I’ve Missed These Two

here to prompt that 'other time', thoughts on allison? headcanons, character study etc?

thank you for giving me free reign to ramble about this absolute goddess

the short version of this post: allison reynolds is such a underrated character whose trauma is too often overlooked 

the long version:

one of the most common criticisms about allison is that she’s too cold/uncaring. i don’t want to make this a whole post about sexism, but i will say this: it’s shitty to hate a female character for the same reasons you love male characters in the same series. this happens too often in literature (not just aftg) and it’s exhausting. you can obviously have preferences and favourites, but loving andrew for his apathy and hating allison for hers isn’t the vibe. there are valid arguments that people can use to defend their favourites without being hypocritical and sexist

on that note! allison’s apathy isn’t just because she wants to be bitchy - it’s absolutely something that she learned while living with her parents. she would’ve gone to social gatherings where masking your actual emotions is essential and expected, and then she’d have gone home and have her dreams and aspirations bashed and ridiculed by her parents. it’s only natural that she would hide behind that icy persona in order to guard herself. i’m willing to bet that she pretended not to care when her parents disowned her, and only let herself fall apart when she was completely alone. it would have taken her a long time to be vulnerable in front of others

allison’s just become a really great actress who doesn’t let people get close enough to actually see her. it’s a coping mechanism and it’s how she protects herself from hurting more than she already is

and somewhere (i can’t for the life of me remember if this is in the books or the ec, but anyway), it’s mentioned that allison doesn’t get presents from randy. partly because anything that she can afford anything she wants, but also because she doesn’t have a parent figure to talk to, and randy subs in as a mother figure for her. remember that scene where nicky asked neil to convince andrew to go to thanksgiving in columbia, and remember how heartbreaking it was when he said he missed his mom? allison feels the same thing. (some key differences in the actual situations, but the gist of it? she misses her mom so desperately that she clings to any sort of motherly affection she can get)

okay anyway, that’s enough rambling about allison for today. i’m hoping to start posting more allison content, because even though it doesn’t do as well, i love her sm

basically? more allison appreciation pls and thanks xoxo

also!! @codename-adler wrote a foxes + onesies post (well 9 posts, 1 for each fox) and the portrayal of allison is 10/10, i highly recommend checking out their tumblr :)

no fucking wonder mary never let neil make any friends on the run. for someone whose survival depended on anonymity and being anyone but himself, he was absolutely horrible at hiding any aspect of his personality for longer than 2 seconds of actual human interaction

okay you know what, andrew may have killed his mom but at least he’s a generous tipper. murder? excusable. tipping 5% at a restaurant? well now we’re gonna have to excuse another murder

no but did you notice how easily neil started thinking dan instead of danielle and nicky instead of nicholas when they told him their preferred names,, like say what you will, but i just know for a fact he would absolutely use everyone’s correct pronouns and names with absolutely zero hesitation or issue idc

I always thought Andrew's big tips were actually for the drugs??? Like to pay them in an inconspicuous way??? The cracker dust at sweetie's and the drug for neil at eden's (also wasn't it aaron who paid in the first sweetie's scene???)

the very excessive tips at sweetie’s were definitely for the cracker dust! but in chapter 9 of the raven king, when all the foxes go to columbia together for halloween, there’s the quote: “Nicky's friendship with the staff and Andrew's generous tips got them instant access and ridiculous discounts on drinks”. so i guess it’s only really confirmed that he tips well at eden’s, but i’m assuming he’d do the same at sweetie’s (even without the cracker dust), especially since they continue to go there after andrew’s deal to quit using the cracker dust. plus, nicky worked there as a host before getting his job at eden’s (it says that in chapter 12 of trk) which would be even more incentive to leave good tips :)

(i think you’re right about aaron paying for sweetie’s and the drugs in tfc. maybe they take turns paying? regardless, he left lots of tips too so i bet they’re just all really generous tippers!)

I love imagining Neil and Andrew like 10 years into their relationship. Like when the ‘nothing’ gets real and they deal with what comes after the honeymoon stage. They’re 30 something and like:

Neil: *suggestively stretching in front of andrew* wanna rinse of with me? I’m a little sweaty after my run…

Andrew: *spoon deep into a pint of Ben and Jerry’s*. Give me a minute

Neil: the ice cream will still be there later….

Andrew: so will you…

Neil: are you fucking serious ?

Andrew: *keeps looking between Neil and his pint* I’m thinking!

ok you know how neil counts to ten to calm down? has that worked a single time in this series?? i stg he always gets to like 6 and then just fucking SNAPS

no, you’re a person, i’m merely a vessel filled with the overwhelming urge to reread all for the game

aftg au where aaron realizes that the only way he can safely date katelyn is if andrew is also dating somebody so he embarks on the dangerous and daring quest of Setting Up Andreil. phase one of his plan requires that he befriend neil (🤮), so he reluctantly puts away his disgust and starts being nice to him. neil is confused because Why Is Aaron Suddenly Interested In Exy When Did He Memorize My Coffee Order Why Is He Accompanying Me To Classes but he manages to look past the weirdness and starts genuinely enjoying aaron’s company.

now that aaron has neil in his pocket it’s time for phase two of the plan, in which aaron attempts to get neil and andrew on a date. the catch is that andreil have been hooking up for literal months, so now there’s the fun dynamic of neil and andrew worrying aaron is onto them and deliberately distancing themselves when he’s around as aaron tries more and more desperately to get them together. the end result is neil and aaron accidentally becoming besties and aaron walking in on them making out one day and accrediting himself with their relationship

i picture renee talking w a customer service voice 99% of the time to stay sweet so that she doesn’t rip someone’s throat out