#linh answers stuff

[the-way-astray]

Is Cassius a better dad than quan?

i’m not really a fan of trauma comparison, since saying one person’s trauma is worse often implies that the other person doesn’t deserve as much sympathy and stuff. having said that i think this ask is interesting so i’ll answer it anyway. also unraveled spoilers will follow

my opinion is that quan is absolutely a worse father than cassius. cassius was an emotional abuser, never a physical one, and he did damage mainly by forcing keefe to be someone he didn’t want to be and through comparison tactics. but he was always there for keefe in a purely physical sense. i would not consider cassius to be negligent (his problem is actually the opposite, he cares too much about keefe, just not in the right way). when keefe ran away to the neverseen, he told sophie to tell keefe he’d always have a home with him and that if keefe wanted to come back it would just take the word. he stalked keefe in nightfall to make sure he wasn’t sleeping on the streets. he helped keefe in unraveled, made it easier for him to make it in the forbidden cities and convinced bronte to give him the pathfinder map, which wasn’t easy. most of these were done because he wanted to preserve his reputation, but i can at least say with medium confidence that cassius would never neglect keefe or purposefully, intentionally put him in a situation where he was in real, life-threatening danger. the bar is in hell but hey. he meets it

unraveled also makes it clear that cassius is only forcing keefe to be what he wants him to be out of fear that his son will become a pariah if he continues down his current path. doesn’t justify his actions, but explains them. but there’s something there, and he truly loves keefe for him, not for who he wants him to be, for his pranks and art and stuff, as evidenced by legacy. he’s still horrible and keefe should never live with him again or forgive him. but there’s something there. at least

quan, on the other hand, doesn’t even appear to care for his children’s basic safety and physical well-being. he’s perfectly willing to toss linh aside to potentially die in a forest somewhere as long as he can pass tam off as an only child, and even if she didn't die, he probably knew that she'd be starving most days and sleeping in uncomfortable locations most nights. he clearly only cares about his kids in a “what can they do for me?” sense, as shown by when he asks tam if it’s true that he’s a hero in lodestar (actually i think that was mai but the point still stands, because i assume he agrees with the sentiment). he locks tam in his room for three days for spilling paint and, if i'm not wrong, it's implied that he didn't feed tam at all during this period. he does not give one single shit about anything tam or linh do or have been through. at the very least cassius is at least interested in updates on keefe's life and situation, even if he isn't proactively asking or worrying about him like a real good parent would, as evidenced by when fitz tells him about keefe's state in unlocked. but quan doesn't even meet that already incredibly low standard. he does not give one single shit whatsoever. he appears three times physically in the entire series, once by chance, once likely only because he was contacted by the council, and once because tam approached him for help he was reluctant to give. not a single shit given at all . . . tam or linh could probably die and he'd be none the wiser. truly the bottom of the barrel. in terms of non-violent elf abuse, you can't get much worse than him

hopefully this doesn't turn into a huge discourse thing because i don't want people to argue back and forth about which abusive father between the two shitty abusive fathers is worse because it's a pointless debate. they both suck and are bad. but this ask was interesting so i thought i'd answer it. but i swear to god i had better not see like four posts in the kotlc tag debating who's worse after i post this . . . i can't stop you but i also think the difference is so irrelevant it's barely even worth talking about and certainly not worth discoursing about

[anonymous-kotlc-thoughts]

look, yeah Sophie's a teen, and teens are into romance or whatever.

don't care.

there are way too many other things going on for romance to be SO EMPHASIZED in canon. shippers can do whatever they want, but the writer should be focused on ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.

What are Sophie's dreams like? Does her mind generate noises and voices that don't exist because she was used to dealing with that for so long? Does her mind only do that while she sleeps?

Do her human parents have this overwhelming sense of loss that hits them out of nowhere, and they don't even know why it's there?

Does Grizel stand outside Fitz's door at night, listening to him struggle and wanting nothing more than to take him away and protect him from the whole world?

What happened with Biana, and her scars?

Did Linh talk to herself while Tam was gone? Did he as well?

Does Dex hum tunes he heard on Sophie's iPod while he works?

Does Keefe do that thing dogs do, where he's 'running' on his side and barking in his sleep?

Canon Shannon, PLEASE GIVE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS

FORGET THE ROMANCE

.

[myfairkatiecat]

Thinking about getting into kotlc. What specifically do you like and find recommendable about it?

Keeper of the Lost Cities is my all time favorite book series. It's not the objectively best story I've ever read, but it's my favorite. Here are a few reasons you should ABSOLUTELY read KOTLC:

Fantastic adoption plot. The process of Grady and Edaline adopting Sophie and the complicated way Sophie grows to see them as parental figures, the ups and downs, the way it takes years for her to decide to adress one of them as mom or dad, the way those moments are portrayed as special... it really clicks, especially as someone from a foster family.

The main character is super realistic and well developed. She undergoes a lot of non-linear character development. She has strong beliefs that sometimes conflict with what she's expected to stand for. Her journey from book one to book nine with how she learns to be a leader, stand up for herself, and do what she thinks is right all the time is super well portrayed.

The characters and their relationships are very well developed and complex. Yes, certain things are made very clear through the narration because Shannon is in fact writing for kids, but after books one and two a lot of the kids series feel vanishes almost entirely. I mean, no, it's still charming and silly most of the time, but it doesn't feel as young, especially as the characters grow older and a lot of darker and more complicated issues begin to arise.

The portrayal of the dystopia is fascinating. KOTLC is not in the dystopian genre for a reason. The Lost Cities are not presented as a dystopia at all. That just... comes out slowly. Sophie goes there and is told that everything about the world is perfect, and since everything is sparkling and glittering, it must be, right? She has a few early thoughts about how certain things seem wrong, and those thoughts continue to grow as the problems with the Lost cities become clearer and clearer. Their government and social systems are very messed up, and Sophie only sees the surface of it because she's usually interacting with the nobility, but the reason for both rebellions formed is fixing those exact societal issues.

The good guys and bad guys want a lot of the same things. There's a focus in KOTLC on doing the right thing, not just achieving the right goal. Which sometimes means characters mess that up! (cough keefe sencen cough) But again, all this stuff is explored in a super accessible way, because it's a middle grade series. It feels like reading something deeply interesting with good messages without having to take a lot of time to wrap your head around what those messages are.

The characters are incredibly well-developed. Their backgrounds and history explain most of their personality and actions in amazing ways. I'm thinking specifically of Sophie, Keefe, Tam, Linh, Fitz, and Dex right now, but I'm sure there are more examples (and I hope it gets explored more with Marella in the future, tbh. We know about her childhood--how does that impact her personality?) It makes it very interesting to rotate these elves around in your head.

There are multi-book arcs, many huge reveals are foreshadowed from the beginning. The books open lots and lots of mystery boxes--there are tons of questions being asked ALWAYS--but in the end, they get answered (some more satisfying than others), really portraying just how much can happen even in a short time frame for these kids. Honestly, the whole three-years-over-nine-books thing feels PERFECT to me. Unlike Harry Potter, each book isn't a school year. Unlike Percy Jackson, each book isn't a summer vacation. All of these things happen one after the other, saturating the characters lives, and I think it's very interesting.

The adults have some crazy lore going on. It's pretty fun to try to piece all of that stuff together because Sophie doesn't take a lot of interest in it.

Everything about KOTLC is interesting to me. I'm not going to say there's no issues with it ever (please followers do not come in my ask box and start telling me there are issues with KOTLC idk why it's so controversial to say that Shannon did a really good job with character and plot complexity) but I hugely recommend giving it a read. Let me know if you read it and what you think!

[kinandbearit]

♡        ｡   MYLO / JEST⠀! ⠀ ⠀ he/they/+ ⠀⦂⠀ 18 ✮ · ˙﹒ㆍ

『✎』 — greetings ! to get straight to the point, this is a fictionkin blog. a place for me to catalogue my thoughts, share memories,, really anything ! including hopefully answering some asks, should any be sent in :> all in all? this is just a silly lil thing for the shits and giggles ( and self discovery and growth and all'at probably. but mostky goofin' ).

╭━━━━━━⟢  ☆　　⠀ KINLIST

🌻 — spiritual kintypes : apollo (myth, rrdnvrse). patroclus (tsoa). linh song (kotlc). purpled (dsmp). jest (heartless).

🌼 — psychological kintypes : jest (heartless). wylie endall (kotlc). tubbo (dsmp).

🏹 — hearttypes : kris dreemurr (deltarune). chara dreemurr (undertale). old mokn (tsams) steven quartz universe (...steven universe). technology. demons. rapunzel (tangled).

🌵 — copinglinks : leo valdez (rrdnvrs). sun (tsams). old moon (tsams).

🌱 — questioning : ghostkin.

╰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ｡ ｡ ｡ ｡ ｡ . . . ♪

♣︎⠀♦︎⠀♠︎⠀��︎ ⠀ TAGGING SYSTEM

#reverb.txt — reblogs #beacon.txt — canoncalling #notebook.txt — memories and general thoughts #oracle.txt — answering asks #lodestone.txt — favourites #void.txt — vent / negative post #🌱 / #myrmidon.exe — patroclus stuff/mems #🎶 / #poet.exe — apollo stuff/mems #🚀 / #mercenary.exe — purpled stuff/mems #🃏 / #foolery.exe — jest stuff/mems #🌊 / #geyser.exe — linh stuff/mems #🎧 / #wyvern.exe — wylie stuff/mems #🌲 / #snowfall.exe — tubbo stuff/mems

[ahoyimlosingmymind]

You dislike Sophie? Any particular reason?

This is all my opinion, I'm not even concrete in it ngl, there's just lil things that irk me about her character. I also haven't read the books in a fatty minute, so maybe I'm just delulu. its also 2am so hehe

Similar to how I feel about Keefe, it really comes down to execution of her character for me. I don't have as in depth thoughts on her as I do about Keefe's character, but anyway-

I really really loved her in books 1-5. <- I just think this was the golden age for the books in general but I digress. She was very moral, sweet, and logical. She rushed into danger and questioned things, which landed her in hot crap sometimes. But there was always a REAL motive behind her desire to not listen to the authority figures. She was really relatable in the way she wasn't totally over-powered, still trying to find her footing in this new world etc

But then, at some point, I'm not really sure WHEN it happened, Shannon decided that every single one of her female characters needed to be a girl-boss. No exceptions. And this was when I noticed the shift in Sophie's character. She lost her distinction a bit imo. you could easily interchange any of her 'Girl power'-esque lines with any other girl in the series and I wouldn't blink. That's how little her 'confident character development' sticks out to me. Because it comes off as FORCED.

here's the thing. Sophie already was a girl boss character. It was obvious. From book 1, she was brave and selfless and moral and strong... I love her for that.

The issue is that the narrative became aware of it too. And started TELLING us instead of letting her actions speak for themselves.

This telling was greatly reinforced by characters like Ro who always has to comment on being bad ass. And like- Linh losing some of her original softness for the sake of being 'powerful' and I AM ALL FOR empowering stories and characters- but when they lose the original aspects of their personality for the sake of it?? That's not growth, it's erasure. Confidence and softness aren't mutually exclusive. And when Linh was first introduced, that was one of the shining aspects of her personality. But now, There's so little distinction between a lot of the girl characters now for this reason. They serve as a comment on society, they're vessels to embed a message into. And they lose their individualism within that. BC THE MESSAGE WAS ALREADY THERE. IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE EXPLICITLY STATED EVERY OTHER PAGE. *cough* sorry.

And sadly, Sophie's character got lost in the sauce with it for me. (And it does not help that the side cast of characters is so vast they kinda blend together as well)

What really got me though, was when she started making weird choices that felt like forced edginess. Like burning down the storehouse. She's done some crazy stuff in the past, but I was always on her side. but this time??? no.

THERE WAS VALUABLE STUFF IN THERE. That was pure shock value. Because wdym we've been scrambling for answers for the past several books, and when Sophie stumbles upon a storehouse stock full of Neverseen stuff she just... burns it to the ground?? Like wasn't Gisela's Arche-something in there?

Sophie had no issue letting Alvar go for some info in regards to Keefe, but then she get's his mom's book of plans and BURNS IT???

And I get her thought process behind it was "The Neverseen has taken everything from me, so I'm going to take something from them. I'm tired of always sitting back and just reacting and never being proactive." I GET THAT. But burning the storehouse was SO not the moment lmao. She's also traumatized and the Neverseen is very triggering for her obviously, which means she doesn't always have the clearest thoughts in regards to it. But BOI-

I might just be an asshole. Idek.

I made a previous post talking about how unfair she was to Fitz when they were dating. It's buried in my blog somewhere. But she was not a saint in that situation (neither was he.) but just like Keefe, the narrative doesn't hold her nearly as accountable as it does when it comes to basically everyone else.

I don't hate her at all, but yeah idek. I'm tired lol

[askundersiege]

WELCOME TO THE BLOG!! <3

haiii! my name’s glitch, welcome to this askblog! this blog is for some of the original characters in a story i’m hoping to write in the future: the members of the band, UNDER SIEGE, and their (mostly reluctant) groupies!!

please do ask my ocs anything you like—relationships, personal questions, just general silliness—or ask me anything about them! i will answer questions to me directly, but ones addressed to specific ocs will be answered in a short rp-style reply (“hellooo,” he said, etc).

additionally, feel free to drop starters for rps with any of them! i will do my best to reply to everything as fast as i can, but bear in mind it might take a while depending on the question, starter, or request.

fanworks are also welcome, of course!! make sure to tag this blog if you make anything as i’d LOVE to see it!! <3

under siege’s storyline is set in 2008, saskatchewan, canada. the world that the characters reside in is similar to ours in most ways, except for the potentially provable existence of supernatural entities and occurrences, and some made up place names. the characters live in the town of Normal, a rural town surrounded by woodland, with only one road in and out.

it should be noted that there will be dark and horror themes present throughout; everything will be tagged appropriately, but if you’re not a fan of horror content, keep yourself safe and comfortable <3

without further ado, let’s meet the band! click their names to be taken to character-specific posts (COMING SOON), which contain much more information and all of the posts related to them.

the lead singer is roxy blake, half of the foundation of the band. she’s crass and confident, ruling with an iron fist and razor-sharp pink nails.

second-in-command is bassist dean xie, who’s allegiances are torn between fellow founding member roxy and the band’s guitarist, celia starling, whom he has a soft spot for (and who has a soft spot for absolutely no-one). though she arguably brings the most to the band, she is often dismissed; and “creative differences” between her and other members are the origins of most of the band’s infighting.

their drummer is linh vu, happy being stuck in their lead’s shadow alongside celia. though outgoing and cheerful, very few people actually know anything concrete about them.

their most enthusiastic supporter is quinnie xie, who attends all of their practices without fail and handles most of the tech stuff. she’s impulsive and a little flighty, violently different to her twin brother dean.

though its embarrassing to have your only supporters be younger siblings, celia later managed to get her half-brother, jesús echeverría, to attend a practice or two. with zero musical ear but little else to do, he became their designated driver.

finally, maple akhtar hangs out with the rest of them for little other reason than he doesn’t want to have to make new friends who don’t spend all their time playing in roxy’s basement. he’ll sit in the corner quite happily ignoring the rest of them, with headphones so big he wouldn’t hear an explosion directly underneath him.

under siege play pop punk, emo and screamo music, often covers of early-2000s artists such as taking back sunday, blink-182, my chemical romance, evanescence, and underoath. while there’s a little bit of internal drama (correction: a LOT), the focus of the story when it eventually comes together in my mind will be more supernatural, with celia as the main character.

tags i will be using are:

#under siege - for all posts

#ask under siege - for asks directed to the characters

#ask glitch - for asks to me rather than the characters, about the world etc

#glitch rps - for roleplays

#glitch writes - sneak peeks or oneshots to do with the band

#under siege fanworks - for fanworks, if i get any :3

as well as specific ones for each character!

enjoy! <3

[the-great-gullon-incident]

Interview Question-

Who is the one who messes up lines most? Most likely to be in the blooper reel a ton?

2nd question?

Actor AU relationships?

*Sophie, Tam and Linh are answering*

Linh: out of the three of us? I would say Sophie messes up her lines the most.

Sophie: In my defense I’m the main character. I have a lot of lines to memorize.

Linh: But I think just out of the whole main cast of kids Marella has definitely messed up the most.

Tam: Keefe forgets his lines but recovers quickly by making something up. Marella just stands there for 10 seconds trying to remember what she was supposed to say.

Sophie: I definitely have the highest blooper count though. Kept tripping and knocking stuff over on set.

——————————————————————————————

For the relationships I’m not really sure what you mean but most of the actors are close friends. The core five are definitely the closest though.

[rayniscatstatue]

“Severed Ties and Dreams”

Word count: 1605

Prompts: 54. “I don't hate you.”

78. "I hate you, I can finally say that without ripping my own heart out. I can finally say it with every fibre of my being, every bone, every nerve and I never want to see you again."

96. "You two deserve each other, you really do. Now, will you just leave me alone?”

Character relationships: Sophie Foster and Keefe Sencen (romantic), Keefe Sencen and Biana Vacker, Linh Song (platonic), Sophie Foster and Rayni Aria (platonic)

Description: Sophie and Keefe start fighting about how Keefe is always trying to make sure she is okay. Then Sophie snaps at him.

————————————————————————

Keefe’s pov-

I don’t remember how the fight started.

I just simply can’t but all I know is that Foster is shouting at me. She seems to hate me right now. When ever this happened before we were dating though things always cooled down.

I don’t think that will happen this time.

Her dark brown eyes are filled with furry as the words finally hit me. "I hate you, I can finally say that without ripping my own heart out. I can finally say it with every fibre of my being, every bone, every nerve and I never want to see you again."

I body feels rigid. The words repeating in my brain.

“Foster.” I say, knowing my eyes are glassy.

“Don’t fucking call me that.” She stares daggers at me. The guilt hitting me.

“I don’t even remember what I did!” I shout. Waving my arms around the place.

“Sure you don’t, lair.” Her voice is bitter, spitting words at me. “I hate you, Sencen.”

“So you get to call me by my last name?” I watch as she unclasps the necklace I gave her. “That really fucking hurts Sophie. I didn’t mean for that shit to happen. I’m sorry for what ever I did, but my mind won’t let me remember it. I am trying as hard as I can. Everything has become a blur to me.” I take a few steps back.

“You have a photograph memory, Sencen. This shows how much of a dick you are.” She grabs her water bottle, slowly unscrewing the cap. “Should’ve just stayed with the Neverseen.” I can barley hear the last part that she mumbles.

“I left for you! I did that all for you!”

“Don’t seem like it!” She chucks the water at me. The cold hitting me in the face as it drenches me. I quickly turn my heel as I run out the door. Leaving her behind.

Sophie’s pov-

I watch as he turns his heel. Quickly speeding out the door.

I pull out my imparter, it being my only last hope. “Dex Dizznne.” I say.

The ring runs through the house. I don’t actually hate Keefe. I just don’t know what got into me. I should be great full that he is trying to protect me.

I am the one being over dramatic.

My imparter tells me that he is unavailable. Time to move onto the next person. I know Keefe would be going to Fitz so he is out of the question. Marella is always good with this stuff.

“Marella Redek.” I wait as my imparter once again rings. Waiting forever.

Another friend unavailable.

“Linh Song!” I am shouting now.

She has instead hung up on me. Unusual.

“Tam Song!” I ball my other hand into a fist as I wait. Already taking a guess what will happen. But it is worth it.

He is once again unavailable.

“Oh my god, Biana Vacker!” I feel my nails pierce the skin on my palm. Might as well punish myself for this one.

She hangs up on me, must be with Linh or something.

“Okay fine, Jensi Babblos!” I stumble over to the couch as my imparter rings through.

Another one down on the list, only Maruca, Rayni and Wylie left. If not then I am screwed.

“Maruca fucking Chebota!” I start to attach the necklace to my imparter like a chain. I don’t care, at least show Keefe that I still care.

Two more shots left.

If this doesn’t work I am pouring sand down my throat.

“Rayni Aria.” I take a deep breath in.

Her face flickers onto the screen, finally! “Sophie, are you okay? It looks like you have been crying.” She points out.

“Can you just leap over to Havenfeild, I need some advice and your the only person that actually answered out of Dex, Marella, Linh, Tam, Maruca and even Jensi. I can’t hail Fitz or Keefe though.” Tears start to pour down my face. My other hand still in a fist.

“Okay, I will be on my way. Don’t worry I will punch Tammy boy along with Linh and co in the face afterwards.” Rayni replies determinedly.

“Thanks, but no need to go punching people.” I weakly smile as the imparter flickers off.

I unclench my fist to see blood poring down. The sticky substance on my hand. I wipe it on my black cape, hoping to hide it.

That’s when I start to hear footsteps coming up to my room. Rayni.

She opens the door. “Oh my god Sophie.” She rushes over to me. “Spill, I will give the paper towels to clean up the tea.”

“I-I got into a fight with Keefe. I think it was over how he was always trying to protect me.” I whisper.

“Just go speak to him, I am sure he will forgive you. He loves you for goodness sake.” Rayni waves her arms around as if I am an idiot. Can’t disagree though.

“But I told him I hate him, plus I told him that he should’ve stayed with the Neverseen.”

“Okay, damn.” Rayni takes my hands in hers. “Speaking to him upfront will always help.”

She continues to go on giving me relationship advice. I am starting to question if I should’ve hailed Wylie first.

Keefe’s pov-

I knock on the door of Everglen. I need to speak to someone. Specifically Biana.

“Hello, Keefe!” Della opens the door. “Are you okay?” She notices my puffy eyes from crying.

“I need to speak to Biana.”

“Alright, she is up in her bedroom with Linh though.”

“That doesn’t matter.” I brush past her as I find my way to the stairs of the mansion.

I want her back, I really do. I just want to be able to love Sophie without anything or anyone getting in the way.

I rush down the hall wiping my eyes. Hoping to make them less puffy. I know it probably isn’t working but oh well.

Biana will under stand.

I repeat those words in my head as I make my way to her door. I knock or the door, twice.

“Hello?” She opens it. “Oh, Keefe. Come in.” She pulls me in as I sit down on her bed.

“What happened?” Linh turns towards me. Her imparter going off at the moment. She cheeks it. “It’s Sophie, should I answer?”

“W-we kind of had a fight.” I tuck my knees into my chest.

“Okay, I won’t answer.” Linh presses decline as Biana sits down on the other side of me.

“What happened?” Biana asks. She grabs my hand as Linh grabs the other. I hold onto their warm touches.

“It was the classic I just wanted her to be alright. But this time it escalated massively.” I mumble as Biana’s imparter starts to ring.

“Sophie, it seems that she is also in distress.” Biana looks up at us as she declines on her. I feel so bad. Hopefully Tam or Marella will be able to help her.

Maybe even Fitz.

“Keep going.” It is Linh this time. Her eyes soft behind her black and silver hair.

“She shouted that she hates me. Also mumbled that she wished I stayed in the Neverseen.” I look down at my feet.

“Oh my god, I know her emotions can sometimes run high but this is unexpected.” Biana mutters beside me.

“I could only feel anger at the time, maybe a little guilt as I was turning my heel.” I drop my head down as I rest it on Linh’s shoulder.

“Just deep breaths.” Linh speaks to me, putting her head on top of mine. “1.” I breath in.

“2.” I breath out as Biana say says it.

We keep going like that up to 100.

“Now, you should speak to her.” Linh says.

“I hear foot steps.” Biana points out as we all look towards the door.

Two pairs. “There are two people.” I mutter.

“Yeah.” Linh agrees as a knock comes to the door. Biana stands up to open it.

It revels Sophie and Rayni.

“Sophie, why are you here?” I stop myself for a second as they step in. I notice her glassy eyes. “You hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.” She mutters, looking down. The rest of the girls looking at each other awkwardly.

“We will go.” Biana says as she grabs Linh to walk out the room.

That only leave me, Sophie and Rayni. At least she found someone.

“Do too.” I whisper.

“Keefe, look at me.” She crouches down in front of me, grabbing my hands.

All I can feel is a spiking guilt. She actually doesn’t hate me.

“No.” I shake my head.

Instead Sophie grabs my face with one hand. Bringing it up to her’s.

The soft press of her lips against mine. I kiss her back as I squeeze my eyes shut. Hoping to live in this moment forever.

She really did take back everything. So do I.

She leans back, my lips now feeling cold.

“I love you.” Foster raises my chin with her hand.

“I love you too.” I rest my head on her shoulder. Faking into her warm embrace.

I missed this feeling.

“I will leave.” Rayni points to the door.

“Thanks, Rayni.” Foster calls to her, not looking up.

“You two deserve each other. You really do. Now, will you just leave me alone.” She walks out the door. Directing her last sentence to Foster.

“Love you.” I whisper again.

She giggles, the best sound ever. A smile creeping up on her cute face. Her blonde hair falling perfectly down her shoulders.

————————————————————————

Ps. Loved how I made Rayni and Sophie’s sister like relationship!

[gil-shalossssss]

Random KotLC + PJO Headcannon

So Nico is shadow-travelling somewhere and gets pulled off course by Tam, who is just doing something with shadows and doesn't even know Nico exists until this happens. Nico stumbles out of the shadows Tam is controlling, goes, "Wait where the heck am I?" and faints. Tam and Linh both absolutely freak out, but Linh convinces her brother to just leave the boy there until he wakes up. So Nico wakes up an hour later and finds two strange elves staring at him. Naturally, he jumps up and pulls out his sword. The exchange goes as following, with Nico speaking English and Tam and Linh speaking the Enlightened Language:

Tam: I told you we should've dumped him outside Ravagog!

Linh: It's okay! We won't hurt you!

Tam: SHE won't.

Nico: Who the hell are you? Why were you watching me sleep?

Linh: ...What?

Tam: It's a human!

Nico: Stop speaking gibberish and talk to me!

Linh: We won't hurt you.

Tam: Wait, if he's a human, how did he just do that? Are you a hum- el- humelfian? That's not a word.

Nico: So are you going to attack me or are you going to talk to me?

Linh (holding her hands in front of herself placatingly): It's okay. Are you an elf?

Anyway they don't get answers because they can't talk to each other, but Nico is curious so he keeps coming back, and eventually he learns the Enlightened Language and Tam and Linh learn English. He visits them, teaches Tam to shadow travel, makes friends with them. He's told them about Iris-messaging and sometimes they use it, but most of the time they talk in person. The gnomes know about him, and while most don't like him because of the child-of-Hades thing and the contact-with-humans-is-forbidden thing, they are not mean to him and don't tell the elves.

When Wildwood starts dying, Nico spends a stupid amount of time trying to find the cause, eventually landing on "ogres." So he goes to talk to King Dimitar about it, even though Tam and Linh told him no. He literally walks up to the gates of Ravagog and goes, "I need to talk to your king." He gets thrown out. When Sophie shows up, he's back at Camp Half-Blood doing stuff, so he misses the whole conversation about them going to live with the dwarves. Also, I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure that Imparters don't work in Dwarven places, so logically Iris-messages wouldn't, either. So Nico comes to visit them and finds... nobody. The landscape is dying and the gnomes are gone, he knows that, he's seen it, but Tam and Linh? WHERE DID THEY GO? Nico Iris-messages them and gets no response, so he tries again and again until Iris sends him a message that says something like, "Dude, stop. I already told you I can't get through." Nico goes back to Camp Half-Blood and spends two-thirds of his time worrying about Tam and Linh, because if they're not there and they didn't contact him beforehand and he can't contact them now, SOMETHING must have happened to them. He continues Iris-messaging them every couple hours, hoping against hope to see their faces pop up instead of Iris's "Connection Failed." By sheer luck, he manages not to Iris-message them in the middle of their stealth mission to Ravagog. Instead, he calls them right after.

Nico(English): LINH! TAM! THERE YOU GUYS ARE! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT YOU? ALSO, WHERE ARE YOU?

Tam(English): Jesus Christ Nico you scared me!

Linh(English): Nico! This isn't a good time!

Nico(English): YOU WERE MISSING FOR OVER A WEEK! ANY TIME IS A GOOD TIME!

Linh(English): We've been trying to contact you, we promise, but now is really really not the time to be talking—

Nico(Italian): DOVE SEI? (pause) WHERE ARE YOU?

Tam(English) Havenfield. Can we talk to you later?

Linh(English): Yeah, the Councillors are staring at us. At you, actually.

Nico(English): ...Councillors? (finally registers that there are people in the vicinity other than Tam and Linh) OH GODS who are these people?

Tam(English): Some of them are allies. Some of them are people we've been forced to work with.

Keefe: So hey are you gonna tell us what's happening or are you gonna keep talking to the hologram boy?

Nico(Enlightened Language): Hologram boy?

(Cue elven hysterics)

Nico(Enlightened Language): Is one of them made out of rock or is that just me?

Tam(Enlightened Language) : He's rock.

Sophie: Guys, WHAT IS GOING ON?

Linh(Enlightened Language): Oh this is Nico. He's our friend.

Nico(Enlightened Language): Whom you have scared half to death because you suddenly vanished without a trace!

Linh(Enlightened Language) : There really wasn't time to contact you before we moved in with the dwarves—

Nico(Enlightened Language): DWARVES?

Tam(Enlightened Language): Yes, that's what she said.

Nico(Enlightened Language): Guys, you can't trust dwarves, they steal EVERYTHING—

Linh(Enlightened Language): Have you ever met dwarves?

Nico(Enlightened Language): No, but they stole someone's almanac and that person turned me into a corn plant when I returned it—

Linh(Enlightened Language):Okay we have to hear that story later.

Councillor Emery: Who is this? And what (gestures to Iris-message) is this?

Tam: Well that's more explaing than I want to do right now.

Edaline: Can we focus? Please? Ogres and gnome plagues are more important than hologram boys.

Nico(Enlightened Language): Can you not call me that?

Tam(Enlightened Language): That's a good idea. We'll call you back later, Nico.

Nico(Enlightened Language): What NO—

(Tam swipes through the Iris-message)

And then they do the whole thing with Calla and Panakes, but before the Council leaves, they require Tam and Linh to explain. The Council is mad at them for breaking the No Human Contact rule, but then Tam points out that he's a demigod and they don't know what to think. They leave it at "To Be Determined." Nico, meanwhile, is sitting and staring at the spot where the Iris-message was and fuming. How DARE they disappear and worry him sick, only to tell him "not now" when he finally reaches them? Tam and Linh call him back before they leave Havenfield and explain the whooooole long story. Nico is like, "Well, that sounds like it sucked. But if you ever disappear like that again I will never talk to you again."

So yeah that's about all I have and this post is really long anyways goodbye

[you-have-been-frizzled]

tam song

you’re safe…

this was heavily influenced by @crymeariveronceagain post on how Wylie and Linh would react to Tam coming back home, which you should probably go read too

he didn’t speak for weeks after he came back from the neverseen, not unless he was spoken too and even then it was one word answers

he hated the way everyone would look at him with pity and try to get him to talk, he did want to talk it wasn’t safe to talk he would just hurt people more

Linh wasn’t the first person he talked to Wylie was, he talked for a long time to his big brother about how he was treated and how he was just trying to protect everyone but he messed up so bad

he hates that he hurt his sister, and he doesn’t want to hurt her more so, he didn’t tell her what the Neverseen did to him, he wanted to protect her

it was Wylie encouragement that got him to finally talk to Linh

he hated that the Council treated him and glimmer like Criminals that they would check to make sure them behaves, they reminded the, what will happen if they didn’t.

interrogation, mind probes, tracking devices, banishment, mind brakes, exile

their threats reminded him of the Neverseen and how they would punish him,

when Tiergan realized what the council was saying to him he gave them quite the lecture according to Wylie

they left him alone after that. he didn’t know what Tiergan said but he didn’t care they where leaving him alone, finally

he opened up a bit more after that at least to Tiergan, Tam was up really late one night just staring out one of the windows into the ocean

Tiergan sat down next to him and Tam jumped a little, Tiergan apologized for startling him, asked him how he was feeling, Tam told him that he didn’t feel like sleeping and wanted to stay up

he asked Tam if there was a particular reason that he wanted to stay up or if he just wasn’t tired

he didn’t mean tell Tiergan, he was going to say that he just wasn’t tired, but he told him that he was scared to sleep

he told him that he had laid down to go sleep but his brain wouldn’t stop screaming at him that he wasn’t safe that he was in danger. that someone was going to get him

his brain wouldn’t stop screaming Danger DANGER DANGER!

and he couldn’t get it to stop, and even if he could get to sleep the night terrors would come which are worse,

after he said all that Tam felt an idiot, now Tiergan was going to pity him or feel guilty that he was hurt, or see him as a burden

but instead Tiergan asked “do you want to talk about it, be distracted from it, or be alone”

Tam didn’t answer at first and then he said “i don’t wanna talk about it anymore” he didn’t mean to talk about it in the first place

“oaky do you want me to leave?” Tiergan asked standing up

“NO!” Tam said much louder than he meant too “it’s worse when i’m alone”

why was he acting like a little kid he could take care of himself, he didn’t need to be a burden.

Tiergan sat back down, Tam looked at him “sorry i’m being such a burden you can go to bed i’ll be fine” he said

Tiergan was quiet for a long time, Tam tensed up waiting for a lecture but he put his hand on Tam shoulder and looked at him in the eye

“Tam who told you you’re a burden?”

“my mom” he said matter a factly “she always liked Linh better”

“she always said i would have been such a great son, if i didn’t act like such a burden, if i wasn’t a twin”

Tiergan wrapped his arm around Tams shoulder, “Tam a burden is something you’re forced to take care of, i want to take of you, i take care of you on purpose”

with that Tam stated sobbing, he didn’t understand why so small would make him hard, Tiergan held him close rocking him whispering “you’re safe” over and over. until Tam fell asleep

this was the first headcannon i wrote in this style @cherryys-stuff

[bookwyrminspiration]

What are your main gripes with the series? My main gripes with KOTLC is that the books are full of filler, move at a very glacial pace, and tend to leave plot points open for long amounts of time without giving the reader any hint as to how the said plots will end. Thus, I struggle to see how Messenger could bring the series to a realistic and satisfactory end. Do you think Messenger will be able to end the series in a decent way?

Those are fair assessments! When you say gripes the very first thing that comes to mind for me are details/capabilities that are introduced only for a very specific instance that aren't discussed again outside of it.

(under a cut for length)

Specifically for me, the outward channeling. It's an elven skill that only ever has relevance in book five. It's introduced and serves it's purpose entirely within the span of that one book. Sophie learns about it and what it is, which introduces how that's what the Neverseen use to topple Lumenaria, and then no one ever uses or even speaks of it again.

That's the biggest example I can think of from the series, but it also shows up in little ways like when Tam literally traveled through shadows in book five, taking several people along with him, and then it was never spoken about again. Or like when Linh figured out how to get everyone across a moving river by having them step where she stepped in book four, and that was the only time we saw something like that. Things like that.

They just irk me. I like consistency, and even if it's not a big thing I'd appreciate some acknowledgement of them outside of the One Instance It Helped The Plot, so that it isn't a thing that in one instance helped the plot. I think it would connect everything in a more satisfying way.

the consistent introduction of New Things (that aren't answers to previous introduced things) after a while is like...well what about all the other things? I personally think Shannon's pretty much reached the limit for new things in keeper what with Elysian and Keefe's new ability and Sophie's recently reset abilities. So it's not a gripe quite yet, but if anything new is brought up then that'll definitely be on the list as well. I want more connection, not constant here's additional stuff!! Added things can be good for the story and develop it further, but at a certain point it's all just done for mystery and nothing is being answered and it's so unsatisfying.

Another that's just a general gripe in all stories for me are things included that shouldn't be physically possible. I've made a few posts about things like this, and they're the most minor of details, but still. One I made a post about was how in Neverseen in one instance Shannon has the kotlcrew walk about 40-50k steps before a mission to get there, which is literally the length of a marathon. Another is how in Flashback Sophie mentions 30+ elixirs she has to take at once, which I calculated out to be a literally impossible amount of liquid for the stomach to contain.

I know we're supposed to suspend our disbelief past them, but things like that always bug me so much when I see them. So that's not keeper specific but it is a gripe I have.

I do think Shannon will be able to bring the series to a satisfying conclusion, though I'm not sure what that'll be given how there's two books worth of content left to see that will change things. Does this necessarily mean I'm fully confident the ending will be good? No. Shannon's capable of bad writing just as much as good, same as everyone else.

I think right now we're on like...a precipice? We're right at the edge between where everything is set up and all the pieces start to fall into place to make the story come together in a nice way. So looking forward it seems like there's too much and too many questions and things just keep getting introduced. But once we cross it and things start to get answered with finality, I think it'll be fine. My commentary will change though if Stellarlune does the "and then this new thing!!' routine again, however.

Anyway, I anticipate enjoying it and think she's fully capable of a good ending, but whether or not she lives up to that is a different matter. I'm also just inclined to enjoy stories, I'm not super picky about that. Unless it's horrendous (cough Stung by Bethany Wiggins cough) then I'll probably find it enjoyable :)

I hope some of that answers your questions, but if not I always love answering asks and talking!!

[crymeariveronceagain]

Wylie and Keefe

The two of them were sitting across from each other at the kitchen island.

A puzzle was spread out before them.

Tam had left, briefly, off to get something.

"You seen the red corner piece, yet?" Wylie asked.

Keefe shook his head. "I've got two blue sky pieces that fit into each other. Probably."

"Nice, nice."

It's quiet, between them, the space occupied like a stillness of soft fleece.

After a moment, Wylie looks at him. "Kid," he said, "I gotta ask you."

Keefe raised one eyebrow.

"Why'd you do it?"

"There are a lot of things you could be asking that about," Keefe said, trying to laugh it off. "I do stupid things."

"Nah," Wylie said, sorting pieces with leaves on them to the side. "You don't. I've seen you. You're a smart kid, your brain goes seventy-five miles an hour."

Keefe didn't say anything to that, as much as his mind immediately declared the statement to be false.

"You always know what you're doing. You have a plan. Maybe it's a poorly thought through plan, but it's a plan nonetheless. I've seen you work. You're bright, really bright, and you always have a reason. So, why'd you do it?"

Keefe shrugged, his hands dragging up through his hair. "What 'it' are we talking about, here?"

"I guess, the Neverseen. I've never understood it. From the time I could think, all I ever wanted was to fight against them, you know? So, I just don't understand how anyone could willingly--"

Keefe cut him off, and looked at him, long and hard, his gaze heavy and dark. "It wasn't... It wasn't something I could choose willingly, entirely. I didn't have much of a choice about it."

Wylie looked at him. "Really?"

Keefe shrugged, his eyes trying to focus entirely on the puzzle, instead of the thoughts inside of his head. He could say words. As long as he didn't think too hard about them. "I mean, my mom would have killed me, or worse, if I hadn't... Y'know. And if she didn't win something she'd only have gotten more and more intense. To the point where... I don't know. I don't know why I did it, I guess."

Wylie looked at him.

"It was stupid and reckless and I let everyone down. So it doesn't matter."

Wylie reached out, and Keefe flinched away a tiny bit before the older boy's hand nestled in his hair and felt like a gentle pressure of warmth and safety. Wylie watched Keefe almost unintentionally lean into his touch.

The action was disturbingly familiar. When Wylie had first started to touch Tam and Linh in a friendly manner, they'd winced and flinched and pulled away-- until he'd shown them safety. Softness. Kindness.

And just like Keefe had, they'd melted.

Wylie brushed his fingers through the soft blond hair. Keefe didn't say anything. "But you've got reasons," Wylie said. "I know you do."

Keefe looked away. "They don't matter. It was stupid. I'd never do it again. I'm not a traitor, I wouldn't--"

"Hey, I know," Wylie answered. "I'm not judging you, Keefe. I just wanted to know why." His hand was still in Keefe's hair, and the younger boy hadn't moved, just leaned closer in to Wylie's gentle touch.

"Because if I didn't do it, someone else would have had to," Keefe said. "We'd made no progress, we were stuck in a spiral, nothing was being done, they'd wanted me for a long time, I'm what my mum wants, her weapon, her legacy, if it wasn't me it would have been Sophie, if it wasn't her it would have been Fitz, and so on. They needed something to satisfy them, calm them down, and I couldn't sit there, still, doing nothing, I--"

"I get that," Wylie said, "I felt like that for years. Black Swan didn't take child soldiers for years," his eyes darkened. "I was so pissed, as a kid. Thought they were doing it for stupid reasons. But damn, if I don't wish you kids never had to deal with this stuff. War is not a thing for new lives."

"I just couldn't let them have everything," Keefe said, "They wanted me, like I was something to be owned, purchased, used, I've been controlled all my life, I just didn't want to--"

Wylie rubbed his hand through Keefe's hair again.

Keefe's whole body relaxed, a tiny way. "I get that, Kid."

Keefe blinked at him. "Really?"

Wylie nodded. "You're smart, Keefe. And you have good reasons behind your actions. Even if they're not the best choices, sometimes, they're definitely smart ideas."

The older boy watched the literal child's eyes tear up.

He swallowed, roughly. "Thanks," he said, his voice choked, "No one's ever told me that before."

Wylie grinned at him. "Well, someone ought to have. I'm right."

Keefe forced his focus back to the puzzle. He pretended that the words didn't stuck in his head for the rest of the day like a horse on a carousel.

[tiredbiostudent]

i love seeing your posts it's very motivating. if you dont mind me asking, do you have any advice for studying (or tricks you use for urself) ((it's v vague sorry))!!!

hi, thank you! honestly I am absolutely awful at studying but I will try to provide some helpful tips:

1. watching university vloggers always makes me feel more motivated to do work! my favourites atm are nayna florence, moya mawhinney, paigeyy (her old cambridge vlogs bc I think she’s graduated now), linh truong, and may gao 2. I have a really hard time getting started so sometimes you just need to be like alright I can at LEAST open up this pdf or assignment. and I can at LEAST create a new word document and write out what I have to do. and occasionally this tricks your brain into actually starting ;) 3. when you plan a study schedule, give yourself at least one free day where you have nothing planned bc at least for me I will absolutely need it. don’t cram your days full of unrealistic things to do! 4. take advantage of your productive moods, but also don’t be too hard on yourself when you’re feeling super tired or burnt out or unproductive. you can also try and flip your productivity switch on (tho this is hit or miss) by doing less taxing stuff like going on a walk, making your bed, watering your plants- any task that makes you feel like you’re accomplishing something 5. have a hobby and life outside of school. easier said than done, but this will really help alleviate the stress and anxiety you feel when something goes wrong academically and that’s the only “important” thing you feel like you have in life. take time for yourself to learn new things, relax, spend time with friends, be in nature, exercise. all about balance baby! 6. study based on what your exam will test you on. if it’s short answer, study the material but also practice writing out example answers. if it’s matching labels to diagrams, practice that! go beyond just writing out your notes, try and fit your studying method to the format of your test. it helps s o much. 7. similarly, ALWAYS DO THE REVIEW QUESTIONS. if you have no time to do anything else, DO THESE!!! I’ve been burned so many times because I feel obligated to retype out all my notes (bc I have to have everything altogether) and run out of time to do the practice questions my prof gives, and those are always the most relevant to what you’ll be tested on. hell, do these before anything else. cannot stress this enough lol!!!! 8. don’t do the readings unless you NEED to or it helps you learn. otherwise it’s a waste of time (and money for a textbook!) imo 9. switch up where you study. unfortunately this isn’t really feasible right now but I find I’m most productive at the library- at your university (if you go) try to find your favourite study spots, and have a few you can cycle through! for me it’s the lifesci commons, law library and the comp sci building because they’re chill, productive atmospheres (as opposed to the SUB or the health sci building, which are too loud and too intense respectively) 10. keep your phone out of sight lol. and get one of those browser locks like forest to dissuade you from getting distracted. for me it’s more of a split second compulsion to check and once there’s a barrier in my way I’m like oh. nvm. 11. my personal note-taking method is taking written notes in lecture of anything important that’s not on the slides. usually your prof will emphasize the important of a topic too! but if they don’t, pay attention to what they’re spending a lot of time going over. after class I’ll add my written notes to the lecture to supplement it and better explain everything we covered. (for virtual lectures, I basically have the slides open in one half of my screen and the lecture in the other and type notes onto the slides as it plays) 12. practice explaining concepts to yourself out loud- this is a great way to see if you’ve actually understood the material! if you can do this once solidly, you’re good to go and it’ll stick in your brain for a while. 13. also try and make connections between topics you’ve covered because often this is what profs like to ask about on exams (cough ~synthesis~). for instance, recognizing that keratin composes tissues in birds, mammals, reptiles, etc. 14. if you’ve been working hard or having a stressful time buy yourself a nice warm drink because you deserve it! :) 15. this one’s a little weird but if you need to remember something like what the foundational traits of vertebrates are, focus on memorizing how many you need to know! if I know there’s 6 of something I need to remember, it makes recalling them SO much easier 16. if you’ve been sitting down studying for a while take a break to just jump tf around your room. you could also go on a walk I guess but jumping is more fun. 17. it’s good to get a reminder of why you’re in school and what makes you passionate about what you’re studying to drive you to keep going. for me I love to watch nature documentaries or go on hikes or look through field guidebooks or read really neat academic papers :) 18. for the love of god please get enough sleep.

I also have a whole tag of #study tips that is 1000% more helpful than what I can provide so definitely take a look through there! good luck, you got this :) ps sorry this got so long winded lol I hope it helps!

[silveny-dreams]

The KOTLC Squad as Lyrics from Inside by Bo Burnham

ignore me my friend just had me watch it and now I have all the songs stuck in my head all the time and I have to do something with them

Sophie: it’ll stop any day now (any day now………………any day now)

Keefe: could I interest you in everything all of the time; a little bit of everything all of the time

Fitz: and I’ve been totally awful; my closet is chock-full of stuff that is vaguely shitty…all of it was perfectly lawful, just not very thoughtful at all and just really shitty—and I’m really fucking sorry

Biana: do I have your attention...yes or no? I bet I’d guess the answer but I don’t wanna know

Tam: sorry that I look like a mess….I booked a haircut but it got rescheduled

Linh: fresh fallen snow on the ground, a Golden Retriever in a flower crown…is this heaven…

Dex: how we feeling out there tonight? Hahaha, yeeeaaaahh…..I am not feeling good

Marella: the world is changing….the planet’s heating up…..what the fuck is going on

BONUS:

Wylie: I used to wake up with a smile, and go to bed at night with a dream….now I’m turning 30 (noooooo)

[allweleftunspoken]

a short human au kam oneshot ✨

I wrote this at like 3am a while ago so I apologize if it’s not the best lol

without further adooo here’s my shitty attempt at writing fanfic XD

— —————- ———

Keefe let out a dramatic sigh as he flopped back onto his bed. He tossed the book he was reading aside because if he had to read Shakespeare for one more second his brain might, quite literally, explode. He was bored and Tam was here, so he might as well move on from homework to annoying his best friend.

“Taaaaammmm” Keefe sighed, kicking Tam’s leg lightly, “Pay attention to meee.”

Tam looked up from his book and tilted his head, “Aren’t you old enough to entertain yourself?”

Keefe threw a pillow at him, but Tam caught it and threw it back, hitting Keefe in the face.

“Well that backfired.” Keefe mumbled while rubbing his face. Tam laughed and set his homework aside. He pulled a leg up to his chest and rested his head on Keefe’s knee,

“Sorry.”

“No you’re not.” Keefe said, ignoring the backflips his stomach was doing.

“You’re right, I’m not, that was hilarious.”

Keefe moved his knee causing Tam’s head to fall.

“Rude,” Tam said, glaring at him.

Keefe laughed, as Tam got off the bed and walked over to Keefe’s dresser. This was their relationship. They laughed and semi flirted but neither of them were brave enough to make the first move. He also didn’t even know if Tam w anted to make a move. Could he be imaging all the flirting? Maybe Tam was like this everyone.

He shook his head and returned his focus to Tam who was now messing with the bottle of black nail polish on the dresser.

“Can you do mine later?” He asked, “It would drive my parents crazy.”

Keefe got up and walked over to him,

“Yeah sure. It drives mine crazy too,” he said with a sad laugh.

Tam laughed too and set the bottle down.

It was safe to say their parents weren’t the best. They were horrible actually. Keefe couldn’t count how many times he’s come home from school to be the subject of his Father’s anger. Whether it was screaming, or throwing things, or the occasional trip to Keefe’s bedroom to destroy Keefe’s sketches, Keefe couldn’t do anything. His mom wasn’t much better. She just stood by and let it all happen, occasionally adding to his list of ‘things to hate myself for’. They fought all the time. He couldn’t remember a day where there wasn’t screaming of some sort. To top it all off they were homophobic. Keefe hated it. He hated it here. He knew Tam’s home life wasn’t much better either, and he hated that. He hated that Tam had to deal with this. No one should. They’d talked about it before, once they even cried because they were so tired of it. They’d talked about running away, but Tam said he couldn’t leave Linh. Keefe had said she could come with them but then Tam said that Linh would never want to leave Marella and Biana. So they decided to wait until they’re eighteen. Then they’d all leave together. They’d move as far away from them as possible and never look back. Keefe couldn’t wait.

He watched Tam pick up one of Keefe’s rings and fiddle with it. Keefe couldn’t take his eyes off him. The sun was about to set and the light was peeking through his window, casting a warm glow over the entire room. Tam looked like he was glowing. He looked beautiful. He always did. He’d never actually tell him that though. He wished he could..he wished he could tell him a lot of things.

Tam set down his ring and turned to Keefe, catching him staring, “What?”

Keefe blushed lightly, “N-nothing.”

“You were staring at me.”

“No-No I wasn’t-“ he stuttered.

Tam raised his eyebrow.

“Hey you knocked over my nail polish,” Keefe said, subtly changing the subject. He reached behind Tam to fix it, but then he looked down to find Tam staring up at him. Keefe’s stomach dropped. They stayed like that for a while, both of them staring at each other, and neither of them moving. It was almost as if they were scared to. Like moving might break the delicate trance that they seemed to be in.

At some point Keefe’s eyes moved down to Tam’s lips. He could’ve sworn Tam started move towards him then, but before he could know for sure a door slammed downstairs.

They both flinched at the noise and quickly leapt apart.

Seconds after the slam, the arguing started. The loud arguing that usually lasted for hours at a time, which could only mean one thing.

His parents were home.

Keefe scratched the back of his head,

”So....”

Tam shoved his hands in his pockets,

“So...I don’t have to be home for a couple of hours...wanna go get coffee or something?”

Keefe could’ve kissed him. He really wanted to actually.

He let out a big breath and whispered, “Yes please.”

Tam smiled, “Ok, just let me get my stuff.”

He started putting his books in his backpack while Keefe got a sweatshirt and pulled it on over his school uniform dress shirt. He grabbed another sweatshirt and turned to Tam,

“Wanna wear this?” When Tam started to get flustered he quickly clarified, “Its getting cold out, you might need it-“

Tam took it and quickly thanked him, and pulled it on over his uniform as well. He put on his backpack and started walking towards Keefe’s door before Keefe stopped him,

”Yeah no, we’re going out the fun way.”

It was also the way that avoided running into his parents downstairs cause he...really didn’t need that right now. He took Tam’s arm lightly and lead him over to the window,

”Oh come on.” Tam sighed.

“Where’s your sense of adventure Tammy boy?”

”I must have lost it somewhere.”

Keefe flicked his bangs, and then out the window they went.

—————————

“Ok but that was the best cookie ever, I can’t believe they just gave it to us for free.”

Tam said as they walked back to Keefe’s house from the coffee shop they ended up going to. The sun had set now and it was dusk. Keefe loved this time of day, when everything was still and quiet and beautiful.

Keefe laughed, “They probably gave it to us because I’m so attractive.”

Tam blinked, “That literally makes no sense whatsoever. “

Keefe smirked, “I don’t hear you disagreeing.”

Tam shoved him with his arm.

“You’re so annoying.”

”You love me.”

”That’s debatable.”

Keefe clutched his heart, “You’ve wounded me. I don’t know how I’ll ever emotionally recover from this.”

Tam rolled his eyes, fighting back a smile.

Keefe knew Tam loved him, platonically if not anything more. He wished it was more, since Keefe had been falling in love with him since the 8th grade. He could never say that though, since he still wasn’t sure how Tam felt. He might never be sure...

They walked for a few more minutes before stopping in front of Keefe’s house.

He looked at Tam and found him already staring at Keefe. He held his gaze and whispered, “Here we are.”

“Here we are.” Tam took a small step towards Keefe, “I should probably head home now...”

Keefe’s heart was in his throat. What was happening right now?

”Probably...”

Tam looked down at their hands and Keefe gathered all the courage he had and started slowly reaching towards Tam’s hand. Their fingers barely brushed before Tam intertwined them. Keefe couldn’t believe this was real. Was this real? If it was dream it was a hell of a good one. He’s liked this guy for years and now it finally happening-how was this happening-?

His voice was hoarse as he whispered, “You know we’re holding hands right now right?”

”Yeah I noticed.”

”And you’re...ok with that..?”

”I’m more then ok with it.” Tam’s grip on his hand tightened slightly, and Keefe almost passed out. No way this was happening. No way he was holding hands with dude he’s like since he was fourteen.

”Keefe..” Tam whispered, interrupting his thoughts.

”Yeah...?”

Tam took a small step towards Keefe, and moved his hands to his face, slowly moving it down to his. He paused, his voice so soft Keefe could barely hear it, “Can I....”

Keefe answered him by connecting their lips. The kiss was slow and everything he’d ever imagined it would be, and more. He never wanted it to end, but it did. They broke the kiss and Keefe leaned his forehead against Tam’s lightly.

“Did that actually just happen...” he whispered.

Tam laughed softly, “Yeah, it did...”

Tam then pulled Keefe into a hug, holding him so tight he thought he might break something. He didn’t mind one bit, and he held him back just as tight.

They stayed like that for a while before Tam whispered the words Keefe thought he’d only ever hear him say in his dreams.

”I like you Keefe. I have for a really long time..”

Keefe smiled bigger then he’d ever smiled in his entire life, “I like you too Tam..”

Tam leaned back from the hug to look at him, “Well I’d hope so since you just kissed me.”

Keefe laughed and after a few more minutes of talking (and maybe kissing) they said goodnight. Keefe watched Tam walk away and thought about what just happened. How did that just happen? He wasn’t sure, but he was sure as heck glad it did. Does this mean Tam was his boyfriend now? He’d work up the courage to ask him tomorrow. For now he went to bed and dreamed about a boy with silver bangs and soft hands.

[quinnfebrey]

How would Nora know where the cameras were? And the phone in the tree? Did the tide end up saving Martha? What’s your headcanon about the shark, what happens? I loved this series so, so much. I binged it twice this weekend and I can’t get it out of my head. So good!

i’m guessing they told her about the phone and stuff and where cameras would be and about what time they would be live watching. like maybe they said to go report every sunset or sunrise bc she wouldn’t have a watch or anything

honestly i can’t figure out the shark and i need more answers. bc gretchen clearly thinks of the girls as disposable, hence linh, but at the same time she acts super protective of them so idk! i thought maybe the shark was planted to non lethally see how they cope with like getting an arm bitten off but there’s too many variables they wouldn’t be able to control, it’s just luck that rachel didn’t die

they get rescued a month after the shark, so like wtf they somehow healed her with shit medicine on the island??? i don’t get it

but here’s my theory okay are you ready: i think that leah goes apeshit on nora, but everyone is like 1) we have pre established that you’re crazy and 2) we have bigger problems rn. so they kind of forget about it but shelby is like 👀 bc she was accused first and is like alright why is leah so convinced this is a conspiracy theory

so then shelby’s just silently watching stuff, and then when she does her interview, she asks to see “her.” now, she’s the last one, so unless they cut out some important stuff, we know that only shelby, toni, and fatin know about the two of them. toni isn’t going to narc obviously, and fatin wouldn’t do that either, so we can gather that nobody has told them

BUT they assume that shelby wanted to see toni! which could mean either it’s a lucky coincidence or they’ve been spying on them, which is exactly what leah would have said (ie “nora was taking to a camera in a tree!”). so that’s shelby’s way of testing them. there’s no reason for them to jump to the conclusion that shelby would want to see toni, unless leah was right, hence the note “you were right”

and! i think rachel havjng her arm bitten off is a turning point for nora bc she’s already pissed about rachel having to go rescue leah, so i think she and the dude who let leah outside start working together from the inside bc the dude is already having cold feet about the whole thing

but besides that idk and given my success rate of guessing anything i’m probably dead off