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aeithalian · 17 days

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People know that Jason was aware of Leo's survival. What they're pissed about is that they never reunited.

The "purpose" of Jason's death was to make Apollo feel bad. It was not done to service his story or character development and in fact squandered any chance for that. That's not a tragedy, it's wasteful writing.

I said exactly what I meant: I have seen multiple times, across multiple types of media, people use any combination of the words: "it's so sad that Jason died without knowing Leo was alive". That misinformation specifically is what I'm talking about, coming from fans who didn't read toa and are getting their information from people who also didn't read toa. I understand not liking the fact that they never reunited, and please don't take this to mean that I'm not in that group of people, but the former statement is just not true, and that's what I find frustrating.

And we can argue all we want on the merits of Jason's death, and I dare say that no two people are going to completely 100% agree, so don't come back swinging if you don't. Personally, I think Rick wrote it to be a tragedy: Jason never got all of his memories back, never got to see Leo again, and never got to put his plans to recognize all the minor gods into action. To me, the fact that Jason died before he reached his goals (and this is true of any character death) is what makes it tragic. "Squandering" character development is almost synonymous to that, albeit with harsher language - it's an unfinished story is all it is. And 'wasteful writing' entails that Jason's goals were never realized, even after he died, but I'd argue that's kind of the point of the impact it had on Apollo's character, who promised at the end of the book that he would remember the promise he made to Jason and, by extension, keep his dreams alive. Yes, it made Apollo feel bad, and that is the only immediate aftereffect we see, but that is an aftereffect of death in general, even outside of fictional children's books. Yet to say that the only purpose of Jason's death was to make Apollo feel bad is an overgeneralization of the effect that it did have on Apollo's character. Jason's death was the major catalyst of Apollo's character development, and it's not like character deaths aren't used in similar ways across so many other types of storytelling - the only difference is the fact that Jason was an established character, which makes it sting more, which again, is the point.

Jason died in a story that wasn't his own, so of course his death didn't service him. But does character death really service anyone? To me, no. But that's what makes it tragic. Using the term 'wasteful writing' entails that it didn't have a purpose at all, which I'd argue (and anon disagrees with) is not true.

idk, just my opinion. feel free to add on, but please keep it respectful up in here.

#toa #trials of apollo #pjo

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aeithalian · 17 days

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Chapter 22!!!

#riordanverse #toa #trials of apollo #apollogists #pjo #ao3 #fanfic #lester papadopoulos #apollo #percy jackson

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aeithalian · 17 days

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y'all wanna know what pisses me off? even if you don't, imma tell you anyway

I've been seeing it ALL over the place, but it's from all these pjo fans who never read toa, but then they somehow get it in their heads that jason didn't know leo was alive when he died? but he definitely did, apollo told him and piper pretty early on.

and then they get pissy over the fact that jason died, which is dumb. good stories aren't always the ones where everyone lives, and Jason's death definitely had purpose, even if you didn't like what it was - that's what a tragedy is.

but i'm over here literally begging people to actually read the series. and then it's just completely false information floating around that everybody believes right off the bat because they want to hate toa so bad.

just my two cents.

#riordanverse #toa #trials of apollo #apollogists #pjo #just over here making my monthly appearance

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aeithalian · 2 months

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Chapter 21!!!!

#riordanverse #toa #trials of apollo #apollogists #pjo #ao3 #fanfic #lester papadopoulos #apollo #percy jackson

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aeithalian · 3 months

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i wish you guys lived inside my head the fics in here go crazy

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aeithalian · 3 months

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Hey,, you mentioned in a poat of yours that you did a meta on godly maturity and how it relates to parenting but i cant seem to find it on your blog, could you help? Apologies in advance if im mistaken

You might be thinking of this meta that I did on how Apollo's parenting style is influenced by that of his parents.

But I did put out a poll (linked for reference) a couple months ago that asked if people wanted to hear my thoughts on godly maturity (in general, not just Apollo) with regards to romantic and parental relationships, but it didn't win the poll and I didn't end up writing it.

maybe I'll put out another poll if there's any interest? 👀

#pjo #toa #apollogists #ask

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aeithalian · 3 months

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CHAPTER 20!!!!

#riordanverse #toa #trials of apollo #apollogists #pjo #ao3 #fanfic #lester papadopoulos #apollo #percy jackson

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aeithalian · 4 months

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Okay. Hear me out.

Spoilers for the PJO show finale below the cut:

Disney+ won't let me screenshot to show y'all, so here's the transcript from the scene when Luke betrays Percy and they're talking about Kronos' plan:

Percy: This is Kronos. He got to you. Luke: No, he opened my eyes to the truth. [Turns around and starts opening the portal again] A golden age. That's what they called it when [Kronos] ruled. We're gonna help Kronos bring the Golden Age back.

I know Rick's definitely had enough input on the show to plant seeds that he didn't get the chance to when he wrote the original series. I feel like at this point we also have ample evidence that Rick has read Works and Days and at least knows about the whole 'gray-haired babies' thing, even if the Estelle thing wasn't intentional.

Obviously, it doesn't really change Luke's motivations, or any larger aspect of the plot besides an obligatory reference to Hesiod's Ages of Man (not that Rick is above touching up the plot, which I can get behind to an extent), but I am personally going to take it as evidence that Rick is cooking something in the back, and while I am not a Michelin Inspector, I will give it three stars.

Rick. Buddy. Amigo. Explain something to me. Real quick, I promise.

[The Trials of Apollo: The Tower of Nero, Chapter 4]

Good genetic package, Rick/Apollo? Are you sure about that?

Listen.

Estelle's physical description *clap* makes *clap* no *clap* sense. Why on earth does one of the only fully human characters in this series have to have unique and weird physical traits? Also, it makes no sense in the larger scope of Rick's writing style to have chosen this unless he had some sort of larger intention behind it. Not to mention the theories by fans haven't really done much to fully flesh out any perceivable reason as to why this might be:

Poseidon blessed Sally when she was pregnant - By far, this is the most believable to me, but it's still eh, because this feels very weird and I don't get the vibes from Poseidon that he would have done so to the extent that it shows up in Estelle's physical traits. Also if that were true, it doesn't make sense for Rick to just fully drop it in the story without the intention to flesh it out further, because to my knowledge he doesn't have plans for another novel that takes place after ToA.

Paul isn't Estelle's father - Firstly, this is out of character for Sally, and this doesn't fully justify why Estelle has Percy's eyes. PLUS, salt-and-pepper hair still wouldn't be natural for a newborn

Paul is Poseidon in disguise - This explains her traits the best, but Paul's character is so much more satisfying if this isn't true. It's also total bullshit.

Enter me. I have a theory. Yay. But first, we must discuss.

Firstly, I want to talk about her eyes. Going back to the theories, and based on my fair amount of knowledge of genetics (clarification: I write this as I procrastinate studying for my final genetics exam), the eyes are mostly interesting because Apollo specifies that they are immediately similar Percy's. The thing about eye genetics, though, is that they are what we consider to be 'complex traits', meaning that they are influenced by the interactions of multiple genes from both parents. What I mean to point out here is that Sally could definitely have the genes to produce two children with 'sea-green' eyes, considering her canonical eye color is blue. We don't know what Paul's eye color is, which makes my job a whole lot easier because I can assume that it doesn't directly contradict the possibility that Sally just has really strong eye genes (?). ALSO, who's to say that Poseidon didn't just change his eye color to match Percy's when he was born? Ah, yes, the perks of having a shapeshifting dad who seemingly loves you and your eye color a lot (but is still absentee, WHOOPS).

But what I actually found the most interesting about Estelle was her hair color. More specifically, the fact that Apollo says he's never seen an infant with that color hair. And we know Apollo is somewhat of an unreliable narrator (although this rarely affects his descriptions of people other than himself, and has also mostly evolved into a more honest narration since the end of book 3), but I believe we're supposed to trust this dude who just so happens to have been alive for over four millennia. Based on Apollo's previous descriptions of his own powers (see his conversations with Percy in TTC, when he pulls a Mufasa and basically admits to seeing everything the light touches), we know that Apollo knows and has seen a lot of stuff. So, how is this the first time he's seemingly witnessed this type of hair mutation?

I did some research, as one does. To me, it seems as if Estelle has what's called Griscelli syndrome, which is a type of rare autosomal genetic mutation that typically results in phenotypic hypopigmentation of the skin and hair. (It can also result in neurological disorders and immunodeficiency, based on the type, but I digress.) It's also pretty rare, considering both parents have to be carriers, and even then the child still has a one in four chance of being affected. Current statistics from the NIH say that Griscelli syndrome currently presents in less than 1000 Americans, and is rapidly fatal in 1-4 years without aggressive treatment.

That sad note aside, it's weird to me that the way Rick wrote Estelle's physical description makes it seem as if Apollo had never seen anything similar. I feel like a god of both medicine and knowledge would probably be a bit more up to speed with rare genetic disorders, especially because he's so old. The only explanations are that Apollo, in his mortal state, can't make a diagnosis, OR what he's seeing isn't actually something he can diagnose.

FURTHERMORE, from the same chapter, Apollo says something that muddies the waters even further:

It doesn't make sense that Apollo thinks that Zeus would take such an interest in Estelle. Her nature alone doesn't make me think that the king of the gods would take a sudden interest in a literal newborn, regardless of how much Apollo loves her (and honestly, I don't blame him).

What I think? Rick pulled the strings just tight enough that he has a very interesting plot point to go off of if he ever decides to pick up the pen again and write a new book.

What I think? Estelle doesn't have Griscelli syndrome, she is in much more danger than anyone realizes, and Apollo's subconscious put this together from the second he saw her.

Actually, let's rewind. I'm in the process of writing a fic (stay tuned!) and I had a random thought: do the Greeks have an apocalypse story? You know, like Ragnarök in the Norse mythos, and the Revelation stories in the Bible.

The answer? They don't. I guess that's what you get when the Greco-Roman gods are fully immortal and literally can't be killed.

That didn't stop the rabbit hole, though, and what I found was actually very interesting and I couldn't believe what I was reading.

I give you: Hesiod. More specifically, his poem Works and Days. More more specifically, his 'ages of man'. More more more specifically, the iron age.

For context, Hesiod was an ancient Greek poet who lived in the 8th century BC, and was walking right along with Homer in terms of fame at the time. The poem Works and Days is actually more of a really long Facebook post where he complains about anything and everything, especially in his section on the ages of man.

In summary, Hesiod wrote about what he perceived to be the five stages of human life since the creation of mankind by Zeus' hand:

gold: perfect in every way, pious, and blessed by the gods

silver: real bitches, the ugly middle child, so Zeus killed them

bronze: were so violent they wiped each other out

heroic: golden child, contained the heroes of the Greek mythos

iron: middle-aged men still living in their mom's basement

Hesiod wrote his poem during what he perceived to be the Iron age (it's really just him complaining about being born in the wrong generation), but he ends up listing a lot of qualities: 'everyone works too hard, the gods hate us, nobody respects family values anymore', blah blah blah.

I know what you're thinking: Tia, what does this have to do with an apocalypse?

Well, dear reader, bear with me. You see, every time Zeus didn't like an age of mankind, or it became too violent, or it generally wasn't pious enough, Zeus wouldn't hesitate to destroy that race and start over. Basically, an apocalypse.

So, you may ask a new question: what is the criteria for Zeus to destroy the Iron age? And, assuming that this is the age we're currently in, what would it take for Zeus to destroy everything our beloved Riordanverse characters know and love?

My friend, that is where Estelle comes in. Yes, a baby.

Take this excerpt regarding the Iron age:

"And Zeus will destroy this race of mortal men also when they come to have grey hair on the temples at their birth."

I think you see where I'm going with this.

My theory? Estelle, in her unique position as a bridge between not just the mortals and the demigods (eg. her relationship with Percy), but also the mortals and the gods (eg. her great impression on Apollo), is a living, breathing prophecy. A prophecy that the end is nigh for this current age of mankind.

Furthermore, I also think that Apollo made this connection, somewhere in the back of his mind, the very second he realized that her hair was entirely unique. According to Hesiod (who Apollo also mentions later in the book, so we know he knows who Hesiod is), the day that babies are born with gray hair (or, salt-and-pepper for the sake of the theory) is the second Zeus basically get the go-ahead to commit genocide.

This also brilliantly explains why Apollo suddenly, and seemingly without reason, makes to keep Estelle's existence a secret from Zeus, because he knows that it might be the easiest way to get everyone he knows and loves killed by his own father for "the greater good" as I'm sure Zeus will put it. Plus, in his mortal state, Rick didn't have to explain why Apollo did what he did, since Apollo's been having memory issues since the beginning of the series: why would he remember one line from a poem written almost three thousand years ago?

Frankly, Zeus doesn't care about mortals: the only reason he really cares about anyone is if they have enough power to threaten his own, or if they have some sort of power he can benefit from. This, certainly, falls under the category of the latter. Wouldn't you want a chance to remake humanity into the perfect image that it used to be? You would, if you hadn't gone through a five book long grow-a-conscience speedrun like our lovely Apollo over here.

Fortunately for Rick, this is such an outrageous theory that if it never comes to fruition, I won't be surprised. If he ever writes something similar, though, know I called it first.

EDIT: here's the fic i mentioned i was (am) writing

EDIT: a masterlist of my other metas

#new addition #riordanverse #trials of apollo #apollogists #estelle blofis #fan theory #pjo #rick riordan #percy jackson #pjo show #pjo show spoilers

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aeithalian · 4 months

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OK new game. Use this website to see how common your first name is, and then put that number in the tags.

#134th #common in the US Mexico and Italy #but it's greek hmmmmmm

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aeithalian · 4 months

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HI ALDER

like my fellow rb'ers, not in order bc i couldn't possibly rank:

Apollo/Lester - Trials of Apollo

Obligatory. He's so pathetic I love him. (i am not kind to him when writing, but that's besides the point)

2. Reaper/Darrow of Lykos - Red Rising

Big DILF energy. Murderous, slightly insane, but also a huge softie. Has great taste in women.

3. Tony Stark - Marvel

For nostalgia's sake. It's the character development, I can't explain it either.

4. Effie Trinket - Hunger Games

Iconic. Nuff said. Also character development.

5. Aragorn - Lord of the Rings

First: he looks like he gives great hugs and is also one of the kindest, softest people you've ever met. Second: DILF.

6. The Rose Family - Schitt's Creek

No, I couldn't pick, and you can't make me. They're all so pathetic. I love them.

7. Klaus Hargreeves- The Umbrella Academy

He's so pathetic I love him. (Netflix, please give him his BAMF moments, I'm literally begging you)

8. All these bitches (except for Booker) - The Old Guard

I love me some kickass gays (they're all gay, you can't fight me on this)

9. Din Djarin - Star Wars/The Mandalorian

When I tell you this man had a chokehold on me in 2021, I'm not even kidding. He's so scrunkly and pathetic. And badass. (Plus: Pedro Pascal)

10. Brienne of Tarth - Game of Thrones

Just look at her. What a woman.

(I'm just now realizing that you can summarize my favorite characters into a simple phrase: pathetic people who have good character development OR badasses, bonus points if they're both)

@worlds-oldest-teenager @apolloappreciation @sierice @fearlessinger @literallyjusttoa @overanalyzer @ukelele-boy

i tried to tag 10 but i failed rip

i'm so sorry if double tagged someone lol

10 Fandoms, 10 Characters, 10 Tags

Thank you so much @idle-brit for tagging me!This was lots of fun :) 💖

My tags: @delyth88, @elymusplant, @galaxythreads, @chemical-processes. No pressure to answer, of course :)

1. Loki (MCU)

As much as I love everyone on this list, there is absolutely no competition for number 1. Loki has been my favourite character of all time for nearly 6 years now (because clearly the best time to join someone's fandom is after they've just been murdered), and is showing absolutely no signs of being replaced anytime soon. I have a Loki blog, for god's sake. The brodinsons are my favourite relationship in any kind of media, ever. I love them so, so much. Loki's a million different things and feelings, all at the same time, all fighting with each other, which makes for a wonderfully complex and nuanced character. Also, he's hilarious. Look at that eye roll. This is a man who hates his life, which makes me feel better about mine. Thanks, Loki.

2. Klaus Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy)

As will become obvious throughout this list, I love me an emotionally traumatised crazy person. Klaus is that. One of the characters who makes me laugh the most, ever, show-stopping dress sense, and a bucketload of unresolved trauma which goes largely ignored by Klaus, the other characters and the narrative itself? It was love at first sight. Their banter with the other characters, especially Ghost Ben (rip) is one of my favourite aspects of the show. Here's to hoping that Klaus won't be getting the Allison treatment in season 4!

3. Pippa Fitz-Amobi (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder)

I binge-read the entire AGGTM series earlier this year, and instantly fell in love with it. Pip is one of my favourite protagonists ever. Impossibly clever, compassionate, obsessive, badass, and a teensy bit unhinged. What's not to love? I would die for her. I'd say that I'd kill for her, but I think she's got that covered. I think she's written in a very realistic way, firstly as a genius 17 year old girl who doesn't really know what she's getting into, and later as a haunted individual who wants to stop investigating but can't. The way she politely knocks on people's front doors to dig up their traumas, accuse them of murder and all-round ruin their lives is everything to me. She is my blorbo. I am so, so excited for the show to come out, and I'm sure that Emma Myers will do a wonderful job as Pip!

4. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

One of the best-written characters, in one of the best-written series ever. Reading from her perspective is such a delight- she's endlessly suspicious of everyone around her, constantly on survival mode, trusting very few people and relying on exactly no one (to begin with, at least). She's a random teenage girl, from the poorest district, and she wins the Hunger Games. She's so mentally unstable that she has to be sedated, and still she's made to be the face of a rebellion. She's rude, and kind of unlikeable. She adopts all the weakest tributes, at risk to herself, knowing that they won't win. She's doomed to fail by the narrative. She's the it girl of 2010s dystopian YA fiction. Jennifer Lawrence is an amazing actress, who does a beautiful job portraying the depth and conflict of Katniss in the films. The themes and social commentary of the Hunger Games is one of its (many) strong points, and I am so so glad that people are talking about it again, because it is my favourite book series out there.

5. Mitchell Pritchett (Modern Family)

I have no idea what to say about this man, I just love him. He just like me fr. What an icon. Impeccable music taste. I've started saying, "no my god" now, and nobody understands what I'm talking about. Even in a sitcom, my favourite is the one with issues that he refuses to talk about or fix. The episode where he's trying to hide that he dressed up as spiderman makes me cry-laugh. Claire's speech at his wedding makes me just cry. He's not a perfect man, but he's certainly better than everyone else.

6. Shin Tsukimi (Your Turn to Die)

My favourite cringefail loser! I said Katniss was doomed by the narrative in a metaphorical way. This idiot is actually doomed.

No but in all seriousness, I do really love him. Before the beginning of the game, he was just a relatively normal young man- but, when confronted with the inevitability of his own death, he made himself into a monster to survive. He has a violent vendetta against the local badass teenage girl, who is traumatised as hell already and does not need Shin chipping in as well, thank you very much. I love his relationship with Kanna, his biological sister; how he uses her, manipulates her, and still cares for her so much that he dies for her with a smile on his face in the Emotion route. Conversely, in the Logic route, his actions are a direct cause of her death, and I just love how much YTTD hates siblings. I hope that his past with Midori is explored more in either a mini-episode or the final part of the game, because I find it sooo interesting. I'm super excited to see whether he actually has no chance of survival, or whether he makes it out, against the odds, on one of the routes. He's a bit useless, so I won't get my hopes up.

7. Rue Bennett (Euphoria)

I think it goes without saying that Euphoria has its issues, lol. Sam Levinson is an idiot. While a lot of the show (especially season 2) feels shallow and like it doesn't care about its characters, Rue's storylines always have heart and depth and I am so invested in her arc. It's no wonder that Zendaya won 2 Emmys for this role, because her acting is phenomenal! Rue feels so real to me, in the way that she's trying so hard to stay sober but she falls down and relapses time and time again. Recovery isn't linear, but she's getting there, and I adore her with all my heart. Her relationships with Lexi, her mother, her sister, and her sponsor, Ali, are my favourites, and the healthiest for her, in my opinion. Her brief friendship/ romance with Jules may have kept her more solidly sober than anything else in the show, but Jules (understandably) cracks under the pressure of Rue's mental health, and can't be there for her. Rue needs to heal for herself, which she appears to be doing at the end of S2.

8. Max Mayfield (Stranger Things)

Duffer brothers, please just let her be happy.

Despite only being introduced in Season 2, Max has, in my opinion, had the best character development out of everyone on the show. Her growth from someone standoffish, rude, and uninterested in the group (maybe I'm being a bit harsh. She was, like, 12) to someone who is willing to risk her life to help her friends and Hawkins means so much to me. The scene in "Dear Billy" (S4, Ep4) where she escapes from Vecna remains my favourite in the whole show and will probably be burned into my brain forever. Her relationships with Lucas and El are very sweet, and some of my favourites in Stranger Things. Her final line in S4, after all her struggles over the season, being that she doesn't want to die literally breaks my heart. I hope she gets some degree of a happy ending in the final season. She was my first profile picture when I joined this hellsite, and I love her a lot.

9. Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)

The shenanigans that this girl gets up to never fail to make me laugh. The bit where she accidentally dyes her hair green and then has to hack it all off makes me feel awful for her, but. it's hilarious. Sorry, Anne. Her friendship with Diana is so sweet but also so funny to me because they really are the most chaotic duo of the 1880s. The scene where Anne accidentally gives her alcohol instead of fruit juice is so mortifying but so, so funny. Amidst all of the insane situations that Anne gets into are a lot of really heartwarming moments and relationships. Matthew and Marilla adopting Anne, even though they wanted a boy, because she's so endearing and alone in the world is probably what made me who I am today. I still haven't gotten around to watching Anne with an E, but I've heard it's amazing. I look forward to watching it when I have the time :).

10. Daphne Blake (Scooby Doo)

My first ever favourite character! Another one who I don't have a tonne to say about. She's an icon, she's a legend, and she is the moment. She has done nothing wrong, ever. She knows martial arts, so watch out.

Honourable mentions: Thor (MCU), Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games), Gretchen Weiners (Mean Girls), Jake Peralta (Brooklyn 99), Maurice Moss (The IT Crowd), The Eleventh Doctor (Doctor Who), James (The End of the F***ing World), Ali Abdul (Squid Game).

If you read all of this then thanks, and have a great day!

#tag game

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