#justice for Keefe Sencen

[fitzvackertheritzcracker]

damn girl are u keefe sencen? because u cannot get a fucking break

[the-way-astray]

when the keefe art comes out, i’m going to be so insufferable

[imobsessed123]

KOTLC as things my friends have said!

Sophie- All hot boys have trust issues… and daddy issues

Marella- we definitely do not stan thinking

Keefe, to Sophie- you ate that corn dog so aggressively.. it was beautiful.

Biana- It’s so hideous it’s sorta cute! Dex, from across the room- Are you talking about me?

Fitz- it’s hot in here Dex- Take your shirt off Fitz- Dex- Dex- please?

[drama-llamaaa]

guys we got all of them. except one.

keefe's portrait is next

im not ready im not ready im not ready-

[flibbetygibbetsbro]

"I hate Keefe 'cause-" NO

"Fitz is horrible since-" NOPE

A character's faults is what makes them interesting. If Fitz didn't sometimes let his anger get the best of him he would have no real flaws and would be boring. Keefe has a tendency to become so afraid that he comes up with unhealthy ways to try and stay in control of his life in the little ways he can by lying or running away. I would dislike him/not be obsessed with him if he did not have those faults. The fact that these characters have reasons to make you mad sometimes means that shannon is a good author

[cecebookworm07]

Depressing Headcannon: The alicorns love Tam, and Silveny is just as protective of Tam as she is Sophie and Keefe.

[tamsong]

hello hello! i’m back, this time with a work by the lovely @linhamon-roll! as usual, here is the original text. i hope you enjoy!

(side note: who would want to be added to a podfic taglist? if that would interest you, please let me know!)

[crymeariveronceagain]

River's Thoughts after reading Flashback Again

oh my stars i don't think i can mentally recover from this book

Sophie doesn't understand that if she's in love with Fitz she can't be in love with Keefe and like on one hand i get it and also SOPHIE FOR THE LOVE OF THOR!

"We must not let anger make us overlook potential" is a sucky way to judge a judicial system. the function of judiciary systems is justice. Bish, where that justice for Alvar? Like, I don't want him dead, and I don't think that the way he was treated in this novel was okay, but also. Like, if you're gonna put him on trial, can we like, maybe pretend to be just? Idc that he's not the same person if this is justice let it be justice.

Luzia Vacker is so sus. Like, she just radiates untrustworthy. The entire book. There's never been a more obvious liar.

Alden's definitely a crappy parent. There's a lot of undertone in everything said about him, and as he fades into the background, it's almost like his kids mention things like "my dad would kill me if i did such and such a thing" more often. Idk. I just find it odd.

Exilium and the human world made Sophie a natural killer.

This book is everywhere what the hell is happening

Look, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sophie does not want to be more than friends with Fitz. She literally refuses, constantly, to tell him that she likes him, because she's doesn't want their friendship to change. She likes being friends with him. Literally. The idea of a relationship is so dangerous, so scary to her, it's just straight up not comfortable. And I don't want that for her. I don't want her to have to feel like a relationship is difficult or something she wants to hide. I want her to be happy with who she winds up with. She's not gonna be happy with Fitz. At least, not happy enough to shout it from the rooftops and kiss him in front of everyone.

Ah! Sleep paralysis! Y'know! For kids!

Oh, no, that's just Sophie's echoes. I'm sorry. I forgot that this is fantasy, and fantasy doesn't let kids suffer from sleep paralysis. Hah.

Sophie and Fitz would be a better team if they agreed that friendship was where it's at. Not gonna lie.

Fitz with chronic heart issues. That's it, that's the thought. Idk guys i like the angst this could inspire.

Ah! Panic attacks! Y'know! For kids!

Literally, the only thing keeping Fitz's anger in check this entire book is the fact that if he gets angry he physically suffers and i just think it's kind of sad that this is where he is.

Okay but Alvar being Neverseen shifts the focus away from Alden. Anything weird relating to Everglen or the Vackers can always be traced back to Alvar, and Alden never gets put in the spotlight. That's all I'm saying.

Fitz. Has no friends. What happened. How come Sophie has like 10 friends, and Fitz has. One. And it's his girlfriend. How come we aren't talking about Fitz's protective and obsessive nature literally coming from how few friends he has and how alone in the world this kid really is at the end of the day. He's alienated himself from his family, he has one friend, and he's just. I don't know where I'm going with this. He's too relateable, that's all.

Silveny is offically less annoying than Ro!!!! Yay Silveny!!! Kudos to you!!!

Keefe is literally feeling awful constantly and he's desperately acting like he thinks he's the best it hurts me, guys. This is a coping mechanism. I do this.

Keefe Sencen also actually gives off intense Tony Stark character vibes in this novel. I don't know what's up with that. It's not good, though. I will say that.

Fitz made it extremely obvious about his family's stance on match status.

Keefe flinches whenever a telepath reaches for his head. I'm worried about my baby.

Sophie Foster loves Keefe Sencen so damn much. I can't handle it.

all these pages about the Vacker Legacy and I'm still thinking the Legacy is the entirety of the Neverseen and the eventual downfall of the council idk guys.

How did Gisela know that Alden was sending his kids to the forbidden cities. How did Gisela know that Alden was doing illegal things to find the moonlark. How. How did she know. I think I'm going to scream.

If Alden isn't Neverseen it's practically an affront to writing tbh.

Mr. Forkle habitually violates Sophie's privacy and no one talks about it and Sophie's used to it at this point, but that doesn't mean I'm okay with it.

The idea that the Neverseen's costumes are so complex baffles me. They just need a guster. One swift blast of air and bam. Every neverseen member's identity is known. Because. You could just. Blow the hoods off.

For a secret terrorist organization, the Black Swan is really incompetent. Like wtf.

Sophie being the only person Fitz trusts is not healthy. This is not a healthy relationship. You need to trust more than one person. You can't live like that. Fitz. Fitz.

Marella gets so offended that people don't talk to her but also she starts no conversations and never lets anyone visit so like. I feel like part of this is on her.

Sophie is building an immunity to a sedative. That sedative she's taking is meant to knock her out. There shouldn't be any sort of override that her body can reach. Why has it stopped working so effectively?!

Fitz can be really cruel. Fitz is really cruel. For very little reason, a lot of the time. This is a hurt kid. Why is no one like, checking on his mental state. This kid is going to fall apart. This kid is breaking to pieces. Someone needs to grab him and hold him together. Otherwise there won't be any Fitz left.

Tarina is a better bodyguard than Sandor and should have been Sophie's bodyguard from the beginning send tweet

Sophie knows how to regulate her body temperature really well, and has a special sense for manipulating heat. That's interesting. Especially considering how hard Forkle had to work to keep her from manifesting as a pyro.

Sympathizing with Fintan hours lets gooooo poor insane pyrokinetic i love him and he wants me dead

Fitz was. Way too chill. With committing murder. And everyone else. Was too chill. With the nearly murdering his brother thing. Like, he's a traumatized child, I get that. But also. Can we, like, i don't know. Get him psychiatric help?

Tam Song my beloved.

Tam Song without a G is just Tam Son and that's what he is to me. He is my son. I love him.

There's way too many jumped through hoops that are skipped over from Tam joining the Neverseen to protect his sister and then Sophie trying to register from the match. Just like there's too many missing pieces between when Alvar goes evil again and when Tam joins the Neverseen. This is kind of sloppy.

Also.

SOPHIE. YOU HAVE BIGGER CONCERNS. LEAVE THE MATCH THING. PLEASE. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THE STARS.

Ah, no, she didn't.

Breeding sapient species! Y'know! For kids!

Thank God Sophie Foster is unmatchable I think i'd lose my mind if she wasn't.

[silveny-dreams]

Sil’s Unlocked Experience That No One Asked For

So. This got long. Oops. I’m chalking it up to Sil’s Poor Planning When She Types As She Reads.

(Yeah, this is gonna be purely spoilers. Spoilers only. Spoilers galore. Literal quotes from the book included. You have been warned, thoroughly. If you click the read more and have the audacity to get mad at me for spoiling Unlocked for you, I will merely laugh.)

Anyways. Here is a post ten times longer than you needed it to be. I had ~Thoughts~.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, YALL.

SIR. ELWIN. HESLEGE. THE MAN FINALLY HAS A SURNAME

I would lay down my life for Elwin Heslege and here are some reasons why:

“Grow strong, new little Wanderling. You hold some very precious DNA” the only Sophie’s third father I truly care about, tbh

“In the category of Proof That Things Keep Getting Weirder Around Here” Sir Elwin Heslege how does it feel to know you invented comedy also would you please accept my hand in marriage

In an official health record for Sophie, he notes “I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT’S GOING ON!!” verbatim, in all caps, two exclamation points and everything.....Sir. Valid. I have been there, my dude.

The man would lay down his own life for Sophie Foster and I cannot give him any higher praise than that

Anyways beyond my love for Sir Elwin Heslege (!!!! Still pumped about the surname reveal!!)

Maruca! Chebota! She’s got a surname too!! Finally!!!

Totally forgot that Biana being a third child would have been scandalous if she hadn’t been a Vacker—must be nice being practically elven royalty lol

“A Crush, A Kiss, and Crushing Heartache” lmao rest in pieces Dexter Alvin

I Will Not Forgive Keefe For Redacting His Middle Name From His Registry Records And That Is A Promise (Keefe Cassius Sencen seems more and more likely every day)

Keefe Sencen has literally forty pages of detention records and I’m not surprised but also I definitely laughed

The chaotic descent into madness witnessed in Dame Alina’s principal comments on Keefe’s detention record as time continued on....chef’s kiss

Tam Dai Song and Linh Hai Song....make it make sense, Shannon

Was an entire section speculating on wyl*nh really necessary in Linh’s registry record, Shannon 🙃 was it 🙃

Wylie! Zoran! Endal!

(My phone autocorrected Endal to “end all” and I was like “haha............hang on a second I need to get Shannon on the phONE—”)

Tiergan!! Alenefar!!!

GRADY AND EDALINE SUGGESTED AS WYLIES GUARDIANS I WILL CRY ABOUT THIS FOREVER CAN YOU IMAGINE? I AM ALREADY THINKING OF THE HEADCANON

“Prentice’s close friend (Sir Tiergan Alenefar)” bruh.......bruh.

Stina Destry Heks (also. the way I giggled when “Stina” autocorrected to “stone” at first)

“In a more recent investigation, one report did suggest that the real reason Timkin was able to return to Foxfire...was because he [REDACTED]. And if that’s true, then perhaps [REDACTED]” DO NOT PLAY THESE GAMES WITH ME, SHANNON.

Marella Adene Redek of Fluttermont is registered for the match despite being a pyrokinetic and while given her flirtiness I’m not surprised can you hear me screaming about it anyways

“Anyone directly related to any of the registered pyrokinetics was labeled as a bad match to halt the spread of their genetics, and the ability detecting session at Foxfire now specifically forbids any exercises that might make a prodigy detect heat”—I love love love this as a plot point because it is so unbearably shitty and unfair and I love seeing how cleverly Shannon has built a world that elves think is perfect but it clearly isn’t and I cannot wait to see Sophie demolish and dismantle the entire matchmaking system to get justice for her friend anyways I digress I will get off my soapbox now

Words do not describe the frustration I felt at reading “Brant [LAST NAME REDACTED FOR SECURITY]”. I will eat your doorknobs, Shannon. Do not test me on this

“While the crowd’s initial reaction [to Marella’s reveal as a pyrokinetic at the Celestial Festival] was shock (the collective gasp was loud enough to make many ears ring)” MARELLA SWEETIE YOU ARE A QUEEN TURNING HEADS WE LOVE THIS FOR YOU

I would lay down my life for sparkly blue-green stuffed kelpie Sir Splashyhugs, the first reported emotional support stuffed animal

(Team Give The Whole Squad Stuffed Animals Keeps Winning And Winning, I Tell You)

GRADY. HOWELL. RUEWEN. I AM GOING TO LOSE MY MIND

👀 Edaline Ruewen? You had an assignment given to you by the Council? Care to spill, sis?? Hello???

YALL. I have THEORIES. The Ruewens barely needed any convincing to take Sophie? There was a “brief pause, an exchanged look” between Alden and Grady before Grady agreed? BRUH. You cannot convince me Alden didn’t say something to him telepathically. And my current working theory absolutely has something to do with Jolie.

EDALINE! KELIA! RUEWEN!

“Former caretaker of Brant [REDACTED]” !!! Brant!!! Where are your parents!!!! Why is your name redacted!!!!! I will get my answers or die trying!!!!!!

“SHE’D BEEN ASSIGNED TO ONE OF THE COUNCIL’S MOST FRAUGHT SITUATIONS” E X C U S E ME SHANNON SAY MORE RIGHT NOW

“THE COUNCIL SUSPECTS THAT SOON [REDACTED]” SHANNON IF I DONT GET MY ANSWERS I WILL BE THROWING ROTTEN FRUIT AT YOUR H O U S E

EXCUSE ME??? ALDEN DEDRICK VACKER?????

................................

Do I even need to explain to you what his middle name sounds like

Do I even need to explain the theories racing through my mind right now

I’m going to lose my mind. Shannon. You’ve killed me. This is it. My death. I’m going to go insane

You’re telling me this man married his 201st match recommendation and was engaged to Alina, his 104th recommendation.....did we know he was engaged or am I insane and just forgot

Della Adara Vacker. Queen.

Literally how did Alden and Della get together I need answers

“The Council opted to take her up on it [her request to be appointed emissary], having her look into [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]” bruh.........Shannon how u gonna tie up all ur loose ends if u keep ADDING INFO

“Della did inform the Council that [REDACTED]” Shannon is literally just toying with me now. She is doing this on purpose.

GISELA MINETTE SENCEN WHY IS THAT NAME SO PRETTY BITCH I WILL TEAR YOU APART also I hate that her middle name and my middle name sound so similar someone shoot me

Shannon is going to have to sit there in her wrongness on some of her pronunciations of things and be wrong and get used to it. VES-purr-ah. I ask you.

Do we know what a Chief Mentalist is already or am I sensing more complications Shannon will get to explain later under duress

My dearest s c r e a m e d when she saw the art of Bullhorn. She screamed “YESSSSS” aloud. It startled me into nearly dropping the book.

Wow we love that Laura’s way of interpreting that humans are “less stunning” than elves was to draw Sophie’s human family as chubby. Like. I get that literally in canon they are not skinny models, but. Come on. Bruh. Seriously. I’m tired.

Laura Hollingsworth has no fucking clue what Forkle looks like and she can get used to being wrong about it

My dearest said verbatim “she can only draw one face” and honestly? Correct

That being said....I saw her renderings of Linh and Livvy and Oralie and was reminded that I am, in fact, super not straight

ANYway

We love Shannon for reminding the fandom that the elven world is flawed on purpose! You’re doing amazing, sweetie!

Anyone else wondering whether Blur (who is widely theorized to be Jensi’s brother) is also Councillor Darek or am I reaching

....I’m reaching, it’s because he’s a phaser and I’ve gone so long without any aNSWERS, SHANNON

Swirled? White silver and gold?? Leaping crystals??? Hello????

How long before Keefe Sencen (or the Neverseen, take your pick) steals one of those, place your bets now

Shannon Messenger Drop Your Starkflower Stew Recipe Challenge

.....why does the art of custard bursts look like mini Victoria sandwich cakes what is this utter nonsense

Keefe Sencen’s affinity for butterblasts is valid and correct and I stand by it and also I want some

I amend my earlier statement. Shannon Messenger Drop A Comprehensive KOTLC Cookbook With All The Recipes For All The Elven Foods Challenge Because I Just Ate A Whole Meal And All Those Food Descriptions STILL Made Me Hungry

Biana doing a fashion section? Tam and Linh on Exilium? Flori on gnomish vegetation? Delightful.

Fitzroy Avery Vacker on sports is my new favorite I’m not taking any questions. Fitzroy Avery Vacker, popular but awkward jock.

The twiggler illustration is even better than I imagined, god bless Dex Dizznee

The STUFFED. ANIMAL. SQUAD. ILL CRY I SWEAR ILL DO IT DO YOU SEE THOSE CUTE LIL ILLUSTRATIONS

I will probably never again see the words “the unmapped stars” and not immediately go “Ah. Nattie” in my brain so that’s where we are on username permanence

On that same note I’ve been doing a double-take every time I see the name Silveny so we love that for me

Sophie’s 👏 codenames 👏 for 👏 her 👏 friends 👏

DIMPLES 😭 SPLASH 😭 DONT TOUCH ME

“Sometimes I wonder if the real reason the Black Swan won’t tell me what they’re planning is because they don’t actually have a PLAN” girl. You and me both. (“but at the same time...I kinda think it might be better” I....nah)

Me, reading Sophie’s description of Gethen, getting to the part about a crescent-shaped scar from a dog bite: good boy, Lodie

I can and will be making lushberry juice before all of this is over. We will conveniently forget whether I decide that it will be adult lushberry juice or not

Not to be dramatic but Keefe Sencen is so fucking sappy and also REALLY bad at deflecting the trauma with humor even though he tries so damn hard and I’m sorry I know it isn’t cool to like Keefe Sencen anymore but I have never once claimed to be cool and I do I like Keefe Sencen a lot so there

this novella is seriously only a third of the book. Just. I’m both glad for Shannon because that means she definitely got more sleep and hopefully felt less stress about plotting this year

But also. A third of the book

Anyway

NOT GONNA LIE—I HAVE BEEN WONDERING IF GISELA WOULD WORK WITH WHAT KEEFE ALREADY HAD. I THINK I AM CORRECT, FELLAS

Give Keefe Sencen His Voice Back In A Dramatic Little Mermaid-Style Fashion 2K20

I almost put 2K21 but I am impatient and refuse to wait that long

Well. Guess he won’t be in a coma for the next year.

Would that have been better, I wonder

Also

Not me sighing in resignation that there still seem to be more questions than answers

Gettin tired of this lil song and dance, Shannon

However

Please god in heaven Shannon give me more Grady and Keefe moments in the future because that was The Shit, Yo

Also. The amount of Keefex I got in this book. The Lord said “maybe I can’t give her answers but I’ll make sure her heart isn’t just sad”

Please Let Me Be Able To Trust Glimmer Thanks Very Much Shannon

Well it’s 1:37 AM here so I’m gonna go to bed and then instantly regret this post in the morning ✌️

[raedas]

...Keefe the coral reef? 😭 ✊ justice for keefe sencen

😭 YES BECAUSE KEEF SOUNDS LIKE HES A CORAL REEF

and yea 🙄🙄 because everyONE ELSE keeps slandering his name—

[kaz3313]

about the sketchbook requests.. i have very little patience and don’t draw but i always like seeing other people’s drawings. would you be willing to do keefe sencen from kotlc? he’s this adorable goofball with a messed-up past and quite possibly my favorite character of all time?

I'm not sure I did him justice but I hope I did! He seems like a very interesting character 💕

[the-way-astray]

how can you hate keefe and think he's hot

his hotness makes him even more annoying, sorry not sorry

[imobsessed123]

KOTLC SQUAD BEING CHAOTIC

Sophie: Bye Keefe ! Bye Fitz! Bye Biana! Bye Dex! Bye Keefe ! Fitz: You said 'bye Keefe ' twice. Sophie: I like Keefe .

Sophie: Looking left cause you don't treat me right Keefe : Looking right because you left Fitz: Looking up cause you let me down Biana: Looking down cause you fucked up Dex: What is wrong with you guys

Sophie: What's the scariest horror movie you've ever watched? Fitz: IT. Biana: Annabelle. Keefe : Paranormal Activity. Dex: High School Musical. All throughout high school I was scared that everyone was gonna randomly get up and start singing and dancing, and I would be the only one who doesn't know the words.

Sophie: Biana is late again. Keefe : How did this happen? I called them at 8 o'clock this morning and pretended it was 11. Dex: I printed up a fake schedule for them saying we were starting at 9 instead of noon. Fitz: I set their clock to say PM when it's really AM. Sophie: Oh boy.We may have overdone it. Biana bursts through the door* Biana: WHAT TIME IS IT?

Sophie: Okay! Let's play Kiss Marry Kill! Sophie: First who would you kill? *Dex points at Keefe * *Fitz points at Keefe * *Biana points at Keefe * Keefe : * shrugs * I would kill me too.

Sophie: You're a loose cannon, Keefe . Keefe : No, I'm not.I'm a cannon, maybe, but a loose cannon? Is that what you think of me? Dex: I think you play by your own rules. Biana: No way, they think rules were made to be broken. Sophie: Those are all attributes of a loose cannon. Keefe : No, I'm just a reckless renegade.Fitz is a loose cannon. Fitz: * smashes a chair* Aah! You shut your trap, Keefe ! Biana: I'd say Fitz's more of a cop on the edge with nothing to lose.That's an entirely different thing. Dex: Now I'm just confused.Is Keefe a loose cannon or not? Sophie: All right, put on a pot of coffee.We're gonna get to the bottom of this. Keefe : groans Fitz: Aw, man.

Sophie: We need more help. Maybe I should call my friends. Keefe : …Your what? Sophie: My friends. Fitz: Are they saying “friends”? Biana: I think they're being sarcastic. Dex: No, no, no, this is delirium, they've cracked from being awake all night. Hey, Sophie! All of your friends are in this room. Sophie: I have other friends! You asked me to make new friends, I made new friends! It was a task.I complete tasks.

(I’m gonna start using tag lists so ask if you wanna be added to that!)

[ao3feed-kotlc]

An Assassin's Heart

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2RuwiVv

by City_of_Starlight

The Neverseen have been defeated. But a new threat is rising - a threat by the name of Cain Nightstar. He commands a person known as the Assassin, who has been killing one person every single week for decades, perhaps even centuries. Sophie, her friends, the Council, and the Black Swan team up to hunt down the Assassin and bring him to justice. But the Assassin's cryptic words haunt Sophie's mind. "I bow to the one who holds my heart." What does he mean? And more importantly, how do they stop him?

Words: 1262, Chapters: 2/2, Language: English

Fandoms: Keeper of the Lost Cities Series - Shannon Messenger

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage

Categories: M/M

Characters: Sophie Foster (Keeper of the Lost Cities), Keefe Sencen, Fitz Vacker, Grizel (Keeper of the Lost Cities), Sandor (Keeper of the Lost Cities), Biana Vacker, Della Vacker, Tam Song, Linh Song, Wylie Endal, Marella Redek, Councillor Bronte (Keeper of the Lost Cities), Dex Dizznee, Edaline Ruewen, Grady Ruewen, I don't know who I'm going to have so I'm adding them all, original character (demon), Original Character (Toren), Original Character (Cain Nightstar), Original Character (Eliane)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2RuwiVv

[imobsessed123]

I made something :)

[the-way-astray]

hello just wanted to let you know your blog is healing me. i am on a reread of the series rn and am so thoroughly fed up with keefe's character. i've never loved keefe before but i'm just so annoyed at him this read around. gonna circle back to your essay FOR SURE after getting back through the series.

you handshake me: rereading the series and disliking keefe every time he comes on page. even if keefe was a perfectly written character with a flawless arc, i'm pretty sure i'd still hate him, because he's such a pity-party-throwing cookie cutter with atrocious humor and the critical thinking skills of a six year old. it really, really doesn't help that my number one, number two, and number three pet peeves when it comes to characters are stupidity, unfunniness which the writer thinks is genuinely funny, and excessive, comically over-the-top angst for the sake of having angst and nothing else. and keefe's character manages to have all three, while also eating up a ridiculous amount of pagetime.

that's very kind! i'm glad you like it here. i think each time i reread the series (i've done it roughly once a year since i first started reading the series circa 2019), i hate the guy even more. each year i'm older, though, so i suppose that may have something to do with it. or not. i'm not sure. what i can say with complete confidence, though, is that i have never not hated keefe. from the moment i picked up this series, i disliked him. so just keep in mind that i am super, super biased. super. the essay (whichever one you're referring to . . . it's not really clear) is not meant to be taken as some gospel truth. think of it as five years' worth of pent-up rage put in a semi-coherent form.