okay so this isnt going to be coherent at all BUT i gotta address this first because this whole “rivalry” thing riordan has going between percy and jason serves No Purpose and makes No Sense.
even if u dont ship them, its just bizarre to read from two characters who are USUALLY very friendly. it’s supposed to be some kinda pissing match about one of them being stronger than the other, or being a better hero or some shit.
( the fandom ate that RIGHT up back in the day bc everyone was, for some reason, shitting on jason for “not being percy” but also “being too much like percy” but ALSO “trying to replace percy” . which…………cringe. yall…………..how can u be this threatened by the existence of a character who Isnt Percy. i assure u lots of characters aren’t percy. but THAT’S BESIDE THE POINT. )
things jason and percy have in common:
- they both consistently stick up for others at great cost to themselves
- they’re both compassionate as hell, even if they have diff. ways of showing it
- they’ve both been thru SOME SHIT in their lifetimes, but have always come thru for the ppl who need them
- have both been branded as either menaces or heroes! unfairly!! all bc of their dads!!
- they’re humble heroes!! the things they do are often for the greater good, even things that seem like selfish decisions r done to benefit someone else, again, at great cost to themselves.
- they’re both very friendly, kind people, even if a little unapproachable seeming; they are Not aggressors in situations where theres no threat
- THEY WANT THINGS TO BE BETTER FOR DEMIGOD KIDS, INCLUDING EACH OTHER
things rick can’t let them bond over bc for some reason he needs to feed into this……bullshit Alpha Male Fantasy and have One Clearly Better Than The Other:
- all of the above.
- was that bitter??? i feel like it was. anyway
- those are all things that give them MANY REASONS to be respectful, if not FRIENDLY towards each other. any initial mistrust is kind of justified, but after a certain point…..having them continue to be antagonistic towards someone who would’ve been a friend if it was Any Other Character is just… bad writing. REALLY bad writing.
and on that note: the rivalry wasn’t even well written! no offence!! if jason had to be jealous of percy (or vice versa) there’s actual……THINGS rick could have used, rather than ‘oh boo hoo his muscles is bigger than MYYYYYY muscles :(’
things that could have been used as like…….idk, jealousy points? instead of… whatever the hell we had in canon:
- percy has a mother! siblings! a camp that didn’t turn on him out of NOWHERE! a father who actually pays attention to him without him needing to die in battle!
- jason hasn’t been targeted by the gods! has hera’s (vague n mostly untrustworthy) support!
BUT. they’re not the kind of people to begrudge others these things tho!! they’re not the sort to take their jealousy out on other people!! jason knows percy has suffered to keep his loved ones safe and that he deserves comfort and recognition for what he’s done, and percy knows jason has put his life on the line constantly for his camp and many innocent demigods, despite the gods and that he deserves respect + trust for what he’s done! they’ve both been scrutinised for their fathers actions and legacies, and it makes no sense for them to judge Other People for the same things. they both share a ‘do better than the gods’ kind of attitude, and it’s just Bad Writing that their rivalry is almost entirely based on ‘hey our dads are always competing so WE’RE GONNA DO IT TOO’
to actually answer ur question: those are all My Reasons to ship jercy. imo, they ARE that tired battle couple who have been through a lot of the same experiences and can bring each other comfort and support as well as Understanding!!! because of the things they have in common and the goals they share!! the banter is hilarious bc jokey rivalry with an affectionate undertone is fun!! they’re every ‘i find comfort and safety and joy in you’ trope, and even if you don’t ship them, that’s a still good solid basis for a FRIENDSHIP :D
