o5 ♆ video

[kelpful]

[Percy is firmly established in Annabeth's suite again. He's frowning absently at the screen, almost like he's totally forgotten what he was going to say. Instead of words, you get the steady pop pop pop of him messing around with a sheet of bubblewrap in front of him. From the right angle, he appears to be popping it in the shape of a sword. Or a stick. Or maybe just a line.

All of a sudden, his hands stop. He glances at the camera like he's just remembered that it's on, and opens his mouth. Shuts it. Open it again] Hey, I think...I'm seventeen now.

[There's a brief moment of silence before a wide grin breaks out across his face. He laughs, and there's a certain relief in the sound.] Not bad for someone who wasn't supposed to make it past sixteen, huh? Oh man, how did I miss this?

[He leans in towards the screen intently, a certain determination stealing his features. Percy's ADHD brain has caught onto an idea, and it is Extremely Important that it be addressed Right Now] Okay, I know that things are really tight and tense right now for everyone, but this is...well, it's important. Or at least, it'd mean a lot to me. Does anyone know where I could get my hands on some blue food dye? Or like, something that dyes...food...blue.

[That's the same thing, Percy.] I can pay. Or, I don't know, blast you with salt water. I guess no one really wants to swim in the canals right now. [Briefly his expression falls, reminded of what he sees as his failure in trying to save the Water Sector] But yeah, if anyone knows where I could get some, that'd be great.

Comments

[video]

[angermanaging]

[He's mostly responding because this is coming from Annabeth's console, and he's curious after his one conversation with her. But this is also basic chemistry stuff, so Bruce does happen to know the answer.]

I don't know if you can buy it anywhere, but. If you boil chopped red cabbage and add some baking soda to the resulting water, it's a pretty effective blue food dye.

... And, uh, happy birthday.

[video]

[kelpful]

[Percy blinks] Red cabbage makes blue dye?

You know that makes no sense, right?

[His grin rockets back] Thanks!

action

[sophos]

[It's the bubble wrap that gets her attention first, cutting into her focus though the suite, and she sends an unseen glare in Percy's direction. Then he starts rambling and she's listening and she sits for a few minutes after he finishes before making her way into the living room.]

[And yanking the bubble wrap from his hands.] You're getting too old for that; it might hurt your delicate senior fingers.

[It was mostly just annoying her but this is better.]

action

[kelpful]

[Percy jumps, making a grab for the bubble wrap before realising what's happening.] Put me down before I'm ever too old for bubble wrap, okay?

video;

[fatedchaos]

Welcome to the club. [The one where you weren't sure if you were ever going to make it to seventeen.] I mean, happy birthday. Belated birthday?

video;

[kelpful]

[Percy raises his eyebrows a little.] You too, huh? [But he won't dwell on it if she wants to move on] Thanks! Belated, I think. I'm not exactly sure when it happened, just that it probably should have by now.

[riseto]

Blue food dye.

[kelpful]

[Percy nods. He's in a generally good mood, but there's nothing indicating that this request is a joke] Uh huh. You know where I could get some?

[Video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

Happy birthday. [He smiles.] Not bad at all. You weren't supposed to make it past sixteen?

And uhh, sorry but I don't have any food dyes. [He rubs the back of his neck.] Ever since the rationing started, I haven't seen a lot of shelves stocked with anything but the essentials.

[Video]

[kelpful]

Thanks, man. [He pauses for a second, before nodding, trying to play it off lightly] Yeah, prophecies are a thing where I'm from. One of them kind of hinged on my sixteenth birthday.

[He nods] It's cool, I figured that'd be the case. I'll keep looking!

audio; anonymous location

[andaway]

[Kal's voice sounds amused as he replies.]

Congratulations, Percy. Seventeen is quite the age. I'm afraid I can't help you with the coloring right now, but I will keep an eye around in case I find some.

audio;

[kelpful]

Hey, thanks! For the congratulations and for keeping an eye out, I mean. If nothing else, I was talking to a guy who knows how to make it from scratch.

audio;

[wintershepherd]

[ Voice feed only because Jack still looks awful, but the cheer in his voice is genuine. ]

Happy birthday, Percy! Never doubt you can prove people wrong on stuff like that.

Food dye, huh? Dare I ask?

audio;

[kelpful]

Thanks, Jack! And...yeah, I've kind of made a career out of doing that.

Surprisingly enough, I really just want it for food. It's a thing, with me and my mom.

video;

[demon_brat]

[Caaaarefully.]

Not supposed to reach past a certain age would be complicated to deal with.

[... though no 'happy birthday' from him, that one's too complicated for him to say it. Or wish it.]

video;

[kelpful]

Tell me about it. Especially when like, every monster in the world is trying to stop you from even making it that far. We did it, though.

action!

[fotia]

[He may have less metals to work with than usual because of the rationing, but a bro is still a bro and it's Percy's birthday, or was, or something like that.

And Leo's bad at gifts, really, plus he has no idea where he could get blue food dye, so all he does build a tiny metal seagull no larger than his hand. It can fly and it doesn't eat or poop, and in his opinion that is way better than a real seagull. (It spits out water too, but he's going to let Percy discover that particular feature on his own.)

He heads to Annabeth's house and swings the door open. (One day he will learn to knock, he swears.)]

Hey, Ocean Jesus! I've got something for you.

action!

[kelpful]

Dude. [Percy is standing and has Riptide out by the time Leo steps over the threshold. Shaking his head, he caps the sword, tucking it back into his pocket] Seriously, learn to knock.

[A beat, as he processes what Leo actually said. He blinks, wandering closer curiously] You didn't have to do that.

video

[onefouroneseven]

[ Soranik recognizes Annabeth's suite, but definitely not the kid talking. Obviously a friend, and anyone who she trusts gets a margin of respect from her. ]

A medical condition? [ Regarding the fact he's not supposed to live past sixteen. ] As for the dye, I am unable to help or offer a reasonable substitute.

video

[kelpful]

What? Oh, the - no, not really. Something else that's turning out to be just as chronic, though. [He nods, trying not to look too crestfallen] It's cool, I knew it was a bit of a stretch. I'll try the homemade stuff if I have to.

[notdreaming]

Happy Birthday, Percy! If I'd known I would have gotten you something.

[kelpful]

Thanks, Kara! It's cool, I don't really need anything. Maybe keep an eye out for the food dye, if you can?

[chiot]

Y'never make it past 16? Sounds like a buncha people talkin' bout me. I'm gonna be 17, too. I'm already 12 again, huh? I can be 17 for the first time even if I'm dead. Right?

[ wow did that even make sense WHATEVER ]

Whatcha need dye for?

[kelpful]

[What this kid is dead what that's not okay what. Percy's expression steels for a moment before he can tug on an easy smile] Hey, if I can do it, you can do it. [TINY CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE DEAD.

The smile softens a little] Cake.

audio.

[queenoftheseas]

Happy belated birthday. I would give you a gift if I had anything. Unless of course you want a trinket from a sunken city. I'm sorry I can't be much use beyond that.

audio.

[kelpful]

Thanks, Mera. [He pauses for a second, because gifts aren't necessary, but sunken cities] You were checking out things underwater around landfall, right?

video; laaaaate!

[justlittle]

Happy birthday? [That's what you're supposed to do, right? Wish people a happy birthday when they say they've gained another year.] I just had one myself. [Sort of.]

video; never!!!

[kelpful]

[He blinks, trying to decide if he recognises this kid] Thanks? Uh, I mean - thanks. [It's not a question, Jackson] How old did you turn?