Please read this because it is EXTREMELY important me (a transgender man) and to other trans individuals.
The US Government is currently trying to pass an incredibly dangerous national law for trans youth called HR 2616.
This bill would ban all Federally funded schools from teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation, prevent teachers from using the correct pronouns and names for trans students, remove books with any trans representation in them, and even go as far as to prevent teachers from acknowledging trans identity AT ALL.
Any school that does not follow this will lose all federal funding. This bill would also require teachers to forcibly out trans students to their families, which would be fatal to any trans student with a transphobic Family or just hateful family in general. Trans people are already a group that already has some of the highest rates of being victim to suicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault.
This bill actively makes teachers put those innocent children at such a big risk. This bill has rapidly passed the house this week with support from all 209 republicans, as well as 8 democrats. But, it's still being voted on in the senate, which means there is still time to help stop this.
To help stop this, you can visit 5calls.org (look up 2616 in the search bar), one of the most top issues filed Oppose Attacks on LGBTQ+ Students. Once you put in your general location, it will pull-up contact information for your senator, and give you a script for calling them.
If you are a minor and/or do not feel comfortable doing this, PLEASE repost this on here, or any other platform you are on/can find! This needs to be heard and fought against.
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the others' body was divided; on one side, the body proper—skin, eyes—tender, warm; and on the other side, the voice—abrupt, reserved, [...], a voice which did not give what the body gave.
interview with an exorcist, written by fr. josé antonio fortea, published by ascension press, (2006) | percy jackson and the last olympian, by rick riordan, (2009) | book cover of the exorcist, dir. william friedkin (1973)
One thing that really stuck with me from the l&co series was the description of the Other Side when Lucy and Lockwood have to escape into it in The Creeping Shadow. The flat brightness, the inherent feeling of something being...off before they slowly realise where they are - I LOVED those. You see, Lucy and Lockwood (and the rest of the team, in TEG) work together to help each other OUT of that place. I guess I came up with this idea because I wanted to write a more introspective piece about two people who (willingly and repeatedly) enter the same realm - a stark contrast.
And ever since I read the sequences set in the Other Side (literally some of my favourite portions) in the books, I've wanted badly to write something about Marissa and Tom in that place as well 😅 I thought the image of the smoking spirit capes was very striking, and decided to include that in a prominent way.
18. Talk about your editing and revision process
Ah yes, my infamous email drafts... I don't tend to write overly long pieces for them, so I write my first draft in the email itself. For example, both Celestial and Meteoric were written in the same email draft, only in different sections I have separated out for each idea (hey, if it works it works).
I usually have a clear vision of where I want to take the story, and which points I want to hit upon, so I just try to fulfill those, and then start tweaking the specific words and phrasing. And, I do a LOT of tweaking and adjusting and going-back-and-forth till it gets to a point where I have to tell myself to stop going crazy and that no I cannot keep trying to make it "better" T-T
For editing, I transfer the piece to a Word doc for clarity and ease of formatting. I take a lot of time to revise because I'm very careful about my word choices and will agonize for days trying to find a way to express the feeling just right. I usually don't make major changes in story structure after the first draft. My editing is mostly about refining the language of what I already have. You'll find me fixing stuff even after I post it before people find and read it!
Sometimes I'll hit a dead end with a specific story beat and then I force myself to not look at the draft for AT LEAST 24 hours so that I can come back to it with fresh eyes. This happened to me with the last few lines of Meteoric, where I was struggling to conclude the piece satisfactorily. I took a break, came back, and was able to get words on the page - and then edit those.
25. Share your favourite line
Tom feels time unspool between his fingers, and he wonders how something so vast could feel so much like a secret he could nestle into the space between their still-warm palms.
It's... admittedly a long and verbose sentence, but I'm rather happy with the Emotion™ it conveys, as well as being able to pack in:
a) perception of time being different in the Other Side
b) the contrast between the truth of this realm being so huge, and yet being kept shielded from the world - just their secret ("his their still-warm palms")
c) MORE cold/warmth, fire/ice, burning/freezing imagery, like the rest of the piece hehehe
This description was originally longer by a couple more sentences, but I cut those out because it was getting too wordy and I was overdoing it. They were unnecessary here, but I did like them, so I'm saving them for later ;)
yess, the other side was described so mystically in the book, and I can see why that would stick. the best works of fiction come from things that stick!
ah yes, the iconic Email Draft™ I did think that (from the title) that meteoric was a full extended version of celestial, so the fact that they were born next to each other makes sense now. also I love your points about the editing process! the back and forth is so so tiring, and the part about getting stuck on a story beat is so relatable XD taking breaks is great!
i loved that line !!! the sentence itself starts out kind of larger than life in its imagery but it descends into small intimacy
logging onto tumblr like heyyy i'm thinking about the same character i've spent the past few weeks thinking about. no change here. just wanted to let yall know
a big collection of questions based on color language! all questions under the cut 💕
❤️ RED ❤️
1. What is the easiest way to make your OC angry?
2. What aspects of a person—appearance, personality or otherwise—are attractive to your OC?
3. Does your OC enjoy sex?
4. How important is the concept of strength to your OC?
5. Is your OC vengeful?
6. Are people afraid of your OC? If so, is that fear warranted?
7. What would others consider the most attractive part of your OC?
🧡 ORANGE 🧡
1. How would your OC describe themselves as a child?
2. Does your OC embrace or suppress their emotions?
3. What first impression do strangers get from your OC?
4. Is your OC a risk-taker? Do they take well-calculated risks or are they impulsive?
5. Is it easy for your OC to step out of their comfort zone?
6. Does your OC hold others to the same standards they hold themselves to?
7. What is your OC’s favorite season?
💛 YELLOW 💛
1. Is your OC an optimist or a pessimist?
2. How energetic is your OC?
3. Does your OC lie easily? What scenario(s) would justify lying in your OC’s opinion?
4. Does your OC have many secrets? Would they ever tell a person these secrets?
5. Does your OC have a strict morning routine? If so, what is it?
6. How cautious is your OC?
7. Is your OC humorous?
💚 GREEN 💚
1. Does your OC get jealousy easily?
2. Does your OC believe in the concept of luck?
3. How much does your OC enjoy nature? Do they enjoy being outdoors?
4. What is your OC like when they’re sick? Do they try to push through it or are they completely bed-ridden?
5. Is world peace something your OC believes is possible?
6. Is your OC generous? If so, is their generosity conditional?
7. How adaptable is your OC? Are they open to change?
🩵 CYAN 🩵
1. Does your OC get stressed easily? Are they cool under pressure or are they easily made anxious?
2. What brings comfort to your OC (person, place, object, etc.)?
3. How easily distracted is your OC?
4. Is your OC more humble or arrogant?
5. Does your OC like to swim?
6. Are your OC’s decisions influenced more by their head or by their heart?
7. How observant is your OC and how much does it affect them? Are they clueless or nearly paranoid?
💙 BLUE 💙
1. Is your OC confident in themselves?
2. Is your OC comfortable letting others see them cry?
3. How independent is your OC?
4. How trusting is your OC and does it have an effect on their relationships?
5. Does your OC have a comforting presence?
6. Can your OC stand up for themselves?
7. Is your OC structured or do they go with the flow?
💜 PURPLE 💜
1. What is one of your OC’s biggest dreams and do they believe that dream will come true?
2. How affluent is your OC? Does their level of wealth matter to them?
3. Does your OC daydream often?
4. Does your OC have any artistic hobbies?
5. Does your OC have a commanding presence?
6. Is your OC book-smart or street-smart?
7. Is your OC stylish? How much do they care about the clothes they wear?
🩷 PINK 🩷
1. Does your OC like traditional romance?
2. How playful is your OC?
3. What is your OC’s favorite love language?
4. How good is your OC with children?
5. Does your OC believe in soulmates? Have they ever thought someone was their soulmate?
6. Does your OC have a favorite flower? If so, what is it?
7. How easy is it for your OC to empathize with other people?
🤎 BROWN 🤎
1. Is your OC reliable?
2. What animal do your associate with your OC?
3. How protective is your OC?
4. Is your OC polite?
5. How much does your OC enjoy traveling?
6. Does your OC abide by the rules?
7. Is your OC a homebody? Are they consistent with doing chores?
🩶 GRAY 🩶
1. How forgetful is your OC?
2. Is your OC open to compromise?
3. Has your OC ever thought about having children? Do they believe they’d be a good parent?
4. Is your OC emotionally open with the people around them?
5. How mature is your OC?
6. What is one of your OC’s happiest memories?
7. How helpful is your OC’s advice? Do others come to your OC for their advice?
🖤 BLACK 🖤
1. How far will your OC go to achieve their goals?
2. Does your OC have a strict bedtime routine? If so, what is it?
3. What is one of your OC’s greatest fears and how much does it affect them?
4. Has your OC ever broken a promise?
5. Is your OC comfortable at fancy gatherings?
6. What does your OC have nightmares about?
7. How well does your OC sleep?
🤍 WHITE 🤍
1. How much does your OC care about cleanliness?
2. Is your OC religious? How do they feel about religion?
3. Will your OC take care of someone while they’re sick? Are they good at it?
4. Is your OC a perfectionist?
5. Has your OC ever upended their life and restarted from square one? If not, have they considered it?
6. Does your OC idolize their past?
7. Does your OC enjoy the simple pleasures? Are they satisfied with the bare minimum?
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The blue cupcake actually makes me so emo. Everything about it. In the lead up to this moment they are quite literally on Olympus getting rewards, they are burning bodies of their dead friends, they are getting a new Oracle, etc etc. They are so busy that Percy legitimately has no idea what she’s talking about when she says “happy birthday.” But she didn’t forget! She didn’t forget and she recruited Tyson to help her bake something BLUE in a callback to childhood innocence. The softness and the kindness and the premeditation of it all. Annabeth Chase they do not understand you!!!!!
disclaimer: i have literally no one else to yap about this to so please bear with me
so i'm just scrolling through pinterest because i wanted to find that one raja ravi verma painting of savitri for a moodboard. i search it up and the first result that pops up.....is a advert post of a savitri & satyavan retelling with a list of tropes similar to the ones in tfsodal.
and i start freaking out.
like highkey freaking out (as one does when they find out that their novel they've been working a year on might already exist)
anyways with shaking fingers and teary eyes, i click on the link where it takes me to an amazon book listing, CONVINCED that 14 months of work has gone down the drain.
.....only to BURST OUT LAUGHINGGG
i read the plot and it's....the complete opposite of tfsodal, to say the least. those tropes weren't even for savitri and satyavan's relationship. in fact, the book isn't savitri x satyavan AT ALL😭😭 get this--the novel is about savitri falling in love with some other random dude while following yamraj and reconsidering saving satyavan 💀 (rip son)
anyways, we all learn something new everyday, and the moral of the storytelling really does come in different forms and there can be so many perspectives to the same story....quite literally. but hey, i'm not complaining !!
(you don't need to answer this, i just didn't want to stuff all of this text into a dm)
oh man i would have been so scared too! thankfully this has never happened to me with any of my serious WIPs (at least, up till now...), but it has happened with ideas i never really developed all that well to make public/share. I can imagine the relief when you found out that it was... very much not the same, to say the least XD
AND OMG POOR SATYAVAN NOOOO 😭 I mean....... I understand what the author might be getting at with this twist on the myth but it's so very different from your retelling that you have nothing to fear. But rest assured, though this may indeed be a practical challenge in the world of publishing, I and your friends who know about and follow your wonderful story would always be here to read it!
And you're always welcome to come yap in this ask box :D
(yes, that is the painting I was looking for, thank you)
this is the book I'm talking about below, in case you're curious XD
it's called 'saving satyavan' by shreya northern. it's self published by the looks of it, plus it's pretty obscure with zero reviews
like you said, I get where the author is trying to go with this angle. it's really a brave creative decision to write a such rebellious plot about hinduism's Perfect Wife™ but still the thought of Satyavan finding out his wife started out so strong and then just.... thinks about giving up halfway cracks ME UPP
Also, thank you for the kind words of assurance! 😅
Cuddling into bed with new oc scenerio to imagine before bed is like when your favorite youtuber posts a new hour long video for you to eat dinner with. Good feeling the both of them
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thank you steven spielberg for creating a male and female protagonist who are the only two people of their kind on earth, who understand each other better than anyone else, "whatever you do, don't let go', who are literally DESTINED to meet each other and are literally spelled out to be goddamn soulmates and narrative foils
and not making their relationship romantic even though it would've been the easy thing to do.
"[Ganymede] looked like a classmate of mine in freshman year who’d gotten mugged on his way to school: eyes like empty windows, a face that had forgotten how to make expressions." - Chalice of the Gods.
"Liam!" I heard a hopeful voice bounce off the walls of the cheap one-bedroom flat. "I finally got enough to pay for that robotics workshop you've wanted to go to!" And with a sigh, her knees buckled.
"Mom!" I cried out, running to help her up. "I told you to not to go for work today."
She cupped my face gently. "I know how much you wanted to go to that workshop. You said it yourself, the head of MIT will be there. The college of your dreams! They deserve to know your genius, and see that robot you've been designing."
"I'm not having that at the cost of you out cold each night." I supported her as she stumbled to the bed, and lay down tiredly. She looked at me with weary eyes.
"When you finally prove to the world what a smart, wonderful boy you are and become successful," she mumbled, dozing off. "Then you can buy me a break."
Her words echoed in my mind as I was slammed to the cement floor of the dark alley. My glasses were broken in the corner. I clung to my school bag tightly.
A voice growled, "Hey, redhead! What do you have there in that bag?" I looked up at their ugly faces, with remorseless eyes and an evil smirk on their faces. "Hey, Joe. Check his bag."
I clutched on to it tightly, as I desperately cried out, "PLEASE! NO!" Suddenly, I felt Joe's sneaker slam into my side, and I gasped in pain. I held on to my bag tighter, refusing to let go, and then one of his other goons kicked me in the head. My head reeled as I screamed and they took away my bag.
"DUDE! There's money in here." Joe cackled to his boss. His boss had an evil grin plastered on his face.
My eyes widened. "N-No, NO!" I yelled, sobbing with desperation. "My mom worked hard for that, please, we're poor and I need the money for school, PLEASE--" I was knocked to the ground by Joe's fist. I screamed for help.
Out of panic that someone would hear me, the group of boys started kicking me with even more force. I started tasting blood in my mouth.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed in the corner. I was already dizzy from the pain but as I looked at the figure closer, I realised I recognised him: the black hair, the scary green eyes.
Moms whispered about the bad influence that he was. Students were scared to go near him, unless they wanted to start a fight. Teachers warned us about him. He was a rumoured terrorist, a gangster, a criminal.
I closed my eyes immediately, waiting for the infamous Percy Jackson to deliver the final blow. Instead...
"HEY!" he barked. "LEAVE. HIM. ALONE" The boss of the boys smirked. "What are you going to do? Joe, take care of him."
Joe launched forward, only to get punched in the face. He fell backward, his nose bleeding. Percy growled. "Anyone else wants to take care of me?"
The boys gasped and their eyes widened. The boss narrowed his eyes and started to run away with the money, dropping my school bag. Joe jumped to his feet and ran away too, with the money in hand. I was too numb, and I just flailed my finger at his direction, pointing desperately.
Percy sprinted behind them, leaving me shell shocked. The money was gone. My mom would have to work again for a whole month to make up for the lost money that we could've used to at least buy us a month of groceries. But then it'd be too late. I would probably never get to go to the robotics workshop.
I stared at the wall for what seemed like forever, and heard Percy walk back to where I was on the ground.
"Liam from school, right? Dude, I am so so sorry," he said, speaking to me for the first time. "I couldn't find them. Are...are you okay.."
The dam broke. I felt my heart beating fast, as tears rolled out of my eyes as I sobbed loudly. A pit formed in my stomach, filled with shame and anger at myself. The evil faces of the boys carved itself into my brain, haunting me. My fists pounded the side of my forehead, frustrated. I couldn't face myself for letting my mother's hard work go to waste like that. I couldn't face her again.
Suddenly, I felt a hand grasp my wrists tightly. A gentle voice calmly whispered, "Breathe, Liam. You're safe now. It's going to be all right. Just focus on my voice, yeah? Breathe." My sobs got slower and slower, and my vision cleared for the next fifteen minutes as Percy kept whispering in the dark. Suddenly the black of the alleyway didn't seem to close in on me, rather it seemed comforting.
"Have some water. Are you able to walk?" He took his water bottle and raised it gently to my lips.
I coughed as water washed down my dry throat. "I have to be," my scratchy voice groaned. "I can't miss school today. Math test." I got to my feet, only for my knees to buckle. Like mother, like son.
I was a complete stranger to Percy, yet he frowned at me, annoyed, as if he knew my shenanigans all too well. "Yeah, no you're not." he declared. "I'm not letting you go to school."
"No, please." I begged. Percy rolled his eyes. "I know all about nerds like you. I know you're not able to see either. Your glasses are broken in that corner there. I'm not blind, you are." He took the glasses and carefully slipped them back on my face.
I felt empty on the inside. I locked my eyes with him, my face blank, unable to form any expressions. I couldn't feel anything.
Percy's eyes immediately softened and for a moment. His guard was down. "I-I'll walk you to the clinic. It's just a few minutes away. Come on, I'm sorry." He held out his hand.
Moms whispered about the bad influence that he was. Students were scared to go near him, unless they wanted to start a fight. Teachers warned us about him. And yet here he was, gently supporting me as I shuffled weakly down the street.
In a daze, I told him everything--how my mom was the most hardworking person I knew, how close she had gotten to death by exhaustion many times from her night shifts at the hospital, about my robot, how excited I was to go to the workshop, how happy she was last night when she could finally let me go.
And he listened. He watched intensely, quiet and understanding, as I stammered slow and steady, and tried to not to cry again.
"...And I've heard the head of MIT is going to be there, and I wanted to show him the plans of the--"
"The robot." Percy gave a small smile. "That sounds really amazing. You're like a genius." It felt genuine. As I blushed, I realised that I never had someone who cared about me, even if caring meant just finding me the slightest bit interesting.
When we reached the staircase of the small clinic, I gently removed myself from his support.
"Thanks, man." I said, weak. "I think I can handle myself from here on out. Is there still time for you to get to school or...?"
"If I was Usain Bolt, then there'd be time." he snorted. "It's fine though. I wasn't feeling like coming to school today. But I'm glad I tried. I stopped anything really bad happening to you."
He awkwardly smiled at me. I was still feeling extremely numb, but I felt my lips twitching upwards. "Take care, Liam." After giving me some money from his pocket to pay for the treatment, he walked away casually. I stared after him until his figure disappeared down the turn of the street.
I got patched up and headed to my tiny flat. I remembered my Mom telling me that she had to work a night shift today, and that she would only come back the next evening. Just as well, there was still a void in my stomach dreading telling her about the money. Oh, gosh, the money.
Trying to take my mind off of things, I fixed up a cup of instant ramen, and opened up my half-broken computer and searched up, Percy Jackson.
I expected to find an Instagram page, instead my screen was filled with articles.
Missing at twelve years old, seen at a gun fight with a grown man, blew up the St. Louis arch, accused of murdering his mother. Expelled from more than eight schools in eight years. The cup of ramen fell out of my hand.
Look, I knew Percy was a troublemaker to an extent. I knew he made a mess and ran away from school on the first day. I knew that bullies would get into fights with him and get beaten up. But then again, I couldn't forget his smile and his gentle voice, telling me it would be all right.
Something inside me wanted to know who the real Percy Jackson was. Yet I felt unsettled. Me and my Mom were already a poverty-stricken family of two. I didn't know who he was, apart from that one interaction.
Could I afford to take a risk to get closer to a person like him? What if I got into trouble too? What if I got expelled from school too? What if he was just leading me on today?
As I buried myself under the covers that night, my mind started eating away at me. I closed my eyes, and dreamed of those evil guys, the taste of blood in my mouth, and kind green eyes.
The next day, I managed to attend school. After lunch was my science class, which I knew was the time where my teacher would collect the money to attend the workshop. I tried to not think about his reaction to his favourite student not being able to come.
At lunch, I sat at a lonely table in the corner, blinking back tears. My mind was plagued with my Mom and my teacher's face, disappointed and shocked. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me. "Liam? You okay?"
I turned back, and gasped. It was Percy, but his cheek and nose had bandages on them, as if he had gotten hurt. "Yeah, why?" I stammered.
He sheepishly dug into his pocket and brought out a familiar stack of cash. He started rambling, "I-was-still-thinking-about-what-happened-so-after-dropping-you-at-the-clinic-I might have--"
"Sorry, what?"
"I tracked down those boys and threatened them to give back your money," he blurted out. "I...know how it feels like to have a single and struggling Mom. I just wanted to help in some way."
I felt stunned. No one had ever done such a thing for me. "How...did you...?"
"Umm..." he stuttered. "My dog, uh, she's a good tracker." He sat next to me. He took my hand in his and placed the stack of cash in my palm. "Anyways. You deserve to get the attention of the MIT head and impress him. He'd be missing out if you didn't. The world would be missing out on an inventor like you." My heart skipped a beat.
I sat there in silence. The unsettling feeling started growing again in my gut. "I know this sounds weird but," I whispered, "There are articles about you online, saying that you're a criminal. But you're here helping me. Why?"
Percy fell silent for a minute. He shuffled in his seat next to me. "I...can't tell you anything about the articles or the rumours or the accusations or whatever." His eyes were averted, and his voice was stiff.
"Is there....anything I can do to help?" I asked, softly. "You're just in freshman year. You don't deserve to be involved in dangerous things like this. You don't seem like that type of a person." Percy suddenly looked up and locked eyes with me, and his eyes were filled with a deep misery.
"Not if you want to get in trouble too," he warned. His eyes morphed from misery to something deeper; the air turned cold and there was something about his gaze that seemed almost powerful, primordial even. I felt freaked out and asked, "Who are you, Percy Jackson?"
He got up to leave. "What do you think?"
Before I could react, the bell rang and it was time to go to class. I turned back to Percy, and said, "I don't know who you are. But no one's ever done anything like this for me. I don't know how to thank you. I don't know about what's going on, but you deserve to have a normal life."
His eyes turned sad. He didn't reply.
After that day, things didn't get better for Percy. He started skipping school more often, his grades were slipping. His eyes were always red as if they'd either been crying or not sleeping. His only friend, a girl named Rachel, was bullied on the daily. At lunchtime, I heard him quietly chatting with her, and I regularly overheard words like 'war' and 'death'. He was regularly yelled at, and was constantly on the edge of being expelled.
I kept away from him, but a part of my heart still ached everytime I remembered how he saved my life and how I could never return the favour. "Not if you want to get into trouble too" he had said.
The next year, he went missing. His picture was all over the news. Theories exploded in our school, ranging from him being kidnapped by a mafia boss to being a mafia boss himself, and running away from the police. Teachers used him as an example for what would happen if we didn't listen to our parents. Parents who waited to pick their kids up would sneer about his mother and stepfather.
The commotion died after a while, and if Percy ever was found again, there was no official news about it except a few gossiping mouths in the streets of New York.
Me? The head of MIT was so impressed by my robotics skills the day of the workshop that he made sure I got a scholarship. I graduated school with the highest honours. I got admission into this incredible institution, and learned so much. And here I am today, in front of all of you, batch of 20XX, with this degree I have worked hard for by your side for the past few academic years.
So who was Percy Jackson? Was he a terrorist? A juvenile misfit beyond all hope? Was he a mafia boss, a gangster, a criminal? Or was he the gentle-hearted fourteen year old boy who saw me, bruised and bloody on the cement ground all those years ago, and decided to help a poor boy achieve his dreams?
I could never tell you. That's how humans are. We aren't open two dimensional displays of artworks. Within our colours hide layers of character and woven stories of the past. Neither the moms who whispered about him, the teachers who used him as an example, the bullies who were beaten up by him could never see Percy for who he was. But I got a glimpse that day all those years ago.
So as I stand here today at this prestigious graduation ceremony, with the highest honours of my class, I'd like to thank my Mom for supporting me throughout this journey. I love you so much. I'd like to thank all my professors and fellow students.
And, I'd like to thank Percy Jackson. And I'd like to use his example to beg all of you to be kind and do kind. His simple act of kindness helped me achieve my dreams, and I will forever carry that on and help other underprivileged kids like me.
Percy, I hope you're somewhere out there, happy. And single. Because I am. Just for the record.
*********************************************
this is probably my longest fic i've written, and if you've finished reading, thank you so much. thank you for the few people who were excited for this fic, and kept me from deleting it (I swear, I had to rewrite this so many times ugh) as always, constructive criticism is appreciated <3
"[Ganymede] looked like a classmate of mine in freshman year who’d gotten mugged on his way to school: eyes like empty windows, a face that had forgotten how to make expressions." - Chalice of the Gods.
"Liam!" I heard a hopeful voice bounce off the walls of the cheap one-bedroom flat. "I finally got enough to pay for that robotics workshop you've wanted to go to!" And with a sigh, her knees buckled.
"Mom!" I cried out, running to help her up. "I told you to not to go for work today."
She cupped my face gently. "I know how much you wanted to go to that workshop. You said it yourself, the head of MIT will be there. The college of your dreams! They deserve to know your genius, and see that robot you've been designing."
"I'm not having that at the cost of you out cold each night." I supported her as she stumbled to the bed, and lay down tiredly. She looked at me with weary eyes.
"When you finally prove to the world what a smart, wonderful boy you are and become successful," she mumbled, dozing off. "Then you can buy me a break."
Her words echoed in my mind as I was slammed to the cement floor of the dark alley. My glasses were broken in the corner. I clung to my school bag tightly.
A voice growled, "Hey, redhead! What do you have there in that bag?" I looked up at their ugly faces, with remorseless eyes and an evil smirk on their faces. "Hey, Joe. Check his bag."
I clutched on to it tightly, as I desperately cried out, "PLEASE! NO!" Suddenly, I felt Joe's sneaker slam into my side, and I gasped in pain. I held on to my bag tighter, refusing to let go, and then one of his other goons kicked me in the head. My head reeled as I screamed and they took away my bag.
"DUDE! There's money in here." Joe cackled to his boss. His boss had an evil grin plastered on his face.
My eyes widened. "N-No, NO!" I yelled, sobbing with desperation. "My mom worked hard for that, please, we're poor and I need the money for school, PLEASE--" I was knocked to the ground by Joe's fist. I screamed for help.
Out of panic that someone would hear me, the group of boys started kicking me with even more force. I started tasting blood in my mouth.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed in the corner. I was already dizzy from the pain but as I looked at the figure closer, I realised I recognised him: the black hair, the scary green eyes.
Moms whispered about the bad influence that he was. Students were scared to go near him, unless they wanted to start a fight. Teachers warned us about him. He was a rumoured terrorist, a gangster, a criminal.
I closed my eyes immediately, waiting for the infamous Percy Jackson to deliver the final blow. Instead...
"HEY!" he barked. "LEAVE. HIM. ALONE" The boss of the boys smirked. "What are you going to do? Joe, take care of him."
Joe launched forward, only to get punched in the face. He fell backward, his nose bleeding. Percy growled. "Anyone else wants to take care of me?"
The boys gasped and their eyes widened. The boss narrowed his eyes and started to run away with the money, dropping my school bag. Joe jumped to his feet and ran away too, with the money in hand. I was too numb, and I just flailed my finger at his direction, pointing desperately.
Percy sprinted behind them, leaving me shell shocked. The money was gone. My mom would have to work again for a whole month to make up for the lost money that we could've used to at least buy us a month of groceries. But then it'd be too late. I would probably never get to go to the robotics workshop.
I stared at the wall for what seemed like forever, and heard Percy walk back to where I was on the ground.
"Liam from school, right? Dude, I am so so sorry," he said, speaking to me for the first time. "I couldn't find them. Are...are you okay.."
The dam broke. I felt my heart beating fast, as tears rolled out of my eyes as I sobbed loudly. A pit formed in my stomach, filled with shame and anger at myself. The evil faces of the boys carved itself into my brain, haunting me. My fists pounded the side of my forehead, frustrated. I couldn't face myself for letting my mother's hard work go to waste like that. I couldn't face her again.
Suddenly, I felt a hand grasp my wrists tightly. A gentle voice calmly whispered, "Breathe, Liam. You're safe now. It's going to be all right. Just focus on my voice, yeah? Breathe." My sobs got slower and slower, and my vision cleared for the next fifteen minutes as Percy kept whispering in the dark. Suddenly the black of the alleyway didn't seem to close in on me, rather it seemed comforting.
"Have some water. Are you able to walk?" He took his water bottle and raised it gently to my lips.
I coughed as water washed down my dry throat. "I have to be," my scratchy voice groaned. "I can't miss school today. Math test." I got to my feet, only for my knees to buckle. Like mother, like son.
I was a complete stranger to Percy, yet he frowned at me, annoyed, as if he knew my shenanigans all too well. "Yeah, no you're not." he declared. "I'm not letting you go to school."
"No, please." I begged. Percy rolled his eyes. "I know all about nerds like you. I know you're not able to see either. Your glasses are broken in that corner there. I'm not blind, you are." He took the glasses and carefully slipped them back on my face.
I felt empty on the inside. I locked my eyes with him, my face blank, unable to form any expressions. I couldn't feel anything.
Percy's eyes immediately softened and for a moment. His guard was down. "I-I'll walk you to the clinic. It's just a few minutes away. Come on, I'm sorry." He held out his hand.
Moms whispered about the bad influence that he was. Students were scared to go near him, unless they wanted to start a fight. Teachers warned us about him. And yet here he was, gently supporting me as I shuffled weakly down the street.
In a daze, I told him everything--how my mom was the most hardworking person I knew, how close she had gotten to death by exhaustion many times from her night shifts at the hospital, about my robot, how excited I was to go to the workshop, how happy she was last night when she could finally let me go.
And he listened. He watched intensely, quiet and understanding, as I stammered slow and steady, and tried to not to cry again.
"...And I've heard the head of MIT is going to be there, and I wanted to show him the plans of the--"
"The robot." Percy gave a small smile. "That sounds really amazing. You're like a genius." It felt genuine. As I blushed, I realised that I never had someone who cared about me, even if caring meant just finding me the slightest bit interesting.
When we reached the staircase of the small clinic, I gently removed myself from his support.
"Thanks, man." I said, weak. "I think I can handle myself from here on out. Is there still time for you to get to school or...?"
"If I was Usain Bolt, then there'd be time." he snorted. "It's fine though. I wasn't feeling like coming to school today. But I'm glad I tried. I stopped anything really bad happening to you."
He awkwardly smiled at me. I was still feeling extremely numb, but I felt my lips twitching upwards. "Take care, Liam." After giving me some money from his pocket to pay for the treatment, he walked away casually. I stared after him until his figure disappeared down the turn of the street.
I got patched up and headed to my tiny flat. I remembered my Mom telling me that she had to work a night shift today, and that she would only come back the next evening. Just as well, there was still a void in my stomach dreading telling her about the money. Oh, gosh, the money.
Trying to take my mind off of things, I fixed up a cup of instant ramen, and opened up my half-broken computer and searched up, Percy Jackson.
I expected to find an Instagram page, instead my screen was filled with articles.
Missing at twelve years old, seen at a gun fight with a grown man, blew up the St. Louis arch, accused of murdering his mother. Expelled from more than eight schools in eight years. The cup of ramen fell out of my hand.
Look, I knew Percy was a troublemaker to an extent. I knew he made a mess and ran away from school on the first day. I knew that bullies would get into fights with him and get beaten up. But then again, I couldn't forget his smile and his gentle voice, telling me it would be all right.
Something inside me wanted to know who the real Percy Jackson was. Yet I felt unsettled. Me and my Mom were already a poverty-stricken family of two. I didn't know who he was, apart from that one interaction.
Could I afford to take a risk to get closer to a person like him? What if I got into trouble too? What if I got expelled from school too? What if he was just leading me on today?
As I buried myself under the covers that night, my mind started eating away at me. I closed my eyes, and dreamed of those evil guys, the taste of blood in my mouth, and kind green eyes.
The next day, I managed to attend school. After lunch was my science class, which I knew was the time where my teacher would collect the money to attend the workshop. I tried to not think about his reaction to his favourite student not being able to come.
At lunch, I sat at a lonely table in the corner, blinking back tears. My mind was plagued with my Mom and my teacher's face, disappointed and shocked. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me. "Liam? You okay?"
I turned back, and gasped. It was Percy, but his cheek and nose had bandages on them, as if he had gotten hurt. "Yeah, why?" I stammered.
He sheepishly dug into his pocket and brought out a familiar stack of cash. He started rambling, "I-was-still-thinking-about-what-happened-so-after-dropping-you-at-the-clinic-I might have--"
"Sorry, what?"
"I tracked down those boys and threatened them to give back your money," he blurted out. "I...know how it feels like to have a single and struggling Mom. I just wanted to help in some way."
I felt stunned. No one had ever done such a thing for me. "How...did you...?"
"Umm..." he stuttered. "My dog, uh, she's a good tracker." He sat next to me. He took my hand in his and placed the stack of cash in my palm. "Anyways. You deserve to get the attention of the MIT head and impress him. He'd be missing out if you didn't. The world would be missing out on an inventor like you." My heart skipped a beat.
I sat there in silence. The unsettling feeling started growing again in my gut. "I know this sounds weird but," I whispered, "There are articles about you online, saying that you're a criminal. But you're here helping me. Why?"
Percy fell silent for a minute. He shuffled in his seat next to me. "I...can't tell you anything about the articles or the rumours or the accusations or whatever." His eyes were averted, and his voice was stiff.
"Is there....anything I can do to help?" I asked, softly. "You're just in freshman year. You don't deserve to be involved in dangerous things like this. You don't seem like that type of a person." Percy suddenly looked up and locked eyes with me, and his eyes were filled with a deep misery.
"Not if you want to get in trouble too," he warned. His eyes morphed from misery to something deeper; the air turned cold and there was something about his gaze that seemed almost powerful, primordial even. I felt freaked out and asked, "Who are you, Percy Jackson?"
He got up to leave. "What do you think?"
Before I could react, the bell rang and it was time to go to class. I turned back to Percy, and said, "I don't know who you are. But no one's ever done anything like this for me. I don't know how to thank you. I don't know about what's going on, but you deserve to have a normal life."
His eyes turned sad. He didn't reply.
After that day, things didn't get better for Percy. He started skipping school more often, his grades were slipping. His eyes were always red as if they'd either been crying or not sleeping. His only friend, a girl named Rachel, was bullied on the daily. At lunchtime, I heard him quietly chatting with her, and I regularly overheard words like 'war' and 'death'. He was regularly yelled at, and was constantly on the edge of being expelled.
I kept away from him, but a part of my heart still ached everytime I remembered how he saved my life and how I could never return the favour. "Not if you want to get into trouble too" he had said.
The next year, he went missing. His picture was all over the news. Theories exploded in our school, ranging from him being kidnapped by a mafia boss to being a mafia boss himself, and running away from the police. Teachers used him as an example for what would happen if we didn't listen to our parents. Parents who waited to pick their kids up would sneer about his mother and stepfather.
The commotion died after a while, and if Percy ever was found again, there was no official news about it except a few gossiping mouths in the streets of New York.
Me? The head of MIT was so impressed by my robotics skills the day of the workshop that he made sure I got a scholarship. I graduated school with the highest honours. I got admission into this incredible institution, and learned so much. And here I am today, in front of all of you, batch of 20XX, with this degree I have worked hard for by your side for the past few academic years.
So who was Percy Jackson? Was he a terrorist? A juvenile misfit beyond all hope? Was he a mafia boss, a gangster, a criminal? Or was he the gentle-hearted fourteen year old boy who saw me, bruised and bloody on the cement ground all those years ago, and decided to help a poor boy achieve his dreams?
I could never tell you. That's how humans are. We aren't open two dimensional displays of artworks. Within our colours hide layers of character and woven stories of the past. Neither the moms who whispered about him, the teachers who used him as an example, the bullies who were beaten up by him could never see Percy for who he was. But I got a glimpse that day all those years ago.
So as I stand here today at this prestigious graduation ceremony, with the highest honours of my class, I'd like to thank my Mom for supporting me throughout this journey. I love you so much. I'd like to thank all my professors and fellow students.
And, I'd like to thank Percy Jackson. And I'd like to use his example to beg all of you to be kind and do kind. His simple act of kindness helped me achieve my dreams, and I will forever carry that on and help other underprivileged kids like me.
Percy, I hope you're somewhere out there, happy. And single. Because I am. Just for the record.
*********************************************
this is probably my longest fic i've written, and if you've finished reading, thank you so much. thank you for the few people who were excited for this fic, and kept me from deleting it (I swear, I had to rewrite this so many times ugh) as always, constructive criticism is appreciated <3
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I've given myself heat exhaustion AGAIN (heck, I hope it's only heat exhaustion, rip) and I am not here for it ffs so to make sure y'all know about it, imma share the signs of heat exhaustion!
Heat exhaustion is quite literally your body getting too hot and Exhausting itself to cope. Heatstroke is your body Failing To Cope.
Heat Exhaustion signs include:
You get a headache that Will Not Go Away
You feel confused and dizzy (balance who? Idk her)
You don't feel hungry but you feel sick as well (this sucks and happens a lot in high heat so try and snack regularly)
Sweating and clammy skin like the kind that has people go "you're freezing!" because you've sweated so much you literally end up with a chill on your skin
Cramps. Feckin cramps. Arms. Legs. Stomach. They suck ass.
You have a heckin fast pulse or you're hyperventilating like you've just had a Scare
Your body temp is over 38°c (because you're literally boiling like a lobster in a pot)
You are Beyond Thirsty and no matter what you drink it Does Not Abate
If you end up experiencing any of these symptoms, or multiple, and you're in a hot/warm environment, then sit your ass down in the shade, get something to drink, and get a damp cloth on your head or a change of clothes that are cool.
Basically, stop what you're doing and give your body a chance to Not Keep Boiling
Heat exhaustion is NOT THE SAME as a heatstroke.
Heatstroke is So Much Worse™.
Heatstroke signs include:
Still feeling like utter shite 30 minutes after you sat your ass down, rested in a cool place, and rehydrated
Not actually sweating even though you really do feel like a lobster in a pot that has the heat up High
Your body temp is 40°c+ (which is bad btw, that's temp for causing your to pass out etc)
Hyperventilating/fast breathing or actual shortness of breath (I struggle with this because asthma so I'm always like "idk if I got this oops)
Feeling confused but in a like "I don't know what's going on, I can't think, I have no idea about anything, someone help me please I'm crossing into traffic and don't even realise" way
Having a fit/seizure because your body temp is so high your brain is Actually Getting Boiled In Your Skull 🙃 [upside down smiley emoji]
Passing out and not actually responding or waking up from a brief fainting spell (this is the Serious™ kind of passing out that has doctors going "oh shit, we need an IV STAT!" or whatever it is they say when Shit Is Going Down)
Heatstroke can be really dangerous if it isn't treated quickly so please don't ignore these signs. Right now, I'm in a cool environs, with hydration, and am avoiding moving and am gonna have a nap because I'm going very dizzy, can't focus properly, have a headache, and am only coherent here because I'm HyperFocusing on this post. I can't even understand words being said to me right now hence nap, hydration, and cool environs.
So please, y'all, take care of yourselves. Seriously.
