#sincerely a genderfluid person

[shorlinesorrows]

every time someone tags a post as "lady loki" when loki is fem and definitely not possessing sif, an angel looses its wings

[unorthodoxchronicles]

Like remember how dumb gaydar is? its the same thing with transness. no. you cant tell! being able to tell only reinforces conformity and strict standards! learn to live with not knowing everything about everyone around you and be fucking respectful!

If your goal is to normalize gender-nonconformity you’re gonna have to accept that some people will fuck with gender as hard as they can while still being unequivocally, 100% cis and that is okay. There’s no egg to crack or callout to write. This is a good thing actually.

[maximumqueer]

I've recently been thinking a lot about the queer rep in One Piece (particularly Ivankov and the the New Kama of Impel Down) and how it feels different from a lot of other main stream/popular media that also has queer rep in it. And the best way I can think of describing it is that it doesn't feel sanitized in the way a lot of other queer rep/media does.

Like. Normally queer rep in pop media tends towards cis gay (often cis gay white men) who do not present as overly feminine, who are "just like you" (you being cishet people) with the only difference being that they like boys as a boy (or girls as a girl). It shies away from queer culture and places its gay characters in heteronormative roles despite their gayness. Queerness in One Piece doesn't do that, and Ivankov and the New Kama are the perfect example of that.

Everything about them is queer. From the gay club hidden in a prison, to Ivankov himself - being a queer genderfluid drag queen whose power set involves being able to instantly trans another persons gender, to Inazuma regular switching between masc and fem presenting with no explanation.

I think this panel

encapsulates that feeling perfectly. This is in no way meant to hand hold the cishet audience. It is unapologetically queer, directly questioning not just the gender binary, but the very concept of gender. It celebrates the differences and diversity that is found within queerness in a way I rarely ever see in other main stream media of similar popularity.

I cannot overstate how happy - as a queer and trans person - this makes me. To have a shonen manga of all things celebrate the inherent weirdness that is human gender expression, and have it not be played as a joke. To have characters like Ivankov and Inazuma be important to the story (NESSISCARY even). And to do that without hand holding the audience, or over explaining what is happening in these scenes.

And this isn't even mentioning other queer/trans characters like Yamato, Kiku, and Bon Clay. All of who are incredibly interesting and complex characters whose queerness and transness is presented with sincerity. Yamato's trans identity in particular is wonderfully intertwined with the rest of his character, bleeding into is idolization/respect of Oden, and his desires and dreams (being to follow in Oden's footsteps and act as the protector of Wano).

And obviously One Piece doesn't have perfect queer rep (no piece of media does). But I would much rather have queer rep that celebrates queerness as a whole with a few missteps along the way, then purely inoffensive rep that strips away any and all queer culture, sanitizing it to be appealing to a cishet audience.

[orchideous-nox]

Regarding Ethan/p4perback

Upon reviewing the stream that Ethan/EJ/p4perback did on October 11th 2024 called "clearing up some stuff", there is a specific thing that he said that needs to be discussed because I have not seen a single person mention this. And yes, we are using names now. I will be speaking factually about this one particular thing Ethan said in this livestream and this thing alone. Yes, I have opinions on other things he said, however, these are down to my interpretation of Ethan's words and attitude and therefore do not have a place in this post. Maybe in the future I will speak more openly about other my opinions if I feel like it, but not in this post. I am in no way speaking on anyone's behalf either, this is purely from me.

At 02:34:32, Ethan reads out a comment explaining that the mod who made a thread about Ethan uses it/xin/they pronouns on Twitter (it has since made a post saying it does not use they pronouns) but told Ethan directly it uses it/its. Ethan then replied by saying:

"Maybe it's because it's a day-to-day thing, I know that there are people who are genderfluid. Or they just did it to trip me up. Could be one or the other."

As someone who identifies as genderfluid, I find it incredibly hurtful to insinuate that someone who is genderfluid or uses multiple pronouns or neopronouns would give someone the incorrect pronouns to "trip them up". This is disgusting and hurtful and it shouldn't take being genderfluid to understand why you should not say something like this.

The person Ethan was referring to told Ethan its pronouns directly and therefore he should believe that it was being sincere and honest rather than misgendering itself to "trip" Ethan up.

I'm going to address the rest of this directly to Ethan, not that I expect him to see this, but I hope people pay attention. Not everybody has a constant agenda to catch you out Ethan, I understand this stream was following a Twitter thread regarding you, however, I believe the mod/ex-mod wanted accountability for current actions as well as past ones. But its gender and pronouns have nothing to do with this. If somebody had said you told them you were using he/him pronouns to trip them up, you would be enraged and rightfully so, please consider this and look back at what you said in your stream.

You said this on a stream of hundreds if not thousands of people who look up to you and admire you and expect explanations for things outlined in the thread. Like I said, I'm not going to acknowledge anything said in that thread right now, but I understand it was a stressful situation to go through. You were tired, exhausted, and in pain from filming and travelling, but this does not excuse what you said about your ex-mod's pronouns and frankly, it would be appalling if you used that as an excuse. If you were tired to the point of saying things you did not mean in a stream where you are trying to be genuine, honest and authentic, end the stream. If you were tired to the point of accusing someone of purposefully misgendering itself for the same of tripping you up, please consider where this came from within you.

I appreciate you really tried to get its pronouns correct in the stream, adjusting to pronouns you are unfamiliar with and how to use them respectfully can be a struggle, I say this as someone who has had to be patient with a lot of people getting used to they/them pronouns for my sake, but you can be angry at someone without saying things that are hurtful not just to that person but to an entire community of people. I would expect better from you.

Finally, I want to end with a message to Ethan's fans if they have read this far. I have seen some a lot of people including Andy in the comments of posts on multiple platforms that about Ethan, who very clearly want to defend and support Ethan and see him happy. I think it is great that you support someone so faithfully and defend them. However, there is a portion of the community who fail to recognise that people don't have to like Ethan and they will have their reasons for this. We are entitled to our opinions. You are entitled to like Ethan, we are entitled not to. You can think of him however you like, I used to watch Ethan's tiktoks and like them and share them with friends, but you do not need to tell people they are jealous of what he has and that they're bullying Ethan for no reason simply because they don't like him. This post is not bullying, it is accountability.

Please give that same kindness to others that you say Ethan gives to his community. I know this saying is overdone but it is free to be kind, it is also free to be respectful and understand what spaces are for you and what aren't. Yes, people are talking about Ethan now and eyes are on him, but they are on you too. I will not stand for harassment and bullying for expressing how his words made me feel. Please be respectful.

[retro-friki]

Commenced my 5th (??) Utena rewatch, so here’s some comments of episode 1 with vague spoilers:

*My blue ray disc seems to be damaged :( the episode froze at certain scenes, I hope it’s only dirty or something.

*First few minutes of ep 1 is gender, gender, gender. “The little girl wanted to be a prince” “I’m waiting for my boyfriend” “She left”, “Why are you wearing a boys uniform?”. Utena beats all the guys and has fangirls, yet she refuses to join the basketball team with the dudes, however she wants to be a prince… She keeps breaking with everyone’s expectations of her. (Personally I think that Utena is either a gnc woman, non-binary or even genderfluid, but everyone can have whatever headcanon they want).

*I have always wondered how long has Utena been at Ohtori. The teacher says that Utena will ridicule her again this term, but most of the time she acts like a newcomer. There are many things about the students that she seems to ignore. I think that she transferred just at the middle or the end of the previous term, so she has been there for enough time to be popular among peers her age, but not enough for her to know everything.

*Touga is so popular that even Utena knows him. That says a lot about Touga.

*I like how the animators use black silhouettes to economize. It’s a cool trick and it contributes to the show’s general aesthetic.

*I’m not in the mood of being cynical right now so I’m just going to say that I love how Utena jumps in to help whoever she thinks is in trouble. Of course that’s also one of her flaws and it becomes a problem because she doesn’t think before acting, but her intentions are sincere, and that’s what makes her different from everyone else.

*In the same vein, it probably doesn’t matter whether Anthy was the one who put Wakaba’s letter on the wall or not. She may have done some manipulation, but the thing is that Saionji was such a huge asshole already that sooner or later Utena would’ve had a bone to pick with him. He was the one who threw the letter away in the first place and it was his choice to hit Anthy when she wished Utena luck. There was very little manipulation to be done here. He caused his own downfall.

*It’s always hard to read the lyrics of the duel songs and the dialogue at the same time, but there’s some juxtapositions that I liked, namely how the lyrics equated Utena and Saionji as actors on a stage. There’s a lot to say about that, but that’s something I’ll have to dig more into some other day.

[genderfluid-marine-corp]

And they have friends:)

What's up with the aroace wave going on lmao i'm not complaining i think it's awesome and the memes are funny as hell, but i deadass just wanna know why

[bubblegum-bros-sys]

Get to know 🫅

Hello magnificent royalties of tumblr, my name is Roman and I use he/she pronouns (they/them or royal related neopronouns are also acceptable)

I am roughly 24-31 years old

I identify as queer/gay and bigender/genderfluid

I am a fictive of Roman Sanders from the online series Sanders Sides, created by Thomas Sanders

I love music, makeup, fashion, queer culture, musicals and movies, and Greek mythology

For fandoms I suppose things like Disney, a handful of musicals (some of my favorites are Heathers, Legally Blonde, and Wicked), and Harry Potter (I do NOT support JKR) I’m sure I like other things too but not to any extreme extents lol

Boundaries:

-dos: be respectful and kind, see the beauty in others and yourselves and embrace that

-donts: push your beliefs onto me or try to tell me that I am wrong for what I believe, considering I mainly believe in personal liberation and happiness and that would not be very divine of you

-DNI: sysmeds, transmeds, exclusionists, people who partake in lots of discourse, I believe you get the idea

-touch (for irl friends): alright with me

-flirting: absolutely, I love a good stroke of the ego /humorous

-playful bullying: I don’t know why you would ever insult me (/j) but you may

-nicknames: absolutely, and please be creative!

-sensitive topics/venting: I am ok with this but it is always polite to ask <3

That’s all for my introduction, I hope you have a magical day, lovelies

Sincerely, Roman

-🫅

[majimasleftasscheek]

'The Majima Dilemma' Anon here, looking for some feedback on how would one write Goro Majima's other half Goromi so that it doesn't sound offensive or cringe-worthy. I have the basics - like some stuff noted from the game, but would like to hear someone's idea on Goromi-chan - how she acts around Kiryu or other people etc.

ohoho so I think that the best way to write her (subjectively of course) is to treat her sincerely. of course there's the elephant in the room depending on how you interpret her - I'm going to be viewing her as genderfluid cuz that's my thing so for my purposes, she's an amab dude in a dress. as such, I don't point out said elephant unless the point of my story is to talk about that specifically and with it often comes discussion of gender, etc etc. if I'm not talking about that, I talk about her as if she's any other woman doing her thang.

example: if I had a basic scene where she's putting on lipstick, I'm not going to write her as if she's struggling or being incompetent "because man unga bunga." I'd just have her put on lipstick. that same scene could change depending on the "when" too. maybe early Goromi did struggle but! it's important to portray that struggle with sincerity. write her being anxious, clumsy, etc. don't try to make it comedic tho as it'd be inappropriate imo. if there is anything funny, it shouldn't be at her expense.

so, the game treats the Goromi encounter like a joke, basically just a reason for Kiryu to fight her on the basis of "haha man in dress doesn't that just piss you off." so if you take anything from the game, the conversation they have in the minigame is where it's at, in regards to how Kiryu feels himself around her, how he doesn't have to put on airs, how Goromi's genuinely surprised, things like that. with such a short encounter, you really have to rely on your own imagination to expand upon it but even just that lil bit of exchange is a good base. beyond that, I wouldn't take away from the game that much tbh.

I write Goromi pretty much how I write Majima, with all the usual vulgarities and mannerisms since the way I see Goromi is that she's still very much the same person but with a femme flair. I know some do like to write her significantly different as a personality of her own so that too is an option if that's your thing. I project a lot of my genderfluid experience onto her so when I'm personally feeling flip floppy, I'm not really anyone new, but the way I act, the way I carry myself does differ to varying degrees.

so when Goromi's around Kiryu, for example, she's still up to kicking his ass and being a rude lil shit but she'll carry herself a bit more refined, generically ladylike but surface level - some of it being playing the stereotype of a woman, another part her actively trying to be someone else or "removed from being a typical man." for example, if I wrote Kiryu flirting with Majima, I'd make him get embarrassed but in a sort of aloof way with performative confidence typical of Majima. flirting with Goromi tho is different as she's being very vulnerable, very open about herself and when you love her, you love a part of Majima that he may feel self conscious about.

speaking of the previous mentioned elephant, if you wanna talk about Goromi being a dude, I think that's fine tbh if done with tact. I make it a point in my art to portray her as masculine because for me, the cis part of being genderfluid is just as important as everything else. so I like to see Goromi with her beard and muscles and dick bulge cuz fuck it. I don't shy away from that stuff but I don't make fun of it either. one of my best friends is a transwoman and respecting her as a woman no matter how passing she is, is very important to me. but it's not sunshine n rainbows either. if you do talk about that sorta thing, it does come with baggage and handling that doesn't always have the most right or the most appropriate answer. comes down to respecting people as people imo and I think with common sense and empathy, you can certainly write something well intentioned.

interaction-wise, I think she would try to act the part around most people, maybe being at odds with herself because she's not ignorant to how to she looks or behaves so she tries to be more elegant, more ladylike in order to be likeable, acceptable. but at the same time she's still very much Majima and that crassness doesn't just bleed but hemorrhages out of her. it's a battle within herself to decide how to behave so when people are being genuinely nice, she fumbles. I think it'd be normal even around people she's close to cuz even tho she knows she has their respect, it's almost unreal and she gets very flustered 😌 to an extent, I like to think she even rejects some of that kindness cuz her self doubt makes her think she doesn't deserve it or that people are being dubious to get on her good side.

she's good at faking it too. if you need her to be a perfect lil peach or put up with a lotta crap, she can do it. she'd more so do this if the situation required it so I can see her being polite around those of a higher status or if she was in a situation where she shouldn't be a goblin. she'd be pleasant but cold towards strangers, cautious you can call it, until she can place their vibes. there's an RGGO story (idk if you know what that is but it's basically yakuza gatcha on mobile) where Goromi (before Kiryu ever gets to Club Shine) very seriously plays the part of a hostess and wildly excels so she can very much be a totally different person if need be.

whenever I write an upset Goromi, I like to make her revert to tough guy Majima strats where she'll do her damnedest to not let anything get under her skin but it never goes well, especially if it's personal. if she's not crumbling under depression, she'll be snappy then pissy, handling anything with a fight over pouring her heart out. she's prone to spiraling and holding grudges, preferring to suffer in silence alone which is very much how I'd write Majima normally.

a happy Goromi is bombastic, moreso than Majima if that's even possible. and depending on the context, very very sincere. because the theater in my brain never stops replaying the same scenes over and over, I always have this mental picture that Kiryu says something sweet about Goromi and she's just on the quiet side smiling in a sad sort of way like she can't even believe he actually means what he says. and he looks at her worried like he said something stupid and she has to reassure him she's just happy to be so lucky and that tough exterior opens up just a lil more each time. Majima is a big softie and as Goromi, I feel he can explore that a lil more freely if hesitantly.

I hope this stuff helps! it's my own thoughts so of course take things totally subjectively. I think writing Goromi sincerely does rely on taking considerations of femininity, especially in regards to how a man would approach them and how society would view that. it's a lotta reactionary stuff and I think if you can empathize with that, you can write her well enough. Goromi is a divisive topic for people so you're not going to please everyone but trying to write her in order to please everyone wouldn't be sincere imo. she's a mixed bag of things, some good some ugly, so write her in ways you feel good about while also being considerate/respectful of course.

[womenaremypriority]

Saying “some people socially and medically transition and are seen as a woman or a man by those around them and should be treated as men or women” is one thing but this website is on a whole other level.  Everyone has a gender identity that we have no way to verify, exists solely in one’s head, but we must respect it, put it into law, and affirm it higher than the sex one is born as.  They use the word gender constantly and are essentially speaking a different language.  There are a million gender identities but yet none.  The confusion is the point, but anyone who is confused and calls it nonsense is a bigot.  Because they are so deeply into their religion, they see it an obvious.  But in reality, it is constructed inside their head.  I once identified as genderfluid, nonbinary and used neopronouns lol when I say it’s a religion I mean it.  Someone can have a sincere belief in something unprovable without being delusional- it’s called religion.  And the concept of a gender identity, especially one more important than sex, is one.  The concept, like any religion, is hard to define, constantly changing and at war with other people who believe in it.  No one can pinpoint how many rules there are or if there should be any in the first place.  Wearing different clothes than your sex is supposed to and messing around with the concept of what it means to be an ideal ‘man’ or ‘woman’ is perfect and always been a part of gay culture.  That’s not what this is.  The people on this website are playing pretend.  They think they’re messing with and rebelling against society like the gays of the 20th century but they’re not.  They’re playing a game- a game constructed in their own head, a game that posits someone’s internal sense of self is more important than psychical reality.  There sense of self is hinged on this, like most religious people.  Telling them “your god/gender identity” does not exist is taken to mean YOU don’t exist.  They, like any religion person, take people’s confusion and disagreement as an attack- they see themselves as the counter culture.  They think this is rebelling against the establishment, to use neopronouns, to say a lesbian is a ‘queer attraction to women’ or any other nonsensical meaning, to say you are catgender, to say you are a man or a woman.  They’re not doing anything to dispel the patriarchy or heterosexual domination.  They are playing a game.  They think the fact it’s a game means it’s revolutionary- it’s not.  They are prisoners arguing over what color to paint their wall.  I mean it when I say it plays so well with not doing anything to the powers that be that it might as well be a CIA plot.  It’s done nothing to actually change society, long or short term.  The only thing it has done is make us unable to describe ourselves, make communication clogged up and complicated, essentially meaningless and exhausting.  It’s enabled predators to say ‘lesbians can like men too!’ It’s confused and overwhelmed people into not talking about heteropartriachy because now there are a million new terms we have to think about, a million new ways we could say something wrong.  And instead of discoursing about anything meaningful, we are discoursing whether men can be lesbians or whether ‘autisticgender’ is ableist.  Our conversations are meaningless.  Because our words are meaningless.  When lesbian means nothing, when women means nothing, when gay means nothing, but yet we are still here… you have done nothing to help anyone.  You have only made conversation harder and done the work of our oppressor.  And sure a lot of this only exists online.  But this nebulous ‘gender identity’ is taken as fact, this concept of lesbian meaning ‘non men loving non men’ is put into serious conversations.  

Yet, they have the audacity to say radical feminists are doing the work of the patriarchy when that is what they are doing.  Who benefits when ‘men’ and ‘women’ are now reduced to a feeling in ones head, or some undefined social role or concept?  Who benefits when now, lesbian and gay men means basically nothing?  Who benefits when women is now something you can opt in or out of?  Who benefits from conversations about gender being a joke? Who benefits from this?  You think men aren’t benefiting?  You think it’s straight people who are being hurt when we struggle to define ‘lesbian’?  You think you’re fighting the system?  You’re doing its work.  

[rulerzreachf4n7]

Hi guys, I need your help with something,

No I'm not in danger or anything just hear me out,

I don't usually talk about private or personal stuff just because if my school, parents, or sister would find out I'd be absolutely fucking cooked,

But today whilst in the shower my body just had the urge to need to come onto Tumblr and share this with everyone so I am

If you are interested please DM me or add me on discord (it'll be linked at the end)

More underneath ~

As NONE of you know since im very private, my main goal in life is to become a showrunner, yknow, just to make shows and movies

I've considered other things like graphic novel/comic book author or just an author in general, artist, animator, voice actor, hell even a therapist or someone who has a psychology major

But those things just didn't bring out who I truly am

And I've been doing this for the past 5/6 years but I really only got the idea 3 years ago in late 2022/early 2023

I have a show concept very inspired from the owl house and tangled the series

It has no name, I've gone through 3 or four but none have stick, and I really need help with this idea and more,

If you yourself or you know anyone who's talented in these things I'm going to listen PLEASE TAG THEM:

Art

Animation

Characters designing

World building

Voice acting

Sound affects

Marketing

Writing

Or anything that needs to be done to make a show

I have a ton of show ideas, some with that are half fleshed or some that are none, if you are interested or know anyone who is please tag them through reposts or through comments, just liking this gives me enough reassurance that people care

And I don't post on tiktok (my sister know I have it and I don't think she'll be supportive) I have a Pinterest but not the audience I need

I intend to be very diverse with my characters being people of color, having disabilities, and being primarily lgbtq and queer

Here are some show ideas with the concepts if you are interested,

Golden hour

The show revolves around a pansexual 15 year old called Lucy Solace, a Puerto Rican and African American teenage girl, the show takes place in the year 2015 and in Gatlinburg Tennessee, after technology from an otherworldly universe, a universe with witches, wizards, sorcerers and sorceress' gets transported into Lucy's universe, she uses her class field trip to an artifact museum to find out what it is, after accidentally triggering said device, Lucy gets teleported to the kingdom of Fey, which is going through a war, teaming up with Hunter Cameron, a trans and genderfluid sorcer, they team up to find peace with all kingdoms and get Lucy home.

The name Golden Hour is subjected to change cause I feel like there could be better

Writers block

13 year old demi girl Irene has the dream of becoming a famous showrunner, but lacks everything to to make it successful, after going to a fandom convention and meeting her most idolized showrunner + voice actor, Aries Chambers, they accidentally had left behind some concepts for her show, Aries finding these, he and deciding to help Irene on their indie animated pilot over the summer months

7th Angel

After moving to Florida, 13 year old Japanese American Hiro gets enlisted into a private Christian school while being a closeted gay, through those months he becomes friends with Milani and Cassandra, a Hawaiian and Greek student, as they learn more about they're school and the mysteries within a local graveyard and library ran by their teacher, Miss Barbra, Hiro falls in love with Caleb, one of the more popular students who isn't an asshole

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THESE SHOW CONCEPTS OR MORE, PLEASE DM ME OR CONTACT ME AT MY DISCORD!!!

Account name is mezzo_paintings, if you see my profile and name, no you didn't, shut the hell up he is fine as fuck

And I'm tagging all my moots, ALL, NOT THE SAME TWO ONES, ALLLL YOU LITTLE BITCHES AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

@your-fav-stalker-200k

@shadowwolfmemes

@yourl0calanti

@hearts4ayame

@sincerely-aaliyah

@hexaround

@shayshaylee

@v3noumouspyth0n

@rainbow-starheart

@fictionisnotharmless

@syltheanti

+ I will add more once I get the chance

I will also be tagging my posts about my show concepts on

#Calebsdelusionalidea

:3 thank you for your time

[grumpity-grump-grump]

I might be genderfluid, but I don't know how to approach the subject. Because my whole family is transphobic, and I'm just so used to hearing them make fun of transgender/non binary/genderfluid people.

Even if I am genderfluid I have no idea where to start, even if there is a starting place.

What do I do?

Sincerely, a queer person stuck in a sticky situation.

[my-castles-crumbling]

Prompt: Sweat

@wolfstarmicrofic

Words: 535

Modern & muggle university AU

The sweat dripped down Sirius's back as they curled closer to Remus, mind racing.

It wasn't that it was hot in the small flat they shared with Peter and James- actually, a blanket was draped over Sirius, who was laid across Remus's lap like a needy cat.

No, it was that, though Remus was quite relaxed, holding his book with one hand and carding through Sirius's hair with the other; Sirius was nervous and contemplative, fidgeting with the blanket and opening and closing their mouth over and over again.

"Rem?" Sirius whispered, finally building up the nerve to speak.

"Hmm?" Remus replied, still immersed in his book.

"Y'know...y'know how you're gay?" Sirius asked softly.

"Yes..." Remus responded, closing his book and looking at Sirius curiously, a bit of humor in his eyes. "Are you...are you nervous I'm not? Because we've spent the better part of the past month snogging, Padfoot, I'd hope you believe I like boys."

It was true- Sirius and Remus had finally kissed one drunken night a month ago, after what felt like decades of sexual tension, and since then, Remus had been surprisingly open about coming out to people.

But that was the problem. Remus was very open about liking boys. And Sirius was becoming more and more certain that they were not a boy.

And after so much time pining after their friend, Sirius didn't want to lose him. But they also didn't think they could stay quiet much longer. It wasn't really in their nature to be quiet about anything.

"What if I'm not a boy?" Sirius asked in barely a whisper, burying their head in the blanket.

There was a shocked pause.

Then, long fingers curled over the blanket and pulled it back over Sirius's head.

"Sirius, what do you mean?" Remus asked.

Sirius noted that he didn't look angry or disappointed. Just...curious?

"Sometimes I feel like a boy..." Sirius explained, clearing their throat nervously. "Sometimes I feel more like a girl...or like...neither? Or both?" They ended this explanation in a question. They still weren't exactly sure how to explain it, if they were honest.

Remus nodded, looking thoughtful.

"I...I met this person, at a bar," Sirius said quickly, on a roll now. "They like to be called 'they' and 'them.' And sometimes they wear skirts and makeup and sometimes they wear...I dunno, pants and t-shirts. I was just thinking, that sounds...that sounds perfect, to be honest. Because...I don't always feel like a boy. But if I'm not a boy, where does that put us?" They asked the last question with a tremor in their voice, fighting back tears.

"I guess...I guess that makes me pansexual, then," Remus shrugged calmly.

Sirius gaped at him. He'd said it like it was so simple. "So...so you still like me?"

"Sirius, I've loved you since I first met you. I don't care what pronouns you use or what you wear, or if you're a boy or not. I've already told you, I'm yours," Remus whispered, eyes sincere.

Sirius sighed, sinking back into him. "I don't deserve you," they muttered.

"You deserve the world," Remus murmured back, kissing their head gently.

Note: This is based off of when I told my wife about the fact that I was questioning my gender. In that moment, neither of us had all of the best words to describe being nonbinary/genderfluid and a lesbian/pansexual, so neither do Remus and Sirius. It's a lot more nuanced, obviously. Enjoy!

[nightsdreamgates]

YOOOOO NiGHTS HEADCANONS ASK OPEN?!

LEZZZZ GOOOOO!!!

Can I ask for general romance/love headcanons, for NiGHTS pre and pos rebellion? Maybe also swap AU? Also for Nightopians, Nightmarens and visitors has some difference between the way they treat them or the way the relate with them? Could you share your idyeas with us? :0

Already thank you for this my friend, I hope you don't mind me asking >:3

APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE RESPONSE THO, even tho I'm sick and is 5am, I'm going to respond this, simplify yet giving enough details as well... A perfect balance! Hope you would enjoy!

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Warning: NiGHTS pronouns will be mostly used as he/him or they/them; But that does not take the fact that they are a genderfluid/non confirming Nightmaren!

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NiGHTS - Romance/Love HCs:

-> Visitor!reader:

" You've met eachother during a dream, where you found enchanted by the soothings notes from the flute - Whispering your ears and gettinf attracted by his mysterious nature; eyes peering, penetrating your soul that gives your back a cold chill, but no ill intend can be sensed. The violet being smiled as if they are entertained by your curiosity. "

The first time you saw NiGHTS, it was kind of a delight, yet with bunch other mixed feelings towards them. Who is this person? Why they look like a bufoon?

Their mysterious yet playful demeanor is what thrills you more into knowing him - seeing how they seem so interactive yet managing to balance the moments where they feel hanging out alone, a true ambientalist.

When you started to talk with NiGHTS more, they seemed to enjoy your presence more and more as well.

To him, you are a interesting visitor, who's humour built in being salty, sarcastic, creative yet sincere, even harsh on yourself.

Each layer that he discovers, the more he curious to get to know more about you.

Often times when he sees you, he would toy yourself to provoke, but never meaning any evil! Just to play and even encourage you!

Of course you both would discuss and even argue, but none of it made him to stop liking you; Your flaws is what makes you feel more alive.

When he hang out with you, things feel much more lighter, to your concern, he even gets way too silent, just to listen to your voice.

He finds your "yappings" to be entertaining, funny and charming. To complement it, they would even make questions about how your world works.

You always find yourself laughing at his many levels of shock when you tell him that in your world, people dont float/fly like them and other dream beings.

NiGHTS seems to build a strong bond with you, and when you give it the first move to kiss him... His head was all over the moon.

Such attitude, audacity and passion, is what gives him reassurance, deleting every doubt, that you love him.

He loves you as how you are, never as how you look; To him you are the most precious visitor that he would wish to share his freedom with.

As much your insecurities would speak loud about you interrupting his freedom due his rebellion, he rather stick with a person that he loves and gets along pretty well, than anyone who tries to make him feel egocentric for just leaving a toxic life style.

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-> Nightmaren!Reader:

" I could hear the day when he shouted against his own master, a grandious day of his own chapter of justice. This is how me and my people sees our old king, now a rebel, after the confrontation. He inspires me to be free, able to enjoy things differently, as much is far different and out of my zone, is how it all started. When I started to find my true self under this nightmare nature. "

You were a small third level Nightmaren, who ran away from Nightmera, the land of nightmares.

Your whole life was all about scaring people, feasting on ideyas and good dreams, following orders from your superiors and the rest is what left from being "alive".

It was never great, you would end up pushing yourself hard, over to get just a crumb of a ideya sparkle.

But when Illusio, turned against Wizeman's monarchy, and started his own whole new reign... Is where your eyes sparked, to hear the words from the rebellious king's discursion, about the true balance and image, Nightmarens should take.

For NiGHTS, it was simply words of rant for all the pain and disrespect Wizeman brought to his own creations - But to you, it was words of clarity.

Along with the minimum that wanted that piece of justice, you escaped Nightmera and tried to find your place on Nightopia. Which it wasn't easy for someone like you adaptating to a total in contrary of your homeland.

NiGHTS had found you and caught into your attention, when he saved you from the nightmarens who were still on Wizeman's side. Thanks to NiGHTS rebellion that motivated the tired and himuliated lower levels, a new rule has settle to imprisionate traitors and force them to work twice as worse for their sins against their people and creator

Seeing you hurt and tired, NiGHTS couldn't leave you like this, so he carried you and left you to rest after he cleaned your injuries and covered your wounds.

You woke up all healed, with NiGHTS approaching to check you and feed you with some Nightopia fruits - They were very tasty!

You started to shower NiGHTS with compliments, but not having any ideas that you were making them uncomfortable...

As soon you noticed, you apologized, but he shook his head and said that it was fine, that the only issue was not the compliments itself - But the deadname... Illusio

So you moved your head quick, understanding and yet apologizing once again to not repeat this mistake!

You still stayed beside NiGHTS for a few times, until you had to find yourself into looking more for your necessities and what you want for your life.

Growing to get used with NiGHTS new identity - You would communicate with him and wanting to know more and more about this new person... Is not the king that it used to rule Nightmera beside Wizeman. No. It is now a happier person, that had learned their own mistakes and wants to make a change. But his pride and trickster nature would not make it seen any better, he is trying his best.

You would also learn more about your now new purpose, to live for yourself... Inspired by him and somehow, NiGHTS hearing you saying how much you feel relatable to his troubles and how much he inspired you, warms him deeply inside.

You both end up being friends, but slowly creating much more deeper feelings.

Now who ends up protecting and healing wounds, was you, whenever NiGHTS stubborness dares to get in middle of the problems.

Making sure he is all fine, while scolding him. Seeing you worried of him, even if he is superior to your level. Makes them giddy, but tries to hold it before you could scold him even harder!

One night, when you went to see how NiGHTS was doing, after helping him to deal with visitors and grown much more as person. You two had a calming chat, talking how much you both did after leaving Wizeman's shadows.

It was a deep moment, that slowly turned into a sweet conversation, filled with puns, sarcasm, flashbacks and hand touchings.

His hand on top of yours while he smiles at you, both nightmarens yet creating such a beautiful dream. How ironic!

He was the one to do the first move, slowly shutting your mouth when you've got nervous by his touch, kissing you tenderly, filled with passion.

Your purpose was no longer to serve, but to live. And is by the side of the one who inspired you, that you want to live on.

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-> Nightopian!reader:

" His arms held you closer once those nightmarens got dissipated by his first level abilities - The paraloops scared you a bit, but his voice spoke to you with a strong affirming tone, that there's nothing more for you to be scared. His bravery and determination, is what attracted you. Wanting to be able to be brave and strong too! "

You were hanging out peacefully with your friends, when suddenly after you guys went after the strange beautiful song playing on the woods, nightmarens jumpscared yourself and the group, attacking each one of you cowardly since you was in a vulnerable position.

But then when you blinked, all of those nightmarens were being dragged by a giant looping hole, that sucked them in one!

Soft arms holding you, looking up, you see a angry, firm face looking at the hole, which softly changes to a concerned face, they look at you, speaking: " You nightopiana need to get better in keeping your own wings safe! Y'know? "

The look of admiration and enchantment switched to a "bruh" face. Is this the person who saves my life says???

As once you chirped to him, talking in your language, scolding with words of " that wasn't very respectful! " or " Don't say that about my wings! ", it made NiGHTS chuckle.

He found you so darn adorable, once he placed you on the ground.

" Alright, alright! No need to insult me! I was just sayin'... These marens' almost got your buns, so I found righteous to say that you guys need to be more cautious that's all.. "

That made you crumble deep down, frowning... Am I too weak to even defend myself? Why!

But you dont want that so after he seem his job is done, you tried to follow him, but... they are so fast!

But the words he said, motivated you to be stronger and able to defend your own self... So you started to work out your rosy wings!

It wasn't an easy task, but the more you were determined, more you felt you're leveling up...

You want to proof that big goofus that Nightopians are not so weak as he seems to be "warning"!

Until then... you found him again... When he saw you, he couldnt even recognize, you've gotten so strong! And you seem proud of it...

You wanted to proof him, you wanted to challenge him! But he simply doesn't accept, unless you provoked his ego...

Due your audacity demeanor, he smirked, seeing that a pian' is challenging him, is not so new but also not so usual! He likes your determination!

So you both did a race, which obviously... He won for being a first level sucker.

But when he seemed to be having fun, he saw you at distance, your wings fluttering smoothly and face red, you're tired...

He decides to help you, as much you rejected, you couldn't reject to lay into his embrace, to be awaken in a peaceful place on Nightopia.

You and NiGHTS started out as frienemies, that developed slowly into a cute romance...

He taking care of you and surprised he created a soft spot for you! Which dont get me wrong, he tried to hide it, if you weren't difficult...

You also felt the same for him... And you were also surprised! Ironic isn't it?

You both ended up confessing and it was very sweet, kissing into a nightmaren lips felt different, is like... is sweeter than the nectar that runs out of the colony.

NiGHTS as much he plays around, he never discouraged your will to be more stronger and cautious, but you've learned so much more with him.

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All I could is to write only his after rebellion... But do not fret, I will make a 2nd part for his pre-rebellion form to you after I finish few things here!

I hope you are satisfied and gave you more ideas and satisfaction! Im open to criticism to work better on my writting & working scenarios!

[bloggingboutburgers]

Today you answered a lot of questions, so if you want this to just sit in your inbox it's okay

Not tryna burden you or anything, just wanted to wish you a good day, and tell you that I admire you and how confident you are with your identity. It's truly heartwarming for me from my little confused bicurious/bisexual demisexual genderfluid place (Ik, it's a lot), because I get confused and sometimes awkward when I doubt on whether what I am or what I'm not. Mostly because it discourages me a bit when I'm talking about my identity and the same friend jumps in and says "but weren't you *this* a few months ago?". She's very insensitive most of the time and questions me about my choices because she thinks I strictly have to have 'had a crush' on someone to be sure. Idk man, I just realized just now that when I was a kid I found Elsa from Frozen prettier than I did with other characters, shut up. I just know, but after being fed with that if I found them attractive (or rather, sexually appealing) then I had a crush on someone, realizing if I liked someone or not was a huge fucking struggle.

Whatever, I'm just ranting by now. Just wanted to thank you because thanks to you I felt like someone understood my situation because I had been wondering why I never had liked someone my whole life. Then I realized, I can, it's just that it takes a bit more than just finding them appealing to the eye for me. You gave me a safe space, where I could laugh and relate (or not, it depends on the context but I still nod and chuckle) to being ace.

Also, I could be asking on my main but I feel embarrassed to say this since we're mutuals and you probably know who I am, but I'm still shy :P

Have a good night :D

IIIIII have totally let this sit in my asks for quite a while because the stress of the visa process got to me... TwT Sorry it took me so long to respond! (...Tbh I haven't guessed who you are either TwT I'm so sorry, I hope that isn't too hurtful, I'm kinda stupid in that way...)

I feel you though. I'm lucky I myself have such a strong and stubborn sense of self that I can still be like "no I AM this because I know and naysayers can f off" even in times where there's ground for doubt, because it IS genuinely so hard to figure oneself out. First off, people impose on you, from your very childhood, the common denominator that everyone's heterosexual and heteroromantic. Next, and even stronger than that, people impose on you that everyone feels sexual and romantic attraction, and that if anyone likes anything at all, if any person interacts positively with any other at all, if any character shares screentime with any other at all, then it must mean they're romantically/sexually attracted, because that's all it ever can mean. No wonder it's a struggle!

It's an honestly unfair situation to always have to be surrounded by "yeah but"s from people who don't experience your experience yet somehow think they know better. It makes it so that sometimes, all you have to trust is your gut, and that's a tough pill to swallow in a world that tends to erase or disvalue your experience, and in a society where it's encouraged not to be too self-centered and seek other opinions for guidance, for valid reasons. But it's sometimes so tough to find support, that trusting oneself really IS what one needs.

Either way... I consider myself really fortunate in that sense, but I know it's definitely a tough one, and I sincerely wish you the best T^T I'm really glad if I can help, even a little! And please don't let external forces make you lose too much confidence in yourself, as honestly hard as it is at times TwT You're all good as you are and you have every right to be who you are! It sounds so obvious put that way but... Yeah TwT

[bongsuvn]

Art by Not A Starchild

PRINCESS OF RED SCALES AND HER GENDER FLUIDITY

(Tiếng Việt ở dưới)

Mediums weren’t the only ones who transcended gender binary; gods were as well. Deities within the Mother Goddess Worship could transform into men or women at will. In modern terminology, they were genderfluid. Since the holies could be either men or women, a person with both masculine and feminine characteristics would be considered more suitable for the mediumship ritual.

The Third Mother Goddess of Watery Palace (also known as Princess of Red Scales) was one of the four Holy Mothers of the Four Palaces, who governed the rivers, lakes, and all bodies of water.

Excerpt from the Mother of Water prayer: “I wholeheartedly offer to the Grotto Court Water Lady of the First Dragon Palace and ask for her imperial grace, with her magnificent virtue, her numerous transformations, through my limited mortal eyes, whether she be man or woman, as she observes while dwelling under the living realm.”

Excerpt from the Mother of Water prayer recitation: “I sincerely give myself to Lady Immortal of the Watery Palace within the left Grotto Court, the fairy who resides under the Watery Kingdom, who doesn’t belong to the earthly realm, who has numerous transformations, either as a man or woman; to the elegantly holy, the the charmingly virtuous, the finely pure Madam of Yellow Dragon, to the dragon princess of red scales within Lake of White Jade, Her Majesty of mercy.”

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CÔNG CHÚA XÍCH LÂN, VI NAM VI NỮ

Không chỉ các thanh đồng trong Đạo Mẫu 道母 có thể vượt khỏi hệ nhị phân giới, mà thậm chí các vị thánh thần cũng thế. Thần linh trong Đạo Mẫu đều vi nam vi nữ, tức có thể hoá nữ hoặc nam.

Mẫu đệ tam Thoải phủ 母第三水府 (còn gọi là Xích Lân công chúa 赤鱗公主) là vị Thánh mẫu cai quản miền sông nước, một trong bốn vị Tứ phủ Thánh mẫu 四府聖母.

Trích khoa cúng Mẫu Thoải 母水:

“Nhất tâm phụng thỉnh Động Đình thủy nữ đệ nhất long cung hiển hiện hoàng ân, khôi khôi đại đức, biến hình biến tướng, phàm trần nhãn nhục hạn chi, vi nữ vi nam, ngụ hạ dương gian vãng hiện.” （一心奉請洞庭水女第一龍宮顯現皇恩，恢恢大德，變形變相，凡塵眼肉限之，為女為男，寓下陽間往現。）

Trích bài khấn niệm thánh hiệu Mẫu Thoải:

“Chí tâm nương tựa tiên chúa thoải cung tả Động Đình, thuỷ quốc tiên phi phàm trần ngụ hạ biến hình biến tướng, vi nữ vi nam, Hoàng long tịnh hạnh đoan trang linh thiện thục diệu phu nhân, Bạch Ngọc hồ trung Xích Lân long nữ công chúa, Ngọc bệ hạ từ tôn.”

（至心NƯƠNG似仙主水宮左洞庭，水國仙非凡塵寓下，變形變相，為女為男，黃龍淨行端莊靈善淑妙夫人，白玉湖中赤鱗龍女公主，玉陛下慈尊。）

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Tham khảo: dao-mau.fandom.com/vi/wiki/Mẫu_Đệ_Tam_Thuỷ_Tiên hatvanvn.blogspot.com/2010/11/cac-vi-than-trong-ao-mau.html

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*Hệ nhị phân giới (gender binary): sự phân loại giới thành hai thái cực đối lập nhau, hoặc là nam, hoặc là nữ, thường theo hệ thống xã hội hoặc theo từng vùng văn hoá

[halothenthehorns]

Chapter 4: I GO CRUISING WITH EXPLOSIVES Part 2

We now return to our regularly scheduled program. I didn't originally plan Annabeth's arrival to get two whole chapters, but hey, who's complaining about more content of this? Certainly not me!

PJOPJO

Jason jumped to his feet with a stance that meant battle was still afoot.

He took a deep breath though and marched, literally like his steps were being counted, past Thalia and snatched his beanbag up, hauling it to where Nico's was and throwing himself violently into it as answer.

Sparks were still flitting around his head like a power outage gone very wrong, (they were pretty sure he couldn't set the furniture on fire?) but at least he'd stopped taking his turn to try and kill them all.

"Jason," Thalia tried again, the heartbreak in her voice clear, but he turned his face away with anger she knew she had to give space to or risk the wrath of far worse.

"I'm really hoping this finally trumps my screaming fit," Magnus said into the awkward silence. "Surely Annabeth showing up and nearly getting this place blown to hell finally makes me seem not that bad, right?"

"As if Maggie," the last girl scoffed and put her hands on her hips, her swagger enough to fill this room. "If I ever let you live that down then I'm having a bad day."

"Is there even an explanation for what you two are doing here?" Annabeth asked them as she came forward, her arms open hopefully to her cousin.

Magnus smiled in surprise and hesitantly came forward. The hug was just as awkward, but just as sincere as her boyfriends. Magnus even gave her a rapid pat on the back too before pulling back.

There was something about his appearance that nagged at Annabeth's mind instantly, but she couldn't quite place it as he smiled and gestured to his friend, "Alex, Annabeth. You obviously know everybody else."

"Alex Fierro," Alex would never let anybody introduce her but herself with a grand bow. "Genderfluid, she/ her pronouns, a great admirer of your work to piggyback ride a fury."

"Alex is, abrasive," Thalia agreed to Annabeth's astounded look, anything to keep her broken-hearted eyes away from Jason. "You get used to her pretty quickly."

"You do?" Percy demanded, because he sure wasn't yet.

Annabeth was as quick a study as had been promised. She followed her instinct as she looked from her, to her cousin, to Jason Grace, and turned to Thalia, Alex watched with interest.

Nico had mentioned another Camp...Artimes's transformations...Hera's ploy...there were pieces and dots that needed to be connected. "Something happened to Artemis, but I'm sure she's safe." Annabeth said as her eyes repeated to all the kids who 'shouldn't be here.'

"That was my fault I'm afraid," Alex answered a touch guiltily. "Skadi. I couldn't help but think of her, seeing the goddess in person."

Magnus took it as a good sign that his cousins surprised but accepting attitude of him being here instead of pelting him with toy soldiers as a good omen as she gave his arm a friendly squeeze he made himself tolerate for her sake and went back over to Percy.

She linked her arm with his and pulled him gently down onto two beanbags that they might as well sew together now. Thalia flopped miserably down beside her and took to looking at the same place Jason was glaring as if they'd inscribed the stars into the ceiling while Annabeth cautiously picked up the book.

"This is what's causing so much trouble huh?" She chuckled.

"We can take a break while you catch up," Will instantly offered, studying her clinically.

While she could do with a good, long, overdue nap, she felt plopped right into the middle of the story out of turn. She knew exactly what was about to happen to a once leaderly figure of their camp, and that everybody was going to need a break soon enough, so she shook her head and tucked her feet beneath her to get comfortable and settled just a hairs breath apart from Percy's side, unlinking their arms. It was taking all of her self-control not to bury her face into his neck and never move from that position already. "Oh no, don't let me interrupt. I'm plenty caught up."

"Well we know that's at least a partial dam lie," Alex snickered.

Annabeth's blank look only proved that.

"Inside jokes aside," Percy said rapidly, so thrilled to have her back he kept thinking he was dreaming, and if anyone dared pinch him he'd cut off their hand. He could have read the whole book by himself! He could have hit any target on the archery range! He could have eaten vegetables and not made a single snide comment! "There's like, a gazillion of these things and Alex thinks they're color coded to us and we have no clue why Jason and I woke up down here with no memory and I am really, really glad you're okay!"

Annabeth squeezed his hand, her nails digging in for a moment that should have been painful as she met his eyes and murmured just for him, "you have no idea how much I agree."

He started floating a few feet off the ground with the goofiest smile on his face and Annabeth quickly yanked him back into his seat by his shirt collar. "Knock it off seaweed brain." The less he indulged in his abilities the better.

"Well I can mark a life goal off of my list," Alex said cheerfully watching the display.

It wasn't until Percy finally managed to clear his throat and offered to take the book that Annabeth remembered, "hey wait, tell Annabeth what?"

Percy froze, a new kind of petrified look on his face nobody had gotten to see before with Annabeth right next to him.

He tried to start reading, loudly, like he hadn't heard, and Annabeth was so shocked to see that of all things from her boyfriend she threw her head back and laughed without a care in the world.

Percy was so dumbstruck with joy to finally get to hear that in person, right next to his ear, her clear voice like a siren- that he had no defense as she tugged sharply on his ear, causing him to yelp and squeal, "Rachel kissed me goodbye and I'm sorry!"

"Oh, that," she scoffed, still chuckling as she nestled into her place beside him. "Yeah, it came up once when we started talking about the most romantic let down kisses. Mine was when I kissed you and you exploded a volcano," she rolled her eyes without a care in the world. "You really have a track record Percy." She managed to say that without any of the deep jealousy she'd have felt hearing that back then. She'd grown, they were supposed to have grown past that together...but it wasn't Percy's fault he was still stuck in that moment.

He was left with his mouth hanging open with no idea where to start on any of that.

So Annabeth shrugged and reached over, plucking the book from him, and even politely closing his mouth as she read instead.

Beckendorf chuckled, and together we soared out over the Atlantic.

It was almost dark by the time we spotted our target. The Princess Andromeda glowed on the horizon—a huge cruise ship lit up yellow and white. From a distance, you'd think it was just a party ship, not the headquarters for the Titan lord. Then as you got closer, you might notice the giant figurehead—a darkhaired maiden in a Greek chiton, wrapped in chains with a look of horror on her face, as if she could smell the stench of all the monsters she was being forced to carry.

Annabeth found herself adjusting quickly, just as she always had. To the strange idea this was all being told through Percy's eyes, to having all eyes on her like she was center stage.

Even to the fact that Percy winced, and shivered deep to his core. He might not remember what was about to happen, but the innermost part of himself had been branded with these experiences to much to forget. She watched with futile anger she couldn't do anything as he took several deep breaths and averted his eyes away from her, then back, and again so rapidly because nothing was easing the pain of losing his friend away.

So she pressed her shoulder against his, like they were back to back on a mission preparing for the worst.

He relaxed at once. Not all the way, his spine was still to stiff in his seat like he expected a ruler to crack over his head any second, but he found himself smiling at Annabeth. The idea of Rachel vs Annabeth floated out of his mind like a bubble to be popped. The instant comfort he had just being next to her was an experience he'd been starting to think he'd never feel again, and it made this whole crazy trip down here suddenly much more bearable, actually feel possible.

Seeing the ship again twisted my gut into knots. I'd almost died twice on the Princess Andromeda.

Annabeth tisked distastefully at being reminded of that.

Then she ran cold as she fully realized what was about to happen.

Percy didn't remember Luke. Percy was going to spend hours, possibly days referring to Luke as Kronos and visa versa. She didn't lean away from him, she wouldn't, couldn't after so much time wishing for him back, but she did read in a much less light tone.

Making the others all wince and fidget at Annabeth's battle attitude coming into view so quickly. She knew what had happened on this trip.

Now it was heading straight for New York.

"You know what to do?" Beckendorf yelled over the wind.

I nodded. We'd done dry runs at the dockyards in New Jersey, using abandoned ships as our targets.

"Where were you finding these abandoned ships chilling around Jersey?" Alex asked in fascination.

"I drug them up from the seafloor," Percy shrugged.

Magnus boggled at her boyfriend like that wasn't a perfectly normal thing for him to do, and she instantly felt bad for him. That she was now a part of interrupting his normal, mortal life with her mess.

I knew how little time we would have. But I also knew this was our best chance to end Kronos's invasion before it ever started.

"Blackjack," I said, "set us down on the lowest stern deck."

Gotcha, boss, he said. Man, I hate seeing that boat.

Will crooned for the poor Pegasus, telling Percy, "man, I hope you gave him extra sugar cubes when you got back."

Percy gave him a shaky smile, wanting to promise of course he did, that Beckendorf had come with him and promised to give him laser-hooves or something fantastical for all his help, but the words lodged in his throat.

Three years ago, Blackjack had been enslaved on the Princess Andromeda until he'd escaped with a little help from my friends and me. I figured he'd rather have his mane braided like My Little Pony than be back here again.

Thalia had been a secret fan of that, Annabeth smiled to herself. She'd stopped and ogled the toys in the window all the time. When she grinned at her now though, Thalia was still chewing on her lip and studying her combat boots. Annabeth again glanced at Jason, a brother she never knew about, and finally pieced together after all these years why Thalia had never thought it was funny when Annabeth tried to gift her the toys. Maybe it hadn't been Thalia who secretly liked the show.

"Don't wait for us," I told him.

But, boss—

"Trust me," I said. "We'll get out by ourselves."

Percy gasped a shaky noise, his eyes sparking with fear and anger, a little pain, any number of things. Something went wrong, his gut was telling him that-

Annabeth slipped her hand back into Percy's. It was the natural thing to do, her stance shifting to support the book in her lap as if she'd done this a hundred times.

Percy's unease took a back burner to embarrassment all over again. A gesture his mind had conjured up a hundred times, something that had vividly happened in his own memory, but now that it was finally happening in person he stammered, "um, are we, underground?"

She looked at him blankly, before she pulled her hand away with a disappointed, understanding smile. Right, not there yet.

"Technically," Will offered in a sing song voice, "we are underground. The bottom of the ocean is far below ground level!"

"Right," Percy said in relief, his hand twitching like he'd instantly regretted opening his stupid mouth and spooking her away.

She didn't really need an excuse at all, as she slipped her cold fingers back into his warm hand. He squeezed, and both breathed a sigh of relief like something finally felt right for the first time in a very long time.

Blackjack folded his wings and plummeted toward the boat like a black comet.

Thalia turned a little green around the edges at the idea, Jason noticed as his eyes instantly tracked back to her with worry. She'd have rather swam to this thing in the dead of winter and risk Neptune's rath than be on her own pegasus.

His anger only grew he knew something like that about her, but she apparently wasn't ever going to bother to share a thing with him.

The wind whistled in my ears. I saw monsters patrolling the upper decks of the ship—dracaenae snake-women, hellhounds, giants, and the humanoid seal-demons known as telkhines—but we zipped by so fast, none of them raised the alarm. We shot down the stern of the boat, and Blackjack spread his wings, lightly coming to a landing on the lowest deck. I climbed off, feeling queasy.

Annabeth laughed lightly to herself in surprise. She'd once watched him and Grover spin each other around in wheely chairs and try to race each other to Thalia's tree, only to collide and collapse after two steps and laugh. They'd obviously been queasy and high on the feeling.

The light feeling wasn't destined to last as Percy's fingers tightened around her, seeking something she willingly gave back.

Good luck, boss, Blackjack said. Don't let 'em turn you into horse meat!

"Blackjack's rivaling Tyson over here for the best life advice," Alex snorted.

Annabeth looked blankly at her for a moment as that registered. That this girl who she'd never met may perhaps know more intimate details about Percy's life than even she did. Her eyes did flicker to the rest of those books with a touch of longing now...maybe she would find time to read those.

With that, my old friend flew off into the night. I took my pen out of my pocket and uncapped it, and Riptide sprang to full size—three feet of deadly Celestial bronze glowing in the dusk.

Beckendorf pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. I thought it was a map or something. Then I realized it was a photograph. He stared at it in the dim light—the smiling face of Silena Beauregard, daughter of Aphrodite.*

"Aw," Annabeth smiled, her heart thudding with misery at how she knew that story ended, and so regressing with, "did you know people have been putting photos in lockets all the way back since the 16th century? Queen Elizabeth the First's ring contained a portrait of herself on one side and her mother, Anne Boleyn, on the other."

"Have I mentioned yet I'm really glad to have you here Wise Girl?" Percy grinned at her breaking the sudden pounding of his heart going off in his ears at such a random distraction.

"Has Percy mentioned yet he kept a picture of you in his school notebooks?" Alex asked devilishly.

Percy spluttered and went a painful shade of red in embarrassment as Annabeth laughed at the pair.

They'd started going out last summer, after years of the rest of us saying, "Duh, you guys like each other!" Even with all the dangerous missions, Beckendorf had been happier this summer than I'd ever seen him.

"We'll make it back to camp," I promised.

For a second I saw worry in his eyes.

Percy couldn't draw a stick figure to save his life, but his hand cramped around his pen as he felt the need to somehow try and keep that moment alive. Something about that, the impending doom he'd let himself brush aside-

Annabeth's shaky breath beside him put a steadying weight on his center. She knew, she remembered, and she still had the same feeling coursing through him. That had to count for something?

Then he put on his old confident smile.

"You bet," he said. "Let's go blow Kronos back into a million pieces."

Beckendorf led the way. We followed a narrow corridor to the service stairwell, just like we'd practiced, but we froze when we heard noises above us.

"I don't care what your nose says!" snarled a half-human, half-dog voice—a telkhine. "The last time you smelled half-blood, it turned out to be a meatloaf sandwich!"

"What the heck is a meatloaf sandwich?" Nico asked in concern.

"You, you take a piece of meatloaf and put it between slices of bread?" Will answered in his own confusion, it sounded self-explanatory.

Nico's refined culinary tastebuds were apparently being insulted as he looked at him like smushed candy on the bottom of his shoe. "Why?"

"I don't know," Will shrugged, "kids will put anything between two slices of bread and butter. Jelly beans, pizza, spaghetti, cereal."

Nico was pretty convinced he was being had, until Percy smacked his lips in appreciation at the idea and he instead just shook his head in disdain.

"Meatloaf sandwiches are good!" a second voice snarled.

"I've never had to take a monster's word on anything," Nico muttered, much to Will's great amusement he'd probably get him to try one now without question, with some warm butter and a large glass of milk.

"But this is half-blood scent, I swear. They are on board!"

"Bah, your brain isn't on board!"

"I would volunteer to be on lookout just to keep getting to hear this," Thalia chuckled.

"You'd make a terrible lookout," Percy snorted, "you'd start adding in your own insults and then use them for target practice."

"I'm not hearing a downside. Nobody would see you sneaking around," she pointed out.

Percy rolled his eyes, leaning forward in his seat to clearly escalate the argument while Thalia smirked and was obviously going to wait around to hear it.

"Guys," Annabed groaned. "I've been in here five minutes and am already convinced Oceanus is going to pop in and send us all to Pluto if you two don't knock it off!"

They both sat back sheepishly while Annabeth read on as if nothing had happened.

Jason couldn't help a smile at her firm hand, he could see instantly where she got it from when Thalia used that exact same tone when Percy wasn't distracting her, though it only curdled his stomach with further anger that his sister had practically raised Annabeth and hadn't once bothered to fill him in on anything?!

They continued to argue, and Beckendorf pointed downstairs. We descended as quietly as we could.

Two floors down, the voices of the telkhines started to fade.

Finally we came to a metal hatch. Beckendorf mouthed the words "engine room."

It was locked, but Beckendorf pulled some chain cutters out of his bag and split the bolt like it was made of butter.

"Child of Hephaestus said What!" Alex busted out laughing.

"Well we can't say Grover's replacement isn't useful to have around," Magnus snorted, though he much would have preferred to hear about his quest to restore nature and having nice, safe adventures with daffodils and roses bickering than a bag of explosions!

He was clearly in the minority on that though.

Inside, a row of yellow turbines the size of grain silos churned and hummed. Pressure gauges and computer terminals lined the opposite wall. A telkhine was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He was about five feet tall, with slick black seal fur and stubby little feet. He had the head of a Doberman, but his clawed hands were almost human. He growled and muttered as he tapped on his keyboard. Maybe he was messaging his friends on uglyface.com.

"Holy Athena," Annabeth groaned as she looked around at him. "Are you like this all the time?"

Percy didn't even bother to deny it as he shrugged.

"I take back every time I told you you didn't have self-restraint," she told him in admiration. If she hadn't known any better, she would have thought he'd go right up and say that as a distraction. It was always a coin toss between that or focused, never both!

It almost sounded like a compliment, much to his instant shock and joy! Now if only he could remember the rest of the times she had told him that...

I stepped forward, and he tensed, probably smelling something was wrong. He leaped sideways toward a big red alarm button,

"Damn, I hate when they're smart," Will winced.

"This is not going to be a very long-lasting relationship then," Nico muttered, causing Will to snort violently and give him a cheeky smile.

but I blocked his path. He hissed and lunged at me, but one slice of Riptide, and he exploded into dust.

"One down," Beckendorf said. "About five thousand to go."

"Which is why we keep score," Jason nodded adamantly, at least spurred on into breaking out of his grumpy silence by everybody else still having fun and still able to ignore Thalia's beseeching looks.

"So we can rub it in their faces all the better, yes Jason!" Percy cackled.

He tossed me a jar of thick green liquid—Greek fire, one of the most dangerous magical substances in the world.

"I need to know the others," Alex told them with a disturbingly very effective sincere face. "For medicinal reasons to stay away from them."

"Oh, well, in that case," Annabeth began kindly, before she blasted on reading at the top of her lungs.

Bless this girl, everybody else sighed in relief, for instantly clocking Alex Fierro.

Then he threw me another essential tool of demigod heroes—duct tape.

"Don't get me started," Annabeth groaned. "The one-time duct tape and WD-40 haven't fixed a problem and the Camp smelt like bananas for months!"

"I have so many questions," Percy promised.

Annabeth turned to him with excitement clear in her eyes, somehow having stumbled upon a story she hadn't managed to tell him yet, but then she got a good look at him again. The way he leaned back in his seat, just slightly. The way his hand kept twitching in hers, so loose. She wanted nothing more than to share that sporadic memory with him, but she wanted them to be back on even ground again more.

...besides. Luke had been involved in that, and she didn't think he was ready for that yet...again...whatever.

"Slap that one on the console," he said. "I'll get the turbines."

Alex mock slapped a console only her eyes could see. "You could fit so much pollution in these babies!"

"Guess he should have brought along Rachel," Thalia smirked, "she would have loved to help out for that reason alone."

Percy gave Thalia a panicked look why she'd bring that up, his hand snatching away from Annabeth's as he looked wildly at her for a reaction.

Annabeth just sighed. "Have you been torturing my-, um, him, this whole time?"

"Only a little," Thalia promised.

"Knock it off," Annabeth chuckled.

"Only because you asked so nicely," she scoffed, leaving not a person in doubt she didn't mean a word.

Percy was to busy staring at Annabeth to wonder what a my-um-him could be to care who tortured him next.

We went to work. The room was hot and humid, and in no time we were drenched in sweat.

The boat kept chugging along. Being the son of Poseidon and all, I have perfect bearings at sea. Don't ask me how, but I could tell we were at 40.19° North, 71.90° West, making eighteen knots, which meant the ship would arrive in New York Harbor by dawn. This would be our only chance to stop it.

I had just attached a second jar of Greek fire to the control panels when I heard the pounding of feet on metal steps—so many creatures coming down the stairwell I could hear them over the engines. Not a good sign.

"Has Percy ever found a good sign?" Magnus asked.

"I once found a trespasser's welcomed sign," Percy shrugged, "does that count?"

"No," Magnus frowned, any sign that said that had to be the property of a serial killer.

I locked eyes with Beckendorf. "How much longer?"

"Too long." He tapped his watch, which was our remote control detonator. "I still have to wire the receiver and prime the charges. Ten more minutes at least."

Judging from the sound of the footsteps, we had about ten seconds.

"I'll distract them," I said. "Meet you at the rendezvous point."

"Percy—"

"Wish me luck."

He looked like he wanted to argue. The whole idea had been to get in and out without being spotted.

But we were going to have to improvise.

"Time for a crazy Percy plan," Jason groaned.

"Wooo!" Alex cheered like the winning basket had just been made.

Percy felt the sarcastic urge to wave grandly from his seat like it was a throne for their amusement, but instead he sunk farther into the plushy beans of his bag with dread. Bianca flitted through his mind as a horrible reminder that his crazy plans could have consequences.

"Good luck," he said.

I charged out the door.

A half dozen telkhines were tromping down the stairs. I cut through them with Riptide faster than they could yelp. I kept climbing—past another telkhine, who was so startled he dropped his Lil' Demons lunch box. I left him alive—partly because his lunch box was cool,

"Naww," Will managed around an affectionate chuckle.

Annabeth wasn't paying anyone much mind now though, analyzing every word out of her mouth for where it had gone wrong. They should have had two scouts in the stairs for exactly this, like her and Grover who could have warned of this and been a better distraction so that no one had to be left alone. They could have-

"Annabeth?" Percy asked in concern. That feeling of doom in him was mounting, and watching her strategizing face laced with worry and fear only confirmed what his gut was telling him. Something was wrong, something went terribly wrong.

"I know Percy," she promised, glancing up long enough to meet his eyes before taking a deep breath and continuing. She did know every single thing he was feeling, his fears she experienced with him. She just wanted to get through this but didn't know how to let go. How long had he been stuck like this? She wasn't going to make it last a word longer than she had to.

partly so he could raise the alarm and hopefully get his friends to follow me rather than head toward the engine room.

"Well at least it's starting as a good plan," Jason said with a frown of experience rather than expectation.

"I am taking bets now on how it gets crazier," Alex grinned, "but the price goes up the longer you wait."

I burst through a door onto deck six and kept running. I'm sure the carpeted hall had once been very plush, but over the last three years of monster occupation the wallpaper, carpet, and stateroom doors had been clawed up and slimed so it looked like the inside of a dragon's throat (and yes, unfortunately, I speak from experience).

"Why would the inside of a dragon's throat be clawed up?" Magnus frowned.

"When have you been on the inside of a dragon's throat?" Annabeth asked shrewdly.

"Food fights on the way down," Percy pointed at Magnus, "I got way to good a look inside that hydra," he pointed at Annabeth.

The cousins made nearly identical 'ugh' faces. Finally in the same room, they could have passed for twins. Oceanus's mistake seemed genuine...and yet Percy was still annoyed to no end while smiling nonstop she was really, finally here!

Back on my first visit to the Princess Andromeda, my old enemy Luke

Annabeth did not understand the smattering of snickers or Percy's exhausted sigh for that phrase, clearly she had missed a few inside jokes. Percy had a few of those with Thalia and Grover too though, even some with Rachel, and she'd always let those be without prying.

What she did feel was a pang in her chest at Percy calling him that. No matter how many times he betrayed her, she only thought of him as Luke, her old savior. Her old friend.

Percy however, winced, water pouring from his presence like his pours were beaver dams. The sudden flood in the ocean made Annabeth shiver and look around. She'd never figured out how to soothe this problem away for him though. She'd always suspected he talked to Chiron about this, him, Luke, and never knew how to broach it herself, especially recently.

Percy looked to her though. He took an uneasy breath and settled himself.

This was not just going to be some fun trip down memory lane.

had kept some dazed tourists on board for show, shrouded in Mist so they didn't realize they were on a monster-infested ship. Now I didn't see any sign of tourists. I hated to think what had happened to them, but I kind of doubted they'd been allowed to go home with their bingo winnings.

"Which is why you should never trust cruise ships," Alex nodded sagely as if someone had finally agreed with her.

"You know, the monster infested kind," Magnus frowned at her strangely.

"No, no, I meant all of them," Alex insisted.

I reached the promenade, a big shopping mall that took up the whole middle of the ship, and I stopped cold. In the middle of the courtyard stood a fountain. And in the fountain squatted a giant crab.

"Yeah, we're due for more sealife shenanigans," Jason sighed.

"What does that mean?" Annabeth asked.

"He keeps a running tally of all the monsters I kill," Percy rolled his eyes. "Last sea-monster I fought was," he stopped and tried to count something on his fingers.

"That sea serpent when you were with Clarisse headed to Staten Island," Thalia offered.

"What?" Annabeth repeated, growing increasingly concerned every time she asked that.

"Oh yeah," Percy nodded, trying to wave past Annebth. Clarisse would pulverize him if anyone else found out about that.

"Before that was Antaues, I guess," Jason offered.

"And we're continuing!" Nico pleaded before they got to sidetracked trying to go recount everything.

Annabeth didn't entirely agree, she found herself growing jealous and more curious by the word what all she'd missed, but she agreed with Nico for now it was something they could get to later.

I'm not talking "giant" like $7.99 all-you-can-eat Alaskan king crab. I'm talking giant like bigger than the fountain. The monster rose ten feet out of the water. Its shell was mottled blue and green, its pincers longer than my body.

"Mmm," Alex hummed, "sounds like a monster worth fighting."

"She says that about every monster," Percy told her in exhaustion.

"Usually for the epic battle," Alex needlessly clarified, Annabeth really hadn't questioned that about her. "This time for the snackage!"

"Take a hell of a pot to boil that sucker," Annabeth shrugged, though she looked willing to try, causing Alex to laugh in appreciation.

If you've ever seen a crab's mouth, all foamy and gross with whiskers and snapping bits, you can imagine this one didn't look any better blown up to billboard size. Its beady black eyes glared at me, and I could see intelligence in them—and hate. The fact that I was the son of the sea god was not going to win me any points with Mr. Crabby.

"I bet your dad didn't invite him to the last royal ball or whatever and he's going to take his revenge out on you," Thalia nodded.

"He should have just snuck in on a dinner cart or something like the rest of us would have if he wanted to go that badly," Percy huffed. He knew he would have if he'd had the slightest hint those existed.

"FFFFffffff," it hissed, sea foam dripping from its mouth. The smell coming off it was like a garbage can full of fish sticks that had been sitting in the sun all week.

Alarms blared. Soon I was going to have lots of company and I had to keep moving.

"Hey, crabby." I inched around the edge of the courtyard. "I'm just gonna scoot around you so—"

The crab moved with amazing speed. It scuttled out of the fountain and came straight at me, pincers snapping. I dove into a gift shop, plowing through a rack of T-shirts. A crab pincer smashed the glass walls to pieces and raked across the room. I dashed back outside, breathing heavily, but Mr. Crabby turned and followed.

"What's with the naming him?" Annabeth chuckled. "Were you planning on bringing him back to camp?"

"Maybe?" Percy grinned at her, sitting here beside him, teasing him again like nothing had ever been wrong. "I'm a moth for strays and all that."

"That is not even close to the saying seaweed brain," she rolled her eyes, and it was the best thing Percy had ever seen.

"There!" a voice said from a balcony above me. "Intruder!"

If I'd wanted to create a distraction, I'd succeeded, but this was not where I wanted to fight. If I got pinned down in the center of the ship, I was crab chow.

The demonic crustacean lunged at me. I sliced with Riptide, taking off the tip of its claw. It hissed and foamed, but didn't seem very hurt.

I tried to remember anything from the old stories that might help with this thing. Annabeth had told me about a monster crab—something about Hercules crushing it under his foot? That wasn't going to work here.

"You remember the Hercules stories I tell you?" Annabeth asked in surprise. Most days she wasn't even sure he was listening, let alone that.

She found the collective burst of laughter around the room making her blush for some reason while Percy desperately tried to clear his throat louder than them, and was failing.

"Yeah, it uh, crosses my mind sometimes," he tried to tell her while meeting her eyes, but mostly he was just staring at her nose.

She found it endearing, and sad. How their relationship had been forced backwards by all this, how his crush on her really had been as obvious as everybody tried to tell her seeing him like this now. They'd laugh about this someday, hopefully.

This crab was slightly bigger than my Reeboks.

Then a weird thought occurred to me. Last Christmas, my mom and I had brought Paul Blofis to our old cabin at Montauk, where we'd been going forever.

"Aw," Annabeth smiled in surprise at them taking Paul somewhere so personal to them. Their escape from Gabe, their getaway from everywhere. Percy had taken her there at the end of last summer and it had felt like such a special slice of existence away from the world.

Paul had taken me crabbing, and when he'd brought up a net full of the things, he'd shown me how crabs have a chink in their armor, right in the middle of their ugly bellies.

"Yeahs!" Magnus looked so ridiculous cheered at this news they would have laughed at him alone for that reaction, let alone him continuing to yell, "mortal helping you for the win! Kronos has no idea what he's in for!"

"Yeah, Paul will teach me all the different homonyms one of these days and I'll finally put this all to bed," Percy chuckled along, everything suddenly seemed ten times funnier and more awesome with Annabeth's blonde hair finally brushing against his arm in real life.

The only problem was getting to the ugly belly.

I glanced at the fountain, then at the marble floor, already slick from scuttling crab tracks. I held out my hand, concentrating on the water, and the fountain exploded. Water sprayed everywhere, three stories high, dousing the balconies and the elevators and the windows of the shops. The crab didn't care. It loved water. It came at me sideways, snapping and hissing, and I ran straight at it, screaming, "AHHHHHHH!"

Just before we collided, I hit the ground baseball-style and slid on the wet marble floor straight under the creature. It was like sliding under a seven-ton armored vehicle. All the crab had to do was sit and squash me, but before it realized what was going on, I jabbed Riptide into the chink in its armor, let go of the hilt, and pushed myself out the backside.

The monster shuddered and hissed. Its eyes dissolved. Its shell turned bright red as its insides evaporated. The empty shell clattered to the floor in a massive heap.

"I want to go sledding in that trophy," Jason grinned.

"It needs to be washed first," Percy plugged up his nose at the lingering smell.

"That's cool, I have an expert for that," Jason promised. Percy sighed, but all in all considered it a very cool idea.

I didn't have time to admire my handiwork.

"Truly a heinous crime," Alex shook her head.

"We should memorialize all of Percy's greatest tasks somehow for him to look back on them," Will grinned.

Percy yelped, and turned wildly to Annabeth, "Please tell me there is no play at Camp every summer about our adventures I've somehow missed!"

"Sure there is Percy," Annabeth grinned faintly in surprise, "tickets are super hard to get though."

Percy spluttered, looking utterly wounded, while Will gave her a grateful wink.

I ran for the nearest stairs while all around me monsters and demigods shouted orders and strapped on their weapons. I was empty-handed. Riptide, being magic, would appear in my pocket sooner or later, but for now it was stuck somewhere under the wreckage of the crab, and I had no time to retrieve it.

In the elevator foyer on deck eight, a couple of dracaenae slithered across my path.

The fear that slammed into Will upon those showing up out of nowhere was a disgusting feeling. The kind of cowardice that he hated lived inside himself, prepared to lunge out at a moment's notice. He nestled deep in his seat and closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again and pretending nothing had happened. These were hardly the worst monsters out there.

From the waist up, they were women with green scaly skin, yellow eyes, and forked tongues. From the waist down, they had double snake trunks instead of legs. They held spears and weighted nets, and I knew from experience they could use them.

"What isss thisss?" one said. "A prize for Kronosss!"

Annabeth didn't draw out that hiss very well. She sounded far to comfortable and relaxed recounting this for it to hold much weight, where the rest of them often read like this was brand new information with some horrible twist every other word.

I wasn't in the mood to play break-the-snake,

"I'm so disappointed Percy," Alex frowned. "Here I thought you were always up for a game of pinata."

"Only if candy actually bursts out, that would be a great distraction," Percy reminded with a faint grin. "All I'd get is monster dust."

"Hmm, far less immediate uses," Alex reluctantly agreed.

but in front of me was a stand with a model of the ship, like a YOU ARE HERE display. I ripped the model off the pedestal and hurled it at the first dracaena.

The boat smacked her in the face and she went down with the ship.

Jason gave a very mocking salute and began humming some song Nico didn't recognize, but the fact that he was goofing around at all while still trying not to look miserably at his sister was something Nico one thousand percent understood. He'd probably lived through at least half of what Jason was feeling right now in being lied to and betrayed and absolutely not wanting to hear anybody else's opinion on it.

I jumped over her, grabbed her friend's spear, and swung her around. She slammed into the elevator, and I kept running toward the front of the ship.

"Get him!" she screamed.

Hellhounds bayed. An arrow from somewhere whizzed past my face and impaled itself in the mahogany-paneled wall of the stairwell.

Annabeth's faith in Percy's abilities had its limits though, and she well knew what was at the end of this battle. She still tried to keep herself upbeat, like she thought Percy would have been hitting with ease this whole time, but she knew she was starting to slip.

I didn't care—as long as I got the monsters away from the engine room and gave Beckendorf more time.

As I was running up the stairwell, a kid charged down. He looked like he'd just woken up from a nap. His armor was half on. He drew his sword and yelled, "Kronos!" but he sounded more scared than angry.

Percy might as well have been having a nightmare back at camp. He could have passed that kid every day, this could have been a moment in capture the flag where this boy realized who he was on the opposite team but still raised his sword to try. This didn't feel right.

He couldn't have been more than twelve—about the same age I was when I'd first arrived at Camp HalfBlood.

Percy had never really thought of himself as, just a kid. He'd spent to much of his younger years with strange things happening to him, to much time at Camp being Posideon's child to ever feel like the fate of the world wasn't on his shoulders. This little boy, was just a kid! He should have been getting snacks from his mom and whining about homework and having a fear of his first crush. What made Luke think he was so much better for causing this in more kids already?!

That thought depressed me. This kid was getting brainwashed—trained to hate the gods and lash out because he'd been born half Olympian. Kronos was using him, and yet the kid thought I was his enemy.

No way was I going to hurt him. I didn't need a weapon for this. I stepped inside his strike and grabbed his wrist, slamming it against the wall. His sword clattered out of his hand.

Then I did something I hadn't planned on. It was probably stupid. It definitely jeopardized our mission, but I couldn't help it.

"If you want to live," I told him, "get off this ship now. Tell the other demigods."

Annabeth sounded so proud. Percy had a stubborn frown on his face, like he was just waiting for someone to tell him what a bone headed move that was, but even a god might hesitate to do so when Annabeth read it like that. His big heart on display might be something she'd throw up on a billboard one day.

Then I shoved him down the stairs and sent him tumbling to the next floor.

"I'm going to make pamphlets on how to save someone's life, and that little ditty's going to be a footnote if they're on the wrong side," Alex nodded.

I kept climbing.

Bad memories: a hallway ran past the cafeteria. Annabeth, my half brother Tyson, and I had sneaked through here three years ago on my first visit.

I burst outside onto the main deck. Off the port bow, the sky was darkening from purple to black. A swimming pool glowed between two glass towers with more balconies and restaurant decks. The whole upper ship seemed eerily deserted.

All I had to do was cross to the other side. Then I could take the staircase down to the helipad—our emergency rendezvous point. With any luck, Beckendorf would meet me there. We'd jump into the sea. My water powers would protect us both, and we'd detonate the charges from a quarter mile away.

I was halfway across the deck when the sound of a voice made me freeze. "You're late, Percy."

Luke stood on the balcony above me,

Annabeth winced and looked around at Prcy with the first hints of a frown. Kronos, she wanted to correct. This was Kronos, not Luke. Percy had never understood there was a difference. She didn't know in detail what all memories had been returned, but she would have hoped they would have been important ones, like how to finally make him understand at least this.

Thalia frowned at the way she read that. Like a long lost companion she was reminiscing over a fireplace. She was so glad Annabeth was finally here, to know for sure Percy was safe, but this seemed like a very high cost to her, like all gifts from the gods.

a smile on his scarred face. He wore jeans, a white T-shirt, and flip-flops, like he was just a normal college-age guy, but his eyes told the truth. They were solid gold.

Those eyes had haunted Annabeth's nightmares for months. She'd sat on her bunk, going over and over all the wrong assumptions of the quest she led that always ended in those golden eyes. She hated that she could still picture them so easily. Luke's death should have erased that color from her mind. Why hadn't it?

"We've been expecting you for days."

"I could staple a calendar to Percy's forehead and he'd still forget what day of the week it was," Thalia scoffed.

"Depends on which way you staple it," Percy grinned. "If it's facing me, I'd figure it out, but if you had it facing you, then I'd have to look in a mirror and it would just be a whole thing! Plus you'd have to yank it out and replace it every year, sounds like a hassle."

"Why would I staple something to your forehead facing me?" She frowned.

"Because you'd take any excuse for violence against me whether it was practical or not," Percy shrugged.

"Fair," she nodded.

Annabeth made a very long, exhausted sigh, much to the other's delight. Like the quest was finally official and they were really getting their live reenactments.

At first he sounded normal, like Luke. But then his face twitched. A shudder passed through his body as though he'd just drunk something really nasty. His voice became heavier, ancient, and powerful—the voice of the Titan lord Kronos. The words scraped down my spine like a knife blade. "Come, bow before me."

Alex made a harsh scoffing noise that might have been a laugh if it wasn't fueled with such hatred.

"Yeah, that'll happen," I muttered.

Percy chuckled along with her, a more happy noise that somehow held the same undertones. It was kind of creepy, and kind of made Annabeth a little nervous what kind of friend Percy had made.

Laistrygonian giants filed in on either side of the swimming pool as if they'd been waiting for a cue.

Each was eight feet tall with tattooed arms, leather armor, and spiked clubs. Demigod archers appeared on the roof above Luke. Two hellhounds leaped down from the opposite balcony and snarled at me. Within seconds I was surrounded. A trap: there's no way they could've gotten into position so fast unless they'd known I was coming.

The traitor, Jason winced. He'd never even been to this camp, but he always hated when that was brought up. The betrayal of it hit so hard even now because Percy had to know this person. What if they were never discovered and they mingled right in with the Campers every day? It felt vile to consider.

I looked up at Luke, and anger boiled inside me. I didn't know if Luke's consciousness was even still alive inside that body.

Annabeth sounded so offended when she read that Percy felt instantly guilty. His mind burned, was so heavy with pressure to understand if it was just their long standing argument over this or something he should be remembering-

"Focus seaweed brain," Annabeth sighed as she felt the water start churning around her without even looking over at him. "You got this, you've gone this long without blowing up the world."

Percy huffed. It sounded more frustrated at himself than anything as he shook himself out and she kept going like nothing had happened.

Maybe, the way his voice had changed . . . or maybe it was just Kronos adapting to his new form. I told myself it didn't matter. Luke had been twisted and evil long before Kronos possessed him.

A voice in my head said: I have to fight him eventually. Why not now?

"Because you would die!" Magnus said in absolute concern, for some strange reason, as if this wasn't Percy's usual response to everything.

"Because the book just started and that would end it to soon," Alex remarked.

"Because Nico hasn't gotten back to you yet on how to survive," Thalia rolled her eyes feeling, as usual, the only one around here with a lick of common sense.

According to that big prophecy, I was supposed to make a choice that saved or destroyed the world when I was sixteen. That was only seven days away. Why not now? If I really had the power, what difference would a week make?

'The whole world could change in a moment,' Annabeth repressed a shiver at how close she might have come to losing everything at her boy's stupid, impulsive moment. She'd watched Percy hand Luke, not Kronos, her knife. Or even before, when Percy had said he would be the child of the prophecy, not Nico. Maybe it was even that moment nobody had been witness to, when Posideon had seen Sally on the beach.

I could end this threat right here by taking down Kronos. Hey, I'd fought monsters and gods before.

"And won," Will agreed, but even saying it never quite stopped his mind boggling at how easy Percy made that sound, something no other kid at camp went around casually doing.

As if reading my thoughts, Luke smiled. No, he was Kronos. I had to remember that.

Annabeth felt a tiny little flutter in her heart she forced herself not to gasp at. Of pain, of surprise, or relief. Percy had fought with himself, the difference he'd never admit to her was there. He'd always acted so stubborn, like she was the delusional child for knowing in her heart the distinguishment was there.

Percy sighed beside her, as if he could sense her restless unease from being in his head for all of half a chapter. She wasn't sure what the proper edict was here, to apologize or what? She did know Percy had been dealing with everybody else dealing with his thoughts for days, and if he had a problem with her doing so too, he wouldn't be shy in telling her.

"Come forward," he said. "If you dare."

Alex chuckled in delight at just how much Percy dared to do. For a moment she couldn't think of anything Percy wouldn't dare to do.

The crowd of monsters parted.

"Did we ever establish if Jesus is at least a son of Posideon?" Magnus asked.

"Didn't we tell you to stop mixing religions," Nico groaned. Something old in him twitched unpleasantly at the idea.

"And I didn't listen," he shrugged.

"Besides," Percy said in a way that meant nothing helpful was coming next. "He kind of ripped off multiple godly powers, turning water into wine, curing sickness and stuff. Maybe he's the ultimate child of all of Zeus's sleeping around."

Annabeth kept reading very loudly over Alex opening her mouth with a curious look of adding in and Jason's pained expression clearly debating if he wanted to jump in.

I moved up the stairs, my heart pounding. I was sure somebody would stab me in the back, but they let me pass.

"Which is strange if you think about it for five seconds," Alex rolled her dual-colored eyes. "The amount of heroes who would have just died if a minion would just stab them in the back is astounding."

"Alex has this concerning problem where she acts like Percy isn't real," Thalia mockingly stage whispered and explained to Annabeth in Percy's lack of silence as he squirmed in his seat, his spine tingling unpleasantly only he felt.

Annabeth had an excellent poker face and didn't let on in the slightest she followed both instances perfectly.

I felt my pocket and found my pen waiting. I uncapped it, and Riptide grew into a sword.

"Has it ever felt like that sword shrunk over the years?" Will apparently decided now was the time to get some lighthearted fun back in here. "You've had it for years, and you said it fit your hand perfectly back then. Ever worry about outgrowing its light weight?"

"Um, no," Percy said blankly, he'd never thought about it. Riptide had certainly never felt short to him.

Kronos's weapon appeared in his hands—a six-foot-long scythe, half Celestial bronze, half mortal steel. Just looking at the thing made my knees turn to Jell-O.

"What flavor Jell-O?" Alex smirked.

"Blue, of course," Percy sniffed she even had to ask.

But before I could change my mind, I charged.

Another insane impulsive plan of Percy's that didn't get him killed, Nico frowned in fasicnation. It happened so often he really would have thought the novelty would wear off, that he would hesitate if Percy ever turned to him and blurted out this crazy scheme, that Bianca's ghost might whisper caution in his ear.

Nico was still pretty sure he would have gone along without hesitation though.

Time slowed down. I mean literally slowed down, because Kronos had that power. I felt like I was moving through syrup. My arms were so heavy, I could barely raise my sword. Kronos smiled, swirling his scythe at normal speed and waiting for me to creep toward my death.

I tried to fight his magic. I concentrated on the sea around me—the source of my power. I'd gotten better at channeling it over the years, but now nothing seemed to happen.

Magnus swallowed a feeling of frustration watching Annabeth struggle to read that. He'd wanted her in here nearly as much as Percy. To see his cousin, his only family he'd care to meet again in the flesh sitting in front of him, and he could offer her nothing for this clear turmoil she was in. He'd said, 'hey cuz,' and that, was, it!

The problem was he couldn't tell her anything she didn't know. He knew Percy came out of this alive, he knew Percy was an awesome fighter same as she did. He couldn't do anything but sit on this stupid seaweed couch and pick at a hole in his frayed jeans.

I took another slow step forward. Giants jeered. Dracaenae hissed with laughter.

Hey, ocean, I pleaded. Any day now would be good.

"Does talking to the ocean like it's a real inanimate object help it? I feel like that would offend it," Alex said.

"As opposed to a fake inanimate object?" Percy frowned.

"You know, when you tell a piece of paper to stay because it fell off the table one to many times, it's one solid object. The ocean is like, a lot, all at once. It's like a soup, it's not just one object," she insisted.

Percy stared at her so long it was concerning. "Okay, but now I'm questioning what if I'm a soup."

"And what kind of soup you'd be," Magnus offered.

"Uhgh," Thalia groaned, pressing her fingers to her temple.

"Have they been like this the whole time?" Annabeth asked her.

"Stop distracting him from the actual answer," Jason looked pouty, "does talking to the ocean help, yes or no?"

"Very much so," Thalia nodded with her eyes closed for Annabeth.

Annabeth kept reading before Percy could answer, mostly because he was muttering and poking his gut. At least his memory was likely to answer Jason at minimum.

Suddenly there was a wrenching pain in my gut. The entire boat lurched sideways, throwing monsters off their feet. Four thousand gallons of salt water surged out of the swimming pool, dousing me and Kronos and everyone on the deck. The water revitalized me, breaking the time spell, and I lunged forward.

"I'm kind of jealous," Alex admitted. "The ocean's never tried to capsize a boat on my behalf."

"Did you pray to the ocean Alex?" Nico reminded with a smirk. "Did you offer it sacrifices in its favorite color and sing its saltwater praise?"

"Percy didn't do any of that stuff," she huffed, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, cause Percy would kick its inanimate soup ass if it didn't rescue him, and his dad would hold the ocean back so he could," Will shrugged.

I struck at Kronos, but I was still too slow. I made the mistake of looking at his face—Luke's face—a guy who was once my friend. As much as I hated him, it was hard to kill him.

Annabeth couldn't help a sigh of relief. She might have known Percy couldn't have killed him, but a part of her also believed that Percy couldn't have killed him even without the curse in place. That Percy was good. He could not strike someone in the face in cold blood, not another person.

Kronos had no such hesitation. He sliced downward with his scythe. I leaped back, and the evil blade missed by an inch, cutting a gash in the deck right between my feet.

"Did it open another evil portal to somewhere?" Jason frowned. "It hasn't done that since the first time Luke nearly killed you."

Annabeth's skin twitched with distaste. She'd been told they now knew of Percy's life, but it kept hitting her how intricately detailed that knowledge now was. Had they heard her harshness against Tyson? Her pathetic attempts to get Luke to see reason while holding up the sky? Her first, desperate, and confused kiss with Percy...

I kicked Kronos in the chest. He stumbled backward, but he was heavier than Luke should've been. It was like kicking a refrigerator.

"Something I honestly imagine you doing when your hands are full," Nico nodded. He had a strange fear it would fall on him if he was to violent to try.

Kronos swung his scythe again. I intercepted with Riptide, but his strike was so powerful, my blade could only deflect it. The edge of the scythe shaved off my shirtsleeve and grazed my arm. It shouldn't have been a serious cut, but the entire side of my body exploded with pain. I remembered what a sea demon had once said about Kronos's scythe: Careful, fool. One touch, and the blade will sever your soul from your body. Now I understood what he meant. I wasn't just losing blood. I could feel my strength, my will, my identity draining away.

Annabeth was flinching as if each word was being punched out of her. She'd been there the first time that blade had grazed Percy when he'd fougten Luke, and it had been so much blood. It had been horrifying the first time, to see him fall when a monster rarely landed a scratch. She might not have been there to see this, but the image now staining her mind was just as sickening as shaded gold around the edges.

I stumbled backward, switched my sword to my left hand, and lunged desperately. My blade should've run him through, but it deflected off his stomach like I was hitting solid marble. There was no way he should've survived that.

Percy rubbed at his arms as his skin tingled unpleasantly all over, his brain suddenly building pressure like a shaken coke, his stomach churned violently like he was a new boat for the ocean to play with. That, was a gods awful induced feeling if he'd ever had one.

Annabeth slipped her hand back into his. It was an instinctive, natural reaction; to having him back, to keeping him here, to soothe his mind of what it couldn't yet wrap around.

It worked instantly. Percy didn't even think to question it the second time, just released a breath and relaxed as he interlocked their fingers.

Kronos laughed. "A poor performance, Percy Jackson. Luke tells me you were never his match at swordplay."

Thalia sneered at that ridiculous insult. Percy had been a natural with a sword from the moment he'd had Riptide in hand. Luke had always been a poor sport when he lost, always looking for bigger and badder opponents those last days on the street, and yet he hadn't fought half the monsters Percy had.

Yet Annabeth's voice was soft, and frustrated. She clearly read that as if it were a lie from Kronos, twisting more of Luke around, which siphoned Thalia's frustration to her as she grit her teeth but said nothing. Luke was gone now, and she'd never been able to get Annabeth to see reason before, no need to insist now and keep tarnishing what was already broken.

My vision started to blur. I knew I didn't have much time. "Luke had a big head," I said. "But at least it was his head."

"What a, strange compliment," Magnus muttered. It wasn't even a compliment really, just a hint of Percy's sentiment wishing to have his friend in Luke back, kind of.

"A shame to kill you now," Kronos mused, "before the final plan unfolds. I would love to see the terror in your eyes when you realize how I will destroy Olympus."

"You'll never get this boat to Manhattan." My arm was throbbing. Black spots danced in my vision.

"And why would that be?" Kronos's golden eyes glittered. His face—Luke's face—seemed like a mask, unnatural and lit from behind by some evil power.

Magnus could all to easily picture a monster being described like that when they were still disguised, and it disturbed him greatly how his cousin tried to read that with a pitiable note of concern. She was obviously wondering how much this was hurting Luke under that mask, when it was his decision to have caused all this in the first place.

"Perhaps you are counting on your friend with the explosives?"

Percy's heart skipped a beat in shock, and in retaliation the whole ocean floor felt as if it shifted a tenth of a degree to the left. His breath caught in his throat, his mind couldn't think past Beckendorf! Who had ratted them out, what had happened to him-

'Focus Seaweed brain.' She didn't even need to say it out loud, it was in the squeeze of her fingers, the gentling of her voice as she kept reading.

He looked down at the pool and called, "Nakamura!"

A teenage guy in full Greek armor pushed through the crowd. His left eye was covered with a black patch. I knew him, of course: Ethan Nakamura, the son of Nemesis. I'd saved his life in the Labyrinth last summer, and in return, the little punk had helped Kronos come back to life.

"That's gratitude for yah," Will grumbled. He felt so bad for this dumbass...but not that bad, when he'd had as many opportunities as Luke to turn around. Frankly it was a miracle he was even alive, considering they'd last heard his presence was in Kronos's path when Nico helped Percy escape.

"Success, my lord," Ethan called. "We found him just as we were told."

He clapped his hands, and two giants lumbered forward, dragging Charles Beckendorf between them.

My heart almost stopped. Beckendorf had a swollen eye and cuts all over his face and arms. His armor was gone and his shirt was nearly torn off.

"Is Beckendorf more famous than you on that ship Percy?" Alex asked with nothing but sympathy in her tone. "Sounds like he was mobbed by fans."

"If I find that armor online I'll buy it back for him," but Percy's voice was sullen, exhausted. The fear was simmering just above the surface, a whale ready to breach without notice as his hands trembled. 'No, no, no...' the chant kept echoing in his head something had gone very wrong.

"No!" I yelled.

Beckendorf met my eyes. He glanced at his hand like he was trying to tell me something. His watch.

They hadn't taken it yet, and that was the detonator. Was it possible the explosives were armed? Surely the monsters would've dismantled them right away.

"Maybe they're to stupid to know what they were?" Magnus asked without real hope. "You two just snuck aboard to put up some anti-monster decorations."

"I wouldn't underestimate them like that, it's more likely Beckendorf managed to cloak them somehow," Jason shook his head.

"We found him amidships," one of the giants said, "trying to sneak to the engine room. Can we eat him now?"

"Soon." Kronos scowled at Ethan. "Are you sure he didn't set the explosives?"

"He was going toward the engine room, my lord."

"How do you know that?"

"Er . . ." Ethan shifted uncomfortably. "He was heading in that direction. And he told us. His bag is still full of explosives."

Slowly, I began to understand.

"How to sum me up in one great sentence," Percy offered into the filling silence of the room. There was to much anxious energy bouncing off each other, to many tightly drawn faces wondering how they made it out of this one again.

Percy really hated that kind of tension. It made everything feel ten times worse to his ADHD brain. The constant chatter and jokes would always feel leagues better to focus on.

Thalia cracked and snickered first for him, but soon the others were now at what was clearly a recurring joke as Annabeth smiled bemusedly and then gave Percy a full grin. It was such a relief to just see him joking around again, instead of the myriad of tortures she'd imagined him going through, she couldn't stop a laugh of her own.

Beckendorf had fooled them. When he'd realized he was going to be captured, he turned to make it look like he was going the other way. He'd convinced them he hadn't made it to the engine room yet. The Greek fire might still be primed! But that didn't do us any good unless we could get off the ship and detonate it.

Kronos hesitated.

Buy the story, I prayed. The pain in my arm was so bad now I could barely stand.

"Open his bag," Kronos ordered.

One of the giants ripped the explosives satchel from Beckendorf's shoulders. He peered inside, grunted, and turned it upside down. Panicked monsters surged backward. If the bag really had been full of Greek fire jars, we would've all blown up. But what fell out were a dozen cans of peaches.

"Mmm," Alex smacked her lips in appreciation. "The perfect kind of weapon, one that gives you a treat when you're done bashing someone's head in."

"You said that with way to much confidence," Annabeth frowned, all to easily imagining her doing this to someone in her brief moments of being in here.

"She says everything with that kind of confidence, we just kind of roll with it," Magnus sighed.

I could hear Kronos breathing, trying to control his anger.

"Did you, perhaps," he said, "capture this demigod near the galley?"

Ethan turned pale. "Um—"

"And did you, perhaps, send someone to actually CHECK THE ENGINE ROOM?"

Ethan scrambled back in terror, then turned on his heels and ran.

It wasn't really funny, but there was some half-hearted laughter for this comeuppance of Beckendorf's ruse almost working like a charm. In another world, in another life, maybe the two would have played pranks on each other around camp that would have gone much the same and would have ended without the threat of death.

I cursed silently. Now we had only minutes before the bombs were disarmed. I caught Beckendorf's eyes again and asked a silent question, hoping he would understand: How long?

He cupped his fingers and thumb, making a circle. Zero. There was no delay on the timer at all.

"You two make a great team," Annabeth was careful to use the right tense, the present tense, like the two could still come back from this mayhem and plan more heists and learn ore of each other's silent communication. Maybe actually win a capture the flag game against her one day if they got good enough.

Her voice was a little to whistful, though, a little to somber to really pull off the casual statement, and Percy felt a burning sensation traveling straight from his heart, his body knowing what was coming next even if he couldn't process her meaning and the words of the book all at once.

If he managed to press the detonator button, the ship would blow at once. We'd never be able to get far enough away before using it.

Nico was still casually convinced of Percy's prowess. He'd be able to send a massive wave over the side of the ship any second, strong enough to sweep up him and Beckendorf harmlessly and take them safely a thousand meters below while they high-fived and the detonators went off. It seemed so easy in his mind.

The reality was, Percy was panicking. He was terrified and still not as in control of his powers as Nico's imaginative mind thought he was. Not everything worked out like an awesome story with an epic ending.

The monsters would kill us first, or disarm the explosives, or both.

Kronos turned toward me with a crooked smile. "You'll have to excuse my incompetent help, Percy Jackson.

Annabeth always hated that farce politeness, and the way he kept saying Percy's full name for some reason. It felt deliberate, it put a bad taste in her mouth like Kronos was reminding Luke who he was actively trying to destroy.

But it doesn't matter. We have you now. We've known you were coming for weeks."

He held out his hand and dangled a little silver bracelet with a scythe charm—the Titan lord's symbol.

"His secret spy device this whole time has been a charm bracelet?!" Alex's voice dripped with amused disdain. "Oh, my, gods! Jewelry! This whole time all you guys had to do was ban accessories at camp!" There was some mingled anger and admiration in there too.

The girl knew how to accessorize, she might even be taking it personally.

"I bet when you go back and tell the Aphrodite cabin, they'll know who it is instantly," Magnus chuckled.

"I wonder if they'll blame children of Ceres, it's very closely associated with her symbol too," Jason frowned in concern.

Nobody else dared pipe in. Percy's throat hurt to much even if he wanted to. There was something about the range of distaste, hurt, and weariness on all of them that sent a chill up their spines.

The wound in my arm was sapping my ability to think, but I muttered, "Communication device . . . spy at camp."

Kronos chuckled. "You can't count on friends. They will always let you down. Luke learned that lesson the hard way.

Thalia winced like somebody had just twisted the knife in her back. Had that been what Luke told Kronos?! That He was the one betrayed! She'd sacrificed herself, she'd trusted Luke their family and she'd woken up to him letting her down every way he possibly could!

And yet the guilt dripping off Annabeth's every syllable held her anger. Like she took that personally, like she'd been the one to let Luke down somehow; and Thalia sadly knew from personal experience if she tried to broach the subject, her little sister would either shut her down or explode at her. It never ended well.

Now drop your sword and surrender to me, or your friend dies."

I swallowed. One of the giants had his hand around Beckendorf's neck. I was in no shape to rescue him, and even if I tried, he would die before I got there. We both would.

Jason's feet twitched, the urge to help, the denial this was it. Percy was a master of causing a distraction...but he was in to much pain to manage. Percy could just hawk Riptide at that giant with deadly accuracy and Beckendorf could break free...but Kronos would intervene and mock them. There was always a third option, there had to be...but this was starting to feel hopeless.

Beckendorf mouthed one word: Go.

It was Beckendorf admitting defeat that finally tipped Annabeth's voice into silent respect, an inevitable outcome nobody could deny anymore. She might have been speaking her final words over his pyre. Percy would know, he'd only heard that tone come from her at his own.

I shook my head. I couldn't just leave him.

The second giant was still rummaging through the peach cans, which meant Beckendorf's left arm was free. He raised it slowly—toward the watch on his right wrist.

I wanted to scream, NO!

Then all of this would have been for nothing. Percy had never resented his mom for having Smelly Gabe in his life. As impertinent as he was, Percy had understood one thing from the youngest of ages, self-sacrifice. A lesson his mom had instilled in him before he even knew what that meant.

Then down by the swimming pool, one of the dracaenae hissed, "What isss he doing? What isss that on hisss wrissst?"

Beckendorf closed eyes tight and brought his hand up to his watch.

I had no choice. I threw my sword like a javelin at Kronos. It bounced harmlessly off his chest, but it did startle him. I pushed through a crowd of monsters and jumped off the side of the ship—toward the water a hundred feet below.

I heard rumbling deep in the ship. Monsters yelled at me from above. A spear sailed past my ear. An arrow pierced my thigh, but I barely had time to register the pain. I plunged into the sea and willed the currents to take me far, far away—a hundred yards, two hundred yards.

Even from that distance, the explosion shook the world. Heat seared the back of my head. The Princess Andromeda blew up from both sides, a massive fireball of green flame roiling into the dark sky, consuming everything.

Beckendorf, I thought.

Then I blacked out and sank like an anchor toward the bottom of the sea.

Percy sagged in his seat, his head falling to rest on Annabeth's shoulder without a second thought. Her blonde hair tickled his face, the way she tucked his hand against her side and hummed a noise of commiseration, somehow knowing exactly how he felt like nobody else ever could. Finally, he had her back.

And all he felt was guilt. Raw, wracking, painful gut twisting guilt eating at him for the only person on his mind being Silena. He'd been the one to tell Beckendorf not to worry, he'd see her again in no time, and now they'd never have this...

"I'd like to stop for the night," Annabeth said gently, so as not to dislodge him from his spot. "I, changed my mind, I'd like to get a little caught up in all this."

"Of course," Thalia agreed at once, her tone understanding, but she stalked out of the room without a backwards glance. She felt Jason's piercing eyes on her every step, she felt the absence of Annabeth's concern like her jacket had caught on her choker to tight.

Percy bullied his brain into paying attention to the here and now. Maybe take a hint for once in his life. Take note of the fact she might be asking for space from him and all this newness of her situation they'd become rather numb to.

The gap as he slipped away felt like a chasm as deep as Tartarus at once, the red book fell from her lap without hesitation as she jumped up with him. They all watched in fascination, even Will who had seen plenty of this already, as Annabeth scooped up the first bright orange book and then fell into step beside him leaving the room as if a shadow of each other.

Percy was glad she was here, honestly!, but he was starting to get a little creeped out as she thumbed through the book studiously while staying on his heels as he entered his room. It wasn't the fact that she was about to read his every private thought and feeling, he'd accepted she and possibly the whole camp would to be honest, it was the fact that she kicked the door shut behind them without looking up. He stood there and watched her, the guilt slowly ebbing into embarrassment as he remained as awkwardly in place as a statue.

"Sorry," Annabeth gasped as she finally looked up and realized why he was blushing and standing there twitching and looking more nervous than if she'd been coming at him with her knife. It only just now occurred to her the implication in the air of following him into his room. She quickly opened the door back, blushing as hard as him.

"You, you don't have to go," he said at once, rocking back and forth in place like an invisible mime jerking him around. "I don't want you to." He'd spent so very long, countless years in his head it felt like, wishing to have her back. He didn't want her to go after just an hour of her company, but he also had no clue what she expected to happen. He was still missing a vital part of how the story ended, how she'd decided to kiss him, what had happened afterwards...

"I don't want to go," she agreed quietly. "I, I'm worried if I close my eyes to long, you'll vanish again." Still bright red, she took a step back into the room towards him. She left the door open.

Percy cleared his throat loudly and gestured her towards the bed while he plopped down on the floor where he was. "Sleep in here then, right there, and I'll sleep down here. So, you know, we're both not, um, freaking out. Besides, we've slept like this on plenty of quests."

"Sure, it's not weird at all," she nodded, lied, only to appease him as she sunk onto the bed. She thought about it for a moment before snatching the pillow and blanket off and dropping on the floor beside him, offering to share both. "No different than falling asleep on piles of hay in the back of a Kindness International truck."

"Right, of course," he nodded and tried not to look like a complete freak show as he sunk onto his back and cautiously rolled onto his side, back facing away from her. She sighed in relief and mirrored him.

He didn't instantly fall asleep, she could tell by his twitching around to much, but as she began to relax on the hard stone floor, so did he. She wondered if his body remembered what his mind couldn't, the past few months where she had fallen asleep in his bed more than once, the way they always woke up tangled up more than they ever had in the late hours talking and to tired to let themselves be embarrassed by the idea of getting caught.

Not that they'd done anything to be caught at, but Grover and her siblings sure averted their eyes like they had done something some mornings when she tried to pretend like she'd gone to visit Percy's cabin first thing before sunrise rather than the obvious.

She already missed that. The feeling of him holding her, so comfortable and familiar. The way they could sit in silence as the sound of the ocean spoke their thoughts for them when the memories were to much, the way they could talk and laugh about anything and share it all with a kiss only they understood.

Percy did fall asleep first, back pressed tight to her, his arm up under the pillow and the other already trying to tug more of the covers onto himself. She wouldn't be surprised to find them all wrapped around him like her arms would miss.

The past few days still left her too tense to allow the same. He was really here, safe beside her, but she didn't have him back. Not fully, not her boyfriend. She did have her best friend back, they were just on another quest to get back to where they should have been in their life as she relaxed too, keeping one eye on the silent corridor that had a dim light shining in revealing all, and the other on his chest rising and falling steadily, back to back.

It was enough.

PJOPJOPJO

*Detail I never picked up on and didn't want any of the characters to focus on during this sweet moment, Silena is the character from Camp highlighted here, aka the traitor on Luke's ship. Nice double whammy RR