#i love all the grovers not mad about grover being a man/boy of color i think that's great

[demigodsanswer]

I'm sure it's been said before in more articulate ways, but it does always strike me as hugely telling when people bitch and complain about the casting of Ms. Leah Jeffries as Annabeth, but not about any casting of Grover. Movie, musical, and TV show, a canonically white character has been cast as a character of color and no one bats a fucking eye. But the moment the smart girl who our pov main character loves, values, and thinks is beautiful is a Black girl, then it's an issue. When the only main trio character who is literally not human is cast as a person of color, then it's fine. But the moment it's Annabeth? Well then being blonde is actually a marginalized identity, and you all need to act like you have degrees in Representation.

[ashis2gay4u]

A Different Kind of Magic For My Poor Heart

Prompt: Write about how magic is the norm. Some excel at it, some are only okay, and others are against it completely, despite being able to use it. Your main character is the latter.

A/N: I used SAGA instead of LGBTQ+ due to the fact that I once saw a post referring to how it should be the official name instead of LGBTQ+ due to the fact that it's all inclusive, and I personally loved the idea.

Nico di Angelo glared at his reflection, staring himself down. He noticed how his black eyes flitted across the mirror, taking in every little imperfection of his face.

He noticed the bags under his eyes, his extremely pale skin with majorly contrasting freckles, the way his chapped lips looked too feminine for his liking, how his eyes were such a dark brown they were almost black, and not to mention all the scars lining his bare chest and shoulders, the long-lasting bruise around his neck like a choker he can never seem to get rid of or cover up.

A hard knock at his door had him spinning around, quickly putting on his black Punisher t-shirt, pulling his black Joker themed beanie tighter over his long black hair before grabbing and  adjusting his leather jacket.

He opened the door, gripping the strap of his Three Days Grace satchel tightly in one hand as he beamed at his crush, Percy Jackson.

"Hey, dude! You ready for our magical adventure?" Percy asked, his sea green eyes brimming with excitement.

Nico inwardly cringed at the word "magical". He hated magic, especially his own. He felt uncomfortable whenever his friends used their powers, even when Percy did.

Magic was a common thing in this world, but at the time and age he came from, it was looked down upon to use it in public. He still wasn't used to this time and age, his mind was still stuck in that time when magic users, people of color, and people of the SAGA community were all shunned and abused and used.

Nico nodded, exiting his cabin into the cold fall air, pulling his fingerless gloves tighter, hoping to cover more of his slightly exposed wrists.

Camp Half-Blood was a summer and year round camp for "disturbed" children and teenagers, according to the flyers and advertisements. In reality, it was a camp built to help young children and teens learn to better control their powers.

When he was ten, Percy and his best friend Annabeth had found him and his older sister Bianca and brought them here. Bianca instantly jumped on the train, and ended up abandoning him to join an all girls camp. He hated her for it for a while, but then he learned to accept it all.

Except for the fact that he was forced to use his magic everyday in order to keep himself from becoming homeless. That was the only downside.

He shuddered when he remembered how hard it was to survive without using his magic when he had ran away from camp.

He followed Percy to the borders of camp, where Argus, a mute man who has the magical ability to see everything around him, was waiting for them by the camp van.

He nodded at them, and Percy nodded back. Nico felt like a hundred eyes were staring down at him in disapproval, and due to Argus' nickname being the "Hundred Eyed Man" among campers, he wouldn't be surprised if it was the man himself.

He climbed into the back of the van next to Percy, only to have a pair of thin yet strong arms wrap around his neck.

"BABY BAT WINGS!" an excited voice shouted in his ear.

Nico rolled his eyes, "Shut it, Repair Boy," he said, turning to glare at one of his best friends, Leo Valdez.

He noticed that the others were already there, and Nico glared at Jason Grace, who was wiggling his eyebrows at him.

"Awee, but Neeeeeekssss~!" Leo whined, earning a light slap from Jason's girlfriend, Piper McLean.

"Leo, leave the poor boy alone. Look at him, he has depression!"

Okay, low-blow, McLean.

He groaned and sunk further into his seat, clutching his satchel to his chest.

Finally, the door to the front opened, and in a second, one Annabeth Chase became visible.

Nico hated her power most of all. Invisibility, one of the most hated magical abilities from his time period. It was most common among thieves and murderers back then. Worst part is, it's all of both Athena cabin and Hermes cabin that have the ability, and they're both filled with people most likely capable of committing these crimes.

He doesn't like Jason's or Piper's either. He doesn't mind Leo's and Percy's. It still bothers him, but as he knew Leo before camp- he met him when they had both ran away from their respective homes at the same time-, and he has a crush on Percy, it doesn't bother him as much.

But Annabeth... He didn't like her much. She was always nice to him, but he could tell she liked Percy too, and he disliked her for it, because although Percy may be bi, he tended to lean more towards girls than guys.

Not to mention, he knew she could murder him in seconds if she wanted to, so there was also that.

Nico huffed as Annabeth signed to Argus effortlessly, and he responded just as easily.

Miss Perfect, Percy's little Wise Girl.

He put his bag down at his feet and managed to pull his knees up to his chest, earning a strange look from Percy.

He smiled at him, a small smile, but a smile nonetheless, and Percy smiled back so warmly and brightly Nico swore he was from the Apollo cabin, with magical abilities as bright and pure yet dangerous as the sun.

Nico flinched and blushed a deep red when Percy swung his arm over his shoulders. Whether the older boy noticed or not, he didn't say. Nico had to fight the urge to snuggle up against him.

Lo and behold, he didn't have to hold back for long, because Leo- who knew about his crush on the water-bender- decided to be a very unwanted wing-man and climbed to the middle seats where he and Percy sat and sat down next to Nico, pushing him against Percy's side regardless of what his pride and dignity demanded of him.

He could feel Annabeth's grey eyes watching him from the rear-view mirror, and instantly cursed every single god he could think of for this cursed fate.

This... Was going to be one long-ass field trip.

~

Nico huffed as he face planted onto the bed of the hotel room in New Rome, the camp on the opposite side of the US.

He still didn't know who he was bunking with, because as soon as he saw the key-cards he grabbed one and ran, dragging his bag behind him.

He sat up and turned to face the opening door, only for his face to drain of color.

"No, you can not be my bed-mate!" Nico cried, glaring Percy down.

Percy looked taken aback, "But... Leo is staying with Frank and Hazel, Annabeth is staying with Reyna, and Jason is bunking with Piper. I've got nobody else to bunk with, and we only booked four rooms..."

"Who the fuck authorized that?" he demanded.

"Jason did?" Percy said, although it sounded more like a question.

"DAMMIT! I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE!"

"...Am I that horrible?"

Nico's head shot up at the cold, angry voice Percy was using. He's never used it on Nico or Grover, but he's directed it at everybody else, including Annabeth, at least once.

"What?" he asked, confused.

Percy's hands shook slightly, and Nico knew if he got anymore angry than he was, toilets and sinks and tubs would start exploding and flooding the place.

"Am I that horrible that the mere idea of me sharing a bed with you makes you wish you never came along? Do you actually hate me that bad? Do I make your skin crawl because I'm not afraid to use my magic? Is that it?"

"N-no-"

"Then what the fuck is it, Nico?!"

There went the sink, two more to go before instant flooding of the hotel room.

"I-I-"

"You, you? You what, Nico?"

The toilet exploded then. One more before doomsday.

So, naturally, Nico lost his shit, and went crazy-mad first.

"I DON'T WANT TO SHARE A ROOM WITH YOU BECAUSE I LIKE YOU, YOU STUPID MERMAID!" Nico finally snapped, wanting to get away. He could feel his own magic run rampant, the room temperature dropping to below freezing, shadows clawing at his clothes and the walls. He could feel the skeletons trying to break free from the ground, trying to come to him.

Percy froze, before making his way over to the bed.

Nico cowered, and put a hand out. Shadows shot from his palms, wrapping themselves around Percy's legs and knocking him down, "S-stay away. I-I know I-I'm disgusting. You like Annabeth, obviously, you always tended to favor her over me before. Sure, you've been really nice lately, but... You always fall back to her and Grover, a-and-"

He let out a hiccup, wiping at the tears he didn't even realize until now he had been shedding, and retracted his hands, the shadows retreating back into his body like clockwork.

The sink and toilet stopped flowing as Percy just sat there, sprawled on the ground still, staring up at Nico, who was now full-on sobbing.

"A-an' I know you don't want a... A pathetic k-kid like me... Somebody w-ho d-doesn't even like magic... And... I just wish you'd l-leave me alone because all I w-want is you but I can't have you and..."

Nico let out a light gasp as he was pulled against a warm, well-built chest.

Percy's chest.

'He smells like the ocean...' Nico thought, feeling all the strength he had leave his body.

He broke down, majorly. Wailing and all.

"Hey, hey... It's okay, Neeks... Come on, look at me..." Percy mumbled softly, rubbing soothing circles into Nico's back.

Nico let out a small sob, and managed to force himself to look up at Percy, who was looking at him with concern.

Great, now you're a charity case.

"W...Why are you still here...?" he asked in a small voice, trying to keep himself from falling victim to a panic attack.

"Because, Ghost King, I like you too," Percy replied, smiling softly.

Nico stared at him in utter shock, mouth opening and closing like a fish.

"I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure you liked me back, not to mention I'm older than you by three years, and..."

"You... No... I... What...?"

"Awe, I broke your poor little brain," Percy teased, and Nico let out a small laugh.

"In your dreams, Seaweed Brain."

"Hey, only Annabeth can call me that."

Nico instantly soured. "Sorry," he spat, "Mermaid-Man."

Percy's face instantly turned into one of apology, "I'm sorry, I-"

Nico laughed, "Now look who got fucked over! HA!"

"You little fuckin'-" He was suddenly cut off by Nico, who had pressed his lips against Percy's in a short, gentle kiss.

He was satisfied by the fact that when he pulled away, Percy was blushing madly.

"So ah... What now?" he asked sheepishly, and Nico grinned.

"One, be my boyfriend. Two... Go on a date with me?"

Percy nodded, "YES!" he shouted, only to seemingly mentally reel himself back in and say, "I-I mean, ah, yes, that sounds lovely."

Nico laughed again, smiling brightly as he wiped away the rest of his tears, "Great, let's go."

"Now?"

"Right now, yes. There's still daylight."

Percy smiled back, nodding as he stood up, helping the other boy to his feet as well.

He didn't let go of Nico's hand afterwards.

They went off, laughing and smiling and exchanging sweet kisses.

Nico may not like magic, but he enjoys how magical the trip turned out to be, he enjoyed how magical the sparks of each kiss he shared with Percy felt, and how magical the tingling of his fingers entwined with the older boy's felt.

He may not like the magic he's accustomed to, but the magic of Percy's hand in his, of knowing Percy is his, makes him hate magic a little less.

Just a little.

{La Fin}

~Ashton Bende

[dumbledearme]

chapter twenty-nine—your indecision

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act IV — To Stop The Tide

Part IV — Though there's no one there to guide you, no one to take your hand, but with faith and understanding you will journey from boy to man.

Luke knelt on a Persian rug in front of the golden sarcophagus of Kronos. "Our spies report success, my lord," he was saying. "Camp Half-Blood is sending a quest, as you predicted. Our side of the bargain is almost complete."

"Excellent," the voice of Kronos was freezing with cruelty. "Once we have the means to navigate, I will lead the vanguard through myself."

"My lord, perhaps it is too soon. Perhaps Krios or Hyperion should lead-"

"No," the voice was quiet but absolutely firm. "I will lead. One more heart shall join our cause, and that will be sufficient. At last I shall rise fully from Tartarus."

"But the form, my lord..." Luke's voice shook.

"Show me your sword, Luke Castellan." Luke drew his sword. "You pledged yourself to me," Kronos reminded him. "You took this sword as proof of your oath."

"Yes, my lord. I just-"

"You wanted power," the titan continued. "I gave you that. You are now beyond harm. Soon you will rule the world of gods and mortals. Do you not wish to avenge yourself? To see Olympus destroyed?"

Luke shivered. "Yes."

"Then make ready the strike force. As soon as the bargain is done, we shall move forward. First, Camp Half-Blood will be reduced to ashes. Once those bothersome heroes are eliminated, we will march on Olympus."

There was a knock on the door. Luke rose. "Come in."

Two dracaenae slithered in followed by Kelli, the empousa. "Hello, Luke," she smiled.

"What is it, demon?" his voice was cold. "I told you not to disturb me."

Kelli pouted. "That's not very nice. You look tense. How about a nice massage?"

Luke stepped back. "If you have something to report, say it. Otherwise begone!"

"I don't know why you're so huffy these days. You used to be fun to hang around." She shrugged. "The advance team is ready, as you requested. We can leave-" she frowned.

"What is it?" Luke asked.

"A presence," she said. "Your senses are getting dull, Luke. We're being watched." Kelli's eyes found Andy and she lunged.

Andy fell off the bed, her body shaking. As she tried to easy her breathing, she noticed that same strange light coming from the fountain. Desperately, she looked for a drachma everywhere until she found one and threw it into the mist.

Nico appeared, but he wasn't in the Underworld this time. He was in a graveyard instead, under a starry sky, watching some gravediggers at work. "Is it deep enough yet?" he asked, irritated.

"Nearly, my lord," it was the same ghost from before. "But this is unnecessary. You already have me for advice."

"I want a second opinion." Nico snapped his fingers, and the digging stopped. Two skeletons climbed out of the hole. "You are dismissed. Thank you." The skeletons collapsed into piles of bones.

"You might as well thank the shovels," the ghost complained. "They have as much sense."

Nico ignored him. He reached into a large Wal-Mart bag next to his feet and pulled out a twelve-pack of Coke. He popped open a can and poured it into the grave. "Let the dead taste again," he murmured. "Let them rise and take this offering. Let them remember."

"In my day; we used animal blood," the ghost mumbled. "They can't taste the difference."

"Be quiet," Nico ordered and began chanting in Ancient Greek. The grave started to bubble. The fog thickened. Dozens of figures began to appear among the gravestones.

"There are too many," the ghost said nervously. "You don't know your own powers."

"I've got it under control," Nico said. He drew his sword – a short blade made of solid black metal. The shades retreated. "One at a time," Nico commanded. A single figure floated forward and knelt before him. "Who are you?"

"I am Theseus." Andy stared at the ghost-man. He was young – younger than she would'd thought – with curly hair and green eyes like hers.

"How can I retrieve my sister?" Nico asked.

"Do not try it. It is madness," Theseus warned him.

"Tell me!"

"My stepfather died," Theseus remembered. "He threw himself into the sea because he thought I was dead in the Labyrinth. I wanted to bring him back, but I could not."

Nico's ghost hissed, "Ask him about the soul exchange!"

Theseus scowled. "I know that voice."

"Answer the lord's questions and nothing more," said the ghost.

"I know you," Theseus insisted.

"I want to know about my sister," Nico said. "Will this quest into the Labyrinth help me win her back?"

Theseus's emotionless voice said, "The Labyrinth is treacherous. There is only one thing that saw me through: the love of a mortal girl. The string was only part of the answer. It was the princess who guided me."

"We don't need any of that," complained the ghost. "I will guide you, my lord. Ask him if it is true about an exchange of souls. He will tell you."

"A soul for a soul," Nico asked. "Is it true?"

"Yes. But the specter-" The other ghosts stirred nervously. "He is coming," Theseus said fearfully. "He has sensed your summons. He comes."

"Who?"

"He comes to find the source of this power," Theseus said. "You must release us!"

The fountain began to crack; the whole cabin was shaking. Andy realized the ghosts were trying to escape right out of the fountain. She uncapped Riptide and slashed at the fountain, cleaving it in two. Salt water spilled everywhere.

Andy sank on the ground, shivering. Tyson found her there in the morning, still staring at the pieces of what had once been a fountain.

Juniper was holding Grover as if they were one. Chiron, Quintus and Mrs O'Leary stood with the other campers who'd come to wish them well. Anthony was doing one last check on his supply pack. When Tyson and Andy came over, he frowned. "Andy, you look terrible."

"She killed the water fountain last night," Tyson confided.

"What?"

Before Andy could explain, Chiron trotted over. "Well, it appears you are ready!" Andy glanced at the crack between the boulders. "Take care and good hunting."

"Well," said Grover nervously. "Goodbye sunshine."

And together, the four of them descended into darkness.

They made it a hundred feet before they were hopelessly lost. The tunnel looked nothing like the one they had stumbled into before. Now it was round like a sewer with iron-barred portholes every ten feet.

Anthony tried his best to guide them. "If we keep one hand on the left wall and follow it," he said, "we should be able to find our way out again by reversing course." As soon as he said that, the left wall disappeared. They were in the middle of a circular chamber with eight tunnels leading out. Anthony swept his flashlight beam over the archways. "That way," he said.

"How do you know?" Andy asked.

"Deductive reasoning."

"So you're guessing."

"Just come on," he said.

The tunnel he'd chosen narrowed quickly. Grover's hyperventilating was the loudest noise in the maze. "I can't stand it anymore," he whispered. "Are we there yet? I mean, why would Pan be down here? This is the opposite of the wild!"

Suddenly the tunnel opened into a huge room covered in mosaic tiles showing the gods at a feast. "What is this place?" Andy asked. "It looks-"

"Roman," Anthony finished. "About two thousand years old."

"How can they be Roman?"

"The Labyrinth is a patchwork," he said. "I told you, it's always expanding, adding pieces. It's the only work of architecture that grows by itself."

"You make it sound like it's alive."

They heard a moan from the tunnel ahead. "Let's move," Anthony said.

Every few feet the tunnels twisted and turned and branched off. After several hours, they found their first skeleton. He was dressed in white; a wooden crate of glass bottles sat next to him. "A milkman," Anthony said.

"What?"

"He used to deliver milk."

"Yeah, man, I know what a milkman is," she rolled her eyes. "But what is he doing here?"

"Some people wonder by mistake, I suppose. Some come exploring on purpose and never make it back." Without another word, Anthony led them to the right, then the left, through a corridor of stainless steel. Then they arrived back in the Roman tile room. But this time, they weren't alone.

He had two faces. They jutted out from either side of his head, staring over his shoulders, so his head was much wider than it should've been. "Anthony," his left face said. "Hurry up!"

"Don't mind him," said the right face. "He's terribly rude. Right this way!"

Tyson frowned. "The funny man has two faces."

"The funny man has ears!" the left face scolded. "Now come along, Anthony."

"No, no," the right face said. "This way, Anthony. Talk to me, please."

The two-faced man regarded Anthony, waiting for him to choose. Behind him were two exits.

"Where do they lead?" Anthony asked, his voice was barely a whisper.

"One probably leads the way you wish to go," the right face said encouragingly. "The other leads to certain death."

"Come one," said the left face. "Choose, Anthony. We don't have all day."

The right face smiled. "You're in charge now, Anthony. All the decisions are on your shoulders. All the responsibility. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"I-"

"We know you, Anthony Chase," the left face said. "We know what you wrestle with every day. We know your indecision. You will have to make your choice sooner or later. And the choice may kill you. Or... someone who matters the most?" he suggested.

The color drained out of Anthony's face. "I don't-"

Andy stepped forward. "Okay, guys. Enough of this bullshit. Who are you again? I'm not good with faces, if you know what I mean."

"Well, I'm your best friend," the right face said.

"I'm your worst enemy," said the left.

"I'm Janus," they said in harmony. "God of Doorways. Beginnings. Endings. Choices."

"I'll see you soon enough, Andromeda," said the right face. "But for now, it is Anthony's turn."

"One bad choice can ruin your whole life," said the left face. "It can kill you and all your friends. But no pressure, Anthony. Choose!"

A brilliant light flooded the room and a woman appeared. She was tall and graceful and extremely blonde, like a barbie doll. "Janus," she said, "are we causing trouble again?"

"N-no, milady!" Janus' right face stammered.

"Yes!" the left face said.

"You know very well your visit is premature," the woman said. "The boy's time has not yet come. So I give you a choice: leave these heroes to me, or I shall turn you into a door and break you down."

Janus bowed and disappeared.

The woman turned toward the others and smiled. "Sit with me," she invited them. "Let's talk." She waved her hand and a picnic towel appeared on the ground with lots of platters sandwiches and pitchers of lemonade.

Andy sighed. "Alright. Who are you now?"

She raised her blonde head. "I am Hera. Queen of Heaven." She sat down, served them sandwiches and poured lemonade. "Grover, dear, use your napkin. Don't eat it."

"Yes, ma'am," Grover said.

"Tyson, you're wasting away. Would you like another peanut butter sandwich?"

Tyson stifled a belch. "Yes, nice lady."

"Queen Hera," Anthony said. "What are you doing here?"

Hera smiled. "I came to see you, naturally."

"I didn't think you liked heroes."

"Because of that little spat I had with Hercules? Honestly, I got so much bad press because of one disagreement."

"Didn't you try to kill him in, like, several different occasions?" Anthony asked.

Hera waved her hand dismissively. "Water under the bridge. Besides, he was one of my loving husband's children by another woman. My patience wore thin, I'll admit it. But Zeus and I have had some excellent marriage counseling sessions since then. We've aired our feelings and come to an understanding – especially after the last little incident."

"You mean Thalia?" Andy guessed.

Hera's eyes turned toward her frostily. "Andy Jackson, is it? One of Poseidon's... children. As I recall, I voted to let you live at the winter solstice. I hope I voted correctly." She turned back to Anthony. "At any rate, I certainly bear you no ill will, boy. I appreciate the difficulty of your quest. Especially when you have troublemakers like Janus to deal with."

"Why was he here?"

"To drive you crazy, no doubt," Hera said. "You must understand, the minor gods like Janus have always been frustrated by the small parts they play in the universe. Some, I fear, have little love for Olympus, and could easily be swayed to support the rise of my father. We must watch the minor gods. Janus. Hecate. Morpheus."

"Isn't that what Dionysus is doing?" Andy asked. "Checking on them?"

"Indeed," Hera said. "You see, in times of trouble, even gods can lose faith. They start putting their trust in the wrong things, petty things. They stop looking at the big picture and start being selfish. But I am the goddess of marriage, you see. I am used to perseverance. You have to rise above the squabbling and chaos, and keep believing. You have to always keep your goals in mind."

"What are your goals?" Anthony asked her.

"To keep my family, the Olympians, together. At the moment, the best way I can do that is by helping you. Zeus does not allow me to interfere much, I'm afraid. But once every century or so, for a quest I care deeply about, he allows me to grant a wish."

"A wish?"

"Before you ask it, let me give you some advice, which I can do for free. I know you seek Daedalus. His Labyrinth is as much a mystery to me as it is to you. But if you want to know his fate, I would visit my son Hephaestus at his forge. Daedalus was a great inventor. There has never been a mortal Hephaestus admired more. If anyone would have kept up with Daedalus and could tell you his fate, it is Hephaestus."

"But how do we get there?" Anthony asked. "That is my wish. I want a way to navigate the Labyrinth."

Hera looked disappointed. "So be it. You wish for something, however, that you have already been given."

"I don't understand."

"The means is already within your grasp." Hera looked at Andy. "Andromeda knows the answer."

"I do?"

"You'll have to be more specific," Anthony told her.

Hera shook her head. "Getting something and having the wits to use it... those are two different things. I'm sure your mother Athena would agree." The room rumbled. Hera stood. "That would be my cue. Zeus grows impatient. Think of what I have said, young hero. Seek out Hephaestus. You will have to pass through the ranch, I imagine. But keep going. And use all the means at your disposal, however common they may seem. And one more thing, Anthony. I have postponed your day of choice, not prevented it. Soon, as Janus said, you will have to make a decision. Farewell." She waved a hand and turned into white smoke.

"What sort of help was that?" Andy complained. "Here, have a sandwich. Make a wish. Oops, I can't help you. Poof!"

"Poof," Tyson agreed.

"Well, she said you know the answer," Grover said.

"You think that if I knew the answer for this, I would be keeping it to myself?"

Anthony sighed. "We keep going."

"Which way?" she asked.

Grover and Tyson both tensed and stood up together. "Left," they both said.

Anthony frowned. "How can you be sure?"

"Because something is coming from the right!" Grover said.

"Something big," Tyson added. "In a hurry."

"Left it is!" Andy decided and together they plunged into the dark corridor.

[bewitchthequeen]

Caleo Makes Me Cringe And Here’s Why

Yet another Heroes of Olympus anti list for your asses so prepare your butts because I’m about to blow ‘em clean off.

Note: Usually things apply. If you like Caleo and don’t care to hear counter opinions and that makes you aggressive and mean then this isn’t something you’re interested in, I’m going to have to ask you to move along :D I’m entitled to my opinions as you are yours. Any aggression targeted at me because I don’t ship what you ship will be treated with demeaning responses

You have been warned

Side Note: I have nothing but love for Rick Riordan, these are solely my opinions, which I’m entitled to have.

If you have anything to include, feel free to add your own thoughts.

I’m putting this under a Read More so people who don’t want to see this doesn’t have to.

1. To the people who say that Caleo is the best ship because “it’s not incest”. You are wrong. Calypso is Atlas’ daughter, Leo is Hephaestus’ son.  In Riordan verse, Atlas is Iapetus’ son, Iapetus is Kronos/Cronus’ brother, Kronos/Cronus is Zeus and Hera’s father, Hera is Hephaestus’ mother (and in some myths Zeus is his “biological” dad but we’ll ignore this for the riordan verse). If you’re using the incest card, it’s still incest as all gods and titans are related in some way as they all came from Gaea in some way, shape, or form. So kissing cousins apply here and that makes your argument invalid. Claiming it’s the only “healthy” or not gross ship is a lie or you could go along with Rick and his “genetics are a human thing”. The choice is yours.

2. They started out hating each other but skipped the whole tolerating/friendship stage and basically went straight into romance which doesn’t work for the short amount of time they were together. It was a weak build up and even now Leo looks like a lovestruck little boy while Calypso seems to be rather aloof and disengaged from the relationship. Kind of like now that people are around to see them she doesn’t want to be seen romantically with him? At least, that’s how it looks to me. This is my perception.

3. Calypso seems very angry still and I feel like it would be better for her to work on that solo rather than be in a relationship where she needs to kind of take it a lot slower than she would if she was alone. She has to take another person’s feelings into account so that’s not the best for someone with so much pent up anger. Take it from someone who has had something like that.

4. What would have been a more powerful story line for both of them would have been Leo realizing he doesn’t need to be in a relationship to feel validated and cared for. That being the 7th wheel isn’t a bad thing unless you perceive it that way. It’s a flaw with most books like this and young adult books. All the main characters simply have to be in a relationship. It seems like it’s a must and it’s not. A fair amount of people go through high school without dating. I had two boyfriends, one that lasted for a month (and he gave me fucking panic attacks) and then one that lasted about six months (before a tragedy), but I had friends who had been dating their S.O. since freshman year, some who chewed through boyfriends like no tomorrow, some who didn’t want to date, and some who just never dated. For what seems to be every young adult book ever, there are couples even if feelings don’t bloom until the very end of the book. So imagine my disappointment at how unrealistic these are becoming? It seems literally everyone in PJO/HoO/ToA are in a relationship even background and minor characters. I feel like it’s because people suspect this out of Rick now, and it makes me feel bad that he feels he needs to pair everyone up. I can’t imagine how stressful that must be. He shouldn’t have to do that. There’s this wonderful thing called fan fiction; you can read it, write it, and explore it. You don’t need to make that poor man feels like everyone needs to be in a relationship. It has negative affects/effects on people that age who reads them because then they feel like they need to be in a relationship to feel validated (like Leo) and could possibly end up in a bad relationship or feel like there’s something wrong with them for not being in one.

5. For Calypso because #4 was so long. Calypso’s story would have been a lot more powerful had she learned to love herself and the boat come for her. It would have been a real strong hit like “You don’t need someone to save you” and “You can save yourself” and self love promotion. (Honestly, both of their storylines could have done that but those opportunities were missed unless it gets horrendously retconned). In this day and age, I definitely feel like promoting self love is more powerful than Caleo unless you’re looking at it through rose colored glasses, like most shippers do. I’m guilty of this myself. I love Leo and I love Calypso, I just feel like there was a missed opportunity here.

6. Leo saving Calypso kind of made Percy look bad. This is a no-no. Making one character look bad for a relationship is a no-no. Percy usually keeps his promises. The only one I’ve seen him not keep was Bianca and even then I’m not 100% that was a promise? I don’t know. I just don’t like that Percy just “forgot” and basically made him like the other heroes that landed on Calypso’s island. I’m confident that’s not something that Percy would just “forget” but whatever. There’s a lot with HoO that I don’t like when it comes to Percy but that’s a post for another time.

7. Okay this is just because I seen a post from a pro caleo blog (and I’m not going to tag cause I don’t want to start a fight since this is a personal opinion and they made it clear they’re going to “defend caleo till they die”. I’m not trying to talk anyone out of anything. I’m stating my opinions, but claiming things about other ships without acknowledging your own ships faults is a no-no. (that’s the reasoning for the first reason on here). Here’s my defense (despite the fact I don’t really ship any of the canon ships but unfair attacks are unfair attacks) alright so here we go.      a. “ Percabeth = Incest.” See #1 because Caleo is also incest and I explained it above making this a useless excuse to ship Caleo.      b. “Tysella = Furry.” Okay, but Ella is a harpy and Tyson is a cyclopes. I don’t understand why furry is being claimed here but okay. You’re entitled to your opinion, but harpies were never considered animals as they are mythical creatures and I, personally, don’t include mythical creatures as furries but aiight. Furries have fur, not feathers. I haven’t seen any furries/fursonas with feathers. If I’m wrong all I ask is that you prove it without being vulgar.       c. “Grover/Juniper = Furry” Okay. Grover is a satyr which doesn’t really strike me as Furry since it’s humanoid, same with Ella, so it’s not furry as furry are completely animals? And anyways Juniper is basically a fucking nature spirit? It’s basically similar to how a dog likes rolling around in the grass? Whatever though       d. “Jason and Piper = Incest” again so is Caleo. skip Frank and Hazel because nothing was really said on this.       e. “Paul and Sally = Sally’s probably traumatized by Gabe beating the shit out of her” Okay, what does that have to do with Paul and Sally? That’s completely irrelevant to Paul and Sally’s relationship especially since there’s no hint at Paul being abusive to Sally? Sure, Sally is probably traumatized, but I would think she’s working through that since she seems to have a functioning relationship. But what does Sally’s trauma have to do with Paul? Weak excuse.       f. “Solangelo = Not only is Nico 85 while Will 14 but he’s possessive etc, etc”. Okay, but Nico is technically 14 himself? I mean, yes, he was born way back, but if we’re looking at age here Calypso is thousands of years older than Leo. And with possessive, I’m pretty sure Leo got mad at Percy about Calypso and was even kind of mad/jealous of Jason while he was trapped on the island because of Calypso not being interested in him and basically calling him scrawny or something like that. And Nico is in the body of a fourteen year old, he has the mind of a fourteen year old. He is a fourteen year old. He is in the mental state of a fourteen year old. Do you know how unsettling that would be if he dated someone “his own age”? His growth, mentally and physically, have been stunted thanks to the Lotus Hotel, so Nico di Angelo is a fucking fourteen year old. Let’s be clear that I don’t ship Solangelo, but after the shit that kid has been through he deserves to be happy. He lost all of his family, was forcibly outed by his sexuality by an asshole god, went through Tartarus by himself, and had to deal with feeling lost in a world that he didn’t feel accept him even among his peers/the people who should have understood him the most. If anyone deserves to be happy. It’s him. Fucking drop it.       g. “Chris/Clarisse” we’re back at incest and I’m back at Caleo being incest.       h. “Charles and Selena” again with incest because their parents are married. Atlas is Hephaestus’ great uncle so that’s seriously your kid dating your cousin. But Caleo isn’t creepy or incest. Okay thanks. Beckendorf and Silena are a ship that I actually enjoyed because they gave a shit about each other and loved each other despite parentage and then they died and it broke my heart. Honestly, if you find this creepy, a mother and daughter dated a police officer and his son in the Scream TV Series. That I found weird especially since that was all biological. Rick already said that genetics and gods aren’t a thing. The fact that I’m saying this more that once is exhausting. Just because your parents are married doesn’t mean it’s incest. To make this less creepy, Hephaestus and Aphrodite never had children and it’s a bullshit marriage anyways so. Whatever.

Honestly, if you’re going to be biased, at least know your facts. 

That’s all I got now, feel free to start a discussion.

[dumbledearme]

chapter sixteen—wave of jealousy

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act III — Deep Blue Sea

Part I — If I never knew you I'd be safe but half as real. Never knowing I could feel a love so strong and true.

It was the Friday before winter break. Thalia had only been back for a couple of weeks. Andy hadn't had time to get to know the girl, she had gone home to her mother, and it killed her to think about Anthony and Thalia being together at camp.

She was very glad for this mission even though it was dark and snowy and terribly cold. Sally didn't want Andy to leave, but Anthony had managed to convince her. Sally thought he was the most levelheaded demigod ever and seemed to trust him with Andy's life. When they had left her house, Thalia had turned to Andy and said, "Your mom is cool."

Andy didn't know if she was mocking her or not. "Do you ever get in touch with yours?" she asked.

Thalia gave her the evil eye. She seemed to do that a lot. "If that was any of your business-"

"Alright, forget I asked." And they went on with their mission.

Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. Thalia even shivered. "I wonder what Grover found here to send a distress call."

"Let's find out, Grace," Andy said and they headed inside. The place was huge and super creepy. Andy immediately grabbed her ballpoint pen and felt better when she saw Thalia rubbing her silver bracelet, her favorite magic item.

Anthony started to say, "I wonder where-", when the door slammed shut behind them. There was music coming from the other end of the hall. They headed that way but a man and a woman intercepted them.

"What are you doing here?" asked the woman.

"Visitors are not allowed at the dance," the man said. "You shall be ejected." He had a French accent.

Thalia stepped forward and snapped her fingers. A gust of wind rippled out from her hand, across the room. It washed over all of them. "We're not visitors," she told them. "We go to school here. You remember. I'm Thalia. And this is Anthony and Andy."

The man narrowed his two-colored eyes but hesitated. He looked at the woman. "Ms Gottschalk, do you know these students?"

The woman blinked. "I... yes, I believe I do, sir." she frowned. "Thalia. Anthony. Andy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"

Then Grover came trotting. "You made it! You-" He stopped when he saw the teachers. "Oh, Ms Gottschalk. Dr Thorn! I, uh-"

"What is it, Mr Underwood?" asked the man. "What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."

Grover swallowed. "Yes, sir. Of course. I just meant... I'm so glad that they made... the punch for the dance! It tastes delicious. Good job, guys."

Dr Thorn glared at them.

"The punch is excellent," said Ms Gottschalk. "Now run along. You may not leave the gymnasium."

Grover hustled them down the hall in the direction of the music.

"How did you do that with your fingers?" Andy whispered to Thalia.

"The Mist?" she said. "Chiron showed me how to do that."

"You've been back for like fifteen days!"

"Yes, and while you've been home enjoying life, Jackson, I've been training really hard."

Andy wanted to punch her face.

"Thank the gods you got here," said Grover.

"What's the emergency?" asked Anthony.

"I found two," he said.

"Two half-bloods?" Thalia asked, amazed.

Grover nodded. "Sister and brother. Sixteen and fourteen. I don't know their parentage, but they're strong. We're running out of time though. We need to get them out tonight."

"Monsters?"

"Only the one," Grover said. "He suspects. I mean, he knows what I'm here for, but he isn't sure which kid I want. Every time I try to get close to them, he's always there, blocking me. I don't know what to do." And he looked desperately at Thalia for an answer. Andy had to swallow her anger.

"Are they at the dance? The kids?" Thalia asked.

Grover nodded once more.

"Who's the monster?" Anthony asked.

"You just met him," Grover said. "Dr Thorn."

The ballroom was dark and hot and it smelled of sweat. Grover showed them the half-bloods by the bleachers. "There they are. Bianca and Nico di Angelo." The girl wore a floppy green cap half hiding her face. They looked very much alike, with dark silky hair and pale skin, and they used their hands a lot as they talked. The sister was scolding as the boy shuffled some kind of trading cards.

"Have you told them?" Anthony asked Grover.

The satyr shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. After they know the truth, their scent grows stronger."

"Let's get them and get the hell out of here," Andy suggested. She started forward, but Thalia stopped her. Dr Thorn was watching the di Angelos. "Ooo, I guess your little trick didn't work on him," Andy teased.

Thalia ignored her. "Don't look at the kids. We have to wait for a chance to get them. Throw him off the scent."

"How?"

"We're three powerful half-bloods, Jackson. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle and act natural. Dance and keep your eyes open."

"Dance?"

Thalia nodded. "Who chose the Jesse McCartney?" she complained. Grover took the blame. "You're so lame, Grover," she said. "Come on, let's dance." And she pulled him to the dance floor.

Anthony smiled.

"What?" Andy asked.

"Nothing," he said. "I just love having her back."

Andy considered smacking him.

"Let's dance, Seaweed Brain," he said taking her hand. As they moved, standing so close to each other, Andy forgot why she had been so mad at Thalia to begin with. She focused on the hand Anthony had on her waist. She leaned her head on his shoulder and completely forgot she was on a mission.

But then he spoke. "My dad decided to move," he told her. "Just when I was getting settled in New York, he took his stupid new job researching for a World War I book. In San Francisco, of all places."

Andy didn't understand what he meant. "He wants you to move there with him?" she asked miserably. "To the other side of the country?"

"Half-bloods can't live in San Francisco," he said. "He knows that." Andy was about to ask him why, but Anthony continued, "But it's more serious than that... I've been meaning to tell you this, but I've been so busy at camp with Thalia and everything..."

Andy stepped away from him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"What?" he asked, puzzled.

"'Busy at camp with Thalia?'"

Anthony was about reply when he froze. "They're gone."

For a moment, Andy had no idea what he was talking about. Then she followed his gaze. The half-bloods were no longer near the bleachers. Dr Thorn was no where to be seen either.

"We need to find Thalia and Grover," Anthony said searching the crowd. "Come on," he said running, but Andy didn't follow him. She was busy experiencing a wild wave of jealousy. The last thing she wanted to do was find Thalia or she would kill her.

Then she saw Dr Thorn hurrying out a door with the brother and sister. She thought about warning the others, but that moment she couldn't bare to look at Thalia. So she took Riptide out of her pocket and ran after the monster. The door led to a corridor. Andy jogged to the end, opened another door and found herself outside in the snow. The cold wind shocked her after the warm of the gym.

She found the di Angelo kids standing in the open and rushed toward them. "Hey, you guys okay? I'm not gonna hurt you," she promised lowering her sword. "I'm Andy. I'm gonna get you out of here, alright?"

Bianca's eyes widened and her firsts clenched. Too late, Andy turned around. Pain exploded in her shoulder. A force like a huge hand yanked her backward, and slammed her against the closed door.

"Andromeda Jackson," Dr Thorn said. "I know who you are."

Andy forced herself to concentrate. She could feel the poison running through her veins. Dr Thorn stepped into the dim light. He still looked human but his face was ghoulish. There was something invisible behind him throwing knives.

"You three will come with me," he said. "If you make one noise, I will show you how accurately I can throw."

Andy closed her eyes and tried to summon Grover focusing her feelings through the empathy link they shared. She had no idea if it would work with him being awake, but it was the only thing she could do.

"What are you doing, Jackson?" hissed Thorn.

"My shoulder is burning," she lied, although that was truth too.

"Gah! My poison causes pain. It will not kill you," he assured her. "Now come." Thorn marched them into the woods. "There's a clearing ahead," he told them. "We'll summon your ride."

"Ride?" Bianca repeated. "Where are you taking us?"

"Silence, insufferable girl."

"Don't talk to my sister that way," Nico said, hesitantly, but Andy was impressed at his courage to say anything at all.

Thorn made a growling sound. When the woods opened up they reached a cliff overlooking the sea. Andy couldn't see it through the mist and darkness, but she felt the water somewhere under them. Dr Thorn pushed them toward the edge. Andy stumbled and the boy caught her in his arms.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"What is he?" he whispered. "How do we fight him?"

"I'm... working on it."

Thorn grabbed a cellphone and informed someone that 'the package was ready.' Andy glanced behind her considering how the fall would feel. Thorn noticed her interest and laughed. "By all means, child of land and sea. Jump! There is the sea! I would kill you before you reached the water. You do realize who I am, do you not?"

"Nah," she shrugged, which turned out to be a painful mistake. "I'm not a fan of monsters."

Thorn grinned. "Unfortunately, you are wanted alive."

"Who wants us?" Bianca cried. "Because we don't have any family but each other. So if you think you might get a ransom, you should think again."

"He works for Luke," Andy guessed. "Don't you?"

Thorn's mouth twisted with distaste. "You have no idea what is happening, Andromeda Jackson. The General shall enlighten you. You are going to do him a great service tonight. He looks forward to meeting you." He glanced at the horizon. "There it is. Your ride"

Andy turned and saw a light in the distance – an helicopter.

"Where are you taking us?" Nico asked.

"You should be honored, my boy. You will have the opportunity to join a great army. Just like that silly game you play with cards."

"You can take your great army and-"

"Now, now," Thorn cut. "No reason for rudeness. You will change your mind about joining us. And if you do not... there are other uses for half-bloods. The Great Stirring is underway."

"The Great what?" asked Andy.

"The stirring of monsters," he smiled evilly. "The worst of them, the most powerful, are now waking. Monsters that have not been seen in thousands of years. They will cause death and destruction the likes of which mortals have never known. And soon we shall have the most important monster of all – the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!"

"He's nuts," Bianca said.

"We have to jump," Andy told her.

"You're nuts!"

Andy was about to argue with her when something invisible slammed into them. The di Angelos and Andy fell to the ground. Thalia came from behind Thorn wielding her magic shield, Aegis. Andy had never seen Thalia in battle before and had to admit it was intimidating. The girl had a spear in her other hand that she jabbed at Thorn's head, but he snarled and swatted the spear aside. He launched his missiles at Thalia - the things were coming out of his tail. Grover started playing a song with his pipes that made weeds grow and entangled Thorn.

He roared and began to change. He grew larger and his body took the form of a lion.

"Manticore," Andy heard Anthony's voice say.

"Who are you people?" Bianca demanded.

"A manticore?" Nico said, excited. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"

The thing turned toward them with a snarl. "Yield," it roared.

"Never," Thalia yelled. She was about to charge at him, but the helicopter hovered over them with a blinding light. The manticore swatted Thalia away with its tail. Her shield flew off into the snow. Her spear in the other direction.

The there was a clear, piercing sound: the call of a hunting horn.

The manticore froze. For a moment, no one moved. A glowing silver arrow hit his shoulder. He staggered backward, wailing in agony. The archers came from the woods. They were all girls, young and beautiful and deadly.

"The Hunters," Anthony said.

The tallest of the archers stepped forward. "Permission to kill, my lady?"

The monster wailed. "Direct interference it's against the Ancient Laws!"

The youngest of the hunters said, "Not so. The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast. Zoë, permission granted."

The manticore lunged at Andy who was closer to him, but Anthony leaped onto the monster's back and drove his knife into its mane. The manticore howled and moved so crazed Anthony's cap fell of his head but he didn't let go.

"Fire!" Zoë ordered.

"No!" Andy shouted.

But the hunters let the arrows fly. The arrows hit everywhere and the manticore stumbled back, screaming. Before anyone could react, before Andy could do something, he fell backwards over the cliff with Anthony still on his back.

Someone let out a strangled scream; probably Andy herself. She managed to stand up and ran toward the cliff ready to jump after him, to do whatever was needed, when Thalia caught her with strong, bony arms.

"Let go!" Andy punched and slapped, but Thalia was bigger and stronger than her. Andy hit her on the stomach but Thalia didn't let go. "Please... Thalia!" Andy raised her eyes to glance at the daughter of Zeus and was shocked to find hopelessness and an apology there. And then it was like all her strength had left her, like her body had stopped functioning, and Andy couldn't remember how to stand.

She fell hard on the snow and prayed Hades would swallow her whole.