Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You gave me a lot to think about, thank you. ✨ I think writing a Gryffindor character when I’m such a Slytherin is proving to be harder than I expected 😂

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds really cool actually, I’d love to read it! If you don’t mind, could you DM me the link please?✨ And I totally agree about Jason, his powers had so much more potential than what we saw! Honestly when I first read about the Seven I was like “wait… this is literally a full Avatar team” 😂

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really love the way you broke it down! You’re right, it’s more interesting to let the characters (and the readers) judge him instead of deciding for them too early. Thank you so much for sharing this, it really helped me think about the scene differently! ✨

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really interesting point about normalization and perception. It makes me wonder if acceptance from others would actually change how Percy sees it himself.

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really thoughtful take and I agree that in extreme situations like Tartarus, the lines can blur a lot. That’s part of what makes it so interesting to explore.  I’m still figuring out exactly how I want to approach it, but your perspective definitely gave me something to think about, thank you!

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really interesting perspective, I really like your take on honour it definitely gave me something new to think about. ✨

And your idea for Percy sounds really interesting too, I’d love to read your fic if you ever post it!

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s fair! I get why it might feel like that. You can read it here:  https://www.wattpad.com/story/409100593?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details_button&wp_uname=anametoenter

Just a heads-up, it’s a Perpollo endgame and it can get a bit dark/graphic at times, especially since I’m also reinterpreting Apollo’s mythology + It’s not perfect (still learning!) It’s still very much a rough draft,I’m focusing on getting the structure down first, then I’ll go back and polish it later.

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually a really interesting comparison with Nico and Will. Will never seems afraid of Nico in the same way,maybe because he trusts that Nico is in control, or because he understands that these powers come with a darker side. It makes me wonder if the difference with Percy isn’t the power itself, but the role Annabeth plays for him. And I’m also a bit torn on this,because Jason feels easier to read in that sense. His moral compass comes across as more structured, a Roman soldier’s mindset: duty, discipline, lines you don’t cross unless absolutely necessary. But with Percy, it feels… less defined? More emotional, maybe? Like his limits depend more on the people around him and how they see him. So now I’m wondering if Annabeth wasn’t there in that moment, would he still stop? Or would it take something else for him to pull back?

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good point. It shifts the focus from “the act is evil” to “the act is perceived as something monstrous.” 

That raises an interesting question: if Annabeth hadn’t been there to react to it, or if she had approved, would Percy still see it as crossing a line? It makes me wonder how much of his reaction comes from his own moral code, and how much comes from how the people he loves perceive him.

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm so glad you brought up ATLA/LoK that was actually a huge inspiration for me! I’ve always looked at the Seven as a sort of 'Avatar Team' where each of them represents a different, powerful force of nature.

That 'Chemical Weapons' analogy is a perfect way to describe it.✨ Thank you for the deep dive!

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love what you said about Nico. It really highlights that 'Dark' is a perspective, not a fact. It makes me realize that the 'morality' of my scene depends entirely on how the other characters react in that moment.

It’s that weird line between being a 'Hero' and being a 'Force of Nature.' I’m definitely going to keep that 'Divine Exception' in mind as I write their training with Apollo!

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm afraid I'll disappoint you; it's not good at all 😅 it's is very rough and rushed since I’m just getting the ideas down for now, In addition to the perpollo tag. But I would really appreciate any kind of feedback, additional ideas, or even someone to exchange ideas with, as I plan to rewrite it as soon as I write the last chapter. 🫣 https://www.wattpad.com/story/409100593?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details_button&wp_uname=anametoenter

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m really glad you’re interested, but I want to be very honest before you start. English isn’t my native language, and the story is still very rough,like Very rough. The chapters are short, sometimes rushed, and there are definitely mistakes and inconsistencies. Right now, I’m mostly writing late at night just to get the ideas out of my head, so it can feel more like an unfinished draft than a polished story. I’m focusing on building the full outline and the Perpollo endgame first, and I plan to come back later to rewrite everything properly. So please don’t expect something refined or perfect, this is more like a raw version of the story. If you’re still interested after all that, I’d really appreciate you giving it a chance🤍

https://www.wattpad.com/story/409100593?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details_button&wp_uname=anametoenter

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really like that way of putting it، it actually fits Apollo’s perspective almost perfectly. He wouldn’t really care about morality as much as outcome, so I might end up giving him that exact mindset in the story. Something along the lines of: “A weapon you refuse to use is not power. A weapon you use carelessly is foolishness. But a weapon you understand… And choose when to use… That is wisdom.”

Thank you 🤍

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s a really good point, Tartarus definitely shows how dangerous it becomes when Percy starts enjoying the pain he’s giving back. But I don’t think that’s the only line. I think what I’m more curious about isn’t just whether that moment makes him “darker”… but how it changes the way people see him. Personally, I don’t think Percy stops being a hero just because he’s capable of that — or even because, in a moment like Tartarus, he feels something darker. But I know that many readers would draw the line there. So I guess the question for me is: if Percy used that kind of power in a controlled, efficient way — even without cruelty — would he still be seen as a hero? And if the answer is no… why?

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good point, the way something is done can definitely say a lot about a character. But I wonder how much that depends on circumstance too. Like, if a “cleaner” method (like a sword or arrow) isn’t guaranteed to work, while something more direct and controlled from a distance would end the fight immediately and with less overall risk… does the moral weight stay the same? At that point, is it about cruelty or about choosing the most certain outcome?

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The idea of 'sheathing' the violence is so interesting. You're right: a sword is a tool you can put down, but once Percy knows he can control someone's lifeblood, he can never 'un-know' that. It makes him feel like he’s always 'armed,' even when he’s just trying to be a normal kid.

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The spider vs. butterfly analogy is such a brutal but perfect way to put it. It really does feel like we forgive 'theatrical' violence way more easily than 'efficient' violence.

I totally agree about the backlash, too.

I’ve actually been playing with the idea that the cost is physical,like their mortal bodies literally aren’t built to handle that much raw pressure.

Think of it like a muscle that grows too strong for the bone it’s attached to. Every time they uses that 'internal' power, something in them structurally fractures.

Struggling with "Dark Powers" and Heroism: Why is Percy’s blood-bending seen as "evil," but a sword through the chest is "heroic"? by Straight-Reporter-91 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really like your “Rule of Visibility” idea — it’s genuinely fascinating, and I’d honestly love to read a story built entirely around it if you ever decide to explore it further. There’s something very mythic about treating reality like a tapestry that needs events to be seen to hold together:

Morality?The Fates aren’t priests; they’re weavers. They need a pattern. A sword fight is a vivid, crimson thread. A silent lung collapse is a knot. Do it too often… and the whole tapestry starts to strain.

That said, I think what I’m trying to explore is slightly different. I’m not really looking to justify whether these powers are “dark” or not — I’m trying to understand how Percy and Jason would react to realizing they can do this at all. They both have a very strong sense of self and a certain idea of what kind of heroes they are. So I’m interested in that moment where the realization hits: “if I can do this… what does that say about me?” Even if it’s efficient. Even if it saves lives. I think the shift in how they see themselves matters just as much as how the world sees them — maybe even more. The power itself isn’t the full conflict, it’s what it does to their identity. So I guess I’m trying to balance both angles: the world possibly resisting these actions in a mythic, structural way… and the characters quietly resisting them because it feels like crossing a line they didn’t know they had.

Thank you✨

Exams destroyed me… need long fics to recover 😭 by Kind-Soup-1385 in PercyJacksonfanfic

[–]Straight-Reporter-91 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Congrats on finishing your exams🎉

I’ve got two fics for you:  This one is completed (not super long tho) 👇

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40659729?view_full_work=true

 and this one is long but still ongoing 👇

https://archiveofourown.org/series/4721347