I Need More Fics Where Writers Acknowledge The Implications Of Andrew's Eidetic Memory And Fucking Run

I feel like we as a society don't acknowledge often enough that Neil was convinced and waiting on his death for months and no one around him knew until he told Kevin

Neil was 18 at the time

When he ended his protection pact with Andrew so Andrew wouldn't get caught in the crossfire iirc he was freshly 19

We joke about him ignoring the countdown texts but he knew exactly what they meant and he was so tired of running fighting and collateral he saw no other options

Like do you realize how horrifc that is

Just once, I need Neil to get angry at Andrew for being so careless with his life. Just once, I need Neil to make Andrew understand that the terror Andrew felt that night in Baltimore, when Neil walked willingly into death's cold embrace without telling a soul what was waiting for him, or at the championship game, when Riko's racquet came within inches of crushing Neil's skull-

That's the very same terror Neil feels when Andrew walks a little too close to the edge of the roof. It's the same terror Neil feels when Andrew speeds a little too fast in the Mas, when he weaves between cars like he's got a death wish. Its the same terror Neil feels when, after Aaron's trial, Andrew drinks a little too much and disappears for a little too long, and he doesn't leave a note and he won't answer Neil's calls, but he took the car and nobody knows where he is until he miraculously turns up at Wymack's at nearly five in the morning.

I need Andrew to realize that as terrified as he is of losing Neil, Neil is just as terrified of losing him.

what did you expect, captain?

One of my favorite things in AFTG is how the author deals with consent, particularly between Neil and Andrew. "Please" is such an easy go-to to make something not sound like an order or demand (especially for more aggressive characters, i.e., "Let me x/Do x, please"), but she completely took that off the table in this case. It becomes even more of a challenge when you take into account how Andrew’s bluntness can be taken as rude, but it's offset so well with Neil needing it spelled out to him because romantic interest go right over his head. Also, once a boundary is set, it's set. No questions asked. No testing it. And despite Neil being dumb as bricks to most things (bless his heart), most of those boundaries aren't even verbally discussed. It's either trial and error, observation of the other, or just left for the other to initiate. And there's no question to the reader that "no" or any sign of hesitation will be taken as "no." It's kinda refreshing to see it portrayed that way in media.

andriel headcanons

• andrew really pushes neil to enforce his own boundaries. sometimes neil is too wound up to be touched and the second andrew senses it, he makes neil say it aloud. "tell me to let go. enforce it. you know i'll respect it, this should be easy. tell me to back off."

• they try to raise plants. they fail miserably.

• the cats favor neil over andrew, which andrew doesn't necessarily mind.

• but when other players on their team bring their kids to practices or team events, all the kids love andrew and neil's a little jealous (even though he has no idea how to interact with kids).

• andrew has horrible seasonal allergies and neil doesn't.

• neil kicks all the blankets off in the middle of the night and andrew hoards them. they wake up in the mornings with the blanket on only one side of the bed and they never fix it.

• the first night andrew falls asleep facing the wall, neil doesn't say anything about it. but he falls asleep smiling.

• their relationship with aaron and katelyn is pleasant, and gets better with time, but the only thing that andrew and katelyn absolutely agree on is their disdain about neil using a 3-in-one shampoo/conditioner/body wash.

NO YOU GUYS DONT GET IT.

Jean wouldn't call Jeremy with Mon cherie or mi amor, he would only use those endearing names with people he wants to piss off (cough neil) or people like catalina or laila as a friendly way!! He will use it to taunt them.

He can't fathom calling Jeremy any cheesy moniker so he instead calls him stuff like petit salaud or garce!! Everytime he sees Jeremy he flushes and lets out a string of curses in French bc he doesn't know what to do with his emotions.

Aaron looked at Andrew, who was staring, unseeing, at their shared birthday cake with a party horn in his mouth. The Foxes (mostly Nicky) were enthusiastically singing Happy Birthday around them, and Aaron hadn’t said a word to Andrew all evening. Perhaps the fact that no one would hear them gave Aaron the courage to say something he’d been thinking to the entire party. “Happy Birthday, Andrew,” he whispered. What it really meant was I care about you. You’re important to me. Andrew turned his blank stare on him, and then proceeded to blow his party horn in Aaron’s face. I care about you too.

Calling Neil "a rabid little fox who'd had a lifetime to master his lies" is such a move. Jean sees the vision. He understands that Neil is just a dangerous feral creature.

Then immediately runs away.

Neil Josten the man that you are

neil is so funny cause hes like “no.. i cant start a fight.. it doesnt match my fake personality ive put on for everyone…” and then proceeds to call kevin a deadweight hasbeen cripple