Percy: “Ladies And Gentlemen” Is Unnecessarily Gendered, Overly Formal, Lengthy, And Honestly, I’m

It's really simple. The boon for one can be a curse for another is the phrase that comes to mind when Jason and Percy are involved. All the things that Jason deems as boons are akin to a curse for Percy. Things Jason wants and Percy does not want are denied to the former and thrust upon the latter. Destiny is inherently unjust to both of them.

Their lives are quite literally inverse and parallel of each other simultaneously.

Percy was initially hated and ostracized for what he was, while Jason was honored and revered.

Jason became the image everyone forced on him in hopes of finally earning genuine love, respect, and approval but was instead seen as doing what was already expected of him and was rewarded with even more expectations.

Percy who broke all preconceived and hateful notions about him by breaking records and creating miracles that the demigod world did not know existed and cemented himself as someone who would never be forgotten. He paid for all that in blood and pain, but at least he was rewarded with the love and loyalty of his peers for it. [Jason would call this a gift, a reward while Percy considers the price of love, respect, and loyalty of his peers was unjust and should have been given freely]

Percy's name is a gift and a prayer. It's the earnest symbol of Sally's need to keep her son alive and safe. Percy may be a symbol of a god's mistake once up on a time; but he is not a regret. No, he is a blessing in disguise.

Jason's name is a curse and a sacrifice. It is also a symbol of a god's mistake and, more importantly, a god's regret. He himself is a tool, a peace offering, and a sacrifice disguised as a gift. He can never be anything more in the eyes of his makers.

Percy is a symbol of love for both Poseidon and Sally. Jason was a symbol of status to Beryl and a bargaining chip to Jupiter against Hera. Poseidon would go to war with Zeus for Percy's sake while Jupiter would see Jason dead for his own agendas. And he did.

Jason desperately wants to be a legend that was woven around him while Percy wants to escape the legend he became and created.

Even their definitions of freedom are inverted.

To Jason, his freedom is being able to help the gods and his camp in whatever way he can and not be judged for it. His freedom is in the genuine love and respect of his peers and the approval of his father.

To Percy, his freedom is being left alone, without the watchful eye of gods on him, being able to do what he wants, whenever he wants. He cares not for earning the approval of any gods, instead he is the one that judges them to be worthy or unworthy of his respect.

Jason wants to be a leader while Percy is doomed to be one.

But by the end of it Percy is now the one saddled with responsibilities and expectations that he does not want ,drowning and chafing under the weight of such restraints that go against his nature while Jason's death despite it's unjustness has finally freed him from his shackles.

Jason is free, and Percy is not. Jason sees his death as punishment while Percy would think of his own death as freedom even though Jason's death is the actual freedom, while Percy's death would be the true punishment, after all he was so close to escaping his fate.

Their dynamic was perhaps the one with the most potential in the entire series, followed by Percy and Luke. The parallels, the contradictions, the mirrored philosophy, and mindset. All that golden potential and Rick squanders it on a superficial rivalry and poorly fleshed character motivations.

Jason who everyone believed would be great and Percy who knew that everyone except his mom believed he wouldn't amount to anything unless he proved himself. Percy who chose to make the Great Prophecy about him so Nico wouldn't have to bear more burdens after losing his sister. Jason who chose to confront Caligula alone so Piper would live after the oracle told him he or Piper would die.

Percy who believed he would die at 16. Jason actually dying at 16.

Imagine if Percy and Jason actually had the chance to have a genuine conversation about how being sons of The Big 3 hurt them in different but similar ways bc of what was expected of them and bc of how they were treated by people. Percy and Jason knowing that they can't really show weakness or insecurity or ever say that they were scared bc everyone at their respective camps were counting on their leadership.

Percy and Jason who had their own distinct journeys to be the heroes they became and both journeys were valid and important but did Jason and Percy ever believe for a second that they were important not for their parentage and achievements but because of who they are and actively chose to be

Percy is a Hatsune Miku fan. I will not elaborate futhermore

People usually don't like Pernico because of Nico's age, but they still like Solangelo. What is your opinion about these two ships?

Personally, I don't think it's the age difference that sets off most people.

It's the idea that the Big Three are all more closely related than others and, therefore, should have sibling relationships. So, a lot of people believe in the idea of a little three sibling relationship.

I mean, Nico wasn't even aware of any time passing in Lotus Casino, so that time gap doesn't even count. Percy is only two years older than Nico otherwise, so it's not even a significant difference.

And there's another layer to it that they believe since Percy didn't share Nico's feelings, Nico still pining after him is an injustice to Nico. (Nico stans tend to be a bit overprotective). So it is considered that Percy wouldn't properly love Nico properly if they got together, which I believe is untrue because Percy, out of all characters, loves completely and passionately always.

Sometimes, it's about the debate between the strongest demigods . Since Nico stans are believers in Nico supremacy over Percy even though canon doesn't really support that nor does Nico himself believe that, shippers think shipping him with Percy would clash and Nico supremacy won't work in Pernico.

I like Pernico in general, given the unique nature of their connections. How it's built on such mutual care and respect and a level of deeper understanding and even admiration with a ton of angst and misplaced guilt on both their parts.

It's a really interesting dynamic to work through for sure and I was quite into it initially but I really haven't seen any really good fanfics about Pernico around, so I am not really super convinced on why they would work so well so if you or anyone else has any good recommendations feel free to let me know.

(I like their dynamic together, and I think they are capable of creating a really unique connection, but I have read so many posts on big three kids sibling dynamic I kind of got swept in that).

As for Solangelo, I am not super into them, and I think their initial relationship was a bit hastily established, but they work well enough. Will however has the purely selfless nature to both accept and understand Nico's flaws and not call Nico out on it condescendingly and work through them with him without triggering any past trauma of his.

But i really believe Nico needs to process some stuff for himself before he gets into any relationship. I haven't read their book yet but will see but the fanarts of them were really awesome.

Sorry, I really haven't given much thought to either ship yet, but if you guys have some good fic recommendations or posts, feel free to send me those.

Nico, I think, doesn't really need to jump into any relationships right now, but regardless, these two would be my top ships.

Random question that popped in my head.

what if The Percy Jackson universe was Real??? Like I mean the characters, the Gods, The monsters, Everything. And do you think that Percabeth would last if they were a Real Life Couple?? Would any of the relationships last if they were Real??? Would Percy and Annabeth even like each other if they were real people??? Im genuinely curious

I think Percy and Annabeth as two people are realistically very incompatible.

1. Annabeth literally projects her mother's Poseidon hate on Percy for no absolute reason in the first book, and let's just say her behavior is nothing short of absolutely unpleasant towards Percy.

When they finally do bond, it's never because of something they have in common but because they have gone through the same set of circumstances.

2. Their whole entire relationship is completely based on trauma bonding. Their relationship is entirely based on being each other's only company through dangerous experiences.

3. Percy due to his deep self esteem issues sees Annabeth as the only person who will love him despite all his flaws and thus has this blatant misconception that no one except for Annabeth will ever love him which is a complete and utterly horrible misunderstanding and an absolute lie.

But he is so terrified of losing the one person he thinks loves him for himself that he doesn't even try to entertain other relationships even if it's to get an idea about how relationships work.

And when he finally does with Rachel, he finds himself much more relaxed, happy going, and content with her than Annabeth, and despite all that realization, Uncle Rick chose to shove Percabeth down readers' throats.

4. The purely toxic way in which Annabeth assumes some sort of ownership over Percy is truly repulsive.

And don't get me started upon how awfully toxic her response to Rachel's mere presence was both to Rachel and to Percy despite them not even dating yet or at all.

5. Not to mention Percy is a character who has extreme issues with self-esteem and yet Annabeth insists on calling him a nickname that at its core means dumb and Percy is no way dumb at all maybe oblivious but not dumb.

Percy is shown repeatedly on edge around Annabeth, and due to her controlling nature but he, in his own words, chalks it up to healthy fear. (There's no such thing as a healthy fear when it comes to your significant other)

No healthy relationship should, never I mean, never ever contain even a hint of fear. NEVER.

6. Annabeth is and has always been openly insensitive or disregarding of Percy's trauma with Gabe and even when he tries to talk about it she shuts him up by laughing at him, laughing at an ABUSE victim trying to open up.

All in all Percabeth shippers may preach what they want but Percabeth is a very toxic relationship. Because it doesn't matter how many other good moments there were it matters that there were this downright horrible moments.

7. And think on this logically. Percy and Annabeth have literally nothing in common. NOTHING. No hobbies, not aspirations in life, not their perspectives on life literally nil.

So if you are telling me two people like that are going to end up having a long, fulfilling relationship, then yeah, no, you are only fooling yourself.

In real life with actual dating they wouldn't even last six months, even that's too long.

JAY WHEN I CATCH YOU JAY!!

I know, I know, I am so late to the ever-growing brainrot due to Epic now with the Underworld Saga out but I honestly needed to just sit with that thing for a while.

Polites was obviously expected, but the open arms reprise still hurt, especially with Ody deciding to abandon Polites's ideals, which are something he has considered to be a crucial part of him for a long time.

What made this more tragic is the fact that we as an audience know for a fact that the monster ideology is what will get Odysseus back home and would have also not gotten Polites killed and yet it's so much better that he doesn't have to witness his best friend become that sort of monster and he could instead die with some semblance of peace knowing for all the pain it got him Odysseus still believed in his ideals till his dying breath and only in death has Odysseus made peace with the monster he has to become and that he will never have to see it or know it happen especially because he was one of the catalysts that incited it. (It would destroy Polites to know that, but he doesn't. Therefore, he died in peace with his ideals held intact, and so did his best friend because Odysseus is no longer himself when he gets back!!!!!!)

Don't even get me started on Anticlea. Tell me it doesn't haunt Odysseus for the rest of his days. The hollow voice waiting and waiting unwavering in love as it fades for something that will never be a reality, not for Anticlea, not in her lifetime and him forever unable to soothe her even after he brings his mother's once futile hopes to fruition. And the tragedy that no matter how enduring a will and unwavering her beliefs, she is and has always been betting against Gods and for all their supposed benevolence they will not grant her only wish; that she dies with no semblance of an idea of what happened to her beloved son.

And Odysseus is the most tragic of them all for he knows all of this and more, has to feel and survive past it and watch his own descent into monstrosity as he falters at last in the face of a wretched Prophecy that seeks to upend all hopes of the haven he thought he would be returning to from the hell he has sailed through.

God the songs are so good and so just and so repulsively heartwrenching when you think on it for even a little while, I swear Jay and the whole Epic cast has written arguably the greatest masterpiece of a musical!

I have been living with this headcanon/brainrot about Athena (both from Epic the Musical and pjo) for a long while and a warning for the faint of heart, you know what read it anyway cause it haunts me , so everyone else has to be haunted by it too, cause I am petty like that.

Most people might be aware of the myth that Athena sprung from Zeus's head fully formed and in battle armor, but a few might not know the preceding myth, so here's a quick recap:

Zeus married the titaness Metis, who was the titaness of wise counsel, wisdom, and planning. She was also Athena's mother. Metis was his advisor, both an indispensable aid and threat to him, given her power and cunning. But it's no Greek mythology without a son overthrowing the father archetype haunting the narrative. There was a similar prophecy about Metis's second child being so powerful that he would overthrow Zeus. Mind you Metis was pregnant with Athena when the following events transpire:

Zeus being Zeus, paranoid and power hungry, the King of the Gods and the God of "Justice" manipulates Metis into playing a shape-shifting game and when Metis turned into a fly , he swallowed her whole. [I know Greek patriarchs have a thing for eating their children or spouses pregnant with said children. Runs in the family, apparently]

Mind you in Greek myths, swallowed children, or in this case, swallowed wife pregnant with said child stay alive for a good amount of time even inside someone else's organs. So Metis gives birth to Athena inside Zeus's head and raises her there. She teaches her warfare and strategy until Metis herself eventually dies, i.e., her essence fades. Knowing what she must do to not meet the same fate, Athena hammers on Zeus's skull from the inside to escape. Everyone knows the rest of the myth.

But imagine Athena's first lesson being that the man she calls her father is the one who killed her mother and almost killed Athena herself by swallowing Metis so she must do everything in her power to survive and avoid that fate by staying on his good side. To try and fit in this twisted family of immortals, half of who hate her existence and half who are indifferent to him. So she does exactly that.

Think of Athena asking to be a Virgin Goddess from learning of what comes of marriage with gods.

Now, the continuation of Athena's myth is that she goes to Atlantis to train with the sea nymphs. There she makes her first ever friend and someone she comes to dearly love, Pallas. Greek myths being allergic to happy endings, one day when Pallas and Athena are sparring as they do a bit more seriously this time; Zeus being a nosy bastard decides to spy in just when Pallas is about to land a finishing blow on Athena. Thinking she might kill his daughter, he kills Pallas by blasting her with his lightning. Athena, being heartbroken , Zeus gave her Aegis as an apology. The continuation of this is that Athena adopts the namesake Pallas Athena and even carves a statue in likeness of her friend called Palladium and then more.

But think of Athena heartbroken and bitter as the Goddess of Wisdom learns her second lesson, then she must abandon all personal relations and sentiment before her father ends it for her in one way or another. For Pallas was the first true relation in her life after her mother.

Keep in mind that Pallas is Poseidon's granddaughter through his firstborn son and heir Triton. This is the point that sparks eternal enmity between Athena and Poseidon, and all those who come after will suffer in the wake of this tragedy.

So Athena chooses to remain alone and without a friend to avoid such a situation. Imagine Athena being hurt, especially brutally, when Odysseus says: "Since you claim you are so much wiser, why's your life spent all alone? You're alone!"

Because that's exactly it. Athena is wise. She knows the consequence of endearing herself to someone again so she stays alone to avoid such a thing and yet coming from someone who is so close to being her first friend in a long time, hurt and enraged she leaves.

Now, when finally Athena comes to terms with her friendship with Odysseus she finds yet again that her father Zeus struck him and his crew in a similar fashion to Pallas , yet again ripping her only friend away from her .

He is not dead yet, and Athena isn't about to let that happen. This time, she fights against Zeus, risks her life and position of being the favorite, and her survival method all because she can't bear to see Odysseus die.

Think of the agonizing fate of Athena, repeatedly being traumatized by her father yet having to do his bidding and stay on his good side to survive and live not for herself for she lives in misery but for the people who suffered for died for their association with her. In her eyes, she must suffer tenfold for letting this happen thrice, for all eternity under the man who so wretchedly ruined her life.

That's the thing about Annabeth. Her development is only surface level and one dimensional and limited to other aspects that don't cover her fatal flaw or judging persona. Her character is the one that keeps surprising in the worst ways possible, and as I often say, Annabeth is a character that keeps devolving.

Part of the problem is how Rick refuses to address her fatal flaw to the extent that is necessary. He goes on and on about Percy's fatal flaw, or even the fatal flaw of children of Hades like Nico and Bianca, and even Thalia at times but not Annabeth. And Hubris is the most lethal flaw out of them all, too. I mean, between personal loyalty, ambition, and holding grudges and hubris, it is definitely the most detrimental. Rick refuses to critically analyze Annabeth's flaws, and it's not one or two it's many.

And with that alone, coupled with his romance, solves everything attitude towards characters he's permanently ruined some great plot ideas, potential relationships, and even entire books.

Even in a relationship, Rick let's Annabeth be the one calling the shots and pushes her agendas on them so much so that he has made Percy who is the main character and the focus of many books turn one dimensional. His whole personality has become Annabeth. Do Percabeth stans understand that Rick is literally making Percy an entirely different person just to achieve the ship? When it literally goes against Percy's nature of heavily disliking being told what to do, let alone being controlled.

Do you ever think about the fact that Annabeth started out the series by setting up Percy to be bait for the Ares kids and not even giving him a heads up/back up about it? Like we don't talk about the fact that he had less than a week's amount of training under his belt, barely knew how to hold a sword and shield and he was up against 5 Ares warriors - the strongest kids at camp who all had a vendetta against him and weren't known for following the no-maiming rules?

And then at the end of the series Annabeth literally shoves Percy off a cliff into a river with no warning whatso ever where Percy gets beat up by a river god while Annabeth sitting in safety tapping her wrist impatiently. When he finally wins she's there comforting the god that just gave Percy a bleeding head wound and triggered literal years worth of trauma???

Like. This girl does not grow. At all. She has not changed one bit. And Percy at least snapped at her once at the beginning of the series even if nothing came of it. By the end? He doesn't even get mad - he's so used to being treated like shit with no respect and no loyalty he just accepts it. He jokes and romanticizes it as a way of coping. Its so sad.

That's PJO's no.1 couple? Really?

Annabeth stans and Percabeth shippers are talking about how ooc Annabeth is in WOTTG with her thinking Percy is stupid as if she hasn't constantly made fun of Percy's intelligence since the very beginning. As if she doesn't do it in every book, multiple times. Rick's characterization of Annabeth isn't changing, people are finally just growing up and realizing their fave ship when they were 12 isn't healthy. But instead of actually acknowledging that it's a bad ship they just blame the author.

Warnings: This is going to be a rant; bear with me. People from the "take everything as a personal offense" group stop reading. Will give us both the luxury of a peaceful mind.

It's easier to blame Rick, I think, given his series of shit decisions. The Wrath of a Triple Goddess is a complete abomination, and so is Chalice of the Gods in many ways. But at least it has helped readers understand the glaring flaws of Percabeth as a ship. How Percy's character is butchered to hype up Annabeth.

And I am completely exhausted of trying to get any of them to think rationally and in an unbiased manner. I can't make a willfully blind individual see sense after all.

But yeah, Annabeth has many, and I mean many character flaws throughout the series. The number of times I have made a post on Annabeth's flaws or even why Percabeth is incompatible.... At this point, I believe open-minded and careful readers are going to see and make their own conclusions, and the blind shippers will keep doing their own thing. This , I think, was my most recent post and will probably be one of my last ones on a similar topic. Unless I get newer asks that have some different viewpoints that I can actually explore cause, all has been said so far, I think.

I had a feeling that things would get better as they got older, more mature, you know, an Annabeth character arc of some sort. Maybe exploring the positive and negative nuances of Percabeth or even Percy's suicidal thoughts, non existent self esteem and how Annabeth has been unknowingly feeding into those.

She is one of the more iconic characters to people even outside the fandom. One from a very, very , and exclusive pool of actually strong female characters and the way her character is devolving isn't helping anything.

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All of Riordan's characters have such high potential, and the amount of plots he could explore is staggering, and yet he still dishes out the same generic plot again and again. He is in it for the money now, has been for a while, and so there's no hope there.

This might be a very hot take, but I think romance ruined the series. Rick kept slapping romantic relationships on every character as if that would suddenly make things better. Give them a relationship rather than explore their trauma. I guess it's the easier of the two.

But seriously, Caleo? Jiper? Solangelo ? (I can see the hate comments already). Whatever he was doing with Reyna, but at least she wasn't completely butchered.

Rick's problem is that he keeps giving more importance to romantic relationships and makes that the entire personality of a character.

He butchered Percy, even Jason at times, Leo bloody Valdez and Nico more prominently.

The way Percy and Nico's very deep and volatile bond and heavily dynamic relationship was butchered and distorted to feed into Solangelo and Percabeth, and I can't possibly understate how highly that's been going on.

Then Luke and Thalia's relationship was completely butchered for no absolute reason. I have no idea why. They were in love or at least had romantic feelings for each other, and Thalia just woke up and wanted to kill him? He literally gave all the angst to Annabeth even though Thalia had known him longer, and they had a more nuanced bond.

Jason's relationship with Camp Jupiter individuals was completely scrapped, his and Reyna's dynamic completely watered down, or even his and Leo's great friendship discarded all for Jiper or whatever else was shoved at him.

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As opposed to this whole shit show, I loved the relationships in the Magnus Chase series and Kane Chronicles. That was good stuff. Both character relationships and romantic ones even though I am pretty sure he got a lot of diverse representation wrong or so I have read recently.

Then there's the stupid, blind, bigot part of the fandom that just can't help themselves. I mean dumb Percy takes, Annabeth stans ruining Percy's character arcs and overinflating Annabeth's character, which in turn made Rick do the same.Then the boring Jason thing? What the hell was that? It's like everyone missed the point of why Jason is the way he is. I am going to make a post on that soon, but seriously, the shit that's been going on.

Then the shippers. Solangelo stans and Percabeth stans. They have single handedly ruined the ships for me with their distorted ideas of character dynamics. And their blatant and brutal hate against other Percy or Nico ships is just ridiculous and heavily toxic.

It's a fandom, not a monopoly. Everyone can have their own little thing as long as you don't meddle in someone else's own thing. Let everyone enjoy their own thing.

And for all our sakes, at this point, just pick your own version of canon. Choose which books to stop at. Trust me, it's less frustrating that way.

*whispers* jercyyyyy

yells* JERCY!!!!

surprise hug&kiss!!

JAY WHEN I CATCH YOU JAY!!

I know, I know, I am so late to the ever-growing brainrot due to Epic now with the Underworld Saga out but I honestly needed to just sit with that thing for a while.

Polites was obviously expected, but the open arms reprise still hurt, especially with Ody deciding to abandon Polites's ideals, which are something he has considered to be a crucial part of him for a long time.

What made this more tragic is the fact that we as an audience know for a fact that the monster ideology is what will get Odysseus back home and would have also not gotten Polites killed and yet it's so much better that he doesn't have to witness his best friend become that sort of monster and he could instead die with some semblance of peace knowing for all the pain it got him Odysseus still believed in his ideals till his dying breath and only in death has Odysseus made peace with the monster he has to become and that he will never have to see it or know it happen especially because he was one of the catalysts that incited it. (It would destroy Polites to know that, but he doesn't. Therefore, he died in peace with his ideals held intact, and so did his best friend because Odysseus is no longer himself when he gets back!!!!!!)

Don't even get me started on Anticlea. Tell me it doesn't haunt Odysseus for the rest of his days. The hollow voice waiting and waiting unwavering in love as it fades for something that will never be a reality, not for Anticlea, not in her lifetime and him forever unable to soothe her even after he brings his mother's once futile hopes to fruition. And the tragedy that no matter how enduring a will and unwavering her beliefs, she is and has always been betting against Gods and for all their supposed benevolence they will not grant her only wish; that she dies with no semblance of an idea of what happened to her beloved son.

And Odysseus is the most tragic of them all for he knows all of this and more, has to feel and survive past it and watch his own descent into monstrosity as he falters at last in the face of a wretched Prophecy that seeks to upend all hopes of the haven he thought he would be returning to from the hell he has sailed through.

God the songs are so good and so just and so repulsively heartwrenching when you think on it for even a little while, I swear Jay and the whole Epic cast has written arguably the greatest masterpiece of a musical!