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Andrew Minyard - Blog Posts
This is how I want Kevin's book to be:
(Kevin is the angry kitten and andreil is the kissing kittens).
Twinyards have me crying so bad rn because I mean imagine the difference in celebrating each other's birthdays? Will andrew have celebrated his birthday at least ONCE? I can't help but imagine andrew passing a small birthday cake to Aaron through the bathroom door while andrew was trying to get him off drugs.
Okay i made more of these
Neil:
How Neil looked at Dan after his "you know, I get it" speech:
Twinyards again, Aaron is the one screaming for help, obviously:
How Jeremy is taking care of Jean:
How Andrew cared for Kevin in his first year:
Andrew with kevin after the "you were always going to lose him:
How Kevin feel coming out of the "I've never skied" interview:
Jean mid-training when Rhemann did not want to gomp him to death and instead simply verbally scolded him:
Andrew shouting at the cops in Maryland to let him see Neil:
Jean watching Neil and Kevin leave the nest:
This is what Matt saw when Andrew punched him.
Do you ever think about how if Neil grew up in the nest, he would have had Jean's number? And do you ever think about how if Andrew had joined the Ravens he would have gotten Aaron's?
something something about brothers I think
this will interest exactly zero people but I've been thinking about it for a while now and spent like four hours on this so may I present:
AFTG characters in a Dracula! au
featuring Jean's glasshouse, a grey-haired Neil and Renee with a Dutch accent
disclaimer 1: if u see my aftg mina and lucy and ask how their friendship is supposed to work in this case I expand on that and some other interactions down below*
disclaimer 2: aftg obviously has way more core characters than dracula and I tried out a lot of combis but I'm still doubting the results so yeah... and also while I altered some relationships I tried to preserve the og dracula feel as much as I could
so here goes:
Jonathan Harker - Neil Josten (main character with zero survival skills, tries to lie low but can't NOT stir some shit up, had a lovely few weeks at Castle Dracula/Castle Evermore, dramatic hair colour changes by the end of the story)
Mina Harker - Andrew Minyard (clever™, done with everyone's dramatics, has to deal with Jonathan/Neil's shenanigans, quiet observer, the only one who seemingly has their shit together while actually suffering a lot but not wanting to let others be preoccupied by that)
Count Dracula - Riko Moriyama PLUS some others (it was difficult to place just one big bad guy because aftg has different layers of antagonists so while Riko is the primary Dracula 1.0 in his Castle (Evermore) whom Jonathan/Neil and the gang opposes they later on encounter another vampire, an ally of Dracula's from the west — Jonathan/Neil's father Nathan (the Butcher of Bristol) (no shade towards Bristol it just sounds neat) whom Neil thought he was long rid of in his life (Neil didn't know he became a vampire), think of him like Dracula 2.0, not less of an enemy than Riko)
Lucy Westenra - Jean Moreau (the epitome of being a victim of circumstances (made a target of Dracula/Riko's because fate just oh so wanted to screw them over), somehow simultaneously sweet summer child and hot icon, everybody wants them, lively extrovert (Jean IS canonically a sassy extrovert we just don't see a lot of it in tsc because his very fresh trauma dampens it but in tgr in becomes clearer)
Arthur Godalming - Kevin Day (the it girl, aristocrat (queen parallels), despite earnestly caring about Lucy/Jean still oversees a huge part of their pain; in my au Lucy/Jean doesn't choose him as husband)
Quincey Morris - Jeremy Knox (southern American sunshine, loyal to death and extremely protective over Lucy/Jean, quote from the og novel 'a rough fellow, who hasn't perhaps lived as a man should' (freshman jeremy giving a huge side eye rn) (his pupils are suspiciously diluted), the only one who does not canonically journal (concentration problems lol); in my au Lucy/Jean chooses Quincey/Jeremy over Arthur/Kevin)
Jack (John) Seward - Aaron Minyard !!! I swear !!! not just because they are both doctors it makes sense okay???? (logical thinker, has to deal with mentally unstable people on a daily basis, sceptical, secretly a softie, truly wants to help people get better; in my au he's crushing on Arthur/Kevin instead of Lucy/Jean but doesn't admit to it for a while because Art/Kev is a lordling and he is a common psychiatrist and also Art/Kev is too obsessed with Lucy/Jean to notice him (only at first though I'm a sap I like HEA))
Van Helsing - Renee Walker !! hear me out on this one before you ask wtf !! (seems like a cutie patootie but knows how to saw off a head, seen some shit in their life, has a deeper understanding of Mina/Andrew's intelligence, steps in to save Lucy/Jean's life, does not fear Dracula/Riko (or more like is not hesitant to challenge him despite the fear)
Renfield - this one was such a PAIN to place my first thought was Jean but I ended up giving him Lucy so after turning it this way and that way I thought maybe Seth Gordon would work? he died as a prop in Dracula/Riko's sick game so that fits but the overall dynamic still seems a tad off to me, let me know if you have a better take on aftg Renfield
* Lucy&Mina/Jean&Andrew:
so as I see it Andrew and Jean could actually have a nice platonic dynamic:
I think they are very compatible. In canon if Andrew was not (understandably) unable and unwilling to fully trust anyone but Neil (and Bee but to a certain degree) and if Jean was not royally fucked over by his time as Riko's property I believe they could have been friends or at least have a good understanding because they both couldn't care less about exy (and Kevin and Neil being exy junkies are the bane of their existence), they are sharp, sarcastic, often amused (but don't show it openly) by others' stupid behaviour (or what they perceive as stupid regardless of whether it actually is such).
In my dracula! au Andrew met Jean when he was ten and Jean nine after being thrown around various fucked up orphanages. He was separated from Aaron (who ended up adopted by a local physician) at birth.
Jean was adopted, too, when he was little (the Westenras saw a broody abandoned toddler on the streets of Marseille while on vacation and were like welp guess we have a kid now huh). His adoptive parents, the Westenras, took Andrew in because they thought Jean was lonely as a teenager (he was okay with the company of his dogs and the bugs in the garden and the swallows living in a nest under the slope of the roof by his room's window but whatever). The Westenras are the kind of wealthy who are trying to 'make a difference' and not be like those other rich folks or something like that but my world is all sunshine and rainbows so they actually are THAT nice and did not adopt the boys for public appearances only. They wanted to give Andrew a chance at good life though Andrew obv has the impression of it all being bs at the beginning (who can blame him he's been through Things). Jean was very patient about his attitude and supported him on the journey of healing from the childhood abuse so they are practically siblings. (Aaron is very hurt and bitter because his brother feels like that about some random ass obnoxious French guy and it makes him dislike Jean initially which is only made worse when Kevin ends up fawning over him but as they are forced to work together when Jean is targeted by Dracula/Riko Aaron sort of starts seeing more of his actual personality and they actually get to know each other outside of Aaron's jealousy). (Jean was actually not at all hostile and very curious (ahem) about Aaron at the start, the young gentleman who appeared exactly like his adoptive brother at first glance but somehow completely different, so contemplative, unreachable, oftentimes letting out bitter quips abot this and that, a competent doctor, so mysterious and lonesome, for some reason reluctant to respond to Jean's attempts at getting to know him better. But then Quincey/Jeremy turned up and Jean was done for lol).
The dracula!au version of Jean and Andrew not giving a damn about exy would be them not caring about high society soirées and such, they would rather go explore some ancient abbey ruins together, read a book or study shorthand (in Andrew's case) or do some gardening and pottery (in Jean's case), while Arthur/Kevin organises all these high society events and cricket games and whatnot desperately trying to spend some time with his bestie (Andrew, remains unimpressed) or engage Jean's attention (unsuccessful, Jean would rather visit Kevin's good friend Aaron at the asylum to hover at his side while Dr Minyard speaks to some guy expanding on how he would prepare Aaron for dinner should he have a chance to strangle him, or listen to yet another good pal of Kevin's, an eccentric American with tan arms and cute freckles rambling about rare plants he encountered on his journeys which he swears he could acquire for Jean's winter garden should his dear Mr Moreau express such a whish) (Jean has scored with this one lol the neighbourhood's ladies will be foaming at the mouth at the mere sight of his gorgeous conservatory)
**bonuses:
Swales (old guy in Whitby who sences Dracula's coming) - Wymack (ngl I chose this one because it's objectively hilarious: just an old man who's seen it all and does not hesitate to openly say his opinion on anything with no filter whatsoever, also kinda the voice of wisdom to Mina/Andrew although they do not take him very seriously but he ends up being right every time)
the three vampire women in Dracula's Castle - Lola, Romero and Jackson (basically Dracula 2.0/Nathan's sidekicks)
***what's up with the rest of the characters (not exactly based on the novel but I tried (emphasise on tried) to be loosely historically accurate to the Victorian era setting):
Matt and Dan are a married couple, both children of formerly enslaved abolitionist activists. They are working at Jonathan/Neil's solicitor office and are thoroughly baffled by him skipping work (he left a cryptic note temporarily transferring his responsibilities to them) after being abroad to work with a private client and showing up a couple weeks later completely grey-haired, stacking the office cupboard with gallons of holy water and decorating the space with awfully smelly flowers. Obviously, knowing Dan's character, she (with Matt's support) was also an active advocate for equality (for women's rights as well as black people's rights)
Allison is a countess. She's friends with Arthur/Kevin and although he is supportive of her he does not always get her since she mostly spends her time exploring the life of lower classes all over England and travelling around the world shooting documentaries about different cultures (of course she has early access to the curious new invention of moving pictures). She meets Van Helsing/Renee during her stay in London and they bond over interest in science and being explorers in their respective fields
Nicky Hemmick is a renowned tailor, his clothes are worn by every self-respecting Londoner who can afford it and quite a few aristocrats all around England. He discovers his relation to the twins a bit later in life than he would have wished but he tries to be there for them both as much as he can. He loves tailoring but he also runs his salon as a front for what is basically a safe space for queer people since they are targeted by the Labouchere Amendment. Nicky doesn't know it but Andrew (using Kevin's ties) watches out in case Nicky falls under the government's suspicion because of such activities. Also, Nicky is friends with Oscar Wilde :)
Cat and Laila live in their own little paradise on a ranch in Texas, Jean and Jeremy will secretly elope there eventually after the gang deals with all the vampires because I refuse to kill them off in this au
Okay I think that was it for now. What am I doing with my life
They abandoned you and I collected you like a treasure
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Happy (belated) Valentines Day 🌹
Had to draw more Andreil, they still have me in a chokehold 😪
The rest of this illustration is available on my (brandnew!!) patreon btw 👀👉🏼👈🏼
A drawing I did for @allegorius’s au where Andrew has to take care of Aaron’s kid after Katelyn passes and Aaron starts struggling with addiction again…
(There’s no fic or anything we were just shooting the shit in discord and now I’m obsessed with this concept)
((Yes he’s singing the mcr song foundations of decay… what about it))
You know what makes me sit in silence everytime i think about it?
The fact that Andrew was attracted to every version of Neil.
He thought he was hot when he still had his brown eyes/brown hair
He thought he was hot when he had blue eyes/brown hair
He thought he was hot when he had blue eyes/auburn hair and the number 4 tattooed under his eye. ”you are a pipe dream“ , he said, looking at Neils bruised and most honest self.
Then Baltimore. Neil got tortured. Got bruised all over his skin, scars that’ll never be forgotten and what does Andrew do? He asks yes or no and kisses his hip.
It sure af wasn’t love at first sight but the fact that his initial attraction never faded gives you a hint about what Neil is for Andrew.
(Not to mention how the versions of Neil changed the more Andrew learned about Neil as well. First he was Neil. Then he was Abram. Then he was Nathaniel. Until he finally became Neil Abram Josten.
All the lies. All the truths. It all came together and Andrew was there during all of it).
and if I start talking about Neil falling for Andrew the more he learned about him and the role he took over-
(Neil is there to protect the one who protects them all)
Follow up to this post, since I COULD NOT know peace until I got the “shy angry cat finally trusts you enough to come sleep on you” energy of this concept out of my system. Thanks @jtl-fics (😘)
And DOUBLE THANKS Ash for putting it in word form 🥹 you can read this sweet little exchange here! 💕
so i definitely vibe with the headcanon that andrew gets a medusa tattoo, but hear me out:
so in the actual myth, athena doesn’t curse medusa out of pity or to save her from the men that aim to assault her. she did it out of rage and vengeance after medusa’s rape basically defiled her temple. on top of that, when she is beheaded by perseus, athena then puts her head on her shield to protect herself against enemies.
with this in mind, i think andrew having a medusa tattoo, or relating to medusa in any way, is kind of ironic and takes on a different meaning when you think about it.
he dealt with unwanted attention and sexual abuse his whole childhood. he was raped in cass’s home, a place where he put up with so many advances and assaults, and so much pain and confusion. he loved and respected her, and wanted to protect his brother.
in the end, he was punished for being assaulted by so many people in his life. It’s insinuated that cass knew what was going on, and she let it happen. his uncle blamed him, and his brother resented him in his ignorance.
then he was labeled as a monster, and used for his protection by so many people in his life.
i just think it’s a interesting comparison to make.
wip in between comms to support the jock Neil and greaser goth Andrew agenda
He pretends he doesnt like drunk neil. Its a lie
so i definitely vibe with the headcanon that andrew gets a medusa tattoo, but hear me out:
so in the actual myth, athena doesn’t curse medusa out of pity or to save her from the men that aim to assault her. she did it out of rage and vengeance after medusa’s rape basically defiled her temple. on top of that, when she is beheaded by perseus, athena then puts her head on her shield to protect herself against enemies.
with this in mind, i think andrew having a medusa tattoo, or relating to medusa in any way, is kind of ironic and takes on a different meaning when you think about it.
he dealt with unwanted attention and sexual abuse his whole childhood. he was raped in cass’s home, a place where he put up with so many advances and assaults, and so much pain and confusion. he loved and respected her, and wanted to protect his brother.
in the end, he was punished for being assaulted by so many people in his life. It’s insinuated that cass knew what was going on, and she let it happen. his uncle blamed him, and his brother resented him in his ignorance.
then he was labeled as a monster, and used for his protection by so many people in his life.
i just think it’s a interesting comparison to make.
What kevin wants to do every time neil speaks to the press
@camisonmars in twitter
"Do you believe in fate?"
"No. Do you?"
"Luck, then."
"Only the bad sort."
@yufi_chi on instagram
"You hate me, remember?"
"Every inch of you," Andrew said.
"That doesn't mean I wouldn't... @yen_mayer
All for the Game crossed over with sherlock holmes
Who is who???
So crazy how this whack asf scene actually invented sexual tension
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
andrew in tgr is like: gaydar x1000, silently clocking jeremy and telling renee about it. witness in a murder trial. realizing his bf put a hit out on someone (again) ("typical"). cracking jokes with renee. nearly killing someone for hurting neil. having surgery to fix his broken clavicle. letting aaron drive the mas. quitting smoking so he can be fast enough to save neil next time someone comes for him. like you don't understand this man is barely in the book and he is slaying tremendously the whole entire time
Everytime I reread tfc I try to find a reason as to why Columbia needed to happen and I genuinely cannot find one. Like why did they do that??? I could never be Neil cause my sensitive ass would have quit immediately.
I love aftg because it’s literally impossible to water down the characters. Literally everything that they do is based on the unique intricacies of their circumstances. Like there’s no surface level behavior for them because they’re all so individual and have different responses to the situations they’re placed in.
This is also abt how annoyed I get when people try to dumb characters like Neil Josten to “short and feral and depressed” or Andrew to “angry and spontaneous bad boy” when they’re SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT RAHHH