ari/devouring poetry and fictional men

guys. guys both Poseidon and hermes think they're terrible fathers but they were both willing to make unimaginable sacrifices to make sure their sons were safe. guys. guys pay attention

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP THE PARALLELS BETWEEN POSEIDON WANTING TO BE CLOSE TO HIS SON BUT STAYING AWAY BECAUSE ITS WHAT'S BEST FOR HIM AND HERMES WANTING TO BE CLOSE BUT STAYING AWAY BECAUSE HE HAS NO CHOICE I JUST

my thoughts on episode six of pjo are too numerous to count but the main thing that's driving my brain up the wall is Hermes and Luke. Hermes talking to annabeth about Luke and her immediately reminding him about how much his son despises him. Her clear disdain for him in contrast to his desperation to be close to his son.

But GOD that one line

_________

"I don't get involved anymore."

"...fine. Then this was all a waste of time. And we don't have time to waste."

_________

thinking about the fact that annabeth heard luke's argument with his dad, right before he left. thinking about how Luke flung those words in his dad's face, with a look that said you're no father of mine. thinking about annabeth hearing that, internalizing their impact and throwing those words back at him at the perfect moment. thinking about the way that sentence must have hit hermes like a punch to the gut.

thinking about Hermes being so understanding about Percy's struggles with his dad because he knew how it felt on the other side of the fence, and how he tried his best to make sure Percy understood his dad.

mostly thinking about how if hermes ever saw Luke, he might throw himself at his son's feet and beg for forgiveness, and turn and weep when luke spits in his face.

y'all.

Y'all.

In episode six, a lot of focus is put on Percy and annabeth and grover (rightly so, seeing as they're the main characters) but I don't think enough people are seeing how much Hermes LOVED Luke.

Sure, he was an absent parent--but the difference between him and people like Zeus is that Hermes was absent from Luke's life purely out of necessity. It killed him to stay away. He talks about it with Percy and annabeth, trying to explain to them how much it hurt that no matter what he did, he always seemed to be doing something WRONG--whether it was with Luke or with May or with the people he helped to the underworld.

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"There is another way to the Underworld. A secret way. I've helped others find it. And do you know what happens, every time? I mean every single time."

"Do you know what that feels like? To be so close to someone you love, and knowing neither of you has any choice but to keep on hurting each other?"

"I don't get involved anymore."

_________

Even after all that, he STILL made sure they had everything they needed (minus the innate driving skills that Percy already possessed). Because of Luke. Because no matter how much his son hates him, he'll always be unable to fully stop himself from trying to help him at every turn.

Even when Luke was diametrically opposed to Hermes' entire existence, Hermes still wanted so badly to be close to him. That's how much he loved his son.