#nico looked so defeated the whole time

[puckinghischier]

i hope every single devils player except for nico hischier and luke hughes’ pillows are warm on BOTH sides tonight

i mean, they did play better during the second period and then still kept them from scoring again in the third…but c’mon y’all

i know you’re better than this 😭

[somewhereincairparavel]

just thinking about how Jason grace had his entire life molded from the day he was born, nothing in his life was authentic, even his own name was an offering to appease a goddess.

he also died being so distant from everyone he knew (don't get me wrong, I know he was friends with the 7, but If I'm being realistic here and go by canon, only Leo and Nico were actually "close" with Jason, and maybe Percy a bit) I mean, Annabeth took a long time to warm up to Jason and didn't trust him, Hazel never quite forgave jason for mistrusting nico (I'm still a lil bitter about this one lol bc she easily forgave Leo simply bc he's Sammy's great grandkid, and Leo's kinda the one who initiated the suspicion in the first place yet she got so mad at Jason for simply laying out the arguments and exerting caution?? Yeah I know she was upset that her brother was in danger but she never even gave Jason a chance even after nicos rescue, I'm not tryna blame Leo or anything but I think they BOTH should've been forgiven equally, esp since Jason's encouragement in house of hades fuelled nico to break out of his shell), Frank saw of Jason as more of a hero and looked up to him (still avenged his death tho so big W), Piper dumped him and canonically was outwardly bitchy/a little hostile to him after the breakup.

EVEN coach hedge and mellie were such jerks to him bc they assumed HE dumped Piper. Still wished Piper made it clear to them that the break up wasn't Jason's fault but ofc she didnt. TOA Piper is such an L

He never saw Leo again and never got to spend the summer with Nico in camp half blood like he planned to. His dad is a jackass and didn't shed a single tear at his death, his sister had her own life and he felt like she didn't need him anymore.

Reyna, Jason's childhood friend grew distant from him bc of her romantic feelings + the whole Venus mess (which is no fault of her's tho, mind you)

He never felt "at home" in camp Jupiter even after he got his memory back because all he did over there was military duties.

I don't think he got his full memory back properly either because, Percy had the gorgons blood but he didn't. I'm speculating this because he still felt very disconnected to Camp Jupiter and Rome.

He never got to do what he wanted, and even if he succeeded in defeating Caligula, jason STILL never would've gotten freedom, since he promised the minor gods that he'd build temples on their behalfs, and was Prontifex Maximus. He made a diorama and everything.

His Greek friends never made it to his funeral. They never got to say goodbye.

and as Apollo noted, he died with his fingers pointing, like he was still telling them all to escape without him. His chest was spewing out blood and jason still plucked up the energy to tell tempest to get Apollo and Piper to safety.

Jason Grace was born a Roman soldier, and died a Roman soldier, full circle. He never became a grandpa to his and piper's grandchildren like he wanted to.

[theformulaimagines]

Look at that woman (breaking my heart) | part four

Pairing: Lewis Hamilton x Vettel!Reader

Summary: For one and a half years Lewis and y/n managed to keep their relationship a secret, until it blew up in their faces. Now, they're trying their hardest to pick up the pieces...

Warnings: angst

masterlist

1 year ago…

vogueitalia has made a new post

liked by sebastianvettel, nicomanu, f1 and 643,928 others

vogueitalia: Y/N Vettel (@/y/nvettel) è la cover star del numero di agosto di #Vogueltalia fotografata da Banini. Leggi l'intervista completa, al link in bio e nel nuovo numero di Vogue Italia, in edicola dal 31 luglio.

view all other comments…

user 1: oh my fucking god

user 2: 😍😍😍😍

user 3: MOTHER!!!

nicomanu: stunning ❤️

user 4: now what is he doing here 🤨🤨🤨

user 5: 🤮🤮🤮

user 6: the coolest actually?!

Y/N takes a deep breath, while her frustrated gaze shifts from her screen toward Nico. He’s casually typing on his phone, another yawn escaping his lips. Stunning. Yeah, fucking right.

“I think it’s time for you to go now.”, she lets out, leaning back in the chair in her office. At that Nico’s blue eyes shoot up and move from her to the clock on the wall. He merely nods.

“Same time tomorrow?” As if she has a choice.

Her eyes linger on the door after her beloved “boyfriend” closed it behind him on his way out. There is this feeling, spreading in the pit of her stomach- almost like mold, or a virus… and it makes her feel like an idiot. The door turns blurry and before she knows it, hot tears are dwelling up in her eyes. She doesn’t want any of this.

She’s only doing it for Lewis ; this whole PR boyfriend situation. For his stupid reputation. God, maybe in her next life she can be more selfish and immature about those things. However for now she is just taking what she can get.

y/nvettel is making a post

y/nvettel: happiest birthday to -

Her fingers hover over her phone screen as she stops typing. She’s been avoiding him, kinda. Is Lewis noticing that too? Y/N’s eyes scan the pictures. That’s her man. He told her that himself. But she couldn’t possibly make a birthday-post like this right now. She sighs in defeat and presses ‘save as draft’ before putting the phone down, only to pick it up again.

A moment later she hears his voicemail.

Y/N clears her itchy throat:” Hi, Lew. I’m sorry that I can't be there today- to be honest with you things have been a bit rough lately. I still hope you’re having a great day with your family and friends- love you, always. And I am so proud of you and everything that you have done in your life up to this point- I… yeah, love you. Happy Birthday.”

Shit.

[cynthiav06]

Percy is a dude from the category of screaming "what the hell did you do!" and solve all the problems in 5 minutes. Everyone would have been dead a long time ago if it wasn't for him.

I have mixed opinions on this. On one hand, Percy is the type of person to wait about for the problem to disappear by itself just so he doesn't have to deal with it. Cause even before he found out he was a demigod, he was 100% done with everyone's shit.

But I do agree that he would be able to solve all problems because through so many books we have seen that no matter how much prior planning Annabeth or the Seven or anyone else does, Percy always does his own thing at the end. And it works out mostly for the better than whatever initial situation anyone else had in mind because Percy thinks almost too well on his feet. Every time.

But Percy has such low self esteem that he sees the fact that he has to make so many improvisations more so as his plans never working as less so as an exceptional ability to adapt. Especially when at times he can easily sense that some titan/giant is too powerful so he maneuvers around a direct fight and ends up defeating them by pure strategy and still ends up thinking of himself as "Oh shit I seriously had no plans. I am so reckless and stupid".

His whole character arc could have been evolving into a more confident and self assured but still the usual sarcastic laid back version of himself who no longer doubts his own abilities and becomes the great leader he showed many signs of being. But no, Rick had to ruin it all because, for some reason, 10+ books later and almost all the characters are still the same, just decorated with even more trauma. Rick being Rick, and instead of showing characters working out their traumas and insecurities, he just slaps a relationship on them, and lo and behold, all is better again somehow.

I am kind of disappointed that we never got to see Percy or any other members of the Seven do any solo missions(aside from Annabeth in MoA) . She almost had the very quintessential realization about she needs others and how her hubris will ruin everything if she doesn't keep it in check only for whatever she was doing in the later parts House of Hades and all of Chalice of the Gods to take away even that little bit of character development.

And cause solo missions working out perfectly well for Percy while most other demigods struggle a bit to make it work might finally make him realize that his plans don't suck and he is actually a really really good strategist and somehow an even better manipulator. (Though more on that and his observational skills later).

Or make characters like Frank and Leo whose unique abilities and perspectives on combat could have been shown off more, making them all become more self-reliant.

And even so we could finally get proper idea of limits of certain characters like Piper (cause charmspeak isn't going to get her everywhere) or Hazel (we so need more scenes of her surprising demigods and monsters with not only her unique jewel abilities and her magic.) Plus Nico's combat limits, Jason's stamina limits (no I am not considering that part of canon, you can't tell me it's true, I refuse to stand by it), Thalia's character development as well as her honing her powers and combat abilities more.

So yeah, we really should have gotten a few solo missions instead of so many short stories and all. And a bit more cross-over highlighting the power levels between the Norse, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian demigods/magicians/Valhalla residents/Valkyrie and so on.

To sum it up, tons of missed opportunities by Riordan and even more tragic and terrible progression of previously great characters who just needed a well-made character arc or even some favoritism. (I am looking at Grover and Rachel, who both could have done so so much if Rick had only realized the awesome potential they had).

I have said it many times that it's #percy jackson supremacy. So hell yes everyone would be dead without him, and he is arguably the best protagonist out of any other fantasy action book series. All hail Percy Jackson, the master of sass, and the most beloved but somehow still the most misinterpreted character in the fandom. Really liked this ask, would love more of these regarding Percy or any other characters.

[nemotakeit]

It always mega bothers me too, when people theorize that Clancy or the Torchbearer will die. Blurryface/Nico is an avatar of Tyler's inner demons, so it would completely go against the message of TOP's songs, if he won in the end!

tw// depression & suicide

Yes exactly, I think people sometimes get lost in the epic spectacle of it all and forget that this story is at its core an allegory of battling your mental illness. Tyler and Josh have always been staunch advocates of promoting life over death and have clearly expressed their hatred toward the glorification of suicide. If this was any other story, one of them dying could just be a possible but tragic cliché but we're talking about fighting depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies etc here. Deaths have already appeared TOO MUCH onscreen, look at all those desecrated bodies of the glorious gones. Ending it with one of the boys' characters' death on top of that would dangerously defeat the whole purpose of the hopeful message they're trying to convey - it's simply too bleak!!

Like I said in another post, I'm fine with the idea of Clancy's (or Torch's) sacrifice AS LONG AS he "comes back to life" and not just. die for shock value. But personally I think a more probable direction this story will take is Tyler/Clancy finally saving himself at the end unlike the other times Josh/Torchbearer saved him because this story is about "a balance between being saved by a friend, and saving yourself" as quoted from the band.

I highly doubt they're going to give the story a clear-cut closure happily ever after style, but they certainly won't kill off one of the protagonists for tragedy's sake either. “It’s not a problem to solve, it’s a tension to manage.” And they'll manage the tension well for the clique to find glimmers of hope in it. Not mourn for another neon gravestone.

so STOP SAYING THEY'RE GONNA DIE PEOPLE

[lfghughes]

Can we get dad!nico surprising his daughter on her birthday because he was away for a game and wasn’t meant to fly back until the day after but managed to get there early in the morning before she even woke up? I just know he’d show up with a bunch of gifts he picked up on his trip on top of what they already decided to buy her for her birthday

a/n: 100% nico would be that kind of dad. i also believe he would definitely end up getting her or at least trying to get her the pet shes been asking for

If there was one thing about Nico it was that he would move mountains for his daughter. He had proved that plenty of times during the past five years and today was no exception. Telling your four year old that her favorite person in the whole world wouldn’t be home for her birthday was not easy. You could actually see it tearing Nicos heart when he explained he would be away for work. The small pout that grew on her lips as she nodded her head at him only made it worse. “Daddy will make sure to call you though okay?”

After he had gotten done with explaining it all to her, you placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, the look on his face showing just how defeated he felt in that moment. But again, he would move mountains for her so it shouldn’t have surprised you when the morning of your daughters fifth birthday he had shown up bright and early before she even woke up. He did not show up empty handed either. There were plenty of bags and you knew not all of them had his hockey gear in them.

“First of all, how did you manage to pull this off? Second, how many gifts did you get? She already has all the ones we got lost week!” You told him, pointing to the kitchen counter where you had already wrapped up all her presents that were now just patiently waiting on the counter for her to wake up. “I just kept seeing things she would like and I couldn’t get that little pout of my head.” He explained to you and a small smile spread on your lips. “I think her favorite present is going to be you being here.”

Both of you went up to her room, Nico gently sitting on the edge of her bed as he woke her up. “Hey, birthday princess.” Your little one stirred away and the minute her eyes saw her father she jumped into his arms. “Daddy!!” She squealed as her small arms wrapped around him. “But mommy said you weren’t coming to my birthday party today.” She pointed out, still trying to figure out how you had gotten here. “Don’t worry, daddy is going to be at your birthday party. Also uncle Jack and uncle Dawson sent some presents for you.”

Immediately her face lit up and you weren’t exactly sure if it was the word presents that caused that reaction or the names of her favorite uncles. “Let’s go downstairs.” He lifted her up in his arms as she giggled. “Daddy is going to make some breakfast for you and mommy and you get to open all those presents we got you.” At his words she immediately started clapping her hands in excitement. “Did I get a baby kitty this year?” She asked and a laugh left your lips because she only decided last night that she needed one and you knew by tonight she would need something completely different. “Nope, but I’m sure there’s still plenty of time left in the day to see about that one.”

[hischierdevils]

Valentine | N.H.

note: I was listening to Valentine by 5SOS and have been in a nico mood so here you go

summary: nico questions your relationship on valentine’s day

warnings: slight angst, miscommunication

wc: 1.3 K

It started with a comment from Dawson, he was innocently talking about his Valentine’s day plans with Jack and John when Nico had walked into the locker room. “What are you doing for your girl, cap?” Dawson asked once he saw who had joined them.

Nico shrugged as he sat down on his bench. “We don’t celebrate it. Y/n doesn’t care.” This would be your third Valentine’s Day together and he’s never so much as bought you a card. You never said anything, so he assumed the two of you were on the same page about the made up holiday.

“Are you sure she doesn’t care?” Dawson asks. “Or has she just accepted that you don’t?” He doesn’t mean anything by the question, but it sends Nico into a spiral. Do you want him to do something for you? Have you just been too nice to say something?

Before practice starts, he corners Yegor in the hallway. “Can I ask you something?” Shara nods and Nico continues. “Are you doing anything for Darya today?”

Yegor gives his captain a weird look. “Of course, it’s valentine’s day? She just had Christian and she needs to know how special she is.” He looks even more confused when Nico sighs. “Did you forget?”

“Yeah, something like that.” Have you been silently resenting him this whole time? You were sleeping when he left this morning, barely opening your eyes as he kissed you goodbye. Were you pretending to be asleep because you didn’t want him to disappoint you again?

His thoughts drive him crazy as he overanalyzes every reaction he’s had with you this week. He thought he knew you well enough to know if something was bothering you. He thought you trusted him enough to tell him anything. Was he that terrible of a boyfriend?

Needless to say, Nico’s a little more frustrated in practice than usual. He takes out a little too much of that frustration on Dawson as they practice the penalty kill, sending him to the ice hard. “What the hell man?” He groans as he gets up. Nico mumbles a sorry before skating away.

He’s the last one off the ice for practice, pushing his body as much as he physically can as he tries to figure out his thoughts. He’s come to the conclusion that he needs to do something for you today, but he fears it might be too late. Everything is surely booked already.

His misery only continues as he walks into the locker room and is greeted by a picture on Tomas’ phone. Veronicka is holding a beautiful bouquet of red flowers. “The Devs sent all the girls flowers.” Nate holds up his phone as well, showing Jessica received them too. Nico internally groans. Now he’s competing with his own organization?

He stops at the store on his way home which is packed with men doing last minute shopping just like him. Guilt washes over him as he stares at the bare, picked-over shelves. You don’t deserve something he picked up last minute on the way home from work. You deserve to know how wonderful you are. How much he loves you and appreciates you being in his life. He leaves the store empty handed, feeling completely defeated.

Your apartment is quiet when he walks in and he’s immediately greeted by the large bouquet of flowers that the Devils sent you on the entryway table. Your name is scrawled on the card along with a cheesy message that probably made you smile. He feels awful, wishing he could be the one to do that for you.

“Nico?” Your soft voice calls from the kitchen and he hesitates to answer, trying to figure out if there's any sign of sadness in your voice. “Is that you?”

“Yes, were you expecting someone else?” He regrets the words as soon as he says them, walking down the hallway to the kitchen. You’re probably hoping for a nicer boyfriend, one that actually gets you flowers on valentine’s day.

“No, my other boyfriend just left actually.” You call back with a laugh. He knows you're joking but it hurts all the same. “What do you want to make for dinner?”

His heart soars as he steps into the kitchen and finds you standing by the counter scrolling on your ipad. Your hair is up in a messy bun, you're wearing leggings and one of his sweatshirts but the sight of you still takes his breath away. When he doesn’t answer, you look up at him expectantly. The two of you always cook together when he’s home.

“Ni?” You start to frown as you look at him, wondering if he didn’t hear you. “Dinner?”

He hates the thought of disappointing you. “I can take you out.”

His tone catches you off guard and you raise an eyebrow at him. “Are you asking me or telling me?”

“I’ll do whatever you want.” He wants to eliminate the distance between you, pull you into his arms and hold you tightly but he’s not sure if that’s what you want.

“I’d rather stay home.” You turn your attention back to the ipad. “I found this new recipe we could try.”

“You don’t have to say that just because you know that's what I want.” He tells you suddenly. “I’ll do whatever you want to do.”

You set the ipad down on the counter and stare at him. “I just told you what I want.”

“We can dress up.” He says, trying to think of a plan on the spot. “I’ll take you to dinner. And a movie!”

“Nico, what is going on?” He’s usually an open book, letting you read every emotion on his face. The mood he’s in now is something you haven’t seen before.

“It’s valentine’s day.”

“I know. The Devils sent me flowers.” Guilt washes over him again. “Did you se-”

“I’m so sorry.” He chokes out. “I should’ve gotten you flowers, a card, a puppy, something…I should’ve made you feel special. I didn’t know you cared about valentine's day.”

You move around the counter quickly, stepping into his embrace before he can even finish his sentence. “I don’t care, Ni. We’ve never celebrated it before.”

He holds you tightly, hiding his face in your hair as you rub soothing circles on his back. “But I should've.” he explains. “I should show you how much I love you.”

You pull away from him and he’s surprised to find that you’re smiling. “You do show me. You show me every day.”

When he gives you a confused look you keep going “You put a towel in the dryer every morning before you leave because you know I hate being cold. You always fill my car up with gas before you leave for a roadie. You fill up my water bottle for me every night before bed in case I get thirsty in the middle of the night. You always let me have the last bite of food even if it’s your favorite.” Your chest is heaving from talking so fast. You could go on and on about the things he does for you.

“I’m just being nice.“ Nico shrugs. He’s never really given much thought to those things before. He does them because he loves you, yes, but he never realized you noticed.

“Because you love me and I love you.” You insist as you circle each of his wrists with your hands. “I don’t need you to buy me flowers or chocolate just to tell me that.”

The stress he’s put himself through all morning ebbs away as you look at him. Hands still on your face, he bends down to kiss you. “I fall more in love with you every day.” He says pressing his forehead to yours. “Du wirst eines Tages meine Frau sein.”

You smile, only catching a few german words that you know. “Can we circle back to the puppy?”

“Who mentioned a puppy?” Nico pulls away from you and tries to change the topic. “What recipe did you find?” 

You laugh and kiss his jaw. “I love you, Ni.”

You’re going to be my wife someday

[we-ezer]

Ennead X PJO Crossover

I know Rick Riordan *has* an Egyptian gods series, but I've never read it so take my yaoi fanfiction instead.

Set used to be a guardian god and being the god of foreigners as well, Hermes (aka FG or 'Foreigner God') asks Set to take care of Luke after the war (Percy and Luke still defeat Kronos together but Luke isn't killed) because the council voted to execute him. In a bid to save his son, Hermes prays to Set to come and supervise a banishment/exile instead to Egypt. Set, being a very powerful foreign god with a favor to repay to Hermes, swings his weight around on Olympus (the Olympians being very aware Set performed a successful coup on his own pantheon i.e. fuck Osiris) to do so. Percy also voices his support for this, reminding them that without Luke's help they wouldn't have won. The council agrees and Luke is taken with Set back to Egypt.

Flash forward to a year later and the second prophecy comes about. Luke and Set are mentioned in the prophecy as making the journey with the Seven aboard the Argo II. Luke is very uncomfortable being there, but Hera was the one to request his and Set's presence with a potential promise to lighten his sentence. The other gods are in no state to argue seeing as they are stuck between their Greek and Roman forms.

By now, Set and Luke have a surprisingly good relationship of father and son (over the year they spent together Luke realized how different Set is from other gods- even other Egyptian gods bc he cares about children. Although, like Hades, he is cast as a villain bc of his domains and temper... and the whole coup thing), so Set is glaring at anyone who looks at Luke even a little bit funny.

Percy is excited to see Luke again, but Annabeth is very hesitant. Over the course of the journey, Percy and Luke reconcile with one another, Luke having has time to rethink his actions. Set goes about adopting the entire crew (when he's not intimidating the heck out of them at first), especially Nico and Hazel bc they feel like his son Anubis.

ALT direction is Percy gets exiled to Egypt's desert bc the gods fear him and so he doesn't have access to water and Set adopts this rando demigod wandering around his land.

That's all I got!

[xproskeith]

This is an excerpt from something I wrote that I thought people may appreciate on its own:

Clancy was determined. He was going to find Nico and defeat him and the rest of the bishops. He was going to break the cycle. He had no problem using the power he'd been granted to swiftly handle the 7 other bishops. He was ready for Nico.

Or so he thought. When Nico burst through that door, Clancy froze. And then Nico's cold hands were around his neck. It happened so fast. Did Nico really move that fast? Or did it only seem that way because he froze when he finally saw Nico? Clancy couldn't be sure and in the end the answer didn't change anything anyway. Clancy closed his eyes, trying to gather himself and what he would do next. What he COULD do next. Then Nico began to speak, his monotone voice distorted and as cold as ice.

"So few..."

Memories of the banditos getting ready at the basecamp flooded Clancy's mind. Before the attack. There were so few compared to what they would be facing. Yet, they were all so resolved. They believed. In the cause, in the Torchbearer, and in Clancy. But there were still so few...

"So proud..."

Clancy's mind drifted to the Torchbearer. His first time seeing him after his escape. When he rescued Clancy from DEMA. All the times he fervently told him about the Banditos and the cause. How he stood there looking at him so proudly when they reunited at the fire back in Trench after his long journey. He was so proud. Of the cause, of the Banditos, and, for some reason Clancy still didn't understand, the Torchbearer was proud of him as well. He believed in him. But this is where Clancy found himself now... Clancy felt the antlers slip from his hands.

"So... Emotional..."

To Clancy's own surprise, he thought of himself in this moment. He thought back to the surges of emotion that spurred him to first try and escape DEMA and of the journal entries and letters he wrote. He remembered being enflamed by the Torchbearer's words and his cause. More so than even the other Banditos. His desire to defeat the bishops and Nico. Yet all he could feel in this moment was fear and despair.

"Hello, Clancy."

It felt like Nico's hands tightened around Clancy's neck. What was he going to do? He'd already released the antlers. He couldn't use the power he'd been granted. Nico had him. Clancy thought he'd been ready, but he wasn't. He froze. And now his chance was gone. It was over.

His eyes still closed, and lost in a sea of his own fear and anxiety, Clancy's mind found respite when it drifted to the memory of him and the Torchbearer's reunion.

---

"You're finally ready," said the Torchbearer, handing him the mask. "I knew you'd push on through and make it back safely."

Clancy looked at The Torchbearer, somewhat confused as reality kicked in.

"You were never there?" asked Clancy, not fully comprehending what was going on.

The Torchbearer smiled warmly and reassuringly at Clancy and said, "I told you I'd always be by your side going forward. Even if I can't be there physically, I'll still be there. I'll always help guide you like I did this whole time."

"But you couldn't physically get to me until now?"

"Unfortunately, no. After the bishops recaptured you again with their plans to use you, they made it impossible to get to you physically. But I was still able to project myself to you and with a little help from Keons, I was able to help guide you out."

"I see. Well, thank you. But how are you so sure I'm ready to face them now? I just barely escaped and made it back here."

A grin spread across The Torchbearer's face. "You may not fully realize it, but you're ready. You've changed and I've borne witness to it. You were able to harness the same power as the bishops, sure, but the most important part has been that change in YOU."

"I guess I'll have to take your word for it," said Clancy, laughing nervously.

"Trust me," said The Torchbearer. "When the time comes, you'll be ready and you'll know what to do."

---

That's right. Clancy couldn't give up. Not yet. He had to find a way out of this. Another way to stand and fight. Clancy had no idea how he was going to do it, but his resolve had never been stronger. Nico thought those words would discourage him, but instead they empowered him by reminding him of everything he was fighting for.

[capricioussuns]

Okay, re: what does the blue symbolize, I found this amazing lore masterpost on reddit that's provided a lot of much needed clarity

Apparently Blurryface stated blue means defeat, but I don't necessarily believe that, at least not completely

In one of the secret messages, a file had a hexcode hidden that was Claim Cyan, an anagram of I am Clancy, looking very similar to Vessels colors

And lastly, Trash, who is blue, was said to represent inspiration, fear, and magic, which makes me lean back toward believing, ultimately, blue symbolizes...essentially their experiences as a band/being perceived and everything that comes with it.

I think it's possible blurryface could've said it means defeat to imply being crushed under the pressure of expectation, perhaps..? Or just lied. We're still not necessarily certain what exactly blurryface wants, though in the recent mvs we outright see the bishops utilizing the dead to fight against the banditos, weaponizing "the glorious gone" like Tyler sings about in a more symbolic way on Neon Gravestones. Maybe he purely wants Tyler to die and inflict as much collateral damage as possible on the way out..? I don't know if it's necessarily that clear cut, that's not the impression I get anyway.

Especially as we watch Clancy become more obsessed with ending this, resorting to using the color red himself, ignoring warning signs, etc etc. And Tyler had apparently said in an interview the "big fight" happens after the Paladin Strait mv. So I'm not convinced Clancy is the last chapter. I saw a theory that mentioned believing this is actually a two part album, and the second half will be called "...is dead", regarding the phrase Clancy is Dead Dema frequently used to try and break morale.

But that's the odd thing. Clancy is an exception. The only living who can be used as a vessel. What if he’s actually been "dead" the entire time? But what would that even mean? Has Tyler been Seizing him this whole time as a means to escape and avoid facing Nico himself? Is the next album going to be about the realization, putting Clancy's body to rest, and finally facing things as Tyler? "I created this world to feel some control, destroy it if I want"...

Maybe the album would be blue not to symbolize the pressures they feel as a band, but to bring them back to reality. Leaving Trench. No banditos, no bishops, a band and their fans and their struggles. That would certainly be an interesting way to close it out, especially given that's an entirely well rounded way to open them up to creating new music beyond this story again (not that they're. Not allowed to do that now, but I'd imagine Tyler feels a lot of pressure since he knows fans will read into anything they do looking for clues about this story)

Man. I'm so cooked. I just keep thinking about this and them. Ough

[valdangelodreams]

AU #16 (The Valley)

brains are incredible things, really, mine makes the funkiest connections.

anyway, Stardew Valley au, but not really

-no Ogygia, ie: Leo doesn't meet Calypso

-instead, Leo falls into this odd, definitely in a different plane of existance, little town

-he's found by 'the farmer' (would that count as self insert? it wasn't me in the dream)

-the farmer lets him stay in exchange for help with farm chores

-Leo gets to meet the townies, only he's like, hyperaware that he doesn't belong here, and that this place is fake

-so he notices the weirder things, like the gift related stuff, and the repeated dialogues

-though he does find about the wizard, and while he knows talking to them won't help, he might find something in their house that will

-so he had to do a whole thing abt befriending the wizard as quick as possible, while still looking for other ways to get out

-all this while normal plot stuff happens back in the ship

-then, during one of the nights he spends there, he manages to dream walk into one of the 7's dreams, but can't get their attention

-he figures out how he did it and tries again and again, until eventually he reaches Nico, who was his last resort

-Nico obvs responds, cause I think he had the dream walking ability in the books (if not, he has it for this au)

-the two discuss Leo's situation, and how to get him out of there so he can go back to saving the world

-during these exchanges Leo finds out the valley is in a time bubble (days last minutes, weeks hours, months days) , and he can make time go faster by going to sleep, because every time he wakes up the next day.

-also, he starts growing comfortable with Nico, taking turns in each of their mindscapes, and slowly becoming close

-I have no idea how he gets out of there, but he does eventually

-when he returns, Nico seeks him out while he's fixing stuff, and it's a little awkward but they manage to start talking

-Leo invites Nico to hang out with him instead of in the crow's nest, since Leo barely sees the others unless he seeks them out

-they become friends first, but both start seeing the other differently, and realizing that they like what they see

-I don't know how fate would correct the lack of the promise, but I'm sure y'all can figure it out

-also, I didn't get to see the resolution, but I like to think they get together after Gaia's defeated

that's all

[bagopucks]

Highlight Reels

The boys in Minecraft

Jack Hughes - He is definitely the one everybody yells at endlessly to get in bed. Everybody else is waiting, wasting their time, and Jack is doing whatever he pleases. If a group of the boys is in the living room, they’re all screaming at him to get his shit together and lay down. Jack will randomly hit people. It’s just his thing, but the issue is that he has a whole pack of dogs, and sometimes he forgets they’re not all seated. So Jack has his hitting privileges revoked in the world settings. When he and his brothers get into arguments, Jack takes his bed to another home. Usually Cole’s, and ignores them for a while. Unbeknownst to him, it helps Quinn and Luke get things done faster.

Quinn Hughes - The miner. He’s the one who collects the essentials and mines for ores everybody needs to make better items. He plays the game as one is technically supposed to, going to the nether then the end to defeat the dragon. Though, he’s patient if everybody wants to play for fun and do whatever. He likes making farms, and he likes having a dog. He won’t go outside at night, not wanting to risk whatever he has XP wise or in his item bar. He helps Luke when it comes to construing the house, giving his opinion on stairs and colors, and what materials would look cool. Their home doesn’t always look the best because of it, and Jake likes to whine about it, but Quinn never cares.

Luke Hughes - Luke loves building houses. He’s also one to do a little bit of everything. He helps Quinn mine sometimes, or collect wood. He likes to explore too, and is the only one who really knows how to use the coordinates if the boys don’t have maps. Which means he’s usually the one helping Quinn or Jack find their way home. He does not put up with Jack’s nonsense like Quinn, and before Jack couldn’t hit people, he was always killing Jack for every little thing. The Hughes boys all have horses, that Luke tamed, and he’s usually the one feeding them as well. He likes to save the apples from chopped down trees for them.

Trevor Zegras - He does whatever Jack does. He and Jamie share a house. Probably a tree house that Jamie built. They have separate bedrooms, but they’re always having sleepovers. Trevor has a dog, but he also has a lot of cats, and a parrot. He also has a random llama farm, and randomly talks to villagers through the screen when they come across a village. He pulls his weight by tending the crops after the fifth time Jamie asks him to. It’s a very tense household they share. Other than that, Trevor is a stay at home roommate. Practically useless for anything other than putting up large and annoying paintings.

Cole Caufield - Has his own home.. probably a fortress. Cole is the player to go silent for extended amounts of time, only to show back up with diamonds or a new extension to his house. He lives somewhere between the Zegras-Drysdale home, and the Hughes home. He’s the home they all visit when they need anything they didn’t think of stocking up on, though Cole usually makes them trade for it, or they owe him later. Trevor and Jack frequent Cole’s house for sleepovers as well. Cole has a good eye for aesthetics and decorating his house on the inside and the outside. And a weird fascination with the axolotls.

Nico Hischier - He’s still learning how to play. He has a room in the Hughes’ home, but he is barely on as it is. When Nico is on, he’s asking a million questions. Quinn has taken him under his wing. Nico knows not to visit Trevor, because Trevor likes to trade whatever Nico has for random useless things, and overall give him a hard time. Nico loves the animals, and likes to build little farms. He also loves putting out flowers, usually little roses because they’re Devils colors.

Jamie Drysdale - Jamie hates Trevor’s cats, because he can never get into his chests when said cats are on top of them. He has been known to make a cat or two disappear when Trevor is gone. Jamie contemplates shoving Trevor out of their treehouse balcony and killing him every chance he gets. Jamie is a labored man trying to enjoy a simple game. But he loves cooking the food, and making cakes, which in turn usually make him want a physical cake. He’s gotten to know the Hughes boys through the game, and he enjoys talking to Jack. Jamie is the one person Jack won’t torment. They have good conversations, and go on fun adventures together. Jamie helps Quinn mine sometimes when Luke won’t go, and always shares his items. He has one dog he named after Daisy -the team dog-, and it has a little yellow collar.

[rxyhiraeth]

thoughts on pjo ep 6

also SPOILERS FOR PJO

i’m just kinda getting all my thoughts out on this episode! it was very interesting and VERY different from the books but not in a terrible way! i trust uncle rick with this show and im more so just curious why some things were changed from the books so much, and im sure a lot of these are going to be answered themselves in these last 2 episodes.

i also love hearing everyone’s ideas about what is going to happen from this point on cause ik even book fans are LOST

no zebra moment! i can’t think of any other moments in TLT that would give us time to learn about percy being able to talk to them, so this is probably going to get brought up for the first time with the hippocampi in SOM which actually works out. i would have loved to see this scene, but i can get that it would have taken up a good chunk of time, and for production reasons probably had to be skipped for now or entirely cut from the season.

clarisse?? traitor?? *LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER NOISE* i have my thoughts on why they did this, but also not?? i figured they did this to balance out the conversation percy and annabeth have with hermes about luke in order to take some attention away from it as to not make it TOO obvious he is the real traitor, but also why even have that conversation about luke in the first place then?? idk. i’m not sure if this is something that will be explained or make more sense with the rest of the season, and if not, i hope uncle rick can explain why this choice was made. there are so many choices in this episode that i would love to hear explained as to why they decided on it!

going off the last point, i do feel like they are slightly forcing the luke is the traitor point for the audience. we never got this much about luke in the books while they were on their quest, and even when he was talked about, nothing really pointed in the direction of him being the traitor. maybe im just an idiot but i remember the luke reveal being pretty shocking! i hope they don’t force it too much and allow everyone to guess it before the reveal even happens! maybe this is just me wanting it to be just like the books, but i guess they do need to hint at it here and there in ways the books didn’t?

also am a little weary about the “old married couple” comment. i hope they don’t speedrun their relationship. this is a SLOWBURN i hope it stays this way!

i get not having poker face in the casino. rick HATES those movies and probably wants to make this as different as possible while still being accurate to the books. honestly tho, dua lipa was a good ass choice. i can’t complain about that.

HELLO I HEAR NICO!!!!

also CAMP JUPITER CAMPERS???? MAYBE???

besides being confused as to why the casino scene itself was pretty different from the books, it was a great event regardless. extremely well produced and was so fun to look at and watch for little details with everyone in the background. that being said, i was hoping for a bit more of a montage type scene. percy and annabeth didn’t get to have any real fun like in the books, it was mostly all grover. i don’t really know shit about production of tv shows and such, but i’m shocked the casino scene was changed this much from the book. but uncle rick i trust you wholeheartedly.

i did love them using the casino card to get a taxi to santa monica, but the hermes taxi in this was better. i was giggling the whole time. percy “i fought and killed a minotaur how hard can driving be” jackson my sweet child. and percy running the taxi into the damn wall because he was busy looking at annabeth??? love them so much

the only two things that REALLY confused me as they are changing major plot points:

1: 4 pearls?

2: the solstice is OVER??

the 4 pearls defeats the whole purpose of them arguing about who is going to stay in the underworld. either this plot point is going to change a lot, OR they are going to lose one of the pearls on the way, but if that is the case, what’s the point of giving them 4 if they are still going to end up with 3? i’m assuming it is going to be the former option, as getting 4 just to lose 1 for the sake of it doesn’t make much sense.

solstice??? over??? i’m very confused on this. this feels like it defeats the whole purpose of continuing the quest, but obviously percy is still determined to get sally (king), so we aren’t just ending the quest. i’m curious to see how these two plot points effect the rest of the season and why these were chosen instead of keeping the original plot!

overall i did really like this episode!! obviously it was very different from the book, but we can’t expect this entire show to be EXACTLY like the book. i would love to hear rick talk about a lot of the choices made throughout the season and why they were done. he has seemed very proud of this show and how it has played out, so i trust him with whatever he decides to do with it.

also if you have thoughts on the reasoning behind any of these changes PLS I WANNA KNOW

[meowunmeow]

Undead Unluck Chapter 199 Spoilers!!

This is Part 2. Part 1 here

I can't tell who's the first one, can anyone tell me their guesses?

Juiz using Unjustice because all War is about hurting others so he's hurting himself!! She really said "if you wanna kill so bad then kill yourself".

SHORT HAIRED JUIZ YIPPEEE fighting Justice no less. No wonder she decided on duelling and nothing else.

Omg full mask Juiz 😳😳 stabbing Sick right in the chest lol. That explains why he was so arrogant in the Sick Arc, he's facing a new opponent.

Once again with the whole "Soul sees humans as equals instead of lesser beings". But that might explain why he's the first seat outside of being the eldest daughter, he's smarter than the rest.

Aww the makeshift sling from Haruka's apron 🥹

So while Luna and Soul were having a chat, Top was having a soul meetup before dragging Beast around the Earth several times.

But hmm... "Bunch of athletes I respected"... Could it be they gain Unstoppable only after becoming professional athletes? They probably had to give up their passion for the sake of not hurting others under the guise of retiring early :((

For a moment, he looked like his old self aww :,))

And woo!! Julia got her Panpanda wallet back!!

So it seems that Julia was already told who the remaining recruitments are (Kururu, Backs, Tatiana but my coping ass wants to believe that Feng and Lucy are included too and Ruin too... I guess...) as well as who's next

Haruka forcefully making Top's tsundere ass nod is peak buff girlfriend activity

Fuuko is either predictable or Soul is just too insightful. Either way, I love these double panels.

And yippee!! Soul upgrade for everyone!! Knowing Tozuka-sensei, he'd probably make it a timeskip again, oh well...

WHOA

HUHHHH??!?!??

Anyone who predicted that Language Arc would have a communication issue and give Tella a chance to shine because of his communication speciality are definitely kicking their feet and giggling rn

BUT YEAHHH IM SO HYPED

Oh damn at least there's a cooldown, unless that she's attacking them while they have this debuff. That would be so sick, like they have to rely on fighting without an important aspect - communication - as well as fight against the clock. Man, I'm so hyped!!

12 hours of silent battle AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

WHOA WHOA WHOA... ICHICO SPOTLIGHT AGAIN??? YIPPEEE I MISS HERRRR

And aww Nichico moment spotted!!

Looks like she went beyond simple astral projection if she's this much of a threat to them...

I like to think the reason is actually more petty in the loop is because Nico defeated her easily in a 1v1 match in the previous loop and she's so salty that she wants to kill his future wife and prevent Mico's conception as well as make him extra depressed Ghost Arc style

And we don't exactly know the extent of Lan's ability either... But seeing how a lab member is bleeding from the mouth and she's sitting on him so nonchalantly and Nico looks so wary... I'm excited to know

That's all for now, I can't wait for the Language Arc to start! IM A NERD FOR LANGUAGE IF YOU CANT TELL ALREADY EHEHEHEHE

[starlightshadowsworld]

Pre HOO Jason just casually usurping his father for the Olympian throne.

And everyone's like oh how typical of a son of Zeus... Jupiter(?) always searching for power.

Jason's just like "you think I wanted this? We've been lodging complaints for years because you guys never visit us.

If I didn't do this the 1st cohort were gonna sacrifice Steve, and no one wants that especially not Steve.

So we held a vote, and well..." He sighs like someone who's just done with everything. "Everyone voted for me, even Octavian so you know shit is fucked.

Anyway, I'm in charge because you sir are bad at it like... terrible at it. Don't worry I'll give it back, once you sort out your... Everything."

Zeus/Jupiter is pissed as all heck but Poseidon calls a vote and shockingly everyone votes in favour of Jason.

Jason is just yay my plan is working but also... Why me?!

"Why did they vote you?" Asks Annabeth.

Jason shrugs "apparently other than Reyna who said no way, I'm the only other one who has 'common sense' and won't 'fuck things up anymore than usual.'

Apparently keeping a bunch of Romans from burning down camp every other week, makes me qualified to lead. The whole lead them into battle against Krios only made it worse."

Annabeth blinks, before nodding "no yeah, makes sense. I'm Annabeth Chase."

"Jason, Jason Grace.... Erm is she okay?" He points to Thalia who is just trying to process everything.

"Oh she's fine, just a lot to take in. She's my sister, well our sister Thalia Grace." Says Annabeth, having figured it out already.

Jason grins "no way?! Really?" He frowns "hey wait Nico told me she was a tree?" Annabeth snorts "it's a long story."

That he can agree with.

"Soo... What should we do with him?" Asks Percy pointing to the very pissed off Zeus/Jupiter who's laying in a heap on the floor.

"He's going to lose his powers. He's going to become someone that even a newly turned demigod can defeat.

He will know what it means to helpless and have no one to turn to. He will have the same immortality of that of a huntress, all the while everyone he's ever messed with hunts him for sport.

His only allies will be those who choose to aid him. He will be shunned, he will be isolated and learn what it means to be mortal."

Evetuone looks at Jason in shock, probably because it was the first time they'd seen him so serious.

Suddenly an entire legion voting this guy to be Zeus/Jupiter's replacement made a lot more sense.

"And what" spits Zeus/Jupiter, getting up to glare at his spawn. "Makes you think you can do that to me?"

Jason smiles, but it isn't kind "wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?" Before throwing something that engulfs his father in blue smoke.

When the smoke clears, the great king of Olympus now appears as a young man. He tries to pick up his masterbolt, enraged and it shocks him.

Hera is escatic, pulling Jason into a hug "you did it, I knew you had it in you." She says ruffling his hair "Lady Hera!" He pouts, trying to fix his hair.

She frowns "none of that, I have told you time and time again to call me mum." Jason mouths the words as she speaks, very clear they've had this conversation a lot.

"Sorry your majesty, Lady Hera, Queen of Olympus." Hera sighs but her gaze is fond.

"Mum?" Asks Annabeth. "I'm her champion but she'd watch over me as a baby and as a kid so she basically helped raise me." Explains Jason.

He totally knew about the bet Hera and Lupa had to see which he'd call mum first, and he totally wasn't messing with them both.

Nope, absolutely not.

"And er yeah, you guys can take him back to your camp when you want." Says Jason.

Hera lights up, a devious smile on her face. "I'll take care of that" Apollo raises a hand, a similar look on his face "I'll help."

The two vanish with the now fallen king.

Well that should be fine.

Probably.

Jason shrugged, ah well he tried.

"Soo... Who are you anyway?" Asks Percy, curious. Jason sighed, he was gonna have to put that nap on hold.

"Well it all started when my mum left me to the wolves, pun not intended."

(@star-archivist I'm not sure it this what you meant by "needing more of this", but.. Here it is 😅)

[halothenthehorns]

Chapter 8: I DRIVE MY DOG INTO A TREE

"Perseus!" Alex yelped in a truly dangerous tone of voice, Annabeth felt the need to reach for her dagger she didn't have. "What do you do to Mrs. O'Leary?!"

"I swear it's an accident!" Percy looked genuinely stung if he'd hurt her, so much so Alex immediately became gruntled over his outburst.

"Okay, well, head like hers, I'm sure it hurt the tree more," Alex said for both of them.

"I bet she becomes the branch manager of the whole forest," Will snickered.

Alex grinned in delight and tried to continue the mayhem, while Percy groaned at the pun.

"Maybe she even takes it along as a toy, you still owe Cerberus a game of fetch, what if-"

Sweat broke out on Percy's brow, he took a sharp, painful breath and trembled in his seat as his mind flashed with broken, disjointed images of the Underworld, his dog leaping into shadows-

Alex nor anyone protested as Jason started to read, his voice level and ignoring the stirring water starting to pull along them. Annabeth was rubbing gentle circles into the back of his hand until he finally came back.

... saw me first...pretty good trick since she's the size of a garbage truck.

Magnus's stomach still pitched like someone had shoved him down a flight of stairs at the idea of her being real. Of perhaps having to see this monstrosity of a wolf-like shaped creature sometime in his future if he ever wanted to visit camp and eat actual food not out of a garbage can again. She would just, be there, roaming around, ready to pounce on people from the shadows.

Everybody around him burst out laughing in obvious affection for the description and he tried to manage a smile along. He knew she was a sweet girl who would just lick him to death in theory, but he still worried they'd all laugh themselves stupid at him when he had a heart attack upon actually seeing her.

... huge paw on my chest and an oversize Brillopad tongue licking my face.

Thalia plugged up her nose and waved her hand around. "Thank the gods that smell came out." She'd been around plenty of her own wolves to know that breath reeked like the dead things they ate tried to crawl back out.

"Thank the gods my skin resists that kind of torture," Percy chuckled, it had felt probably a lot like what he put those flesh-eating horses through. A painful powerwash from hell.

... pretty much drenched in dog drool.

"Note to self, Percy's powers do not work on dog drool," Jason nodded to himself.

"I already knew that from his own drool," Annabeth smirked, resisting the urge to reach over and rub his chin with just the pad of her thumb to make him blush like a new species of deep-sea fish.

She was rewarded for her restraint by getting to see him just sighing and giving her a friendly, aggravated smile for the teasing, which was just as nice.

...By the way, Mrs. O'Leary is the world's only friendly hellhound.

"And I thank Daedalus every day for that," Alex chuckled, still remiss he couldn't ask him exactly how that had worked out. Maybe he could get Nico to take him down to the Underworld one day.

...Beckendorf took care of her when I was gone... been her best friend.

"He really was great about taking in everything I needed him to," Percy said, thinking of Tyson and all his Annabeth woes mixed in. He hated how his smile already felt forced and tired, how he could sense somewhere not too deep this feeling would increase as time went on. He could traverse as deep into the ocean as he'd like, but that feeling could stay buried where it was as far as he was concerned.

...made me sad all over again... threw the shield more because Mrs. O'Leary insisted.

"He has a problem saying no to girls who know what they want," Alex muttered with a smirk that terrified Percy even if he hadn't heard him.

Magnus just shook his head slowly in defeat he was not going to be able to stop Alex from mocking his cousin or Percy about this anytime in the future.

Soon she started barking���a sound slightly louder than an artillery gun—

"Good thing my earbuds are just as resistant as the rest of me," Percy said as he rubbed at the faint crackling noise that had reverberated for a few seconds.

...didn't think it was funny when she went in the arena...caused slip-and-slide accidents.

There was an unfortunate combination of spluttering and laughter in the room from that visual, helped nothing by Annabeth reluctantly adding to the noise, "Clarisse threatened to make that the new initiation ceremony if we didn't make some kind of schedule for her. She volunteered for at least half though."

"Clarisse is going to ride that dog into battle and Kronos is just going to make a run for it," Alex nodded with confidence.

"If only," Magnus grinned along because it would be nice if life was that easy.

... Even dragons and giant scorpions ran away when she came close.

"Dragons?" Magnus's hands flailed uselessly, and they were pretty sure he wasn't just trying to sign distress. "As in more than one? Wasn't the metal one enough!"

Annabeth felt awful she couldn't deny that, that the casual part of her day was clearly affecting him. "Well, there are different types, and we have-"

Will succinctly cut her off, knowing from experience that wasn't going to end any better. "Pay attention Magnus, they don't go near the enormous hellhound, so Percy won't meet one this time."

Magnus looked at him like he'd decided to start chewing on his feet, obviously declaring that didn't make this better, but the others were trying to suppress looks of amusement and failing poorly. Annabeth still tried to catch his eye, she didn't want him to go back to the surface and run off to never speak to her like was clearly half on his mind after just this tid bit...but then he just sighed and waved Jason to keep going.

Hopefully he had that Chase resilience in him, the kind she'd always grudgingly admired about her dad. The kind of laser focus that wouldn't stop him from doing anything, like giving an afternoon with her a try away from this crazy world he'd been thrown into.

... in a clearing where the Council of Cloven Elders had once put Grover on trial.

"Sounds like a place that needs a good hellhound," Jason grumbled. Those old goats probably didn't just chill in there eating grapes and waiting to ruin the hopes and dreams of the next satyr, but it was a nice idea for a moment for Mrs. O'Leary to come in and put the fear of an actual leader into them.

... the thrones had lost all their leaves. That's not what surprised me.

"Is she attracted to the smell of death?" Magnus frowned at the sudden idea her very footsteps might be causing this effect. She was called a hellhound, and he knew Nico could do that, maybe creatures of the Underworld could too.

"No more than other animals," Nico shrugged, reminding Magnus unpleasantly of the amount of times he'd seen cats nibbling on something a little too big to be a dead dog and just nodding to get through that memory.

In the middle of the glade stood the weirdest trio I'd ever seen:

"Including you guys dads?" Magnus asked, it hurt his brain a bit to imagine all three side by side as different as they were.

"Including Annabeth, Percy, and Grover saving the world," Jason shrugged, the idea still felt like an odd flashing light in the back of his brain of a trio who shouldn't exist if he thought about them all too long.

"That time Annabeth, Rachel, and Calypso all stood there watching Percy be an idiot," Alex smirked.

"Alex, that hasn't happened," Percy scowled at him continuing to try and make his life worse.

"I know, but I really want it to," he chuckled.

Juniper the tree nymph, Nico di Angelo, and a very old, very fat satyr.

"Somehow Percy's reality once again beats whatever we come up with," Jason looked mildly impressed indeed at this chaotic trio.

"Nico's back!" Will cheered.

"I will shove you in a vortex if you don't knock that off," Nico sighed.

"Do I get to pick the vortex?" Will asked mildly.

Nico considered him for a moment. "Sure."

"Fair deal!" Will beamed.

...He was only twelve, but he looked much older and sadder.

"Comes with the territory," Nico said promptly before any pitiful looks could come his way.

"Nico over here trying to be a minor god already," Jason rolled his eyes.

"King of the Ghosts wasn't good enough for him," Alex joined in. "Nooo, he needed to get the whole aesthetic down now of being God of the Ghosts."

"I didn't marry Melinoe," Nico rolled his eyes, "and even if I did, it doesn't work like that, we wouldn't share a domain."

Alex looked very much to argue his pointless point, but Jason decided not to let that escalate like the smart kid he was.

...he'd probably been traveling in all sorts of hellhound-friendly places.

"Somehow the most accurate observation Percy has ever made," Thalia nodded in surprise. "Including all the ones he made about Annabeth."

"And what do I get for finally being the one to deduce why Nico's such a restless spirit?" Percy chuckled.

Nico looked at him, unimpressed. "Nico not kicking your ass for that stupid conclusion I do what I do for a dog."

"True, bad form on my part," Percy nodded. "You don't even bring her actual treats. Poor form man."

... "Will someone—what is this underworld creature doing in my forest!"

"I wasn't out there to get her attention, but I would have been happy to," Will offered, but his tone was just a shade shy of being sarcastic for that old goat calling that 'his forest,' like she didn't have just as much a right to be in there.

"Yeah, yeah, you're a saint," Percy snorted, considering he had a pretty good feeling he did jack-all to call his dog off such a pompous old sot.

..."Sorry, Leneus," I said. "That's your name, right?"

"The fact that you remembered which is which," Annabeth said, clearly impressed.

"Frankly a miracle," Magnus nodded in surprise. "I don't remember any of their names, exactly how many times has he even spoken?"

"Once, if I recall right," Jason frowned.

"Once while being rude to Grover, it was more than enough," Percy scowled.

...His belly would've made him an invincible bumper car.

"Satyr bumper cars," Alex nodded, clearly already plotting a world tournament from those three words. "I see sponsorships and a lot of eating chairs in the future, not to mention the fights that would break out during the championships game."

"Jason can't organize them into a Pan searching machine anymore so Alex will turn them into the next WWE," Percy sighed. "Yeah, sure, can't go anywhere else."

...Don't tell me you've forgotten a member of the Council so quickly.

"The Council that did absolutely nothing for literal centuries while Pan was about a dozen feet underground in a maze where your best disgraced Satyr found him?" Thalia snorted.

"The same Council that did nothing but take away licenses and ruin kid's dreams?" Percy said deadpan. "That Council?"

"Nah, he must be talking about another one," Annabeth nodded with all the nonchalance one could have.

... She was pretty in a dryad-y way, with her purple gossamer dress and her elfish face,

Annabeth tried very hard, and failed miserably, to suppress a snort of amusement. At least now she knew to never put on a purple gossamer dress and worry about highlighting any elvish features she had.

... He wouldn't stay gone this long if he wasn't in trouble. I was hoping that Leneus—"

"She must be desperate to have come to him for help," Alex sounded more kind than disparaging, but still managed a little bit of both.

"Percy ran out of punch cards for saving his ass, someone banned him this time I guess," Magnus scratched awkwardly at his neck.

Annabeth gave the book a cold, dead kind of stare that freaked Percy out. She knew exactly how Juniper was feeling, she'd just got done living through it.

Percy sighed and sunk heavily into his seat. It's not like he wouldn't have gone looking for Grover...if he had the faintest clue where to start. It had given him an inkling of an idea how his best friend must have felt all those years, longing to be the one to find Pan but with no path that led to more questions. He was alive, it was just a feeling, that's all he'd had to go on.

"I told you!" the satyr protested. "You are better off without that traitor."

Thalia winced. "Man, it's a good thing you've got Nico there, he's got practice digging graves."

"If I didn't smash him to a pulp the first time we met, I suppose I wouldn't now," Percy mock quoted Heaphetus of all gods at a time like this. The pang in his heart didn't lead to much imagination why.

...Nico looked like he was trying to not crack up. "I'll walk the dog," he volunteered.

"I do notice Percy was making zero effort to control his wonderful pooch," Jason grinned.

"Why would I? She was doing such a good job speaking for me," Percy rolled his eyes.

..."You tried to vote him into exile, Chiron and Dionysus stopped you."

"Percy, with the important distinction for this chapter!" Will grinned.

"And boy was it deserved," Percy tried his hardest to smooth out his scowl to prevent drowning the east coast because of this annoying satyr.

"Bah! They are honorary Council members. It wasn't a proper vote."

"I cannot believe he actually said that out loud," Alex looked mildly impressed at this gumption.

"Let's see that defiance last when the first thing Mr. D does when he comes back is turn him into poke'," Thalia rolled her eyes.

"I'll tell Dionysus you said that."

"I never took you for a tattle-tale," Nico picked absently at his nails as he studied Percy in curiosity for that. He tried to keep his tone light, used a silly childish way to put it to make sure Percy knew Nico wasn't over here judging him...he wanted to stay on Percy's good side considering he didn't expect great results for what was fixing to happen.

"I hate bullies," Percy reminded, his voice remaining stiff no matter how much he didn't want it to. "If I can't put them in their place, someone can."

...Grover's a liar and good riddance. We're better off without him."

Percy's anger was swelling, his lips twitching into a true scowl. Grover had been out there risking his life for years while this fat lump sat around, and even now, he was more useless than the kids behind him in camp arguing about who was right!

"Where is Juniper's tanning stick? I need it to make a reappearance," Annabeth demanded in outrage for anyone talking about Grover like this.

...Looks like your Council hasn't been meeting lately."

It was an interesting observation nobody knew what to do with. Will would love to know more about this, but considering the council was now gone, he'd just have to hope Grover had an answer next time he came around.

..."They're just taking some time off to think. It's been a very unsettling year."

"Wow, I haven't seen that kind of head in the sand view since I watched the last presidential debate," Annabeth frowned. She had Percy's hand held tight in both of her own to stop him reaching for that pen again, the results being his fingers twitching like spiders in her grasp and it was seriously making her sick to her stomach even as she didn't let go.

"How long you think it takes that kind of thing to kick in for adults?" Percy asked, his voice as all over the place as his hand as he struggled to get a smile back for her. "I don't expect to live long enough for it to, but I'd like a reference for when the stupid takes over."

She really wanted to let go of his hand and slap him. A part of her recognized that's exactly what he expected to happen too. Instead she snipped, "idiots choose to be that way, stop trying to jump in early."

He grinned, a real one, and bobbed his head before turning back to the book, the shaking finally starting to slow.

...I've heard nothing. Perhaps he's dead." Juniper choked back a sob.

If Percy's temper didn't snap, somebody's was going to, Annabeth winced. It was a comforting feeling, to be surrounded by so many people who would absolutely not just stand there and let a tree-nymph choke on a sob without doing something about it, but at the same time, she didn't particularly want to know what Oceanus would do about it at this moment if any of them did.

... I didn't push him hard, but he was top-heavy...ran away with his belly jiggling.

Annabeth felt a flurry of heartbeats so strong she almost pushed Percy back away so he wouldn't panic at her having a heart attack. She'd seen him fight every monster and walk away with a cloud of dust as if it were nothing, but something of Percy standing up to someone who really was no threat to him, basically one step up from a mortal was something new. Putting him in the world and seeing him be a hero anywhere.

"Grover will never be accepted! He will die an outcast!"

"Not from the people who matter," Percy said in a scary calm voice. He knew all about not being accepted, and he'd never let Grover feel that way as long as he was around.

... "I'm sorry, Percy. I didn't mean to get you involved.

"I wish she'd come to me sooner," Percy sighed. He didn't really know Juniper that well, they hadn't all hung out together because it felt major league awkward double-date territory that neither he nor Annabeth ever wanted to acknowledge, and when it was just him and them he felt like an awkward third wheel even when they didn't do it on purpose holding hands while walking along camp.

He liked Juniper enough, he just never seemed to have time anymore to get to know her better while at camp. Maybe that could change, he glanced hopefully at Annabeth, holding his hand with a look of concentration on the book. When all of this was over, maybe they could go on that double date.

Leneus is still a lord of the Wild. You don't want to make an enemy of him."

Percy watched as they all threw their heads back and laughed with his own grin. Some of them probably thought it was as ridiculous as he did, calling Leneus an enemy when he had bigger gods to deal with, and the rest of them were probably just laughing at even the notion Percy could walk away from that without a new enemy.

"What's he going to do?" Alex managed to get his breath first. "Put you in air jail with that apple floating spell?"

"You think Zeus would consider that punishment enough he wouldn't smite me?" Percy sighed.

"Your luck would never be that good," Thalia scoffed.

"No problem," I said. "I've got worse enemies than overweight satyrs."

"Exactly what we were saying, glad we're all on the same page," Jason chuckled.

"You'd be terrible at this whole reading thing if we weren't," Percy smirked.

Jason considered ripping every page once he finished it and stuffing it in Percy's available piehole. Only for a brief moment.

... Judging from the trail of goat pellets, I'd say you shook him up pretty well."

"Mom always said my specialty was shaking all the ingredients together," Percy said with pride.

Annabeth smiled at the idea of Percy sitting on the counter at six years old, grinning as he handed his mother a perfectly blended together bowl with a tell-tell bit of chocolate on his lips.

..."Welcome back. Did you come by just to see Juniper?"

"Yes Percy, because Nico has always gone out of his way to say hi to Grover's girlfriend," Thalia shook her head at him.

"Better than saying get lost?" Percy offered.

"No," Will frowned.

"Have you tried having a conversation with him that isn't about the end of the world?" Magnus hinted.

Percy thought about it for a moment. "No, actually."

"First he'd have to get past his inability to hold a conversation," Annabeth smirked, Nico even snickering along to her bewilderment, but it was a nice expression to see on his face for a change.

... kind of, dropped in the middle of them." "He scared us to death!" Juniper said.

"Not literally," Nico insisted to nobody, trying to refrain from blushing again.

"Best get used to hearing that stupid phrase now Nico," Will rolled his eyes.

... she pleaded, putting her hand on his arm. "Anything at all?"

Nico's cheeks got even brighter red. "Uh, you bet. I'll keep my ears open."

"It is surely now his top priority case," Alex tried to nod as if this were a matter of the highest order.

"He is going to flee and never return if that girl doesn't stop touching him," Magnus said in understanding.

Nico just barely resisted the want to pull his jacket over his head to hide his continued blush. Gods beyond, he'd never even talked to a girl this long before dealing with Juniper and it had been every layer of awkward it was possible to be as he struggled to keep eye contact and having her so close. Percy had been right there and he wasn't sure what he was supposed to be feeling, so of course he'd just been getting beamed with a little bit of everything at once in joy- someone was asking for his help- confusion- girl? touching?! nothing...?

He sighed as he rested his head against Will's arm for a few extra moments. He wished he'd been friends with him at the time, but it was whatever now.

... There must be a simple reason why he hasn't contacted us."

"Nothing has ever been simple in your life, why would you lie to her like that?" Thalia frowned.

"Same reason I lied in that council meeting," Percy frowned. Sometimes people just needed to hear the lie even if they didn't believe it to get through another day.

...I know about dogs and trees. I'm gone!"...disappointed, she lumbered off to find another target,

"Awww," Jason couldn't help but laugh as he pictured her head hanging down with sorrow. "I can only imagine how hard it is for her to pee out there without constantly having nymphs shoo her away."

"She gets by peeing on the grass most days," Percy assured.

leaving Nico and me alone.

"Have I mentioned how good that dog's timing is?" Alex asked.

"Can I revoke my agreement?" Percy sighed.

"No," Will and Alex told him this time.

Nico smiled because he knew Percy was kidding around. He hoped Percy was kidding around. Was it just him or was the water getting a little colder in here as Percy kept studying him? Crap, what if it was just him and Percy figured out how to just trap him in a block of ice?

Well, he'd be taking Will's arm with him.

... They knit themselves together into a skeletal field mouse and scampered off.

"That was adorable," Alex instantly decided.

Nico grinned at him, ruffled his brow in concentration for a moment, and then several bits of skeleton began creeping out of the floor. In moments, a skeletal fish was swimming around them, gave a happy twirl once through Alex's massive hair, and then darted out the giant hole in the door.

Alex laughed in delight and Magnus didn't even scream while the others moved on as if this were an everyday occurrence.

"You've gotten so much better with your powers than even just a few months ago," Will said admiringly. He wished he could do something half as useful.

"Practice makes progress," Nico happily quoted back with a pleased smile. How was it possible he still got a warm flush every time Will met his eyes like that?

... never get used to this kid spending more time talking with the dead than the living.

Nico sighed. He'd never get used to the fact that Percy would see him as a forever kid when he'd probably traveled as much as Percy by now!

"We all have our own hobbies Percy," Alex rolled his eyes. Percy would probably think some of the people he hung out with on the streets were weirder than the gods.

"Yeah, I know," Percy promised. He really was trying not to glance awkwardly at Nico as much anymore, but moments like this where Nico didn't even deny the claim still kind of reinforced the idea Percy wasn't sure they'd ever really get along as friends.

... He figured you'd be beating yourself up, and he said you shouldn't."

"Beckendorf is just as wise in death as he was in life," Jason nodded solemnly.

"He will be missed," Percy murmured.

... Said he's waiting for someone. Not sure what he meant, but he seems okay with death."

Annabeth's hand tightened painfully around Percy's, it was the only thing to stop her falling to the floor. She'd spent the worst hours of her life wondering if she'd finally find Percy down in Elysium and how she'd ever move on from that place no matter what he told her.

... "I didn't mean to be spying on the Titans, but I was in the neighborhood."

"Doing what?"

"I assume you don't use the entrance at DOA much?" Thalia looked around at him in surprise, and suspicion. Exactly how long had he known about this other Camp?

"I came out of the Underworld in that general area," Nico said, but he managed to say it like such an evasive kid as he darted his eyes away then back it was almost like he wasn't even trying to hide the fact he was hiding something.

Thalia narrowed her eyes but let it be, for now, assuming it was in Percy's best interest.

Nico tugged at his sword belt. "Following a lead on, you know, my family."

All Will seemed to hear was how uncomfortable this was making Nico, and he muttered something gently to him. Thalia really hoped Will didn't see Nico as just an innocent kid being put on the spot though, he could be as devious as his father, he'd already proven that with how many secrets he held so well.

... After Bianca died and left Nico alone, he'd been obsessed with finding answers.

Jason read that line with a little too much intensity. Percy nearly had his whole life pieced back together and here Jason sat, with somehow more questions than ever with his stinking sister in the room and no clear memories of his own!

"Why on earth did you just mentally recap all that?" Annabeth chuckled into the ever-growing awkward silence.

"Don't look at me," Percy sighed. "These books are nuts. I don't have to actually remind myself once a day of everyone's backstory."

"Well that's a relief," Annabeth grinned with a tease. "Sometimes I worry about your ability to remember anything past where all the good snacks are hidden."

"I remembered you, didn't I?" Percy said casually.

Annabeth just rolled her eyes, and it occurred to Thalia she hadn't yet told her sister that the first thing Percy asked when they were thrown in here was where Annabeth was, if Thalia knew her. Percy had known her before he'd even had his own mother's name given back to him. It truly was a sickeningly sweet thing how badly he loved her, so much so even Artimes might begrudgingly admire Annabeth's stance to never give him up.

..."What's the lead?"

Nico chewed his lip. "That's not important right now. You know why I'm here."

"I think I'd rather talk about you right now," Percy groaned, trying not to shield his gut from impact of what could be coming. He didn't imagine the end of that story would go better than Nico's but he was all for avoiding it anyways. "What's up with these leads, how can I help?"

Nico gave him an impressed look. He knew full well Percy was either joking now, or just trying to change the subject off his curse. He couldn't really blame him, what kind of living hell it must be to have the answer living in the same skull that refused to let you hear it without it hurting? But that didn't mean he wanted his own problems on display either. It would go worse.

...show up occasionally and press me for an answer, but I kept putting him off.

Jason winced a little more with each word he'd said in that paragraph. It had been obvious from the start Nico and Percy weren't the closest, too much bad blood from the moment Percy had come back without his sister, but whatever this plan was Jason had faith it was a good one. That Nico only had Percy's best interests to help after everything that happened in the Labyrinth.

He couldn't help but wonder if anyone else had been suggesting this plan if Percy already would have done it.

... Most of the Titans are unleashed and on their side. Maybe it's time to think extreme."

Annabeth bit at her lip and went back and forth pointlessly over how good an argument that was. This had already been done, her input at the time could have changed the course of history if she'd tried to caution Percy against this even agreeing extreme had likely saved them all, but it didn't make her feel better she hadn't been consulted by Percy with this.

...This comes down to you and Luke. And there's only one way you can beat Luke."

Percy wondered how long Nico had known. He'd never told Nico anything, like Luke's fall from the side of a mountain, or the way he seemed to glow with power on the Princess Andromeda, which meant Nico must have come to his own conclusions over time. From spying on Luke and Kronos? From ghosts?

Then, how long had it taken him to find out the process, to be confident enough to share with Percy this mad plan? He was way too confident in all this when a year ago he'd been fooled by Minos for Percy to really have faith in this plan.

...I wondered how Nico had heard the prophecy. Probably from some ghost.

"Why do you always assume it's ghosts?" Nico sighed. "I know gods too." In this case his dad had told him, one of his many comments about how Nico had a lot to live up to let him put the pieces together.

...Nico had a strange, hungry light in his eyes. "You can become invincible."

He was always so strong and powerful, from the moment Nico had met him he'd sensed something in Percy he'd thought for so long he could live up to and be a part of.

He knew now that had been childish, wishful thinking. He couldn't 'sense' Percy was also a child of the Big Three, and they were virtually nothing alike.

He was still sure it had all been worth it, even if Percy never fully trusted him again because of the price. They were all alive, Will's home was intact and, you know, the planet too.

"Maybe we should wait. Try to fight without—"

"No!" Nico snarled. "It has to be now!"

"Temper, temper," Magnus frowned. He wasn't actually afraid of the guy, but he obviously had some anger that ran deep that was best not coming out on Percy, the guy who could fling Nico across the state by accident if provoked.

Nico didn't answer. Not to laugh, not to blush, not even to look embarrassed or angry now. He was just growing a little bit more pale every page and clutching his sword a little tighter.

Oh. Well that wasn't going to go great.

...I hadn't seen his temper flare like that in a long time. "You sure you're okay?"

Will's leg jiggled around, jostling Nico and generally disrupting his moody silence. He knew Will wanted to ask, wanted to help, but even now after all this he was still pretty sure Will wasn't going to just let slide what he'd done to Percy.

...my sister gave her life to protect you. Honor that. Do everything to defeat Kronos."

A part of Nico had honestly meant that. Bianca had wanted to do good in the world, he had vague memories of her cooking and smiling, offering the spoon to everyone who passed to share. She'd joined the Hunters not just to get away from him but to find a cause for herself.

The other part of him was starting to sweat and nearly gave the game up with trying not to wince at pulling such a card, doing anything to get what he wanted out of this deal even if it had been for a good reason.

I didn't like the idea. Then I thought about Annabeth calling me a coward, and I got angry.

Annabeth sighed, her hand slipping out of his so she could run it through her hair. Oh yes, what a great contribution to saving the world! Making the hero impulsively angry at you!

Percy watched her, his hand feeling empty, his chest feeling cold. What if that had been the last thing she said to him? He didn't want her to be more sorry about the enormous guilt of the last words they'd said to each other over being alive.

..."All right," I decided. His cold creepy smile made me sorry I'd agreed.

That had quite literally been the best thing Percy had ever said to him. No possible hidden meanings, no begrudging talking to him. Percy had just agreed with his idea! And he was supposed to learn more about his past from this! It had probably been one of the happiest moments of his life before Will kissed him.

And Percy had called his smile creepy. Yeah, he scolded his brain. Really the guy you should keep crushing on!

His brain didn't respond.

...retrace Luke's steps. We need to know more about his past, his childhood."

"You don't, know how he did it?" Jason asked in concern, Nico had been apparently bugging Percy about this for months and didn't know all the steps?

Nico hesitated answering, and then lowered his voice so only he could hear, "it was important to replicate the steps Luke did, just to be sure. Trust me."

Jason nodded like that was that, and Nico savored that feeling while he had it. That old joke about tying him up and throwing him in the bathroom might still come to pass when they all found out what he'd actually done to Percy.

Alex and Magnus looked on, jealous they didn't get to hear the answer, while the other three exchanged weary looks like Nico was planning world domination and trying to leave them out.

..."I've already tracked down his mother. She lives in Connecticut."

Of course Luke had a mother, Magnus nodded to the tiny pit in his stomach without surprise. Hearing that he'd grown up on the streets, he knew quite well not to just assume the mother was dead. No, the question was, what had been the breaking point to drive Luke away? Had she been an over-controlling, gaslighting nightmare? Had she just not cared and probably not noticed for weeks? Abuse? Some mental problem she couldn't control but the kid couldn't be around anymore? He'd heard it all and more.

... I'd never thought about Luke's mortal parent. I'd met his dad, but his mom...

A lump formed in Percy's throat. He somehow instantly knew he didn't want this memory to continue. That he'd rather go hunt down Annabeth and have her call him a coward a dozen more times. Luke's mother...April? No, but the memory was tantalizingly close to the surface, and clinging to stay where it was.

... made me wonder what was wrong with her. What kind of horrible person could she be?

Annabeth and Thalia glanced at each other and quickly away. Annabeth had been too young to really understand at the time, and they hadn't talked about it after they left. She wasn't looking forward to hearing what her young mind hadn't been able to grasp about what felt wrong about that place, like there was a monster lurking in every stacked Tupperware container.

Thalia was just, tired of this. Annabeth got Percy back, that was the goal going into this. Now that it had been fulfilled, she wanted to stuff this book in a blender and move on. She wanted to hear about Jason's life, she wanted to get out of this stinking underwater prison! Instead she was stuck here in memory lane, her back aching from sitting so much, her heart slowly dripping into a puddle at being force-fed every word of Luke's life a second time.

...He whistled, and Mrs. O'Leary came loping out of the woods.

"Your dog can shadow travel!" Alex gasped in excitement.

"News to me," Percy said with an uneasy smile in place. Apparently he wasn't going to be very good at directions and Alex might just throttle him if he ran her into too many trees before figuring out which one would make them disappear into a black void of possibly no return.

Nico managed it easily enough though, and he trusted his dog to not get them lost. More like a dozen pit stops on the way to sniff everything.

He hoped nobody would be looking for him any time soon.

...Mrs. O'Leary was certainly big enough. I climbed onto her back and held her collar.

Percy was used to riding Blackjack by now, the way his legs spread uncomfortably over the massive body and riding on a heartbeat with attached lungs, their circulatory system driving them to powerful feats even his half-blood legs couldn't dream of. How warm she was just like his horse, feeling every twitch of her body along her spine as she shifted her weight beneath him, being so high off the ground he felt like he could touch the sky and not get struck by lightning for it.

Percy's heart started thudding, but he recognized it as excitement for once in this crazy mess as he sat forward in his seat. Annabeth was still sitting smushed up in hers, arms crossed and clearly not looking forward to a word of this, but he couldn't help the crazy grin splitting his face at what was going to come next.

... creatures of the Underworld can use it as a road, or a door."

Percy remembered Thalia saying something similar trying to explain why demigods had such crazy dreams. It didn't make much more sense coming out of Nico's mouth.

He glanced at Annabeth, wishing she'd volunteer how to explain this, but he was pretty sure he wouldn't get the answer any better. He just liked watching her mouth move more.

... Tell her Westport, the home of May Castellan." "You're not coming?"

The idea of climbing up there had been like molten lava pouring into Nico's body. His vision had doubled painfully of what could be worse. Climbing behind Percy, trying to put his hands on his waist- trying to climb in front of Percy and his arms-

Nope. Just. Better to go his own way. As usual.

...Just before we hit, we passed into shadows as cold as the dark side of the moon.

Magnus sighed as Jason looked up and around and he was up next. Of course he'd get one where he'd spend the entire chapter empathizing with the psychopath who continued to ruin Annabeth and Peryc's life. He would have much rather passed this on and spent the time watching Alex make faces, which was a lot harder to do with the book up his nose.

He shook his head and got up though. Every kid deserved to have their story told, and Luke wasn't here to do it. They knew Luke's side, the guy who claimed the gods didn't care and he would rather watch the world burn than try like Percy did.

Time to see who had a hand in putting that mindset there.