Perseus did his best to be patient about calling the number he got from the barista so as to not look desperate, keeping to the three day rule. When he finally called her they quickly arranged for a meetup on a Friday in the afternoon at a small family owned local restaurant. Perseus was extremely nervous seeing as he hasn't exactly had much luck dating lately but felt really confident about the meeting. However, he couldn't shake the feeling something was off. Call of paranoia or being overcautious he was not going in without backup. So he arranged for his friend Victor to be sat on a table nearby in case backup was needed.
Perseus arrived at the humble restaurant a good fifteen minutes before the scheduled meeting time and got an outdoor table. Once sat he waited for his date. When she arrived she was wearing a Gothic outfit similar to what one would expect. All black with ornate woven patterns. Her short black hair that ended in purple tips matching the dark purple lipstick and eyeshadow. She walked in high heels boots with a confidence Perseus couldn't help but find attractive. Perseus waves her over and pulls out her chair before she sits at the table with him pushing it in after.
She was the first to speak. “Quite the gentleman, aren't we. You know Perseus, I was a bit concerned about putting myself out there like this. I normally don't give out my number to random strangers.” Perseus couldn't help but ask. “So… uhh… June? What was it that got you to change your normal way of doing things?” June smiled “You were quite forthright and honest, but we're not being a creep. Also, there's something else about you I can't quite put my fingers on that's drawing me in.” A waiter comes to take their order. “What'll it be today?” Perseus looked over the menu. “I'll try the spaghetti with a side salad and a lemon lime soda to drink.” The waiter writes it down. “And for the Lady?” She also looked over the menu before picking. “I’ll have the caesar salad wrap with a side of ranch and French fries plus a grape soda.” The waiter writes it down, takes the menus, and leaves.
Perseus rubbed the back of his head. “So uhhh… what do you like to do for fun?” June tapped her fingers on the table. “I'm… an aspiring artist. I like to draw and paint. I've done a few commissions but I wouldn't quit my day job just yet. What about you?” Perseus thought about it. “Well I like to read, cook, play games… me and a friend occasionally participate in boffer blade battles.” June tilts her head. “Boffer blade?” Perseus nodded. “Weapons and shields made out of foam, often used for LARPing but there are straight up tournaments like for fencing or kendo. My friend actually placed first in the local tournament a few times. It's a really fun way to let loose. Just beating the crap out of each other with foam weapons like children on a playground.”
June nodded. “I might give it a try sometime. What do you do for work?” Perseus shifted. “I do odd jobs from home. Accounting, other kinds of office work, sometimes I do electronic maintenance as a private contractor… I have designed and created a few things. I don't exactly need to work, but I choose to because I'd feel lazy otherwise. One of my creations was quite lucrative but I would rather not rest on my laurels. You know what I mean?” June tilted her head. “So you're like… an inventor?” Perseus shrugged. “I guess you could say that. I'd ask what you do for work but I met you at your job. Unless you work a second one.”
June shook her head. “No, but I've been thinking of switching to working as a gas station for more flexible hours. But if my art ever pays enough to quit I'll go full time.” Perseus nodded as the food and drinks were brought out. He clapped his hand and rubbed them together. “Let’s eat, we can continue talking afterwards. Oh, I should have mentioned this earlier, but I always go dutch on the first date.” June nodded. “Ah, perfectly reasonable. It's honestly kinda garbage how even women who complain about male privileges and the patriarchy will unironically demand the man pay a hundred percent of the bill for dates. It's like… do you want equal rights or do you just want preferential treatment? Because it sounds like you want all the benefits without any of the downsides of equality.”
Perseus nodded. “Can't have your cake and eat it too.” He then starts eating. June also gets started on her meal, using her ranch dip for both her wrap and her fries. After consuming the meal they both wipe off their faces and the bill comes with the two splitting it. June then speaks after they pay and start making their way out. “You know, I was kinda hoping you'd be an asshole. Then I wouldn't feel so bad.” Perseus looked at her confused. “So bad about what?” June then says “About this.” Before shouting; “Come forth, Coil of the Magic God, Hecate!” Energy surges around her hand before forming metallic finger claws that connect to a large gemstone set in a ring on the palm that then connects to a band that coils down June's arm like a snake.
Neptuna speaks into Perseus' mind. “(Watch out, Hecate is one of the few exceptions to the one or two type rule. Her weapon can conjure any damage type from the wheel of eight, plus poison and acid.)” Perseus takes a combat stance. “W-what is that?” June makes a claw with her hand and points it at Perseus. “Don't play dumb with me Percy, you know exactly what this is. After all, you called me Hecate by mistake when you first saw me. I could sense the energy coming off you then, so now I only have one question. How did you figure out not only the fact I had an Armatus but what one I had? Who are you and who do you work for?!”
Perseus put his hands up and opened them. “H-hold up here. I think there's been a misunderstanding. I don't want to fight you.” June fires a ball of flaming energy at Perseus causing the patrons of the restaurant to scream and run. Perseus then shouts “Are you insane?! We're in public!” June laughs “I'll just manipulate the veil so they don't remember I was even here. Now I'm going to get my answers one way or another.X she fires a bolt of lightning at Perseus who manages to barely dodge it. “Screw it, if you want a fight I'll give you one. Come forth, Trident of the Sea God, Neptuna!” June says “wait what?” As Perseus quickly followed the summoning with a water slash sent straight at June who created a sort of magic barrier to block it.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
June growls “So you are a user like myself. Now tell me who you work for and how you knew what Armatus I have?” Perseus grumbled. “I don't work for anyone. I haven't even been a user that long. As for how I knew you were paired with Hacate… that's a bit harder to explain. If you do your forgetting spell or whatever, maybe clean up the mess and put away the weapon I am more than happy to explain.” June aims her weapon at Perseus. “How can I trust you, how can I trust this isn't a trick or a trap?” Perseus shouted. “Just think about it, if I wanted to attack you, why would I pick someplace so public? If I knew for sure you were a holder I would have at least brought backup. Well I mean technically I had backup in case you turned out to be a total bitch but that was in the form of a friend who isn't a holder.”
Victor pops up from behind a tipped over table and waves. “H-hi there.” Perseus then put away his weapon. “So just… put Hacate away and let's talk like reasonable people.” June waved her hand and it glowed. The damage done by the short conflict undone in seconds and with a second flick of her wrist a fog burst out from her hand. She then put her weapon away. “Try anything funny and I'll deep fry you.” Perseus chuckled, “You can certainly try.” The three then walked to a nearby park that was a bit more secluded.
June points to Victor. “Why is he still following? Shouldn't he have forgotten the fight and moved on?” Perseus explained. “He may not be a holder, but for some reason the veil has no effect on him.” June puts her index and thumb on her chin. “Interesting. Alright then, explain how you knew I had Hecate.” Perseus rubbed the back of his head. “It might be a bit hard to believe but I… dreamt it.” June tilted her head. “What do you mean you dreamt it? You an Oracle or something?” Perseus shook his head. “It's this recurring nightmare I have of a strange and twisted future. Everytime I see it, more details are added. In one of the more recent ones I saw you confronting… a tyrant of sorts. Based on how you talked to him, it was the first time you had met.”
June paced back and forth a few times. “That's… strange. And you said the dream seemed to take place in a twisted future?” Perseus nodded. “One I have actively spent time avoiding since I first saw it regardless of if I thought it was real. Because the tyrant you were fighting… was me.” June looked to her right and nodded. “Do you know how far forward it was?” Perseus thought about it for a bit. “I would say… based on a few indicators, maybe around ten years. The goal of the tyrant seems to have been the eradication of all Deus Armatus. He believed no one should have that kind of power and was doing whatever it took to accomplish that goal. From what I saw besides you and I only one other holder was unaccounted for but I couldn't get a good look at who.”
June continued to consider everything she's been told. “And since now you've met me and I have Hecate you are considering the possibility it wasn't a dream. Since things have obviously already changed if it was the future. So maybe it's not our future but… like an alternative timeline? Like something out of a science fiction story.” Perseus considered it. “Okay but why would I be dreaming that and why the same moment over and over with a little more added context and info each time?” June shrugged. “So you are… independent? You aren't some Armatus holding mercenary?”
Perseus shook his head. “I have encountered one though. Is it common?” June shrugged. “I've encountered two so far. Apollo and Susano'o. I would like to investigate exactly why your friend is immune but I guess if he's not a holder he's not a threat.” Perseus decided to clarify. “Although he may not be, I do have two friends that are. So it's not like I don't have allies.” June found and sat on a park bench. “Well you're not a bad guy, so I'm sorry for leading you on under false pretenses. You seem nice enough but… I don't know if you're even my type. So if you were hoping for a second date after clearing this all up… I mean it would feel kinda awkward considering I kinda tried to kill you.”
Perseus shook his head. “You were just trying to protect yourself. How about we give this a second chance and if after a few dates there's no spark we just stay friends. Having more allied holders could never hurt considering I'm on MacGonagall’s radar. He's paired with Demeter.” June's eyes widened. “I knew it! I knew it was suspicious he was able to grow all that cannabis and hallucinogenic mushroom so fast.” She clears her throat. “Well you're not the type I normally go for but I guess I do owe you so I'll at least give you the chance. Especially considering I want to know about the whole… Neptuna as a male thing.”
Perseus sighs “I was born male, but the Trident tried to bind with me before birth. We think that her manifestation is because I was female in my last life and my soul had yet to try to adjust to my new body. I'm guessing not every soul does so. It would definitely explain transgender people. Like a sort of motion sickness of the soul due to the soul and body not matching up.” June tilts her head. “That's… an interesting way to think about it. I mean I always imagined that was how it felt like but never knew the words to describe it. I have a friend who transitioned.”
Perseus nodded. “A-anyway. We have each other's numbers so we can stay in touch.” June nods. “I would like to meet your holder friends and see what they have. It would be nice to have a female holder to talk to. Only ones I've met so far have been dudes. Though four or five is a small pool to draw from. I'll uhhh… see you later Percy.” Perseus waves as she gets up. “It's a date, or rather will be.” Once she is gone he looks to Victor. “All things considered, I think that went well. I still have a chance and didn't completely blow it within the first few seconds.” Victor rolls his eyes. “Count that as a win if you want to, man. I still think you are cursed when it comes to picking women. I mean have you seen your track record?”
Perseus grumbles. “So I've had some bad luck, that's gotta change eventually right? That's the thing about luck, it can change at any second.” Victor shook his head. “Don't say I didn't warn you man, best case scenario you end up in the friend zone again. I'm calling it now. I'll even bet money on it.” Perseus shakes Victor's hand. “Ten bucks this doesn't end with me in the friend zone.” Victor shakes it back. “Might as well pay me now man, I'm telling you. C.U.R.S.E.D cursed.” with that the pair headed out of the park. Perseus drove Victor home then went home himself.
Sitting across the street from the restaurant a figure sips tea and checks a pocket watch. He has white hair, yellow eyes, and a fancy looking white suit jacket with yellow accents and sash over a gray button up vest over a white dress shirt and yellow tie. He closes up the pocket watch with a loud clack. A server delivers a bill for the tea. “Are you waiting on someone? You keep checking your watch?” The man, despite his older and refined look, speaks with a youthful but refined voice. “I keep checking my clock, because time is a sensitive thing.” He then pays for his tea and walks stars walking down the street twirling his pocket watch by its chain. “A very sensitive thing indeed.”