Update: 25/12/2021
Merry Christmas Everyone. I hope you all have a great and safe Christmas/holiday. Have fun and enjoy yourselves. But take time to think of those who can't be with you by distance, by illness, unable to travel or those that have past on. But also take time to think about the less fortunate.
Have Great Christmas or Holiday
and
A Happy New Year: And I hope it will be a good one!
And on a personal note to my Nan who passed this year. I'll miss you at Christmas the most. I love you and I hope you have quite the celebration in Heaven with the rest of our family and friends that have gone before you. I hope you know we will be thinking about you and everyone else at Christmas.
Love you guys and this Chapter is just as much for you as it is for everyone.
Author's Note: So, sorry for the Year and 8 Months. I just didn't have in inspiration till now. But now here is the very long awaited Chapter.
Enjoy
Chapter .6.
"Greeks meet my poker buddies!" Percy declares.
The Greeks jaws drop as the casual way he said it.
"These are my Father Neptune aka Poseidon to you, Pluto aka Hades for you, Bacchus aka Dionysus, Diana aka Artemis, Mercury aka Hermes, Mars aka Ares, Vulcan aka Hephaestus, Minerva aka Athena, Roman Goddess Bellona", Percy say gesturing to each.
"You…you play poker with the Gods?" Thalia asks.
"Sure. Normally your Father is here. But as you heard he is a sore loser", Percy replies cheerfully.
They winced thinking he was going to get punished by the mentioned God but nothing happens. And the Gods were still watching Apollo and Artemis's argument or was it Diana? Which seemed different for some reason.
"So now would you like to join us?" Percy asks them slightly amused by the looks he was getting.
"You broke them love", Reyna tells him with a smirk in her eyes.
"It didn't take too much to break them", Frank snickers from his seat.
"Honesty you would think my brother is tougher then that", Hazel jokes.
"Damn you are good at the Perce", Gwen states.
"Didn't think you would make statues in our dining room", Reyna laughs.
As three women come in with food and drinks. Including beer, chips and dip. They appeared to be Naiads.
"Thought you guys might be hungry and we heard about the Greeks coming and we are adding more for you guys if you want to join", one woman starts.
Percy clicked his metal fingers in front of their faces to snap them out of their shock induced paralyse.
"Come back to us guys. Or do I have to have Apollo treat you guts for heart attacks", Percy jokes at them, "I can't believe I broke the Trainer of Heroes, Pinecone Face and Death Breath!"
They shake their heads hearing Percy's voice. They see him there his scared face light up in a mischievous grin his flesh eye and robotic eye seeming to also show his amusement. They didn't know how the Robotic eye would do that however.
Thalia had a smile on her face hearing that nickname again from Percy's lips.
"Boy have I missed that name", Thalia says with a weak laugh.
"I have too. Boy Perce you will never cease to amaze me", Nico replies.
"Perce your unbelievable", Grover comments still looking a bit weak at the knees.
"Percy you have come far and even I would never have expected this from you", Chiron replies.
"Good. I don't plan on stopping anytime soon", Percy replies, "Now I believe Diana has won the argument. So why don't you join us?"
The Greeks look at each. Was it really a good idea to play with the Gods?
"Guys we don't HAVE to play for Denarii or Drachmas even through it IS preferred. We also play with notes. Like the one Jupiter lost to allowed Bacchus to have wine for a month or Jupiter to compliment his siblings and stuff like that or items we have. So what do you say?" Percy asks them explaining everything.
"Notes?" Annabeth asks.
"Yes if you want to beat you write the Note your beating. So Jupiter lost his hand and Dad won the hand having the note 'Compliment your siblings' so Dad used it on Jupiter for himself and Pluto. If you say Apollo had won it then he could have had Diana or another of his siblings compliment him", Percy explains.
"I hope I NEVER get that Note by the end of this!" Diana exclaims.
"Dia you know you love me!"
"Like a shot to the head", she retorts.
Snickers go around the table as Apollo pouts.
"And Bacchus won the Note for allowing to have wine or alcohol for a month. Whoever has the Notes had the end of the game gets to use them or trade them as they wish. Each person gets a notepad to write the Note. And the Notes MUST be honoured. Do you get it?" Percy asks them.
They nod it did sound interesting to beat with Notes.
"The Gods, Centurions and others like myself or girls will also beat with Denarii and Drachmas but we won't make you do that. You will just raise a Note if you want to raise or match the beat", Percy assures them. "So everyone who plays takes a seat at the table and those that don't the chairs around and your not allowed to give hints to those playing"
Percy had wheeled himself into a place near Reyna and Neptune.
"I won't speak for everyone but I'll play", Chiron says transforming into his human form and his wheelchair appears.
He noticed Percy's wheelchair was sleeker and more detailed then his. And seemed to have a control on the arm for whatever functions the chair had. It saddened him to see Percy in such as state. Wondering how Percy had gotten the way he did.
"I'm game!" Thalia says.
"Me too!" Nico replies.
"I'm in", Jason states, "And your going down", he whispers.
"I'll never back down", Leo announces bouncing forward.
"I'll sit out", Piper decides taking a seat close to where Silena was playing and next to Katie who smiles at her.
"I'll give it a try", Katie states.
"I'm in for sure your going down Dad", Clarisse says grinning at Mars who smirks, accepting the challenge.
"I'll give it a go. Not that I'll be any good at it", Grover says sitting down nervously.
"I'll sit in", Will decides nervously and takes a seat next to Nico.
Percy raised an eyebrow at them. Looks like Nico had gotten his act together. About damn time. He would have to remember to tease Nico about it.
"Hell yes!" Conner states.
"There would be no way in Hell we would not do this!" Travis adds.
"Don't swear on my domain", Pluto complains.
"Lighter up brother", Neptune replies with a smile.
"I'm in for sure", Annabeth replies her mind already racing with possibilities.
"So Greeks with a lot of more people in this game that what is normally played we play with between 1 – 3 decks", Reyna informs them.
"So guests so you know nothing that happens at these games effects the things outside this room beside what you win in the Pot. The person with the most or you go all in and win it win and you can bale out at ANY time", Percy tells them.
The Greeks nod. Some were a little nervous. Besides Annabeth who looked as confident as Clarisse, Chris, Travis and Conner.
"There are beer, juice, soda and chips, dip and other snacks throughout the game. Please enjoy yourselves. And remember this is normally a friendly game beside the normal quips that are said in the heat of play", Percy tells everyone, "My house, my rules"
"Our house, our rules", Reyna corrects.
"That too"
Annabeth wondered why did Reyna live in this house with Percy? What was her game?
"Ready?" Percy asks.
"You beat! Lets get on with it so I can whoop Mars's ass and show him I'm better", Bellona grins.
"No a chance sweetheart of you beating me", Mars retorts.
"Lets see about that", Bellona grins, "Lets see which War God wins"
"Don't count me out either. War must bow don't to Wisdom", Minerva smirks.
"I just want to show Apollo whose the best and I know just the right Note to beat him this time", Diana smirks glint in her eyes.
"So do I", Apollo retorts a glint in his eyes too.
Percy rolls his eye at them, "Children the lot of them"
Vulcan starts to deal out the cards going around the large group and somehow managing to do it in under a minute. They all studied their cards for a minute.
Percy put three Denarii in.
Beats were made, some already folded and the Greeks thought about it and met it with a Note each.
Vulcan asks for the next cards and the throw out what they don't want and get dealed the remaining cards.
People thought about it for a minute. And a few folded and Percy, Mercury, Minerva, Apollo, Diana, Vulcan, Frank, Hazel raised the beat 5 Denarii and a Note. Clarisse raised a Note and Travis, Chiron, Annabeth, Thalia, Nico and Katie called with the others.
To the Greeks surprise Percy and Minerva won the first had with Percy smiling and a nod to Minerva.
As the game goes on the Greeks use this chance to talk to the group.
"Ha! Owl Head suck it!" Mars declares holding out a winning hand.
"Don't let it go to your head you brute", Minerva retorts as Bellona and Vulcan also won the hand.
"Too late for that", Pluto mutters thinking over his cards.
"So Milady this is where you go when you are not with us?" Thalia asks her.
"Yes. Just a few times. And the Romans have started to respect some of us more", Diana replies taking a card and grimacing and folds.
"What do you mean?" Thalia asks.
"Romans didn't worship Minerva and I well", Diana replies.
"They never saw me as a War God too Percy changed everything", Minerva adds.
Annabeth frowns at that. What did that mean?
"Read them and weep boys"
"Bugger. You not winning another hand Dia!"
"Not going to happen we will take you down Diana", Mercury declares.
"And the sun won't shine tomorrow", she retorts.
"She is on fire tonight", Percy chuckles to those near him.
Cards went around again and a few minor enquiries by the Greeks to the Gods.
"Damn it! Now I owe you a new sword Mars", Vulcan complains as the next hand is finished.
Mars was grinning brightly at that.
"Percy have you been here all this time?" Annabeth asks him as she takes three and grimaces she only got a pair.
"Pretty much", Percy replies, tossing in his cards.
"Wasn't or isn't there anything you can do for him Lord Apollo?" Annabeth asks the God.
Many share looks and some of the Centurions growl at what she was implying. Apollo and Minerva didn't look impressed either. And Neptune looked angry.
"There is nothing I can do for injuries such as Percy's", Apollo replies and curses as he loses a hand.
"But…"
Thalia, Nico and some of the others but Jason looked shocked and angry at the why Annabeth was talking.
"You should farer then what you eyes see girl", a Centurion tells her.
"Not that it would help you", Reyna replies smirking as she wins a hand.
"What business is it of yours?" Annabeth asks angry.
"Maybe because Percy's mine", Reyna states as she calls.
"Yours? What do you mean?" Annabeth asks eyes narrowing.
"Not the place for it", Percy interrupts.
"It was just getting to the good bit", Mercury comments.
Percy gives him a look.
"No offence Cousin", Mercury replies quickly.
That was another thing to the Greeks how did Percy come to be on such good terms with his Cousin? His Godly Cousin?
"So what are Centurions?" Katie asks grimacing at losing a hand.
"Centurions are the leaders of the Cohorts. It goes Probatio's, Legionnaires, Optios, Centurions, Augar, Primus Pilus, Senators, Praetors, Pontifex Maximus and Imperator", one of the Centurion's say.
"What?" Leo asks confused.
Percy smiles, "Probatio's are the new soldiers in the Legion. Legionnaires are obvious. Optios are Seconds of the Centurions. The Healers. The Augur is the Seer. Primus Pilus is the First File it First Cohorts Centurion. Senators are easy to understand and run to Senate and New Rome. The Praetor's run the Legion and would lead in a battle. Pontifex Maximus is the High Priest of the Gods basically and the Imperator is the one the rules over both the Legions and New Rome"
They had to think on that. The Legion and Rome sounded so strict and stiff.
"It sounds so boring", Leo complains folding his cards.
"Not to us", Reyna replies giving him the stink eye.
Percy didn't look so happy about it either.
"Damn it!"
"Ha Neptune!"
"Look at that I'm sunny tonight!"
"Bugger it Apollo you'll get it for that"
"Damn now I have to make those trick arrows"
"Is it normally like this?" Piper asks them.
"Yep! They get a bit competitive. But it is all in good fun", Hazel replies smiling at her.
"So Percy besides what you told us. What are your titles?" Will asks trying to ignore some of the arguments and teasing.
"I have many titles Will", Percy replies smirking as he wins a hand with Bellona and Mars.
"What about Imperator? What does that mean?" Chris asks.
"Imperator is the highest honour in Rome. It basically means Emperor or Ruler of Rome", Percy replies.
"So your basically the Emperor of all this?" Travis asks gesturing outside.
"Yep and more he is", Hazel replies.
"Hay! I full house read them and weep Dia!"
"How about a flush?"
"Damn IT!"
"He is also the Pontifex Maximus and still basically Praetor", Dakota adds, "Ha! Father you lose!"
Bacchus grumbles as he tosses his cards out and takes a drink.
"Can you tell us other titles?" Nico asks him.
"Please?" Thalia adds.
"Fine. I am Imperator Perseus Jackson, son of Neptune, Pontifex Maximus of New Rome, Praetor of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. Blessed by the Roman Gods. Champion of Vastra, Juno, Pluto, Mercury, Apollo, Diana and Minerva and prodigy of Lupa", Percy recites leaving a few things out.
Many give him looks knowing just what he left out.
They ALL look at him in shock. Even Chiron.
"Ha! I win", Percy replies smiling winning the hand single handed.
"But you're a son of Poseidon", Annabeth states.
"Kind of complicated", Percy replies.
"How you ARE his son?" Annabeth argues.
"Dad you should answer this. This was something I really didn't want to know", Percy grimaces.
Neptune looked sheepish, "Basically me and my Greek side were in agreement by loving Sally Jackson. And we kind of BOTH…you know…"
Some of the Greeks looks disgusted by that and still didn't know how the two halves of the Gods would come to an agreement.
"I didn't need to heard that again brother", Pluto groans, "You HAD to be the first who did it"
"Tell you what Father was fuming when he found out", Mercury chuckles.
"Do we have to talk about this on poker night?" Vulcan complains.
"So in other words I am equal parts Greek and Roman", Percy replies.
"Ha! Brother take that a straight!"
"Think again brother full house!"
"Your both out and I get the Note that says you must say I'm right", Minerva smirks and shows a flush.
"Bloody hell!"
"So you can choose one over the other?" Grover asks him, now sitting out of the game.
Percy shrugs, "Yes. I guess"
"Well at least you chose Greek", Annabeth replies smiling smugly.
Many looked at her like she was crazy. Didn't his titles mean he had chosen Rome?
"Was she always this stupid?" Reyna whispers in his ear.
"No. But time does change people", Percy whispers back.
"I think she is delusional too", Reyna mutters taking four cards.
"No Annabeth I didn't", Percy replies looking at her his robotic eye twirling in its socket.
"What?" Annabeth stutters.
"I chose Rome as my home and the Roman way and Camp Jupiter. I serve Rome and her interests and I serve the Gods", Percy replies sitting straighter.
"But…but this place doesn't suit you", Annabeth tells him.
"It suits me more then you know. Here I feel like home as Camp Half-Blood just felt different to me and people treated me different. Here I may be Imperator and all those other titles but they also see me for me and have never let me down", Percy replies trying not to flinch thinking about them leaving him in Tartarus.
The Greeks were shocked. When had they let him down?
Annabeth was furious.
"All in!" Annabeth declares pushing all her Denarii, Drachmas and Notes she earned in.
Many raise an eyebrow at that. Did she really think she had a hand to win?
Percy could see what Annabeth was doing she was letting her pride, jealously and anger get to her and it was going to cause her problems and probably the Legion too.
Well he believed she was about to see the her Hubris was going to get her in trouble and cost her if she didn't control it like most the Romans learnt too…
Author's Note: What do you think? Please Review:)