A Date with My General

I woke up with a yawn, thankful to not have to deal with any additional drama from a partner today.

After a few minutes of staying under my blanket, I freshened up, then I headed over to the dining hall.

To my surprise, the hall was empty, but I could hear some sounds from the kitchen.

Hesitantly, I knocked on the frame to the kitchen.

"Come in," Mom's voice came out, somewhat hesitant.

I walked in to see Mom over the stove, looking back at me with a wavering smile.

"This is the first time you were fine with me coming into the kitchen," I said hesitantly.

"I talked to Clarisse yesterday," Mom said. "She... Helped me come to a little bit of a compromise with myself."

"Hmm," I said. "What'd you guys talk about?"

Mom grinned at me. "We both know she'll tell you everything, be patient. For now, help me with the waffles."

I dutifully started cooking the waffles, pouring the batter and removing the cooked waffles, while occasionally glancing at Mom to make sure she was ok.

"Stop looking at me," Mom said with a blush.

"Oh," I said dumbly. "Sorry, I was just trying to make sure —"

"I know," Mom said. "Can you just pretend it's a normal morning?"

"I'll try," I said.

For the next twenty minutes, the two of us worked around each other in the kitchen, stubbornly pretending the other didn't exist.

Once the food was done, Mom pressed a button that made an alarm blare throughout the Island, then we began setting up the table.

Soon, everyone poured in, and we began eating.

Thankfully, Clarisse glared meaningfully at everyone, ensuring that any conversation would be civil.

Once we were done with breakfast, Clarisse looped her arm around mine, much to my surprise.

"Let's go spar, Prissy," Clarisse suggested, but then Annabeth stood in our way, in front of everyone else.

"So," Annabeth said. "Aunt Sally says one thing, and suddenly you're all chummy chummy with Percy, and looping your arm with his?"

"Listen, this argument is yours to have with yourself," Clarisse said. "For now, I won't even bother with courting Percy, I know he isn't up for that yet."

"Yet?" Annabeth barked.

"You know better than me how this'll go," Clarisse said. "Don't push me, Annabeth."

"This isn't over," Annabeth said, walking away.

Clarisse sighed. "I might've taken one for the team, but that was still irritating. Let's go spar."

I unlooped our arms as we walked towards the sparring circle. "You did that on purpose?"

"Yeah," Clarisse said. "Do you remember breaking my first spear?"

"I'd never forget," I said with a laugh.

"You remember that Annabeth hid using her hat to let us fight it out?" Clarisse asked as she picked up a spear.

"Of course I do," I said, picking up a xiphos. "Get to the point."

"When you blew up the bathroom, Annabeth was insulted by getting disrespected by either me or you," Clarisse said as she stretched. "She wasn't sure which of us it was, but either way, she was on a path for ****. So, she laid the trap. Whichever of us caused the situation, we'd both get fucked over."

"So, you're trying to fuck me over?" I asked. "Also, I'm ready if you are."

"Let's get it," Clarisse said, and we started circling each other. "As far as I know, we can't really fuck you over. As for me, I knew what I was doing. Annabeth gets extremely shortsighted when her pride comes into question. So, she's planning something against me, but she wants it to happen now, so —"

I dropped my xiphos in shock. "You didn't, Clarisse."

"Well, it wasn't me," Clarisse said smugly. "It was her choice, still is."

I started running to the Shop in a panic, and mentally assigned a Quest.

Hidden Quest 2 assigned to: Annabeth Chase

Objective: Don't buy from the Shop!

Hidden Quest disapproved by the Fates.

I ran even faster, panting as I slammed the door to the store open.

"Annabeth, don't do it!" I called out as she stood at the countertop, across from Lachesis.

"Percy, I refuse to let that bitch get away with trying to steal you away!" Annabeth exclaimed.

"You don't understand!" I said. "She's trying to make you think that she wants that! She won't do it unless I'm fine with her pursuing me, and you know I won't be fine unless you are!"

Annabeth hesitated for a moment. "So, either she wants me to do this, so she has a better chance at having you, or she wants you, and she's trying to come between me and you." Annabeth turned to Lachesis. "How much will it cost?"

"Had you bought it for yourself, it'd have been 300 Drachma," Lachesis said giddily. "For someone else, it'll be a light 90."

"Annabeth, don't do this," I said, my voice losing its pleading tone.

"She matters that much to you?" Annabeth asked.

"No, you do," I said. "She's our friend, Wise Girl. Just because she pushed your buttons doesn't mean —"

"It might make you angry, but I'm doing this," Annabeth said, looking at me sadly. "Lachesis, buy it for Clarisse LaRue, please."

Lachesis giggled. "So, the feud between Ares and Athena shall be mirrored in the next generation. Also, you have 10 Drachma remaining in your balance."

"What'd you buy?" I asked in a combination of horror and disappointment.

"I can answer that for her," Lachesis said, snapping the answer into my mind.

Lay Down The Law: Must be "smashed" by Perseus' "gavel" once a day, or lose 3 Charis.

I shook my head. "You realize —"

I was cut off by Clarisse leisurely walking in. "Honestly, I'm disappointed, Annie. I thought you'd be more smart and less angry. This PTF gives me some power over your mom's old Domains of Law. Now, —"

"Clarisse," I said. "I need to understand. I understand your goals by pulling this shit, but why?"

"I understand why she's keeping you tight, but I don't understand why she thinks it'll work," Clarisse said. "Frankly, I think she likes me more than she likes someone like Zoë, so I'd rather I take the shade for this."

"You did all this... To pave the way?" I asked.

"I am your general for a reason," Clarisse said. "Sir."

"What if you get kicked?" I asked.

"I trust you enough to know that you won't let that happen," Clarisse said. "And even if it does, it is your prerogative to choose your Queens."

I groaned, then a spectacularly dumb idea came to my mind. "Lachesis, how many copies of that specific PTF are available?"

"I like the way you think," Lachesis said with a giggle. "There's an unlimited amount of every TF or PTF, only Demotions and Promotions are one-of-ones."

I looked at Annabeth. "Do you remember what I promised yesterday at breakfast, before the Game?"

Annabeth's face blanched as she remembered.

"I promised everyone that if they sabotaged someone else, I would treat their night like I did Lucia's," I said. "Now, I'm going to give two options to you, Wise Girl. Either Clarisse buys the TF for you, and neither of you get your night with me. Or we leave without buying anything else, and only your night is skipped."

"Is there a way both of us have our nights?" Clarisse asked, and I looked at her confusedly. "I didn't want Annabeth to go through too much, and I still don't. I just need her to realize where her hubris is taking her."

"And now we've hit the crux of the matter," Lachesis said. "Annabeth's fatal flaw is hubris, and Clarisse's is pride. Both think they deserve a spot as a Queen, and both are willing to fight for it."

I thought for a moment. "Clarisse, buy the Transformation for her, please."

"Yes, sir," Clarisse said. "Where are you going?"

I headed to the exit. "Meet me again at lunch, both of you. I'll tell you what happens then."