The Fucking Audacity Some Percabeth Stans Have To Degrade The Value Of Human Life Over Something That

Percy is a son of Poseidon. Unlike Thalia or Jason who are children of Zeus/Jupiter, when Percy was claimed, he was ostracized by the Camp at the start of it and only integrated properly after Titan's Curse. Percy watched the Campers revere Thalia where he was barely accepted and the Romans have an even worser treatment since Percy was a Son of Neptune. Plus he had to hear all about Jason's heroic activities which meant he realized he had big shoes to fill [Partly because he didn't have his memories so he doesn't remember all the things he himself did].

You also have to understand that Percy has abysmal self-esteem and given the sudden burden of expectations on him due to the Great Prophecy and such he was forced to conform to expectations of the other campers, Annabeth and so on when Percy dislikes being told what to do or being restrained and yet his fatal flaw doesn't allow him to just drop and leave the sheer amount of expectations attached to him.

So naturally, when he noticed Jason seemed to know to some extent what he needed to do as a leader and seemed comfortable in the position. Percy was obviously slightly envious despite being a natural born leader himself because he doesn't like taking charge unless he has to, but he almost always ends up having to.

Not to mention that despite everything Percy is used to doing his own thing but the fact that there were many other people than usual on the quest with the Seven and in group discussions, initially Jason's word seemed to hold more weight than his [Piper is self explanatory, Leo is Jason's best friend, Hazel and Frank are Percy's friends but Jason is a Roman Praetor so they had to side with their superior and Annabeth well usually she and Percy have very different takes on handling the situation]. Percy was obviously not used to needing someone else's approval for what he wanted to do, which may have been a contributing factor . And he isn't the sort to pull rank and go [I am the Savior of Olympus, listen to me] so at least for a while Jason must have made him feel jealous and a bit inferior. He's Percy, though, which means he can go along just fine with most situations; he is just that good at improvisations.

There's a post I need to make on how Percy views himself as not some hero but as someone who is just getting by, but that's too lengthy to add here. I hope this is somewhat coherent, at least.

We all know Jason was jealous of Percy, and in some way Percy was jealous of Jason. Jason finds out one day and is just utterly confused.

What could Percy be jealous about? He has a mother who loves him, his godly parent actually cares for him. He is a celebrated hero, with even the gods fearing him. He was offered immortality and on his own terms REFUSED. His siblings who share the same godly parent actually LIKE him. When he went missing, people actually cared enough to look for him.

So what in Jason's life would make Percy jealous?

Percy got one minotaur horn when he was twelve and another two when he was 15, he should ditch the sword and make a trident out of them. Imagine the flex

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

Vampire diaries is Stefan's story, so it is only fitting that he should have lived to tell it and to make many more stories hence forth.

Everyone can agree that a human Damon is a hit and a complete miss. They did not even reprise his or Elena's characters in Legacies, and overall, the whole arc contributed to Damon's own self-serving needs and no one else's, not even Elena's.

Stefan's death was stupid. It should've been Damon.

I have strong feelings about Season 8 of "The Vampire Diaries," and my biggest issue is with the ending. Stefan sacrificing himself so that Damon could live simply wasn't the best conclusion. It failed to do justice to either character, undermining both of their arcs in significant ways.

Over the course of the series, we've repeatedly witnessed Stefan sacrificing for Damon. By Season 7, Stefan had grown weary of this cycle and began to prioritize his own freedom and happiness. However, his efforts were thwarted when Damon became entangled in the siren storyline, which I believe was an unnecessary and ridiculous plot arc—but that’s a discussion for another day.

Even in Season 8, Stefan’s frustration with constantly sacrificing for Damon was evident. Although Damon did exhibit some selflessness, these acts were minor in comparison to what was needed to truly redeem his character. Damon deserved a moment in the spotlight—a significant, transformative act of sacrifice that would highlight his growth.

Instead, the series ended on a repetitive note: Stefan, the perennial good brother, sacrificed himself for Damon, the ostensibly evil brother. This conclusion felt like a disservice to both characters. Damon, who had undergone substantial character development throughout the series, deserved the opportunity to make the ultimate sacrifice. This act would not only redeem him but also demonstrate to Stefan that his brother was capable of true selflessness.

Stefan deserved to witness Damon’s redemption firsthand, to see that his brother could put someone else’s happiness above his own. For Damon, dying in the end would have brought his character arc full circle, providing a poignant and meaningful conclusion to his story. It would have transformed Season 8 from a lackluster finale into a powerful and fitting end for the series.

In my opinion, if Damon had been the one to make the ultimate sacrifice, it would have added depth and significance to the final season, honoring the character development that both brothers underwent throughout the series.

And seriously, a human Damon? Nah. Damon Salvatore is a vampire, and he'll forever be the big bad vampire to me.

I have had up to here with people blaming Percy for absolutely no reason. How the hell is any of it his fault? Percy was all for saving Nico from the jar and agreed to help immediately. Don't spread misinformation. That scene and all scenes, including Nico's situations, involved Percy agreeing and worrying each time. Here are a few of those scenes. It's not all there's more, but these are the key ones:

Not the part about Sammy – that was still too painful to say out loud – but she told them about Gaia’s offer of a fake life, and the goddess’s claim that she’d captured her brother, Nico. Hazel didn’t want to keep that to herself. She was afraid the despair would overwhelm her. Percy rubbed his shoulders. His lips were blue. ‘You – you saved me, Hazel. We’ll figure out what happened to Nico, I promise.’ (Son of Neptune, Chapter 41)

I think my dad is turning a blind eye. I think – I think he wants me to find Nico.’ ‘We’ll find your brother,’ Percy promised. ‘As soon as the ship gets here, we’ll sail for Rome.’ (Son of Neptune, Chapter 52)

Huddled next to it was a dejected looking boy in tattered jeans, a black shirt, and an old aviator jacket. On his right hand, a silver skull ring glittered. “Nico,” Percy called. But the son of Hades couldn’t hear him. The container was completely sealed. The air was turning poisonous. Nico’s eyes were closed, his breathing shallow. He appeared to be meditating. His face was pale, and thinner than Percy remembered (…) “Nico,” Percy said, “where is this place? We’ll save you.…” (Mark of Athena, Chapter 13)

“He disappeared.” Hazel moistened her lips. “I’m afraid…I’m not sure, but I think something’s happened to him.” “We’ll look for him,” Percy promised. “We have to find the Doors of Death anyway.” (Mark of Athena, Chapter 3)

Percy pointed at Piper’s dagger. “Tiberinus said you could find Nico’s location…you know, with that.” Piper bit her lip. The last thing she wanted to do was check Katoptris for more terrifying images. “I’ve tried,” she said. “The dagger doesn’t always show what I want to see. In fact, it hardly ever does.” “Please,” Percy said. “Try again.” (Mark of Athena, Chapter 41)

He told them about his dream—the twin giants planning a reception for them in an underground parking lot with rocket launchers; Nico di Angelo trapped in a bronze jar, slowly dying from asphyxiation with pomegranate seeds at his feet. Hazel choked back a sob. (Mark of Athena, Chapter 14)

Piper dropped the blade. “What’s wrong?” Jason asked. “It was showing us something.” Piper felt like the boat was back on the ocean, rocking under her feet. “We can’t go there.” Percy frowned. “Piper, Nico is dying. We’ve got to find him. Not to mention, Rome is about to get destroyed.” (Mark of Athena, Chapter 41)

“We should wait for the others,” she said. “Hazel, Frank, and Leo should be back soon.” “We can’t wait,” Percy insisted. (Mark of Athena, Chapter 41)

The vision zoomed in again. Inside the jar, Nico di Angelo was curled in a ball, no longer moving, all the pomegranate seeds eaten. “We’re too late,” Jason said. “No,” Percy said. “No, I can’t believe that. Maybe he’s gone into a deeper trance to buy time. We have to hurry.” (Mark of Athena, Chapter 41)

Otis trudged over to the dais, stopping occasionally to do a plié. He knocked over the jar, the lid popped off, and Nico di Angelo spilled out. The sight of his deathly pale face and too-skinny frame made Percy’s heart stop. Percy couldn’t tell whether he was alive or dead. He wanted to rush over and check, but Ephialtes stood in his way. (Mark of Athena, Chapter 45)

At Otis’s feet, Nico shuddered. Percy felt like a hellhound hamster wheel somewhere in his chest had started moving again. At least Nico was alive. (Mark of Athena, Chapter 45)

Jason and Piper closed ranks on either side of Percy (…)“We’re here,” Percy said, which sounded kind of obvious once he had said it. “Let our friend go.” (Mark of Athena, Chapter 45)

“Okay.” Percy decided not to comment on the Hawaiian shirt. “Now, about our friend…” “Oh, him,” Ephialtes sneered. “We were going to let him finish dying in public, but he has no entertainment value. He’s spent days curled up sleeping. What sort of spectacle is that? Otis, tip over the jar.” (Mark of Athena, Chapter 45)

Percy was ready to slice this giant in half and get out of there, but Otis was standing over Nico. If a battle started, Nico was in no condition to defend himself. Percy needed to buy him some recovery time.  (Mark of Athena, Chapter 45)

Percy glanced over at Nico, who was just starting to move. Percy wanted him to be at least conscious enough to crawl out of the way when the fighting started. (Mark of Athena, Chapter 45)

This was all despite the fact that Nico knew who Percy was and that he needed help when he was amnesiac and in Camp Jupiter and didn't do anything. [Look at it from Percy's perspective. He has helped Nico in the past and considers Nico a friend, and still, when he was at his lowest with no memory and in middle of nowhere fighting for his life or in enemy territory, Nico did little to help. Sure, maybe he couldn't reveal himself, but he still could have tried to help instead of just pretending he didn't know Percy and them avoiding him. Even if there was nothing Nico could do there, look at it from Percy's or even a general perspective and tell me it doesn't look wrong]

Also, the whole Percy promised to save Bianca to Nico is fundamentally incorrect. Percy knew the quest was hard, and there would be losses. He promised to do his best. And he did. It was not enough, but it is in no way Percy's fault. Even Bianca herself knew that. Stop projecting on her with your own opinions.

Also, remember Percy himself was 13 years old; a child himself who had to tell another child his sister was dead. As if Chiron shouldn't be doing that himself and taking responsibility. Percy did the hard thing and Nico obviously a child snapped at him and ran. He ran. None of them are wrong and neither of them should be blamed.

Mind you, Percy took the prophecy upon himself to protect Nico. He also kept Nico's parentage a secret from Chiron, someone Percy greatly respects out of care and protection for Nico. He looked everywhere for Nico and never once blamed him for some of the choices he made. In fact, despite having not been at fault, HE STILL TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OF IT AND FOR NICO HIMSELF.

Percy was the first to try and understand Nico, didn't blame him, didn't even get angry, and did everything to help, and YOU ARE BLAMING HIM?

Bianca was perfectly right to speak to Nico in front of Percy and ask him to forgive Percy, of course she would. Percy Jackson who owed them nothing and bore no responsibility for them did everything to take care of them and protect them and did so to Nico even when he switched sides and was actively trying to kill Percy. Tell me someone else who would be able to look past that? No one but Percy did. He literally went above and beyond for Nico and even included him IN HIS ONE WISH IN WHICH HE COULD HAVE ASKED ANYTHING HE WANTED BUT CHOSE TO ASK SOMETHING FOR OTHERS, FOR NICO DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED.

You all just need someone to blame, and everyone just picks Percy; the one character who has literally nothing to do with half of the accusations against him. It's almost funny how far people go to implicate Percy in stuff he had no involvement and, in fact, did everything in his power to help with.

i think bianca di angelo would be so furious that they lost nico after she died. that he was able to just run away and get manipulated. (i know they looked for him, but *still*.) even though she was promised the camp would be a safe and accepting place for him. and dont get me started on how mad she’d be that the 7 (except hazel, of course, my angel) hesitated to save nico from that jar.

Yes, absolutely yes. You should totally rant more. We really are on the same wavelength when it comes to Pjo stuff. Considering Percy grew up in New York I am pretty sure he learned to be skeptical of everyone's motives and just naturally try and extract as much information as he could.

Given that he tapped into his demigod strength a bit later, he may or may not have manipulated his way out of some fights.

It's can also be said that Percy deliberately tries to appear clueless or weak so his opponents almost always underestimate him, and so do his allies. Only extremely observant characters like Luke or Carter and certain gods and other characters with good senses like Hazel or Meg could naturally pick Percy apart as someone exceptional or threatening.

But when he battles, suddenly everyone is hyperaware of his sheer aura of power or his frightening gaze. If you remember, Leo calls the look on Percy's face to be so threatening that it has the same effect as Jason summoning lightning. Or the way Piper says the look on Percy's face made her want to run in Blood of Olympus.

But I digress. The point is Grover knows most of Percy's habits, so he does all he can to put Percy at ease. And since information about others seems to interest Percy and Grover naturally loves talking about other people, he is only too happy to help with that. [I bet even Aphrodite Cabin can't help but let Percy in on gossips]

Another headcanon that I so desperately want to be true is that since Charmspeak is Aphrodite Cabin's gift and Aphrodite is of the sea; the power is similar to sirens. And maybe just maybe Percy's superior persuasive skills could probably develop into an ability of its own. It is also why I believe Percy is definitely immune to charmspeak. After all it only worked on him because he was possessed by other creatures and even then it took a while. Might be a reach, I don't know but I do love that headcanon.

So yeah, they totally gossip, and I bet Rachel joins in. Who would hide stuff from the Oracle any way? So she is totally in on most secrets of campers, and she Percy and Grover totally gossip.

This turned long for no absolute reason, but I really loved your take on this, so I couldn't resist.

Percy and Grover are the two biggest gossips in the riordanverse and no one can convince me otherwise.

Percy/Grover knows when the other has just learned something juicy cause of their empathy link (that's been completely forgotten buy literally everyone, something I cry bout everyday).

Now don't get me wrong, Percy and Grover would never share/spread what they know outside of each other, they know how damaging rumours can be.

I just hc that Percy subconsciously seeks out information on other people as a sort of "passive" defense mechanism if that makes sense.

With how little people tell him (if they tell me anything at all) and how often everyone, even those closest to him, deliberately keeps him in the dark, his habit of seeking out "gossip" and "rumors" when he was younger steadily developed into a habit of seeking and hoarding whatever information he could find.

Like he doesn't need to know but he'd like too, and virtually nothing about his behavior towards the others would change aside from the fact he'd be more prepared to interact/deal with the person he's talking to/facing, more prepared to "code switch" in a way.

Which loops in well with the fact that many people (Grover, annabeth, Thalia, Bianca, Zoe etc) confide in Percy/tell him bout their pasts/secrets easily enough, and while Percy listens to and empathizes with them he rarely offers up his own experiences.

One of the only times I can remember where Percy tried to get someone to see/understand his pov with him was in TLT where he asked annabeth something to the effect of "what if it was your dad that was kidnapped?" and annabeth replied with something like "I wouldn't care" which understandably surprised Percy. I think that interaction is part of the reason why Percy never speaks about himself/his past with others, it's obviously not the only thing that contributed but I think it was a decent sized factor in maybe not creating but rather cementing the idea that Percy should keep his cards as close to his chest as possible, and if he ever had to share any of his cards I think he'd like to know how he should share them, like how he should phrase things and what points he should make yk?

The more he knows bout the person he may have to interact with, the easier it would be to "make a plan" so to speak (and by "make a plan" I mean that Percy wouldn't have to worry much bout stepping into uncomfortable territory if that makes sense)

Let's not forget that despite what everyone says and believes (both in universe and in fandom), Percy is not only smart as hell, he's also incredibly observant and he notices a lot of things, he'd find it real easy to build a profile on everything he comes into contact with.

Grover, due to the empathy link, did pick up Percy's habit and adopted it himself but he also just straight up likes to gossip

(This got kinda derailed/rambley and this hc is totally just me projecting onto Percy a lil, I stand by it tho.)

The only quest in PJO that Poseidon didn't help Percy on, was the one that was Annabeth's (botl) and I think (I repeat: my opinion not canon fact) that speaks volumes about what Poseidon thinks of Annabeth.

I mean, if you look at it:

TLT: Percy's quest. Poseidon sends the pearls enabling Percy to escape from the underworld, and Poseidon returns Medusa's head to Percy and suggests killing Gabe. You know, if Percy wants to get rid of his abuser.

SoM: Poseidon literally sends Percy a bodyguard and baby brother all in one. When Percy asks, Poseidon sends Percy the hippocampi.

TTC: When Percy asks, Poseidon watches over Bessie and Grover as they travelled to Olympus ensuring they got there safely. On Percy's request, Poseidon puts himself on the line to save Bessie(and Percy's) life.

BotL: Nothing. It's only after the quest is long over that Poseidon shows up (on his bday no less).

TLO: Poseidon's sanddollar helps Percy turn the river gods onto their side. On Percy's request, Poseidon abandons his kingdom and joins the fight against Typhon, and uses Percy's plan to defeat him.

Like he probably won't say anything about Annabeth (Percy is own person and Poseidon probably recognizes that when he allowed Sally to have full custody of Percy he lost that right) but after how much trash talking Annabeth did about him in tlt? And saying his name in the same sentence no less - and we know canonically when one says the gods names they hear it - there's no way he likes her or is cool with Percy dating her.

This Kid's Not Alright

perseus // unknown // The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan // unknown // The House of Hades, Rick Riordan // unknown // @ vialjarhorn // The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan // The House of Hades, Rick Riordan // @ dying-dog // The House of Hades, Rick Riordan // brutal, Olivia Rodrigo // The Mark of Athena, Rick Riordan // unknown // The Gods Show Up, Michael Kinnucan // The Chalice of the Gods, Rick Riordan

I don't know if you're taking story requests, but I hope you won't turn down my suggestion to write a one-part humanfanfic. Subject: Hayley Marshall is the only daughter of a poor family. When she was only 13 years old, her parents were killed because of a debt they couldn't pay, leaving her completely alone. But the situation will soon change. King Mikael's servants found the young girl sleeping on a bench outside and immediately brought her to King Mikael. This allowed Hayley to receive the necessary training and become the first female bodyguard in King Mikael's palace. From the age of 13 until he was 18, she was Lord Klaus' bodyguard. Hayley had managed to maintain her professionalism over the years, but her feelings confused her. Could it be that she has romantic feelings for Klaus, who is feared by everyone, trapped by rules, and who must soon marry a lady he does not love for the good of his people?

While I am busy with studies, I would never turn down such a kind request. Though I'm not sure it could be wrapped up in one part. But we will see.

Part 1

Hayley

He was late, Prince Klaus was late. Again. There were two rumors circulating to explain this. Either he does it purposefully to spite his father, or he really engages in a sex spree at night, leaving him exhausted in the morning. And if Hayley knew anything about him at all, she would bet it was the former. Her contract for being a bodyguard was almost at its end. With whatever money she had saved over the years; she could use that to leave for someplace else, be free, and see the world for herself. Why, then, did the thought of leaving elicit a pang of pain at every instance she thought of it. But now was not the time to be daydreaming of yet unachievable destinations.

With a long suffering sigh, she threw open the door to the prince's room. This would usually be an assured invitation for certain death but being privy to his personal life for so long a time of being his bodyguard had earned her some privileges and Klaus had no business telling her when to walk in his chambers if he counted on her to do the protecting.....

The thought vanished as soon as it spurred by the sight she just walked in on. Klaus, half-naked, clad in a towel,his hair partially drenched. Yes, she had seen this sight before, yes she should have been used to it but was she? She will be damned if she said yes. There was something alluring about him, even when countless people deemed him the personification of darkness. "After all, one must never mistake the allure of darkness. Even the purest hearts are drawn to it." It was something Klaus used to spout from all those philosophy texts he read just to criticise the writers on their limited understanding of human emotions.

"What's the matter little wolf? It's nothing you haven't seen before." A lopsided smile with those stunning blue eyes sparkling in mischief motivated Hayley to look away, her face heating in embarrassment for spacing out while staring at him and also due to the sight of his....

What in the devil's name was wrong with her?She was his bodyguard, not one of the flirtatious maids in the castle that swooned at the sight of him despite fearing him. Not one to lose, she quipped back equally as fast: " Not new but definitely soon to be extinct if you choose to while around and make us late for the fifth time this week to the King's daily briefings."

The sparkle in his eyes snuffed out at the mention of the King. A colder tone overtook his next response, "Yes, yes the ever important briefings from my father which are but his ruse to bare my inability to rule to the lot of his ministers and rub it in my face every other chance he gets. While I would love nothing more than to meet a swift end and be rid of these by all means let us hurry."

"Why are you yelling at me? Listen here Klaus, it's one thing to be furious at your father and entirely another to take it out on me. It's my job to do what King Mikael asks of me and I will not be made to deal with your temper tantrums." What an infuriating bastard Klaus was but she understood. With how much Mikael controlled his life, these little ways were his only means of rebellion, something his father couldn't punish him for since the meetings were public.

Klaus

He didn't like taking his anger out on Hayley, but usually it was too late by the time he was done with it. It's infuriating how she keeps drawing the line between them, keeping up that flimsy facade of professionalism. Despite all the years they have spent together, she so readily dismisses it as her job. He could still remember the first time they met:

"Boy, this is Hayley. She will be your bodyguard. No questions asked, boy. Learn a thing or two about fighting from the girl Niklaus. It just might elevate you to that of a soldier's level of expertise in fighting. " He had decided he would loathe the girl. No servant of his father was an ally of his. And a woman, no a girl, would protect him. It enraged him beyond any sense that he Klaus Mikaelson, the only heir of the warrior Dynasty, was being looked down upon by not only his father but not he had added some girl to the list. "You, I don't care what your name is, I do not require your services. You and I shall spar, and when I emerge victorious, you shall relay this to my father and have your services offered elsewhere."

He hadn't looked at her properly before but she certainly had a unique appearance. Brunette hair and eyes like nothing Klaus had ever seen. Hazel green. There was a spark of fury and resolve when he declared his challenge, and to his astonishment, the girl had the audacity to roll her eyes. "If, Prince, if. " And no one had ever made his title sound so much like an insult before. If he wanted to prove his father wring before, now he wanted the girl humiliated. How dare she assume such a tone with him.

So spar they did. And Klaus had never in his entire life proven so wrong. She fought with so much ferocity that it reminded him of a wolf cub he had taken in when he found it injured and had raised it into a wolf only for his father to butcher it. There was no clear winner, but Klaus might as well admit he had lost, given how exhausted he looked compared to her. "Ugh, were you in military training, too? Why the hell do you need a bodyguard if you fight this well? The king is nuts." He shut her mouth by slamming his hand over it. Did she have a death wish, and did she just call his father nuts? "Don't say that in open little wolf." She had taken such offense to that nickname, but he had an inch or two over her in height and was definitely more built. He would find out in passing years that the vpw he had made of loathing her would turn out to be impossible to uphold. Even then, and especially now. So as they both headed towards his father's court, he muttered in a voice only Hayley could hear, "Sorry, little wolf. Bad morning. I will make it up to you later." And for all her claims of hating that nickname, he could swear he saw her smile.

Hayley

By the time we greeted the King, all the Council members had settled themselves. There were more so than usual. What the hell was going on? She excused herself to her reserved position near Klaus's seat when King Mikael's booming voice thundered the words that somehow shattered her heart. "Niklaus, I have decided that you shall marry the Princess of Mystic Falls, Princess Caroline. Nuptials will take place two weeks from now."

That's all for part 1. Send me a query for part 2 as a reminder, and let me know if you actually like this.

Respectfully, did Percy Jackson even have any character development throughout the original series?

He doesn't have any flaws. He chose to take the prophecy from Nico, but he was always going to be the prophecy child.

He's good at the start and good at the end with no development unless you count being traumatised and depressed from a war as development, which it's not.

Not trying to be rude, sorry if I seem rude.

Worry not. It's a perfectly reasonable question and should usually be applied to most character studies. Also, buckle up. This is going to be long. Very long. It took me a while to get the time to post this and even more time to actually get my thoughts together. Like a lot of time. (To anyone who doesn't want to read the horrid mess of a post this is there's a partition at the end, after which all the most important points are summarized. ) Just skip to that, but hopefully, someone reads this whole thing because it took me eons to write.

I can see why you think that way, and it is contributed more so by Rick's absolute incapability of not recycling the dead horse that is the original pjo dynamics. He has inhibited character growth from almost every single character where all their epiphanies and character change in the end amounts to nothing, and they regress back to how they used to be, and any and all deviations their personality had are either dismissed or suppressed.

Percy is the victim of the latter. In the first book, he was a child, not particularly concerned with saving the world or being a halfblood. His life had been worse enough, and the halfblood situation had made it abysmal. Percy was living goal by goal. He wanted to get through the field trip, then through the semester, then through the Gabe interactions all so he could finally see his Mom, the one good thing about his life. Then that upends completely, and his only reprieve, the trip to Montauk, his safe place becomes the start of a series of grand tragedies in his life.

Sure, he stayed at the Camp, not willingly but for safety. He had nowhere to go, his life had been turned upside down, his mother was dead, and he wanted to go home, to have his mother back. He couldn't have cared less about the Gods and the world ending, but as soon as Chiron mentions Underworld, Percy is back on solid ground. He has a goal again. Get Sally back. He does everything to reach that goal. He fights monsters, prays to a godly father he refused to acknowledge beforehand, manipulate the press and the Gabe situation, bargain with immortal deities and such, and negotiate his way out of most of those bargains. All the while keeping in mind that he has a traitor to deal with, but Percy is the definition of "deal with one thing at a time. If it's not an immediate concern, it can wait." He does all that and is rewarded for it by being able to live, getting his mother back, and a taste of the life he has doomed himself to, and he almost seems to accept it. He even wonders if Camp Half Blood could be his home.

We see Percy do this throughout all the books. He is constantly changing his intentions, his goals, and his opinions on everything. He is also caught in his internal conflict of being with or against the Gods. The thing is, Percy has very little time for reflection as he is jumping from one existential threat to another, and yet he still manages to grow in the small ways. You need to see it individually book wise rather than over the whole series as Rick messes up terribly with character arcs and developments of literally every other character.

He begins by not caring about Poseidon's existence or his proximity, but in the end, he, too, is beholden to the intrinsic need of having a father. He, too, wants Poseidon to care for him like a father and is therefore hurt by being called a mistake. He knows Poseidon claimed him as a weapon against Zeus so he could rectify someone else's mistakes and restore Poseidon's reputation; who if not Percy would understand this manipulation the best? But the best lies are the ones you want to believe in, and so Percy keeps his silence because, of course, he wants to believe his father genuinely cares for him and loves him. Who doesn't?

He didn't want to be the hero, but by the end of the first book, when he is called one, he doesn't dislike the feeling. He accepts if only a little that this is to be his life now, and as the series progresses, he adds to the pros and cons.

In the Sea of Monsters he is very happy that Gabe is gone and it's just him and his mother again but by the end of it he has gained a new family member in Tyson and is very happy of the fact. He even manages to get over his initial hostility of Clarisse somewhat when he understands her situation.

Titan's Curse is all about Percy learning about the number of forces at play in the world of demigods. He tries to get along with the Hunters and Thalia; it doesn't work. He ends up almost losing Annabeth, someone who he considers a close friend by now. And so we see Percy spiral a little, show more of his anger issues as he interacts with Thalia or even Young Nico just after Annabeth falls from the cliff. Angry and impatient, he goes on his own quest.

I know most readers remember it as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover or the main cast always working together, but it's almost never like that. Somewhere along the way, Percy always ends up doing his own thing, which works because he best works on improvisations. It's Percy's plans that always end up working the most more so than Annabeth's. Just putting it out there.

Then it's just Percy having the worst month of his life. Annabeth is in mortal danger. No one seems to be hearing his opinions between Thalia and the Hunters. Then Bianca dies and Percy because he is Percy is completely and utterly guilty over it.

Note that Percy says he will do his best to keep Biancs safe and not outright promise to keep Bianca safe. But his non-existent self-esteem and other factors withstanding he blamed himself for it completely. Then Zoe dies, and Percy has lost yet another person he thought he needed to keep safe.

Percy is angry at the gods, but he is not surprised by their actions. But he is Percy, and he is determined to change the ways of Olympus, so he pressures the Council and his father to keep the Ophiptaurus, the very creature that threatens to topple their rule. It's his small was of rebelling, and Percy is always rebelling against the gods in his own way, almost never playing into their hands because as much as he despises Luke, he agrees with Luke too and unless he finds a better way to deal with the situation than what Luke is employing he too would have to one day follow in Luke's footsteps.

Now Percy, who trusts Chiron, even thinks of him as a secondary father figure realizes that Chiron for all his compassion for mortals and demigods will always in the end do the bidding of the Gods'. So he makes the snap decision to hide Nico's parentage from Chiron and from everyone else because Percy realizes no matter how much he loves or cares for certain people in his life, they are beholden to answer to a higher power he cannot gainsay, so he will have to take some secrets to the grave. He learns that in the end, some things he needs to shoulder himself.

And of course, the guilt of Bianca's death is no lesser, so he does the only thing he thinks can give him some relief from it. He takes the prophecy for himself, saving Nico and hoping it's enough to alleviate himself of this bile inducing sensation in his gut called guilt that is swallowing him whole.

Now, the Battle of Labyrinth is the most crucial. This is the book with maximum stress on Percy from all ends. From Sally dating Paul and Percy having to prove he is worth Paul's confidence in him in Goode, from Annabeth who is quite literally snippy and passive aggressive through the whole book either due to Rachel or due to her own prophecy even though Rachel and Percy are the two people who got them all out. Then there's the Nico situation. He knows Nico is spiraling, which is making Percy spiral and further strengthening his own guilt. And on top of all this, the Luke situation. Percy is literally caught between an enclosed space, with all four sides closing in on him rapidly while he is fending off mortal danger.

All this repressed tension is fully let loose when he explodes Mt. Helen's. And this is the tipping point. Percy wants to take the choice of Calypso's Island if only briefly and not because he loves her or anything of the sort but because it's his one escape. From everything from his own doomed prophecy. Yet again, Percy is trapped by his own fatal flaw. Personal Loyalty. So he chooses to carry out his responsibility because he has given himself no other choice.

If that wasn't enough of self-realization, he is faced with the horrifying realization of the devastation his power has wrought. His loss of control has single handedly released the greatest threat to Olympus. Hephaestus tells Percy he doesn't know the limits of his own, and by the gods, does that terrify Percy. Up until now, Percy knew his powers were dangerous, but now he knows that he is also dangerous; that he is the real danger. And it's not a reality he wants to ever confront, so he coils his power and holds it tight in a leash. (It's why Percy's burts of power always begin with an unraveling sensation in his gut or something breaking inside himself)

He is somewhat soothed by Poseidon's reassurance because not only does Poseidon not blame him, he also solidifies Percy's faith that he is doing the right thing. And if Poseidon sprinkles in the fact that Percy is the favorite child then who is he to deny himself the comfort of such sweet lies because, of course, Percy thinks it's a lie and of course Percy basks in it. He knows better than to trust gods, he knows better than to trust even his own allies because at the times like this, they will do and say anything to appease him, after all the fate of Olympus depends on him, does it not? And neither the Gods nor the demigods will risk a falling out with him at times like this.

He asks his father if he can help but is denied because he is needed here. Then he does his job as told, and Charlie dies. It's on him. He is struck with twice as much guilt. Over Beckendorf, and then over the state of Atlantis. He asks again if he can help his father and is denied again yet scorned by his father's family, for he can't even help them with the mess he started (or so he believes).

This is why Percy goes with Nico's plan of using the Styx. Because he assumes Nico of all people who already hated him has no reason to curry for his favor. But he makes a mistake. After all, Nico needs his father's favor, and Hades needs Percy gone. Percy can't really blame the kid, but he does anyway because why not? He is angry, he is furious, and everything is slipping from his fingers. He is going to die. Everyone is going to die, and it's all on him. It's all his fault, AGAIN. So he rages at Nico because for at least one single moment, he wishes this were someone else's burden, especially Nico's, but Percy's taken it for himself, and it's too late to back out now.

So he fights and manipulates and negotiates. Titans, River gods, his own demigods. Because don't forget Percy knows there's a mole and that's also his problem. Everything is his problem. All that work and so many dead. Silena, Michael, Ethan, and many more on both sides, and he is trying everything he can to make it better to fix things because, again, he thinks it's his fault. Imagine doing all that, and Rachel tells him he is not the hero, and Percy bristles because no, he doesn't want to be a hero, but of course, it offends him. Because, if he's not the hero, then it's not his burden, and then what the hell is he doing all this for if, in the end, he is not the hero that can save Olympus? Does that mean he read the prophecy wrong, and now he is going to get everyone killed because he wrongly assumed he isn't the hero. He is angry and impulsive, and he snaps at even Hermes. Because now HE is spiraling.

And somehow, it's all over with Luke killing himself, and it dawns on Percy, the truth. So despite all the hate because why wouldn't there be hate, Luke has singlehandedly tried to kill Percy more than Percy can count, and he calls Luke the Hero. Makes the choice because he believes in Annabeth's faith and Hermes's faith in Luke. It pays off and that's all that matters.

Finally finally it is all over. the Gods owe him, and finally, he has an answer on the path he wants to take to change the gods. He denies immortality because he is Percy Jackson, he is Sally Jackson's son and he knows better than to let others dictate the flow of his life, because he has better plans than wasting away inside for eternity, dancing on someone else's tune. He fights for the demigods, the non-Olympian gods and their children who Olympus has failed to do justice to, for Nico, and in some way for himself.

Then it's not over at all because Rachel has taken Blackjack and Percy knows the truth of the Oracle and he loves Rachel far too much to let her even try. But it works and she is okay; he can't be with her but she is alive and she is okay and Percy is extremely grateful for that.

But then there's a new prophecy, and even though he tries to find some peace with Annabeth, he knows it's not over. It's never over for him. But he can forget about it until he can no longer afford to ignore it.

___________________________________________

Of course, Percy repressed his trauma. The last time he let it out, he released the literal bane of the gods out. Do you think Percy could live with something like that happening again? What choice does he have? There's no one who can understand him. NO ONE. Not even Annabeth.

You can see him accept his role as a leader and grow more into it. In son of Sobek or even in Son of Neptune. He is more serious and more authoritative because he has so many people depending on him, so many expectations hanging on him. We can also see Percy's anger issues get out of hand. He is spiraling, the readers know he is spiraling, and Percy knows, but he can't do ANYTHING. HE IS LITETALLY DYING OR BEING ATTACKED, HE CAN'T, HE JUST CAN'T.

BUT WE KNOW IT'S THERE BECAUSE WE CAN SEE HOW MUCH PERCY HAS GROWN INTO SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. AND HE CAN'T ACT ON THEM MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE DEPENDENT ON HIM AND HIS FATAL FLAW WON'T ALLOW HIM TO PUT HIMSELF OUT OF HIS MISERY.

BUT WHEN HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY COULD, AFTER HOUSE OF HADES, HE LETS POLYBOTES'S POISON CHOKE HIM, ALMOST KILLING HIM IF JASON HADN'T INTERVENED. THANK GOD FOR JASON GRACE.

Percy was this sassy, heavily independent, "I do my own thing" kid and now he is someone with more responsibilities than anyone with most of his free will stripped and most of his hopes ruined or deemed impossible. IT'S TRAGIC AND IT'S EXCRUCIATING AND HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE HE THINKS IT'S MAKING OTHERS HAPPY. IT'S SUCH A HORRIBLE SITUATION. IMAGINE BOOK 1 PERCY? HE WOULD HAVE LET IT BLOW UP IN EVERYONE ELSE'S FACE BEFORE HE EVER LET HIMSELF BE SO BROKEN.

I have seen so many people say how Percy is the standard hero who is always good and never makes bad choices, and I wonder which books they read. Percy always makes the supposed "right" choices at the cost of himself. His fatal flaw enabling his moral compass and the sheer guilt of the lives lost. He can't escape. He hates the gods, he hates the quests but he loves his family and friends so dearly, there's nothing he wouldn't do for them which means Percy is suffocating, drowning, choking in his own misery, his repressed trauma,his self loathing and being crushed to death by the weight of lives, responsibilities and expectations only he can hope to fulfil.

And one day Percy won't be able to take it. His lapses of control will increase in magnitudes so great, his inner rage will level the world. Destroyer, like Athena predicted, Destroyer like Kronos wanted and Destroyer like his name means.

Not every hero needs a villain arc. Percy is inspiring because after all this shit and all these horrors. He is still good, but WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TOLL OF IT. PERCY IS STILL GOOD BUT AT WHAT COST? LOOK WHAT IT'S DONE TO HIM.

Rick has such a great potential for an arc like that but he is going to fuck it up, I know he is but I hope readers realize where it's all leading to and how much Percy has changed and how much he has sacrificed. Also, @hermesmyplatonicbeloved , @ogjacksonsimp , @cynicalclairvoyantcadaver , @helenofsparta2, @fourcornersofcreation thoughts? Did I stray too far from the canon, or am I getting it right at least a little? Because this post took days, I have no idea what it has devolved into.