otdiaftg - Tumblr blog

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

Thank you

Dear AFTG Fandom, Friends, and Family:

To say that it has been a tremendous honor would be an understatement. I am immeasurably proud of what this account has become and it’s due to every single one of you. Your passion for this account was the driving force at the end and I can’t thank this fandom enough for being a rock in the storm of all of this.

I began this account as both a love letter to a story that has consumed me since I was first introduced to it, but it was also created to prove that I could sustain something for this long and this intensely immersive. During this past year alone I have been dealt hands that were not always the best, but this account kept me above water, even through the many sleepless nights. It energized and empowered me through all of your retweets/re-blogs, likes, and comments.

I also want to highlight and thank all 40 artists that gave me permission to share their incredible work. The scenes came alive due to their immense talent and exceptional hard work. Every artist was kind and considerate, incredibly understanding and just as invested in this project as I was. I truly can’t thank them enough for their trust and support.

Thanks also need to be delivered to my wife and best friend who, without their constant push and patience, none of this would have happened. They were my first followers, my biggest fans, and were Abandoned so many times during the course of this and yet encouraged me to keep going. Maybe now we’ll finally have time to play all those games we’ve downloaded over the last year :).

I also want to thank Nora for…. so many things. For the creation of this story, for the encouragement when this account became so big YOU even saw it, and for becoming a dear friend in the process. You’ve been an inspiration throughout this in more ways than I can say.

And finally, I want to once again, thank all of YOU. The followers, the commenters, the re-posters, the veteran fans, the new fans, the obsessed fans, and the casual ones. Fandom can be such an intrinsic and beautiful thing. Pulling people together and bringing a life to these characters through our own individual experiences. We are all our own Foxes in a way, tied together with the understanding that second chances are immeasurable and the family we make are the best ones of all.

You gave this account a shot. And for that I am eternally grateful.

you were amazing.

🦊 🧡- Kelysium

50 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

The King's Men - Epilogue

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 3:10 AM EST

Neil waits off to one side while the others file out, knowing Andrew will be the last to leave. Wymack knows better than to stick around and follows his Foxes down the hall. Andrew brings Neil's duffel to him. Neil takes it but drops it off to one side. Andrew studies it for a moment, then shrugs out of his own bag and puts a hand to the wall near Neil's head. "Your close calls are getting old," Andrew says. "I thought you knew how to run." Neil affects confusion. "I thought you told me to stop running." "Survival tip: no one likes a smart mouth." "Except you," Neil reminds him. A year ago Neil had been a scared nobody, hating himself for signing the Foxes' contract and counting down days until he moved in with Wymack. Tonight he is the starting striker for the first-ranked team in the NCAA. In two years he'll be captain, and in four he'll graduate from Palmetto State. Neil will find a professional team first and then fight tooth and nail to make the cut for Court. Neil can already imagine the weight of an Olympics medal around his neck. He doesn't even care what color it is so long as it is his. Better than that bright future is what he already has: a court that will always be home, a family who'll never give up on him, and Andrew, who for once hasn't wasted their time denying that this thing between them might actually mean something to both of them. Neil didn't even notice the silence at first, too distracted by his dizzying thoughts. Now he can't help but smile and pull Andrew in. This is everything he wanted, everything he needed, and Neil is never letting go.

END OF ALL FOR THE GAME SERIES.

Art commissioned and used with permission by the incredible @hamrikaa!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

79 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

The security guard takes Neil back to the locker room and leaves him at the door. Neil goes inside alone and finds all of the Foxes waiting for him. Neil looks from one tired face to the next, soaking them in, reveling in everything they've accomplished tonight and imagining how they'll react when they heard the news tomorrow. "What's so funny?" Nicky asks when he spots Neil in the doorway. Neil didn't realize he is smiling. "Life?" His good mood seems to inject a little life back into the room. Dan sits up a bit straighter, and Matt manages a grin. Kevin presses his fingers hard against his new tattoo. Aaron and Nicky exchange triumphant looks, and Allison reaches out to squeeze Renee's hand. Wymack's nod is approving; Abby's smile is proud. "Let's blow this joint," Wymack says. "We've got a party to get to. Anyone who's not on the bus in two minutes gets to stay here overnight." In no world will Wymack ever really leave his team behind, but the Foxes hustle out of there like they believe him.

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 3:05 AM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

21 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

The King's Men - Epilogue

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 3:00 AM EST

As Ichirou straightens the stranger steps forward. Ichirou passes the gun back, and the stranger kneels to press it into Riko's lifeless hand. Neil watches him curl Riko's fingers around the grip. In a distant corner of his mind Neil knows what is going on, but right now Neil is too shocked to make full sense of it. Ichirou stops in front of Neil. "You have cost the Ravens their coach and their captain. Are you satisfied?" It makes no sense at first, because Tetsuji is still alive. When Neil catches on he stops breathing. Tetsuji Moriyama was stepping down—not necessarily because Neil had asked for it, but because Ichirou had been here firsthand to see what the Ravens had become under Tetsuji's guidance. Stuart had said Ichirou was cutting his losses. The Ravens' reckless violence and fraying sanity made them a glaring liability. Ichirou wanted nothing to do with Edgar Allan's tarnished reputation. Neil is suddenly wide awake. "Your people are safe, as are mine. Yes, I'm satisfied." Ichirou's smile is cold and fleeting. "Let them call you by whatever name they like. You will always be a Wesninski at heart." Ichirou gestures to Neil like he is shooing away an insignificant fly. "You are dismissed."

Art used with permission by Dolliesthings. Thank you @dolliesthings!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

21 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

The King's Men - Epilogue

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 2:58 AM EST

Ichirou starts forward, but he doesn't go to Neil. He stands before his uncle and speaks in quiet Japanese. Tetsuji listens to it all in silence, expression unchanging. When Ichirou goes quiet, Tetsuji bows low over his knees. He doesn't sit up again, even when Ichirou turns his heavy stare on Riko. Riko finally stirs enough to look up, and the brothers face each other for the first time. Ichirou crouches in front of him, wordless and slow. "Ichirou," Riko says, so choked with emotion Neil almost can't understand him. He could have been cursing Ichirou's name for waiting so long to come into his life. He could have been begging for justice or revenge. Riko opens his mouth to say something else but closes it again when Ichirou cradles Riko's cheek in his free hand. It isn't comfort, but Neil doesn't figure that out until it is too late. Ichirou puts the gun to Riko's temple and pulls the trigger without hesitation. The gunshot is so unexpected, so loud, that Neil jumps. Riko's body jerks under the force of impact. Blood splatters across Tetsuji's back and the leather couch they share. Ichirou withdrew his hands and lets Riko fall.

Art used with permission by Hamrikaa. Thank you @hamrikaa!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

31 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

It is so quiet Neil hears someone's watch ticking. Neil counts a minute, then two, and still no one says a word. At last Ichirou drew a gloved hand from his pocket and gestures. The stranger brought him a handgun. Neil waits, silent and breathless, for Ichirou to turn that gun on him. He could ask for a second chance, but there is no point in trying. His words won't change what happened tonight, and not even Neil could lie well enough to convince Ichirou he is sorry.

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 2:55 AM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

14 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

EAST is written above an elevator in bold red letters, and Neil forgets about the banners. The guard has to swipe his badge and key in a six-digit code to get access. There are only two buttons inside, "Floor" and "Tower". Neil closes his eyes for the ride to the top. The guard stays behind when Neil steps out, so Neil goes on alone. A short hall opens up into a spacious room Neil recognizes. Nine years ago he'd been here with Riko and Kevin while his father carved a man into a hundred pieces. Stuart Hatford and a man Neil doesn't recognize stands in the far corners. Tetsuji and Riko sit on one of the couches, Tetsuji straight-backed and stone-faced, Riko shuttered and hollow. Neil see's the white plaster of a cast poking out of the sling the doctors put Riko's arm in. Neil could have stared at it forever, but Ichirou is standing by the windows overlooking the court and Neil knows better than to ignore him. Neil stands halfway between the brothers and fixes his eyes on Ichirou's collar.

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 2:54 AM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

14 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

A security guard is waiting outside the changing room door to intercept him. "Neil Josten, they have a few last questions for you."

Neil turns soundlessly after him and follows him back to the inner ring. The stadium is completely empty and the police are long gone. Neil is too tired to ask what is going on so plods along behind the guard in silence. A third of the way down is a gate the security guards use for moving between the inner ring and the stands. The guard unlocks it and motions Neil through. Spilled soda makes Neil's shoes stick to the ground, and the entire place reeks of greasy food and beer. Past the next stairwell is one of the tunnel entrances that let fans into the stadium from the outer ring. Neil had been in the Foxes' outer ring only once, since the Foxes' locked entrance let him bypass the food stands and paraphernalia shops. The Ravens' outer ring looks much the same as the Foxes' did except for the dated championship banners that hang from the rafters. Once a source of pride, they will now serve as a visible reminder of tonight's failure.

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 2:50 AM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

13 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 2 hours

Text

Neil falls asleep without meaning to but wakes up again when the water runs cold. He yawns as he dresses and goes in search of his teammates.

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 2:45 AM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

13 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 3 hours

Text

The Foxes are quiet when they are finally allowed to shower and change. The long hours since the last bell have temporarily worn away their well-deserved excitement. They are sore all over and drained to the point that moving is a terrible chore. Neil leans against the shower wall because he knows better than to sit down.

Day: Saturday, April 27th / 28th* Time: 2:30 AM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

12 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 5 hours

Text

The Foxes' guests and Vixens argue for the right to stay but lost. As they leave they promise to meet the Foxes at their hotel.

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 11:45 PM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

32 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 6 hours

Text

The crowd leaves only when the police force them to go, and they are deathly silent on their way out of Evermore's gates.

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 11:15 PM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

29 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 7 hours

Text

There should have been a ceremony as Edgar Allan passed the championship trophy to their successors. Instead the celebration is postponed until the morning. In its place are cops and EMTs, statements and interviews. Neil doesn't know why he expected anything else when the Foxes are involved.

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:15 PM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

37 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 7 hours

Text

Riko is rushed out in an ambulance.

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:10 PM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

45 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 7 hours

Text

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:05 PM EST

Neil loses sight of Riko when the Foxes swarm him. Gloved fingers pat his head and shoulders, looking for any sign that he's been hurt. Neil tunes out their frantic demands, more interested in listening to Riko's endless, agonized screaming. Then Dan catches his face in her hands and gives him a shake. "Neil," she says, so desperate and afraid Neil has to look at her. "Hey," Neil says, hoarse with exhaustion and heady triumph. "We won." Dan throws her arms around him and buries a choked laugh against his padded shoulder. "Yeah, Neil. We won!"

Art used with permission by Kiiakostet. Thank you @kiiakostet!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

117 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 7 hours

Text

The King's Men - Chapter Seventeen (19)

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:04 PM EST

Neil wishes he could smile, but it takes all his strength just to look at Riko. The Raven captain and Exy King is staring at the scoreboard like he expects it to change. The Foxes are running for each other, still screaming their fool heads off, but the Ravens stand still as stone. It is the first loss in Edgar Allan's history, and they'd fallen to the unlikeliest of opponents. Neil sucks in a deep breath that rips him open on its way down. "I'd ask you how it feels, but I guess you've always known what it's like to be second, you worthless piece of shit." Riko finally drags his gaze away from the board. He stares at Neil, blank-faced and stunned, and then revulsion twists his expression into something terrible. His racquet goes up over his head but it takes Neil a moment to realize Riko really intends to take a swing at him. Dan screams his name from halfway across the court, but there is nothing Neil can do except watch Riko's racquet start down. He barely has the strength to breathe. Dodging is out of the question. Riko's racquet gets close enough that Neil hears wind whistling through the strings, and then a second racquet comes out of nowhere, big and bright and orange. Andrew puts everything he has left behind his swing and catches Riko across his forearm. Bones give a sickening crunch as they shatter. Riko's racquet clatters harmlessly off to one side, and then Riko is the only one screaming. He stumbles a few steps away from them before falling to his knees and holding his arm to his gut. Andrew puts his racquet down in front of Neil like a shield and watches Riko's breakdown with a bored stare.

Art used with permission by Rosiethorns88. Thank you so much @rosiethorns88!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

141 notes · View notes

otdiaftg · 7 hours

Text

The buzzer goes off again, and Neil's heart stops. The ringing in his ears isn't all him. His teammates are screaming, wordless war cries of disbelief and victory. Neil's fingers shake so badly it is almost impossible to get the straps of his helmet undone, but finally he manages to throw his helmet off to one side. He blinks sweat out of his eyes and looks up at the scoreboard. Ten-nine, Foxes' favor—Kevin had scored in the last two seconds of the game.

Day: Friday, April 26th / 27th* Time: 10:03 PM EST

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

71 notes · View notes