Reading The Hidden Oracle: Chapter 30 (SPOILERS)
"In 1928, Alexander Fleming failed to give me credit for inspiring his discovery of penicillin." I'm told this is in reference to how Fleming returned from vacation to find that something strange had grown in one of his petri dishes and that led to his discovery of penicillin. I didn't make that connection at first! So I guess in the PJO universe, Apollo made that mold grow in the petri dish.
"the primary-colored shoes of a traitor >:(" LMAO "She is a member of the Imperial Household." So she's not just any child soldier-gladiator taken in from off the streets. She's special. I wonder why. What set her apart from any others Nero has taken in (bc I'm sure it's not just her)? Also, you'd think that a member of the Imperial Household would be better cared for, unless the traffic light clothing was a disguise to make her seem pitiful?
"They Labyrinth has a convenient opening in the myrmekes' nest." I can imagine a giant ant wandering aimlessly through the maze, tired and desperate to get back to its home. Sad and alone without the companionship of its colony, it is slowly losing hope. Suddenly, a noise! It is a pair of demigods conveniently tied together at the legs in a foolish death race, a perfect snack to keep it going in its darkest time! I wonder if any of the campers have come across myrmekes during their Labyrinth-based camp activities or if the ants are smarter than the campers and avoid the maze entrance in their hill.
"You used a nature spirit to destroy nature?" That is actually really messed up. I didn't realize it. How does Meg tolerate this? She probably feels she has no choice but to follow what her "stepfather" orders her to do.
"I guess the grove was quite nervous about that attempt. We got two demigods for the price of one!" No, I'm sure it was just because these two idiots were tied together at the leg and even if only one of them heard the grove calling, the other one got pulled along anyway. But they could've woken each other up if they heard the trees, so he might actually be right, never mind.
"we didn't have fiddles back then." Hahaha Nero setting straight historical inaccuracies
"Nero leveled the neighborhood and built a new palace--the Domus Aurea." Wow, Apollo's spilling all the tea!
"it became famous as the Colossus of Nero!" That's it! That's the big giant bronze statue that I remember from years ago that attacks camp!
"mauve-and-gold Rolex" I want that. Give me that.
"They will be released" Into the cold embrace of death, probably.
"strung up Christians all over his backyard and burned them to illuminate his garden party. I was there. I remember the screaming." YEESH. Also, Apollo, you were there? I hope by that you mean you could hear the screaming all the way from the heavens and not that you were at the garden party.
"I saw how easily he could have twisted a scared child's understanding of the world" Boy, I'm really glad Apollo's not blaming Meg for all this. It's what I would have expected from a god and I'm glad Apollo's not falling into that trap.
"I command you. Help me. Now." I forgot Meg could just order him around.