Picnic in the Park

[Nightfeathers]

Free Food!

So proclaim the signs scattered about the park. One of the priests of Anubis had decided that if you wanted to attract people to your cult, especially when your cults deity was rather scary to most folk, the easiest way was to lure them in with food. By his order there were heaps of food on tables set up in the relatively shady areas to be found under tiny palm stands.

There was the fountain nearby for drinking, but there were also various barrels scattered around the gathering place. Baked goods of all kinds were abundant here, along with meats both cooked and not, and random vegetarian items. They did want to appeal to everyone after all.



Lykos followed the signs to the banquets, but nobody else seemed to be about. Aside from the priests, but they were a little creepy even for a soldier. They weren't a common sight in his homeland that was for sure.

After removing his helmet, he bent for a drink in the fountain. It always felt warm to him here and not just because of his armor. Some might have said he was crazy to visit here on his vacation, but it was at least very different from home.

[ayaka]

Hearing commotion nearby Ototo yawned ignoring the dancers he was supposed to practice with and went to see what was going on. Sure he liked dancing but he was not going to practice all day long, he would go crazy by then with boredom! As he walked he could smell food of different kinds and it was getting stronger. Humming in delight at all the different smells he soon came to the park.

Looking around he noticed the priest of Anubis with their freaky mask and all and the food that he smelt all laid out near them. The food looked tempting but he warily stared at the priest of Anubis. Something had to be up, if they are offering food like this. Frowning Ototo looked around once more and spotted what looked to be a greek male sitting near by the fountain.

It was a rare site to see a greek here and sort of threw him off, for he was not expecting one just to be by the fountain seemingly relaxed. He started to walk over to the male but pondered if he should even bug the male. He was fighter after all and he…well he was a dancer, a pretty good one but still a dancer none the less. “He probably wouldn’t want to talk”. Getting within a little distance away so not to bother the male Ototo yawned before lazily letting himself plop to the ground before stretch out.

[Cameron]

It wasn't like Ioanna wanted to go to a picnic, but it also wasn't like she had many leads to go off of at this point. After all, she was lucky enough to receive the information in Anatolia that lead her here, and the fact that this seemed to be a giant gathering for all Egyptians and alike gave her the opportunity to hopefully find and finally meet the kind of female she had been searching for since she left home. Maybe she would come up with information that would help if all else failed.

Stuffing the flyer back into her brown sack and flinging it back between her wings she gently padded toward the area where this event was supposed to take place.

As she drew closer she first noted that there was food. Lots of it actually. But then she realized the scarcity of other Sphinxes. There were two. Only two.... Really? And of all the other disappointments, one appeared to be from Greece. Great. I left home to avoid those. She thought to herself as her eyes scanned over the hoplites's frame.

Rolling her eyes she flicked her tail, and decided to approach the armored male any how. She was more than sure that he wasn't a fellow Spartan, but maybe he knew of someway to find an Amazonian woman, and if not, maybe it would be nice to speak with someone who shared the same language.

Ioanna saw the darkish male with the flowy mane and smiled at the local before turning back to the Greek male, "Hello hoplite." She said once she believed she was in a good range to be heard from. She didn't bow, or give any sign that he was better than she, but held her head as in a way to say they were equals.

[Nightfeathers]

It was a slightly odd greeting, but not surprising. Lykos turned to reguard the female. She seemed a determined sort of woman. She had an air about her of someone with a mission. It was unlikely to involve him this far from home so be gave her a smile.

"Good day scribe." he chuckled slightly. "It's nice to see a familiar sight here so far from Greece. What brings you out here?"

The other male was lingering alone. Assuming he prefered solitary eating, Lykos directed a nod his way. Perhaps he'd get a chance to speak to him a bit later in the evening.

[ayaka]

Ototo eyes widened and he gave a surprised look to the female Greek coming over. “Another greek?” He blushed when he realized he was staring at her when she smiled towards him and smiled back embarrassingly. When she turned and talked to the Greek male Ototo let out a relieved sigh. His attention though was quickly back on the other two. Apparently they did not know each other as he thought they did and pondered if they even came from the same region.

He herd the male call the female a scribe which he was familiar with since they had scribes here but when the female said hoplite he was a bit confused to that term. “Maybe that’s like a guard?” he mumbled to himself while looking at the all the armor the male had on. While he was staring at the armor he realized the Greek male said hello to him in his own way and smiled back to him in greeting.

[Cameron]

Ioanna let her large wings sit furled along her back, with her sack positioned between them. There was really no need to bring out the scrolls she had in it. The information was a little too precious to her. Instead she stood and watched the Greek male for a minute before answering.

“I’m, well erm… I’m down here in search of the Amazon cult.” She didn’t really feel like going into a lengthy description of why she was searching for them, but she also didn’t feel obliged to. Instead she continued to hopefully steer the conversation in a different direction, “My name is Ioanna, by the way. Daughter of Marcas Desmus the second, and Demi Marie, of Sparta.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, where exactly do you hail from?” She was slightly put off by him calling her a scribe. She wasn’t a scribe, at least not any longer, but she was curious as to what army he served. Being brought up in a military centered state it was hard not to imagine males being in the service as three of her four brother’s had dedicated themselves to that role.

As she waited for a response Ioanna couldn't help, but look over at the dark colored, maned male again, maybe he would have some answers she needed.

[Nightfeathers]

"Amazons hm? That should be an interesting study if you ever manage to find them." Lykos commented as he folded his wings so he could sit with her. "I look forward to reading whatever you find out.

It's a pleasure to meet you Ionna. My name is Lykos." He added politely. "I'm from Argos I suppose, though I haven't been back there for some time. I'm afraid my reason for being here isn't quite so interesting as yours though.

I'm just getting a feel for the land. Taking a vacation you could say." He smiled, following her gaze. "He seems a little shy. We could invite him over. Sometimes the armor intimidates them.

Except for cubs. They seem to be fascinated by the crest. I had one little girl climb up on my head so she could play with it." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Wasn't easy getting her off either, I can tell you. Persistent little thing."

( OOC I have realized I know very little about ancient Greece, thus the delay. XD I do hope I don't screw anything up too badly LOL! )

[Cameron]

(( OOC: -lol- Don't worry too much. I'm not concerned about the slowness. And you are doing fine!))

Placing her haunches on the ground across from Lykos, Ioanna nodded. She already had so much she had written based on information she had already found, but didn't wish to spread her research before being published. "I would be happy to share, once I gain what I'm looking for." She cracked a smile in his direction.

Again she nodded as he described where he was from, and why he was here. Thank the heavens he is not Athenian. That was the last thing she would have been able to stand. Athenian's by far were the most annoying, but the fact that he was from Argos meant that he didn't live too far from her city-state. They might just have a lot in common... Well maybe not, but it was just a thought.

Ioanna turned her head in the Egyptian's direction, "Maybe he's intimidated by the wings." She didn't stretch out her appendages, but it was quite obvious that the wings that their 'kind' sported only added to the fact that they were more immense in size than the Egyptians in this land.

She too chuckled lightly and turned back to Lykos when he mentioned the cubs. She hadn't run into too many Egyptian cubs, but the way children acted was virtually universal. Flashes of her nieces popped into her thought's. "That they are." She smiled genuinely, "Always exploring and getting into things they shouldn't be."

Ioanna still softly gazing at the other male in the vicinity motioned to him to come over. Maybe he just needed reassurance that he wasn't going to be harmed. Plus she was interested to know if he could provide information for her.

[ayaka]

((I barley know anything on ancient Greece myself XD and slowness is not a problem with me. ))

Ototo could feel that both Greeks were staring at him making him shift nervously. He realized maybe he should go and join them and this became more apparent when the female Greek invited him over. He stayed lying down for a moment and wondered what they wanted with him? Shrugging he stood and yawned before lazily walking over to the two.

As he got closer he couldn’t help but to stare at their bigger forms. I feel like a mouse. He couldn’t help but to lightly laugh at his thoughts as he stopped in front of the male and female before sitting down.

He stayed quite for a minute, not sure how to start. “You don’t see that many Greeks around here. It’s a nice change though, my names Ototo by the way.”

[Nightfeathers]

"You may be right. They're effective for scaring. I wouldn't be surprised if they work unintentionally." Lykos agreed. He did his best to look smaller, but it wasn't much of a difference. He opted for a smile to help mitigate the effect somewhat.

Once Ototo joined him he nodded politely. "I am Lykos of Argos, and this is Ioanna. It's nice to meet you Ototo." He greeted the other male. "You seemed a bit alone over there, and so we thought we might invite you over.

I do enjoy meeting you Egyptians." He chuckled. "There aren't many of you in my homeland either." Lykos waved a paw at the tables. "Is this a normal tactic? Luring us into temples with food? It doesn't seem to be working very well."

[ayaka]

Hearing the male give his name and then the females name Ototo nodded. He now had names for the two and those names he could remember easily for they were uncommon around here. Ototo laughed quietly as the male said he seemed lonely sitting away from them. “I just figured you may want your space like most of the guards around here seem to want.

Not to mention you guys are kind of...um intimidating to a dancer like me.” “NOT that you guys are intimidating, or I mean that you are but you’re not and……never mind” He said in embarrassment *That could have went better*. Getting his courage back up to talk Ototo nodded to Lykos question.

“Thanks and the Priest of Anubis seem to do this often, it’s a way to try and get us to join over to them, you are right though it doesn’t seem to be working very well. I wouldn’t be surprised if thieves started to take the food though.”

[Cameron]

"... Of Sparta." Ioanna kindly continued to inform Ototo of her home state. She then lightly laughed at the Egyptian's comment about bein intimidating. She would know nothing of that nonsense. Everyone one she had met so far had been more than willing to greet her.

Delicately she swooped her extensive tail around her haunches as she planted them firmly on the ground, positioning herself to have a good look at both the males. Secretively she rolled her eyes at the Egyptian's assumption of the soldier wanting space. She knew too well what her brother's were all like when it came to their personal bubble. Heck! The only one who could stand any sign of affection from her was Thaddeus. He had always been a softy at heart.

"Odd really." She commented conspicuously after Ototo gave the appropriate answer to the question Lykos had asked. "You would think there would be more here for this then." She was speaking more in regards to the food, not wanting to be a Priest of Anubis. Yuck... "Is there something wrong with this type of Priesthood?" She then asked. The first question she had asked not pertaining to Amazons.

Unlike Lykos, Ioanna enjoyed the Egyptians, just at a distance. This was quite possibly her first actual encounter with one where she wasn't simply gathering information for her hunt.

((OOC: Dearly sorry. Real life has a tendency to suck me away for long periods of time. ))

[bjjlilly]

Shastene was happy to be invited to the picnic to perform, but she quickly grew tired of dancing, especially since the only others present didn't seem to be interested in the dancers at all. She bowed out of the dance gracefully and made her way over to the sweet-smelling stand with a delicious pastry she hadn't seen before. She nibbled at the pastry experimentally and then purred happily at the unexpected burst of flavor.

As she continued to enjoy her treat, she looked around at the others. None of them were anyone she knew, but why not try to make new friends? She finished her snack and padded over to the group.

"Um, excuse me... is this a closed party? It's just... well, it seems like no one else has arrived as of yet... And um..." She was always so nervous around new sphinxes! She swallowed a bit and tried to smile. "I'm Shastene," was all she could manage.

[Nightfeathers]

"Ah. Standoffish bunch hm? That explains a few things." Lykos nodded. "When I'm not on duty I prefer to be less formal. I would have left my armor at home but I have no family to guard it." He chuckled.

"A naked soldier is a sorry sight indeed. I doubt we'd be very intimidating without it." Lykos smiled, smoothing over Ototo's slight stumble. "It's strange but I haven't actually seen that many priests of... Anubis isn't it?"

He turned when a newcomer approached and smiled. "You're welcome to join us as far as I'm concerned. It is rather quiet here. I was hoping to see a bit more action. Ah, of the fun kind that is."

[ayaka]

Ototo turned his attention to Ioanna and couldn’t help but to laugh at he questions. Something wrong? I wouldn’t say something is wrong with them but they worship a god that I believe rules over the afterlife. Some find it exciting and others like me find it a bit nerve racking. He looked back at the priest of Anubis and noticed another dancer like him wondering by the food tables.

*I don’t think I‘ve ever seen her before* he thought before turning his attention back to Lykos when he spoke. Chuckling Ototo spoke up. “I could not even begin to imagine a soldier without their armor, though that would be a funny site indeed.” Pausing to listen again he tilted his head sideways. “Neh, Priest of Anubis is pretty rare even around here. They tend to stick with each other and stay away from others.

Though I’m not complaining.” Before he could say anymore, the female that he seen at the food table was now talking to them. He yawned again and laid down getting comfortable before smiling at the female dancer. “Hello there, you are welcome to join, and I am Ototo by the way.”