#they would make wymack proud

[kevindavidday]

literally cannot stop thinking about the foxes growing up to be helpful adults especially the monsters because like with the upperclassmen and even with nicky its slightly more expected as compared to the twinyards, kevin and neil

not by my own definition but by the perception people have of them in canon - the selfish, hotheaded or largely indifferent to everyone except their own affairs type of people

but aaron chose to become a doctor and i think of him seeing mothers give up their kids at birth and of people constantly loving and losing and how possible it is for him to be known as a kind doctor - someone who would sit with a man who lost his wife or a mother who's lost her child, someone who would do coffee runs for his colleagues and give flowers to recovering patients (and maybe katelyn bought them the first time but he could repeat the gesture, yknow? he's got a good learning curve)

im thinking of kevin making sure that a portion of his hefty income goes to actual genuine charities and for work against human trafficking and child abuse because what's he going to do with this much money? particularly after amalia is born he would be so much more careful if he ever sees kids or teenagers in parking lots and senses some imminent danger

not just that but kevin keeping an eye out for his fans or any signing events he has where he sees something unfair happen and steps in or asks security to step in immediately i feel like for him its still difficult to put himself on the forefront of a threatening situation unlike andreil but he does his best to try and to listen to the kids that come and rant to him about exy to entertain them with his genuine smiles

idk just the idea of the monsters being so very human and recognizing humanity in others is something that can be so personal

[kukobs]

bee tapping the table so andrew would stop hurting himself 😭 bee not being able to contain her joy when she finds out about andrew and neil 😭 bee getting all the milk and chocolate cuz she knows that andrew has a sweet tooth 😭 bee knowing andrew so well and caring so much about him she doesn't fear him, to the point he said they spent so much time together she became reckless with her questions 😭 bee hoping wymack would take care of her "most precious charge" 😭 bee being so, so proud of andrew for what he overcame 😭 bee not sending wymack away bc she doesn't want to make andrew feel unsafe 😭 bee being such a gentle being every one knows how much andrew appreciates her even if they don't understand it😭 bee watching a musical with andrew and wymack to distract andrew from what happened 😭 bee messaging andrew after the session™ saying she was happy for him 😭 bee and andrew texting each other regularly 😭 just mama bee

[spilledcoffeeonthefloor]

Fans making a youtube video with the title:

"Neil josten when Andrew"

and it's like:

*reporter: Neil Josten! people say Andrew m-

Neil: nope, imma stop u right there. you bring Andrew up again and we're having a big problem here. I'm tired of your never ending self made drama about my teammates.

*reporter, Again: Neil Josten! there has been rumors about your current goalie Andr-

Neil: there has been rumors about your mother as well, actually! people say his son doesn't have a better job to do than making a shit amount of money out of people's private life.

*camera on Neil staring at Andrew in a middle of a warm up before a match.

*camera on Kevin talking to Neil, Neil literally zoning out, then turning his head around and looking for something. kevin sighs, then points toward Andrew in the corner. Neil's face lighting up

*camera on Neil looking at Andrew in the goal when he's standing out for the game and doing a "Andrew smile" soft and proud and literally heart eyes.

*camera on Neil punching a stricker for shoving Aaron.

*camera on Neil turning toward Andrew everytime he scores.

*more Neil staring at Andrew

*another stricker yells something at Andrew mid game,

Neil punching the guy in the guts, twice, walking toward the referrer, snatching a red card before the referrer could even offer it, and punching the stricker dude twice more

*reporter: Neil josten, your goalie Minyard did an excellent performance at this game, do-

Neil: OH MY GOD, RIGHT????? like, wow that was amazing. he is amazing. I've been obsessed with exy since i was a kid, and I've seen really, really great things in exy, but this? that defense? that was the greatest thing I've ever seen. he didn't let a single goal in. like-*endless yapping*

*reporter: Neil josten, how's playing with Minyard?

Neil: good, he keeps me on my knees.

Neil:....

Neil: TOES. HE KEEPS ME ON MY TOES.

*Camera on Neil laughing so hard at something Andrew said with complete deadpan

*a tweet that says "i wish Andrew Minyard would bench press me" and has a "liked by Neil josten" above it.

*Camera on Neil threatening a nurse at the hospital to let her see Andrew, who was hurt mid game.

then again, camera on Neil shouting "ok then I'm buying the fucking hospital"

*Camera on Wymack trying to prevent Neil from buying the hospital

*reporter: Neil josten you look fabulous tonight! can you tell us what brand you're wearing?

Neil: i have not a single idea, Andrew picked it up

reporter: you just wear whatever he picks up for you..?

Neil: yuP.

*Foxes on tv in a quiz show, camera on Neil taking Andrew's coffee mug, taking a sip, put two sugar cubes in it, blowing it a bit to cool down then handing it to Andrew and turning to the host: excuse me what were you saying?

[otdiaftg]

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 7:05 PM EST

"You two could at least say hello," Wymack says, somewhat aggrieved. "There's no point," Kevin says. "All they are is a distraction." "It's called a support network. Look it up." "Thea is watching from South tonight," Kevin says, looking to the elevated VIP box. It is too far away and too high up for Neil to make out any faces, but there is a small crowd gathered at the windowed walls already. Knowing the Court is here to watch them play sends a chill through Neil's veins. Kevin drags his stare back to Wymack's face and says, "and my father comes to all of my games. That is enough." On Wymack's other side, Abby's gaze softens. Wymack's jaw works for a moment before he can say in an even tone, "Your mother would be proud of you." "Not just of me," Kevin says in a rare bout of humanity.

Art used with permission by Kevinkevinson. Thank you @kevinkevinson!

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

[laurents-laces]

Dumping my thoughts on the new aftg short stories here to contain all the spoilers in one place, because if I don't get to talk about them I'm gonna explode. Someone very kindly made a typed-up version of them here if anyone wants them!

TFC: David

We all know Neil is "distressingly single-minded about Exy" but I'm dying at the revelation that people in Millport knew this about him. He was supposed to be lying low 😭

Kevinnnnnnnn my boy!!!

"This is better. Easier? Better." Ouch

I had a feeling he was seeing Betsy more often than twice a year! And that we just didn't know about it because Neil didn't. That's amazing for him

Wymack is being such a great dad right now and he doesn't even know it

So excited to have one (1) canonical sentence from Kayleigh Day herself

I was headcanoning Kevin as ten when he moved in with the Moriyamas. I know nine is only a year younger but somehow it's breaking my heart a little more

Awww I always thought he looked just like his mom

I hope he looks a little like Wymack too but no one noticed before

I wonder if he ended up telling Betsy who his dad is? I don't think so but I'm sure she'd have kept the secret. Even though it would've been so hard to keep a straight face about it

"Coaches have no honor. Your word is enough. Just yours." I wanna hit every Raven coach with a very heavy stick, starting with Tetsuji. But I love how Kevin's always trusted that Wymack was different. He can be a surprisingly hopeful person sometimes. He's a little like his dad in how he sees the potential in people no one else does

Am I crazy or is Wymack talking about Andrew here?? Because it reminds me of the part in the extra content where Andrew keeps breaking into Wymack's apartment to rant about Kevin, until one day it's Neil he's more interested in

I always thought that Andrew agreeing to protect Kevin so easily might mean he was kind of into him. If canon unrequited kandrew is gonna be a thing then Andrew and Jean should form a Victims of Kevin Day's Big Green Eyes Support Group

TRK: Betsy

I'm so upset right now I don't even have words

It's so interesting to see what Andrew is like alone with Betsy. And I love that Wymack makes him feel safe

He loves his brother!!

"They cannot keep him. I will not let them." I fully believe Andrew would be down to break Aaron out of prison if he got jail time

"One week Neil had been the subject of some very grandiose conspiracy theories, and the next Andrew had only said 'He's Kevin's problem now, the end!' and refused to elaborate." That's the most Andrew response he could've had 😭

And he was so right about Neil being suspicious as hell! I need everyone to look back on the beginning of the year and realize Andrew was right about him

"Everyone knows now, Bee." My heart just broke into a million pieces

"Neil flinched. He'd pushed because he needed to see that horrible smile crack. He needed to know if Andrew was screaming behind the euphoria his drugs fed his veins. But Andrew wasn't, and Neil couldn't live with that. Andrew's medicine was too strong or his psychosis too twisted; either way, tonight didn't mean anything to him. This was a setback Andrew could sidestep and ignore." That part of TRK really stuck with me. It's a good thing he didn't actually try to act completely unbothered by everything that night but it still hurts to hear about

"I know what happened to you today was beyond cruel and that Drake's death will not undo what he did to you. I know our system has failed you every step along the way and that a part of you will carry that distrust and betrayal for many years to come, if not for the rest of your life. And I know you have done astoundingly well despite life's every attempt to crush you. I'm sorry," she said, trying and failing to catch his eye, "and I'm so, so proud of you." She just said everything I'm feeling, perfectly

Chaos and mayhem, or Blockbuster. These books are so 2006. I miss Blockbuster

TKM: Aaron

This was the first one I read and it took me ages to get through because I was laughing so hard. Aaron calling andreil's matching arm bands a promise ring broke me

He's such an asshole. I love him. He might not like it but he's a Fox through and through

"Exy this, Exy that, get a fucking hobby already. Oh, but I guess he did?" He sent a pointed look at Andrew. He's the funniest character actually

I've always wondered if he was a little jealous of a certain mouthy liar who has everyone wrapped around his little finger. Hearing that Ichirou chose Neil over his own brother must've been a wild experience

I also wondered if he actually had a passion for medicine or if he just picked the most respectable career path he could think of. It's so good to hear that it's really something he loves. He's gonna get his dream job and fix things with his brother and marry the love of his life some day, and I'm so proud of him

Neurosurgeon Aaron and paediatrician Katelyn are properly canon now! It's nice to get all these details from the extra content as part of the actual books

A few months ago, Aaron never would have imagined Andrew needed his approval. Finding out how important he was to Andrew was an ongoing, eye-opening experience. Aaron finally realizing how much Andrew has done because of him might be my favourite thing

"His father's people tore up his arms with a lighter and knives, and none of it is going to fade. He doesn't need to see those." Andrew Minyard you fake idgafer. You care so much. So much.

I wonder what would've happened with andreil if Andrew was in less denial about their relationship? I don't think he'd date someone on purpose while the no-dating deal was still in effect

"Andrew didn't want to talk about Neil with Dobson because once he broached that subject he had to either lie to all of them or admit Neil was more important than he wanted him to be." I love that Aaron understands this about Andrew

I love that the only other Aaron POV story we have also ends with him being able to tell when Andrew is lying to himself. The twinyards have their misunderstandings but at the end of the day they get each other

[captain-sunshine-11]

more kevseth hcs. you cant stop me:

Kevin has a vendetta against Strawberries (he ate one once and it was mushy asf) so Seth eats them instead

When Kevin wakes up from nightmares, especially if they are bad enough, he will be hyperventilating for a while. Seth wakes up when he realizes Kevin isn't laying down anymore and he just puts a warm hand on Kevin's back--an offer to come back when Kevin is ready

Even if Seth has made it past most of his internalized homophobia, he still has lingering toxic masculinity issues. So he rarely cries if he can help it——the first time Kevin sees Seth cry is after a panic attack

The cause of the panic attack had to do with his near-death experience with the Ravens and neither of them are having a great time. All Kevin can do is let Seth rest his forehead on his shoulder and hold onto his shirt like a lifeline

Back to the fun stuff, they practice just the two of them sometimes. Even after Seth graduates he comes around during holidays and Kevin misses playing Exy with his bf

Seth would call Kevin a plethora of unflattering/embarrassing nicknames (Sugarbear, Lovey-Woo, Hunny Pot, Your Highness, etc) all of them are said sarcastically

Kevin rarely calls Seth anything other than "Seth" but as they get older and out of college Kevin would drop "Babe" every once in a while

Out of the two of them, touch is more important to Seth. They are both touch starved but Kevin is unaware that gentle touch is something he needs (guy thinks that teammates' touch on court is all he needs smh my head). So Seth is more opt to initiate anything

But like anything with them, it has an adjustment period. Kevin isn't used to touch that doesn't mean "pain" or "command". And Seth is still dealing with the remnants of internalized homophobia, but they get to casual hugs and kisses eventually

When they tell Wymack, they were both scared

Kevin, because he just got his dad. What if this makes things worse somehow?

Seth, because he doesn't want to hurt Kevin and disappoint Wymack

Wymack, for all he is concerned, is confused as fuck. Like... wasn't I just telling you guys to knock off the fighting?? I didn't say kiss about it??

(hes happy for them and Seth gets invited to dinners at Abby's house)

Their favorite way to sleep is when Kevin is on top of Seth like a weighted blanket, Kevin having his head resting against Seth's chest and just laying together

One time Seth gets drunk with Matt and Kevin walks over to their dorm because he hasn't got a response to his text in two hours. When he opens the door Matt is drunkenly staring at a very drunk Seth ranting about how pretty Kevin's face is ("He'ss got those green eyes, man... can't believe they came that way.. fuckin gorgeous lipss too...")

Kevin is embarrassed enough when he realizes Aaron is tiredly making coffee while listening to the bullshit behind him, but it gets worse when Seth starts talking about how Proud he is of Kevin. At that point Aaron tells Kevin to get Seth out or to wrestle him into bed

("This is his dorm, Aaron." "Does it look like I care?" "Kevi?? Izzat you? I was just talkin about you. You shit..what are ya doing in here?")

Kevin gets Seth into bed and he falls asleep in Kevin's lap. He wakes up very confused but happy against Kevin's thigh. And then he remembers what happened the previous night and runs away to the bathroom

Kevin laughs at him when Seth returns and they wrestle and makeout a bit

[neilisok]

I was always a reader/listener and didn't really want to write something my own on tumblr, but after I read the extra chapters of aftg I had too much feelings, that I just need to share. (Sorry for my English in advance lol)

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE EXTRA CHAPTERS

The first chapter, Wymack's pov: OMG I LOVE HIM SO SO SO MUCH. The way he nows that Neil is always using the stairs and is kinda jealous of him (same bro lol, even tho I'm not that old), the way that Kevin's alcoholism he considers a problem and tries to do something about it, the way that Abby and him fought the first few days about Wymacks "not his problem". IMHO I think Kevin wanted to confess that Wymack was his father after he said that Kevin represented his mother a lot. I loved the way that Kevin chose to improve himself and go to Betsy, even tho he doesn't like her very much (lol, poor Betsy the raven trio doesn't like her) and even tho he could just take the alcohol from Andrew he chose not to do so. I almost cried, when Wymack remembered blood on his and at the last sentence when he went "to find a drink of his own" omg

The Second chapter, Betsy's pov: This made me remember what happened to Andrew, and omg, have you seen how Betsy and Andrew behaved??? The "Now everybody knows" from Andrew just killed me. But does he actually mean his family, or the Spears mother (so sorry I forgot her name), or both??? Like if he also meant the Spears, then I'm gonna kms, bc if I remember correctly, in Nora's posts (or I just read too much fanfiction idk), the mother tried to defend Drake till the end. But I think, it's more likely that he meant Aaron and Nicky. I just loved how Wymack just respected Andrew and left when he was asked to, or when he came back, he made sure that they would hear him. AND I also really need to know when Andrew said to Betsy that Neil is " Kevin's problem now, the end!". I also had a little chuckle when I read about how Wymack found that Betsy likes musicals the hard way. Did she drag him to watch a musical, and he didn't like it lol? I also almost cried when she said that she was proud of Andrew, it just shows how much he healed. I ALSO CAN'T SMILE AT ANDREW'S HUMOR

Wymack: "Now that you're doomed to bounce off the walls all night, any plans?"

Andrew: "Chaos and mayhem."

AAH I CAN'T WITH HIM

The third chapter, Aaron's pov: I didn't think that I needed this. I read a lot of fanfiction about how they came to this conclusion that Andrew chooses Neil, but this one is so much better than anything that I read, better than any other Aaron's reaction. I liked the way that even tho Andrew trusted Bee, he still didn't come out to her, and it's so much like coming out in real life. It doesn't matter how much you trust the person, doesn't matter that person you trust you know will accept you, you are still scared how would they react when you will come out to them. I also liked what Aaron said about Nicky: he is grateful that Nicky was there for him when he needed that, but sometimes he is too much about being gay which Aaron doesnt like, but he knows that Nicky does it, so he instantly will know who to trust, because he doesn't want to experience the same hatred from people he loved again. So Aaron doesn't mind gay people, he just doesn't like how Nicky shows his "gayness" (idk is it the right word?). The way Aaron instantly understood that Betsy knew that he wanted to become a neurosurgeon, and remembers the only time he said he wanted to become one, and just understood everything. I loved the way Aaron just uses Betsy and Neil in his favour, and makes Andrew chose Neil, and also saying that he won't leave Andrew's life, when he chooses Neil. And also the last part, when Andrew and Aaron were leaving after Andrew made his choice, and Aaron says that Andrew is dating a mafioso (lol i can't) and Andrew as always says that he doesn't, and Aaron just calls him "Liar". And can we talk about how this man talks about Kaitlyn?? It just really shows how he loves her, you should have seen my face when he said that he wants to spend his life with her.

OMG Can we also talk about the way Andrew tried to change the topic to his scars??? And Aaron will think about that later?? I just know the night that he will think about that he just won't sleep

[lazy-to-an-l]

I can't shut up about the foxes so heres another appreciation post.

Neil says during the Winter Conference that he doesn't think they (the upperclassmen) would be so watchful of the Monsters if Andrew was there, but I think he was just flat out wrong. When the Ravens did their strange V arrangement at the Fall Banquet, the upper classmen were out to help them in seconds. Allison spotted it and alerted it immediately, and the upper classmen were behind them immediately and fullheartedly. And Matt went searching for Neil the moment he could. The Upperclassmen may dislike the Monsters modes of operation, but they are their teammates and they will defend them until the end. They all huddle around Andrew when hes withdrawaling, they protect him and his secret sobriety fiercely. Even if they want to fight him constantly.

Matt Boyd, I adore him so much. He is ride or die for his foxes and so protective of them in his own kind and loving way. He respects Andrew but would fight him if he hurt anybody too badly. He and Wymack have similar operations, but while Wymack is hardened, Matt is empathetic and caring to his core. He loves his teammates, even the monsters, to the depths of his being. He doesn't agree with them, but he would happily fight anybody for them. That was shown the first game of the season when he took the card with a smile on his face after Kevin asked him to get the backliner off of him. Matt lets them handle their problems, like when Dan crotch shot the asshole Raven, or Neil waved him off when dealing with Riko. But the MOMENT they need him, he is ready for a fight and prepared to get hurt for them.

Allison is grieving and she dislikes the monsters on principle, but nobody fucks with her team without consequences. She dealt with her car getting damaged with calm hate and vitriol towards the Ravens fans and decidely didn't fully blame neil/ got over it quickly. She may not want to deal with the monsters more than necessary, or neil, but she would get carded protecting them, or alert the people she needs to to make sure they are okay.

Renee is closest to the Monsters because of her friendship with Andrew, but her priority is to protect the upperclassmen as Andrew and her have agreed. But her team is her team, and she is willing to go to great lengths to protect them, or anyone close to them like Jean. We know her loyalties deeply, and I think that's enough said for her.

Dan Wilds. I have so much to say and praise about her, and I am so glad she canonically becomes a coach like Wymack later on. She takes the shit thrown at her on the chin, and always has. She wants to throttle Andrew, but respects the Monsters decisions and Neils. She is hard as nails and is willing to fight and bleed and cry for her team. She handles things so well, and she doesn't take anyones shit. She won over Andrew's respect at Edens, and I wouldn't ever question if she could or would. She is fiercely protective of her team, and fiercely supports them no matter what. She is so expressive and caring, she doesn't always try to approach the Monsters because of how rocky things are between them and the upperclassmen. But she wanted to kill Riko for what he did to Andrew, and Seth, and Kevin, and Neil. She wanted to work out plans with them and converse with them. She is proud to be a Fox, and she is proud to call them all her teammates no matter their differences.

[thespineoftherighteous]

can i ask you to elaborate on matt's mom finding aaron as her favorite fox? it's been a while since i read the books

YES i can. i got so excited to answer this because it's such a scrumptious concept to me

in the books there isn't much between them, besides the fact that Matt's mother (Randy) pays Aaron's bail and Aaron spends Christmas with her in New York (which happens off screen so there could've been loads that happened then).

but there is this scene in the EC where Aaron chalks up the strength to go up to Randy and thank her when she comes to Palmetto to watch a game. (this is from a draft where Aaron and co don't spend Christmas break with Matt, so this is the first time Aaron actually meets her. this scene could have easily still happened though, just in NY, and i consider it canon.) and there's this. fucking wholesome as fuck moment where she hugs him until he sinks into it and tells him that she's proud of him and calls him family and i think, EC or not, it's genuinely one of my favorite scenes in the entire series:

It took Aaron most of Thursday afternoon to work up the courage, but he finally approached Randy at the end of practice to thank her for paying his bail. Neil was in charge of the stick rack and ball buckets today, but he deliberately slowed down his work to eavesdrop. Aaron's gratitude was the stilted mess of a man not used to admitting when he was wrong.

    Randy looked a bit baffled, then recovered enough to stress, "You gave me back my son. Do you understand? There is nothing I can do to make that up to you."

    Aaron was honest enough to say, "That wasn't my decision."

    Randy reached for him, but Aaron flinched at the first brush of her fingers against his shoulders. Aaron recovered quickly, but the damage was already done. Randy's smile vanished and the look she gave Aaron was heavy enough to make Neil uncomfortable ten feet away.

    Last summer Neil had recoiled from Wymack much the same way, so certain of being hurt for his transgressions and stupidity. For months his stomach had knotted a bit every time Wymack raised his voice at practice. Even as recently as January Neil willfully told himself Wymack's concern was anger because fear of older men was a powerful enough motivator to get Neil through his second thoughts and nightmares.

Only now did Neil understand that a person could fear an older woman the same way. Neil's mother had hit him and screamed at him, but she'd always been on his side. She'd always been his mother first. He'd known Aaron's mother was abusive, had heard it from Nicky and had it affirmed by Andrew back in November. He'd thrown it in Aaron's face knowing it would hurt, but somehow he'd still always thought it a different matter. Neil couldn't imagine a world where mothers weren't actually mothers.

Neil finally understood, though he didn't know if it was stupidity or prejudice that had blinded him this long. Cass Spear could have been Andrew's mother once. These days Andrew leaned on Betsy Dobson. Aaron, on the other hand, never had anyone to fill that role.  Aaron wouldn't let the Foxes in because of Andrew, but he couldn't let Nicky in because he didn't know how. He'd gotten this far in life on his own, surviving on willpower and sheer desperation.

    For a moment Neil thought Randy would take offense at Aaron's reaction and walk away. Instead she slowly raised her hands to Aaron's face and cradled his cheeks in her hands.

    "Hey," she said, more subdued than she'd sounded all day but somehow still hard with conviction. "I'm so proud of you. Do you hear me? I'm so proud of you. You did what you had to do to defend your family, and tomorrow you're going to do whatever it takes to defend our family. Okay? It's going to be okay."

    Aaron stared back at her, silent and frozen. Randy nodded at whatever she saw on his face and made a slow attempt at hugging him. Aaron didn't fight her off, and Randy held on until Aaron finally relaxed.

for a second i was going to take out some of Neil's commentary but i actually think it's good in showing how much this actually fucking means. his perception alone implies that Randy could be so much more to Aaron

anyway. that's as far as canon takes you but i believe that their relationship grows over the years, one way or another. grows into something that is very good for Aaron, something he needs. i also believe that Matt and Aaron get closer (I've got a wholeee post on that i think tho) and that either helps or is helped by Aaron and Randy's relationship. given the logistics they probably don't interact face to face often (maybe NY Christmases become a thing though) but that doesn't matter. Aaron has someone in his corner, not Nicky or Coach or Katelyn but someone just far enough outside the vortex of PSU to maybe take on a little bit of the weight he's always had to carry, maybe ease the solo war against the world that he's been fighting every day of his life.

[deprivedofbraincellsandsleep]

quotes from the bonus content that destroyed me! + other fav quotes

Warning: Spoilers below the cut also extremely long post (5 pages of my notes app btw) that will most likely be followed with an equally long reblog of me screaming about each quote:)))

"I don't trust her" [...] "She's Andrew’s"

"What could you be holding on to still that would drive you this far away from her?" "No. Don't ask me that."

"Maybe she was right or maybe she didn't have enough nightmares to understand."

"David rubbed a thumb along his knuckles, looking for blood he washed off years ago"

"Did you think you were my only lover? He isn't yours, David"

"Should have, could have, what-if"

"Coaches have no honor" (this one made me want to rip my hair out)

"Your word is enough. Just yours."

"One more for the road, then" (seems insignificant but it just reminded me of Nora's name on tumblr)

Neil "Hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing" Josten David "Defeat's a heavier mantle than hope" Wymack

"You might not have noticed, but he and I look alot alike! They'll look at him and see me, and we both know how little they think of me."

"Have to stack the deck in his favor somehow"

"Oh, Bee," [...] "You assume they were stupid enough to get caught."

"They cannot keep him. I will not let them."

"I know what happened to you today was beyond cruel, and that Drake's death will not undo what he did to you." [...] "I know our system has failed you every step along the way and that a part of you will carry that distrust and betrayal for many years to come, if not for the rest of your life. And I know you have done astoundingly well despite life's every attempt to crush you. I'm sorry, and I'm so, so proud of you."

"Everyone knows now, Bee" "They will not judge you for it"

"Who fears the monster that knows the taste of a whip?"

"Maybe it's past time to put the monster away."

"Andrew had loaded the gun himself; he couldn't be surprised when Aaron took aim and pulled the trigger."

"They were twins; there was too much of them in each other despite all the years they'd spend apart."

"Matching set." (...I'm ugly crying at this one)

"Someone like you wouldn't understand the importance of hiding scars"

"Andrew was trying to pull him off track, and Aaron knew beyond a doubt he'd never find his way back if he followed it to whatever ugly truth Andrew was hiding."

"He forced Andrew's words aside to haunt him later"

"I wanted nothing to do with him, but he tried, and he tried and he tried anyway. He took care of us." [...] "He refused to give up on us no matter how hard we tried to push him away."

"I don't care if you're gay, and I don't care that you picked the literal most irritating person on the planet to fall for. I care that you're being a hypocrite."

"If someone talked about Katelyn that way, I'd have punched him out years ago. I'm not going to tolerate his lewd jokes just because he's my cousin."

"Finding out how important he was to Andrew was an ongoing, eye-opening experience"

"Aaron still didn't particularly like her or trust her, but he didn't have to. She truly mattered to Andrew when so few people did anymore."

"I love Katelyn. I love her more than anything. I want to spend the rest of my life for her, but I am trying so goddamned hard to wait until graduation because you asked me to."

"'Tell me about Katelyn,' Dobson invited him. Andrew made a dismissive noise, but Aaron would take any chance he could to talk about her."

""I'm trying, okay? I'm trying. Years too late, I know, but you refused me first. I begged you to come home with me. You can't blame me for not trusting you." "I am capable of multi-tasking," Andrew said. Aaron heard what he didn't say: I blame us both."

"We've spent years making each other miserable. Can't we finally make peace?"

"I don't want to lose what we're doing here. I don't want to lose you. But I won't lose her, either. There has to be a middle ground somewhere."

"I don't trust her." (AJAHAKHAKA THE TWINYARD FEELS THE KATEAARON FEELS THE 'I DONT TRUST HER' SAGA COMTINUES. I was so convinced there would be a 'I don't trust her in the TRK story aswell but there wasnt :( )

"She's followed your rules for a year then, loving Aaron from a distance because she understands how important you two are to each other. That has to mean something, Andrew. You know it does."

"He deserves the right to try." "You both do."

"You promised me once you would never lie to me," Dobson said with a gentle smile. "A wound can't heal so long as the knife is buried in it. It's time to pull it, Andrew. You can't be brothers while you are each other's jailors."

""Peace?" he asked. "We're Foxes," Andrew said. "There's no such thing." "Ceasefire, then," Aaron tried. "Give her to me, Andrew." "You will regret it." "Says the man dating a mafioso." "I'm not dating him," Andrew said, with a hint of impatience. Aaron saw right through him, and it was enough to makehim smile as he turned his gaze out the window. "Liar.""

This entire excerpt.

(pic from @tscsunlover)

Other fav quotes:

"Nicky wasn't the only one so easily swayed, but if Nicky and Kevin were both too blind to figure that out David wasn't going to put it together for them."

"One week Neil had been the subject of some very grandiose conspiracy theories, and the next Andrew had only said 'He's Kevin's problem now, the end!' and refused to elaborate."

"'Bane of my existence,' Andrew said, and did not elaborate." (Andrew minyard and the art of not elaborating)

""Bee likes musicals," Andrew announced brightly, though David had found that out the hard way. Andrew didn't bother to explain how he knew, and Betsy only smiled when David flicked a shrewd look at her."

"Trusting he would keep a discreet eye on her most precious charge..."

"One of these days Aaron would love to know what about that mouthy liar had people bending over backwards for him, but the jagged heat that used to accompany such thoughts was long gone."

"He tried to punch me out" "You bring out that urge in people." (I have thoughts about this one)

"I liked him more when he wasn't speaking to me, Bee" "I doubt that"

"'I told her you were never going to develop a personality of your own,' Andrew told Aaron. 'She held out hope for youregardless. She has a thing for lost causes.'"

[kevindavidday]

ok but imagine:

Even if it takes her a little time to come to terms with the fact that Kevin is Wymack's son, Dan soon takes up the role of being the annoying older sister. For the remaining year she lords over Kevin not just as the captain but also as his Elder sister in spirit and it pisses Kevin off soooooo much (Matt also participates by calling himself Kevin's brother in law and then blushes when Dan looks™ at him)

But like definitely one day in some game some dickhead is going to say some shit about Dan and Kevin is gonna punch him saying 'Watch what you're saying about my sister, asshole' and everyone is going to be like 🫠🫠🫠

Wymack in tbe distance is going to be simultaneously cringing and proud

wymack is never not cringing around the foxes this is real and true

also, absolutely yes the trio of wymacks main kids from oldest to youngest is: dan, kevin and neil

dan has every right to bully kevin within an inch of his life - thinking of that time she got him started on a convo about exy and he was like ykw i'm gonna sit with her and then neil ditched them for andrew...it was like?? why would you do that to our bonding time neil???

kevin as a middle child makes sense tbh, and neil kevin as over protective younger brother figures only to end up backing away cuz dan's the one standing over them as the overprotective older sister. tbh this dynamic makes all their scenes ten times funnier: neil saying 'dan, i said please i tried to be nice' and smacking kevin at the back of his head, and the constant yapping...yeah i get it

i think kevin and dan have a lot of potential for growth + dan would love amalia i just know it and i already know she's neil's favorite so there's definitely some bias there lol

[foxufortunes]

WIP Wednesday - Phantasm

So, Phantasm, for those who don't know, is my Trojan!Andrew au in which Andrew goes with Jean to join the Trojans, and proceeds to be really freaked out by how the Trojans respect his boundaries and keep trying to make sure he's comfortable. And honestly, I really enjoy diving into Andrew, who's always had his boundaries ignored and treated like a monster for enforcing them, suddenly coming up against people who go out of their way to respect all his boundaries and beyond, and how that actually makes him feel kind of weak and coddled because this man has so rarely experienced basic human decency even from his own team.

Andrew knows the moment they’re released from their meet up with Wymack at the Foxhole, because his phone, sitting on the coffee table in the living room, suddenly won’t stop buzzing. Knox and Moreau have gone for a run, as they’ve taken to doing when Moreau has sat still for too long, while he and Laila watch Alvarez do busy work on Animal Crossing. His phone suddenly exploding with messages is both noticeable and annoying. Alvarez pauses from moving her furniture around her one room house and leans over his phone.

“There’s so really angry Foxes wanting to talk to you,” she says. She glances up. “You didn’t tell them you were transfering?”

“Why would I?” Andrew replies.

“They’re your friends?” Laila says. Andrew stares at her. “Your teammates.”

“Ah, I see where you’re mistaken,” he says with a nod. “Your power of friendship nonsense makes you think even us Foxes must care about each other really. We don’t. We never did. They tolerated me because I saved their pathetic team’s ass over and over, but they’re not actually unhappy that I’m gone. Only that they think I’ve taken their chances of reaching the Spring Championships again with me.” 

“But you didn’t even tell them?” Alvarez says.

“Why would I?” he says again. His phone vibrates with an incoming call and Andrew sighs silently. “Who?”

“Walt Whitman?” she says.

“Decline it.” 

Alvarez and Laila glance between each other, then Alvarez declines the call and Laila returns to painting his middle finger gold against the black. Team spirit, and all that. And the little points of contact reassure her that he’s making progress with them. Bee would probably be proud of him for tolerating her hand around his. But thinking about Bee makes him think about the fact that his parole is coming to an end and soon he’ll have to decide what to do about Bee. He can’t afford therapy without the PSU scholarship or the courts demanding it. He wonders how much it would offend a certain runaway if he spent his emergency cash from the binder on Bee.

[codename-adler]

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

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

>>> Dan, Matt & Her under the cut

Adler's WiPs ~ Project: Eva Josten

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

Enter the Butcher’s daughter: Aleksandra Eva Wesninski. 

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

xxx

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

Dan x Matt x FOC ot3 AU

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

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

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

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

Abby convinces Kevin and Dan;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dan falls first and Matt falls harder.

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

[sunny-three]

Maybe this is a bit of a controversial take? I'm not sure. But I recently read the bonus short stories (spoilers if you haven't read them. feel free to disregard this whole thing if you don't want to see spoilers.) and I found that they read like something the author wrote to quash all "incorrect" interpretations. Except the one from Wymack's POV, the others felt like a heavy-handed explanation of points that I think are fairly evident from the original series with a hint of retcon-ing more kindness into it. It's not a case of "they wouldn't fucking say that", because there's evidence in the text to support that interpretation. It's more like, "They wouldn't express that in those words at a time like this." It feels a bit contrived. You can feel the hand of the author in those short stories as if the author was trying to clear up readers' uncertainties because the reader couldn't be trusted to make the right conclusions. I can't tell if I'm imagining it? But I feel like I'm not because the other extra content short stories up on her blog don't read like that.

Hmm I see what ur trying to say but I never rly interpreted it as retconning but rather how certain characters see themselves and others.

Take Aaron’s short story for example in which he says that he is no longer homophobic the thing is the story is from Aaron’s pov and that’s how he sees himself he never sees himself as being homophobic he just sees it as Nicky being gross and Aaron responding in kind.

But as a reader I would say that his words about not putting up with Nicky’s comments don’t match up with his actions in the books where he leaves Neil alone with him or him telling Nicky that being gay is not something to be proud of.

I read the short stories as less Nora trying to show her opinions and more like characters justifying themselves/other people

Send me ur aftg opinions!!

[kevindavidson]

Kevin Day Cooks

About three years after going Pro, Kevin gets bored in a sense. Exy has been his life for so long that at 26, he wants something new. But the only other passion he has is history but even that isn’t enough to settle him. So he searches for another hobby and finds one that he’s actually good at. 

At the Nest all meals were prepared and made by the team so Kevin had been cooking since age seven, casually. it was self preservation to him, nutrition only. Until Abby asked him the history behind the meal they were eating at family dinner and...he didn’t know. Kevin sat at a loss for a long few minutes because he knew so much about history, but he’s forgotten the most important part. 

Food.

It brought people together and tore them apart all the same but it was the one thing that tied everything together. forget religion, and work, food was what made the world. Without it, no one would exist.

He started learning where dishes came from, and the cultural history behind them. He asked Jean about French dishes, and Jeremy about southern ones, and whenever he crossed paths with someone visibly not from the States, he asked them their favorite meal so he could learn both how to make it and the history. 

Due to all this cramming, the facts started pouring out of him very quickly. Andrew, Neil, Jean, and every other player on his team got very fed up very quickly. It was Bee who suggested he share it. The blog idea was shut down, as was the guest starring on a cooking show because Abby said that he wouldn’t be able to ramble like he tended to do.

So, Youtube. He created a Youtube, watched a few hundred videos on how to edit, and other cooking videos for an idea of what he was supposed to do, and got to work. He started easy, a dish anyone could make - Garlic Bread. he chattered on about the timeline and history of the bread while mixing ingredients, kneading the dough - sleeves rolled up his forearms because Nicky said it would get views from Non-Exy watchers if he did that. 

Immaculately dressed in slacks and a flannel, Kevin Day made Garlic Bread while babbling on about the history of Ancient Rome, 15th Century Italy, Bruschetta, and the new Italian-American version of the food. He edited it, posted it, and by the time he woke up the next morning it had over a million views, had been written about in dozens of articles, and was all over twitter. most especially being dragged through the mud by the Foxes for the shots of him bending over to but the bread in the oven and slight muscle flexing. Allison coined it “Borderline Fanservice”

Kevin didn’t care. He liked that people wanted to hear him talk about history while also being able to indulge in cooking for more than simply needing nutrition. As the channel grew people started recognizing him as Kevin Day the Youtube cooking man almost as much as they did Kevin Day the son of Exy.

One video turned to two to three and so on and so forth. 

As it grew cameos were made. 

While making brownies and blabbering about Bertha Palmer, Andrew sat cross legged on the counter just barely in frame with a cat in his lap wearing plaid pajama bottoms and what was clearly a Palmetto hoodie with JOSTEN across the shoulders - how the Josten-Minyard Rivalry was outed as the Josten-Minyard Romance. The press had a field day. The video also factures not only Andrew pelting Kevin with chocolate chips throughout the video, zeroing in on Kevins ass when he bent to put them in the oven, but the ‘keeper pouring an extra half bag of chocolate chips into the batter when Kevin wasn’t looking whilst wearing what some fans deemed a smile.

When Kevin chose the Dobson Schnitzel recipe, he invited Bee onto the channel and pretty much smiled at her the entire time she talked about the origins of the recipe. Her great-great grand mother, and her proud Jewish roots. (Whenever asked about his favorite episode, Kevin always says its that one.)

He posts a Cooking w/ Dad video in which Wymack cracks not one, not two, but five different smiles at his son while they make regular old chocolate chip cookies as they should have been doing when Kevin was eight and had a bad day instead of Kevin working through injuries on a court and Wymack grieving Kayleigh during PT while feelings for his therapist bloomed.

There’s a few dozen videos that Aaron just pops in every once in a while to watch Kevin work. In one he’s arm crossed, practically a statue off to one side. In another he’s wearing scrubs, dead on his feet, and stealing a bite off Kevin’s plate and humming in approval. He’s passing through the kitchen and swiping frosting from the piping bag, or staring diligently at the coffee machine pulling an espresso shot too slowly for his liking. In every video Aaron appears in Kevin always has this dopey look on his face until Aaron is gone in the next cut, in every video there is some type of soft physical touch, and an air of domesticity that leads the press to talk and receive absolutely no answers.

Dan and Matt pop in from time to time, passing through the kitchen during a kitchen party for the OG Foxes and their partners. There’s Allison sitting on the counter, phone in one hand, lipstick in the other, applying a new layer with Renee leaning into her, back to Allisions chest. (The fans and press have already taken notice that Renee always puts her back to a wall and find this little event to be something to look into.)

There’s always Neil. Neil in the background, Neil stealing food, Neil trying to pester Kevin about stats that lead to such a big conversation that Kevin forgets what he’s going and has to record a voice over for the rest of it - the fans pester him to post the original sound and it doubles the views of the first. Neil staring at the finished cooled apple pie, glancing at Kevin, and just bashing Kevin face into it so hard the pan cracks in half. Neil and Aaron, who was also in the shot, both fell to the floor laughing. 

Abby cameoed some of the time which led toward Abby gaining a large following. Mother Abby everyone called her for the motherly way she fretted about Kevin, of which Kevin reveled in. She became the only other “Celebrity” on Tumblr besides Neil Gaiman. Ask about the Foxes, Wymack, herself and much more flooded. Everyone loved Abby, and Abby loved sharing her people to the world. she liked cracking open the door to shoe them that their heroes - Andrew, Kevin, Matt, Jean, Jeremy, Neil - were just people after all. 

Matt could sing. Kevin pouted when he burned himself on the stove. Jean shouted in French whenever annoyed. Jeremy had a knack for finding every corner to bash his toes into. Andrew’s diet consisted of sugar, caffeine, some more caffeine, and spite. Neil never shut up about Exy.

As the years went on and children happened, they started showing up. Kevin’s hair went gray, he retired, he and Aaron adopted four kids from the system who couldn’t wait to be Foxes, Dan and Matts kids loved coming on the channel. The channel made for more than just a hobby for Kevin, it became a home. A recording of the life and family he’d made for himself by simply having the spine to say, “No.” Once in his miserable life.

Kevin Day, a six time Olympic Gold Medal Champion, Son of Exy, and the best Striker in the world would forever say to anyone who asked that his greatest accomplishment wasn’t his medals, or his skill, or Exy. It was his channel.

Just...Kevin Day finding that he was worth more than Exy by being a perfect househusband.

[purpleshadow-star]

The Aftermath

Read on Ao3

~

Andrew's hand gripped at the wall of the stall he was in as he heaved into the toilet bowl under his face for the umpteenth time in the last three minutes.

He spit one last time and banged a closed fist against the stall wall in frustration.

Usually, he had more time. Usually, he was able to make it through the whole game without feeling like he was going to be sick. Usually, there was enough time for him to bask in his sobriety for the few minutes between the end of the game and taking his pill again.

This time, the game wore him out.

Andrew knew he was an amazing goalie. It’s the reason he was recruited to the Foxes in the first place. Andrew knew that he could shut out almost any team they went up against if only he chose to put in the effort.

The Ravens, though. The Ravens were on a completely different level. No one had ever scored thirteen points on Andrew. Sure, Andrew had blocked the other 137 shots that the Raven made on his goal, but the fact that they were still able to make so many goals was a testament to how much they wore him down.

Already feeling weary from his withdrawal during the game, the Ravens’ incessant attack on his goal expedited his nausea to the point where Andrew had considered puking right on the court once the game ended. He had settled for sitting and decided to keep his sick for the toilet.

After another round of heaving, Andrew leaned against the stall wall. Faintly, he could hear a door opening and the rest of the Foxes entering the foyer. Wymack was no doubt giving some rousing speech about how he was proud of their performance.

Andrew didn’t care for Coach’s dramatics, but the fact that he had to miss his speech because he was stuck in a toilet stall emptying his stomach infuriated him. Andrew hit the stall wall again as he felt another round of vomit begin to work its way up his throat.

Andrew didn’t care about Exy. He really didn’t, but he was used to having it be something he could control. Again, Andrew was no stranger to his talent. Ever since discovering his uncanny abilities in juvie, Andrew had played Exy in a way that ensured he always had control. He could choose whether or not to put in effort. He could control the score. Exy was Andrew’s way of having control over something. Having control the way he never did growing up.

It was agonizingly unnerving to lose that control, especially to someone like Riko Moriyama.

Andrew was used to being able to control the score in any Exy game he played. Today, Andrew threw any target score out of his mind and focused on attempting to shut down the goal.

For the first time, it didn’t work.

Andrew moved off of the stall wall, heaved once more, and wondered why he was even thinking this hard about the game. He didn’t care. He didn’t.

Another heave had Andrew gripping his own leg and digging his nails in. He wanted to hurt something. He wanted to break something. He despised getting sick like this. He loathed showing this kind of weakness to anyone.

No one was in the locker room yet, but they would be soon. It was bad enough that he had collapsed to the ground in front of everyone after the game ended. Renee was the only one to see him right before he ran into the locker room to throw up, but even showing her this part of him made him uncomfortable. Andrew hated how little control he had over his body right now.

Control.

It was all about control.

Andrew used to have no control, back when he was in the system. Now, he had the means to take control over anything he needed to. The medication was a setback, for sure, but he took control back when he signed with Wymack. He took control back when he negotiated to come off of his meds for games.

At that moment, Andrew had no control over anything. He tried to keep in his nausea, but his body betrayed him. For the past hour, he tried to control the game, a feat that had been so effortless before, to no avail.

Andrew needed to take control back.

He thought about the last time this happened. The last time he had gotten this sick. He had destroyed the lounge. It was gratifying.

In the tiny bathroom stall, there was nothing to destroy but himself. Andrew spit up some more stomach acid, any food in his system having already been thrown up, and clawed at his left arm with his right hand until his armband shifted down a few inches, away from the crook of his elbow. He felt along the ridges with a harsh finger as a shiver wracked his body.

He felt hot and cold all over. He could feel his body shaking and his knees aching from kneeling for so long.

He despised this.

Eager to do visible damage, Andrew shifted from rough rubbing to vicious scratching. The nails of his right hand scratched at the old scars on his left forearm. He hadn’t done anything like this in a while, since before juvie, but there wasn’t anything else breakable in the small stall, and given his current state of anger and frustration, Andrew craved destruction.

It didn’t last long. The locker room door opened and a few seconds later, a tiny pill sitting on a piece of paper towel was slid underneath the stall door. A bottle of water followed a second later.

Andrew snatched the pill up in a frenzy. His sudden movement agitated the air around him, causing the paper towel to fly off to who knows where. With difficulty, Andrew swallowed the pill dry. He then reached for the water bottle and used half of it to rinse out his mouth before gulping down the rest of it. Then, he leaned back against the stall wall and closed his eyes.

The pill was already taking the edge off of his nausea. Andrew knew it wasn’t possible for the pill to be taking effect immediately. Likely, the feeling of relief was some sort of placebo, but either way, Andrew welcomed it.

Opening his eyes, Andrew cast a bored look at his exposed forearm. The skin was irritated and red, but due to his short nails, no skin had been broken. He pulled the fabric back up, covering the skin.

He’d have to tell Betsy about his mini relapse, if it could even be called that, no matter how inconsequential it was. That was annoying.

A few minutes of sitting later, a knock on the stall door almost visibly startled him.

“Andrew? Are you alive in there?”

It was Neil, the fucking mouthy shit.

It had been long enough that the pill was starting to take effect. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. Mania bled into his voice as he replied.

“Unfortunately for everyone save you and Kevin, I continue to live on for another day.” Andrew replied. He stood up and flushed the toilet. Neil said something else, but Andrew paid him no mind as he watched the evidence of his failures wash down the toilet.

When he opened the stall door, Neil was gone.

With his dreadful smile making its way back onto his face, Andrew reluctantly let the mania wash over him once more and walked to his locker to get changed.

He and his family had an after party to get to, after all.