Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-146.135.19.252-20181116034422/@comment-37530514-20181119212621

So.

I agree with most of that. You're right, Keefe doesn't have very high self esteem (*cries for him*...he and Sophie both have that problem). I see what you're saying. Yeah. I think that would seem right to him, and you're right. But I will add I don't think (and you probably agree, I don't know) that he's not going to shut himself off to her. He may not have a very high opinion of himself, but he gives what little he has to Sophie if that makes sense. He's going to make himself available to her no matter what, because he knows she cares about her friends and that he can help her. Though he wouldn't blame her if she hated him, she doesn't hate him (*yet* in his mind) so he's going to do everything he can to be there for her. So if she wants him to distance himself, well he's going to distance himself. If she wants him to be there for her, he's going to be there for her. (Example- He let Ro win the bet because he knew Sophie needed him to help Silveny.)

Example quotes-

She nodded but didn't have the energy to explain- or to relive that horrible red splatter.

''"Hmm," Keefe said, his eyes narrowing as he squinted throught the screen to study her. "Sounds like I need to head over there after Daddy's little hugfest tomorrow."''

''"I'm fine- Don't lose your bet. Today was just the first day. It'll get better tomorrow." Or worse, depending on what Tarina had in mind.''

''Keefe tore a hand through his hair again. "I can tell there's something you're not telling me right now- but I'm not going to force you to talk about it. If you say you're good, I'll trust you."''

She held his stare through the imparter screen as she told him, "I'm good."

He nodded.

So anyway, I think he's just kind of going to coast. He's going to be there for whatever Sophie needs. He's finally getting a hold of his emotions. Even when Sophie thinks he's going to do reckless things, he hasn't been. I think he's finally getting it. But I agree he needs an outlet- '''And I think he already has one. Ro.'''

If you read the Keefe short story, you see the beginnings of the friendship between Ro and Keefe. She gives him advice with Sophie, and he opens up to her about why Sophie is how she is. Ro gets it from the beginning. And throughout flashback we see Ro seem to know a lot. She's hardcore Foster-Keefe, and mutters when Keefe doesn't do what she thinks he should do, but she seems to understand Keefe's boundaries with that. She's with him all the time. She clearly has opinions on things that she wouldn't know unless Keefe told her, or she picked up, but anyway, it seems like she's his outlet and what's helping him open his eyes. It's not a coincidence when  Keefe gets better with being less reckless is when Ro shows up. She helps him see what he needs to do to show Sophie he's there for her in the Short Story. I think Ro is his understanding but annoying friend, like I know I am to some of my friends- whois there to listens and has opinions, and makes comments but resists meddling because she understands that wouldn't help Keefe.

You have to remember, Keefe isn't living alone anymore. He has Ro to tell his problems to, and it helps that Ro picks up on things instinctually. I would totally agree with you if this were book four or five, but now that Keefe has Ro, I don't think he'll go looking for another outlet. He already has her, and she's a pretty great while probably frustrating friend.

Example quotes:

''Ro stalked into his doorway with a bottle of blue nail polish  in one hand and half-painted claws on the other. “No, I’m mad because you’re only doing this to try to fix things with yourlittle girlfriend and it’s not going to work.”''

Keefe jingled the pieces extra loud.

But after several seconds he had to ask, “Why isn’t it going to work?”

''Ro snorted. “Wow, you really have it bad, don’t you? Nope, no need to deny it. It’s so obvious it’s actually adorable. Especially since she’s totally clueless about it. You know that, right?”''

Keefe rolled his eyes.

And he was all set to argue—but for some reason “Yeah, I’m an Empath,” slipped out.

''“Ohhhhh, that’s true. Wow, I didn’t even think about that.” Ro giggled as she crossed the room and sat beside him on the bed. “That must drive you crazy.”''

“Pretty much,” Keefe mumbled.

It wasn’t even the worst part—but he managed to stop himself from bringing up that.

''“You get why, though, right?” Ro asked, slicking blue paint across another claw. “Why your girl doesn’t get how much you liiiiiiiiiiike her?”''

''He sighed. “Because she grew up hearing every less-thanawesome thought anyone ever had about her—even from her parents and sister and stuff. So now some part of her always assumes that everyone has those kinds of thoughts about her, even though she can’t hear them anymore.”''

''Ro blinked. “Okay, I was not expecting you to get all deep on me.”''

''Keefe shrugged. “It’s true.”''

''“Not saying it isn’t. Huh, I never thought about how brutal your elf-y abilities could be. Add it to the list of reasons I’m glad I’m not one of you. But that’s not what I was talking about.”''

''He had a feeling she was never going to let him live it down if he asked, but. . . “Okay, Miss Smarty Pants, what’s your theory for the Great Foster Oblivion?”''

''She held up her hand, blowing on her blue claws. “That’s your problem right there. You make everything a joke. It sends way too many mixed signals—especially for a girl with all that complicated stuff messing with her head.”''

''“Maybe. But Foster’s not ready for more than that—trust me.”''

''Once again, he stopped himself from cluing Ro into the whole square-that-was-now-a-triangle mess. But with how observant she seemed to be, she’d probably figure it out on her own soon enough.''

''“Well, all I’m saying is: If you’re looking to earn her forgiveness, ‘Here, Sophie, have this creepy thing from my mom’ isn’t going to do it. Especially if you parade in there like you just saved the day. She doesn’t need a hero. She needs a friend. So if you want to say you’re sorry, get her a real present.”''

He really hated that she had a point.

-Keefe Short Story, Nightfall.

''"Thank you," She (Sophie) said as he walked her back to the Healing Center and she tried to make note of the route so she could find the secret cafeteria again. "Tonight woud've been...pretty rough if you hadn't stopped by." ''

''"I know," he told her. "For me too."''

"Awwwwww, you guys are SO adorable," Ro jumped in.

- Page 426, Flashback

''(After Sophie asked about his convo with alden) His smile faded. "Yeah, he said Fitz was going to need a friend today."''

''"He said a lot more than that," Ro muttered. ''

Relax, Foster," Keefe said, shooting a glare at Ro before he pointed to the crease that had formed between Sophie's eyebrows. "No need to get all crinkly on me."

-Page 5, Flashback

See my point about Ro?

Sorry if this was unnecessarily long. It's kinda fun to write, lol