Amethyst realized a little too late that she was grooming the feathers, but once she'd started it was really hard to stop. There was something very primal about arranging the feathers, and making them neat and tidy. It was just bad to look at them when they were ruffled. Also, Carrick purred, which was not helping, and the princess blushed.

>>”Figured or hoped? Don’t think I could leave ya alone here. You’d probably die of boredom without me. Couldn’t leave my biggest fan.”

"You want me to believe you came back for me and not the free food and lodging?" she shot back as he folded his wings. Carrick and his jokes.

>>”Care to escort me to the infirmary? You can tell me more how’ve been waiting on me and I’ll have someone to lean on if my legs decide to give.”

He wobbled, and Amethyst was beginning to realize that maybe he had been hurt more seriously than he let on. Or was more drunk. Either way, he probably needed to see a healer. "Let's go then, before I have to drag you. Because I wont." she clarified, walking out the door with him.

"I'm sure Praxi told you all about Atlantis, and the ladies that visited" she added with a frown. She could imagine what the goop girl would say about gorgons and demigods...

>>>"You want me to believe you came back for me and not the free food and lodging?"

”Am I that predictable?” he asked with a smirk, ”You might being here might be a perk as well.” he laughed slightly he felt a little more color running to his face so he distracted himself a bit, ”I mean, once I find another place to fence all them gems.” he tried to whistle then regretted it instantly.

”I’m pretty sure ya would or at least pay someone to. I think I’m worth it.” his legs were tight. He should have slept longer or drank more. He stopped walking for a second and unscrewed the flask he had and took a swig. Walking and drinking were a little difficult at the moment. Placing the flask back into his pocket he looked back to the princess that was a little in front of him now if he didn’t swallow the liquor he would have choked on it.

The window in the hallway gave a an interesting effect to the princess’s pajamas. They became see through. ”….I…. Ehmmmmmm…” he looked up at the ceiling ignoring her question for a moment. He could feel his face turn red. Luckily she said it was purple already shouldn’t be easy to notice a change right?

”Sorry… Ehmmm… the light… from the window…” he pointed to the window as he walked forward doing his best not to look at the princess. ”Making yer ummmm… visible? I didn’t know… Sorry.” he cleared his throat and awkwardly walked in front of her making sure not to look back his face still red. Going out of its way Carrick’s bushy tail swayed in front of the princess.

”I mean… nothing I didn’t already know. Nice group of ladies. All of ‘em.” still a little flustered he tried to think back to the party. ”Think ya might owe Praxi an apology, wasn’t too nice what they were saying about her.” he made sure to point out it was her they were insulting. Carrick didn’t really care what they thought and he knew or at least hoped the princess no longer felt the same way as them. ”You allowed to be friends with me? Or is it more taboo for royalty?”

>>”Am I that predictable? You might being here might be a perk as well. I mean, once I find another place to fence all them gems.”

"We need to talk about you picking up my gems" Amethyst pointed out as they made their way down the hallway. Carrick was getting more wobbly as he walked on, and stopped to drink. "You should not drink more alcohol if you want to be more stable..." she noted, turning around as he fell behind. There was a strange expression on Carrick's face, and he was turning kind of red. "Are you alright?"

>>”….I…. Ehmmmmmm… Sorry… Ehmmm… the light… from the window… Making yer ummmm… visible? I didn’t know… Sorry.”

"What?" the princess looked down, noting her pink dress. It was light fabric, definitely see-through in certain light. "Oh." she clicked her tongue "You Americans and your body issues..." she muttered. She had been warned recently multiple times that she should wear a bra. Whatever that was. Carrick walked on and so did she, and she decided to change the subject.

>>”I mean… nothing I didn’t already know. Nice group of ladies. All of ‘em. Think ya might owe Praxi an apology, wasn’t too nice what they were saying about her. You allowed to be friends with me? Or is it more taboo for royalty?”

"It's..." she blinked. Carrick had been a strange addition to her social circles, for sure, but he was so far outside of Atlantis she had never considered the option. "... under the old king... I guess it would have been forbidden. Under my cousin's rule... she seems to have a soft spot for gorgons. So I guess I'm allowed now."

The change of subject worked, an awkward topic for Carrick seeing as he didn’t really have any experience in that department. He decided it best not to think about. The shifter made his way to some stairs and let out a big sigh. He had thought about taking another sip from the flask but had a feeling she would say something else about it. She might have been right. ”I got more in here if you want a little bit.” he tapped his back pocket with his good hand.

She didn’t correct him. He considered her a friend but it was nice to be reassured of it his tail showed his demeanor by brushing up against her. ”Well, only if yer allowed.” he said turning his nose up as he approached the stairs and took the first step. His body ached while his good hand reached for the railing to pull him down from the last step.

”Ya don’t see a problem with that though?” he didnt’ think it was his place to question her world views on things but this one was a little close to home. They wouldn’t have been friends in Atlantis. ”I’m glad ya got sent here.” he said without thinking. He struggled to the next step.

”Why ya so curious about what Praxi said?” he looked to the princess and then shot his eyes away again seeing her in the pajamas again. There wasn’t enough light this time but he made sure to avert his gaze. \

”and it’s not like ya use them. I haven’t sold any yet. Just set up a barter system. Nothing to crazy.” he said wishing he had now.

>>”I got more in here if you want a little bit.”

Amethyst pouted and shook her head. She was not going to drink... whatever he was drinking, it was too early in the morning, and she was more of a wine person anyway. They got to the stairs, and Carrick paused before braving them. It really looked like he was in pain.

>>”Well, only if yer allowed. Ya don’t see a problem with that though?”

"A problem with what?" she asked, watching him struggle another step. Being allowed to talk to gorgons? Surely that was not a problem. Some of them were kind of nice.

>>”I’m glad ya got sent here.”

"Oh, shut up" she huffed, walking down the stairs to stand on his good side. This was going to go a lot faster if she helped him down the stairs.

>>”Why ya so curious about what Praxi said?”

"I'm not." How was this supposed to work? She put an arm under his shoulder. He was taller than her, and the wings were not making any of this easy.

>>”and it’s not like ya use them. I haven’t sold any yet. Just set up a barter system. Nothing to crazy.”

"Good. You flood the market, they won't be worth anything. And you better not tell people where they come from. They either get grossed out, or they have some weird fascination about... my body parts."

”That it was forbidden to have a friend like me, a Gryphon.” he moved to the next step his body still sore but the more he moved the easier it was to continue to moving. First time he was glad gravity was helping him usually it just brought him down. ”I get it. I’m pretty dangerous.” he said biting his tongue and making the next step. He was on a roll.

>>>"Oh, shut up"

”Be a quite walk to the infirmary.” he said clearing the stairs to the next flight before turning and descending the second round of stairs.

>>>"I'm not."

”Sounded like it. Were they important enough for me to remember?” the shifter asked curiously they didn’t discuss the other women at the party.

”I can see why.” he was looking at her again then corrected himself, ”Could see why!” he cleared his throat focusing on the steps then making it to the bottom flight with a slight stumble. ”Yer secret is safe with, darling. I got a good thing going. If people find out where I got that bag from….” he stopped and gave a smirk.

”We’re friends. I wouldn’t do that to ya. I’d also tell ya if I was leaving.” he said with a cocky wink. ”Only right. So don’t you worry none… unless you know Super decides to pick me up for being gone so long.”

>>”That it was forbidden to have a friend like me, a Gryphon. I get it. I’m pretty dangerous.”

He was. He could be. That was also new to Amethyst, being friends with a gorgon who could definitely be dangerous, and was definitely stronger than her. It was something the ladies pointed out too. It wasn't just the principle of bloodlines, it was also... her personal safety. But she doubted Carrick would ever hurt her. Even in beast form he didn't.

He was bartering her gems, though.

>>”I can see why. Could see why! Yer secret is safe with, darling. I got a good thing going. If people find out where I got that bag from….”

He kept descending the stairs and stumbling along. Amethyst stayed at his side, and he leaned on her when he stumbled. He was heavier than her and taller, but she did her best to support him, so that they would not both end up on the floor somehow.

>>”We’re friends. I wouldn’t do that to ya. I’d also tell ya if I was leaving. Only right. So don’t you worry none… unless you know Super decides to pick me up for being gone so long.”

"No one was supposed to know" she sighed "But I guess, since the previous royal concubine went around... bartering too, it's not really a secret now."

”Been called a no one before.” he said making a reference to a line in the Odyssey. A book he managed to read during his imprisonment in the mansion. Leaning back into her he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

”Concubine?” he asked curiously then remembered what the word meant. His face got read again and he looked anywhere but at the princess. ”Right, well I found out from you. No one will tell nobody.” he said smirking. He also ran through a story in the back of his mind where he found his gems from. He has been known to have sticky fingers.

”Previous? Had to go and lay them off? None of my business.” he said trying to joke. Through the smells of soot and blood on his person the more he leaned on the princess the more the smell pierced through the others. She smelled of jasmine.

Turning into the other hallway they headed for the infirmary. ”Anyone tell ya yer stronger than you look? You could almost carry me the rest of the way.” he smirked not realizing his tail was brushing up against her.

Amethyst assumed people around the Mansion knew things about Atlantis. And about her royal concubine. Sam, the younger version anyway, had not exactly been low profile about his position. He didn't need to be, but Americans were still weird about Atlantean culture. This part, anyway.

>>”Concubine?... Right, well I found out from you. No one will tell nobody.”

"Good." he put an arm around her and she held him up. He was clearly losing some of his steadiness as they walked towards the infirmary. She just hoped he wouldn't faint or something. He still had color in his cheeks, and lot of color actually. Was it the concubine thing again?

>>”Previous? Had to go and lay them off? None of my business.”

"He quit" she shrugged, although it was a bit difficult with him leaning on her. Quitting in this case meant he turned back into a grumpy, much older version of himself.

>>”Anyone tell ya yer stronger than you look? You could almost carry me the rest of the way.”

"I am not carrying you the rest of the way" she stated firmly. His tail brushed up against her dress and she gave him a look, but he was not returning it. "... Is something wrong?... Why are you not looking at me?"

>>>"He quit"

Carrick wanted to smirk at the statement but didn’t feel it was appropriate for some reason he was in unfamiliar territory. Something was different. Normally he’d make a joke about putting in a two week notice or he got a better offer elsewhere but he didn’t. Was he sick?

>>>"I am not carrying you the rest of the way" "... Is something wrong?... Why are you not looking at me?"

Was something wrong? He looked at his feet one moving in front of the other. Everything was sore still and his arm was on fire a little. Maybe the princess was right and he had one two many from the flask his friend gave him. He chewed his cheek for a moment not sure what to say. ”Ya smell nice.” was all he could manage before trying to distract himself.

”Better than me anyway.” he leaned in and sniffed the side she wasn’t help carry him. ”Smell like an animal who was in a cage again.” he forced a chuckle.

”Also yer dress is see through…” he focused on the infirmary doors and pretended the princess wasn’t staring at him.

Something was off with Carrick. Maybe he was losing strength, but he was making fewer jokes as they neared the infirmary. He looked out of sorts, his eyes wandering away from her. Amethyst stayed at his side as they walked.

>>”Ya smell nice.”

"Yes?" she blinked. She knew. She used perfumes for a reason. And the griffin had a sensitive nose. What did that have to do with anything?

>>”Better than me anyway. Smell like an animal who was in a cage again.”

"You do." Again, stating facts. Where was he going with this?

>>”Also yer dress is see through…”

"...oh." Amethyst looked down again. He was back to that previous thing. Maybe blood loss was making him a little loopy? "You can look. It's... Americans are so weird about this! I have nice breasts. It's weird not to look, honestly." she shrugged again, as much as she could while supporting him "Is that why you are being awkward? Or are you going to faint?"

>>>You can look. It's... Americans are so weird about this! I have nice breasts. It's weird not to look, honestly."

She shrugged and his eyes shifted to her while she offered. Was it weird not to look. His face still red he averted his gaze again. His feathers ruffled behind them when he became more frustrated by the situation and not having anything smart to say. Point for the princess. ”Not American. Irish. But yeah, that’s probably an English thing. Stiff upper, lip stay clothed and not spice any food.”

He didn’t talk about this stuff because he didn’t have any experience in this department and when he didn’t know about something like this he chose to ignore it. ”Little sure of yerself aren’t ya?” he said trying to press her buttons more to distract them both from the topic of her breasts something that Carrick had to fight from looking at.

”I’m always awkward. Yer just noticing it for the first time.” he said muttering ”Fer **** sakes.” he spotted the infirmary doors again and wished he was already sitting on the table getting healed. ”Don’t think ya can get me to faint, love. Just not used to someone telling me to,” he adopted a higher pitch and tried to imitate her accent, ”“Look at my nice breasts.”

>>”Not American. Irish. But yeah, that’s probably an English thing. Stiff upper, lip stay clothed and not spice any food.”

"Well that sounds miserable" the princess muttered. She knew Carrick was not American, but in this regard he behaved the same as she got used to from the people around her. Also, who didn't spice their food? These people just hated the good things in life...

>>”Little sure of yerself aren’t ya?”

"Why wouldn't I be?"

>>”I’m always awkward. Yer just noticing it for the first time. Fer **** sakes... Don’t think ya can get me to faint, love. Just not used to someone telling me to... Look at my nice breasts.”

"I wasn't telling you to look" the princess clarified as she supported Carrick's hobbling towards the infirmary door "I told you you don't have to be weird about it. It's a cultural thing. Women in Atlantis uncover all the time. Like, at festivals. You people really need to learn to like your own bodes more."

They reached the infirmary door with that, and Amethyst nudged it open.

"Healer...?"

”All for the queen.” he said with his injured hand over his chest. It was. Luckily he was in America where they spiced things and apparently the women here were more reserved than the princess. Which was good? Other wise his face would always be beat red.

>>>>"Why wouldn't I be?"

The shifter eyed the princess she was indeed beautiful. Carrick thought about what to say for once then just smirked. ”Eh.” his tail brushed up against her again to show he was teasing.

In his ‘I’m a princess mocking’ voice he continued, ”Look at my bushy tail, look at me wings. Look at my pointed ears.” he changed his voice back to normal, ”More of a modesty thing than anything. I was told it was to leave ‘them’ whoever yer trying to attract, wanting more.” he said with a shrug trying to recall some life lessons from his mother.

>>>>"Healer...?"

”Sounded like ya were. Love me body. Only one like it.” he said repeating what he told himself for years. He loved his wings, tail and every other physical feature that made him stand a part. It took years but he got there eventually. ”and I think he’s a doctor.”

The voice of the Mansion healer, DocProf could be heard from a stack of papers. “I’m both. Technically you can address me as… the hell did you get into Carrick?!?’ Carrick raised an eyebrow and looked to the princess who he was still leaning on. He didn’t want to move his arm from her but he did and puffed out his chest trying to look tough. ”Flew into a window.” he said trying to joke.

Doc rushed over and gave him a once over knowing that wasn’t how he got the injuries. Carrick like a few of the other kids considered themselves comedians. The mansion healer looked to the one who escorted him into his office for some kind of more information. “Have a seat, I’ll take a look at you. You’ll be flying into windows in no time.” He said with an eye roll.

”and you were worried for nothing.” Carrick said smirking to the princess as he hobbled over and leaned onto the seat making sure not to use his damaged hand.

>>”Look at my bushy tail, look at me wings. Look at my pointed ears. More of a modesty thing than anything. I was told it was to leave ‘them’ whoever yer trying to attract, wanting more.”

Carrick was making fun of her, or of himself, it was hard to tell. Sure, he was a gorgon, with three extra appendages and other features that were far from demigod-like. But, Amethyst had to admit, he wore all of it well. Whenever he was not turning into a beast. Wanting more, though? It was a strange concept. Sure, she knew how flirting worked, but she doubted people here flirter all that much like that.

>>”Sounded like ya were. Love me body. Only one like it.”

That was definitely a fact. And Amethyst really didn't care if he looked. It was nice to be appreciated, and from the blushing she guessed he liked what he was seeing. If he looked.

They made it to the infirmary, and the healer - doctor - got to work, getting Carrick to sit down. Carrick lied about his injuries, which sounded stupid. He didn't even look like he had flown into a window.

"He fought elephants or something" she supplied, taking a seat next to him.

>>”and you were worried for nothing.”

"Once he fixes you up, we can talk" she quipped, looking at the healer "Can you also make him sober? And maybe smell less?"