INTRO POST (please read the personal tags they kinda make no sense without that context)
𝕳𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖞 𝕴 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖓𝖊
𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝕴'𝖉 𝖌𝖑𝖆𝖉𝖑𝖞 𝖉𝖔𝖜𝖓 𝖆 𝖇𝖔𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖓𝖆𝖒𝖊
This blog:
This is a blog dedicated to Neil Josten and Andrew Minyard from the series All for the Game by Nora Sakavic! (with a sprinkling of jerejean and also Kevin Day because i CAN) Here you will find fandom shitposts, various reblogs, memes, art (!!!) and the occasional varyingly-coherent analysis posts.
Tags:
nobody asked you for brainrot [shitposts]
nobody asked you for rambles [analysis/rants]
nobody asked you for creativity [fanfic/fanart/other fan related creative stuff]
nobody asked you to reblog [reblogs... duh]
nobody asked you for memes [memes.. duh.]
some other thing nobody asked you for [when i dont know how to categorize a post]
oh somebody did ask you [answering asks]
𝕵𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖌𝖊𝖙 𝖆𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖞𝖔𝖚
𝕬 𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖊 𝖉𝖗𝖔𝖕 𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝖒𝖞 𝖙𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖚𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖇𝖊 𝖆 𝖜𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊
Me:
My online name is Fruit on my main blog (@fruit-icus) and I guess that works for this one too. The URL doesn't really lend itself to a better nickname.
My pronouns are They/them primarily, though I occasionally use both gendered pronouns and also xey/xem.
I enjoy making fanart (usually), fanfic (sometimes), drinking fancy tea and owning nice smelling candles. I have a complicated relationship with religion which is why Renee Walker is the love of my life and I would die for her. Call me Andrew the way I will take a knife to anyone who says something mean about my angel.
(NobodyAskesYou is a side blogs. My official main blog is fruit-icus-is-gay, so if you catch that one liking stuff or following you, it's still me :) )
𝕬𝖓𝖉 𝕴 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘
𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝕴 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚
on this blog, please DO:
Send me asks! I may accept requests for art, fanfic (oneshots or short fics), or just random andriel related shit
Reblog, like, interact however you please
(respectfully) Discuss! I love talking abt aftg and I'm totally interested in analysing the series from different points of views and seeing different interpretations
on this blog, please DON'T:
Send me inappropriate asks. I am a minor and demisexual so I'm very much not interested.
Send me asks related to palestine. If you are in need of your gofundme being spread, I direct you to my (at the time of writing this) larger blog @fruit-icus-is-gay. I answer palestine related asks on that blog when I can, and if they are vetted. (Note: If nobodyaskedyou gets larger than theboredasexual I may change this)
Interact with my posts in cruel or hateful ways. I am not interested in homophobes, transphobes, racists, or any other bigoted subcategory interacting with my blog. I don't exactly have a DNI, but please do not bring bigotry onto my blog anyway; it's harmful to me and I imagine it's also harmful to the people who follow me and see my posts.
Insult renee walker ever. You will die.
𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖑𝖜𝖆𝖞𝖘 𝖜𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖚𝖕 𝖇𝖊𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝕴 𝖉𝖔
𝕾𝖔 𝕴 𝖈𝖆𝖓 𝖘𝖑𝖊𝖊𝖕 𝖎𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖊
Credits:
Page dividers are from this post
Lyrics are from Anything Anything Anything by Madds Buckley. You can find her on YT here, TikTok here, and on Spotify.
A subtle Neil Josten characterisation that I really appreciate is the fact that he never says "Thanks". He always says "Thank you", which of course generally indicates much deeper appreciation/gratitude. It's fitting. Neil isn't the type to use very much casual, friendly language like "thanks" in the first place, but he also doesn't often ask for favours. When he needs something from someone else enough to ask for it, he's usually depending quite a bit on their answer. So of course he'd be very grateful when they say yes - even if it's small to them (like Matt watching his stuff when he's on the way back from Columbia in TFC).
Also favours came very infrequently to him growing up. And they would've meant the difference between life and death, most of the time. He obviously got practically zero emotional care as a child, so even the smallest acts of kindness deeply touch him as well. He wants to express that. As much as Neil is a pathological liar and all, he's also quite a naturally genuine person.
I think we don’t talk enough about Neil’s understated sex appeal. I just know he lifts the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat on his face on the treadmill, and on the one next to him Kevin trips and almost falls. I know his running shorts ride up at one point and there is a loud thump from the direction of Andrew’s leg curl machine. I know he pours a bottle of water on his face and chest while running outside one day and some poor freshman girl gets a stroke unrelated to the heat. And the best part is he’s completely unaware of it.
As much as this fandom goofs around about TFC's opening, I've never seen anyone go into full detail on how it plays out in the narration. Neils semi-unreliable internal monologue and the type of information he chooses to relay will never not be funny to me ESPECIALLY in the first few pages. Or maybe, more specifically, the information he always follows up with.
"My dead mom, who died in a fire and is the reason I smoke, would beat me to hell and back if she knew I was in an exy stadium right now."
"I'm squatting so that I can stay in Millport and play Exy."
"EXY IS THE MOST PERFECT SPORT IN EXISTENCE I CANT BELIEVE MILLPORTS STADIUM IS A SOCCER FIELD HALF THE YEAR UGHHHH"
"My coach reaching out to a college exy team - yk, the sport I'm obsessed with - to get them to recruit me makes me genuinely angry and terrified."
"Oh yeah I've committed identity fraud twenty-two times. Now I have to do that again and also stop playing Exy."
"My imprisoned father will kill me when he gets out which is why I don't want to be famous for playing Exy."
"I really am super obsessed with Exy, to the extent that I can discern this strangers full name, job, the team he coaches, and the reason he needs a recruit so late in the season just because he gave me the first name of one now-institutionalised player."
"Allow me to now tell you everything about the foxes, an Exy team, even though I've revealed zero details about myself and you don't know my actual name yet. The foxes are more important."
"I have a very complicated and ominous history with Kevin Day. The only information I will give about Kevin Day is that he is famous and plays Exy, and that one time we both watched my dad slice a man into little bits. But what's more important is that Kevin is a better exy player than me."
Also, when hes told that Kevin Day wants him to join the foxes he bolts with no explanation, gets hit brutally in the stomach by Andrew Minyard - who, despite being totally identical to Aaron, Neil can immediately identify with zero effort - and in response, Neil says "fuck you," but doesn't follow up with "why did you hit me?". Instead he says "whose racquet did you steal?" as if that's the crime we should focus on here. Momentary theft of an exy racquet. He also mentally reacts to being brutally hit in the stomach by an exy racquet by recalling, in detail, everything he happens to know about his assailant's exy career and press coverage.
Hi, I'm so glad you're open! Do you have any recs with middle-aged Andreil?
The term ‘middle-aged’ gave me a bit of a headache here, since people tend to interpret it in different ways (it seems to cover anywhere from 30 to 50, depending on who you ask). Here I’ve included mostly fics where at least one of them has reached 30.
‘Aged-up’ characters are fairly common in AUs or post canon fics featuring lawyers, teachers, or social workers (sometimes as post-retirement careers, see also our tag page under AUs - jobs ). Some parenting fics also feature more mature Andreil.
Enjoy the selection below! - S
(There's a part 2 to this ask containing some excellent art!)
Previous recs:
‘Glencaster Lodge’ here
‘I've had a love of my own’ here
‘Azure Blue’ here
‘Secondhand Lovers’ here (completed)
‘Family of five and two cats’ here (completed)
‘falling in reverse’ and ‘and all the roads will disappear’ here
‘What does 'Viral' Mean?’ and ‘Neil and Jeremy as exycommentators’ here
‘Settled’ here
‘Andreil later in life’ here
‘until the end of the world’ and ‘your touch, my comfort, and my lullaby’ here
‘Ten Years and a Lifetime’ here
‘Now and forever (can you imagine when this race is won?)’ and ‘what is yours’ here
‘I Will Find You Here Inside The Dark’ here (completed)
‘The Bones of You’ here
‘the memory of burning’ here
‘Dream a little dream of me’ here
‘Trying to Remember Your Heart’ here
‘but you ain't got my number (no, you can't pin me down)’ here
'Tumblr Headcanons - Andreil, Chapter 39’ here
‘a simple christmas’ here
‘Leaves’ here
You might also like:
Foxes with age differences here
‘Life is Strange’ here (updated)
‘This Kid’ here
‘where the heart is’ series and ‘We Are Survivors’ here
‘this room, our universe’ here
‘take yourself home’ and ‘Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder’ here
‘You Know I Never Forgot’ here
‘I Haven't Seen You (since that summer)’ and ‘Step by Step’ here
‘Blame It On My Youth’ here (completed)
‘Whose Your Daddy’ (completed), ‘Unexpected Fatherhood, Well Maybe a Little Expected’, ‘Legend (I wish she knew you)’ (completed), ‘sticking with you’, ‘Maybe It's Fate’, ‘To do for someone what I wish they had done for me’, ‘Boy Memorized.’, ‘Drop In, Drop By’ and ‘The new Hatchlings of the Ravens’ (updated) here
For some above college-age characters see:
Professor Andrew Minyard here
‘A lesson in rivalry’ here
‘Next to You’ and ‘Math, Exy and Middle Ground’ here
‘A world alone’ here
‘The Calculus of Nocturnes’ here
‘Cuts & Scrapes’ here
‘Red Rabbits’ series here
‘you mean you forgot cranberries too’ here
‘L’Amour parle en fleurs’ here
‘Does the dog die at the end?’ here (completed)
‘Dear Advice Guy’ here (completed)
‘Such a fool for sacrifice’ here
‘the passenger’ here
‘research purposes only’ here
‘Was Sorta Hopin' That You'd Stay’ here
‘I could carve you into my dermis’ and ‘Trying to Remember Your Heart’ here
‘Feels Like Falling’ here
‘Wish I Had a River’ here (completed)
The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short by mapjogger [Rated T, 14138 words, complete, 2026]
Neil never comes back from spring break his first year in college, leaving Andrew and Kevin behind to figure out how to pick up the pieces.
Twenty years later, he reappears in their lives.
tw: scars, tw: implied/referenced torture
What We Owe Each Other (Patient Number 10) by Hennski [Not Rated, 73494 words, incomplete, last updated March 2026 ]
Ten years after graduation, Aaron works as an emergency doctor in Charleston while his twin Andrew has gone pro, living with his partner Neil in Columbia. Beyond occasional texts, they haven't managed to get any closer than they were in college.
A routine 24-hour Saturday shift becomes anything but when a John Doe with severe head trauma arrives. As Aaron fights to save him, too many details align, reminding him of a certain number 10 striker he once knew.
tw: major character injuries, tw: graphic description of injuries, tw: violence, tw: blood, tw: implied/referenced depression, tw: ptsd, tw: panic attacks
Tear out all Your Tenderness. by kotabear24 [Rated E, 65467 words, complete, 2026]
Neil wasn't surprised in the least to find a grown — but short — man laying down in the empty stall, not with the way Katana was dancin' in her own. He was, however, surprised to see the man was naked as the day he was born, and brandishing a hoof pick like a knife out in front of him. Pallid and sweating, he looked like he done fell face-down in a sticker patch and run over by cows. Neil stared at him, unbothered, and the man said raggedly, "Back the hell up. I will hurt you."
Neil snorted. "Not like that, you won't," he answered. "You mean to cause any trouble?" Neil asked him, eyeing him critically. "Or you just need some hair'a the dog 'fore I call someone to come collect your sorry ass?"
The man glared up at Neil, but Neil didn't back down. "I could stab you right now," the man threatened, but his tone was sullen, almost chastened. Neil snorted again and the man shifted and winced. "Just give me a minute," he said eventually.
"Sure," Neil nodded. "You take your time. But touch any of my critters or my kids, and I'll shoot you dead, you hear me?"
Coach Josten by s0lar_beam [Not Rated, 1901 words, incomplete, last updated April 2025]
In the present day, Neil Josten is now nearing his 40s and coaching for the Columbia Dragons. His goal is to take this subpar pro team to the top. Kevin is struggling with retirement, attachment issues, and two kids. Andrew and Neil question engagement. Neil's phone is still old as hell.
Do I look like him? by justfortheloveofit [Rated T, 2492 words, complete, 2025]
Neil is now 37 years old, an age he never dreamed he'd see, and he'd begun to dread his reflection again. The lines above his eyebrows were Nathan's. The sharp tendons on the back of his hands were Nathan's. What was once rich, auburn hair has faded to a warm brown and was starting to gray at his temples.
Or
A snapshot into Andrew and Neil's future, including their discussions on aging, retiring, and stubborn family ties.
where the heart is by moonix [Rated T, 20479 words, complete, Fandom Trumps Hate 2025, locked]
Pro Exy player Andrew is forced to retire early after an injury on court. Kevin's got his recovery all planned out: rather than stay in New York, they will both spend some time in their old hometown, closer to Aaron, Aaron's kids, and Kevin's family. All they need is someone to cook for Andrew until he's back on his feet, and an instruction manual on how to navigate old and new relationships and emotions they'd long left on the doorsteps of their childhood homes.
37, 24 by andrewiel [Rated E, 52241 words, complete, 2025, locked]
Neil is twenty-four years old. Coach Andrew Minyard is thirteen years older.
tw: explicit sexual content
To Know a Man by floraparrish [Rated E, 2440 words, complete, 2025]
Andrew has something on his mind, but he can't say it. He shows it, otherwise.
Or: Andrew is an athlete, Neil escaped the Butcher but his leg almost didn't. Ten years later, they live together and there's two cats and a cane.
Love The Fire series by Leafygreenkahle [Rated T, 5245 words, 3 complete works, 2025]
Part 1: I Fell In Love With The Fire Long Ago (T, 1449 words)
Andrews POV of a quiet morning with Neil set today, 19 years after the events of TKM. This is honestly, just self indulgently soft.
Part 2: Just let me look a little older, let me step a little bolder (T, 2593 words)
After Ichiro released Neil and the others from his service, Neil takes a hard look at what he actually wants to do in the world of exy.
Part 3: There’s Something So Precious About This (T, 1203 words)
Neil tells Matt about retiring. Andrew hold’s Neil the whole time.
painkillers by moonlightevqns [Rated G, 13641 words, complete, 2025]
“I can’t keep watching him die, Renee. I just can’t. I don’t know what to do”
Renee reached out, her hand a warm weight on his arm. “Then don’t watch him die. Watch him live. Even if it’s not the way you wish he would. Even if it hurts.”
tw: dementia
Happy Birthday Neil by mirela44 [Rated T, 2711 words, complete, 2025]
“For you,” Andrew simply said, eyes fixed in front of him.
Neil looked at him for a while. Andrew looked as calm and nonchalant as usual, but Neil could spot a hint of worry, or maybe contemplation. His stare seemed more guarded, tense. He settled with the assumption that ‘Drew was looking forward to his reaction.
He wasn’t quick enough to hide his surprise when he took in what was before him: a gift from Andrew. It must have been painfully obvious as he heard Andrew anxiously shift on his seat.
They barely did gifts anymore, at least not on birthdays. So, this was quite a surprise for Neil.
Andrew's gift makes Neil a bit emotional.
We’ll Stand Together for Millennia by Reiss [Rated M, 851 words, complete, 2024]
In the heart of Norway's rugged fjords, Andrew finds solace and strength amidst the brutal beauty of nature.
As he reflects on his past struggles and the scars they left, he draws parallels between himself and the resilient landscape around him.
Accompanied by Neil, the man who changed his life, Andrew navigates the icy winds and towering cliffs, finding warmth in their unspoken bond. Together, they face the elements and their shared history, discovering that true resilience comes from standing tall against all odds, unbroken and united.
i couldn't aspire to anything higher by kieka [Rated T, 3365 words, complete, 2024]
“I knew what I was getting into when I chose to be Neil Josten,” he continues, squeezing Andrew’s hand. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
It’s not a lie, but Andrew studies him for a long moment, as though he’s trying to gauge the truth of Neil’s words. He nods. “Good, because you can’t. Your life is chock-full of exy. That’s all you need anyway, junkie.”
“And you,” Neil says, a glint in his eye. “I also have you.”
Neil finds himself thinking about the past. Andrew is his only constant, and he wouldn't change it for anything.
Symptoms of Being Alive by theicequeenwrites [Rated T, 10749 words, complete, Aftg Big Bang 2024]
Andrew Minyard has gotten his life down to a science of managing work and avoiding his housemates. It's a quiet existence of work, word games, and wallowing.
Until a fiery red-headed paramedic shows up in town, quickly winning over the hearts of Andrew's friends and family, and determined to show Andrew what it means to be alive.
NB: art for this fic by @saintmichale here
Andrew's Thirty-Year-Old Grudge by grilledavacadotoast [Rated E, 11344 words, complete, 2024]
How Andrew and Neil finally get it right, thirty years later.
tw: explicit sexual content
Foxhole Tidbits by SpangleBangle [Collection Rated T/M, Updated 2024]
Chapter 8: Writer's Block [T, 136 Words]
Another tiny insomnia drabble. Slight AU where Andrew starts writing a children's adventure book after retiring from Exy. There will probably be more in the future :) Original here.
Chapter 39: Double-Down On The Fun [T, 1018 Words]
Prompt for andreil being dragged on an unlikely-seeming double date and ending up having a great time, original here. Soft older andreil, professional dorks in love.
Maybe I'll Die of Old Age by Lostintheuniverseslies [Not Rated, 3004 words, complete, 2023]
Neil and Andrew are in their 50's, enjoying the life that they have spent together but Andrew gets a bad diagnosis from the doctor and everything changes from there.
based on this tumblr post by @fortheloveofexy
tw: major character death, tw: cancer
Promptober 2023 by djinthehouse [Rated T, collection, last updated Oct 2023, locked]
collection of aftg fics based on songs
Chapter 23: Retirement
this chapter is about Neil and Andrew retiring and adopting kids.
tw: injuries
Celestial Creatures by Lady_Darkling1 [Rated E, 1819 words, complete, 2023]
Exy may have been borrowed, but he’s kept it so long that it feels like his.
OR
Andrew and Neil talk retirement.
tw: explicit sexual content
Fireside by HalfpintPeach [Rated G, 4724 words, complete, 2023]
The foxes on their yearly winter vacation get together :)
I like to think that they maintain the tradition all these years later and get together at least once a year!
tw: implied/referenced torture
Last Day by PateticabutBunny [Not Rated, 875 words, complete, 2022, locked]
He carefully smooths Neil's hand where he is loosely holding between their bodies. It is cold, but the blanket is still warm.
tw: major character death, tw: suicide
And I'm Getting Older Too by wesawbears [Rated T, 759 words, complete, 2021]
Never one to go small when it comes to gifts, and with his retirement imminent, Andrew has a surprise for Neil, and maybe for himself as well.
I Ain't the One by conniptionns [Rated T, 4784 words, complete, 2017]
After retiring from exy, Neil is faced with an illness and Andrew realizes that his life isn't worth wanting without Neil. When Ichirou comes to exact his final payment, how will the men respond?
tw: major character illness
Sponsored by predictable crime shows by elyteracy [Rated M, 3305 words, complete, 2017, locked]
A lazy Sunday in the life of Neil and Andrew, ten years later.
tw: sexual content
This Autumn Lasts Til March by wolfenmond [Rated G, 368 words, complete, 2017, locked]
The day Andrew dies surprisingly isn’t the worst day of Neil’s life.
tw: major character death
Neil Josten retirement hc by @starsswritess [tumblr, 2026]
Neil and his older image by @nobodyaskedyou [tumblr, 2025]
Neil Josten turns 38 today by @babyhippoenthusiast [tumblr, 2025]
some headcanons on Neil’s birthday by @tinmate [tumblr, 2025]
I don't have a ton of Neil Josten headcanons but it's his birthday so here are some
neil dies first btw. by @instigatorjosten [tumblr, 2025]
tw: major character death
Neil Josten headcanons by @spilledcoffeeonthefloor [tumblr, 2024]
tw: major character death
thinking about neil dying first by @minyard-05 [tumblr, 2024]
thinking about neil dying first, but not because he ran. he still escaped his father, he still served his debt to ichirou, he did everything just right and he survived
tw: major character death
Andreil Coming Out by @play-exy-be-sexy [tumblr, 2020]
No one found out about Andrew and Neils relationship until after they both had retired.
“I’m pregnant” by @blogaboutyafavbirdboys [tumblr, 2018]
It was a cold rainy day in Denver. One of those rainy winter days where it wasn’t quite cold enough to snow, but still cold enough for the rain to be freezing and unbearable.
things you said when you were crying. prompt fill by @markonasurface [tumblr, 2017]
Andrew stood in front of Neil’s coffin long after everyone had left. He had shown those who thought the twenty years since college made Andrew want comfort that they were wrong.
tw: major character death
Fandom poll by @limetimo [tumblr, 2025]
Andrew: Big deal ... by @viiiiiliiiii [tumblr, 2026]
crying a little bit thinking about jean moreau whose parents literally sold him to abusive gangsters, who was tortured every day for years, who had no one save for one real friend up until he was 18, who was beaten within an inch of his life for looking at another man with fondness, but who still came out of all this never doubting, rejecting, questioning, bullying anyone for their sexuality, never misgendering cody or xavier even though the concept of freedom of expression was completely unthinkable to him before. because that's the kind of person he is. his kind heart was never beaten out of him and he makes me insane.
At his core Jean is just so fundamentally kind and loving that absolutely nothing could beat those things out of him. No amount of torture, bruises, broken bones, even SA - even being literally owned for the majority of his teens - can stop him being an endlessly good person.
Elodie Moreau faking her death and starting anew in the US when the family that she was sold to goes there for business. Elodie Moreau ending up at Palmetto where no one will ask questions. Elodie Moreau falling in love with 2nd year goalkeeper Robin Cross. Elodie Moreau meeting Kevin Day when he comes visit Wymack and he recognizes those Grey eyes instantly. Elodie Moreau never meeting her brother because he only survived in one draft and it's not this one
