#IM SO EXCITED TO SEE HOW SHE PLAYS THALIA

[minjimunji]

Welcome home thalia grace

[on-leatheredwings]

i've found your account only a few days ago but ever since then I've been STUCK here rereading your fanfics, especially ones with damian. i wasn't even a dc fan (heard about some stuf, watched some films and cartoons, but that's it) but now im reading comics since im Obsessed and need more batboys in my life (rip my productivity😔)

Anyway, after Sleepover i'm curious what will Bruce (and maybe even Thalia) think of batboys strange behaviour towards reader. He's smart, so he definitely notices it early on, but how he'll react....

I can see him being weirded out (like he was by Jason's anger issues, before his death), but he also can be an enabler, since Robin (literaly any of them) had a hard life, so if those relationships can help him why not pretend that everything is normal? you'll be safer in a Wayne's Manor anyway

All in all, thanks for a new hyperfixation 💞💞

P.s. About games:

1. Boyfriend to death 1&2 - since you're into yanderes you might want to check this game out. I prefer the second game, but the first is also fun. But beware the trigger warnings!!

2. Long live the Queen - more of a raising sim than dating sim but you still can romance some guys and girls.

,3. Hatoful Boyfriend - mostly a comedy, but there is a yandere.

4. The Royal Trap - it's been a long time since i played it, but it used to be one of my favorites so i'll just mention it.

5. Higurashi - once again not really a romance sim, but its an interesting horror mixed with a slice of life

;A; AWWWW THANK YOU IM SO HAPPY YOU LIKE MY STUFF.... THAT MAKES ONE OF US GIJSDOFAFGHFOJDSD

and yes yes get into DC!!! (girl who hasnt even read a full run since like. injustice)

damn now you got me thinking and excited. incoming spiel

i agree entirely about bruce just knowing how Bad things can get, so to make things simpler, he's like "yes, your darling(s) can stay in the manor, boys. 🙄"

mmm yes..... when it comes to bruce noticing the batboys are yandere, i think it's always sinfully delightful to just have him be reluctantly okay with it. 😈 it's also easier narratively ngl but i also like the idea that the batfam is all just corrupted.

bruce's thoughts are that they (his sons) fight for vengeance and justice but this is where they could use some leeway.... we all need our vice... they fight so hard for gotham, they deserve a little treat (getting rid of your human rights)... it's very "Dad who wants his sons to have happiness even if its not healthy" of him. in fics where bruce is a yandere, well, he's the exact same way so he can't judge. although if that's the case, i like the idea of bruce just being like "yes what we do isn't right. let's not talk about it. just don't kill <3"

still wondering what i like more. a yan!bruce who's self aware what he's doing is wrong but he just refuses to think about it. or a yan!bruce that justifies it all because of his paranoia, Tower of Babel style (if you don't know, that's when it's revealed batman has plans to subdue/kill the justice league just in case they go rogue.)

for the batboys depends on their personality... for damian, he's so resolute in things that i prefer when he just believes 100% what he's doing is okay, if not actually righteous. ^_^

hmmm talia.... I'M STILL UNSURE HOW I PREFER THAT AS WELL... i think talia being a you-arent-good-enough-for-my-son mom is a little cliche but also. she kinda would say that. you'd have to prove your worth somehow but idk how tf darling would do that LOL. in the end, i think talia is just relieved/comforted that her son indeed feels desire and wants love and will continue the family legacy (regardless if youre afab/can biologically have children.)

no THANK YOU FOR THE ASK!!! AND THANKS FOR RECS!!!! heheh yeah ive checked out btd and im not averse to the warnings its more like im not that most of into the designs ngl. fox guy seems cute? AND LMAO FUNNY BC IM ON A HIGURASHI REWATCH (never played it tho)

[cherryberry444]

december 19: have yourself a merry little christmas

link to series

❝ here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore, faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more.. ❞

word count: 1218

day 1

rhea

it was 6 days away from christmas and i couldn’t be more excited. this year, instead of spending the holidays with my stress inducing family, i’d be spending it with my second family and best friends. my childhood best friend nina and her girlfriend thalia and my best friend clarisse and her boyfriend chris.

i know, this already sounds like ill be fifth wheeling but don’t fret, i dragged my best friend and chris’ brother luke along to keep me company. he’s my total opposite, mysterious, pessimistic, non chalant and he’s always wearing a fucking leather jacket. whereas i love pink, art and looking on the bright side. i also love christmas but i literally had to beg luke to come on this trip with me because he hates christmas..well, maybe he doesn’t hate it but i haven’t heard a single good thing come out of his beautiful mouth about christmas since we talked about this vacation..

did i mention ive had an earth crushing and soul shattering crush on luke since our freshman year in college? yeah… the girls clown me for it. they say i need to give up my bad boy fantasy and realize that luke doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body. but i disagree, i think he can be romantic and i think he can be a christmas person, i just have to reel it out of him! he’ll never admit it but i know he has a soft spot for me and with some hard work and persuasion i think i can change his mind.

“ughhh another fucking christmas song?!” luke groaned as he looked over at me from the driver's seat. he insisted on driving the rest of the way because he deems himself the best driver and trusts no one else after seeing how we’ve driven. clarisse has terrible road rage, thalia speeds like hell, nina texts and drives, chris pretends as if he’s about to crash as a joke and i don't even know how to follow maps correctly.

“it’s fucking christmas, luke!” i cursed back from the passengers’ seat. sorry, there was no way in hell there’d be a road trip and i wasn’t going to be in full control of aux, the rest of them could suggest songs of course but i had the real say.

“don't be mean, luke” nina yelled from the middle seat.

“yeah you know she's the queen of aux” chris added.

luke scoffed. “fuck that rule, i’m the driver!” he said, reaching to skip the song on the screen.

“exactly, eyes on the road, 10-2.” i said, swatting his hand away.

“says you of all people” luke bit back, but he did as i said nonetheless.

“faithful friends who are dear to ussss gather near to ussss once mooore” i sang along, pretending my phone was a microphone as i looked over at him.

“don't distract me while im driving please” he said looking at the road.

“not my fault im so entrancing” i shrugged

luke shook his head.

“are we there yetttughhh” clarisse groaned.

“no!” everyone said in unison.

“we’re like 3 hours out” luke added.

“where even are we?” nina asked.

“somewhere in colorado” i answered.

“why didn't we fly again?” thalia asked.

“because a road trip is soooo much funner and better for family time!” i squealed.

“says the person who has to drive the least” chris said as everyone murmured in agreement.

“why is everyone acting weird towards me?” i asked.

“cus you've played six fucking christmas songs in a row!” luke yells.

by the time we pulled into the larue’s timeshare, it was practically pitch black but the snowy mountains shined faintly in close distance. it was freezing fucking cold when clarisse opened the door to go check in at the front office. she came back after about 20 more minutes of agony with a couple keycards and we drove over to our place. i was still so shocked that clarisse had somehow convinced her mom to let us stay here for the holidays, but i've honestly never seen clarisse not get what she wants.

we shivered and groaned as we walked up the stairs to our room. well, the girls that is, the boys were going up and down to bring all our stuff up, as real men should!

“sooo which room is ours?” thalia asked, referring to her and nina.

“i get the masters of course!.oh and i forgot actually, it’s just three bedrooms with one bed each, so you’ll have to share with luke, buttercup” clarisse smiled, patting my back.

“the fuck?!” i cursed

the girls all laughed in unison.

“you guys are children”

“shouldnt you be more excited about this? this is how you make your mooovee hmm?” thalia said, nudging me teasingly.

i shoved her off of me. “are you guys ill? he’ll probably just take the couch”

“that’s true” clarisse sighed.

“how unfortunate” thalia said.

“fuck the both of you” i said flipping them and nina off before the door opened.

“okay, where am i putting my stuff?” luke asked as he rolled in his suitcase.

“that one” clarisse pointed in my bedroom.

his face scrunched up.

“but..rhea’s stuff’s in there already..”

“yeah. 3 bedrooms.” clarisse said to him like it wasn’t insane.

luke squinted again. “you guys are funny, i’ll take the couch.” he said, placing his things in the living room.

i was expecting that of course but the little hope i had built up died in me at that moment. i tried to keep a cool and collected expression as our friends laughed.

“what a gentleman” chris said.

“yeah, thanks luke” i said not really meaning it at all.

a few hours later, i sat on the other couch watching luke make his makeshift bed on the other couch.

“you sure you don’t wanna just come snuggle with me?” i asked jokingly and yet wholeheartedly.

“rhé i’ll be fine, it’s not a big deal” he said, finishing and sitting on top of his blankets.

“it’s just..sleeping on the couch is so depressing i feel like and you already hate christmas enough as it is. i just don’t want your experience to be any worse” i said going to sit next to him.

“rhea, whether i sleep in a bed or a couch i’m going to hate christmas just the same.”

i scoff. “you fucking grinch”

luke puts his hand over his heart. “such foul language, princess”

“such foul attitude, castellan. what can i do to get you to love christmas?”

“probably nothing. christmas i am forever in disdain to” luke said dramatically.

i roll my eyes. “i bet you i can change your mind by christmas morning. i’ll make it our own personal 7 days of christmas.”

“7 days of christmas, huh? you bet? and what do i get when you’re wrong?” he said with a smirk, moving closer to me.

“no money or anything involved just the pure satisfaction when i am right” i said with my chin up.

“well i personally can’t wait to be satisfied, when i win” he said, his voice sounding even deeper and sexier than usual.

my breath hitches. “in your dreams, goodnight, castellan” i say getting up to head to bed.

“goodnight, princess.”

next

[rxyhiraeth]

SO PJO CAME OUT TODAY

and i have a lot of thoughts

this is just me screaming into the void about this show that i’ve been excited about since it’s been announced.

i haven’t personally really read the books in a bit, so if i am remembering things incorrectly or forgetting if something was in the books or not, forgive me (and correct me and my terrible memory)

OBVIOUSLY SPOILERS AHEAD

EPISODE 1: I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher

first off - chapter titles. i knew about this a while ago but im so happy we are doing this

getting the whole speech from percy in the beginning oh we are so back

blackjack??? that was blackjack right??

MYTHOMAGIC CARDS

if this gets us actual mythomagic cards we can buy, so help me god. i’m gonna spend all my money on them

i will never be able to speak highly enough about sally jackson. best fictional mom ever and i love her with all of my heart.

the “hold fast perseus. brave the storm” parallel at the beginning and end of the episode oh i’m sick to my stomach

the fountain scene felt a little… goofy? from what i remember percy just remembers her ending up in the fountain,like it sounds like he kinda blacks out. maybe that’s actually how it was in the books, but i did imagine it differently.

grover and brunner being the KINGS of gaslighting

percy is stronger than i could ever be if grover exposed me like that i couldn’t talk to him for like a year.

the biggest issue i’ve seen everyone talk about: gabe. i understand WHY they made him how he is in the tv show. it’s a disney show, they can’t have him be completely book accurate putting his hands on sally and threatening percy for money so he can play poker, but i feel like this doesn’t fit with how he ends up at the end of book 1. maybe we will see a more ‘evil’ side to him through the news interviews and stuff, or he will have a different ending, but i feel like the way he acts now doesn’t justify his end in book 1 that i expect to see in the tv show.

sally in the rain listening to olivia rodrigo i love her so much 😭😭😭

d’angelos??? it’s spelled differently but reference perhaps? i cannot WAIT to see nico i hope we get to see him in the casino

i didn’t get this until i saw someone point it out but the cuts to black were ends of chapters!! and it makes so much more sense. i will say it feels a bit odd?? but i honestly prefer it more as someone who has read the books.

i find the whole sally explaining the gods to percy interesting. it fits for the tv show more, but i love book percy just getting forced into camp half blood without any real knowledge just like “what the fuck is going on”

“Like… like Jesus?” PERCY PLS

i love this grover reveal, but the BEST will forever be the musical

“She was a fury!” “YOU’RE a furry, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEGS?!?”

grover dropping the fact he is 24 in a super intense scene is very grover

that first shot of thalia’s tree lit up by the LIGHTNING gave me CHILLS

the entire minotaur scene was incredible. sally’s speech to grover and percy. percy killing the minotaur. insane

not to mention sally taking percy’s jacket to throw off the minotaurs scent? such a cool choice

EPISODE 2: I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom

"you droll when you sleep" YUPPP MHMM YUP

ik that the whole 'Mr. D trying to use percy to get a drink' thing is supposed to be a little joke, but its also such a good way to explain the whole "gods can get their kids to steal shit for them because they can't do it themselves" without having a whole dramatic moment explaining it.

in my head I imagined the entire camp being very heavily wooded, maybe that's just the movies having some influence over me when it comes to visualization, but it was cool to see the camp in the actually valley in a very book accurate portrayal.

OH THE CABINS MY EYES WERE GLUED THE WHOLE TIME

THEY LOOK SO GOOD

this tv show has already captured the two personally traits of percy jackson: 1. he loves his mom 2. he hates the gods

the jelly beans

seeing Luke befriend percy and be his first friend at camp luke I am in your fucking walls

I personally feel like the way they have chosen to portray clarisse is quite different from the books, but I absolutely love it. i was not a fan of her for a while in the books, but I love her immediately in this version.

also did we get to 'see' the cloven council in tlt? I don't think we did, and I like seeing it in prep for sea of monsters.

the entire scene of percy praying to his mom breaks me. oh my god. favorite scene in the entire show so far. it breaks my heart he loves and misses her so much.

"I think I've made some friends here. like real friends" luke I have a gun

the whole bathroom scene. that's it.

ANNABETH

maybe its just different seeing all these characters portrayed well on the screen, but she feels super different than book annabeth but also exactly the same. im not 100% how to explain it but there is no one better to play annabeth than leah

I am so excited to see this slowburn all over again

"she my little sister" luke please

thalia name pronunciation how are we feeling team

i have 100% been pronouncing it the other way this whole time but oh well

"sunshine" hey! when we get the first "seaweed brain" I am going to go crazy

"percy's on it. when its time he's gonna be ready" are you sure about that luke

in the books the main 'introduction scene' we got with clarisse was the bathrooms, but this scene with her in the woods feel much more like an introduction scene and im not sure if this was done on purpose, but I love her and this scene.

annabeth. I cannot stress my love for her enough

annabeth pushing him into the water instead of him falling. love her

percy FINALLY finding a place he belongs only to be forced out on a quest for his dad that he fucking hates

"good kid" from tlt musical was so right

"I am Sally Jackson's son!" what if I just started eating glass rn

anyway I am absolutely obsessed with this show already. I am so sorry to anyone who doesn't want pjo on their feed you are getting it anyway.

if this show is your first introduction to the series. read the books! or at least the lightning thief. and for the love of god LISTEN TO THE MUSICAL. I cannot stress enough how good of a portrayal of the book it is and it is my all time favorite interpretation of the books (although this show may take that top spot soon).

[cross-armageddon]

I got too silly (again)

Before I say anything though, I must add something offtopic - this will not be a daily thing

I've uploaded the PJO AU sorta daily until now, because I had thoughts already - the rest of the characters' powers will require more thinking on my part. Also, I'm going to London for a few days soon, which means I won't have access to my tablet.

I MIGHT make an update for Prima Vista though, so when you're lacking in content from me, just head to AO3 to catch up with my prsk OCs

You can also send me asks with ideas for the PJO AU or questions to both the AU and Prima Vista during my vacations (Wednesday till Sunday) and I will reply to all of them as soon as I will have a break from sightseeing and have wifi (I'm silly like that).

Well then.

Leo/need (1/2)

(if you're disappointed it's not niigo or vbs, im disappointed in myself too)

The Honami Hephaestus is honestly a really cool idea in general, I'm very confident it fits her the most.

You wouldn't expect her to be a fire wielder after how Leo was in the series, but yet - that's exactly what she is to me. She has way more control over it, as she has to focus really hard and be extremely calm to get a spark, so exactly the opposite of Leo, that can straight up blow up if he gets too angry or excited.

As a Hephaestus daughter, she's naturally good with electronics and machinery. Everyone just kinda assumed she learned how everything worked while homekeeping, but in reality she doesn't actually know any theoretical stuff. She just moves something or hits it and the thing is fixed.

Also, I'm spreading Honami buff agenda. Her training at the camp gave her some muscles and yeah

yeah

Usually it's not noticeable, so people get shocked if she doesn't cover her arms or stomach, because "wtf where the fuck did she get those??"

Also, I feel like Honami would become a huntress of Artemis. Whether or not the rest of Leo/need would follow her is purely up to interpretation. On one hand I feel like they would, but then again - Saki would get extremely close to pararelling with Thalia and. I d

I don't think Tsukasa wants to follow Jason's footsteps actually.

On another note

Why is Ichika unclaimed?

I could make so many fucking excuses as to why she's unclaimed, but I will actually stay silent about it. Yall can give ideas and your reasoning for certain godparents tho 👀

hmu in my askbox

Anyways, since Ichika is unclaimed, she sometimes gets some weird looks and is a part of the "weirdos" from her Cohort.

(You WILL get dragged into my OC content, because I cannot shut up about them)

Ichika is a demigod, she has the same ADHD and dyslexia and she can see monsters. It's just that she doesn't know what potential she has, since she doesn't have a godparent. Her story is about finding out which god will claim her and what will make her godparent proud of her.

(Ichika is Kaii's older cousin in the Prima Vista canon, Kaii's mom is one of her parents' older sister. Which one? I dunno, the one that looks more like Ichika.)

Because Ichika doesn't know her powers, she spends a lot of time fighting, because what else could she focus on?

I must admit, her weapon idea is so fucking badass tho.

Percy had a pen that could transform into his sword and Ichika has something similar, but I kind of went crazy with it

The hook snaps very easily off her neck and after it snaps, the guitar pick transforms into her longsword. The handle on said longsword has the hook and loop still in tact, for whenever she doesn't need it anymore - it goes back to being a normal guitar pick necklace and she can wear it without unhooking it.

She plays the guitar with it too and finds no issues with it, actually amazing weapon, I'm very in love with that design.

Awawawa that's all I had for now, I'm going to have to actually start thinking of more powers now oh no

I might have to research the gods (aka refresh my memory from 7 years ago) again for inspiration and hope for the best.

Also, I think I should've done it earlier, but this is the list that like, 5 people maybe, worked on

If you see anything you like and any ideas for their powers, yeah go ahead and hit up the askbox 👀

I'm very interested to keep this AU semi-open - I allow people to engage in it! If you wish to make your own content with my ideas or add something of your own too, you can! If you're still unsure about things, you can also ask for my permission (if that makes you feel better).

[olivers-cocoapuffs]

Good morning

My father just sent me upstairs so he could play the ukulele in peace. I think I will be offended by this

I haven't done my homework and it's is five past nine. That's also great

Yeah there is nothing interesting except, I don't know, maybe the PERCY JACKSON TEASER

OLIVER

IT HAPPENED

WE HAVE IT

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO SEE IN THE SHOW?

That's your question

An eye for an eye, I want to see them talking about Thalia, specifically Grover and the lotus casino

HAVE A DAY WITH NO MONSTERS

(Please. Do better than me)

Hi!!

I’d also be offended by that tbh

did you manage to get it done?

I KNOW IM SO EXCITED IT LOOKS SO COOL. I love how they’ve got a remix of riptide in the background isjjdjskdi

this sounds really bland but I’m really excited to see the camp?? Just in general?? Or Medusa, she’s cool

I’ll try but my mother exists (I’ll tell you later)

goodnighty

[beastofhearts]

So.... March of the Machines

Overall I really liked the story even if there were moments when I thought certain narrative elements seemed rushed or had little payoff. I think if this was a saga of books with time and space to explore each plane defenses, the angels power, the characters on themselves and phyresia/phyresis, then most of its problems would disappear. But we did not get that and the writer did an amazing job on each of this chapters.

As its difficult for me to put proper order to my toughs with such a massive event happening all at once, i’m gonna go by points under the cut. Spoilers ahead ... also be warned this is very long

1) I liked the reasoning on why Phyrexia was having a harder time in some planes than others and I think there are subtle hints trough the side chapters to see it: they lost the advantage of playing on their home-field and don't know what to expect in most of these planes (+ it play with Norn hubris)

But that doesn't mean Phyrexia was “easily defeated” by any means. A few characters point out that they just bought more time for the planes and that's key in this battle. If given enough time Phyexia would end up winning simply because their numbers are infinite and relentless; they don't get tired and don't require food or drink. Sure, the elder dinosaurs beat down Etali, but Etali WAS an elder dinosaur and got completed regardless...  To me there is never a sense of victory in the side stories -except the last new capenna one-, but one of a respite and a dime hope.

Im also aware that im “trapped” in one or two points of view. So, for example, while Nahiri was defeated and the skyclave broke, Phyrexia’s forces continue to advance over the population in Zendikar. They continue to loose lives, cities and heroes, we just dont see it hapenning (like Omnath and Brimax for example)

2) THAT BEING SAID. I was disappointed we didn't see any of the team ups from the cards. Not only because they look cool as fuck but because they reflect how much of a threat phyrexia IS that unlikely alliances need to be created for a chance of stopping the invasion. 

I dont mind that not all of the “heroes” came to New Phyrexia at the “Avengers” style like many were hoping for. It wouldnt make sense to leave their planes unprotected like that, but we could have had a glimpse of Thalia and the Gilgtrog monster in a side story. Just a quick mention. Something! Its very minor, but I was excited about that.

3) On that same line of tough and maybe even more important to the story... many of our named and biggest foes were defeated in a blink of an eye; seemingly easy and unimportant. Atraxa had a whole chapter where she struggles and rages against the idea of beauty from New Cappenna. It was incredible to read how her phyrexian mind could not wraps something that used to be important to her. I hoped they go somewhere with it....and then she is just crushed under a building.

Listen, I dont mind some random person killing Vorinclex. Sometimes its not the heroes with their might and magic who get the job done, but the ordinary people who step against impossible odds with nothing but their hands. I really enjoyed and cheered on when the Mirrans stepped up to get Wrenn to Realmbreaker because they went from being just “people to be killed to showcase the danger/horrors of the battle” to people who have will and motivation besides staying on the shadow of the planeswalkers. 

So, to me, is not who killed Vorinclex, but how was it done. Why Nissa was having so much trouble with him in “All will be One”, if all she needed was a sword and some distraction? Helliod is another big example here. I would have liked to see more cooperation from the different characters to take them down.

4) Speaking of the praetors... I think Urabrask and Sheoldred should have been bigger in this story. If in-fighting is one of the causes for Phyrexia falling, then this two should be more at the front of it so the ending doesnt look as sudden as it was. I know in “ONE” we see the revolutions and Sheoldred agents fighting in the Basilica but I dont think its enough.

5) Consequences. Consequences. Consequences. What a complicated topic. I saw many people on twitter said that there was no real consequence to the story while others were glad or angry that their favorites were cured or killed off. I’m mostly okay with what we got but i’m afraid of how it will the planeswalkers will handled afterwards.

I liked that Nissa and Ajani were cured from Phyresis after Tamiyo and Lukka were killed. I think it showcases how messy times like this can be and how unjust it can feel. Of course they had to kill them to avoid more slaughter but I wonder if Kaya, Kaito or the Wonderer will ever think about the fact that Tamiyo could have been saved if they just had given her more time. (And I need to mention: I dont like that Tamiyo gets to stay indefinitely as a spirit, I think it takes from the original heart break)

I also like that even if it took Mellira’s life and Karn spark, both planeswalkers still carry the metal as a part of them. They dont simply come back as they were before like nothing happened, its impossible to pretend so. I also think it was smart to use and remove this method from the table (I find it beautifuly ironic that the “Living cure” died after New Phyrexia was sealed away. Her death still hurt so much) ... at least I think it was, since we dont know of any other healer of the same capabilities. 

Im not sure what to say about Jace and Vraska. Like I think they will not be un-compleated but probably wont be in stasis/mind control either. I hope details on what happened with Jace come with Aftermath

And that leaves us with... Nahiri. I hoped she stay in statsis for longer to make Mellira’s and Karn sacrifice more grandiose and significant. But sadly the Aftermath box art confirms that she is alive and walking with not-swords for hands. Like ... I cannot comment because I do not know, but uh WHAT HAPPENED?

Still, I think the destruction Phyrexia caused to multiples planes is enough consecuence for me and we may even get more in aftermath! Not to mention the chance at character exploration this brings. I love to read headcanons after events like this.

Anyway. 8/10 for me!

[rainagainstmywindow]

All Shades of You (Chapter 5)

Happy Birthday to Percy Jackson! This is super fluffy so it commemorates the Percabeth anniversary as well too I believe. Thanks as always to my lovely beta @san-penedo and enjoy the small lifeguard!Percy i managed to sprinkle in there! (please search #ramwfics or #ASoY for previous chapters)

Percy groaned as he attempted to read the same passage of his history textbook for what appeared to be the hundredth time. The exhaustion that weighed over him thanks to swim practice two hours prior didn’t help either, nor the fact that he had to wake up early tomorrow for his dog-walking gig. He would have little time the rest of the weekend to catch up on homework since he’d taken on extra shifts at the local pool where he worked as a lifeguard to make up for what he couldn’t work during the weekdays now that he was in the swim team.

He got halfway through the passage once again but it was no use, the words just taunted him from the page, dancing around in weird, curvy waves. Frustrated, he slammed the book shut, immediately flinching at the sound. He hadn’t heard anyone come in but Smelly Gabe would give him hell for making any noise during his precious “TV time.” Percy slowly poked his head out of his room and was relieved to find he was home alone. His stepfather was probably out drinking with his buddies and his mom should’ve been heading home from the candy shop. He felt his phone buzz. It was a text from Sally.

Will probably get there in a few hours. Had to close up late and I stopped to get some groceries. Don’t wait up. Love you

Percy texted back a quick reply, knowing full well she was probably closing up but at a new job. She had not wanted to admit it when he’d asked, too concentrated on congratulating him for making the team, but this definitely put a strain on money. His school tuition had already been too much even when he was working more frequently. He wondered once again if this was worth it, if he was worth it. He knew his mom wanted him to have what she didn’t, to finish high school and make it out of this neighbourhood. But he’d only managed to screw up every chance he’d gotten so far, and college just seemed too out of reach. His stepfather seemed to agree with it all being a waste. I won’t waste a dime on your little delinquent kid, Sally! Percy had heard him and his mother arguing after she’d gotten Percy the interview at Goode. As if Smelly Gabe had ever contributed anything but anxiety to Percy’s life. He’d silently prayed he wouldn’t be allowed into the school, didn’t really see how considering his record and poor grades. But, somehow, he’d made it in.

He made his way into the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge. He’d made sure to have an extra large lunch but he had not eaten since practice and he was starving. Percy looked at the clock. 10:32 pm. He figured Beckendorf would be at his apartment, getting back from work himself. Last year he would alternate his time between practice and Beckendorf’s apartment. Most days Grover would join them and they would pass the time bothering Beckendorf about Silena or playing with Mrs. O’Leary. Yet another thing Percy had screwed up when he got himself kicked out. He slammed the fridge door too, this time flinching because he knew he couldn’t afford to break the old thing. It’s not like Beckendorf had stopped inviting him over. He’d even hung out there a few days ago. Percy just couldn’t help but feel guilty whenever he saw him.

In the end, his own boredom and frustration won and he found himself in front of Beckendorf’s door. Mrs. O’Leary must’ve heard him come because Percy could hear her barking through the door. A few seconds later there was Beckendorf staring down at him, still im his mechanic overalls. “Hey! Everything okay?” Percy didn’t miss how his dark eyes scanned his face. There had been a couple of times last year when he’d knocked on his door later at night looking worse for wear.

“Yeah,” he answered casually, “I just got bored. Can I come in?”

“Yeah, of course.” Beckendorf stepped aside, making sure to hold on to Mrs. O’Leary’s colar. The large Rottweiler had started bounding happily at the sight of Percy, who scratched her ears on his way in. Beckendorf knew Percy too well. “You hungry?” He asked as they shuffled into his living room/kitchen.

Percy tried not to look too embarrassed as he admitted: “I’m starving.”

************

“What?” Percy asked Grover for the second time. He’d been too focused on a scrawny kid flopping around in the pool in front of him to hear what his friend was saying. He’d seen the kid before, not the strongest swimmer but Percy could tell it was more due to lack of confidence than anything else. He’d seen him manage quite well in the shallower parts of the pool. Today it seemed like he’d finally decided to try out the deeper end though. The kid’s parents were nowhere to be seen, and Percy could see the panic starting to creep into his face as he realized the water was too deep to stand in. “I’ll be right back.”

Percy slid into the water. He didn’t want to make a scene since the kid wasn’t actually drowning and he wanted to give him a chance to get out of there by himself. The boy spotted him right away, relief evident in his face. Percy was tall enough to stand in this part of the pool so he made his way slowly towards him. “Hey there.” The kid didn’t make a dash to hold onto him so Percy knew hadn’t gotten too desperate, but the way he was flopping around would tire him out soon enough. “What’s your name?”  

The kid, looking mildly embarrassed, told him it was Trevor. Slowly but surely, Percy got Trevor to paddle to a shallower part of the pool. His parents finally made an appearance not soon after. “Hey ma’am,” Percy called. They were clearly here just to pick him up and they didn’t look too happy about it. The father hadn’t even looked up from his phone. “Is this your kid?” The mother, a woman that appeared to be blonde with unusually dark skin (through his limited color palette Percy assumed it was due to a bad tanning job), looked him up and down but didn’t find it within herself to answer. “I had to help Travis swim away from the deeper end of the pool. He’s not a strong enough swimmer yet for you to leave him on his own like-”

“Oh, I’m sorry, are you complaining about doing your job?” The woman’s tone made Percy’s blood boil but he clenched his fists to keep his temper in check. He didn’t need any complaints going to his supervisor. He tried to apologize but the woman was too busy yanking Trevor out of the water to care. Percy tried to put on a fake smile as he waved goodbye to the kid and sulked back to his chair.

Grover looked distastefully at the spot where the woman had gone. “A plus parenting, huh?”

Percy rolled his eyes in agreement and slumped back into his chair. “What were you saying before?”

“Oh right,” Grover tried to calm his nerves, but he’d never been a good liar and Percy knew him pretty well by now. Grover was hoping to catch Percy in a good mood since he knew he wouldn’t like this next part very much. “Well, you know how you’ve been telling me you’ve been struggling with homework lately?”

That question alone was enough to hit a nerve. “I’m not struggling, Grover. I was just saying that I’m tired and I hate reading.”

“Yeah, well I was talking to Annabeth-” Grover held up a pleading hand before Percy could interrupt him- “She’s really smart, Percy! She could help you out after school!”

“Why did you have to tell her anything? I don’t even know her!”

“I didn’t tell her anything about that!” Grover argued. He knew it was hard for Percy to talk about people about his dyslexia and ADHD; he wouldn’t betray his trust like that. Little did Percy know, however, that Annabeth was in the same boat. “I just told her you needed some help with some subjects because I know she’s really good at all that stuff and she actually volunteered herself to tutor you.” It had taken Grover aback a bit actually. Annabeth was nice and always there to help, but she didn’t take on to new people right away. Grover hadn’t gotten the impression that she disliked Percy, but it usually took her a lot longer to show interest in new people. The only other person he knew she’d gotten along with right away was Thalia. Now that Grover thought about it, Percy and Thalia did have a lot in common, though.

“Tutor me?” Percy was looking thoroughly annoyed, eyes fixed on the water before him.

“She’s not going to charge you or anything,” Grover winced at his own comment. It was hard to manage Percy’s temper around this subject. He hated feeling pitied and wasn’t big on asking for help. “She’s just trying to help and she’s new here. She doesn’t know many people besides me and Thalia.” Percy sighed. “She’s the smartest person I know, Percy. I trust her. You met her. She’s cool.” Grover could tell he was going to give in. He knew Percy was worried about keeping his grades up. His swim coach had let him on the team under the condition that he would get his GPA up enough to get out of probation from the school. Grover was also secretly excited about his two best friends possibly becoming friends themselves.

“Fine,” Percy finally said, bringing his whistle up to his lips at the sight of a group of small girls chasing each other. He gave one firm blow and pointed at the sign that read No Running when they both whipped their heads towards him. “I’ve got some free time on Monday after practice.”

*************

Annabeth tapped her pen impatiently against the table she’d settled in at the library. It didn’t help her temper that today she found out that this same pen, which she’d been using since the beginning of the semester, was bright red. The color of romance, her father had once jokingly told her. And danger, Annabeth now thought. Yeah, that seemed more accurate in her case.

The guy was almost an hour late. She was about to give up when she heard what sounded like a chair being knocked over, a loud hush, and a quick apology. A few seconds later, there was Percy Jackson. His hair was still wet from what she assumed was swim practice and he was holding a battered skateboard under his arm. Annabeth was once again struck by the intense green of his eyes. She thought she’d gotten used to the color after seeing it everywhere for the past couple of weeks, but it still floored her. There was nothing else that was that exact shade of green.

“You’re late.”

He at least managed to look guilty as he pulled a chair out noisily, earning him a death glare from the librarian at the desk. “I know. I’m so sorry. We ended late and the subway broke down or something.”

Annabeth would’ve shrugged that off as a half-assed excuse but every time she’d gotten on the subway that week it had stopped for almost an hour. Percy also had a very sincere way of saying things that kind of put her on edge. She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Did you bring your book?” He pulled a history textbook from his battered backpack. She tried to ignore the fact he’d dogeared the page. “Fall of Constantinople, right?”

“Yeah.” She could tell this whole ordeal embarrassed him a little. It was becoming harder and harder to remember she was annoyed at him. “I just...can’t seem to understand why this city was so important. From what I managed to extract from the other chapter, it seems like this whole empire was already done for.”

“I mean it was certainly in decline, and the Ottoman Turks had taken the Balkans and Anatolia by this point. So that made Constantinople the last city holding up what used to be this seemingly unbreachable empire.” Annabeth saw Percy nodding along and jutting down some notes. There was no other way to call it, it was cute. “Constantinople also represented Mehmed’s rival religion.”

“Wait, so he tried to take it again? This Meh...however you say his name? He’d already tried before, right?”

“No, that was his dad.” Annabeth leaned closer to the passage Percy was looking at. He pushed the book towards her so she could get a better look. The font was so tiny that Annabeth almost got dizzy. It would’ve taken her almost an hour to decipher just one paragraph. She pushed the book back towards him, hoping he hadn’t noticed. Thankfully, she had always been good at remembering names and they’d gone over this in her school in San Francisco last year. “Murad was the one who failed to take the city and then his son Mehmed tried again and succeeded. He got this Hungarian artillery expert, Urban I think he was called, to build him a cannon powerful enough to take down the walls of the city.”

“Sorry, could you spell that last name?”

Something about the question made Annabeth falter for a second. Percy appeared to understand most of what they were talking about. It was the names that seemed to stump him. It sounded a little familiar. “Sure.” Annabeth spelled the name out for him and she watched him make some new notes. She thought about how Grover never failed to bring up Percy one way or another when she complained about homework assignments. “Once Mehmed seized the city he used the emperor’s famed cathedral as a mosque. I can’t remember the name though. Is it in your book? I don’t know if they’d want you to know it for class.”

Annabeth observed as Percy scanned the page; she could practically feel the frustration oozing off of him. She was absolutely certain her suspicions were correct when she saw him push the book a bit far away, a trick she herself had tried many times. “Hey Percy,” he grunted in response, still absorbed in the textbook, “are you maybe...dyslexic?”

She felt him tense right away. Grover hadn’t told her for a reason, it was clearly a touchy subject for him. Annabeth was grateful that Grover had also clearly failed to tell Percy about her. “I just think that’s why Grover brought all of this up.” He was now looking at her, a complicated look on his face, like he didn’t know whether or not he should be getting offended. “It’s just that,” it had always been hard for her to talk about it too. It was like a cosmic joke for someone that loved reading so much to be made in a way that made it almost impossible to do so. “I am too, dyslexic I mean. Just looking at that book just now made me want to throw up.” His expression immediately softened. Annabeth noted the way he could easily go from one emotion to another. “That font size is awful.”

“I know right. And it’s and older edition so it doesn’t have an audio version.”

“I think I still have one for my textbook last year. I don’t know if it has everything in this one but-”

“No, yeah. That’d be great! I mean if you don’t mind-”

Annabeth chuckled, definitely cute. “I don’t, Percy.”

He thanked her once again and they finally exchanged numbers. They got through the main events of Constantinople. Annabeth remembered everything pretty well and Percy took notes. She felt light as a feather the whole time. She tried to ignore it. It’d never been this way with anyone she liked in the past. Her crush on Luke had been anything but light. Being with Percy was just nice. She didn’t know about the whole ‘soulmate’ ordeal, she didn’t even know if she liked him that way really, but she definitely wanted to hang out with him again.

An hour later he casually checked his phone and almost jumped off his chair, earning him yet another glare from the librarian. Annabeth tried to mask her snort as a cough. “Sorry,” he said quickly. He turned to Annabeth. “I have to go. Are you free Thursday?” She was pretty sure she would be but she’d have to check. She could tell he was in a hurry though so she told Percy she’d text him. “Thanks again! See you then.”

Annabeth smiled silently to herself as Percy hurried out of the library, bumping into several chairs and failing beautifully at making a quiet exit. Her smiled melted when she looked down at the pen she was still holding. Bright red.

[sinceileftyoublog]

Jessica Moss Interview: Failed Truths

Photo by Joseph Yarmush

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Best known for her work Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, violinist and sound artist Jessica Moss has developed a prolific and provocative solo career. Late last year, she released Entanglement, her second solo album. Like its predecessor Pools of Light, it’s divided into two distinct parts--this time around, a 20-minute track called “Particles” inspired by quantum theory and four numbered tracks of “Fractals”. An excellent record, it shows Moss continuing what made past releases so successful, the combination of layered, building, heady studio composition with raw and wonderful spontaneity.

I spoke to Moss about Entanglement from her home in Montreal last month the morning after her record release show. Be sure to catch her on tour right now opening for Julia Holter, including Thursday at Thalia Hall, and read the interview, edited for length and clarity, below.

Since I Left You: Entanglement has two distinct parts, the first inspired by quantum theory. When did your interest in quantum theory begin?

Jessica Moss: My interest in that started and ended just by hearing about entanglement theory almost in passing. I was listening to a podcast about something else, and they casually mentioned entanglement theory and how it works, with two particles becoming entangled and affecting each other at a great distance and forever. It blew my mind and opened up my doors about magical thinking and human entanglement and the way we affect each other. I found it romantic, and beautiful, and sad, and terrifying. It was an explosion of ideas, and I started working from there. I don’t have much of a grasp on the science behind it. The fact of it was the inspiration. It made me think more about us in the world. It’s pretty incredible.

SILY: The second part of the album saw you experiment with live recording--you recorded, amplified, and sampled.

JM: I always record that way. I pull things completely apart and then carefully put them back together.

SILY: So what differentiates the four parts of “Fractals”?

JM: Basically, I had this melody that had jumped into my mind and fingers. I’d play around with it every time I picked up my violin at a soundcheck. I knew I wanted it to be a focus for the record I was going to make. I was trying to find the perfect iteration and the perfect arrangement to feature this melody, and I kept trying to make the perfect version of it, and I kept failing at that. I would create the arrangements around it but couldn’t fit the melody in properly. But looking at what I had created around [the melody], I fell in love with [the arrangements] instead. It became a search for truth in a way. I was trying to express this one true thing, but I couldn’t. It made me meditate on, “What is truth?” Maybe the work you do around searching for truth is the truth. These four tracks are both failed attempts and better versions of this melody. It became a metaphor for allowing imperfect things to be perfect in their own way.

SILY: How do you adapt the tracks to a live performance?

JM: So far, I’ve been able to adapt only two of four “Fractals”--the one that’s all vocals and the last one, I feel that I can’t properly express them live by myself. I’m inspired and excited about gathering some kind of ensemble in the next while to be able to play those two parts that I feel need others with me, and also parts of the previous record I haven’t been able to express live either, the whole second half called “Glaciers”.

SILY: The parts you do perform live--when you’re on stage, do you go through that same mental truth-seeking shift when you’re up there?

JM: Yes, very much so. The “Fractals” pieces have sort of transformed as I performed them live. I travel usually by myself when I tour--no transportation, no sound manager--it’s just me, my pedals, and my violin when I show up. It’s given me this beautiful opportunity to give me a window into community efforts to put on shows. Communities of people who put on shows are little microcosms of communities working together. If I’m lucky, it’s a collective working on it, and I can witness and appreciate the different ways that collectives work. I can see similarities and differences everywhere I go. To me, it’s the most beautiful idea and thing in the world--people working together for the sake of working together and doing something good. In a small way, to put on a show, but in a big way, to change the world. I’m a solo vessel right now--a satellite--but I’ve had [collective work] in my life, and I look forward to having it again in my life. But right now, I feel a bit like a researcher of collective work. Somehow, the two pieces I do perform called “Fractals” have meant more to me as a meditation of working together. I think about that when I perform those two. When I perform the “Particles” side, I’m thinking about everybody in the room--connection, romance, heartbreak. I’m a pretty emotional performer, I’d say. [laughs]

SILY: In the past, you’ve been part of collectives--like some of the bands you’ve been in--but now you say you’re more of a researcher. What have you observed about commonalities between collectives?

JM: There are similar dynamics at play. Similar personalities get drawn in, and similar difficulties occur between people aiming towards the same point. I almost feel like the closer in kind the people are aiming towards the point, the more difficulties there are. If you’re almost on the same page as someone, it can be more painful than being on a completely different page. So I’ve observed dynamics that interrupt good work but also heroic efforts to get over those dynamics and point towards the original goal. That’s the most beautiful moment--learning to allow for small differences and working towards what you’re trying to do. Sometimes, it fails when you’re trying to get there.

SILY: Do you feel like the material, when you play it, takes on its own life? Has it expanded beyond when it was recorded?

JM: Absolutely. Entanglement I toured a lot before I recorded it, as did I “Entire Populations” on [Pools of Light]. Just by coincidence, the records had a similar experience in that the first half is something I created by playing it live, building it slowly but surely into what it was, but the other half came out of my mind as a goal and was created more in the studio. I have played “Particles” now 60 times live. It is never once the same exactly. The day it starts feeling like I’m playing something the exact same way I did yesterday, I’ll move on. I don’t want to put on a show that’s easy and that I can count on. Every night, it’s affected by who is there, the room, the amps I’m borrowing, the promoters that are there, the conversations I’ve had. It all feeds into that evening’s performance.

SILY: What else are you working on at the moment?

JM: I’ve been incredibly busy, so everything I’m working on at the moment has been in my mind. In terms of my own stuff, I feel like I could go into the studio and make another record right now, but that’s impractical, so I’m going to take my time and work slowly. I hope to have another release as soon as I can. [laughs]

SILY: Is there anything you’ve been listening to, reading, or watching that’s caught your attention?

JM: There’s so much in my mind right now, but I’ve been listening to the sound of wolves howling. I just listen to different recordings of wolves howling. I actually played some last night at my launch [show]. I came across somebody posting something about wolves howling, and I thought about how it’s such a beautiful type of communication. I wish we could communicate like that instead of the Internet. I wish we could go outside and howl longingly and talk about this fucking fucked up world. So basically, yeah, that’s what I would say is what I’m most thinking about at the moment.

[demiboypercyjackson]

Trans👏Girl👏Jason👏Grace👏Headcanons👏Please

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE AAAA!!!

- she never really questions being a guy? like, maybe all the ‘guys’ lose a bet or something and they have to dress up and she wears these heels and a dress and someone does her make up and people are calling her ‘lady’ and ‘girlfriend’ and ‘legs’ (this one if less appreciated) and she feels a little more afraid and a lot more comfortable than she thinks most men do… when she asks percy how it felt for him, she’s afraid by how different their answers are, and she thinks she knows why

- basically, the realization strikes her quick as lightning. hehehe…. im funny

- anyways, we all know she’s super buff, and it makes her really dysphoric sometimes, but hazel is buff too, so they’re both super pretty buff girls together. she and hazel don’t really get along too much before this, but something about jason figuring out her gender brings them closer together, and it makes them both happy

- she’s really into blazers and pencil skirts but mostly wears oddly fashionably sweats and big heather-grey shirts or hoodies. shes cute af and plays around with her style though. she gets really excited about experimenting and everybody agrees that shes adorable and it makes them happy to see her happy

- she grows her hair out long, but keeps it shoulder length. thalia offers to cut her hair once and j takes one look at her sister’s short, choppy, self-cut-with-a-dagger hair and politely declines. they don’t get much closer, since thalia is still a huntress and it kind of hurts her to be around j, but they love each other a lot and thalia makes sure jason knows how proud she is of her baby sister

- even though she doesn’t exactly come out to the gods, she is knows by monsters, gods, the works, as the daughter of zeus. it makes her whole face light up when she thinks about it. she’s come far from ‘son of jupiter’ and she is never, never going back.

i am.. def going to write trans jason fic soon, i love her so much - mod will

[palmnix]

Chaos's Assassin 3

“Three days ago we sent team 1 to Earth to get rid of an upcoming threat. Today they have all been reported missing. We need you to go find them and help eliminate the threat.”

I wasn’t upset. I wasn’t excited either. I had been to earth on missions before so I wasn’t surprised really. My only concern was getting Willow and Nico back to Lily.

“What’s the threat?” I asked Chaos, curiosity getting the best of me. I sat in Chaos’s bland office with only a glass table between us. He tended not to keep much in his office, only some weapons and a couple of books on a shelf on the right wall.

“Well… I guess you could say he’s an old friend of yo-”

"is it Kronos?” I cut in.

“No, let me fini-”

“It’s it luke?”

“No, he’s dea-”

"Gaea?”

“I just said it was a bo-”

“Then who is it? Octavian?” I joked.

Chaos rubbed the back of his neck. Glancing nervously about the room with a look of uncomfort on his face.

“It’s Octavian isn’t it.” I said with a blank expression. 

Chaos nodded.

“I am not impressed. I had rather hoped he would die.” I said truthfully, looking across the room to glass windows behind Chaos.

“So did we all. He’s more annoying than the most annoying person I know, and I know a lot of annoying people.” Chaos said.

“Ditto. Wait a minute, you said that they were reported missing. Who reported it?”

“Camp Jupiter and… Camp Half Blood” He said finding his nails very interesting.

I nodded, unsure of how to feel about his answer. I was happy of course. But it had been so long…

“I assume that I’ll be staying with either one.” I said, avoiding eye contact.

“Camp Half Blood.” Chaos said.

I nodded, internally sighing in exasperation.

“Is that it?” I asked him.

“Yup, you leave tomorrow.”

I nodded once more and stood up to leave his office. When at the door, I paused.   

“Chaos?” I asked, turning around to face him. “Did you do it."   

He looked me straight in the eyes and said,

"I don’t break my promises.”

“You ready?” Rebecca asked me as she passed me my backpack at the mouth of the woods the next day.

“I’m not too sure.” I replied, clipping my hood onto the leather jacket i wore. Luckily for me, my hood cast a dark shadow upon my face that no one could see through.

“Brace yourself.” She said to me.

I nodded.

“i’ll see you later then” I told her, reaching for the tree with the teleportation beam.

“Omega,” Rebecca said before I could leave. “Bring them back will you.”

“You can count on it.” I said with a tight smile.

The sun looked absolutely stunning on the horizon as it disappeared behind the forest of trees. The Camp appeared just as gorgeous as how it had been when I had left. Thalia’s pine tree still sat there with Peleus wrapped around its bark. Down the hill the Big house stood in all its glory with the twelve cabins, the amphitheatre, the climbing wall and of course the toilets being the first things in my line of sight. I breathed in the clear air and made my way down towards Chiron sitting on the porch of the, oh so mighty, light blue barn.

“Hello my son. Who might you be and what might you be doing here?” Asked Chiron once I had finally made it down the steep hill, his brown eyes glistening in the dusk atmosphere and his tweed jacket looking battered as ever as he sat on his little wheelchair.

“Ahh, you must be Chiron.” I stated.

“That would be I, but I ask again. Who might you be?”

“My name is Omega and I am Chaos’s assassin. I have come to get Chaos’s soldiers back and help with the upcoming threat.”

“I take it by ‘upcoming threat’ you mean Octavian.” Chiron asked.

“That is correct.” I replied. 

“Therefore your help is much appreciated.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded.

“The rest of the Camp is at the campfire if you would like to introduce yourself.” He told me. I shook my head.

“Excuse my rudeness, but I would prefer to stay out of sights at the moment and simply borrow a room in this lovely house for the night.”

“Please, that is not a problem, we have a room already prepared inside, if you would like to take it.”

“Thank you. I hope it is not inconvenient for me to suggest a war meeting tomorrow morning?”

“Not at all,” he replied, “it would be our pleasure.“

I began to make my way towards the doorway, until he stopped me before I could leave.

"I take it you’re not going to take off your hood.” He said.  

“I am the most known Assassin in the universe. I think it’s safer for both our sakes to keep it on.” I answered.

With that I turned around and walked into the Big House. I was home… For a while.

I had once been told that the worst part of being in a war was the actual planning. Who ever said it was right. Sitting at the ping - pong table in the rec room I felt completely at home. Completely comfortable. And completely bored. But I kept my guard up. I had toured the Camp with a clueless Chiron this morning and had learnt two things. One; the seven demigods I had gotten so close to all those years ago weren’t here. And two, last time I had been here I had known every single face in the camp. This time there was about 20 newcomers. May not have seemed like a lot, but it was a pain in the neck to not be able to refer to everyone by name. It was strange really. It hadn’t been long ago that I had left. At least not for everyone else.

“We had better get started then.” Chiron announced to the room, “We are missing some of our leaders at the moment as they are in Camp Jupiter making plans, but we can cope without them.”

“Personally I think we’re better off without those wannabe’s.” I heard Drew say. Dam, I had hoped she had left in the time I had been gone.

“Shut up Drew.” Malcolm spat.

“And what gives you the right to say that to me?” She replied, her face smothered in hate.

“And what gives you the right to be rude to any of us?” Conner retorted.

“All right, all right.” Chiron hollered. “Settle down. We don’t want to be rude in front of our guest now do we?” he asked, motioning to me. I smiled slightly under my hood. I had missed this. The bickering wasn’t quite the same with Chaos.

“Anyway Malcolm, you’re the best battle strategist present. What do you propose?”

“Well, it was obviously Octavian who took Chaos’s soldiers so we only have one option. We have to prepare for a full scale attack before they have the upper hand.”

“Wrong.” I interrupted, looking at my nails. Everyone’s heads turned towards me.

“Excuse me?” A daughter of Hecate asked.

“Your wrong.” I replied, “You immediately assume there was no other option other than a full scale war, something we up in Chaos HQ are avoiding, therefore, I don’t agree.”

“Oh really?” Challenged Malcolm, “and what do you suggest?”

“Octavian’s not stupid, he knows how to plan a war and he has spies everywhere. Going offence will kill us all. He’ll be rallying all of the monsters from Tartarus, and even some Titans, we don’t have enough people. They will crush us on our own. Even with Camp Jupiter we have no chance. We need the Chaos warriors.”

“So what do you think we should do, Einstein?” Katie asked, a mask of annoyance on her normally calm face.

“We need to give out a quest.” I replied, “only the people in this room and the ones actually on the quest can know about it, so as not to alert any spies.”

“So you think we should just send a couple of random Campers into the enemy’s base, and their deaths, just to save some supposedly Elite warriors whom had got themselve kidnapped?” Clarisse La Rue asked, playing with her knife.

“No, I suggest giving a quest to two of the seven to find Octavian’s plans and free the Chaos soldiers.” I replied.

“But if they go on this mission and die, then we’ll have lost two of our best soldiers!” Travis said alarmed.

“Then let’s all hope they aren’t that stupid.”

“Then who’s going to be the third person?” Katie asked, “I don’t know how it is on Chaos’s realm, but over here three people go on Quests together.”

“I distinctly remember you breaking that rule a couple of times.”

“Those were special circumstances.” Clarisse butt in, “and how do you know about that?”

“It doesn’t matter, because I was rather hoping it would be me that went with them.”

“Why?” Clarisse demanded.

“Because, Clarisse La Rue, Daughter of Ares, I made a promise to my favourite little girl that I would get her parents home in time for Christmas. And I intend to keep it. On my own terms.”

I couldn’t tell if they were shocked because I knew about Clarisse, or because I just showed human qualities.

“And whose ‘Them’ going to be?” Connor asked.

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less. As long as they can keep up, you can decide yourselves.”

“Fine,” Clarissa said “have it your way, i nominate myself and, i cant believe im saying this, one of the seven.”

“Hey, how come you get all the quests? I think it’s our turn this time!” Travis exclaimed, him and his brother both standing up at the same time. Determination masking their identical faces.

“What?” Shouted a voice from the back of the room.

It was like a lightswitch suddenly flicked up and the room descended into chaos. There were people standing and threatening others, I could even see some people with knives and swords out. Even a bow and arrow was present.

After a couple of minutes i got bored of all the shouting. Chiron was trying to calm everyone down but it wasn’t working very well.

“All right, i get it, you’ve all been deprived! Now shut up.” Luckily i had had lots of practise with screaming at Chaos.

Everyone’s heads turned towards me. The attention was flattering, but unnecessary.

“He has a point guys,” said Katie, the ever so peaceful one, “anyway, hadn’t we decided two of the seven would go? They can chose between themselves when they get back.”

“And when will I be able to meet the ever so famous 7?” I asked, trying not to give too much away with how much I was dying to see them.

“Well, technically there are only 6 of them. We lost one just a year ago.” Will said, pain evident in his voice and his shoulders sagging.

My stomach fell and for a moment i couldn’t breathe. The world around me faded into the background and all I could hear was the beating of my heart. Hadn’t it worked? Chaos said he had done it. He said he had saved her. I felt the world swim and could feel a panic attack surfacing. But I pushed it down. Not here. Not now. And so I closed my eyes and focused on one thing. Her face. Slowly my breathing leveled and my heart beat turned back to normal. It was then I realised that I had missed the end of the meeting and people were starting to leave.

I quickly grabbed Nyssa’s arm before she could leave. “I’m so sorry, but i spaced out for a minute and didn’t hear the answer to my question. What was it?”

“Oh, you’ll see them tonight at the bonfire.” She replied curiosity showing clearly.

“Thanks.” I said. Then I stood up and walked out the room.