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Percy didn’t think he was a geek exactly. Of course he had interests and things he enjoyed doing and loved talking about, but he didn’t make his hobbies his entire personality… unless it was Comic Con.
Old cartoons were unfortunately a very niche interest that most people in his life didn’t share, his girlfriend Annabeth included. She made one sole concession to indulge him and that was wearing one half of a Popeye and Olive Oyl couple’s costume for New York Comic Con. When he saw it packaged in the back of a pop-up Halloween store he simply had to have it. He saved it in the back of his closet since July just waiting for this day. The set even came with temporary anchor tattoos that he could sticker on his forearms and for a shitty costume shop in downtown Manhattan that was elite service.
He was outside the Athena cabin now, waiting for Annabeth to get ready. Passing campers gave him odd looks but most just chalked it up to the random weird shit Percy does sometimes, right up there with adopting hellhounds and buying Duncan Donuts for his pegasus who is also indirectly related to him. Just an ordinary day in Long Island.
He took a seat on the porch steps, fixing his sailor’s cap and adjusting the necktie. He thought he looked the part. Annabeth joked that this might be a way to get him to eat more spinach. Why couldn’t Popeye’s superpower-activating vegetable be the humble potato? It was an infinitely better option in Percy’s opinion with way more range than a stupid leaf. Perhaps French fry form? The bolstering effects could come from its superior flavour instead of its health benefits.
Percy was shaken from his veggie comparisons at the sound of a small gasp. He looked up to see Will and Nico standing on the green between the cabins, the son of Hades staring wide-eyed at Percy while Will shook his shoulder lightly. When Percy saw Nico’s outfit he gave an equally awed gasp. Nico and Will were apparently also going to Comic Con. (He assumed at least. What they had on didn't exactly look like anything one would wear as normal, everyday attire.) Nico wore a short blue jacket, red necktie, and high brown leather boots. He had his hair styled so it no longer hung in his eyes and had on the most un-Nico-like fake handlebar moustache which made him look like the waiter at a French restaurant. Will carried a bow and a quiver of foam arrows on his back. His outfit wasn't much- blue pants and an odd-looking crop top and boots- but it was instantly recognisable.
“You’re Bow and Seahawk!” Percy shouted.
As mentioned, Percy loved old cartoons, they were classics for a reason, but sometimes the remake is better. She-Ra is one example. He could appreciate the intricate and compelling storyline, the characters’ complexity and development, and just the overall production quality. But what really makes any show great, in his humble but correct opinion, is the comic relief character who just so happens to be a pirate!
“We are,” Will confirmed with a bright smile. Will’s costume was cool and all and so was his chosen character, but Seahawk was a pirate and therefore objectively better. And Nico could totally pull it off! “You watched She-Ra? I gotta admit, I didn't take you for someone who enjoys that kind of thing.”
Percy frowned. “That offends me deeply, Will. Why wouldn't I watch a show about a character whose destiny is thrust upon them unexpectedly after believing they are completely ordinary their entire lives and who carries a magical weapon representing the enormous power of their ancestors and that defines their heritage and their role as the hero of their world?”
There was a brief silence. “Fair enough,” Will conceded with a nod. He tapped his boyfriend on the shoulder to get his attention and Nico jolted suddenly.
“Are you Popeye?” the boy asked, a glimmer of something childlike in his eyes.
Percy puffed out his chest in an exaggerated tough-guy pose. “I am indeed the sailor man, Neeks,” he said proudly, giving a brief spin to show off his whole costume. Finally, a cultured individual!
“I used to love Popeye! I didn't think people still watched it nowadays.” He was almost bouncing with excitement, the action something the old Nico would have done but completely foreign to the now brooding and angsty boy that he became. It gave Percy the briefest twinge of nostalgia. He missed this aspect of the old Nico, how excitable and energetic he was. It was annoying to a younger Percy but now he just regretted that Nico didn't get the chance to grow out of his childhood naturally.
“People don't really watch the classics anymore,” Percy informed sadly, “but I'm not most people. I have taste.”
He heard a scoff from behind him and turned to see Annabeth standing in the doorway of her cabin, arms crossed indignantly. “What was that, Seaweed Brain?” she asked sweetly.
Percy fumbled for words but before he was forced to try and defend himself Nico lost his mind.
“You’re Olive Oyl!” he yelled. “I had an Olive figurine when I was nine, you look just like her!” Annabeth startled but smiled, her eyes twinkling with fondness. Nico was practically vibrating. Will gave his boyfriend an affectionate smile. None of them had ever seen Nico this excited, not even when he went through the arduous task of listening to the boy explain the rules of Mythomagic.
“Thanks, Nico,” Annabeth preened, though he could tell she wasn't feeling the costume. “You’re not too bad yourself. The sailor aesthetic is a good look for you.”
Nico gleamed at that. “Thanks! When I was a kid I wanted to be a pirate. I think they’re cool.” Percy decided not to point out that Nico was still technically a kid and instead focused on the insane and incredible knowledge that Nico liked pirates! The young demigod looked between Percy and Annabeth, his smile widening with each glance. “I thought nobody remembered this show. It used to be really popular but now I don't ever see any merchandise for it.
You’re telling me , Percy thought. “There’s tons of merch on the internet but with the whole “no technology” thing demigods don't get to buy packages online."
It was a sad truth that while there was most definitely a flourishing online community for almost any uncommon interest he could think of he could never really be a part of it unless he was fine consenting to being a monster’s lunch.
“What about the Hermes Express?” Will asked, a confused look on his face. “That's where Nico and I got our costumes.” Percy tilted his head in question. Sure, he knew about the Hermes Express but he just assumed he had to make any purchases online like you would with any ordinary delivery service. “You just fill out a parcel request slip and throw it in the fire at dinner,” Will clarified. “There’s a price catalogue in the Big House. New ones get delivered every week.”
Percy mentally checked himself. “You’re kidding.”
“The Hermes cabin put up promotional propaganda all over camp,” Nico chimed in, now equally confused as Will. “They swear Hermes’ postal service is better than the Amazons’. Have you not been paying attention?”
“I have dyslexia!”
“They’re written in Greek!” Will and Nico exclaimed simultaneously.
“Why have I never seen these?” Percy lamented, throwing his hands in the air. “That would have made looking for that Cuphead collectable so much easier.”
“You know Cuphead?” Nico cried, now literally bouncing in place.
“I know Cuphead,” Will said, pleased to be able to contribute to his boyfriend's interests. “I've never played it, but I've heard of it.”
Nico’s face morphed into the most disgusted look Percy had ever seen. “You’re a single man, Will Solace.” Will looked heartbroken.
“Cuphead used to be a cartoon in the 30s before it became a video game,” Percy said, trying to hide his amusement. Will seemed to realise his mistake then.
“Oh,” he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry Nico, please take me back.”
Nico rolled his eyes affectionately. “Don’t disrespect me again, William,” he said and Will made a show of extreme relief before linking his arm with his boyfriend’s.
“So you guys are going to Comic-Con too?” Annabeth asked, taking in the two younger demigods. “I’m trying to be a supportive girlfriend but honestly, it’s not really my thing,” she whispered behind her hand to them as though Percy couldn't hear every word.
“It's not really Nico’s thing either but he said he’d only cosplay with me if he got to be a pirate.” Nico slapped his arm. Apparently that was classified information even though he just revealed not too long ago that he thought pirates were cool and that he wanted to be one.
“Well I think that's a solid compromise,” Percy said with a nod of approval. “Nico’s got good taste, Seahawk is hands down the best character, no exaggeration.”
“You think so?” the demigod in question asked with a shy grin. “I think sailors are cool but I wish I thought of Popeye first. He’s always been my favourite.” Will frowned beside him as though he would not have necessarily approved of that solution but didn't say anything.
“Popeye walked so Seahawk could run, Nico,” Percy preached with an expression of absolute seriousness. “We embody the legacy of televised seafarers across the ages. No one is greater than the other.”
“Then why don't you two just go together?” Annabeth joked, fixing the short black wig that was no doubt making her head itch by the way she scratched at it every few minutes. “If it gets me out of wearing this then I won't even be offended.”
She wasn't serious, but Percy could tell she was hopeful he would take the hint and conceded easily. After all, a sailor duo might be a better cosplay pair than the iconic but rocky relationship of Olive Oyl and Popeye. “Why not? What do you say, Neeks?”
“What? No,” Will complained, fastening his hold on Nico’s arm. “I had him first.” Nico pursed his lips, apparently quite torn which didn't seem to sit well with his boyfriend. “You can't be serious, you said you would go with me!”
“I will,” Nico relented, “...tomorrow.”
“Are you joking?” Will asked indignantly, sending an irritated look at Percy who decided that maybe asking Will’s boyfriend out to Comic Con was a bad idea. Nico seemed to think the ground was really interesting at that moment as Will glared at the side of his head. “Urgh, whatever,” he finally groaned and threw Nico’s arm away from his body. “You keep your hands off my boyfriend, Percy Jackson,” the demigod threatened before turning to Nico, giving him a warning look with very little heat behind the action. “Have fun, okay? No looting or pillaging while you're out.”
Nico rolled his eyes but smiled. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Does that mean I can actually get out of this costume?” Annabeth pleaded, already snatching the wig off her head.
“Sure Wise Girl, I release you.”
“You’re the best Nico,” she praised, seeming far too relieved for Percy’s liking.
“Yeah, your freedom at the cost of my date,” Will grumbled. Annabeth just stuck her tongue out at him.
“Well, if there's nothing else you need to do,” Nico drawled expectantly. When Percy confirmed that he was ready to go with a brief nod Nico smirked and dusted off his jacket, “then I guess we should get going.”
Now walking through the camp with Nico in tow, Percy received even more were looks but now they seemed directed mostly towards Nico since his weird actions couldn't be chalked up to a tally of any significant proportion. When Percy did things that were typically out of the ordinary it was on a much more lenient metric given that the son of Poseidon’s general nature and behavior were often out of the ordinary. Nico on the other hand was mostly normal, if a little intimidating. His being dressed as a fictional cartoon pirate was a sight to behold for anyone who knew him nowadays. However, the son of Hades seemed to not only not care about the stares they got but seemed completely uncharacteristically excited to be spending the day cosplaying as a pirate alongside his OG favourite seaman of all time. And honeslty, Percy felt exactly the same.