#pjo apollo

Like, in Greek mythology, Aphrodite and Apollo are essentially the divine standards for feminine and youthful masculine beauty. And while Percy definitely notices that they're physically attractive (quite often, might i add, my bi king), the details he remembers most aren't really about perfect faces, but about aspects that have more to do with their personality.

With Aphrodite, he obviously describes her as stunningly beautiful, but then immediately afterwards he also says this:

She really was beautiful. And not just because she had a pretty face or anything. She believed in love so much, it was impossible not to feel giddy when she talked about it. (Titan’s Curse, Chapter 13)

Like, I love the fact that one of the things Percy considers most beautiful about the literal goddess of beauty isn't her appearance, but her genuine love for love itself.

And with Apollo, while Percy also repeatedly describes him as very handsome, the detail he keeps coming back to is specifically the way he smiles:

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, I had the uneasy feeling it was Luke, my old enemy. This guy had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. But it wasn't Luke. This guy was taller, with no scar on his face like Luke's. His smile was brighter and more playful. (Titan’s Curse, Chapter 4)

Despite the battle scars, the Titan’s face was handsome and strangely familiar. Percy was pretty sure he’d never seen this guy before, but his eyes and his smile reminded Percy of someone (…) He remembered the name Leto: the mother of Apollo and Artemis. This guy koios looked vaguely familiar because he had Artemis’ cold eyes and Apollo’s smile. (House of Hades, Chapter 61, Percy)

I just think that's really endearing.

When Percy describes the two gods who literally embody ideal beauty, the qualities that leave the biggest impression on him aren't things like symmetrical features or perfect physique, but the things that reveal personality...

we know this because in BoO Will says this:

‘We don’t know what’s going on at Delphi,’ Will continued. ‘My dad hasn’t answered any prayers, or appeared in any dreams … I mean, all the gods have been silent, but this isn’t like Apollo. Something’s wrong.’

(page 133-134. xiii, Nico)

'but this isn't like Apollo'

WHICH MEANS HE TYPICALLY ANSWERS PRAYERS AND APPEARS IN DREAMS.

and in TLO we get told Michael's sonic arrows are a gift from Apollo:

"A gift from your dad?" I asked. "God of music?" Michael grinned wickedly. "Loud music can be bad for you. Unfortunately, it doesn't always kill."

(page 172, chapter 11, WE BREAK A BRIDGE)

and in ToA none of his children seem to hold any ill will towards him and he's very loving towards them from first sight.

Which looks like THIS:

Ok.

Do u remember that myth where it said Apollo turned the crows from white to black? Looking at this crow doesn't it suddenly make sense why the greeks said the original color was white and it was scorched black? Look at the face. Doesnt it look like...

Yeah yeah??

He’s a god. He’s an Olympian. But he’ll never be a true god in their eyes. There are just too many things so distinctly mortal about him.

I also think their fascination would be more prominent, and at a peak, when he first became a god. Because they’ve never seen ANYONE like him before. They also just don’t understand how to be normal (around each other atleast, they know how to act by human social standards) so they just like stare at him. Like he’s a bug.

Young god!Dionysus: oh god. they don’t like me do they . oh no I know Zeus said I’m immortal but what if they try to kill me SHIT SHIT SHIT

The others: he has blood in his veins.

Like he has a much more physical form than the others. Obviously he can still like change it, he’s not bound by it, but he feels more comfortable in a human body. Not to mention there’s just something so much more real about him, something the gods could never understand.

Imagining Apollo, the god of medicines, healing, and plagues and stuff just being incredibly fascinated and curious about humans. Not just because of those domains—but also so connected he is to people via music. Like he’s just overall so drawn to humanity. And now finds this new little brother SO INTERESTING

He’ll randomly just like stare at him without meaning to and say some creepy shit like “I can hear your heart thumping in your chest.” And Dionysus is just like. WTF??

“What a blessing it is. To have a heart beating under your skin. Warm and pulsating.”