"Whoa, whoa, whoa, time out, time out!" Tobias barged his way forward, hands forming a T. Alvie just stared at him. "Get rid of your autism? Firstly, what the frick? Secondly, what the actual frick? You can't do that! It's part of you, Alvie, it's in your head!" Tobias argued, bouncing a palm off his temple. "Are you crazy? And that's coming from me, I'm literally the embodiment of crazy, what the frick?"

"Will you stop saying frick?" Max cut across hotly.

"I'm not allowed to swear, Mom tells me off!"

"And since when has that stopped you?" Annabeth countered. "Alvie, your brother's right. I never thought I'd say that, but he's right. You can't just get rid of your autism, it's a life-long condition, it's a big part of who you are!"

"Well, it's not very helpful and I don't like it." A disgruntled look came over Alvie's features. Crystal butted Tobias out the way, smacking her hands down on the table, capturing his full attention. Eyes wide, startled, like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

"Hypothetically speaking," she said as calmly as she could, "how?"

"Like Tobias said, it's in my head. You just... rewrite it."

"Rewrite it?" Crystal frowned. Alvie nodded, toying with his hands under the table, head bowed. "You've well and truly lost it." She told him, pushing a hand through her hair and then plonking her elbows on the table, still standing. "Alvie, look. Let's just say, for arguement's sake, you do rewrite your autism or whatever, have you even thought about what you'd be like without it?" His shoulders hunched defensively. "For all we know, you could be the biggest jerk ever, you could turn into a Republican, I mean, seriously. You could be the next Trump-"

"Or I could be me."

"No. It doesn't work like that, you doofus." She flicked him in the head. "It's something you were born with, why do you want to get rid of it?" He looked down again. Crystal turned an exasperated, imploring look on his parents. "Alvie, autism isn't a bad thing. It's not!" She insisted when he shook his head. "OK, so maybe you can't keep eye contact or focus or respond to questions or get jokes, so, so what? Be serious!"

"I am!" Crystal did a double-take and he flushed crimson, hiding his face again.

"Alvie," His mother took Crystal's place, folding her arms on the surface and resting her head on them, "we don't understand. Why do you want to do this?" Alvie said nothing. "Don't tell me you're still worried about not being like them?" She gestured to her eldest two. "Be honest, Alvie, do you really want to be like them? You shush." She glowered at Tobias. "That one is a complete nutcase, I don't even know anymore, and Max isn't much better, he's just a different kind of nut."

"You're a walnut."

"Yeah and you're a doughnut." Max shoved his brother away. "Alvie, you're just as bad, this is insane! We wouldn't have stuck up for you all those years if you hadn't meant something, do you honestly think- oh wait, I know where this is going. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but you think your autism is a cause for trouble, worry, etc. etc. And if you didn't have it anymore-"

"Then you'll be able to help, not only yourself, but others as well." Tobias continued. "Holy cow, why didn't we see this coming? Alvie, you dunderhead! You can protect yourself just fine, you're like some brain ninja, you snap your fingers and they're your puppets, you throw trucks, actual, full-size trucks, with your mind!" Tobias jabbed his fingers into the side of his head. Are you seriously saying you're not capable of being- ooh, there's something else to this. You're not normal."

"Says you!" Crystal hissed.

"No, no, no. Alvie's always wanted to be like us, right? I reckon, to him, we're, you know, demigod-legacy type deals, we can venture out of your shadow here and there." He said to his parents. "But, bro," Tobias smiled at Alvie, "you're missing the point. You throw trucks. We can't. You could say 'boo' and everyone will run screaming, you throw trucks-"

"I think he's got that one." Nico sighed, flicking through one of Joy's magazines.

"Can you not?" Tobias pulled a face at his uncle. Nico started mimicking him under his breath- meh meh meh, meh meh, meh meh meh- but didn't interrupt again. Tobias rolled his eyes and pulled up a chair, sitting on it backwards, leaning forward so the back of it graced the table edge. "Alvie, look at me, bro. You know I'm not lying, you can tell when people are lying, you know the truth probably even before they do. You're awesome, way more awesome than those old timers," He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at Percy and Annabeth, "don't tell them I said that though, OK? I don't think Dad's heart can take it."

"I will end you."

"Gods, Dad, so sensitive." Tobias faced Alvie again. "But... what in all the realms possessed you to think you'd be better without your autism? You don't need to better, you don't need to change." Tobias smiled warmly. "You're the least annoying of all my siblings, even if you do confuse the hell out of me. But... I think you've come the furthest of all of us. Look at you, say, ten-ish years ago. Wouldn't say boo to a goose. Now you can control the goose and all his goosey friends and... I don't know, steal all the bread in the world, if you so wish." Tobias shrugged. "Although, I've heard you're not supposed to feed them bread, but that's off topic." He waved his hands and grinned broadly. "You're badass, Alvie, and I've got the camera to prove it. Well, you've got the camera to prove it, but imma gonna find it."

Alvie stayed quiet. Tobias watched him patiently, a small smile on his lips, arms crossed on the back of the chair.

"It's alright for you to say that." He eventually mumbled. Tobias raised a brow, smile dimming. "You've always been able to look after yourself. You weren't the victim." Tobias bit the inside of his lip, grey on grey. "You knew who you were. What you were capable of, you and Max. I... wasn't like that, I..."

"Ugh." Max huffed. "You were a dumbass, stupid, weak, pathetic, not a son of the heroes of Olympus, yada yada yada. Yeah, we get it. But you weren't. Those were just bullies being bullies and... certain words I'm probably not allowed to say. You're not a dumbass, you never were. You're kind of acting like one now though, gods above, just don't, OK?"

"Hold up." Percy cut in. He wore a funny look, having assessed the situation, but not sure what to do with the conclusion rattling around in his head. "Alvie, just to recap- there's someone that can remake autism or whatever it was you said?" Alvie nodded mutely. "Don't take this wrong way, buddy, I love you to bits, but it's your head we're talking about here, your autism." He looked to his wife. "Don't you think Alvie should decide what's best for him?" Annabeth hesitated.

"Well, yeah, but-"

"Then how 'bout we compromise?" Louisa added, cottoning on. "Don't get rid of it. Put... put like a lid or somethin' on it, do a trial run of non-autistic Alvie. That's a thing, right? Can ya do that?" Alvie nodded again.

"Then that settles it." Percy decided with a smile. "You go and find whoever it is that can help you, do this trial run thing and, whatever happens, we'll be here for you. We're family, Alvie, we stick together."

"Now wait a cotton picking minute," Crystal said furiously, "what if this is some nutjob to try and control Alvie? I'm all for him doing this trial run, but the last thing we need is someone messing with his head!"

"I was thinking that too." Annabeth admitted. "But... it seems worth taking the risk for though. Doesn't it?" A silent conversation flowed between her husband and his sister. Louisa nodded, setting off a series of nods from everyone present. Percy smiled and faced his wife again. Annabeth, reassured, moved to Alvie's side, smoothing his hair back. "OK. Try it for a while, a couple of weeks, whatever, you pick. And... if it really feels right for you, we'll... we'll stand by and let you. Well, not let exactly, but you understand, right?" Alvie nodded, brightening. Annabeth hugged. "Just take Crystal this time, yeah? If she keeps glaring at you like that, I think you're head will explode."

"Can I have camera back before it does then?"

"Tobias!"

"Oh right. You go, bro! Woo! But I still want my camera back." Tobias beamed sweetly. Alvie snapped his fingers and the blessed camera was back in its owner's hands. "Oh my gods, I've missed you, multi-million dollar boxbuster, aaah..." He sighed dreamily. "Thanks, bro." Annabeth pulled Alvie to his feet. Crystal stomped around the table and hugged him fiercely.

"For the record, I still think you're a doofus. But, if I get to go somewhere exotic, I suppose it'll be fun. And, you know, I'll be there for moral support and whatnot. Go Alvie." She waved imaginary foam fingers and smiled. "Just to warn you though, if you start acting like a total grade A jerk, I'm drop-kicking you off the nearest cliff."