#but i just know. i just /know/ that he and kevin are different as players

[billdenbrough]

i’m not personally interested in any romantic combination of the kevin-thea-jean situation (but i do think thea makes the most sense in terms of canon endings with kevin) but i am so completely fascinated by the three of them as like. this is someone who lived through a hivemind with me. this is someone who understands what this life was. here is someone who knows ravens, knows the nest, knows the person i once was and will never fully shake. here is someone who was forged in that fire with me, even if beat with a different hammer, made into a different shape, held onto a different thing to get through. and now, here is someone i can’t look at directly, not always. or maybe i can, but i don’t recognise them completely anymore.

like. there is something so completely captivating about them as a trio of people making life after the ravens, after riko, after all their entirely different experiences of the same place, but the same core truths recognised by all of them. kevin was not at risk from riko (until he was), but he could see it in both of them. thea was not inner circle, but she understood the threat of riko and the master. jean did not have the same ability to walk out—to live long enough to graduate, to have someone to run to—but he knew them (individually and together), no matter the difference in all their circumstances.

they all made it. you know? thea clawed herself to the top in a team that made it twice as hard for her to be anything, and she made herself the best. kevin walked out in the wake of losing everything, and he’s the ultimate comeback kid of exy, the son who reclaimed his title no matter all the things done to destroy that dream. jean was told he was a thing before he was a person, and the one friend he had for free, no strings, walked into that nightmare and pulled him out. thea shows up when kevin says he’s never been skiing. jean can’t look at kevin, but he goes to the trojans in the end. and that’s the best gift kevin can give him: the team he loves, captain he admires, sunshine and ocean air and a thousand miles away from the court that tried to make jean into broken bones and blood in the shape of a backliner.

they made it! they made it. and i just. i don’t know. i just think it’s so fascinating to think about, all three of them, all the things they’ve seen and more that they haven’t, truths shared and truths hidden, and how at the end of it all, they might not be the same people they were back in the nest, but they’re never going to scrub those people from their skin. and maybe thea doesn’t want to, and maybe jean doesn’t know how to, and maybe kevin slips back into that person when he’s on the court and frustrated beyond belief. whatever. that’s part of the appeal. i want to look at all their sharp teeth, bared over each other’s necks and grazing it but not closed over it, and point at those sharp teeth. let me look. let me look

[ninyard]

I have to say I truly just love in-universe outsider perspectives on the aftg series.

Trojans fans finding out about the lineup change. The other coaches reading the news and suddenly finding out one of PSU’s players killed somebody. Kathy Ferdinand fans who’ve never watched exy before. Exy fans who don’t watch the NCAA league hearing about the Riko/Neil beef. The ravens outside of the Perfect Court learning about Kevin’s transfer. The Minyard’s biological dad hearing about them and knowing they’re his kids, or not knowing and not giving it a second thought. Allison’s family. People who knew Seth before he went to PSU. The cops who were bought off by the Butcher in Baltimore. Bee watching Andrew break Riko’s arm. Pig Higgins getting the call from Wymack. Neil’s teammates in Arizona.

All these different people hearing about everything that happened for the first time, out of the blue, no context, no warning. I want to be inside of their brains.

[catboygretzky]

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

1/?

👑 girlbossriko follow

how many bro jobs do you think it took before riko moriyama and kevin day realized that uh.....maybe this wasn't just a bro thing

👢exyinaphonebooth follow

how many times do they have to come out and say they're like brothers before you freakos stop shipping them

👑 girlbossriko follow

????? do i know u

#it's a tumblr post about two exy players that you'lll never meet in your life it really isn't that deep

558 notes

💃fox-me-up follow

ngl that newest fox is kinda 👀

#psu lb #exy lb

8 notes

👨🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻 talk-exy-to-me

The NARRATIVE that kevin day and neil josten have........son of exy! scouting the rookie-est of rookies from fuck knows arizona........no listen you dont GET IT winning is EVERYTHING TO KEVIN and he would risk it on the foxes? And NEIL? who has only played exy for a year! NEIL Gets his attention!!!!! And hes good and he's getting better every game and he keeps bitching about kevin's ex on live tv BUT WAIT!???? NOT QUITE WHAT YOU EXPECT! Bc then neil shows up with a number on his cheek BECAUSE WELL it turns out they've known each other since they were KIDS! how is everyone not insane w me THEY'RE LITERALLY PERFECT

#where r my fellow njkd truthers #how r u all not here with me this isnt even the start #kevneil #210 #psu #njkd

102 notes

☀️ usctrojanny

every smiley blonde striker (jeremy knox) needs a brunette wet cat emotional support backliner (jean moreau)

#jerejean #usc trojans #i'm just saying 🤷‍♀️

58 notes

👸🏻 kevindazed follow

did he just......

👸🏻 kevindazed follow

guys please tell me i'm not insane

👸🏻 kevindazed follow

HE'S NEVER BEEN????? SKIIING???? KEVIN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ?????? KEVIN PLEASE

#i i'm going insane i will literally die if someone doesn't explain this to me HE'S NEVER BEEN SKIING?!!!!

407 notes

🧚 goalie-stan

oh....i'm feeling so weak......it'd sure be nice to have a big strong goalie (renee walker) hold me up (renee if you're free on tuesday i am also free on tuesday.........on tuesday this tuesday, any tuesday?)

#literally passing out just thinking about her holding me don't call don't text i'm busy

84 notes

🌄 softkevinday follow

do u think if u offered kevin day essential oils to heal his hand he'd beat you to death

#it'd be hard for him bc he only has one hand but he could probably do it #legally this is a joke don't do this

284 notes

🗣️ jeremyknoxes follow

feeling normal

215 notes

📜 realexyblog

actually exy rpf is fine, i asked kayleigh day herself and she told me it was fine

112 notes

🐋 sexyexy

'exy is a stupid name for a sport' have you considered that a) i don't care and b) it's named that solely so i can make sex jokes about it

11 notes

🏳️‍🌈 gay4stickball follow

is he, ya know *mimes jerking off* an ncaa exy player

#i don't believe that straight exy players exist

56 notes

🙈 ittybittyminny follow

Andrew Minyard!!!!!!! 🥰🥰 short king!!!!🤏🤏😋😋 Awwwwwwww the scrunkly!!!!! 🤗🤗🤗 My boinky boy!!!!!🥺🥺 Crinkly doo,,,,shronkle scrimblo......🥺🥺🥺 rb if you'd scrunkle!!!!!!! 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

📖 sapphic-exy follow

he literally killed someone

🙈 ittybittyminny follow

And? God forbid women do anything

#also no proof he did that #yeah there's proof his twin bro killed someone but that's not the same bc theyre different people #almost killing someone doesnt count

807 notes

🐦‍⬛ edgarallenexy

got told i'm problematic for liking the ravens? THAT'S LITERALLY MY SCHOOL OH MY GOD

2 notes

🌸 softexy

Kevin Day - A Study

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

378 notes

[julianalvarez9]

three of us / john stones

summary: keeping secrets from john is never easy, but telling the news is much sweeter after the treble. wc: 900 words mentions of: the ucl final, kinda planned pregnancy, established couple.

today was the day: the champions league final.

john had been waiting for it ever since that dreadful match against chelsea in 2021, when the other english team got crowned. they had to swallow the bitter taste of the loss, while seeing their rivals bask in the rays of victory and history, in equal parts.

this time around, though, it was different.

not only the vibes were different -the entire club had this strange aura only winning teams had, which was backed by their evergrowing cabinet they were filling with trophies almost every week now-, but the players, too. they trusted each other, knew each other by heart, almost having the capacity of anticipating what the other would do, and thus, being able to cover for them in case things got out of hand unexpectedly.

but you didn't really see john in a different light until recently, when you found out you were expecting your first child.

after finding out you were pregnant two weeks ago, you figured it would be better to keep it quiet. at least, after the finals: john was too focused on it, anyways, and you didn't want to bring him any more pressure he didn't need. but also, you wanted to tell him in some meaningful way, and you were too busy right now to figure out how to do it.

luckily, your symptoms weren't strong; you didn't have any food aversion or morning sickness that could alert your partner. but today, after the 95 minutes ended and the whistle was blown, signaling the end of the match, your eyes started to pour.

truth be told, your eyes had started to get a bit glassy when you saw kevin fall to the floor in the first half. you knew the functioning of the team by having seen them almost every weekend when you were cheering for your boyfriend, so you knew something was wrong when the belgian didn't quite have the ball on his feet as much as usual. obviously, it could have been due to inter's plan in defense, but you just knew something was off.

when the whistle was heard across the stadium, all emotions got loose. it truly felt like the stars all aligned, and it couldn't have gone another way. the family box for the man city players started getting empty soon enough, and you knew everyone was running towards the pitch, to give the champions of europe their deserved congratulations. 

it wasn't long until you found your boyfriend, the biggest smile on his face that only seemed to grow ten times bigger when he saw you getting closer. his long legs helped him reach you even before you could take two steps to get to him. "you did it!” you squealed, engulfing him in your arms. he had to hunch a bit to get himself to your size, and do what he meant to do all along: grab your head in between his hands to plant the biggest kiss to your lips. “you don't know how proud of you i am!" you get to say, before he’s bringing you back in for another bone-crushing hug.

"you're part of this, you know?" he says, his big, blue eyes boring into yours. his forehead is resting against yours softly, and it feels like it’s only you two inside the stadium where the match had taken place. "should i start calling you champion of europe now?" you joke, and john laughs at your quip, head tilted back and all.

"i think it'd be fine if you continue calling me love, sweetheart".

that’s when it occurs to you. you won’t get a better moment than this to announce the sweet news. you two wanted this for so long, it doesn't make sense to wait for another occasion, planning a big announcement when it feels like the correct timing is right now.

"what if i have another nickname for you in a couple months?".

john tilts his head in confusion, backing off a bit to see your face and reactions more clearly. "in a couple of months? why not now?" he asks, and you grin at his dumbfounded face. "they're a bit small now,” you begin, and he opens his eyes wide. “they won't use it for a couple of months…".

"they?" he smiles, while bringing you closer to him, hiding your stomach by his larger frame. he was gripping at your waist before, ever since he caught hold of your figure, but now he's drawing little circles with his thumbs. you don't really know if the loving gesture is due to the implication, or he's just mindlessly doing it. still, it warms your heart, just like the way he's looking into your eyes with his bright, hopeful blue ones. 

you nod, and his smile can't get any bigger than it is. "you've just made me the happiest man in the world, you know?" john grins, as he fixes a string of hair behind your ear, that had previously fallen over your eyes. his big hand rests there, on your cheek, softly caressing it and enjoying the soft moment shared between you two.

"thought you already were, with getting the treble and all" you joke, reminding the greatness of what they had just achieved. "good that we won it, then,” john says, heavy barnsley accent clear in his voice. “three trophies for the three of us".

[andreisvechnikov]

Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis leans into status as an honorary Harvard grad

By: Luke Decock, April 24, 2024

When Tripp Tracy was asked to speak at a meeting of the Harvard Club of the Research Triangle last week, he naturally invited the Carolina Hurricanes’ two other Harvard Men to join him. Jack Drury, owner of a Harvard diploma, class of 2023. Seth Jarvis, owner of a “Harvard Alumni” T-shirt, class of not quite veritas.

Neither Drury nor Jarvis could attend because of the team’s pre-playoff dinner gathering, but Jarvis was nevertheless welcome despite his self-proclaimed “Grade 6” education, because if there’s one thing that’s true about the Hurricanes’ third-year forward above all else, it’s that if you try to make him the butt of a joke, even a heartfelt, good-natured one, he’ll find a way to turn it back around on you.

When Drury returned from his Cambridge graduation last summer with the crimson T-shirt as a gift for Jarvis, he never expected Jarvis to cut off the sleeves.

He never expected Jarvis to make it his undershirt and wear it under his shoulder pads every single day of the season. For every practice. Every game. Every postgame interview.

“I thought, there’s no better way to put it to use than cut it into a tank top and wear it under my gear,” Jarvis said.

Seth Jarvis. Harvard alum. The shirt says so.

“There have been a few people who have seriously asked me if I went to Harvard,” Jarvis said, “and they’ve obviously never had a conversation with me.”

The Hurricanes have always had a strong connection to Harvard, through Tracy and his youth teammate and future front-office executive Jason Karmanos, through players like Craig MacDonald and Craig Adams.

They’ve had players from the rest of the hockey-playing Ivy League schools as well, other than Brown: Jeff Hamilton (Yale), Kevin Westgarth (Princeton), Lee Stempniak (Dartmouth), Riley Nash (Cornell). Now Drury. And, apparently, Jarvis.

“I think it’s been awesome,” Tracy said. “I would have liked to have had him on the roster.”

Even within the hockey world, it’s hard to imagine two teammates as different as the goofy Manitoban and the cosmopolitan Harvard grad becoming so close. Jarvis left home at 14 to play junior hockey in the Western Hockey League and was in the NHL by age 18.

Drury, scion of a prominent hockey family, spent two years at Harvard and another year overseas in Sweden; even though Drury is two years older than Jarvis, Jarvis has played more than 100 more NHL games than Drury.

The two are akin to brothers as much as they are friends or teammates, so when Drury gave Jarvis the shirt, it was with the best of intentions. Still, give Jarvis an inch or two, he’ll take all 200 feet, same in the dressing room as on the rink.

“I got it for him hoping he would wear it,” Drury said. “Using it as the undershirt, I love that. I didn’t know he’d do that. Once he started to do it, I thought it was awesome. He’s a character. But you couldn’t have a better guy around the room.”

Every single day, the shirt goes into his laundry bag to be laundered with the rest of the team’s base layers, an old-school throwback amid the sweat-wicking, high-tech gear.

By now, seven months into the season, as the Hurricanes head north for Thursday’s Game 3 against the New York Islanders with a 2-0 lead in their first-round series, the T-shirt should probably be in tatters. It looks just fine. Other than the missing sleeves.

“It’s hung on,” Jarvis said. “It’s high quality. Only the best at Harvard.”

At the end of the regular season, when Jarvis sat in on the Bally Sports broadcast with Tracy and Mike Mansicalco while sitting out Game 82, he told Tracy he would have liked to major in “micro-macro engineering” at Harvard, which sounds like a typical Jarvis malaprop, mishmashing economics and engineering. But it also could very well be somebody’s bespoke “special concentration” in Harvard’s engineering school, studying “theories of engineering principles” or the “interactions between microscopic innovation and large system models.”

Jarvis, with his elite hockey IQ and even quicker wit, may be more evidence that you don’t have to be book smart to be smart. He plays up the dopey-goofball angle because it gets laughs — “There’s still a lot of stupidity going on throughout my day,” Jarvis said — and won the Josef Vasicek Award this season for his quotability, but he’s the son of two educators, and there’s a spark that animates both his personality and his game, burning bright under all the self-deprecating humor.

“He plays a little dumb, but he’s pretty smart actually,” Martin Necas said. “I’m positive. He’s pretty smart. He just makes himself look like it on purpose, sometimes.”

Watching his game grow over the past two seasons, as he spent last year becoming a two-way player and this season reaping the rewards, it’s fair to wonder what would happen if he applied himself in the classroom as he has to his hockey career. Who knows what might be possible.

“It’s never too late,” Drury said. “He plays it up a little bit but he’s smarter than people realize. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

And the T-shirt over his shoulders to sort-of prove it.

[ionlydrinkhotwater]

I have some theories (take it with a grain of salt) about how the mafia stuff works in aftg

So let's start with the Main family vs branch family. Based on what Nora said the treatment of the branch/younger son is dependent on the head of the family and their own feelings towards them. According to Nora Kengo and Tetsujis father was a lot more kind towards his younger son and not only allowed Kengo and Tetsuji to become close but let Tetsuji pursue his own interests (like co-inventing Exy) and giving him the means to make his own stadium and stuff. Nora also mentioned that Tetsuji had talked about lil Kevin and Kengo got rid of Kayleigh Day in order to give Kevin to Tetsuji as a present, Nora said that Tetsuji didn't talk to his brother for ages out of anger on behalf of Kayleigh. Which is interesting cause it shows Tetsujis power in his relationship with his brother where he is still subservient but allowed to give some attitude. Very different from Riko and Ichirou.

According to Nora Kengo unlike his own father was much more strict about drawing the line between the branch family and the main family. He and Ichirou never even acknowledged or visited Riko and Tetsuji did not afford Riko the same freedoms he himself enjoyed.

Another thing that always seemed odd to me was that the marriage between Mary and Nathan was arranged because as per Kevin's explanation in TRK:

"Your father was Lord Kengo's right-hand man, the most trusted weapon in Lord Kengo's arsenal. The territory he held, he held for the Moriyamas. He was the force that kept the empire in line and the name that would take the fall if the government ever caught on. "His power made you a loose end. You could never inherit his syndicate," Kevin said. "Lord Kengo handpicks his people very carefully to bolster his throne. Nepotism fractures that upward loyalty and leads families to think of their own successes first. He could have had you killed to keep things simple, but he gave you a chance to earn your keep."

What would be the point in an arranged marriage or producing children if they can't inherit? Like yes the alliance came with trading some access to territories but that could have been negotiated between the two families why the marriage and offspring?

Well I have some theories, first we don't know how old this rule of Kengos is, his father may have been fine with (perhaps even encouraged) his associates to marry and produce offspring to inherit their parents roles. Kevin says that this is Kengos choice to hand pick his people, not that this is standard Moriyama practice. It could be that when the Hartford/Wesininski alliance was made it was under Kengos fathers rule OR it was before Kengo decided against nepotism. It would also explain why these criminal families had children despite them becoming redundant once Kengo got rid of the old inheritance system. Neil clearly remembers being taught some of the ropes by Lola and Nathan when he was small so at that point it may have been understood that he would inherit.

I also have a pet theory that this is why Mary didn't leave with Neil until she did. Neil gives us strong hints that his mother was a coldly competent criminal:

"On the run his mother had always stayed in control, weaving the perfect stories and choosing ideal marks to help them."

And

"He thought about his mother standing unflinching in the face of his father's violent anger and her ruthlessly leaving bodies in their wake."

Almost all of Neil's criminal skills are from Mary (he says in TFC that his lockpick set is hers).

Based on what Nora says Mary was married off to Nathan by her family and based on her age when she died (38 according to Nora)she would have been at least 20 if not younger when she married him.

I can't imagine a woman like her being happy playing obedient wife to Nathan. And although this is just speculation I suspect she may have resented being used for an alliance rather than be a potential player in the family criminal empire with the skills and intelligence and ruthlessness she had (Neil says his mother taught him all the ways to shoot someone without killing them or how he watched her interrogate a man who tried to rat them out to Nathan). My theory is that she was biding her time until Neil could take over as the Butcher, maybe wait until he's a little older, arrange for Nathan to have an accident and she would be the real boss behind her son. But Kengos new policy of hand picking his people destroyed that ambition. The final nail in the coffin was Neil's sale to the Moriyamas as an Exy serf, completely eliminating any chance he'd have of taking over from Nathan. It also acts as a way of forcing her good behavior since they could use Neils safety to keep her behaved and the Hatfords in line as well. Win win for the Moriyamas and Nathan. Hence her decision to leave that day.

Additionally her arranged marriage to Nathan may be why she never went back to her family for help as there may have been some resentment on her part and indifference on theirs, keep in mind Neil says Stuart is the one who gave Mary his contact information and a list of contacts, he is not the only Hatford alive but he's the only one who actually offered help, it may be the rest of the family didn't care but this is me speculating based on what Neil said

"His mother married into an American crime family, but she'd been raised in a British one. Her brother, Stuart Hatford, gave her the list when she ran away from her husband. She in turn gave it to Neil when she died"

But I digress

The question is why did Kengo draw such hard lines with the branch family and get rid of inherited titles? Well I think it's because he knew he was sick.

Kengo is not that old, despite Tetsuji walking around with a cane he's not that old either, remember Tetsuji would be about Kayleighs age so Tetsuji would be in his 40s and Kengo is just a bit older than that. He died quite young from a serious illness.

So if your Kengo you need to consider some things

First a sickly head of the family is susceptible to being overthrown and a healthy, athletic, successful younger brother (Tetsuji) is right there to replace him if anyone wanted to gather power around a rival. So keep your illness a secret and make sure the branch family knows their place. Keep them away from the business and make sure no one can see them as a viable option.

Second set up your heir for future success. The associates loyal to Kengo won't necessarily be loyal to Ichirou and the age of the kids who would eventually inherit his associates positions are much younger than he might be comfortable with (Neil and Jean are only 19) and he knows that Ichirou will have to inherit early cause he is dying. His associates may be loyal to him but they may balk at following a twenty something year old young man, they might prefer Tetsuji instead whose older. So if Kengo hand picks his people rather than let them inherit power from their parents he can vest all power in himself, prevent any of them from forming alliances against him or Ichirou and ensures that when he dies Ichirou would have an easier time.

I have a theory that Kengo got the idea of hand picking his people from his brother using skills in exy to earn spots on the team. And after throwing his son and Kevin to the Ravens he realised he had created a perfect place to send unwanted children of his associates.

And in the end Kengo was not that paranoid, it's clear when Stuart tells Neil

"They only let us come here unchallenged because we promised we would take him alive." Nathaniel finally found his voice. "The Moriyamas?" "No," Stuart said, so harsh Nathaniel leaned away from him. "Do not speak that name tonight. You cannot pull them into this. They were not expecting their Butcher to die"

They may not have wanted Nathan dead but that doesn't change that they were clearly working with the Hatfords (who obviously hate Nathan) to bring him in rather than asking him to report to them voluntarily. This suggests tension between Wesininski and Ichirou since that very morning Neil sees on TV that Kengo was in the hospital again. And it was the Stuart's loyalty to his family that made him disobey the Moriyamas, exactly what Kengo said would happen with nepotism causing "families to think of their own successes first."

And to be honest we can see how perhaps Kengos illness left some cracks in his operation, his Butcher was arrested, his spare heir was running wild behind his and Ichirous back:

"Riko had an alarming amount of pull and he was working with just scraps."

It is interesting that for whatever tension may have existed between Ichirou and Nathan, Ichirou seems to value the nepotism system a bit, after all he says this to Neil

"you are your father's son, and your father was someone to me. He is the reason I came down here myself when I could have sent anyone to speak to you."

But I also think he valued the Intel on Riko that Neil provided him.

The fact is we don't know everything that went on between these criminal groups cause Jean and Neil were kept out of it.

Neil even says when Kevin is shocked at how little he knew

"My mother didn't tell me why we were running," Neil said. "I never asked her why she finally had enough. I was just glad to get away. We never talked about anything real after that. It was always about the weather or our current language or the local culture—the next time she had anything meaningful to say to me was when she was dying. Even then she didn't talk about my father. Not once did she mention the Moriyamas"

It's fun to speculate though and perhaps in TSC2 we may learn more.

[skytk11]

─── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ───

๋࣭⭑Big Three Music Headcanons! ๋࣭⭑

☠︎ Crocodile ☠︎

Classical pop music. This man would love classical music like Frank Sinatra, Etta James, and Billie Holiday. I can see him now just working while listening to classical music and in his office smoking a scar bobbing his head a little bit while the music plays on a record player.

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

At last (Etta James)

Kiss of Fire (Hugh Laurie)

Born under a bad sign (Albert King)

The girl from Lpanema (Frank Sinatra)

Old Devil Moon (Frank Sinatra)

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

⚔ Mihawk ⚔

I see Mihawk listening to classical music, but more Gothic if he was listening to classical music it would be Something with the piano in it but when we're talking about Gothic I see him Listening to something with romantic goth in it like Tearful Moon, HIM, and mazzy star.

☽༺♰༻☾

I love you more than death (tearful moon)

Kiss kiss kill kill (Horrorpops)

Vampier romance (blutengel)

Slow, love, slow (nightwish)

I love you (HIM)

☽༺♰༻☾

⚝ Buggy ⚝

To be honest, I don't know what music he would like like the genre of music. I don't know. I have a feeling he listens to a lot of different types of genres because he's just a silly little guy like you'd probably listen to Edgy, Silly, And some weird ass music but we love him for that.

⛧☾༺✮༻☽ ⛧ Kiss me you animal (Burn the ballroom)

Boogie woogie Wu (ICP)

No One lives forever (oingo boingo)

HERE COMES THE HURRICANE LEGENDARY

KATRINA (Kevin Jz Prodigy)

Look who's inside again. (Bo Burnham)

⛧☾༺✮༻☽ ⛧

[earl-grey-orange-tabby]

my aftg fan cast

disclaimers:

a lot of these, especially in the next part, aren’t actors, so this is less a fancast and more of a “i have a horrible imagination and need to visualize characters so they feel more real to me” list

if they don’t look like what you picture, agree to disagree! i love seeing other ppl’s perspectives of what the characters look like and i hope you do too

without further ado,

neil josten - benjamin wadsworth

okay listen just because i picked the most used neil fancast DOES NOT MEAN THE REST OF THIS LIST IS BORING!!! he’s just so neil-coded to me in deadly class! i even put him into a photo editing app to change his hair and eye color and he still fits!!! plus the top right pic is exactly how i imagine a nathaniel smile.

andrew/aaron minyard - vlad konoplev

i’m gonna give credit to @kalu_aftg on tiktok for this, because i saw this actor in their tik tok. he’s in a russian series called my biggest secret (i watched a couple clips but i haven’t seen the show)

but come on!!!! this is andrew minyard!!!! and always with andrew fancasts it’s difficult to see them as aaron but i feel like this could go both ways, especially in the bottom right pic. identical, but different vibes, yk?

dan wilds - kiersey clemons

i first saw kiersey clemons in new girl as kc and she feels so dan! then i saw the pic on the top left and i was like YES! this. is. dan. she seems very sweet and friendly but i know she could give a great game face.

nicky hemmick - conor husting

even his pics give off major nicky vibes. he also has a very similar hair length to what i picture nicky with. fun fact: he’s also half-mexican on his mother’s side which is strangely accurate lol!!

allison reynolds - jessica lord

i’m gonna be honest i just searched up “blond actresses 20’s” and that top left photo popped up and it was just so so so allison!! i included a couple pics of her in the ballet movie “find me in paris” because i couldn’t find a lot of pics of any of these actors in active wear and this felt close enough.

kevin day - nicholas galitzine

honestly i got this idea from an instagram live he did where he was yelling about being 6 foot and my brain was like “that is kevin day IN THE FLESH”. i originally saw him in bottoms and he totally cracked me up.

matt boyd - daniel ezra

like come on!!! his smile is so bright and inviting, it gives off such strong matt energy. he played spencer james in all-american and i haven’t watched it but ive seen ppl say good things. bonus: he’s the only one i could find with any form of a face guard (even tho nick galitzine also played a football player in bottoms lol)

renee walker - sydney park & lana condor

okay SO my criteria was soft-looking people that can look sharp in other pictures, and i came up with these two! it’s kinda hard to picture renee without the pastel/white hair but let’s suspend disbelief.

seth gordon - young david beckham

speaking of suspending disbelief, LMAOO. just hear me out, okay. seth was a fifth year, slightly older than the rest of them, so i was looking for that + blond buzz cut and this is the result!

and that’s all! i have more so i’ll probably make a part two, but im having trouble finding a nathan because it’s so hard NOT to picture nathan as a redhead but that means he probably won’t look like benjamin wadsworth.

[toasttt11]

captain hughes

February 12, 2024

Maddox walked with Trevor through out the Blackhawks Arena showing Trevor around the Arena. Maddox brought Trevor into the locker room seeing Trevor’s new stall all set up already in the room, It was right across the room from Maddox.

“Welcome to your new locker room.” Maddox grinned slightly at Trevor, Trevor looked around the locker room seeing how different it is from the Ducks locker room but he liked it.

The team started to fill into the locker room and Maddox started introducing Trevor to their team. Kevin and Trevor seemed to hit it off immediately both having very similar personalities.

The whole team seemed to really just click with Trevor and everyone seemed to enjoy his enthusiasm personality.

Trevor slipped on his new Chicago Blackhawks hoodie and smiled looking down at it.

“It suits you.” Maddox smirked slightly leaning against Trevor stall loving Trevor in blackhawks clothes more than he thought he would.

“What?” Trevor smiled slightly at the guy whose he’s been hopelessly in love with since he a young teenager.

“Being a Blackhawk.” Maddox nodded having a good idea that Trevor was going to fit in just fine here.

Trevor smiled softly with a fond chuckle as Maddox headed back to his stall to change into his practice clothes.

Luke walked into the locker room before practice, “Alright guys, i hope you all have a warm welcome to our newest teammate Trevor Zegras.” Luke smiled having met Trevor in the morning before Maddox gave him a tour around the arena.

The room filled with cheers for a Trevor, Trevor getting pats on the back from his stall mates Kevin and Seth, Trevor smiled thinking he’s gonna like it here.

“Good, Trevor we’re very glad to have you and we can’t wait for you to start playing with us.” Luke smiled at their newest player who is almost healed and will be able to play soon.

“On another note, We’ve counted the votes for our Captain.” Luke announced to the team, the team having voted for who they thought should be the new captain, “It was a very easy choice all of the votes were for the same player, expect this player didn’t vote themselves,” Luke slowly unrolled the red Blackhawks jersey he had in his hands, “The newest Captain of the Chicago Blackhawks is Maddox Hughes.” Luke held the jersey up letting everyone seeing the C on Maddox’s jersey.

The room was filled with loud cheers and hollers for Maddox, Nick had an arm over Maddox’s shoulder shaking him excitedly and Connor was nudging Maddox proudly.

Maddox eyes widen in shock and looked towards his coach who was staring at him with a smile holding the Jersey towards him. Maddox shook his head in disbelief standing up and gently taking the Jersey from his coach, He slipped it on and smiled letting out a chuckle.

Luke put an arm around Maddox’s shoulder as the two smiled at the camera.

“You will have to go with Leah and get all the content filmed instead of practice today alright.” Luke spoke quietly to Maddox, who nodded, “Good and it’s going to be announced tonight and you’ll be the Captain for tomorrow’s game.”

Maddox nodded and smiled taking all of the congratulations and hugs from all his teammates before they all headed onto the ice.

Maddox led Trevor to the physical therapy room before heading to camera room seeing Leah and her team ready to take a lot of content of him.

Maddox was given a few minutes after taking all the content they needed before he had to do the interview announcing his captaincy so he pulled out his phone pulling up his family group chat and started a face time, and luckily his whole family joined the call.

“Bear is starting the FaceTime for once something most be wrong.” Jack teasingly grinned at his little brother, everyone knowing Maddox hates calling.

Maddox just fondly rolled his and made sure the camera could see his jersey more specifically the C embroidered on his jersey, “Notice anything different?”

Luke looked at the screen before gasping, “NO WAY!”

“What?” Jack asked not figuring it out.

Quinn looked at Maddox before looking down and seeing the patch, “Your captain!” Quinn proudly grinned at his baby brother.

“Yeah.” Maddox laughed out in disbelief still trying to process that.

“Oh Maddi.” Ellen tearfully gasped and Jim was proudly smiling next to her as another one of their sons were named captain, “Oh this is amazing, we’re so proud of you!”

“So proud Bear!” Jack proudly smiled at the screen at his younger brother.

Luke proudly smiled at Maddox as well.

“Thank you.” Maddox sheepishly nodded.

“When is it coming out?” Luke curiously questioned, wanting to know when he could proudly brag about his brother.

“Uh in a few minutes.” Maddox nonchalantly shrugged.

“That fast?” Jack asked.

“Yeah i’m doing the interview in a few minutes announcing it and my ceremony is tomorrow.” Maddox smiled knowing his ceremony that is tomorrow is with past Blackhawk captains who congratulate him and he gets his Captain jersey handed to him on the ice before the game.

“Tomorrow!” Quinn happily exclaimed, having been sitting in his hotel for this facetime before he has to leave for his flight for Chicago.

“Yes tomorrow.” Maddox grinned knowing it’s the game against the Canucks meaning Quinn, Ellen and Jim will all be there for his Captaincy Ceremony.

“That’s perfect Maddi.” Ellen smiled softly at her son.

“Uh i got to get going.” Maddox heard his name being called and looked at his family saying his goodbyes before hanging up the phone.

Maddox let out a breath of disbelief rubbing a hand over his face before walking out of the room to do the interview.

[alexxx362]

Ok hear me out here- Imagine Neil knew that he was meant to be prefect court the whole time and genuine hating Kevin because why?Why did he get to have everything? Why did he get to have friends? Why did he get to play? Why did he get all the fame and glory? Sure he had to live in hell just to obtain it but didnt neil also have to live in hell? a difrent kind of hell but hell the same, but he didnt get freinds. He didnt get to play A family (be it a found one). He didnt get fame and glory. All he has is a dead mother that berly even loved him in the first place. Thats simply not fair.

Now! to relate this song to Brutus by the buttress and think about it!! (not the whole song just parts)

"I've been watching him for my entire life I hate the air he breathes, his foolish decrees His words so contrived And I hate the way the townspeople gather outside They hang on every breath, cling to his chest Home to his heart full of pride"

The oracle told him to beware the Ides And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wishing For untimely death or demise (or just his hand being broken)

Or am I just wishing I could be like you? That the people would see me too as a poet (player) And not just the muse (?)

Oh, it's not true, I don't wish harm upon you From birth we've been like brothers of different mothers Within the spirit of the same womb

May the gods (Andrew) strike me down if I forsake you

I'll never forget that you showed me to make art And I know the love you showed me came From a pure and noble heart

I love you, and if you want, I'll call you King queen But why do I lie awake each night thinking "Instead of you, it should be me"?

Something wicked this way comes And as I set to face it, I'm unsure Should I embrace it, should I run? What motivates me? Hatred? Is it love?

What's more wrong; that I too wish to be great Or my mother wished she'd had a son? (the wish she had a son part doesn't make much sense but the vibe does if you get me lol)

And even if I can't be the one Maybe I could at least help make way for him Until the day that he comes Maybe my name could also be known That I helped return good to the people And restored greatness to Rome Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! Brutus, Brutus, Brutus, Brutus! My name is Brutus and my name means heavy So with a heavy heart I'll guide this dagger into the heart of my enemy

My whole life, you were a teacher and friend to me Please know my actions are not motivated only by envy I, too, have a destiny This death will be art The people will speak of this day from near and afar This event will be history, and I'll be great too I don't want what you have, I want to be you

I always knew I could be the one Though I feel the endless pain of being And I am scorched by the Sun Of humble origins and born of the cursed sex My name is Brutus (Nathaniel) , but the people will call me Rex (Neil)

[stick-ball]

pspspspsp Kevin's trauma and his choice to stay with Thea, why her why not someone else? How does it work considering his characters as whole books/ec , does it make sense or just feel "random"

<Picks you up like a little cat and smooches your head.>

This responce has been sped up by the people who asked Nora on twitter to break Kevin and Thea up, making me see red KillBill style, so:

For me, Kevin's and Thea's relationship makes perfect sense. Maybe it's the realist in me, maybe its the idealist in me, I don't care. When it comes to Kevin's traumas, I think that since most people can't really relate to a majority of them, they get all hung up on the one they most definately can, as in, his mommy issues. When we relate to something, it becomes a really big deal. And here we go! Thea/Kevin suddenly is feared to be toxic instead of being seen for what I think it is: finding love in a hopeless place.

The main issue i see discussed is the disproportion of power at the beginning of the relationship. The main concern is the age difference. I personally don't really get the hate about the age gap between them, because if you read the extra content you will know that while they met when Kevin was 14 and Thea 18, it's not like anything happened between them at that age? First, Kevin saw her as an impressive player, when he did actually see her. That wasn't all that often bcs from what I understand from the EC, Kevin and Riko trained with the Ravens sometimes before they joined the team but a big part of their training happened without them, as well as their life growing up was more detached from the Uni students than people seem to think. And honestly, do you think Tetsuji would just let all the freshmen know they signed into the Yakuza sportsTM? Methinks not, but be delulu if you want I guess. 💋

So anyway, from the EC, it seems like Kevin had a crush slowly build up for Thea over the years, growing from his appreciation of her skill and athletism. Considering how cold that guy is, it probably took him some time to realise, after his irritation at her romances (yeah hello she was dating people her age when Kevin was mooning for here as a pathetic teenage boy, bye bye Thea haters) with other teammates started having nothing to do with the fact it could result in the teams distraction during the game, bcs of their hormones and feelings, and turned to conscious jelousy. And here I have to applaud young Kevin because he did not even realise he was distracted from the game by being jealous. Knowing how oblivious Kevin can be about non exy issues, it likely took quite a while.

So what's next? The "getting together"? Kevin and Thea only started having a sort of physical relationship when Kevin and Riko were already freshmen for Edgar Allan, at 18/19.

Whoever wants to fight me on this being a toxic age gap, what exactly is your angle?

Anyway, Kevin was the one to initiate their relationship, after Riko was done with his distraction from the game and his focus on picking fights with Thea, and told him to sleep with her and get it out of his system. (And that's how i met your mother.) It wasn't much more than that for a long time, because having a relationship on a 12 hrs day/night full of training and uni and juggling two other teams on top of that as well as celebrity status literally sounds like the most insane schedule ever, so it's insane they even managed to talk privately at all.

Now, we circle back to the question, why Thea? Why not someone else? Well, first and fucking foremost, because Nora Sakavic said so. Second of all, because Jung and Freud weren't as stupid as imternet memes would have you believe. (Read their books, read all the books please, i can rec you like a 100 psychology texts, dont be shy)

To keep it short, we do base our attraction on the role models we have, one way or another. I saw enough of my friends pick partners that have the exact character quirks that make them just slightly like an after image of their guardians. Kevin doesn't really have a father model, but his mother? She's always going to be a huge part of his life, is it really so weird and dangerous, that he got infautated with a strong, driven, 4 years older woman, who's incredibly talented and just as determined as him? I don't think so. Is it unhealthy? Is it unsafe? As much as life is, I guess, no one is perfect, but I think he could've done much much worse for himself.

Why did Kevin decide to stay with Thea? I would find it pretty obvious, because she doesn't actually need him. She built herself, but she wants him. Even if she will never have the same fame and recognition in her career that he does. Being wanted this way must be really new for Kevin, who was always a trophy to show off because of his legacy, always a property. But Thea is not competing with him, she doesnt want to own him either. I believe his mother is as much of a role model to her, as to him. So, they have sex, when they want to, they talk - when they feel like it. They don't, well fucking fine, so they don't, they fall in love anyway. It's okay if exy comes first in the beginning, considering both spent a lot of time in cult mentality, I think neither is all that bothered as long as its not obsessive (we could discuss how reasonable it was of Kevin to ghost her for over a year and not tell her about how he broke his hand but thats a whole other essay).

What's really wild to me, is that I think the power imbalance in this relationship is the opposite of what many may think.

Kevin holds all the cards. Thea joined the Ravens as a 18 years old talented athlete, she was one of the only girls on the team, and the Nest was not a place to make friends, on top of that it was a mafia cult. She had everything to prove there, and no way of being prepared for all the grooming. On top of that, she knew nothing of the Moriyamas or even of what actually went down with the whole Perfect Court thing. Kevin knew everything, on top of that, up until he left, he had nothing to prove. He ghosted her, is it so hard to believe she accepted his cold shoulder in this dynamic, in which she obviously is not at the top of the foodchain? He kept secrets from her, is it really so hard to believe she was angry? I think neither of them was ready for neither what life at the nest was like, or for a relationship when it happened, but I also think they are incredibly lucky that they have eachother, their shared passion for exy, their daughter, their dog and friends from the dog park who can't talk about exy to save their lives.

I think Kevin was incredibly lucky for finding Thea, because maybe she did not know everything, maybe it wasn't easy for them, but they understood that Rikos death wasn't a one dimensional victory, that it was just as much of a tragedy for them, for Kevin. I'm happy with the canon and I wish more people appreciated this ship, as its very soothing.

As an ending fun fact, did you know I am the only person to make a playlist for Thea Muldani in all of spotify? Pretty insane if you ask me.

[jtl-fics]

Time After Time:

Math Nerd AU

May 19th, 2020 (in the past future [before the reincarnation])

Math Nerd AU | Unusual Fic Asks

Neil was coming to accept that he wasn't going to die of old age as the doctors told him the recovery time for his twisted knee. He would need to do physical therapy before he could even have the surgery and then additional physical therapy afterwards.

It would take too long.

The Moriyamas would cut him as a useless thread. "Mr. Josten, you'll play again." The Doctor assures, "You will just-"

"Thank you Doctor, yes I understand." Neil interrupts. "Let's schedule a time to start the physical therapy." he says because a part of him feels spiteful. He knows how Ichirou works, knows that his death will look like a suicide.

People who are committing suicide don't make plans right? Maybe his death would be just enough to topple it all to the ground and save Kevin and Jean. He makes his appointment and hobbles out of his doctor's appointment to find Andrew in the waiting room.

He wonders how much longer he'll get to look at him.

He'll never actually be ready to stop.

Andrew's gaze snaps to him and Andrew has always been able to read him like a book. "It's too long?" he asks.

Neil laughs because, as usual, there was no point in hiding things from Andrew. "I've had my will ready for a while. I'm leaving-"

"Stop." Andrew raises his hand, "you aren't dying. Not before me. I'm older." Andrew argues.

Neil smiles and wishes to say the three words that bubble up in him but he wants them to be the last ones he says to Andrew if he can manage it. Saying them now would only make Andrew upset and possibly leave.

"Let's go home. I wanna see the cats." he says instead. It doesn't matter too much, his will spells out where everything is supposed to go. Andrew helps him into the car and puts his crutches in the backseat. They drive in silence and Neil finds himself looking at every black car with out of state licenses.

He looks at his phone because there's no point in worrying. His fate was sealed the moment that Ohio player rammed into him. He hopes Andrew likes one of the options he listed in his will. He hopes he stays close to Andrew, hopes he can protect him from beyond.

He prepares texts for all of his friends as he goes. Most are just I love yous and some thanking them for being especially kind to him. His text to Matt a long note on how sorry he is that he won't get to watch his god daughter grow up. His note to Aaron to make sure that his daughters take after Katelyn when they're born.

They get home and Neil is glad to see that there are no cars in their driveway. It does not mean that Ichirou isn't there, but it gives him a bit more time to look at Andrew.

Andrew's jaw is tight as he pulled into their garage.

"I've had arrangements made and paid for Andrew. It's going-"

"Shut up." Andrew hisses and gets out of the car.

Neil's phone rings and he sees a familiar area code he looks as Andrew shuts the door as he enters the house.

He hits accept. 32 wasn't bad considering he never expected 20.

"Hello?" he asks.

"Wesninski." Ichirou greets and Neil lets his eyes close. "I hear you will not be able to pay me." he comments.

"It will be quite some time before I can work on the court again My Lord." he doesn't lie or try to hide it. "I understand what this means for our deal. May I-"

"I wish to strike a different deal." Ichirou interrupts and Neil blinks.

"You...wish to strike a different deal?" he asks.

"I am in need of someone with your certifications Wesninski." Ichirou says.

Neil's jaw tenses. He can't do his father's work. He'd rather just have Ichirou shoot him and let it be done.

"You have kept up to date with your CPA certification from what I understand?" Ichirou continues.

Neil blinks.

What?

[sntafe]

i want to know more about your davey. what makes him tick! what music do you think he’d listen to! what are his pastimes and hobbies and what makes him like them so much!! PLEASEEE rant about your davey i love him!!

- @we-are-inevitable ✨

OH MY GOD. YES. OKAY. you just opened pandora’s box you have no clue. (btw most of this is based on my tattoo au although a lot of this stuff is just stuff i have connected to davey no matter the au)

okay. so. my davey is a high school english teacher and i think something that makes him really upset is when he sees his good students start skipping, not paying attention, etc. while i don’t think this would make him tick per say, i do think it would def make him anxious and on edge. he would absolutely come home and rant to jack about how he doesn’t know what he’s doing wrong and how he’s worried about them and how he wishes he can do more but all he is an english teacher. (and jack would assure him that he’s doing more than enough and just being there and noticing these things is all some kids need) (but davey would def pull them aside in class and just talk to them like they’re humans bc he knows some teachers treat their students as children and they hate that. so he will just talk and try to pick their brains and help them in literally whatever way he can)

MUSIC. okay so davey definitely tries a TON of different genres simply because he is curious and he wants to hear it all. (he wants to experience every bit of life that he can and that includes different genres of music.) at the end of the day tho he’s a slut for sad queer indie pop: hozier, lucy dacus, and kevin atwater are his favs. (i could go on a whole different rant about how davey coded some of kevin atwater’s songs are but i’ll refrain for now.) he grew up listening to billy joel and still listens to him when he’s feeling particularly nostalgic or homesick. the album “the stranger” is one of his favorites in the entire world. his parents had it on record, and one year in middle school for his birthday he was gifted a record player, so he was playing that shit NONSTOP. to read to, to study to, to hangout to, etc. les used to come and sit in davey's room while he was doing domestic tasks, like cleaning or homework, so les now has attached that album to davey. (they get a tattoo for vienna, their fav song on the album—davey gets “slow down, you’re doing fine” on his left forearm and les gets “you can’t be everything you wanna be before your time” on his right forearm) (done by jack of course)

jack listens to more alternative stuff, and although it’s not something davey listens to on his own, he finds himself humming along to the pierce the veil and green day songs on jack’s playlist 

as far as hobbies and stuff, obviously he reads. he’s always been an avid reader because he loves to get lost in other worlds and he likes to learn about things that he otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to. he gets into reading slumps around midterms and finals because he’s grading sooooo many papers but like as SOON as that’s over he falls back into finishing a novel in a couple days and he absolutely loves it. it’s just so… refreshing in a way. (sometimes, when he’s particularly missing jack, he’ll go and just sit at the tattoo shop and read. he’s content to simply be in the same space with jack and he also loves sneaking glimpses of jack working.)

he also absolutely loves to cook. he grew up often helping his mother in the kitchen, so he’s sort of always loved it. once he moved out and began living by himself he found a whole new appreciation for it. it’s his way to decompress at the end of the day and … in a way food is his language?? like he will make meals based on what he’s feeling. if he’s really happy he doesn’t mind making something that takes a while. it’ll be bright and fresh. if he’s had a particularly rough day though, he’ll throw something frozen in the oven and call it a day. (over time, jack slowly realizes this, and can gauge what davey needs based on what he says they’re having for dinner. for example; if davey’s just making something frozen, jack will give him an extra long hug and force him to take a hot shower in order to relax. jack often takes over “cooking” on these days)

don’t even play on his animal crossing island. he likes the domestic video games with goals that he can take at any speed simply because they’re relaxing and cozy. he loves making his island all organized and pretty 

meanwhile jack is like begging for the switch to play mario kart 

thank you for letting me rant GOD I LOVE DAVID JACOBS if there’s anything else you want me to yap about PLEASE ask!!!

@we-are-inevitable :)

[themultifandomgal]

Sweet Pea- Grease Is The Word

Summer Nights

I haven’t seen any Grease inspired imagines for Riverdale which I find a little odd. If any of you have read some let me know.

What a summer. Not only did I move to Riverdale but I met the cutest guy wrapped in leather at Sweetwater River. His name, Sweet Pea. He was tall and very handsome. Hopefully he attends the same school as I am, Riverdale High.

I walk through the halls with my new neighbour, Betty, to a cafeteria table where there’s a group of girls

“Hey guys. This is my new neighbour YN YLN. YN this is Veronica, Cheryl, Toni and Josie”

“Hi it’s nice to meet you” I say politely smiling

“So YN where did you move from?” Toni asks

“We moved from Atlanta, Georgia”

“How come?” Veronica asks

“My dad got a job with Lodge industries so we moved”

“So your dad is working for mine? Interesting”

“How do you like the school so far?” Cheryl asks

“It seems nice” I shrug

“What did you do over the summer, other than move” Veronica asks

“Well I spent most of my summer at Sweetwater River”

“Why?” Josie frowns

“I met a boy there” the girls all gasp “he was cute, handsome, tall. He had this leather jacket that just gave him a bad boy image, but he wasn’t” I sigh thinking about him

“Come on don’t leave us hanging tell us more” Veronica almost squeals

“We went bowling, we got milkshakes, talked for hours on end”

“Sounds like a drag” Cheryl huffs

“Ignore her keep going. Did you kiss?”

“Maybe. He was sweet though. Made me feel safe you know”

“So have you got his number?”

“Yes, but since we probably won’t ever see each other again we called it off at the end of summer. Those summer night were some of the best I’ve ever had. Just wish I could see him again”

“He sounded wonderful YN” Betty says giving me a sad smile

“Sounds like Sweet Pea” Cheryl mutters crossing her arms

“Did you just say Sweet Pea?” my eyes widen hearing his name

“Yeah why?”

“Is he the guy?” Josie gasps.

Toni and the other girls drag me to a student lounge where there’s a bunch of guys wearing the same leather jacket, but also a group of guys wearing a different jacket

“Well speaking of the devil” Cheryl says

“What did I tell ya. They’re always chasing me”

“Not you Reggie. Him” Cheryl rolls her eyes then points behind the guy Reggie

“Sweet Pea we’ve got a surprise for you” Toni says. That’s when he turns around and I’m pushed towards him

“Sweet Pea”

“YN!” he yells with a smile on his face he takes my hands in his making me smile wide “what are you doing here?”

“I go to school here now”

“This is…” someone clears their voice behind Sweet Pea making him stand up quickly “that’s erm, that’s cool. Guess I’ll see you round”

“Who’s this?” Reggie smirks looking at me up and down

“No one. Let’s bounce” with that they all walk out making me frown. I look back at Betty

“I don’t understand, he was so nice this summer”

“I’m sorry YN. Sweet Pea is a law on to himself” Veronica says putting an arm around me

“Hey why don’t you come over to my place tonight. Just us girls” Betty suggests

“Sure. I’ll have to ask my mum and dad but I’m sure they’ll be fine with it”

“Forget about Sweet Pea he’s nothing but player” Toni tells me. The bell rings signalling us to head to class “who have you got now?”

“Errm…” I take out my schedule “Mr Tommy”

“I’ll walk you there” Betty says linking her arm with mine. We arrive outside of the English room “hey Kev this is YN, she’s new. Can you look after her in class and walk her to her next lesson after?”

“Sure. Hi YN it’s nice to meet you”

“You too. Thank you Betty. I’ll see you later” I give Betty a little wave and walk into class with Kevin. We sit down next to each other

“So I heard you and Sweet Pea had a fling over the summer”

“Wow news sure travels fast around here” I sigh

“My boyfriend is his best friend, that’s how I know. Look, Sweet Pea has an image, but deep down he is a good guy”

“If you said that over the summer I think I would have agreed with you. But seems like he’s not who he said he was” Mr Tommy enters the room and our lesson starts.

[stevesnightmares]

I feel like the phrasing is the worst part... 'remains heterosexual' implies its a choice. and besides I don't really think its his place to say, it's not his decision to make whether they out themselves or not.

but putting that aside, I think it's up to interpretation. I don't think u can say for definite whether it's homophobic or not, you can only say u didn't take it that way. I'm gay and interpreted it as homophobic.

I'm not here to change anyones mind and everyone can feel and interpret the text however they see fit, I'm just giving my thoughts and opinions on the matter and never claimed to be the only one who has the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

As I said, the phrasing is very poor but we are also talking about Kevin Day here, the man who has probably never phrased anything nicely and correctly in his life ever.

Personally, I just couldn't disagree more with you. It's been 8 years since I read the books, so I might just have missed it at the time, but never once (outside of that specific part) has Kevin ever been homophobic towards Nicky or later towards Neil and Andrew. The only time he ever mentioned being gay is because there are prejudiced people who would make it hard for Neil to have a successful pro-exy career if he came out as gay. He doesn't seem to care if people are gay, he cares if the one person he took under his wing, the person he promised he would help make Court, is doing something that could jeopardise that and being gay is something that could jeopardise that. Kevin is basically obsessed with exy (for various reasons that are not relevant here) and thus he often has tunnel vision accompained by a terrible and brash attitude.

Kevin thinks that exy is the most important thing ever and that anything should be sacrificed for it. He's not a revolutionary who fights for what's right, he knows that being gay could ruin Neil's career and his solution isn't that they should fight for things to change, his solution is that it's better to ignore that or keep it hidden so that he can continue being an exy player. Exy comes first, everything else second.

I personally don't think it's fair to assume that Kevin is homohobic from that onse single comment when he has otherwise never once shown any homophobic behaviour towards Neil, Andrew and Nicky.

I think intent is a very important thing and that just because something comes off a certain way it doesn't mean that's necessarily what people meant. In this case I think Kevin's comment was in itself homophobic but Kevin himself doesn't care if someone is gay or not unless that interferes with exy. (eg: Nicky doesn't want to go pro so Kevin never asks him to "not be gay" because it doesn't matter to him).

Again, we have to different interpretations of what is being said and why it's being said and that's fine and normal.

[ninyard]

i have to ask, do you have any kevin hcs from his childhood in ireland?

yes :) yes I do :) depending on how long he grew up there some of these might be irrelevant but here’s some baby kev in Ireland (these are kind of stupid but regardless here they are)

- While Kayleigh had him playing no-contact kid safe Exy, he also played hurling. It’s an Irish team sport that is played using a stick and a small hard ball and a lot of Irish kids play it. It’s a pretty big sport in Ireland, it’s really fast paced, and the only protection players wear is a helmet with a grate/face guard thing. You can “check” other player with your shoulder so long as the other person has the ball and you have one foot on the ground and tbh if you read the rules it wouldn’t surprise me if it inspired Kayleigh to invent Exy in some manner

- he went to a gaelscoil (Irish speaking school) for his first two years or so in school. This means they only speak in Irish and learn all of their subjects through Irish. Because of this Kevin can count and knows colours in Irish but doesn’t really know a whole lot else

- Kevin is naturally unbothered by cold weather because he spent those early years of his life in Ireland. He’ll wear shorts when the sun is barely peeking out of the sky and it’s only like 15 degrees Celsius outside because that’s just what Irish people do. We savour the sun in the tiny bits we see of it.

- Irish people love famous Irish people, so I bet Kayleigh would’ve been on local TV quite a lot. There’s a couple of interviews and videos of Kevin as a tiny Kevin playing baby Exy out there that he keeps hidden from the foxes. NOBODY knows they exist. Also as a tween he probably did some more interviews from the US for Irish TV. If somebody found them he would die on the spot.

- Kayleigh lived in Dublin before she had Kevin, and her family were from much more rural areas on the other side of the country, so Kevin doesn’t remember meeting her family at all. He would’ve met his grandparents a handful of times, but because he was so young, he doesn’t remember it. They were fluent Irish speakers, though, so Kayleigh always spoke in Irish around her family.

- Kayleigh’s funeral was in Ireland, and that was the first time Kevin had been back in Ireland since they moved to the US full time. It was really overwhelming for him, because so many memories kept coming back to him, memories he’d forgotten because he’d been so young.

- his grandparents call him by his Irish name, not Kevin. He doesn’t like it, but it’s their native language so he just accepts it. If any one of the foxes thought of calling him Caoimhín he’d kill them.

- (Kayleigh’s family make fun of his American accent. Irish people love making fun of Americans)

Kevin doesn’t remember a lot about living in Ireland but what he does remember is a lot of fond memories of his mom, and if he wants to feel close to her, he reminisces on it a lot. He has as many old interviews of her as he could possibly find, videos of her in university, and as much as it pains him to watch his mother beside Tetsuji as business partners, he watches those too. One interview is his favourite, one that Kayleigh did for the Irish language news, and it’s an interview where she’s talking about Exy as gaeilge/in Irish. She doesn’t falter, or trip over her words, or have to think at all about what she’s saying. It’s her first language, and she falls into it so easily. It makes him sad to think of how different his life would be if they’d stayed, but he would never go back in time and ask her to. She achieved her dream, she represented Ireland at their first Olympics, and the USA once she’d gotten her citizenship. He would do anything to have her back, but he wouldn’t change that.