but if she had to she would. i could just see her getting close to the foxes in other ways - going to renee's church, or sitting in their lectures pretending to be a student, going to matt's gym, pretending to be security at one of their games. maybe she was the one who killed seth, or maybe she was just there that night. vic is more likely to hide in the shadows to watch, an unsettling presence in a room, than to directly get involved. she's learned how to master disguising herself to blend in, and if she wanted to stay hidden she would never get caught.

[blurrypetals]

The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic - blurrypetals review

originally posted aug. 17, 2024 - ★★★★★

[this review contains untagged spoilers]

Nora. Nora. Oh my god. Oh my god, Nora.

I wasn't prepared for this book. I didn't know there was going to be a fourth book, but I couldn't have been ready even if I had known.

This book took me a while to get through. I think this review is going to take me a while to write out, too. I think the reason it took me so long (beyond just being too busy to read outside audiobooks, which was certainly a factor) was how sure I felt this was going to be a one-off, that I needed to savor this one, final gift to all the All for the Game fans out there.

But I wasn't prepared for this book to be starting something new, beyond establishing a new life for Jean beyond Evermore, beyond Riko fucking Moriyama, may that bitch baby "king" rest in piss.

I couldn't have guessed those last two chapters would hit me like a fucking freight train, just like Grayson to Lucas and Jean, nor that they would almost singlehandedly establish all future conflicts for one Jean Moreau and his partner Jeremy Knox.

But even up to that point, my god, this book had me in a chokehold. Even though I savored it, took my time, this book as near-constantly on my mind these past few months since I got my hands on it.

I thought Neil, Kevin, and Andrew had it bad when it came to trauma. In the original trilogy, I also considered Jean to be rather unsympathetic and cruel, but I failed to realize I only felt that way about him because that was how Neil felt about him.

I also vastly underestimated the trauma, abuse, and absolute terror Jean lived through at Evermore. I obviously understood Riko broke his leg before Championships, but I couldn't have imagined this was simply the last in a long line of violent, unholy tortures Jean survived, and not only by Riko's hands.

But this is where I arrive at what makes these books so incredible, so prime to reread over and over again: the relationships and the healing that occurs because of them. I love seeing such a warm, loving trio in Jeremy, Cat, and Laila being Jean's way through his trauma. It casts a satisfying contrast between them and Neil's monsters in the original trilogy, and I really do love to see Jean, the prickliest, rudest bean I ever seen, softening to cooking for his friends, going for rides up the coast, getting rid of those goddamn notebooks. It's so fucking good for my heart. It really is.

And I've barely touched on Jeremy! It's also a really nice contrast that we get two POV's this time. Jeremy casts into relief the things Jean is misinterpreting, the things he has been deluded into believing are absolute. The warm, reasonable, reliable narrator to Jean's traumatized, brainwashed unreliable narrator.

I was also impressed by how events at the beginning of the book that we'd seen before in The King's Men still felt exciting, as if I didn't already know how it was going to end. It still somehow felt like I got to read about a new Exy match even though it was the exact same one from the end of the previous book, a book I've read no less than 5 times.

These books are an absolute ride, no matter what you're prepared for, no matter what you think you're reading. It always feels like you're there on the court, there in with the Foxes and now the Trojans. Books like these are fucking magic, and I can't wait for the next one.

[aknosde]

bedside

// Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard // Post-Canon // Established Relationship // Traveling // Fluff // essentially andrew waxing poetic about neil, cars, & sunlight // 1k

ao3

—————

There is something inherently exhausting about banquets.

Andrew, as a man of taste, appreciates good food, nice clothes, and expensive cars. He does not appreciate the flight from Denver to L.A., nor does he appreciate L.A. itself; it’s hot and sticky when he touches down, air rushing into the depressurizing cabin, and he feels sweat materialize where his glasses rest on the bridge of his nose. LAX is, as always, a shithole of people and luggage. Everything that moves here always seems to knock into anything that isn’t—case in point: his suitcase into a tree, and a toddler into his legs. It takes Andrew five minutes to even find a corner to tuck himself into and turn his phone off airplane mode.  

Perhaps it’s not banquets, but travel.

The first thing he does is call Neil. At least he has someone to pick him up from his personal hell.

Neil flew down from Chicago earlier in the week to catch Kevin’s last qualifying match, which against all odds had taken an absurd amount of cajoling by both he and Kevin. What it should’ve been: Neil gives his last press conference of the season and flies out to see Kevin, they then drive down to L.A. together. What it was: Neil assuring Andrew he gould always get to Denver to make the flight together approximately fifty times, packing over facetime because despite being a seasoned professional Neil would still wear jeans and a leather jacket to every official event if he could, and a debate on whether or not they wanted to share Kevin’s car.

“I’m all ready here,” Neil greets. “Pickup 3A, and making a hell of a lot of Ubers mad.”

“As you often do,” Andrew says before hanging up.

He makes his way down to and through baggage claim swiftly, feeling superior to everyone forced to wait for their checked bags on the slowest conveyor belt known to man, and out into the blanketing heat. His reading glasses have been tucked into his shirt pocket and replaced by the ‘cereal killer’ baseball cap Allison got him as a gag gift a few years ago, which makes many appearances when he doesn’t want to show up on the average exy fan’s radar. Neil’s used an old puff-paint pen of Renee’s to draw lion heads on the underside of the bill.

“Hey,” Neil says, grinning, as Andrew steps up to the atrocious red convertible Neil’s lounging in the driver’s seat of, ignoring the myriad of ride-share drivers sending him dirty looks and honking their horns—Andrew realizes that while the verdict of sharing a car with Kevin had been no, they hadn’t made a decision about rentals, and this is apparently what Neil’s come up with (though doubtlessly influenced by… Matt is his best guess, possibly Allison). It looks annoyingly good on him. “Bag?”

Andrew hoists his case up and Neil unbuckles to lean over and toss it in the back row. He’s wearing a pair of aviators—Ray Bans Allison also purchased, not as a gag gift but in pursuit of her and Andrew’s continuous and combined efforts to encourage Neil to dress at least half as good as he looks (they’ve been dissuaded from “as good as he looks” over the years)—and in the week since Andrew’s seen him, he’s managed to turn deep brown, his hair catching auburn in the sun. Before he can open the door Andrew touches Neil’s wrist where it's propped on the passenger seat and kisses him over the parking brake.

“Hey,” he finally says when they separate.

“Hi,” Neil responds, looking up at him. He’s close enough to see Neil’s eyes warm and happy through his sunglasses.

Andrew doesn’t bother with the door this time; he hoists himself straight into the passenger seat. Neil takes the car out of park, but keeps them right where they are.

“How was the flight?”

Neil pushes his shades up on his head as if he needs to see Andrew wholly when he answers. The gold ‘A’ pendant on his necklace flashes in the light as he shifts. Andrew can feel the ring and blank marriage certificate in his bedside table warm and glow from halfway across the country.

“Typically terrible,” he says, but even though he means it he can’t bring himself to be serious.

“Yeah?” Neil asks, that smile on his face, and he kisses Andrew this time.

It’s deeper but they keep it gentle, maybe because Andrew’s exhausted, but maybe because they’re still saying hello. It’s soft and easy, kind of like greeting someone it’s always nice to see. The car jerks forwards slightly, and the driver behind them lays on their horn in two long, annoyed bursts. He can feel Neil smiling against him as they break away.

Andrew watches him put his sunglasses back on and flick his turn signal, rest both hands on the wheel. He’s tempted to make a joke about Neil’s foot slipping off the break—something about how he never took a driver’s test, or how the FBI didn’t check before giving him his license—but then Neil looks at him and he notices how he’s glowing in the sunlight.

“You think a nap can fix it?”

He imagines Neil lying next to him, reading whatever fifth-hand, out of date, textbook on linear algebra or theoretical geometry he found at Goodwill last week; the cool, clean white sheets and pristine shower of a hotel room; waking up to Neil crouched by his side of the bed, telling him Kevin’s all ready found a spot he’s gonna love for dinner, they’ve gotta get moving. Andrew adjusts his cap and flips the bird to whatever asshole is behind them. Neil in his bed can fix a lot of things.

“If you’ve got AC.”

Neil huffs a laugh and turns back to the road, pulls out of his spot as smoothly as Andrew can sweep a ball out of the air. Andrew turns the air on and leans back in his seat, angled towards Neil; he spends the ride to the hotel thinking of that ring.

[janwixler]

Neil with his fans? yes please!

I know very much of the sports fandom and it’s craze. I know most people, middle aged men in particular, don’t want extra info of the players except their skills. (my dad lol)

But teen girls and Boys??!! Oh, they’re The Heart of making sports personalities into literal Celebrities! (I actually idolised many Brazilian football player and actually had a shrine!)

As for the aftg universe, we know that Exy is a relatively new but gradually popular sports. If we fix the timeline correctly, then it’s in the mid 80s when Neil was obsessed with the sports. it's very clear with Neil's own Kevin and Riko shrine, he's much like a fanboy himself too!

so turns out, Exy fandom do exist there on full blast. Judging by Kevin's popularity and Neil's super rise to the fame with pure talent, it would be only a matter of time when Neil becomes as popular as him.

Coming to the main point, How would he react to his fans?!!

At first, he wouldn't even believe he might have some fans. He's always too busy with dealing with reporters as a captain, his first reaction to someone screaming 'JOSTEN!! WE LOVE YOU!!' is like a rabbit hearing a gunshot (Nicky's words!)

The fans often mail him gifts and Postcards and chocolates. Neil give the chocolates to Andrew and keep the postcards in a wardrobe drawer dedicated to these.

When the fans of the front row seats call him to sign a autograph after a game, he's always to worn out to even hold a pen. But when he's in a good mood, being benched for the last half of the game and his team winning, he tells the security to grab a bunch of notes to sign them off. (oh and the girls scream!!! that can surely be heard from outside of the stadium)

oh, the girls, fangirls yes. Neil isn't (obviously) like Nicky; out, loud and proud. He keeps his intimate relationship with Andrew a very secret. in one of the sports banquet, Some girls were crying and screaming at the the audience side of the red carpet as he and Kevin arrived. Kevin told him to keep things professional as he gently smiled at the camera's and the fangirls. Neil scoffed. a few girls were literally sobbing with a notebook in hands and calling out Neil. Kevin told him to sign a few fans as he went to his fan-group. Neil hesitated for a bit and then tried a smile as he reached the fangirls. their screeching noises were deafening. as was almost finished with a third one, a girl blurted out, "Please marry me Neil!! I love you!". Neil finished the fourth one and looked at the direction where the confession came. Flustered by being noticed, the girl who said that still asked a tone higher, "please, Neil?!" upon noticing the girl right this time, Neil gently smiled, "I'm sorry, but I'm already someone else's!" the girls exclaimed shrikes that time were manageable, But Kevin's roaring remarks of the next morning's headlines were not.

paparazzi never really seem to get tired of him. in a store buying stuff with pyjamas on? check. Having occasional convo with Andrew outside the game (a lot)? check. Coming out of a LGBTQ friendly club once in two weeks? check (bonus if Andrew is on sight). Neil meeting up with his former team-mates once a while? check, check and check.

Neil does get celebrity treatment but he refuses to admit. A good looking player with a no-filter comments about opposed team, he is a total banger for the sports drama.

He often asks some fans if there is something he should focus on more. The fanboys just burst out every theory they have. They might not be accurate sometimes but Neil does love a constructive criticism.

Neil is often seen with Andrew but surprisingly nobody questions them and he doesn't mind about it.

the fan accounts of Neil are a absolute disaster. Nicky found about it first. Neil was way too cringed at the contents some middle school girls make and none of these focused on Exy. Neil never once looked him up on the fansites again.

Neil never fails to feel goosebumps when the fans roar their pro team fight song when he goes pro. For the first few years, he and Andrew been playing on different team. So in small match breaks when he goes to Andrew to say how good he was playing, the fans roared in cheers cause they assumed these two were warning each other off. That's when the famous 'Josten-Minyard; formidable foe?' headline started a trend. Neil's freshmen years foxes team made this like a common family joke whenever they see two of them together!

[orange-foxes]

Social Media

📱 The Truth Behind It by wematch (3k)

Neil finally makes a Twitter account the year after he leaves the Foxes. His PR has been nagging him about making a social media account since he joined the team but ultimately he uses it to annoy Andrew. Of course things escalate and the rumours of a rivalry between the two form, that is until Neil clarifies everything.

📱 Catfish by likearecord (22k)

There’s very little Andrew likes less than being tricked, but not knowing things does make the cut. He stands, throws his messenger bag over his shoulder, grabs his coffee, and stomps over to slide into the chair across from the guy. He looks up at Andrew with a flash of calculated flight or fight in his eyes, but he quickly smooths this over and affixes a look of polite interest on his face. “Can I help you?” “Are you on Grindr?” Andrew asks. Bluntly.  “Uh,” the guy says, looking more confused. “I don’t know. What is it?”  “It’s a hookup app gay men use.”  “Oh,” he says, frowning. “No, I’m definitely not on that.”  “Because you don’t do gay men?”  The guy shrugs. “Because I don’t do hookups.”

📱 Funky Happenings with the Fox Family by dobbypussypopper (29k)

naughtygayweedcrime: did I rlly just see neil say woke naughtygayweedcrime: what a surreal timeline we live in dumbfool: allison is trying to teach me how to meme so I can get hip naughtygayweedcrime: bless your poor soul davidwymack: sometimes I regret living davidwymack has muted exyllent, damnwilds, + 7 others for 30 minutes

📱 The societies we despise by This_Witch_Writes (5k)

Technically it all started because of two cats. Andrew’s phone number had been leaked and he was waiting on a new sim card. So when Neil saw the cats, one black and one ginger, play fighting beside the Chicago Bean, he had tweeted the picture to him instead of texting it. An innocent enough tweet on the surface, tagging Andrew and adding the caption “us”. To Neil, Andrew and their family, an obvious and even uncharacteristically sappy statement of long-held affection. To exy fans on the internet, a declaration of war.

📱 Reputation by lemonicee (8k)

The rise and fall of the Minyard-Josten Rivalry. Usually when Neil starts shit in a post-game press interview, he does it on purpose. This time, he really just meant for it to be a joke. “How do you feel about the possibility of ending up on a team with a former Fox teammate?” is the next question. “Great,” Neil answers, sincere. “I would love to play with Matt or Kevin again.” “What about Minyard? Would you sign with Atlanta?” Neil says, “Andrew? He’s a nightmare.” He knows it’s a joke. His team knows it’s a joke. Andrew will know it’s a joke. The press does not seem to know that it’s a joke.

📱 likes: exy by djhedy (32k)

Allison: ok look I have an idea Neil: oh no Allison: you’re not going to love it Neil: I already said oh no Allison: we should sign you up to tinder! Neil: …how do you leave whatsapp

📱 all that i’ve been dreaming of by bazookajo94 (5k)

Exy fanboy Neil Josten stumbles across roleplaying Twitter accounts. Lonely and curious, he requests one for literally any of the players from the professional exy team Palmetto State Foxes. Someone calling themselves rp_aaaaaminyard03 responds. Andrew Minyard, bored with life, the universe, and everything, makes a fake roleplay account on Twitter. He is roleplaying himself. He is rp_aaaaaminyard03.

📱 In Which Neil Josten is a PR Nightmare by CoverYourEyes (14k wip)

Eve was not the best person in the world. Sometimes she didn’t hold the elevator open when she saw people rushing to catch it from the other side of the lobby. Cutting the line at Starbucks was a semi-regular action. But Eve did not deserve to be Neil fucking Josten's publicist. ********** Or, the one where Neil does what he wants, picks fights with reporters, discovers Twitter, breaks the internet, and really shouldn't be allowed out of his house. Andrew does nothing to discourage him.

📱please tell me it's just the fandom freaking out by OneSweetMelody

Neil Josten @neiljos10 Sadly @ajminyard isn’t too excited about that face off Neil Josten @neiljos10 Maybe @ajminyard will learn how to block an offside bouncer before then. Or any shot.

📱 Talk All Night for Nothing by ipromisetostaywild (20k)

Andrew Minyard is a vlogger on YouTube, doing quite well for himself despite the fact that he never shows his face to the camera. He may just change his no-face policy, however, after meeting a certain vlogger who wants to do a collaboration. OR Andrew edits other people’s videos, makes his own, & becomes totally smitten with a blue-eyed boy.

📱 We Never Go Out Of Style by dancingongasoline (28k)

“Allison is pretty famous around the younger celebs,” Renee said when she saw Andrew’s eyes linger on the mass of people slowly filtering into the room. “There’s a lot of people here; didn’t think it was this anticipated.” Andrew murmured, leaning closer into Renee’s side. The woman hummed, her eyes straying from row to row. “It’s probably because Neil is gonna walk.” Andrew had heard that name before. Neil Josten. Or Neil is a supermodel at the height of his career, and Andrew is a famous actor from the Marvel franchise.

📱 We'll Make It Happen by honorarystar (2k)

“Why would I want to share pictures of my personal life with strangers though?” Neil slumped down in his seat on the lounge couch. He wished that he had waited for Andrew instead of getting to practice early. This could have been avoided. “It’s Instagram. Who cares?” Allison was looking at Neil like he was the insane one for not grasping this concept.

📱 POV: Your best friend is Neil Josten by NeilsStrawberries (3k)

Allison Reynolds is not only a talented Exy player and renowned fashion designer, but also an extremely famous blogger. A little while ago, she started a new trend: POV: Your best friend is Neil Josten. * Or, a sequence of videos recorded by Alliso