Amethyst wrinkled her nose at the unfamiliar smells. She'd smelled a lot of questionable things in the Mansion kitchen since coming to the USA, but 'street food' was something especially dislikable. Why would anyone buy food on the street? And eat it there standing up, like a barbarian? Carrick swore up and down that this was something to die for, but the princess felt more like it was something to die from. She glared at the cart where a man was handing out little sausages in bread.

"I still don't see what the big deal is" she noted, folding her arms. She was dressed in a saffron dress and red garnet jewelry, and was present under protest to make Carrick shut up about the wonders of New York life. And cuisine. "This... smells very unclean."

”Nah, smells like normal.” Carrick said nose to air. His stomach had been growling since he landed. Carrick didn’t do cars, not when flight was an option. Any confined spaces he always had a hard time dealing with.

”Wait till ya try it before writing it off. Fecking delicious.” he said with a toothy grin while his tail flicked excitedly behind him. ”Been eating this stuff fer years. I mean, look at me.” he said stepping away from the princess and opening his wings and flexing. ”Picture of health!” he said confidently before closing his wings and stepping back in line next to the princess.

”Might seem unclean sure, but people wouldn’t be in line for it if it was bad. There’s always another cart nearby.” he said with a sage nod, he had adapted quickly when he first arrived. ”Sides, only a fool wouldn’t grab napkins.”

”Are princess’s allowed to eat with their hands?” he mused as he got to the front of the cart.

>>”Nah, smells like normal. Wait till ya try it before writing it off. Fecking delicious.”

Indeed, things existed that, while having an unpleasant smell, were actually delicious. Like some tropical fruit, or certain cheeses. But Amethyst was very reluctant to believe that 'hot dogs' were one of those things. In fact, anything that was called 'dog' had to be suspect in the food department.

>>”Been eating this stuff fer years. I mean, look at me. Picture of health!”

"Eating this for years... why?" she rolled her eyes. Even if it was indeed that good, which he doubted, it did not seem like the kind of nourishment one would want to live on. With that said... Carrick did look healthy. And he clearly had the strength to fly around.

>>”Might seem unclean sure, but people wouldn’t be in line for it if it was bad. There’s always another cart nearby. Sides, only a fool wouldn’t grab napkins... Are princess’s allowed to eat with their hands?”

"Why wouldn't I be?" she blinked. What kind of a question was that? What else was she supposed to eat with? Other than a spoon, for soups. Obviously. They slowly made their way to the front of the line (standing in lines was one of the things the princess despised about this country). She looked at Carrick, arching an eyebrow. "Go ahead, then. I wouldn't know what to order."

The shifter shrugged, ”Wanted to make sure it didn’t interfere with yer royal table manners.” he flashed his pointed teeth at her in a smile. When she told him to order his grin widened. ”Oh love, yer in fer a treat now.”

Carrick looked to the vendor and smiled, ”Mate, I’ll need two dogs and two brats with the works.” The vendor looked from Carrick to the princess and nodded. ”She’s never had any before. Make sure ya give her the good ones.” he over exaggerated a wink in the princess’s direction like he did her some kind of favor the vendor laughed and then got to work dropping the vended meat into the buns then dropped chopped onions on both followed by a little relish.

”Right, personally I love mustard not much of a fan of ketchup though.” Carrick said as he fished in his pocket and dropped a ten on the cart for the vendor as he handed the four dogs to Carrick. ”Thanks mate!” he stepped out of line with the food and offered one of the dogs to the princess. ”Don’t forget the napkins, gonna be a mess.”

”Now… this is a hot dog. Made with zero dog. Name’s misleading.” Carrick said explaining it to the princess like she was a child. Carrick took a big bite and chewed, ”Real important you get a bit of everything in every bite.” the shifter said with his mouth full.

"There is no table" Amethyst pointed out when Carrick brought up table manners. People seemed to just be... eating where they stood, or walked. It was strange. Eating was supposed to be a pleasurable experience, at least in the princess' world, and while Carrick made high promises about that, the lack of comfort was still troubling.

Carrick ordered, saying a whole lot of things Amethyst did not understand. Oh well. The man seemed to get it, and served them four... things. She stepped aside, following Carrick, and picked up some napkins after being prompted.

>>”Now… this is a hot dog. Made with zero dog. Name’s misleading. Real important you get a bit of everything in every bite.”

No dogs. That was good, at least. Amethyst observed as Carrick took a large bite. It was a messy kind of food. She balanced the hot dog handed to her in both hands, and attempted to take a bite. There was a lot to bite through, sausage, bread, relish, onions, and sauces. Some dripped down her chin, and she leaned forward to protect her dress from the rest. She made an annoyed little sound, but there was nothing left to do but chew. She did. It was... strange, the taste, the texture, everything. She chewed, savoring it. Carrick looked pleased.

"It's... not bad" she allowed, after she swallowed the first bite. "It could use some more spices."

”Not bad.” he said into his hot dog repeating the princess. Carrick wasn’t sure if she was down playing how great it was because she didn’t want him to be right. The shifter gave a smirk after another bite. ”more spices? I’ve seen people put hot sauce on it.” the shifter shrugged, ”Tastes great to me.”

”Back when I was with the circus I practically lived off this.” he said with pride. Sure, he might have changed up the toppings but hotdogs were pretty regular. ”Not bad, pfftttt.” he scoffed into his second to last bite. ”You just don’t want to admit I can be right.”

”Don’t have anything like this back home do ya?” Carrick asked walking into the park his attention focused on the princess.

The hot dog, which was not a dog, was not bad, as far as food went that one got on the streets of New York. It was awkward to take such large bites of it, though.

>>”Not bad... more spices? I’ve seen people put hot sauce on it. Tastes great to me. Back when I was with the circus I practically lived off this.”

"That would explain why it tastes great to you. You should try other foods sometime" Amethyst smirked, but she kept eating anyway. Spices. It definitely needed more spices.

>>”Not bad, pfftttt. You just don’t want to admit I can be right. Don’t have anything like this back home do ya?”

"Not that I know of" she allowed "I wonder if it would taste better with seafood. Maybe put some calamari in there, or little shrimp with peppers..."

Not realizing she was actively desecrating the concept of hot dogs, the princess walked alongside Carrick through the park. From an outsider's point of view, they looked like any other couple of young people sharing street food.
Well, minus the tail and the wings.

”I eat other foods, just not that often.” laughed Carrick as he scarfed the rest of his hot dog. ”Just seems so much easier this way.” no pots, pans or dishes. Just a vendor with hot dogs.

The shifter’s nose scrunched when she thought of other meats inside the bin other than the hot dog. ”Careful there Icarus.” he smirked, ”Don’t know nothing about seafood in hotdogs but, I do know they have chicken dogs and vegan dogs. Don’t know the point of Vegan dogs or what’s in it.”

”Almost sounds more like a taco with shrimp in it.” he mused thinking of it more. ”You’d definitely get yer spices with a taco.” Carrick added with a nod. ”Some carts do have peppers, just not that one apparently.” he said with a shrug. ”Seems more of a comfort food than anything.”

Walking up on a fountain Carrick offered the princess the brat. ”I almost don’t want to give you this now.” he smirked, ”If ya can’t appreciate the hotdog it seems like a waste to the Bratwurst. A hotdog on steroids. Tastes nothing like seafood.”

It was definitely a simple mean. All in one piece, eaten in large bites, hand-held, no cutlery or serving involved. It reminded Amethyst of the kind of things gorgons seemed to eat. Then again, Carrick was a gorgon, even if he did not like being called one. His tastes were bound to be simple.

>>”Careful there Icarus. Don’t know nothing about seafood in hotdogs but, I do know they have chicken dogs and vegan dogs. Don’t know the point of Vegan dogs or what’s in it.”

"You people are terrible at naming things, you know that?" she pointed out as they walked towards a nearby fountain.

>>”Almost sounds more like a taco with shrimp in it. You’d definitely get yer spices with a taco. Some carts do have peppers, just not that one apparently. Seems more of a comfort food than anything.”

"You mean, you purposefully selected the food with the least amount of spices?" he had mentioned earlier that Irish food was bland. She was beginning to put two and two together.

>>”I almost don’t want to give you this now. If ya can’t appreciate the hotdog it seems like a waste to the Bratwurst. A hotdog on steroids. Tastes nothing like seafood.”

"Why do they put steroids in a hot dog?" the princess blinked, eyeing the bratwust. It looked even more discouraging than the dog. Also, she had just recently learned what steroids were, in a Biology class. "This is very phallic." she added as a point of clarification.

The shifter thought it was when he was drinking around the princess he should be careful not to choke. He wasn’t expecting the comment. It was apparent when he started choking on the food. ”It is.” he coughed and then started to laugh uncomfortably beating his chest making sure the airway was cleared.

”Aye, it is.” he affirmed again this time with more air in his lungs. ”Not actually a hot dog on steroids. Just a figure of speech, love.” he looked at the brat now thinking about how right she was. ”More meat, different taste.”

”Anyone ever tell ya yer blunt?” Carrick asked laughing, ”Love it though.” he took a small bite this time hoping it wouldn’t prevent him from breathing if she wanted to follow up her last comment.

On the other side of the fountain a voice could be heard calling out to help save mankind from losing a war to evil.

The shifter’s ears twitched and his tail flicked in annoyance. He refocused his attention on his conversation with the princess, ”I never named ‘em, and ya can’t talk about it too much.” he leaned back on the edge of the fountain, ”Seafood doesn’t have many spices but ya still enjoy it right?” his wings adjusted behind him to give him a more comfortable lean.

She must have said something unexpected, because Carrick was choking again. It was becoming a thing between the two of them; her perfectly reasonable comments often caused him to do a double take. Like her pointing out that putting steroids in a 'dog' to make it bigger was an obviously phallic thing to do.

>>"Aye, it is... Not actually a hot dog on steroids. Just a figure of speech, love. More meat, different taste. Anyone ever tell ya yer blunt? Love it though.”

"No, never" she shrugged. No one would have called her anything like that, not to her face. Princesses were elegant and graceful. She was only blunt by comparison to how prudish Americans were sometimes.

On the other side of the fountain someone was yelling again. Carrick noticed it too. Why was someone always yelling in New York? Did people have nothing better to do?

>> ”I never named ‘em, and ya can’t talk about it too much. Seafood doesn’t have many spices but ya still enjoy it right?”

"It has spices when it is done right" the princess noted, taking a seat on the edge of the fountain "Why did they name them dogs anyway? There is no dog meat in them, and they look nothing like a dog... by the gods, do these people ever stop yelling?..."

‘Must have not been to her face’ Carrick decided. It was a good thing Carrick didn’t treat her different for just being a princess. The last thing he wanted was for her to have the illusion she wasn’t blunt.

”Done right? That mean you can cook?” Carrick asked having a feeling she wasn’t the type to cook. She was a princess meaning she had people to do the cooking for her. ”Maybe I’ll get lucky one day and ya can have one of yer cooks change my mind.” he said grinning his tail swaying at the idea of being waited on.

”No clue.” Carrick said shrugging to both questions. ”Was trying to ignore ‘em,” Carrick said truthfully. His hearing started to pick up more of the words now that he was actively trying to pay attention. ”Can’t imagine ‘going to war’ is a good catch phrase to join yer cult.” he said rolling his mismatched colored eyes.

”Gods?” he asked biting into his brat. ”ya got more than one?” he added. He’d heard her say ‘by the gods’ before but he didn’t really ask then.

>>"Done right? That mean you can cook?”

Amethyst rolled her eyes. He had to ask, didn't he. Even though he could have guessed the answer himself.

"I'm royalty. I don't cook."

>>”Maybe I’ll get lucky one day and ya can have one of yer cooks change my mind.”

"Sure. Maybe they will put an apple in your mouth." she grinned, but the banter was interrupted by the man on the other side of the fountain starting up again, even louder than before. She only caught a few words, but they sounded very similar to those she had heard at the bar.

>>”No clue. Was trying to ignore ‘em, Can’t imagine ‘going to war’ is a good catch phrase to join yer cult... Gods? ya got more than one?”

"We do. It's called a pantheon." she nodded. She already knew some about religions in the USA; most people seemed to have a single god, ad some got mighty offended if others didn't agree. In fact, they wanted everyone to believe there was only one god, total. She'd had conversations like this before. "It's... what you know as the Greek pantheon. But from what I can tell, a lot of our myths are being told wrong around here." she nodded towards the yelling "That man, he's one of those who only have one, right? And wants everyone else to worship the same one?"

”Calling me a pig?” Carrick asked raising his eyebrows after biting into his brat again. His tail flicked at the princess.

”Ah.” Carrick said nodding his head, ”Heard about them before in school when I was younger.” Carrick said trying not to bring up the movie about them from the kingdom of Disney. The shifter silently wondered if they were accurately portrayed to what her pantheon was like.

”Oooo, love to hear some of the ‘real’ stories then.” he said grinning and wondering if the princess was any good at story telling. ”Probably.” he said biting into his brat. Talking religion wasn’t something that was on his ‘let’s talk about list’ it reminded him too much of his up bringing and in turn his mother.

”Aye. From the sounds of it at least.” Carrick said listing more to the pitch. They didn’t have to wait long before the ‘preacher’ started to move to their side of the fountain. ”and there goes my appetite.” he said forcing another bite. ”Selling hate more than anything.”

“You!” turns out Carrick knew the ‘preacher’ so did the princess. It was his pitch Carrick ruined when he and Amethyst exited the bar earlier in the week.

”Fer **** sakes. It’s a big city! I thought I told ya ta stop spewing nonsense!” Carrick said not even trying to hide his tail this time. ”Having a great day off and enjoying me royal company, and you got to ruin it.” Carrick frowned and looked to the princess. ”Told ya about the show in the park.” he rolled his eyes.

After some consideration, Amethyst took a bite of the brat too. It was greasier than the hot dog, but also more flavorful. She chewed on it as Carrick considered the news about the Greek pantheon.

>>”Ah. Heard about them before in school when I was younger... Oooo, love to hear some of the ‘real’ stories then. Probably.”

"Maybe one day I'll give a lecture" the princess smirked. He was not the first person to ask her about that, and honestly it was time she did some of the cultural exchange she had been sent here for.

Some people sorely needed it. Like the man preaching at the other side of the fountain. He moved around and moved closer, and he turned out to be the same man they had already run into once, at the bar. Carrick recognized him too.

>>”Fer **** sakes. It’s a big city! I thought I told ya ta stop spewing nonsense! Having a great day off and enjoying me royal company, and you got to ruin it. Told ya about the show in the park.”

"And I told you to begone!" the man hollered back. This time, he seemed determined to stand his ground. "You are an abomination. You are not an angel, and you are not in the image of god!"

"You really need to specify which god you are talking about." Amethyst pointed out, annoyed by the interrupted meal.

"The only one true god! The one you need to embrace if you want to be cleansed of the sin of communing with demons..."

"Doing what now?"