#KEEF CAME BACK

[the-way-astray]

tumblr is trying to force me to be my archetype and my archetype alone (tried to delete the pro keefe essay i just wrote)

[alaydabug2]

Yeah so I got this when I was at dpa for 4h before unraveled was announced

Then of course the poll for which animal Keefe would befriend

I am now dubbing thee Foxfire 😆

Until unraveled comes out then I'll probably rename it to that but whatever

[tariah23]

Still crying over my friend telling me that they’ve never heard of Chief Keef-

[nylwnder]

so what we have learned today is that WE WILL NOT SCRATCH SCHENN ANYMORE.

[winwin17]

Sophie "I'm afraid Keefe will stand out in the Forbidden Cities because he's so good-looking, by human standards" Foster is funny because like, girl, *you* were hidden in the Forbidden Cities for twelve years. Fitz and Alvar both visited the Forbidden Cities multiple times and came back unscathed. Keefe will be fine.

[thepumkinmoth]

Imagine if keefe came back from the forbidden cities with a bit of a British accent and sounded like he was a Vacker

[artnerdsrule]

I haven't seen enough on this topic, but why is almost no one talking about Sophie and keefe switching roles?

I think it started during neverseen, but only a tiny bit and very slowly, and once keefe came back it wasn't very progressed. But by legacy you can definitely see it if you are looking. And by stellarlune the role switch is pretty much complete. And it makes me so sad every time I think of it.

Sophie slowly ( very slowly) gaining confidence, while keefe, almost at the same rate, is losing his own confidence. Sophie is learning to be bright and sarcastic. Keefe is becoming dull and honest. Sophie is accepting the role as leader. Keefe is learning to take a step back and let people who care for him help him.

In stellarlune Ro tells Sophie that her and keefe balance each other out. And I couldn't agree more, and I feel like that is an important factor in their relationship. If one starts evolving, the other will evolve in a way that will help and be helped by, the other. It just who they are together.

So when keefe started acting more like Sophie, Sophie naturally started to act more like keefe used to, so that the balance was still there.

Sophie now has enough confidence to share with keefe. Keefe now has the honesty to tone down Sophie's sarcasm. Sophie now has enough light to brighten even Keefe's life. Sophie is finally ready to lead Keefe, and Keefe is ready to follow and really listen to her.

I just find all of this very interesting to think about. And cry about lol.

[boag]

There are people who have been considered rap legends for decades in their 50s and beyond that can’t do it like this . He was 19 years old in this video

The way he would just freestyle like this for hours and hours on end everyday and that’s how most of his songs were made and he recorded literally thousands of songs before the age of 21 . We rlly lost one of the most talented people who ever lived so fucking young it’s so sad….. he was INCREDIBLE

[elwenyere]

Whumptober 01

No. 1: RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK

Search Party | Panic Attack | "If only we could hold on.” (Icysami x Renegaderr, Strangers.)

Fandom: Andor, Melshian, 796w

Rating: T

Tags: Aftermath of Torture, Prisoner Rescue

.....

“We have twenty minutes before the extraction window closes,” Kay says, “at which point our odds of capture, torture, and execution rise to 93%.”

It’s the fifth time he’s recalibrated the odds of failure - always upward - since they made it to the detention block. Cassian can hear blasters spewing muted bolts over the comms: confirmation that their cover has worn itself out. He hopes at least some of the shots echoing off the walls are Kay’s.

“Just get me a cell block number,” Cassian says. “And don’t get shot.”

“You don’t get shot,” Kay retorts. “Your record of field injury is abysmal. And the prisoner is in D2-41A.”

Cassian makes his way to the cell and attaches the code cylinder to the keypad. After a few moments of muffled whirring, the door slides open to reveal the room's prisoner, and it isn’t until Cassian sees him that he realizes part of him hadn’t believed it could be true. It is true. It’s Melshi: slumped over the cell’s exam table, his neck craned like the cockpit tunnel of a downed walker - like he hadn’t been in control of how his head fell. 

“Melshi.” Cassian crouches in front of him. He takes Melshi’s face between his hands and tilts it up carefully. “Melshi, can you hear me?”

Melshi’s eyes open. They’re clouded over, sunk deep in their sockets. When Cassian says his name again, Melshi’s pupils bob in his irises - an inky sediment unsettled in a pond. 

The agent who’s had him under interrogation is named Gorst, Luthen had said. The same man who’d had Salman, who’d had Bix. 

“I dreamt you came back,” Bix had said, when Cassian found her. “You climbed over a wall.” 

The skin had stretched sallow across her cheeks then, as Melshi’s does now, and her hands had been full of nerves like his, her fingers crawling up the ridges of her knuckles where they wrapped around her knees. Cassian had barely known her. He’d looked at her and recognized nothing but his own hunched fear, his husk of a body huddled in the red glare of a hot floor. 

“Fifteen minutes before the extraction window closes,” Kay says, and Cassian feels his palms flex against Melshi’s jaw: he has to focus. He has to move. He has to move Melshi somehow - has to make the man whose slack face he’s cradling into Melshi again.

“Melshi, it’s me. We have to go. We have to get out of here.”

Melshi blinks. His gaze drifts over Cassian’s face, rolls over his features, and then it hits a snag - a familiar pinch around his eyes.

“Keef,” he says. “Keef didn’t make it - he drowned. Said he couldn’t swim.”

Cassian frowns.

“Melshi, we both made it, remember? We made it to the shore, and we ran.”

Melshi’s lips part: Cassian can feel him fight for the next breath, his cheeks hollowing under Cassian’s hands.

“I was alone,” he says. “I stowed away. Got off at the next planet, and I pawned for it. Everyone was gone. I was alone. I lifted a sensor package from the quadjumper and I pawned for the blaster.”

Cassian holds himself still, makes himself absorb the recoil as understanding snaps into place.

“The Pre-Mor deputy we held on Ferrix,” Luthen had told Cassian at their briefing, “the one who submitted the reports. The ISB picked up a man carrying the blaster you took off him: an ex-con. They’re questioning him right now. If this is some loose end you’ve left dangling, Andor, I need you to cut it short.”

“Understood,” Cassian had said. And then he’d strode down the hall fast enough to jostle the tug against his sternum: the place where Melshi’s spine had curled against his chest in a Niamos hotel room, where they’d clung to each other like the waves were still dragging them away.

“Didn’t know him.” Melshi’s shoulders give a shudder, his hand spasming against the table. “Never saw him. Never knew his name.”

“Ten minutes,” Kay warns over the comms, “before the odds go up to 97%.” 

Cassian turns Melshi’s face back toward him, letting his thumb sweep over the corner of Melshi’s lips.

“It’s Cassian,” he says. “My name is Cassian. And I’m right here. You’re okay: you did great. You kept everyone safe. I’m going to take you away now, okay? They won’t question you anymore.”

Melshi blinks again. Slowly, he lifts his left hand to grasp at Cassian’s wrist.

“You know me?” Cassian asks. He feels Melshi’s head give a wobble that might be a nod.

“You got me out,” he says.

I got you caught, Cassian thinks, but he shapes his lips into a smile. 

“I will,” he says. “I came to find you. And I’m here to take you home.”

[lostwarllock]

Incoherent screeching off in the distance—

below the cut is my rambling list of comparisons between sokeefe and merthur in an attempt to explain my otherworldly love for both ships to myself

Tag list:

@thatrandomlemononyourcounter1

@aspenaspenaspenaspenaspen

@cosmxc-ars3hol3

Sokeefe and merthur

Foster and Merlin:

—very powerful, have stronger abilities than those like them

—born into a destiny/role (that places an unbelievably heavy burden on their shoulders and impacts every choice they make) that correlates with their abilities

—do not/did not know their biological father

—have at least two father figures

—almost die on a daily basis

—sometimes choose to be selfish, when it comes to the one they care about, even though it may oppose their beliefs of their role

—struggle with authority figures

—tendency to suddenly run out of the room without explaining anything to anyone

—confide in their soulmate in an attempt to convince their soulmate to confide in them

—have a mentor that doesn’t really help, just presents impossible decisions that put their lives at risk but fulfill their role

—a best friend that kissed them

—in love with a blonde (lots of banter all around, but has many serious moments and conversations)

—would literally do ANYTHING for their blonde

—black cat energy

—no matter how much planning and precautions they take, or using their abilities, someone close to them manages to get hurt or die

—adopted by someone very protective, but who eventually understands that some dangers are necessary for their destiny

—at some point temporarily lost their powers

—basically immortal since they live indefinitely

—go into dangerous situations because “they have to” and it’s up to them to solve everything

—know how to keep a secret for over a decade

—the sibling of someone they are close to is evil

—fell in horse poop

—ridden a magical flying creature

—eyes that are recognizable

—in serious need of a good night’s sleep

—came from relatively poor places and moved to basically a castle

—had to leave their previous home due to their abilities

—has caused a few explosions

—known by a special name that corresponds to their powers and destiny

—left a mother back home

—generally a tired/serious/lighthearted personality but also have the incredible ability to be the sassiest being on earth and not care what an authority figure would think

—have a group of friends who try so hard to die with them/for them

—so so loving and loyal that it hurts them

—gold in their eyes

—dress pretty plain

—were treated as different/an outcast in their original home

—has committed all the felonies

—their best friend is treated poorly because of their status

—very good at escaping/sneaking around, but NOT at lying

—are the reason that a very rare magical creature could be born

—constantly worked to the bone

—have like a brown haired person but it ended up not working out

—traumatic things have happened by bodies of water

—get endlessly bullied/teased by their blonde soulmate

—never ending worry for the safety of their soulmate

—have the uncanny ability to reassure their blonde that they aren’t a horrible person through the power of their pep talks

—take any chance to disapprove of the blonde’s parent

—forehead touch their blonde soulmate after a earth-shattering moment that has been built up to for the whole series

—drink poison/something that could kill them with their blonde in the general vicinity

—started out pretty happy and young, to a point years later where they make more depressing, dangerous choices due to their rapidly decreasing amount of hope in the world

—is incredibly devastated that their blonde has to go through an inevitable, painful experience as part of their destiny, and does everything to stop it, but fails

—they wait for them to wake up

Keefe and Arthur:

—blonde (and beautiful blue eyes)

—has worn a crown on their head and sat in a throne because of their parent

—parent raises them to play a certain role, though continually states they are not ready for it, and they must learn to make the hard decisions in order to be truly prepared

—incredibly self-sacrificing and has to play the hero because somehow they think everything is their fault and it’s their responsibility to fix it, even if it was the fault of their parent

—under the false impression that they are needed to protect their soulmate who is actually doing all the protecting

—their parent went through some sort of treatment in order to have them

—their parent has murdered a few times at least

—grew up with very little love and affection from their tyrannical/oppressive parent, but it was to “make them strong” and prepare them for their role

—their father, specifically, has a cold, stony exterior but claims he loves them in a convoluted way no one could understand

—confide in their soulmate and show their true worries and fears that they would never tell anyone else

—their natural beauty makes everyone fall in love with them

—trained in order to defeat their enemies

—their father married someone akin to a troll

—had a sibling figure who turned out evil

—very emotionally aware/deep but only reveal it at certain times, so they cover it up with a confident, teasing appearance

—also almost die on a daily basis, usually in the company of their soulmate

—believes their soulmate is incredibly brave, maybe even the bravest person they’ve ever met

—will go against their parent because they know what it right

—think their soulmate is mysterious and hiding something

—show their affection for their soulmate through touch and meaningful looks

—their soulmate is very protective of them but they don’t think it’s necessary

—thought their parent was dead, but woohoo, they came back to haunt you (one literally, the other figuratively)

—they find so much joy in making the life of their soulmate miserable

—grew up with luxurious circumstances, very rich

—pretty unaware of the details of their destiny, but couldn’t care less

—tendency to make rash, reckless decisions but sometimes their soulmate talks them out of it

—loves the idea of running away

—is sunshine incarnate with an undertone of depression

—still cares about parent even though they are a horrible person (shows their undying loyalty and innocence)

—their uncanny empathy lets them know when their soulmate hasn’t smiled in the past three days, but they couldn’t notice that someone close to them was working for the enemy for a LONG time

—been drugged by/because of parent

—always knows when something is wrong with the soulmate and tries to comfort them, even when they don’t know the whole story

—always the first to defend their soulmate from accusations or talk them out of a situation

—have a blonde mother who they never truly knew

—can sometimes be so stupid, but other times they’re the smartest person in the room

—tease their soulmate about liking other people, even when that person is definitely not anyone to worry about

—no issue challenging their father

—whenever they try to sneak away or do something on their own, their soulmate is already there

—would actually die for their soulmate infinite times over, even if it’s not explicitly stated, and always attempt to take the blow for them

—their soulmate stayed with them all the while they were going through their inevitable, painful destiny that forever changed them

—got stabbed/slashed in the gut

—been betrayed by someone they thought they could trust (over and over)

—very open-minded (relative to those around them) and most would disagree with their beliefs that you should be with the one you love and not someone based on stupid rules set by tradition and authority

—has been carried by their soulmate because they were hurt

—comment on how their soulmate is worried all the time

—the last thing they see as they succumb to their destiny is their soulmate holding them in a sense as they say “stay with me”

[lotusishere]

The difference between Sophie flirting with Fitz and Keefe is so funny to me. She was always nervous and feeling butterflies in her stomach about Fitz. She would make terrible flirty comments. *COUGH* the fav comment she made *COUGH* I wanted to cry every time.

But with Keefe it’s easier for her to talk to him. And when he comes back in stellarune bffr. Idk what this girl was on but she was on a whole new hard drive. She looked at Keefe when he came back and she was like “him. I want him NOW.”

[milo-igidk]

VINE BOOM PFFFFF LMAO I FORGOT ABT THAT JESUS CHRIST 😭😭😭😭😭😭

"fitz and keefe's friendship was ruined for sokeefe"

yeah thats definitely what happened mhm

thats definitely it there were absolutely no other factors that may have contributed to their fall out

[crippling-pages]

random kotlc headcanons :p

*clears throat* *puts fancy suit on* *pulls out whiteboard* @swans-chirping-in-the-distance you wanted headcanons, right? sooooooooo

Tam wears glasses, mainly to see things farther away better. He didn't know it until sometime during Flashback, he just thought everyone sees stuff that way. Tiergan helped him figure out that he needed them and helped get the perfect pair.

Biana buys Tam flower bouquets. He mentioned that he really liked flowers, and the next day she comes up to the door of Solreef, and blushing very, very hard, she gives Tam the bouquet. Linh had to spend a full 15 minutes with a dazed Tam.

When Keefe comes back from the Forbidden Cities, he uses all these weird slang words. One time, he told Councilor Emery that "You have no rizz, man. If you wanna become the alpha, you need to up your aura."

Emery is scarred for life after that exchange.

Sophie is a Red stan. She doesn't listen to Taylor Swift often, but she is forever a fan of the album Red.

When Fitz was looking for Sophie, he found a video of one of those kids baking competitions, and he was just amazed. It's how he started to get into baking.

Tam and Dex have this amazing friendship no one really knows about. It's not like they kept it a secret, it's just no one really notices either of them.

Tam can be chaotic as heck when he wants to be. Most of the time, he's the quiet and chill yet quite comfortable introvert. Though if he's got the right energy, BOOM he's as crazy as the triplets with enough energy to make the world explode.

One time, Dex asked Tam to watch the triplets (feeling pretty bad because the triplets are you know, the triplets) for him and his parents because they all were out that day, and when he came back home, they were asleep. And they stayed asleep, for hours.

It was one of the best days ever in the Dizznee household.

The reason Tam got them to sleep was because his chaotic side clicked in. It was a hour and a half game of tag.

(It was only that one time though. Next time Tam babysat, the triplets were prepared).

Even after making up with Tam, Linh still didn't really trust Rayni. But for every little conversation they have, they both start to ease up on each other.

One morning, when everyone's up for breakfast, Linh comes down and Rayni grins and goes, "What's up, Water-Gir?" and everyone is doing a double take because Linh was gonna kill Rayni. But it gets worse when Linh replies, also grinning, with "Good morning, RayRay."

Everyone else almost had a heart attack because it seemed like yesterday they were about to kill each other.

At one point, Keefe cracks a joke about Tam having a crush on Rayni (before he knew about Tam and Biana already dating), and Tam says, "Okay, for one: She's like, 25 and I'm like 16, I think, so that's disgusting, and secondly: Rayni is old and ugly, and-"

But he doesn't get to finish because Rayni hears and runs downstairs, pissed and yelling "WHAT THE HECK TAM?! WELL, AT LEAST I DON'T USE THE OVERUSED SHADY AND EMO IMAGE" and then that gets Tam pissed, so then there's this whole argument that goes on for about 10 minutes.

Basically, Tam and Rayni are siblings. Rayni is the oldest sister, and Tam is the annoying little brother.

Marella and Tam have gossip sessions during lunch; they also just have this really great friendship. (And by friendship, I mean they each have blackmail on each other and are forced to interact so the other doesn't spill their secrets).

Keefoster and Tiana double dates :>

At Solreef, Tiergan has this huge library, filled with elven books and even human books.

Tam has read almost every book in there. His favorites are the fantasy books.

His favorite book series ever is Percy Jackson. He's read every single PJO book in the library.

When Sophie finds out, oh boy do they geek out about it.

Forkle set them up on a sleepover one time, because "You kids need to be kids" or something like that.

None of them expected to have much fun, but they did. They even made a plan that once a week, at someones house they'd meet up and have a sleepover or just have fun.

TA-DA!!!!!!! KOTLC HEADCANONS YAYYYYYYYYY!!! Most of the are about Tam but Tam's amazing so its fine <3

hope you enjoyed! <3

[bookwyrminspiration]

ok not to alvar post in your inbox again but liek.

“You want to talk about being left for dead?” Alvar lunged forward, but Sandor and Ro shifted their blades to block him. “ I was left in a pod of orange goo while my brother and sister stood by watching! The same brother who threatened to carve me up with a knife earlier that night! The brother who stopped pressing buttons to try to save me as the pod filled up—did he tell you that? He let the tank fill, waiting for me to drown” (632).

this excerpt makes me want to eat concrete in a good way. we love to talk about fitz stopping pressing buttons, but the way alvar is angry at fitz for stopping isn’t really talked about as much as it could be i think.

i always thought it was so funny because alvar was given the chance to change and come back from what he did throughout flashback. and when his memories came back, he made his choice to turn his back on his family, but he’s mad when said family turns their back on him in return. but i rlly wanted to hear your thoughts on this because you’re one of the most ardent buttonsposters on this site

this is FASCINATING. Okay, so. Looking at Alvar's familial feelings, a lot of his hatred is centered on his parents. He felt drowned in unrealistic expectations he could never live up to as the only Vacker kid, and saw Fitz as a replacement, his parents saying he'd never be good enough. Whether this is true isn't really relevant, as it's how he took it

Fitz ends up in a weird cross section here where he hasn't actually done anything to Alvar but exist. Alvar hates Fitz for replacing him, but it was their parents that chose to have him. Everything Alvar hates about Fitz is a manifestation of his resentment for Alden and Della.

Fitz is the perfect golden boy. A telepath like their father, the youngest to naturally manifest at that. Replaced Alvar in looking for Sophie--actually found her when Alvar passed her by. Fitz enrages Alvar for being everything he thinks their parents wanted that he wasn't

But Fitz doesn't have to be. I think that's key. Fitz could throw it all away, stop being perfect, drown under the pressure like Alvar did, and join him. And I think Alvar wants him to. Then he wouldn't be replaced, and instead Fitz could serve as evidence of how horrible their parents were. If Fitz breaks, too, then the problem wasn't with Alvar

And yet he isn't. FItz is choosing, again and again, his family. His parents. To be on the opposite side. Which means he's now making an active choice to become the replacement he inadvertently always was, proving the problem's with Alvar. Which means Alvar can hate him for being himself now. He's just like them, and he's turning their sister, too. The little sister who was the most likely to get him--so when she doesn't? They're blinded, representing everything wrong with their world. The expectations, the indoctrination of the next generations, everything

Alvar is desperate to be the one hurting. He grew up incredibly privileged and only talks of the burden it was. Keefe said Umber was left for dead and he immediately lashes back with this quote, talking about how he's been hurt just as much if not more because he got gooed. And not only that, his family gooed him.

Which reveals he does value family to an extent. If it's worse to be hurt by your siblings, it's because they matter more. Again, everything Alvar hates is centered on their parents. Fitz and Biana were supposed to choose him, to see his pain and understand him, leave their parents behind. They're siblings, even if they're bratty and naive.

We see that in the repetition of brother before each point; he's highlighting the connection they should've had--and blaming its dissolution on Fitz. A little on Biana, but mostly on Fitz, as Fitz was the replacement and the spark to the fuel of Alvar's suffering. The last straw. He's furious. And frames everything as if its unbelievable.

Which implies, potentially, that he wouldn't do the same. That he wouldn't take a knife to his sister, or watch his brother drown. That for all his talk, he sees them as different from their parents and that they matter, deep down.

I think Alvar is desperate to have his pain acknowledged, to be seen and understood, which is a valid desire. But he has blown it entirely out of proportion in his quest to be seen--and his siblings were his main hope. Who better to understand what being a Vacker kid did to him than the other Vacker kids? But because of that blowing it out of proportion, even though they're all Vacker kids, they can't understand. Because Alvar's reaction is illogical. He's in the wrong, and he refuses to understand or realize that because there's kernels of validity to his feelings.

so he's simultaneously furious at Fitz for replacing him, being everything he wasn't, and not choosing him, and desperate to be seen and acknowledged and understood by him and Biana.

basically Alvar's a clusterfuck of complications of a man

[epic-kotlc-crossover]

The Horse and the Infant

This is the first chapter for the EPIC/KOTLC crossover!! (I know we did the thunder saga already but we had a lot of motivation for that and were really excited to post :D) Hope you guys enjoy!!

taglist: @justalunaticfangirl @myfairkatiecat @bookwormgirl123 @thesfromhms @ham-cheese-toastie

This was it, Fitz told himself. He glanced around the wooden horse at his fleet.

One last battle before he could go home, and one last battle before he could see Sophie and Marella again. Marella would be ten by now—it seemed almost crazy to think about.

"Alright, everyone!" He transmitted to the crowd of 600 men, thinking that talking would reveal their position. "Tonight, the Trojans will regret ever messing with us."

Fitz gestured to Keefe. "Your families are wondering where you've been. Do as I say and you'll see them again."

"Yessir!" The chorus of soldiers whispered as one, and Fitz grinned broadly, the dim lighting making it seem almost mad.

As he was sending out his instructions, Fitz let himself feel happy for one more moment—the war was almost over.

As the crowd dispersed, Fitz sent out a chant: "What do you live for? What do you fight for? What do you wish for?"

Sophie....

That was why he was doing all of this—for Sophie and Marella.

I'll fight for them. Fitz thought firmly.

"Attack!" He roared, and charged into the city, following his men.

Fitz was in the thick of the battle, screams and shouts mixing with the clash of his sword against his opponent's. All at once, his vision dimmed and he collapsed.

An clap of thunder boomed, and when Fitz opened his eyes, he wasn't in Troy anymore. Fitz glanced around, panic clogging his throat.

He seemed to be in the ruins of a city, and upon closer inspection, and a jolt of horror, he realized it was his kingdom. Ithaca.

What had happened? In the ten years he'd been gone, could everything have gone into shambles?

He couldn't—he had to find his men. Fitz needed to help them. They had to win this battle, but how could they do that when Fitz couldn't be with them?

How could he save Ithaca?

As he turned around one last time, a figure appeared. With a huge crackling lightning bolt, the person standing before him could only be Zeus. And, Fitz noticed with confusion, a baby swaddled in his right arm. Maybe he was finally doing child support?

"What was that?" His voice came out shaky, because he just realized that the wound in his side was gone-and so was the pain.

"A vision." Zeus' voice boomed, loud and deep, across the space. "Of what is to come. You can only change it right now."

Fitz didn't even pause before replying, "Tell me how?" His crew needed him, and he wouldn't be any use to them dead.

He wouldn't be any use to Ithaca dead.

Plus, he had to see Sophie.

A rumble of laughter erupted from Zeus. "I don't think you're ready." The god told Fitz.

Fitz bristled, offended but stayed silent as Zeus continued. "You'll need to kill someone's son, someone unlike anyone you've faced before."

Fitz straightened, ready to accept. "I can do this, I promise you."

Once again there was laughter-one that started to annoy Fitz deeply—and Zeus stepped forward and placed the baby in his arms.

Fitz looked down in horror. He couldn't mean—

"This is the son of Prince Hector. If you don't kill him now, he will grow up to kill you." Zeus paused. "If you don't kill him now, you'll have no home to protect."

Fitz shook his head wildly, and stumbled back, trying to think of what to do.

He could take him home with him—Sophie wouldn't mind, he was sure of it.

Fitz could sent the infant far, far away, where he could never find out about his father.

"You'll have blood on your hands either way, Fitz." The god told him, almost like he was reading Fitz's mind. "All you have to do is choose."

[alaydabug2]

Finally got thus stupid thing finished 😭

(Keefe pov)

All day, Keefe had been getting a tickle in his throat. He'd been trying to cough out whatever was causing it, but it never budged.

He plopped down onto his bed with a bottle of youth. If he gargled, it might wash it out. After several swigs, something was floating in his mouth. He rushed to his bathroom to spit it out.

He squinted at the thing. It looked like a flower petal. When did he eat a flower? It wasn't anytime recent he was dared to do that. And it definitely wasn't a rose that he ate before.

He shook his head. It was probably just a weird coincidence. He went to go draw.

A couple of days later, another tickle in his throat. Except this time, it was almost painful. It felt like when food went down the wrong pipe.

He hacked it out this time. A couple of bloodied petals ended up in his hands.

What? How was this happening?

He crushed the petals in his hands to hide them from the other people in the crystal hallway. Ro was currently patrolling with Sandor. If he could get to Elwin's office before she came back, that meant he could avoid questions from her.

Keefe changed his course of direction to go against the flow of the foot tragic. He shoved through the people.

He busted through to the doors of the Healing Center. Elwin turned from what he was doing.

"What did you get into this time?" Elwin asked.

Keefe unfurled his shaky fist to reveal the flower petals. Elwin furrowed his brow as he inspected them further.

"Where did this come from?" Elwin asked.

"I coughed it up. This is the second time this week," Keefe explained

"Coughed it up? What do you mean by that?"

"I had a tickle in my throat, kind of like when food is stuck. So I tried to get it loose, and the petals came up. And, no, I didn't eat any flowers before you ask."

Elwin motioned for Keefe to sit on a cott. He flashed several lights around Keefe's body. He paused when he got to the chest. He squinted.

"That's... not good," Elwin muttered. He flashed a few other colors. "I thought that it only affected gnomes."

"Is it the plague?" Keefe asked worriedly.

Elwin shook his head. "No. It's something called Hanakai Disease. I just assumed it only affected gnomes because of the flowers. Apparently not."

"Ok... so how does it spread? Am I contagious?"

Elwin leaned against the counter, brushing the hair from his eyes. "How do I put this gently. It's not contagious, but the way you get it is from... unrequited love."

Keefe felt his face go red. "Unrequited love?"

Elwin nodded with pursed lips. "It starts off with petals, but they slowly bloom into full flowers. They start to choke you and keep you from breathing correctly."

He crossed his arms. "So what can I do about it?"

He sighed. "Well... not much. They only go away until the love is returned. Or... can be taken out in an operation-"

"Then do that!" Keefe interrupted.

Elwin held a hand up. "Let me finish. That also gets rid of the feelings. Permanently."

"Oh. How long would I have until..."

"Depends on how bad you've got it for Sophie. But knowing you, probably about two months, give or take."

Keefe hated that he'd been so blatantly called out. But... he wasn't necessarily wrong. All of that meant he actually had to talk to Sophie. About feelings. Yeah, no, not thrilled about it.

Could he stall on this? He certainly was going to try. But how badly would that end up for him.

Bad. That's how.

He had managed to hide his little Healing Center trip from Ro. But she was getting suspicious. Especially so whenever he was around Sophie.

Apparently, his symptoms got worse whenever he was around her. Found out the hard way when at Havenfeild he couldn't stop coughing. The petals kept on coming. By the time he left, his pockets were stuffed with enough petals for a bouquet.

He flopped back onto his bed when he got home. It was progressing to be more than just the coughing.

Keefe's eyes watered as it felt like his throat was closing off. Ro was in the other room. He couldn't let her know. Not only would he be teased mercilessly for getting litterly lovesick, but she would totally go straight to Sophie and tell on him. He didn't want his confession to be 'Hey I'm dying unless you love me back'.

But, boy, was he panicking now. He couldn't get the breath in.

His door creaked open. He was met with Ro staring at him.

"Hunkyhair, you good?" He shook his head, pointing to his throat. "Are you choking on something?"

Ro made her way to him and slapped him on the back. Hard.

It did the trick, however. With one last hack, a rose bud landed on his carpet. He gasped in glorious air. It sounded like a fish out of water.

Ro bent down to pick it up. She shook the blood off of it.

"Is this... a flower?" She stared dead into his eyes.

Keefe shrugged. Maybe she wouldn't know what Hanakai Disease was.

But off course she did. It couldn't be that easy.

"Oh my gosh," Ro murmured. "You REALLY have it bad for Blondie, don't you."

"Shut up!" Keefe snapped.

She crossed her arm. "Dude your litterly dying, and you STILL want to stall." He rolled his eyes at her. "Fine, your funeral. But when do you plan to tell her."

"Eventually."

She snorted. "Ok. Sure. How long have you had this for, anyway?"

"Over three weeks," he mumbled.

Ro studied her claws. "Yeah, you're a gonner."

Keefe had been dealing with it for a few more weeks. More of the buds were deciding to make its way from hus lungs, causing him issues.

The moment he'd been dreading finally came.

He was drawing at his desk when something lodged in his throat. It was bigger than the others. Absolutely zero oxygen would get through.

He tried to make a noise for help, but nothing. Ro was across the house. No one was there to help.

Tears pricked his eyes. He tried to claw at his throat with no luck. Just when his vision was spotting, there was a knock on his door.

Keefe didn't care who it was anymore. He needed help.

He rushed to open the door. When he did... Sophie was standing there. The lump choking him got bigger.

He tried to gesture what was going on. She didn't seem to be getting the hint.

She placed a hand on his shoulders to steady him. "Hey, you alright?"

Keefe shook his head so hard it hurt. He managed to cough. Blood dripped down his lips. What felt like an entire flower came up into his mouth. He spit some of the petals out onto the ground.

Sophie stepped back in horror.

"Keefe!" She shouted.

She tried to pat on his back to knock it loose, only succeeding it more blood filling his mouth.

His head was clouded with oxygen deprivation. His limbs were growing weak. His legs gave out, and he fell to the ground. Sophie knelt beside him, rolling him onto his side.

Keefe continued to hack up more blood and full roses. She gently rocked him back and forth to ease all the stuff out.

He started to hear sniffles. From what was left of his vision, Sophie was crying above him.

He finally gave into the darkness after one last heave of petals. He was going to die.

At some point, he started to stir awake. How was he alive.

Keefe rolled onto his back, sputtering. He found that his head was resting in Sophie's lap, who was in tears.

"Keefe?" She whispered.

"Foster."

"Are you better now?" She brushed some of the petals off of his shirt.

Hesitantly, he nodded. It didn't feel like anything was left in his lungs. How...?

Sophie leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Keefe's forehead and brushed his sweaty hair back, awnsering hus question. "Good."