Since Ginger gained an Armatus she joined the group for training exercises. Although Victor was there he simply observed since he didn't have an Armatus. The group eventually takes a break from training to eat snacks, rehydrate, and talk. Ginger sat in a stump, wiping her face with a towel. “So what's it like when Hacate' Vail activates anyway?” Perseus was sitting on a rock drinking a bottle of water. “From what I hear, a person's eyes simply glaze over for a bit. When they come to all traces of magic are replaced or erased. Any changes remain consistent across all witnesses.”
Ginger frowned. “Sounds awful.” There's a pause before she asked her next question. “So reincarnation… normally we don't get solid memories but a spiritual version of muscle memory. However if you had an Armatus in your previous life or some connection to the god you got paired with in a previous life you get some solid memories. That's what I've gathered from what Athena and you were telling me.” Perseus nodded. “I have memories from my previous life as Natalie Stone-Tesla and the life before that as William “Saw-Mill Bill” Yates. I haven't gotten anything solid from any other lives yet so I can neither confirm nor deny any allegations about being Odysseus.”
Ginger sighed. “That would be the ancient past, literally. To hold you accountable for something done then feels asinine.” Perseus shrugged. “Yeah, well that's just how things were with the gods. Devote all your life and they'll never bat an eye but the moment you mess up they'll hold it against you for all their immortal lives. Honestly, the world is better off this way. Maybe the gods will learn humanity and humility before returning to the heavens or whatever.” Ginger winced as Athena shouted in her ear but didn't respond to whatever it was the goddess was saying. “Maybe. But even if so, whose decision is that to make?”
Perseus shrugged once again. “I don't know. Probably not mine. However, in the end, I think worship of the old gods would have ended without any input from Odysseus. The age of magic was doomed to end, all he did was speed up the process if anything.” Athena continued to complain to Ginger who put up her hand. “Shut up already! I trust Perseus, I'd trust him with my life. If you dislike it that much, you can just leave.” She then paused for a long time. “Wait… would the Veil act retroactively to make me forget about even having an Armatus?”
Perseus shrugged. “I honestly have no idea. I don't think so considering I still remember having Susano’o as Bill. Though those memories only came after Neptuna started showing up.” Ginger chuckled. “I still can't believe you ended up with the female personification because of a mix up. Is it ever awkward considering she can show up when and wherever? I mean she's always there, even when you shower.” Perseus chuckled. “Neptuna and I have an understanding that she doesn't manifest and stays in the void whenever I need privacy. She can enter a sort of dormant mode where she receives no external sensations unless I directly call on her. Can't hear or see anything.”
Ginger put her hand on her chin and nodded. “I see. And have you ever intentionally not used it? You know… just let her watch?” Perseus cocked his head to the side. “Why would I do that? There's nothing to be gained for either of us. I mean I may have gotten dressed a time or two while forgetting to dismiss her but I've never intentionally had her out while I'm naked.” Ginger shrugged. “Well I'm guessing since Athena’s outfit isn't exactly from her original time as a goddess that means they can change their outfit and appearance right?”
Perseus nodded. “Their outfit reflects the time and their own personality. Taking things they like from fashion trends across time even in some cases. But every time they pair they are in a different outfit. I also assumed they could change outfits if they saw fit.” Ginger puts her hand out and gestured at Perseus. “Does that mean they could appear naked?” Perseus looked even more confused. “I mean… I suppose they could. But why would they? They aren't physical so I guess if they wanted to do so it's not like the weather would affect them.”
Ginger sighed. “Right, of course. I suppose being able to look but never touch would be a difficult thing for you to get around.” Perseus tilted his head the other way. “Are you implying or suggesting something specific?” Ginger shook her head. “Nope, just forget I said anything.” Perseus got back up and stretched. “I think that's enough training for today since Ginger is new and I don't want to burn her out.” The group nodded in agreement before everyone packed their stuff and got ready to leave. On his way to his jeep however, Perseus noticed a strange mark in many of the trees as if something had been launched through or into the trees.
Perseus observed the puncture wounds for some time before continuing on with a shrug. He got in his vehicle and drove home. Once there he sat on the couch to relax. Neptuna appeared in the spot next to him. “You know, although we use the privacy setting thing for changing, showers, and sometimes sleep… I don't think you've ever sent me away only to remain awake for a while. I've been with you for over a year now and I have to ask when was the last time you… you know… I asked about this once before. You abstained out of awkwardness and didn't fully trust the privacy mode.”
Perseus shifted on the couch. “Yeah, then I had other things going on. I think all in all I've only considered using the privacy settings for that once. I stayed awake for a bit after sending you away, but decided to sleep after a bit of staring at the ceiling.” Neptuna nodded as she adjusted her position. “I can understand why, but I know the privacy mode works because I used it during that time we had that dream where you guided me as an intangible spirit thing. If it didn't work you probably would have said something.”
Perseus stared silently for a moment as he processed what Neptuna just told him. “I'm going to ask that we not talk about this anymore. I don't care if it's a natural part of the body, and even if I can put you in another area where you can't see or hear anything… the fact I've sent you away would give away what I was doing. You knowing that I'm doing that is enough to weird me out. Besides, it's not like I'll explode because I'm not doing that. Things will probably go back to normal for me once you've moved on.” Neptuna looked at the floor. “Yeah, normal.”
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Perseus looked over at Neptuna. “Is… is there something wrong? I know we already feel like we'll never reach full unity, but that doesn't mean you can't talk to me about whatever is going through your head. Think of me as a friend.” Neptuna kicked her feet in the air. “That's… the problem Percy. I don't want to be friends. I know that's how this is supposed to go is we become such close friends that we can become one person. But I don't want to be fused with you because in a way that would mean losing you. I've grown to care about you a lot. In a way that goes perhaps beyond friendship.”
Perseus looked away from Neptuna. “If you're saying what I think you're saying, you know that there's no way to make it possible. There's no win condition to be had where something isn't lost. I care about you too, but I think it would be best for both of us if we remove the thoughts of being anything other than friends.” Neptuna nodded. “Yeah, I know. It's not easy though.” Perseus tried to pay Neptuna on the shoulder only for his hand to pass through. “You're immortal, you've watched people come and go for thousands of years. Just give it time.” Neptuna sighed sadly as Perseus turned on the TV. She faded after a while letting Perseus have some alone time.
The next few days felt like a blur as the calendar rolled over into May. Perseus and Neptuna didn't talk about their feelings again. Perseus was well aware of Neptuna’s potentially romantic feelings but there was nothing to be done about it even if he felt the same. After getting ready in the morning there was a knock at his door. Perseus finished putting his shirt on before checking the door. To Perseus’ surprise it was Jade. “Oh hey Kite, what's up?”
Jade blushed slightly. “Could you please not call me that?” Perseus chuckled. “Why not? I think it's cute.” Jade shifted back and forth outside the house. “May I.. come inside?” Perseus took a step back and gestured in. “You know you could have sent a text, unless this is more of an in person conversation.” Jade walked in and sat on the couch. “So I know she only asked because she didn't know how this works but I was curious as to how things were between you and Neptuna were. I mean plenty of users have likely been homosexual or bisexual but your situation is still unique. So even if not romantic I was wondering if there have been issues of some sort between you two because of this situation.”
Perseus sighed. “We've had some complications. They've made us both confident we won't be able to ascend. We've basically agreed to separate once the danger has passed.” Jade adjusts herself on the couch. “I see. I just don't want things to be weird for anyone. I mean I know even if one or both of you had feelings it couldn't go anywhere. … Could it?” Perseus does a so-so gesture. “It's possible to bring a personification into your dream and there they have a physical body. It wouldn't be a normal relationship and there would still be issues making it nearly impossible to maintain. Besides, she's immortal. She admitted to having some feelings but I advised we not even attempt to pursue them for multiple reasons.”
Jade nodded. “I see.” She sat in silence for a moment. “So… does she get jealous then?” Perseus nodded. Jade chuckled slightly. “That's kinda funny considering how common polygamy was back when Poseidon was a god. He basically had a wife plus a harem of nymphs.” Neptuna crossed her arms and huffed. Perseus also chuckled. “When you put it like that, it does sound a bit silly. But it's not like you're suggesting you'd be willing to share.” Jade blushed slightly. “I don't even know if our relationship is at a point where we'd talk about stuff like that.”
Perseus lets out a laugh. “Right, we've barely been on dates. Speaking of, maybe we should go out tonight.” Jade adjusts herself on the couch. “I haven't been sitting for long, but sure. I'm already here, so we might as well do something.” The two hop into Perseus' Jeep and decide to go see a movie together. The two enjoy their time watching the movie together before departing the theater, both talking and laughing about the movie. “I swear these things get more absurd with every entry in the franchise. What's next? Killer mutant frogs in space?”
Perseus laughs. “You joke, but that's actually exactly what is going to happen in the next one. They're already working on it.” Jade let out a snort. “Well I hope to watch that with you when it's out.” Perseus suddenly had a serious face. “It's best not to plan that far ahead. It'll be at least a year before the next one comes out.” Jade chuckled nervously in response to the sudden and dramatic shift in tone. “Right, sorry. I forgot that you had a weird thing about planning too far ahead.” Perseus shook his head. “No, I'm the one that should be sorry. It's just that…” Jade put her hand up. “You don't have to explain anything to me. Everyone has their quirks that resulted from a trauma.”
Persus sighed. “Thanks for understanding.” he perks up a bit. “You know we still have a bit of time before it gets late. Want to walk through the park?” Jade sways on her feet a bit. “Yeah.” Moments later and the two were now walking in the park together and enjoying the weather. Jade looked up at Perseus and smiled with a slight blush. “(I wonder if it would be too forward to grab his hand.)” When Perseus looked at Jade she quickly looked away and acted like she was simply taking in the sights. “It's a good day for this. Nice clear spring day, not a cloud in sight.”
Perseus then noticed Jade was fidgeting with her hands as she avoided eye contact and hummed an agreement rather than respond verbally. He sighed before grabbing her hand. “You don't have to be so weird about this. We're both adults, we're not teenagers anymore. If you want something you can just ask. You don't need to beat around the bush or play games. Just go for it. Move at the pace we feel comfortable with, too slow or fast is relative.” Jade blushed heavily as she gripped his hand. “Well you make me feel like a teenager again. All giddy and full of butterflies.”
Perseus squeezed her hand lightly and chuckled. “That's good to hear, because it would be pretty awkward to try dating if there was nothing there.” Jade chuckled as well. “Y-yeah.” She spoke somewhat nervously. “Victor told me about some of your past experiences. I really hoped Lexi was the first and only time you'd experience heartache.” Perseus closed his eyes as he thought about Alexandria, Victor’s cousin and his first crush. “I haven't thought about her in ages.”
Jade crossed her arms. “I'm not surprised. I'd avoid thinking about that horrible woman too. She made my sister's presence seem pleasant by comparison.” Perseus chuckled. “It's all relative.” The two laughed and continued to talk casually, eventually returning to the Jeep as it started to get dark. Perseus drove Jade home and parked on the road outside her house. He got out first to open the car door for her and walked her to the door.
Jade smiled at Perseus before opening the door. “I had a great time.” Perseus pulled her hand to his face and kissed it. “Till the next.” Jade smiled at the gesture at first, then frowned. Perseus noticed this and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Better?” Jade grabbed Perseus by the face and kissed him on the lips before pulling away with a beat red face. “Better.” She then entered her house with a wave before shutting the door behind her.
