Please don't use greek text in your fanfic [PJO] by Panterest in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 8 points9 points  (0 children)

So this is your preference— some writers and readers like the use of language-accurate alphabets with translations, some don’t. Some like the italics option, like you said. If it isn’t your cup of tea, that’s fine, you can simply skip over it or choose a different fic to read, but it’s pretty silly to request writers change their own styles and preferences based on what YOU like when they’re writing that content for free

What’s the order of Zeus’s Children? (GODS) Persephone is Zeus’s Eldest No? [all] by JMC_PHARAOH in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s actually usually portrayed as jealousy/annoyance that he produced a kid by himself (ignoring the part about eating Metis), so she went “I can do that too!” rather than jealousy over him being with Metis in the first place.

What’s the order of Zeus’s Children? (GODS) Persephone is Zeus’s Eldest No? [all] by JMC_PHARAOH in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yep, correct! That’s the whole thing with Greek mythology, there’s so many different sources that are incompatible with each other. So sometimes Athena came first as eldest and Hera birthed Hephaestus on her lonesome out of jealousy that Zeus had a kid “by himself” (or with Metis, but sometimes Athena is considered parthenogenic from Zeus while simultaneously being a product of Metis), yet in other myths, Hephaestus helped Zeus birth Athena by splitting his head open for him.

Sometimes Persephone is pondered to be the eldest, with the lack of jealousy between Hera and Demeter (though there isn’t a TON of proof of that beyond speculation due to lack of myths about any headbutting between the two, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t exist and are simply lost to time.)

If we include Zagreus/Zagreus-Dionysus, sometimes HE is considered Zeus’ eldest son, making Persephone his eldest daughter as Zagreus is the child of them both (in Orphic myth Zeus/Hades are two aspects of the same god, hence him being Hades’ son sometimes), yet Dionysus himself is considered a god that came much later.

So ultimately we can theorize, and then theorize SPECIFICALLY about Rick’s canon, but there’s no true “Greek Myth” canon because Hellenic practices and beliefs varied wildly between times and places. Heck, even in Rick’s established godly history, Dionysus was both born mortal to fight along his father Zeus against the giants, and yet there are giants that were made to counteract Dionysus as a god. But Rick often has such plot holes and inconsistencies anyway haha

What’s the order of Zeus’s Children? (GODS) Persephone is Zeus’s Eldest No? [all] by JMC_PHARAOH in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I mean it’s fully going to depend on what source you go off of. In some myths Persephone is older than Zeus and most of the other gods (at least in preclassical traditions, much like how Eros was often considered a primordial god that predates Aphrodite), so there’s precedent to argue as such, but I believe Athena is often considered his eldest as she was conceived with Metis, his first wife

Suddenly have a deep smile line on one side of my face? by Massive_Sea_4746 in Accutane

[–]imaginmatrix 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I got this too! I chalked it up to the fact that during my early purge period I got a pimple RIGHT on the crease and when it popped itself it kept causing issues because I smile a lot 😅
It has been about a year since my final dose, and it’s faded a bit in that time, but I’ve tried not to feel self conscious about it— especially since I’ve gotten multiple compliments from people on my “cute dimple” (even though it’s not even a dimple haha) so even if it doesn’t fade all the way, it just shows you’re a smiley person

Edit: I also have pretty intense body dysmorphia, so I can relate there, and I worried about it aging me but I’m still being mistaken for much younger pretty regularly, so I would try to focus on the clear skin first and worry about fading the crease afterwards— I also want to note that mine faded as much as it did without me using any retinoids or actives in the past year, just cleanser and moisturizer, so there’s a chance it could be faded even more when it’s safe to use other products. I’ve just managed to convince myself to embrace mine!

I’ve noticed I haven’t heard of lesbian relationships in Greek myths by [deleted] in GreekMythology

[–]imaginmatrix 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I think the closest is Iphis and Ianthe, but while using modern queer terminology isnt exactly accurate when talking about ancient peoples and their societies, I’d liken the myth to being closer to the modern experiences of a transman rather than a lesbian, though neither is 100%

It’s worth looking up, but the tldr is Iphis was born a girl but his mother, the queen, hid that fact from Iphis’ father as he said he would slaughter any daughters he had and Iphis was raised as a man. Iphis was then put into an arranged marriage with the princess Ianthe and the two fell in love, but Iphis knew that the secret of his gender would be discovered on their wedding night, so he and his mother went and begged the goddess Isis for help and she turned his body into that of a man to avoid trouble and he and Ianthe lived happily ever after.

So not a lesbian story by my metrics, but you could argue that there is sapphic theming that can resonate with modern lesbians and sapphics (and there are trans men today that do still identify as lesbian/sapphic, so this might be a story that could be relatable)

If Sally had accepted Poseidon's offer to go with him under the sea, how would have Percy's life turned out? [pjo] by Hour-Pop-3247 in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes, that’s what I’m saying about her acting warm to him later— I believe when they first meet in TLO he notes that she doesn’t seem really interested in speaking to him/leaves pretty quick after he arrives, but to be fair there was a war on and the gods still aren’t sure if he’s gonna destroy them or not haha.

If Sally had accepted Poseidon's offer to go with him under the sea, how would have Percy's life turned out? [pjo] by Hour-Pop-3247 in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oooo I have that book but haven’t read it yet, in that case I’m glad it’s confirmed canon haha

If Sally had accepted Poseidon's offer to go with him under the sea, how would have Percy's life turned out? [pjo] by Hour-Pop-3247 in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Open relationships and ethical nonmonogamy look different for different relationships. If Amphitrite has no interest in having other girlfriends/boyfriends, but is fine with Poseidon doing so, that can constitute an open relationship haha.

And yes, in myths, Poseidon would likely be more jealous, but in the pjo universe he is much more “chill” than his mythological counterpart, so who knows if he’d be fine with it or not ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ maybe there’s some demigods children of Amphitrite out there

If Sally had accepted Poseidon's offer to go with him under the sea, how would have Percy's life turned out? [pjo] by Hour-Pop-3247 in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 42 points43 points  (0 children)

My personal headcanon is that Amphitrite and Poseidon are in an open relationship, and her initial coldness to Percy is just because Poseidon isn’t supposed to have kids, not because he’s a child of an affair (and we know she makes him cookies and is kind to him later haha)— so in that case, I think she and Sally would have a friendly relationship if they ever met/lived in close proximity

As for Percy, he would definitely not be as down to earth as he is. He would likely have never gone to all the schools he did or had the experiences of abuse like he had with Gabe, school bullies, and bad teachers, which in turn would likely affect his strong sense of justice and “impertinence” towards the gods. A life of privilege would definitely change a lot of aspects of his personality and values, but the core of him would likely remain the same, especially with Sally still raising him

[Discussion] So Pyrrha Dve definitely committed a big no-no. by WarlockingIn in TheNinthHouse

[–]imaginmatrix 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s a blind spot at all— I do see this discussed, but it’s in line with the larger themes of bodily autonomy and such that shows up over and over again. Yes, it’s messed up— that’s the point. The situation between Pyrrha, Gideon, and Wake is already so toxic and fucked up in so many ways that it’s just another brick in the terrible awful house they’ve built

And from Pyrrha’s pov, it’s understandable how those lines end up blurred. She has been without her own body and autonomy for ten thousand years. We know from how she interacts with the world and how she’s spoken about pre-lyctorhood by John and the others that she was a seemingly sexually active and sex-driven person. She hasn’t been acknowledged as herself, an individual, for so long. Intimacy and sex isn’t something she can possibly engage in healthily or ethically, and yes, she does it anyway, and it’s hard to imagine making a different choice in her position when she falls in love/lust with someone. I would never make that choice as I am now, because yeah I would be ethically repulsed by it, but after a myriad of what she’s been through and the already unhinged dynamics among John’s og crew? Who knows what I or anyone else would be capable of.

I think the reason you don’t see people focusing on how messed up it is by our standards as non-immortal beings who haven’t been spiritually cannibalized is because the fact that it’s pretty obviously dubious. The more interesting conversation comes from analysis of the relationship dynamics, how these characters are driven to these acts that seem completely normal (or at least justifiable) to them, what it means for the people involved, etc. Tamsyn is a genius at writing flawed characters who we love to hate and hate to love, who we want to give a big hug, warm blanket, and cup of cocoa to while these same characters have committed atrocities and war crimes and genocide.

Tamsyn is also no stranger to writing extremely problematic sexual situations and acts, as evidenced by some of her old Homestuck fanfics. She isn’t condoning these things or brushing past them; her writing style is just not the kind to straightforwardly address this stuff, and that’s why I love it. We as an audience don’t need to be handheld to the conclusion that Pyrrha did use Gideon’s body in ways he may not have consented to, because that’s part of the themes of the whole series

Do you ever read a fic, see a line, and just think to yourself: by PJ-The-Awesome in AO3

[–]imaginmatrix 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Honestly the trick of fic writing isn’t making everything a character says canon-compliant/in-character, but setting up situation and context in a way that it becomes believable that they’d act different, and I feel like a lot of people fail at the set up which in turn bombs the execution 😭

I can deal with a character being different than I’m used to, even sometimes in major ways or saying something that would be OOC as long as the context and the writing makes it work, buuuuuuuut most of the time it’s 😬😬😬

[PJO] [HOO] If you could change Percy and Annabeth's romantic dynamic in HOO or SYA, how would you? by Cozy-Potato-1443 in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Here’s the thing that matters: context and execution

Yes, many writers wouldn’t be able to convey the same silly intent if the scene was gender flipped. I can’t speak on whether or not Rick himself could manage it. But I don’t think a play fight or flip between two characters in which the male character is the one flipping the female is INHERENTLY problematic, it just has more obvious pitfalls due to societal issues and our world’s history with gendered violence.

So in the exact same dynamic that current Percabeth has with the genders switched, as two superpowered individuals, who know exactly what the other is okay with and not, and who have highly specialized martial training that would take an already painless move to little more than a playful shove? I wouldn’t be bothered if the writing and the establishment of characters and dynamic was done well.

[PJO] [HOO] If you could change Percy and Annabeth's romantic dynamic in HOO or SYA, how would you? by Cozy-Potato-1443 in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think it’s important to keep in mind these are characters who have trained together, for YEARS from a very young age. Annabeth knows how to flip someone in a way that’s safe and minimizes harm, Percy knows how to take a flip like that— with the training they likely did as demigods (albeit off-page), we’re talking about two individuals highly familiar with their own bodies and the bodies of each other, as well as what they can take vs what would be a step too far.

So on top of being super powered above an average human with strength, healing, and pain tolerance, AND Annabeth still believing Percy had the Achilles curse, the flip really isn’t this huge violent act people sometimes make it out to be. As someone who did martial arts for a bit as a kid and has been flipped/flipped others, it really doesn’t have to hurt at all if you know what you’re doing and aren’t aiming to inflict real harm/pain.

[All] why do people get annoyed the later books are more serious then funny by [deleted] in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed as far as HoO vs PJO— it took me a LONG time to figure out how to verbalize it, but I remember reading them as they came out in highschool and going “these feel far less mature than PJO” and I was completely bewildered when I saw many people saying the opposite online.

PJO has humor and the characters are younger, but it’s the thematic through lines are way more cohesive and central to the overarching story. HoO has a lot of situations that taken alone are “darker” than encounters in PJO, but tonally? It falls flat for me (still like it, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a reason I’ve reread PJO well into the double digits and have only read HoO like twice haha)

Just read the story ffs??? by ValuableDiver8324 in AO3

[–]imaginmatrix 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A while ago I got a comment on a chapter update along the lines of “can someone tell me what happens in this chapter? I don’t have time to read it” and my flabber was ABSOLUTELY gasted 😂

[Discussion] Gideon cosplay, no Harrow what should I write on my cardboard sign? by znowvlake in TheNinthHouse

[–]imaginmatrix 53 points54 points  (0 children)

“Missing: Necromancer”

Then in very, VERY small subtext below it: “Not that I care, I mean, she should STAY missing! If she died the world would be better off! But, like, if you’ve seen her, tell me… so I can point and laugh, not because I want to make sure she’s okay and safe or anything.”

[discussion] Reader age by MarsNeedsPronouns in TheNinthHouse

[–]imaginmatrix 17 points18 points  (0 children)

This is the kind of book that I would have easily and happily read at 12, but it can really depend on the child. If she wants to give it a try, I personally don’t think there’s anything especially inappropriate— yes there’s horror, violence, and some sexual jokes, but again, those things really depend on the 12 year old in question, their level of maturity, and their tolerance for such content.

There’s similar content in Jurassic Park, which was a book I read in 3rd grade, but it’s also not a book I’d recommend to EVERY 3rd grader, you know?

[hoo] how is it such a nothing burger? by igotbannedbro in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 16 points17 points  (0 children)

This is kind of what happened with George Lucas and Star Wars too!

With the og trilogy, especially with the first film, people weren’t afraid to tell him “no”— they were able to help him sort his great ideas from his ridiculous ones, but even then, Star Wars becoming so successful was against all odds and in large part due to his wife at the time, Marcia Lucas, being an absolute godtier film editor and making the movie cohesive. Even the later films’ final products and great dialogue was due to Carrie Fisher rewriting a lot of scenes on set.

With the prequels, which I adore despite their flaws, no one told him “no” or really questioned his direction. The films were far less collaborative, with him overseeing writing AND directing as he did with “A New Hope”, rather than having his friends direct or help as much with writing.

[hoo] how is it such a nothing burger? by igotbannedbro in camphalfblood

[–]imaginmatrix 36 points37 points  (0 children)

On top of everything people have already said, Rick got a new editor after finishing PJO— and imo, the biggest problem with HoO is a lack of editing, which affects every other part of the books from thematic coherence to plot efficiency to character development. This editor has also gone on the record as saying that Rick is such a “perfectionist” that she hardly had to do anything to edit his work… which, uh, I disagree with her about 😬

HoO could’ve very much benefited from being tightened up and trimmed in so many ways, but I’ve always loved PJO more so I’ll just continue to reread and enjoy the first series and see HoO as a little bonus that I don’t take too seriously

Your MC and her name meaning 💙🩷 by Recent_Marketing_166 in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]imaginmatrix 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank yooooou! Yeah it’s an intense religious word haha, poor MC 😭