#Rick really flopped with the fatal flaws thing as a whole

[bright-eyes-strawberry-lies]

Do you think that one of the reasons Luke and Thalia were so close on the run was that Thalia seeks out power/control, and Luke was willing to give her almost complete control over him? And a reason for why Thalia had her "I don't recognize you anymore" line aswell as suddenly turning so hostile being that she no longer had that control over Luke's actions?

Yes, I do think part of Luke's appeal for Thalia was that he did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it.

Maybe equally important was that Luke didn't stop Thalia from doing what she wanted. In Demigod Diaries, Thalia makes them follow a goat around for three days before Luke even asks why they're following it. When Thalia wants to go into Hal's house, Luke thinks it's a bad idea but he goes with her.

Luke's devotion to Thalia is such that she almost killed him - like actually, for real, with powers she can't control - and he stayed by her side. He didn't even blame her for it. Luke also took her to May's house when she needed help, a place it's pretty clear that Luke never meant to return to (and according to Hermes isn't welcome at).

Part of it may be her "fatal flaw" or whatever but I think it may be even simpler than that.

Thalia being power hungry for the sake of having power and that being her "fatal flaw" doesn't even really make sense because she really only uses what little power she has to take control of (or to save) her own life.

I hate talking about Beryl because she's so pathetic and a sorry excuse for a human, let alone a parent. But Beryl is a large part of the reason Thalia is how she is. She tried to baby-trap Zeus with Thalia and when that didn't work, she turned to drinking (or drinking more heavily, I guess). But like, she's another mortal parent who didn't want her kids (thinking about Frederick but like at least Beryl knew kids were a possibility the poor man). She didn't want Thalia and she didn't want Jason, they were just the side effects of getting to have Zeus/Jupiter for a moment.

Growing up with an alcoholic mother and an absentee father and a lost/dead infant brother (I dont remember what they did to Jason when they took him away but I seem to recall Thalia was either kept in the dark or lied to about it), Thalia had no control and no one who put her first in her life.

Luke was the first person to put Thalia before themselves.

Also it's pretty explicitly said that Luke is a gift (or a prize or a weapon, whichever you like) to Thalia from Zeus. Zeus led Thalia to Luke using the goat. Zeus led Thalia to her magic shield using the goat. Thalia actually says Zeus led her to Luke specifically.

As for her "this isn't you" line...aside from my opinion that it (Thalia siding with the Olympians at all) was spawned entirely because Chiron brainwashed Thalia...I think if Luke had been there (either because the rebellion never started or because he actually got to put the fleece on her tree himself and was there when she was birthed from the tree) then Thalia would have sang a different tune.

She was asleep and her dog was not there waiting for her when she woke up. That's out of character for Luke and Thalia would probably take it as a sign that he's no longer loyal to her personally (especially after Hal saying that Luke would betray someone and planting that idea in Thalia's head).

Now the puppy daddy got her is a full-grown dog with grownup dog teeth, and everyone is telling her that he's rabid, that he needs to be put down. And Thalia agrees.

[okaybutlikeimagine]

#37 for johnathan

37.   a song you’re ashamed to have in your music library

Hi!!!!!!

Jonathan is my dear and also so!! pretentious!! about!! music!!!!

this is absolutely NO hate to Jonathan, love the boy, I just think it’s fact. Jonathan is pretentious about his music taste. he’s gonna sit there and be like: “yeah, sure Nance, Rick Springfield is cute but you don’t understand. Bowie has a vision.”

and she’s sitting there like: “.....? Uh huh. Alright. Well Jessie’s Girl is on so shh.”

Jonathan rolls his eyes with a smile.

It’s just that... Jonathan really truly thinks he has a better ear for music than everyone else. Love him to death but it’s a bit of a fatal flaw for the boy. he argues w/ Billy quite a bit over music bc Billy also thinks he has a better ear for music than everyone else. They’re just two sweet, pretentious little music snobs! ♥

And Jonathan doesn’t feel like he has a lot to be embarrassed about. The music he likes is good because he only likes good music.

It’s just that...

He also really likes some songs that he... doesn’t really wanna admit to people...

Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran is one of them.

(now don’t get me wrong, I adore this song w/ absolutely all of my heart, but imagine Jonathan listening to this)

bc it’s so pop and the synth and it’s just... not something Jonathan necessarily wants to admit to. Except, it’s a nice song to listen to when he’s alone doing his homework in his room. so he’s doing exactly that, listening to this song and tapping his pencil on his notebook as he reads the chapter he’s meant to be taking notes on when...

“Really, John Boy?”

Jonathan’s blood goes a little cold at the nickname. Only one person calls him that...

He looks up to see Billy’s snarky face.

“Duran Duran?”

Fuck. Billy wasn’t supposed to be here.

Jonathan shoots him a look. “The music is-”

Billy raises an eyebrow.

“Well, his voice is-”

Billy sits in his hip and sighs through his nose. Jonathan’s tired.

“The lyrics are captivating.”

Billy guffaws at that. “Captivating? Are you serious?”

“Shut up, I’m not saying I like the song or anything, I’m just saying-”

“You’re just saying you’re listening to this song because you find the lyrics captivating?”

Billy’s smile looks like he’s about ready to eat Jonathan whole.

“Shut up, Billy.” Jonathan goes to get up and change the song, but Billy doesn’t let him, rather opting to call out to Steve who stops in the doorway behind Billy.

“Hey! I love this song! Duran Duran, right?”

Billy gives Jonathan a look that says Gotcha now. Can’t get out of this.

Bc see, the thing is, Jonathan and Billy both believe that Steve doesn’t have the best taste in music. They tease him about it all the time. The boy thinks Pat Benatar and Eric Carmen are cool. They're always laughing at him about his music choices. and if one of them is arguing about another song being good, then they ask Steve what he thinks of this song, to settle it. If Steve likes it...

“Still like this song?” Billy asks, leaning against the doorframe.

Jonathan grumbles. “Y’know what? Yeah, I do still like this song. I know you like this song too.”

Billy laughs, licking his teeth. “Yeah, but only because it’s about sex. Captivating, right?”

Jonathan rolls his eyes. “Okay Billy, I get it.”

Steve shifts his gaze between Billy and Jonathan.

“Wait a second, I know you guys don’t like my music, but maybe this just means that this song is good! I can like good music too, y’know! I like Queen and Prince and... and!”

Billy laughs, turning to Steve and running his hand along the boy’s collar. “You��re right. C’mon babe, let’s go listen to some more good music in my room.”

Steve smiles and nods, but hangs around Jonathan’s doorway for a second.

“It’s a good song, don’t mind him.”

Jonathan smiles a little, waves to Steve as he leaves the doorway... and then flops on his bed with a loud sigh and a groan when Van Halen starts playing loudly from Billy’s room next door.