#feefester

[svtellify]

Keefe flashed the smuggest of smiles. “It’s because I make everything better.” “Like giving Sophie the pendant that helped the Neverseen find her?” Fitz snapped back. The question was like a record scratch, leaving the room agonizingly silent. my time has come.

Look, I love KOTLC, I really do. It’s one of the few series where I’ve really grown up with the character, and gotten to understand how she’s changed. That said, there is a lot to go through when it comes to Fitz and Keefe. The fact that they’re both in love with Sophie is barely scratching the surface.

Keefe resents Fitz. It’s not so much the fact that he hates the guy, it’s that he hates what Fitz has--a stable family. Whatever the heck is going on with Alvar is frankly, nothing on the emotional abuse Keefe has suffered from both of his parents. Fitz happens to take Alvar’s betrayal hard, but since we never really got to know him as a character or get to really see his relationship with Fitz develop, us, as readers, were probably not so affected by it. Take this example from Flashback: “Because Fitz never makes those kinds of mistakes. That’s my specialty.” It’s all in the subtext, usually, but Keefe is pretty direct here. Shannon Messenger makes it super clear that Fitz is supposed to be this sort of Golden Boy, perfection incarnate, blah blah blah. It really takes a toll on Keefe, who probably compares himself to Fitz (like the differences in their lives) and feels that he’s always falling short. He’s clearly insecure about a lot of things (“You don’t have to tell me I’m a jerk,” Keefe mumbled. “I already know.”) and Fitz being portrayed as perfect doesn’t really help their friendship in any way.

“‘Oh, and let’s not forget that she did it to scare you into cooperating, because she wants you to be useful to me—and then I wasn’t even there to help you fight, because I promised Alden . . .’ ‘Promised Alden what?’ Sophie asked, glancing between the two of them. Keefe shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter.’ ‘Kinda sounds like it does,’ she pressed. But Alden was staring at his injured son, and Keefe was kicking the cot harder and harder and harder, so she decided to let it go—for the moment...”

Okay, this scene from Flashback has a lot to break down. Yeah, there’s Keefe’s pity party, which leads to other questions that will be posted in a later post if I ever get around to it, but what the quiznak did Keefe promise Alden? Given the context of the situation, it really seems a lot like he promised to give Sophie and Fitz some space, since they were alone (+ the bodyguards) when they were attacked. The other option, which I think is popular in the fandom, is that Alden told Keefe to back off so Fitz could be with Sophie. I can see the potential in it, but the only way I could see this happening was if Alden was really harsh on Keefe, telling him he was a threat to Sophie or something. It doesn’t match his characterization. However, I can see how this would appeal as a shipper, but despite being a sokeefe shipper, I still find this one a little iffy.

“‘Did you let Fitz win?’ ‘Psh, like I’d ever do that!’ ‘I don’t know . . . ,’ Ro told him—and he sent her a death glare. ‘That’s different,’ he insisted.”

Not going to lie though, despite my faith in Alden’s characterization, this is pretty sketch. . .

That being said, the fact that Alden went behind Fitz’s back to talk to Keefe about something that (almost obviously) concerns him, doesn’t scream best friends to me. Especially since Keefe doesn’t sound too thrilled about whatever it is that he promised the guy.

“‘Now Fitz and I get to have all the fun without you.’ She waited for him to laugh, or tease her, or . . . anything. But he just thumped the back of his head against the wall.”

I being Sophie, and you being Keefe.

This one kind of relates to my first point about Keefe resenting Fitz but it also kind of alludes to the fact that maybe they were once friends. Maybe not super close, but close enough that he played truth or dare with him and his little sister. Things were much, much, much simpler before Sophie entered the picture, and as much as I hate to say it, she probably got in the way of their friendship. I found Keefe to be super obvious about his feelings for her, which Fitz no doubt picked up on. Despite not being obvious about his feelings, they no doubt existed, making it awkward for the two of them to hang the way they might have.

“He’ll start wearing tunics that say Foster’s Hero or something.” “Sounds about right,” Fitz mumbled.”

Here’s some resentment on Fitz’ part, and a hint that he *totally* knows about Keefe’s feelings for Sophie. Also, it’s not like a friend to sound so subdued about something that’s supposed to be a joke about his best friend.

“ since Keefe’s teasing and Fitz’s fragile mood would surely be a disastrous combination.”

Best friends who???

“Here,” Keefe said, pulling a fresh box of Prattles from his cape pocket. “Wash it down with this.” “We’re good,” Fitz told him, giving Sophie another piece of the snickerdoodle candy. “Wow,” Ro said, elbowing Keefe. “Nothing you want to say about that, Hunkyhair?” “Nope!” But his smile faded when he noticed Sophie’s chain-mail-covered hand.”

Okay, the time I read this, I did think it was rude, the way Fitz kind of snipped him off. It didn’t seem like the kind of thing a friend would do, especially not given Keefe’s subdued reaction to it, so it clearly wasn’t a joke with friends.

Keefe flashed the smuggest of smiles. “It’s because I make everything better.” “Like giving Sophie the pendant that helped the Neverseen find her?” Fitz snapped back. The question was like a record scratch, leaving the room agonizingly silent.

This happens a *loooot* in Flashback. Fitz just snaps about Keefe’s mistakes, and yeah he apologizes, but it’s a seriously low blow, dude. You don’t do that to your best friend.

“Oh. I stopped by Everglen this morning. Figured it was time to be a good best friend and see how Fitzy was holding up, you know?”

Quiznak was this scene awkward. That’s just not how friendship works?

The next few are just a few quotes where we see how Fitz and Keefe aren’t really friends:

“But when she told Fitz that Keefe also thought he should wait, Fitz’s mental voice sharpened. Well THAT’S convenient. What is? she asked. Keefe siding with you. I wonder why he’d do that?”

  “He’s telling the truth. I’d be able to tell if he wasn’t.” Fitz snorted. “Right—like you could tell with your mom?”

Okay, this one pisses me off because the situation with Lady Gisela is like the situation with Alvar, except way worse because Keefe’s support structure isn’t a comforting and loving family, it’s Sophie, the girl he happens to in unrequited love with, Ro, his bodyguard slash pushy friend, and Elwin, his doctor. If there’s anyone who can relate to the betrayal Fitz is feeling, it’s Keefe, but instead of talking things through, he chooses to throw it right back at him. Totally not something a best friend would do, let alone a friend.

There’s probably a ton a missed, but OP, I totally get what you’re saying. 

I’m probs gonna lose major points with you fans...

... but I have this burning need to clarify something once again:

Fitz and Keefe have not been friends their entire lives

they met in the second grade

Alden kinda pushed Fitz to be Keefe’s friend

they became friends nonetheless but I kinda imagine it to be a more-of-a-buddy-than-true-friend relationship

I mean, Keefe never really trusted Fitz with any major secrets and I’m sure that goes the other way as far as we know

yes, it still sucks, but the fact that the love triangle can pry them apart just proves my point that they didn’t have a solid foundation

I still love them both and it breaks my heart too that this can potentially put an end to their friendship, however strong it is

Please feel free to prove me wrong but I like keeping the facts straight

@anyone else who still thinks their friendship is a one-of-a-kind bromance

[liisateige]

THOUGHTS ON WTFOCK SO FAR:

feefest actually sounds really cool

i love the girl squad!! they have my heart!!

luka is giving me og p chris vibes && i’m here for it

the fact that both amber and jana have had fallings out with the blonde ambition girls is a nice twist.

UHMMMM i’m not so keen on jens and robbe, they don’t seem to be doing it for me. who knows??? maybe that might change!!