#this has been

[trilobitepunch]

Before and after.

[inafieldofstarflowers]

Since my last aftg re-read I’ve been thinking a lot about Kevin Day, and specifically about whether the view we get of him through Neil’s eyes is accurate. Over the course of the series, Neil consistently fails to recognize subtext (relatable), particularly when it comes to emotions (i.e. Andrew being into him and Neil not picking up on it, Matt consistently trying to gently ask about his sexuality and Neil never really picking up on what he means, Neil being utterly confused about what the bets on him could be). Neil is, however, very open about and aware of his love for Exy: beyond being good at it or enjoying it, playing makes Neil feel human—it’s one of the first things we learn about him.

Since Kevin is also obsessed with Exy, this is the side of him that Neil sees most often. Almost all of their interactions are centered around Exy—even their conversations about the literal mafia are inextricable from the sport they play (thanks, Tetsuji), so it makes sense that, in book two, Neil is saying that “The only thing that mattered to Kevin was Exy,” especially when considering that both Andrew and Aaron make similar statements in some of their first interactions with Neil (“Where the court is, Kevin is. He can’t exist without it” and “Exy is the only thing he cares about,” respectively). Given Neil’s obsession with Kevin (the way he’s tracked his success and is fixated on his survival), it’s easy to forget that, at the beginning of the series, Neil doesn’t know Kevin. They played a game of Exy together once, years ago, and then didn’t meet again until Kevin came to recruit Neil for the Foxes. For years, all Kevin has been to Neil is a horrific memory and a set of Exy stats, so of course when they meet again in an environment centered around the sport, that obsession with the sport is all Neil sees. In many ways, I think Neil intertwines who Kevin is with who he is from the beginning: in the same breath as he’s saying Exy is “the only thing that made him feel real,” he’s stating that “Kevin was proof Neil was real.”

I don’t, however, think this is a complete view of Kevin. I think there are hints of this in the way that Andrew’s appraisal of Kevin differs from Neil’s and Aaron’s: not that Kevin only cares about Exy, but that he can’t exist without it—he’s tied to it. Andrew’s not making a sweeping claim about Kevin’s feelings so much as expressing his irritation with Kevin’s obsession with the sport, and he’s not wrong: Kevin is inextricably connected to Exy, not only because Tetsuji raised him to be the future of the sport alongside Riko, but because Exy is Kayleigh Day’s legacy, and so is Kevin’s life, and (at least in the eyes of the world) those two are never going to be fully separate. Even if they were, Kevin would choose Exy because he genuinely loves it (that much is evident in his dedication to practicing until he has his skills down just so, and in the choice of the Trojans, who rely on skill and teamwork and incredible understanding of the game to win, as his favorite team).

I think TSC in particular shines extra light on Kevin by giving us Jean’s view of him. Things as simply as his choice of major become much weightier—history is something Kevin is apparently so passionate about that he convinced Riko to study it with him and convinced Tetsuji to let them do it, even though Kevin’s literal purpose at the Nest was to be the best (or, I guess, second best) Exy player, and the stated purpose of the Ravens all sharing a major was because academics were seen as less important. Jean’s comment about how “Kevin saw nothing but the court, but Jean had stopped hoping for more than that years ago” initially seems to support Neil’s line of thought, but I think that’s a much more personal reflection from Jean, really, because the rest of Jean’s narration shows a much different version of Kevin than we see through Neil’s eyes. Even though Jean has more reason than maybe anyone to feel that Kevin cares only about Exy, given the way he left the Nest, Jean recognizes that this isn’t true. He trusts in Kevin’s care for him, trusts his judgment in sending him to the Trojans.

Kevin’s care for other people doesn’t often come through, and I think that’s a combination of the way that he is as a person and the way that he’s painted in Neil’s narration. He definitely has moments of being incredibly callous (e.g. when Seth dies and when Andrew is being taken off his meds), but he also does truly care about people. He cares about Andrew, even if his “make Andrew care about Exy so he has a will to live” strategy is deeply flawed. He cares about Jean, evidenced by the magnets and postcards he would give him ad the work he put into setting things up so Jean could be on a team where he was safe even giving up some of his own secrets in the process. he cares about Neil, who he encourages to run (even though that would destroy the Foxes’ season) and tries to stop from going to Evermore at Christmas and trains every night by request, even though they both think Neil will die, and stands up to Riko for.

More than anything, I think the biggest evidence that Kevin cares about more than Exy is the faith that he has in people, time and time again, because that faith is in such contrast to his standard disdain for people. He has faith in Wymack taking him in (Jean says that he never doubted it), faith that Andrew will protect him at the Foxhole Court, faith that Jean will help Neil at Evermore, faith that Neil has a bright future. After a childhood spent mired in, at the very least, intense emotional abuse, it’s honestly amazing that he’s able to move forward with that sort of trust in people.

All that to say: I think there’s a lot more to Kevin than we see, and I especially think there’s a lot more to him than Exy. What’s his favorite period of history to study? Did he spend a lot of time picking out the magnets for Jean on his trips? When did he start drinking to try to stop his emotions (something that Neil never deeply addresses but which is a whole different post because this is already FAR too long)? What did he think when he first found out Wymack was his father? When he re-read Kayleigh’s letter over and over again, was it because he was reveling in knowing who his father was or because it was a tangible piece of the mother that he’d lost? Was he even worse about critiquing Andrew & Nicky et al. about their food choices when he first arrived at PSU because of the Ravens’ diet thing? I need to know everything about him that isn’t his love for Exy.

[authenticcadence18]

welp apparently someone on Reddit is talking shit about my tags ans the post has over 5k votes and nearly 400 comments and that’s why I’ve been getting rude comments on my fic 🥰🥰

thanks Reddit thank you!!!!!!! thank you for taking a FOUR YEAR OLD FIC and tearing 20 yr old me’s excited tags to shreds!!!! thanks!!!! thanks for that!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!

[anonymoosen]

Urth’s greatest dad

[out-of-users]

You asked, I deliver!

KNY God! Au

__________________________

Let’s start with the basics:

Each god has a domain, or a place where they live, based on what they are the god of / personal likings.

Where the 9 domains meet, is a neutral ground, and where Ubyashiki lives.

The hashira are gods, the Kamaboko squad are shrine keepers, and muzan and his demons are still…demons.

Now for each god in turn:

Giyuu

God of water. I mean, how could he not be?

I feel like his domain would have a lot of serene environments, and a deadass waterfall too.

Favors Urokodaki and the Kamado siblings over all other shrine keepers.

Will murder if one of the other gods purposely tries to hurt them.

Sabito is a kitsune that used to be giyuu’s friend who died by demons. He has a shrine for him in his domain.

His domain borders mitsuri’s and sanemi’s. (And that goes reeeeally well, huh?)

Sanemi

God of wind/air. Self explanatory.

Domain borders giyuu’s and muichiro’s

Favors genya, (though he’ll never admit it,) and wants him to be safe.

As for his siblings, (genya included) they were all humans he saved. When a demon came, genya was the last survivor.

Hates nezuko, because of the demon part of her. (Doesn’t know about genya’s little ability though)

Windstorms often run through his domain.

Mitsuri

I’m sorry, but I want her sky to be pink in her domain. And I want her to love it. So suck it up.

Borders giyuu and rengoku.

God of love, romance, you know.

As for her family, it’s a couple that visits her shrine daily.

Gets offerings like Sakura Mochi a ton.

Also loves nezuko, and will murder for her safety (tanjiro too!)

Tengen

God of sound and festivals. (Damn, we knew that one from the start.)

Borders rengoku and Gyomei.

A very flashy domain, definitely has fireworks stored somewhere

As for his family, they were people who frequently visited the shrine, (besides his dad,) but he accidentally killed them when he accidentally released a soundwave onto his shrine that made it collapse on itself, the people inside too.

Since then his shrine has been rebuilt, sturdier.

Still has his 3 wives, they live with him in his domain.

Rengoku

God of fire/heat. (not the sun though!)

His little brother isn’t related to him, but a shrine keeper he took in as “His own!”

Literal besties with mitsuri

His domain is HOT. Bring hydration.

Loves being offered any type of food at his shrine, especially bento!

Borders mitsuri and tengen.

Gyomei

Borders tengen and obanai.

God of rocks/land, stone, mineral, you get it.

Those kids? They died in a religious temple.

Still religious, even though he is a god. (Heh. Strange.)

A ton of rocks in his domain, along with a prayer area.

You can definitely feel it when he steps.

Obanai

God of serpents/reptiles.

Huge crush on mitsuri.

Borders gyomei and shinobu.

Still has facial scars, still hides them.

Domain is FULL OF TREES.

Still has kaburamaru. The snake is still a shinobu simp.

Shinobu

God of incects.

The butterfly girls are her favorite.

Kanae was an old shrine keeper who was slain by demons.

Domain is filled with butterflies.

People go to her shrine for medical advice sometimes.

Muichiro and Yuichiro

Borders obanai and muichiro.

God (s) of mist/fog.

Borders shinobu and sanemi.

Forgets everyone, even his own twin.

Entire domain is misty.

Big fan of tanjiro, nezuko, and genya.

The shrine for the two is combined into one.

Y’all, that took forever and I hope it blows up. I lost motivation but still had fun! Byeeee!

[itspileofgoodthings]

not Davy literally sitting down to write Agnes and tell her everything as the first major action of his heart after getting engaged to Dora. not that

[sendpseuds]

French onion soup

On the off chance anyone is actually interested in the rest of this process…

Gather soup, toasty bread, and cheese

Add toasty bread

Add cheese

Broil with lightsaber [this step is unnecessary if, unlike the poster, you have a functioning broiler]

Add some green sprinkles and enjoy 🖤

[canmking]

B l u e

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

Asmi I need motivation to do homework but Broadchurch is calling to me rn. Help?

HELLO MAGGOT I WILL GIVE YOU GREAT LIFE ADVICE: UH

okay when I typed that I didn't actually have any life advice i was hoping it would come on spurred by enthusiasm

let's try again

WHAT WORKED FOR ME WAS BREAKING IT DOWN INTO TEENY TINY TASKS AND TICKING THEM OFF QUICKLY SO I GET HIGH OFF OF ACHIEVEMENT

OR LISTENING TO MUSIC THAT MAKES ME FEEL BADASS

ALSO I DON'T KNOW WHAT BROADCHURCH IS ARE YOU FEELING THE URGE TO GO PRAY OR WHAT IS HAPPENING

IF YOU ARE NOT PROCRASTINATING YOUR HOMEWORK FOR JESUS OR BILDADDY AND YOU ARE NOT IN FACT IGNORING THE CALL OF THE (I FORGOT THE NAME) THE CLOTH THEN THE ABOVE TWO TIPS SHOULD WORK ALSO TRY DOING IT FOR FIVE MINUTES THEN YOU'LL BUILD MOMENTUM AND WANT TO KEEP CONTINUING

ALSO, WHEN YOU TAKE A BREAK, TAKE A BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE OR PARAGRAPH OR MATH PROBLEM IT'LL HELP WHEN YOU COME BACK COZ YOU'RE NOT STARTING SOMETHING NEW

[benevolenterrancy]

in 5 days it's March

in 6 days I'm going skiing

in 8 days the book I'm waiting for comes out

in 12 days I'm going to do a murder mystery game with my gf

FEBUARY IS ALMOST OVER AND I'M HANGING ON BY MY FINGERTIPS FOLKS

[too-many-hyperfixations]

A hoe never gets cold,

a prude never gets hot.

[nihoneshi]

You know whenever I hear about "Brothers in Arms" in any sort of film I legit go "So they were gay? On at THE VERY LEAST A PLATONIC GAY. "

you can't stop the internet. I now see why Kaiway is a ship, and I so agree with that shit. YOU DON'T JUST SAY "CLOSEST FRIEND AND BROTHERS IN ARMS" WITHOUT IT BEING JUST A SMIDGE GAY.

[iampresent]

Hey. Hey you. C’mere! I have something wonderful to tell you about the  language of Latin, and specifically how it was taught in the Cambridge Elevate Latin textbook.  

Ready?

Ok so in Latin, the diminutive of any word ends in -ulus.  Basically it just adds the word “little” behind the noun.  Best example of this? “homo” means “man/person” (the species, not the gender, that’s “vir”) in Latin. “homunculus” means “little man” in Latin. Which is just a wonderful fact in and of itself. Like c’mon that’s so fun to say. You’re a homunculus. no YOU’RE a homunculus. everyone here is a homunculus. homunculus homunculus homunculus.

But that’s not the best part. Not by a long shot.

So, it’s kinda hard to teach a dead language. You can’t do a lot of conversational skills and learning, because there aren’t a ton of sources to explain how the language was spoken casually. Now, you could just make them read all the super famous Latin texts we have, but those do have a pretty high level of advancement and also happen to be about as exciting to your average high schooler as “explain your answer” math problems.

So, what is a classics course that wants to make absolutely stupendous amounts of money to do??

Well, if you’re the Cambridge Elevate Latin Course, you create one long storyline over the course of four books which goes from “astonishingly heart wrenching familial tragedy” to “surprisingly xenophobic narrative of life on the streets of Alexandria” to “extremely out-of-pocket political intrigue” to “telenovela” faster than you can say “Sed Caecilius non respondit”. None of these stories are particularly well written, but they are much more intense than you would expect of a language textbook for middle and high schoolers.

anyway, cut to my 10th grade Latin class, right as we were beginning the “political intrigue but everyone is a complete dumbass” section of the course. And one of the grammar concepts for that stage was diminutives.  As I hope I’ve already established, the storyline was completely fucking batshit insane. We were used to it. We could handle absurdity, my class could. We reveled in it. So there we were, reading about the British chieftain A who crashed the king’s dinner party with a *partially* tamed bear, in order to kill/maim/severely embarrass British chieftain B, because B had had the audacity to beat A in a boat race. In my opinion, we were taking it with relatively straight faces, all things considered.

But when British Chieftain B called A “homunculus”? 

We lost it. We completely, absolutely LOST. IT. It was one of the best moments of my life.

Anyway, my teacher is switching her freshmen onto a different textbook next year, for SOME REASON, which I frankly think is pretty swagless of her.

[nsomniacsdream]

I read a throw away a long time ago (I think? I'm kind of fuzzy on the details) about humans using singing as a way to stabilize a ship travelling thru hyperspace, and my brain has been latched on and chewing on it for so long that when my brain is just idling, it starts playing this epic space opera about a human caste of 'hummer', incredibly trained individuals that are on every deep space ship and perform full ass concerts to shift the entire ship into a hyperspace corridor to their destination. I have a good portion of the underlying dynamic there worked out, that they're actually using the music to focus their own bodies into vibrating at a different frequency and taking whatever they're adjacent to with them when their vibration 'pushes' them out of normal space and into hyperspace. Different hummers have different genres or individual songs that are their signatures, and because their bodies are what are vibrating everything thru hyperspace, if something happens to them, their vibration pattern can get stuck in that section of hyperspace like a ghost. There's even been warfare between different species that use an array of hummers around their planets and assets to tangle up hyperspace around them, so no one can jump in. They're called "canaries". The main character that most of my day dreaming follows uses primarily Coheed and Cambria songs, and it frequently is an amv of coheed and cambria while my dude is doing something awesome.

[itspileofgoodthings]

learning to be able to recognize when the anxiety is high as an objective fact that’s happening to me instead of endlessly speculating on the ontological philosophical and moral nature of the things causing me anxiety has been a huge win for me tbh.