RECLUSE ?Leo Valdez?

Boys are easily brianwashed... again

Percy blinked. "Uh, but—"

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay focused? Splitting headaches all the time! I never know what I'm doing or where I'm going! Constantly grumpy!"

"Sounds pretty normal for you," Maisie said.

The gods nostrils flared. One of the grapes on his hat burst into flame. "If we know each other from that other camp, it's a wonder I haven't turned either of you into dolphins."

"It was discussed," Percy said. "I think you were just too lazy to do it."

Realizing Percy and Maisie were not making this situation any better, Piper decided to step in.

"Lord Bacchus!" She called, slipping off of tempest's back.

"Piper, careful." Jason warned.

"Sorry to trouble you, my lord," she told the god. "But we actually came here to get your advice. Please, we need your wisdom."

The god frowned, and the purple glow faded in his eyes. "You're well spoken, girl. Advice, eh? Very well. I would avoid karaoke. Really, theme parties in general are out. In these austere times, people are looking for a simple, low-key affair, with locally produced organic snacks and—"

"Not about parties," Piper clarified. "Though that's incredibly useful advice, Lord Bacchus. We were hoping you'd help us on our quest."

She explained about the Argo II and their voyage to stop the giants from awakening Gaea. How in her vision she saw the god giving her a silver goblet, and nemesis telling them that in six days Rome would be destroyed.

That sent a pang of hurt into her body. Leo must've informed the group in her absence of the exchange between him and her mother. The fact that secrets were still kept from her when she was a vital part of this team left a constant reminder that she would always truly be alone. Even while surrounded by friends.

"Silver goblet?" The god didn't sound very excited. He grabbed a Diet Pepsi from nowhere and popped the top of the can.

"You drink Diet Coke," Percy noted.

"I don't know what you're taking about," Bacchus snapped. "As to this vision of the goblet, young lady, I have nothing for you to drink unless you want a Diet Pepsi. Jupiter has put me under strict orders to avoid giving wine to minors. Bothersome, but there you have it. As for the giants, I know them well. I fought in the first Giant War, you know?"

"You can fight?" Percy asked.

Piper wished he hadn't sounded so incredulous.

Bacchus snarled. His Diet Pepsi transformed into a five foot staff, wreathed in ivy, topped with a pinecone."

"A thysrus!" Piper exclaimed, hoping to distract the god from wacking Percy on the head. "Oh, what a mighty weapon!"

"Indeed," Bacchus agreed. "I'm glad someone in your group is smart. The pinecone is a fearsome tool of destruction! I was a demigod myself in the first Giant War, you know. The Son of Jupiter!"

Jason visibly flinched at that.

"Of course that was long before I invented wine and became an immortal. I fought side by side with the gods and some other demigod... Harry Cleese, I think?"

"Heracles?" Piper asked politely.

"Whatever," Bacchus said. "Anyways I killed the giant Ephialtes and his brother Otis. Horrible boors, those two. Pinecone in the face for both of them!"

"Lord Bacchus," Piper began, sounding as if she was trying to prevent her voice from shaking. "Those two giants, Ephialtes and Otis... would they happen to be twins?"