Ω PJO MISC. DEMIGOD HEADCANONS: ⚕ ASCLEPIUS “GOD OF MEDICINE, HEALING, REJUVENATION, AND PHYSICIANS” 🩺 {WAVE 4.0}
A/N: Alright time for the final god for Wave 4.0 and the long awaited Asclepius! I forgot that Asclepius technically does have legacies of demigods and even has a direct demigod in the books, but I can only imagine how much easier it would be to have at Camp Halfblood. Hope you enjoy this cause I may went overboard with it and also hope you enjoy which canon demigod I chose for the mini-story! MISCELLANEOUS DEMIGOD H/CS MASTERLIST LINK: [VOL. 1: TUMBLR] || [VOL. 2: TUMBLR] || [AO3]
When you get claimed, you catch the smell of antiseptic mixed with a melody of herbs. The smell of the sharp antiseptic pulls you into a memory of being in a hospital with a kind doctor who gives you lollipops, and the smell of rustic herbs pulls you in an apothecary that transports you into a multiculture of countries and their shared and unique use of homemade medicine. You hear murmuring and you look up to see a floating symbol of a snake intertwining up a stick. You knew that symbol, since it was practically seen on every hospital and ambulance, but you were confused on why you didn’t see two snakes.
You’re immediately steam-rolled by a boy named Lester who is oddly emotional, going on about meeting his grandchild and you’re super confused, until some kids introduce themselves as the children of Apollo, and the person hugging you is Apollo himself. You’re then taken to be educated that you’re the child of Ascelpius, the God of Medicine, who is also the son of Apollo; hence the introduction (Though you were told that he could go without being called Grandpa).
You got confused for a moment because you thought you were a child of Hermes (Apollo screeched-) because you thought the symbol of Hermes was the snakes intertwining on the staff. You were reassured that this happens a lot and you were gently reminded that Hermes’ symbol with the Caduceus was intertwined with two serpents with the wings on it, while Asclepius’ symbol was the Rod of Asclepius. You were told people get mistaken due to the US Army Medical corp usage of Caduceus in 1902 because a single officer insisted on it. Everyone thinks it was a child of Hermes who did that, and Apollo and Spike (the snake on Asclepius’ rod) has been salty over it ever since.
Although you have a cabin of your own, you’re practically living at the Apollo cabin. In fact, if it weren’t for the bedtime curfew, you would be sleeping at the Apollo cabin and the medical ward. Though the Asclepius cabin is nothing to sneeze at either.
The Asclepius cabin is a rather rustic yet sleek looking cabin from the outside. When you open the door, you’re immediately hit with the combination of antiseptic and herbs, just like how you were claimed. All over the walls, there are shelves and cabinets filled with medicine and all kinds of herbs and ingredients to make your own concoctions. There are glass vials and jars filled with materials with neatly yet bold scrawled names, all clean and regularly dusted. There are tools lined up on benches with pots, vials, beakers. There are bunches of herbs drying on racks or hanging from the rafters, practically covering it and it seemed there wasn’t even a roof to begin with, just a canopy of herbs and plants. Off to one side, you can see a sunroom filled with plants and animals as well, and on the other side there is a crafting room filled that were lined with prosthetics, canes, wheelchairs, an eye station, etc. If it weren’t for the beds and the designated areas for living, anyone would think the Asclepius cabin was just a pharmacy, apothecary, and so forth.
People come to your cabin just as much as they go to the Apollo cabin. In fact, if possible, they would’ve placed your cabins side by side if it was possible or in walkable distance. You two are often going back and forth with prescriptions, inquiries, delivering medicine and so forth that its hard to tell from head to tails who is going to which, and whether it was a child of Apollo or Asclepius going back and forth. It's hard to tell but since the arrival of Asclepius children, the distribution of workload has evened since the children of Apollo don’t have to take care of anything medical that is under the sun. Moving forward, there is at least one child of Asclepius with every child of Apollo.
Unlike the children of Apollo, because the children of Asclepius are solely children of medicine, healing, and are basically mini physicians, you’re pretty much always making new concoctions or pursuing new possibilities in medicine. While in extreme cases, it's not unheard of being a medicine case nut and being completely obsessed with it. The only thing you’re not allowed to attempt to make is anything to do with a revival cure or immortality, much to the chagrin of many Asclepius demigods.
“Sola dosis facit venenum (The Dose makes the poison) or “All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison” by Paracelsus is hammered into every child of Asclepius as medicine can easily become poison, and poison can be medicine if given right. With that note, every child of Asclepius is just as knowledgeable in poison and toxicology just as much as medicine and healing.
If people think the demigods of Asclepius are unarmed and not a threat, then they are very wrong. They know more about the body than they do and what makes them healthy and how to destroy it. They are just as knowledgeable in poisoning as in medicine so that is their weapon. If ever pushed to take up arms, they wield their swords with surgical precision and their arrows will always hit your vitals. With their innate, growing observation of the body, they are able to tell your strengths and weaknesses, and how to use them against you as much as they use their knowledge to help their patients.
They are the definition of the meme “I’m a Healer, but…” *clocks gun*
Out of the minor or miscellaneous gods and being their demigod, you’re going to be rather well known through camp. Chiron rather sees you as he instructed Asclepius and helped him pursue his infamous medical knowledge. The children of Athena find themselves to you because of their mother as you share your wisdom and knowledge with each other. Mr. D has grown to your presence, whether he liked it or not initially, as you keep appearing to inquire about mental illnesses and how it applies to the average demigod. He begrudgingly answered but his tone changed when you began to ask him about ‘madness’ and how would one reproduce it, alongside what type of alcohol would be beneficial. Sufficient to say, Chiron cut you off from certain acts of medicine even if you tried to argue that wine could be a medicine and poison, and you had to know! For Healing sake!
You’re a common sight among the children of Demeter as you help with the crops and growing medical herbs for usage. At the same time, you’re also often around the Satyrs and Nymphs as you explore the woods and come across nature’s treasures and bounties.
You’re also unusual to be seen around the children of Aphrodite or those interested in physical beauty as you give them diagnoses on their health and how to maintain their skin, weight, hair health, and etc. It’s also not unusual to see a child of Asclepius having a dedicated list of orders of homemade makeup, beauty and hygiene products as it can also fall under medicine and rejuvenation.
At some point, the children of Asclepius are given strict time off because they can be seen literally all over camp tending and doing everything under the sun that could be considered medicine, healing, and rejuvenation.
Jason adjusted his glasses, taking them on and off, blinking and looking around, marveling at the clarity.
“And here’s the eyedrops; both regular and no-regular for you” you commented as you finished bottling the new mixture. “You should put eyedrops whenever you feel tired or at least once a day, and take your glasses off occasionally.” You scrawled on “Regular Mortal Eyedrops” with a black sharpie to make sure. “These eye drops,” you pointed to the specially made eye drops, “Are made so you can see for a brief period of time without your glasses if the situation calls for it. Don’t put them on too regularly or use them as a replacement for your glasses since it acts as a steroid for your eyes. They’re an aid but not a replacement.”
“Thanks for making time for me” Jason thanked as he gave you a smile. “It’s kind of funny, Esclepius- I mean, Asclepius gave me these glasses, and now you’re helping me with my eyes.”
You wrote down in your records and gave an amused smile. “Its no problem. If anything it’s nice to hear about my godly father from someone who has actually met him.”
“He was rather helpful” told Jason as he pocketed the eyedrops. “Even if the on the spot diagnosis seemed rather sudden.”
You shrugged as you wrote a copy for Jason to take back. “We’re doctors, its what we do anyways. You’re a fighter Jason, you automatically scan your surroundings right?”
“Yeah, being a leader for my cohort makes it necessary. Especially since we weren’t treated that well, so there was no end to mistreatment.”
“There we go” you said before putting away the ingredients in their proper place, while at the same time, double checking your stock.
“So how’s it been being a child of Asclepius? We have a Son of Esclepius back at Camp Jupiter as head healer and I always see him working” asked Jason, a bit concerned when he thought back to the line of people before him.
“Well, it has been busy since I was claimed,” you did admit, “while I admit it’s been stressful, it’s also very rewarding.”
You thought back to when you were claimed. The confusion about the sign of your claim when you thought you were a child of Hermes, but then you were all told by Chiron that you’re a child of Asclepius, and their staff were similar looking-
Then being ambushed by a person named Lestor, to only be told later that that was Apollo as a human, and is your grandfather-
Then you were told you were absolutely forbidden from doing certain medical practices. Lest for malpractice reasons but more in the line of “Your godly father did the forbidden and played god, and got smited by Zeus/Hades, so we’re going to avoid all that”
It was a whirlwind with being delved into medical tasks as you and the Apollo cabin working together, learning from each other and making friends, and then came the line of people coming for consultation and meds- it was at first overwhelming but over time, it became a part of your routine and you were having fun.
“Not to mention, I also get to research into all the medicine and poisons I like” you chuckled to yourself, your fingers tingling with excitement at all the possibilities in front of you. Not only did you have more resources, you also had other means to produce unusual effects with magic now in the mix! Jason gave you a look of bewilderment before smiling at your excited look. He then held out his hand to you, “Well, I’m glad you’re settling in nicely. I was only here in this camp for a short while but just wanna say ‘Welcome to Camp Halfblood’. I hope you enjoy yourself and I’ll be in your care!”
