#if it was out of pure love it could’ve also been sally that he remembered unless it’s romantic love only

[valewritessss]

Say what you want about thinking Percy only remembered Annabeth because Hera left her in his memory but for the love of everything just let people have their romantic little headcanon

[connabeth]

that was the best episode by FAR and here’s why:

1. annabeth instinctually knowing he’s alive and refusing to lose her faith in him even when grover didn’t believe so.

2. the hug. the overwhelming relief on her face. his pleasantly surprised reaction. us being able to see everything visually click in grover’s head once he realized what he’s in for. percy teasing her about it when they’re hiding on the highway bc he assumes that’s why she’s being standoffish. grover heaving and rolling his eyes when percy suggests that. i can already envision the MoA parallels in my head of them running to each other.

3. percy and annabeth referring to each other as friends on multiple occasions like FINALLY you’re getting it

4. percy telling annabeth and grover about his revelation that the quest goes deeper than they think and annabeth and grover being light years ahead of him

5. percy’s renewed faith in his father contrasted with annabeth’s dwindling faith in her mother

6. annabeth seeing the fates cut a string and mentally preparing herself to sacrifice herself for her friends and the quest bc she’s so ride or die for them it’s insane even if she’ll deny it and say it’s for the sake of the quest.

7. none of them talking to gods with the deference they’re supposed to. annabeth cooly staring down ares like she couldn’t be blasted to smithereens.

8. annabeth casually mentioning she’s never seen a movie ever to an appalled percy, speaking to how sheltered camp life has been for the last 5 years, making her unaware of general pop culture. percy promising to catch her up on what she’s missing out on. cut to their interrupted botl movie date that’s most definitely not a date. cut to MoA when she mentions roman holiday is her favorite movie bc she watched it a lot with her dad after they somewhat reconciled…also due in part to percy.

9. annabeth getting distracted by the beauty of the machine at the entrance while percy thinks he is actively going to die. her love for design will never not be endearing.

9. percy and annabeth riding down the tunnel of love seeing hephaestus’s story play out and annabeth insisting that sally prepared him the best way she could’ve—with unwavering loyalty to his loved ones, the antithesis to the gods.

10. annabeth being so ready to sacrifice herself for him, especially after probably being ridden with guilt and self-hatred for letting him get the best of her at the gateway arch, and understanding he would never let her do that. his pure faith in her as being the most capable—“You’re better at this than me. You just are.” with the utmost conviction in his voice. both of them tearing up and percy begging her to do what he originally chose her on the quest for. annabeth fighting back every instinct within her that despises standing back and letting someone else take the fall. him turning to her and saying “i need you to promise me something” and her immediately swearing if she’s able to save anyone on this quest, it’ll be his mother, knowing that’s the most important thing to him in all of this. him asking she come back for him and her scoffing “you think you had to ask?” and his sad watery smile back, knowing he didn’t need to….ALSO the ever-iconic “seaweed brain”. PEAK cinema i’m telling you

11. percy trusting annabeth with riptide as his parting gift and thing to give her strength and remember him by. paralleled with how she’ll (hopefully) untie her camp necklace and tie it around his neck before his final fight with ares as a token of good luck and entrusting him with the home she wore around her throat…

12. the well-written conversations with the gods, though unexpected. grover being FAR more clever than he’s given credit for, manipulating ares’s tendency towards anger, bitterness, and pride to get what he wanted out of him. annabeth rejecting hephaestus’s promises of power and glory and the renewal of her mother’s favoritism and pride, something annabeth used to crave with her entire heart. annabeth echoing to hephaestus what she said to percy in the tunnel about him not being like the rest of their godly family and telling the god that she refuses to be like them too. that the way they treat each other and their children isn’t right, the same way percy insisted to her last episode. hephaestus being one of the only gods capable of empathizing with her and telling her “you’re a good kid, annabeth. i’ll put in a good word with your mom for you.” no one speak to me i’m unwell

13. timothy omundson in general…although i keep hearing him as lassie in my head 😭

14. ares negging on them and warning percy his dad’s mind is as fickle as the sea itself and percy won’t be able to hold down his father’s favor and percy responding by threatening the literal god of war in the most percy-like fashion

15. ares didn’t call twitter X. but now we know who’s behind the mentally ill stan wars

things they really didn’t need to change:

1. the one thing i am really miffed about it is them robbing thief annabeth from my cold, dead hands. i wanted to see her raid a store without a second thought and be a little gremlin!!! she has hermes’s influence all over her (thanks luke/being a runaway), let us see it!!!

2. percy and annabeth being slightly awkward at the entrance of the thrill ride of love didn’t carry the same humor as the book scene because they’re such children about it in tlt and annabeth is extremely flustered but we don’t see that here.

3. aphrodite’s scarf. it was a fun detail they could’ve kept. seeing percy making heart eyes would’ve been funny (and maybe a glimpse into future seasons)

4. percy seeing a clip of gabe being gabe and saying “im going to kill him” is merely a NUGGET of the hatred we should be seeing from percy for that man. especially in area’s presence which feeds off of and amplifies everybody’s anger and hatred and bloodlust. there still needs to be more build up to turning gabe to stone at the end of all this

5. percy blacking out from using his powers to get him and annabeth out of the water. while he’s nowhere close to being a master at his craft at this point in the books, and he is known to lose control, even as a more seasoned warrior, i don’t think what he did warranted a blackout. i feel like they’re underselling his innate strength a little bit.

6. overall, although it kind of worked out, there was just a lot of plot deviation from the books—grover not going to waterland, no mechanical spiders, percy and annabeth not jumping out the ride into free fall and being saved by grover wearing maia, although they crash into a billboard etc etc.

[percabethfeelsfandom]

Last Olympian rewrite from Annabeth’s perspective (part 3)

Part 1

Part 2

(Burning Percy’s shroud) 

“It is said that Zeus built mortals with 4 arms and legs, and one head with two faces, but only one heart. These mortals were too powerful for Zeus’ liking so he tore them all apart and scattered the mortals around the world, leaving them with 2 arms and 2 legs, and only half a heart.

For the rest of their lives, mortals tried to find their other half to not only be complete but to ease the pain of only having half their heart. But because the world is so vast and mortals do not have forever. They don’t always find them. But. Those that do. Those people who find their other half are called soulmates, they are your equal in every way. 

Percy was- is my soulmate. He was the bravest person I knew. And, and I think maybe with time, I would’ve been his soulmate too.” I took a deep breath and laid a hand down over his shroud, a beautiful blue-green his mother and I had chosen. 

“I want to thank the Fates for bringing you into my life even if they’re also the ones who took you away from me. 

Percy Jackson, I want to say thank you, for reminding me what a hero is, and the importance of mercy. But most of all I want to thank you for showing me what friendship was, true friendship...and love.” I closed my hands into fists to keep them from shaking but all it did was send pain up my arms, which I welcomed.

“Percy may have been the son of Poseidon but I don’t know how to breathe in a world without him.” 

“I’m so sorry Seaweed Brain,” I choked on a sob and took another breath, wiping my tears away, “I will honour you. I remember our promise. And I will fulfil it. I swear on the river Styx.”

I turned to Chiron who stood by me solemnly and nodded. 

I finally looked up from the shimmering embroidered trident and into the faces of the campers Percy and I had grown up with.

I had buried so many this past couple of days and hours. But we had saved Percy for last. His body was preserved by Hades.

Chiron handed me a torch and patted me on the shoulder as he did so. 

Ash fell onto the ground as it shook in my hand.

“Hades watch over you on your journey to the underworld,” I whispered and I laid the torch on him. I held it for a moment before dropping it and fell to my knees sobbing. 

Instantly arms were around me, Thalia’s spiky hair tickled my neck as she held me close. 

“Shhh, it’s okay, it’s gonna be okay.” I shook my head and cried harder. 

The flames began to pick up, heat pricking my skin, but I noticed something odd.

“The ocean,” I breathed.

“What?” Thalia asked, pulling away from me.

“He smells like the ocean.” We stared at the flames, the orange-red turning into a bright blue.

Thalia smiled sadly at me and tucked my hair back.

“That means he’s going back home.”

“His home is with me, here at camp,” I insisted. Thalia pulled me back to her and I tucked myself into her shoulder. Her own body shook as we held each other and I remembered her reaction when we’d gotten back from the bridge.

~

“Where’s Kelp for Brains?” Thalia asked, a playful smile on her lips.

“Thalia-” Malcolm cut in, putting an arm around me protectively. Thalia frowned and stared at me. 

“Annabeth?”

“I couldn’t-”

“Annabeth where’s Percy?” I finally looked up at her tears streaming down my face.

“He’s dead.” Her entire body froze, and then all the lights in the room blew up.

~

“I thought I might find you here.”

I looked up and tried to smile as Grover came and sat by me, overlooking the lake. 

“Thalia’s left,” I said.

“I know, I said bye to her already.”

I reached into my pocket and clasped my hand around the ballpoint pen that sat inside. It had appeared in my pocket minutes after my fight with Kronos, and I’d risked dropping it a couple of times to see what would happen. Each time it came back. I didn’t know what that meant for me. 

“Hey, you don’t have to ever think or wonder what if Annabeth.”

“What do you mean?”

“You speech, about soulmates. It was always you. He loved you. He just didn’t know it yet,” Grover took a deep breath and smiled shaking his head as if remembering a memory, “I felt it, constantly, through the empathy link, that type of bond can’t be broken- even in death.” 

I looked at him and felt a real smile on my face.

“Thanks, Grover,” 

He nodded and wrapped an arm around me, and I leaned on his shoulder as we watched the sunset over the lake.

~

“It’s interesting I think, how at home you think in this cabin.” 

I shot to my feet and looked to the sound of the voice. 

Poseidon stood by the entrance, trident in hand and smiled at me as he stepped in.

“I mean no disrespect, I just-”

“It’s okay,” he said, waving me off.

I sat back down on Percy’s bed and stuffed Riptide back in my pocket. 

“The sword is yours now, should you want it,” Poseidon said casually as he walked around the cabin, inspecting it like it was his first time seeing it.

“But it’s Percy’s,” I started.

“He gave it to you with his last breath. It returns back to your pocket. It is yours, Annabeth Chase.” 

I uncapped the pen and Riptide sprung to life, the bronze glow illuminating the low light of the cabin.

“May I?” Poseidon asked, holding out his hand. His trident disappeared as I handed Riptide over. It seemed to glow brighter. 

“When- When he died. And I was fighting Kronos’ army. I realised I was glowing,” I said as I watched him examine the blade and twirl it the way Percy did, “I was glowing blue.” 

Poseidon handed me the blade again and I capped it, putting it back into my pocket. 

“A blessing of sorts you could say. I couldn’t give you the power over water that Percy has, but I could give you a push for what you did have. And then some. Water is a mouldable element, and you could’ve taken my blessing and done whatever with it. The moment you realised what it was, you chose what you knew you needed,” Poseidon smiled again and placed a hand on the wall that held photos of Percy, Annabeth and Grover through the years.

“You chose Percy’s swordsmanship and skill. Not to say you aren’t talented with a sword, Miss Chase but-”

“No it’s okay, none taken...You’re right. I didn’t realise it at the time, but just- all I could focus on was the way he’d given it to me. I don’t think I deserve to wield his weapon.”

“He would be honoured knowing you have ownership.”

Poseidon came to Percy’s bed and opened a drawer and began shuffling things inside.

“Wait- what are you doing?” I asked, panicking. I hadn’t let anyone touch anything in his room yet, only Sally had been allowed to come in. I wanted to pretend just a bit longer that he was coming back.

“For you,” Poseidon said and dropped something red in my hand.

I frowned down at it and spun it in my hands.

“It’s a piece of coral from my palace, I haven’t the slightest idea when he found it, but I know it was for you, perhaps a gift for after the war. He used to stare at it before he slept every night.”

I looked up to him still confused.

“But how do you know?”

“I may not always be seen but I watched over Percy. My guilty indulgence, he is still my pride. And I will regret it for many years to come that he never knew just how much I did care for him.”

Poseidon held an old framed photo of younger me crossing my arms with beautiful architecture in the background. I smiled at the photo, remembering how Percy had put it on show purely to smite me. 

“I think he knew,” I said and unclipped my camp necklace, stringing the coral onto it.

“I wish you well Annabeth Chase. Under different circumstances in another world, I would’ve been proud to call you my daughter.”

[sea-side-scribbles]

Fanfiction: Sympathy For A Downer

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22737214/chapters/80799997

Chapter 71

Birdie was so happy about Nick's offering that she didn't mind staying for a while longer. They chatted and made first plans about what their mutual project should actually be like. Nick showed her his collection of guitars he had in his suite and made use of one of them. He found that their voices sounded wonderful together. And they would look smashing together, too. Nick was very happy to work for such a promising project. He was looking forward to it and it helped him to relax, too. It gave him the distraction he needed after everything that had happened. When Birdie eventually said goodbye to him, they had had much fun, even though none of them had taken Party Favours or got drunk. Nick left his suite himself shortly after, because he had friends to come back to. And when he thought of Virgil while passing by the statue, it didn't dampen his mood. Virgil would've been proud of him, he was sure of it.

At home he greeted his band just as happily and they all wanted to know if Nick's current trip had brought another project into being or solved another problem. Nick implied that he had planned something, but he had to keep them on tenterhooks for now, because he wanted to talk to James first. “You'll make it, Nick”, Matt said and the amount of trust in his voice almost made Nick cry. He visited James in the office and it nearly felt like the good old times. “James, do you have time for me?” Though the half-opened door he could see his new manager leaning over a pile of papers, reading intently. His face lit up when he saw Nick. With a joyful expression, he gestured him to come in. “Of course! What is it? You've been off your own bat for a while now.” Nick grinned mysteriously, entering the room. “This is gonna be great!”, he said full of convincement. He sat down next to James, who couldn't keep his eyes of his rockstar.

“I made my show more phenomenal than it would've been anyway! At the same time I've settled an unnecessary fight!” James lifted an eyebrow. “You remember Birdie? We talked about her, that she might take my place and perform at Memorial Day....She was Virgil's star, too, and she's really good. I finally got to know her. We came closer to each other because of...what we feel for Virgil and I'm convinced we should overcome this together.” He made a pause to take a breath. James didn't flinch. “We'll perform together. I invited her today and she accepted and we have so many ideas...This is gonna be fantastic! The fans will go wild!” Nick looked at James with excitement in his eyes, searching for approval. “This is surely a surprise...” “Yeah! Nobody will expect this! The press keeps claiming we couldn't stand each other!” “Do you really want this?” James gave Nick an urgent look. Nick began to doubt. “What do you mean? Don't you like the idea? Do you want me to cancel it?”

James' expression became mild again. “Forgive me...I'm afraid  my inner therapist is breaking through again...I had to ask. I know that you're sometimes doing things because you feel guilty. Do you feel guilty because of Virgil?” And as so often, Nick took the question seriously and thought about it. “I don't know...It's not the same as with Morrie...It's not that I made him go anywhere dangerous...right?” Nick crossed his arms, pondering. Then he dismissed it with a shake of his head. “Actually, I've put up with it until you asked”, he said woefully. “I'm sorry, Nicky...I'm certain you're not to blame, but it's possible  you feel obliged to help Birdie.” Nick wiped an invisible lint from his suit. “Well...I wouldn't say 'obliged'...I feel sorry for her, that's true...But I also don't want us to part ways without any ado.” “This is indeed plausible”, James admitted. “I was afraid you do this because you think you can't make it alone.” Nick's expression darkened. “What's wrong with not being alone?” “You have us.” “Yeah, and you will be there, too! Everyone who matters to me will be there! This is going to be a fresh start!” “Does she matter that much to you?”, James asked quietly. “James!”, Nick blurted out, then he caught himself a bit. “Are you jealous?” The manager again didn't flinch. “I just don't understand why you want to impair your success.” “Impair?” “Did you never consider she could steal the show?” Nick boldly flashed his eyes at him. “Do you think I'm so unremarkable?” “No, but I don't know what to think about her.” “You can trust me, James”, Nick urged him. “Also, it's impossible to cancel it now. And I would turn her against me for sure.” James gave him a mysterious look. “In that regard, you can however trust me...” “No, James”, Nick suddenly said pleadingly. “Please, don't...” His eyes glazed over, then he closed them. His hands massaged his temples as if he had an headache. “Ah, well...”, his manager answered calmly. “If you want it this way, then this is what you'll get.” Nick opened his eyes again, slowly and blinking, taking notice of his surroundings again. “You...you're helping me?” James took Nick's hand. “I'm at your side, Nick.” Nick thankfully squeezed the comforting hand.

Jack kept his promise. When they presented the project to the band, he appeared to be excited about the idea and supported Nick wholeheartedly. Not that the band would've been very critical about it anyway. Just as Nick had guessed, they found everything smashing and he didn't know what their true opinion would've been. He regretted that he couldn't get through to them anymore but he comforted himself with the fact that he now had the chance to convince them that he was a good band leader and that he didn't exploit them. When they turned sober again, he would have enough proof and they hopefully wouldn't believe anymore that he had done something horrible to Virgil.

After all, he still liked their company. He could talk to Matt again as if they never had a fight, as if they were best friends again. He was moved by that every time. Chris began to show him tricks again, shared riffs with him and stayed with him for long jam sessions. He seemed to forget that Nick wasn't the inexperienced freshman anymore. In the old days he had learned a lot from the lead guitarist. Chris had taken him under his wing back then and Nick had gladly absorbed everything he was told and shown. He had admired Chris anyway. Later, the lead guitarist had claimed that Nick stole all his ideas. It hurt to think about it, but now it seemed to be obliterated. Nick was sure that real forgiveness would feel much better, but it still comforted him that they were friends again. Or even a family. Also Brad had unlearned all mistrust. He often hung around with Matt. The two had gotten along very well from the beginning, since him and Nick had joined the band. When Birdie finally visited them they simply came along. The band accepted her and they took their time to create their style. Nick was sure he had made the right decision.

Arthur looked around with a scowl on his face. He couldn't explain why the sight affected him that much. After all, it didn't change anything. Or did it? A part of him insisted on it, and that was why he could only let out a depressed sigh while his fingers ran along the cradle. The mobile hung above his head, brightly coloured and rather new, in contrary to the ones he had seen in many damaged houses in the Garden District. However, it was just as lonely as them. He assumed the child had a better fate than the ones in the past. Pondering, Arthur gave the mobile a little push. It began to dance, letting shadows flicker over the empty bed. He wondered how Sally was doing right now. How she managed to get out of town, with a baby. Why didn't she tell him?

Arthur punched the cradle in frustration. The next moment he was sorry about it. It wouldn't have changed anything. She got all the help she wanted. Thinking about the cod liver oil, he closed his eyes shut as if he could lock away the obvious. Not for an experiment, not a Sally whim... It wasn't proof that the baby was sick. It could've been pure precaution. Still, Arthur now believed to understand the trouble he had seen in her eyes. And the relief, when Nick offered her his help. Whatever Nick's true motive had been, Arthur wished he had acted more like him, wouldn't have made such a fuss about it. Not everyone wanted to prey on him, that's what it looked like now. She could've fucking said something!

Arthur had slumped down in a corner by now. Did she think he would betray her? Didn't she trust him, after everything they... No. Not again. He shook off the thought. But he wasn't a traitor. Did Nick know? Was that the reason why he had urged Arthur to help her? For a moment he felt betrayed. But no, Nick was just a Wellie. She wouldn't have risked that. Still, he couldn't help but to feel betrayed. She had a baby, from who knows who, and she left for good, leaving an emptiness that Arthur couldn't fill up with anything. But what was he thinking, he wondered. He didn't care about Sally anymore! The emptiness was created by Nick! He exhaled loudly. Oh, Nick... What had he said about concurrently love? In any case, it wasn't a state Arthur liked very much. Especially not after losing both of them. Finally, he struggled up again. Stop crying!, he scolded himself. You lost Sally long ago and you should've been smarter than getting involved with Nick! He had to keep on, clench his teeth. There was a lot to do.

Nick and Birdie goaded each other into giving their peak performance. Nick noticed how the other superstar's presence called him to discipline again and aroused his ambition. Nick didn't want her to steal the show by any means, and he was sure that she felt the same. They would both give their best. According to that, they were exhausted after every session. One night, Nick decided to show Birdie his secret lair. They both were a bit tipsy despite all the discipline and clung to each other while ascending the stairs. He ordered her to close her eyes as he tried for the right combination to open the secret entrance. The guitars on the wall looked a bit more blurry than usual, and it was harder to read the instructions. He succeeded after a few tries while Birdie convulsed with laughter because he couldn't open his own lair. She quickly stopped teasing him when she stood in the great hall.

“They're gigantic!”, she exclaimed, staring at the golden statues. “Are they turning or is that just me?” Nick laughed. “They're standing still. It must be you.” She punched his arm and he liked it. Going further, Nick proudly presented the next room. Birdie examined everything. “Wow, looks like hell broke loose in here!” Nick had fond memories of that. “And that is where you record your songs?” She pointed at the piece of equipment in the left corner. “Among other places”, Nick said. “I guess I created a lot of my greatest hits in here.” “Are they all yours?” She eyed his collection of LPs. “I guess so...” Nick scratched his head. “All my old songs should be here, too.” “How old?” “Ah...very old...” He searched them. Then he froze, holding a record in his hands and staring at it. “Oh...this is making me...I don't know...”, he slurred, fighting the upcoming sadness. “What's wrong? Are you sick?” Birdie was quickly by his side.

Nick pulled out the record and sighed. “It's our first album...I had it here...the whole time...” “Wow, are you sure?” Nick's unwellness was forgotten. “It's forbidden to remember, but sometimes I just have to...”, he said quietly. “They are happy memories”, Birdie pointed out. “Yeah...” Nick ran a finger over his own photo on the cover. “Is this you with sixteen?” “Yeah...”, Nick muttered. “Fancy hair”, she remarked. Nick had to smile. “I felt so free and wild with it...Hard to believe Virgil convinced me to change it.” “I guess the fashion changed.” She shrugged. “Probably...Virgil always kept me up to date...He had Davy to help him.” “Oh, yeah, he's helping us all...” She looked at the photo. “Who's idea was the moustache?” Nick scratched his neck. “I don't know...I guess it was mine...I always liked Morrie's...” He stopped. “He looks hot with it indeed”, she agreed and eyed Morrie's photo, that Nick hadn't dared to look at. “I know, right?”, Nick didn't hesitate to say. “I...think I had a soft spot for him once...”. She tried to remember. “He was always so mysterious.” “He didn't know how popular he really was”, he muttered, surprised that Birdie knew him. “Poor Morrie...”, she sighed. “Yeah...” Nick's face fell.

“Sorry, Nick...”, she quickly said. “I don't know, why I keep doing this. I can't have a normal conversation since...” “Since what?” Birdie winced. “That's...another unhappy memory.” “Hey, I won't melt, you can expect me to put up with it”, he assured her. “Well...” She crossed her arms. “A Downer attacked me once...I can't really close my mind anymore since then...” “Oh...right...” It downed upon Nick. “I...completely forgot about that...” “I should forget it too...We should talk about something else.” “Are you really okay?”, Nick asked softly. His guilty feelings weren't long in coming. She smiled again. “Virgil was with me a lot. He stood by me.” Nick could imagine that the manager's presence had been very comforting. “You meant a lot to him.” Birdie hugged herself again. “I hope so...” They looked at each other and Nick was sure he knew how she felt.

“It's not a bad thing to grieve. I'm grieving too. I also lost someone who had been precious to me”, he blustered out. “Sure...Morrie...Virgil...” She sounded uncertain. “And another one...”, Nick added. “I...liked them as much as you liked Virgil...” “I'm sorry...” For a while they fell silent. “We're some...funny chaps...”, Nick remarked, grinning a little. Birdie's mouth corners twitched as  well. “This is just between the two of us...”, she said and it sounded like a question. “Of course”, he answered without hesitation. “Hey, I have many illegal traits, you could just as well do the dirty on me.” “You know I wouldn't do that”, she said with a soft voice. Nick blinked. “Do I?” She looked at him. “Come on, Nick, put the record on.” “Yeah? You really want to hear that?” “I do. And I want you to dance with me. Let's be sixteen once again.”

There goes nothing, Nick thought. He had the feeling that dancing meant bad luck for him, after what happened the last time. But when he took her hand and saw her beaming at him, his sorrows melted away. They were still there, these people that simply radiated warmth, that made him feel that everything would be alright, that gave him back his strength and showed him that he could still do something right. Dancing with her was the best thing he could do right now. Only the two of them and the music. He could actually be sixteen again, dancing in a club, being free from all worries. She gave him this feeling and he enjoyed it. When the next song began they continued to dance, embracing each other because it was a ballad, and none of it felt wrong.