In some ways this guy reminded Amethyst of her concubine. He definitely had the attitude, and the cheekiness towards royalty. The fact that he was a second-time teen too explained a lot.

>>”Was taught a lady never asks... Eighteen now. Supposedly twenty-three. How old do I look? Shoot, maybe I could be mistaken for a minor. Make getting out of trouble heck a lot easier.”

She didn't really know why women were not supposed to ask, and she didn't care. Well, at least he was not much younger. Not like Sam, who went from young to terribly old in one night. That was awkward.

"You look about my age." she noted over the ice cream. Maybe a bit older. But it might have been the teeth and the wings.

>>”Yes, seeing as you clamed to be a demi-god princess... Useful power. Be easy to make a quick buck eh?”

"Quick? No." Amethyst smirked "They are uncut stones, and not all of them are gem quality."

Also, not all of them were rubies, but he didn't need to know that.

>>”Supposing yer gods can fly?”

"Some of us." she shrugged "Depends on what gifts one has. Do you? Actually fly? Some gorgons have wings, but they can't."

”Oh do I?” Carrick mused still leaning against the counter his arms folding over his chest. He raised an eyebrow, ”Supposing that means we have more in common?” Carrick had to laugh, ”Sorry princess. Don’t think you have much in common with me. Though I’m a betting man so if you’d like to wager one of your gems….” Carrick flashed his teeth in a smile and winked.

”Depends on who ya know. I might know a fence or three that would tell ya otherwise. They also don’t all need to be quality. Can sell ‘em quantity.” did he still know any of the fencers he used to trade his pickpocketed goods for cash. It had been sometime. Again, for them not for him. Some of the guys were older and it’s harder to leave that sort of trade the older ya got. Carrick could speak from experience the apples of his family tree didn’t fall very long.

”Do I?” Carrick pushed himself off the counter and gave hearty laugh one that sounded closer to his fathers than he cared to admit. ”Love, I rule the skies. Not one mutant when I was living ‘ere before could keep up wit me when it came to flying. None in the city either.” Carrick suddenly wanted to show off now. When ever someone questioned his wings he felt like he needed to prove how great they were. It was one of the few things he had to learn growing up with them.

”Care for a demonstration?” He was tempted to snap his wings open where he was standing but knew he’d either break something or one of his wings. He had learned proper spacing fast when he was a kid. ”Guess that’s why they’re Gorgons and not Gryphons?”

Carrick walked past her to one of the side entrances from the kitchen. That must have been new. He usually hoped out the window around here. ”Doesn’t sound very godly. Can’t fly. Next you’ll tell me none of them have tales either.” Carrick stuck his butt out a bit and swished his tail at her before walking out of the kitchen on to the mansions grounds. Yes, he could have taken off right there but he wanted that ‘Oh wow’ factor he got when he snapped open his wings.

>>”Oh do I? Supposing that means we have more in common?... Sorry princess. Don’t think you have much in common with me. Though I’m a betting man so if you’d like to wager one of your gems….”

He really was interested in the gems. Not many people questioned her further about her powers, not initially anyway; even her concubine only thought to know more about them once he was in close contact with her. But this guy... the way he grinned, he was definitely interested in things that made money.

>>”Depends on who ya know. I might know a fence or three that would tell ya otherwise. They also don’t all need to be quality. Can sell ‘em quantity.”

Amethyst arched an eyebrow at him. Quantity? How much blood did he think she had in her body? It was not a bad suggestion, but why would she do that unless she had to? The conversation turned to flying instead. Amethyst had seen plenty of gorgons with appendages that were mostly decorative. The suggestions, however, clearly offended Carrick.

>>”Do I? Love, I rule the skies. Not one mutant when I was living ‘ere before could keep up wit me when it came to flying. None in the city either. Care for a demonstration?”

The princess waved a hand. He was going to demonstrate one way or another, men always did. And she was kind of curious. Winged mutants, with real actual working wings, were rare. And she was curious.

>>”Guess that’s why they’re Gorgons and not Gryphons?... Doesn’t sound very godly. Can’t fly. Next you’ll tell me none of them have tales either.”

"Demigods don't have tails. Gorgons have tails." she pointed out, following him to the kitchen door "Demigods look like me. Gorgons look like you. At least in Atlantis." People over here seemed to take offense to that.

”Demigods don’t ‘ave tails?” how the hell did they fly properly? He was debating on voicing his question when everything clicked. He was a ‘Gorgon’ because of how he looked. Different. Distant memories he tried to repress bubbled to the surface when everything clicked. He was tempted to just walk away. Then again, this was his chance to show off, he loved showing off.

”So Gorgons are the good looking ones then eh?” Carrick laughed off his feelings with a hearty laugh and tail flick. It was almost forced but full of sass. Carrick scrunched his nose at the princess his mismatched eyes on her, ”Least you’re not meeting the other me. You think I look like a Gorgon.” he snapped his wings open then quickly shut them pulling as much air as he could without explaining further.

Carrick was airborne without so much of a jump and the air he forced down kicked up grass and dirt. Carrick smirked to himself as he rose quickly into the air and somersaulted backwards showing off a bit. His tail followed behind him in unison as he righted himself and gave a few flaps before gently riding the wind down towards the grounds and the princess.

”So, what do you think? Better than yer tailless demigods?” Carrick as he slowed when he was close to her. His wings beating slowly as he folded his arms wishing he had his small pyrotechnics to add an extra ‘awe’ factor.

There was finally a look of understanding in Carrick's eyes. Amethyst was not sue whether he liked the concept of gorgons and demigods, but at least he seemed to grasp the idea.

>>”Demigods don’t ‘ave tails?... So Gorgons are the good looking ones then eh?”

She arched an eyebrow. No one in Atlantis really called gorgons good-looking, unless they were lucky enough to have some kind of a decorative gift, like glowing scales or something. But this guy was obviously very proud of himself and his ability to fly.

>>”Least you’re not meeting the other me. You think I look like a Gorgon.”

"The other you?" Amethyst blinked, but Carrick was already up in the air, stirring up a wind with his wings as he flew around, showing off his skills. It was an impressive display. If he did it to convince her that gorgons could be spectacular, he was definitely succeeding.

>>”So, what do you think? Better than yer tailless demigods?”

"The tail is not what's selling it." she smirked, looking up at him "But that's definitely quite a spectacle. So... are you going to nest on the roof or something?"

”Nest on the roof? Carrick asked laughing, ”What am I simple sparrow?” he flapped his wings did a somersault then landed a few feet from the princess and smirked. ”Love, we nest where we want when we want.” he grinned, ”If nothing else changed here I got a few trees out back that were pretty great if I’m not feeling the room thing.”

His tail flicked behind him. ”Nah, I prefer a roof over me head. When I’m like this.” he gestured to himself. ”The other two don’t mind rain as much.” he said with a smirk, ”Winter not so much.”

”So what’s selling it for you then?” he opened his wings fully and adjusted his feet so they could spread out and he wouldn’t get pushed over by the small breeze that entered the grounds. Carrick loved showing off. ”Ever fly before?” he asked curiously knowing that she hadn’t flown with him so she technically really flew properly. ”You can touch them if you want.” he said smirking.

When it came to what gorgons did day to day, the princess' knowledge was kind of hazy. She never cared much, and most of them lived out of sight, so she never bothered to learn what their mutations meant for their lifestyle. Did this guy nest, for example? He might as well. Gryphons nested, to the best of her memory. It wasn't an insult if it was true.

>>”Nest on the roof? What am I simple sparrow? Love, we nest where we want when we want. If nothing else changed here I got a few trees out back that were pretty great if I’m not feeling the room thing.”

Leave it to him to say no then say yes to her question. Amethyst rolled her eyes. Not a simple bird, sure, but he did have... trees. Well, at least he was not shedding his feathers and fur all over the school. Even better.

>>”Nah, I prefer a roof over me head. When I’m like this. The other two don’t mind rain as much. Winter not so much.”

Or not.
Again, with the 'other' thing. Did he have a twin or something? At this point, Amethyst was not going to ask, out of pure defiance. He had bragged enough as is. He spread his wings with obvious pride in his face. She quietly had to admit it was impressive up close. Wings that could carry a grown man had to be large.

>>”So what’s selling it for you then? Ever fly before? You can touch them if you want.”

"Should I also scratch you behind the ear?" she shot back with a smirk, but stepped closer anyway. "I used to have hawks, back in Atlantis. They were good for sport. None were this big though. You'd make a good royal pet."

”Only if ya buy me a drink first, love.” he said adding a little of his ‘performance’ attitude. ”Don’t think it have the same effect your thinking.” he said with a smirk.

His smirk vanished into a toothy grin when she compared him to a hawk. Nothing wrong with hawks, some of Gryphons best friends were hawks, it just reminded him when he was doing his show during his time with the circus.

”Me?” he purred feigning modesty. Literally his feline like voice box started to purr as he continued talking, he knew what he was doing. ”A Royal pet?” he laughed, ”Oh, wish me mother could see me now.”

”Imagine it’s a good gig. Food room n bored?” he asked curious pretending not to notice her step closer. ”Can’t say we like the idea of a collar or a leash though.” he smirked flexing his wings a bit towards her. ”What’s the pay?”

>>”Only if ya buy me a drink first, love. Don’t think it have the same effect your thinking.”

Amethyst shrugged. She was not about to actually scratch him. She barely scratched royal pets, only if she felt like it, and they were not half as cheeky as this guy. She was not used to the idea of gorgons with this much confidence to go around. The wings explained a lot, though. She watched them move and flex as he talked, noting the deep purr in his chest.

>>”Me? A Royal pet? Oh, wish me mother could see me now. Imagine it’s a good gig. Food room n bored? Can’t say we like the idea of a collar or a leash though. What’s the pay?”

"Do Americans pay their pets?" she asked, arching an eyebrow "We don't. They are just grateful they can be at our side. And they only get leashed if they cause trouble." she clarified with a smirk. Most pet gorgons were thoroughly trained.

Carrick shrugged with an over emphasis of it because of his wings following suit behind him. ”Haven’t a clue. Not from here. Back home they fed them, loved them and cleaned up after them.” Carrick said loving to point out he wasn’t from around there.

”We also don’t normally keep mutants as pets.” he said with a smirk still purring. No pay, and he got to wear a leash if he misbehaved. ”Ah, fraid ya lost me on that one, love.” he said stopping the purring.

”Not a fan of leashes and I can’t promise I won’t take a **** on the palace floors.” Carrick said laughing, ”Been said before I have a tendency to cause trouble anyways.” he said opening his wings and scooping the princess ”For example.” he crouched low once she was in his arms and took off probably quicker than most would have liked for their first time flying with him.

So, pets in America sounded like a whole lot of work and not much gain. Amethyst was definitely not cleaning up after anything anytime soon. And if he was not going to play nice and look majestic, he was really no use as a royal pet.

>>”Not a fan of leashes and I can’t promise I won’t take a **** on the palace floors.”

Amethyst wrinkled her nose. She didn't believe he meant that literally, but with gorgons, who knew? Some of them had no manners at all. Definitely not pet material.

>>”Been said before I have a tendency to cause trouble anyways. For example.”

She opened her mouth to respond... but suddenly he had her scooped up and shooting high into the air. His wings beat strongly as they lifted both of them in the air. This was a very different experience from flying on a plane. Amethyst shrieked in surprised, surrounded by swooshing air and feathers. "What the... no! What in the gods name... PUT ME DOWN!" The ground was far beneath them now, and Amethyst realized her demands were not... ideal. On instinct, she grabbed on to Carrick, winding her arms around his shoulder. He might be a horrible creature but she was not going to let him drop her.

Princess Amethyst was realizing she was not a fan of flying free.

The shriek was worth the abuse he’d no doubt get for scaring her with the sudden loss of ground. Her reaction was a little more than he expected from a princess. He laughed as she yelled at him and grabbed around his shoulders. It was a common place to hold onto so he didn’t think much of it. ”Poor choice of words, love. Might ya want to rephrase or choose some new words entirely?” he asked still flapping his wings carrying them further till the mansion looked like the size of a doll-house.

Once he was high enough he slowed and opened his wings out fully allowing them to glide in place slowly lowering to the ground. ”Relax princess, I don’t plan on dropping ya yet. Haven’t called me gorgon enough times for that.” he said laughing more.

”Not even royalty get views like this. Soak it in while yer on me good side.” his tail adjusted behind him as his eyes scanned the mansion grounds picking up on the movement of kids, actual pets and the occasional rodent.

>>”Poor choice of words, love. Might ya want to rephrase or choose some new words entirely?”

"Don't you DARE drop me!" Amethyst clarified, digging her fingers into the back of his shirt. You could never trust a gorgon completely, not one with such a clear animal side. She glanced down and then screwed her eyes shut, and resisted the urge to try to wrap her legs around him too. She wanted to die with a shred of dignity left.

>>”Relax princess, I don’t plan on dropping ya yet. Haven’t called me gorgon enough times for that.”

So, he did know what a gorgon was. Go figure. The stopped rising and started gliding, strong wings stretching out on both sides.

>>”Not even royalty get views like this. Soak it in while yer on me good side.”

Amethyst was still holding on for dear life. If she looked, she might have seen the sheer drop between her and the ground, and that was a view she did not want to soak in in any form. "Why are you doing this?" she snapped, although her voice was a little shaky to have the full effect.

The shifters back arched a little when he felt her nails dig into, a low growl reverberated from his chest that was quickly silenced. Her reaction for a time was great, ”Wouldn’t dream of it. Wouldn’t be any use to me. Be more trouble than I need.” Carrick said honestly as his eyes shifted from the ground to her.

Without saying anything he lowered themselves still keeping up the pretense they were still very high up. She’d only know if she opened her eyes. He didn’t’ feel the need to explain it. ”Love, just ‘avin a gas.” he said detecting her voice to be shaky. She clearly wasn’t.

Rolling his eyes he adjusted his wings to quicken the descent, his arms tightened under her to give her a friendly reminder he was still holding on to her. While he was tempted to remove his arms to give her a good scare for calling him a ‘gorgon’ he didn’t.

Suddenly he was hit with the words of his mother, ‘Carrick my daft boy, if everyone was meant to fly they’d have wings. Not everyone will want to, now go wash up.’ She might have used some different words but he remembered what he wanted to. Usually reluctantly.

”Sorry, love.” he said now level with the roof of the mansion. ”Usually get a different reaction, should have known royalty didn’t have the stomach for it.” that was his way of an apology. Liz and his mother were the only ones that ever just got the one worded apology. At east he didn’t have to worry about that anymore.

”I can bring ya down if ya want, gently I might add. Haven’t lost a passenger yet.” he said confidently.

Funny thing, Amethyst didn't like heights at all, not in a free-flying way, but even more so she hated the idea of being in the power of a gorgon, someone who had reason to hate Atlantean royalty and clearly was tempted to drop her to her death. What would that be like? Would her shade have to watch from the other side as Americans argued over an Atlantean princess being murdered by a gorgon?... It just felt embarrassing.

>>”Wouldn’t dream of it. Wouldn’t be any use to me. Be more trouble than I need. Love, just ‘avin a gas.”

He was having fun. She wasn't, but at least he sounded genuine, like he did not want her to freak out. They flew lower now, which reassured her that she was not going to be dropped. Still she kept her eyes closed, and a firm hold on his back.

>>”Sorry, love. Usually get a different reaction, should have known royalty didn’t have the stomach for it.”

Amethyst scoffed, against her better judgment. Not enough that he was holding her very close, now he was also making fun of royalty. This had nothing to do with her lineage.

>>”I can bring ya down if ya want, gently I might add. Haven’t lost a passenger yet.”

"You do this to everyone?" she frowned, peering over his shoulder. His wings were holding them both up, and had Amethyst not been this uncomfortable, she would have marveled at their strength. If they were impressive when on the ground, they were definitely amazing now. "You should really ask first." She could feel small drops of opal sliding down her back from the anxiety, and a thin sheen of opal powder coloring her cheeks and neck. She didn't like the feeling.