"I'm going out, Aphrodite," Percy yelled as he came running down the stairs. "Don't wait for me for lunch, because I won't be back till late afternoon."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Aphrodite grumbled. "Let's start from the top, shall we?" Percy let out an exasperated sigh, steeling himself for the barrage of questions that he knew was about to come.
"Do we have to?" he replied, a tinge of impatience in his voice.
"Oh yes," she smirked. "Good morning, Perseus! How are you?" Her voice was as sweet as honey, dripping with sugary charm.
"Fine, how are you?" he grumbled. The goddess leaned in, as if she couldn't hear him.
"I'm sorry, I can't hear you?" Percy took a deep breath, trying to force himself to calm down. Sometimes, Aphrodite could really get on his nerves.
"I said I'm fine," he grudgingly repeated, raising his voice. "How are you?"
"I'm splendid!" she replied happily. "I've actually been practising my charmspeak in the mortal world. Honestly, you'd be surprised at how quickly some of these mortals respond to me-"
"Aphrodite!" Percy interjected, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "Cut to the chase or I'm leaving right now." The goddess playfully rolled her eyes.
"Fine, if you insist. Where are you going then?"
"Why?" he asked. Did he really need to tell her every single thing in his life?
"Percy, it's for insurance-"
"We're gods, we don't have insurance!" he retorted, exasperatedly, but Aphrodite simply shrugged, unbothered by his comment.
"Well you're my responsibility, so I kind of need to know," she replied matter-of-factly. To be honest, he'd love nothing more than to walk out of there and leave her curious, but she had a valid point. After all, he was her protege.
"I'm just visiting the hunt, that's it." Aphrodite cocked her head to the side, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Visitint the hunt, or visiting Artemis," she teased, raising an eyebrow.
"The hunt," he grumbled, crossing his arms defensively. "Thalia is still family to me."
"And I'm not?" The goddess faked hurt.
"You're the other type of family," he sighed. "You're like my roommate-"
"Except it's my house," she snickered. "Anyway, why are you always visiting the hunt?"
"I'm not?" Percy frowned, knowing he was lying. In the last month, he'd visited the hunt at least twice a week, sometimes thrice.
"Percy, don't lie to yourself," Aphrodite replied, seeing right through his facade. "You're spending almost as much time there as you are here!"
"They're just nice to me," he explained. "And they're pretty fun to hang around with, once you get past the whole man-hating thing, although they've made an exception for me."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. Phoebe has a bad reputation and all, but she's actually nicer to me than she'd usually be to guys. It's got something to do with how I earned Zoë's trust." The two looked at each other for a moment.
"So this has nothing to do with Artemis?" the love goddess asked.
"Why are you bringing her up?" Percy frowned, already preparing for the worst.
"Well," Aphrodite began slyly, "the two of you are getting along really well-"
"-Because she respects me for not being like the other men she's had bad experiences with, and for the stuff I've done for her!" he tried.
"-And Artemis hasn't had a friendship in a long time… Since Orion actually," Aphrodite continued, ignoring his attempts to steer the conversation away. Percy paused, narrowing his eyes at his mentor.
"What are you trying to insinuate?" he said slowly, not sure if he wanted to know the answer. The goddess gave an innocent shrug.
"Oh nothing," she said sweetly. "But, let's just say theoretically my protege was in love with someone-"
"I'm not in love!" he interjected with an exasperated sigh, feeling a blush creeping up his cheeks. Even though the idea of being in love was thrilling and terrifying, he wasn't sure he was quite ready to confront those feelings yet.
"I said theoretically," the goddess emphasised. "Anyway, if so, I would be the first person you tell, right?" Percy thought for a moment. When he found someone to love, he didn't have many people to tell. He supposed Nico would be someone at the top, along with his mother and maybe even Annabeth.
"Oh come on," Aphrodite grumbled, seeing his hesitation. "Why are you taking so long to think? Don't tell me I'm that low on your list, am I?"
"Ummm…."
"Percy, I may be a lot of things, but one thing I am not is a bad relationship adviser," she said, deadly serious. "I really hope that when you love someone, you'll come straight to me for advice. Mortals would kill for my advice, and I'm giving it to you for free!"
"Alright then," Percy sighed. "I guess I'll tell you when I find someone to love." Aphrodite's grin broadened.
"That's the spirit!" she said excitedly, grabbing his hand and pulling him up. "Now get out of here and have some fun! And remember, I'm just a call away if you need some advice on love or anything else!"
He was taken aback, to say the least. One minute, Aphrodite was all deadly serious, wanting to talk to him about his love life, and the next, she was trying to kick him out again like a pesky fly. Percy didn't think he could ever fully understand Aphrodite's wild and unpredictable antics. She was like a box of chocolates - never knew what you were gonna get.
"Hang on, let me get my jacket," he said, snatching it from her extravagant coat hanger and hastily zipping it up. The last few days had been quite the weather rollercoaster near the hunt's camp. Percy had tried explaining that it would be much nicer to hunt in the southern parts of America, but they didn't listen.
"Can you flash me there?" he asked her. The goddess raised an eyebrow.
"What's the magic word?" she teased.
"The magic word is I'm gonna give you illusions of losing your makeup kit if you don't!" Percy threatened with a playful grin. Aphrodite quickly shut up, feigning terror, before grabbing his hand and flashing the two of them back into the heart of a lush, dense forest.
"Oh my," she began. "How does anyone stand this weather? Have you tried speaking to the hunt about coming down south where the weather's actually nice?" Percy smirked at her reaction.
"I have. And people can stand this weather because they're not dressed like…"
"Like?" Aphrodite challenged. Percy's face reddened, and he muttered something about needing to speak with Thalia. Aphrodite laughed it off, gently pushing him forwards.
"I need you back by six by the way," the goddess added as he walked off. Freezing in his tracks, he turned around.
"Six?" Percy frowned. "Why? What do I have to do this time?"
"You have to accompany me to a bar-"
"Oh no way!" he glared. "I'm not falling for that one again."
"Perseus!" Aphrodite yelled. "It's not for me this time, okay?"
"Then who is it for?" he sighed. The last time Aphrodite had forced him into a bar, he'd had the most miserable five hours of his life, and he'd grown up with Smelly Gabe so that was saying something.
"Athena," Aphrodite said coolly. "She needs to talk to us about something, and I'm not going along." Percy couldn't believe his ears.
"Wait, wait, wait," he stammered, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. "You want me to go to a bar with Athena? The goddess of wisdom, strategy, and battle, that Athena? Isn't that, like, completely against her whole persona?" Aphrodite shrugged with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Oh, come on, Percy! Don't underestimate Athena. You might be surprised at how much she enjoys the occasional outing."
"But it's Athena!" he pouted. "She's probably going to be analysing the bar's structural integrity or debating the merits of different drink recipes," Percy protested. Aphrodite giggled.
"You think too much, darling. Just go with the flow and let the night unfold. Who knows? You might have an enlightening conversation with the goddess herself." Percy sighed, resigning himself to fate.
"I don't suppose I can decline, can I?"
"Nope!" she said cheerfully.
"Fine, I'll go," he grumbled. "But if I end up debating the best way to make a soufflé with Athena, I'm blaming you."
"Deal!" Aphrodite said, clapping her hands together excitedly. "Don't be late!" With that, the love goddess flashed out of there, leaving a mark on the ground she'd just been on.
When Percy approached the hunt, he was surprised to see how quiet it was. Normally, the area was bustling with life, with hunters sparring, cooking, fighting, arguing, and everything else. However, now, he couldn't hear any noise. It was as if every hunter had just disappeared. Percy's footsteps echoed through the deserted hunt's camp as he ventured deeper into the heart of the once lively grounds. The absence of laughter, chatter, and the usual sounds of training sessions felt unnerving.
"Thalia, you here?" he called out, being greeted only by the silence.
"Phoebe?" he tried again. "Come on guys, quit the pranks, it's not funny. I came all this way to see you. The least you could do is see me in return." He kicked a soup can, continuing to walk around their camp.
"This is weird," Percy muttered to himself, glancing around the empty clearing. It was as if the camp had been frozen in time, and the absence of the hunters left him with an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
As he continued his exploration, he noticed a faint flicker of light coming from the dining pavilion. Curiosity tugged at him, urging him to investigate. As he approached, he found half-eaten bowls of food, abandoned chairs, and a dimly lit campfire still crackling with life.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" he called out again, hoping for a response that would dissolve the eerie atmosphere, but the only reply he received was the echo of his own voice. He wished just someone would come and explain what was happening, but no. The place seemed desolate, except from a still lit camp-fire, and half eaten bowls in the dining pavilion. He knew the hunt was still here, and he highly doubted they'd been kidnapped, which just begged the question, where were they?
"They're not here," a voice said from behind. Immediately, Percy whipped his head around, already uncapping Riptide and facing the person. Artemis didn't seem to be impressed, raising an eyebrow.
"Seriously?" she asked. Percy shrugged, trying to maintain a nonchalant air despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins.
"If there's one thing I've learned from my past quests and experiences, it's that you can never be too careful. As a wise man once said, it's better to be prepared for nothing, than to be unprepared for anything." Grudgingly, the goddess nodded.
"I suppose your argument has some merit." Percy grinned, feeling a small victory. Getting approval from Artemis, even begrudgingly, was no small feat. "But that doesn't mean you need to keep your weapon out when you know I'm not a threat anymore, do you?" the goddess continued. "Unless some other wise man told you that?" Sheepishly, he capped his sword, stowing it back into his pocket.
"One could say you are a threat-" he tried reasoning.
"Oh, I'm a threat now?" Artemis challenged. "A wise man might've never said this, but a wise woman will tell you right now, I'm only a threat if you want me to be one, and if you want me to be a threat… Well someone's going home in bandages and I highly doubt it'll be me." She smirked, quite proud of her witty comeback. However, the second Artemis turned around to take a leaf out of her hair, Percy pulled a face at her.
"So where is everyone then?" he asked. The goddess gestured for him to walk alongside her, and he gladly fell into step.
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure," Artemis admitted.
"They're your hunt, and you don't know where they are?" Percy jabbed playfully. "Wow, you must be better at losing things than I am, and that's saying something." Artemis glared at him, but he could tell she was trying to hide a smirk.
"I know roughly where they are and what they've gone to do," she clarified, her eyes scanning the surrounding trees. "I just don't know exactly where they are. It's like if your mum lets you go out to eat with your friends. She knows roughly where you are, but she doesn't know the exact restaurant you picked out, does she? Unless she's psychic, in which case I doubt she'd be mortal." Reluctantly, Percy nodded his head, as if to say, I suppose you're right. It was now Artemis's turn to grin.
"To answer your question though, the hunt has gone on a hunting challenge. As I've come to learn over the years, Thalia has a really big mouth, and when she boasted to Atalanta that she was the best hunter… Well, let's just say Atalanta wasn't exactly thrilled. And you know how competitive she can get! So, they decided to settle it with a good old-fashioned hunting competition. I'm sure they'll be back very soon, but in the meantime, I've been here all alone, with nothing to do. It's a good thing you came, Perseus. At least this way I can make fun of someone until my hunters come back."
"You wish," he scoffed. "These days, it's ninety percent me making fun of you, and ten percent you thinking you're funny by making fun of me."
"I am pretty funny," Artemis said coolly. "But now's not the time to argue about this."
"And why's that," Percy snorted. "Just because you know I'm right doesn't mean we can't argue about why I'm right, as per usual of course-"
"Perseus, hasn't anyone ever said how you get on people's nerves?" Artemis grumbled. He simply grinned, knowing that he had a knack for pushing people's buttons.
"Oh many times," he smirked. "I tend to take it as a compliment these days. If I can ruffle the feathers of the almighty goddess of the hunt, I must be doing something right… Right?" Artemis shook her head in mock disbelief.
"Take it as whatever you want," the goddess sighed, "but my food is getting cold, so are you coming or not?"
The second he heard the word 'food,' Percy immediately shut up and started listening. Artemis couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction, gesturing for him to follow her deeper into the woods. Percy obediently trotted alongside her, his stomach growling audibly.
"You should've just started with that," Percy sighed with a hint of exasperation. "I forgot to eat lunch before I came here."
"And what happened to breakfast?" Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"Uhhh…" Percy grinned sheepishly. "See, I might've overslept. In my defence, it's not helpful that Aphrodite has breakfast at like nine in the morning."
"Oh no, poor Perseus," Artemis teased. "He has to wake up at nine!? Lady Aphrodite must be being so mean to him." He rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Yeah, yeah, now can we move on to the part where we stop talking about food and actually eat some food. I really hope this isn't one of your hunter's cooking, is it?"
"Nah, I made it myself, don't worry." Relieved, Percy nodded his head.
"That's cool. So where are we going now?" Artemis pointed gracefully to a small piece of cloth draped out across the grass in front of them.
"Wait," Percy frowned. "We're having a picnic?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with that? Don't tell me you're not a fan of picnics now. Even my hunters enjoy them."
"No, it's not that," he assured her quickly. "It's just…. You know…"
"I don't know," she replied.
"Like…" Percy began, "You and me… Picnic together… Implications…"
"What are you saying?" she sighed, her face blank. "Is there some problem?"
"None at all," he squeaked.
"Good," the goddess replied. "Now sit down and give some half decent company please."
Too tired to argue and determined to finally eat, Percy quickly sat down opposite the goddess on the cloth, blushing furiously. He knew Artemis's intentions were completely innocent, but being around the love goddess too much starts to make you realise things, especially the fact that a picnic with two people, alone, most of the time meant something romantic. Of course Artemis wouldn't understand, but Percy… Well he was struggling to keep cool. Oh gods, if Aphrodite found out what they were doing… The things she'd say…
"Chicken, Percy?" she asked, offering him a tantalising slice of perfectly smoked meat. The savoury aroma wafted through the air, making Percy's mouth water with anticipation. He eagerly accepted the offering, feeling the meat practically melt in his mouth and letting out a contented sigh.
"Wow, this is amazing! I had no idea you were such a fantastic cook," he complimented her with a grin. Artemis chuckled softly, adjusting her seating position on the soft blanket beneath.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it, Percy. The truth is, I don't cook often because it's too much effort. Only today, seeing as I had nothing much to do, I decided to have some fun and whip something small up." Her modesty only made Percy appreciate the meal even more.
"I gotta admit, this is pretty amazing," he remarked, piling a plate high with various delicacies. "Man, I'm so happy that I decided to skip breakfast and lunch today. Aphrodite's cooking is absolutely awful. She always needs to get someone else to make her food, or just magic it up." Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"Are you saying my buffet skills are better than those of the goddess of love?"
"Oh, absolutely," Percy replied with mock seriousness. "You know, the last time I attended one of her buffets, I ended up turning into a giant pink flamingo for a day. It wasn't a pretty sight." Artemis burst into laughter, a rare and beautiful sight, her silver eyes twinkling with amusement.
"A giant pink flamingo, you say? I wish I could've seen that."
"It's what happens when Aphrodite forgets which potion does what," he explained. "Poseidon was ready to flip out when I told him, but we chalked it to a misunderstanding in the end. I'm just glad it only lasted for a day." Percy chuckled, popping a few grapes into his mouth, enjoying their burst of sweetness.
"But enough about that. How have you been, Artemis? It's been a while since we had a chance to catch up."
"Oh yes," she began sarcastically. "I can't believe we haven't seen each other in three days. Wow, what a reunion!" Percy gave a cheeky shrug.
"Theoretically speaking, one could define 'a while' as three days." The goddess rolled her eyes, before leaning back against the tree, looking thoughtful.
"In all seriousness, I've been well, Percy. The hunt has been busy, as always, but we managed to deal with a rogue monster pack the other day. It was quite the battle."
"I bet it was," Percy nodded, listening intently. "You did beat them though, right?" Artemis scoffed.
"Should you even be asking that?"
"No?" Percy responded, his voice raising in mock confusion.
"No," the goddess agreed.
Artemis took a packet of crisp, offering him one as well.
"I keep these safe from my hunters," she explained while opening it. "If they knew about my secret stash, it'd be gone in a matter of seconds." Percy nodded in understanding. He knew all too well the struggles of keeping snacks hidden from ravenous demigods and gods alike. Hades had a similar arrangement to prevent him and Nico from pilfering all his snacks, though they always managed to find them in the end.
"Tell me then, Percy," Artemis began, leaning forward with curiosity. "How are things going with Aphrodite? Have you guys started dating yet?"
"We're not dating," Percy groaned, "nor are we ever going to, at least under my watch. Seriously, how many more times do I need to repeat myself?"
"As many times as it takes before it's boring," she retorted. "But seriously, how's it going?" Percy thought for a moment, crunching on a crisp and savouring its salty goodness.
"It's just the same," he admitted. "Nothing new is happening these days, and training is pretty lame. I just can't wait to unlock my true form and finally be a proper god, with my own responsibilities, and hopefully with much more exciting things to do." Artemis smiled as she heard this.
"Ah, the beauty of optimism. It's a shame how short it lasts."
He stayed there for a bit, enjoying Artemis's company and the food (mainly the food now that he thought about it.) As he savoured another delicious spoonful of dessert, he couldn't help but appreciate how surprisingly nice Artemis was to him. Moments like this made him realise just how genuine and caring she could be. It was a side of the goddess that not many people got to see, and he felt lucky to be one of the few. The conversation flowed easily between them, touching upon past adventures and funny mishaps. Percy found himself laughing at some of Artemis's stories, amazed at her ability to find humour in even the most serious situations. They talked about their respective responsibilities as gods and how sometimes, even immortals needed a break from their duties. He cherished this casual camaraderie with the goddess of the hunt. She may be fierce and independent, but she had also been acting as a considerate and nice friend.
Time seemed to fly as they chatted and ate, and before he knew it, the sun was starting to dip, with sunset slowly approaching, casting a warm glow over the forest. Percy reluctantly got to his feet, brushing off the grass from his pants.
"I hate to cut this short, but I should probably get going," Percy said, regretful to leave the cosy picnic behind. "Aphrodite's going to freak out if I'm not back by six." Artemis nodded understandingly, standing up as well.
"Of course, duty calls, but remember, Percy, you're always welcome here. It's nice to have some company once in a while."
"I'll definitely keep that in mind," he replied with a grin. "And thanks for this little picnic. It was nice to unwind for a bit."
"You're welcome," Artemis said softly. "Anytime you need a break from your godly duties or Aphrodite's antics, you know where to find me." Percy gave her a playful salute. "Will do! See you around, Artemis." He turned around, ready to walk into the forest, before remembering just how far Olympus was. Behind him, Artemis was looking amused.
"A lift perhaps?" she asked, lending him her hand. Gratefully, he took it, closing his eyes and letting the goddess flash him back to Aphrodite's palace.
"Thanks for the picnic, and goodbye," Percy said, waving cheerily to her. She rolled her eyes, but nevertheless returned his wave, before flashing back to her hunt.
Percy rang the doorbell to Aphrodite's palace. Unfortunately, his time with the hunt was over, and now it was time for him to face Athena in the pub. The door quickly swung open.
"Aphrodi- Whoa!" Aphrodite stood before him, wearing something incredibly revealing, even by her 's cheeks flushed crimson, and he quickly averted his gaze, trying to maintain some sense of propriety.
"Aphrodite, seriously? Can't you, uh, cover up a bit?" Percy stammered, trying to find the right words. "I mean, I know you're the goddess of love and beauty, but you don't have to flaunt it all the time." Aphrodite rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Oh, Percy, you're such a prude sometimes. I'm just going to a pub. This is how everyone dresses there. Besides, it's not like I'm going to wear a potato sack just to please your mortal sensibilities."
"It's not about pleasing me, it's about being respectful," he retorted. "You know how much this kind of thing makes me uncomfortable."
"Grow up," she scoffed. "Now tell me, do I look hotter with my hair in a messy bun, or should I let it loose? I mean, we all know you have a weakness for messy buns, but does everyone else?"
"Wha-How do you know that!?" Aphrodite smirked slyly.
"Darling, I'm the goddess of love. It's my duty to know that." She frowned, adjusting her hair in the mirror, never satisfied with it.
"I think…" she began. "I think I'm gonna go with a messy bun. At the very least, if other people don't give me looks, you'll be drooling for me." He could feel his face grow hot with annoyance.
"I don't drool!" he glared. "Well, at least I don't drool for you." She only kept laughing, her smile never faltering.
"Ah, that's right," Aphrodite smirked. "You only drool for other people. Calypso, maybe? No you left her too fast. Annabeth? The two of you broke up though… Oooh, it's Artemis isn't it!" Aphrodite cackled gleefully, while Percy only blushed harder, stumbling over his words.
"I do not drool for Artemis!" he yelled defensively.
"Really?" the love goddess asked, tilting her head to the side. "You wouldn't drool for her, ever?" She leaned closer, her breath warm against his ear, her voice a seductive whisper. "Not even if Artemis was wearing a flimsy, lacy nightgown, sitting on your bed with a subtle smile-"
"Aphrodite!" Percy interjected, his heart pounding.
"Aha!" she grinned. "I know you're already imagining it!"
"That's because you put the image in my mind," he groaned, struggling to clear his thoughts. "Just stop, please! This is torture, living with you." The goddess raised her hands in mock surrender, though even Percy could see her smirk.
"I need you to wear this," Aphrodite said, handing him a neatly folded set of clothes. "We're going to an Olympic Bar. You can't be seen in that drab mortal attire." Percy looked down at the clothes she'd offered him. It was a set of well-fitted, celestial blue robes with golden embroidery, reminiscent of the attire worn by the gods. A matching golden laurel wreath sat on top of the pile.
"Are you serious?" he asked, incredulous.
"Oh, don't act like that," she cooed, pushing the clothes into him. "If you wanna learn more about godhood, you need to at least look the part. Besides, I bought these for you earlier. There's no way you're not gonna wear them right now." Percy took the clothes and disappeared into a nearby room to change. When he emerged, he couldn't help but feel like an impostor in the extravagant robes, though he had to admit they were quite comfortable.
"Fine, I'm ready," Percy huffed, feeling slightly ridiculous but resigned to the situation. Aphrodite beamed, clearly pleased with herself.
"See, don't you look divine? Now, let's head to the pub and enjoy the night together, shall we?"
The journey to the pub was an interesting experience, to say the least. As they walked through the vibrant streets of Mount Olympus, Percy couldn't help but notice the diversity of the divine beings around them. Each god and goddess had a unique aura, some radiating power and authority, while others exuded grace and charm. Percy was grateful for Aphrodite's celestial robes; they seemed to grant him a certain level of respect from those they passed. Finally, they arrived at the pub's entrance. It was a quaint yet lively place, filled with divine beings laughing and mingling. Percy was relieved to see that most of them were dressed in more casual attire, allowing him to blend in a little better.
As they entered, Percy was greeted with the lively atmosphere that he hadn't expected from a gathering of gods. The music was infectious, and the air was filled with laughter and conversation. It was like a party of immortals, and he felt a sense of excitement growing within him. Aphrodite led the way through the crowd, gracefully navigating through the sea of celestial beings. It was a sight to behold, the goddess of love and beauty walking alongside a young boy dressed like a god, and all eyes were on them, or rather on her. It seems like the messy bun was working after all.
"Ah, there she is!" Aphrodite pointed to someone sitting alone at the bar, nursing a glass of wine. She nudged Percy, directing his attention towards the goddess of wisdom. Percy's eyes widened at the sight of Athena in such a state, being more accustomed to seeing her composed and dignified.
"Look who it is," the goddess of love grinned. "Our beloved Athena, indulging in some merriment."
As they approached, Percy couldn't help but notice how uncharacteristically dishevelled Athena appeared. Her normally perfectly styled hair was slightly unkempt, and there was a rosy glow on her cheeks, indicating she had already indulged in a few too many drinks.
"Athena, darling!" Aphrodite called out, her voice carrying over the lively music. "You can hear us, right?" Ever so slowly, Athena turned to face them, a hint of surprise in her eyes, quickly replaced by a warm smile. "Ah, Aphrodite," she slurred. "And Perseus. How delightful of you to join me." As they reached the bar, Percy couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"Wow, you're really enjoying yourself, aren't you, Athena?" Athena's smile widened, and she swayed slightly on her barstool.
"Why shouldn't I? Even goddesses need to unwind occasionally." With a flirtatious wink, Aphrodite summoned the bartender, who seemed all too eager to serve the goddess of love.
"I'll have a Sex on the Beach," she said playfully. "On second thoughts, make it two, one for the young man next to me." Percy blushed, glancing at the menu behind the bar.
"Um, actually, I think I'll go with an orange juice, please." A few raised eyebrows from other patrons followed his request, but Aphrodite shrugged it off.
"Oh, darling, you're missing out, but to each their own."
As Aphrodite sipped her cocktail, she turned her attention back to Athena, engaging her in conversation.
"So, Athena, what brings you to this lively gathering? I can't recall the last time I saw you let your hair down like this."
Athena chuckled, her words slightly slurred. "I suppose even the goddess of wisdom needs a break from all the seriousness once in a while. Besides, these mortals do have some interesting ideas when it comes to drinks." Athena chuckled, taking a small sip of her wine and leaning against the bar for support.
"Well, my dear Aphrodite, even goddesses like myself need a moment to step away from the constant burden of knowledge and strategy. It was a good idea for you to suggest we meet here. I'm having tons of fun already!" Aphrodite giggled, her cheeks now rosy from the effects of the cocktail.
"You know, sometimes it's nice to escape the heavy responsibilities of godhood and just enjoy ourselves." Percy was frowning.
"But Aphrodite," he interjected, slightly puzzled. "Didn't you say earlier that Athena wanted to meet us here, not the other way round?" Aphrodite winked at him.
"Well, I might have given her a little nudge in this direction. You know, just to liven up our evening." Athena nodded her head, a grin on her face.
"Mhmm, well, thank you for that nudge, Aphrodite. It's... nice to have a change of pace."
The conversation turned deeper as the drinks continued to flow. Aphrodite and Athena opened up about the expectations and hardships of godhood; how it wasn't as easy as it looked. The laughter and jests from earlier transformed into genuine moments of empathy and understanding.
"You know," Athena slurred slightly, "sometimes I wish I could just lay down all the expectations and let myself be... free." Aphrodite placed a comforting hand on Athena's shoulder.
"I know exactly what you mean, Athena. The expectations, the love affairs, the drama, it's all so overwhelming at times." Percy watched in astonishment as the usually composed and serious Athena turned playful for the first time.
As the night wore on, Athena's speech slowly became more and more slurred, although her wit and intelligence still shone through. He could tell Aphrodite was also beginning to feel the effects of her cocktail, her laughter becoming more contagious and her stories becoming more animated, vivid and graphic. Percy leaned back, quietly observing the two goddesses. It was surreal to see them like this, unguarded and carefree. Then again, he supposed alcohol did that to you. Percy never, ever wanted to drink alcohol in his life. After all, why drink cocktails when you have freshly squeezed orange juice?
Finally, after many rounds of drinks, Athena, now reaching her peak in drunkenness, raised her glass, almost spilling its contents.
"To friendship and camaraderie! Cheers!" Aphrodite clinked her glass against Athena's, giggling, "Cheers, indeed!" Percy followed suit, raising his orange juice with a smile. "Cheers to new experiences and unforgettable nights!"
"And to orange juice," Aphrodite slightly slurred, moving her hand uncomfortably close to him.
"And to orange juice," he agreed.
"So Perseus," Athena mumbled, leaning heavily on the bar counter, "how are you finding godhood?" Percy hesitated for a moment, still reluctant to confide in her.
"It's... it's okay," he replied honestly, his voice tinged with weariness. "It's a lot to take in, and it's challenging, to say the least." Athena nodded, her expression hazy.
"I can imagine. Being a god comes with immense responsibilities and decisions that impact the world. You're handling it better than you think, even if you don't have Annabeth with you." Percy managed a small smile, grateful for the encouragement, but then, his heart sank as he felt compelled to bring up a sensitive topic.
"I suppose.." he began. "But does it matter to you? I mean, you must be happy that I've... broken up with your daughter, Annabeth." Athena's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, and she nodded, her speech slurred even more.
"Yes, I am... I think it's for the best." The goddess downed her entire bottle of Dionysus Rum, before slamming it down and demanding more. "Honestly Aphrodite, itt was a good thing that you listened when I told you to break them up," Athena continued, her words heavy with drunken honesty. "At least I can say you've done something for me now."
All of a sudden, Percy's world stopped. He froze, his mind racing with confusion and disbelief.
"You-You did WHAT!?" he exclaimed, turning to face Aphrodite, who now looked remorseful and apologetic.
"Percy, I... I didn't mean for it to come out like that," Aphrodite stammered, trying to find her words in the haze of alcohol. "I thought it was for the best, you know, to avoid conflicts and you still have other chicks... and I'm really sorry." Tentatively, she reached a hand out to caress his face, but Percy slapped it away.
"D-Don't touch me," he stammered. The room around Percy started to spin as a mix of anger, betrayal, and hurt overwhelmed him. He felt sick to his stomach, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. How could Aphrodite, of all people, do this to him? She'd promised it had been an accident that she'd broken them up, not that she'd done it on purpose.
Without another word, Percy turned and ran out of the pub, his emotions too raw to face the situation any longer. Behind him, he heard Aphrodite call out his name, but it was too late. His vision blurred with tears, he made his way through the bustling streets of the divine realm, trying to find a secluded spot to gather his thoughts.
His trust fractured, Percy turned to run to the one place where he knew people would listen and be honest with him. At least in the hunt they don't break you up for the entertainment of another goddess.
And yeah, massive(ish?) plot twist! I do hope this chapter was also pretty cool, especially with the cute picnic! Please do leave a review if you enjoyed this, and if you want some more quickly!