#shifting to kotlc

[in-every-reality]

In your bio it says you’re a shifter, so I wanted to ask if you shift to KotLC?

If you do, is there anything that you’d suggest to sricpt/script out? I’m planning on shifting there and I want to be careful lol

Yes I do! I haven’t been there yet, but some stuff I’d suggest scripting depending on what you want:

Script out any normal combat/violence and fight only with abilities/tech/skills/whatever. To avoid gory stuff.

If you decide to keep the canon fighting (I am):

You are okay with seeing blood and injuries.

you are not put in a position to kill anybody.

You are not kidnapped (or if you are for some reason, you are very quickly rescued and unharmed).

You are good at using both your ability and any Elvin skills.

Your mind is not as sensitive to/harmed by guilt as most elves’ minds are.

Your mind cannot break.

You do not accidentally break any elvin laws that you didn’t know about; you don’t get in any unnecessary legal trouble (or you can always get out of problems with the council).

that’s all for now! I love talking about this dr and my inbox is open to any more questions/etc about kotlc shifting! :)

[the-way-astray]

i’ve been seeing debates about this since 2022 so here it is

[milo-igidk]

wanna talk abt like keefes anger and the way he handles it 

bc like there are very few instances in the series that keefe is like outwardly angry outside of his own pov. being raised in an emotionally abusive family can fuck you up real bad in the way you handle your emotions, thats without even putting into account the fact that hes an empath. like, that environment where you're constantly forced to push down any negative emotion because you know itll just make things worse for you, it can cause you to let it out in unhealthy ways, often times towards yourself.

i feel like he has so much anger and rage inside of him that he is forced to keep inside and he would rather ruin himself a hundred times over than let it out on someone he loves, and i have no doubt hes terrified of it. hes terrified of himself, of the thoughts and feelings that he has. and im trying really hard to like keep it in cannon and remember whats actually real but i know he has said that he, and i quote "has a major dark side" and that violence and blood doesnt really affect him the way that it does other elvesthe way its supposed to. some people just, are like that, they have dark, bad, violent thoughts, especially mentally ill ppl or victims of abuse. and on keefes side, his dad is a shitty abuser and his mom has killed enough people to be considered a serial killer, i dont think it would be a surprise if he himself had violent thoughts like those, thoughts and feelings that he doesnt act on but theyre still there.

idk what the point of the post is i just have thoughts that i worry are too obvious but then when i say them here ppl like them so ✨anggggsstt✨

[aeliusxoxo]

Any other baby shifters wanna be moots?

DRs I wanna shift to-

Harry Potter - Golden Age

KOTLC

Sailor Moon

One Piece

Genshin Impact

Honkai Star Rail

Percy Jackson Universe

Demon Slayer

[the-oracle-at-delphinitely-not]

Having a dr from a not super popular series sucks. I can’t find anyone to talk to about it. like bro.

[the-oracle-at-delphinitely-not]

Keeper of the Lost Cities. My favorite book series aside from anything Rick Riordan. It’s about elves and literally EVERYTHING has jewels and sparkles and asjsjkslslsjshbr

Re-blog this and tell me what your most "obscure" dr is rn!!! (I'm curious)

[sophitz]

Notes on KOTLC, middle grade maturity, and fandom longevity

Now that @bookwyrminspiration and my tag ramblings have returned us to the topic, I'm actually pretty curious about the reception of middle grade lit (specifically longer book series) that progresses in maturity versus that which does not. Is it easier to retain readers if the series matures with them? Is it more difficult to maintain longevity and gain a new post-finale audience if the series is unsuitable for a single age range? (Yes, in my opinion, to both.)

KOTLC has a pretty strictly static 8–12 audience range, which I think is largely responsible for its high fandom turnover rate. There's nothing wrong with staying deeply devoted to the kids' books you were obsessed with in middle school, but the truth remains that most people don't. It's doubly true for series like Keeper, which is in itself perpetually middle grade. Teens grow up, they relate less to the characters, and they move on. Thus, the population pyramid of our fandom is skewed towards the masses of incoming tweens who largely lose interest by 16-18. I hate to bring HP into this because it's an outlier by all metrics of success, but the main nostalgia factor that helps it retain its status as an eleven-figure franchise is because people like to grow up with Harry over and over again. Sure, we've grown up with Sophie, but not to that extent. Maturity shifts allow a middle grade series to show a bildungsroman proper. Keeper doesn't exactly have that.

On the other side of the spectrum are series like the How to Train Your Dragon books. The first few books are chock full of fart jokes suited perfectly for ten year-olds, but then the series takes an abrupt turn halfway through by centering a slavery plotline, and by the final book, it's full of liberation armies, themes of colonialism, and violent deaths. I'd call it more of a bildungsroman than KOTLC has been so far, even though it only spans about three years in canon. The issue? Its fandom is pretty much dead. Even with the massively successful film/tv/reboot adaptations, the HTTYD books failed in their long-term social relevance, because unlike its adaptations, the series is a pretty awkward binge-read, maturity-wise. Keeper, on the other hand, is practically handmade to binge, because its maturity level never takes any big leaps.

I guess the question I'm tying to ask is which strategy yields better fandom longevity, because above everything, I want KOTLC to remain relevant and celebrated by an active fandom after its final book is published. Sometimes I'm frustrated by its refusal to age because I feel like that stagnation eats away at its potential for wider fandom engagement, but who knows! Maybe focusing in hard on a smaller target audience will bode well in the long run.

[kotlc-aro-week-2025]

prompts for kotlc aro week 2025! the event will run from february 18th to february 24th, which is aromantic awareness week (shifted over 2 days to avoid conflict with other events). make sure to mention @kotlc-aro-week-2025 and/or use the tag #kotlc aro week 2025 in your creations so i can reblog them!

thank you to s gay-otlc for helping me come up with the prompts :)

prompts in plain text under the cut:

day one: rings

day two: unconventional

day three: soulmates

day four: perfect

day five: coming out

day six: spectrum

day seven: free day

[thegunssawyerstole]

Ruthlessness Is Mercy — KOTLC fanfic

Description: Flashbacks throughout Grady's childhood. Grady and Vespera finally meet. Grady is pathetic and sexy while Vespera is evil and sexy. This will probably be a series if yall like it. Neverseen!Grady series.

————————————————————————————————

It's ok to feel… troubled when you manifest as a Mesmer. The mind is something greatly idolized, and manipulation of it is scrutinized.

Grady laid on his bed as he flipped through the pages of his new, Foxfire-issued textbook, dramatically sighing each time he flipped to a new page.

Lots of diagrams, he thought as he studied a diagram of an elven brain, this isn't freaky at all!

He closed the book and looked at the title, hoping it would change the outcome of the results.

A Beginner’s Guide to Being a Mesmer.

Instinctively, he turned the book over so he couldn't see the title, hoping it wasn't real.

Grady was still dealing with the uprooting of his entire life. Ever since he manifested, his family wouldn't talk to him and his Foxfire peers would look at him as if his entire existence was a taboo.

He knew they were right.

His ability to entrance then control the wills and minds of others wasn't banned outright, simply anyone with it was virtually a pariah.

As his thoughts stirred, he had no idea what that bubbling feeling in his chest was, as he began to choke on his tears; thinking about everything he was losing.

Once you learn how to manage this daunting power, it will be like you never manifested in the first place.

———

“Finally, I get to meet you in person. You're as…mesmerizing as they say.” A pale gray elf with very pointy ears emerged out of the shadows.

Grady shuddered at her voice. He didn't know who was addressing him, all he knew was that his mission was being compromised. “That’s a thinking cap, isn't it.” Grady said, pointing to the head dress the elf was wearing. “It’s why I can't sense your mind.” He laughed starkly. “That is, unless I've officially lost it.”

“You’re rather clever, however not clever enough to know this is not a hallucination.” The elf said, appearing on the other side of the room.

“Two questions. How do you know who…and I'm assuming what, I am? What do you want?”

“There’s only so many Mesmers on the Nobility. Isn't it unfair?” She smiled a cold smile, “as for the second question, you'll just have to find out.”

“Once I figure out who…and where you are… I'm going to rip that thinking cap off your head. Then we'll see who's laughing.”

“You’re rather bold for someone who just started his job as an Emissary.”

“I've been here for a decade, miss whoever you are,” Grady said, observing the walls.

Mirrors, he thought.

“A decade is a rather short amount of time, especially for an elf.” She smiled, her image shifting to another mirror.

“You’re an Ancient, aren't you?” Grady looked around for a way out. “I’m asking one more time, what do you want?”

“Your help.”

—-------

“This is in no way a bad idea,” Grady whispered to himself as he stood on the Bramble field. “Get in their heads, get the ball. Like you have before. Two people is nothing.” He said that last part again, as if he was trying to convince himself of it. Then, he exhaled and said “game on.”

A whistle blew and Grady took off running towards the opposing team's bases.

Bramble was the one place in school where he wasn't an outcast. In fact, he was the opposite. Due to his ability and Bramble allowing abilities, he was the star player on the Foxfire Bramble team. He knew that for the most part, he was seen more as an asset, but it felt good to have a community.

He spotted two people running towards his team's base and exhaled again. “Change of plans. Go for one. This could be…” he hesitated for a moment. “Fun.”

He closed his eyes and locked in on the mind of one of the people, a girl, feeling his energy coursing through hers. It was almost a calming feeling as he felt their energy become one. Then, felt his take over hers. He opened his eyes and saw her, feeling her attempts to move. He let out another sigh as he focused his energy on launching her towards the other person running. Watching intently and with a slight feeling of horror, he made her tackle the other elf.

Once he saw a few elves run to the tackled boy to help, Grady ran for the ball.

————

“You’re going to ask me for assistance and not even give me a name?” Grady asked through his laughter.

“Why do you need a name?” The Ancient asked. “It's not in any of your Elvin History books, rest assured.”

“I am assured,” he said, walking towards a mirrored wall. “Very assured.”

Grady drew back a fist and punched a mirror, the glass shattering into a seemingly infinite amount of pieces.

He did it again. And again. And again, until he was standing in a pool of shards. He looked at his fists, which were bloodied.

Most elves aren't used to the sight of blood, let alone their own. However, between his time playing bramble and the Council giving him more…unsettling missions, he had seen his own blood plenty of times.

He looked around again for the Ancient, but couldn't find her. Then, he picked up a glass shard and wielded it like a knife. “This is the last time I'm asking nicely. What do you want with me?”

“And what are you going to do about it? You're practically defenseless.” She laughed another bone-chilling laugh. “Anyways, I want your help to change the world as we know it.”

“Very funny. You cannot demand my help without even giving me an actual face.” Grady waved the makeshift knife around.

And then, she stepped out of the shadows. Then, Grady ran behind her and stuck the mirror shard to her throat. “One more word,” he said through gritted teeth, “and I’ll slash.”

“You wouldn't do that. At the end of the day, you're still an elf. You're fragile.” She grabbed the shard out of his hand with ease and pointed it back at him. “You, however, would be quite the interesting specimen to study.” She grabbed his hand and carved a line in the palm.

Grady winced but through the pain, grabbed another shard with his free, less bloody, hand. This time, instead of holding onto it, he threw it at the Ancient. It got caught in her cheek and she smiled. She took out the bloodied shard without even flinching. “It makes sense that one like you has the capacity to be so… ruthless.”

“What do you mean ‘one like you,’” Grady asked.

Deep down, he knew the answer. He knew it was because— as far as elves went— he was essentially hardened to violence. He was almost human in that aspect. While he burst into tears at the sight of an animal being hurt and rush to help, he's the only elf he knew that would scrape and bleed and even scar. He's the only elf he knew that didn't really care that he did, of course he'd stop by a Healing Center and patch up, but in the moment, he'd wince but there would be no shock.

He had a theory on why he was like that as well. It was because of his damned ability, it was an inherently violent one to him. Even as a kid, he held the belief he was dangerous. Therefore, he didn't really care about what happened to him, only the people he was close to; if he ever met someone he was close to.

Despite knowing the answer, the Ancient answered “your history, Grady. The Troll incident. The Bramble championships.” She wiped her cheek and showed him the blood. “You made and Ancient bleed. You're as ruthless as you are ostracized. With your help, we could reshape the world. A world where you won't be judged for something you couldn't control. A world without being viewed as evil for something you were burdened with. Not something you desired.” She offered out her hand for a shake.

He observed her hand, which was as gray as the rest of her skin. “Before I accept your generous offer, what's your name?”

“Vespera.”

Grady shook Vespera’s hand with his cut one.

————————————————————————————

taglist: @nowjumpinthewater @camelspit (this was YOUR idea) @crescentpaws (it evolved a bit since we last spoke)

[the-oracle-at-delphinitely-not]

We’re shifters, of course we never want our dr s/o to get with anyone in canon

(Dex dizznee, my beloved)

Repost pls

We're shifters, of course we hate the Canon ship of our s/o

[in-every-reality]

Do you have any ideas for what to script for a KotLC Dr if you’re a pyrokinetic?

I'd recommend scripting:

It wasn't made illegal OR the law is eventually removed

You don't get caught using it and/or you have permission to use it

Nothing important/valuable/meaningful/inconvenient catches fire

You don't get burned (pretty sure that's a thing anyway, but better safe than sorry)

You can control everblaze (if you want to be overpowered. your choice)

maybe script your fire has unique colors! just seems fun

script that if you train with fintan he doesn't manipulate you or nothing and he's actually a decent teacher

script people don't treat you badly because of it

you can always keep your flames controlled (no wildfires or anything yk)

feel free to send more questions/reqs!!

[izbybun]

Could be a controversial opinion?? But if KOTLC ever did get an animated counter part I think it would be best in 3D, not 2D (or a hybrid of the two). 2D would be super advantageous for graphically depicting abilities like telepathy or inflicting while CG would open so many possibilities when it comes to camerawork, complex lighting, and materials. The lost cities are chock full of color-shifting crystal buildings (nearly ALL the buildings), shimmering fabrics, and places so beautiful that they “shouldn’t exist”. A live action movie trying to accomplish these things would be 1) half cg anyway and 2) wouldn’t even come CLOSE. And I love 2D with all my heart, but the resulting product likely wouldn’t capture it either. Not without jaw-dropping amounts of money and talent (not that cg films wouldn’t require that, but anyways). Opinion stated.

[bookwyrminspiration]

alright I'm taking this conversation out of my notes to make this very unbiased, polite poll

*if you used to pronounce it one way, but that changed with time, use your current pronunciation. or don't. I can't stop you

(note: this is for fun. it's teasing, not serious, and doesn't actually matter)

[myfairkatiecat]

You should make a separate account for the white collar stuff since you’re a kotlc blog and it’s hard to find the kotlc now

Oh honey. You’re new around here, aren’t you?

This ain’t my first hyperfixation shift and it won’t be the last 😭

For what it’s worth, anon—I ALWAYS come back to kotlc. Always. I never leave. I’m stuck here permanently. Have been since 2016.

That being said, this blog is called “Katie’s hyperfixations” for a reason. Stick around and you’ll see why in a few months when my brain stops giving me dopamine for thinking about white collar

[winwin17]

(From Shannon's Instagram, on the new cover reveal )

My humble response:

No, our Lord Hunkyhair is not looking especially hunky on the new cover. He's not bad, but he just looks a little wrong.

Yes, I am somewhat bothered that our Fearless Miss F is not on the cover. KOTLC has been hijacked by a side character, and as much as we all love Keefe, he's stealing the show by now. Hogging the narrative rather than haunting it.

Yes, the new cover is absolutely a different feel from all the others. Again, not bad, but it does make it feel all the more like we're branching off into a different story. That being said, it's kinda cool to have a different mood to the new cover art because it's set in the human world and therefore of course the vibes would be different. (However, the Legacy cover is also capturing a moment from the human world, with Big Ben in the background and all, and yet it still has that fantasy feel.)

Yes, unfortunately our boy *could* look more awesome. No disrespect to the artist, but this time Keefe just doesn't quite look like the Keefe in the other cover illustrations.

I am liking the plain, ordinary, simpler feel of the setting depicted in the new illustration since it's the Forbidden Cities and not sparkly elf town, as Ro would say. And I am liking the ominous looking hoodie guy looming in the background, and the way he seems to be aware of Keefe while Keefe is maybe not aware of him. I do think this is possibly a critical part of the story somehow.

But I'm still not crazy about how the whole cover is so Keefe-centric and the one and only Moonlark is nowhere to be seen. It's just a little sad to me, and I see it as an indication of how the focus of the plot has shifted from where it started. I'd be fine with having a Keefe short story or a Keefe side story, but he needs to quit hogging that narrative.

Okay, end of rant lol

[the-oracle-at-delphinitely-not]

Neat by hozier makes me think of Dex because im so in love with Dex but he’s honestly such a pure, sweet guy that I’m scared I would end up hurting him