captainknox

[captainknox]

there is something SO satisfying in knowing the majority of rikos precious perfect court is CANON queer. “perfect court” my ass riko you assembled a pride parade

[captainknox]

So since some of y'all are posting some major mischaracterization of Kevin and Jeans relationship in TGC I thought I would come on here and set the record straight(haha) on what I have been seeing from my perspective on what was revealed in this series and some thoughts i just wanna yap about and hear y'alls thoughts on:

!!!SPOILERS SO BEWARE!!!

!

Brothers, friends, teammates, or partners: (+ what's revealed about their relationship from TGR and why I disagree with a few takes I have seen on here, that try to define their relationship as anything, when its complicated and undefinable to Jean himself.)

Since folx are taking things literally, I think it's important to note and remember that most things Jean says about him and Kevin's relationship is a lie. A lie that they had to keep up to separate themselves in the nest and from Rikos rage.

That being said, when he says that Kevin is not his friend, it leads me to interpret that is a knee-jerk reaction that was trained into him to deny because of the Nest. (I do not think he is a friend, because at this point I dont even think Jean knows what one is, or would say he has any).

We also are shown that when Jean feels emotional and is about to share what he shouldn’t he self harms to stop himself and control what he says. Which he does here as well when pressed further about Kevin being his friend or partner and his feelings toward him:

he repeats what he most likely was forced to say over and over as Riko and the master beat him for Kevins whereabouts.

I also do think he means it when he says he wanted Kevin to die, both of them saw no escape from the nest and from the abuse, the only way out they ever saw was death. They both clearly made a pact, my personal theory based on what Jean has said is that If he dies, it has to be by Kevin and no one else in (TSC):

Their relationship is too complicated for other characters in the series to understand, and though it hurts Jean when Kevin calls him, his brother, I think it truly is how Kevin categorizes their relationship. I also think that Kevin's view of Aaron and Andrews relationship also influences how he labels their relationship(I can dive into that at a later time).

Though Jean says he hates Kevin multiple times throughout the series, he never defends himself when Kevin calls him out on that lie. So also saying that he feels just hatred or animosity toward Kevin, feels incorrect as well.

So I think the ball is in Jean's court for how he wants to define their relationship. Something, to my knowledge he has not done yet. He either deflects or says 'no' to whatever label people use.

Kevin victim blames/ denies Jeans abuse:

Jean(our beloved unreliable narrator) is still living in the Nest mentally at this point in the series, and is still falling back on Raven conditioning which impacts how he sees Kevin and how their relationship plays out between them. A relationship where they had to hide their abuse from everyone but each other as stated in TSC:

Kevin, refuses to deny what happened to Jean to those he cares about, or deny his importance to him, but respects what Jean wants to share with others, which is the only reason he ever lies or hides information about Jean.

Jean does as well, in TSC when Thea demands he explains, he does not tell Kevin's story, all he says is "believe him." In this scene he is also trying to distract Thea from asking about the S/A, so do not take it out of its context, it is just important to note how he will always admit that Kevin was abused, but will not break his trust by sharing his story in the same way that Kevin does for him.)

When Kevin calls the S/A "history," its part because he is unaware of the full truth as is stated by Jean in TSC:

And more importantly because he does not know what Jean has shared with Jeremy and will not break his trust.

Now this scene being argued about the most in TGR has some of the most worst misinterpretations that I have seen, and I think its because people don't remember that Kevin has had more time to be seperate from the nest and adjust to the "normal world", so people don't notice the way he also still has the same fucked up views as Jean regarding the world. He also, up until a few months prior in the series, was still under/fighting the master/riko ownership of him.

When he does talk about the S/A, he is explaining how they justified their (the ravens/ riko) actions because they had no other choice. It was their reality and the rules with which they had come to accept about the world, not that he personally is justifying it.

What he says here is important:

Followed by this:

We also learn later, that Kevin did try and defend Jean. And the conversation highlighted above, implies he tried to bring up reporting it to Jean, but he would not.

At this point, Kevin does not know what Jeremy knows in this moment, because Jean will not even discuss it fully with Kevin when he brings it up, so he is unaware what Jeremy knows of the S/A. He also still refuses to break Jean's trust so he censors himself (acknowledged by Jeremy as well in this conversations):

-Kevin saw how the Ravens reacted in the aftermath. He knew none of them would even defend him (even Thea would write away their abuse while it was happening, as is seen when she confronts Jean in TSC).

-When he is stating that the age of consent is 16, what he is telling Jeremy, is that even if he wanted to go and report it, the only person who could have was Jean. Not that he thinks Jean was old enough to consent.

Also important is what Jean says in a previous chapter + when he talks to Andrew, you can see how both Kevin and Jean literally almost echo each others words/ perspective on things: (sorry about the bad highlighting)

Here he is talking about himself not Jean's justice (which i saw floating around as if that was how Kevin felt about Jean reporting things...) :

Does that mean Kevin would stand by Jean if he ever wanted to testify? We won't know yet, but based on my interpretation and the only other proof we have seen of him defending victims (testifying on behalf of Andrew and Aaron during the court case, a scene which it is implied by jeremy heavily affected him), I am going to say yes.

Important to note: Kevin knew and has stated that if he spoke out against the Ravens they would hurt Jean. He was also restrained by that fear. Which is why the time he finally lets himself loose, is only after Jean is safely with him and the foxes and he knows that Riko can't reach him. Even Jeremy, notes a difference since Jean was finally out of the nest:

Things I feel it's important to mention and consider when looking at their relationship:

-They both are invested in each other getting better.Kevin willingly agreed to share all his trauma with Betsy so that she can help Jean. Kevin, willingly tells her everything horrific he endured in the small chance that it would make Jean feel safe enough to talk to her and get better. But I don't think we should ignore Jean's confrontation with Kevin about his drinking.

-Kevin also respects every time Jean tells him to leave or stop. We see this in the TSC and again in TGR:

-The minute Jean is actually uncomfortable we see Kevin back off. Yes he is bossy, rude, and invited himself into Jeans space, but that is also a reversal/familiarity of their time spent together. The minute Jean says no, Kevin respects it. (I have a lot to say about the coffee grabbing, and my the amount of times Kevin grabs his hands whenever he senses Jean's distress, throughout the series, but that will be a later date)

-The few times they ever get physically violent it is Jean who initiates it first. I would argue that Jean slips into his past role as well, throughout their interactions just as much as Kevin does.

-Kevin defending Jean during the interview, and keeping Jeremy's promise.

Last thoughts:

Jean himself, never denies the abuse that Kevin faced, in fact the only few times he is willing to mentally acknowledge the abuse, its when he is referencing the psychological and physical abuse and games Riko played on him and Kevin. So... If Jean himself does not deny that Kevin was abused as well, why do y'all remove Kevin's actions from that context??

Now I'm not condoning either of their thoughts or behaviors, its fucked up, and it's meant to be frustrating that they both could say this about themselves and each other. But Nora's books are meant to be re-read, because they often have so many small easter eggs and deeper meanings that aren't revealed until later.

Please proceed with some reading comprehension and understanding that these characters are all messy and traumatized and do things that you won't morally agree with, that just makes them a well written character.

and finally the exchange that made me almost throw my kindle, all because Kevin asked:

[captainknox]

People mischaracterising everything Kevin said in TGR is gonna be the death of me. Seriously.

Even though he told Jeremy he cares about nothing else but a life of exy, later on, a discussion with Jean revealed that he still just REFUSES and is incapable of processing his own trauma. He uses exy as the one-way ticket to happiness because he has no idea how else to achieve it.

Kevin's discussion with Jeremy about Jean and the nest and Grayson showed that Kevin thinks very similarly still to how Jean thought (still thinks) about the Nest. That's just how the nest is. It's incredibly fucked up, but as Jean REPEATEDLY tells us, Kevin tried to defend him numerous times even if it didn't work. Kevin is an "oblivious fool". He didn't just accept the fact Jean was raped. He still hasn't given himself grace to process stuff, to process the "raven way". He is a CULT VICTIM. He still hears Riko's voice in his head, tormenting him. Even though Jean tells us time and time again how much Kevin also suffered, people still refuse to acknowledge it. Kevin was RAISED there from a much much younger age to the point he lost multiple elements of his own personality. This kind of shit isn't just solved, especially not when he has been stuck on other getaways to ignore his own trauma and doesn't really have anyone like Jean does to direct him otherwise.

He is mean and angry, but he is also gentle with Jean throughout the interview and doesn't push him beyond the point of breaking despite the whole mission to save face. Several interactions with Jean bring out snippets of the personality that's buried underneath several layers of trauma from the nest.

Also, remember Nora told us he has his own arc that spans across all books (back when this was supposed to be a duology) and told us to be 'patient' so I assume we are going to see more of Kevin in the third book and hopefully more of him starting his own healing journey. It was barely there in the main trilogy. In AFTG, his healing involved Exy. He still hasn't overcome his actual trauma, as we very clearly see.

Please read with your EYES OPEN, THANK YOU.

[captainknox]

Kevin called Jean his brother

[captainknox]

underrated funny moment in the raven king is andrew programming bee into neil’s phone as an emergency contact and neil looking at his phone after and being like “why tf is she there? weird.” and fully deleting the contact

[captainknox]

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[captainknox]

i’m sorry this is so fucking funny. jeremy knox you have my heart forever.

[captainknox]

[captainknox]

The aftg fandom currently in one image

[captainknox]

what if they show up to practice in matching jorts

[captainknox]

kandreil 2022 vibes

[captainknox]

Should i update my old aftg fanfic!!??!

[captainknox]

“Nora sakavic really just announced a new aftg book on a random saturday” NO ITS ANDREW AND AARONS BIRTHDAY SHE ANNOUNCED IT ON THEIR BIRTHDAY IM GOING INSANE

[captainknox]

I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH TWITTER AND HAD TO BLINK TWICE!!! OH IM IN SHAMBLESSSS IM FROTHING AT THE MOUTH!! I KNOW ITS GONNA HURT SO BAD BUT BE SO GOOD

[captainknox]

JEREMY!!!! JEAN!!!! NORA U CANT DO THIS TO ME RIGHT NOW

[captainknox]

say hi andrew

[captainknox]

imagine Andrew always noticing neil reaching for a weapon when he is woken up. Maybe Andrew didn't realize in the library but he started to in the cabin. In the years following, it just became a quirk. A quirk they share, in some ways. Andrew reacts quick with violence. Needs to see Neil to reset his brain and realize he's okay. They're okay. Neil is alert, knowing he needs protection until he meets Andrew's gaze. He's not hiding, there's no reason to run.

Now imagine Andrew and how he feels the first time neil doesn't seek out a weapon, but his hand instead.