My mind totally cancelled it because of how strange it was. I had to blink twice and ask myself why the title was in italian before remembering and going "Ah. That-",that's how bad it was for me.

So,first off first,I wasn't aware when he wrote it and since I don't buy books outside of the main timeline I had to read it in english online (I couldn't find the original version so I went for the translation). But it's wild that it got published in one of our most famous newspapers,sometimes I still ask myself how it was even possible. It also surprised me that Riordan was able to write a whole short story in italian,since it's a very difficult language to understand. We have a lot of verbs and phraseologies that even native speakers struggle with,and I know he is fluent in it and it wasn't that long but it's still impressive.

Anyway,I don't really understand the timeline with this one. It was published in 2020,a couple of days before Christmas (because it's a Christmas special of course),but I also remember that in the same year,a couple of months before,he completed TOA,so it must have been after the serie ended. If it's canon,of course. But the timeline is screwed anyway because the whole short story was set during COVID-19,while from TLT we can assume the whole story was set during the early years of 2000. Nothing new anyway,since we never specified a timeline and Riordan mixed everything up like always. Guess this happens when you don't establish a real timeline.

The plot? Uncalled for. I'm sorry but going to Florence just to find a gift for Annabeth,while also having Nico helping you? Naaah. I think it was a bit overkill,but maybe it's just me. Percy is the type of guy that wants the best for his girlfriend,and he did say that he thought they were going somewhere else,but going all out (and in other continents too apparently) for a gift that you can find in the US in whatever place you want? Idk. Again,maybe it's just me. Besides,Nico here literally hijacked the original plan.

The most important thing of the whole short story is the information it gave us about their biology: demigds cannot get sick from COVID-19 but they can still spread it. Which is interesting because it was a virus,so this means that demigods are immune to illnesses (as in,even if they are infected they don't feel it and are completely fine) but can still carry them around and pass them to mortals.

What I didn't like is that Percy was fine with shadow traveling before,but now he doesn't like it?? In TLO,in the chapter "My cookies get scorched" he described the experience as the following:

"I don't recommend shadow travel if you're scared of:

a) The dark

b) Cold shivers up your spine

c) Strange noises

d) Going so fast you feel like your face is peeling off

In other words,I thought it was awesome".

But in this short story it's:"he had never liked shadow-travelling". I'm sorry but what was I even reading at this point? Percy was one of the few people that didn't find shadow-travelling creepy at the start,and actually enjoyed it,only to have that trait completely removed??? This is just another reason for Riordan to reread his books or have someone do it for him and point him to any mistakes.

A good thing is that it got hinted that Nico actually spent a bit of time in Florence (even if it's off-screen),otherwise he wouldn't have known where to take Percy,and I'm happy about it. One of my major complaints about HoO is how we never got to see his nationality explored more,especially with the trip to Venice and how Europe (and Italy) got treated as this extremely hardcore survival land. I'm glad to see that he is still in touch with his heritage and is visiting Italy.

Another nonsense in this short story is Charu. I swear I had to reread that part multiple times,and I had to find another translation to make sure I was actually reading it right and there wasn't a mistake,and in fact it was real. Listen,I love how many pantheons Riordan tries to involve in his universe,but the etruscan gods too??? Isn't it a bit too much,especially because there are so many gods already and other than the Greek Pantheon (and a bit of the roman),every other Pantheon is kinda forgotten?? Why add another one??

It makes a bit sense historical speaking,because the Etruscans lived in Tuscany. The region was called "Etruria" at the start,but then it got changed to "Tuscia" because the Romans called the Etruscans "Tusci" and in the end it became "Tuscany" thanks to the roman's influence (the name derives from Latin btw). The thing is,the change started happening in the III century B.C. Italy was (and still is) extremely influenced by both Greece and the Roman Empire,so it's impossible for an Etruscan god to still be around,especially if there aren't any worshipers or believers. Well,I guess that Nico count as one now,but all the centuries before? Especially during the Roman Empire? How did bro survive to tell the story??

Only thing I liked is that he is connected to the Underworld and he and Nico already knew each other because of that connection. If Riordan wants to have a proper crossover,we know what character he needs to use (he will still continue to use Percy even if Nico is right there and can make it possible without any problems. Can you imagine Nico and Anubis in the same room? Because I can). Also,Dante? Really? That one was funny but if we take into consideration the historical era,and the fact that he wrote the Divine Comedy based on Christianity and Catholic theology,then it doesn't make any sense.

Also,why would an ancient god ask about Christmas?? And Percy's answer?? Not that it wasn't bad but I felt like the whole conversation was kinda...idk,useless? Usually when gods ask him some questions there is always something going on,but here is just that.

"Why would I celebrate Christmas?"

"Idk,it's for everyone and we need to be vigilant and optimistic"

"Good answer".

That's basically it. But I think it was more about what was happening with COVID-19 a time,especially with the pandemic and the increasing deaths. Gotta give people hopes in some ways.

Anyway,the gift itself is just a golden bracelet with a lot of keys that Percy could have found in whatever jewelry store he visited. But since it was made by a god,Charu hinted that the keys can open and solve a lot of problems,so I'm guessing they are going to help Annbeth in the future (if it's canon).

I like how they wished each other a merry christmas (given the last one they had together–) but I also don't like the very end,because what do you mean Nico called Percy "Seaweed brain"? I had to double check that part multiple times (again) because,what the hell? I'm sorry,even if now they are a bit closer than before,Nico would never. I refuse to believe that he even said that.

It felt like Riordan tried to write their dynamic forgetting about all the things that happened before. Last time they properly saw each other was when Nico told him he had a crush on him,and Percy was extremely confused (idk if they meet again at the end of TOA since in THO Nico was K.O. and Percy was trying to save the day),so they should be at least a bit awkward with each other. Especially with how intense things between them normally are,even without the factor crush involved. But nope. W the character and dynamic developments for those two,apparently they can still be close friends even after Percy realized he was shitty to Nico in HoH and without having Nico feeling awkward about his crush reveal (not to talk about all the other things-).

Hi! Sorry I've been quiet again lately! I've got back into Blender and am working on making game mods again! I found that there weren't any model rips out yet for Ape Escape: Pumped and Primed, so I've been slowly remaking the game's characters from the ground up in Blender and seeing how close I can get them to the original model. I had to start with my girl Casi first, of course! : D

I've rigged and exported the model as a mod for The Karters 2: Turbo Charged. Please feel free to give it a try if you have the game! You can find my mod here on Steam Workshop:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3555371652

What are their names?? , apart from them there are others papara fan child that you have done??

It`s weird that I refused to show my children because I wanted them showing up on my @ithurtscomic first! But now that I cannot draw for this comic i simply show them here! Be aware that this work is already 3-4 years old xD