moefling

[moefling]

Like Real People Do by E.L. Massey was a Check, Please! Fanfic, right? (AU obviously cuz Bitty didn't have any friends 🥲)

But not zimbits it's ParsonxOC

(I'm assuming the zimbits is CodyxJames)

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I keep seeing fanart with Andreil and the cats but with the boys wearing 03 and 10 and now my headcannon is that once they are back to playing on the same team post college the only exy stuff they have on display is 99% from Palmetto.

Like Neil has a couple things from the Olympics but like everything else is mostly OG Foxes (side note OG foxes doesn't really work because like they aren't the original but we know what I mean) with a sprinkling of some of the other Foxes (like Robyn) but they don't have any other team stuff around.

(Even the team they are on now together they don't have displayed)

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I remember seeing a post somewhere about in TRK/ TSC Wymack looking at Jean and realizing he couldn't keep him because The Foxes are fighters and Jean had given up.

And another post about Jeremy's background fitting the criteria to be a Fox.

But. I think if Jean couldn't be a Fox because he had given up Jeremy couldnt be a Fox because he wasn't willing to fight.

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...I'm just realizing that Jean's name isn't pronounced like a pain of pants, it's closer to how I would pronounce John (tho not quite) and that's why the Ravens call him Johnny...

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I just imagine after the twins have graduated, Andrew gets a call in the middle of the night and it's Aaron and he just asks "what medication were you on." And Andrew just what? It's 4am. And Aaron just keeps asking until Andrew answers and Aaron just swears and hangs up.

And now that Aaron is in med school has really realizes wtf with Andrew's meds...

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This is why I didn't read the second trilogy right after the first. When I first bought the books (there was only 4 then) I thought they were all andreil so realizing that tsc wasn't made me not like it right away (I real like 3 pages and stopped)

But on my second read of the og I took a little time between the trilogys (I think I read another book between) and I could read Jean's story like any other serial romance series and appreciate his story as different from Neil's. (And love the foxes cameos but realize they were just popping in and we wouldn't know more)

The funny thing is that based on my reading preferences Jean's story is definitely more my vibe and I would have just skipped Neil's....

I notice one thing in many of the comments disavowing the new trilogy: people read the new trilogy in comparison to the original, in the sense that it seems they're doing so ONLY with the intention of learning more about what happened next with Andreil and the Foxes, or expecting to read a crazy mafia story like Neil's.

If that's the mentality, it's hard to enjoy this new trilogy because you've created a false standard and an expectation that Nora, in her comments, already made clear wouldn't be the case.

I think people who are going to read Jean and Jeremy's story need to know that they're going to read about Jean, Jeremy, and the Trojans, not Neil, Andrew, and the Foxes. They need to know that it's a story of healing and that the mafia issue was resolved in the first trilogy.

If you think it's going to be the other way around because it's the only thing you want to read… well, you're going to be disappointed, and it's your fault, not the books' 😅 I think Nora was very clear in her comments about what she was going to write.

Advice? Don't read the new trilogy if you're just hoping to see more about the Foxes. Don't read it if you're so attached to Andreil that you only read that on AO3, for example. That's an indication that you might need to let some time pass to let them settle and decide you want to try the new trilogy without any expectations. Then you'll be able to fully enjoy it, and maybe you'll like it as much or more than the first one—who knows? What's clear is that if you have expectations about the first one, you might have problems. Personally, I read it without any expectations, when I was tired of Andreil fics because I'd read too many and wanted something new… and look, I like this trilogy more than the original (my opinion).

I think this trilogy will become a cult favorite as the years go by and people get used to it.

[moefling]

I don't think Jean is going to get rid of this tattoo.

For Kevin changing his it was his first step to healing but Jean (I think) is more like Neil where each scar is a lesson learned.

I think he would have to change the meaning of the tattoo from Riko's perfect court to something else like, the 3 survivors of the perfect court or his 3 bbfs but it would be in line with his thoughts on teammates, no friends or fathers>coaches>fathers

If he did get rid of it I think it would be along the lines of him and Cat being out and they stip at a tattoo place and Cat convinces him to get a matching tattoo and she think they are getting them on their ankles or something but Jean gets it over the 3.

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Do we think Neil learns Japanese?

On one hand I want to say no he would refuse just not to have anything related to Riko

But....

On the other hand I think he would hate it more not knowing what ppl are saying around him. So I think once he's had like 2 meetings with the Moriyama's he will have to.

I also think it would only take about 2 conversations where Jean and Kevin speak in Japanese right in front of him for Neil to learn it.... he would be mad the whole time learning it but I don't think he could *not* learn it

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Learning more about the Ravens is terrifying.

Like in the first 3 books it just seemed like the Ravens probably knew about Riko's abuse but that they could claim that they didn't *KNOW* because they didn't see it happen.

But reading tsc and tgr.... that's some fanfic level of wtf going on. And I'm not mad about it! It's the kind of angst I look for in fanfic but dang is it intense for canon...

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Welp. Maybe I should have done any research on if Jean's story was only 2 books (idk why I thought it was only 2, probably wishful thinking)...

....so when's the next book come out 🫠

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That was my thought as well but on page 199 "- and Jean had honestly believed Riko would come around and mark Zane for Court before graduation." (Page 199 of The Sunshine Court)

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but I read that line as Jean assuming someone was going to get a number 4 (this was Jean's thoughts before Neil showed up)

Oh. I thought the Perfect Court was more about who Riko had control over rather than Exy. I mean it was both but I assumed the numbers were more about Riko but if Jean assured that Zane was going to get a number that implies that the Perfect Court existed outside of the mafia.

(edit) so I know that Riko made it up but I assumed all the ppl involved were Riko's pets and the idea wasn't to actually build a team but if Jean (someone who was involved) thought someone who had no ties to the mafia and was not indebted to the Moriyama family would be joining that implies that (at least Jean thought) a team was actually being put together

[moefling]

Oh. I thought the Perfect Court was more about who Riko had control over rather than Exy. I mean it was both but I assumed the numbers were more about Riko but if Jean assured that Zane was going to get a number that implies that the Perfect Court existed outside of the mafia.

(edit) so I know that Riko made it up but I assumed all the ppl involved were Riko's pets and the idea wasn't to actually build a team but if Jean (someone who was involved) thought someone who had no ties to the mafia and was not indebted to the Moriyama family would be joining that implies that (at least Jean thought) a team was actually being put together

[moefling]

OK random headcannon but imagine when Neil and Andrew are both pro but on separate team and Neil is talking about one of his teammates that he's gotten friendly with and Andrew just nodding along and then Neil saying something about their arms (or something physically attractive) and Neil doesn't notice or realize but Andrew does and Neil does it multiple times over time and suddenly Andrew is jealous because he didn't even realize that he wasn't worried about it before but now he is but doesn't know what to do (because seriously they are both eachothers first boyfriends are they have a very odd relationship) and like the entire time Neil has no idea and is oblivious as normal and when Andrew finally says something (or someone else does because everyone is stressed about it suddenly) Neil just like scrunches up his nose and is just like "but I'm with you" and Andrew just like looks up to the sky and says "400%"

[moefling]

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune I think is my new favorite book. (I live u RWRB but since Nov it's been hard to look at you)

It's not even just the ship (tho I do live Wallace and Hugo) but the world and all the supporting characters (Mai, Nelson, Apollo, even The Manager and Cameron)

The amount of times I paused the audiobook book to just laugh (Wallace's first night with the "ghost noises", the bikini and everyone telling him he has nice legs, the Ouiji board). And one time I had to pause it to yell at Hugo for being to close to my own therapist (what makes a good person Wallace?)

And the sobbing mess I was at the end (or the endish (iykyk), even though I knew it was coming. I was actually pretty sure that Wallace was going to go through the door and that's how the book would end (or if we were lucky it would end with years later when Hugo went through to find Wallace)

And I didn't think about it until I was done with the book but under the whispering door isn't about what's behind the door but because the door is in the ceiling it's about the house.

...I just want this book to have more hype. I kinda want to recommend it to everyone because I loved it so much (I did even recommend it to my siblings)

Can u imagine Wallace having to go to the doctor and NOT say he had a heart attack but also be like "please take my heart problems VERY seriously" or that he can't tell any of the ghosts he understands what they are going through very much because he can't tell them he came back to life. But also imagine that Wallace just sometimes spends time as a "ghost" for fun and to help teach some of the new guests, and just to touch them because he remembers how touch starved he was

[moefling]

The King's Men by Nora Sakavic reread

Did Aaron and Nicky really see Andrew without drugs? I mean Aaron must have but, oh oops I'm messing up the time drugs was post mom death not post juvie nvm

I know we aren't supposed to like the "therapeutic reenactments" but like am I reading it wrong or was Andrew raped again (and again and agin) in Easthaven...

"You were supposed to be a side effect of the drugs." (Page 24)

Andrew was basically like "take you shirt off" when striking a deal with Neil (Page 58)

Snort. I hope Roland says concerned about very obvious handcuff marks "from a fight" and a guy who seems really clueless about what handcuff could be used for (Page 64)

🤣 the fact that the "doesn't mean it wouldn't blow you" line was said right in front of Kevin (just in German so he would understand) (Page 65)

The fact that Aaron and Andrew "can't stand the sight of eachother " but they are identical twins says a lot about how they feel about themselves....

I know Andrew doesn't interfere with Kevin and Neil fighting because he has a crush on Neil but it's also a little funny yo assume that his pets can fight eachother butoneone can fight them (NOT like siblings, but also like siblings: I can make fun of my brother but a random does it and it's fight time)

I never quite got why Neil thought the happy birthday message was from Riko, even my first read I figured it was his dad/ his ppl

Look I love angst so Neil grieving his own death (not a identity but truly himself) is 😘

Can we talk about Andrew for a moment: he told Neil (basically) I have a crush on you and Neil went....OH ok... and then did nothing different with that info. I can imagine that is reinforcing Andrew's low self esteem? (Idk) but also like kinda nice, like whether or not they will say the word friends they are and Andrew's crush didn't change that

"I won't be like them. I won't let you let me be." (Page 178) them. Not him. --(Page 369) oh. I forgot about that --- (Page 381)

Ah Neil. I do enjoy your work around there from am nothing" to "you've always said, you want mothing." (Page 224) very good

"You're a different kind of suicidal-... -You're the martyr no one asked for or wanted." (Page 233)

I remember being confused and concerned my first read when Neil was kidnapped only 1/2 way through the boom (my kindle says 58%) - I mean I'm glad cuz then you actually get to see the fallout but I remember worrying how long was Neil going to be there? (I also remember being like oh fuck. He's really gonna die isn't he)

....I don't have any specific reading disabilities but any character with the same starting letter I sometimes confuse. Aaron and Andrew get mixed up sometimes but at least the shape of their names is different enough that it doesn't happen often. Nathan and Nathaniel tho.... ya I'm reading every sentence twice to make sure I'm reading the right name....

I do enjoy when we don't wait for the villain speech and just interpret them with violence (Page 266)

I imagine Nathaniel's manic laughing at the end looked and sounded a lot like medicated Andrew... (Page 268)

Idk why but the scene around Andrew prepping Neil for the shower always confuses me. Not in a "oooh what" but just in a "having a problem following the plot" way... (Page 307)

Andrew "I'm not taking in any more refugees." (Page 341) LOL actually doesn't he? (I haven't actually read most of the extra content but he takes in Robin, right?) Also could u imagine Andrew taking in all of Riko's "perfect court" It would be madness (Also kinda funny cuz Neil would flip between "mom" and "sibling" to Jean and Kevin depending on the situation)

I like the idea that post Nathaniel Neil is more like Andrew than anyone expected. Like, he's got more of a dead neutral face and doesn't pull punches when talking (or hide the violent thoughts he has)

"Die free or die a failure." (Page 343)

I don't remember where I read it (maybe it was one of the extra bits or something?) But it said that Andrew hates women and I just don't think that's right. I think he generally hates everyone and doesn't trust anyone easily but I don't think that's gendered in anyway (his history would more likely say he hates men, I think, but I don't think he thinks of it that way)

So ages are: Jean (who is a current junior), Kevin and Riko ( who are sophomores? Maybe they are also juniors?) Then Neil (who is a freshman)

"And my father comes to all of my games." (Page 410)

So. I don't read mafia books so Riko's death absolutely shocked me my first read (Also Neil's reaction to it) (Page 428)

On to The Sunshine Court. I actually haven't read this one before, some because I needed a break for the mafia vibes, some because I didn't realize that it was Jean's story and not Neil's (which is fine but when ur not expecting it...), and some because I read the first chapter and found Jean very annoying..... but based on some fanart I've seen maybe he will be less annoying and be more sad hurt boi (look internal angst is my jam)

[moefling]

The Raven King by Nora Sakavic reread

"It wasn't me. Ask my doppelganger?" (Page 12) is the best line for someone with an identical twin

(Page 16) realizing that Andrew freaked out about the call for Higgins is because of abuse and not because he's a cop

Aaron and Andrew met when they were 13 (Page 20) (or that is when Aaron learned about Andrew) right b4 Andrew went to juvie (Page 21).... (is that related I can't remember) they are 19?20? Do 5 years ago, they didn't really meet until they were 15ish? ... OK they've only really known eachother for 3 years...

(OK but you can't have Andrew start going into withdrawal quickly after missing a dose but then also have him not take a night dose to wind down)

My head cannon is that Neil never really figures out phones/texting/memes but that Andrew does understand them and secretly enjoys them

So Aaron and Nicky ate the only ones to bring dates to the banquet. I wonder if Nicky did so that Aaron wouldn't be the only one? Like, fine that Nicky likes to have fun and would bring one but also really no one else was going to so maybe Nicky needed to be sure it wasn't only Katelyn...

I don't think I caught Jean calling Andrew Doe the first read through, now tho... (Page 99)

I saw some discourse about a pic with Neil with a 3 on his cheek and a Ravens jersey, I'm pretty sure Neil (or rather Nathaniel) was supposed to be 3 but when he ran Jean couldn't be 4 (that would look really bad on Riko) (Also a side note how does Ravens!Neil fanfic work? Does he like make up Neil as a fake name for himself? Or does the fic call him Nathaniel the entire time?) -- ope Neil even says he would have been 3 (Page 125)

Oh yep there is the glass from the talk show (Page 112)

Kevin and Neil finding out about everything is kinda one of my favorite moments in the series....

(Page 130) Kevin saying Andrew wouldn't respect Neil's choice to stay I think is wrong. Andrew would be "mad" about Neil excepting he is going to die at the end of the year but Andrew wants him to stay and fight even now

(About Nicky)"It was a more reserved expression than Neil usually saw on his face. It made Neil wonder if Nicky was naturally loud or if he exaggerated his outgoing nature to balance his unfriendly cousins. " (Page 142)

Nicky is like 4ish years older than the twins? If he was a senior in high school went Aaron was 13/14. --- oh lol Page 165 has their ages Aaron and Andrew 19, Nicky 23

I... Nicky told Neil about what love means to him and Neil immediately was like ...so Andrew? But no that's dumb...

I love how much Wymack threatens marathons -specifically when he threatens Neil, because loves to run and honestly he would probably do it just to be pissy

Neil: finds out Andrew is gay. "OH. Then Andrew and Kevin-" (Page 192)

Some ick on Thea. Is was 23 when Kevin was 18 and "Kevin would have known Thea her entire 5 year career as a Raven." (Page 193) I don't recall if the books say when romance became involved between them but at first meeting Kevin was probably 13/14 and she was 18...

I know we all know that at least some of why Andrew "gives in" to Neil's requests is because Andrew thinks he's hot but I wonder if some of it is also just that Neil knows how to ask the right questions and is willing to just ask and wait for answers

(This is random and a joke) ....have we considered if Andrew is a changling? I was think how he doesn't really lie, he might walk around the truth but lies... not really. So my mind went to him being a fae, but then changling and Aaron could be the OG baby but (I can't remember her name or be bother to look it up) was to high to remember is she game birth to 2 babies or one... (this was a joke but my brain kept going after the original thought....)

I just image 3 small men all cover in different amounts of blood, 2 looking traumatized, the one in the middle with a giant smile all sitting together on this bed with a dead body on the floor

I don't think Andrew actually blames Neil for Drake, but it is part of their game to reframe truth so reminding Neil that going there was his idea would be part of their back and forth

Oh. Neil always makes sure he has a way out, a way to run and a plan. The redirection away for suicide as a plan was quick but I saw it (Page 254)

Lol Wymack being like andreil? I don't think he was surprised by them both being men but of the fact that both of them have told him they don't trust them as far as they can throw them (that's the phrase, right?) but ironically that's more than either of them trust anyone else....

Order of ppl who realized Andrew had a thing for Neil: Renee, Wymack, Matt (Matt is sus when he realized Andrew gave Neil his car keys)

Does it even make sense that Neil was a backliner? He's so small.... .....OK I guess Aaron is also a backloner and he is smaller so 🤷‍♀️

For some reason I thought this book would end with Neil getting on the plane and the next book started with him at the airport coming back

[moefling]

The Foxhole Court reread

(I wasn't sure if I was going to reread this series, now because it didn't like it but because I generally don't love mafia romance... but Pinterest keeps shoving aftg at me rn so here we go)

I'm going to try and pay more attention to the cousins timeline because if I remember right Aaron and Nicky only kinda knew eachother and the 3 of them only knew eachother for like 5 years?

"God damn it, Minyard. This is why we can't have nice things." (Page 8)

Dang. I don't think I cataloged Neil's height correctly, I thought he was like 5'3" at most but he is "a good 5 inches" taller than Andrew (page 19)

Neil's "I don't swing either way" quote is followed by "It wasn't quite the truth, but it was close enough." (Page 39)

"'He's going to crash and reboot into crazy mode.'"...'crazy, nah, soulless l, perhaps.'" (Page 46) awww Nicky

What's the age difference between Nicky and Aaron/ Andrew? I can't remember was he just supposed to be in the states for like a year or 2 or was it longer?

Wow Andrew is chatty on the meds

Oh! Page 56 is a reference to Eden and Matt's turn there....

I wonder if some of Andrew's protectiveness of Neil in the beginning is because of the r*pey vibe that Nicky and Aaron are joking about? I know some if it is that he thinks Neil is hot, but what if some is just that Neil said no very clearly and Nicky didn't take it seriously (Page 62)

"Neil wondered if Andrew's medication would let him grieve, or if he'd laugh at Nicky's funeral too." (Page 63) oh... he would laugh, we do know that now...

Can you imagine if Neil really was just an abused kid (or really how Dan, Matt, or Allison felt) to find out the sport you play is weirdly mixed in with the mob?

Lol Neil thinking Renee is a "normal" with no knowledge of the mob

So Aaron and Andrew met when they were 15/16? If Andrew spent 13 years in foster care and 3 years in juvie (Page ??)

I know that Andrew's drugs are all made up but as someone who works in a pharmacy..... also I'm not sure I know what his drugs are supposed to do? Like, make him less violent? But it that's it I don't thinkbthey really work....

I think it a little funny that the betting pool is if Renee and Andrew are/ will get together and if Andrew and Kevin are together, like, I know that everyone knows Andrew is on protection duty but.... I feel like that doesn't really explain the care of Andrew checking his hand during a game (Page 213)

Can't remember if it's important but something about Neil leaving his drink cup after the interview (Page 240)

Do we ever learn why Riko is (not scared maybe sees an opponent) of Andrew? Is it just because if it came to actually blows Riko would 100% lose because Andrew "doesn't care" (I think he does but from outside it looks like he doesnt)

Poor Andrew he keeps toughing Neil now (not in noticeable ways but moving Neil around mostly)

Something about Nicky leaving the only place/ person that felt like home to be the guardian to his cousins he didn't know so his parents didn't do it. Also Andrew does trust him to let him drive his car...

Snort. Andrew 100% avoiding the question when Neil asks him if he cares about Kevin (Page 264)

Lol the ending is kinda abrupt