#and percy ghosting her feels messed up

[ladyblueberrymuffin]

Still thinking about how we're just not expected to care that Rachel basically gave her whole life away. She can't go to the same school as her best friend, she has to go to a finishing school her parents chose for her to 'fix her' into the perfect daughter they want. And then she has to give up any chance to find love in order to be the Oracle, which is a responsibility placed on her against her will that she takes in stride because she knows it's important, she knows she will be saving lives and she respects the previous Oracles that came before her. Then, Percy drifts apart from her.

People talk about Percy giving up immortality, how it's a sign of his maturity and the love he has for his friends and Earth and Annabeth. What Rachel did might have been an ever greater feat, because she had to give up what turned Percy away from immortality—a normal life. A chance to live the life she wanted.

She gave up so much, and we're supposed to not care. She gave up so much for these stupid powers and then the Triumvirate corrupts them so they don't even work. Apollo just abandons her and she is just there to endure this deafeaning silence. She gave up everything and she's left with less than how she started. The light goes out of her. She destroys her art, and she couldn't care less, because she can't even remember what it feels like to like art. They won. They've finally broken her. Congratulations, Mr. Dare.

Rachel should've been the secondary protagonist of Trials of Apollo, instead she gets thrown a bone at the end of the series, which is too little too late.

Why can't Percy and Rachel hang out? Why can't she quit Clarion Academy? Why is she not allowed to be upset over all of this?

[nicodisigma]

characters i think will be back in TCOTD (please add more if i forgot someone!!)

obviously Hazel (and her horse), but that also means Frank to some extent since Rick started putting characters in 2-packs, 3-packs, xyz-packs (e.g. the hunters), because of how many of them there are now, and honestly can’t blame him

Jason, but i don’t really know if we should be happy cause that could mean resurrection and this trope usually is not executed well (that would be insane level of fan service too i fear 😭). also it was clear that Nico didn’t want to try communicating with him in any way like he did with Bianca, so i hope it will only be a ghost cameo and that’s it!

Percy, Annabeth and Grover, i actually ☝️ do think they are the people in the background of the tcotd cover. If Rick hasn’t messed up the timeline like he did in Wrath of the Triple Goddess, Percabeth should be in New Rome (idk what’s Grover doing there tho, probably visiting or helping)

Hades!!! Solangelo agreed to see Hades in tsats, cause Will had never seen him before, so I think it could even be a starting point of tcotd plot, which seems to revolve around monsters and the consequences of the events from tsats, so it all matches!

Naomi!!! It’s canon and confirmed!!! (she’s ginger trust me, you will see!!!!!) 🎊🎂🪅🎉🎊🎉🎂🎊🎉🪅🎊🎉🎊🎂 I just hope we will see her in her house in Austin and not on some concert venue 😁 i’m so excited

Lavinia Asimov and Poison Oak (omg i can’t believe it’s Lavinia’s gf actual name, in pl it was Toksykodendra i think it was way better idk 🙃). There are not many known* alive campers from CJ, so we are getting those 2 for sure. (notice how Lavinia is Nico’s second fellow European ☝️)

I forgot someone for sure (not Reyna, Apollo and Meg tho, I don’t really think there is a scenario where they could be easily implemented, especially that there were plans for a book about the hunters). Feel free to add or correct me 🚶‍♀️‍➡️

[helenofsparta2]

It’s so wild to me, that this sentence appears in the same book as “Some things aren’t meant to be controlled.”

And, listen, I don’t have an issue with Annabeth saying that to Percy in Tartarus. The situation with Aklys was beyond messed up. It’s completely understandable that she was terrified in the moment.

My issue is that there was no real follow up to it afterwards.

Percy was prepared to let himself get killed by Polybotes because he didn’t want to control poison again, and Rick did absolutely nothing with the concept afterwards. Like, literally nothing.

No acceptance of his ability. No realization, that a power in of itself can never be pure evil and that his ability to control poison or bodily fluids could actually be helpful in keeping himself and his friends alive. No realization that he did what he had to do in order to keep himself and Annabeth safe, and that his anger was a completely understandable reaction to everything he's been through. No further discussion about the trauma he and Annabeth went through. Just… nothing.

That’s like one of the weirdest writing decisions in Heroes of Olympus for me. (And that means a lot)

Especially since in Blood of Olympus, Nico had a very similar scene with killing Bryce, and Reyna and Hedge completely validated his actions in that instance:

Nico took a breath, getting a nose full of Hedge’s fragrant home remedy. ‘Reyna, I … I didn’t think. What I did to Bryce –’ ‘You destroyed him,’ Reyna said. ‘You turned him into a ghost. And, yes, it reminded me of what happened to my father.’ ‘I didn’t mean to scare you,’ Nico said bitterly. ‘I didn’t mean to … to poison another friendship. I’m sorry.’ Reyna studied his face. ‘Nico, I have to admit, the first day you were unconscious, I didn’t know what to think or feel. What you did was hard to watch … hard to process.’ Coach Hedge chewed on a stick. ‘I gotta agree with the girl on this one, kid. Smashing somebody’s head in with a baseball bat, that’s one thing. But ghostifying that creep? That was some dark stuff.’

(…)

‘It’s more than that.’ Reyna rested her hand on Nico’s. ‘While you were asleep, I did a lot of thinking. What I told you about my father … I’d never shared that with anyone. I guess I knew you were the right person to confide in. You lifted some of my burden. I trust you, Nico.’ Nico stared at her, mystified. ‘How can you trust me? You both felt my anger, saw my worst feelings …’ ‘Hey, kid,’ said Coach Hedge, his tone softer. ‘We all get angry. Even a sweetheart like me.’ Reyna smirked. She squeezed Nico’s hand. ‘Coach is right, Nico. You’re not the only one who lets out the darkness once in a while. I told you what happened with my dad, and you supported me. You shared your painful experiences; how can we not support you? We’re friends.

(…)

‘But Bryce. I …’ Nico couldn’t continue. ‘You did what had to be done. I see that now,’ Reyna said. ‘Just promise me: no more turning people into ghosts if we can avoid it.’ (Blood of Olympus, Chapter 32)

[huiyi07]

Nico di Angelo moments I don’t think we talk about enough

- during the son of Neptune, Hazel stood up for Percy and vouched for him to join the legion; Nico then beams at her, “Good job, sis! That took guts.”

- Nico’s active gay panic during like the entire first half of Son of Neptune where he keeps actively deflecting Percy’s questions and stressing about it to Hazel

- also during SoN (clearly an underrated book for Nico) there’s this one moment where there’s all these ghosts in the room and they’re all arguing and he LITERALLY just puts a finger to his mouth and they all go silent like

- Mark of Athena, at the very end when Nico was rescued he looks Percy in the eye and tells him, “Percy, they pulled me into the pit. The things I saw…” and his voice broke, and I think that the rawness in that moment despite the really messed up relationship they had but Nico was so traumatized that he still displayed his full emotion towards Percy

- house of Hades Nico constantly just being a punching bag.. I mean he literally got thrown around so much in that damn book for no reason 😭😭

-at the end of HoH also, during the final battle, Nico cheers at some point and screams, “let’s turn this tide!” And I just think. That’s very special

-BoO Nico had tons of great moments but let’s just keep reminding ourselves of the “we had one home, now we have two,” moment

- something something the hidden oracle during the final battle with that massive giant thing and the fact that if you step back and look at it, you kinda realize that Nico was the strongest pillar the camp had at that point and that it was when he was taken out of commission that the battle turned dire

- tower of Nero, also during the final battle 😭Apollo wasn’t able to reach Nero, so he screamed, “Nico!” AND nico LITERALLY jumps 10 feet in the air and brings his sword down like some kind of shonen protagonist and tries to CLEAVE NERO IN HALF 😭 only to get tossed away like a puppy

- tsats Nico was kinda ooc but one thing that did feel so in character and funny was that he was revealed to be so smart and perceptive about romance to the point he was literally predicting Will’s confession to him

[pod-together]

Pod-Together Day 1 Reveals 2024

Light up This Old Soul (Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars: Dark Disciple - Christie Golden) written by EustaciaVye, performed by AsterRoc Summary: As Obi-Wan heals, he learns more about the Nightsisters' approach to the Force, while Asajj learns more about her heritage.

Both a Blessing and a Curse [text, audio] (Star Wars: Rebels) written by wanderingjedihistorian, performed by flowerparrish Summary: His memory was both a blessing and a curse. Alexsandr Kallus had known this for many years. The date he’d first seen the name The Ghost cross his desk was forever burned into Kallus’ memory. And that date was getting closer.

View from a Pavilion (镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018), 绅探 | Detective L (TV), 叛逆者 | The Rebel (TV 2021)) written by Martha, performed by SEF_podfic Summary: During the dark days of the occupied French Concession, Luo Fei helps an injured young captain of the Republican Military Intelligence. [text and podfic]

dream symphony (The Magnus Archives (Podcast)) written by Lua, performed by gracicah Summary: Simon Fairchild loves the sky, and, through his surprisingly long life, he feels loved back by it. It isn’t all that surprising that he has a good time as an avatar of his patron. After all, he is a man in love.

A Case of Identity Fraud (Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics)) written by DayenuRose, performed by Nymphie_Wolf Summary: After spending years of putting in the hard work and re-building his life and his relationship with his family, Jason Todd is not amused when he falls over a decade into the past. The Red Hood is in the middle of his vengence on his family, Tim's life is falling apart at the seems, and his family is in shambles. Jason misses his home, his family, and the ability to have a decent meal. After two months of (mostly) observing from the sidelines, Jason can't stand by anymore. If no one else will step in and help Tim, then he will. Can Jason help past!Tim without messing up the future for everyone?

Tenderly (Original Work) written by Hagar, performed by wilfriede0815 (with additional voices by stargateinmybasement, ChaosKiro, Juulna, Tipsy_Kitty, horchata, and flowerparrish) Summary: My name is Amalie Madsen. I’m a schoolteacher teaching sixth grade. Since I became a teacher, I’ve been told many times that my sense of wonder may fade with time but, in fact, just last year I ran into the greatest wonder I have encountered to date. Or, should I say, wonders.

Truth Comes Out Of His Well (Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians & Related Fandoms - All Media Types) written by TsarinaTorment, performed by stereden Summary: Lee Fletcher had a secret. Luke knew it, and anything Luke knew, Kronos knew. This had consequences, which started with Lee not meeting his end at the business end of a giant's club after all.

Letters to Jiejie [text & podfic] (陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)) written by FlutterFyre, performed by pezzax Summary: Jiang Cheng doesn't know what has gotten into Wei Wuxian and to be honest, he doesn't care. He just wants things to go back to normal. Stuck at the Cloud Recesses guest lectures, he vents to his elder sister as he alsways has, hoping against hope that she will have a solution that might bring some semblance of sense back to his foster brother.

Like a Hozier Song [text, audio] (Daredevil (TV), Daredevil (Comics), The Punisher (TV 2017), Punisher (Comics), Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe) written by BurdenedWithPointlessPurpose, performed by 42donotpanic Summary: Matt never expected for Frank Castle to end up on his couch for months on end. He’d never expected to make a home with him, but nothing is as he’d planned. Life isn’t neat like that and his friend gets that more than anyone else ever has. It’s the reason he’s a little sweet on his friend… like the Hozier songs the guy likes to sing.

Phantom Friends (Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics)) written by Litra, performed by itallcomesbacktoandreil Summary: Five times someone in the bat family died and met Danny, and the one time no death was needed.

Room 505 (The Hotel (Podcast)) written by zombified_queer, performed by MistbornHero Summary: The Lobby Boy gets to flex his creative muscles. The Hotel Herself observes with a pang of surprise.

[dark-elf-writes]

Omg, demigod Wangxian in the PJO verse w/ reincarnation thrown in is absolutely perfect

The Jiang siblings are definitely demigods of the Greek variety. Perhaps children of Demeter to really contrast Wuxian

(Jin Zixuan is also definitely a child of Aphrodite too me thinks)

ALSO WUXIAN ABD NICO BEING SOBLINGS. IM CRYING. GOVE THOSE TWO BLOOD FAMILY. AND THEN ADD HAZEL TO THE MIX????? I love them your honor

It would be very funny if Wei Wuxian (and understandable tbh considering he would be a Big Three kid living with two other demigod children like a monster buffet) was at camp before Percy but wasn’t claimed until after.

(Hades knows how hard life was for his children in particular and as much as he tried not to put another child of his into this situation.. Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren were a whirlwind that he couldn’t help but allow himself to be pulled into. It aches not to claim his sunshine bright son, aches to see that piece of them wait day after day for a sign, but he knows his brothers. And while Poseidon might not act against Wei Ying directly Zeus would have no such qualms after Thalia… or before Thalia of Nico and Bianca were any indication.)

But the thing is everyone knows.

Wei Wuxian is talking to ghosts. He’s accidentally raising animal skeletons when he’s scared. He has split the ground open arguing with Jiang Cheng more than once. He is very vocal about how unfair he thinks it is that all the gods don’t have cabins particularly considering Hera who will never have a demigod child does. He seems to fully disappear into shadows whenever someone isn’t looking closely enough at him.

There is not a single person at Camp Halfblood that doesn’t know who Wei Wuxian’s dad is.. other than perhaps Wei Wuxian himself.

But the idea of the chaos that Wei Wuxian getting claimed literally the second the trident over Percy’s head fades is so fucking funny I can’t stop laughing.

(They get sent on the quest together because there’s no one Hades trusts more to find his helm than his own son… which has the added consequence of his own son sassing him to his face in his own home.)

The Jiangs being children of Demeter is so funny too becuase that sets up the most fucked up family drama of all time on multiple fronts. Demeter will never let this go. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian having issues serves as a mirror thousands of years in the making. Yanli is the only one to break the cycle and she will drag her brothers after her kicking and screaming if she has to.

(Zixuan is absolutely a child of Aphrodite and is also there before Guangyao and its T E N S E. Like the “dads affair child #27473727” isn’t enough but also having he same mom? They are more closely related than most people at camp halfblood and are walking on eggshells around each other constantly.)

WEI WUXIAN WOULD BE SUCH A GOOD BIG-LITTLE BROTHER TO NICO AND BIANCA OKAY

Their dynamic would be so messed up based Ont he whole “one was born like 70 years later but is still older” thing but god would Wei Wuxian try his hardest.

(It’s not enough, he’s forced to realize when Bianca comes to camp already sworn to another goddess and Nico looks so adrift after having the only constant in his life abandon him at the first possible chance. Wei Wuxian tries to be there but he can’t get close to Bianca with the other hunters around and there’s no place for him and Nico even if their dad were to claim his little-big brother which after seeing Wuxian still shoved into Hermes cabin and looked at like he’s the devil incarnate by half the camp years after being claimed he won’t. He can’t offer the full stability that Nico needs and Nico himself doesn’t want to let anyone else close enough to hurt him understandably so. And by the time Wei Wuxian is finally making progress Percy comes back with a figurine and shadows in his eyes and Bianca is gone gone gone and Nico runs faster than even Wei Wuxian can find him and everything so wrong.

He wonders why this hopeless feeling of grief and failure feels so familiar.)

[allisluv]

DATING MODERN!ANNIE CRESTA HEADCANONS

pairing: annie cresta x fem!reader

modern!annie who makes seashell necklaces and sells them around school. she would make you matching ones with your initials carved into a little silver heart charm or something <3

modern!annie who is a huge believer in love at first sight.

modern!annie who googles if your star signs are compatible and gets so upset if it says no. she’ll be determined to prove the internet wrong for once.

modern!annie who loves being the little spoon and feeling you wrap your arms around her.

modern!annie who will throw flour in your hair as you two bake together. it ends in you both lying in a heap on the floor.

modern!annie who’s love language is physical touch. she kisses the slopes of your shoulders and links your fingers together as you walk.

modern!annie who’s favourite movie is the notebook. she gets you to watch it with her at least once a week and she’ll be a sobbing mess by the credit scene.

modern!annie who is huge on communication. i think she finds it hard to articulate what she’s trying to say, so you need to be patient with her.

modern!annie who lives on the beachfront and brings you home pretty seashells every morning.

modern!annie who offers to tutor you just so she can spend more time with you.

modern!annie who crochets cute little cardigans and woolly hats for you during the winter months.

modern!annie who begs you to dress up as sunshine and midnight rain for the eras tour.

modern!annie who is a sucker for reality tv. you have a routine where every saturday night, you order take out, make popcorn, cuddle up on the sofa and watch something interesting.

modern!annie who is always posting on her insta. she has a highlight just jam packed of pictures of you.

modern!annie who has a pinterest mood board full of date ideas and wlw pictures inspo <3

modern!annie who hates horror movies and hides her head in your stomach as you giggle at her.

modernn!annie who adores the percy jackson series. she’s read all the books and loves the series / movies

modern!annie who can’t sleep without you next to her. if you’re away, she’ll spray your perfume onto her pillow so it feels like you’re there <3

modern!annie who watches ghost hunting and then gets scared shitless 😭

modern!annie who is captain of the swim team. she’ll smile and ask for a good luck kiss before competing!!

[cherrywrites626]

Staying and Leaving Chapter 4 Sneak Peek

Piper heaved a sigh as she stepped out into the chilly late-afternoon air, glancing up at the endless expanse of cloud-covered sky overhead that finally promised to bring about the first real snowfall of the season.

It had been weeks since the news broke involving Leo’s late-night departure.  Weeks since the elders decided to put the whole town on a temporary lockdown of sorts, limiting access to the areas outside their walls to those of only the utmost necessity and importance.  In that time, things had gotten progressively more volatile and disheartening where a certain person and his wellbeing was concerned.

Jason had stumbled into the Mess Hall that very first evening looking far too much like a ghost of his former self for her not to sit up and take notice, the typically alabaster skin of his face somehow that much more pale and drawn even as his eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot—causing that deep blue hue of his irises to all but glow in the soft orange rays of lantern light cast about the room as he made his way over to join them in what appeared to be a total daze.  

“Jason, buddy.  You don't look so good,” Percy said as he slid over to make adequate room on the nearest bench, having been the one who'd shown up to their then crowded table with a familiar coat clutched in his arms that proved he’d really done his best to drag her boyfriend along for the ride only to have the endeavor end in ultimate failure.  

Which really wasn’t all that surprising, seeing as how anyone standing around in visible need of assistance often pulled Jason off course from where he’d been intending to go innumerable times a day.  

Usually for a quick hand in fixing something broken or helping one of the women wrangle their unruly child with lightning-fast reflexes, though once it had been to carry loads of fresh produce down into the store rooms before offering to go and pick more despite it not being his assigned chore literally ever and one of the few moments they both had off that week that was supposed to be set aside for their own personal use.  

Typically only Piper was willing enough to tag along and wait it out for him to finish playing the commendable town savior.  If not merely to stand on the sidelines with a smile as he was given endless praise for his ample charm and unquestionable selflessness, then to ensure he didn’t accidentally end up neglecting his own needs while in the process of tending to others’.  

That had been almost an hour-and-a-half prior, and while no one was inherently worried about the exceptionally lengthy period spent waiting around while most of the townsfolk came and went on their merry way and nightfall creeped in to the point of near pitch-black visibility, it had caused her to feel the first inkling that something wasn’t right.

The sinking drop in her gut at seeing him waltz through the door in a state of noticeable shock only amplified when her boyfriend then bypassed the offer as if entirely on autopilot, plopping down next to her instead with a kind of numbed muteness she’d never before witnessed in all their fifteen years of knowing one another.

Reaching out, it was all she could do not to gasp when her hands met the feeling of ice-cold skin, Jason’s own shaking minutely even as she wrapped hers around them to will some of the life back into those frigid fingers.

“What happened,” she asked, placing a careful touch on the side of his frosty cheek and guiding his gaze to meet hers if only in action alone.

There was no way they registered what was going on even directly in front of them, unfocused as they were and seemingly far-off from reality.  If not for the fact she’d seen a similar haunted expression worn by others in the past, she might have missed the underlying meaning entirely.

It was the same one parents wore when they found out their child had gone missing and the outcome was dire.  The one wives sported when told their husbands were never going to come home to them again, and that there was nothing anyone could have done to stop tragedy from striking.  

It was of crippling loss and powerlessness and anguish all mixed together, burning that person alive from the inside out as the full weight of the situation pressed down on their shoulders and threatened to break them permanently.  

That there was only one single explanation she could think up that might have caused it had her stomach roiling with its own anxious energy, but she swallowed it back down to figure out the whole of the story first and foremost.

------------------------------------------------------

Check out the latest chapter update here and don't forget to catch this one likely dropping sooner than you think.

[captain-eppe]

Unlocking Pipers Backstory part 1

-She's native and vegetarian

Or Piper iii

*I have Opinions on both Native American portrayal in Media, and Vegetarianism.

Piper is having a dream. It's a memory of her last day with her dad. They have managed to find an isolated beach Villa. She figures something is going to ruin it, paparazzi, fangirls wanting an autograph with permanent marker, something, but it's an enjoyable moment. He's teaching her how to surf. It's a nice moment. 

I wonder if in the future, Piper and Percy will have a surfing competition. 

Piper is not a natural surfer, but still flushes with pride whenever her dad gives her a compliment. Her dad is a bizarrely good surfer, who has no surfing background. 

She might have given it up, except it allows her to spend time with her dad. 

Piper reveals she loves PBJ, and wishes her dad made it for her, rather than the Extra personal chef, who wraps it in gold leaf. 

She's also a vegetarian, because the smell of slaughterhouse makes her throw up. 

Alright fine. We all have our reasons for our diet choices. I want to see Piper being careful and asking after ingredients in foods, making sure that the pie she accepts doesn't have a crust made with lard and the like. And maybe at least one instance of her praying to the porcelain gods, and her friends getting super angry on her behalf, because someone lied about the vegetarian friendliness of the food. 

I know Grover was also a vegetarian, but he was also a goat, and could eat tin cans and the like. I have different stomach expectations from him. 

I have three vegetarian family members, and  eat enough with them often enough to know that they consider their food choices carefully. And I get to hear the stories of people who don't consider some kind of meat, as meat, and how my cousin spent the night throwing up from that ignorance when their stomach rejected it. 

Disrespecting dietary needs hurts people, and fiction is a safe place to explore and educate people about the hows and why's. And people are far likelier to remember its bad effects if it happens to a fave fictional character. 

The dream/ memory continues, and the further in we go, we see that Piper and her Dad don't have great communication.  

Piper wants regular clothes. But more than that, she wants his attention. She's hacked off her hair deliberately, she steals, she gets kicked out of schools she doesn't like. 

This is the first time alone she has had with him in three months. The trip was a pleasant surprise.  She hasn't told him about stealing a BMW yet because, she didn't want to ruin the moment. 

She starts to bring it up. Her dad notices her serious face, and decides to play 'Any Three Questions'. A game where the participants must answer any three questions posed honestly. The rest of the time, her dad stays out of her business, which isn't hard, Piper notes, as he's never around. 

Piper takes the opportunity to ask about her mother. "Do you think she's still alive?"

He starts with a Cherokee story from her grandpa Tom. 

If you walked far enough towards the sunset, you would come to Ghost Country, where you could talk to the dead. A long time ago, you could bring the dead back, but mankind messed up. Its a long story. 

Piper cuts in to make a comparison to the land of the dead. About a year ago, her Dad had taken on a role of an ancient Greek King. He included her in his reading of the legends, and they had a fun time together. It helped her feel closer to her Dad for a time, but like everything it didn't last. 

Her Dad agrees on the similarities between the Greek and Cherokee. 

I have to wonder what's up with Piper and her Dad. Did Rick do his research, based on papers his kids wrote years ago? I have to wonder?

What's up with Tristen? He's kind of living his reality far away from his Native heritage. And I have to wonder if that's generational. 

Let me imagine a backstory, based on talks I've attended, and native bibliographies I've read. Tristan's mom was a residential school victim. She gets out, and has the reaction of pretending to be a different ethnicity (as I have heard some people did). She marries a white man, after an unplanned pregnancy. Tristen grows up rather divorced from his culture, but given how his mom does act about it, maybe it's better that way. She tries really hard to be anything else, and gets weird about sending him to school, so he keeps it quiet. Grows up, becomes famous, and does as an adult try to learn about his culture. He meets a relative of his mothers who grew up in Cherokee culture, and calls him father. He's having trouble connecting himself to his culture between being a famous person, and being raised to pretend to be anything else. Then, unexpectedly, he becomes a father. And He's not ready to be a father, but He's trying. He's not taking on Native roles, because he feels he's not the person for that, and He's trying to teach Piper their heritage, but between him not sure himself how he connects to his culture, and being a Famous Absentee parent, Piper grows up a little more personally connected to it, but also in a lot of ways, just as clueless as him to the nuance of it. Her grandfather dies of cancer, as often not even money can fix that. 

There is a tragedy in them both missing on the messed up notes in his decision to send Piper to boarding school. Tristen never thought to ask Thomas when he was alive. 

Ok now that I've done that, let's go check the wiki. 

…

No. He doesn't know enough about his culture or other people in his community for me to buy this backstory. He makes far more sense as an adult trying to find a connection, but not sure how to bring it into his life. 

Did you research that Rick? I admit, mine is probably more suited to a fanfiction than a novel, but maybe read a native american bibliography or two before writing a backstory for one. Get a cultural consultant. If friggin Ubisoft will get a culture consultant for Assassin's Creed iii, you should be able to write for one to get a culture consultation! Even if you didn't do it for the first one you SHOULD HAVE going forward in the series. For someone who likes to use other cultures myths as a structure and key part of their stories, you should know how to reach out to experts and collaborate! Generational trauma is not a buzzword, it's something that affects the culture to this day. 

People got out of res school, and they drank to forget the abuse , and even when the residential schools were over, they still took kids and fostered them to other families. That's not the story for everyone, but it is an important part of the story for a lot. 

"Before 1978, approximately 80 percent of Native American families living on reservations lost at least one child to the foster care system, according to data compiled by National Indian Child Welfare Association. Additionally, more than 25 percent of all Native children were removed from their families, with 85 percent receiving placements outside of their tribes or relatives.

“And that was even if there was no abuse — there were no issues occurring,” Lowden said. “Even if there were willing and fit family members available, these children were still adopted out to white families.”-

"These policies continue to negatively impact individuals, families and tribes. Non-tribal placement and adoption has created identity issues and disconnected feelings along with negative mental health outcomes.

They may be living in a community where they’re the only Indian person, and when people feel stress, anxiety, depression, a lot of times they cope in unhealthy ways, and that is in order to mask their trauma,” she said."

It was an attempted genocide, and so much has been lost for it. You were a teacher Rick, would you let your students pull that? Not that I actually expect him to read this, but I'm here to talk with imaginary Rick, not real one, as I would probably not be this upfront on most of the things with most of the people I know or meet irl. I'm better at writing fire than spitting it.

Anyway, the story wraps up, and Piper concludes that he thinks her mom is dead. She corrects him, and says that he doesn't know if shes dead but she might as well be. She also reminds on her dads inner sadness that's apparently attractive to women, and her dad tells her that he doesn't really believe in ghost countries and the like. That he would always be looking to blame. Success does not make her dad happy. Neither will the upcoming news from his assistant Jane.

Piper tries prayer, but it is ineffective. Piper tries to confess, but is too slow. Jane seems partly annoyed, partly triumphant, which tells Piper shes been in contact with the Police. I hope she is not trying to get in his pants.

So Piper looses the chance to tell him her side of the story, and the day is ruined. Jane gives Piper a look "like she was a disgusting pet that had whizzed on the carpet." Add that one to the eventual bingo.

So Tristen comes back with betrayal in his eyes. "You said you would try"Piper claims she hates the school and was going to mention the car. Tristen tells her he could have gotten her any car she wanted.Piper says that it would have been Jane getting her the car, and the point of it is she wants his attention. He says we've talked about this, but as far as Piper is concerned he talked about it, and it hasn't been a conversation.

She's going to boarding school for problem children, much as he tries to word it differently. He asks her what else is he to do after she let him down.

The connotations of going to boarding school for a child of native decent (yikes! Yikes!! YIKES!!!) Are not touched upon. She says anything, as long as its him doing something, not Jane. Tristen chooses Delegation. The day is over, and he looks off into the ocean. Jane has the details, Jane has the plane ticket. Piper does her best not to cry.

[e-dash-lace]

My Very Own Locked Tomb Playlist

A bunch of songs that I listened to while I was doing a Summer 2024 re-read of The Locked Tomb (mostly Harrow and Nona) in no particular order. I took notes because this fandom makes you crazy and Spotify is so stupid that instead of having a notes feature, it has an algorithm that makes you a new playlist four times a day that's called something like "gut-wrenching wailing girl dinner slay brat summer afternoon." Anyway, notes under the cut (spoilers for the entire series sorry)

Psychic Wound - King Woman

The song that Ianthe puts on the radio when she needs to focus to give Harrow her lobotomy. (In all honesty though I think that most songs off of the I Saw the TV Glow playlist go kind of crazy over Harrow the Ninth. Something something horror of being a queer teenager.)

Intergalactic - The Beastie Boys

When Gideon the Ninth the animated feature length film opens, the opening credits play to this song. This song also plays during Camila's fight with Ianthe Naberius on New Rho

Go Away Little Girl - Percy Faith & His Orchestra

This song really screams Jod to me. It plays during John 8:1. Like really close your eyes and imagine it. Like there's no sound it's just like a jumbled up bunch of slow motion scenes.

My Smile is Extinct - Kane Strang

Honestly I just needed to put this song on the playlist because it's the kind of depression song that's like just goofy enough to make you laugh even when you're sad. RIP Harrow Nonagesimus. She would have loved My Smile is Extinct by Kane Strang.

Army of Me - Bjork

Another sword fight song. This song plays during Gideon and Harrow's first fight on the Ninth House. I think that my brainworms just also really wanted to bring some of that girls fighting in steampunk muted colors vibe from Sucker Punch into this playlist.

Growing Pains - Ethel Cain

The queen brainworm living in my mind demands that all playlists I make have 1 Ethel Cain song. I can't really tell you how this fits, but when I tried to remove it, I thought "no. she stays" This song is Harrow the Ninth coded but maybe like Harrow Coffee Shop AU

Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression) - Zack Fox

First House National Anthem I fear. If I had money, I would pay it to comission a Harrow the Ninth animatic to this song.

Sunday - The Cranberries

Not really sure why this is on the playlist. I think it might have been an accident, but also it just sounds kind of appropriate so it stays :)

August Underground - Ethel Cain

Spotify gave me a really really good daylist ONCE that was just like atmospheric music (mostly from videogames). It was so stellar that I saved it! I listened to that playlist while I was reading like the last 25% of Nona. This song plays throughout all of NtN Chapter 28 or at the very least an extended scenes of Sex Pal and Camilla turning into Paul.

Ghosts in the Static - Ben Babitt

Atmospheric music to listen to while Nona drives through the River. A lot of the songs on the KRZ soundtrack fit that vibe. If you want music to drive on the River to, you should listen to the Kentucky Route Zero soundtrack.

Dumbest Girl Alive - 100 Gecs

I think that Gideon Nav would be a really big 100 gecs fan

Thick Skull (Re: Julien Baker) - Paramore & Julien Baker

I think that Jod would be a really big fan of Paramore. I think this song is about Jod, but it's the song that plays during the flashback scene when Gideon kicks Wake out of the airlock and she falls into the Ninth House

Bad Lil Vibe - Coco & Clair Clair

HEAR ME OUT. In my mind, Jod has gifted Ianthe a cassette player and for some reason, the only cassette that's in it is like some collectible 10th anniversary cassette tape of the album Sexy by Coco & Clair Clair. (that doesn't exist yet but it will). I feel like Coco and Clair Clair are good music for the Coronabeth and Ianthe dynamic duo, but I think that this song is for Ianthe. I think it has that evil hot mess (not like Sharpay Evans evil hot mess, more like Shego with smeared lipstick and a broken heart at the club) vibe that the Saint of Awe brings to the table.

4AEM - Grimes

Grimes TO ME ok IMO strikes me as someone who in 2015 would have been fancast as ianthe because she's blond, skinny, and like swinging around a long sword in her music videos like someone who just kind of thinks that swords are cool conceptually and will go well with the special effects but couldn't actually use one to defend themselves if it came down to it and that's really ianthe tridentarius-core TO ME. I imagine that deep down Ianthe hoped that becoming a lyctor meant she would get to be like an international pop star but more. Not to digress but this song is an Ianthe Tridentarius fight song.

Combat Baby - Metric

Actually lol okay hear me out. So actually Ianthe was also gifted a cd player by jod and this is the song that she cries to (ALONE) when she thinks about Harrow. I think Ianthe wishes she had a y2k style but she was just born in the wrong decade sorry

Pluto - Bjork

This is the song that is playing after Harrow wakes up and Gideon is inside her brain helping her fight Cytherea. I think snippets or like altered instrumental versions of this song also play in each trial that Harrow and Gideon work through. Like some version of this song is definitely playing the first time Harrow siphons Gideon to get those keys

Femininomenon - Chapell Roan

First of all, what is any playlist made in 2024 without a Chapell Roan song on it. Second, when I first wrote this note I imagined this as the song that plays immediately after mercy kills Jod and then like there's a full 3 minute music video where like Mercy is on lead vocals, she's like arguing with Augustine a bit then they're like dancing and then the song really abruptly cuts off right before the end when Jod sucks himself back together. Alternatively, this song plays every single time Nona sees a woman.

Dream Girl Evil - Florence and the Machine

Alectopause Hive International Anthem In the parallel universe where Nona the Ninth was released as a webcomic or like an AO3 fic, Taz Muir has linked this song in the Notes and there are 1000 animatics of the Nona epilogue with this song.

Springbreakers - Charli XCX

Alectopause hive international anthem 2 electric boogaloo (Remember how I said "gut-wrench9ing wailing girl dinner slay brat summer afternoon"? I meant that) I would also accept this song as the Nona epilogue animatic song

Bit of A Monster - Vylet Pony

I can't explain this one. I don't know why it's here it just has to be. If you made it this far, leave ur theories in the tags idk.

Mysteries of the Cleft - death's dynamic shroud

I think like if you asked me to I could make a whole playlist of songs about being in the River, so this is either like a planetkiller harrow song or like the song that plays when Jod takes Ianthe and Harrow through the River the first time.

Kizaki Lake - Satoko Shibata

One thing about me, if there's an opportunity to put a Japanese song on the playlist, a Japanese song is going on the playlist and right now the other queen brainworm in my mind is the brainworm that's been addicted to this album since it was released in February and I think everyone should listen to it. The instrumental for this song plays throughout the entirety of Day One in Nona and IF I WAS IN CHARGE Satoko Shibata would be tapped to do the score for the film because she's just that good. Go listen to Your Favorite Things!

[percivaljacksons]

Finally got the time to read the chapter and it's so GOOD.

I am in love and I have so many questions because Percy "His jaw clenches and unclenches so quickly she almost misses it. He smiles. “Like nothing,”" STOP LYING what was that can you feel her? How? And why do the ghosts become mad after a while? What is happening? And how did he die? Did someone push him off a cliff into the sea?? Or he jumped into it to save someone?? How is he gonna come back?? Will he? Or would Annabeth die too and they're gonna be together in that way?

And I love your writing because one sentence you're laughing and smiling and another you get punched in the gut by the most heartbreaking or powerful sentence.

AND PAUL'S PRIUS?? Actually what about Paul and Sally? are they ok? are they searching? do they know something?

Also the food mentions made me so hungry and wishing I could go through the screen to those food places.

And as someone who has never watched ghost whisperer how many people are there who can see and guide ghosts? Are Clarrise and Silena one too considering they know about Annabeth seeing them?

About guiding why can't Percy see a light and what did he want?

Ahhhh I am so invested in the plot and I can't wait for more ANGST and the next chapter!!

Thank you for this baby 🫶

ohohoohoooo what a juicy ask! hello my friend. so glad you're invested enough to be theorizing! a lot of the questions you're asking will be answered, fear not! im planting seeds n shit. in my gardener era.

the next chapter dials up the angst big time lol. lmfao. BUT we also get more food lfgggg this was an excuse for me to go to a bunch of different food places (although another place thats in ch2 has also closed . cry. i am cursing nyc food establishments w my pjo ff).

re: ghost whisperer. they start to go crazy in later seasons with characters who can only hear ghosts or like can just vibe them out idk it was a mess. i'll get into this more, but for the purposes of this fic, only annabeth can. i must keep my brains about me. there will be more clarisse and silena tho, i'll get into why/how they know abt annabeth.

and whew baby there sure is more angst coming down the 2nd ave subway line. love you, mean it, big kiss for you

[red-elk-arts]

Tiramisu and Storytimes.

This is a drapple from a mfrp server I'm in! I rp Percy! There are Bianca Di Angelo spoilers!

The first proper night’s stay at the House of Hades. Though I’m moving in here in two days, I thought I could explore some now. Nico mentioned the first floor being the mortuary. Bianca’s memorial site is there. I haven’t seen her since…she sacrificed herself at the junkyard.

That quest was the first of the hardest ones I remember ever having the displeasure of being a part of. The curse of quests, having more than three people. We knew some of us were going to die. And she took my place. I still wish to this day that he had lived instead of me. But you can’t change death. If she ever lived long enough to know who her father was, she would have learned to know that. So instead, here I am. Going to visit a room full of ghosts, but she isn’t here.

When I come up to her, I see so many things that she loved, carefully on display all around a photo representing her. In the center, sits a ceremonious plate with a perfectly cut slice of the tiramisu that Wil and I just made the other day for Nico. Seeing it here, knowing he thought of her also missing the taste. It was painfully bittersweet. I sit down across from her, like we’re just old friends having dinner together. 

“Hey, Bianca. Its… Its been a while. I think about you a lot actually. And I tried to keep our promise. But your brother, he was so angry with me when I came home without you.”

I was shocked to hear my own voice sound so strained. Who knows how long I’ve been hiding this in.

“I hope you were proud of him, before you decided to be reincarnated. He misses you more than anything. I know others miss you too. We miss home. Gods love to mess with us so much, we can’t even live peacefully in our home world. I mean I guess that's better for us. No more quests or prophecies but…also none of our family or friends, Camp. Anything familiar. It’s all gone.”

I didn’t notice the tears dripping down my cheeks, but I quickly wiped them away. 

“Sorry, you probably don’t want to see a hero crying,” I tried to laugh, but it came out more as a choked cry.I just sit there in silence, staring at everything in front of me. For once. Letting myself truly feel. I probably cried for an hour or more. Everything is flooding in. All the new information that came in today. The things I remembered within the past month. The complications I started for no reason. I shouldn't have dragged Jason into whatever this is. The Doctor, he already has too many burdens. I can live without having a father figure. I can live without a boyfriend or girlfriend. I…don’t deserve any of that.

When the tears stop coming, I grab the pen I took from Valentine’s office, and start writing down things I should focus on. What felt important. How to move forward. At least, I hope these are right. There’s nobody left to tell me otherwise.I stand up, give one last look to Bianca, and whisper, “thanks for listening. I hope you don’t tell anyone about my little breakdown. I’ll see you soon. With my own offerings.”

[nerdthatsiriuslylovesteaxx]

Helpless part 15, every single warning should be listed on this one

Warning/taking abt sh

Warning/taking about rape

Warning/underage drinking/smoking

Warning/talks about suicide

I think that's all but I'm not sure

Annaneth was standing behind the door, "Oh, hey. What are you doing here?"

"I was bored and also Kayla's looking for you."

"Why?"

"She forced Will to take the day off but he said you still have half a day in the infirmary so she's plotting to kidnap you."

"Course she is, um...Annabeth."

"Yeah?"

"Do you...know how to do eyeliner?" Nico asked fiddling with his fingers.

"Yup."

"Can you teach me?"

"Sure, let me guess Piper gave it to you?"

"How did you...?"

"I have my ways." Annabeth grinned before walking inside, "Why does it smell like smoke in here?" Nico ignored the question and handed her the eyeliner, "The first one easy enough, just getting the second one to match is annoying."

"Alright." Nico half whispered before being half pushed on the bed. Annabeth knelt down in front of him and started drawing a line.

"Nico stop moving so much, I'm on the verge of messing up."

"Shit sorry."

"I mean you'll be the victim."

"I guess so." The son of Hades laughed,

"I'll show you how to do it yourself in the mirror, anything else you want me to show you?"

"Honestly half the things in the box I have no clue how to use."

"Lucky for you I have nothing to do today."

"Thanks Annabeth." The two got up, walking towards the mirror but Annabeth tripped over something. "Are you alright?!" he asked kneeling down beside her,

"Yeah I'm fine, just what's this?" She asked not waiting for a response before lifting up the floorboard, the box had been left open and unlocked. "Nico what's this about?" The daughter of Athena sifted though the box seeing everything Nico had desperately tried to hide, oh shit, he thought to himself. "Nico why do you have alcohol and cigarettes hidden under your floorboards?" Tears fell from his eyes, his breathing was short.

"Please don't tell anyone." He curled up. Annabeth grabbed his shaking hand,

"I won't." She pulled him forward into a hug, stroking his hair.

"It... helps- me cope." Annabeth tightened the hug letting the small boy cry into her shoulder.

"It's not healthy but I won't judge, it's better than what I did. But how much?"

"Not that often, I'm... better than I was a couple years ago."

"When did this...?"

"I was maybe twelve, it was the only thing that made me feel okay. Then... something happened and... well I-I wasn't so keen on not being drunk or high while I was alone." She ran her fingers through his hair.

"Do you want to tell me or not?"

"What did you do to cope?" Nico asked desperately trying to change the topic, she rolled up her sleeve.

"After Percy went missing and when we all thought he died, I... almost jumped once."

"Do you want to tell me?"

"He'd been missing for so long, practically no hope in finding him. I was depressed and half dead, thought I would finish it off."

"What made you stop?"

"Someone else was there, for the same reason I was. We talked each other out of it, I'm so happy we could save each other."

"Who?"

"I'll let them tell you that story if they want to."

"It was around a year ago, after the battle of Manhattan. Got drunk and high, I was walking around trying to not feel anything. I could barely walk, got stabbed with a needle, woke up an hour later. Well I think you can put two and two together. Anyways can you please teach me to do makeup now? It scares me."

"Ghost king scared of doing makeup, sure let's go. But I'll be making sure you're okay and not getting addicted."

***

________

This and the last chapter we're meant to be one lmao

[lisacameron99]

Chapter 2 - Ghosts In The Hallway

Warnings: angst, nightmares, PTSD, swearing, death

The hallway outside Sarah’s room was colder than the rest of the flat. Always. No matter how many heating charms she cast or how many of Fred’s ridiculous prototypes she duct-taped to the skirting boards, it still felt like a place where ghosts hung around.That’s where Fred was when she screamed.

He was already halfway to her room—barefoot, hair a mess, wand in one hand and adrenaline in the other—when her voice cracked through the silence like a curse.

He pushed her door open hard enough to make the light sign in.

“Sarah — hey, hey —” He crossed the room in two strides and crouched beside her bed. “You’re okay. It’s just me. Sarah.”

She was thrashing. Not just tossing or whimpering—she was fighting like she was in battle again. Her hands were clenched in the blankets, face soaked in sweat, a sob caught in her throat.

“Fred,” she whispered, still asleep. “Please, no — don’t —don’t leave —”

“I’m here,” he said immediately, climbing into the bed without hesitation. “I’m not going anywhere.”

When she jolted awake, it was violent. A gasp, a flinch, and her hands slamming into his chest like she thought she was still in the dream.

Her eyes were wild. “You died. I watched you die.”

Fred caught her wrists. “You didn’t,” he said, low and steady. “I’m here. You pulled me out, remember? Rubble, blood, drama — very on brand for us.”

Sarah’s lip trembled. “It felt so fucking real. You didn’t breathe, and I screamed, and I — fuck, Fred — I thought I’d lost you.”

He pulled her into his arms like he’d done it a hundred times, like it wasn’t a big deal, like it hadn’t become the one thing she looked forward to every time the dark got too heavy.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair. “I’m here. I’m right here.”

She curled into him without hesitation, shaking like she was freezing from the inside out. He wrapped both arms around her and lay back against her pillows, tucking her into his chest like something fragile. Neither of them moved.

Eventually, her breathing slowed. Her fists relaxed. Her fingers brushed his side under the edge of his shirt, and he didn’t flinch.

She fell asleep first. He stayed awake long after, until he knew she was okay.

⸻

When she opened her eyes again, it was still dark. The faintest blue glow came in from the hallway, and the monitor on her nightstand gave a soft crackle. Teddy and Fred were still asleep.

He was flat on his back, snoring lightly, one arm around her waist and the other flung over his face. His chest rose and fell under her cheek, slow and steady.

She didn’t move. Just breathed. She could feel his heartbeat. Solid. There. Alive.

The dream brown eyes still lingered in her chest like ash — Fred lying motionless, eyes open but empty, the sound of Percy’s scream echoing across stone and flame. Her fingers tightened on his shirt before she realized it.

Fred stirred slightly. “You’re squeezing me,” he muttered, voice gravelly.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be.” He lowered his arm and blinked at her. “You alright?”

“No,” she said honestly. “But I’m better now.”

He gave her a small, sleepy smile. “That’s fair.”

They lay there for another few minutes before she sighed and said, “I need tea.”

“Course you do,” he groaned, dragging himself up and stretching like a starfish. “C’mon, then. Let’s go sit on the depressing kitchen floor and talk about our feelings like emotionally repressed British people.”

Sarah snorted. “That’s what therapy should be called.”

They padded into the kitchen quietly. The kettle was already out. Fred started it with a lazy flick of his wand while she grabbed mugs from the drying rack.

They both sat on the floor, backs against the fridge. The tile was cold under her thighs. She didn’t mind.

Fred handed her a mug and bumped her knee with his.

“So,” he said after a sip. “What was it this time?”

Sarah stared at her tea. “You.”

Fred blinked, he knew, but it still shook him to his core.

“You died. In the dream. You didn’t come back that time. And I—I fucking lost it, Fred. I couldn’t even get to you. The rubble was everywhere and Percy was gone and George was screaming and I—” Her voice cracked. “I didn’t save you. I couldn’t.”

Fred didn’t say anything for a long time. Then he reached out and took her mug, set it aside, and pulled her into his lap.

“Hey,” he said, arms around her waist, forehead resting against hers. “I’m here. I’m alive. And you didn’t fucking lose me.”

She let out a shaky breath. “I just — if I lost you too —”

“You won’t,” he said simply.

“You can’t promise that.”

“I’m still gonna,” he said. “Because it’s the only thing I know how to do. Be here. For you. For Teddy. Even if I’m a broken, sarcastic, half-baked mess of a person now.”

She rested her forehead on his. “You’re still you.”

“Still sexy, too.” She laughed, wet and real.

They stayed like that until the kettle clicked again and the monitor crackled with a soft baby whine.

“Guess the gremlin’s up,” Fred mumbled.

“Bloody hell,” Sarah muttered. “He’s gonna be pissed.”

“Perfect. Just like me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“You literally drooled on me in your sleep.”

“Fuck off, I did not.”

He grinned, already standing. “You did. And I think I liked it.” She threw a spoon at him.

⸻

Later, they arrived at the shop to find George already yelling at a bag of Peruvian Darkness Powder and a customer trying to buy two fake wand holsters with built-in fart effects.

“Morning, lovebirds,” George said without looking up. “Sleep well?”

Fred elbowed Sarah gently. “Told you we were obvious.”

“Fuck off.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” George grinned.

“George,” Sarah said, rubbing her eyes, “please shut the hell up.”

George finally looked up and gave her a softer smile. “Alright. You look less like death, though.”

“I feel… medium dead.” She laughed.

“Progress,” George said cheerfully, tossing her a bag of Skiving Snackboxes. “Sort these. And if Fred tries to flirt with you, hex him.”

Fred looked offended. “Rude.”

“I saw the snuggle pics,” George added. “You’re lucky I didn’t post them on the wall.”

⸻

It was just past eleven when Alicia walked in.

She was in a blue sundress, sunglasses perched on her curls, holding two giant iced chai’s and laughing at something Lee Jordan had just whispered. She spotted Sarah immediately.

Sarah didn’t even see her at first. She was restocking the potion display, halfway through muttering a spell to stop the fizzing when—

“Oi, Lupin.”

Sarah turned—and froze.

Alicia smiled, open and warm, and held her arms out. “Come here, you bloody idiot.”

And that was it. Sarah broke.

No sobs. No fanfare. Just tears, falling too fast to stop, her face buried in Alicia’s shoulder, arms around her like a lifeline.

Alicia held her tight. “You’re alright,” she murmured. “You’re alright, babe. I’ve got you.”

Fred watched from the other side of the shop, heart tight in his chest. He didn’t say a word. Just turned the “Open” sign around again.

Later, when the shop was quiet again, Sarah sat on the counter, legs swinging, cradling a now-sleeping Teddy while Fred restocked the Exploding Edibles.

“You okay?” he asked, not looking up.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I just forgot how much I missed her.”

Fred tossed her a sweet. “She’s good for you.”

“So are you.”

He stopped what he was doing and looked at her and gave her that smile he’d always had.

End. Chapter 3 up soon, just working on getting it from google to tumblr.

[daily-nikki]

Eerie Encounters | The Whispering Bench

► Part of Tales of Mystery ◄

After Nikki and Momo and helps Divinso find the ghosts in his picture, [The Whispering Bench] opens up after he tells the group about it as part of their reward.

Keep Reading for dialogue and more.

Nikki and Momo are off back to the Queen's Palace Ruins to learn more about this mystery. As the group approaches the benches in the given location, Momo starts to talk.

► Dialogue

• Momo: Nikki, are those the benches? • Momo: Mr. Divinso said do not sit on the bench at night, but I don't believe him. Let's see what happens! • Momo: After hearing those ghost stories earlier, nothing creepy can scare me!

Some more dialogue happens after Nikki and Momo sit on the benches at night from 22:00-03:00.

► Dialogue

• Nikki: It's so quiet around here. It feels like even the wind has stopped. • Nikki: There doesn't seem to be anything unusual going on here. Did we mess up the ghost story's rules or something...? • Momo: You're so brave, Nikki. But yeah, it's just a silly ghost story. There's nothing to— • Momo: Ah! There it is! Ghost Sentinel: It's you again, shak-shak... • Momo: Oh, you're the little ghost who led us to the Sword Knight before. • Ghost Sentinel: How rude! Addressing Sir Percy as the Sword Knight, shak-shak! • Ghost Sentinel: As the most elite sentinel under Sir Percy's command, I will not tolerate such insolence, shak-shak! • Momo: Fine, fine—Sir Sword Knight Percy. Happy now? • Nikki: It's far from Sir Percy. Are you patrolling nearby? • Ghost Sentinel: Not patrolling—I'm looking for a kind human to help me collect a Celebcrow Feather, shak-shak. • Ghost Sentinel: But the moment people hear my voice, they scream and run away, shak-shak. Why would they do that? • Momo: It's pretty normal for people to run away when they see ghosts... • Nikki: Why do you need a Celebcrow Feather? Maybe we can help. • Ghost Sentinel: Really? That's wonderful, shak-shak! Here's the thing... • Ghost Sentinel: Sir Percy has a beautiful brooch that Her Majesty the Queen once gave him. It was a great honor, shak-shak. • Ghost Sentinel: He has always taken such good care of it, but recently... he dropped it on the ground, and now there's a chip along the edge, shak-shak! • Ghost Sentinel: Sir Percy was very upset. The brooch means so much to him! So, I want to help him fix it and make him happy again, shak-shak. • Ghost Sentinel: But I need a Celebcrow Feather to do that, and... well, I can't touch it myself, shak-shak. • Momo: I'm curious... how does a sword even keep a brooch safe? It's not like he can wear it, right? • Ghost Sentinel: Of course not. It's kept... Wait, you almost tricked me! The brooch is Sir Percy's most precious treasure. I'm not telling you where it is, shak-shak! • Nikki: Alright, alright. Let us help you find a Celebcrow Feather! • Ghost Sentinel: You are so kind. Sir Percy will be so happy. He hasn't been happy for a long time, shak-shak. • Ghost Sentinel: I'll leave the task of collecting a Celebcrow Feather to you then, shak-shak!

If you already have the Celebcrow Feather, go ahead and talk to the ghost again to finish up the quest and get your reward.

► Dialogue

• Nikki: We've got a Celebcrow Feather. See if you can use it. • Ghost Sentinel: Thank you, Nikki! Now I can fix Sir Percy's precious brooch, shak-shak! • Ghost Sentinel: As a token of my gratitude, please accept this, shak-shak! • Momo: You sentinels are so polite. You even gave us a gift! • Ghost Sentinel: Sir Percy says we must always be grateful to those who help us. A gift of thanks is the most basic courtesy, shak-shak. • Nikki: Thank you. I'll be sure to treasure it. • Ghost Sentinel: No thanks needed, Nikki and Momo. See you! I'm off to report this good news to Sir Percy, shak-shak!

The little ghost floated away, its figure vanishing into the night...

Rewards

• Diamond x30 • Shiny Bubbles x100 • Thread of Purity x150 • Mystic Illusion Earrings Sketch

[elisedonut]

TRICK OR TREAT!!! 👀🥺🎃

Thank you for playing! you get about 2k of a fic that i honestly don't think I'll ever finish

this is a little amnesia memories inspired au that i started a long time ago i keep messing with it and changing things but i just really doubt ill ever actually fully finish it

it was back when i was like oh maybe i could write something long and have like a chapter per character

and then quickly realized no no I can not

so it just kept getting shorter and then when i participated in that one event where i was assigned characters alot changed to before i decided to write something else kldfjsdkl

originally it was going to be like

Mc: Percy

Orion(spirit that causes mc to lose her memories): Cedric

Heart/Shin: Marcus

Diamond/Toma: Oliver

Spade/Ikki: Tom

Clover/Kent: Stan

and Joker/Ikyo: Fred or maybe also Cedric i was undecided

but I ended up replacing Tom with Lavender because the aforementioned fest that had assigned characters and was considering moving heart to Dennis before i gave up and just made a perciverus soulmate au dkfjsldkf

He was falling. Or perhaps it was more like floating?

The last thing he could even remember was… 

What was it again? He just had the thought in the back of his mind a moment ago he’s sure of it.

Percy watches the colours of the space around him swirl and mix, as if all the stars around him would hold the answer. Reaching out towards them as if he could grab them. 

What was he doing? 

He was at home before, wasn’t he?

A letter. 

Running out the door into the night to apparate.

Oliver was dead. Right? 

He was there when they had to lower him into the ground.

But– If that were true, then why– 

“Ollie?” Percy asks, cautiously. 

“Hm? Is that who I look like to you?” Not-Oliver asks back, tilting his head in a way that reminds Percy of when they– well when Percy and the real Oliver were still in school.

When Percy just continues to stare though Not-Oliver continues. “Guess so– Well I'm glad you’re awake. Do you feel any pain? Pressure in your head? Limbs feel numb?” 

He’s speaking so fast.

Percy tries to think about it for a moment. 

Tries to focus on different parts of his body. 

Tries reaching his fingers out towards the mysterious figure in front of him. When he finds that his fingers go right through him, Percy frowns. 

It was almost like he was more asleep than awake. 

Everything, just slightly off. Blurry in a way that made it difficult to even think.

Opening and closing his fists a few times Percy responds, “I- I don’t think I feel much of anything to be honest.” 

Likely that look on Not-Oliver’s face means that’s not a good thing. Even if it feels a bit freeing in Percy’s opinion. 

Almost peaceful.

“Ok so–” Not-Oliver starts again, “Look, I'm a spirit and I may have accidentally ran into you and I may accidentally be stuck,” The spirit?–apparently, continues. He doesn't look like any ghost Percy had ever seen. When Percy doesn’t respond, Not-Oliver continues again, “So I may or may not have accidently knocked your soul off course, out of your body. But, don’t panic. I do have a plan.”

Don’t panic, he says. Percy’s soul is apparently out of his body all together and he’s telling him not to panic. Taking in a deep breath and watching as Not-Oliver flinches Percy tries to calm himself down enough to listen. Motioning at Not-Oliver to continue again.

The sooner this was over with the better.

“You’re taking this a lot better than I was expecting you to, to be honest.” Not-Oliver says confused before shaking his head quickly and continuing, “Alright. So, here's the plan. I found a few worlds where you have a tether. so you just have to find the one that’s actually yours.”

“Pardon?” Percy asks, trying to wrap his head around what that could mean. 

“Exactly as I said, You just have to pick the one that feels right and I’ll plop you back into that body and then everything will be fine.” Not-Oliver says quickly before adding softly, “Hopefully.”

Before Percy can ask for clarification on what he meant by hopefully the stars around them change in the air, twisting around themselves.

For the first time since he woke up in this odd place, Percy feels like his feet are actually on the ground again. It continued like that for a few more seconds until four doors materialised in front of him. Each adjourned with a different symbol in the middle. 

A weathered and cracked red door with a heart symbol, messily painted on.

A polished and metallic looking blue door with the metal spade symbol neatly welded on.

A clear slightly green tinted door with a paper clover stuck between the plastic.

And Lastly, a bright yellow door with a diamond cut meticulously out of the wood.

All of the doors had a red string connecting to him. Percy’s not sure if that’s what Not-Oliver meant by a tether but if so that was quite more literal then he’d assumed. As he pulls on one of the strings he expects it to feel some tension but they each stay slack, regardless of how much he pulls.

As Percy inspects the doors he thinks about which he should choose. Percy’s still not a hundred percent sure this isn’t a dream. Maybe a potion fueled hallucination. Maybe George decided to put something in his wine for old times sake. 

Looking back at the Oliver doppelganger for a moment he seems to just be waiting patiently for him to come to a decision. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Or what he’s even supposed to be looking for. 

Is there even a right answer here? They all feel the same in a way. 

Do they even lead anywhere, or do they just open to an empty frame?

Should he even play along?

Walking behind the doors he sees that they look the same on the back as they do on the front. 

“Does it really matter which one I pick?” Percy asks.

“Well- they all lead to different worlds, so–” Not-Oliver says from over his shoulder. 

“So then there's definitely a wrong answer here…” Percy mutters as he walks up to the Red Door. “If I open the door, does that count as a choice or do I have to walk through it?”

Not-Oliver hums to himself for a moment before nodding,“You should be able to open them. As long as you don’t touch the actual portal then it shouldn’t do any harm.” 

Percy reached for the Red Door again. Not-Oliver didn’t sound very certain, but nothing was going to happen if he just sat there. Even if it isn’t real, he always had been too curious for his own good. So he may as well try. The door comes open with a loud creak from the hinges. 

Left with the sight of swirling foggy lights and stars,h e’s disappointed. It only takes a moment for it to clear though.

The angle is awkward so he can’t see much of the room. But he can see himself laid out on the bed. From the look of him he must have been here for a while. Bandages up and down his arms and legs. A side table with dying flowers and miscellaneous get well cards. 

Is this all he’s going to see in these? An unconscious body?

He’s here, wherever here actually is, so maybe the real him is just passed out somewhere, like that. If so though this isn’t going to be very helpful to him. 

Still, he doesn’t close the door. He still waits. Maybe someone will come in that could give him a clue. Or maybe something will happen to show it’s not the world he expects. 

It doesn’t take too long of a wait for the door to open. Percy can’t see who came in from the angle but he could hear the way the heavy door dragged as it opened and shut. The sound of footsteps and a chair being slid across the floor.

Then he gets his first glimpse of them when they pull Percy’s limp hand into their own. The red string on their hand was connected to his own.Their hands were large and rough, completely enveloping Percy’s own. The difference in their skin makes Percy even more confused. When the door opened he’d assumed it was some family member but that’s certainly not a Weasley's hand.

“They all think I did it, you know?” The man whispered to him. That voice was familiar… “Wake up soon, Percy. I don’t know what I’ll do without you. Even if I don’t deserve it.”

When the mystery man leaned down to kiss Percy gently on the lips he knew exactly who it was. Dark eye’s, back hair, broad shoulders, all too familiar.

“Oh? That your boyfriend?” Not-Oliver says with a grin. 

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” Percy says quietly. 

Haven’t since you decided to play hero.

He watches Flint talk to him a little while longer before deciding to move on. He’s careful to only touch the doorknob as he moves to shut the door again. 

It’s not like he would mind dating Flint really. He’s intense, sure, and his family would hate him. Still that wasn’t his world in the first place. The Flint from his world would never like him in general. They weren't even friends, much less lovers.  So it doesn’t even matter if his heart’s racing a little bit at the thought of it.

Shaking off the weird feeling he didn’t want to think about, he moves to the next door. The Blue Door was cold to the touch as he opened it. He was half way expecting to see this other him passed out again, but instead it seems to be some sort of restaurant? Not one he recognizes at all though.

The other Percy was seated at a table, all alone. The room looked familiar though at least. Maybe this was a good sign. Even if he can’t remember his flat’s dining room being so cluttered. Strange though, Percy had expected to see another version of him passed out in some way again. 

What would happen to this other him if he does choose this world? Does this other consciousness just vanish?

Percy glances at the closed Red Door. Is there still a consciousness there too? He hadn’t considered it but now though, he’s not so sure. By the time he glances back at the blue door someone had joined him at the table.

“How’s the new textbook going, Professor.” She said, as she leaned over the table a bit to look at something that Percy couldn’t quite see.

He could see his reaction though, watching himself move and speak felt strangely surreal.

He rolled his eyes lightheartedly as he responded,“Don’t call me that. I-”

“-Don’t even plan on taking the position, Yeah yeah i know.” The girl said before putting her arms around his shoulders, “Still think you should, though, you’d be far better than Binns.”

“Anyone would be better than Binns, Lavender.” The other him said.

(Add talking moment here about how Lavender seems nice but he's surprised to see her here.

Green Door - ???? Stan Knight bus moment???

Yellow Door - Oliver and Percy talking and walking somewhere fake out where Percy thinks this might be right but then Oliver says something sketchy or maybe there's clearly no magic or something idk

Open ended, the choice being made left ambiguous.

Looking over the doors again, Percy knows he’s made his decision. He knows none of them are actually his world. None of them match any of the things he remembered. Too many inconsistencies to match. But after the conversation with Not-Oliver he knows these are his only options. Opening his door of choice he’s stopped by Not-Oliver’s voice once more.

“Are you sure?” Not-Oliver asks, “I don’t think I’ll be able to pull you back out if you change your mind.”

“I won’t,” Percy says. Feeling more sure of it the closer he gets to its frame. When he sets his hand on the portal's surface all the other doors vanish, locking his choice in, and everything goes dark.

When he wakes again he’s exactly where he feels he needs to be. Or at least, as close as he can get to it. He’s still truly hoping all that had been a dream…