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See I'm a sucker for dick adopts Tim.

For the simple fact of I need Titans Tower to happen.

I need this exchange to occur.

Jason: You steal my colors, you steal my dad.

Tim: What the fuck are you talking about Bruce is my grandfather, and Robin belonged to my dad first!

Jason:

God himself:

Every hero in the world:

Jason: When you say Dad who exactly do you mean?

Tim: Nightwing is my Dad!!!!

Jason: I see on a unrelated note I will be moving to another earth

Dick appearing: I see you have chosen death!!!

Jason, who is now regretting every life choice that ended him here. It's one thing to fight the son of Batman. It is another to bitch about the son of Nightwing, wearing a robin costume and trying to kick his ass.

Jason is getting his shit rocked for kicking his nephews ass, and now understands why Bruce cried like a little bitch everytime Dick and Bruce fought.

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More incorrect quotes from my J.J. AU FIGHT ME I LOVE HIM!!!

Context: Joker Junior incident happens, Bruce locks Tim in Arkham for two years, Jason comes back and adopts this sad wet cat clown child, basically... Also, Steph is Spoiler and hates Batman, as she should.

—

Random goon: Is... Is it safe for, uh, him to have a gun..?

Tim, spinning in a swivel chair while holding two guns: Weeeeeee!!!

Jason: Sure. Why?

Goon: . . . No reason.

—

Jason: Why would I work with you?

Bruce: Because this case involves both of us.

Jason: Hmm, I'll need to discuss with my associates.

Bruce: Your wha—

Jason: Spoiler, Little Red, opinions?

Stephanie, on comms: Uh, Tim needs a better code name, and also kick Batman in the dick.

Jason: On it.

Jason, kicking Dick in the shin:

Dick: OW!?

Jason: Now what?

—

Tim: If I'm insane then why can I do this?!

Tim, proceeds to do a flip:

—

Stephanie: Hey, hey, let's both out on Spoiler costumes and see if Jason can tell us apart.

Tim: You have boobs! It'll be obvious!

Stephanie: Bet.

thirty minutes later...

Jason: . . .

Stephanie: C'mon, be so for real.

Tim: I'm actually concerned.

Jason: WELL ONE OF YOU STUFFED A BRA!

Tim: TO EQUAL THE PLAYING FIELDS!

Stephanie: I literally am taller.

Jason: How do I know one of ya ain't wearin' heels!? Y'know what? F#-$ this, I'm callin' Selina...

—

Black Mask: Okay, who are you?

Jason: The Red Hood.

Black Mask: Okay, you're the one I want dead. Good. But who is she?

Stephanie: Batman.

Black Mask: No, you're not.

Stephanie: Am too!

Jason: She basically is.

Black Mask: No—

Stephanie: Sounds sexist. You sexist?

Black Mask: I—

Jason: Ooo, he is! Can't believe this. To her face?

Stephanie: To my face?!

Black Mask: I am gonna shoot you both!

Stephanie: Do it. P#-$#. No balls.

Black Mask: Are you actually antagonizing me right now? I am the Black Mask!

Jason: I'm the Red Hood. Red is cooler.

Black Mask: No, it's not!

Jason: Are you arguing with me about colours? Wow, so childish.

Stephanie: So childish.

Black Mask: . . . Okay, I'm gonna kill you both now.

Dick, knocking him out from behind: That was your guys' idea of a distraction!?

Bruce: That was reckless.

Stephanie: Well you wouldn't let us bring Tim!

Tim, cackling from the shadows: I'm here anyways!

Jason: TIMOTHY, I TOLD YOU TO STAY YOUR A&# HOME!

Tim: I WAS UNDERSTIMULATED! D:<

—

Talia, over the phone: So how is your revenge plans working out for you, Jason?

Jason, looking over at Tim and Stephanie who are painting each other's nails while My Little Pony plays in the background: Uhh...

—

Tim: Can I have coffee?

Jason: . . . Sure.

Tim: Yay!

Tim, takes a sip and promptly starts choking: WHAT IS THAT!?

Jason: Coffee?

Tim: I hate it.

Jason: Thought ya would.

Tim: I'd rather do weed with Crane again than that!

Jason: What?

Tim: What?

—

Bruce, at a gala, staring in horror as Jason and Tim show up in disguise: Dick... Dick!?

Dick: Oh, my gods...

Tim, proceeding to sneak over to Lex Luther and Kon:

Jason: Tim, no.

Tim: >:)

Jason: This is an undercover mission. Stay away from the kryptonian!

Tim: CONNOR! :D

Kon: TIM! :D

Jason, face palming as they begin to greet one another like overactive puppies:

—

Stephanie: Woah, you're gonna teach me to fight in heels!?

Selina: It's a skill all girls should know.

Tim, in the background, trying to balance in heels:

Selina: And Tim.

—

Harvey, in Arkham, gesturing wildly to a traumatized Tim: Why the f#-&$ is a toddler here?!

Ivy: I think it's Joker's.

Crane: Mm, no, Joker looked more German. This kid looks French.

Clayface: Can confirm, there's a difference.

Harvey, gesturing wildly to Tim: HE'S LIKE EIGHT!? HE IS SMALL!? D:

Crane: Batman will pick a fight with anything, damn.

Ivy: All in agreement to rub this in Batman's face anytime we see him?

Everyone: Yup.

Tim, crying on the floor: Batmaaaan...

—

Bernard, on TikTok live: And this is Crime Alley! Notoriously ran by the Red Hood, Spoiler, and Catwoman! Though there's rumors that the escaped inmate known as Joker Juni—

Tim: Hi.

Bernard:

Bernard, brain failing: Hi?

Tim: Whatchu doin'?

Bernard: Uh... I'm... Who are you???

Tim: An escaped inmate from Arkham.

Tim: Wanna see my favorite places? :D

Bernard, playfully: Is it a date?

Tim, taking his free hand: Sure!

Bernard, brain failing:

—

Stephanie: Did he kidnap you?

Bernard: Huh? No! I... Well... No?

Tim: My collection of blondes continues... I wonder if I can convince Kon to dye his hair?

—

Kon: You're really pretty.

Tim, drawing on Kon's face: I know :D

—

Tim, in a sing song voice: Guess who hacked the pentagon!

—

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Dazai, staring at them gobsmacked: "How come they get to find a double suicide partner before I do??"

Sskk becoming co-dependent because they kept dying in front of eachother.

Atsushi: *leaves the room*

Akutagawa: WHERE are you going?

Atsushi: getting more ice for my coffee

Akutagawa: oh...okay

Akutagawa: I won't come back for two days

Atsushi: why? Is something wrong? What---

Akutagawa: I have a mission in Tokyo

Atsushi: okay, should I.... join you?

Akutagawa: why didn't you pick up my call?

Atsushi: Dazai-san stole my phone.... because I use it too much

Akutagawa: who are you talking with too much?

Atsushi:....you, idiot

Atsushi: last night I had a nightmare, I got lost and I couldn't find you

Akutagawa: You won't be lost. I am always behind you.

Akutagawa: take care of yourself and don't... die

Atsushi: If I am dying again, I am taking you with me, asshole

Akutagawa: I'll go. Take me with you

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For the longest time I've pretty much thought that Percy Jackson and Hermes are both my fav characters? like their both tied first place. Can't choose between them.

But then I saw a Percy Jackson anti talk shit so much shit about him... and like. it wasn't even things that Percy did wrong. Part of it was just them going "yeah Percy did all that but I don't don't he deserved a reward. I don't think he's worth anything. I don't think he's smart - he's dumb and all his plans were dumb" and boy. let me tell you. I was M A D.

This is not how I wanted to figure out that I like Percy Jackson more than Hermes. Hermes hate makes me lowkey mad but Percy Jackson hate?

It's an entirely different year (less than a month tho) and I'm still steaming M A D.

Nothing pisses me off more in this fandom than 1. people insulting Percy's intelligence (a kid with two learning disabilities) or 2. not acknowledging how much blood, sweat, tears, insomnia, time, risk etc. Percy has put into his quests and fighting the war. And to have that so casually disregarded? *exhales* yeah as you can tell I'm still fucking pissed.

but anyways, long story short: Percy Jackson is now my undisputed all time fav fictional character :)

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I cannot believe how this hasn't been addressed in the PJO Fandom yet but does no one notice that the books, Rick himself glosses over or downplays the fact that PERCY FUCKING JACKSON GAVE UP IMMORTALITY!!!

And in reason as to why Percy gave up immortality?

The Percabeth stans are only too happy to make "Oh Percy gave up immortality for Annabeth." The hell he did. Have we read the same books? Are you really demeaning the importance of what Percy did. Cause here's what happened, and here's why it's so important:

PERCY GAVE UP IMMORTALITY SO THAT GODS COULD CLAIM DEMIGOD CHILDREN EARLY SO THAT THEY DO NOT REMAIN DEFENSELESS.

Furthermore, he did it so CHILDREN OF MINOR GODS COULD HAVE A PLACE TO BELONG TO, TO HAVE IDENTITY OF THEIR OWN, SO MINOR GODS THEMSELVES CAN BE PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGED.

Similarly, he further added that CHILDREN OF HADES SHOULD NOT BE OSTRACIZED, THEY AS WELL AS HADES DESERVE TO BE WELCOME INTO OLYMPUS AND INTO CAMP , DESERVE PROPER RESPECT.

What ticks me off the most is how such an important sacrifice such an important change is never addressed again to the extent it deserves.

Cause this is not a surface level thing. This is going to change and better the lives of all demigods that come after or even demigods who were wrongly forced to remain in Hermes Cabin. A safe, more respectful, more meaningful environment for all demigods no matter who their godly parent is.

Are you telling that children of minor gods don't literally worship Percy for doing all this? Don't wholly completely feel grateful at least that he voiced out for them over his own difficulties? That he made a safe place for them happen?

Are you telling me that Minor Gods themselves don't feel at least a little grateful and respect Percy who did this of his own volition without having even met many Minor Gods. That he voiced out for their own children when they couldn't?

Are you telling me that Travis and Connor or any other demigods and cabin counselors don't automatically rave on about the greatness of Percy Jackson to any new arrivals in Camp Half-Blood?

Cause we were robbed of this of a proper homage to the sacrifice other demigods, Luke himself and Percy himself made to make it happen.

Piper, Leo , and Jason all seem so ignorant to it. Even newer demigods in Chalice of Gods or other books seem ignorant to this, and that's so against the usual canon representation of Camp Half-Blood as a community.

We should have seen it in Lost Hero, should have seen it in Chalice of Gods, should have seen it acknowledge repeatedly. You know why?

Yes, Percy didn't want immortality, but don't you know that deep down Percy knew exactly what immortality meant? Eternal protection from his father in his realm. No Gods bothering him, no more sacrifices or death quests. Freedom to do what he wants. To be able to spend time with his family as long as he wants without the worry of risking their safety. And he gave it all up

NOT EVEN IMMORTALITY. GODS WOULD HAVE GRANTED ANY WISH. HE COULD HAVE WISHED ANYTHING. FOR HIM TO BE PROTECTED? NO MORE QUESTS? FOR GODS TO LEAVE HIM ALONE? HE GAVE IT ALL UP, ALL OF IT.

Perseus bloody Jackson made happen what no one in the History of Camp Half-Blood has ever done. He managed to make Gods change their ignorant ways. He dismantled a culture of neglect and abuse.

And the fact Rick himself let this happen, let all this gloss over, and the fact that Percabeth stans have the AUDACITY to insinuate that he did for Annabeth and demean Luke's sacrifice, Percy's sacrifice is beyond me.

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I just bought the original boy wonder comic aka Dicks debute and Oh my fucking god i'm cackling

The entire fucking plot is

Dick: "My parents were just murdered but I know whose responsible, Im going to do the good thing and tell the police"!! Batman: "Lets... not do that"? Batman" Im going to hide you in my home for a while" Dick"???" Batman: "Oh dont worry my parents were also murdered, and I want to ERRADICATE the ones responsible" Dick: "Oh in that case count me in"!!!

[TRAINING MONTAGE]

Dick: "What now that i'm trained"? Batman: "Do you have any experience as a... paper boy"? Dick: "Nope! Why"? Batman "I want you to become a gang target." [FIGHTING GANGS EXTORTING MONEY FOR ZUCCO MONTAGE} Zucco + his gang "Lets show Batman whose da boss eh"? Dick with a sling shot: ":DD" Gang member: "Oh-oh shoot"

Batman pulls a man up from certian death: "You wanna confess"? Blade, the goon: "Yes yes please, it was all Zucco" Zucco not about to let that slide,: "Oh you dirty squealer" Zucco throws him off the fucking crane Batman: "ROBIN TAKE THE PICURE"!!! Dick: "I GOT IT :DD"!! Zucco: "THE FUCK"??? Batman: "Haha- with this sent to the govenor, your boss will be the electric chair"!!

Exposition-

Bruce: "So now your parents death is avenged you ready to go back to the circus"?? Dick: "No, Mother and Dad would like if I continued the crime fighting life, and as for me well- I love adventure :DD"

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I just bought the original boy wonder comic aka Dicks debute and Oh my fucking god i'm cackling

The entire fucking plot is

Dick: "My parents were just murdered but I know whose responsible, Im going to do the good thing and tell the police"!! Batman: "Lets... not do that"? Batman" Im going to hide you in my home for a while" Dick"???" Batman: "Oh dont worry my parents were also murdered, and I want to ERRADICATE the ones responsible" Dick: "Oh in that case count me in"!!!

[TRAINING MONTAGE]

Dick: "What now that i'm trained"? Batman: "Do you have any experience as a... paper boy"? Dick: "Nope! Why"? Batman "I want you to become a gang target." [FIGHTING GANGS EXTORTING MONEY FOR ZUCCO MONTAGE} Zucco + his gang "Lets show Batman whose da boss eh"? Dick with a sling shot: ":DD" Gang member: "Oh-oh shoot"

Batman pulls a man up from certian death: "You wanna confess"? Blade, the goon: "Yes yes please, it was all Zucco" Zucco not about to let that slide,: "Oh you dirty squealer" Zucco throws him off the fucking crane Batman: "ROBIN TAKE THE PICURE"!!! Dick: "I GOT IT :DD"!! Zucco: "THE FUCK"??? Batman: "Haha- with this sent to the govenor, your boss will be the electric chair"!!

Exposition-

Bruce: "So now your parents death is avenged you ready to go back to the circus"?? Dick: "No, Mother and Dad would like if I continued the crime fighting life, and as for me well- I love adventure :DD"

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once again thinking about how barbara set up a blind box for stephanie so she could send emails to tim and how these are canonically the things steph sends to tim in public chatrooms

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Just a headcanon!

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It honestly would have been better if Rick kept them platonic. It would have been healthier for the both of them and would have in no way impeded on the genuinely sweet, emotional beats that make people like Percabeth in the first place.

Them not dating doesn't mean that Percy is going to abandon Annabeth the first chance he gets. He cares so, so deeply about her, even before any romantic feelings developed.

They love each other. And despite what Rick seems to think, love doesn't have to be romantic or sibling-coded. They don't have to date to be each other's ride-or-die. They don't have to date to be so close, it verges on codependent.

Percy would have always fallen into Tartarus with Annabeth. Annabeth would have always been possessive over Percy, even if they simply remained friends. Not because of romantic feelings. But because Percy was the only one to ever truly stay.

Besides that, having either of them explore a romantic relationship with someone else either forces Rick to change Annabeth's character where she isn't so possessive/controlling or forces the characters to confront her unhealthy behaviors and attitudes, which would then give both of them room to heal and grow.

Or, better yet, don't give either of them a romantic partner. Because both of them have extreme trauma and forcing either of them into a relationship is probably detrimental to their healing, much less when both of them are hurt. They're trying to support each other but when they have unhealed jagged edges, it cuts into each other and makes them worse off than before.

Why did Staff of Hermes convince me Percabeth is going to break up in the future?

The nail in the coffin for me when I was rereading the series in terms of me foreseeing that Percabeth will not make it as a couple in the future was this short story. The Staff of Hermes. Not the Judo Flip in MOA mind you which is pretty controversial or even the ending for The Bronze Dragon which is rage-inducing when I reflect upon it, but this short story.

It spoke to me how distant Percabeth were with each other and in terms of their rushed dynamic, how they are doomed as a couple.

Percy has never really been fully comfortable around Annabeth. Even their most romantic moments in BOTL for instance are tinged with anticipation for violence.

Like the volcano kiss

and Percy crashing his funeral

And of course, this comes up briefly in Staff of Hermes as well

The moments are presented as sweet, but the very fact that Percy anticipates being punched or slapped by Annabeth is revealing. It proves that the judo flip is in character for Annabeth but in many ways, Annabeth got worse as she got older. Given she actually flips Percy over and kicks his leg when he talking to Jason in MOA.

That's not even delving into Percy's major emotional insecurities when he is in a relationship with Annabeth, and how in MOA, he is constantly scared to open up to her about the future and uses the analogy of a "glass sculpture" to describe how fragile it feels to him to accidentally break it. Or even how it feels more apparent that Annabeth uses knowledge as a weapon of power to make Percy feel stupid in the relationship to feel superior.

That doesn't come across as someone who is eager to share information because they want to out of genuine passion, that's someone who uses it as a means of power and control.

The sad thing is for Annabeth's character, it makes way too much sense. MOA is a revealing glimpse into her personality but there was already hints of it in her interview in the Bronze Dragon. She does seem to like Percy, but any compliment she might have for him is backhanded at best and insulting at worst.

With that, Annabeth comes across as genuinely believing Percy is annoying her deliberately.

It reminded me of a TikTok I saw just recently where a woman was chatting with her husband about seeing Thunderbolts but he shut her down as it being just a movie. When she got upset, he said to her in order to try and ease the situation was "I love when you get excited it's just annoying sometimes." It was gutting to hear not to mention she was visibly upset and she excused her own husband's faults as a part of his healing journey. You can imagine the comment section in that video btw.

It reminded me of another scene, in fact just before the Judo Flip where Annabeth was blaming Percy for "leaving". She thought this.

Excruciating...

Not to gonna lie. That floored me when I reread that scene. I genuinely couldn't believe anyone would even think that about someone they loved. It's a bit like a man saying how much he hates his wife. Conflict does arise in relationships, but this seems like Annabeth is torn between loving and hating Percy and it's not the healthy sort either.

Not to mention she also said this later in the same book.

I know the flip was bad, but this was another layer where it feels like Annabeth genuinely dislikes Percy and oscillates between hate and love for him. Later on she also develops a fear of Percy after Tartarus, which begs the question why they are even together at this point. Annabeth also admitted she hated Percy does fit with her behaviour as she genuinely seems annoyed with Percy in the books but it becomes really questionable as she gets older and even how she acts towards him.

At one point, can we excuse Annabeth actions as a quirk of "trauma" as she is too young to know differently and using that as shield to excuse shitty behaviour as someone who is meant to be a role model.

Riordan doesn't understand the implications that is here. How it's not a healthy dynamic with Percy, who is also an abuse survivor with a fatal flaw of loyalty. His story means a lot to people and to not look into any of his relationships and how that impacted him would be doing that a disservice with the focus that was presented onto it.

Personal loyalty to stick with people no matter how they might treat you, good or bad. It provides a tragic lens onto Percy who might have Gabe as a reference but Gabe's abuse was more direct; he insulted Percy's intelligence with "brain boy", threatened to punch Percy lights out (and probably did that on occasion) and also financially took advantage of him. Annabeth's is a little different. I don't think Annabeth herself is aware of it completely, but it still doesn't erase the emotional belittling and pressure she puts on Percy throughout the series.

It doesn't change the fact that Percy asked her to stop with the nickname in the Bronze Dragon (and probably before as hinted in TTC) refusing to respect that boundary of Percy, who is never really fully at ease around Annabeth and has major emotional insecurities that have emerged so much more poignantly as a result of the relationship.

So why is the Staff of Hermes so special when this is littered throughout their dynamic across the books? Why was this the nail in the coffin for me?

Well, it's rather simple, actually. It's control.

The pair of them are on a date. Percy had clearly arranged matters. The Great Lawn is a lovely place in Central Park and the internary shows Percy took considerable care into the thought process behind it. We know from the first book Percy in not that fussed on olives and he had chocolates and lemondades with them.

Percy is not made of money, we know this firsthand from the first books but even the fact he able to do something like this for date is quite sweet and thoughtful.

Like that is the Great Lawn for reference. Not a bad place for a first date. On a lovely sunny day at that is.

Now it's infered from Frederick's background even before we further learn in Magnus Chase they come from generational wealth in Boston (and Annabeth technically inheriting the Mansion in the end) he is on the richer end. No one can afford housing in San Francisco that easily or be able to work on Sopwith Camels in TTC without a bit of money. That or Annabeth's stepmother is an underrated breadwinner.

Why is this relevant?

It's essentially Annabeth's expectations of what the date is meant to be in her mind versus what Percy could actually do.

Annabeth's character is one of privilege in the books (she is explicitly white coded not only from her appearance, along with her siblings, but also wealth), both from her home life and Camp by Chiron. Chiron informs Annabeth on nearly everything and presumably allowed her to be a Camp Counsellor at a young age. Despite not ready for some of those responsibilities as we see in her introduction, she is very rude to Percy who she should be able to empathise with his situation of losing a loved one (missed chance there to connect them by Rick), acts out against him and is deeply impatient in answering basic questions about Camp, which is her job. This is part of their poorly constructed Meet-Ugly in the books, and by the time Piper arrives, Annabeth is much better at her introductions but it doesn't change the fact that she wasn't fit for the task initially and presumably treated other Campers like that in search of the One. (I doubt she made many friends because of that)

We learn in The Lost Hero, Chiron rarely kept anything from Annabeth (with the exception of the initial theft of the Bolt and the Romans), and from what we see in the series, this is fairly true. Chiron allows her to know about the Great Prophecy from ten, but she also has information about the Labyrinth in BOTL, despite that being a secret. TLO also explores this, and one of the reasons she has the infamous "You're a coward" Percy scene is because Chiron informed her about where Percy was, and crucially neither of them informed Percy of the wartime developments like with Typhon.

I was never fussed on the You're A Coward scene and especially the dissipated resolution in it meant that the tension between the pair was never truly resolved. It never struck me as particularly romantic so to learn that was some people's favourite scene in TLO had me confused because of how frustrating it is. Especially since Percy was asking for confirmation about Rachel's vision and the possible direction. But because it's Rachel, Annabeth refuses to even entertain the possibility, despite the fact SHE said it.

Annabeth has never really liked Rachel but a part of that, I think comes down to mortality itself. Annabeth constantly dismisses Rachel is because she is "just a mortal." But even the way Annabeth talks about mortality is squint-worthy, given that she is meant to be his mortal tie through the Curse of Achilles.

Like the hidden meaning behind these scenes is Rachel and Annabeth are fighting over Percy but honestly, I think that is poorly done given how spiteful it comes across and how Annabeth says mortal like a slur. It's not even the first time we see her dismissive towards mortals either, she doesn't have a high opinion on her stepfamily in the first books and authorities like cops (which honestly fair) but it does spell a different layer to Annabeth's dislike of Rachel is connected with that dislike of mortals.

It's understandable that another reason why Annabeth might act the way she does is linked to her family and also her inherent pride in being a demigod, a divine child of Athena (Athena is the best after all), and a gift onto her father. Either way, it makes her a poor fit as a mortal tie for the Curse of Achilles.

I do think Riordan was using the Curse of Achilles as a crutch to pair Percy and Annabeth together and to rush the romance between them, given that is the primary reason they got together. But it still doesn't change the fact narratively as a mortal tie, Rachel or even Sally would've made more sense.

I don't even ship the pair but throughout TLO Percy and Rachel have a crucial impact on each other and the choices they make. As we see to Percy, Rachel is a reminder that there is something there for him in the mortal world and, you can see Rachel seeing Percy as an escape from her own life, given how she joined him on the Labyrinth quest on the spot. Rachel is present in reminding Percy he is not the Hero of the prophecy and was there when Percy gave the pithos to Hestia. Later on Percy does the same for her when her moment came with the Oracle.

This is the precursor to Percy turning down immortality and Rachel plays a critical component in that, but is ultimately the reminder for Percy of the broader picture, much like Annabeth is when Percy looks back and thinks of Camp and all those who died when he declines immortality. the only time I believe Percy's mortal tie to Annabeth made sense beyond a romantic level.

Percy is clearly more comfortable around Rachel.

And Percy made to feel guilty for his interactions around Rachel throughout TLO and much later with Annabeth, this is revealed she does this deliberately to Percy even after they have gotten together in order to assert control.

So at this point, it goes beyond Annabeth's jealousy and possessiveness and into control. Annabeth is a complicated character, but it still doesn't change how one can read into her actions and that in the text and present for all to see. Back to the Coward scene in TLO.

Annabeth is emotional and she does have decent reasons to be. She is scared for Percy. We see this when Percy reacts to the prophecy.

More than anything Annabeth is projecting her own emotional insecurity onto Percy in this scene. About his oncoming death and also his feelings towards her.

She is annoyed with Percy presumably not confessing to her when she clearly has emotions for him and for him spending time with Rachel instead. But she presents it as Percy being the coward and for running away, scared. Rather than actually confess her feelings herself. It should be Percy to be the one to do so. Percy is clearly not a coward running from his death and even in terms of their "romantic relationship" at this point, apart from a kiss which came out of nowhere there is not really a lot of reasons for them to be together (yet) Percy reads between those lines over why she is really annoyed.

This, among many scenes, continues a tension between Percy and Annabeth which is never truly resolved and its' not helped with Annabeth and Rachel making up off-screen, which doesn't make sense given how Annabeth seemed to have genuine emity towards Rachel's perceived crush on Percy.

This connects with who is well established as Annabeth as a prideful character but as controlling as well. Annabeth's pride possibly can't accept what she deems as a mediocre dinner for their first month anniversary.

It is genuinely gutting to see Percy, who was doing something nice and presumably this IS the special dinner Annabeth was thinking Percy "promised" her and what she expected him to do instead.

I presume this was the dinner Percy had in mind if he did promise, but for Annabeth she wanted something grander and more important; this wasn't it.

Annabeth wanted to pressure Percy despite him doing something nice; she wanted to keep Percy on his toes, as it were. That's not healthy.

Percy gives a lot in this relationship. He feels obligated to and as we see her, Annabeth expects a lot out of this relationship. A month anniversary is materialistic as hell. Annabeth is also not expected to do anything similar. I would understand Percy's anxiety even further if Annabeth had done something similarly nice, but that isn't the case here.

More often than not, Percy is expected to GIVE and Annabeth often TAKES in the relationship.

As someone who works on celebrating special occasions, this feels petty and ridiculous to expect from a partner. But it's also telling how the picnic dinner was not enough for Annabeth as well since Percy did still do something on their anniversary, even if unintentionally on the anniversary itself. It might not ever be enough for something so "simple".

We know from the series a lot of Percabeth moments are focused on grand and impressive feats. They had their first kiss in a volcano. Annabeth is his mortal tie. They both turned down immortality for each other(they hadn't) and they fell through in Tartarus and walked out together. Etc, Etc.

In many ways they have done a lot together, but it doesn't have the emotional weight it deserves. Percy and Annabeth frankly don't have the chemistry or a real emotional connection as people. Part of that, I think, is due to Riordan clearly trying to push them as a couple before them being friends, and Annabeth's character in particular suffered from this. Stranged from the Red String as it were.

This is meant to be a sweet and domestic moment, and it isn't even a bad idea for a date but it isn't enough. Annabeth had widely different expectations, which can also be a microcosm of how they have completely different views for the future and ideas on how that will turn out. Percy didn't believe a month anniversary was really that important or significant and honestly. He's right. It's not. But Annabeth is not satisfied with a mere picnic for a special dinner and talks about it being more like the year anniversary than a single month.

This is arguably one of their better stories together, too where we see good teamwork and some nice moments between them compared to others. One day I will get into the Bronze Dragon. But for me the focus on the dinner overshadows everything and that is a frequent problem with Percabeth, where there are so much negativity in the relationship I feel gobsmacked whenever I'm expected to clap like a seal whenever they do something positive.

It speaks to me how Percabeth don't really have a lot in common apart from being with each other, fighting threats, or just knowing each other for years.

Percy doesn't appear all that interested in architecture, and Annabeth isn't much into sea life or skateboarding. While Percy had few common threads with Rachel in BOTL which he acknowledged, they both have mutual interests in the environment and peace with each other, which we don't really get with Percabeth. Percabeth feels so performative and stale in comparison that I still struggle to even read them as friends, let alone lovers. Particularly as Annabeth doesn't really respect Percy all that much.

Percabeth desperately needed more time to develop, getting together on the same time a lot of their peers died and the pressure from Camp I don't believe helped later down the line.

Like this comes across as sweet and it is, after all, it's them getting together and then getting chucked in the water. It's a great and grand way to get together for the Finale, YAY!!!!. But it has way too many unresolved issues that we only see blossom even further in HOO with how rushed it was. I find it esoteric. The Curse and by extension, Percy's choice to turn down immortality, feeding into it. Grand reasons to get together but fragile on examination as you wonder what really connects them together and I refuse to see them as this cute and perfect couple, which is the gold standard when they are ironically quite basic.

It makes sense why Percy compares their relationship to a "glass sculpture" and how he really doesn't know Annabeth nor does she in return about Percy. A glass sculpture is something that is so fragile and can break with a good push. It is destined to crash and break. In contrast to Annabeth's grand ideas of making something that will last for thousands of years. (Annabeth also has a connection to glass in her architecture, which I will not get into today but trust me it is there and it is haunting me)

Percy has so much love for Annabeth and treats her with utmost respect in his narration, but that is not really shared to the same degree. It feels so jarring reading their perspectives and how idealised Percy pictures Annabeth in his head, like him remembering her in SON, versus how she acts towards him in MOA

Percabeth is built on grand and lofty moments from the first book which is highlighted with the forced one-sided rivalry all the way to the present to justify them being together. Rather than having something more genuine and real connecting them together.

Annabeth's expecting something more from Percy for their month anniversary is, I feel, emblematic of everything I despise about it.

The fact that Annabeth forgot proves it wasn't about the dinner but control. It was making Percy uncomfortable over "forgetting" despite him doing something nice for her anyway, and that was presumably what he originally had planned for her anyway. It was keeping him on his toes. It's small but very present.

The only reason she isn't mad is that she did get the dinner in the end, and presumably Annabeth knew full well Percy "forgot" but she kept pressuring him anyway. But the fact that she tells Percy to start planning for their second month anniversary...

I don't find that sweet, funny or the one bit pleasant. It feels so materialistic and inconsiderate to Percy, who had a lovely date planned for her with some of her favourite treats and foods. And it didn't look like she cared for that one bit.

That more than anything kills me. The lack of appreciation. And that killed any hopes of their relationship going forward for me.

In fact, she urges Percy to do more. Annabeth doesn't say she will try anything special herself for Percy. No, it's on Percy to pick up the bill here. As I said, Percy is the giver, and Annabeth is the taker in this relationship and that fact is constant.

This story made me read the series completely differently and this is more than a dinner. All Percy can think about is "surviving" a month as Annabeth's boyfriend and hopefully her seeing a future with him, which is quite bleak.

More than anything to me, it just feels tragic reading Percy's attempts to do something nice for his girlfriend being brushed off or discarded like this. Annabeth has a commanding personality, and she promised she would never make things easy for Percy. In that she's right.

This story proves to me, Annabeth will never be satisfied with Percy's attempts and Percy will never feel good enough in this relationship to feel content and genuinely happy in a way that doesn't feel like he's forcing himself to be.

But it did open my eyes and made me consider so much more about why Rick might write a certain way, what he might have been considering when writing Percabeth himself and the likely future they will have in a peacetime without the same worries of a war on the horizon. Cause I can't see it work.

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Sealpup brainrot go brrr..

I feel you comrade, I can't stop picturing their wedding. Ody being so happy that he made it home in time to see his son get married and Poseidon's got Percy by the shoulders like "There's still time to back out!"

"The ceremony's in thirty minutes—"

"THAT'S THIRTY MINUTES TO BACK OUT!"

Athena: If anyone has a reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.

Poseidon: *About to raise his hand*

Amphitrite: *Grabs his arm firmly and keeps his hand down*

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I am a multi shipper, but I cannot ship Kinger with anyone else but his wife. That man is so father-coded it'd be way too weird.

Not to mention Pomni. I have no idea what their actual age difference is, but Pomni and Kinger are two steps away from canonically becoming a father-daughter duo.

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heartshackle again

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He was raised by a wolf and defeated a titan with his bare hands. Rick should have let his feral side show more. If people like Annabeth, Percy, or Reyna were the type to threaten to rip out someone's throat with their teeth, then Jason should have been the one to already have his sunk into someone's flesh as he leans his head back and tears.

Probably not a hot take, but Rick should have made Jason just a little more of a freak. Not too over the top, but just enough because we already got:

Percy: Wanted by the FBI no less than 5 times and is described as “fighting like a demon” and still has self esteem issues when it comes to fighting. First magical horse girl

Annabeth: The worst abandonment issues you’ve ever seen to the point where her life goal is to build something that lives forever. Also wanted by the FBI and keeper of the brain cells

Piper: daughter of the most popular movie star and hates it. Former kleptomaniac turned professional gaslighter

Leo: ADHD gremlin who built a ship in 6 months which is based off of a drawing he made when he was a toddler

Hazel: Died in 1930 and doesn’t understand modern technology but swears like a sailor. Second magical horse girl and part time witch

Frank: The only one who isn’t ADHD or dyslexic and wishes he was. The chillest person you’ll ever meet but his dad is also the god of war. Third magical horse girl

And Jason’s just the normal one. He needs to not be normal

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I've been rewatching httyd and like: I know he's your love interest but damn, did you have to show your favoritism that blatantly?

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Write it shitty, write it scared, write it without a clue but don't you be so spineless and have an AI write fanfic for you.