Mortals meet Percabeth (and others)

Jiper Meet: Riley Collins

Gender fluid represention for those that need it (along with a bunch of other things like aromatic and mental health issues) I don't know if you've noticed but I've tried to add more diverse characters because even though Rick did a lot for LGBT+ people and other minorities, his potrayals were sometimes harmful and I'm trying to fix that, but if you see anything damaging please let me know and I'll fix it

This is not a critism of the authour or the world that he created, I love PJO and all the other books, they helped me when I was going through a hard time I'm simply stating a fact so please don't attack me. I love you all

We can love something and still criticize it, so leave a comment on what you don't like about the Riordan verse and I'll respond to as many as I can

***

Riley Collins 

MIST:

School was going okay for once, I don't know why but today I didn't feel the need to bang my head against the desk anytime a class or teacher was making and I actually passed my test today which my mom will be pleased about since she knows with my mental health feeling like a leech and draining me of all my energy I couldn't really focus on my work or studying 

That's the thing about depression, it sucks at you until you only have one emotion left and then suddenly you don't really care anymore but you don't want to die either. You are kind of stuck in this go-between that nobody really understands and all everyone wants you to do is smile! But don't they think I've already tried but actually today was an okay day

Until I felt my body collide with someone and went down to the ground.

"Oh, my Gods!" A girl with pretty coloured eyes and light brown skin that accented her features yelped. She looked really pretty as her hands fly up to cover her mouth "I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going. I was rushing to meet my boyfriend. We were going for coffee you see and--"

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. It's all good. See I'm alright, no broken bones" I tell her as a get to my feet gesturing to myself and she laughs which makes me return the smile

"You're really fun and don't take this the wrong way but I'm glad I ran into you, you seem like a really funny girl and I know my friends would get on with you" The girl with the pretty eyes comments and I smile but stiffen slightly at the girl comment. My smile turning slightly sour and the girl immediately notices, her eyes narrowing slightly "What did I say something wrong?"

I hang my head a little and start to bite the inside of my cheek, a habit that has left my cheek feeling raw and sore in the last few years as well as the constant sores in my mouth  I get "No...Well the girl comment just makes me feel uncomfortable I'm kind of a girl but I'm also a boy and well today my body decided it wants to be a boy"

"Oh that's cool and I'm so--"

"Please don't say you're sorry, it's fine you didn't know"

"Oh yeah you'll definitely fit in with my friends"

"I don't really have any friends so I don't know..."

"Why not? You're gorgeous"

Blushing my head drops further in embarrassment, and I stumble over my words as my first reaction was to deny whatever compliment was thrown my way "Oh no, no, no I'm not"

"I'm Piper," The girl says, as she sticks her hand out.

I shake her head "Riley. Nice to meet you"

She smiled in my direction, it was a dazzling smile and it seemed to make her even prettier and that smile reminded me of something. Was she on the cover of a magazine or something? That face...That name Piper...That face...Piper...Piper...Piper McLean

"You're Piper McLean" I exclaim, recognition lighting up my eyes

It was her turn to turn red and she immediately narrowed her eyes at me "So what? I should have known that you were only talking to me to get my money. You know what forget about it, I thought we could become friends, but obviously not"

"That's not what this is!" I exclaim, holding my hands up in the air to show her I was no threat to her, and her face relaxed a little but her eyes were still narrowed "I'm sorry, I wasn't meaning to offend you, I was just suprised that's all"

"No, no, it's fine. I'm just no used to people talking to me because they generally want to usually it's because they want to meet "

"Well, I'm not like them!"

"I know you aren't I'm just used to it"

"You don't have to worry about me okay?"

"Hey, Pipes!" A voice calls catching our attention and Piper and I both spin on our heels seeing a blonde guy with glasses halfway down his nose coming towards us and Piper sprints the rest of the way to meet him before capturing in a hug and then dragging him back towards all the while he was muttering things in his ear "--When you didn't come out I was worried that you were having mo--problems" 

I frowned thinking it was weird that he cut himself off halfway through a word but I didn't comment, after all, who was I to complain they probably wanted to have a silent conversation without people listening in and used code words. I knew I did that some times when I was talking to my therapist if I didn't want my mom listening in. We had a pretty open relationship with each other, but she was my mom still and there were somethings I'd rather not tell her

My therapist says it's important to have boundaries 

Looking relieved that I'd not said anything about the slip-up, Piper turns from her boyfriend (by the looks of things) and back towards me, arching an eyebrow at how I had begun twiddling my fingers bored of waiting for the whole two minutes "Anyway, Jason this is Riley. I just met her today, when I bumped into her and Riley this is Jason. My boyfriend."

"Cool. Nice to meet you" 

"Nice to meet you too"

Just like I had done with Piper I shook Jason's hand but I pulled back when an electric shock went through my hand and looked up to Jason to see him looking apologetic. Why was he looking at me like that? It wasn't like he caused it

"Piper, you ready for our date? Remember what Brunner said, we can't stay out long"

"I know" Piper sighed, looking wistfully at Jason

I fake gag and begin to walk away "Well since your in your own little lovey-dovey world. I'm going to leave because love is for suckers. Seriously I don't understand relationships at all, being single is the best way to be"

"I told you she'd fit in with our group. See you tomorrow Riley!"

"Yeah, sure!" I reply uncertainly not knowing whether tomorrow would be as good as today.