#the hatfords

[iwriteonthisone]

We're halfway through the big 2026 and people STILL choose to misunderstand Kevin Day, so I'm going to ask you guys to look at it in another way:

Neil grew up under his father's influence, and therefore, he learned to fear him. He also grew up under his mother's influence- also fears her, and simultaneously, loves and misses her like no other. Her baby boy is her number one defender. She literally died for him, after all, and kept him alive, and fought for him, and ensured that no matter what, he would know to survive and how to endure. (Even though she did so in the most fucked up ways possible). Now, Neil eventually learned to overcome his fear of his mother (a good while after her death btw. He was still scared of her view of him even after she died) and does whatever he wishes now. However, has he gotten over Nathan? Nope. He fought everyone readily until it came to his father. Then, he froze, shook, sobbed, and begged. Now, does anyone blame Neil for this? No, and rightfully so.

Now keep in mind: Nathan Wesninski was fucking terrified of the Moriyamas. Nathan Wesninski who mutilated people and cut off their limbs in front of his son. Nathan Wesninski who chased his family to the ends of the world. Nathan Wesninski who still chose to run his mouth seconds before Stuart Hatford killed him. Yeah, that guy. He's fucking scared of the Moriyamas.

Now: who do you think grew up under the Moriyamas since he was like eight? The same people who killed his mother right before taking him in btw. The same people that let their son keep HANDCUFFS ON KEVIN'S BED. The same people who threatened Neil by using examples of Kevin's time in there. "I'm going to love hurting you, like I loved hurting Kevin." HELLO?? And now you're all mad because Kevin had panic attacks and meltdowns at the prospect of facing those people again. That Kevin couldn't throw himself into their clutches the way Neil had. But let me tell you this: Neil didn't know the full details of the Moriyamas' abuse. Do you know whose abuse he knew the full details about though? Nathan Wesninski. And did he choose to eventually leave the Foxes so his father's wrath wouldn't risk them too? Hmm. And we don't blame Neil for wanting to stay, so do not blame Kevin for the pain that the Moriyamas inflicted on everyone. Not his fault. Especially don't blame him for not standing up to them for the sake of his friends. Not his fault either, and unpopular opinion: self-sacrifice is not cute and should not be expected. It's okay to want to live. You're human.

[iayhifbigyakwiltbsywps]

Help does anyone know how old Mary is? Or his old she was when she had Neil? Or when she was born?

Also does she have a middle name?

[nekojitachan]

Hello I was just wondering What’s your take on Neil having a twin? And like idk I love your writing since before I even know it was you one day I just saw the author name and was like “wait a minute that looks familiar” and then I looked at my subscriptions on ao3 and I was like “huh no wonder I love them all they’re by the same person” and then I started reading all your stuff and I love it and then I am like I heard of one but I’m not sure what it is and then turns out it was one of your fics.

And so I figured it be interesting to hear what would happen if Neil has a twin from your perspective. Thank you for your time! :D 

*******

(First off, thank you! 😽)

Hmm, so I think my take on the Neil having a twin thing would be a bit angsty and a little different from what I’ve seen? First, he and his sibling would be fraternal twins. I’m thinking Nathaniel Abram would be ‘Neil’ and the image of his father (with the red hair and blue eyes, and similar temper). His younger sibling, Noah Bartholomew, takes after the Hatford side of the family (blond hair, grey eyes, better at holding on to his temper), so of course Mary favors him.

It’s known that neither child will take over Nathan’s business, but the Moriyamas are owed a child, and it’s only fitting that it’s Nathan’s firstborn; especially when Nathaniel’s a natural at playing Exy. Mary (who’s never been in the running for ‘mother of the year’, let’s face it), lets the gulf between her and her oldest child (by all of twenty-three minutes) grow wider over the years as she quietly encourages Noah to not try so hard at Exy, to do only what he has to to avoid Nathan’s blows and displeasure. Nathan sneers at his youngest (such a Hatford, the Wesninski blood so thin in him) and focuses all his attention on Junior.

(Much to Nathaniel’s misfortune.)

So when it comes time for Nathaniel to try out for the Ravens? Mary lets him go without a backward glance, running off during the night with some money she squirreled away and Noah, right to her family in London. Nathan lets her go, having no use for a weak child when his debt is paid off to the Moriyamas and his wife hasn’t stolen money from him (from the Moriyamas).

Mary, who has been feeding her family a story about Nathaniel being ill during the little bit of contact she has with them, lies and says that he’s passed away (and Noah reluctantly backs up the story - all he knows is his brother is ‘gone’). The Hatfords are furious at Abram’s loss, but at least Mary and Noah is with them now.

(Riko torments Nathaniel with the fact that his father sold him and his mother couldn’t wait to get away from him, that she saved his twin but not him.)

(Nathaniel can never forgive either of his parents, but he’s glad Noah is somewhere safe, can have some sort of real life. It’s another way for him and Jean to bond, over the gratitude that their beloved siblings weren’t subjected to the horror that’s the Nest.)

Of course it all comes crashing down a few years when the Ravens announce a future member of the Perfect Court - #3, Nathaniel Wesninski. Really, what was Mary thinking? Stuart and Henry go ballistic to find out that nephew is alive and Moriyama property, and that Mary knew all along. Noah refuses to have anything to do with her - that’s his twin! His brother, whom she told him was gone! So he plots how he can reunite with him, can save him.

And somehow he ends up joining the Foxes (with his cousins’ help).

[asofterfoxhole]

from a long line of terrible

[iwriteonthisone]

So Stuart Hatford is a part of his own mafia in Britain, yes? While Stuart and Mary's parents were never mentioned in the story, this does make one assume that Mary was born into a crime family of sorts then. Thus, through connections, she ultimately fell in love with Nathan Wesninski, also a part of his own mafia.

Now the big question is: who benefitted from who? You could say that Nathan was more powerful in the beginning, being connected to the Moriyamas, but are we sure that that happened before he got with Mary? What if he married her to get more connections. The Moriyamas are aware of the Hatfords after all, and based on what we know about Nathan's circle: he is simply the Butcher of Baltimore, and he has a couple of lackeys. Stuart, however, seems to have more people. He brought a SWAT team level group to Baltimore to kill Nathan, and that is after he got permission from the Moriyamas to do so, after all. Then later, when Neil decided that he needed to get rid of Grayson, it only took a couple calls to his uncle and it was handled swiftly, and no Moriyama protested to that.

So what if Nathan married Mary for these connections to the Moriyamas and then later decided to abandon all pretenses once he got what he wanted? Stuart was clearly concerned about his sister and nephew to some degree, and yet Mary did not run to him, not even when years had passed since she stole Moriyama money from Nathan and took her son and went. It's all very intricate, and it makes the Wesninski and Hatford prior connections all the more interesting. So much more entertaining to think that Mary was the one with the power at first, and then the moment it got handed over to her husband she lost everything. Also makes Neil's childhood all the more saddening. He was just a baby throughout all of this.

[iayhifbigyakwiltbsywps]

Is there a canon divergence in which Neil actually finds out that the “happy birthday junior” message was form his fathers people? Like if I’m not mistaken he thought it was riko yk? But like (to my knowledge) riko always called him ‘Nathaniel’ yk? Like come on Neil think: who called you junior? Ans: Nathan and his people. And what would he have done? Would he run or would he think ‘well they already know I’m here they probably expect me to run and catch me once I’m out for here’ and call up Stuart? What would happen differently if the family never had to call the moriyamas and ask permission to kill Nathan ( I think that’s why they had to make a deal with them)? I’m just curious here. Plz send me any of y’all have them or feel free to write this :D just plz tell me I want to read this!

[nekojitachan]

Vixen Noah enjoys wearing skirts since joining the Vixens. Noah is unused to the heat of SC after living in Baltimore & England, but unlike Neil doesn’t wear baggy jorts-he wears tight, jean, short shorts since the Vixens took him shopping. Stuart BEGS him to put on a pair of trousers-Noah will not. Neil despairs at Everyone eyeing his baby brother.

Hmm, I can definitely see Vixen Noah enjoying the skirts (’they’re like kilts!’, which does nothing to please his uncles), but really, Neil is a Raven. Do you think they’ll let him wear baggy jorts? A RAVEN IN BAGGY JORTS? Sorry, no way. The best you can hope for are athletic shorts, but let’s face it, everyone at Evermore are eyeing up the twins as they show off their legs (and more) in short shorts and spandex....

(Stuart’s on blood pressure medication because of it. Ally nearly gets disowned when he uses pictures of his cousin to talk himself out of trouble by promising ‘I can set you up on a date with one of them’.)

[nekojitachan]

For the Neil and Noah Twin ideas. Neil really does have Protective Big Brother Energy, and I can see him trying to get Noah to go away for his safety and Noah being all, “You’re only twenty-three minutes older then me!” Neil dying on the inside when he realizes people look at his baby brother (“Twenty-three minutes! It’s not even that big of a difference!”) in his skirt uniform and have Thoughts. Neil attacking Riko when Riko threatens Noah (“You touch my brother, I’ll kill you myself!”)

OMFG, if you think NEIL is dying inside over Noah in a skirt, it is nothing compared to when Stuart and Henry finds out (Davis actually suffers blood-loss when he asks Stuart if his legs are just as nice as his nephew’s).

And if you think Neil had incentive to take down Riko before, it’s nothing compared to when Riko threatens his baby brother (twenty-three minutes is still twenty-three minutes!!).