one of these days im gonna make a post with all the kandreil hints we got on tgr just so I can feed my delusions and watch all the andreil purists loose their fucking minds :)
I promised and shall deliver:
First off we've got the ICONIC stairwell scene:
Kevin was due at court that afternoon, but Jeremy was on lunch break before he saw the photograph in his news feed: Andrew going down the stairs as Kevin went up them, as far apart from each other as they could be on the stairwell. Caught halfway between them was Neil, standing still as a stone as if he wasn’t sure which one of them he was supposed to be following. Jeremy found the answer by accident, when Cat showed him a news clip later: Andrew left by himself, and Neil accompanied Kevin inside.
This is so kandreil coded especially since in the OG drafts Neil was the middle man for a while between Kevin and Andrew.
Kevin’s response took only a minute: “Unexpected, if I’m being honest.” Then, “Andrew would have burned the judge’s house to the ground if he turned on Aaron. Maybe he knew that?” Jeremy idly wondered if that was a joke.
Ok, this one isn't that relevant but Kevin cracking jokes about Andrew is still so hshsshadjnsnsjsnsnssnjsjs
KANDREW BUCKLE UP:
He raised a hand to get Kevin’s attention, and Kevin motioned to his companion before changing course. The crowd finally shifted enough to reveal the Foxes’ impossibly short goalkeeper.
The two had a single hard-sided carry-on between them, and Andrew took it from Kevin at the crosswalk so it could sit in the backseat with him.
So many things to unpack here:
Andrew accompanies Kevin to California, despite a) their deal being off, b) so soon after the trial and Cal having bad memories for Andrew
they share a freaking carry-on???? I know I know, you're probably thinking it's just practical but to me it is soo domestic😭😭😭
lastly, Andrew taking the carry-on from Kevin??? that is such boyfriend behaviour idc
“They’ll learn to tune you out like I did.” Kevin flipped down the mirror on his visor to give Andrew an arch look, and there was a heated accusation in his, “You tried,” that had Jeremy glancing at his rearview mirror. He studied the cool expression on Andrew’s face, wondering what he was missing, but at last Andrew looked away. Kevin snapped his visor back into place with a smug smile.
"You tried" HEATED ACCUSATION ???? Rizz!Kevin from the OG drafts making a comeback??? Jeremy wondering WHAT HE'S MISSING???? Andrew looking away??? Kevin's smug smile??? ohhh I just know Neil gave Kevin a crash course before they got on the plane on how to get under Andrew's skin in just the right way to make him want to fuck you instead of kill you (or both actually).
They left the carryon in the back, since Jeremy would take them by their hotel later, but Andrew dug a pack of cigarettes out of it before getting out of the car. He gave it a shake and held it up toward Kevin. “Is there a corner store nearby?” Kevin asked Jeremy. “He had to toss his lighter at security.”
Their wordless communication, Kevin translating AAAAAAAH
Kevin was closest, so he caught hold of Andrew’s wrist. “Don’t. He’s not going to hurt me. He doesn’t know how.” Kevin ignored the scathing look Jean flicked him, intent on staring down his tiny teammate. The tilt of Andrew’s head said he was considering it, but his iron grip didn’t waver. Kevin’s knuckles went white as he squeezed. “I need him today, and I can’t put him in front of a camera if you break him.”
Ok, this one I'm not sure I'm right bc I've only read the aftg books like 3 times, but Kevin doesn't touch Andrew that much, if I remember correctly, it's usually Andrew touching Kevin, and although it could be argued that Kevin was just trying to stop Andrew from hurting Jean, touching Andrew speaks of an intimacy and trust that very few people have with Andrew, ESPECIALLY in these kinds of situations. Not even Neil tries to touch Andrew to diffuse situations, he uses words instead to distract him. So, idk but Kevin touching Andrew here and Andrew letting him just says a lot to me.
Kevneil isn't far behind tho:
Jeremy set his phone aside to watch the way Kevin and Neil stared each other down. That Kevin gave ground first was unexpected, but at last Kevin tilted his left hand where he could see his scars.
Kevin was only two steps toward Neil when Dawson threw his racquet aside and jumped him.
Kevin didn’t stick around to help her but scrambled to his feet and ran for Neil.
Jdjfidhebdhdhebfhfudhrhdhdhdjdjd they make me sickkkkkk
...and Andrew was practically dragging him across the court toward Kevin and Neil.
"toward Kevin and Neil", not just toward Neil, yeah yeah I'm delusional, whatever stfu
Jeremy jerked his numb stare back to Kevin, who was on his knees at Neil’s side.
Oh, and also there are some hints to a possible Kevthea breakup:
Kevin flicked her a disapproving look, but Thea stared him down until Kevin huffed with displeasure and looked away.
“With this joke of a team?” Muldani asked. “I would rather slit my throat.” Kevin waved her off. “They’ve gotten—idiot.” The camera spun to see what had caught Kevin’s eye. A Maserati had pulled up to the curb nearby...Kevin stalked toward them with a curt, “Excuse me.”
It might be the English major in me but this scene here seems to me to have a very clear, and not just literal, symbolism: Kevin walking away from Thea-whom we've just seen reaffirm her position as pro-Raven- toward Neil and Andrew.
Anyway, that's it! Can't wait to be proved wrong when the Broken Cage comes out 😃😃😃😃😃
Taglist: @powderedlies @weralika
OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE ANANYA, PAT AND CODY THING!!!!!
You see, in my humble (and slightly delusional) opinion, Ananya, Pat and Cody are meant not only to act as an introduction of poly relationships into the books, but even further as a foreshadowing/hinting the (possible) future kandreil dynamic. Of course, Kevin, Andrew and Neil are nothing like Ananya, Pat and Cody. That's not what I'm saying. But their conflict seems to me like it could very easily be pointing toward what kandreil's story will be in the "Queen's Court", what the obstacle will be that keeps them from being together.
“Cody doesn’t want to be a third wheel and is terrified of committing and then getting left behind if they change their minds. That’s why they’re at a stalemate, see? Pat and Ananya are trying to convince Cody it’s forever. It’s just taking more time than I thought it would for them to figure it all out."
Like Ananya and Pat, by the time tqc rolls around Andrew and Neil will have been in a serious, established relationship for a good wile now. Add to that Kevin's insecurities of always being second, and I think we can pretty much see what Nora is setting up here.
Adding onto this bc I was rereading the bonus chapters (esp the coach wymack one) and saw this. The bonus chapters came out in 2024 (if I'm not mistaken), the same year Nora released the sunshine court...they might have been taken from previous drafts, but Nora would have taken any kandreil (kandrew in this case) hints away, but she didn't. I refuse to believe it's negligence or anything but intentional, if she's going in the direction I think she is (let me be delusional ok?). Anyway, this is what I'm talking about.
...Kevin watched him with the too-intent focus of the truly sloshed, focusing on David's excuses so he could shore himself up against Andrew's curiosity later.
[...]
"Just smile and nod at them and they'll be too busy drooling over you to care what you're actually saying. Works on me every time."
Nicky wasn't the only one so easily swayed, but if Nicky and Kevin were both too blind to figure that out David wasn't going to put it together for them. Idly he thought he should ask Charles Whittier for a raise the next time they had a one-on-one, but he could already imagine the pained look he'd get in response.
*clears throat* do I need to explain??? Kevin worried about what excuse he'll give Andrew (this is post the scene when Neil walks in on Wymack and Kevin finding out that the Ravens changed districts) and coach telling Nicky Kevin's drunk bc of the board and public appearances and Nicky's like oh don't worry you're so hot they will be too distracted and Wymack (who knows that the real person Kevin is worried about is ANDREW) thinks that Nicky isn't the only one who is "easily swayed" by Kevin's good looks and then is like man this is above my pay grade!!!!!! DOES THAT RING ANY BELLS FOR YOU???
Honestly this is so crystal clear I can't believe nobody has brought it up that Wymack confirmed Andrew at the very least thinks Kevin is hot??? Like???
Also this gem from the king's men:
"ANDREW AND KEVIN knew he'd never let go of these things willingly...but they'd know he hadn't left THEM by choice."
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