>>>"Well, Atlantean diplomacy is different"

The shifter didn’t doubt that, however she wasn’t in Atlantis anymore and while Carrick wasn’t too offended by her ‘diplomacy’ he wasn’t sure everyone in the mansion felt the same way. Carrick was surprised some kids didn’t try fighting her yet, would have been an interesting show. He didn’t’ comment on that for now. He was trying not to laugh at her amazement with the sugar.

>>>"Purple"

”Yer a royal, makes sense.” he grinned as he handed over some cash in exchange for the cotton candy. While she was far richer than he, Carrick had decided that if this was a date he’d take care of the expenses. It was also a way of thanking her for grooming his wings, no one had ever done that before.

>>>"Do I just... bite this?" "This tastes like sugar."

”Never seen a wrong way to eat it, really. Long as ya get it in yer mouth.” Carrick said laughing as she started to inspect the ball of fluff from all sides. ”Careful, bites back.” he looked at his and held off for a second. His method made light work of the candy. ”It is.” he nodded his head hefting the candy like he was running for the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.

”Can ya imagine I only had two cavities in me life?” he couldn’t speak for what happened when he was older but he hadn’t had a cavity in a few years. Actually around the same time he stopped traveling with the circus. The shifter stared at the ball of blue and understood finally. ”My methods a little quicker.” he walked towards a garbage can and took the paper cone from the bottom of the treat tossed it.

”Bit of magic fer ya.” he waved one hand and then passed the cotton candy from one hand to the other then in a few motions condensed the snack into a small ball then tossed it up in the air and caught it in his mouth. ”Ta-da!” he with his mouth full.

>>”Never seen a wrong way to eat it, really. Long as ya get it in yer mouth. Careful, bites back.”

Amethyst only paused long enough to give him a look over her cotton candy and roll her eyes. Clearly, the food was harmless. But Carrick seemed excited about introducing her anyway. It tasted like pure sugar, and honestly, the texture was a lot more exciting than the taste. It stuck everywhere, and yet dissolved immediately.

>>”Can ya imagine I only had two cavities in me life? My methods a little quicker. Bit of magic fer ya.”

Carrick... squashed the spun sugar into a ball, and then ate it. The princess blinked again, looking down at her own portion of fluff.

"You just... ate a handful of pure sugar, didn't you." she concluded with a chuckle, eating another bite "This is entertaining, but I'd worried if this is the best you decided to introduce me to... Makes for a short date, too." she noted. There was music, and there was candy. Now she was curious what else he was going to come up with.

”Yup.” he responded swallowing all the sugar and opening his mouth to reveal his tongue was now a little blue from the food coloring. He rubbed his hands to get rid of the sugar feeling on his hands and then took a quick bow. The one he usually gave to the princess when he was mocking a bow.

>>>"This is entertaining, but I'd worried if this is the best you decided to introduce me to... Makes for a short date, too."

Grinning, ”Well, I hate to disappoint.” he held up a finger. ”Ya said I only get to introduce ya to one food.” he held up another finger, ”Ya didn’t want to fly here.” he smirked, ”Starting to think yer intentionally making it difficult fer me.”

Carrick thought for a second then nodded his head, ”Right, guess we should just call it now then and not ruin a good thing.” he smirked and offered his hand for a shake. ”I mean, if ya don’t like everything else after this what’s the point?” his tail dropped for show and his wings seemed less proud his smile however remained.

”Shame too. Light show was what I was looking forward too the most. I mean. I guess I could stick around and watch it by meself.” Carrick laughed, ”Shame too this was the best date I’ve been on yet.” no one shot at him or triggered a shift so it was indeed one of the best dates the shifter had been on.

Amethyst laughed as Carrick showed her his blue tongue. She wondered if hers was purple. Go figure, these people inventing something made out of pure sugar that made one's tongue different colors.

>>”Well, I hate to disappoint. Ya said I only get to introduce ya to one food. Ya didn’t want to fly here. Starting to think yer intentionally making it difficult fer me.”

"Wouldn't be fun otherwise" she stated with a smirk.

>>”Right, guess we should just call it now then and not ruin a good thing. I mean, if ya don’t like everything else after this what’s the point? Shame too. Light show was what I was looking forward too the most. I mean. I guess I could stick around and watch it by meself."

"Oh, boo hoo" the princess rolled her eyes. Carrick was playing the part of getting his feelings hurt well, but it was obviously not serious. Even with the tail and wings.

>>"Shame too this was the best date I’ve been on yet.”

Was it? He must not have gone on a lot of dates. Then again, Amethyst had not bee on any. She was having fun right now, but the best, really? She had nothing to compare to. She smiled, shaking her head. "Light show, huh? What is that?"

>>>"Light show, huh? What is that?"

Carrick perked back up breaking his previous act”That love,” he paused and shook his head, ”was a surprise fer me hot date tonight.” he sighed and shrugged, ”But I got yer attention so I think I’m in the clear now.” he spun a little and then put his hands on his head causing his suit jacket to rise up his wings uncomfortably.

”See that pond?” Carrick pointed to one of the bodies of water, ”That’s where the show will happen. Just got to find the best spot to sit. Supposed to kill all the lights. I guess a few mutants will be making it foggy then shooting beams of light through it to one of the bands. Not sure which one though.” he said looking around to the other stalls and stages.

”Look, yer gonna have to just tough it out with me till then.” he smirked, ”If ya can handle it.” he was about to add to it then stopped when his pointed ears picked up on some familiar music.

”Perfect!” he snapped his fingers, ”Still want to hear some of me homelands music?” he asked reaching out and grabbing the princess’s hand and leading her to the source of the sound.

Some people he played with before for were on stage, in fact the only reason he knew about tonight was because they asked him to join them on stage tonight. The shifter however had declined realizing it was perfect for the date. ”That’s the fiddle.” he pointed to one of the other ladies on stage. ”Too happy.” he grinned before he realized he was still holding the princess’s hand. He let go when his ears turned red.

A light show was... something with light. Something that mutants did, with music, and apparently it was promising to be quite the spectacle. Carrick had more plans for the date, for the evening, which was good. Not that he was not entertaining company by himself, but now she was curious what other new things he might bring up.

>>”Look, yer gonna have to just tough it out with me till then. If ya can handle it.”

"I'll try my best" the princess promised, and took another bite of her cotton candy.

>>”Perfect! Still want to hear some of me homelands music?”

"Sure?" Before she could have asked more, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along. They made their way through the crowds to another stage with happy, upbeat music.

>>”That’s the fiddle. Too happy.”

There was momentum to this music; something that made one tap her foot to the rhythm. Some people clapped, and some even sang along. The fiddle had a melody that was easy to follow. It sounded nothing like Atlantean music, but it was familiar to Carrick, and somehow it seemed to fit him. "You dance to this?"

>>>"You dance to this?"

”Ya saw a bit. Not as well as Cassie, but I can hold my own. After a certain point the wings throw off me timing a bit. I’m more of a freestyler anyway.” he said smirking watching the woman dance along to the fiddle and the rest of the band in the background. ”She’s got a few years on me. Game recognizes game.” he said starting to clap along. He didn’t stop even when he realized it.

”You want to try?” he asked grinning, ”Won’t laugh. Promise.” he said waving to the blonde who was dancing on stage. She smirked and kept dancing. One of the singers gave him a slight wave trying not to disrupt the performance.

”Can even ask her to teach ya if yer interested. Or I can teach ya a meself. Maybe ya can teach me one of yers, ya know fair trade?” he said clapping along.

The song ended and Cassie took a bow and walked over and picked up her instrument and the band went into another song this one was apparent to everyone in the crowd who heard them play before. Carrick even mouthed the words a little only to curse out loud with the rest of the crowd along to the song. ”Easier to enjoy it with a pint or two.” he shrugged.

”Not cold are ya?” Carrick asked wondering if now was a good time to lose his jacket.

The dancing was... interesting. Not quite like the dances she knew from Atlantis, and it looked like it would be danced by one person instead of partners. But it went well with the song.

>>"You want to try? Won’t laugh. Promise.”

"No thank you" she shook her head. People were already looking at her for her attire and her tiara, she was not about to start jumping around. That would have been the physical equivalent of breaking into song.

>>”Can even ask her to teach ya if yer interested. Or I can teach ya a meself. Maybe ya can teach me one of yers, ya know fair trade?”

"Another time" she waved a hand, working on the cotton candy as the song ended and the dancer bowed. She reminded her of the dancers in Atlantis, the ones that were paid to entertain.

>>”Easier to enjoy it with a pint or two. Not cold are ya?”

"A little" she admitted. It was late in the afternoon now, and New York was not a very warm place in the fall.

”Give me a hand with this love.” he said as he unbuckled his backpack then turned his back towards her opening his wings trying not to disturb the show that was still going on. ”Just the one.” not wanting to separate her from the cotton candy.

Looking over his shoulder to explain, ”Sliding into the monkey suit is one thing. It’s a whole thing if I got to do it meself. ****ing headache” he said shaking his head not elaborating further. Shifting both his arms and wings he managed to get it off quicker than usual.

Grabbing the backpack and strapping it back over his shoulders he secured it and then looked to the princess and grinned. ”Allow me.” he said folding his wings behind him as he draped his jacket over the princess’s shoulders. ”Was getting too warm anyways.” he smirked then looked over and saw more people gathering around the water bank where the show was to take place.

”Right, don’t want ya over exposed to the music. Ya might get bored with me. Let’s head on over and grab a choice spot? Got cocoa and a blanket to sit on.” he said grinning.

It took her a moment to realize Carrick was trying to shrug out of his jacket. It was quite the attempt, with the wings and all; she couldn't even quite imagine how he got into it in the first place.

>>”Give me a hand with this love. Just the one. Sliding into the monkey suit is one thing. It’s a whole thing if I got to do it meself. ****ing headache”

"There have to be better clothes for you than this." she noted as she helped with one hand, holding the cotton candy in the other. "But hey, you got me taking your clothes off in public."

She knew he'd blush. It was too much fun.

>>”Allow me. Was getting too warm anyways.”

He draped the jacket over her shoulders. It was apparently something that men did, if movies were any indication. Carrick was bigger than her, and the jacket had been cut to accommodate the wings and the shoulders, so it fit loosely around her frame. It smelled like him too, some kind of soap with the scent of feathers.

>>”Right, don’t want ya over exposed to the music. Ya might get bored with me. Let’s head on over and grab a choice spot? Got cocoa and a blanket to sit on.”

She followed along, waiting for him to choose a spot. She didn't know much about the light show, so she'd let him choose. Once the blanket had been spread out she took a seat, her skirts pooling around her like a big flower. She finished nibbling on the candy. "You really planned this" she noted, as an observation, and looked at his bag expectantly. Cocoa sounded nice. "What went wrong with the other dates, if this one is the best yet?"

>>>There have to be better clothes for you than this. "But hey, you got me taking your clothes off in public."

”Aye, however I don’t look as good in them.” he said smirking. While the monkey suit was extremely uncomfortable to be in he also knew he looked good in it. He did blush at the comment though. He could feel his face redden and he suddenly wanted to press the Princess’s buttons even if she was helping him. ”Usually it’s just me taking me clothes off.” he smirked.

After the jacket was placed he and the princess took off from the show and went over to the embankment where there was already loads of people gathering. Couples and families littered the area. Carrick did his best to find the best spot then went to work on laying out the blanket, which took less time than removing his jacket.

>>>>"You really planned this""What went wrong with the other dates, if this one is the best yet?"

The shifter paused as he was sitting down next to her making sure not to sit on her dress. ”Haven’t had the date ruined by shifting or had someone throw anything at me.” he said with a smirk. ”Only been on two others?” he asked having to think about it. He didn’t mention Liz because that was a still apparently a sore subject. Pouring some of the contents into the lid he offered the cup to the Princess.

Carrick poured some coca and handed the cup to her. She was comfortably warm now, with the jacket on her shoulders and the hot drink, and curious how all this compared to his other dates. Not that she would complain about being the best at anything.

>>”Haven’t had the date ruined by shifting or had someone throw anything at me. Only been on two others?”

"Two?" she raised an eyebrow "And here I was thinking you people do this all the time. Since you don't have concubines and all." It was strange. Did they have to go through all the dates if they wanted companionship? Not that this date was too bad, actually, but it did take up a lot of extra time. "Aren't you cold?" she ventured. The sun was beginning to set and the air was getting cooler.

>>>"Two?" "And here I was thinking you people do this all the time. Since you don't have concubines and all."

The shifter raised an eyebrow to the princess, ”Aye, what’s wrong with two? Been meaning to go on more I guess. Just been busy.” he said a little defensively trying not to think on said dates too much. He was here with the princess meaning she got his attention.

”They got an app on phones fer that.” he said trying to recall the name, ”Kindle? Something to do with fire.” he said shrugging, ”never used it though. Never had trouble meeting people.” he said trying to brag because he felt the need now. ”Everybody loves musicians.”

>>>"Aren't you cold?"

He looked down at hands and then shrugged, he was a little but it didn’t warrant for him to ask for his jacket back. Worst case he could just use the blanket he was siting on. With the sun setting it was only going to get colder. ”There.” he said taking a little bit of the bottom of her dress and put it on his leg.

”Kinda used to it. Get’s colder up there.” he said pointing upwards. ”Especially when flying.” he shrugged and opened his wing closest to the princess and draped it on her back to add extra protection from the cold. ”I can sit closer if ya like.” he smirked.

>>”Aye, what’s wrong with two? Been meaning to go on more I guess. Just been busy.”

Two dates. Carrick sounded a little defensive about that. Amethyst was vaguely aware that there were certain rules to dates, like who asked whom. Maybe that was the problem. That, and the lack of concubines.

>>”They got an app on phones fer that. Kindle? Something to do with fire. never used it though. Never had trouble meeting people. Everybody loves musicians.”

She rolled her eyes with a smirk at that. If everyone loved musicians that much, he would not have been here with her, really. Carrick was a good guy, but she was starting to get the idea he was not as much the promiscuous artist as he wanted everyone to believe.

And also maybe less warm.

>>”There. Kinda used to it. Get’s colder up there. Especially when flying. I can sit closer if ya like.”

Endlessly fascinated by the wings, Amethyst shifted, leaning against Carrick's side under the wing. She moved her dress to cover a part of his legs. It was comfortable, sitting like that. And warmer. And totally, completely scandalous, by Atlantean standards. If anyone recognized her and took pictures, her homeland would not take them kindly. Amethyst shuddered a little at the thought. It felt wrong.

"Were you born like this?" she wondered aloud, running a finger along the edge of his wing "Or did they grow later?"

>>>"Were you born like this?"

”Being Irish?” he smirked mischievously. A chill ran down his spine when she ran her finger over his wing. It was a good chill.

>>>"Or did they grow later?"

Carrick knew what she meant, he was just being difficult. ”Happened when I was twelve.” he started, ”Started with wings, painful at first. The way they sprouted from me back. Wanted to pull them off. Brother offered to cut ‘em off. Pretty sure he still would given the chance.” he said while his tail flicked beside him reminding them it was still there. ”Tail was next, that one was easier to deal with. Kinda does his own thing anyways.”

On the other side of the water an older gentleman walked up to the waters edge and raised his hands causing mist to rise up over the water.

The shifter’s wing might have pulled the princess in a bit as Carrick continued, ”Suddenly I wasn’t just a pipsqueak. I was a pipsqueak with wings. Easier target. No one realized I could fly with them.” he chuckled and held up a finger. ”Ya put someone on top of a flag pole one time…. Then it’s off to America.” he said with a laugh.

”What about you? Sure it was a surprise when ya found out yer blood does that.”