IDK why but I headcanon that Demi-gods look better than the Normal Human/Mortal
Or that When people (Mortal or Demi-God) first Meet Percy They do double takes and are Shook by his appearance and how attractive he is which is why people think he is a god or looks like one
I think demigods, in general, just have more unique features to them. (Unique hair or eyes since their morphology reflects a part of their godly DNA as well)
After all it's not said enough how much half godly DNA affects them really.
But we know it gives them enhanced physical abilities, so it's only natural that their appearance is better than most mortals.
Demigods certainly have a more alluring presence and unique facial features (eyes, hair .etc) due to their half godly nature.
Though really, I think it's more of a case of who the godly parent is more so than demigod children of all gods.
I mean, children of Ares have rather rugged and fierce features that aren't conventionally attractive .
Children of Aphrodite have strangely ethereal sense to their beauty, which might not always come from their appearance, but due to their attitude or voice or other features.
Children of Athena have only their unique grey eyes and so on.
Percy, however, is something else. He resembles Poseidon extremely closely as has been stated by literally everyone at this point and that no other demigod resembles their godly parent as much as Percy resembles Poseidon. It's another one of Amazing Percy things.
Another theory might be the stronger the demigod, the closer their appearance to that of a God. And we know Percy's the strongest, so it goes without saying that all big three children, especially Percy, look more exceptional or godly than others .
But I fully believe in the fact that demigods have such a unique presence that when mortals meet them they are struck by something a bit otherworldly that they can't exactly put a finger on (not necessarily their appearance) which makes humans a bit uneasy in presence of demigods.
The reason this theory works is because over the span of two series we see demigods go among mortals many times but their's not so much as a strong reaction to their appearance as it is to their presence so this is my best theory so far.
So let's headcanon that demigods have such a commanding presence or divine allure to them it makes people do double takes and makes them uneasy ( which may not always have something to do with their appearance but that can be a factor too)
Listen, I read your post about Percy's strategic genius and I thought something.
Percy, Sally, and the entire Jackson family are descendants of Odysseus.
Sally is also damn smart, just look at how she competently got rid of Gabe and remained in full advantage.
And that is why how Athena treats Percy in this way.
He is a descendant of her beloved mortal, so similar to him in his mind and the son of her sworn rival, who tormented this very mortal and prevented him from returning home.
You seriously have no idea how GENIUS that headcanon is like holy hell the sheer depth it adds to everything is insane.
1. Athena begrudgingly guiding Percy in Titan's Curse, getting extreme deja vu (God's probably get that a lot) from the situation and how conflicting she gets over the mortal that is Perseus Jackson for his uncanny resemblance to Odysseus when it comes to his wit and his personality minus strangely the hubris.
Despite her disdain for him out of some strange loyalty, she tells him of his fatal flaw and how it would endanger him.
She let's her loathing for Poseidon get the best of her in Titan's Curse and votes to kill Percy and Thalia but Percy like Odysseus has both the wit and achievements she can't overlook despite her desperate intentions to and hence in the Last Olympian she acknowledges in her own subtle way that Percy is the greatest demigod of this age. That he's saved both the world and his friends.
2. Annabeth proud and confident as ever would be flabbergasted that Percy who she despite her supposed love for him undermines him almost always when it comes to his intelligence finds out that her mother has acknowledged Percy for his strategic mind and that he is the descendant of her mother's most favored mortal ever. (Maybe just maybe it will tone her hubris down a notch and then some, and if we are really lucky, a reality check)
3. Percy would laugh, probably shrug at the revelation. After all, stuff like that makes no difference to him.
4. But I can imagine if Sally knew beforehand about it, then how much hell must she have given Poseidon over it and probably still finds it to be a hilarious coincidence .
5. To Poseidon himself, it must have struck as an agonizing coincidence, but for the better, because for all of Poseidon's flaws, he loves his own intensely. His godly children, his monstrous children, his demigod children, and Percy, he loves most out of them all by his own words and he loves him so in some strange manner for the same humanity he scorned Odysseus for having.
Sally must have made him see the error of his ways, and even Poseidon for his quick temper would be loathe to not change his opinions on mercy then. (If the Queen among mortals tells you, you listen)
All in all, everything that happened in the Odyssey with Poseidon Odysseus and Athena would have come to a good closure with this.
That a millenia later by strange set of circumstances Athena and Poseidon begrudgingly acknowledged the folly in their perspectives from the times of Odyssey all because Poseidon met Sally Jackson and sired a demigod child who by a twist only the fates could make up turned out to be the descendant of Odysseus himself. (I reckon the fates must be cackling in glee at the whole thing)
PS: Hermes is having a blast with this news of Percy's ancestry.
No, but seriously, you have given me more pjo brainrot. (Now I hope this keeps you awake like it does me)
And on that note, Percy would totally canonly be the biggest fan of Epic the Musical, lol.
I have a feeling I am not going to stop talking about this now.