Medusa sighed and gave a nod. “Well, who am I to try to talk you out of it, especially since I did say that I would join you. Besides, they can't do much more to me. I just never thought about actually going through with it before.” she shrugged. “Now, how did you want to plan this?”
"You couldn't convince me not to even if you turned me to stone." Trianna jokes.
"Mmmm. . . I want to get a boat." she says thoughtfully. "Unless we want to travel by air, of course, in which case I can afford us both first class tickets."
Medusa’s eyes widen at the comment before laughing lightly. “Don't tempt me.” she teased in reply. “Though it would be a shame to do that. I am actually enjoying your company.”
“I have no preference.” she admitted. “I actually left Athenas by boat but planes are much faster if you don't want to use your vacation time just on traveling.” she mused.
"I think the only way for me to be turned to stone is for me to be able to, you know, see you, so either way I doubt it would work." Trianna laughs with Melanie. "Aw, a lot of people don't - only for the reason that they're dicks and I hate dicks - take that how you want."
"But by boat is much prettier and safer than travelling through the domain of the main god we're going to go piss off." she chuckles.
“More specifically you would have to see my eyes.” she corrected. “Though for some reason, I could never figure out, mirrors are immune to that magic.”
The last statement however caused her to raise a brow. “Now you have me curious… I mean, you clearly have a dislike of the attitudes we were talking about. But if you mean the literal sense as well, then I can agree. I'm not a big fan of them either.” she admitted.
“Well… That's true.” she nodded. “I guess it could be nice, and it certainly would be beautiful. Though I've always thought Poseidon was just as bad.”
Trianna raises an eyebrow at Melanie's automatic correction.
"Now I'm starting to wonder. . ." she murmurs to herself.
"I mean, yeah, dickish men are literally the worst thing to exist. I like those sometimes- but very rarely. Depends on how much the man impresses me in hand-to-hand combat." she chuckles, stating that last bit so drily that it would be impossible to tell if she were joking.
"I mean, yeah, but at least he wasn't the fuckboy of the gods and the poster boy of the Greek Pantheon." she snorts.
“Oh? You know how to fight too?” she asked, intrigued. “You'll have to show me sometime. Though I am not easily impressed by how well a man can fight. Regardless of their attitude. I think I even remember someone calling me a “man hater” before.” she admitted.
Medusa laughed, nodding. “That's completely true. Zeus has always been the worst example of anything and I guess just because he was the “high king”, Poseidon wanted to be like him. Though I think he should have taken a page from Hades’ book. People assumed the worst of him just because he was king of the Underworld.”
"Oh I definitely know how to fight." she grins, lifting one of her arms and flexing the muscles; they stand out like rocks floating in the sky, each well defined and clearly powerful - not just for looks. "I will, don't worry. We'll have time to train you on the boat ride to Greece. As for that comment on men, very true, but of they can at least graze my face with a punch they're probably worthy. Then there's another test - a foot race. People chicken out once they hear it's a 1,000 kilometer track - which really isn't that long."
"Exactly. Hades deserves more love. He only abducted one woman, and even then she technically ate the fruit herself." she chuckles.
Medusa hummed appreciatively at the sight and nodded. “Not bad. But you don't have to worry about teaching me how to fight, I’m quite good myself.” she assured though she laughed at the length of race. “That’s all? What wimps. That's so easy.”
“Actually, he didn't even abduct her. Persephone found her own way to the Underworld by accident.” she explained. “I’m sure she was overwhelmed at first but between meeting Hades and some exploration, she got used to it.”
Trianna chuckles. "Then do I finally have a sparring partner?" she replies, snickering at Melanie's next comment. "I know, right?! It's insane how weak these dudes are."
"Oh! The more you know." she smiles, accepting this. "I must have gotten the wrong information then."
“I don't see why not.” Medusa agreed, smiling at the idea. Though she would have to hold back since she had years of experience in fighting even going back before her curse. Athena was the goddess of wisdom specifically in battle and strategy. Why wouldn't those who served her be well-trained?
“And it does say something about what low stamina and endurance they have.” she added with a chuckle.
She shrugged slightly. “The abduction story is just more popular because of Hades’ perceived reputation. So many people forget that he is also the god of riches, as in possibly more wealthy than his baby brother. And Persephone translates to “bringer of chaos”. Draw your own conclusions from that.” she chuckled again.
"I know what you're thinking by the way - no holding back. If you can beat me, I just need to train more. Show me how far I need to go." Trianna grins.
"Exactly." she snorts.
"Yeah. Thanks for that! I love it when people correct me on things I got wrong. As for the 'bringer of chaos,' that definitely does seem to describe her and her mother." she laughs.
“Oh? And how would you know that?” she asked with a chuckle, but she doesn't deny that Trianna guessed correctly. “Well, if you want me to train you, you just have to ask.” she smirked, half teasing though the offer was real.
Medusa raised a brow and glanced at her over her sunglasses. “I certainly don't mind sharing knowledge but I have to ask how that describes Demeter.”
"I know people, they think because I'm blind I can't fight that well. Not saying you think that way since you sound like you don't and act like you can seriously fuck some shit up with you fists if you want, but I also just don't like it when people go easy on me in a fight." Trianna laughs. "As for training, I have my own special routine that I use - you should try it sometime."
"I mean, she's killed men for barely even looking at a grain of wheat wrong- if that isn't chaotic I don't know what is." she shrugs.
“Oh, I wasn't thinking about your sight. I'm sure you can handle yourself but I have been training and fighting for years.” she explained. “Maybe we can start at a lower level than what we are used to and escalate from there and we can exchange notes, so to speak, on our routines.” she suggested.
Medusa laughed at Trianna's point but nodded. “Well, when you put it that way, then yes, she is very chaotic.”
"Oh, pshaw. Same here, Mel. I just did it blind." she grins. "I guess that works."
"See? I'm right!" Trianna giggles.
“And I am quite curious about your fighting style.” she smiled back. “Then it's a deal and something to do on the ship.”
“I never said you were wrong.” Medusa pointed out. “I was just interested in your opinion. And most of what I heard about Demeter is that she was borderline overprotective, perhaps almost controlling in a way.”
"Oh, I've been told it's wonderful to look at." she jokes. "Indeed!
"True, true." Trianna smiles. "She was very overprotective. Fireplace in the pillar and whatnot, right?"
“I look forward to seeing it then.” she chuckled.
“Oh, yes. I had forgotten about that.” Medusa nodded.
"Hmmm. . . I thought that was one of her better known moments." Trianna hums. "One of the more memorable, at the very least."
“Perhaps.” Medusa nodded. “It's just been a long time since I thought about too many of those myths and stories.” she admitted.
Trianna chuckles. "Very fair."
She looks around at the now nearly empty café - they'd been talking longer than she'd thought. "Shit- I need to get home so I can get ready for work."
She hops out of her chair and smiles. "See you later, M."
and with that she's out the door before Melanie can respond.
“Goodbye!” Medusa calls back as Trianna rushes out the door. The time certainly had flown by during their conversation but she really had enjoyed it.
Forgoing any purchase she had originally planned to make, she stood up and walked back to her car with a warm smile.
Trianna flits into the shower for 10 minutes then comes back out, drying her hair and twisting it into a simple braid, slipping into her work clothes and then calling an Uber.
A few minutes later her Uber shows up and takes her to work; she doesn't see Melanie for the rest of the week, not for lack of trying - but they did keep in contact through text.
Medusa is admittedly relieved when she gets home, taking off her sunglasses and hair wrap, before changing into a clean outfit and throws the stained clothes into the washing machine. Even though she prefers to live alone and away from people, she still uses modern-day appliances and technology.
She enjoyed getting texts from Trianna and was quick to reply. But it was hard finding a time or place where they could meet up and discuss their plans for the trip that she still couldn't believe they were doing.