Andreil doesn't humanise each other. Yes they do pull parts of themselves that others might consider admirable closer to the surface, but to call it humanising someone sounds like you're not considering someone as a person capable of good. Andrew was capable of good regardless of Neil and same goes for Neil. It was just a matter of circumstances.
Neil would've also hated it if this was being said about Andrew who is called 'a monster' by others, rather than just a person/human.
They're not each others answer and they wanted each other just the way they were. Truthful, earnest and themselves, which means that yes they are assholes.
bee tapping the table so andrew would stop hurting himself š bee not being able to contain her joy when she finds out about andrew and neil š bee getting all the milk and chocolate cuz she knows that andrew has a sweet tooth š bee knowing andrew so well and caring so much about him she doesn't fear him, to the point he said they spent so much time together she became reckless with her questions š bee hoping wymack would take care of her "most precious charge" š bee being so, so proud of andrew for what he overcame š bee not sending wymack away bc she doesn't want to make andrew feel unsafe š bee being such a gentle being every one knows how much andrew appreciates her even if they don't understand itš bee watching a musical with andrew and wymack to distract andrew from what happened š bee messaging andrew after the session⢠saying she was happy for him š bee and andrew texting each other regularly š just mama bee
Mayhaps I just have way too much hubris, but I feel like we as a fandom could make that "100th place" climb higher if we just intentionally create and consume more fanfics
I fucking- I can't find it right now, but whichever one of you motherfuckers said Andrew's 'lack of control' was actually just intentionally calculated releases of pressure, that he was always in control when he lashed out because he lashed out in very specific and measured degrees - every single 'too far' was always 'just enough', its just no one else saw the raging volcanic inferno brewing just beneath the floorboards cus they were too distracted by how ear piercing the sound of the tea kettle going off was-
You're so sexy and I love you, but I wanna respond to you in spirit cus I can't find your post babes
We love 'biblically accurate' and 'devil's sacrament' as religious phrases yea? Well, my favorite (aside from 'heated fellowship', a black christian euphemism for fucking nasty) happens to be to 'know' or more specifically to 'know biblically', another word/phrase for fucking someone nasty.
stay with me this is going somewhere i promise pack a bag if you must
The interpretation I was raised with was that sexual intimacy was so vulnerable and exposing of one's most inner authenticity (that which apparently only God had such access to) that sex could make someone Know and See you the way Christ did (yadda yadda, "only fuck other Christians cus they'll be saved and sanctified enough to honor that blessing", yadda yadda) ANYWAY
THE POINT IS
You ever have someone in your life who just,,, saw you? Like, they could take one look at you and just Intuit Through The Vibes that something was up? Like they could just feel your energy and knew what to do or say or whatever? The kind of person who could walk into a room where you're minding your own business, doing something mundane, and they take one cursory scan of your posture and immediately ask "What's wrong?" like,,, what??? why do you ask??? what do you mean 'you can tell', I'm not fucking doing anything???
The kind of being seen for who you are that just leaves you feeling kinda exposed and tender? The kind of thing that leaves you bereft and yearning if you've never experienced it before (or had but lost it) because it feels like everyone only likes different mirages of you?
Andrew and Neil are so Relationship Of All Time because they seemed to See and Know each other like that even before they started locking lips on rooftops.
When Neil said "I want to see you lose control", i'm imagining Andrew probably felt so naked and flayed because everyone assumed he was perpetually losing his grip. On his anger, on his sanity, on reality, on his control. But like,,, Op's Spirit Of Post Long Lost, you were so fucking right. Every bit of Andrew's behavior was carefully calculated and intentionally released packages of what was his True Inner Turbulence that he would never dare release out into the open because that's not a target he's willing to give anyone a chance at aiming for.
Out of control? Andrew hasn't been that since he was probably a tween.
But Neil had never been fooled. From cigarettes and airport pickups to cigarettes and rooftop altercations, not once had he fallen for the mirage.
Without ever having needed to touch him in that way, Neil Knew Andrew. Biblically.
And that's why Andrew simply had to engage him in heated fellowship.
There is poetry in Nathaniel finding belonging with the change of his name. Natalie finding salvation by the God that damned Nicky.
There is poetry in Andrew and Aaron finding a family in Nicky when he was cast away from his.
There is poetry in Allison relishing in the money that was meant to be hers but never got in the end, poetry in Andrew hating the money he was never meant for.
There is Poetry in Aaron having a mother that wronged him, and Matt being righted by his.
There is poetry in the way Dan had to fight to keep afloat, where it was Allison fighting that got her cut off in the end
There is poetry in Nicky finding love and himself abroad, where Nathaniel ran from all that he was
There is poetry in Matt with a loving mother who showed him how to live, and Neil who was kept alive by his own.
There is poetry in the foxes
misplaced forever partners will always be the most painful part of neil and jean's dynamic to me. like What do you mean they were always going to be together, be matched with each other, in every way that mattered, in every universe except the one where jean survived.
āYouāve endured the storm long enough. Donāt you think youāre overdue for some rainbows?ā
āWhat you hold onto is less important than the act of holding on itself. Itās so easy to get lost in ourselves and this world. Sometimes you need to find your way back one tiny miracle at a time.ā
āI have enough faith for us both"Ā
āIām so proud of you for making it this far. Iām excited to see how far you can go from here when you can finally spread your wings without fear. Fly safe, Jean. We will see you on the court in finals.ā
Breathtaking art based on āThe Sun Still Risesā on AO3 made by the very talented @/Linskiiii1 on Twitter/X !!
šCheck out our pinned for more info about the project, creators involved, and how to request a commission starting at a 10 USD donation!!!
For the few years that Andrew and Neil are on different pro teams Andrews team knows next to nothing about him. Now since he got off his meds and significantly mellowed out after graduating, its not that his team mates donāt like him, they just donāt know who he is outside of being an amazing player. When his teammates release their lack of Andrew Minyard info the āwho the fuck is our goalieā coalitionļæ¼ is created. They share all the information they have on Andrew in order to paint the picture of who the hell this man is.
One day one teammate comes across Andrew after practice reading a book in the players lounge. As they step closer to desifer the cover Andrew glances up at them with a questioning look. When they ask what the book is Andrew gives a surprised raise of his eyebrow and gives a shockingkly well put together synopses of the plot. After the player goes home that night they look up the book only to discover that the fantasy adventure novel that was described to them was not only an extremely sappy romance, it was also the last part of a queer YA series.
Andrew is spotted soon after at a local coffee shop drinking some sort of whip cream topped chocolate concoction with reading material much different than before. He sips his drink and peruses some large fancy looking book. With only a quick google search they realize that its some complex scientific book about Homo sapiens through history?
A few weeks later another of Andrews teammates walk in on a pacing Andrew with his phone clutched to his ear. Heās talking in an intense whisper, not angry but concerned, about some sort of cat sitter falling through. After Andrew spots them he hisses out a quick goodbye into the phone and hangs it up. When they ask what the call was about, Andrew contemplates for a second then explained that heās visiting family and the cat sitter he had sceduled wasnāt going to be able to come after all. When the teammate volunteers to do the job Andrew only sighs but accepts their offer. After a weekend of cat sitting and semi snooping around Andrews apartment the brave cat sitter reports back to the team with all their suspicions confirmed.
Andrews pro teammates have concluded this: Andrew Minyard is not the violent and cruel man the media and his past can make him out to be. Andrew is actually a cat loving book nerd with a spotless apartment decorated in soft cream and earth tones. He is sarcastically funny and incredibly smart. And maybe, just maybe, Andrews pro team are some of the first people to see him for who he truly is under his sandpaper exterior.
neil accidentally sits closer to andrew than he meant to. he tries to move to create some distance again, respecting his personal space, but as soon as he does, andrew subtly shifts his body over and presses their legs against each other. andrew isnāt looking at him, he keeps his bored stare on the t.v, and responds a simple ācold.ā
neil didnāt leave that spot for hours.
Kevin would not - could not - defend himself against Riko. Years of abuse and torture beat into him that he was to obey Riko.
But when Riko goes for Neil, Kevin tries to stop him. He catches Riko's arm, he lays a hand on him, he goes against him. Because protecting Neil, who at the time was just some random nobody Kevin was trying to mentor, was more important than his fear of Riko.
Neil kissed his survival instincts goodbye when he defended Kevin against Riko on TV, but Kevin also fought against his survival instincts to protect Neil from Riko just a few minutes later.