"What do you mean by that?" The silver eyed goddess asked. "What is painting the town red supposed to mean?" She clarified her question.
"It's a metaphor that means we should go around town and have fun." Explained the teen. "You said you're free, and bored out of your mind. I figured we could check what New York has in store for us right?" Percy offered his hand. "So, what do you think about coming with me, Milady?"
Seeing that she got nothing else to do, the lunar goddess then grabbed his hand before answering him. "Fine. I'm doing this because I'm bored." She uttered. "Tour me around the city, Jackson."
"The pleasure is mine, Milady." Replied the demigod.
The son of Poseidon and the moon goddess started to walk.
While walking, the emerald eyed demigod asked the goddess a question. "When are you going to bring the hunters?"
"I don't think your place can hold them all together." Answered Artemis, looking at the buildings as she did. "If your place can hold more than forty people at once, then I might bring them all at once."
"How about bring three or five at a time?" Suggested the demigod. "That way, it's not taxing when you flash them. Those girls deserve a break."
"With the recent lack of monster activities, I think they're more relaxed than usual." Replied the goddess.
"Still, bring them to my place. They'll appreciate the change of scenery." Percy spoke out to the silver eyed goddess.
Reaching the famed Times Square, the goddess was dazzled by the lights that decorated the square. Lights of various sizes and colours, are shining down and colouring the streets. She didn't even know what kind of products some of the advertisements were.
"So this is the famous Times Square." Commented Artemis. "Mortals really love lights and sparkles."
"I don't want to hear that from the twin of the one with the brightest palace." Percy argued. "This is nothing compared to Apollo."
The goddess then turned golden in the cheeks. Embarrassed about his brother's antics.
"So, what can we do at this place?" The moon goddess asked the demigod. "If you plan on bringing me to a clothing store, then you'll be wasting your time. I'm not like Aphrodite." She warned the emerald eyed man.
"Come on, you'll need much better clothes if you really wanna blend in." Countered the son of Poseidon. "When I look at you, the first thing that pops up to my head is that you're cosplaying a character." He said as he scanned the goddess. She was wearing a blue full body latex suit and a silver tiara.
"Cosplay? What is that?" Asked the maiden goddess as she was unfamiliar with the term.
"It's when you wear a costume to imitate a certain character." Explained Percy. "Think of it this way. If my dad suddenly became crazy and imitated Zeus..." Thunder rumbled from the skies. "He dressed up like he did and imitated his actions. That's what cosplaying is. Also, cosplay comes from the words "costume" and "play."" Finished the teen.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Artemis asked as she checked her own clothes.
"You stand out too much." Replied the teen. "Look around you." The goddess did what he said. She looked around and saw that most people that passed them by were looking at her. "If you wanted to stand out then that's fine."
"You're right." Said the moon goddess. "Let's go somewhere I could change." She then dragged the son of Poseidon to a nearby clothing boutique.
"Good day Ma'am!" Greeted the saleslady as they entered the store. "Looking for something to wear to wow your husband?" The innocent question made the silver eyed goddess blush.
"N-no." Stuttered the goddess. "He's my brother."
After hearing what the woman said, the sales clerk quickly responded to her. "Oh, I'm sorry for mistaking you as a couple. It's just that you two look good together."
"It's no problem." Percy replied.
"I thought that she's a supermodel!" The saleslady exclaimed. "She looks beautiful enough in her current clothing, I think that it would be hard to find something for her."
"Right, my sister is just that beautiful." It was the son of Poseidon that spoke out. "Where's the fitting room?" He asked.
The saleslady then points towards the location of the fitting room. "It's right there sir. I'll be right here if you have any questions." The woman then winked at the demigod.
Percy, seeing that her companion is giving him a deadly glare, just decided to do the smartest thing he had right now. "Let's go Milady."
The moon goddess then dragged the demigod.
Once they've reached the said fitting room, the goddess then spoke to the emerald eyed teen. "She's undressing you with her eyes Perseus."
"That's kind your fault now is it?"
"How is it my fault?!" Asked the silver eyed goddess. "She's looking at you with lust. If anything, I think Aphrodite is messing with you."
"And why do you think she became flirtatious?" Asked the demigod, already knowing the answer.
"Because I said that we're..." Realization
"not..." has just.
"a couple." settled in. Percy smirked as he observed her face lose it's color once she realized. "Oh."
"Right." The demigod spoke. "Please change into a more casual clothing. While what you are wearing is clearly sexy, people would think you're into BDSM if they saw you wearing that." Knowing that she would ask about the meaning of the term, he spoke once again before she could. "Let's just say that BDSM is something for the bedroom."
Noticing that the goddess was looking at him, he stared back at her. "What? You're going to enter inside the fitting room too?" Asked Artemis.
Once done, the lunar goddess then walked to where her escort is. Seeing him talk to the saleslady that was being flirty with him, her stomach felt like it was twisting. Quickly grabbing the demigod, Artemis then directed her words to the saleslady. "Thank you for your help, but it's time for us to go."
Outside, the moon goddess then stopped dragging the son of Poseidon. "What's with the-" His words died down as he saw what the silver eyed goddess was wearing. She was wearing a blue off-the-shoulder mini dress with long sleeves, with star motifs on printed on the dress. She was also wearing black gladiator style strapped sandals, reaching up to her calf.
"Wow." Percy uttered. "You're really beautiful, Lady Artemis."
The goddess, while not like the other goddess who liked to flaunt their beauty, was still a goddess. Of course the compliment would still be effective. With her cheeks turning golden, the moon goddess turned away from the demigod. "Hmph, I already knew that."
"So, where do you want to go next?" Asked the son of Poseidon as they started walking once again. "Is there some place you wanted to go?"
Rolling her eyes, the silver eyed goddess responded to him. "This is your idea Perseus, think of a place to go."
"Yeah it is my idea, but do you have a place you want to see? A zoo, aquarium, or maybe even play some arcade games?"
"Arcade sounds fun." Replied Artemis. "Let's go and play some games." She said as she hailed a taxi that stopped in the front of them. The two of them entered and Artemis said to the driver to go to the nearest arcade.
"There's no arcade near here, Miss." Responded the driver. Percy responded by handing the taxi driver a drachma. "Alright, let's go to the arcade." Said the man as he started to drive.
There was a palpable silence as the ride dragged on. With Percy having a bad case of ADHD, he couldn't help but talk to his companion. "How's dad?" He asked.
"Poseidon is fine." Replied the moon goddess. "Last meeting, he was looking good and all. It was just that when Hestia brought you up to him after the meeting, he frowned and sulked." Explained the goddess of the hunt. "I think your father misses you, Perseus."
"I figured that out too." Replied the teen. "I guess I should visit him or bring him to my place sometime."
"I wanted to ask this for so long but I haven't got the chance until now." Spoke Artemis. "Why try to live like a mortal?"
The demigod gave it a thought before answering. "I've always wanted to live a normal life Milady, even before I've known my heritage." He answered. "Besides, I'm tired of conflict. Don't get me wrong, if Olympus needs me, I would be fighting. But I wanted to enjoy the peace that we have right now. I don't want to be sent unto my death just for something like a missing firecracker."
"Why ask for a place then? Can't you do that at the Camp?" inquired the goddess.
"I wanted to get away from the camp." Replied Percy. "There are some people I don't want to see yet."
"That reminds me." The goddess exclaimed as she remembered something. "I don't see Athena's daughter near you. Isn't she your girlfriend?"
"Well, not anymore." He solemnly answered. "At least not after the banquet."
"Why?"
"She chose Zhang over me, Lady Artemis." The teen smiled sadly. "While I was trying to climb from the pit, she was having the time of her life." He said as he looked out to the buildings. "I really can't do anything about it right? If that's what makes her happy, then I'll give her what she wants."
"So that's why I haven't seen her at least even once." Commented Artemis. "She'd be the first one to know about it if you're still together right?"
Percy decided not to answer. Silence accompanied the two as they reached their destination.
"We're here." Said the driver.
Quickly thanking the driver, the goddess and the son of Poseidon quickly hopped off the taxi. In front of the two was a large structure that is familiar to the moon goddess. 'This reminds me of someone but I can't quite put my finger on it.' She thought. The building was a bright yellow building and a large signboard that has the word "Taiyou Arcades" written in it.
Entering the building, Percy was greeted by a woman who embraced him. The goddess beside him glaring at the teen once more. "Hey Percy!" Said the girl with red hair with green streaks. "It's nice seeing you again."
"It was nice seeing you too, Kayla." Replied the emerald eyed demigod.
"So, who is this lovely lady that is coming with you?"
"Oh, this is Lady Artemis." Hearing who the demigod was with surprised the redhead. "She's with me because she said she was bored."
"Lady Artemis! You look so beautiful in that get up." Uttered Kayla. "Father said to treat his little sister like a princess when you come here."
"Little sister?" Questioned the goddess. "Are you talking about Apollo?" She gave the teen a light glare.
"Yes! Milady!" Squeaked the redhead once she saw the glare directed at her.
The moon goddess rolled her eyes and muttered to herself. "That's why the place looked so bright that it reminded me of Apollo." She pointed out. "What can we do in this place?" Asked the goddess.
"Well we could play some versus games or just have some fun." Replied the son of Poseidon. "Kayla, which games do you think are fun?" He asked the girl who worked there.
"I really think that playing pinballs are fun!" She replied. "But I think you guys would enjoy multiplayer games so I think you guys should play Street Brawling 3." She led the two to the corresponding arcade cabinet. "Have fun, Lady Artemis, Percy. I'll see you guys later." She said.
"You better come at me in full strength if you want to beat me, Milady." Said Percy as they sat opposite each other.
"I'm going to wipe that smirk off your face Jackson." Replied the goddess, smiling as she prepared to give the demigod a wake up call.
"Thank you for visiting Taiyou Arcades." The redhead daughter of Apollo, Kayla, said to them. "See you next time, Lady Artemis, Percy."
"I'll see you next time, Kayla." Said the demigod as he walked with the moon goddess, who was holding a plushie of a deer.
"Thank you for this stuffed toy, Perseus." Artemis gratefully thanked the son of Poseidon, who pouted when she used his proper name.
"It's Percy." He argued. The two were walking on the nighttime New York, with the two of them losing the track of time inside the establishment. Percy remembered a loss against the goddess of the hunt and decided to ask about it. "Milady." He spoke which caught the attention of the said goddess, forcing her to look at him. "How did you execute the move that knocked out my character earlier?" He questioned.
"It's just luck." Artemis plainly answered. 'No need for him to know that Smitten is not the only fighting game I've practiced.' Thought the silver eyed goddess as they strolled on Central Park.
The two decided to sit on the bench that they've come across to. Percy then started to talk once again. "Did you have fun today, Milady?"
"Surprisingly, I did." Answered the moon goddess as they both looked at the rising moon. "Thank you for taking me out today, Percy." She said as she looked at the demigod. As she looked onto Percy, she saw him looking straight at the moon. With the moonlight reflecting off his face, the lunar goddess thought of one thing. 'He looks handsome.' Noticing her line of thought, she quickly shook her head and it caught the demigod's attention, causing him to stare right at her.
"What's wrong Milady?" Asked the concerned Percy.
With his face becoming much closer than ever before and the thoughts that she had, the goddess of the hun turned golden. Unable to fight off her thoughts, the goddess stood up.
"W-well, it's time for me to do my duties." She said as she cleared her throat to get her bearings back. "See you next time, Perseus." Said the goddess as she flashed away, leaving the demigod confused.
Dseized's notes:
Hey! Here's the latest chapter! Hope you guys enjoy reading it.
Some have been questioning about the "Deceased" part on the bottom of the chapter. The explanation for that is, it sounds like Dseized and is actually one of the reasons why Dseized was chosen. It's the second meaning to the name, with "Getting captured" being the first.
Anyway, poll time. Which title should I go by next chapter?
1. Sister Rivalry
2. Red, Black and Blue Goes Well Together?
Vote by submitting a review and you'll know the winner when the next chapter gets released.
See ya!
Deceased