Onedayanauthor

Day/Dax (Demi, She/Her, 26 years old) I love All For The Game (AFTG) so you might see some of that here, but mostly you'll find memes for Burnt Cook Book Party (BCBP) because it's awesome and I can’t seem to stop thinking about it or making memes about it lol

[max-worm]

hello i wrote sad neil josten fic if u want ⬇️

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

little snippet below the cut :p

“Neil.”

Neil blink, blink, blinked, and saw Andrew in front of him. Andrew had one hand on the back of his neck, the other in his hair, tucking it away from his face. His cigarette was crushed against the pavement beside them. Andrew’s face was calm, but his eyes were all worry.

“Neil,” Andrew said again, and it sounded like maybe he’d been saying it for a long time.

“Hmm,” Neil hummed. He wiggled his fingers, blink, blink, blinked some more, and leaned into Andrew’s touch. He watched Andrew swallow and wanted to tell him to stop, to quit acting like something was wrong, because Neil was fine. Neil wasn’t any better or worse than he had ever been. He was okay.

Andrew stared at Neil’s eyes, then pulled him in, keeping one hand on the back of his neck and the other in the back of his hair as he guided Neil’s head down to his shoulder and held him there. “Stop fucking doing that,” he bit out.

Neil didn’t entirely understand what Andrew meant. He hummed again.

[maddielourd]

no thoughts, just a six-year-old Andrew Minyard at the doctor’s office with strep throat. A little girl is sitting with him in the waiting room eating a Happy Meal on her mom’s lap. Andrew traces circles into his own hands, thinking that the comforting taste of chicken nuggets and french fries would help him feel better. He knows he’s not supposed to ask for things, but a pang of desperation makes him forget to be cautious. He sits up straight, gathering his courage, and turns to his foster dad to ask if they can get a Happy Meal on the way home.

“No,” his foster dad snaps. “It was already enough of an inconvenience bringing you here.”

no thoughts, just a six-year-old Andrew Minyard shrinking back into himself as tears sting in his eyes. A six-year-old Andrew Minyard learning not to want things.

no thoughts, just a twenty-year-old Nicky Hemmick leaving the doctor’s office with Andrew who probably has strep throat, but wouldn’t let the doctor get close enough to check. Drained from the day, Nicky stops at the McDonald’s drive thru and asks Andrew what he wants. Andrew snaps that he isn’t hungry. Nicky decides to buy him a Happy Meal as a way of avoiding food waste if Andrew truly isn’t hungry, but also so Andrew has something to eat if he actually is hungry.

no thoughts, just a twenty-year-old Nicky Hemmick feeling guilty for not having the energy to make something at home for Andrew to eat, and not knowing he’s given Andrew exactly what he needed.

[canonicallyshort]

Andrew is shocked every single time Nicky calls/texts him after they've all graduated. Its a weekly occurrence. Nicky is shocked every time Andrew picks up. This is also a weekly occurrence.

[canonicallyshort]

One day, Nicky won't call on the day he usually does. Andrew will keep checking his phone but say nothing.

On the next day, nicky will call far earlier than usual, clearly out of breath and panting. He will say that he's so so so sorry for not calling the day before, erik and him went into a hike and got caught in the rain which completely fried his phone-he would have used Erik's, duh, but they're staying at a cabin and he completely forgot his charger! When they realized it, it was too late to go out so he had to wait till morning to brave the wilderness until he found a gas station that sold compatible chargers (this is the second he went to and the vibes are so bad here, andrew, seriously, the worker keeps giving him looks and he isnt sure if its bc of the gay thing, or the brown thing, or the american thing, but he does not appreciate it) but he swears he was going to call yesterday, andrew, he really wanted to-

And andrew will interrupt him and tell him he knows. He knows.

Nicky will stop talking for a moment. He won't cry. He won't ask for andrew to clarify what he knows, because he knows too. And then he'll go back to talking about the cabin, and the hike, and andrew will listen. And they will be okay.

[aquared46]

ao3 is down...could I offer you a tiny andreil story from Sir Fat Cat McCatterson's POV?

~ ~ ~

Father has forsaken me.

Waking me from my afternoon nap is not normally an unforgivable offense, but that is because Father gives the best scratches behind my ears—not too rough, but not too gently either, and for just the right amount of time.

However, I am cruelly denied such pleasures. I am placed on the cold floor outside the bedroom, my complaints ignored as Father heartlessly closes the door in my face. There is a moment when the door opens again, and I dart forward with hope of slipping through the gap, but Father's foot is in the way.

Brother is deposited beside me, still too sleepy to understand the gravity of the offense, but it is not long before he joins me in my song, uselessly trying to fit his paw beneath the gap at the bottom of the door.

Only when the strange noises start in the room do I give up. The door will not open until long after the noises cease, but Brother always takes longer to figure this out than I do. I know there will be compensation for this madness, so I sit on the arm of the couch and wait. There I have a perfect view of the bedroom door. Father and Weirdo will notice me the moment they emerge and understand their mistake when I make sure they know I'm ignoring them.

Brother joins me after an eternity. Rather than sit in view, he circles the couch, tail flicking with displeasure. After a few laps, he flops onto his side, latching onto the side of the couch with his claws. All sides of the couch are already frayed from his antics, so I am not sure Weirdo will notice the difference. Father will, but Father does not care for such frivolous matters. I believe my method of rebellion is much more effective. After all, who would not want the pleasure of my company? I am wonderful.

It took a while for Father to figure this out. There were many times I doted upon him, allowing his lap to serve as my throne—only to have him unseat me. Father did not understand the futility of denying himself the joy of my glorious company. It is the greatest honor to have me in the comfort of his lap or the warmth of his bed. But after much time and effort, he has learned to be more agreeable.

I usually get my way—so long as I remain unimpeded by my greatest nemesis (closed doors).

Weirdo is more compliant that Father, but also comes with idiosyncrasies that I have learned to tolerate. Brother has much more enjoyment with Weirdo's strange style of play, willing to do certain tricks for treats. Brother sometimes even does them in front of Father when Weirdo commands it.

I am above such indignity. My presence alone means I am deserving. Weirdo must at least understand this to some extent—since he'll give me treats too when Brother is not looking. Thus, I have easily forgiven him.

By the time the bedroom door opens, Brother has fallen asleep and I am well on my way. I can't help but perk at the sound, even if I refuse to turn my head. I listen closely and track Weirdo's footsteps as he heads toward the kitchen and opens the cupboard where I know the treats are.

The air smells sweet. Father and Weirdo normally shower after making strange noises in the bedroom, and that means there will be tasty water beaded on the tile walls and floor. I will save it for later.

Father's heavy footsteps approach. The television clicks on as he sits on the opposite side of the couch. I close my eyes, hearing Weirdo appeal to Brother first. There is a crinkle as Weirdo digs into the bag for treats, then crunching as Brother eats.

How easily he forgives and forgets.

Even when Weirdo sits beside me, I ignore him. He coos. I ignore him. A gentle hand runs over my spine. I flick my tail. Those fingers trail up, scratching behind my ear. It feels so nice that I can't help but tilt my head into it.

Only when he stops scratching do I turn my head towards him and vocalize my grievance. Weirdo bares his teeth in that strange way that I have learned he believes is a positive expression. Is it a worthy bid for my forgiveness? The offered treats certainly indicate so. I graciously accept them along with more pets.

I get crumbs on the couch as I eat, but I manage to track down all tasty morsels except for those that disappear in the gaps of the cushions.

Once I finish, I stand and stretch. Weirdo's lap is empty, but I step across it. Father has a pillow clutched in his, but I paw impatiently at his leg until he wisely moves it. I do not think anyone in the world has a more comfortable lap than Father. I feel safe there.

Weirdo slides closer and cuddles up to Father. A tolerable addition, so long as he doesn't commandeer too much attention. Brother eventually joins us, curling up between Weirdo's feet on the floor.

A purr rumbles in my chest as Father lays his hand on my back and idly rubs circles with his thumb. Even with all the grievances and indignities, I could not imagine a better life.

[parkchanwoohoo]

When my cousin's then-boyfriend texted her that he would be coming home late because he would be stopping by the department store on his way home from work, she, knowing full well that he hates going there, never buys clothes there if he can help it, and generally asks to stay home whenever she goes, knew instantly that he could only be going for one reason: To buy an engagement ring.

Practical-minded, she responded: Don't forget the coupon we got in the mail, there's a discount on rings. Ever helpful, she sent him a photo of the coupon code.

He left her on read. When he came home, he was cagey and grumbling, and when she was like "Did you remember to use the coupon" he was like, "I don't know what you're talking about, why would I be buying jewelry, etc.," not meeting her eye.

Few weeks later he took her out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, spent the entire night grumbling under his breath and shaking his head in disbelief, before going "아이씨" and pulling the ring box out of his pocket and slamming it down on the table. "How the hell did you know," he said, begrudgingly impressed.

She was like, "It's really not hard" and then was like "Did you use the coupon" and he was like "Yes I used the coupon"

And to me, this is romance

[the-tenth-arcanum]

the thing is. although I know I should stop sleeping on the sofa, by the time I start feeling sleepy on the sofa is already too late

[the-tenth-arcanum]

so usually I fall asleep on the sofa. I wake up around 3 or 4am. I either get up and have a little snack and go to bed, go to bed and spend an hour or two scrolling on my phone, or just fall back asleep on the sofa if the distance seems too big to cross. which it often does at 4am to a very sleepy lazy girl

[the-tenth-arcanum]

actually I'm reviving a lost ancient tradition

[the-tenth-arcanum]

[posted from my sofa at 4.15am]

[the-tenth-arcanum]

#mysofa

[instigatorjosten]

Neil: the mafia is after us

Seth: who the fuck is “us”? speak for yourself

Neil, at Seth’s funeral: the mafia is after me

[falafels]

i know allison ends up with seth’s ashes but do you think wymack hesitated. couldn’t let him go but couldn’t bear to be reminded. kept him on his desk for twenty minutes but started breathing so hard his chest got right because it’s not the same this is not how it’s supposed to be you’re not a fucking ornament you’re a kid i said i would help and you’re a kid i think could have survived you were supposed to live. and you’re on my fucking desk in an urn. allison loved him too so it would be easy enough to leave him with her. it’s what he’d have wanted probably. this is in everyone else’s interest. nothing to do with the part of your heart that fell out when you got that call and has been rotting ever since. thank god kayleigh told you the baby wasn’t yours given this was how well you took care of the kids you told you would help

[xhoneyghost]

aftg au with jock!neil and nerd!andrew but Andrew's favorite anime is about exy so he is just watching the team practice so he could write accurate fanfiction and understand the anime in a deeper level. thats all. no ulterior reasons. who cares if the number ten has beautiful blue eyes and a really nice ass

[dykekarkat]

okay sorry im literally never going to be normal about "i wouldn't have given him to you if i'd known you would just throw him away so carelessly". jean is saying this to ANDREW after andrew interrogates him over grayson and the possibility of him having touched neil. andrew who came back from easthaven to see that neil the Real Boy josten went to the nest for him. neil josten who doesnt remember the nest at all. who might not even know if he was raped or assaulted.

he asks jean because jean was there, jean was complicit even if he was hurt by the same monster, and jean will Know. and jean gives him the answer he needs to hear, because andrew almost lost neil only a few months ago and andrew stood on the stand only a few weeks ago and detailed all the horrible things that have been done to him for everyone to hear (everyone knows now bee) and andrew would NOT have been able to handle the fact that he kissed/touched neil the first time only a few weeks after the nest. if grayson had in fact touched him.

so this. despite the understanding jean and andrew have of each other (jean's hand on his neck, andrew's ever present armbands) is andrew needing to know so he can protect neil, even if at this point grayson is dead and gone. AND THEN. for jean to TURN IT BACK ON ANDREW. to imply andrew does not care enough about neil to take care of himself, which would allow him to more effectively protect him, to remind andrew of the fact that JEAN got neil out of the nest. that jean kept him alive in there and returned him to south carolina not whole but not broken.

for jean to say andrew was throwing him away, the way jean got thrown away by his parents, the way elodie got thrown away by their parents. jean who may not have been able to truly protect neil in the nest, jean who has gained neil's devotion and protection despite that, who could not protect him but would Keep him no matter what. like wow okay this is crazy tthat interaction was actually fucking insane like that was so fucking oahvdskskjsdkjg.

[sourdough-seal]

bingewatching will never come close to bingereading. there is nothing like blocking out the entire Earth for ten hours to read a book in one sitting no food no water no shower no bra and emerging at the end with no idea what time it is or where you are, a dried-up prune that's sensitive to light and loud noises because you've been in your room in the dark reading by the glow of a single LED. it's like coming back after a three-month vacation in another dimension and now you have to go downstairs and make dinner. absolutely transcendental

[girlbloggr13]

the after book-binge headache is like no other

[honeyink-slurp]

ah yes the aftermath of a fair book-binge, where hollowness creeps to the pits of your bones and gnaws and scrapes until there’s nothing left of you

AND DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE READING SLUMP THAT FOLLOWS OMG

[crumb-crumblet-s-crumbington]

crumb comics dump

[teaboot]

Yeah Mr. Darcy’s proposal was a complete turd and a half but you gotta understand. You got your life together. A good career, stable income, retirement plan, all that shit together. And you meet this girl. And she’s everything. Clever, outspoken, funny, calls you on your bullshit. Grade A cutie, right? And she doesn’t go out of her way to spend time with you but she’s nice, and sometimes you catch her looking your way in a way that makes you think you might have a shot.

But her family. Holy shit.

First off, it’s p much ALL women, and mostly UNMARRIED women, which at this time means of something happens to her dad then you’re financially responsible for like. Four grown ass adults, potentially forever

Because mom in law is DEFINITELY gonna need someone to take care of her when dad in law kicks it, and they have like. NO money. So already you’re accepting that if all goes well, you’re gonna be one random old bag’s retirement home. That’s expensive and exhausting, yeah? Imagine asking someone on a first date knowing that if they say yes and things go good her high-strung chihuahua mother is gonna move in with you. IMAGINE.

And girly’s other sisters. Well, one is a sweetheart, yeah, and she’s getting engaged so she probably won’t be an issue, but that still leaves two more, and those ones are INSUFFERABLE. Never went to school, dumb as rocks, spend cash like it’s toilet paper

And while one of ‘em’s young still and might grow out of it the OTHER one is actively torpedo’ing her entire family’s reputation by wandering off with random dudes and chasing ass. She’s never gonna work, she can’t build connections, she’s a fucking sinkhole, and she’s being led on by the same goddamn con man ass leeching tit who’s been bleeding you dry while telling anyone who’ll listen that your family is full of ratty thieving bastards.

And if he dumps her after a week- WHICH YOU KNOW HIS BITCH ASS IS GONNA- you’ve got a SECOND UNMARRIABLE GROWN ASS ADULT TO PROVIDE FOR. And you KNOW she’s gonna be a tantrum-throwing little shit about it, and it’s not like you can lock her in the basement or something, you’re gonna have to bring her fucking. Everywhere. And give her an allowance and shit while she contributes zero, because again, she NEVER GOT EDUCATED AND HAS NO MARKETABLE SKILLS. She’s not even good to TALK to. FUCK

And you’re looking at this girl’s father like “please for the love of fuck get your spawn under control, marry them off, get them working on their résumé, learning to sew or be nursemaids or manage staff or SOMETHING, yall got no money and one foot in the grave” and that old man just laughs like “haha yeah, what can you do. lol”

So you’re looking to the mom and finally it’s making sense how she got that twitch in her eye and as MUCH as she is you’re starting to realize she’s the SMART one, desperately throwing her armloads of girls at random men like they’re a bunch of fucking lifeboats bobbing around a sinking ship, like yes Jesus Christ sweetly that life boat IS old and ugly and kind of boring but for FUCKS SAKE PICK ONE

And you look back at this girl who is ALSO REFUSING THE LIFE BOATS BY THE WAY and god damn it she’s still the most radiant thing you’ve ever seen so fine, fuck it, Christ alive, you’ll do it. You’ll shoot your shot. She’s everything you’ve ever wanted in anybody abut it’s not even just about that anymore, it’s about being her best fucking shot at a future, and even if she doesn’t like you all that much she’s still gonna say yes and that might break your heart a bit knowing it’s about the money but who knows, maybe it will at least be civil, or companionable, and even if she doesn’t LOVE you at least you’ll know she’s well and cared for

And so you’ll do it. You’ll take on the neurotic stress mess mother in law, the absent father, the broke ass wingnut no brain no money no future airhead sisters, the bad mannered relatives and the embarrassing behaviour and the impending future of sharing your entire shit with a clown parade of freeloaders, you’ll risk it all and accept the absolute certainty of financial ruin and emotional exhaustion for the rest of your whole ass life and you’ll make your own family deal with it too, you’ll do it, you’ll fucking DO IT, you stupid lovesick motherfucker

And so you go to this chick like “look. Your whole family’s a shitshow. You’ve got fucking nothing and you’re gonna die on the street. But for some reason- and I don’t get it either- I’ve fallen in love with you, and I wish I didn’t, but I did, so I’m telling you that whether you like me or not, I’ll give you everything. I’ll give you everything even if it’s the dumbest shit I ever done. Fuck my stupid Baka ass, I’ll marry you.”

And she looks at you- having heard or considered absolutely none of your months-long internal debate and monologue- and goes “The fuck did you just say about my family, you son of a bitch?”

And the shock of that is enough to jolt you back into a reality where you are able to actually hear and process what just came out of your damn mouth And yeah

Yeah, I think I kinda get it

[runoutofsteam]

I know Wymack saw the press coverage of a Senator's grandson getting caught at a gay orgy after an exy banquet and started frothing at the mouth. He was waiting for that boy to get disowned and let out of his USC contract so he could snatch him for the Foxes!!

[singerofsimplesongs]

I was pretty sure after the Sunshine Court that by the end of tsc3, Neil, Jean, and Kevin would no longer have a deal with the Moriyamas just based on the fact that too many people know that Riko hurt Kevin and Jean. HOWEVER after the Golden Raven I am so sure of this it could be a free space on my next bingo card. Lets get into it:

My strongest evidence lies in the Browning cameo. Jean should not really be a material witness in Nathan Wesninski’s trial. He even says this. And Browning, instead of shedding more light on the situation says “I guess we’ll see, wont we?” I am certain that Browning has made the connection between Neil and Jean and the Moriyamas. Because he would be an absolute idiot otherwise. Why?

Quite simply, too many people know!!! Three people can keep a secret only if two of them are dead!!! And there is evidence everywhere if you start looking.

There’s too many connections back to Riko. Browning has made the connection between Neil’s appearance and Evermore. We already knew this. This book we learned: Riko met with Lola and there were witnesses. Riko was FAR too visibly and vocally pleased about what happened to Andrew. Aaron’s trial mention was very small, but gave us a ton of information, and I bet Browning is starting to look into how Drake got to Andrew in the first place. Proust should be dead, the Moriyamas cleaned that up, but that is now ALSO a red flag.

Jeremy, Cat, and Laila all know for a fact that Riko hurt Kevin and Jean. The rest of Trojans are also starting to get hints about how culty the Ravens were. They heard Jean call him the master and then immediately after, saw the Ravens try to kill Andrew and Neil.

The reporters are starting to make the same connections. Why did BOTH the Moreau and the Wesninski families send their kids to Tetsuji?

Neil told the FBI Elodie Moreau was dead. So why is there a manhunt looking for her?

Too many Ravens have killed themselves. Complete exy outsiders (Cody’s mom) are starting to get suspicious about the suicides. We the audience, Jean, Neil, and at least Andrew all know for a fact two of the suicides are cover ups. It’s not a stretch to assume more Ravens were killed for clean up and made to look like a suicide. The fact that all three of the players who went after Neil and Andrew are now dead is sus.

Neil Josten is capitol U, capitol T, capitol S Up To Something. He didn’t tell Andrew or Kevin he went to California. Each of his television appearances were calculated as hell and seemed to imply that Andrew might know a little bit about Neil’s plotting (since he and Renee played into it), but Kevin for sure doesn’t. Every time Jean has seen Neil since Riko’s death, he has been in peak chaos mode and his moves are incredibly calculated. Sure, Neil is an instigator, but we’re seeing bits of Nathaniel (the only part of Neil Jean has truly known) peek through here. We are not seeing the Neil that loves exy so much Ichirou knows he can distract Neil with it. We’re seeing crime savvy mob prince Nathaniel. Even Jeremy notes it when he says Neil’s smile is so unsettling he has to move away from the computer. The Foxes are not the ones making Nathaniel come out. Neil is playing chess with someone. We’re seeing the parts of Neil that exist in the universe where The Moriyamas killed Andrew as a warning. Why?

On that note, Neil and Stuart said that them being in California together was suspicious so the FBI would come question them, but Stuart had two tables full of people with him. We know the FBI has let Stuart and his team move around before, so the dance with the FBI in tsc might have been staged.

When Stuart was let into the country by the FBI and he stormed the Wesninski mansion, he was supposed to take Nathan alive. Why???? Why did the FBI want him to build a case against himself?? When he saw Neil was alive, he didn’t hesitate and shot Nathan dead. He must have kept tabs on Neil. Neil, the child Mary and Nathan were really never supposed to have. He watched his nephew fall in love with the Foxes. He must have known Neil would be much easier to convince to turn on the Moriyamas.

Neil is so blasé about Ichirou knowing about Andrew that even Jean makes a note of it. We have been in that boy’s head and Neil has never and will never be blasé about Andrew’s safety.

Of the three of them, Jean is the weakest link in the Moriyama secret. He has almost spilled the beans several times. He almost slipped a mention of the deal to Browning. Three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead, and Nora would not have made a point to say that this is the ONLY draft where Jean survived so she wanted to explore what it looked like when he lived if she was just going to kill him off.

Putting Jean, Cat, Laila and Jeremy in a protected building until the end of the school year is SUS. PIC. IOUS.

Which, speaking of Laila, literally RIGHT before we get the Browning cameo, a point is made that Laila’s father/family knows someone in every alphabet agency. If Ichirou has people in the FBI, so does Laila. She has her family look into what’s going on. After the Ravens fans burned her house down, the Dermotts might be in on this too.

One of the last lines Nora gives us to contemplate between books is Neil’s care free “the rules have changed”. In tsc, this is followed by a mention of Neil’s deal with Ichirou. In tgr, it very pointedly is not.

If the FBI is smart, they have to surprise the weakest link somewhere where both his hesitation or the truth will damn the Moriyamas. I am almost certain Jean is going to be called to testify at “Nathan’s” trial and be surprised by a Moriyama question on the stand. If this is the case, Neil has to know the plan or Jean will not say anything. If Neil knows the next move, and he is sitting in the courtroom when the question comes, Jean will answer truthfully. I expect Andrew and Kevin to also be there, and I expect Kevin to lose it and Andrew to have some level of surprise, but not all. Neil will not tell him something that puts him in danger.

But if Stuart or the FBI or whomever has offered Neil a chance to take out the Moriyamas and make sure Kevin and Jean and Andrew are safe, Neil Josten is going to take it. Neil told Ichirou that Riko would be his downfall. He just didn’t tell Ichirou that it was already too late.

What comes after, I don’t know. But the Moriyama empire is going down and will be decimated by the end of this series. I am sure of this.

[foxsoulcourt]

Y E S! Thx for @fuzzballsheltiepants for your additional tags here

… and once again calmly receiving my F L U R R Y of screenshots while I read + responded to the book. 🫶🏼

[korakos]

[foxpile]

my whole life for the past 3 days has been checking and re checking and re re checking nora’s blog to see if there has been any news about the new book because i live in fear that im going to miss an important update