Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-1515612-20140124040605/@comment-5471249-20140429041707

Well, Sayuri, I never said that Nico is VERY effeminate, just how Piper is not VERY masculine! And, I'm sure that we are about the same age.

After all, while she isn't obsessed with makeup and beauty, Piper still maintains good hygiene and etiquette, worthy of any girly girl. Also, she freaks out many more times than any you would expect of a tomboy (especially in The Lost Hero), and does not punch her friends, even playfully (another thing a tomboy might do). So, Piper is not stereotypical, and has some girly girl traits.

As for Nico...No, I am not closed minded, I have gay male friends, and most of them are somewhat feminine... So, I really appreciate the fact that Rick did not make him into a "stereotypical gay boy": obsessed with pink, perfume, makeup, and shopping... Heck, some of us never would have thought that the fearsome and terrifying Nico is actually gay... the reason he doesn't act feminine most of the time is because he's very ashamed of being gay, and yes, he does have many masculine traits (heck, he's an incredible warrior!)...However, here's a rare moment of Nico acting feminine (from The Last Olympian): 'Suddenly I burst out of the river. I collapsed on the sand, and Nico scrambled back in surprise. " Are you okay ?" he stammered. " Your skin. Oh, gods. You're hurt! "' While I understand that this is Percy, the love of his life, Nico's reaction here is feminine, and something I would expect Annabeth to say... If Nico was more masculine, he would say: "Percy, are you okay? Come on, man, you're making me worried here."

Overall, though, Piper is a somewhat masculine girl, and Nico is a somewhat feminine boy, which still makes them polar opposites, even though neither of them are overboard and stereotypical (which I really appreciate!!!).