So I’ve been writing a new fic and I know this isn’t a ~new~ concept, but I’ve been thinking a lot about how the characterization in hoo would have shifted if Percy/Annabeth were a lot older than the rest of the seven. (Or just the og pjo characters for that matter)
I’m talking maybe 25/26 while the rest of the seven are still the same age.
First and foremost, I would have loved to see how Percy and Annabeth would have been a decade older.
When the pretty blonde lady comes flying off the chariot and demands where he is and Butch explains that she’s been looking for her husband, Percy Jackson.
(I mean imagine how that would have affected us as readers. Percy and Annabeth weren’t supposed to even be in this series now here they are but older and MARRIED?? that would have fuckin shook me)
Also, this means they’re past the college age, sooooo what have they been doing with their lives??
I imagine they went to school somewhere in New York, not necessarily the same colleges but close to both camp and mount Olympus.
And Annabeth’s been designing for Olympus a near decade.
Percy, of course did get a degree (haven’t decided what yet) but the two of them have basically been the co-leaders of CHB alongside Chiron.
Also, I’m a huge proponent of Annabeth building a “New Rome” equivalent in Camp Half-blood so when Jason, Piper, and Leo arrive to Camp Half-Blood there are houses and we see Travis and Connor and Clarisse as older and alive and doing well.
Piper sees Percy’s and Annabeth’s house and she can tell its a house well lived and loved in. There are dozens of pictures of Percy and Annabeth, a tray of blue cookies left on the counter, blanket and books along the couch, and yet looking at Annabeth, tears in her eyes, it somehow feels cold and empty.
Annabeth, who woke up, with Percy gone from their bed.
The photo in the big house of Percy and Annabeth is one of their wedding.
Now PERCY
Who wakes up with no memories except of the beautiful blonde girl.
Nothing to his name except a pen in his pocket and a ring on his finger and he knows that she must be the one he’s married to.
Now, the second part, is the characterization. Cause the age gape would significantly shift things.
So one things that often get complained about with Percy’s Character arc in hoo is that its the same one from pjo - Zero to hero…. which doesn’t make sense considering how we left pjo.
Percy is the hero. He shouldn’t be treated like the underdog anymore
The arc, I believe, should be more along the lines of Percy not wanting to have to live up to this “hero” legacy.
Feeling like the worlds just waiting for him to fail.
Or maybe he feels like he has too much power.
Also, he’s more hardened. He’s been doing this for thirteen years now.
And he’s powerful. Within canon, Percy’s powers have been shown to grow and grow and grow exponentially in a quick rate of time
now imagine a decade more worth of experience on top of this.
cough*blood bending percy*cough
So Percy finds Camp Jupiter, Hera/Juno tells him the river will wash away the curse.
And Percy’s, whose now had the curse longer in his life than he hasn’t had the curse and knows that he is so used to fighting on strictly offense that he would probably die, forgetting he’s no longer invincible.
Also its simply a “superbly dumb idea to lose a curse like that” and is like - uh, no.
And lifts the River over them instead.
And when he comes onto Camp Jupiter’s army.
He’s like where are your adults.
and they’re like “Oh :) When you’re an adult :) you retire :) the children :) are the ones to lead the army :)”
Insert Percy’s “the-fuck-you-mean” expression.
And when its time for the quest to Alaska, Percy’s actually like “No, I’ve gotta find my wife.”
And Hazel is genuinely like “That’s ok! Frank and I can handle this ourselves!”
And he’s watching this thirteen year old and fifteen year old walk off and he just looks up at the sky, sighs deeply, and says “gods dammit” before following them.
But like, I really would want to see Percy and Annabeth take on a mentoring role to the rest of the seven
The “kids”
I may or may not have just seen into the Spiderverse
Like of course we can still have tension between them all. But I feel in a way this would have encouraged more growth between them all.
I’m not sure if I would still include the Percy and Jason competition, or at least it would have to change into something like Jason feeling like he has to live up to this image of Percy. And Percy would of course be like “No, No you don’t.”
I would also love to see Percy and Annabeth having these moments of watching the young members and realizing “this was me.”
They see Piper and Jason awkwardly flirt and blush and they reminisce about “those old days”
guy who stands on street and spins sign for quiznos
being spider-man
and thats IT i dont want any of this “hes a genius tech ceo making millions” SHIT. Spider-man is BROKE and he missed rent this month and he has a tiny apartment and thats how its MEANT TO BE. he doesnt make money because he is our Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-man and not fucking Tony Stark.
how about dog walker while in spiderman costume
you. you get it
im imagining “being spider-man” as his full-time gig and i just
he has a patreon. the description is just the words “I’m Spider-Man” and all he ever posts is specifically-requested selfies from people who want to be sure its really him. pinned to the top of the page is a picture from the top of the empire state building (not the observation deck, the real top) of his spider-gloved hand holding a bagel that is on fire, with 34th street in the background
“YOU WERE FRANTIC AND FOOLISH, YOU KEPT NO TRACK OF TIME, YOU RAN YOUR DELICATE BODY INTO ITS NATURAL END, YOU BURNED ALL YOUR CANDLES TO STUMPS, YOU ARE TIRED AND HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LAY DOWN, YOU HAVE EARNED THIS REPERCUSSION, THIS REWARD, THIS RECKONING, YOU FINALLY NEED TO KNOW
