Medusa Route

Medusa's route summary from Astoria: Fate's Kiss and Astoria: Lost Kisses

## Prologue

MC walks the streets of New York, heading to work bright and early in the morning, noting to herself that the pleasant weather indicates that Zeus must be happy.

As someone who works for H.E.R.A., the “Hell and Earth Relations Agency”, she muses that her perspective on things such as the weather must be affected by her paper-pushing job under the actual Greek gods.

She runs into her best friend and coworker, May, and the two talk about May’s boyfriend Bruno, a satyr, as they continue walking to work together. They spot a group of H.E.R.A. field agents, and an envious MC declares to herself that she’ll be one of them, one day soon.

The pair make it into the lobby of H.E.R.A. HQ, and MC spots a group of people piling into an elevator, and rushes to make it in, separating from May in the process. Unfortunately, the elevator is heading down to the holding cells, instead of up towards the offices.

Embarrassed at her mistake, MC tries to play it cool, like she meant to get on the elevator, but one of the other elevator occupant - Hydra, who’s wearing a pair of handcuffs - sees right through the act and pokes fun at her. The doors slide open, and he’s escorted away by some field agents.

Finally making it up to her floor, MC runs into Cerberus, who asks for her help with… something. He says he’s being chased, and doesn’t have time to fill out the paperwork. Before he can explain himself, he’s dragged off by more field agents, who say he’s needed for questioning.

MC heads to the coffee machine, where she spies Chimera struggling to operate it. The two chat briefly, and he mentions that he’s in the office to speak with his counselor. Before he leaves, he offers to take MC out to get some real coffee some time, and she agrees noncommittally.

Full of coffee now, MC heads towards her desk - but not before spotting Medusa, who is waiting impatiently for an agent to meet with her. MC tries to help, but ends up excusing herself awkwardly when it turns out she can’t really do anything for her.

Alex Cyprin, MC’s demigod boss, asks her to join them in their office for a meeting. Before they can get started, however, the meeting is interrupted by a video call from Hades, who requires a worker to assist him with some busywork. He spots MC through the camera and says that even a human like her would be fine, before hanging up.

Alex apologizes for the interruption, then asks MC if she’d be willing to help with a case - but they note with embarrassment that it wouldn’t be official H.E.R.A. work, but instead a personal matter.

MC is left with the choice of who, among all of the people she’s seen today, she’d like to help out.

## Season 1 (AFK)

### Episode 1

MC decides to assist with Medusa’s case for the time being, with Cyprin’s blessing, and sets about reading through her case file. It describes cases of people being turned to stone, and states that Medusa has been called in as an informant due to the fact she’s a gorgon- though she’s not a suspect, since her power- her “Aura”- had been taken from her some years prior.

In a private interview with MC, Medusa answers a couple of questions about herself- She’s a bookstore owner, and the Aura she lost once let her summon the essence of the winged horse Pegasus. Before MC can ask about her family, they’re interrupted by an agent who informs Medusa that her bookstore has been broken into- which prompts MC to end the interview, and accompany Medusa to her store.

The place is a mess, and MC offers to help clean up while they wait for more help to arrive on the scene, which Medusa accepts gratefully. Some agents turn up in a car, and convince MC and Medusa to get in for a ride back to HQ- but, shockingly, it turns out to be a trap. They pull over and attempt to execute the two of them, and Medusa uses some kind of power to paralyze the fake agents, despite not having an Aura.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 2

Exhausted by the effort using her power, Medusa allows MC to walk her to the car, before passing out in the passenger seat. Though she’s rattled by her brush with death, MC manages to pull herself together and starts driving back to H.E.R.A. HQ. Cyprin calls her on the way, and MC fills them in on most of the details of what happened.

Cyprin’s waiting outside the building with a- real- agent, and asks MC to follow them up to their office, and let the agent take Medusa to the Medical division.

***Heart scene (15) - Insist on going with Medusa.***

*MC asks Cyprin to let her accompany Medusa to Medical, reasoning that the poor woman would probably not appreciate waking up alone with a random H.E.R.A. agent after what just happened. Cyprin relents, simply asking MC to meet up with them afterwards. The agent carries Medusa into the building.*

*As they ride the elevator up, MC takes a good look at Medusa, to make sure she’s not in pain- and notes that she simply looks relaxed and vulnerable. This, and the fact that she saved her life, makes MC wish she was able to carry Medusa herself. The agent appears to notice this, and lets MC push Medusa in a wheelchair the rest of the way.*

MC carefully tucks Medusa into a hospital bed, and promises to protect her from judgement for using an unregistered power to paralyze the fake agents, since she was acting in self defense. She then leaves, to meet up with Cyprin.

Once in Cyprin’s office, MC explains in more detail what occurred- detailing both the fake agents, and that Medusa saved her life by paralyzing them. Cyprin is disturbed by the possibility that a mole working at H.E.R.A. might have set the trap up.

MC and Cyprin visit Medusa when she wakes up, and she immediately asks for MC to be assigned to officially manage her case, after having proven that she cares more about it than whoever was assigned to it previously did.

### Episode 3

MC leaves Medusa to rest, and returns to Cyprin’s office. They express concern over the possible danger inherent in the case due to Medusa’s past criminal ties, before giving MC a ring. It’s supposedly for protection, but they don’t elaborate further.

Medusa directs MC to her place, a cozy house in the suburbs. MC marvels at the size of her garden, while Medusa explains that she used to be involved in a gang with her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, who are currently leaders of two rival gangs. She also explains why she was able to paralyze people earlier- she doesn’t have an Aura, but gorgon blood is inherently powerful. Finally, she offers to allow MC to stay in her guest room tonight, since it’s a long walk to the subway station.

MC accepts the offer, but is woken up in the middle of the night by an argument outside between Medusa and Charybdis, a member of Stheno’s gang and old friend of Medusa’s, who’s begging her to return and help stop the gangs from fighting. She refuses, and Charybdis leaves- but Medusa doesn’t feel comfortable in her house anymore, and asks to go to MC’s apartment instead. MC agrees, and promises to keep her safe.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 4

MC lets Medusa into her apartment, babbling nervously about how small it is. She offers her bed to Medusa, who initially refuses- but relents when MC insightfully notes that someone like her would probably have an easier time sleeping in the privacy of a bedroom.

MC is asked to head over to investigate a new petrification case, and Medusa can tell from the handiwork on the victim that Stheno was the culprit. She storms off, heading to what she calls “neutral territory”, which turns out to be the Boarback Bar. She asks Eryn, the bartender there, what she knows about the situation- Eryn doesn’t have many answers, but she does talk about Medusa as though she’s a big deal in gang circles, which prompts MC to wonder about her past.

The two head for the train station, but Medusa quickly realizes that they’re being followed. She tells MC to leave her, if it comes to that- which she refuses. Medusa grabs her hand and they both run for it, managing to shake the gangsters who are pursuing them and arrive at the train station unscathed. Medusa admits that she’s glad that MC’s the one working for her, and keeps holding her hand as they wait for the train home.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 5

Once back at MC’s apartment, Medusa realizes that she missed her book club meeting, and tries to leave- but she changes her mind when MC asks her to stay, not wanting Medusa to be alone so soon after their most recent encounter. The two of them share tea, and MC asks about the near reverent way Medusa was treated at the bar. Medusa comments that most people would be scared away by that.

***Heart scene 1 - I’m not scared of you.***

*MC denies being afraid of Medusa, claiming that her goal of being a field agent requires her to toughen up- and that, in fact, she actually feels much safer with Medusa, even though MC’s supposed to be the one protecting her.*

*Medusa blushes happily, but points out that her natural abilities give her a big advantage over MC, though she denies underestimating her just because she’s a mortal. She goes on to compliment MC’s talent, and agrees when MC suggests that they can both keep each other safe.*

*MC asks about the way Medusa managed to lead the two of them to avoid the people chasing them that night, and Medusa chalks it up to years of experience- and says that knowing how to evade capture is equally helpful when it comes to capturing people yourself. MC briefly- but lustfully- imagines Medusa chasing her.*

MC heads into Cyprin’s office the next morning, leaving Medusa to herself, and Cyprin can immediately tell from how she talks about her that MC has unprofessional feelings for Medusa. They ask her to not let those feelings affect the case, but don’t press further. The hero Perseus drops in, and discusses the investigation into the H.E.R.A. mole- and Cyprin reveals that Perseus is the one who took Medusa’s Aura from her.

Fuming about the fact that the person who stole Medusa’s Aura is involved, MC makes her way to Medusa’s bookstore, which has already been fixed up. Medusa offers to give her a tour, and the two end up being pressed together when she helps MC climb a ladder to reach a cookbook, leaving Medusa flustered. She offers the book in question to MC, as thanks for her help.

***Heart scene 2 - Let me treat you to lunch.***

*Instead, MC offers to take her to lunch for the book, as a trade- though she admits to herself it might just be an excuse to spend time with Medusa. Medusa accepts the offer, and lets MC choose where to go, since she’s old enough that her routine sees her visiting the same restaurants constantly.*

*MC takes her to a Greek food stand, which is tacky enough that Medusa makes fun of it- but trusting MC’s recommendation, she orders a burger, and the two take their meal to the park. Despite her reservations, Medusa is happily surprised at how good the food is, and admits she was wrong to doubt MC’s taste, since she had chosen a good cookbook earlier.*

*Medusa asks what other books she likes, and MC talks about an interest in autobiographies- which Medusa finds surprising, and a little disquieting. She says that people can change a lot, then lets the topic drop. The two finish eating, and head back to the bookstore to lock up.*

Perseus shows up at the bookstore, though strangely enough he’s only looking for MC and is surprised to see Medusa there. Medusa is incensed by his arrival, and demands that he leave. MC tries to calm things down, and insists that she’ll talk to him about the case later, in private, before leaving with Medusa.

### Episode 6

Medusa still hasn’t calmed down by the time they arrive back at MC’s apartment, and MC coaxes her into opening up. Medusa describes the pain of having her Aura taken from her, and of seeing the way her sisters looked at her afterwards- and in the process of trying to comfort her, MC ends up kissing her, which Medusa eagerly reciprocates. She then admits that, in the past, instead of two gangs there was just the one, run by Medusa herself, with Stheno and Euryale as her lieutenants- and she asks if MC wants to break things off.

***Heart scene - Show Medusa how you feel.***

*MC says she’s not stopping anything- the fact that Medusa was once a gang leader doesn’t change who she is now. She kisses Medusa again, and is surprised at how forcefully she responds in kind. She wonders if Medusa has wanted to kiss her the whole time they’ve been together, and is excited at the thought.*

The next morning, MC and Medusa take a stroll directly into Euryale’s territory, hoping to get a chance to talk to her. Instead they’re met by Scylla, a member of Euryale’s gang, and another old friend of Medusa’s. She escorts them to a hideout, and tries to convince Medusa to return to the gang life, to try and stop the bloodshed of the gang war. Medusa refuses.

The hideout is attacked by Stheno’s goons, and Medusa is nearly hit with a bolt of Aura- but MC’s ring flares to life, and creates a shield around her and Medusa, protecting the two of them. Medusa orders everyone to stop fighting, and they obey her- and then she leaves, with MC in tow.

### Episode 7

Medusa spends the night at MC’s apartment again, and this time they share the bed. In the morning, they both head down to H.E.R.A. HQ to confer with Cyprin- and encounter Perseus, who demands to take over Medusa’s case, so he can force her to step up and stop the gang fighting personally. Cyprin denies this request outright, but then agrees to a compromise wherein Perseus works alongside MC and Medusa.

Perseus shows Medusa a bracelet- it contains her Aura, which he offers to return to her to make amends, but she refuses to accept it from him, insisting that getting it back wouldn’t change anything about the past. He appeals to the fact that they used to be friends, which Medusa claims to be a mistake. The topic drops, and Perseus drives them directly into a gang fight.

The gang members attack, and MC uses her shield to protect herself and Medusa from the worst of the fighting, until Stheno and Euryale suddenly show up. In desperation, Medusa takes her bracelet from Perseus, and uses it to summon her Aura- Pegasus. It terrifies the gang members, and Medusa smiles, back in her element.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 8

Medusa uses Pegasus to knock almost everyone to the ground with a single shockwave, before she’s approached by Scylla and Charybdis. Despite being openly happy to see their old friend’s power returned to her, they attack- and she sends them flying with another burst of Aura. Seeing that Medusa has regained her power, Stheno and Euryale flee. One of the abandoned gang members attacks Medusa from behind, and MC jumps in front of her, blocking the attack with her ring.

Eager to avoid scrutiny from the H.E.R.A. agents who show up to arrest fallen gang members, Medusa and MC leave- but not before Medusa takes her bracelet off, shoving it back into Perseus’ hands. She says that she doesn’t want to be the person she is when she wears it anymore.

Back home, MC tries- and fails- to get Medusa to open up about her past with Perseus, but she does manage to improve her mood by gushing about how powerful Pegasus was. Amused, Medusa pulls MC into her lap, bidding her to hush.

***Heart scene - I’ll tell you what I want***

*MC asks for a kiss, and then more kissing- before noting that it makes it difficult to talk. She jokingly accuses Medusa of distracting her from the conversation, to which Medusa retorts that if she wants to talk she has to earn it by resisting her charms.*

*MC calls Medusa irresistible, and the kissing continues. Medusa admits that MC’s flattery is good at making her want to listen to her, which prompts MC to try to flatter her even more. Medusa counters MC’s insistence that she’s impressive by pointing out that MC works with literal gods, to which MC retorts that divinity doesn’t make people impressive- it’s the good they do.*

*Frowning, Medusa claims to not have done much good- but MC disagrees, referring to how Medusa saved her life, and has the self control to use her power in moderation. Medusa uses the mention of self control to bring up how little self control she has in regards to kissing MC, and they go ahead and kiss again.*

The next morning Cyprin calls them both into H.E.R.A. HQ. In a meeting that includes Perseus, they discuss the gang fight, and Cyprin asks if Medusa thinks she’d be able to calm the gangs down, which she doesn’t deny- though she does say she doesn’t want to, because the gang members only respected her Aura, not her. MC disagrees on that note, but doesn’t say anything.

The two of them head down to the H.E.R.A. holding cells, to interrogate the gang prisoners without Stheno or Euryale present to influence their answers. They learn that although Stheno and Euryale are in charge, Scylla and Charybdis are working behind their backs to get Medusa on top again- and most of the gang wants the same thing.

### Episode 9

MC takes Medusa out to lunch at a diner, and the topic strays to how MC baked breakfast recently. Medusa confesses that she’s not used to people taking care of her, because it takes a lot of trust. She happily recalls the way MC protected her in the fight earlier, and indulgently compares it to Greek myth, specifically of Achilles’ relationship with Patroclus.

When they get back home, MC tries to broach the subject of Medusa helping to fix the gangs, which opens the floodgates- Medusa emotionally rants about how she didn’t just leave the gang after she lost her Aura, she was kicked out and abandoned. How after the betrayal, she rebuilt her life and was happier without them. MC apologizes, and promises that Medusa can rely on her.

MC wakes up to find Medusa attempting to leave without her to make a meeting that one of the gang members in the H.E.R.A. cells hinted about. MC convinces Medusa to let her tag along, and they head to a tea shop. Charybdis meets them there, and tells Medusa about a meeting that’s been set up in neutral territory. Shortly after she leaves, Perseus walks in, furious that MC and Medusa were just meeting with a gang member.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 10

Medusa and Perseus get into a shouting match, first over the breach of regulation- and then, more generally about Perseus’ betrayal. A terrified waiter threatens to call the police, and at MC’s insistence the three of them make a hasty exit from the store, heading over to H.E.R.A. HQ.

They meet up with Cyprin, and MC defends her approach to the case. Cyprin counters that MC lacks field agent training, and shouldn’t be taking the initiative in ways that put her in danger- then sends her out to cool off when she argues. She takes the opportunity to go take a lunch break with May in Central Park.

MC’s in the middle of venting about the case to May, when yet another large scale gang fight breaks out in the park- this time, Stheno and Euryale are both there, commanding their troops directly. May manages to send out a message for help before the gang notice and recognize MC, and team up to attack her, but Medusa shows up to help in the nick of time.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 11

Medusa strolls through the sea of gangsters to stand protectively in front of MC. She easily intimidates her sisters into leaving, shortly before a team of H.E.R.A. agents show up to contain the scene. Cyprin expresses disapproval at MC’s penchant for finding trouble, and orders Perseus to drive her home- but asks Medusa to stay at the office with them, to answer more questions.

During the tense ride home, Perseus reveals that he was ordered to take Medusa’s Aura a decade ago, and that they had been friends at the time. He asks MC to convince Medusa to take the Aura back, and MC agrees to think about it, lying through her teeth to shut him up.

After a long night of stress baking dozens of cookies, MC decides to get breakfast at the local diner- and is surprised to see that Medusa had guessed she’d head there, and is waiting for her. The two kiss, and MC points out that after yesterday Cyprin would disapprove of the two seeing each other. Medusa insists that she doesn’t care what anyone thinks, that nobody can stop her from seeing MC. They kiss some more, and decide to spend the rest of the day together.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 12

MC and Medusa head to a park, and the conversation turns back to the case. MC asks if any part of Medusa wants to go back to the gangs, and she says, definitively, that that chapter of her life is over. MC asks if she’d want her Aura back anyway, just for its own sake, to which Medusa enigmatically says she’d give it up to stay with MC. Kissing ensues.

***Heart scene - Stay with Medusa a while longer***

*MC asks to spend a little more time with Medusa, and the pair head to Brooklyn Bridge to cap off the evening.*

*Finding a bench, the two turn to the skies for some stargazing. Medusa provides her own perspective into the stars as an immortal Ancient Greek monster and gleefully points out the constellation for Ophiuchus, the “snake bearer”. Citing some poetry stating that this constellation protects against snake venom earns her a kiss from MC.*

*MC spots a shooting star, and tells Medusa to wish for something. She thinks on it, and wishes that all the promises she made to herself when she was young come true, which MC finds very deep. MC then wishes that the night would never end, and the two spend the rest of the date pointing out and inventing constellations together, before Medusa takes MC back to her apartment in a princess carry.*

Medusa heads home, and Charybdis takes the opportunity to approach MC on her own. She apologizes for the gang fight at Central Park, and asks her to convince Medusa to unite the gangs under her rule. MC refuses, and, furious, Charybdis stalks off. Feeling unsafe in her apartment, MC packs a bag and heads over to spend the night with her brother, Josh.

Cyprin calls MC in to work the next morning, and reveals both that they’d found the H.E.R.A. mole, and that now that that’s been sorted, Perseus has moved to take over Medusa’s case, though MC hasn’t been taken off it either.

### Episode 13

MC heads directly from work to a dinner date with Medusa, and arrives a little late. During dinner, MC promises to keep Medusa safe from the people who are trying to force her into her old life- right before blurting out that she loves her. Delighted, Medusa cuts the dinner portion of the date off short, and the two call a taxi straight back to Medusa’s place.

Once home, things immediately heat up, and they waste no time finding their way to the bedroom- but then MC realizes that Medusa’s suddenly gotten nervous, and stops things short. Medusa apologizes, which MC brushes off, insisting that she doesn’t have anything to apologize for. The two of them drift to sleep in each other’s arms.

The next morning, they eat breakfast in bed, and Medusa asks if MC’s upset about last night, admitting that her fears about messing the relationship up are giving her nightmares.

***Heart scene - Stay with Medusa a while longer***

*After MC promises that she’s not going anywhere, the two snuggle up together under the covers. MC claims that she’d be happy to spend more time in bed with Medusa if it’d prevent her from having nightmares.*

*She asks if there’s anything she can do to make Medusa feel better about her anxiety last night, and Medusa explains what was on her mind at the time- that she was thinking of the time she was running the gang, when she was unwilling to enter into long-term relationships with other women, in fear of them being targeted to strike at her. MC connects the dots that Medusa is afraid of treating MC the way she did those women- as a casual fling- and hurting her.*

Arriving to work late because of her sleepy morning with Medusa, MC starts looking through the case file on Perseus’ orders. Later in the day, Perseus calls MC into a meeting in Cyprin’s office, and tries once again to get her to convince Medusa to take her Aura back. Despite the fact that MC emphatically refuses, Medusa happens to step into Cyprin’s office just in time to hear what sounds like her saying the exact opposite of that, and storms off in a rage.

### Episode 14

MC chases Medusa through the office, trying to explain herself- but Medusa refuses to listen, and leaves without her. Grudgingly following Perseus’ orders, MC doesn’t give chase, mostly to avoid being removed from the case entirely. Instead she heads down to the archives, where May helps her dig up information about the old gang- including a photograph of the gang in one of their old hideouts.

Perseus dismisses MC’s hunch about the importance of the photograph, and before she can argue her case Medusa is dragged back into H.Q in handcuffs. Perseus orders Medusa to help MC to locate and apprehend Stheno and Euryale, threatening Olympus’ wrath if she doesn’t cooperate.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 15

With some coaxing, Medusa reveals more about the picture MC found, including that it was taken right before Perseus attacked the gang and stripped away her Aura. She elaborates on how her sisters exiled her from the gang, in part due to rumors H.E.R.A. spread that implicated her as a traitor.

Though she’s still upset with MC, Medusa agrees to co-operate with Perseus only on the condition that MC isn’t removed from the case, before the two return to Medusa’s house for the evening. That night, MC wakes up to find Medusa crying in the garden, but doesn’t dare to talk to her about it.

After a long morning of trying and failing to find gang members, the pair decide to check out the old hideout in the old photo. Though it’s empty, Medusa takes the opportunity to reminisce about the old days, and MC wonders hopefully if they’ve begun to mend things.

***Heart scene - Let Medusa confide in you.***

*MC tells Medusa she’s happy to listen to more about the past, and Medusa details what kinds of things they got up to in the hideout. It was for gang activity, but also a place for birthday celebrations, and parties- the gang was her family.*

Medusa tries, unsuccessfully, to push MC away once more by reminding her that she was an unrepentant criminal in the past, before they’re interrupted by a group of people arriving outside.

### Episode 16

Thinking fast, Medusa leads MC behind the bar to hide from whoever has shown up. Euryale shows up, with her lieutenant, Scylla, and the rest of her gang. MC is terrified, and despite their tension, Medusa holds her close- and then Stheno arrives to the party, bringing with her Charybdis and the rest of her gang.

In the ensuing scuffle, MC’s hiding place is knocked away by a stray bolt of Aura, leading to both her and Medusa being grabbed and restrained. Scylla and Charybdis volunteer to execute the two of them, but instead use the opportunity to attack Stheno and Euryale, before declaring their loyalty to Medusa.

Enraged, Euryale springs back into action, and attacks MC, blaming her for Medusa’s unwillingness to pick a side. Wielding a knife, she cuts at MC’s throat- but before she can do any more than that, Medusa uses her natural gorgon ability to turn Euryale’s hand to stone. At this display of power, the gangs are once again intimidated into running away- and MC slumps to the floor, bleeding profusely from her neck. Medusa runs to her side, and MC passes out in her arms.

[No heart scene available.]

### Episode 17

MC wakes up in a H.E.R.A. hospital bed, with Medusa by her side. She apologizes for letting Euryale hurt her, and for jumping to conclusions and distrusting MC. She resolves to try to put her fear of betrayal behind her, and agrees to let MC help her move on.

***Heart scene - Talk about your future with Medusa.***

*Medusa suggests that MC could take a vacation, and says that she’d want to go to a beach. MC confesses to not having taken vacations before, since she’s focused on her career- but then says that she’d want to take a trip to Greece, noting that Medusa would make a good tour guide.*

*Medusa laughs, and points out that her knowledge of the country would be many years out of date, after living in the States for so long. MC suggests that her bookstore must be keeping her rooted in place and, on the topic of books, Medusa mentions how she once used books to distract from the strict upbringing she had due to her heritage.*

*Looking again to the future, Medusa asks what MC wants for the days to come- and the two wind up reaffirming that they want to stay together. Medusa asks MC to return home with her, once she’s well enough to leave.*

Interrupting their discussion, Perseus enters the room to update them on the case. He admits that he was wrong to dismiss MC’s hunch, and apologizes to the two of them before leaving. MC asks about Charybdis and Scylla, concerned about their wellbeing- and Medusa shrugs, confident that they’re still alive and will find her if they want to help.

### Episode 18

After MC and Medusa are rested, they return to Medusa’s house- and sure enough, are met out the front by Scylla and Charybdis. After confirming that they’re no longer loyal to her sisters, Medusa lets them in, and they head into the garden.

Scylla admits that the two of them were largely motivated by their desire to get things back to how they used to be, with Medusa running the gang as a family, and Charybdis chimes in that they felt desperate and rushed due to what they perceived as MC influencing Medusa away from gang life- though they swear that they never meant for her to actually get hurt.

Medusa agrees to help deal with the gang war, reasoning that she’s already involved to the point that she can’t just ignore it any more- but she makes clear that she is only going to help until it is resolved. Scylla and Charybdis gleefully agree to these terms, and leave together- and then Medusa carries MC to bed.

The next morning, MC wakes up, buried tightly in Medusa’s arms.

***Heart scene - Stay in Medusa’s arms.***

*As Medusa sleeps, MC dotes on her, brushing her hair out of her face, and reflecting on her beauty. She compares how Medusa looks when she’s sleeping, to how powerful she is while awake, and thinks about how other people only see her as a fearsome mobster while she can see this side of her too.*

*MC comes fairly close to cursing out the gods, blaming them for Medusa’s situation with her family, sadly comparing it to her much more positive relationship with her own brother, Josh. She thanks Medusa for trusting her, and Medusa, in her sleep, responds by hugging MC ever tighter. Trapped, MC tries to wake her up with kisses, which prompts Medusa to open her arms up enough to wiggle free.*

MC finds a package at the door, and, suspicious, opens it- it contains Medusa’s bracelet, along with a letter from Perseus, urging MC to return the bracelet to its owner, and apologizing for taking it in the first place. MC decides to hold on to it, not sure if Medusa is ready to take it back yet.

### Episode 19 (Passionate Ending)

After spending a lazy morning together in bed, MC and Medusa talk about plans for lunch, and MC revels in the domesticity of it. Afterwards, Scylla calls to tell Medusa about plans to finally strike at Euryale, and MC suggests getting H.E.R.A. to handle Stheno at the same time.

With the plan set in motion, MC and Medusa meet with Scylla and head over to Euryale’s base, a casino. Medusa approaches Euryale, hands open, offering mercy. Euryale, enraged at the sight of her, attacks with her Aura- which Medusa was somehow not expecting.

Spotting her chance, MC offers Medusa her bracelet, and, with no other options, she accepts it. She summons Pegasus, and MC calls upon the Aura within her ring to merge with it. They attack as one, and easily knock Euryale out, effectively ending the gang war in one fell swoop. Medusa reminds Scylla that it’s all up to her and Charybdis now, and leaves with MC in tow.

Medusa takes MC straight home, and little time is wasted before she begins to strip. She finally tells MC that she loves her, and the two then make love in a frenzy fierce enough that they don’t even bother to reach the bed.

A few days later, Scylla and Charybdis call to update Medusa on the situation, and tell her that there’s only one gang now, which they run together. They invite her out to celebrate, which she declines- instead, she takes MC to her evening book club, which consists of a dozen old ladies reading romance novels.

[No heart scene available.]

[Written by reddit user Daniellestolenoc]