#solangelo rant

[that-girl-glader]

Kinda funny how people in the PJO universe and in the fandom get it wrong. Nico and Will are like what people expect from the other.

Like Will Solace is the more intimidating one. Like he has a "doesn't take shit" vibe to him. Not to mention he is more of a modern teenage boy than Nico. And like most teens. He has teenage boy energy meaning he is sassy and probably had a sharp tongue to him. He can also be an asshole not in like a bad way just in the regular teenage boy way. Like how he was in sun and star about like Tartarus and the underworld all that shit.

Nico is the gentleman. He is powerful yes. But he wouldn't hurt a fly. Like he is one of the nicest characters in Percy jackson. Even if he doesn't show it. He is Hella soft let's be so deadass. Like he is the most forgiving and most sensitive. He just learnt to hide his enthusiasm and gentleness and sensitivity to survive. He is also a lover. He has such a caring heart. Great with people. Great with understanding people and stuff. That's why Hestia liked him. He sees the "plutos (the planet). The left out.

And at the end of the day they are truly two sides of the same coin. Two people who started off one way, but their life experiences and perceptions of who they actually are based on their roles and parentage shaped them to who they had to be. How they had to act. Because Will Solace was an introverted sassy bitch at heart and Nico di Angelo was an extroverted gentle yapper. But they had to adjust to fit their roles accordingly.

[scarlicbread27]

I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE!! If I see one more person compare solangelo to one of those bitchy black cat x sunshine golden retriever mlm ships, I will lose my mind. Will Solace has literally never ever come across as a golden retriever, not once. In fact, he’s literally compared to a cat. The only sunshiny thing about him are his powers and his face, they are misleading because his personality is basically the opposite.

Nico may present himself in a ‘black cat’ kinda way but deep down he’s a softie and the amount of times he thinks super cute, love sick things in tsats is WILD. He reminds me of a drenched rat who likes to curl up on someone’s chest and snooze.

[peabodysautobodyrepair]

“Nico Di Angelo is a token gay! His coming out scene sucked!” babes I’m BEGGING you to remember 2013 gay characters were not allowed in children’s media.

Lemme say that again: In 2013, it was expected that gay characters would be censored in children’s mass media.

Remember Korra? How she and Asami had to settle for ambiguous handholding rather than a kiss? That was fully a year after House of Hades came out. Nickelodeon said No Gays, the Children™ can’t handle that. Too risky. And people said man that stinks, but that’s how these things go in 2014 America.

Gay marriage was literally still illegal in the vast majority of US states. As of October 8th, 2013 (House of Hades release date) Gay Marriage was only a thing in thirteen fucking states. California had only legalized it that year.

Gay people were still very much on the fringes of society. It was an acceptable political position on both sides of the aisle to be against the existence and equal rights of gay people.

Nico was legitimately a landmark character in queer representation. To my knowledge, there wasn’t before an openly gay main character in a bestselling ya/middle grade fantasy fiction series. It simply was not a thing. They didn’t exist. They weren’t allowed to exist.

I remember people crying. Finally. It was a watershed moment. Kids all across the world finally got someone who represented them. It was such a big fucking deal. And it was controversial!!! Not for the reasons it is today, but because people thought gay kids having representation was inappropriate.

Is Nico’s coming out a great scene? No, these days it leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and I’m sure Rick wishes he could change it. But the fact that’s the case is a wonderful reflection of how far we’ve come.

All of your gay heroes in children’s media have Nico Di Angelo to thank. It was important, and good. It deserves to be celebrated, even if we’ve progressed past it since.

[dare1pon]

chat rate this nico di angelo drawing I accidently made (also please send in requests of what to draw, I have art blook and it sucks ass)

[lucius-i-ran]

I think the major reason that Nico got quite close to Will, even before getting together, was not only because Will got past his "reputation", attitude, powers and whatnot but because Will is not sweet. He's good and compassionate and often times kind but he's not sweet at all. He's snarky, naggy, he can and will scold you, if you piss him off enough he may even curse you. Will takes no shit from anyone and Nico absolutely fucking loves it

[luvingsolace]

Can I be honest for a second?

So many people open up a conversation about the fetishization Nico and Will are subjected to in the fandom and they make absolutely no effort to build a logical or serious one.

The fetishization of queer people in media is a serious thing and I believe it deserves to have a serious conversation about it.

I hate when all those people do to prove that Nico isn’t an “emo femboy” is just listing all the badass things Nico did in the books, as if of course he wouldn’t be able to do any of those if he was in fact femenine. He wouldn’t be able to survive tartarus, to kill Bryce Lawrence or to kick anyone ass if he was femenine because of course to people femenine=emotional=fragile=weak. I’m tired of this type of conversations. Nico isn’t an “uwu gay boy” because he survived tartarus, because he’s strong or because he killed Bryce Lawrence and not even because he’s the ghost king. He isn’t an “uwu gay boy” because he ISNT. Listing all the tough things he did in the books doesn’t make him more masculine or shit, you are literally just perpetuating the idea that femeninity equals weakness and need for protection.

Not to mention, perpetuating this idea when you are trying to have a conversation literally ABOUT queer fetishization, which ALSO includes that VERY SAME type of idea, makes the whole thing even more insane.

The modus operandi of completely erasing the fragility and sweetness that Nico’s character HAS only for the sake of making him as tough and strong and masculine as possible as a way to “counterattack “the fetishization is absolutely bullshit.

Again: nico ISNT an extremely feminine guy, but that has NO CORRELATION to the fact that he’s a badass.

Nico is a very tough guy and went thru a lot, but he’s still a genuinely sweet guy, and to assume that portraiting that part of him = femenization is just stupid, not to mention a disservice to his character.

This being said, I’m no way even remotely suggesting that the fetishization isn’t happening, or that it’s not wrong. Both Nico and Will ARE fetishized in this fandom, but if you wanna have a conversation about it, instead of perpetuating stupid and old ideals, you could talk about the fandoms need to always pin point roles on characters, which often stems from heteronormativity (especially seeing the correlation that has with the sexual roles)! You could talk about how there’s always this association between femininity and need for protection! there are may things to be said about this, what I’m trying to say is that it is a serious conversation, and it’s an important one to have, but it is also important to be mindful about some things we say.

[thestarstoasun]

Do people not have media literacy? BOTH the Underworld and Tartarus were literally KILLING Will just by him BEING THERE. His health started dropping as soon as they really got there. It wasn't outright stated, but that's what context clues are for. He's basically a flower, which is extremely ironic with Apollo's love history. Flowers wilt, and die, without sunlight.

Yeah, Nico is a child of the Underworld, and Will needed to accept that he didn't need to be constantly saved. However, it's in Will's nature to be against the Underworld in a mental mindset. He lost every single one of his siblings except for TWO during TBOL and Manhattan. Events we NEVER see him mention (probably because Rick is really bad at having characters that aren't a select few ever have their trauma brought up, but yknow) to anyone.

Will isn't the only one that had things to work on, though. If Nico hadn't thought things out rationally, hadn't calmed down before thinking, he could've been the indirect reason Will died in Tartarus. The thing is, Nico STRUGGLED to think rationally, and we see it when he lashes out on Will before thinking AFTER the fact.

Bottom of the line: Will isn't a bad person for not liking the Underworld. And it's something he says he's working on at the end of TSATS, so people shouldn't fault him for it. The entire point of the book was them both having problems & their relationship not being all sunshine & rainbows.

[boymeetsluve]

Another strange solangelo hc that I’ve seen creeping around (though less than about a year ago, the world is healing) is Will getting the shovel talk? How on earth did you all see a character that, even if we erase 90% of his actual personality, is described as a Healer and was the only person actually trying to reason with Octavian as his most Unwell and decide anyone would see him as a threat. Especially because the 7+Reyna are usually tasked with giving the talk?

First and foremost, Will saved Annabeth’s life back in Manhattan. There is NO WAY that Percy “Annabeth is my mortal tether” Jackson would forget that fact. And neither would Annabeth plus we see them at least friendly with one another in TLH when they crash the Apollo cabin’s chariot bringing the lost trio back to camp. Also, I love Nico/Percy and Nico/Annabeth friendship but they are in no way, shape, or form close enough with Nico to make threats on his behalf like that.

The lost trio are largely the same. Jason is the closest but none of them are close enough to weigh into his romantic life. And they all must have gotten some level of familiarity with Will over their months at camp between Will being cabin councilor and head healer. There’s no way any of them would clock Will as anything other than a chill dude (which is how Leo describes him during their tour).

Frank also doesn’t make sense. He does his best to be chill with Nico but most of their relationship is through Hazel. Frank isn’t going to step in unless absolutely necessary, probably with promoting from Hazel (not that she would bring him into it). I think he spoke to Nico like 5 times across HoO he isn’t exactly on the front lines of the Nico Defense Squad.

Reyna and Hazel are often the main offenders of this trope and I find that they make the most and least sense. Yes they are most protective over him by the end of HoO but they also greatly respect him and his strength. They would never undermine him and his autonomy by threatening his boyfriend. They (unlike most people here) respect his ability to keep moving forward and to Handle Shit when needed.

I think the shovel talk trope is stupid overall so that’s probably why I’m so sensitive to it but there is no way it works with solangelo, you all just woobify Nico and are using the characters to be self-inserts to do things They Would Never Do.

[soobinsneakers]

i hate hate HATEEEE when people say tsats is stupid/not worth reading/ooc because of the whole "little ball of darkness" and "care bear" thing . like oh my goddddd ITS A BIT. IT IS A BITTTT. FOR THE LOLS IF YOU SO PLEASE . will doesn't genuinely see nico as this grumpy cinnamon roll type and nico doesn't genuinely see will as this happy go lucky dunce they're teasing each other 😭 like that's the point, it's annoying, they're being annoying to each other. being annoying is also their trademark like if you were okay with the buddy system/ significant annoyance then why do you care about care bear and ball of darkness ?? it's also the reason why they work so well together despite being "opposites" , they're both little shits. they are annoying teenagers in love giving each other stupid nicknames because banter is their love language GIVE THEM A BREAK.

[coirinthyurilo]

Can we talk about how Will just somehow survived Tartarus despite the odds against him? And how he still loves Nico despite it?

(Also talking about how Will is genuinely such a great boyfriend, Nico is so lucky fr fr.)

Like we just witnessed him actively DYING in Tartarus. Why are we pretending it's not that serious?

Sure, the book itself doesn't feel as dramatic as Percabeth's journey in Tartarus. But it's still actively dangerous.

EXTREMELY dangerous for Will especially. Nico, he's been there. He's been in Tartarus. He's also affected by it too. Clearly both of them are affected because Nico almost DIED in his last one.

And then we have Will actually dying, getting weaker as he travels deeper into the underworld with nothing but a sun lamp to keep him alive.

So why are we only focusing on Nico and Percabeth's journey when Will canonically had the hardest time there? 😭

Sure the entire book is about Nico and Will's character development and their relationship growing stronger by the end.

But can we not invalidate Will's journey THROUGH IT? I've seen many people forget Will is a survivor, sure with Nico's help. But without him he's guaranteed to die.

Still doesn't mean that he's not a strong character, he survived TARTARUS you gotta be HELLA strong as it is? He's also saved Nico's life multiple times in the book.

He may be a healer but it also doesn't mean he's not capable. Only to an extent.

It's sad how some people ignore the book just because it feels like a fanfic when it's not?? It's their journey as a couple, it's FOCUSED ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

That's different to Percabeth the book was focused on GETTING THEM OUT mostly.

That's Percabeth was down there unwillingly.

Solangelo traversed to Tartarus WILLINGLY.

That's the difference between two books. If they were down there against their will they might be more at stake because they're fighting for their lives. Trying to get out.

But they're down there to save their friend, so yes it's going to be different— because the main plots is different. 😭😭😭

So with all of the odds clearly AGAINST Will it's remarkable that he somehow survived it all.

Like he had a BAD fall, Tartarus was literally killing him to the point his body is unraveling itself, making bigger wounds. He had a taste of pain of the River Styx. (Even if it's a dream.)

He was CLEVER to use their circumstances and information to send a mania away from them to avoid extra danger. Even if it made Nico unsettled. It was necessary.

He went against a fricking nightmare demon. He went against NYX. And then we have him talking to Persephone for some part of it.

The bravest thing he's done? Was him completely accepting and understanding despite seeing the true nature of Nico's home.

Of where Nico originates. Will stayed with him, despite seeing EVERYTHING BAD about it. All the horrors, and terrors.

And yet there's good in it.

He's still came to the conclusion that this is what Nico is. With all the bad, there is still just a bit of good that makes the entire thing worth it.

I rest my👏 FUCKING 👏CASE.

[corgiipawz]

Call me crazy but I’m so incredibly pleased with how Nico and Will were portrayed in TSATS. I’m starting to lose my patience with the people that are saying shit like “will was so pessimistic in TSATS!!! He was so nice until this point he’s so OOC!!!” no, Rick and mark are trying to prove that Will isn’t JUST sunshine and rainbows. Nico isn’t JUST gloomy and dark. No one is limited to 1 emotion. Personalities are flexible. They were in LITERAL HELL obviously Will isn’t gonna be happy and supportive all the time. They both described and justified that a million times in the book but you were all blinded by the fake image of Will you created in your tiny brains

[dax-enfinity]

i hate that ship where you have to give the characters a complete 180 for them to even work on paper, and then you don’t even recognize those characters anymore because the shippers just make the ship the characters only existing trait.

[scarlicbread27]

my biggest life question is if nico tans well or not because.. he’s italian and born with olive skin which should mean he tans pretty well, right? but then he’s also kind of deathly pale and not for your normal everyday reasons.. so does this effect his ability to tan? does he just burn?? i need answers!!

[dare1pon]

Im so normal abt him guys

[quinty-sky]

spoilers for The Sun and the Star

i just finished reading the sun and the star and i absolutely adore it guys, what the hell, i love it so much it brought me on a rollercoaster of what i felt about Will, about Nico, and solangelo as a whole and ahh i love them i love Will so so much, I love Nico's determination or sympathy for Titans and Giants and troglodytes and manics and demons and suefwfhwiwoqueieiej, and SOLANGELO was a wild af ride throughout the book like at some points i was frustrated with Will or straight up angry at Nico but then they changed their views and actions and healed and they're going to make it work cuz they love eachother and they CHOOSE to andheieisjbw i can't believe there's a moral of the story about change and light and darkness yin yang and its actually SO GOOD AND DEEP AND jegjsgsuwiwhwgegehy I'm gonna combust i love this book so much - i cant wait for The Court of the Dead to come out and AHHH FINALLY PIPER AND NICO FRIENDSHIP and Kayla at the end speaking with a "sultry voice" being all suggestive caught me tf off guard lmfao this is a shitpost and a stream of conciseness with no organisation whatsoever, but i made bookmarks in the book so later I'll like properly flesh out what i love about the book

[willthespy]

SHORT SOLANGELO ANALYSIS FROM MY NOTES APP

(except it’s mostly in response to fandom)

Honestly, I��ve heard some reasons why people hate Solangelo. And don’t get me wrong; I don’t care that you don’t like a ship, but some of you are ignorant (and biased) and trying to find reasons to hate it.

One i’ve seen is that «they have no shared interests» etc, etc. Since when was that an issue? It wasn’t an issue with any other ship, so why is that an issue with the one canon/main mlm ship we have. And even if that wasn’t said with homophobic intentions, which it definitely doesn’t have to be, it still is odd that it is fine with your ship to have them not share common interests, but when it’s the ‘same case’ with Solangelo or some other canon ship it’s not?

Besides, nobody said they didn’t have any shared interests and nobody said they need to have shared interests. «Nico doesn’t like Star Wars. He hated it.» Oh, sweet gods. He watched all those movies for a reason, first of all. You’re saying he doesn’t like Will even after doing all that??? You’re using that as reasoning??? And even if he didn’t like it at all (gods forbid someone has an opinion not based around/biased by their relationship) that is okay. Especially for neurodivergent people I’ll say that it is okay to be in relationships and still have different interests than your significant other. Same interests ≠ madly in love whatsoever.

In fact, from a sociological/psychological/WHATEVER perspective, a lot of neurodivergent people tend to prefer it if someone doesn’t have the same interests. Yes, this depends per person, but that’s something I’ve noticed happens a lot.

The «they hate each other» argument is used, referring to their banter, and I love (read: hate) how those same people still like Percabeth. Like, okay, now give me the real reasons you don’t like it, without grasping for fake ones that don’t actually match up with your idea of a relationship. The bias is biasing.

I think the most important part of Solangelo is the fact that they can let their guards down around one another. They always have those walls up around others - though in different ways - and they don’t always have to be like that in front of each other. They’re also there to protect and care for the other, much unlike the fanon idea where Will often only cares for Nico. They aren’t there to fix one another, they’re there for each other.

Note that they still both have some walls up in TSATS! That doesn’t make their relationship any less real, but I think that is also very much to be expected from characters who have actively had to deal with trauma. And even then, even without knowing everything, they still care and are there for each other, no matter how frustrating it may be to be out of the know.

They’re also not «complete opposites». In TSATS we literally read that they have more similarities than meets the eye (which can be read as the light-darkness symbolism.) They balance each other out and they’re ALLOWED to argue. Did you guys know that? It’s important to me that you know that.

Did you know characters/people can argue and then solve the situation/argument using healthy communication? Shocking, I know.

I do think the start of Solangelo wasn’t smoothly written whatsoever. Will was kind of used as a puppet and obviously put there ‘for Nico.’ Do I think Will should get more character separate from his relationship/his father? Yes. Do I think he has no character at all? No. But also�� It’s a children’s book. You can’t expect the best written character in history from a book written for middle schoolers.

They wouldn’t be the first canon ship with a bad start, so I’m not too fed up about that. If I would ask for anything, I’d like a book/short story about Will as a character (his backstory/just anything) or just a story in which they grow more in their relationship and as separate characters (though not broken up).

My point mostly is this; if you really don’t like it, you don’t have to interact or read or do anything, really. (Yay!) Don’t use the Solangelo tag for your hatred. Especially not if it’s an unproblematic ship.