A few friends and I were at Wala last night discussing the worst 10 words ever invented in the EL dictionary. Which I thought was an interesting topic.
We went one round and shared our personal worst words.
1) Paradigm. You've gotta read Dilbert by Scott Adams to appreciate this. Even the word that usually comes after that, 'shift', is more useful. What the fuck's paradigm anyway? It's anything you want it to be. Use it, and immediately you sound more impressive than you really are.
Example:
Education is a paradigm where BLAH BLAH BLAH.
The company is experiencing a paradigm shift. (Meaning: We're downsizing, getting rid of a few morons.)
2) BLAH BLAH BLAH: If you know something, say it. If not, shut up. Why use BLAH? OR YADA? Or etc? Or et al?
3) Fine. A fine 4 letter f word that has been badly mangled, mostly by the female species in our society to mean something meaner than what it was supposed to mean.
Example:
You're not fucking me tonight? Fine. (Meaning: I'm finding someone else to fuck.)
4) Think-out-of-the-box. This is of course more like a phrase than word. It used by people who fail to look at things from your point of view, so they want to make you look stupid when they themselves are the ones who can't think out of the box.
Example: Killing your 2-year-old baby now is the only way out of your financial woes, my friend. Why can't you think out of the box a bit?
5) Weird. A word that people use on me often. I hate it when they do it cos it's an excuse they use for not understanding what I'm thinking. It's also a subtle hint to indicate that they somehow don't agree with my unconventional lifestyle. I mean, notice how they don't use better words like 'unique' or 'special'.
Example: Iceman, you're fucking weird, man. I mean, what kind of human being are you anyway? (Meaning: You loser. Kiss my arse.)
6) Strategic. Often a word to cover up for 'scheming'.
Example:
Getting yourself promoted by sucking your bosses' cock is a strategic move. (Meaning: Backstab your way to the top. It's the only way.)
7) Seem. It's a terrible word, if you catch my drift. It means you're really not sure of the facts. Just last night, an old friend was nice enough to recommend me to a kid for tuition and said this: Iceman seems to be a good English teacher as his students follow him.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I am eternally grateful to her for her recommendation as I did manage to clinch the deal. If not for her lies, my dwindling bank account would not have been boosted, if only by just a bit. However. What does she mean exactly when she says my kids follow me? Are they fucking stalkers?
8) Apparently. Another useless word that's used when people don't know what else to say. A kind of filler. If it's so apparent, why do you need to say it in the first place?
Example: Apparently, Obama died. Wait, or is it Osama? (Duh.)
9) Awesome. This used to be a good word, but our teenagers have cheapened the word to make it mean a lot less awesome than it used to be.
Example:
I managed to find an empty seat in a crowded MRT train. It was an awesome experience.
Honestly, what the fuck's wrong with our kids nowadays? Has their depth of experience, or lack of it, been deadened by mindless computer screens in this technological age?
10) Nice. Everything is nice. Iceman is a nice man. That doesn't say anything, does it? Why can't they choose better adjectives to describe me? Like awesome?
I can think of more words, but these are the ones I can come up with so far. I'm sure this list will expand as I go along in this blog entry. Sir, any more suggestions?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Son of Neptune Part 4
“There has to be a way,” she said.
“Don’t Amazons have ... special powers or something?”
“No more than other demigods,” Hylla said.
“We can die, just like any mortal.
There is a group of archers who follow the goddess Artemis.
They are often mistaken for Amazons, but the Hunters forsake
the company of men in exchange for almost endless life.
We Amazons — we would prefer to live life to the fullest.
We love, we fight, we die.”
~~ page 370
He’d seen the Underworld firsthand.
He had felt what it was like to sit forever doing nothing,
just regretting your mistakes.
He’d looked up at those creepy goldmasks on the judges of the dead
and realized that he would stand before them someday, maybe very soon.
~~ page 388
“Life is only precious because it ends, kid. Take it from a god.
You mortals don’t know how lucky you are.”
~~ page 406
Mars shrugged. “Every hero has a fatal flaw.
Percy Jackson? He’s too loyal to his friends.
He can’t give them up, not for anything.
He was told that, years ago.
And someday soon, he’s going to face a sacrifice he can’t make.
Without you, Frank — without your sense of duty — he’s going to fail.
The whole war will go sideways, and Gaea will destroy our world.”
Frank shook his head. He couldn’t hear this.
“War is a duty,” Mars continued. “The only real choice
is whether you accept it, and what you fight for.”
~~ page 407
“Don’t Amazons have ... special powers or something?”
“No more than other demigods,” Hylla said.
“We can die, just like any mortal.
There is a group of archers who follow the goddess Artemis.
They are often mistaken for Amazons, but the Hunters forsake
the company of men in exchange for almost endless life.
We Amazons — we would prefer to live life to the fullest.
We love, we fight, we die.”
~~ page 370
He’d seen the Underworld firsthand.
He had felt what it was like to sit forever doing nothing,
just regretting your mistakes.
He’d looked up at those creepy goldmasks on the judges of the dead
and realized that he would stand before them someday, maybe very soon.
~~ page 388
“Life is only precious because it ends, kid. Take it from a god.
You mortals don’t know how lucky you are.”
~~ page 406
Mars shrugged. “Every hero has a fatal flaw.
Percy Jackson? He’s too loyal to his friends.
He can’t give them up, not for anything.
He was told that, years ago.
And someday soon, he’s going to face a sacrifice he can’t make.
Without you, Frank — without your sense of duty — he’s going to fail.
The whole war will go sideways, and Gaea will destroy our world.”
Frank shook his head. He couldn’t hear this.
“War is a duty,” Mars continued. “The only real choice
is whether you accept it, and what you fight for.”
~~ page 407
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Son of Neptune Part 3
“When you were born, he was so pleased and proud.
He promised me anything. He swore on the River Styx.
I asked for all the riches he had.
He warned me the greediest wishes cause the greatest sorrows.
But I insisted. I imagined living like a queen — the wife of a god!
And you ... you received the curse.”
~~ page 234 - 235
You were born with too many gifts.
That sort of power tends to burn out a mortal life.
~~ page 275
“What do you want?”
“I don’t have any choice,” Frank said.
“I’m the son of the stupid war god. I have to go on this quest and ...”
“Have to,” Iris said. “Not want to. I used to think like that.
Then I got tired of being everyone’s servant.
Fetch goblets of wine for Jupiter. Deliver letters for Juno.
Send messages back and forth
across the rainbow for anyone with a golden drachma.”
“A golden what?”
“Not important. But I learned to let go. I started R.O.F.L.,
and now I’m free of that baggage. You can let go, too.
Maybe you can’t escape fate.
Someday that piece of wood will burn.
I foresee that you’ll be holding it when it happens,
and your life will end ...”
“Thanks,” Frank muttered.
“... but that just makes your life more precious!
You don’t have to be what your parents and your grandmother expect.
You don’t have to follow the war god’s orders, or Juno’s.
Do your own thing, Frank! Find a new path!”
Frank thought about that. The idea was thrilling:
reject the gods, his destiny, his dad.
He didn’t want to be a war god’s son. His mother had died in a war.
Frank had lost everything thanks to a war.
Mars clearly didn’t know the first thing about him.
Frank didn’t want to be a hero.
“Why are you telling me this?” he asked.
“You want me to abandon the quest, let Camp Jupiter be destroyed?
My friends are counting on me.”
Iris spread her hands. “I can’t tell you what to do, Frank.
But do what you want, not what they tell you to do.
Where did conforming ever get me?
I spent five millennia serving everyone else,
and I never discovered my own identity.
What’s my sacred animal? No one bothered to give me one.
Where are my temples? They never made any. Well, fine!
I’ve found peace here at the co-op.
You could stay with us, if you want. Become a ROFLcopter.”
“A what, now?”
“The point is you have options.
If you continue this quest ... what happens when you free Thanatos?
Will it be good for your family? Your friends?”
Frank tried to imagine staying here with Iris,
putting on a R.O.F.L. shirt,
selling crystals and dream catchers to demigod travelers
and lobbing gluten-free cupcake simulations at passing monsters.
Meanwhile, an undying army would overrun Camp Jupiter.
You can be anything, his mother had said.
No, he thought. I can’t be that selfish.
“I have to go,” he said. “It’s my job.”
~~ page 278 - 280
“Don’t lose hope, Frank.
Rainbows always stand for hope.”
~~ page 283
“I can’t foresee the outcome. Annoying how that works.
A completely unexpected gamble ... it makes the future cloudy.
But I can tell you this, Percy Jackson ... a bit of free advice.
If you survive today, you’re not going to like your future.
A big sacrifice is coming, and you won’t have the courage to make it.
That will cost you dearly. It will cost the world dearly.
It might be easier if you just choose the poison.”
Percy’s mouth tasted like Iris’s sour green tea.
He wanted to think the old man was just psyching him out,
but something told him the prediction was true.
He remembered Juno’s warning
when he’d chosen to go to Camp Jupiter:
You will feel pain, misery, and loss beyond anything you’ve ever known.
But you might have a chance to save your old friends and family.
~~ page 330
He promised me anything. He swore on the River Styx.
I asked for all the riches he had.
He warned me the greediest wishes cause the greatest sorrows.
But I insisted. I imagined living like a queen — the wife of a god!
And you ... you received the curse.”
~~ page 234 - 235
You were born with too many gifts.
That sort of power tends to burn out a mortal life.
~~ page 275
“What do you want?”
“I don’t have any choice,” Frank said.
“I’m the son of the stupid war god. I have to go on this quest and ...”
“Have to,” Iris said. “Not want to. I used to think like that.
Then I got tired of being everyone’s servant.
Fetch goblets of wine for Jupiter. Deliver letters for Juno.
Send messages back and forth
across the rainbow for anyone with a golden drachma.”
“A golden what?”
“Not important. But I learned to let go. I started R.O.F.L.,
and now I’m free of that baggage. You can let go, too.
Maybe you can’t escape fate.
Someday that piece of wood will burn.
I foresee that you’ll be holding it when it happens,
and your life will end ...”
“Thanks,” Frank muttered.
“... but that just makes your life more precious!
You don’t have to be what your parents and your grandmother expect.
You don’t have to follow the war god’s orders, or Juno’s.
Do your own thing, Frank! Find a new path!”
Frank thought about that. The idea was thrilling:
reject the gods, his destiny, his dad.
He didn’t want to be a war god’s son. His mother had died in a war.
Frank had lost everything thanks to a war.
Mars clearly didn’t know the first thing about him.
Frank didn’t want to be a hero.
“Why are you telling me this?” he asked.
“You want me to abandon the quest, let Camp Jupiter be destroyed?
My friends are counting on me.”
Iris spread her hands. “I can’t tell you what to do, Frank.
But do what you want, not what they tell you to do.
Where did conforming ever get me?
I spent five millennia serving everyone else,
and I never discovered my own identity.
What’s my sacred animal? No one bothered to give me one.
Where are my temples? They never made any. Well, fine!
I’ve found peace here at the co-op.
You could stay with us, if you want. Become a ROFLcopter.”
“A what, now?”
“The point is you have options.
If you continue this quest ... what happens when you free Thanatos?
Will it be good for your family? Your friends?”
Frank tried to imagine staying here with Iris,
putting on a R.O.F.L. shirt,
selling crystals and dream catchers to demigod travelers
and lobbing gluten-free cupcake simulations at passing monsters.
Meanwhile, an undying army would overrun Camp Jupiter.
You can be anything, his mother had said.
No, he thought. I can’t be that selfish.
“I have to go,” he said. “It’s my job.”
~~ page 278 - 280
“Don’t lose hope, Frank.
Rainbows always stand for hope.”
~~ page 283
“I can’t foresee the outcome. Annoying how that works.
A completely unexpected gamble ... it makes the future cloudy.
But I can tell you this, Percy Jackson ... a bit of free advice.
If you survive today, you’re not going to like your future.
A big sacrifice is coming, and you won’t have the courage to make it.
That will cost you dearly. It will cost the world dearly.
It might be easier if you just choose the poison.”
Percy’s mouth tasted like Iris’s sour green tea.
He wanted to think the old man was just psyching him out,
but something told him the prediction was true.
He remembered Juno’s warning
when he’d chosen to go to Camp Jupiter:
You will feel pain, misery, and loss beyond anything you’ve ever known.
But you might have a chance to save your old friends and family.
~~ page 330
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Son of Neptune Part 2
It was like Percy had faced death before,
like he knew about grief.
What mattered was listening.
You didn’t need to say you were sorry.
The only thing that helped was moving on — moving forward.
~~ page 133
“No power comes without a price, Fai,” she said.
“Before the goddess disappeared, she pointed at the fire and said,
‘He will be the strongest of your clan, and the greatest.
But the Fates have decreed he will also be the most vulnerable.
His life will burn bright and short.
As soon as that piece of tinder is consumed —
that stick at the edge of the fire —
your son is destined to die.’”
~~ page 142
“If left unchecked,” Mars continued,
“even mortals will eventually find it impossible to die.
Can you imagine a world in which no one dies — ever?”
Octavian raised his hand.
“But, ah, mighty all-powerful Lord Mars,
if we can’t die, isn’t that a good thing?
If we can stay alive indefinitely ...”
“Don’t be foolish, boy!” Mars bellowed.
“Endless slaughter with no conclusion?
Carnage without any point?
Enemies that rise again and again and can never be killed?
Is that what you want?”
“You’re the god of war,” Percy spoke up.
“Don’t you want endless carnage?”
Mars’s infrared goggles glowed brighter.
“Insolent, aren’t you? Perhaps I have fought you before.
I can understand why I’d want to kill you.
I’m the god of Rome, child.
I am the god of military might used for a righteous cause.
I protect the legions.
I am happy to crush my enemies underfoot, but I don’t fight without reason.
I don’t want war without end."
~~ page 168
“The point is, Percy, you are the real power on this quest.
You are a seasoned veteran. I’ve seen what you can do.
A son of Neptune wouldn’t be my first choice,
but if you return successfully from this mission,
the legion might be saved.
The praetorship will be yours for the taking.
Together, you and I could expand the power of Rome.
We could raise an army and find the Doors of Death,
crush Gaea’s forces once and for all.
You would find me a very helpful ... friend.”
She said that word like it could have several meanings,
and he could pick which one.
Percy’s feet started tapping on the floor, anxious to run.
“Reyna ... I’m honored, and all. Seriously.
But I’ve got a girlfriend.
And I don’t want power, or a praetorship.”
Percy was afraid he’d make her mad.
Instead she just raised her eyebrows.
“A man who turns down power?” she said.
“That’s not very Roman of you.
~~ page 208
They had the same aura of quiet power, plus a kind of sadness,
like they’d seen their destiny and knew it was only a matter of time
before they met a monster they couldn’t beat.
~~ page 224
like he knew about grief.
What mattered was listening.
You didn’t need to say you were sorry.
The only thing that helped was moving on — moving forward.
~~ page 133
“No power comes without a price, Fai,” she said.
“Before the goddess disappeared, she pointed at the fire and said,
‘He will be the strongest of your clan, and the greatest.
But the Fates have decreed he will also be the most vulnerable.
His life will burn bright and short.
As soon as that piece of tinder is consumed —
that stick at the edge of the fire —
your son is destined to die.’”
~~ page 142
“If left unchecked,” Mars continued,
“even mortals will eventually find it impossible to die.
Can you imagine a world in which no one dies — ever?”
Octavian raised his hand.
“But, ah, mighty all-powerful Lord Mars,
if we can’t die, isn’t that a good thing?
If we can stay alive indefinitely ...”
“Don’t be foolish, boy!” Mars bellowed.
“Endless slaughter with no conclusion?
Carnage without any point?
Enemies that rise again and again and can never be killed?
Is that what you want?”
“You’re the god of war,” Percy spoke up.
“Don’t you want endless carnage?”
Mars’s infrared goggles glowed brighter.
“Insolent, aren’t you? Perhaps I have fought you before.
I can understand why I’d want to kill you.
I’m the god of Rome, child.
I am the god of military might used for a righteous cause.
I protect the legions.
I am happy to crush my enemies underfoot, but I don’t fight without reason.
I don’t want war without end."
~~ page 168
“The point is, Percy, you are the real power on this quest.
You are a seasoned veteran. I’ve seen what you can do.
A son of Neptune wouldn’t be my first choice,
but if you return successfully from this mission,
the legion might be saved.
The praetorship will be yours for the taking.
Together, you and I could expand the power of Rome.
We could raise an army and find the Doors of Death,
crush Gaea’s forces once and for all.
You would find me a very helpful ... friend.”
She said that word like it could have several meanings,
and he could pick which one.
Percy’s feet started tapping on the floor, anxious to run.
“Reyna ... I’m honored, and all. Seriously.
But I’ve got a girlfriend.
And I don’t want power, or a praetorship.”
Percy was afraid he’d make her mad.
Instead she just raised her eyebrows.
“A man who turns down power?” she said.
“That’s not very Roman of you.
~~ page 208
They had the same aura of quiet power, plus a kind of sadness,
like they’d seen their destiny and knew it was only a matter of time
before they met a monster they couldn’t beat.
~~ page 224
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Son of Neptune Part 1
“Yes, a choice,” June said, as if she were in no hurry. “You could leave me here at the mercy of the gorgons and go to the ocean. You’d make it there safely, I guarantee. The gorgons will be quite happy to attack me and let you go. In the sea, no monster would bother you. You could begin a new life, live to a ripe old age, and escape a great deal of pain and misery that is in your future.”
Percy was pretty sure he wasn’t going to like the second option. “Or?”
“Or you could do a good deed for an old lady,” she said. “Carry me to the camp with you.”
“Carry you?” Percy hoped she was kidding.
Then June hiked up her skirts and showed him her swollen purple feet.
“I can’t get there by myself,” she said. “Carry me to camp because ... it’s a kindness!” she said. “And if you don’t, the gods will die, the world we know will perish, and everyone from your old life will be destroyed. Of course, you wouldn’t remember them, so I suppose it won’t matter. You’d be safe at the bottom of the sea ...”
Percy swallowed. The gorgons shrieked with laughter as they soared in for the kill.
“If I go to the camp,” he said, “will I get my memory back?”
“Eventually,” June said. “But be warned, you will sacrifice much! You’ll lose the mark of Achilles. You’ll feel pain, misery, and loss beyond anything you’ve ever known. But you might have a chance to save your old friends and family, to reclaim your old life.”
~~ page 26 - 27
“The Little Tiber,” said June sympathetically.
“It flows with the power of the original Tiber, river of the empire.
This is your last chance to back out, child.
The mark of Achilles is a Greek blessing.
You can’t retain it if you cross into Roman territory.
The Tiber will wash it away.”
Percy was too exhausted to understand all that, but he got the main point.
“If I cross, I won’t have iron skin anymore?”
June smiled. “So what will it be? Safety, or a future of pain and possibility?”
~~ page 34
Percy was pretty sure he wasn’t going to like the second option. “Or?”
“Or you could do a good deed for an old lady,” she said. “Carry me to the camp with you.”
“Carry you?” Percy hoped she was kidding.
Then June hiked up her skirts and showed him her swollen purple feet.
“I can’t get there by myself,” she said. “Carry me to camp because ... it’s a kindness!” she said. “And if you don’t, the gods will die, the world we know will perish, and everyone from your old life will be destroyed. Of course, you wouldn’t remember them, so I suppose it won’t matter. You’d be safe at the bottom of the sea ...”
Percy swallowed. The gorgons shrieked with laughter as they soared in for the kill.
“If I go to the camp,” he said, “will I get my memory back?”
“Eventually,” June said. “But be warned, you will sacrifice much! You’ll lose the mark of Achilles. You’ll feel pain, misery, and loss beyond anything you’ve ever known. But you might have a chance to save your old friends and family, to reclaim your old life.”
~~ page 26 - 27
“The Little Tiber,” said June sympathetically.
“It flows with the power of the original Tiber, river of the empire.
This is your last chance to back out, child.
The mark of Achilles is a Greek blessing.
You can’t retain it if you cross into Roman territory.
The Tiber will wash it away.”
Percy was too exhausted to understand all that, but he got the main point.
“If I cross, I won’t have iron skin anymore?”
June smiled. “So what will it be? Safety, or a future of pain and possibility?”
~~ page 34
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Lost Hero Part 3
He watched Jason's face — looking more and more devastated as Thalia described their mom — and for once, Leo didn't feel jealous of his friend. Leo might have lost his mom. He might have had some hard times. But at least he remembered her. He found himself tapping out a Morse code message on his knee: Love you. He felt bad for Jason, not having memories like that — not having anything to fall back on.
~~ page 389
Leo wished he could reach inside his tool belt and pick just the right wrench to fix Jason's memory — maybe a little hammer — bonk the sticking spot and make everything run right.
That would be a lot easier than trying to talk it through. Not good with organic life forms. Thanks for those inherited traits, Dad.
~~ page 397
Your father acts confident, Piper, but he walks a fine line between two worlds. He's worked his whole life to deny the old stories about gods and spirits, yet he fears those stories might be real. He fears that he's shut off an important part of himself, and someday it will destroy him.
"You have a strong will," she mused. "I'm never given much credit among the gods. My children are laughed at. They're dismissed as conceited and shallow."
"Some of them are."
Aphrodite laughed. "Granted. Perhaps I'm conceited and shallow, too, sometimes. A girl has to indulge. Oh, this is nice." She picked up a burned and stained bronze breastplate and held it up for Piper to see. "No?"
"No," Piper said. "Are you going to answer my question?"
"Patience, my sweet," the goddess said. "My point is that love is the most powerful motivator in the world. It spurs mortals to greatness. Their noblest, bravest acts are done for love."
"Love is powerful, Piper. It can bring even the gods to their knees. I told this to my son Aeneas when he escaped from Troy. He thought he had failed. He thought he was a loser! But he traveled to Italy ..."
"And became the forebear of Rome."
"Exactly. You see, Piper, my children can be quite powerful. You can be quite powerful, because my lineage is unique. I am closer to the beginning of creation than any other Olympian."
"You were born. I remember now. So you're ..."
"The last child of Ouranos, who was greater than the gods or the Titans. So, in a strange way, I'm the eldest Olympian god. As I said, love is a powerful force. And you, my daughter, are much more than a pretty face."
~~~ page 431 - 433
Jason turned to the goddess. "The memories are coming back, but not the location. You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"No," Hera said. "That is part of your destiny, Jason. You must find your own way back. But when you do ... you will unite two great powers. You will give us hope against the giants, and more importantly — against Gaea herself."
"You want us to help you," Jason said, "but you're holding back information."
"Giving you answers would make those answers invalid," Hera said. "That is the way of the Fates. You must forge your own path for it to mean anything. Already, you three have surprised me. I would not have thought it possible ..."
~~ page 518 - 519
"I know you can hear me," Jason said to the statue.
The statue said nothing. Its painted eyes seemed to stare at him.
"I wish I could talk with you in person," Jason continued, "but I understand you can't do that. The Roman gods don't like to interact with mortals so much, and — well, you're the king. You've got to set an example."
More silence. Jason had hoped for something — a bigger than usual rumble of thunder, a bright light, a smile. No, never mind. A smile would've been creepy.
"I remember some things," he said. The more he talked, the less self-conscious he felt. "I remember that it's hard being a son of Jupiter. Everyone is always looking at me to be a leader, but I always feel alone. I guess you feel the same way up on Olympus. The other gods challenge your decisions. Sometimes you've got to make hard choices, and the others criticize you. And you can't come to my aid like other gods might. You've got to keep me at a distance so it doesn't look like you're playing favorites. I guess I just wanted to say …"
Jason took a deep breath. "I understand all that. It's okay. I'm going to try to do my best. I'll try to make you proud. But I could really use some guidance, Dad. If there's anything you can do — help me so I can help my friends. I'm afraid I'll get them killed. I don't know how to protect them."
~~ page 542
~~ page 389
Leo wished he could reach inside his tool belt and pick just the right wrench to fix Jason's memory — maybe a little hammer — bonk the sticking spot and make everything run right.
That would be a lot easier than trying to talk it through. Not good with organic life forms. Thanks for those inherited traits, Dad.
~~ page 397
Your father acts confident, Piper, but he walks a fine line between two worlds. He's worked his whole life to deny the old stories about gods and spirits, yet he fears those stories might be real. He fears that he's shut off an important part of himself, and someday it will destroy him.
"You have a strong will," she mused. "I'm never given much credit among the gods. My children are laughed at. They're dismissed as conceited and shallow."
"Some of them are."
Aphrodite laughed. "Granted. Perhaps I'm conceited and shallow, too, sometimes. A girl has to indulge. Oh, this is nice." She picked up a burned and stained bronze breastplate and held it up for Piper to see. "No?"
"No," Piper said. "Are you going to answer my question?"
"Patience, my sweet," the goddess said. "My point is that love is the most powerful motivator in the world. It spurs mortals to greatness. Their noblest, bravest acts are done for love."
"Love is powerful, Piper. It can bring even the gods to their knees. I told this to my son Aeneas when he escaped from Troy. He thought he had failed. He thought he was a loser! But he traveled to Italy ..."
"And became the forebear of Rome."
"Exactly. You see, Piper, my children can be quite powerful. You can be quite powerful, because my lineage is unique. I am closer to the beginning of creation than any other Olympian."
"You were born. I remember now. So you're ..."
"The last child of Ouranos, who was greater than the gods or the Titans. So, in a strange way, I'm the eldest Olympian god. As I said, love is a powerful force. And you, my daughter, are much more than a pretty face."
~~~ page 431 - 433
Jason turned to the goddess. "The memories are coming back, but not the location. You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"No," Hera said. "That is part of your destiny, Jason. You must find your own way back. But when you do ... you will unite two great powers. You will give us hope against the giants, and more importantly — against Gaea herself."
"You want us to help you," Jason said, "but you're holding back information."
"Giving you answers would make those answers invalid," Hera said. "That is the way of the Fates. You must forge your own path for it to mean anything. Already, you three have surprised me. I would not have thought it possible ..."
~~ page 518 - 519
"I know you can hear me," Jason said to the statue.
The statue said nothing. Its painted eyes seemed to stare at him.
"I wish I could talk with you in person," Jason continued, "but I understand you can't do that. The Roman gods don't like to interact with mortals so much, and — well, you're the king. You've got to set an example."
More silence. Jason had hoped for something — a bigger than usual rumble of thunder, a bright light, a smile. No, never mind. A smile would've been creepy.
"I remember some things," he said. The more he talked, the less self-conscious he felt. "I remember that it's hard being a son of Jupiter. Everyone is always looking at me to be a leader, but I always feel alone. I guess you feel the same way up on Olympus. The other gods challenge your decisions. Sometimes you've got to make hard choices, and the others criticize you. And you can't come to my aid like other gods might. You've got to keep me at a distance so it doesn't look like you're playing favorites. I guess I just wanted to say …"
Jason took a deep breath. "I understand all that. It's okay. I'm going to try to do my best. I'll try to make you proud. But I could really use some guidance, Dad. If there's anything you can do — help me so I can help my friends. I'm afraid I'll get them killed. I don't know how to protect them."
~~ page 542
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