#post the kings men

[antheiasvase]

Andreil says the big L ;)

ALSO POSTED ON AO3!! (link below)

It's quiet. It's always quiet these days. So serene it's almost sickening, like an unfinished peach pit sinking slow to the bottom of his stomach. 

He stares out of the rain soaked window, book dipping downwards in his lazy hands. His fingers itch for something to do, picking at the pages, flicking at his fraying sweater, teasing at the tags of his cushions. 

He's restless, he knows. He's waiting. For something, anything. A declaration, a speech, a symphony. Just something. He's tired of the known. So used to spending his days in a haze, the clarity of his mind leaves him dizzy and desperate for anything to dull down his nerves. 

His phone begins to ring, an annoying screeching sound playing the chorus of Lover, You Should've Come Over, in an awkward stilted way. He knows who it is, he remembers when they had painstakingly figured out how to program it, the phone clunky an awkward in his bandaged hands. Andrew had laughed then, a small huff, when he had excitedly called him, so pleased, like the cat who got the cream, when he had finally figured it out. 

That was before all the travelling, the distance, the gap that felt unreachable between two souls which had once known each other so deeply but now could barely stand to speak a few words before descending swiftly into silence. 

Despite knowing how this conversation would go, Andrew still reached out, still desperate to hear his voice, desperate for his laugh, desperate for the minute escape from the sickening quiet of his empty apartment, desperate for the comforting silence from his lover. 

He couldn't do without it. 

"Neil," He breathed when he picked up, clutching the phone in both hands. 

He heard the hitched breath on the other line, before they spoke, "Andrew," He whispered, he sounded like he was hunched over the the phone. Andrew could imagine him, curled close, under his covers which were pulled over his crimson curls, providing a cocoon of privacy for their conversation. 

"I've missed you," Neil said, he sounded quiet, oh so quiet. A whisper on the breeze of life. 

"As you should," Andrew lightly teased, immediately regretting the words as they slipped, unprompted from his tongue, wishing he could swallow them back and replace them with something much sweeter, dripping, 'I missed you too,'s like syrup from his lips. 

Syrup slow, and tense silence expanded and made herself comfortable following his comment. 

Neil hesitated, but laughed softly, despite this Andrew could hear him swallow. Andrew wished he could see him, he could always read his expression, and understand, but over the phone, it was as if a brick wall had been built up slowly between the two, and despite his shattered bones and bruised knuckles, Andrew wasn't able to punch through the wall. 

Andrew cleared his throat, "I do too. Miss you. That is," It sounded awkward and uncomfortable, and mentally Andrew berated himself. 

"I know that," Neil said, this time, Andrew could detect some form of pleasure in his tone, pleased that Andrew missed him too, as if Andrew could not miss him. Andrew missed him in every moment apart, every breath he breathed that was not mingled with Neil's own exhaled sigh, every cigarette he smoked not lit by Neil's spare lighter, every exy game he couldn't look to Neil and smile triumphantly as Neil cheered at their win. 

"You should," Andrew said, softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. He heard Neil move slightly on the other side of the call, as if he flipped onto his back to stare at the ceiling.

"Yeah," Neil muttered back, and Andrew clenched his eyes shut, so tight spots danced like every memory he has ever had with Neil in his vision. They flitted through his brain like a slideshow, up until when Andrew left for the true adult life of taxes and jobs and the slide show slowed to split seconds, stolen at airports, mere hours in between practices, budget airlines, and clenched fists on arm rests.

"I-" Neil faltered, and sighed, "Never-mind,"

Andrew picked up where he left the tentative attempt at a conversation, "How was practice?" While he loathed exy, in its every inexcusable shape and form, it was safe. A blanket that Neil could cover himself with and talk about till even he tired from the topic.

He could feel Neil grin, "It was good, uh, the newer kids are still shy, surprisingly, a few stand out but most are quite secluded. It's just me and Robin left, from the old foxes you know, and we're keeping the team together quite splendidly, I think Robin is a little sad, considering the year is almost over for me, but Wymack told me that he's officially upgrading her to Team Captain next year. I thought it was obvious, but he said, considering Robin's character, he figured she'd prefer some official confirmation," Neil rambled.

"He would be right," Andrew interjected, he leaned onto the couch, arm resting on the back.

"I suppose," Neil said, "Either way, there's nothing really interesting going on here, preparing for the finals, and such."

"You prepared well?" Andrew asked, toying once again with a thread from his top.

"Somewhat, we'll see how it goes. It's not like I'll do anything with this degree so I'm not all too worried,"

"Been scouted yet?" Andrew said, he could feel the mood slip slightly in the call, but he bit his lip and waited for Neil's answer.

"A few offers, here and there," Neil said vaguely, "I'm going out to check out a potential team in the weekend. I'm not sure yet, but it might be it,"

Andrew felt a tightness begin to coil at the base of his ribs. He could already see how it would play out, Neil would move, far and far and farther away and soon the phone calls will dwindle to a text every two weeks.

"That's good," Andrew muttered, clenching his fist tightly around a poor defenceless cushion.

"Yes," Neil said, somewhat hesitantly, "It's good,"

Silence fell once again. As expected.

"Neil-" Andrew began to say.

"I have to go," Neil suddenly interrupted, "I just heard a crash from Robin's room," The phone call ended, abruptly and on time with the dread that poured out of every pore in Andrew's body.

⭐️

Saturday practices were the worst, Andrew determined as he trudged across the field, heading back to the locker rooms. He felt disgusting, sweaty and gross, the strikers had been eager to prove themselves, some rumours had been circulating about upcoming transfers in the next season and as it was already confirmed that one of their senior strikers was retiring, the subs were desperate to show that they were ready to take on the tasking position.

Andrew wished they had gone a little easier. He hadn't slept since Neil and his call, and he'd been too apprehensive to call back afterwards. His whole body felt muted, and slow, like a mound of rotting flesh piled on top of his cracking and badly taped together skeleton. He sighed. He did that a lot lately.

"Minyard," He heard their coach call out to him, "Join me in my office for a second," For a moment Andrew considered turning away and going to shower instead, but in a rare display of obedience he found himself walking towards their coach's office. She was a harsh woman, with an even harsher last name to fit the bill, Coach Sauvage, Neil had thought it hilarious when Andrew first told him, as he stumbled over the pronunciation. She was half French and tended to cuss her team out in the vicious language when they pissed her off with their idiocy.

Andrew stepped in, glad for the air-conditioning, it was boiling hot outside. She sat down at her desk, her hands folded neatly over one another, and she pointed her fierce look upon him.

"You may sit," She said gesturing to the plastic chair across her desk. Andrew sat and began unstrapping his protective gear and dropping it to the floor as she began to speak.

"As you know, Richie is retiring out this season, and the role will be filled with one of the strikers we have, however this will leave an empty place in our striker roster. I was more interested in having some new blood contracted, rather than transfer in a more experienced player. However, in this special case, I felt it was more important to speak with you first." She paused and stared at him.

Andrew stared back, thinking about the relieving shower he would have after this dull conversation was over. "How exactly does this pertain to me?" He asked, she seemed amused at his question.

"I'm thinking of contracting Neil Josten, an old teammate of yours from college." She said. Andrew sat up a tad straighter, his eyes slightly wide. He thought back to his conversation with Neil,

I'm going out to check out a potential team in the weekend. I'm not sure yet, but it might be it.

"I know you two had some sort of rivalry back in college, so I need to know if this will or won't mess up the climate in the team. So far you've adjusted well, and I was hoping we could keep you for a while longer. That's why I first wanted to make sure you were okay with this. I would like to remind you however, you should perceive this as more of a fore-warning as it is very unlikely, unless under some extreme circumstance, that my mind will be changed if you happen to make an argument as to why he should not join the team," She said.

"He's here?" Andrew said instead,

"He arrived a few hours ago to watch practice, as it is most likely he will be signed I wanted him to meet the team,"

Andrew stood, abandoning his gear and rushing out of the office, he heard some loud conversation coming from the locker rooms and headed that way, knowing that Neil would most likely be there.

He banged open the door, and there he was. He was standing by the benches, speaking with Richie the retiring striker.

"Josten," He said, he knew he stumbled over the word in his rush to get Neil to notice him. He felt a light flush rise to his ears.

"Andrew," Neil said, taking a few steps towards him. Andrew met him halfway, and in front of the eyes of his entire team he pulled Neil, his Neil, his Junkie, into a tight hug. Neil seemed to sigh into the contact, sagging into his arms, like a lax puppet on strings.

"I missed you, I missed you," Andrew mumbled into his hair, quiet as a church mouse, solemn as a hymn, sincere as a prayer.

"I know," Neil whisper back, one hand twisted into the nape of Andrew's neck, his blonde hair tugged so tight it almost burned, the other curled into the small of his back.

He heard someone drop something to the ground in the background, and he almost jumped back from Neil, instantly aware like a rush of sound, that the entire team had just witnessed that act of passion.

"So," Richie said, biting the inside of his cheek, "That just happened," Neil laughed uncomfortably, but didn't step too far away from Andrew.

"I supposed that's confirmation that you have no issue with Josten joining the team," Andrew heard Coach Sauvage comment from the doorway.

Neil hung his head in embarrassment, but Andrew could smiled, a small one, simple and discreet. Sauvage took a note in her clipboard and said, "All right you losers, clear out and rest up, I'll see you all back here on Monday," She tapped her pen against her clipboard in an air of finality and swiftly turned and left the locker rooms, leaving her bewildered teammates and a love struck couple behind.

When she left, Andrew tugged on Neils arm, "Let's go," He said. Neil nodded, and waved a quick goodbye to their teammates and they followed Sauvage's quick getaway.

Andrew dragged Neil to the car, and pressed him up against the cool metal, it was dark out, and quiet, but this time, it was just them and the moon and stars as their witness.

Andrew tipped his forehead against Neil's, and breathed, he could feel Neil's own exhales puffing against his lips, and he revelled in the mingled air he breathed in.

"Andrew," Neil said softly, lifting his hand up and twisting his fingers into the back of Andrew's hair.

"I know," Andrew muttered, not exactly sure what he knew, just that he knew that this moment was perfect, and belonged to them.

Neil huffed a laugh, and Andrew silenced it by pressing his lips against Neil's soft and gentle, cupping Neil's face in his palms, as he tried to express what he felt without words. Neil responded in kind, and he could feel him slightly grin against his lips. With that smile, Andrew felt the words, sizzle up, saccharine and sweet, resting just behind his teeth, and pushing through the slit of his lips. He leaned back just slightly, Neil attempting to chase his lips, before Andrew spoke.

"I love you," He whispered. Neil froze between his hands, his eyes wide and almost glassy.

"Yeah?" Neil said, his voice watery.

"Yeah," Andrew said, rubbing his thumb over Neil's cheek, covering his twisted circle scars with the shield of his thumb.

"I love you too," Neil said, blinking rapidly after he said it.

"I know," Andrew teased, and this time it felt right.

Neil laughed, and it filled the quiet night and Andrew held him close, his arms finally feeling full again.

Me while writing this ^

But jokes aside, I did write this with an impending deadline, a huge art history paper I have to hand in in 40 minuted, with only 90 of the 1500 words written. Well. I felt at the time this was more important. I'm probably going to eat those words in a few. BUT you know, when inspiration strikes, you must grasp it with both hands and get to work, because inspiration is not a frequent visitor. I might post this to ao3 when I finish my project ;) I hope this was enjoyable and nice to read. I KNOW it was kinda angsty at the start but I hope the end makes up for it :))))

LINK FOR AO3 :)))

[andrew-dramaqueen-minyard]

okay but I don’t think it’s ever mentioned how Neil tells the foxes (or if he even does personally) that Riko is dead and he watched him die.

I imagine he tells Andrew first, obviously. Quietly, on the bus ride back, with andrews hand in his, he just whispers “Riko’s dead” while staring out the window.

“How?”

“Bullet to the head”. Andrew just looks at him and accepts this, before looking back to stare at Kevin.

The next person he tells is Wymack, and it’s when they get home. Neil stands aside with both Wymack and Andrew and he tells Wymack the truth straight - which fills Andrew in on all the specific details that went unsaid - that he was taken aside by Irchirou, who had dealt with Riko personally, that he was dead and the Ravens would have a new coach, and that it was going to be framed as a suicide. He warns him about how it will probably hit the news by morning, and asks him if he wants Neil to tell Kevin, or if he will. Wymack is surprisingly calm, and decides it might be best if he breaks it to him before he finds out another way.

The other foxes, Neil decides, can wait till the morning, and if by the time they all wake up they haven’t already heard the news of Rikos death, he would tell them (because he promised not to lie anymore)

They all meet in Matt and Aaron’s room the next morning to have breakfast (and continue celebrating as per the original plan) and when Neil walks in with Andrew after a smoke, all the foxes eyes are on him, and he knows they know.

“It wasn’t a suicide, was it Neil?”

“No.”

“You were there?!”

“Yes.”

“Oh god” “where’s Kevin?”

“With Wymack”

“Is he okay?”

“Probably not, but he will be”

The rest of the day was weird for all of them, each for different reasons. They didn’t see Kevin for two days after that, and Neil is somewhat thankful he didn’t have to be there when Kevin found out.

[lemonboyjosten]

— the foxhole court (2013)

— the sunshine court (2024)

[the-gay-cousin-666]

Once Neil and Andrew start living together, Andrew starts leaving the books he reads laying about the flat. On the coffee table, sofa, kitchen counter, just sort of wherever. After Neil notices this pattern, he will pick it up and start reading from the beginning. If it interests him enough, he'll find a piece of paper and bookmark it.

Andrew doesn't notice at first, but he can see his books are moving around and odd receipts and scraps are falling out of the pages. Eventually he catches Neil in bed, engrossed in his latest pick, and quietly slips in to peak at what part Neil is currently at, maybe even comments on what he thought about it.

It becomes a common practice for them overtime, maybe they even take turns picking books, and whoever is ahead leaves little notes for when the other catches up.

Maybe, when they're both in the mood, they take turns reading aloud and discuss the plot over dinner.

[quotes-and-recs]

Aftg is a horse girl movie but instead of one singular horse Neil has to tame a whole herd

[nothatsmi]

Aftg stupid ass dump!!

These were all done under 20 minutes. That page is literally from my morning english class I wasn't paying attention to (it was done without a sketch, excuse the weird ass proportions).

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE SUNSHINE COURTTT

I will draw real Jean and Jeremy content, whenever the fuck I can-

[echo-cave]

King Ghidorah (1964)

[eggcats]

I wish I could write fics, because I DESPERATELY want a fic where like both Bowser and King Boo decide to break in to kidnap Luigi one night, but they accidentally do it the same night.

So Luigi just wakes up to them fighting in his room and he just assumes he's still asleep so he doesn't really react much, because this is the weirdest dream he's ever had.

And then both of them are yelling at Luigi to ask which one he PREFERS kidnapping him, like a competition, and keep being like "WELL MY CASTLE HAS LAVA SO HE CAN BE WARM IN THE CAGE!!!" "HE WILL DECORATE MY MANSION IN THE PAINTING ON THE MANTELPIECE!!!" Etc etc.

And Luigi, assuming he is asleep because this is too weird to be reality, just goes "I don't even WANT-a to know what my subconscious is-a trying to tell me." And lays down to go back to sleep, confounding both Bowser and King Boo.

It would also be hilarious if they both decide to just stay the night, because neither of them want to be the first to leave and let the other one win. And so when Luigi wakes up and they're still there he's like "THAT WASN'T A DREAM???!"

Cue both Bowser and King Boo trying to out-rizz each other to Luigi, like "Do you regularly dream about me?" "CLEARLY HE MEANS ME!"

[shayberri789]

The rise of in-universe memes in the aftg fandom lately has been the best thing to happen aside from tsc. Day bless each and every one of you making them

[kateis-cakeis]

Do you ever think about how the scene where Arthur catches Merlin with a dress in S2Ep9, and the scenes where Arthur is like "girl??????" in S5Ep8

that it's like just a lil bit suggested that Arthur thinks Merlin is both into men and crossdresses (which does that suggest some kind of queer culture in Camelot where gay men are known to do drag?? who knows) and not only thinks that, but accepts it too.

Like Arthur who is presented with the fact that Merlin might wear dresses in his spare times just shrugs and says what a man does in his spare time is up to him, and that the colour suits him.

He literally could have made any joke about Merlin being a girl like he often does when he teases Merlin about being a coward (which we know is just teasing) but instead he just accepts it, and still calls Merlin a man.

Meanwhile in The Hollow Queen, well, I'll let the lines speak for themselves:

GUINEVERE: He’s not in danger. He’s seeing a girl.

ARTHUR: Merlin?

GUINEVERE: Gaius, I’m sorry, but there is no reason to worry.

ARTHUR: Except for the poor girl.

---

ARTHUR: Oh, so you can go and visit that girl again.

MERLIN: What?

ARTHUR: Girl.

MERLIN: Don't have one.

ARTHUR: That's not what Guinevere tells me. So, why don't you tell us all about her?

MERLIN: Right.

ARTHUR: And why you're walking with a limp.

---

The first lines could be interpreted that Arthur doesn't think Merlin is good with women, but paired with the lines from the 2nd scene where Arthur asks him about it.... it definitely feels like Arthur is saying to worry for the girl because he thinks Merlin isn't attracted to women.

I mean the sheer disbelief alone when he says "Merlin?" like it's so out of realm of possibility. (I mean it could also be suggested that Arthur doesn't think anyone would be attracted to Merlin, but with the 2nd scene it definitely doesn't seem so.)

Especially the way he says "girl" with sarcasm dropping from his tone, like literally "girrrl" is how he says it. Like he's basically calling out Merlin, or saying that he knows that the girl Gwen told him about is actually a man.

Which I believe is why the "and why you're walking with a limp" has Arthur so, well,

like this. I think he truly believes that Merlin is lying sjhdfghsdfg Like he's thinking in that little brain of his that Merlin got pegged by a man and just isn't admitting to it.

And he's definitely accusing Merlin of sneaking away to have sex, you know, during an important time and all.

Basically, with these like 3 scenes in the show, I'd say it really comes off as Arthur accepting Merlin as gay and just waiting for the day where Merlin tells him the truth.

And that's really funny to me.

[saintbennetts]

I love angst and I love pain but I cannot read "Neil died in Baltimore" fics. they genuinely make me sick to my stomach because he just didn't deserve it. he did not deserve to die terrified and alone and nameless. He deserved a life. a family. a future.

And Andrew? God. It would have destroyed him. He would have blamed himself for releasing Neil from their deal. He did not deserve to lose the one person who could pull him back from the edge. After everything he went through? fuck that.

It's too much. AFTG might be a mess but at least we got a happy ending. I cannot stomach the alternative.

[andrew-dramaqueen-minyard]

trans Neil could actually make so much sense if you think about it because imagine they’re on the run, and Neil says to Mary ‘mom what if I started dressing like a boy’ and Mary, hellbent on disguising them, thinks that a fantastic idea, and immediately agrees. And then Neil is like, ‘maybe I could change my name to more boy names’ and Mary agrees even more. It’ll be harder to find them. Meanwhile it settles something in Neil, makes him feel about as at home as he could be in a body on the run.

[therabbitthatpostthings]

“whY woUlD SAy ThAT, tHAT characTer IS liKe 50 yEarS oLd-“

Bitch I said out loud that I would fuck that old man until he was sputtering and creaming like a nearly finished Reddi-whip can.

[the-gay-cousin-666]

I made a thing again

I saw this pic of Christiane Endler just effortlessly carrying her teammate and my mind instantly went to andreil

[windlullaby-arts]

Being self indulgent and paying homage to Daddy Captain Yami after finally watching Sword of The Wizard King ⚔️

Now excuse me while I continue the series from where I left off (end of season 1 I think?) and probably even read the manga while slowly falling for more BC characters

[deklo]

they’re just 2 little guys who have never done anything wrong 🤷🏻‍♂️

don’t repost!!