#thalia shocks them whenever they bring it up

[justaz]

nico, percy, and thalia are known as like the goth/punk cousins or whatever yknow (i love those emo assholes) and so they kinda embrace that bc it’s true but then nico thinks about it and brings it up to percy and they realize thalias been dying her hair and she’s fucking BLONDE?????

they’re so disappointed in her and bring it up every time they’re together

[furys-burn]

Meta + music (for Thalia)

When Jason was born there was a Prince song playing at the Nurse’s station and a few chords of Rock a Bye Baby mixing with his cries that told Thalia she wasn’t alone anymore. She had spent 45 minutes being begged by a nurse to stop throwing her tantrum and shocking anyone who touched her before she went and saw the “baby”. Later the same nurse had to convince her to put him down for his nap because she couldn’t stop staring at him. 

Her mom didn’t care much what she and Jason got up too so she took him around and hummed and sang along with Sesame Street or the radio. She dug through the hell of Limewire and burned her weight in CDs and it was Blink-182 he danced too on shaky toddler legs. She was never quite the singer but she crooned to him, kept him tucked her chin in his baby bjorn laughing whenever he reached for her wrist while she made them something to eat and drowning out Beryl’s snores from the couch. 

But then Jason is gone and she finds solace in music, an escape. She can’t hear her mother crying or pleading with Zeus to come back. She can roll up her window and let the world knows how she feels and she even pawns one of her Mom’s daytime Emmys for a shitty guitar she immediately gives up learning on how to play. Her world becomes music and thrifted and stolen CDs and she memorizes songs and writes out the half-wrong lyrics on her school notebooks. It is the few things she cares enough to pack when she leaves home.

Music is a CD Player in her pocket replaying the Green Day album back to back from California to Oklahoma where it finally dies and she swaps it out for Paramore. She tries to dye her hair orange like hers in a shitty bathroom somewhere south of the Mississippi and ends up going black when it comes out patchy and dry. 

When she meets Luke it only makes sense that her player gets stuck on “That’s What You Get” and she makes him listen to it on her shitty gas station headphones curled under a bus station awning. He doesn’t get it but she holds his hand through the storm and laughs when he jumps at the lightning. 

Annabeth is back to Sesame Street and ABCs but she lets her pick the music and Luke steals batteries, players, and CDs for her whenever he does a supply run. They let music drown out monster roars and smother the world from their hideouts. It is another layer of safety not bound by magic or faith but a thumping bass she can feel in her chest. 

In the tree it was silent sure, but she found music in the land. In the birds who rested on her limbs, in the soft growth of the grass, and the hums of nature spirits who sang to soothe the dead body of a girl cursed to a god. She won’t remember them when she wakes up but she still taps her thumb to the rhythm of the wind. 

And when the world changes she lets music be her guiding rod. New singers mixing with the same grungy ones she slipped in her pocket at 12 or the worn down faded jewel cases that Luke once gifted her. She lets it fill the silence of long lonely nights and even finds time to learn a mean lyre to join her Sisters in a song celebrating a successful Hunt. 

But one day it is Prince who brings her back. Prince crooning about humanity and the pain of loneliness and she remembers the question she never got answers for. When she pulls off the circlet and leaves the Hunters she replays Parade until the CD won’t stop skipping (She’s too mobile for Vinyl and too godly for Spotify) and when she takes Jason home she’ll tell him stories between ad breaks on the bus’ speakers. 

And later get confused why half her abandoned CDs at Camp ended up in the solo bunk at Hades Cabin. 

[thorinlandscaping]

why did it have to be me?

my @batfamsecretsanta gift for @peppersonironi. Hope you like it!

The soft knock on Bruce’s office door alerted him to two things. First, that the person knocking was Dick. Second, that Dick had something important to talk to him about. Dick never knocked unless he needed Bruce’s help with something important, or he’d done something stupid like that time he’d somehow ‘accidentally’ convinced the entirety of Gotham (and the rest of the world) that Bruce Wayne and Batman were dating. 

Bruce wasn’t looking forward to this conversation.

“Come in,” Bruce said, mentally preparing himself to either help with some insane problem, or to begin damage control immediately. Dick shuffled into the room, eyes on the floor. This inspired no confidence in Bruce whatsoever. 

“So. Bruce,” Dick said, as he looked up and made rather intense eye contact with him and oh no, is Dick going to tell him that he’d accidentally revealed Batman’s identity to the press, “I have something to tell you.” 

Oh god, Dick had revealed Batman’s identity to the press. He was going to have to deal with every single person knowing Bruce Wayne is the Batman. Bruce had prepared for this, but he didn’t think he’d ever really have to face this reality. He was going to have to fake his death. He really didn’t want to fake his death. But, if he had to-

“I have a crush on Wally,” Dick said.

-he would, wait. What? Did Dick just say he had a crush on Wally?

“Wally West? Kid Flash? You have a crush on him? You didn’t reveal my identity as Batman to the press by accident?” Bruce asked, deeply relieved and very shocked.

“Uh. Yes, yes, yes and no? Has someone revealed your identity to the press?” Dick asked, slightly concerned.

“No,” Bruce said.

“Okay… Well, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to ask him out. You know. On a date,” Dick said, his nervousness shining through in his voice.

Bruce sort of wanted to cry. His kid was asking him for romantic advice. He was so proud, Dick was growing up. Oh god, Dick was growing up. It seemed like only yesterday Dick had found out Bruce’s identity as Batman and had managed to bully Bruce into letting him become Robin. Now he was out there asking people on dates. The next thing Bruce knew, he’d be dating his arch-nemesis and going on a journey to become a ninja. 

Wait. “You’re asking me for romantic advice?” Bruce asked. Bruce’s romantic prospects since Dick had been in his custody had been Talia Al Ghul (Dick had laughed at him, then asked if she could teach him some ‘assassin ninja tricks’), Selina Kyle (Dick had laughed at him, then asked if Selina could steal him the Rosetta Stone for ‘superhero detective purposes’), and Hal Jordan (Dick had laughed at him, then reluctantly admitted that, despite his flaws, Hal was alright). Why Dick was asking him for advice after his general disapproval of Bruce’s taste, Bruce couldn’t fathom. 

Dick sighed. “Despite your lack of good taste, you generally manage to end up with the people you set your sights on. So I’m asking you to help me figure out how to ask Wally out successfully. I’m not asking you who you think would be a good boyfriend for me.”

Bruce supposed that made sense. Sort of. Unfortunately for Dick, Talia and Selina had been the instigators in his relationships with them. And with Hal, well. Neither of them can quite remember exactly how they got together, what they do know is that Clark couldn’t look them in the eye for a good month afterwards. Weird things happen on space missions, okay?

This, of course, meant he had no idea what advice to offer to the fifteen-year-old boy staring at him as if all his dreams for the future would come true if he did exactly what Bruce told him. It was honestly terrifying. Bruce was going to ruin Dick’s life. Or at least destroy all the trust that Dick placed in him. This was too much pressure.

Maybe he should give advice based on how he asked out people as Brucie Wayne? But then again, those ploys only work because he’s a known rich and famous playboy and nobody would say no to a few days as a billionaires sugar baby. Except Lois Lane, who would instead just steal his credit cards whenever he’d try. Clark had truly found a woman that complimented him perfectly. 

“Well,” Bruce began, looking around the office for inspiration, or perhaps divine intervention, “Get him a gift, something he likes.” He’d given Selina an expensive painting once and that night she made out with him on a roof. Romantic bribery through materialism works.

Dick nodded, jotting down his words on his phone. Dick was taking this as seriously as he took breaking into villains' lairs, which helped Bruce relax not at all. Dick was counting on him.

“Maybe bring him to a romantic spot, or a place that has a lot of meaning to the two of you,” Bruce continued, thinking of how Thalia had propositioned him in the middle of a fight against some guy on a yacht. That had been so romantic. 

“And then make sure you ask him out to a place that he likes,” Bruce closed off with. Like when he’d taken Hal to see the inside of NASA and Hal had nearly broken a multi-million dollar spacecraft. Or when Hal had taken him to an escape room and they’d uncovered a drug trafficking ring operating out of the escape room’s back room. Hal and Bruce didn’t go out much these days. 

Bruce had become so enraptured in his own thoughts of his and Hal’s dates, he’d forgotten that he was meant to be giving Dick advice until Dick threw a stress ball at his face. Bruce focused back in on Dick, ready to face scorn for the very basic advice he’d given, only for Dick to look at him gratefully.

“Thanks Bruce, I think this’ll really help me,” Dick said. 

It would? Okay. Bruce would take it. 

“Anytime, Dick. I wish you the best of luck,” Bruce said, doing his best to keep his utter bewilderment out of his voice. His advice could have been read off of a wikihow article. 

Nonetheless, Dick left the office in higher spirits than when he came in. Bruce hoped he’d never have to do that again. He also hoped that the advice he’d given would work. 

Three days later Dick burst into his office, informing Bruce (who was busy sexting Hal) that he had a date with Wally that evening and could Bruce please, please let him borrow the Batmobile to pick Wally up. Bruce had kindly told him, absolutely not, and to get out of his office. Internally, he was celebrating that his half-assed romantic advice had worked. 

Dick left the room pouting, leaving Bruce to disrupt his and Hal’s sexting with updates on how his child was growing up too fast, and asking if he should adopt another one (or seven). Hal, used to this, told Bruce that he should only adopt another kid if the kid could steal the tyres off the Batmobile.

Later, when Bruce would enter the Batcave, ready to start patrol only to find the Batmobile missing, with an ‘IOU’ note in Dick’s handwriting left in its place. 

Dick was so getting grounded later.

[pjoversee]

Camp Traditions

Camp-Half Blood may not be as serious as Camp Jupiter but it had its own traditions. 

Most people at camp knew August 18 as Percy Jackson’s birthday. But the OG’s knew August 18 as the birth of Percabeth. 

And because Percabeth is everyone’s OTP the OG campers decide to honour Percabeth every year. 

Every single year on August 18 the older campers who were there during the battle of Manhattan would kidnap Percy and Annabeth separately and throw them in the lake. 

Every year Percy would make a bubble that let them breathe and they would kiss underwater just like the first time.

It was more increasingly more challannging to do every year, but I must say, the demigods were really persistent.

They did whatever they had to.

One year Connor and Travis had to throw a garbage bag over Annabeth’s head and tie her hands up to bring her to the lake, they almost got stabbed but it was worth it.

Another year half the Aphrodite cabin stormed into the Poseidon cabin while Percy was sleeping and dragged him by the legs towards the lake.

The poor guy just wanted to sleep in, it was a Sunday. 

Once Clarisse even knocked Annabeth unconscious while they were sparing and brought her to the lake.

Clarisse is Percabeth’s #1 fan. 

You do what you have to do.

The younger campers are just staring in a mix of confusion and laughter. 

Chiron is just staring at them while regretting all his life decisions.

The next tradition was honouring all those that died during the Battle of Manhattan.

People tell stories over the campfire about their fallen friends. 

On August 17th, 1 day after the battle started and 1 day before the battle ended the campfire that night was dedicated to the fallen demigods during the Battle. 

They told stories of how kind and caring Sliena was. Percy, remembering how she was the first person to ever teach him how to ride a pegasus. “One of the nicest girls in the Aphrodite Cabin,” Percy would say, just like the first time he met her. 

Clarisse told her own stories about Sliena, how Sliena always fought for the people she loved and could easily take care of herself. 

Whenever a camper asked how Sliena died the older campers would simply reply “She died a hero, she made mistakes but died a hero.”

Cabin 9 would describe the great inventions Charles made and how kind-hearted and hard-working Charles was. If you need him to build something he would without hesitation.

The older campers made sure to always tell these stories of the fallen demigods, to make sure they were never forgotten, to make sure their legacies carried on.

Everyone remembers the Hunter’s vs Camp Half-Blood capture the flag right?

It happens every year when most demigods are at camp, so during the summer.

Since Thalia and Annabeth are such close friends, Thalia brings the Hunters to camp every year to play Capture the Flag. 

And every year Camp Half-Blood loses. 

Until one year, where the campers are absolutely determined to win.

They plan out their entire strategy 2 months in advance, with half the Athena, Ares and Hermes cabins working together. With only one goal in mind: To finally beat the Hunters in Capture the Flag.

Don’t ever underestimate 70 demigods running on skittles and caffeine. 

By the time the Hunters arrived everyone in camp was ready, the Athena, Ares and Hermes campers made sure the entire camp knew every single possible play like the back of their hands. 

The hunters weren’t ready for what hit them. 

In 40 minutes the campers successfully captured the flag and were screaming in joy while the Hunters stood there in absolute shock. 

Thalia was screaming at everyone and finally turned her anger towards Annabeth. 

Annabeth just grinned and teases her, “What? Can’t handle a defeat?”

Thalia proceeds to tackle Annabeth to the ground and everyone is worried for Annabeth’s life

They tackle each other for a few more minutes with Annabeth having a slight upper hand until Percy intervenes “Can you stop flirting with my girlfriend?” 

Thalia smirks at Percy “What? Can’t handle a little competition?”

Clarisse shouts from somewhere “Just have a threesome already.”

Percy just sticks out his tongue in response.

These were just some traditions out of a long list of them at Camp Half-Blood.

[melancholic-pigeon]

WIP Wednesday #15

Since Jason's birthday is tomorrow and all, I'm doing something longer as a treat. A triptych, if you will!

Content warnings for child abuse and neglect, alcoholism and food insecurity.

Thalia wakes up, like she usually does, to Jason curled against her with his fingers in his mouth. She can't easily put him in his crib by herself, but her mattress is on the floor and there's nowhere for him to fall, so she can ensure that she's there to hold him whenever he wakes up crying. Her shirt's a little damp, but this time it's just because he's drooling in his sleep. Last night, thankfully, was free from disruptions.

For him, at least.

He's a year old today, and she hasn't seen their mother since two nights ago, slumped on the couch with an empty bottle of vodka on the ground next to her. The door to her room is closed. Whether she's in there sleeping it off or out somewhere getting drunker, Thalia has no idea.

Bitterly, she doesn't care. It's not like their mom cares about them, either.

Jason yawns, his hair sticking up like a cockatoo's feathers. The first eye contact of the morning always leaves him giggling and reaching for her, and the feeling of his small, warm body flopping onto her brings her focus back to where it should be.

"Happy birthday, shrimp."

"Happy," he repeats, nosing at her stomach.

It's up to her, like usual, so she gets him dressed and ready and gives him the last of the cereal to occupy himself while she digs through her closet to find the old coffee can she stashed there.

Every time she thinks she can get away with it, she lifts a bill from their mother's wallet and puts it in the can. Every nickel she finds on the street, every dime she pulls from the couch cushions; it all adds up, a little at a time.

After carefully saving as much as she could for the past few weeks, she's squirreled away enough. She takes out a fistful and stuffs it in her pocket, then re-buries the can under a pile of her laundry.

Today's special, and she'll cover the loss somehow— by sneaking some extra groceries under her coat again, if she has to.

Jason's finished with his breakfast by the time she emerges, sitting patiently and playing with the plastic dish she'd given it to him on. Her sweet baby brother, looking up at her with a smile so sunny you'd think they were living like kings.

Her chest feels tight and her throat's in no better condition. After a deep breath, she reaches down to grab his hands.

"Do you know what birthdays mean?"

He takes a second to think about it as she pulls him to his feet, then shakes his head.

"Birthdays, Jason," she says, grinning— it's harder to dwell when he's holding onto her hand— "mean birthday cake."

The gas station a block away at least has the miniature kind wrapped in cellophane. He won't know the difference, since he hasn't even been introduced to the concept of cake yet, but she'll still have to make it up to him with a real one someday.

—

By the time Jason turns two, Thalia has shoplifting down to an art form.

People are usually too busy fawning over how precious her brother is to pay her much attention, and having Luke along makes it almost easy. Jason adores him, and he's happy to draw focus away from her by translating the toddler babble and proclaiming that they're his favorite babysitting clients, which conveniently explains the lack of adult supervision.

Thanks to him, she's managed to get Jason something a lot better than cake.

She saw it in the window of a toy shop and immediately knew it was perfect, but it cost more than she'd scrounged in the past six months. She'd been resigned to the idea of stealing a brownie instead, and then last night, Luke showed up at her doorstep with it tucked under his arm and his face split into a wicked grin.

She's not sure she wants to know how he managed to smuggle it out without getting caught, but the way Jason lights up when he lays eyes on it, happier than she's ever seen him, is enough to make her ignore the uneasy feeling.

"Puppy!"

She can't help but mirror it back to him, her heart swelling with emotion as he flings his arms around the stuffed animal's neck. It's almost as big as he is.

"That's right. It's a wolf puppy. She's named after a mama wolf called Lupa."

The real Lupa is the matriarch of a pack living at a conservancy in San Diego county. Her likeness is an embodiment of the fiercely protective love Jason should have gotten from his own mother, and which has fallen to Thalia and her limited capabilities instead.

Jason rolls over, still holding tight to his new doll, and lays his head in her lap. If she's coming up short, he certainly hasn't noticed.

"My Lupa?"

He's gently petting the wolf's fur, in a movement that's strikingly similar to how Thalia's petting his hair. She blinks a few times to chase away the burning in her eyes.

"Your Lupa."

She can't give him the childhood that he deserves. It's a struggle to make sure even his most basic needs are met, and some days it feels like the whole world is united against them, but then he hugs her leg or curls up against her shoulder or tells her in that sweet voice love you, Taya—

And everything settles in her chest, refining itself into a white-hot determination.

She's all he has, and the one thing she can make sure he'll never want for is someone who loves him enough to fight for him.

She understands how the real Lupa must feel about her cubs. She knows, with more certainty than she's ever known anything, that if anyone so much as thinks about hurting her little brother— hurting her baby— she'll tear them to shreds with her teeth before they have time to run.

—

Everything is perfect. Thalia's made sure of it.

The party doesn't start for another hour, so she has to keep Jason occupied until then. He thinks she has lunch reservations and they're meeting at her place for coffee first— the second part is true; she has a pot of Kona ready to go as soon as he arrives.

While she's preparing his decoy surprise, the rest of his friends are in Manhattan, helping Percy and Sally get his bash underway. She finds herself quivering with excitement as she puts the last few touches in place.

The doorbell rings and she squeaks, shoving the main item behind a bookshelf before racing to answer the door.

"Happy birthday, shrimp." She stands up on her tiptoes and hugs him around the neck. "I have something for you."

Jason beams, pink, and squeezes her back.

"I told you last year that you don't have to get me anything. Your company is a gift in and of itself."

"Ha ha," she counters dryly, knowing he can hear her getting a little emotional at the sincerity on his face. "Very funny. Like I'm not going to try to make up for the ten of them that I missed."

She takes hold of his arm and pulls him into the apartment, past the kitchen to the hall that leads to her bedroom. She opens the door beside it, the one that used to be her study.

Jason's eyes go wide.

The desk is still there, but the chair is new, much larger than the one she used. The bookcase is the same, too, but she's put her video games in a box in her bedroom and filled the shelves with fresh sketchbooks and paints and pencils instead. The bed is new too, as well as the nightstand and the dresser.

Sally stripped and varnished all of the wood, and built a set of floating shelves that are currently storing a series of framed photos from Annabeth's camera reel. Piper decided on the paint colors— sky blue with a deep purple accent on the wall that slants to the ceiling. Leo took care of borrowing Jason's favorite sketches to make the framed prints above his bed, by pretending he was doing a photography project with them.

(He'd burst into laughter when she gave him Jason's baby drawings to frame too, and she'd almost punched him in the mouth— but then she'd noticed his voice was a little tight when he told her the crayon scribbles looked just like her.)

"Wow," Jason breathes, staring around the room as though he doesn't know where to land his focus. "This— is all of this for me?"

"Anytime you need an escape, you've got one. Think of it as your safe house. And there's one more thing."

Reluctantly, she steps away and retrieves what she hid earlier.

Jason's mouth drops.

"Lupa," he whispers, raising his hand. He stops himself halfway through reaching over, like he doesn't know if he should. "How did you find another one? I thought they were a limited run."

Thalia takes his hand, wrapping his fingers around the new doll's front leg.

"I traded twenty-seven ultra-rare mint-condition beanie babies for her with a collector in Montana."

"Do I want to know how you got twenty-seven ultra-rare mint-condition beanie babies?"

"It's not as sordid as you're thinking, I just spent a lot of time on Ebay."

Jason laughs, shaky, and sits down on his new mattress. He's probably not even conscious of the way he's running his thumb over Lupa's paw, exactly the way he did the first time.

He said that donating the original to charity was his idea, but Thalia has a suspicion he was pushed into it with a healthy dose of shaming and manipulation, and the look on his face— shocked, bright-eyed, a little scared like he thinks she'll disappear if he blinks— pretty much confirms it.

Thalia sits beside him and wraps an arm around his back. He slides down along the mattress until he's lying with his head in her lap.

"My Lupa," he says quietly, and she knows he remembers doing it before.

"Your Lupa," she chokes back. "For real, this time. Nobody's going to take her away from you, ever again."

It's different now, because Lupa is about the size of a two year old child, and Jason very much no longer is. She fits in the crook of his elbow, and he couldn't wrap his arms and legs around her if he tried.

Thalia tries not to think about all the nights between then and now that he's needed her, and didn't have her.

He smiles, wiser than his fifteen years.

(He's fifteen years old. God. She missed so much— thirteen months isn't long enough to even really begin to catch up.)

"I know they won't," he tells her. "You won't let them."

She's never going to get those years back. The only thing she can do is make sure she appreciates what she has now.

"I believe you would."

"I'll bite anyone who tries," she whispers back, leaning down to kiss his forehead. He bursts into laughter, reaching up to ruffle her hair like she used to do to him.

@perseusjackson-jasongrace @msdrpreist I still feel self-conscious about pinging people tell me if you'd prefer I didn't difjvhg

[prongsies]

Star-Crossed ⁕ Chapter Four

←Chapter 3 | Master List 

The last few days in The Burrow were painfully slow for Thalia, since it mainly composed of her waiting for her wound to completely heal. Apart from that, her worry for her mother’s well-being had increased significantly, since it’s been a few days since Molly’s letter informing her of Thalia’s state had been sent out there had been no reply.

Molly insisted she stay with Ginny and Hermione in the former’s room as well, since climbing up the flight of stairs to the twins’ room would tire her too much, and would likely slow down the healing process.  

Finally, the time came for them to return to Hogwarts for their sixth year. Thalia was far less than excited due to the pain shooting up from her sides from time-to-time, but she was getting used to it. She needed a lot of help moving around though, which she mostly got from Harry and George who seemed to be by her side whenever she needed to stand.

Before she knew it, their break had concluded, and she was once again seated in a Hogwarts Expressed compartment with Ron, Harry, and Hermione; Fred and George occupying the seats on either side of her. The two continued to bicker as they argued over a rare Chocolate Frog Card – Fred claiming George already had one of it, while George reasoned out why he needed another one.

They were pulling on the card to and fro in front of Thalia when Fred’s grasp slipped, his hand landing a heavy sort-of punch to Thalia’s side. The brunette screamed in pain as he hit her healing wound, curling into a ball on the seat to try and lessen it. She slapped Fred and George’s hands away when they tried to touch her, before standing from her seat to leave the compartment without another word.

“Don’t” Snapped Hermione when the two stood to go after their friend. They looked towards the girl in confusion, “Leave her be. She needs to cool down. Just- Just sit”

The two seemed hesitant at first when they returned to their seats, but they complied – for Thalia’s sake. They worry began to grow when they disembarked the train, not being able to catch a glimpse of Thalia’s curly hair anywhere. When they caught up to Ginny, who was boarding a carriage with her friend, she had only told them the girl went ahead to be able to go to Madam Pomfrey, since her wound started bleeding again.

Guilt-ridden, the two climbed into their own carriage with Lee Jordan, wanting to get to the castle as soon as they can.

It was a pleasant surprise seeing Thalia already in the Great Hall for the Welcome Feast, Professor McGonagall leaning down to speak to her as she sat in her usual spot in the Gryffindor Table. As they neared, they could faintly hear what they were talking about – which is, yes, the wound Thalia had acquired.

The shock on McGonagall’s face was a tell she had learned it was from a curse that had hit when they were attacked at the Quidditch World Cup, but the smile on both their faces meant the conversation went okay. When the two arrived to sit beside Thalia, they received a reprimanding look from their Professor McGonagall, who was quick to turn and make her way back to the faculty’s table before the first years could arrive.

“I’m really sorry, Lia. I was -”

“Don’t worry about it” Thalia interrupted Fred before he could even finish his apology. She turned to him with a tight-lipped smile, her eyes glazed over. “Hmph- Pomfrey gave me some meds” She hiccupped, “Wound’s gone... yippee!”

“Madam Pomfrey told me she’d be a bit droopy” Ginny whispered to the twins as she leaned between them to explain the situation with Thalia. “Gave her a potion that should help heal the wound by tomorrow. Watch over her, though”

Ginny returned to her seat when Dumbledore stood, welcoming the students with his usual speech. He reminded the students of the list of forbidden objects prohibited in the castle which can be viewed in Filch’s office, that the forest is out-of-bounds, and that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not be taking place.

This seemed to bring Thalia back to her senses, making her sit up as she tried her best to understand the words coming out of Dumbledore’s mouth. She was among those who voiced their complaints against it, when the Great Hall’s doors banged open.

The figure who walked in with a clank! in each step brought shocked gasps among the students as he walked towards Dumbledore, shaking his hand. Dumbledore turned towards the students as he motioned to the man, “May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher – Professor Moody”

“Holy dragon balls” Thalia muttered, eyes meeting Harry who shared the same surprised look at her.

“As I was saying,” Dumbledore continued, “The Inter-House Quidditch games will not take place this year because we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months – an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year!”

“You’re JOKING” Fred belted out.

“BY MERLIN’S SAGGY RIGHT TESTICLE!” Thalia shouted her own disbelief, earning glances in her direction when Dumbledore focused his attention on her with a twinkle in his eyes.

“I believe it was his left, Ms. Pallas” He corrected humorously, causing Thalia’s cheeks to flush as the students exploded into giggles. “And no, I am not joking, Mr. Weasley. Though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar...”

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

Dumbledore chucked, returning to the original topic at hand, “the Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of seventeen years or older will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration”

Thalia was quick to sense Fred’s annoyance before he himself could, placing a hand onto his forearm before he could speak out his opposition against the restrictions. He turned towards her, eyebrows furrowed, but she smiled in return, “Calm down, yeah?”

She removed her hand.  

They were asked to return to their food once Dumbledore had finished, Thalia enjoying the pie far too much that usual.  

˚✧₊⁎⁺˳✧༚

“What a doze off that guy is” Fred commented when they climbed through the portrait hole, irate by the Gryffindor Prefect who told them off for running in the hallway a few minutes ago. He collapsed on the couch beside Thalia, yawning as he laid to rest his head on a throw pillow.

“And I thought Percy was bad” George added, immediately claiming a seat in between Thalia’s legs, humming when her hands dropped to run it through George’s hair, untangling the knots. “I’ll end up falling asleep if you continue that”

“Then, best go up to your rooms now” She suggested, eyes meeting Ginny’s who signaled she wanted to talk to her. The two groaned in response, shaking their heads ‘no’ stubbornly, “Come on, Gin and I are gonna talk”

“We can deal with girl talk” Fred mumbled, switching positions so he could drape an arm around Thalia’s waist, “Is it about periods? I know a thing or two dealing with you and your grumpy arse over the years”

“You’re a bully” Thalia laughed, feeling Fred smile against her shoulder where he had his face nuzzled into.

“You love me anyway”

“Unfortunately,”

“Such flirts you two are” Ginny commented, sitting beside Thalia while shoving George away with her leg teasingly.  

“Just get together already! You act like a married couple anyways” George agreed, yelping when Thalia hit him in the back of the head using the hand she used to run through his head, “I was joking, Thalia Pallas. Merlin’s beard, you’ve really got quite a strength”

“If you’d left when Lia first told you to, that wouldn’t have happened” Ginny sang, now pulling Thalia by the arm, “Let her go, Fred! You’re with her most of the time anyway!”

Thalia laughed as she squirmed to loosen Fred’s hold, the older boy managing to hold her tighter. “Gin and I need to talk, Fred. Come on”

“Fine” Fred huffed, finally letting her go. Ginny cheered when Thalia stood up, waving her brothers good bye before rushing up the stairs to the dormitories ahead of Thalia.

Thalia looked back at the two with a soft smile before waving as well, bidding them good night before following Ginny, who called out for her when she took too long.

Master List | Chapter 5→

TAGLIST:

@elf-punk @bloodorangemoonlight

[halfbloodallbitch]

God Swap Au

(The way this au works you take to characters and swap there godly parents. I decided to add Will because I need to keep the numbers even and I don’t think Bellona has a Greek equivalent)

Percy:

Son of Athena

There’s no Gabe in this au cause he’s not needed 

Percy is really into Mythology (not just Greek but every kind), Ancient history and biology

His room looks like an explosion in a book store. He does have a system but it seems to only make sense to him.

He can give of mad scientist vibes

Annabeth: 

Daughter of Poseidon 

She loves building model ships and hopes to one day design the fastest boat there’s ever been

She still ran away from home when she was seven and she still met Luke but in this au it’s just the two of them. 

She isn’t claimed until years later after she’d already met and befriended Percy.

She was worried Percy wouldn’t want to be friends with her anymore but he reassured her that that wasn’t going to happen

Jason & Thalia:

Children of Pluto/Hades

In this au they were the ones who lived during the 40′s

Their mother died from alcohol poisoning around the same time the big three prophecy was made

Realising he had to hide them, but couldn’t hide them together due to being greek and roman Hades/Pluto sent Jason to the Lotus Casino until it was time for him to go to the Wolf House.

Before he could think of what to do with Thalia Zeus attacked and killed her. 

Decades later Jason found her and escaped the underworld with her.

He tried to take her to Camp Jupiter  but  they got separated along the way and she ended up at Camp Half Blood

Hazel & Nico & Bianca:

Children of Jupiter/Zeus

Both born in the modern day

Nico and Bianca’s mom was a big city lawyer who moved from Italy to the States 

She died after her office block was attacked by someone who’d lost a case to her

They were sent to Camp Half Blood where they arrived around the same time Percy did.

Two years later Bianca meets the Hunters and decides to join them

After she dies Nico does run away but it doesn’t take long for Percy and Annabeth to find him and bring him back. He’s known them for three years and he has friends at camp who he already misses.

Nico has a toy plane modelled after the frecce tricolori planes and dreams of being a stunt pilot one day

Hazel was also born in the modern day, and in this au never died.

Her curse is she can’t touch people without accidentally electrocuting them. Usually it’s only a small shock but there are times it’s killed people.

Out of fear she covers as much skin as possible and refuses to touch anyone.

When Jupiter claims her everyone starts expecting her to take a leadership role much to her frustration.

She ends up turning to Jason for help and quickly figures out this Pluto kids a much better leader than she is. It’s just no one wants to listen to this weird kid who talks funny and appears and disappears a little too quickly and quietly 

Will

Son of Aphrodite

He has the power to make anyone fall in love with him, romantically or platonicaly. He never uses the romantic side of his powers and only uses the platonic side if he’s in danger

Nico calls him Pretty boy 

He’s the one everyone turns to first when they have relationship problems or just need to rant but don’t think their friends or siblings would understand

When he becomes the head of the cabin he makes a strict no shipping fellow campers rule. 

Piper

Daughter of Apollo

She’s more on the musical side, though she does keep a small first aid kit in her saddle bag which she carries everywhere

Whenever she sings everyone has to stop and listen to her no matter what they’re doing

She can also play the flute. She can control mice by doing this earning her the nickname Pied Piper from Leo

She is quick to prove wrong anyone who accuses her of just being a healer with a pretty voice

Leo

Son of Ares

He gets very angry if he sees someone picking on someone smaller than them, even if said person is bigger than him

He’s gotten into a lot of fights because of this

Eventually his mom had to send him to the wilderness school because he’d been expelled/ran away from all the local schools and three military schools

Whilst he was there she died

He tends to use his sword for everything, including opening tins, picking things of the floor and at one point scratching his back. Piper yelled at him for five hours after he came to her for healing

Frank:

Son of Vulcan

He can still shape shift but also have fire powers (you don’t know true fear until a burning elephant has charged towards you

He’s pretty good at making/fixing weapons which is just as well because Leo keeps breaking his

His mom was a combat engineer until she died.

[maerrybom]

Prompt: Your OC walks in on their crush having a nightmare.

aAAA THIS PROMPT !! I’m bursting with so much inspiration right now and jsdhasjkhdjds !!! I wrote this in a whim and tried my best;; I hope this was enjoyable to read + some character spoilers ! I tried to make this sweet and heart-warming, but I ended up making this angsty :(((

found in masterlist

Maye’s Route:

Takamagahara bar was finally quiet for once and I preferred it this way. It’s been a while since it’s closed down for the night and time has stilled down, yet I’m still wide awake. I left my room in search for a glass of milk by the bar in hopes that it’ll calm my nerves and soothe the tiny headache I’m having again. It’s been getting harder to sleep nowadays. Sigh. As I made my way past the couches, I heard someone breathing heavily and seeming to be groaning in pain.

“...Ugh.”

Instantly, I quietly crept my way towards the sound alarmingly and wondered if someone had managed to break in. As I got closer, I peaked over from behind the couch and to my surprise it was only Johann—Johann? What on earth...?

Johann was asleep but he was sweating profusely and was gasping for air every now and then. This is bad; sleeping on the couch won’t be good for his back and he looks uncomfortable. I watched his distressed features closely and silently made my way in front. Judging from his body language and his expression, he’s having a nightmare and I frowned in response. Should I wake him up? Or should I keep him company until he calms down?

‘I can even hear his heart pound loudly...’ I thought.

Before I knew it, my gloved hand was unconsciously reaching out towards his face and I somehow couldn’t pull away. I don’t understand why I’m doing this, but I don’t like seeing him in pain.

“Shavee...”

My hand paused and felt my eyes widen in surprise at the mention of her name. I’ve heard about Shavee from Luminous and everything that happened between them, especially with Johann. I also remember how Luminous told me that I share a lot of qualities with her in terms of intelligence and talent. But, I wasn’t sure how I felt knowing that. Did people think I was like Shavee too? Did Johann think the same way?

Johann was a bit of an air-head at times, but he was also known to be a ‘killboy’ due to his wild, stubborn & reckless nature. He was responsible for me and because of that, he set up a training programme for me to follow everyday and tutored me whenever I had an exam. Johann was impossible at times, but I never complained even when I felt like my brain was about to explode or my arms were about to fall off. And yet, he personally brings me medicine when I’m ill and prepares a glass of warm milk when I’m upset. 

And then I remembered what Principal Anjou told me about how my S-talent was too unstable. If anything went wrong, I could go berserk and Johann would have to kill me. Is that why he’s being nice to me?

‘Don’t be foolish, Maye. You’re overthinking again.’

Shaking my thoughts away, I pulled my hand back to my side and immediately left Johann momentarily to grab a blanket from my room. Once I returned, he was still in the same state when I left him, so I carefully laid the blanket on him and did my best to not wake him up. Afterwards, I saw his shaking form calm down and the crease by his brows disappear. He finally looked in peace and was sound asleep. 

Sighing quietly, I then made my way towards the other couch and laid on my back, staring at the ceiling with mixed emotions. I guess I’ll just have to keep him company for the night and make sure he doesn’t fall off the couch if it happens.

‘This is the best thing I can do for him—but is it good enough?’

Unfortunately, my thoughts are still racing against each other and felt my headache worsen, and yet seeing him in peace strangely puts me at ease. Turning my head towards Johann, I watched and observed his sleeping face for a moment as a small, sad smile made its way on my features. I probably always looked so pitiful in his eyes.

At least one of us is getting sleep tonight.  

Sol’s Route:

“Caesar—Oh...?”

Stopping dead in my tracks, I instinctively raised a hand over my mouth the moment I saw Caesar leaning back against the chair, arms crossed and fast asleep. It’s a busy night in Takamagahara and I’ve been running back & forth serving drinks for the customers. Johann asked me to find Caesar in the back room since some of the women have been asking where he is. So, here we are.

I quietly closed the door behind me and carefully made my way towards his sleeping form, pausing every now and then as to not disturb him. Caesar had been entertaining the customers and working endlessly ever since we arrived here. My eyes wandered over his face as a worried smile crept onto my face. I don’t think he’s properly recovered ever since Miss Makoto died and burdened him even more when I got shot with a bullet.

‘I know Johann is asking for him, but he’s so tired.’ I thought, biting my lip. ‘Should I just go back and say that Caesar is asleep?’

And with that judgement, I turned around to exit the back room to report back to Johann but flinched in surprise when I heard noises coming from Caesar. Stupid! I should’ve been more careful! Looking over my shoulder, I gazed back at him to see his handsome features scrunched up in pain. As I observed him, I can sense his distress and how his heart aches in agony. He’s having a nightmare? I knew it—he never fully recovered. 

Once again, I found myself creeping towards him in concern with my arms outstretched. I should’ve just woken him up, but I knew he’d be so bothered about what he dreamt and force himself to get out there and work. I don’t want that. So, I lightly cupped his face and whispered incoherent words under my breath as my hands glowed in the process. This action caused Caesar to sigh in relief and visibly relaxed, nuzzling his cheek against my hand in comfort.

My eyebrows furrowed in stress and almost pulled away because of that, but I needed to focus and kept my palms onto his face. The more I look at how serene his expression was, the more I felt uneasy and apprehensive. I’m probably only feeling this way because I’m transferring his pain onto mine and his feelings are so heavy that it makes me want to cry.

But at the same time, I just want to enjoy being able to be close to him like this. Even in his dreams, I only want him to be happy. These selfish feelings of mine are dangerous and will benefit no one. This isn’t right after all. 

And with that, my hands stopped glowing and my arms dropped to my sides, feeling the exhaustion weighing me down. However, Caesar started to wake up and I immediately stepped away from him without trying to be suspicious of what I’ve just done. His sleepy blue eyes connected with my own, looking at me with confusion.

“...Sol? What are you doing here?” He muttered.

“Um... Johann is looking for you and told me you were here.” I replied nervously, “I was just about to wake you up.”

“Ah, I see.” The blonde chuckled, scratching the back of his neck before standing up. “Thank you, Sol.”

Smiling in response, I stepped aside for him to pass through first and kept my mouth shut. But instead, Caesar stood in front of me and I looked up at him questioningly. He then reached his hand out and patted me on the head, smiling brightly down at my flustered face. It felt like I was being blinded by a thousand suns, yet I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. Why am I like this?

“To be honest Sol,” He began, “I’ve been exhausted lately, but seeing your face really does freshen me up and wash all my worries away. Please continue being yourself, alright?”

“...Of course.”

“Well, I’ll be off then.” Caesar walked past me to exit the room, “take care of yourself, Sol.”

And with that, I was alone with my own thoughts and clenched my fists out of frustration. My beating heart betrayed me once again.

I shouldn’t let this continue. I can’t risk it.

Thalia’s Route:

“Grrgh... Don’t—!”

Gritting my teeth in anger, I shot up from the futon and faced Luminous with a glare. It’s the middle of the night; the thunderstorm outside in Tokyo city was already making me feel restless and couldn’t sleep ever since it started raining. Why is he being so loud and annoying even in his sleep? He should’ve just slept on the other side of the room where Erii is sleeping and not right next to me. At least Erii is sleeping peacefully. Lucky girl.

As I continued to glare at his face, I felt my anger decrease and began to frown. Luminous was panting and his forehead glistened with sweat under the city lights of Tokyo. He looked like he just ran a marathon and was in so much pain, mumbling things under his breath. A nightmare?

“Nono... Don’t leave...” Luminous muttered.

My frown deepened and felt annoyance replace my anger. At this point I didn’t care how much noise I’ll make since Erii has the ability to sleep through anything even if there’s a war outside, so I aggressively threw my blanket off of me and crawled to his side, reaching my hand towards his face to smack him awake. However, my hand shook in place and couldn’t find the will to do so as I glared at his face that was stricken with torment. 

‘What’s wrong with me?’

Biting my lip in frustration, I then held onto his shoulder and carefully shook him awake.

“...Luminous. Luminous!” I whisper-yelled, “Wake up or else...!”

“Ah—!” Before he could scream and wake everyone up in this hotel, I closed his mouth shut with my hand and ‘shushed’ him with an index finger against my lips.

Luminous quickly sat up at the same time when thunder struck the sky, breathing quickly while looking at my irritated expression with pure shock. His wide eyes stared at me for a while as I slowly removed my hand from his mouth and unconsciously wiped my hand against my nightgown, feeling uncomfortable at his staring. He was still scared out of his wits, in distress and was looking around the room before laying his eyes on me again.

“...Thalia? You woke me up?”

“Who else did then?” I scoffed, looking away from his dumb face. “You...were having a nightmare and can’t even be quiet about it. I had to wake you up because you were disturbing my beauty sleep.”

All of a sudden, Luminous reached out to me and pulled me towards him, finding myself being placed on his lap. What? What the hell is he doing? I should’ve smacked him when I had the chance! I wanted to scream at his face and struggled against his grip, but he wrapped his arms tighter around me.

“Please...” I heard him whisper in my ear, “just let me do this once.”

My face was already buried on his chest and I definitely knew my cheeks was as red as my hair right now. I didn’t know which heartbeat I was listening to as both of ours were equally as loud, blocking the thunder away from my ears. I felt embarrassed, but I didn’t have the strength to fight my way out of his grip. Once Luminous noticed how I stopped struggling, he buried his face onto my shoulder and his hold around me tightened me once more, desperately clinging onto me like a child. 

I wasn’t sure what to do and sat still, keeping my arms close to me out of awkwardness. I’m not even sure how long we stayed in this position, but before I realised, I found myself laying in his futon with me in his arms. Luminous laid his chin against my head, so I couldn’t see his expression anymore and he didn’t show any signs of letting go. Out of all the people in this world, I would have never chosen to be held like this by him. And yet, I’m...not complaining about it.

When was the last time I was this close with someone? Was I even held like this before? Even my mother had never held me this tight in their arms—I didn’t think I’d feel this safe & protected. The faint scent of Luminous’ cologne, his strange warmth and steady heartbeat was starting to lull me to sleep. This is...very strange. 

This is the first time I’ve been so calm in a thunderstorm and felt my worries, irritation & fears wash away. My eyes were beginning to fail me and felt the unconsciousness block my vision, trapping me into their sweet embrace.

And with that, we slept through the stormy night under the comfort of each other’s arms.

Elena’s Route:

“Chisei Gen! Chisei Gen!”

After feverishly running around Hydra Palace looking for a target to mess with, I finally found Chisei sitting underneath one of the Cherry Blossom trees. I can’t see his face since he seemed to be looking off in the distance, but as I ran towards him I immediately stopped my tracks. This caused my Mecha, Chip, to bump against my back and I swiftly turned to face my friend apologetically.

“Ah, sorry! Are you okay buddy?”

Chip spun in circles and ‘chirped’ happily, telling me that he was just surprised at my sudden stop. Sighing in relief, I then stopped in front of Chisei to block his view and surprisingly ended up seeing him hunched over, fast asleep. I pouted and huffed in annoyance, kneeling to his height as I crossed my arms around my knees.

“Out of all the places to rest, someone of your status chooses to sleep here.” I muttered before looking at Chip. “What should we do now? Do you think I should draw on his face to teach him a lesson?”

Chip seemed to refuse that idea as he circled around my head in panic, knowing that I’ll do it anyways no matter what his response is. Then, I smiled mischievously at Chisei’s face and thought of what I wanted to write & draw. Johann & Caesar might scold me after finding out I had the audacity to draw on the High Patriarch, but it’s worth it! Even Luminous would be on my side!

But before I managed to whip a marker out of my kimono sleeve, I ended up just observing his face and how it changed into an unpleasant expression. At first, I thought Chisei sensed my mischief in his sleep and is disappointed in me but the way he was panting for air and the sweat on his skin made me think otherwise. Chip hid behind my back out of fear because he didn’t understand what was going on, but I knew this feeling all too well. He was having a nightmare.

“Chip, can you watch out for us? Do you think you can manage to set up an invisibility barrier for a bit?” I asked my friend to which he nodded enthusiastically.

And so, I carefully sat next to Chisei’s hunched figure before laying my hand against his head to push it down towards my lap. It feels weird to do this, but I remembered how my father used to do this for me whenever I felt scared after waking up from a nightmare. He would tell me that everything was alright while brushing my blonde locks with his fingers as I tried to sleep again on his lap.

My fingers lightly brushed Chisei’s hair away from his face, wiping some of his sweat in the process. It seemed to be working because he was finally starting to visibly relax and sleep soundly. As I stared at his features, I got a closer look on his handsome face.

‘I thought he was cute at first, but he really is handsome...’ I thought, feeling my cheeks warm in response.

I think I liked this version of Chisei better than the one who’s awake and serious all the time. But it makes me wonder why he’s out here instead of resting in his quarters. He must be really exhausted then.

Before we arrived Japan, we were warned not to trust the people here too much and I’m sure these people thought the same way. We all had the same goal, but our beliefs were too different. But... I wish everything was like this: being united together in harmony. It’s only wishful thinking, but I know we can turn the impossible to something possible. 

“Heh...” I’m stupid for thinking so, but at least I’m still cute.

Chisei remained in peace on my lap, snoring lightly as I continued to caress his hair gently. I thought I would dislike pushovers like him, but I also want to prove him wrong and cling onto him until he gets sick of me that he has to agree with everything I say. Yet, I know it won’t work because he has a reputation and a duty to protect. He shouldn’t be wasting his time dealing with someone who has a mindless crush on him.

‘Hmph...! Chisei should at least be honored that I dare look at him!’ I thought pridefully.

But at least, let me enjoy this moment with Chisei this once. Just before everything falls apart.

[parabellumrpg]

                                          THALIA MONTOYA

                                TWENTY-EIGHT – SURGICAL RESIDENT – SINCLAIR

warning: murder, death

Both Thalia’s mother and father were respected surgeons in the Nevada area, and their dream had always been for Thalia to follow in their footsteps. She grew up in a big family, the middle child between two older brothers and three younger sisters. Having surgeons for parents was a difficult task, as they were both constantly busy, but the Montoyas ensured that any free time was spent with their children. They lived a simple life, filled with summer vacations and routine family dinners. Thalia had always hoped that, whenever she had a family of her own, it would mirror the one she grew up with.

Thalia graduated high school with an impressive GPA under her belt and accepted a scholarship to the University of Chicago. She said goodbye to her family, eager to start a life of her own. College was an odd time for Thalia. She was pre-med, living in a one bedroom apartment by herself. It was a major contrast from the loud, busy household that she’d grown up in. To keep herself busy, Thalia started going out in the evenings when she wasn’t drowning in homework. She made a close group of friends, and through them, she met Daniel. He was the complete opposite of Thalia. Loud, rambunctious, fearless. The pair started seeing each other on a regular basis, and after a few weeks of dating, they became a couple. Fast forward two years, and they were happily engaged. A few weeks before Thalia started medical school, they married and moved into a nice home together.

Chicago became Thalia’s new home. Daniel worked in sales, and he made an impressive amount of money -- enough so that Thalia didn’t have to work to put herself through med school. She was unbelievably happy with. Their relationship wasn’t perfect by any means -- they bickered like any other couple, but at the end of the day, they always made things right with each other. What Thalia didn’t know, however, was that Daniel was living a completely different life by night. He’d come home extremely late in the evenings, reeking of liquor and cigarettes. Thalia could never get the truth out of him. Daniel insisted that he was just out, with friends. Thalia wanted to believe him. She really did.

Thalia had just finished a shift at the hospital when she decided to find out what exactly Daniel was doing in the evenings. She followed him downtown, to Lochlan’s Pub. She waited in her car until finally, around four in the morning, he emerged -- clearly wasted out of his mind. Thalia didn’t know what to think. She did some research, eventually finding out through word of mouth that the basement of Lochlan’s was the home of an underground gambling operation. She had no choice but to dig deeper. Their finances didn’t make any sense. Daniel normally handled the bills while Thalia had been in medical school. She looked at his credit card bills and noticed that they were all maxed out. Their mortgage was past due. Their car was in danger of repossession. That night, when Daniel made it home, Thalia was sitting there -- papers scattered across the table as she prepared to confront her husband.

Daniel was a gambling addict. He told Thalia that he’d make it right, but at that point, it was already too late. Thalia started working overtime at the hospital, hoping to bring in some extra income so they could at least keep their house. Then, just like that, Daniel was gone, and she never saw him again. His disappearance came as a shock to Thalia because, despite everything, she still loved him deeply. She was willing to work through this with him. On her way to fill out a missing person’s report, Thalia was visited by a Sinclair enforcer. She had no idea that the money they owed was to the Irish mob. Daniel was out of control, they said. But he won’t be a problem anymore, and you’ll never see him again. 

Thalia didn’t need to be a genius to know what this meant. Daniel was dead. She barely even had time to grieve him before the Sinclairs told Thalia that she now belonged to them. Whenever they needed her, day or night, she needed to make sure that she was available. She wasn’t just saving loyalists’ lives. If the Sinclairs told her to make sure someone didn’t survive, she had to let them die. Thalia’s frightened of the people that she works for, but she’s even more frightened of what might happen if she fights against what they want. This isn’t the life that her parents wanted for her -- or even the life that she wanted for herself -- but it’s the one she has. Whether she wants to or not, it’s time to clean up her husband’s mess. 

                                          CONNECTIONS

-- Relationship Status: Single, Widowed 

FC: Adria Arjona

The role of THALIA MONTOYA is currently OPEN.

[bikamalas]

Reyna was not entirely sure why she’d thought coming to Camp Half-Blood on a day like this was a good idea. 

Pride was in full swing at Camp Jupiter, she knew that. And she had enjoyed being an ally for some of her friends in the LGBT community. But being praetor was stressful enough- being praetor on important days is ten times worse. 

Besides, pride was a... complicated month right now.

All Reyna knew was that she was exhausted and her throat hurt from screaming and she had glitter in places where glitter should not be. She needed a break.

She just wasn’t sure why she decided to have that break HERE.

”Reyna!” Piper threw her arms around her happily. Then she stepped back with a grin, her pan pride flag wrapped around her like a scarf. “It’s that time of the year!” she yelled. “PRIIIIDE!”

Reyna chuckled. She wasn’t sure why she had been suprised when Piper came out. Looking back on it, something about Piper seemed so... befitting for the pan community.

“We don’t have a city or anything so obviously we’re not as well organised, but my throat hurts and there are rainbows everywhere so I think we’re doing okay,” Piper explained as they strolled through camp. “Me and Jason are trying to make it extra special for Nico, since it’s his first pride.”

“Is Jason-”

“No. If he was, believe me, I would know.”

Reyna whipped around at the sound of that voice.

Thalia’s voice.

“THALIA!” Piper shrieked. She jumped on Thalia, giving her a massive bear hug.

“I’m so glad you came,this is going to be the best pride EVER!” Piper babbled. Then she stopped. “Oh my god. I’m becoming a stereotypical LA girl. Thalia, help me.”

Thalia laughed. “Nothing could turn you into a stereotypical LA girl,” she assured her. Then she saw Reyna and smiled. “Hey, Reyna!” 

Reyna swallowed and tried no to seem to much like she was melting inside. “Hey, Thalia!” she greeted. “Good to see you!”

“Same here,” she greeted. “Hey look, I know you’re straight, but you’re an ally, so...”

“So...” Reyna prompted. 

Thalia shrugged. “Well, I’m here for this party Percy told me about. It’s for women attracted to other women, but they said we could bring guests...”

Reyna’s heart thudded. “That would be wonderful, Thalia. Thank you.”

Reyna followed Thalia to the Big House, which, as Thalia had said earlier, was full of LGBT women . She saw Lou Ellen (bisexual) Drew Tanaka (pan) Kayla (lesbian)... so many girls who liked other girls. Comfortable with themselves, despite being... different. 

She wondered if she could eve be like that.

Probably not. 

Flashbacks to the times where had father would condemn her and shame her crossed her mind. 

“A  Ramírez-Arellano doesn’t have those kinds of feelings...

“Doesn’t love their fellow man or woman...

“A  Ramírez-Arellano produces more of themselves! They can’t think that way!”

Of course she had been young then. Some people figured it out early, but she didn’t. She didn’t even know what he meant until years later. Didn’t realize her... her feelings...

Suddenly Reyna felt dizzy. She shouldn’t have come. She wasn’t ready to be around this. Around her.

“Reyna?” Thalia came up behind her, concerned. “Are you okay?”

“I... I...”

No demigod shall heal your heart.

Especially if she was a girl.

“I have to go,” Reyna said. She walked away in long, quick strides, not wanting Thalia to catch up. She got out the door and then broke into a run. 

But Thalia was still following her. Of course, she was still following her. “Reyna!” she screamed. The concern in her voice cracked Reyna’s heart. “Reyna, wait!”

By the time they stopped they were at the lake. Suprisingly it was the only place where the Pride Month Empire’s control had not reached. Reyna sat down. Thalia sat next to her. “Reyna,” Thalia said gently. “I know you’re not a homophobe. Girls kissing girls... that doesn’t bother you. So what’s up?”

Reyna wiped the tears that had formed in her eyes without her noticing. “Girls kissing girls does bother me. If one of the girls is exceedingly attractive and the other isn’t me.”

Thalia’s eyes widened. “You’re... you’re a lesbian?”

“Yep. Since I was twelve. I hid it pretty well, for a while, but... being around you makes it difficult.”

Thalia blushed. “You mean I... you know what, we’re not even going to unpack that now. Why were you afraid? You’ve seen pride. You know we’re not phobic. Not at Camp Half-Blood, not at Camp Jupiter-”

“My father was. I don’t know if I ever told you but he was.... he was...” Reyna’s voice was cracking. She swallowed. “He was not a good man. And he told me... itwas.. wrong.”

“I didn’t know what he was saying. But on Circe’s island I... I got a sort of crush on another girl, and more and more girls. I realized that... this was what my father was talking about. And I... I hid it. For years.”Reyna had been crying as she spoke and when she was done she sank deeper into sobs. Thalia held her as she heaved and cried. Then she pushed her away slightly, still keeping her in her arms. “Reyna... I’m sorry, but your father was a prick. A huge one. I don’t know what happened to him... and I’ll wait til whenever you’re ready. All I can say is he deserved it. And you?”

“You deserve to live Reyna. To love. To be proud of yourself. I know yo feel alone now but... you’re not. You saw that party. There are millions like you. Who could love you. And...” Thalia smiled a little. “Dome who are already on their way.”

Reyna looked shocked. Then she smiled and snuggled into Thalia’s arms.

Later Piper would find them. She’d squeal and brainstorm for ship names. Jason would congratulate them and Nico would be glad that he wasn’t the only homosexual having their first pride. 

But at that moment?

It was just them.

And Reyna wouldn’t have it any other way.

AN:

Hope you enjoyed! Would really appreciate your feedback. HAPPY PRIDE!

[todays-jeremy-heere]

Recap Post

So I’ve had a couple requests for what the fuck has happened so far from newer people to our dandy set of blogs, here it is! Keep in mind this is all mostly improv so if it’s a bit all over the place then oops lol rip. (Older people and other today blogs, feel free to yell at me if I miss anything.) 

NOW INCLUDING LINKS TO CERTAIN IMPORTANT THREADS

The three not main characters in the bmc group are:

Madeline, Thalia (George’s character from Smartphone Hour), and Dustin Kropp

Let’s start at the beginning, a very good place to start :)

So the first activity of these blogs is nothing special, just silly conversations, teasing each other, and because no one is together yet, flirting. But eventually, people pair up so those people are...

Brooke x Rich, Michael x Jake and Dustin x Jeremy

Thalia asks Jeremy and Mr Heere if she can move into their house because she has an abusive father she wants to get away from, they say yes and now she lives with them. Sometime after this Thalia pairs up with Madeline. 

Jake and Chloe keep having childish arguments because they are both still salty about thier past relationships. Jake brings up how Chloe sexually assaulted Jeremy at the Halloween party last year. Tension happens between Chloe and Jeremy where they both think the other hates them.

After a bit Thalia and Madeline break up, this causes Thalia to spiral and she gets a Squip. She is very clearly not ok and whenever anyone tries to reason with her she says she doesn’t need help because she’s perfect. Then, of course, it goes wrong because it always does and she starts threatening to murder Jeremy, whenever Dustin tries to scare her off she does the same to him. There’s a massive completely improvised fight scene at Jeremy’s house (we were all freaking out on the mod discord lol), in which Chloe gets a concussion, Rich nearly gets murdered and Thalia tries to force feed Jeremy Mountain Dew Green...

When everyone wakes up the next day you have some cute shipping junk between some of the couples since their SO was nearly killed. Chloe and Jeremy realise they both don’t hate each other because they actually TALK TO EACH OTHER TO FIGURE SHIT OUT.

Meanwhile, Chloe and Madeline have clear romantic chemistry and everyone can see it but them, they ‘fake’ flirt and go on ‘fake’ dates while saying ‘I cAn’T POsSibLY sEE HoW ShE cOUld LIkE mE’. It’s cute, we all love it.

But it goes wrong when Chloe says that Madeline should keep some distance from her because she’s scared of whatever’s going on between them and that obviously hurts Madeline because they have become really close friends since the blogs started. Madeline spirals like Thalia did and gets a squip, but this time only Chloe is there to help her. Dustin was going to help but Jeremy keeps saying that he can’t go and he’s scared and he doesn’t want ‘this’ so being a good boyfriend, Dustin tries to help him. Jeremy just tells him there’s nothing wrong and Dustin should go help, Chloe. Dustin doesn’t like being left in the dark so he goes (unhappily) but he doesn't get there in time to help Chloe (I SWEAR THIS IS IMPORTANT LATER, https://todays-jeremy-heere.tumblr.com/post/179026525980/jeremy-whats-going-on-why-are-people-saying-i). So Chloe and Madeline have a fight scene and Squip!Madeline loses. (https://todays-chloe-valentine.tumblr.com/post/179030653474/listen-up-you-tic-tac-bitch-chloe)

When Maddie is in the hospital with her you get some really cute lesbian time with Chloe talking to a sleeping Madeline and what not its cute. https://todays-chloe-valentine.tumblr.com/post/179068636659/14102018

Eventually, the two of them (FINALLY) get together <3

Meanwhile, Jeremy’s mental state is getting obviously worse (posts with crossed out text, talking to ‘himself’, stuttering more, ect ect.) but whenever anyone tries to see what’s wrong he gets very defensive to the point of being kinda rude.

Dustin tries to get him to open up one final time, Jeremy says some stuff he shouldn’t have and Dustin breaks up with him, https://todays-jeremy-heere.tumblr.com/post/179194061640/101818 (Note, Dustin was completely justified and not an asshole, Jeremy was hurting both of them. https://todays-dustin-kropp.tumblr.com/post/179194994713/seriously) This sends both of them into a bad place where Dustin is pretty empty and Jeremy is panicky and defensive (and it's very obvious his squip has reactivated, https://todays-jeremy-heere.tumblr.com/post/179216021025/this-is-your-fault-n-no-he-deserves-better-than ).

Chloe and Dustin are good friends so she and him help each other out with their shit its sweet.

Whenever people try to help Jeremy he lashes out and gets very defensive. It’s very obvious at this point that during the fight with Thalia he was squipped, he talks to himself and flinches at nothing, but whenever anyone accuses him of that he adamantly denies it. He refuses to drink mountain dew red.

Chloe tries to talk to him but he yells at her and when she calls him out he starts stuttering an apology and she goes ‘Jesus stop stuttering like that.' This is the wrong thing to say to someone who spent almost a year of their life shocked whenever the speech impediment that they cannot control showed itself. Jeremy gets fucking pissed, obviously. (https://todays-jeremy-heere.tumblr.com/post/179285070845/hey-uh-ive-checked-up-on-dustin-but-how)

Madeline sends him a ‘not so friendly suggestion’ to not shout at her girlfriend. When Jeremy says how she commented on his stuttering Madeline mocks him with a fake stutter and is no help whatsoever. She says she’s sorry that they care enough to ask him what’s wrong. Jeremy has asked multiple times that they treat him like they usually do, even when he’s going through a bad time because he wants one constant thing so he says ‘If you cared about me you’d leave me alone.’ (https://todays-madeline-monroe.tumblr.com/post/179286238797/hey-unfriendly-demand-dont-fucking-yell-at-my)

Jeremy gets worse, anons try giving him an intervention, doesn't work. Chloe tries apologizing but she accidentally makes Jeremy have a mental breakdown which is always fun.

Meanwhile, Thalia finds out that a guy from her English and PE classes got her pregnant. Her mum also died, Chloe is very supportive to her and lends her a dress for the funeral. She generally isn’t having a very good time right now but everyone she knows is being so nice to her and she’s very grateful. (https://todays-thalia-mcarthy.tumblr.com/post/179404119923/hey-i-need-to-borrow-a-dress-for-my-mothers)

In preparation for Jake’s party, Dustin lets Jake know that he’s allergic to red food dye so that it isn’t in any of the food and Dustin doesn’t need to go to the HOSPITAL.

Jeremy and Chloe made up, Jeremy apologises for yelling and Chloe apologises for commenting on his stutter. They end up hugging and Chloe lets him know that even though he wants to be left alone she’s still there for him, when Jeremy starts replying with an explanation of why he can't really talk about it his squip shocks him. Rather than freaking out Chloe calmly deals with it and Jeremy indirectly confirms that he does indeed have a squip. They establish a code so that they can talk about it, green = its talking, yellow = it shocked me, and red = help. Madeline (who acted a lot worse) still hasn’t apologised and Jeremy is still mad at her. This is the post where this goes down >>> (https://todays-chloe-valentine.tumblr.com/post/179403825299/h-hey-i-im-sorry-for-s-shouting-at-you)

Chloe finally gets Dustin to open up about how he’s feeling because up until this point Dustin has just been taking care of everyone but himself. Dustin accidentally implies he’s a murderer to get Chloe to not call him an ‘egg’ but they resolve it. He isn't a murderer (probably). Chloe is everyone’s mother. (https://todays-chloe-valentine.tumblr.com/post/179437193524/someones-been-anonymously-flirting-with-your-ex)

Chloe encourages Dustin to talk to Jeremy and sort their shit out but it goes wrong when Dustin kisses Jeremy twice and Jeremy, who did not consent to that, yeets outta there because he was not ready to do anything like that with Dust bin again and he goes to Chloe’s house and he is obviously upset and he says he feels ‘gross’.

Chloe mother is having none of that shit so she goes to yell at Dustin, she told him to talk to jeremy not to kiss him. Chloe is very mad and not thinking straight (me neither chlo) so she kisses him to try and do a tase of your own medicine type thing but Dustin is just like ‘ew im gay’. Everyone is annoyed at Chloe for this because WHAT THE FUCK CHLOE DO NOT KISS A GAY GUY WHEN YOU ARE A GIRL ESPECIALLY WITHOUT CONSENT.

Madeline, her gf, says that she is terrified of how easily Chloe can hurt people like that and she breaks up with Chloe.

So now Chloe is kinda spiraling but she doesnt get a squip because she’s not AN IDIOT.

Jeremy and Dustin kinda make up, Dustin is obviously extremely sorry and Jeremy gets the circumstances and is way too forgiving in general but yeah. It’s unspoken that they are ok with eachother but they boht kinda silently agree to forget that ever happened and to move past it.

Thalia in general isn’t very mentally ok and she tries to kill herself by jumping off a bridge but Dustin saves her.

AND THAT’S WHERE WE ARE NOW FUCKERS HAVE A NICE DAY.

[thalialancaster]

➰ ( LYNDSY FONSECA, CIS FEMALE, SHE/HER ) *✧.:°░｡ —- is that THALIA "LIA" LANCASTER ?! you know them, right? they are the 380ish year old VAMPIRE !! they’re known for being SPIRITED & LOYAL - but i’d be careful if i were you because they’re also MELANCHOLIC & STUBBORN. 

i have a problem. i swear i’ll stop soon. before i hit the limit. cross my heart. but anyways here’s my new kid, lia <3

trigger warnings: death, violence, death of a child, fire, attempted rape. if i missed any let me know.

so thalia here is the daughter of one @adriianvl and a past life of @charlottesryder​, one of two kids.

when adrian “died” and fled his kingdom, charlotte had just recently become pregnant and was still unaware. with the help of one of adrain’s knights who wasn’t terribly loyal to the new king, charlotte returned to her own family’s kingdom, where she would end up giving birth to twins -  Vincent Æðelwine and Thalia Adria.

@rcvcnaant​ & @thclcssc​ are honorary godparents even though neither of them knew, bc charlotte was soft for adrian’s people

charlotte’s brother, who had no children of his own, took them as his heirs. 

she’s only been in love once 

she was 14 when her soldier ( who was about six years her senior ) first caught her eye - already spending most of her days training with the soldiers and spending very little time acting like a "proper princess" as her grandmother continued to point out, she was fairly certain she'd never take a husband. at the time he had spent more time flirting with the maids than paying attention to the princess, which further affirmed her belief that she'd remain alone. she was 16 and had nearly given up on romance and simply settled for friendship, the two were often paired off as sparring partners bc many of the others were either "afraid to hurt the princess" or had lost to her and their pride wouldn't let them do it again. it would often happen that one of the two couldn't sleep and would sneak around to wake the other up for more practice and they'd end up training until they passed out in the stables. on one such night while they were sparring he stole a kiss - and then proceeded to use her shock against her and win the round - it became a more common thing and turned into the two sneaking off and stealing kisses they never went all the way tho, he didn't want to take advantage. she was 18 and all of her grandmother's attempts to find a "suitable" husband for her had failed ( no one wanted a wife that could best them in a fight eoijdsa ) when her soldier went to charlotte to ask for her blessing in marrying thalia - she outranked him by that point, and he'd asked the king as well, and he'd saved up his wages so he'd have something to his name, and was going to surprise thalia ( when she returned from a hunting trip with her brother and a few other soldiers ) with a simple ring if given their blessing. unfortunately their kingdom was once again attacked before she could return, her soldier cut down on the battlefield and left to die. charlotte personally went through his things with the news reached the castle, finding the ring and a half finished speech he'd been working on. to this day thalia wears the band on a chain around her neck, long enough to be hidden beneath her shirt.

on their 19th birthday vincent took the throne and lia was knighted, half acting as an adviser to her brother when battle was at hand ( which was more often than you’d think )

through out their lives their uncle ( adrian’s brother ), and later his heir, would stage attacks against their kingdom, in a move to show that they were still the top player.

thalia was also training to work as a sort of assassin, training with the soldiers and knights but also working with another trainer that had seen potential in her whenever she had a bit of spare time.

she had a group of about five knights that were more hers than her brother’s - they’d fight for their king but they’d die for their knight princess.

she was gravely wounded in a battle and left by the enemy to die of her wounds. she half-wished to die in hopes that her love would be waiting for her - unfortunately, she’s not that lucky.

she was turned by a vampire that pushed her to give into darkness, and the two of them along with her knights ( who had also been turned ) managed to infiltrate her father’s family’s kingdom and completely destroy it.

they tore through guards and soldiers and any that stood against them, and by the end of the fighting flames burned around them. as the flames grew higher lia came back to herself, heart breaking as she stared in horror at what they had done. she ordered her men to help anyone they could - women and children, anyone that hadn’t died - only to be cut off as the vampire that had turned them snapped the neck of a child and dropped the body at her feet and said “to what end, little princess? so they may grow healthy and strong and tell stories of the demons that did this? you still wear your brother’s colors, spare a single life and you will bring ruination to your home.”

she’s still haunted by that night, and several other terrible deeds he forced her to commit before she finally escaped his grasp.

she stayed with him for nearly three decades, him reminding her that she needed him. she knew little of this so-called ‘shadowworld’ and didn’t know how to survive in it. she gritted her teeth and bore his abuse until one day he attempted to push too far - she was lovely, he wanted her, she owed him. 

he’d managed to tear through her clothing before she got ahold of one of his fingers and bit it clean off, calling to her men the second his hand left her mouth. while he was older and stronger six pissed knights vs one man meant the odds were not in his favor. 

the six of them trapped him in a cave, five waiting while one went to find a warlock willing to seal it so he couldn’t leave - he’s been there for well over 300 years, surviving on rats and biding his time.

lia and her knights stuck together for a while after that, but eventually parted ways - they still get together every few years to catch up, though in more recent years two have stopped showing up lia is worried but hopes they just moved on oefijds

she came into possession of her father’s sword and ring about 100 years ago when one of her nephews tried to sell them for a bit of cash. she stole them before he could bc hell nah fam.

she knows about her mother’s curse and is actually in town looking for her - little does she know her dad’s in town too, along with the woman that she looked up to from all her mothers stories when she was a girl.

a small side-note: when startled she has a terrible habit of turning to dust/ash. pls don’t spook her, and pls don’t sweep her up. she’ll return to normal soon enough.

idk if i missed anything, i probably did. if you’ve got questions hit me up!!! like/reply to this or message me ( here or on discord ) if you want to plot <3

[xiii-jb-46]

Anticipated True love

Fangs x Reader

______________________

I was 7 when I first met Fangs. He was not like everyone else. He was different.

“Y/N see you tomorrow.” My bestfriend Thalia said waving goodbye. I was too busy waving I didn’t notice someone was going around the same corner I was going to. We bumped into each other and my books fell. I froze when I saw the boy on the ground.

“I uh I am so sorry.” I reached to collect my books and he did to. He smiled at me and soon I felt something on my hand. I looked down blushing. Our hands met and it felt like the whole world had froze and his eyes were the only thing my mind needed to survive.

“Um here.” He gave my book and we both stood up.

“The name’s Fangs.” He stook his hand out and I took it.

“Y/N. Thank you and sorry.” I drew my hand back and placed it around my books.

“No problem just next time watch out. Ill see you later.” He walked off as I watched his figure dissapear in the distance.

“Wow he is so cute.” I giggled to myself, jumping in excitement.

Has the years past I got closer to him. We became best friends and my feelings grew. When we were both 10 he met another boy called Sweet pea. He would stay over at his place alot and I knew this because I to stayed at his place alot.

The rain was pouring down heavily as I banged on the door to a small tralier. The door opened and Sweet pea was standing there. I had bruises up my arm and one below my eyes. I had cuts all on my leg and blood dripping from them. You probably guessed it. My father was abusive. He wasn’t always like this. It was after my mothers death about the same time I met Fangs. He let me in stepping aside as Fangs walked out with a towel around his waist. We all had to be at least 13 at this time.

“Y/N come. I’ll clean you up.” I walked in the bathroom and sat on the counter. He cleaned it as I stared at his wet hair.

_______________

I watched as Fangs cleaned Y/N wounds. This wasn’t the first she came here like this. We once found her passed out just little down the road. We were visiting our friend Toni who was at this bar I forgot the name already.

I watched the look on her face. I knew she had feelings for him but I didn’t say anything. Plus I liked her friend Thalia. Those two were perfect for each other but Fangs was blind like a bat. He couldn’t see infront of him was someone who make him happy in the dredged town. I walked away and watched TV.

______________

“You know you can just leave and stay here?” Fangs looked Y/N. He hated seeing her with cuts and bruises.

“Even though I go through all these abuse. He is still my father. He is just sad and accepting that mother is gone.” She knew he had a point but deep down she wanted it to be true. That her father would stop.

“Your so optimistic. When you live on the southside nothing goes well for you unless you deal with it.” He stood up and leaned near her. “You need to protect yourself and trust no one. You don’t know who could turn on you.” He left her in the bathroom and went to his room.

She took his advice and watched her back. She trusted no one but Fangs, Toni and Sweet pea.

Fangs and Sweet pea ran to Y/N house excited when he past the serpent initiation with Sweet pea at the age of 15. He banged on the door and her dad opened it with blood shot eyes.

“She isn’t here go away.” He slammed the door leaving the two teenagers dumbfounded.

“Looks like we going through the window.” They climbed the tree and when they reached the window he couldn’t believe his eyes. He stormed over and pushed Y/N father off of her. He had been beating her and she was close to death. They saw glass shatted on the ground and on her stomach. Tears were running down her face along with blood. Sweet pea helped Fangs teach her father a lesson. She was still in shock she couldn’t move.

Once they knew he had passed out they packed her stuff and by stuff I mean everything. Clothes, photos, stationary anything that she may need or want. They took the cash from his wallet and safe he had. They took anything that could be selled. Fangs carried Y/N out as Sweet pea held everything. Sweet pea dropped the stuff and looked at his match.

“Y/N-”

“Burn it to the ground.” Sweet pea chucked the match in the bottle of gasoline they found in the garage. They watched it burn and walked away. Sweet pea looked at the two and smiled. He took a picture and was going to put in the album Toni, Him and Thalia were making incase they got married. It was Toni’s idea and they all agreed.

They walked to the hospital as Sweet pea had walked to Fangs tralier to put her stuff in the closet. They asked every possible question about how was she beaten up. Of course the nurse was spectacle because he had a serpent jacket on but the tears on his face gave her a resurring answer.

“Well only family members are allowed.”

“The only family member she had put her in this place!” He yelled causing a scene.

“Your right my apologies you may see her.” He walked in seeing the sight of her connected to tubes and anything to keep her alive made it hard for him to breath.

Sweet pea walked in and saw Fangs freaking out. “Sweet pea what if she dies? What am I going to do?” He sat next to the kneeling Fangs.

“She won’t she is strong. She lasted 8 years of abuse. She will get through this.”

“I should’ve dragged her out. Why is she so stubborn.”

“Because she believed her father would change. She believed it was how he was taking the love of his life death. Fangs all you can do is support her through this. I don’t know how but if she can fight so can you. Leave no serpent for dead.” Sweet pea stood up and let in Thalia and Toni.

For the past week everyone came in and out. Fangs didn’t leave at all. If he needed to use the bathroom he just used the one in the room. If he needed to shower he used the one in the room. If he needed to eat Sweet pea or Toni would came to the hospital and bring him food.

He would sit beside her telling her storys of the moments they had. Her favourite song came on and he cried. They would sing it and dance together. He slowly began to realise something. Whenever he needed someone she was there and when she needed someone he was there.

“Y/N I need you. Please wake up. I need you more than anything. I love you.” He kissed her hand and held it closely. He felt it move and looked straight up at her. The monitor started to beep rapidly and doctors and nurses ran in. They rushed her out and soon Fangs was waiting outside the room. He confessed and she was about to die. He had never cried this much since his family’s death.

“Are you Fangs?” A doctor walked to him and he nodded.

“Y/N is asking for you. You can see her.” He walks in to see her crying.

“Where is Fangs? I want Fangs!” He rushed to her side and smiled.

“I’m right here.”

“I love you too you big dumbie.” He smiled holding her hand close to him.

“You heard me.” She nodded

“It tool you long enought to come to realise your feelings.” Sweet pea, Toni and Thalia walked in.

“You guys were like anticipated love.” Thalia held onto Sweet pea’s arm.

They all were happy that their friends found love. They gave the book on their marriage fay as a wedding picture and it was the best gift they received.

[crazyclouds5281]

Castaway

A short one-shot about leaving behind all you’ve ever known

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

“I’ve never aligned with this city’s pulse, so that makes it easier to leave behind.”

-Castaway, by Grant (feat. Juneau)

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

The absent father sucked. The drinking, fame-obsessed, depressed mother was worse. The monsters that occasionally attacked were really just the ugly cherries on top. But this… This was the last straw.

“Where is he!?”

“I- I had to! I’m so sorry, baby, please-!”

“I said, where’s Jason!?”

Her mother didn’t reply, sniffling pitifully. Thalia had to tamp down the urge to slap the woman. She knew that if she started now, she probably wouldn’t stop until she killed her own mother, which she wouldn’t do- no matter how much the crazy bitch deserved it. Instead, the seven-year-old, who felt far too old for her age, began meticulously searching for her lost brother.

Deep in her heart, though, Thalia knew she wouldn’t find him.

It took two hours for Beryl to pull herself together, at which point, she dragged Thalia into the car, ignoring how viciously the girl fought, and peeled out of the parking lot, speeding home. The instant they pulled onto the main road, all the energy seemed to drain out of Thalia’s small body, and she slumped back against her seat. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she made no noise, too emotionally exhausted to sob properly. The ride back was quiet.

When they pulled into the driveway, Beryl shut off the car and placed her forehead on the steering wheel. Meanwhile, Thalia stepped out the car, wandered in through their unlocked back door, and picked up the phone.

“Hello? Is this the police?”

“How could you do this!? To your own mother!?” Beryl shrieked the instant she entered the house. She’d just been released from custody, as the police weren’t able to build a case. They’d just chalked it up to the toddler vanishing on his own, and left it at that.

“How could you just get rid of Jason!?” Thalia snapped back, standing as tall as she could. Despite her short stature, though, the sparks curling around her were plenty intimidating.

“I raised you, and took care of you! I don’t deserve this!”

“You deserve worse!”

Beryl gasped in horror. “Thalia… Thalia, you don’t mean that, baby, please tell me you don’t mean that,” she weeped, tears springing to her eyes. She fell to her knees and shuffled over to her daughter, grabbing her by the shoulder, heedless of the way the static shocked her. “Please, sweetie, don’t say things you don’t mean,” she pleaded, giving the girl a watery smile, wrapping her in a big hug. “It’s fine now, Mommy’s not mad at you, I swear! We’ll get through this together!” Beryl rambled. She was cut off when Thalia squirmed out of her grip, scurrying back a few steps. She stared at her mother for a few tense moments, sky-blue eyes flashing.

“I’m leaving.”

“What!?”

It took all of five minutes for Thalia to empty her school bag and pack two boxes of cereal bars and a few water bottles into it. The entire time, Beryl hovered around her, wary of the lightning wreathing her daughter, trying to talk her down. She was doomed to fail from the start, however, since Thalia wasn’t even listening. The girl didn’t say anything as she walked out the house, leaving the front door hanging wide open behind her, like an invitation for Beryl to go after her. Instead, Beryl knelt on the floor, wailing incoherently, unable to muster up the strength to stand. She had no choice but to watch as Thalia walked out of her house- and out of her life.

It was the last time the mother and daughter saw each other.

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

Luke knew the signs. After all this time, how could he not? The instant his mother’s cloudy eyes flashed green, he was rushing up the stairs and into his room. He didn’t bother closing the door behind him, instead making a beeline for the closet. None of the doors in this house had their locks anymore, except the front and back doors. Not even the bathroom. May had, in a particularly cruel fit of genius, realized that if Luke couldn’t lock the doors, he couldn’t hide from her. Not truly. So, she ripped out all the handles, leaving empty holes where a knob should go. Right now, Luke’s fingers were sticking through said hole, and he pulled the door shut with all his might.

The pounding of feet on the steps made him go rigid in fear, and his breath quickened as he tried desperately to keep quiet. Occasionally, May’s fits wouldn’t last long enough for her to check all of his possible hiding places. Please, let this be one of those times.

It wasn’t.

May’s shattered mind didn’t lend itself well to orderly thoughts. So, rather than entering the first room she saw when she reached the top of the stairs- the guest room- she instead went somewhere random each time. Today, it happened to be Luke’s room. Her wild eyes roved over the empty bedroom, and she ran out a moment later. The boy breathed a sigh of relief. A preemptive one, it would seem, because May barged back in, and instantly began attempting to open the closet. Luke pulled harder, but the woman began slamming her fists on his fingertips. He bore the pain as best he could, lasting a few seconds longer than usual, but like always, he had to give in, or risk having his digits broken irreparably. May didn’t waste a second ripping open the closet door. Luke didn’t even have time to scream before she was bearing down on him, grabbing his shoulders with a painfully-tight grip.

“No!” she shrieked, “Not my baby! He won’t do it! He won’t! This will not be his destiny!” The woman devolved into senseless screaming, shaking Luke like a twig in a hurricane. He just closed his eyes, grit his teeth, and tried to block it out, like always. Eventually, the fit ended, and May slumped to the floor, unconscious. Luke lay at her side, seizing in fear, gasping for air with unstable heaves and wheezes.

I can’t stay here.

Slowly, shakily, he rose to his feet, and set about grabbing a few things. Some snacks, water bottles, and a few medical supplies were all shoved into his backpack, along with a few changes of clothes. He glanced at his mother, still passed out on his floor, and had to fight back tears. Sympathy wouldn’t change his mind, though- not this time. He only allowed himself to give the woman a kiss on the forehead, before he crept down the stairs and slipped out the back door. When he was on the sidewalk, he glanced back at his home of nine years.

Bye, Mom.

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

Annabeth didn’t understand it. Why did her dad refuse to believe her? The spiders were there! She wasn’t making it up! Monsters had attacked their house and everything- why wouldn’t he believe that there were spiders, of all things? Sure, the bites and cobwebs might disappear by the time she’d reached her bedroom door, but it happened.

Why didn’t he care?

Helen. It had to be because of Helen. Ever since that woman had shown up in their lives, it seemed like her father had conveniently forgotten about Annabeth, only acknowledging her when something went wrong, like the monsters (which wasn’t her fault, no matter what Helen said!). Then, when she got pregnant, that stupid woman took even more of her dad’s attention, as if Annabeth didn’t struggle for the scraps she was already barely getting.

Matthew and Bobby were born in the summer, and Annabeth hated them from the first time she saw them. They were gross, constantly pooping their diapers and vomiting whenever one of the adults tried to burp them. They cried for no reason- loud, obnoxious wails that didn’t stop. Sometimes, they woke up in the middle of the night for the sole purpose of crying, bringing Annabeth out of her exhausted daze and forcing her to focus on the arachnids still crawling over and under her blankets.

Most importantly, though, her dad actually paid attention to them.

Why not me!? Annabeth wanted to scream. Did you forget you have a third child!?

She’d always been smart. Her dad had said it a lot when she was younger, before they became so distant. Annabeth was able to piece things together. Eventually.

Her father never talked about her biological mother.

He jumped at the chance for a relationship with another woman.

He doted more on the children he had with that woman, as if he wanted to forget about his past relationship.

Frederick wanted nothing to do with the past. He just wanted to live in the moment; play with his stupid military toys, love his new wife and kids, and ignore the monsters that attacked them every now and then.

Annabeth took the hint. She wasn’t wanted. She was just a reminder of a time that Frederick didn’t care for in the slightest. He had a new life now- he didn’t need her. Didn’t even want her.

So, when she was seven, she left. Packed a bag, and walked out the door in the middle of the night, spider bites covering her skin like goosebumps (they’d be gone in the morning).

For five years, she didn’t look back once.

[uniquejennyessays]

Greek Myth In Contemporary Society

For years I have been liking Rick Riordan (Rick)’s works, it seemed like I have not written a review on it yet. So, here’s one on my favorite book series of all time.

HOW AND WHEN DID I START ON THIS SERIES?

It all started during my first year of high school, when I had a fixation on Greek Mythology. I admired the humanized personality of different gods, the adventures of heroes with their tragic end, and the inconsistent romance (either a happy or a miserable end). The passion led me to discover the first series of the Chronicles, Percy Jackson and the Olympians (PJO). I think I borrowed the first two books from the school library and bought the rest from the bookstore. I pretty much spend most of my time reading these novels forth and back.

Then it came the Heroes of Olympus (HOO) series, which Rick introduced Roman Mythology. With a set of new characters and old friends, I was even more absorbed into the series throughout my high-school years. I waited anxiously whenever a new installment was published, and was really content when I got to know the continuation of their adventure (which the author is a troll for cliffhangers, just like how they do for Attack on Titan Season 2). The Blood of Olympus (BOO) was published during my fourth year, which the moment I read it I had a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow. The ending was extremely shocking, from Leo’s plotted death to his revival (He’s the Percy Jackson’s Jesus), I nearly wanted to punch the author. But then, Rick created many mysteries inside the book itself. For example, Apollo’s punishment, the prophecy Ella recited, Nico and Will’s relationship, and Leo and Calypso’s whereabouts. These unexplained mysteries just made me go ‘What the hell’ at the end of the book. There were conspiracies that Rick would make a new series, with all these hints. Yet I fulfill all my needs through fanfictions, seeing what people predicted the future ‘book’ will happened.

Good news rained down on me in my last year of high school. During his tour for Magnus Chase series in 2015, he announced his new Greek Myth series, Trials of Apollo (TOA). The Hidden Oracle (THO) came out when I was studying my A-Levels, I went to the bookstore on the day when it was published. Since shipping required an amount of time, I was informed that the book will arrived one week later. Eventually, I waited patiently, and finally I received it. The book was still amazing as ever, with a God as the narrator and the main character. The other main character, the daughter of Demeter (which I predicted accurately) who can perform badass sword-fighting at the age of 12, sometime out of the ordinary Demeter child people would imagine.

During my A-Levels period, my taste has turned to Victorian classics. Besides, I have started on anime. Thus, my need for the series had lessen. Even I bought the Dark Prophecy (TDP) months ago, I managed to finish it. However, this does not stop me from loving the author’s style of writing and sense of humor.

(Additional note: I have finished TDP on Percy’s birthday.)

(picture of the troll)

WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT?

After pouring all my love for the chronicles, so what are the series all about? Americanized Greek Mythology in the modern world. These demigods live in training camp named Camp Half-Blood (another word for demigod) during summer or for the entire year so they can prepare themselves for the dangerous outside world full of monsters. Since it has 3 different plots for each series, I need to introduce them in detail separately.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2005-2009)

The gateway to the demigod universe. It started off with the Lightning Thief (TLT), through first-point of view of our beloved hero, Percy Jackson. He discovers himself as the remaining demigod son of Poseidon, the Greek god of sea. Due to a great prophecy predicted one of the Big Three (Zeus, Poseidon and Hades) children will bring to the fall of Olympus, his presence was a threat to the Gods. He was also set to vanquish Kronos, King of Titans who is under the aid of another demigod, Luke Castellan.

The five books of the series described his journey to be a living legend, with an amount of betrayals, deaths of his trusted partners, slight romance and awesome fighting scenes. His humorous jokes and comments presented Rick’s unique style of writing, giving the readers memorable images.

The final book, The Last Olympian (TLOl), is the greatest among them all. brings up another prophecy which is the key to the next installment. No matter how much Luke is a villain, his devastating childhood stories and his anger towards the Greek Gods made the readers understand his resentment and yearning for a familiar love. Besides, it also revealed another prophecy, which is the key to the next series.

Heroes of Olympus (2010-2014)

The sequel of the previous series, narrating seven demigods on a quest to defeat an ancient deity in the ancient grounds of Greece and Rome. They meet challenges from the worst monsters, mortals and deities, sailing to stop the wrath of Gaea, the Earth goddess.  

This series, is my favorite series among the three. It does not focus on a main character, or written in 1st person point of view. Instead, we got a third person omniscient from 9 different people, who are the seven main demigods (with Nico and Reyna in the last book). We do not get our beloved son of Poseidon in the first book, but we were given a new set of characters with different background. We also discover the Roman Version of Camp Half -Blood, Camp Jupiter, a rigid military-like camp full of Roman demigods and their descendants. The series narrated two parallel sides of the Greco-Roman Mythology working together against a common enemy.

Unlike the previous series, this brought up many backstories of characters even more tragic than Percy’s. The narration was still amusing, yet there’s a sense of seriousness inside. There was an obvious character development when the series goes on. For example, Piper McLean, who refuses to recognize herself as the daughter of Aphrodite, later accepts her identity and able to use her own inherited powers. Frank Zhang, an insecure demigod with a bad reputation, turned into a confident Roman praetor.  

The thing I would like to complain about is the final fight scene in BOO. It was a few pages long with Piper, Jason and Leo putting Gaea back to her slumber. It was not as majestic as people expected it would be. It could be as fantastic as TLOl!

Trials of Apollo (2016-?)

The latest sequel for the previous series, which feature the sun god Apollo as a powerless mortal, finding his way to gain back immortality. Rick had converted back to the first-person point of view style, with the sun god as the narrator. His choice of narrator gives us an insight to a deity’s mind and opinions, how he sees the world compared to how mortals, having an ephemeral life, perception on their life. It’s a philosophical matter which discuss about life and death, and living an eternal life.

In THO, readers could see the improvement on Apollo’s personality. From the arrogant and narcissistic god who cannot accept on his ‘ugly’ condition, finally learns how to be humble and trying to see the world as how mortals would. We also witness the psychological abuse of Nero on Meg McCaffery. Letting her believe her abuser is another person from her adoptive father, but what she does not know Nero and the ‘Beast’ are the same person.

The second book, TDP, probably is my least favorite of the series. There was not much Leo-Calypso endearing moments that I expected it should be. The first half of the book narrating Apollo doing various pet tasks, and remembering his ex-lover, Emperor Commodus. However, I am pleased that Rick put a lesbian couple in the story, which I had no idea that even same-sex relationship is prohibited as well for the Huntress of Artemis. There are old friends from the previous books, which I am delighted to see again.

The third book, The Burning Maze (TBM) will be released next year.

Companion books

As much as the companion books are light and consisted with short stories, I explored the little things that were never mentioned in the main series. Besides fillers, there were information on the demigod world, giving readers a clearer sight of the Greek Mythology and Percy’s world.

The Demigod Files (TDF), narrates how Percy assisted Clarisse on her Ares rite of passage; the discover of the bronze dragon (which later Leo named him Festus); and the children of the Big Three Gods finding the newly forged weapon of Hades (Gods do like causing unnecessary trouble and giving quests to their half-blood offspring).

The Demigod Diaries (TDD), explains the adventure of Luke and Thalia in a trapped mansion, finding Annabeth on their way; the task given by Hermes during Percy-Annabeth’s one-month anniversary date; Leo and his friends’ encounter with the drunken followers of Dionysus; and an extra story written by Rick’s son, with impressive writing style for someone diagnosed with dyslexic and ADHD.

Camp Half-Blood confidential (CHBC) is a collaborated guide ‘made’ by the campers, due to the horrible orientation film directed by Apollo. Poor Nico is the only one who suffered from the film and accidentally humiliates himself in public.

Percy Jackson’s guide to Greek Gods and Greek Heroes are separate two books as a guide introducing to Greek Gods and Heroes. People could actually score Greek Mythology with these two non-boring lecture books.  

Rick also made a crossover on Percy and his Egyptian Mythology counterpart, Carter Kane. They work together to defeat Setne, an Egyptian magician who thirst for divine powers. It was like an official crossover fanfiction.

Diverse Demigods with Dazzling Characteristics

I love the characters in the series, they were just full of animation and so on. I’ll state my top 10 favorites and that one character I truly despise.

First come with my favorite characters of the series: 

(art by viria, she makes the old official arts belongs to the pit of Tartarus)

10. Frank Zhang

One of the cinnamon roll of the series, and the tamest among Mars/Ares children. I’m glad that Rick put a Chinese demigod in it. His Chinese name, Fai Zhang, probably based on Zhang Fei from the Romance of Three Kingdom. He is the only demigod who can read and write normally. He has shape-shifting abilities, inherited from his ancestors, is adapted from the Monkey King from Journey to the West. Like the Greek hero Meleager, his life is depended on a wooden stick, showing his pyrophobia.

Frank started off as shy with low self-esteem. He was raised by his military mother and his strict grandmother who told him various tales of their ancestors. His mother died in a war, giving him a start to train himself as a Roman demigod. In the Son of Neptune (SON), we first see him doing tasks that are undesired by the other campers. He is officially welcomed into the centurion of the fifth cohort, after he was claimed as the son of Mars. His first quest to Alaska causes him slowly gathers courage and discovers his family power. The funniest makeover he has was in the House of Hades (HOH), when Triptomelus rewards him with a buffer and taller figure, saying goodbye to his chubby self. Finally, he is upgraded to praetor.

The dynamic between Leo and Frank plays a vital role. Frank, who is initially afraid of Leo because of his fire power while the latter keeps making fun of him. We can see in the Mark of Athena (MOA), his act of jealousy towards Leo due to his similarities with ‘Sammy Valdez’, Hazel’s first love. As the series continues, Leo gives him a fireproof cloth for him to keep the wood, as a baby step for Frank to give him trust.

I heard that he will be in the subsequent book, as the Dark Prophecy stated him as the ‘changeling lord’. I might see him as a mature praetor on duty alongside with Reyna.

9. Hazel Levesque

Another cinnamon roll in the series. Despite being a daughter of Pluto/Hades, she is the less miserable version of Nico. Originally, she is known to have the abilities of controlling metal and valuables. Her magical abilities in controlling the mist is known in HOH, becoming another useful weapon. Like any child of Hades/Pluto children in the series, Hazel was from the pre-20th century. Her mother, Marie was hungry for wealth, causing her daughter having a cursed ability of attracting metals. Despite Hazel resented her greedy mother, she saved her from raising Gaea. Her heroic deed gave her a token to Elysium, yet she gave up her position to refrain her mother suffer from eternal punishment. As the child of death, she wandered around Asphodel for decades. Until her Greek half-brother discovered her and brought her back to life, giving her another chance to live again, in the 21th century.

In SON, it is revealed that Hazel’s half-brother is Nico. Originally, he wanted to bring his biological sister, Bianca back to life, seeing that the Doors of Death was opened. It was hinted Bianca had chosen a new reincarnated life than staying in the Underworld. Eventually, he learnt about Hazel’s presence and decided to take her back instead. Initially, we thought Hazel as a replacement for Bianca, judging Nico as a selfish person. Slowly, he shows brotherly affection for her in HOH by kissing her forehead, something he would not simply do. In BOO, he accepts Hazel’s relationship with Frank and teases them. He even comforts Hazel when she cries for Leo. It’s a coincidence that their mother almost shared the same name.

As she lived in an era where colored-race were low-key discriminated, with her unusual ability, she was a target of bullying. Her only comfort among these mishaps was Sammy Valdez, who sees her as a diamond. As Leo shares the same looks and last name as Sammy, believing as his reincarnation, she has slight romantic fondness for him. Later, they discover Sammy is Leo’s Great Grandfather.  She finally settles down with Frank, treating Leo as her friend.

Her curse, which will be washed away by a descendent of Poseidon/Neptune, which readers are not sure if it is Percy or Frank. Besides, she probably learns some interesting 21th century stuff she had never seen before. Hopefully she does not craze for fidget spinners (those things are just all over the place!).

8. Annabeth Chase

The Brainiac of the group. Our favorite Wise Girl who is Percy’s love interest and strategist. The architect of Olympus. Someone you would choose as your girlfriend. After meeting her, you will change your views on blonde hair people.

No matter how beautiful and smart she is, she has her own fears and flaws. She has Arachnophobia, based on the feud her mother and Arachne had. In MOA, she faces her greatest fear, mother of spiders Arachne. With her clever trick, she easily defeats Arachne, possibly the first Athena demigod to do so. In SOM, she reveals her fatal flaw is hubris, believing her intelligence and power are beyond the Gods.  

She ran away from home at 7, believing that her father and stepmother had disliked her part god status. On her way, she met Luke and Thalia, who presented her one of her signature weapon, the Celestial Bronze dagger. They were like a parental figure to her, and the first demigods she encountered. In the beginning of TLT, Percy figures Annabeth develops a crush on Luke, who turns out to be a backstabbing traitor and a threat to Camp Half-Blood and Olympus. Her feelings towards Luke varies in the PJO series, we see compassion, sympathy, love, respect, hatred, and regrets. In TLOl, she settles with having a sibling love towards Luke, choosing Percy over him.

The Percy-Annabeth relationship is one of my favorite hetero fictional couple. They treat each other as equal, rather than having Annabeth as his personal sidekick. With her, as the intelligent girlfriend; and him, as the brave puppy-dog boyfriend. We surely remember the first thing she tells Percy in TLT is ‘You drool when you sleep’. Even the rivalry between their parents, Annabeth still treats him as a friend, with one or two disagreements. Of course, I shipped them before they are officially together. In the Titan’s Curse (TTC), we get hints on Percy starting to fancy Annabeth, with Aphrodite’s appearance and her teasing. Next, there was the infamous kiss scene in The Battle of Labyrinth (TBOL), confirming the start of Percy’s romance journey, which becomes true in TLOl (that underwater kiss is so romantic!). After dating for months, Percy is swapped place by Hera/Juno, without any previous memories except for Annabeth. In MOA, she gives him a judo-flip (I laughed at that scene for hours) and spend a night with him in the Argo II stables (Frank does not deserve to see this ‘intimate’ moment).

Besides, do you know that she has a Norse Demigod cousin? Check out Rick’s Norse Myth series to find out.

7. Luke Castellan

You would probably ask why I place him as Number 7, for someone like him as a traitor who almost destroy Olympus and the host for Kronos. He is the anti-hero in the first series, but I like the fact that Rick created someone like him.

Luke is not an entirely a bad person. Normally, he can pass as a protective older brother, a swordsman mentor, or that mischievous and charming friend you want to hang out with. His ambitions to destroy Olympus and feeling of resentment the gods, due to the injustice of the Olympians to their demigod offspring, makes him an antagonist in PJO. He is one of the demigods who can see the flaw of the lawful system, the one who questions the authorities.

Luke constantly seeks for familiar love which his parents failed to give him, with him living with an insane mother and an absent godly father. After he ran away, he was paired with Thalia and Annabeth, giving him a new meaning of family. However, Thalia’s death added as a fuel of his bitterness. His became the head of the Hermes Cabin, leading his half-siblings, but his anger had not fully stopped, with Kronos’s constant impure motivation. He also feels compassion towards minor godly children who have no place in Camp Half-Blood, which most of them serves him during the Titan War.

For most horrible deeds he has made in the PJO series, he finally died as a hero, oppressing Kronos who possessed him. Inspired from his wish, Percy refuses his eternal life by demanding fair treatment for every demigod child.

I ship him with Thalia, which they share a few romantic tensions in a short story in TDD. He is the reason why Thalia declined her offer as a hunter in the first place, and also the reason why Thalia settles down as the lieutenant of Artemis in TTC.

6. The Grace siblings (Thalia and Jason Grace)

It’s a tie. Yes. I could not separate them like how Juno/Hera does. The Grace siblings are the improvised version of their father. We see their father as a womanizing, dramatic and disloyal King of Gods. They showed his best qualities, like leadership. The siblings are very loyal to their partners and masters, like Thalia to Luke and Annabeth in the beginning and Artemis in TTC. Jason, a loyal and supportive friend to his Argo mates and his girlfriend (He did admire Reyna before, but thanks to certain goddess).

Thalia Grace is that cool-looking sister in punk. Her name is from Thalia, one of the Muses. The irony is that she has a great fear of heights, but she can control lightning. Like Percy, Thalia was destined to be the child in the prophecy. She fought the monsters sent by Hades to her death, protecting Luke and Annabeth. Then, she is reborn in the Sea of Monsters. Luckily in TTC, she joined the Huntress. She also been through a rough childhood, with taking care of her baby brother and her irresponsible mother, then with the disappearance of Jason. She had to take the role that her parents failed to perform, yet the Gods accused of her existence before Percy showed up. It’s pretty much Zeus/Jupiter’s fault for not stick with the oath. Not once, but twice! Worst of all, he named his son Jason, like the mortal hero, so he can make his wife happy! Best Dad award for him!

Her brother, Jason, with blonde hair and blue eyes, the typical American boy. The ‘perfect’ boy with duties and leadership, he could live a perfect Roman demigod life in Camp Jupiter. Then, Hera/Juno interfere again. From the Lost Hero (TLH) to BOO, we can see a few changes of him. The rule-following golden boy to a slightly laid-back person with nerd glasses. Most fans expected Percy and Jason had a death-match against each other in MOA, with Percy replaces his position as the praetor in SON and Jason, the legendary son of Jupiter. Unexpectedly, they become best buddies on first sight and gang up against Octavian (We also got that one scene with them fighting while being possessed by eidolons). He also has the most passed out scene in MOA (hence the birth of Brick x Jason). His sympathetic character cares for Nico when he is forced spit out his crush on Percy (who does not have a crush on him, I mean, it’s obvious to fall in love with the greatest hero). He does not question or having a prejudice on the boy’s sexuality. At the end of BOO, him and Piper sit on the roof, remembering his ‘dead’ friend Leo.

These polar-opposite blood-siblings are a unique element of the series. I would like to see more of their interactions, or Thalia spilling out more embarrassing stories of Jason.

5. Leonidas ‘Leo’ Valdez

I called him the second Percy Jackson, with that same level of humor and that friendly attitude. He has a pair of magical hands that can create things and repair broken stuff. In TLH, he modified a simple paper into a small flying helicopter. Leo was partly raised by Hera/Juno, who makes him do dangerous tasks in his childhood (This woman is nuts!). When he was eight years old, Gaea made him believe he caused a fire that kills his mother in her workshop, leaving a scar in his heart.

Leo probably knows himself as the third-wheel, constantly the one being left out. There was a period of time he is jealous of Jason’s charisma and excellent leading abilities, while he is a low-profile mechanic, with no one cares about him. Otherwise, he is a good friend to people who are nice to him. In BOO, Nike/Victoria predicts either Frank, Hazel, Percy or Leo will die in the war. Leo, helping the idea of getting the Physician’s Cure while secretly plotting his own death and his chance of survival.

This guy has a tough time catching the girls’ attention, he keeps falling for the wrong person. In the beginning, he has the hots for Khione, the cold snow goddess who side with the Titans. Next, he falls for Jason’s sister Thalia, who tries her best ignoring him. He has a small chemistry with Echo, a camouflaging nymph who is cursed to repeat people’s sentences (I feel hurtful when Echo disappears). Hazel mistakes him as her first crush Sammy, who happens to be his great-grandfather. Finally in HOH, the Titaness Calypso despise his sudden appearance on her island, later they find themselves being attracted to each other. He is also the first hero who can return to Ogygia and claim Calypso as his girlfriend, and the first demigod known dating an ancient being.    

I need more interaction of Percy and Leo, which was rare in HOO. I expected them to be joking buddies, but in MOA Percy yells at Leo for setting New Rome on fire, not a good start for best friends. Leo also dislike Percy for abandoning Calypso behind, which turned out to be a misunderstanding. I finally get a scene of them making Nike and Adidas joke they made in BOO.

By the way, Team Leo for the win.

4. Piper McLean

I do not get why people would dislike someone like her. There are several fans disliking her characteristics, including an ex-classmate of mine. They think her as the most useless and bland character. I love Rick’s arrangement of her characteristics! What is the point of making her the main character if she does not contribute anything? I mean, she singlehandedly defeats Khione and the Boreads in HOH. When Khione degrades her, she confidently argues with her, proving her strengths.

People stereotyped daughter of Aphrodite as living Barbie dolls, who do nothing but looking into their reflections and gossiping. Sometimes, they either pair people up or break others’ hearts. She breaks that idealistic view as a tomboyish girl who cares less of her look or fashion. She is one of the boldest Aphrodite child who fights for people she loves (the other one is Silena). She is very down-to-Earth about her father’s job as a Hollywood actor, until she is cornered by others. She is also the first person who dauntlessly challenges the cabin leader and oppose the Aphrodite’s rite of passage of breaking other’s heart. Piper is not a dumb-beauty, she already has an abundance of knowledge on Greek Myth and Cheeroke legends which play extremely useful information to other.

That ex-classmate told me Piper is possessive towards Jason. For me, it is very normal for her to be possessive to her ‘boyfriend’, or someone whom she loves, as long as it’s not Yuno Gasai level (see Future Diary for references). Besides, Jason is not the only one she cares about. There is Leo, and her father who is captured by the Giants. There are people dislike her because in MOA, she thinks Percy as cute, but average. Everyone has their own opinion, not everyone fancies the greatest hero on Earth. I really adore her and Percy as best friends, rather than her being another Percy’s admirer.

I would say she has the second-best character development. In TLO, she has the image of an insecure girl. Her adventure as a demigod makes her grow, mending her weaknesses. I love her chemistry with Annabeth in BOO, when fear and phobia prevent Annabeth’s logical reasoning from functioning properly, her feelings guide her to overpower them.

3. Reyna Ramiez-Arellano

Most of the major female characters are taken (except Thalia, the huntress and Rachel, the oracle), she’s the only major female demigod character in the series without a romantic partner. She made a minor appearance in the Sea of Monsters (SOM) as Circe’s apprentice, but soon

Her first appearance in SON gives a dignified and mysterious aura, we barely know her last name and such. She is fearless in battle and a wise leader. In fact, the last book reveals her fear towards ghosts, leading to her haunted childhood of physical abuse. She has moved from home to home, and settles as a praetor in New Rome. Her former sin for patricide might lose her power and trust in New Rome, thus she never speaks of it to anyone except for Nico.  

I am really entertained with the fight between Orion and Reyna. Orion, being the male chauvinist, comments the greatness of male dominance. Reyna proves herself that she can perform as well as a man could do, defeats him by herself while avenging the fallen huntresses and Amazon warriors. ‘You will die at the hands of a girl’, that sentence literally gives me the chills.

She has a successful career, blessed by two divine beings, and having an excellent characteristic. One thing that she does not own is romance, just like Aphrodite/Venus tells her that she will never find romance in half-blood. There might be a chance for her having a mortal lover, or catching the eye of an immortal being.

2. Perseus ‘Percy’ Jackson

He is the key character for us to fall in love with the demigod world with Greek Gods and monsters. He was not only charming, but having a great sense of humor. The dark hair and green eyes of his makes him fall into the category of the stereotypical hot-blooded protagonist with a tragic backstory and secret powers, like Eren Jaeger from Attack On Titan, or Hyakuya Yuuichirou from Seraph of the End. The character is based on Rick’s own son, Hayley Riordan, who suffers from ADHD and dyslexic. Rick used to tell him Greek Mythology as his bedtime stories, until the child gave him the inspiration to create his world with Greek Myth as the base.  

In TLT, he is shown as a troublesome child who gets kicked out of school frequently. He has an abusive stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, a nasty gambler. He does not have any friends except for Grover, who has difficulty in walking, and stands up for him. He nearly loses his mother from a Minotaur. His unfortunate past changes when he knows of his identity as a demigod. From SOM to TLO, we can see improvements in his mortal life, such as gaining a new stepfather, Paul Blofis, able to attend high school, and getting loyal friends. In TOA, it is known that he will have a baby sister.  

Besides his heroic acts and his brave deeds that we all know, he is pretty goofy and sarcastic. We all know of his personality through that first-person point of view about his views on others and the description of his adventures. He is moderately smart and observant, but he can be oblivious in simple stuff around him, like his own romantic encounters. He needs years to realize he is in love with Annabeth, which most of the readers get the clue before him. Reyna confesses her feelings to him in SON, which Percy needs minutes to figure it out. In BOO, when Nico opens up to Percy, Annabeth already gets the point right ahead, leaving him still in a daze.

Percy, despite being the best demigod alive, he acts quite modest and selfless. Most Greek Heroes we all know are portrayed as prideful, arrogant, womanizer or ungrateful. Him, as the son of Poseidon who technically saves the world, he never looks down on anyone. He barely sells himself, except when it’s needed, or in a very sarcastic way. He makes friends with everyone, including non-humans. In SOM, he is a little ashamed that his half-brother is a Cyclops, in the end he accepts him as his brother. The most significant moment is in TLOl, when Zeus offers him immortality. He considers at first, but then realizes the price of it, and turning it down. Instead, he asks for minor deities’ equal rights to claim their demigod children, including Hades, who is not welcomed in Olympus. If I were him I would probably do the same thing, except I might face the wrath of the King of Gods.

**Before revealing my top favorite character, here’s some honorable mentions:

Zoe Nightshade, Bianca di Angelo, Will Solace, Charles Beckendorf, Rachel Dare, the Stolls brother, Ethan Nakamura, Grover Underwood, Tyson, Blackjack, Chiron, Silena Beauregard, Gleeson Hedge, Clarisse La Rue, Calypso

Now here comes my favorite character:

1.Nico di Angelo

I am so sorry, I must put him at number 1 because of my personal bias.

This character has the most noticeable character change and development. He is debuted in TTC, which he is portrayed as carefree 10 years old boy who loves Mythomagic and very curious about everything. The death of his sister, his only known blood relative, caused him fall into despair. Soon, he learnt about his parentage, separating himself from the other demigods.

Despite him as the serious, angry son of Hades with depressing background, he gets a few hilarious moments. He is turned into two types of plants; the Spiderman referenced quote ‘With great power…comes great need to take a nap’; his imagination of Percy joking about farturas; and his confession to Percy.

His personality is mostly seen from other demigods’ views. In TTC, Percy sees him as an annoying little brother and full of curiosity of the demigod world. He seems excited with everything he is involved in, and very eager in participation. He also shows concern for his sister Bianca, asking Percy to protect her. His twist of personality comes in when Percy brings the news of Bianca’s accidental death. In BOTL, he becomes the gloomy, antisocial, and angry child who seeks for revenge and performing necromancy. He also crowns himself as the Ghost King, which the name sounds very Chuunibyou-ish (Chuunibyou is a Japanese term for people who acts like a know-it-all adult and look down on real ones, or believe they have special powers unlike others, see the anime Love, Chuunibyou and other Delusions for more info). In TLOl, he tricks Percy into his father’s lair, which makes Percy angry. He is one of the important ally who aids Percy gaining his Styx River immortality and convincing Hades to fight the Titan army.

There are more demigods involved with his description of personality and people’s opinion of him in HOO. Hazel, seeing him as her savior and brother, showing an amount of respect and admiration. Annabeth, doubting him having a crush on her (which he does not), only sees him as a younger brother. Leo is scared of his necromantic skills, trying to avoid him as best as he could. Frank shows respect and fear to his ‘brother-in-law’, but unexpectedly sharing the same interest in Mythomagic. Jason, originally suggests abandoning him to the Titans while proceeding their main task in MOA, receiving many objections from the other crew members. In HOH, Jason has a sense of sympathy to Nico when Cupid forcefully make him spill out his feelings. He approached the younger boy to befriend him. We also have Reyna, who forms a big sister instinct towards him, and also feels his pain.

We get Nico’s own point of view in BOO. We could not help but to sympathize with his old memories and feelings. We can see his unrequited feelings towards Percy, his moments with Bianca, his hatred towards the Hunters, his intense feelings with his father and the most importantly, his concern towards other demigods. He is not entirely a cold-hearted, unemphatic person like others believed him to be. The way he describes Will, it definitely sounds like a typical boy meets boy fanfiction. Using comparison to other demigods like Jason and Octavian, he has a sense of fondness to the child of Apollo. The Percy-Nico-Will mirrors the Luke-Annabeth-Percy relationship. Both Luke and Percy are the heroic figure to Annabeth and Nico, they are years older than them (technically Nico is older), and they the first demigod they encounter. Annabeth had a love-hate relationship with Luke due to his betrayal; while Nico hates him for breaking their promise and admires him at the same time. Annabeth bickers with Percy like how Nico argues with Will, and they are opposite attractions. In the end of the series, Annabeth tells Luke she sees him as a brother and starts to date Percy in PJO; Nico confesses his past crush towards Percy and sets his eyes on Will, which they end up dating.

I am glad that Riordan arranged Will as his boyfriend. There is a slight change of his personality after they are dating. For example, in CHBC, him and Percy team up and tease Annabeth. In THO, he becomes more participating in camp activities, and willing to socialize with other campers. Plus, he gives an excuse for himself to sit with his boyfriend in the Apollo table. Nice job kid! The loophole of two demigods of the opposite sex cannot stay alone in a cabin gives them a nice chance to spend nights in Hades Cabin, doing stuff.  

The character I despised the most, is none than other:

Octavian

He is purely whiny and annoying, like a fly. I knew he was up to no good when I first know this person. I do not care if he is the descendant of my favorite god (Apollo), this puny auger is terrible. In SON, he reminds Percy as Luke Castellan. In BOO, Nico describes him as a watered-down, unhealthy version of Will Solace. Leo also states he has a girly screaming voice. These descriptions give reader an image of an undesired person, also adding humor in the series.

Octavian is extremely xenophobic. He immediately dislikes Percy, insulting him as graecus scum. He does not show any sign of welcoming to the arrival of the representatives of the Greek camp. Ironically, he fears for Nico, who is a powerful Greek demigod. He discriminates Rachel Dare, Apollo’s chosen oracle, believing she is a fraud who practice sorcery.

His sadistic and prideful side is portrayed in many scenes. For example, he rips off stuffed animals as an offering to the gods. He hopes Percy feel the pain of getting his new SPQR tattoo. When he is in charge as Pontifex, he picks people who are brutal like Bryce Lawrence and strong like Mike Kahle. He casually tells people that his family is wealthy in New Rome and he is a descendent of Augustus.  

In the end, his own pride and lust for fame and power blinds him, giving him a death sentence. His death is graphic and funny. He might receive eternal punishment in the Underworld. My favorite scene of him is when Piper, Jason and Percy tells him to shut his mouth in MOA.

(I almost forgot Gabe Ugliano, who happens to be the worst parent and husband in the fictional world. This man is gone for good!)

Groovy Gods of Olympus

The Greek Gods in Percy Jackson’s world rules the world, which all of them have humanistic personalities. Greek Gods mirrors human’s behavior with their vice and virtues, like Hera’s jealousy, Hephaestus’ diligence, Zeus and Aphrodite’s lust, Hestia and Artemis’s chastity, Zeus and Ares’s wrath, Hestia’s kindness and Dionysus’s sloth. They moved their base from empires to empires, until they found their spot in United States, the world’s superpower nation. Olympus is based on the top floor of the Empire state building, while the entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles. These settings probably make us never see those things the same way again. The gods, adapted to the 21st century lifestyle, with their area of power matches the modern professions.  

Rick still sticks to the original description of the gods, with Athena’s greyish eyes of wisdom, Aphrodite’s changing beauty (depends on different people), Ares’ ruthless behavior, Apollo’s flashy and handsome looks and Hephaestus’s unappealing image. Not all the gods are divine as they should look. Dionysus/Mr. D in PJO series acts as a sluggish camp director. He is banished to Camp Half-Blood due to his flirtatious manners on an off-limit nymph. He does not contribute much to the camp, except for having naps or playing poker with Chiron and a few satyrs. Apollo, the prideful and narcissistic sun god, turns into a mortal by his father in TOA series. He has lost his former glory and powers, leaving him a mortal identity and body to live on Earth. Hestia, the former Olympian in the appearance of a young girl, is easily neglected due to her status.

I would admit that Greek Gods does not make excellent parents. Zeus forbids the gods from visiting their mortal children, except in a few occasions (he is also the douche who broke the oath twice and have 2 demigod children, and he passes most of the blame to Poseidon). Hera, expecting an ideal family, abandons her child Hephaestus because of his ugly appearance. In TLOl, Hades openly declares he prefers Bianca over Nico. However, some gods do care of their children. Poseidon in the series acts as a caring father to Percy (we barely see his angry side like in the myth). Hermes, who has multiple jobs, and countless children, he cares deeply for them. He even kisses Luke on the forehead before the Fates carry his body away. In BOO, it is revealed that Hades has a deep affection for his children, which most of them do not have a happy life. The antisocial and awkward god has difficulties in showing fondness, thus he provides his children gifts (Pluto gave Hazel colored pencils on her 13th birthday while Nico gets a French zombie chauffer).

Usually, gods conceive children like normal human beings. In BOTL, children of Athena are born in a unique way. I was curious at Annabeth and the other Athena’s children birth since their mother is a virgin goddess. There was a story in Greek Myth which she and Hephaestus had a child sprang from her handkerchief (of course they do not have any intimacy). It is told that children of Athena are born from the mind and pure love, not through intimate love and pregnancy. In THO, the daughter of Apollo Kayla Knowles has two fathers. I had to stop and reread that part, and it is true. I still do not get how demigod children are born from same-sex parents. Subjugate mothers? Or maybe like Athena children, sprang out from something. (I need to stop thinking about this or else the complexity will burn my brain cells).

Controversies

There’s a few controversies I have heard around.

Similarities of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter

This one was all over the place. People keep comparing Percy Jackson to Harry Potter. Some complaint that Rick copied the characters Rowling owned. These are the examples people brought up.

1.Percy has green eyes and black hair, living with an abusive parent. He does not know of his parentage. Harry, who has green eyes and black hair, living with abusive relatives.

2.Annabeth plays the smart one in the first trio. She is constantly compared to Hermione, the brightest witch in the Wizarding World.

3.Grover is the timid person of the trio, and the first supporter and companion to the main character. Another character in Harry Potter with the similar personality, Ron Weasley.

4.Chiron, the knowledgeable and caring mentor in the series, like Dumbledore in Harry Potter.

5. Luke, blond hair, the anti-hero. Draco, the anti-hero to Harry.

6. The mischievous Stolls brother, who keeps pranking on people. The Weasley twins, pranksters duo of Hogwarts.

7. Camp Half-Blood that is invisible to mortal’s eye, a haven for Greek demigods to learn defensive skills. Hogwarts, unknown to muggles and where young witches and wizards lean magic.

Maybe the author was not stable with the characterization in the first place, he might get references from the series itself. However, Rick has not confirmed that his characters are based on the Harry Potter series. The characterization became better later.

To be frank, I prefer Percy Jackson than Harry Potter. I love the diversity shown in the book, with good humor in it. Otherwise, Harry Potter gets the best language form.

The Percy Jackson movies

Movie adaptations are barely good, this is one of the examples. Even Rick himself acknowledge that the movie is horrible. I watched both movies, the plotline itself is good, but it cannot satisfy us fans.

The producers casted young adult actors for the roles than 12 years old. They could actually make the actors grow up with the movie, just how they did for Harry Potter. I’m alright with the Percy Jackson actor, I have no prejudice over Movie Grover’s race, Luke’s actor is fine (where’s the scar). I just have problems with the casting on female characters. Firstly, Annabeth Chase. In the first movie, she’s a brunette with blue eyes. I legit thought that’s a random daughter of Aphrodite. Where is the blonde hair and blue eyes? It does not mean I dislike the actress herself, it just her signature curly blonde hair with grey eyes are gone! This mistake was soon corrected in the 2nd movie. In the SOM movie, the Clarisse’s actor looked like a Victoria Secret Super Model, rather than the buff, mean-looking leader of the Ares Cabin.

There is a stark difference from the movie settings and the book settings. Instead of having cabins based on their godly parentage, each member has their own cabin. What is this? Luxury camp for the godly children? There is also no rule on camp clothing, where’s the orange camp shirt? The worst of all, why do they have advanced technologies? It is said that technologies attract monsters, which is unusable for demigods.  

All of these flaws made me prefer a sophisticated anime adaptation than a real-life movie or TV-show.

LGBT+ characters

(whoever made this edit deserves a thumbs up)

This is a recent controversy after the publicize of THO. Mostly from parent readers, they complained on the god’s sexuality and Nico and Will dating. I understand that some parents don’t want their children to knowing much about human sexuality at an early age. What makes me feel mad about the people who complained about having same-sex couple or characters in the LGBT+ spectrum does not realize that homosexuality is accepted in the ancient times.  

It is true that Apollo is bisexual, who has countless affairs with women and men. Other gods are not 100% straight, even Zeus fancied Ganymede. (I know, Greek Myth is one hell of a messed-up pit!)

Besides, I have nothing against Nico and Will dating (Solangelo shipper here!). Rick does not use words like ‘gay’, ‘queer’, ‘homosexual’ to identify their sexualities, which he does not want to label them as a specific identity. In Ancient Greco-Roman, same-sex relationship is highly encouraged in the army to strength the bonds between teammates. Also, as someone in the LGBT+ spectrum, I appreciate Rick’s decision to take the risk and promoting diversity. One thing I am mad about him is the vagueness of Nico and Will relationship. There are so many gaps in between BOO and THO which there’s no description on when they started dating, who confessed first and how do they get together! I need to know more about their relationship! I will be glad if there’s a side story of them. Also, Kayla’s mysterious birth from same-sex parents.

I love the fact that Rick does not give a dam (I simply just put a pun here) about the people who complained. He straight on inserted a kick-ass elderly lesbian couple in TDP.

How the series made an impact on me? My hopes on the franchise.

It is one of the reason why I took the path of writing. The story, and the writing-style had inspired me to be a writer myself. Looking at the vivid image of modernized Greek Gods brought some magic into my dull high-school life. I would also like to cosplay those female demigods in the future. As an anime fan, I hope this series can be created into an anime series, just like how they did for the Powerpuff Girls back then. I also hope I can meet more PJO/HOO fans in my country.

 Jenny (14-21 Aug 2017)

Author’s Note: My first essay describing on a fictional work I like. I tried to avoid any grammatical mistakes and add as much vocabulary as I can in it. The one week of writing this essay gives me neck pain (from looking too much on my laptop), and a better insight to the character and the story. I took a hiatus in the PJO/HOO fandom since I started on Hetalia and other anime. The day I decided to write this fic, I realized there are so many details I have forgotten, thus I need to check the Wikia and the books for references. This is a pleasant experience for me to start on writing reviews and simple creative writing. I might write more reviews or analytical essays for other book series and anime.  

[weepingcoffeestudentfromhell]

Boys are falling for me- well more on top of me. . .

CHAPTER NINE:

Boys are falling for me- well more on top of me. . .

Catherine's Pov.

I spent the next few days trying to get the hang of the whole demigod thing.

I liked hanging with the Hermes cabin, especially for the camp activities, and I actually did pretty well in sword fighting (except for when I almost decapitated Percy), and I slowly got the hang of the lava wall, leaving with a few burns of course, and I found out one of my favorite things to do was ride the pegasi from the stables. I got a pretty cool one named Felicity, she had shining black fur and and dark mane, Even though I was having fun and all, I still felt left out because I never got claimed at any of the campfires or during the activities.

Each day more and more campers showed up and all of them got claimed at the fire. Percy and Anna tried to make me feel better about the whole situation every night, but nothing could. And all I could think was, am I not good enough? Am I too embarrassing or weak to claim? If any of these gods were my parents then what's the difference between me and all these other new kids? Do I just not belong here?

These thoughts consumed me all through the night and during activities, enough that I began to lose focus sometimes and I actually almost fell off the lava wall one day, but one of the campers on a pegasi caught me so I got away with just a scratch.

This only worried Anna and Percy more, I could tell by the looks in their eyes, but they never said anything and tried not to bring it up whenever we were together. It's sweet how they're trying to protect my feelings, but this really shouldn't be as big of a deal as I was making it.

So, after my first week there, I decide to let it go. If my parent didn't want me, then they didn't want me, I was use to it already. I found a home, and a family, and Chiron is enough like a dad to all of us, (Mr.D being the annoying uncle who never remembers your name), and I was happy with that.

>>>>>

Having a strange boy fall on me and a clifford sized dog attack me was not how I imagined my day going.

I was just enjoying polishing my sword after a hard workout. I was sitting in the dark shade of a tree next to the strawberry fields, when out of nowhere I heard someone yell-

"Look out!"

Next thing I know I feel weight crash down on my shoulders and I fall onto my side groaning.

I look up to see what the actual hades was on top of me, and saw a short, pale, boy wearing all black, groaning as he laid across my side. He held a dark blade which was stuck in the ground just inches from my stomach and his messy black hair was scattered everywhere.

"What the hades?" I yelled and he looked up with wide eyes as if he just noticed he fell onto someone.

"So-Sorry, sorry!" He shouted and immediately stood up, reaching an awkward hand down to help me up.

I huffed, taking his hand and crossing my arms over my chest once he let go. He coughed awkwardly and looked away, grabbing his sword out of the ground and sheathing it as Anna and Percy ran over.

"What's going on?" Anna said and then her eyes ran over the strange looking boy as he stood there with his gaze hidden. "Oh, Nico what are you doing here? I thought you left for a quest?"

"Nico how are you." Percy's face lit up with a smile and he walked over, giving "Nico" a hug. Said boy blushed and cleared his throat, awkwardly patting Percy's back a few times.

"I did, and now I'm back." He answered once Percy let go and he looked over at me apologetically. "I just got a little confused on my way back and accidentally shadow traveled onto this girl. Sorry again."

I huffed and looked at Anna incredulously who just laughed and rolled her eyes.

Nico looked at me oddly then at Anna who just shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

"She'll forgive you eventually, she's just stubborn." She explained to him and I gave her a look of betrayal. She rolled her eyes then walked over to my side. "Nico this is Catherine bancroft. Catherine this is Nico di Angelo, he's a demigod son of Hades, he lives here, but he only visits once in a while."

I sighed and finally looked Nico straight in the eye, sticking my hand out quickly. He flinched at my quick move and awkwardly took my hand before shaking it slightly and quickly letting go.

"Wait." I cocked an eyebrow and looked over at Anna. "I thought there weren't supposed to be children of the big three, except for Percy."

"That's what everyone says." The small emo boy mumbled and I kept my eyebrow arched as I looked back over to Anna.

"They're not. Nico, Thalia, and I are the only exceptions because our parents broke the oath, but Nico was born before the oath in the 1920's, then he was stuck in a time sucking casino for 90 years until he escaped with his sister. Now he's here and boom, child of the big three."

Percy answers my question and ends the whole thing with a shrug as if that was the most normal thing to say. Which it probably was here.

"Okay." I say like I completely understood that.

I didn't.

"So how long are you staying Nico." Anna asked as an awkward silence began to settle upon us.

"Only until the campfire." Nico huffed and looked back towards the tree in which he fell out of on top of me. "I still have some business to finish in the underworld."

Business in the underworld, okay steering clear of this guy for the rest of my life.

"Aw, that's a shame." Percy walked over and put his arm around Nico's shoulders. "Can you at least stay for the night? Your cabin was just finished and you haven't even slept in it."

"I don't really want to." Nico started, but cut himself off as Percy gave him a pouty lip and the poor small boy blushed, probably because of how awkward this is. I certainly felt like I was going to die from secondhand embarrassment.

"I-I, guess I can st-stay." He mumbled and Percy punched his fist in the air.

Just then the air horn blew fro lunch and {Percy walked over to Anna and grabbed her hands.

"See you guys later." Anna called as she and Percy walked towards the Pavilion.

"Um. . ." Nico mumbled as we were left alone and I coughed.

"Uh, I should probably head down now." I looked anywhere but at him and pointed towards where Anna and Percy walked off. "Don't want to be late or-"

Just as I was about to run off, I head a sudden noise and felt a chill before what felt like a semi slammed into me and I fell onto the ground, something large and black on top of me.

"WOOF"

And that something just barked.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!" I shout, but it sounds muffled under as my face is under a mound of, fur?

"Mrs. O'Leary!?" Nico's shocked and slightly high pitched voice was heard above me and "O'Leary". "Come on girl, get off her!"

Finally I was once again reunited with fresh are. I took a deep breath, happy not to be squashed anymore, but then I felt something large, wet, and scratchy run up along my body.

The O'Leary licked me.

I finally looked up and what I saw kind of terrified me.

Now living there for the past three months, I've gotten used to the unusual popping up in Camp Half-Blood, but the fact that there was a gigantic black dog with beady red eyes was licking me and barking in my face, I felt a little weirded out.

"Is this a hellhound!?!" I yelped as it nudged me and licked up my side again.

"Yes, yes, but she's nice, no biting here, just a lot of licking." Nico rushed out and I looked up at the dog, just as she licked me straight across the face.

"Cute." I chuckled and finally stood myself up, brushing off as much of the dirt and slobber over my body and sighing. "I guess I should go take a shower and change, do you mind taking your dog and telling Chiron I'll be late to lunch."

"Oh I don't really-"

"Thanks." I waved off Nico and walked away quickly, rolling my eyes and sighing. "Never letting that happen again."