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Annabeth was working on some projects on her laptop in Cabin Six when her friend Jason appeared in the doorway. She glanced up at him over her laptop screen—-he looked flushed, and rather anxious, like something was bothering him. He met Annabeth’s eyes from the door, possibly wondering if this was a good time, and she tried for an approachable smile. He stepped into the cabin and walked across the floor, hands in his jacket pockets, to meet Annabeth at her bunk.
“Hey, Jason,” Annabeth tried, “you okay?”
“Hey,” he greeted, “are you busy?”
“Not especially.”
“Okay.” Jason ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not that big of a deal, but I might need some advice, if you're available.”
“Absolutely, Jason, what's up?”
“Can we…is there…” he glanced anxiously at a couple of Annbeth’s siblings who were studying or organizing in the cabin. “Can we talk somewhere more private? It's kind of, uh. Personal.”
Annabeth was immediately worried. “Sure, of course,” she said, “what about your cabin?”
“Okay.”
“Let me just save this quickly.” She pressed a few keys on her laptop to save her project, then closed it and stood up to follow Jason to his cabin.
She had a thousand questions about what Jason could possibly need to talk to her about, but she didn't want to pry until he felt like he was safe.
When they finally stepped into Cabin One, Annabeth asked, “What's the matter?”
“It's about Piper,” Jason said nervously.
The vagueness of his opening line did not help Annabeth’s anxiety.
“Oh,” she replied, “did something happen?”
“Uh…well, kind of? But it's nothing really bad, I guess…I just think I need some outside advice. It’s kind of awkward, just so you know. But you’re the most mature friend I have, I suppose, and I don’t really have anyone else I could…um, anyway.”
“Okay.” Now, Annabeth was very curious. “What's up?”
Jason led Annabeth to sit down on his bunk. “You seem like you're good at keeping secrets,” he said, “I don’t know if I’d be okay having this conversation with anyone else, so if you could not say anything to our other friends…?”
“Of course.” Annabeth wasn't sure how he meant it, telling her she was good at keeping secrets, but she decided to take it as a compliment.
“So, Piper's awesome,” Jason said. “Obviously. I love her like I don't love anyone else. But…I’m not sure I love her enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…” he took a breath. “Okay. This is what I mean by ‘personal.’ Recently, Piper’s been concerned that I don't really initiate sex.”
“...okay.”
“Sorry,” Jason flushed, “is this going to be TMI? It seemed like a good idea to go to you, but maybe it's not really appropriate—”
“No, hey, Jason,” Annabeth assured. “It's okay. We're both mature. If you need to talk, I don't judge.”
“Okay. You sure?”
“Mhm. Go on. Piper’s worried you're not initiating?”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “I mean, I’m definitely attracted to her. She's beautiful and everything. I tried to start initiating more often after she brought it up, but it's like…most of the time I just forget that sex is even a thing. Is that normal?”
“So you just…don't think about it?”
“Not really. Even when I remember, sometimes I feel tired or just not really in the mood, so I don't say anything.”
“So did you never initiate anything before she said something, or…?”
“Well, I have. Just not…often enough, I guess. Definitely not an equal amount to how often she does.”
“Okay.”
“I don't want to make her feel neglected.”
“Of course not,” Annabeth said. “Hm. Can you tell me more about how you feel when she wants you to have sex with her? When she initiates?”
“Uh…happy. And I want to make her feel good. I used to feel more anxious about it than I still do, but I still get a little bit nervous.”
“What do you mean by nervous?”
“Like…I don't know. I get scared I’ll do something wrong. She's an Aphrodite girl. She literally has love magic. Compared to that, I feel like I might do something unsexy, and Aphrodite will decide I’m unworthy and turn me into a thistle or something.”
“Aw, Jason,” Annabeth sympathized, holding back a laugh. “Don't be so hard on yourself. You're what, eighteen? You don't have to be good at these things yet.”
“Thanks, Annabeth.” Jason smiled.
“Not a problem.”
“It's also just…” Jason continued. “There's a lot of vulnerability, you know. I was always taught not to show weakness or emotion or anything like that. That's why I can fight so well. But…”
“It's pretty much the opposite of fighting.”
“...yeah.”
“I get that. It's hard. I feel that way sometimes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But, back to you,” Annabeth reminded herself. “You said when Piper initiates things with you, you want her to feel good. Does she make you feel good? Do you enjoy being with her, sexually? Does she ask what you want, that sort of thing?”
Jason stared blankly for a moment. “That's three questions,” he said.
“Right, sorry. First one first. Does Piper make you feel good when you guys are together?”
“Yes.”
“Do you enjoy being with her?”
“Yeah, usually.”
“And she asks you what you want?”
“Yeah.”
Annabeth studied Jason’s face. “And do you tell her what you want,” she asked, “or do you just go along with what she wants to do?”
“Well…I’m usually not really sure what I want, so mostly I just do what she likes. But I’ve told her I don't really like something once before, and she's never brought it up again.”
“Oh, good.”
“Yeah.”
“So you feel safe with her? Being with her doesn't make you uncomfortable or anything?”
“No. Well…no. Not uncomfortable. Just nervous.”
“Hmm. When you're with her…can you describe how you feel? Like, before you start doing something?”
“...I don't know.”
“What are you typically thinking about?”
“Um…” he giggled nervously, “probably how pretty she is. Wondering what we’re going to do, and how long it's going to take. Happy to get affection. Scared about…I don't know. ”
“Scared?”
“Not scared, I guess. Anxious.”
“Excited?”
“...no. I don't think so. Maybe? Is that what it’s supposed to be?”
“Well, there's not really a right or wrong way to feel,” Annabeth said. “But I know that when I’m about to do something with someone I really like, I feel very excited. I get a lot of energy, and I feel pretty warm. I breathe really fast. I don't know, maybe guys and girls are different. But I do know that Percy starts panting like he’s just run a mile uphill in a Texas summer.”
“Ew, did not need to know that one,” Jason laughed.
Annabeth’s face felt hot. “Oh gods, don't tell him I told you that,” she laughed.
“Not if you don't tell him about my problems,” Jason agreed.
“Of course.”
“So…yeah. I do like being with Piper.”
“You just don't go out of your way, or what?”
“Like I said, I just don't think about it much. And the stuff you just said, about how you feel when you're with Percy. That sounds almost…fictional to me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“So, what. You don't have a craving for sex…at all?”
“Not…usually. Is that a real thing? To crave it?”
“Um, yes.”
“Oh.” Jason’s expression dropped like he’d been told his dog just died. “Then what does that mean?” He asked solemnly. “Is there something wrong with me?”
Annabeth thought for a long moment. “Jason, you know Artemis?” She asked finally.
“Diana’s Greek aspect. My sister’s pledged to her. Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, Artemis. Diana. Whatever. Besides being the goddess of the Hunt, what else do you know about her?”
“She's an eternal maiden. Sworn off romantic and sexual love forever, and her Hunters have to do the same.”
Annabeth nodded.
“But that’s celibacy, right? It's a sacrifice. Romantic love and sex, or immortality and the rest of Artemis’s blessing.”
“For some Hunters, sure,” Annabeth agreed. “But for Artemis herself, and a good number of her followers, it's not even thought of as a sacrifice. Some people, and gods, are just not interested in sex or romance. Take my mother. Athena never got married. She and my dad never consummated. I was born from pure thought, like my mother was from her father Zeus.”
“Oh, you’re right. That's true.”
“So, no. I don't think there's anything wrong with you, Jason,” Annabeth said, patting his shoulder.
“I don't hate sex, though, like Artemis,” Jason said. “And I still feel romantic love.”
“Athena still feels romantic love. And just because you like to have sex doesn't mean you necessarily feel all the feelings that most people might. A lot of people can get turned on just by seeing or being close to someone they like. Does that happen to you?”
“That sounds like Leo,” Jason smiled a little, “but not me.”
“Right. So you might be a little Artemis blessed. Or asexual; that's what my cousin called it once. It's a good word.”
“Like asexual reproduction?”
“More just meaning ‘not sexual’ in this context. But yeah. I’ve heard it abbreviated to ‘ace.’”
“Ace. That's cute.”
“Yeah, it is,” Annabeth agreed.
“So am I asexual?”
“I can't decide that. Only you can.”
“...I’ll have to think about it.”
“Take your time, Jason. There's no rush.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Not a problem, honey.” She wasn't sure why she called him honey. She supposed the regular endearments she used were Seaweed Brain for Percy and Babe for Piper, and those didn't really fit.
“So…what should I do about Piper?” Jason asked.
“Well, if you feel like the word ‘asexual’ fits you, you can explain it that way,” Annabeth suggested. “Otherwise, just go the long way and say exactly what you feel. But there's no pressure. I won’t say anything to her until you're ready, okay?”
“Alright. I appreciate it.”
“Glad I could help. You want a hug?” Annabeth stood and held out her arms.
“Sure.”
Of course, Annabeth hugging another guy alone in his cabin had to be Percy’s cue to show up.
“Hey, guys,” he said from the doorway, confusion in his voice.
“Percy!” Annabeth pulled away from Jason, a bit startled. “Jason and I were just having a little heart to heart.”
“Hey, no worries,” Percy assured as he walked in to meet them. He patted Jason on the back. “You all good, bro?”
“Yeah,” Jason replied. “Just asking Annabeth for some relationship advice.”
“Really? That's adorable.” He ruffled Jason’s hair affectionately. Annabeth couldn’t help smiling. She liked seeing the boys be sweet to each other.
“Yeah. You actually came at a great time,” Annabeth told Percy, “we were just finishing up.”
“Is that what the hugging was about?” He asked.
“Yeah.”
“Nice. I’m glad you guys are getting along. You want to go bother Leo in his bunker?”
“Of course,” Jason replied.
“Why not?” Annabeth agreed.
“Let’s go.” Percy said. He offered Annabeth his hand, and she laced her own fingers through it. Then, she and Jason followed him out the door in the direction of the woods.