whats some ways you like percy being characterised?
like any specific hobbies or interests you feel he should have, how he acts when he’s alone vs when he’s around others, and little quirks or habits he has that he doesn’t even realise are habits
basically, what can someone who’s writing about Percy, do to make him seem more realistic and alive? (i think thats the word)
Well to start, there's actually a lot to go off in canon, if you're paying attention:
Percy is socially awkward around people. He doesn't pick up on social cues (particularly when people don't want to be around him).
He's outgoing. People tend to write him as quiet or shy, but we literally see the opposite of that in the books. He likes attention (which makes sense, given how little he gets at home), and he's constantly talking even when no one is listening.
He's willing to break rules when it suits him. It drives me crazy when people write Percy as obsessed with following every rule, because we know that he broke at least two rules in the books: 1. He made out with his girlfriend in abandoned classrooms, and 2. He betted on a Quidditch game. He's honestly more concerned about not getting caught than actually following the rules.
He is in tune with his emotions. There's literally no proof that he was emotionally constipated - this guy wrote love letters to his girlfriend all summer and kept a picture of her.
He is very private in his personal life (probably in part because of the twins), and it's clear that his behavior (in private and away from prying eyes) with people he's comfortable with (such as Penelope) is different than his behavior in public (i.e. he's more relaxed, is willing to break some rules, doesn't brag as much, etc.)
We know he enjoys watching (and possibly playing) Quidditch, likes to sing (at least in the shower), can't play chess well (so probably doesn't do it very often), likes Divination, and must at least somewhat like to write (since he focuses so much on love letters, reports, etc.). He was interested in Greek Mythology too, because he named his owl 'Hermes.'
We also know he likes animals (at least some of the tamer/gentler ones). He asked for an owl as his gift for becoming a prefect, and it's also telling that Percy was the one who essentially adopted Scabbers & took care of him for 9 years.
Plus, he had his own set of Gobstones, which was known as the "thinking wizard's Quidditch." It wasn't super popular, and most of the older students grew out of it, but it seems like Percy still enjoyed it, since he never handed his set down to a younger sibling.
Now, as for anything else? We can all make any headcanons we want, but here are some of mine:
Due to the fact that he likes Divination, I picture him being interested in astronomy and astrology as well.
Since he likes to sing, it's safe to assume that he likes some type of music, but what type that is could be anything, so it's fun to see what people interpret! I personally like the idea of Percy listening to angsty, emo music (because he's dramatic as hell in the books) but also to love songs (because he's a romantic at heart; see the post above about Divination), as well as classical music (because he finds it soothing and it helps him focus).
I think he loved learning languages/about cultures, and as a result, he also wanted to travel/go on vacations to experience these other places (if he had the money to do so).
I think he's clearly on the spectrum (hence his lack of awareness of social cues). This is why he seems to have no sense of humor (he does have one; it's just different from his siblings). It's also why he comes across as narcissistic because he talks about himself/his interests a lot. It's fairly common for autistic people to do this as their way of trying to relate to/connect with people. It's not actually egocentric (in fact, a lot of people on the spectrum have low self-esteem, which I think Percy does about certain things as well).
To continue that same idea, many people on the spectrum retreat to their own hobbies as a way to relax and calm down, so I think that's why Percy hides away in his room so often in the books. He needs some quiet time alone, and it's likely why he's much calmer/less talkative when he's in a low-stress environment with just 1 or 2 other people that he trusts (like Penelope).
Many autistic people also have a desire to fix things (in the world), which is what we see from Percy every time he talks about changes he'll make in the Ministry of Magic. Last point on this topic, but I think Percy notices that he's different, but he doesn't understand why, which leads to even more overthinking and self-doubt.
As a fun extra, I also headcanon that he likes fashionable clothes. He had to wear hand-me-downs his whole childhood, so when he finally started to make his own money, he bought nicer clothes (such as the fancy new dress robes he wore to the Yule Ball). Plus, you just know he wore suits to work, because he firmly believed that appearances matter & he took the saying to heart that 'you should dress for the job you want; not the job you have.'
There's so much you can do with this character, within canon and in addition to it. Keep in mind though that you can always just make up whatever hobbies or interests you want for him too, because that's the beauty of fanfiction and AUs! 🥰
Thanks for the ask! 😊
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merlin who uses his magic everyday in ways that he doesn’t realize isn’t normal. magic helping him see in the dark so he can find his way in the woods or dark rooms with no problem. connecting with the woods around him so he always knows where he is and whats in the general vicinity which allows him to sense bandits just before they attack. using magic to keep warm in the cold or to cool down in the heat. confident and willing to go toe to toe with anyone bc he knows that regardless of what they throw at him, he could always win bc he could just use magic.
then somehow someway (post magic reveal) a sorcerer takes away merlin’s magic. or well just locks it away ig. but anyways merlin doesn’t have this part of him anymore and is left feeling empty, exposed, and vulnerable. arthur, the knights, and merlin going on a quest for answers to their problem and a way to get merlins magic back. but. but. but merlin is all jumpy and he’s rambling more than ever and is often reaching out to grab onto someone (usually arthur) and everyone’s confused and then they get ambushed and merlin freezes in the middle of the path like a deer. he’s watching everything go down around him with wide eyes until he’s targeted and one of the knights have to rush in to save him. afterward merlin is constantly holding someone and his grip is rather tight. he keeps looking around, his eyes scanning the trees around them over and over. when they try and settle down for the night, merlin wont leave the camp without an escort or two and when they’re trying to go to sleep, merlin is flinching at every noise in the woods around them and ends up shuffling over toward the person closest to him and laying pressed up against them.
arthur opening his mouth to tease and call him a coward when the word registers in his mind and he realizes that that’s what he’s actually seeing, merlin scared and defenseless. he ofc doesn’t realize the true depth of it all, i mean he knows merlin is missing his magic but he doesn't know that magic has always been a part of merlin, it makes him him. he’s had magic since he was born, he’s never known life without it. as he is now, he feels bare and exposed and blind and deaf and terrified. the knights are his defense rn and for the past few years, merlins been their protector so its a complete reversal of everything he’s ever known. he’s scared. arthur bites his tongue and lets merlin hold onto his arm and snuggle up close at night for some form of comfort and security. he doesn’t tease or mock and responds to his ramblings of fear with a level of gentleness the knights weren’t aware he even possessed. merlin slowly relaxing as arthur subtly comforts him without addressing it
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