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She had given him a few coins and said 'You can get whatever you'd like with these! They're yours!' And he, jingling the money within his small hand had stared at them long and hard before turning his gaze up to her and asking: 'Really, is that all?'

Such an ungrateful child.

He had lost her somewhere near a Funnel Cake stand, when she had been busy buying cotton candy. Well, Amahté didn't necessarily lose her on accident - it was planned out. He was, after all, a clever child (or so he liked to think). And so he wandered, scuffing along and stopping only once to buy a giant soft pretzel from a man who looked as though he had had one pretzel too many.

He'd been in the midst of tearing an arm from the twisted snack when he heard the tinny circus tune - and a few notes from the Mexican Hat Dance captured his attention and caught him hook, line, and sinker.

And he wasn't disappointed.

Bright lights, magnificent beasts, all lined up, whirring in a circle to loud and hackneyed songs. The horses caught in mid-whinny were wild and handsome, the giraffe with its neck craned high was curious and charming. But what caught his attention, just as the lion caught Orpheus's, was the jaguar - sleek and black and shining with bright, smart eyes as though it were alive.

Amahté pressed forward and stood beside the other boy in reverent awe, peering at the creatures bobbing behind the barricade.

“This?" He held out both hands to indicate the ride before him, eyes fastened on the carousel even as it stopped for children to hop off of it screaming and keening for more. Such majesty and HE had to pay to get on? His dark lips pressed into a thin slash; he did not appreciate something being kept from him so selfishly! As Orpheus pulled out the notebook Amahté casually leaned back - not to look at what he wrote - but to peer at the overseer of the ride.

He sneered. He may have been tall and imposing and...tall, but Amahté was a god!

“Did he bar you from it?" he asked, humor coloring his words. His light eyes would have been mocking had they not been shaded with daring - he stepped around the curiously appareled child and took a step towards the gate.

“If you really want to ride it," he began, edging towards the man. “I'm sure I can get you on."

Amahté being charitable? Hardly. He just thought he'd look better in approach with a bit of an entourage, and Orpheus seemed well dressed enough too make him look good (though his clothes...really!).

He was going to inform Orpheus that he was only mocked because he had not been amidst his presence, but he bit his tongue and focused on the task ahead. Well, it really was no task at all, as he expected to be let through with a bow and a regal sweep. The pretzel disappeared into his mouth as the neared the man and the ride, and Amahté weaved skillfully through the line of children straggling before them.

"Bit him?" he asked, bemused, gaze falling on Orpheus for what seemed like the first time. The corner of his mouth dimpled his cheek as it rose upwards; he couldn't agree or disagree, as he had never participated in the task of biting someone, but it amused him in its crudeness.

As he cut across a particularly fussy child - who only grew fussier as he stepped right before them - he was faced with the ordeal of the tall overseer of the carousel. His step never faltered and he walked right on through.

"See? It's because I'm a-- urp!"

Amahté stumbled back as the gold chain about his neck grew taught. His arms shot out to either side to catch his balance, though he did manage to twist around a bit gracelessly at the last minute.

"And where are you intending to go, young man? 'Cause it sure isn't the ride."

The young boy's face pinched with barely suppressed fury. Instead of asking to be unhanded, he forcibly (well, as forcefully as a child can) smacked the man's hand away and spat at his feet.

"Of course I'm going onto the ride, and so is he" - he jutted his thumb in Orpheus's direction - "So if you don't mind, I'll be--"

The man gave a good, hardy laugh, "But I do mind, you see. No one is allowed on this ride without putting some coin in my hand, and well...I don't see any."

The Scent stared dubiously up at the outstretched hand, which sat awaiting a payment it would never receive. In fact, all it was given was a sound slap, and Amahté grabbed onto Orpheus's sleeve and tugged a bit unceremoniously.

And then there was a bit of a chain reaction - though the man called specifically after them (yelling, really. A lot.), the children behind them pushed forward through the gates impatiently, their parents calling and shoving money forward with faces colored in embarrassment. Amidst the drove that had shoved them forward, the Spice Apple Scent let go of the other and marched resolutely towards the metal stairs that would lead to his jaguar.

"See?" he threw over his shoulder. "My subject always come when I call."

Although he had never called, and they had no idea who he was. To them he was just another boy awaiting the turn of the carousel.

There seemed to be a horde of children milling about his jaguar when they had climbed up the aluminum stairwell, so he rushed them with a small yell and shooed them away. They were all much smaller than he (though his height was nothing to write home about) and dispersed soon enough. He patted the creature in a way that suggested they had been long apart. It didn't respond, of course, but he didn't mind too much - objects such as creatures (and people) were often better silent in his presence.

He stuck his foot in the unyielding stirrup and glanced back at Orpheus with a sportsman-like grin, "Of course I am! Master of all that is and all that will be!" Amahté made a grand gesture as he climbed onto the jaguar, sitting down with the air of a king. He had always been fascinated by this big cat, drawn to it almost, and for a moment he did look regal riding on the back of the sleek black beast. But that moment slid away like the shadow of a jaguar, and he was back on a ride not yet begun, the tinny notes bobbing through the air.

Orpheus. A curious name for an even more curious child. He had read the name somewhere before, but he soon waved the thought away and rose a brow at his choice and impudent words.

"Hardly," he said, though in a tone of good humor. Something rare from the boy with a god complex. "I'm Amahté."

And with that the music picked up, loud and blaring, keening some march that he had never heard before. He made a face at Orpheus that could only be read as 'what IS this?'; clearly he wasn't much into marches. The ride began and the animals lifted and danced along to the formal cadence (all except the swan, poor thing) and the were soon revolving 'round and 'round with the park all around them.

As they went by, Amahté waved at the man standing at the gate and sneered impishly, his green eyes lit up with glee.

Amahté ignored the music completely, focusing his gaze on the crowd that whirred around him. He imagined he saw Mary somewhere out in there, searching anxiously for him, but he knew she was looking elsewhere. She had never been very quick at catching him when he slipped away. However, the idea of her in a flurry of panic over his disappearance kept him entertained, even as the ride came to a jarring end.

He felt remorse as he slid from the jaguar's back, and gave it a pat on its frozen and snarling face before he turned back to Orpheus. If he could remove it from the carousel, he would have, he favored its chipped and fierce face so much. Catching the other's frantic movements he dropped whatever idea he had for commandeering cat and made after him.

Though as Amahté shoved the other children from his path, and shouldered a path for himself through the throng, he paused. He turned back to spy the man and had the intense urge to go after him just to mock him. What could he do? Nothing! Orpheus's disappearing figure, however, acted as his better judgment. So for once, the Spiced Scent decided to follow.

The pouch caught his attention and when they were out of immediate danger (he had quickly made to check for anyone following and had seen no one) a triumphant grin split his face.

"How on earth..." he actually spluttered, both incredulous and deeply impressed. "That...that was genius."

It'd do well for Orpheus to take that compliment to heart. It wasn't often a god handed them out!

A soft silence followed Orpheus's words, as though Amahté were at a loss for his own. He regarded the other boy haughtily, slender brows rising with casual cynicism as though he were asking: is that so? It was difficult to keep a reign upon his temper, and he wasn't very sure if were more amused, surprised, or even furious. Perhaps a mix of the three. Nevertheless, the other child really had a pair to so carelessly throw out such holier-than-thou words to a god.

He lifted a small hand and scooped the bag from the air, grinding the coins beneath the fabric against the palm of his hand. There was a staccato'd click-click-click of the pieces within.

"Your words are as absurd as they are entertaining," he said with a small laugh of which sounded more like a yap than anything. "No matter how hard you try, you skill can never surpass the status of a god."

In a second the boy was distracted, eyes darting somewhere over his shoulder. He could have sworn he had heard his name called, the annoying and faint, but high cadence of a woman's voice. He scowled at the thought of Mary, swearing he could see her bobbing amongst the masses, and he spun to face Orpheus.

"I have not, but I'm sure we will see it promptly, yes?" he said, beginning to walk in one direction, not in the least aware of where the coaster actually was. For now, he just wanted to lose Mary for another moment or two.

Or three, or four, or five.

Or forever.

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Amahté was never one to follow, but in some cases - especially ones as dire as these - one didn't have a choice. If he wanted to lose Mary, he had to shadow the other Scent. He thanked the thick crowds and all of the children milling about; he may have looked exotic standing arm to arm with another child, but there must have been some kid out here that his guardian would mistake for him, if only for an instant. He lengthened his paces and thanked his lucky stars the woman who cared for him was a bit more scatter-brained than most.

He pushed passed legs and handbags, satchels and bobbing clouds of cotton candy. He was a bit hungry, so perhaps after this roller coaster Orpheus spoke of, he could nab a treat from one of the stands. At least their appetizing smell made up for their dripping, goopy appearances.

"Are we close?" he asked, shouldering passed another group of old biddies. If someone stepped on his toe one more time, he was going to kick them. Hadn't they any idea who walked in their midsts? Amahté gave an arrogant sniff.