#I’ll never forgive what she did to Toa

[local-hellhound-steals-spaghetti]

Any time I see someone worshipping Ingrid Visser I remember the time her organisation, under her advice, kept an orca calf on a mattress in a horse trailer overnight because they wanted to “rehabilitate” him/put him in a makeshift sea pen to treat like a pool toy until he died.

I remember when videos showed up of newly named Toa vocalising (usually a sign of stress) and her cooing and making nonsense noises at him. And the comments were like “she’s talking to him!!!”

Ingrid also insisted of making Toa interact with people despite him being a very sick baby orca who was slowly dying.

This was later confirmed by people who were there:

I remember when untrained volunteers were crowding this stressed sick orca calf, bragging about swimming with him and bonding with him and ignoring advice to stop habituating him.

They had young kids in with him that didn’t know better and were told by Ingrid to interact with him like this. They were also laughing about how he “snored.” (Cetaceans don’t snore - anything that sounds like snoring is respiratory distress).

(Funny how waterwork is only okay when they do it with the stressed and dying orca calf but not in SeaWorld.)

The pathetic attempt to rehabilitate this dying calf by treating him like a pet, putting him in a tub of freshwater that quickly became toxic with ammonia. Signing off feeds with belly rubs and formulas changed behind the backs of the actual experts from Wellington Zoo and the experts consulted overseas who actually have successfully rehabbed calves.

How Whale Rescue (Ingrid’s organisation) lied again and again about Toa’s health and chances to be rehabilitated and released. How they misrepresented information about habituation when rehabbing whales and how Ingrid wanted to “train” Toa, despite plans to release him. How they demonised SeaWorld and claimed they weren’t involved despite records showing that SeaWorld and Loro Parque vets had provided their formula recipes and calf rearing protocols.

None of this is true - Ingrid has never rehabilitated any whale from a marine park. All the information she was getting was from DOC and the advisory group team

I could go on but I hit my image limit.

Basically: Ingrid’s “expertise” misled the New Zealand public, bullying out the actual experts so she could play orca trainer with her new pet.

[whiteheartlight]

felt like posting a random snippet of some of my longer writinggggg so here you are

.

He looks like Nikila and that, he thinks, is what he hates about him the most.

It's sort of cruel, really, because people say shit like “if you live long enough you will learn to see the same eyes in different people,” and he supposes he's lived so long now that he has to see this, the worst thing of all – some kind of cosmic replacement for his sister, his heart, his old friend. Because Nikila and Kopaka have the same eyes, somewhere beneath all the frost and anger Kopaka carries around. Kopaka has eyes just like her.

He guesses that's why they fight so much, although he's not really sure. In the moment, he always knows why he's screaming at him or sneering that he doesn't know what he's talking about while Pohatu watches on with an expression torn somewhere between confusion and irritation, and when Kopaka snaps back that he's a reckless fool it just heats up whatever is boiling in Lesovikk's stomach. But right now, just lying in their one beam of starlight, he doesn't know why he exploded on him the last time, or the time before that, or the time before that. They should be allies right now. But fuck, he hates that about him – hates those eyes looking at him.

Hates that he's so beautiful right now, asleep on the other side of the cell, quiet and exhausted, curled against the wall. His great white wings spread out behind him, the feathers torn and burned. Lesovikk gazes at him, mouth taut. She used to sleep like that. Ferocious all day and then cuddled up like a kid who never did anything wrong while she slept. She used to have bad dreams and shift closer to him. Just to him, never their brothers or sisters. Kopaka nightmares too these days. His face contorts with pain for a second, his pale mouth parting, and he calls out, just whispering: “Pohatu. Pohatu?”

Lesovikk sighs, sitting up again. At least Kopaka, when he is awake, has that comfort – the knowledge that he made sure Pohatu went home, even if the two of them ended up stuck here. Honestly, if Lesovikk were alone here, it wouldn't matter much. If Kestora decides to kill him, fine. Sarda and Idris will miss him, but they'll be okay. Kopaka, though – Kopaka has a family. Not to mention that there are so few Ice Toa left.

Kopaka has to go home. Like Pohatu did. Even if it means Lesovikk gets left behind. Too bad Kestora fucked up the transporter about five seconds after Pohatu got through it. He wonders how much that killed the Stone Toa – ending up back home and then turning around with a smile on his face, waiting for his brother and Lesovikk to come after him, but then – well, no one came. Lesovikk hopes he's okay back in the wrecked remnant of their world. He hopes he made it home to his other siblings and that some part of him knows Kopaka is still alive.

“Pohatu,” Kopaka repeats, softer, softer. “Pohatu.”

“Kopaka,” calls Lesovikk. “Wake up, you're just dreaming.”

But he doesn't wake. Too tired from the things Kestora is putting him through. But when she's here, he's just as ferocious as he was the first day they met her. Biting his teeth and snarling at her. Nikila would have done the same thing.

The door to their prison clangs and Lesovikk straightens, narrowing his eyes and smiling at the door. “Speak of Karzahni.”

“Very funny,” answers Kestora. “Give me the angel.”

“He's tired. Leave him alone.”

Kopaka's eyes are sliding open, filled with hatred for her from the moment he's awake. He says nothing and does not move, glaring at her from that curled-up ball of anger. One wing twitches.

“You want me to have you instead?” she asks, stalking forward.

“Sure,” replies Lesovikk, tilting his chin up. “Let's go. I'm not scared of you.”

“Liar,” whispers Kestora, smirking at him. “You Toa all talk so big. So long since I got a live one in here, but you two are just like every other of your kind who came through here. Watch your goddamn mouth, Toa of Wind, or I might decide to do the same thing to you that I did to that fat little Onu-Matoran who was trailing around with you.”

Lesovikk flinches, turning away. He wouldn't mind dying if he were alone, no. But Kopaka's here. And for all that the Ice Toa does, in fact, talk a big game, and for all that they fight, well – Lesovikk can barely survive this place with a companion. He doesn't know what he and Kopaka would do if they lost each other.

“Get up, little reaper,” says Kestora, grabbing Kopaka's arm. Lesovikk sees him clamp down on a groan of pain. His arm is broken from the elbow down and movement can't help. Kestora grabs him by the collar when he won't get on his feet for her and Lesovikk hears him choke.

“Get off him,” says Lesovikk, standing up unsteadily. Oh, his body hurts. He'd kill for something to eat too. Of course, if he had any way to kill Kestora or her little minions, he probably would have done that for nothing at all. Damn the Code.

“What are you going to do?” asks Kestora, dragging Kopaka to his feet. “Huh? With your power all bound up and your body halfway to joining the rest of the corpses tucked away in the closets?”

Lesovikk grips at the collar on his throat, eyes bitter. He had asked her once how she managed to contain his and Kopaka's powers, but all she had done was look him in the eye and said: “You can kill just parts of a person.”

He hates her.

“I think I'll find a way, one of these days,” says Lesovikk, advancing on her. “I think I'll find a way to burn this whole star down.”

Kestora just laughs. Lesovikk jerks forward as she pulls Kopaka out of the cell, but the Ice Toa pins him with a dark look.

“I'll be back soon,” says Kopaka, finally moving with her, following her out of the cage. “Just – don't get hurt worse.”

“You brat,” hisses Lesovikk. “You think it's any easier for me to – to watch?”

Kopaka flips him off, and then he's gone.

“Fucker,” snaps Lesovikk. “Motherfucker. I hate him.”

He hates parts of him, yes, but overall, he thinks what he hates most is that he's starting to love him too.

“Sorry, sister,” he mutters, sinking back down against the wall. “Hope you don't hate me for this. Not being able to save you you would forgive me for, but making eyes at an Ice Toa? Ouch.”

He talks to her sometimes, just when he's up here. He didn't used to. Didn't believe in that sort of thing. But when he asked Kopaka why he has started leaving his Akaku abandoned in the corner of their cell, Kopaka turned away from him and murmured:

“There are so many bodies in the walls.”

So Lesovikk supposes that Nikila is with him in more ways than one now, and he doesn't blame Kopaka for the fact that he won't wear his mask, or for the way that sometimes, in his sleep, he cries out: “No, I don't want to die here. I'm scared to rot away. The air smells like corpses. Pohatu, where are you?”

Their one beam of starlight fades away as the bodies of the sky move the same way they always do, and Lesovikk is left lying in his prison, alone.

[pahrak-the-sinnoh-slizer]

Right of Law, Section XXVI

(The kolhii tournament is about to begin in Civitas Magna, and the arrival of a certain team sparks some controversy.  Meanwhile, in Ga-Koro, Kojol receives a visit from one of the last people she ever expected.)

“After a series of heart-stopping qualifier matches, the 8585th District’s Kofo-Jaga have earned the privilege of representing Civitas Magna in this week’s kolhii tournament!  The dynamic duo of Bour and Keahi won over hearts from all across the city, stunning us all when…”  Tarduk looked up.  “Gaaki? You still there?”

The Ga-Matoran snapped to attention.  “O-Oh, yeah, sounds good!”

Tarduk set down the paper he was reading from and leaned forward.  “C’mon, Gaaki, we’ve got a deadline to meet.”

“Sorry...it’s just hard to focus.”  She glanced over her shoulder.  “I mean, is this really what should be on the front page?  There are much more important things going on.”

“You mean the things we were explicitly told not to write about?”

“Not just those, no.  What about that art that’s been circulating?  We’re allowed to cover that as long as we don’t make it sound like we sympathize.”

“Perditus is already doing an article on that.”

“He is?”

“Yeah.  Page 10.”

Gaaki ran a hand over her mask.  “No one reads to page 10…”

“Exactly.  Haven’t you figured Ahkmou out yet?  He wants to discourage people from buying and selling any suspected Nynrahn art, sure, but he knows that if he puts too much effort into it, people will get curious. A short afterthought of an editorial, though?  A casual dismissal like that will plant the idea to avoid it much more effectively.”

Gaaki’s eyes traced a crack in the ceiling.

“Look...I’m not happy about it, but this is the situation we find ourselves in, Gaaki.”

“So we should just play along?  Ignore our responsibility to inform the people?  Is that right?”

Tarduk sighed.  “...It sure doesn’t feel right.  But what would we accomplish if we made a push right now? We’d disappear, and the Chronicle would carry on as is--the people would be no better off.”

A long silence passed.

“We may be in a position to do some good...but if so, we’re only likely to get one good shot.  Aim carefully, Gaaki.”

The Ga-Matoran veered to one side.  Her attempts at forming a response were abandoned when the door swung open, letting in a frantic-looking De-Matoran wearing a Hau.  He rushed across the room, stopping only when Gaaki rose from her seat to say, “Woah, slow down there!  What’ve you got, Krakua?”

“I was at the wall,” the other Matoran panted, “interviewing teams as they arrived...the Mahri-Nui Hydruka showed up…”

Tarduk leaned back in his chair.  “Oh, that does sound like a scoop.  From what I hear they almost weren’t approved to participate.”

Krakua waved his hands.  “It’s even bigger than that!  Hahli and Dekar are here, as expected, but Dekar’s the substitute!  They’ve got Hewkii on the team now!”

Everyone looked up from their desks.  Gaaki gaped a moment before asking, “From the Atero Scarabax?  That Hewkii?”

“Exactly!  I’ve got to run this interview by the editor right away!”

Krakua took off once again.  Tarduk glanced at Gaaki, who remained perfectly still, eyes practically bulging out of her mask.  Time seemed to freeze in the newsroom as everyone collectively held their breath, until the silence was shattered by footsteps coming through the open door. Gaaki was first to see who it was, and immediately returned to her seat, the shock on her face now mixed with copious dread.

“Slow news day,” Ekimu said, tools jangling in his apron pockets as he strode across the floor.

“I am certain they are merely stunned by your arrival, Lord Ekimu,” Yarion said, the scuffs on their armor still faintly visible despite its recent polish.  “We are all humbled by your presence.”

At the back of the room, another door opened; Krakua quietly slinked out, and behind him stormed Ahkmou.  The Turaga froze mid-step when he noticed the Great Being.

“Ah, Lord Ekimu,” he said, quickly smoothing out his disposition.  “It is an honor to meet you in person at last.”

“Something’s wrong,” Ekimu said.  It was not a question.

“Ah...not to trouble you, my lord, but I did just receive some concerning news. It seems that someone with ties to Xia has arrived as part of the Mahri-Nui kolhii team.  I was just on my way to deal with the issue.”

Ekimu inclined his head.  Turning towards Krakua, he said, “You saw this?”

“Y-Yes, my lord,” Krakua answered.  “Hewkii from the Scarabax--”

“I’ll have him detained at once, Lord Ekimu,” Ahkmou said.  “Please, there’s no need to worry yourself over the matter.”

Ekimu’s head swiveled back to regard Ahkmou.  “I don’t worry.”

“O-Oh, of course.”

“Leave him be.”

Ahkmou raised an eyebrow.  “...Ah...not to question you, but are you sure, my lord?  I have it on good authority that Hewkii assisted in defending the rebel-held Xia against Atero, and we already had some suspicions toward Mahri-Nui.  This is probably a rebel ploy.”

“I don’t care.”  Ekimu walked forward.  “I came to watch a tournament.  Make a mask for the winner.  Cause a stir now, and it may as well be cancelled.  And what’s the worst he can do?  Talk?  Who’s gonna listen when I’m here?”

Ahkmou bowed.  “Excellent point, Lord Ekimu.  Please forgive my rudeness.”

Ekimu passed the Turaga, saying, “Have Vamprah keep an eye on him.  Find out what he knows.  After the tournament, I’ll take him back to the Maze.”

“Of course, my lord.”  Ahkmou nodded to Yarion, who walked back outside.  Running after Ekimu, he said, “Now then, on to other matters!”

They disappeared into Ahkmou’s office.  Tarduk looked again to Gaaki, who was staring hard at the paper in front of her.  Quietly, he repeated, “Aim carefully.”

Gaaki locked eyes with him.  “I will.”

***

Dekar carefully peeked through the blinds.  Nothing stood out as suspicious, but it was hard to pick out faces in the large crowd gathered outside the hotel.

“Please stop checking every few minutes,” Hahli said.  “You’re driving me crazy.”

“Sorry,” he said as he stepped away from the window.  “Just a little on-edge.”

“I understand.  But if someone was coming for us, I’m sure we’d know.”

Hewkii lay on one of the beds, casually tossing a kolhii ball up and down. “Be at ease, friends.  If we’ve made it this far, I doubt we have anything to fear.”

“Is everyone from Atero so laid-back?” Dekar asked, tone flat as the pavement outside.

“Dekar,” Hahli mumbled.

Hewkii sat up.  “Oh...sorry, maybe it looks like I’m not taking this seriously.”

“No, no, we know you are.  But...how are you able to stay so calm?”

“I guess I’m just a little more prepared for being surrounded by enemies. Not that Atero’s forces see that much battle, but I imagine it’s more than Mahri-Nui’s used to.”

Dekar crossed his arms.  “You’d be surprised.  If this is how you approach battle, I’m amazed you’ve survived this long.”

“Hm? You’re a warrior?”

“A hunter, at least.  I also spend a lot of time surrounded by things that want me dead.”

Hewkii hopped to his feet, gently tossing the kolhii ball to Dekar.  “I see!  That must be exciting work!”

Dekar caught the ball in one hand, instantly stopping all its momentum. “It’s necessary work.  I wouldn’t call it ‘exciting’.”

Hewkii frowned.  Turning to Hahli, he said, “So, what is it you do when you’re not playing kolhii?”

“Oh, a little of everything,” Hahli said.  “Errands, deliveries, even hunting with Dekar every now and then.”

“Not really sure what it is you want to do?”

“Well…I’ve always been curious about reporting, but, there isn’t much need for that on an island as small as Mahri-Nui.”

“Is that so?  Need or not, you could always give it a try.”

Dekar shot the ball straight back at Hewkii, the other Toa bouncing it off his chest, rolling it down his arm, and then spinning it atop one finger. Unimpressed, Dekar said, “If you know something isn’t necessary, then doing it anyway is a waste of time.  Time you could spend doing something else.”

Hewkii tilted his head.  “...You have quite the work ethic, Dekar.  I’m a bit jealous!”

“Is playing kolhii ‘necessary’, Dekar?” Hahli asked.  “You need to have fun every once in a while.”

Dekar’s arms crossed once again.  “I need something to occupy myself.  Kolhii at least keeps me in good physical shape.  It’s practical.”

Hahli rolled her eyes.  “Oh, alright.”

Hewkii began juggling the ball with his foot.  “Dekar my friend, I think it would benefit you to relax a bit. ��Once this is over, I’d be happy to lend you a hand.”

“There’s no guarantee any of us will be alive when this is over,” Dekar said. “Have you forgotten?  Did you even understand that risk when you agreed?”

Hewkii balanced the ball on his toe.  “I understand, and I haven’t forgotten.  But what’s the harm in a little optimism?  Plans falling through is better than seeing a day you never planned for, I think.”

“I’ll stay focused on the present.”

Finally, Hewkii set the ball down, resting his foot atop it.  “...You don’t like being a part of this operation, do you Dekar?”

Dekar paused.  “Honestly? I think it’s a bad idea.  If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have agreed to come.”

“It was up to you.  You were given a choice in whether you wanted to come or not.”

“Hm...I guess I should say ‘if it were just about me’.  But it isn’t. Mahri-Nui has allied with Zaekura, so we all have a responsibility to do what we can to make her vision a reality.” His voice dropped a bit.  “It’s a good vision.”  Returning to normal volume, he finished, “I’m prepared to do my part, whether I think it’s the best move or not.”

Hewkii grinned.  “I understand now.  You’re a good Toa, Dekar.”

Dekar grumbled something, going to throw himself onto a bed.  Hahli said, “Well, I like the plan.  Not everyday you get to save the world with kolhii, right?”

Hewkii laughed.

“I’m prepared for whatever might happen.  Hearing about what you saw in Xia made me ready to fight.”

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation.  Hewkii approached, asking, “Who is it?”

“Garan.”

Hewkii’s face lit up.  Opening the door, he said, “Garan!  I’m so glad to--”

He was greeted by a punch directly to the mask.  Stepping inside, Garan asked, “What do you think you’re doing here?”

Dekar and Hahli leapt forward, each grabbing one of Garan’s shoulders.  “We should ask you that,” Dekar said.

“Ow…”  Hewkii rubbed his jaw.  “I see you haven’t gone soft at your new desk job!”

“Why did they let you in?” Garan asked.  “Your treachery isn’t a secret, Hewkii.  It’s only a matter of time until you get shipped straight to the Maze.”

“Well, if this is going to be my last game of kolhii, you’d better make it a good one.”

Garan glared at him in silence for a few seconds.

“Please, Garan--”

“Why?  Why did you have to betray us?”

Hewkii shook his head.  “I didn’t choose to fight against you, Garan.  I chose to fight for the people.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Don’t you know?”

Garan huffed.  He took a step back, shaking himself free of Hewkii’s teammates’ grips.  “The people will only be safe once Zaekura’s defeated. So I’m going make that happen as quickly as possible.”

Hewkii gave a single, slow nod.  “So that’s what you think.”

“What else can I think?  That it’s possible to defy the Great Beings?  That a system that’s controlled this planet for a hundred thousand years can just come toppling down, and that no one will suffer in the process?  You’re all just causing pointless chaos--can’t you see that?!”

He waited a long time for an answer.  Finally, Hewkii said, “I doubt there’s anything I can say that you haven’t already heard, Garan.  Let’s get some rest for tomorrow, alright?  Play well.”

Garan left without another word.

***

Using her powers of Magnetism, Kojol gently raised a new Peace banner, the old, weathered one now in a pile in the corner.  As she set it in place, she heard someone enter the cathedral.  She paid them no mind as she made sure the decoration was aligned properly.

“Kojol.”

She blinked.  Turning, she confirmed what she thought she had heard.  “Hmph...seems there truly is a first time for everything.”

Gorast growled, taking a seat in one of the pews.  “That how you treat your visitors?”

“You’re a special exception.  Isn’t that how you prefer it?”

“Pfeh.  You’re one to talk.”

“Much as I enjoy catching up, Gorast, why don’t you simply tell me why you’re here?”

Gorast eyed the Suva at the center of the room.  “...I don’t really know.  I was just passing by.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”  Kojol continued replacing the banners.

After a very long pause, Gorast said, “I never liked you.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Kojol said, not slowing in her work.

“You always ignored what the Great Beings wanted and did things your own way. I could never understand that.  We exist to serve them.”

“Perhaps.  The way I look at things, I have a more specific role--not that it need clash with the will of the Great Beings.”

“But you’re harboring rebels.  That idiot reporter interviewed Zaekura right here, didn’t he?”

“I am merely carrying out my role as I understand it.  Aren’t you doing the same?”

Gorast dug her claws into the pew in front of her.  “Don’t give me that!  The will of the Great Beings is absolute, not something you can twist however you want!”

Casting a glance over her shoulder, Kojol said, “Such narrow thinking.  Are you wholly dependent on the Great Beings, unable to make any decision for yourself?”

“I don’t need to decide for myself!”  She slowly rose to her feet.  “You may think you know better than the Great Beings, but I’m not that stupid!”

Kojol beat her staff against the floor.  “Calm yourself at once!  This is a place of peace, and I shall see it remains so!”

“Hah!  You really think you could stop me?”

“You may be a peerless warrior, Gorast, but even you could not face down the whole of Ga-Koro single-handedly.”

Gorast clicked her claws together.  “You sound awfully sure of that.”

“Are you prepared to learn why?”

They held each other’s gaze for a minute.  Then, Gorast snarled and turned aside.  “You all sicken me.  I’m the only one who deserves the title of Makuta.”

“You are certainly the only one who views it the way you do.  You’re like a child, proudly ignorant of the outside world, clinging to your parent’s leg so you cannot miss a single of their acts to perfect your mimicry.  At least the child does not know anything else.”

Gorast whirled.  “What did you say?!”

“I’ve no intention to repeat myself.”  Kojol returned to work.  “Will you be staying long?”

“...I need to escort Lord Ekimu back to the Maze in a few days.  Maybe I should just stay here until then.”

“Very well.  I hope you enjoy your stay.”

Gorast paused.  “You’d really let me stay?”

“Of course.  Ga-Koro welcomes all.”

She wished she had an answer, but she couldn’t even process what she was being told.  With a low grumble, Gorast sat back down, angrily watching Kojol work as she waited for some kind of retort to come.  As she waited, many came and went, offering prayers at the Suva or briefly conversing with Kojol about something--they all seemed wary of Gorast, but none were deterred by her presence.  She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about that.  Eventually, she got up and left the cathedral; she was only just down its steps when she bumped into a Guurahk wearing a beret.

“Oh...Makuta Gorast,” he said.  “W-What a surprise…”

Gorast sneered.  “It talks...one of Bitil’s, I take it?”

“Ah...yes.  My name is Ulwin.”

“I don’t care.”

Ulwin nodded and turned to leave.

“...Wait.”

Ulwin stopped, half-turning to face her.  “Yes?”

“Is Bitil here?”

“No, he isn’t.”

“...And you’re willing to tell me that?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Gorast clenched her fists.  “One of your enemies is right here.  Doesn’t that worry you?”

Ulwin glanced up the steps for a second.  “...It does, yes.  But I know that I’m safe here.”

Some unfamiliar emotion pulled at Gorast.  Ignoring it, she said, “You really think Kojol cares enough to protect you? Bitil’s the only one who can stand you mutant slugs.  I’m surprised you’d go anywhere without him.”

Ulwin’s eyes narrowed slightly.  “I admit...it has been difficult.  And we knew it would be--that’s certainly part of why we were always so reluctant to leave father’s side.  But, slowly, people are coming to understand us, to accept us.  Makuta Kojol has welcomed us just as she would any other, and I have complete faith that she would protect us as any other.  We’ve come to realize we don’t have to be dependent on father forever.”

For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, Gorast felt a sickly flame rising within her.

“I quite look forward to venturing to other cities, getting to know more people. I look forward to the safer world Zaekura is fighting for.”

“Zaekura,” Gorast spat.  “She won’t win.”

Ulwin shrugged.  “I suppose we shall see.  Good day, Makuta.”

He made his way into the cathedral, leaving Gorast to stew.  Just as she was about to take her anger out on whatever was within reach, Kojol emerged, eyes immediately locking onto her.  Gorast hesitated.  And that made her disgusted in herself.

No...I won’t be swayed, she thought, turning and walking off.  I’m only holding back because the Great Beings told me too.

Her thoughts shifted to Ulwin.

Stupid slug.  Rahkshi aren’t meant to talk back. Everyone...just keeps stepping out of line.

The crowds parted as Gorast made her way down the street, not a single soul eager for the misfortune of getting in her way.  She barely noticed.

But I won’t.  I’ll stay loyal, even if I am the only real Makuta left.  Questions and doubts are for the weak.  I won’t give into that weakness.

[asl-scarlet-sorceress]

For the percy jackson qs All of them bc I'm a slut for u answering questions about the shit u love :3c

Aaaaaah thank you bae!!! This is super long tho because, you know me, I can talk A LOT about this universe. And also, if you have more questions, please ask me so that I can continue to gush about my favourite series in the entire world OTL 

1.How old were you when you read the Percy Jackson books?

I was 11 when I first started reading them 😂 I was a tiny bby

2.What year did you read them in?

Does this mean academic year or actual year? Because I read them in year 7 (6th Grade) so that would have been in somewhere around 2010 I think???

3. What caused you to read them?

My older brother had read them and recommended The Lightning Thief to me and a selection of books were being given out at my school for free to encourage kids to read and The Lightning Thief happened to be one of them. And the rest is history 😂

4.Which of the series have you read in the PJO universe?

All of them~ I have read every book in the PJO, HoO, KC, and MCGA series and I’ve just preordered The Dark Prophecy at my local book store so I can keep up to date with ToA. I’ve also read all the side books like Demigod Diaries and Demigods and Magicians, and the two books of Professor Percy and they’re all aligned in chronological order on my book shelve because I’m a fucking nerd OTL

5. What is your favorite series in the PJO universe?

Oh god help me. I don’t know??? I love them all for different reasons??? I find myself ranting most to other people about HoO but the Magnus Chase series is probably my favourite because not only is it a wonderful story but The Hammer of Thor was the first time I had ever read about a genderfluid character and the way Alex was portrayed was just so wonderful to me that I will reread that book over and over again, specifically on his pages because it’s kinda like seeing a little bit of myself in my favourite world. It heightens my sense of escapism and belonging there that’s for sure XD

6.Who is your favorite character?

From the PJO series- Thalia GraceFrom the HoO series- Nico Di Angelo/ Leo Valdez/ Reyna (DO NOT MAKE ME PICK!)From the ToA series- Will SolaceFrom the KC- either Sadie Kane (because I’m always here for another Ribena enthusiast) or AnubisFrom the MCGA series- ALEX FIERRO RULER OF MY LIFE!!!

7.Who is your least favorite character?

Overall?? Either Zeus (because he was the world’s first fuckboi) or Bianca Di Angelo. As an older sibling, I could never imagine leaving my younger sibling all alone just because I wanted a bit more freedom in my life. It’s incredibly selfish and I just can’t ever forgive her for it. She may have been a hero and an interesting character and I was really torn up when she died but I will never forgive her for the way she treated her younger brother.

8.What are your headcanons?

THERE ARE TOO MANY TO LIST!!! But one of my main headcanons that I will list here (I’ll message you others if you ever read the whole universe) is that Nico and Anubis know each other and get along. Now this started because they’re described as looking very similar to each other (black, shaggy hair, dark brown eyes, pale af with a similar fashion sense of just black on black) and it kind of snowballed once I read Son Of Neptune. Because to me, it would make so much sense for Nico to know about other pantheons long before the other demigods. Why? Because Death is universal across mythology. And Nico, as the son of Hades, needs to know about his death rituals which- I think- would lead him to researching the other pantheons and learning that immortality really is forever. But yeah, i just love the idea of Nico and Anubis being friends and looking out for one another because they both understand the stigma around death but they’re both actually kind of dorky the minute they stop being angry??? But yeah, there’s just one of my headcanons and look how long that took to summarise OtL

9.Do you read fanfic for these books?

Yesssssssss all day every day!!

10.Do you write it?

I try to OTL it’s just, with characters i love and adore so much I’m so scared of doing them a disservice??? If that makes sense? I’ve got a thousand scenarios in my head but when I try to write I end up starting at a blank screen for 30 minutes before going back and rereading the books again XD

11.What’s your favorite scene?

From PJO- When Percy offers Pandora’s Pithos to Hestia as an offering. It’s just such an important act at the time and I just love it so much!!!!From HoO- uuuurgh it’s a tie up between Jason comforting Nico after Croatia and then the ending with the two camps and Reyna being a badass. From ToA- I know this isn’t really a scene but when Apollo makes the remarked about Achilles, Briseis and Patroclus because Iliad jokes~~ 😂 but other than that, probably when Apollo starts to realise how shit a parent he actually is and feeling kinda guilty about it. I just love seeing him evolve as a person rather than stay the same immortal fuckboi forever. From KC- THE FUCKING CAN OPENER!!! I laughed for about an hour when I first read the bit when Carter finds out about Horus possessing him. I actually couldn’t read past that bit without laughing over and over again 😂 From MCGA- When Alex was lying down on the Bifrost. I always imagine it as a very beautiful scene because he’s got this rainbow light all around him but it also makes me feel sad for some reason I’ve yet to pin down. But yeah, Alex being pretty and melancholy surrounded by rainbow light~ From Demigods and Magicians- probably when Setne gets sucked into the snow globe. That was a good day reading that.

12.Most memorable quote?

‘With great power comes great need to take a nap’

13.Favourite romantic relationship?

I have a few! Solangelo is my favourite altogether tho because I love the contrast between the two (I’m a sucker for the night/day/death/life symbolism in a relationship) but I also love Percabeth, Jiper, Sam/Amir, Fierrochase, Sadie/Anubis/Walt (what is that relationship called??? I can’t remember OtL)

14.Favourite platonic relationship ?

Annabeth and Piper, Percy and Jason, Annabeth and Sadie, Piper and Hazel, Grover and Percy

15.Favourite familial relationship?

NICO AND HAZEL, NICO AND REYNA, NICO AND HADES, NICO AND JASON, (basically anyone who treats Nico like family and cares about him tbh) Percy and Sally, Thalia and Jason, Piper and Leo, Sadie and Carter, Sam and Magnus, Magnus and Annabeth (the little we’ve been given anyway), Sam and Alex, Apollo and his kids??? Like the way he’s actually starting to genuinely care and he feels mildly guilty at how much they’re supporting and caring about him when he’s done none of that for them???

16.What are your notps?

Reyna and Nico. Can’t stand that ship. Also Octavian and Rachel. Or anyone with Rachel really. Same with Percy and Artemis??? Like, no???? Artemis is a maiden for eternity, she has no interest in men whatsoever??? And Rachel is the oracle of Delphi so she’s sworn to not be with people for as long as she is the oracle??? I just don’t get it.

16.What house do you think Percy is in?

See this is really hard! Percy is certainly brace and noble enough to be in Gryffindor but he is fatally loyal to the people he loves and he works incredibly hard which are more Hufflepuff traits! But at the same time he can be cunning and tricky when he’s in a fight. But he’s not really ambitious enough to be a Slytherin and, while intelligent, he won’t follow up on an idea just because of the allure of knowledge so he’s not really a Ravenclaw…urgh I want to put him in Hufflepuff but idk. Either Hufflepuff or Gryffindor.

17.What house do you think Annabeth is in?

Either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Like she will battle past her ADHD and dyslexia for the pursuit of knowledge and to better specialise herself in the areas she wants to but at the same time she walked into her worst nightmares, then fell into Tartarus, got out of Tartarus, then went to war all within the span of a month and a half. That takes Gryffindor courage right there. So yeah, either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

18.Thoughts on Luke?

I always feel really bad for Luke. Because he’s so relatable. It’s easy to see how he made the choices he did because he honestly thought that the Titans could be better because the gods mistreatment was all he had ever known. And it hurts what happened to him because he is the classic tragic hero; he made the wrong choices and the minute he realises what a mess he’s made of things, it’s already too late to stop anything. But he was able to do the right thing in the end and I just get really emotional whenever I think of that scene. It hurts too much 😭

19.What race do you think Percy is?

I don’t really know. I mean, we know he’s got a lot of his appearance from Poseidon so that means he should look very Grecian/Mediterranean, maybe he even has a sort of olive skin tone??? Idk. I guess whenever I think of Percy I just think of the kids I used to see on skateboards down at the local park. But yeah, probably Grecian if I had to pick.

20.What do you think of Frank and Hazel’s relationship?

I think it’s really cute. I like how it’s so fresh??? Because with Percabeth that relationship grew out of friendship over five books and Jiper has a natural flow to it with all the fragility and insecurity of a new relationship so it still works. But Hazel and Frank knew each other for such a short period of time before they started crushing on each other and I think it’s sweet to see kind of the love and first sight thing but warped slightly due to the complications that come with their lives. It’s interesting to see them struggle through all the confusion of a brand new relationship but still trying to keep themselves together. It’s nice to see that kind of love rather than the comfortable love of Percabeth or the steady love of Jiper. 21.What do you think of Calypso and Leo’s relationship?

I love it!!! At first I was skeptical but their banter and denial was really funny and the way Leo was determined to make it back to her. I had always wanted someone to treat Calypso right and I’m glad that Leo has someone now who will see underneath all the humour as well as appreciating him for himself :)

22.Do you follow Rick on any social media platforms?

Yes! I follow him on Twitter and on Tumblr~

23.What did you think of the movie?

I liked the visual effects but that was about it. And even then it was like, nice snakes, now where’s the plot??? I really did not like those movies. They need to be buried with the Avatar movie that never existed in my opinion.

24. What are your thoughts on the upcoming musical?

I’m really looking forward to it! I think they cast a really good Percy and I really like what I’m hearing so far. I love musicals and I understand there’s a bigger limit on what you can do on a stage compared to a film so I’m more lenient towards differences between the stage and the book.

25.Do you own any of the books and if so, which ones?

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH…..I have doubles of all of them OTL but there’s a reason for that!! One copy for myself so that I can always read them and then I lend out the second copies to my friends who are curious about this world that I won’t ever shut up about.

26.Which character are you most like, personality wise?

Idk really. Maybe Will??? Because I’m kinda easy going and I try to help out other people but if you piss me off you will know about it??? And it always takes people by surprise if they don’t know me very well at how angry I can be??? But yeah, maybe Will.

27.Which character do you look the most like?

If any of the characters have rainbow hair, I have not been informed of this! Nah but I don’t know. Without my coloured hair I just kinda look like a ghost with brown hair and colour changing eyes OTL Maybe Sadie because I used to be blonde but I dyed my hair so many times it turned brown and she streaks her hair a lot so yeah, Sadie Kane :)

27.If you could cosplay as any character, who would it be?

Okay I have cosplayer Nico before but I’m going to be cosplaying Alex at the next con I’m going to (unfortunately without her heterochromia because I’m allergic to contact lenses OtL)

28.What’s your favorite cover from the series?

Is it bad to say Blood of Olympus because Leo’s got a chainsaw in it? XD but yeah, actually Hammer of Thor because the Wolf mask on that cover with the eerie green glow across it is really cool!!

29.What are some books you would recommend to another fan?

Assuming these are books related to the PJO universe then The Demigod and Magicians crossover collection are definitely worth the read (assuming you’ve read both HoO and KC) and the Magnus Chase series because they are definitely worth branching away from the Greek and Roman gods.

If that means other series in general then His Dark Materials for definite and probably the Iliad.

30.Do you have any merchandise related to the series?

I do! I have a tshirt with Percy’s quote about procrastination on it (deadlines don’t seem real to me until I’m staring one in the face), and I have a matching charm bracelet, hair bow, earrings and necklace set with pendants that all say Camp Half-Blood on them

31.Any fan casts?

Not really. As long as they look the age of the characters *glares at the film* and they have the majority of the same features *again glares at the films* then I don’t really mind too much.

32.What did you think of the ending of Heroes of Olympus, if you read it?

I personally loved it. I agree it did feel a tiny bit anticlimactic over in Greece what with the gods kicking butt for the first time in the entire series but what happened between the camps and Gaia’s forces there was really cool. And the reconciliation of the camps afterwards and how everyone was getting along was really nice. And of course, the fact that Calypso was finally freed was a big A+ in my book.

33.Would you want to be connected to the Greek, Egyptian, Roman, or Norse Gods?

I think, as far as connected in the PJO universe way goes, I’d want to be a Magician for the House of Life. Because at least then I get a choice in whether or not I want a god in my life. If you’re a Demigod you get no choice whatsoever. If you’re just a magician then other than fighting in the apocalypse, you have a choice on what you want to do with your life (plus magicians can use electronics without calling down monsters on their heads)

34.What character from the universe do you think you would be best friends with?

Idk. It’s a tie up between Sadie, Leo and Magnus because they all have a sarcastic wit which I find hilarious but they all have differences that make me want to befriend them. Like with Sadie I could hang out with her any time of the week, and she has a really gives-no-shit attitude that I love (because I give too many shits about things) but at the same time she really cares a lot about her family and her friends which is important to me. Leo is hilarious in general but at the same time really insecure about stuff and I love helping people out and learning from them so I’d probably latch on to Leo and not stop bothering him about machines because all of it is really interesting. And then Magnus is a sarcastic little nerd who tries to be tough but is actually a sunflower and yeah, I have a lot of friends like that 😘😘😘

35.What’s the saddest scene from all the books?

Bob asking whether Percy would say hello to the stars and sun for him. That kills me every time to even think about. Fuck, now I’m crying 😭

36.What scene makes you the happiest?

Any scene of platonic friendship and love is guaranteed to make me happy. But most of all, when Hades told Nico he wanted him to be happy. That just killed me inside because it’s such a difference from the Last Olympian and Nico deserves happiness after all the shit he’s been through.

Thanks bae~