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xxcocoiiixx · 3 months

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The Elysian Idol extract: Belladonna from different povs - Luke edition

"𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐕𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔, 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐍."

"I got it"

"If you got it, I wouldn't have to say it for the hundredth time"

Luke stood a few paces away from Bella who was gripping the sword tightly. Luke's critical eyes swept over her the smaller girl, her knees were shaking slightly, she kept shifting her white sneakers against the dirt and it was obvious that the sword was too big for her by the way she struggled to keep it balanced.

She had to learn he told himself. If not now, within the safe confines of the camp, then never. He wasn’t used to being so harsh with her. Bella wasn’t like Annabeth who dusted herself off and got back up again. Bella was fragile, used to a soft word and a kind touch. Reassurance that tomorrow would be alright or risk her world shattering into a waterfall of tears.

But reassurance couldn’t be guaranteed, that much he knew. He slowly began sick at the possibility. Of Bella being subjugated to a fate an iota worse than she deserved. And in Luke’s opinion that little girl deserved everything and more. Day by day he was plagued by the anticipation of what’s to come. So rather than being swallowed by the storm he decided to push ahead of it.

Bella wasn’t exactly receptive to that logic, or much logic usually….

"Clearly I'm trying my best Luke."

Luke sighed. As brassy as Bella was, it wasn't often that was truly frustrated, especially at others. The clipped tone she was exhibiting now caused a pang of guilt in his chest.

His voice softened this time around. "Just- swing for me one last time. Your weapon will choose you, but only if you try"

Belladonna huffed through her nose. Her delicate features scrunched up as her focus was locked onto her target, a limp and frail straw man in the distance.

Breaking into a sprint, she raised the sword and swung as hard as she could, determined to cut the head off the straw dummy.

To Bella's surprise, her movements screeched to a halt. Her arms were almost completely stretched above her head and her torso was leaved forward at an awkward angle. Bella blinked when she looked up to see when her sword was cut. The blade was lodged right in the middle of its "neck" she tried pushing it through and pulling it out the opposite way. Neither direction budged.

"I think it chose the dummy."

Luke walked up and with little effort pulled the sword out of the dummy. He returned the sword to her only for him to freeze at the sight of her familiar tearful pout. Her round eyes somehow like got even rounder and bigger and shinier like baby doll.

Uh oh.

She didn’t accept the sword. Instead she moved around him and her body plopped onto the grass that was on the sidelines of the arena. She had her back facing him with a slouched posture that would make Silena frown.

Luke made sure to lean the sword against its resting spot before taking a seat next to her on the ground. The whole thing put him in a much younger, more childlike headspace.

"It takes practice" he offered soothingly.

The young girl practically scoffed.

“I reckon it does”

"You wanna talk?”

There wasn’t an explicit yes or no from her so for a few moments they basked in silence.

“Do you know what else takes practice?” She suddenly asked.

“No.”

“Kips”

Not what he thought she was going to say. Though at this point he was used to her not always making sense. And in her defence she has become quite the acrobat

“Y’know once I learned I wanted to do tricks like that I practiced. Every day before the crow calls. And now I could do it upside down and with my eyes closed if I wanted”

He nodded. Unsure of what to do or say.

"I'm not a fighter Lu.” Her voice was so soft, practically a whisper at that point. The finality of it all, her being ashamed to look at him in the eye, broke his heart.

"That's not true." He was eager to protest.

Belladonna stayed silent. Suddenly finding more of an interest on the dust ruining her wide legged jeans. She didn't know how to tell him that it was true. Or that the other campers reminded her and family every day that Cabin 10 was useful in anything battle or strategy related.

"You're just different. And there's no better way to prove it than in capture the flag tomorrow when we steal the blue flag together, side by side. Wouldn't that be cool?"

She moved to lean her head against Luke's arm. She told herself it was to make herself more comfortable but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she didn't want to openly show her distress.

"I can't. Silena and Clarisse sorted out an alliance yesterday. I'm team red again. I got a way you can make it up to me though”

“How?…”

Usually favours for Bella involve labour. He wanted to at least mentally prepare for whatever outrageously convoluted request she was about to ask of him.

"If we cross paths in Capture you can let me win”

That made him laugh aloud.

“And why would I do that”

And risk his shot at glory was also on the tip of him tongue. Though he, and everyone else at camp knew that kleos is worth dust to her unlike most demigods.

“As compensation. For being on a team that has lost so many times it has a pernicious effect an’ all”

“That’s….a mouthful. Where’d you hear a word like that?”

“Oh Annabeth said it” “Y’know I had to look it up myself. She surprises me everyday, that girl she’s as smart as all get out” Bella gushed

Luke couldn’t help but be doubtful either shrug didn’t fully understand the definition of “pernicious” (which was the likely option) or she truly didn’t care.

“Are you sure that you’re alright with what she said”

Bella shrugged cluelessly. “I’m fine. I’m sure she’s just stressed after carrying an entire team on her back since forever”

“Wait! No changing the subject” Luke groaned in response.

“Come on, pretty please!”

She had that look in her eye. That weird, annoyingly irresistible Bambi look in her eye but the scary part of it all was a slight glint of mischievousness in the corners. That gleam that shone, knowing she has already won the battle.

Luke had to break eye contact and rub at his temple. If this cost his team the victory and Annabeth found out, because she always does, she would lose her mind. But the corner of his lips couldn’t help but quirk upwards at the sight of her brighter mood.

“I’m not allowed to say no to you, am I?”

The little girl rung out her perfect laugh that resembles a ringing bell before looking up at him again. His brown eyes were warm with understanding and soft encouragement. He was at least trying to make her feel less like a complete failure of a demigod. Bella grinned playfully at the older boy with her nose high up in the air, like she was confident about her odds.

“Nuh uh”

He shook his head at the thought. Belladonna always got what Belladonna wanted it seems. She just had those doe like face that seemed to trick people into serving her before they had even realised what they had given up. Loving Bella was probably as easy as breathing.

But this was Belladonna. The girl in the tattered white dress and a plastic rhinestoned crown with half the gems missing. The girl he swore to protect since she was seven. Belladonna deserved more. And as her brother he would give her the world if she asked.

"Alright then, you have yourself a deal little lady"

#wattpad #action #annabeth chase #ao3 fanfic #camp halfblood #clarisse la rue #daughter of aphrodite #grover underwood #luke castellan #percy jackon and the olympians #original character #charlie bushnell #leah sava jeffries #walker scobell #pjo tv show #pjo series #silena beauregard #drew tanaka #cabin 10

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xxcocoiiixx · 3 months

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𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘? 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 the allure? Something that pleases the aesthetic senses. Some find it things, silk, jewels and other ornaments of grandeur.

But beauty within others isn't down to a feature, wavy dark hair, sharp noses or soul capturing eyes. No, beauty within people belongs to the intangible.

Beauty is birthed from love. The mother of two being the driving force of all manner of life. And it's child is is the eye of the beholder.

But Love also breeds Conflict. It is the sharp blade and once the victim bleeds, it's very hard to stop its flow.

Belladonna Dorée was beauty personified. Even by age six she was applauded for her gentle disposition and soft features. Her Aunt June, saw this and decided to play. Her own little doll to snip, pluck, lace, chop and change as she pleased. And once she was, she wanted to share that with the rest of the nation.

At the time Bella saw no issue with it. After all, she was pretty and other people were just acknowledging it. A bunch of little girls lined up for display, fighting tooth and nail to destroy each other simply to prove that they were the standard. Looking back the red flags seemed to pile up from the start.

Contrary to popular belief there is a science to beauty. You had to balance the hair, the clothes, the grace and most importantly confidence. Never arrogance, confidence. There is a difference mind you.

A girl could never be arrogant. To imply such a thing would be treason. Arrogance is loud. Uncouth. Most of the time it's told and never shown.

But you still had to own the stage. It didn't matter if you were the strongest speaker or the most soul capturing singer. You had to dominate your space, you had to grasp their attention with a vice like grip and pray you never let go because it only took a moment for it to slip and you would become every other wayning star. Fallen and forgotten.

Belladonna chanted that like a mantra as she danced. Every stretch of the leg, every pointed toe, every turn that was commanded by the beat of the music again, and again and again was meant ooze a pool of talent at her feet like nectar.

And she smiled, preening under their praise. Including the non-verbal ones. The judges that were once investigating for any flaws in her system or cracks in her performance. They were now subdued, relaxed even. As they fixed the gazes in the young girl in awe.

They mirrored her docility like a snake charmer to a snake, forever hypnotised by her

And The funny part was...

She was only five.

But that didn't stop her because at the time her stage was her battlefield. Armed with nothing more than her blinding grin and doe-like eyes Belladonna was bound to give the performance of the ages.

She will laugh at the thought when she's older.

It didn't change the fact that she was the embodiment of their insecurities, their envy, the target of their fury that they had no choice to silence out of propriety. Belladonna Dorée was the catalyst of their quickening pulse, she was the shaker of their bones. She could strike fear into the hearts of any that simply watched her for long enough because she was, in fact, inevitable.

- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐝𝐨𝐥

Let me know if this should be continued

#annabeth chase #action #camp halfblood #clarisse la rue #daughter of aphrodite #grover underwood #ao3 fanfic #wattpad #luke castellan #percy jackon and the olympians #percy series #silena beauregard #pjo tv show #cabin 10 #aphrodite

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xxcocoiiixx · 4 months

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When you’re sick of moody, not like other girls ocs so you make a daughter of Aphrodite who’s personality is inspired by these gals

Ah….fun times ahead

#wattpad #action #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson #annabeth chase #grover underwood #walker scobell #leah sava jeffries #lola bunny #ty lee #camp halfblood #the lightning thief #ao3 fanfic #daughter of aphrodite #clarisse la rue #luke castellan #pjo series

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xxcocoiiixx · 4 months

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Writing up a Percy Jackson fic and I’m having a weapons crisis.

Context - she’s a daughter of Aphrodite that’s a social butterfly, heavily reliant on her emotions/intuition and low key fearless.

But our girl is kind of a sucky fighter (at least in the lightning thief) which will be one of two points of development at the show.

Without giving too much away she kinda becomes a spy in the other books so using her beauty as a weapon and being underestimated is a key part of her character.

I’m squealing right now I’m so excited

Contestant No. 1 - A Staff

I kind of like the idea that unlike Percy and Annabeth, she’s not violent and battle efficient like most demigods. It keeps her enemies at a distance while still being quite a powerhouse. A headcanon would be that Chiron gave her one because when she was given a sword she nearly cut her finger off XD.

The only downside is that it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing in my opinion but who knows I might get over it.

Contestant No. 2 - Some kind of Flail

If you don’t know what a flail is, it’s basically a stick with a chain attached to it. At the end of the chain is a ball with spikes on it. I kind of liked it because it can kind it requires grace and control to pull it off which has potential for more development.

Her wielding a ball on chain can help make fight scenes more creative and it’s a unique weapon that isn’t used in many fanfics.

Contestant No. 3 - Throwing Knives

This is a bit of a contradiction to my first point but I was looking at it from the perspective of her becoming a spy later on. It fits this idea that she’s so naive that she wouldn’t even try to carry weapons only for her to have a small arsenal of knives hidden in her clothes is kinda iconic. Everyone assuming less of her only for her to possibly be one of the deadliest of them all.

The only downside is that it’s a little boring I guess and kind of goes against the less violent thing.

Anyway that’s all of them. If you have any suggestions that’s not a bow and arrow or a sword please help a girl out XD

#wattpad #ao3 fanfic #percy jackon and the olympians #annabeth chase #grover underwood #percy jackson #clarisse la rue #luke castellan #action #camp halfblood #camp jupiter #aphrodite cabin #daughter of aphrodite #walker scobell #leah jeffries

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