"Honestly Percy, I'm glad Aphrodite brought you here," Poseidon said with a smile on his face. "I've been getting worried about what that goddess has been doing to you." Percy smirked at his Father.
"Nothing I can't handle, don't worry," he assured him, his voice filled with confidence and a tint of amusement. "Though I must admit, she did force me to have a seduction lesson with her, which was mortifying." Poseidon's laughter reverberated through the air, a booming sound that echoed with a father's pride. Playfully, he slapped Percy's back.
"She tried the same thing in Olympus," Poseidon reminisced, "but Zeus shut the idea down faster than a bolt of lightning. Only time I've actually seen Aphrodite sad, well aside from the Adonis incident, but it's best not to bring that up in front of her."
"Adonis?" Percy asked. "Wasn't he Aphrodite's hunting partner?" Poseidon pursed his lips, betraying a hint of hesitation. It was obvious he was trying to think about how much to actually tell Percy.
"Adonis and Aphrodite grew very close," Poseidon began. "He was her first, true, mortal love. When he met his tragic demise… Well, it shattered Aphrodite's heart. To say she was distraught would be an understatement. She withdrew from the presence of the gods, and retreated into a grief-stricken solitude. It's said that entire rivers were formed by the torrent of tears she shed in her anguish, but that might've been the Naiads over exaggerating things as usual.." As the weight of Poseidon's words hung heavily in the air, Percy was momentarily stunned. He never thought of Aphrodite as the type of person to cry over a mortal's death.
"Don't mention this to her though," Poseidon said sternly. Percy nodded in silent acknowledgement, and Poseidon let out a sigh of relief. "The Adonis incident is something none of us speak about. I think we all prefer to act like it never happened and move on in life."
"Have you ever loved a mortal like that?" Percy asked curiously. The question hung in the air, so simple, yet so complicated. The connections between the divine and mortals were very intricate.
"Like what?" Poseidon frowned.
"Like how Aphrodite loved Adonis?" Frowning, the sea god nervously looked around, most likely making sure his wife, Amphitrite wasn't nearby, before leaning in.
"I've had my fair share of watching mortals that I loved die," Poseidon admitted, his voice a delicate whisper, "but it's not the same as what Aphrodite endured."
"How come?" Percy asked. Poseidon sighed, probably wondering how he'd gotten into this mess.
"Percy, one of the reasons Aphrodite was so heartbroken at Adonis's death is because the two never got the chance to actually explore their relationship, as Adonis died at such a young age. My love for mortals may be short lived, but I always try to make sure they live up to an old age. After that, it's all in the hands of Thanatos and the Keres." Percy nodded, absorbing his father's words. So far, what struck him most was Aphrodite's reaction to a mortal dying. The Aphrodite he knew never would've shed tears if one of her loves died, yet it seems long ago she had been a different person, one who loved with her entire heart..
"Shall we move on from this topic then?" Poseidon asked, his voice carrying a faint undertone of discomfort, as if discussing his love life with his son was an awkward thing. Faintly smiling, Percy nodded.
The two were walking through the ethereal city of New Atlantis. Aphrodite had decided that if she didn't take Percy to visit Poseidon, she'd be in grave danger of having her palace flooded. Being born from the sea as well, it wasn't hard flashing him into the ocean, near Poseidon's palace. From there, he walked, or rather swam into Atlantis himself. The mermen were more than happy to help him find Poseidon. He'd followed their glistening scales all the way up to his father's grand palace. In there, he (eventually) managed to find Posiedon, and the two hadn't stopped talking since.
New Atlantis was coming along slowly but surely, thriving in the tides of determination. From the initial sketches to the final strokes of celestial craftsmanship, the new palace of Poseidon had begun to take shape, rising majestically from the depths with every passing day. Translucent alabaster columns, intricately carved with mythical scenes, reached skyward, their otherworldly glow capturing the beauty of sunlight filtering through the crystalline waters. The halls of the palace were adorned with intricate mosaics depicting seafaring epics, where heroes battled mythical creatures beneath the watchful eyes of the Olympians. Most would look at it and congratulate Poseidon on his design, but few knew that there was more to this palace than meets the eye. The creation of New Atlantis was not merely another whim of the sea god, but rather the result of a carefully negotiated deal made with Zeus after the second Titanomachy. As part of his rewards for helping defeat Typhon, Poseidon was granted the ability to recruit as many builders as needed from Olympus to reconstruct his magnificent palace A deal Poseidon made with Zeus after the second Titanomachy was that he could take as many builders from Olympus as he needed to help him rebuild his palace. Once Zeus had heard Poseidon's request, he'd granted it immediately, thinking it could do no harm… Boy was he wrong. Yes, part of the reason why Poseidon did it was to feel rewarded after helping defeat Typhon, but Percy had a sneaking suspicion that Poseidon really enjoyed irritating Athena. Annabeth always told him how Athena kept complaining to Zeus about having a lack of architects, but the poor king, stuck in a game of divine politics, couldn't do anything about it without aggravating Poseidon. Essentially, he was forced to tell Athena to cope.
"Oh my days!" Poseidon suddenly said. "I completely forgot to ask you, but are you hungry?" Poseidon had an animated expression of concern, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of fatherly care and mild exasperation.
"Honestly not really-" he began, only to be interrupted by Poseidon's fervent response.
"When was the last time you ate?" Percy gulped nervously, racking his brains for an excuse.
"Umm, about 10PM last night…" he confessed, offering a sheepish smile, one that Poseidon did not return.
"Percy, you're a growing boy!" Poseidon said with a sigh, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's past noon, you've skipped breakfast, and at the rate we're going, you're gonna skip lunch as well!"
"Relax Dad," Percy tried to reason. "I'm a god, remember? Food isn't a big priority for me, at least that's what my mentor said. Besides, I'll get Aphrodite to get me something when I go back." Unamused, the sea god frowned for a moment, still walking alongside Percy, before a coy smile began to grow.
"So by declining to eat with me, you're basically saying one of two things. Either Aphrodite's company is better than mine or Aphrodite's food is better than mine. Which is it?" Percy froze, his eyes widening as he realised how he'd fallen into Poseidon's trap. With mock annoyance, he glared at his father who only smirked.
"I suppose a bite or two never hurt anybody," he conceded in defeat, knowing that his father had successfully manipulated him into having lunch. "Well except for that time when Piper got food poisoned by the Stoll brothers, but who's counting?" All Poseidon could do was laugh as he turned around and led his son towards the dining room, on the complete opposite side of the palace.
"Tell me more about your domains," Poseidon asked, trying to engage in casual conversation with his son.
"What d'you wanna know about them?" Percy asked nonchalantly. Poseidon thought for a moment, his sea-green eyes narrowing in contemplation.
"Let's start with the difficult one," he decided. "How are you doing at Metamorphosis?" The mere mention of this domain struck a chord within him. This was a… touchy subject for Percy.
"I mean, I've gotten decentish at it," he tried. At this, the sea god's eyes ignited with an unmistakable spark of excitement.
"Oh, this is great news!" Poseidon exclaimed. "Honestly, the art of metamorphosis is crazy fun at times! What was it like when you first transformed someone into a fish?" Percy shifted uneasily in his feet, his gaze flickering briefly before setting on the ornate, mosaic floor, something that did not go unnoticed.
"Percy?" Poseidon asked, concern now creeping into his voice.
"Okay, it's not my fault... but I'm still stuck on trying to transform myself," Percy confessed glumly. "So far, the best I've done is transform my lower torso into a snake's tail, something that felt incredibly off." Poseidon nodded understandingly.
"My son, back in the good old days-" he began, before Percy playfully interjected.
"Oh please, you're not even that old…. Oh…" His voice trailed off as he realised the irony of his statement. Poseidon smirked at his son's attempt at a joke. "Apologies, even for me, it's easy to forget my father has actually been alive for millenia."
"Adjusting to godhood takes time," Poseidon continued, his voice carrying wisdom, "but as I was saying, back after Kronos was originally defeated and I was granted control over the ocean's, it took a long time before they obeyed my every command. Even to this day, many of the older sea monsters from Oceanus' time refuse to obey me and often try attacking Atlantis. What I'm trying to say is don't be disheartened. Metamorphosis, along with all your other domains, will eventually become a part of your soul."
"I know, but until then it's pretty frustrating. Even Frank's been starting to show signs of impatience." Poseidon nodded, as if he couldn't blame them.
"In time, my son, in time," Poseidon assured him, placing a comforting hand on Percy's shoulder. "Patience is a virtue bestowed upon few, but remember, the journey is just as significant as the destination. Your domains will one day unfold, and when they do, their connection to you will stand as a testament to your growth and strength." As he nodded, the pair kept walking around New Atlantis.
"How often do you visit Frank?" Poseidon asked curiously. Percy thought for a moment, before shrugging honestly.
"It varies, Father. Sometimes I'll go every day. Other times Aphrodite 'grounds' me until I do whatever garbage she wants me to do." Poseidon chuckled in sympathy.
"Now I feel sorry for you, and that's something coming from one of the eldest Olympians," he laughed, causing Percy to scowl. "What stuff does she usually ask you to do?" At this, Percy's expression darkened further, something that didn't go unnoticed by Poseidon.
"That bad, huh?"
"You don't even know half of it," he said graveley.
"I have had to endure her on the council ever since the Fates made her an Olympian, believe me I do know, but let's see if it's still as bad as it used to be."
"Well sometimes, when she gets bored, she takes me on long 'educational' walks," Percy explained with an exasperated sigh. "But I still don't know what I learn from them other than the fact that Hephaestus is supposedly annoying and that Ares has big muscles." The sea god snorted. "And then," Percy continued, his tone growing more resigned, "she forces me to just sit around and talk about love… with me out of all people. She'll start by talking about how great love is, then she'll move to list out all of my love experiences, and then she'll start talking about new people who I should meet and date. Oh, and sometimes, she'll snuggle up next to me and put a film on for us to watch… except it's only her watching it and I'm stuck there! I can't even leave because she'll follow and pester me until I finally cave in. Her excuse is, 'she doesn't want to watch films by herself.'" Poseidon thoughtfully stroked his chin, before nodding his head in understandment.
"Okay, that is fairly bad," Poseidon admitted. Turning, as they descended another grand set of stairs, their footsteps echoing through the opulent corridor, Poseidon's curiosity continued to fuel their conversation.
"Surely it's not always that miserable?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Percy, searching for a glimmer of positivity. He thought for a moment, his thoughts meandering through all their encounters and talks.
"I mean, she does teach me the ways of gods," Percy mused, his voice carrying a hint of appreciation. "She keeps me away from the nymphs of Olympus and she can be really sweet and caring sometimes. And I have to admit, the food is on point." As he listed this all, a flicker of a smile graced Percy's lips. "Plus, with Aphrodite, I can always ask her about anything without being judged." Poseidon frowned.
"You can't ask me about anything?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of pensiveness and hurt. Percy sighed.
"It's not that, Father, but I think we established earlier somethings are better left untalked about," Percy told him, hinting at the Adonis conversation earlier. Reluctantly, his father eventually nodded, agreeing that there were things they shouldn't talk about.
"So, I have to ask, do you like New Atlantis?" Immediately, Percy's eyes lit up.
"Oh, I love it!" he exclaimed. "Honestly, it's a true masterpiece. You really put a lot of thought into this one. Old Atlantis was good, don't get me wrong, but this… It takes the word 'breathtaking' to a whole new level." Pleased, Poseidon chuckled at his son's enthusiasm.
"Most people would've spent their time sitting away, sulking about their now tattered palace," Poseidon mused wisely, "but I've lived long enough to know that in life, you should never dwell on the past. I decided to approach things from a new perspective. With the help of… er… that Athena girl you used to be fond of, Annabeth, was more than happy to help me, and we managed to look at all the flaws in my old palace, and try to rectify them. The result? New Atlantis." The sea god motioned to the walls of the palace around them.
"Made only from the finest quartz, rocks, and jewels in the world, it's coming along well, but it's still a work in progress."
"How much longer till it's finished?" Percy asked.
"Ehh, I'd say a millenia or so," the sea god guessed. "After all, in my previous palace, the game room alone took six hundred or so years to complete, but this time we have more architects and builders, and are expediting the process. We decided to focus on building the walls of the palace first. Later is when the rooms will start being constructed." Percy furrowed his eyebrows.
"The rooms aren't built yet?" he asked, to which Poseidon nodded. "Then where do you sleep, and which dining room are we going to if your palace has no rooms?" Poseidon seemed to realise his mistake.
"What I meant was the final versions of the rooms haven't been made," the sea god clarified, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Of course we made a few quick rooms, but they are far from the finished product. For that, we have a long way to go. Until then, we eat from a smaller, yet still elegant dining room." Percy nodded, feeling a slight pang in his heart knowing that he wouldn't be able to see the final version of the palace for quite a while.
"And speaking of dining rooms, here we are!" Poseidon said, making a grand gesture to the polished, white set of double doors in front of them.
With a gentle push, Poseidon swung open the massive double doors, revealing a sight that took Percy's breath away. Stepping into the dining room, he was immediately enveloped in a wave of awe and wonder. This was a much smaller and hasty version of the dining room, yet it was still magnificent. The walls, smooth and pristine, radiated a pale glow, adorned with intricate patterns of azure lines that seemed to dance and swirl like playful sea currents. The room was bathed in a soft, ambient light that emanated from a stunning chandelier suspended from the ceiling. Its delicate crystals shimmered and sparkled, casting enchanting patterns upon the walls, adding to the otherworldly charm of the space. And of course, there was the actual dining table. A long, fine sculpture, painted in a baby blue that mirrored the tranquil depths of Poseidon's domain. Tall chairs surrounded the table, their comfortableness and graceful curves practically inviting him to sit down. The table could've easily accommodated all the Olympians's immediate family, with plenty of room to spare. It seemed to stretch on and on forever. Percy couldn't help but wonder why they needed so many seats. Back when he lived with his mother, there was just enough space for their small family, and the occasional guests.
Percy followed his father into the grand room. That was when the first issue came up.
"I didn't know we were having guests," a voice said icily, piercing the air and causing him to halt in his tracks. Glancing upwards, Percy could see Poseidon's wife, Amphitrite, glaring at him. He was sure Triton was also there, most likely watching with an amused expression.
"Oh, hello dear," Poseidon awkwardly said, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't expect you to be here."
"It's my palace too, and I eat lunch at the same time as you, so why are you so surprised?" Amphitrite's response was sharp and uncompromising, her words practically dripping with disdain. His father was speechless, giving Percy an almost apologetic look before heading to his seat. For a moment, Percy thought he was going to have to leave New Atlantis and speed back to Aphrodite, but he was proven wrong when Poseidon pulled up a chair, motioning for Percy to sit on it. He glanced at Amphitrite, but the Nereide observed him with a curious expression, as if she wanted to see what he'd do next. Purposely looking down at the floor, Percy walked next to his father, sitting on the rather tall seat. As they settled into their seats, a flurry of activity erupted around them. Servants of the sea swiftly emerged from hidden corners of the dining room. Each carried an assortment of plates, cutlery, and dishes making his mouth water. Percy marvelled at the exquisite artistry and the foreignness of some of the dishes, their names escaping him. The servants placed each item in a meticulously ordered arrangement on the expansive table, ensuring that every element was perfectly positioned. Only then, as quick as they came, the servants swiftly exited the dining room, leaving the four of them alone.
At first, no one seemed to be moving. Triton was playing with his fork, Amphitrite was having a staring contest with her husband, who was avoiding her gaze, and Percy was finding the plate very interesting. Unable to control his hunger anymore, Poseidon stood up, grabbing a plate of roast potatoes and putting a few into his plate. When he was done, the sea god turned to Percy.
"Potatoes?" he offered. Despite the awkwardness, Percy was absolutely famished, having skipped breakfast, and meekly nodded.
"Asking the boy first?" Amphitrite asked. "It's almost like he's the son who's been by your side for millenia and is a pure blood of the sea." She might as well have just said Triton's name. Poseidon frowned.
"Triton is perfectly capable of making his own plates, and he's sure as Hades capable of waiting for me to finish serving our guest," Poseidon said coolly, but the tension between them was more than palpable.
"You mean the guest you invited without informing any of us?"
"Yeah, that one…" Percy thanked Poseidon for the potatoes, but decided to make the rest of his plate himself. Pouring a tender chicken leg and a small mini shawarma, the new god sat back in his chair, before digging in, all while trying to avoid Amphitrite's hard stare.
"How was your day, Amphitrite dear? Poseidon asked, trying to make conversation.
"It was okay," she replied, after a small pause. "I've mainly been tending to the construction, and making sure no sea monster's are coming close to our defences at all." Poseidon nodded.
"And you son, Er Triton?" the sea god asked nervously, momentarily forgetting he had two sons in the room. The Greek son of Poseidon paused to swallow his bite.
"I went to talk with the Cyclops earlier today," he began. Percy couldn't help but notice the pride and arrogance in his half-brother's voice. "There's an issue with your flaming swords-"
"Flaming knives, how many more times do I have to say it!?" Poseidon said angrily. Triton shrugged, unfazed.
"Tell it to the Cyclops, they're the ones insisting on swords. However, I do have to say that Tyson makes a mean sword. I might actually ask him to create a few for me." Percy's heart swelled at the mention of his half brother. He knew Tyson was a crazy good blacksmith, but Percy didn't realise just how much better he'd become. It was sad to say, but ever since leaving Camp, the two hadn't had much time to talk, aside from the occasional Iris message. They definitely hadn't spoken face to face in over two years.
"Anything else worthy of-" In the midst of talking, Poseidon abruptly fell silent, his expression becoming one of thought. While Percy found this odd, Amphitrite and Triton seemed to be unfazed, continuing to eat their meal. The room seemed to hold its breath, a lull in the conversation enveloping. The clinking of silverware against plates ceased momentarily, allowing for the unspoken question to linger.
With a sense of urgency, Poseidon quickly stood up, tucking his chair in and wolfing down one last bite of steak.
"I'm needed on Olympus," he sighed. "Zeus wants to discuss another prophecy." Percy's brow furrowed in confusion as he frowned.
"Father, didn't Zeus say I am also meant to attend the Olympian meetings?" he asked, only getting a quick shrug in response.
"Zeus says a lot of things. Perhaps he thinks you're busy, or maybe he thinks you'll have no good points. If he'd asked you to come, you would've heard his voice in your head." Noticing Percy's slightly crestfallen face, the sea god sighed.
"Relax Percy," Poseidon said with a light smile. "I'm sure Zeus isn't used to you also being partly on the council and just forgot to summon you. It's best not to go, but I'll remind him now. And don't worry, absolutely nothing interesting happens in these meetings. They just end up becoming a chaotic shouting match." Turning around, Poseidon began walking out of the dining room.
"Don't muck around boys," he ordered, "and Triton, make sure you drop Percy back to Olympus after he finishes his meal." Triton made a face, but nevertheless nodded with a scowl.
"Whatever you say, Father," Triton mumbled in a tone Percy couldn't tell was sarcasm or mock joy.
As Poseidon left, the voice in Percy's head was saying one thing. Calm down, yet it didn't stop his leg from shaking nervously. Here he was, in Poseidon's dining room, sitting with his step-mother who despised him, and his half-brother who should become the god of pride. Avoiding eye contact became an unspoken agreement among the three of them, a silent acknowledgment of the awkward atmosphere of the room. With the sour expression Triton was making as he finished eating, Percy didn't need to read emotions to tell he did not like the idea of personally flashing him back to Aphrodite's palace. His half brother was acting as if he was too regal for this kind of chore.
"Triton," Amphitrite began, her tone much more gentle than it had been with Percy. "How is your palace going along?"
"It's going well mother," he said with a smug smile. "I met with one of Athena's architects yesterday and we planned the whole thing out. I've been put onto the waiting list, but apparently it's a long wait until they get around to building it, courtesy of Father practically stealing the builders under Athena's nose." Amphitrite, seemingly satisfied with Triton's response, resumed her meal, engrossed in her own thoughts. Meanwhile, Percy's thoughts wandered to the Olympians and the new great prophecy which loomed ominously over them. It had an unsettling and foreboding feeling to it. While the previous prophecies hadn't exactly been joyful, this one practically screamed death and destruction, and raised many questions. The civil war's embers, a bloodbath at hand. Who's fighting the war? Greeks versus Romans part two? The Big Three wage another war? He had no clue. Then, there was the phrase, the sadist's smile. Alone, that filled him with unease. It evoked images of a malevolent force lurking in the shadows, relishing in the suffering and pain it inflicted. The mere thought of such a presence sent shivers down his spine, as he grappled with the consequences of facing an enemy so sinister and merciless. Oh, and as if the weight of the prophecy wasn't enough, Delphi had said, a hero shall rile, only to fall. What's the point in a hero rising, if he's only gonna fall? It felt like a cruel twist of date, a tragic irony that undermined any semblance of hope. Thanks, Oracle, Percy thought with a sigh.
"Are they going to make you a palace as well?" Triton's voice was sharp and brough Percy stumbling out of his thoughts.
"Sorry?" he asked, receiving a roll of the eyes.
"I said, are they going to build a palace for you too?"
"Oh yeah," Percy replied, his voice tinged with a touch of nonchalance. "They're beginning production of it." His half brother seemed to frown.
"Already?" he asked in a tone of disbelief. "When did you meet your architect?"
"I met her a week ago and she managed to get me priority over my palace. I think it had something to do with me saving Olympus twice…" So Triton wanted to boast about himself. Well, two could certainly play at that game. Triton regarded Percy with a slow, measured nod.
"We may not see eye to eye on many things," he conceded, his tone laced with a begrudging respect. "And in my opinion, you may be an incredibly spoiled child of Poseidon, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Jumping the queue like that takes some serious clout. There must be at least twenty other gods and goddesses waiting on that list." Percy's lips curled into a faint smile as he accepted this rare sign of kindness from his half-brother. He stood up from his chair, gathering his plate and cutlery, and put it neatly in the centre of the room where all the other dirty dishes were.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Percy said to Triton and Amphitrite, even though they had been anything but accommodating.
"Don't thank me," she grumbled, fixing him with another hard stare. "Poseidon and I have a lot to talk about when he comes back." Unsure of how to respond to that, he gave her a quick nod before turning to his half brother.
"Triton, please take me back to Olympus," Percy tried to ask kindly, although if anything it probably came out as a weary sigh. Muttering something about not being a taxi driver, Triton walked towards him and held his hand out.
"Well what are you waiting for?" he snapped, irritation seeping into his voice. "Take my hand so I can get this done with." Percy wasted no time in accepting Triton's outstretched hand, closing his eyes and surrendering himself to the magic of teleportation.
Triton didn't want to stick around. As soon as the two arrived at Olympus, he gave Percy a scowl before turning around and disappearing in a flash of divine energy, most likely back to New Atlantis. Now alone again, Percy paused, looking around. He still hadn't memorised the whole of Olympus, but from the golden glow behind him, he knew he was near Hera's palace. As he'd done a week ago when meeting Annabeth, Percy retraced the familiar route back to Aphrodite's palace. However, this time he actually tried enjoying it, sinking in the scenery and serenity of Olympus. Today's visit to Atlantis was fun, awkward, and tiring. What he needed now was to get back to Aphrodite's palace, kick his shoes off, and get a good, undisturbed nap.
"Aphrodite, you here?" Percy asked as he sauntered through her front door. Just the other day, she'd changed the magic of her palace for him. Now, whenever he went to the door, he simply had to press a button and the door would recognise his presence and open up. Walking into the kitchen, Percy grabbed a glass, filled it up with water, and went towards the living room. The cool water felt refreshing in the heat.
"Hello Percy!" Aphrodite suddenly appeared out of nowhere as he was about to enter the living room, almost making him crash into her.
"Aphrodite… What are you doing here?" The goddess furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"What do you mean, it's my home?" she replied, her voice lanced with a hint of amusement and puzzle. Percy couldn't help but playfully roll his eyes.
"No, I mean aren't you supposed to be at a council meeting?"
"Ohh, yes I was, but I left pretty quick. It basically turned into a shouting match between Athena, Ares and Hera." That seemed to confuse him. From what he'd heard, Hera almost never spoke in meetings.
"What were they arguing about?" he asked, curiosity piqued. Aphrodite's expression softened as she recounted the events leading towards the argument.
"It all started with Athena attempting to decipher the meaning behind, 'The sadist's smile.' She initially said Ares should be watched due to his sadistic characteristics and the mention of a war in another line, but then she turned to talk about Enyo also possibly being the sadist, which got Hera pretty mad. At any rate, I didn't stick around to watch the fight." With a nod, Percy sat down on her sofa, sinking into plush velvet cushions and placing his cup of water on the side table, its surface gleaming with a lustrous shine..
Aphrodite on the other hand was looking in the mirror, a satisfied smile gracing her lips as she admired the subtle enhancement her makeup bestowed upon her.
"Why are you putting on makeup now?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you going somewhere?" He observed as Aphrodite meticulously applied the final touches of eyeliner before addressing his question.
"Actually, we are going somewhere," she corrected, stowing her makeup into her purse and snapping it shut.
"Well do tell," he mused.
"I've been thinking about what you've said about having no friends on Olympus to talk to-"
"I never said that," he muttered.
"-And decided to fix that up! Plus I also do need to visit this person, so why not kill two birds with one stone, or visit?"
"Okay?" Percy said uncertainty, waiting for the punchline that didn't seem to be coming. "So… where are we going?" Aphrodite's smile widened, her eyes shining with mischief.
"Why, we're going to visit Artemis' hunt!" she said happily. "You can finally get time to catch up with Thalia while also dodging the Hunter's arrows!"
Finishing this at 5AM, so please do let me know if this is good! Sorry if it feels a bit rushed. It's more of a filler chapter if anything, but next chapter is gonna be sick!