aftg

y’all ever think about kevin day? me too.

[vodkakevinday]

i forget that this isn’t my main blog with how often i’m on this blog.

main blog: @viktouria

sometimes, very rarely, i write. find me here

[vodkakevinday]

personally i think kevin and dan slowly and i mean slowly start building a friendship that leans into the older sister / younger brother dynamic over the course of her 5th year

[meadowiscrying]

wanna know what makes me SUPER angry?

the sudden wave of aftg art made with AI that makes all of the characters look shallow and conventionally identical, as if this fandom isn’t filled with talented and amazing artists that pour emotion and soul into these characters ( @hamrikaa @agathah @evyltalks @feluart @piripya @phyiro @patitojus … AND SO MUCH MOREE)

like, guys, come on, let’s not use this slop that’s harmful towards people and the environment and support these wonderful people that do so much for the fandom, either by sharing their art WITH CREDITS, commissioning them, or js not using the machine that steals from them just because you want a prettier kevin day

use this post to tag amazing human artists that help keep all for the game alive!!! we love you guys!!

[evyltalks]

idk about other artists but i’m pretty sure a lot of us feel incredibly thankful for the people actively speaking up against the rise of ai “art” slop and the use of our work in those generators

seriously, thank you

and also if you ever see my art being used in ai stuff or reposted without credit, please tell me if you can (i won’t talk for other artists so maybe asked them first). it’s always upsetting seeing your work denatured like that but id still rather know than have it circulate without me ever finding out. most of the times i found out my work had been fed into ai or reposted weirdly, it was bc someone cared enough to take the time to dm me about it or leave a comment so i could know what was happening and i genuinely think that’s incredibly thoughtful

it means a lot knowing there are people who still care about artists as actual human beings behind the work instead of just seeing images to consume endlessly and rapidly

supporting artists matters more than ppl think. liking, commenting, sharing with credits, commissioning artists, talking to us about our work, that human connection is literally why i love creating in the first place. i really hope we can keep sharing art this way without constantly fearing for our work to be stolen, stripped of its meaning and fed to machines

[moaloves]

“Oh my god, I can't believe Kevin day fumbled two different situation ships” Kevin Day who surgically removed himself from the people he loved when he realized he was not the better option. Kevin day who even when he's the first option knows he's never the best option. Kevin Day who lets people use him as they learn to love each other and themselves until he has no use anymore and lets them go even as they rip parts of himself away when they leave. Kevin day who is always the first choice and never the last.

[mykelneedssleep]

I like to think that Kevin was secretly very pleased when he fled the nest and ended up on a team with not only his father as a coach, and the very goalkeeper who rejected his offer to the ravens, but also one with so many women. He’s spent years in the nest by this point, watching people praise Tetsuji for his creation of the sport, while simultaneously seeing them tear down Thea and any other woman who dares be good at it. But then there’s Dan and she’s not just good, but a captain of a class 1 team, notably the first and only woman to have that role. She’s strong, she knows when she has to keep her team in line and she knows how to do it but she’s not cruel, she doesn’t tear anyone else down to build herself up. And there’s Renee whose past does not define her. Renee who is kind and is treated with kindness in return instead of brutalized for being too soft. And then there’s Allison, vicious on and off the court and still unapologetically feminine. Allison who walks into the locker room in dresses and makeup without fear because there is no one there who would harm her. Who doesn’t try to stamp down that she’s a woman just to find herself worthy of playing on the same court with men. And the three of them organize charity events and give away proceeds from ticket sales.

And even though he’s no longer being beaten every day, it’s so painful that he can’t breathe sometimes because they each remind him so much of his mother. His mother who was strong, and kind, and feminine, who always wanted to help others. His mother who created this sport but is slowly being erased from the history of it in favor of a man. He drunkenly confesses this to Wymack one night and sits with quiet sobs as his father rubs a hand up and down his back and says “I know, I see her in them too.”

He waits years and the day the girls are meant to leave Fox Tower for the final time, he pulls Dan aside. He finally confesses to her that he wishes his mother were still alive because she would have been so incredibly proud to see her today or any other day. Being the first female captain wasn’t easy for her and he knows that, but she did it and she paved the way for other women to do it too. He wants his mother to be a part of this sport, not just as a spirit award that the Trojans win every year, but a real part, a legacy for female athletes, and Dan is a major step towards that. There are tears in his eyes by the time he finishes talking and Dan is silent. When he finally looks up, she’s staring at him and he can see the tears forming in her eyes too and she grabs him and pulls him into a crushing hug. “Your mother was an inspiration for me and so many other little girls, I’m proud to be considered part of her legacy,” she says. And they stand there just holding each other, it is the first time he’s ever hugged Dan Wilds, but it doesn’t feel like it will be the last. When she finally pulls away minutes later she laughs, “you know, I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Kevin laughs as well because she’s probably right but she has no idea how much he’s praised her when she’s not around. Kayleigh would’ve loved her, he’ll stand by that.

[starlightshadowsworld]

You think after the Nest collapsed that the Foxes realised just how fucking close they got to losing Kevin completely?

Every day they watch as a new headline comes out of a Raven player being found dead or trying to end their lives because they couldn’t handle leaving the Nest.

And mind you they were only there for a couple of years while Kevin grew up there glued to Riko’s side and having to build himself up all over again.

Jean’s also in a bad place but at the very least has people who were warned and could get help and tips from Kevin on what to do.

But Kevin was the trial run. For once in his life he was first and he had to figure this all out while trying not to destroy himself from the inside out.

Kevin lost everything when he left and there’s no doubt in his mind that he was ever supposed to succeed. He didn’t have someone to drag his battered body out of the Nest he drove himself out of hell itself with a broken hand.

The fact he’s here is a miracle in itself and I can just imagine Neil recalling Wymack’s “if we lose the game against the Ravens, Kevin won’t survive” speech and realising how true that sentiment was.

Also goes to show just how well Kevin is at hiding in plain sight.

[every-name-is-taken-but-this]

I don't think the Foxes (minus Renee who cares enough about all the Foxes to genuinely give a fuck about all of them) have ever stopped to consider what Kevin has gone through and the Ravens dying probably didn't change it

because that would involve too much... not empathy, because they've shown they have that... but, idk something adjacent, to remember the Ravens as people, as young adults just like them who were also in a bad situation, instead of just viewing them as evil people who hurt them...

The Foxes (minus Renee) have a bad track record of understanding that trauma can be ugly, not just in what people go through, but in who it shapes people into becoming, they have no grace or sympathy for Andrew and what suffering he might have gone through, they call him a monster and never stop to reevaluate that view

Neil calls Kevin a coward without thinking at all about how much bravery it would have taken for Kevin to not only run from the Nest, but to stay in one place when everyone he's afraid of knows where he is, and he never really acknowledges being wrong, he just decides later that Kevin "finally grew a backbone" and never considers the timing on that lining up with Jean no longer being in the Nest to get any beating (or worse) if Kevin pisses off Riko now

Kevin offers to talk to Neil about the Nest, because he "knows what Riko is like" and, who remembers some of the torture and blocked out the rest, doesn't even have a moment of introspection of "hmm i wonder what happened to Kevin, or if he needs to talk about it" he goes "well, I'm fine actually so we just won't bring the Nest up unless absolutely necessary"

Most of the Foxes are shitty to Kevin and never bother to reflect on that or on what qualifies Kevin to be a Fox, because they assume they know enough to judge him, his criticism of the team and his anger makes him an asshole and once they've labeled him the refuse to take a second look or be open to hearing anything contradictory

Hell, everyone acts like Kevin is so heartless, "oh Seth died and he only cared about the lineup" yeah, i wonder why Kevin "grew up in the Nest where the 'Master' occasionally accidentally caned people to death and then made the rest of them keep practicing, 'as long as I'm still breathing i can play', " Day might be a bit desensitized to his teammates dying

God i could defend this man from his so-called friends all day long, but hopefully I'll stop having to defend him from other readers once the books with his POV come out, and people get a more honest look at him

[starlightshadowsworld]

Kevjean is interesting because it feels to me that Kevin wants to keep Jean at a distance to protect him.

That in Kevin’s mind all he’s ever done is drag Jean down with him. So now that Jean is free Kevin wants him to be happy which he thinks can only be accomplished if Jean is far away from him. Given that he’s one of the last people alive who hurt him.

And Jean just wants Kevin to fight for him to stay. I mean he never wanted Kevin to leave in the first place and even though now Jean (begrudgingly) has accepted this new opportunity to grow from who he was in the Nest with the Trojans.

I think part of Jean still wishes Kevin asked him to stay here with him while Kevin thinks he’s lost all right to be at his side.

Kevin thinks he’s the bad guy in Jean’s story and for all the pain he’s suffered Jean only really thinks about Kevin as another victim in all of this.

“I was just a child” so was Elodie, so was Kevin.

[starlightshadowsworld]

Concept:

After reading the Sunshine Court Kevin’s little “it’s easier to remain heterosexual” line is no longer funny in fact it is utterly devastating.

Kevin watched Jean suffer his whole life because of who he was and he was genuinely trying to look out for Neil when he said just stay straight.

Oh my god…I’m just imagining Kevin if he was queer trying to hide it the best he could. Cause he knows that Riko will use that against him or even worse that he will use that to have Kevin hurt Jean.

And Kevin would rather live a lie trying to maintain that mask, that performance that is Kevin fucking Day then let anyone even Jean know that about him.

The last thing Kevin wants is to hurt Jean more than he already has done and he would take that to his grave. He would keep him at a distance knowing what Jean feels for him because he can’t bring him down with him.

Kevin would rather Jean hate him for the rest of his life if it meant ultimately that Jean got to be happy for once in his life.

Who cares if he himself is stuck in a lie dating someone that remains loyal to the man who abused him…maybe it’s what Kevin always deserved. It could ruin his Exy career and Kevin is nothing if he cannot play and he has lost to much to lose this.

Not again.

There’s something in there about the only thing Kevin could ever hide from Riko was his most authentic self because even Kevin doesn’t know who that is.

Fuck…

[kev-day]

thinking about kevin growing up in the nest and having to learn defense mechanisms to literally survive but are now the main criticisms his teammates have against him. and no one (besides jean) really know the fully extent of what he went through bc of the public persona and brick wall of self preservation he had to put up.

like he’s an asshole perfectionist about exy bc it was literally beat into him since childhood. running in 16 hour days since who knows how young he was and deprived of food and sleep when a drill was not performed perfectly

the world saw him and riko as brothers but riko was never kind to him. he hated playing the role as second best but it’s how he could make it through each day with one less injury. he was on eggshells nearly every second of the day because he was almost never out of riko’s sight. he learned how how navigate every mood until riko became too unhinged to navigate and by then he was so trapped in his role that he couldn’t fight back from riko and he couldn’t let the team know that he wasn’t just number 2 but he was a pet to riko. he was a bitch to his teammates to distract from what riko was doing to him and jean but also from so much built up anger inside for the person he could not escape

[princeash]

Also people being angry at kevin for his "passivity" or "uselessness" don't understand that doing nothing, saying nothing, not fighting back was the one thing that allowed kevin to survive in the nest. It's literally a trauma response ingrained into him since childhood of course he's not gonna break away from it in only 1-2 years

[artanogon]

fanart companion to "he would not fucking say that." he does not fucking look like that

[princeash]

I love neil so so much but some of you seem to forget that Neil's perception of Kevin as a spineless coward and the way his sympathy for kevin decreases as the books progress is rooted on Neil's own trauma which has defined his perception of courage and strength and is in fact not necessarily correct and you don't have to take it as the truth.

[viiiiiliiiii]

Neil runs into Andrew’s sudden tactile coldness on the days when, hoping for a hug like before, he hears a brief “No” in answer to that hopeful “Yes or no?”—always at the exact moment his own restraint gives way under the weight of wanting to be touched. At times like that, he drifts toward Kevin instead, quietly slipping close while Kevin is absorbed in another game. Neil leans in without a word, arms circling Kevin as he tucks his nose against his shoulder, breathing out a heavy sigh when he finally gets the small dose of warmth he needs. Andrew notices. He always does. After a while, he comes up behind Neil, slides an arm around his waist, and pulls him back against a solid chest, pressing close and burying his face in the back of Neil’s head. Kevin, piecing the scene together in silence, lets out a quiet grunt of understanding, ruffles both their hair, then shifts just enough to be drawn into it as well, becoming part of the quiet, wordless embrace.

[vodkakevinday]

guys i fear i have a controversial take on some of the fannon interpretation on the kevin / neil / andrew ship …

[princeash]

I need so much kandrew angst in the queen's game. Give me Kevin trying to pull away from Andrew, thinking that now their deal is done and Andrew has Neil it's all over. Kevin leaving the dorms and practice without telling Andrew first or where he is going. Kevin suddenly stumbling into their dorm room late at night, with hickeys and way too drunk for Andrew's comfort. Give me Kevin pulling away from Andrew before Andrew can pull away from him. It took Kevin a long time, but he's gotten better at leaving.

Give me Kevin who flinches when Andrew gets near and an Andrew who wants to break something every time it happens. Because Andrew doesn't feel regret, doesn't believe in it, but the broken shards of Kevin's trust are sharper than he'd realized in those early months when he'd been focused on putting Neil together after Baltimore to notice Kevin slipping farther and farther away (almost at the same pace as the fingerprint bruises vanished from his neck).

[falafels]

pt.142!!

<pt.141

EDIT I USED ALLISON PFP FOR RENEE IN ONE BY ACCIDENT PLS IGNORE IM MALFUNCTIONING

there’s twitter in 1986 for the purposes of this post only. not even going to Try explaining this or adding it to the au lore. it’s just a gap. suspend your disbelief pls 😭

media training session: dont publically announce a matricide. don’t respond to said accusation with “beesechurger”. also which one of you liked hand drawn gay porn while logged into the team account (NICKY obviously getting blamed) (it was renee)

taglist!! 🎉🎨❤️ @andrewsleftarmband @blurryhour @you-know-i-get-itt @notexactlythatgirl @longspacerat @tessasilverswan @minyard-05 @carbon-dated-gal @bisexualchaosdemon @stormiiflies @watercoloureyes01 @vampire-overlord @iron-sides @azure-wing @buffalo-fox @vreow @pink-hydrangea @jaywalkerss @ohmynoggin-blog @cosmic-marauder @min-getoutofmy-yard @plazybones @disastersappho @leestars13 @the-witch-forever-lives @post-historical-posts @andabuttonnose @hidinginmyhands @aftg4l @allfor-thegames @yaoishida @inafieldofstarflowers @snowcoming @mooniism @fieldsofpoppies-in-salt-air @prometheusthedragon @graveyardviolence @bustedleftshoe @beatrix33 @yes-i-exist-shutup @milktemproom @all-for-exy @moon-over-ruined-castle @meta-breakers @whatwereyouthinkingaboutagain @dragonslayer26806 @lesbiansforkevinday @theacademicghost @petitrenard02 @iwouldlikesometea

[callmepio]

My gift for @ajminyard13 for the AFTG Mixtape :)

[tinmate]

I love Nora for having the love interest say "I'm not your answer and you sure as hell aren't mine" to the main character in regards to their trauma and healing. I love her for giving both characters external support systems and healthy relationships outside of each other.

I love that Andrew and Renee are best friends and have been before Neil ever entered the scene. I love that he's an active participant in therapy.

I love that Matt and Neil are best friends and built their friendship prior to Andrew. I love that Dan is protective over him and was the first after Andrew to reach, hug, and talk to Neil both after Baltimore and Riko trying to kill him.

I love that Wymack is an authority figure to them both in different ways. I love that Kevin has equally close but unique relationships with them both. I love that Nicky lowkey adopted Neil as well.

I love that Nora has shown from the GET GO that consistent, enduring love can be/is such an essential part of healing and growth but that it's not exclusive to romance and that platonic and familial love is just as important.

[vodkakevinday]

this is why i’ll still recommend aftg to friends (with the proper warning abt stuff) but thank u nora for aftg ill be infected with my love for it for forever