Jon settled in the nice ‘cafe’ taking in the sights of the city. In a way, she was starting to feel almost… relaxed. The sights here were almost starting to become normal. Though her thoughts had gone to the strange animal-folk.. the snake-girl was interesting though, given how few reptilian-like beings there were. Though was she actually a reptile? Half of her body had to be… maybe she best not think about it too much.
Though one thing was now starting to press on her mind; the humans. The fact that a harpy could be with a human was not just unsettling, it was also a wakeup call that she had completely ignored her old species. They were human in appearance, in expression, in desires and expectations. They wore clothes like one might from ancient Greece; with togas and simple colors though occasionally had ceremonial symbols of status adorned on them. Gold seemed to signify wealth (pretty normal) Again, this was -nothing- unusual and was obvious to anyone who had even a vague understanding of humanity. However, these were not the humans of Earth and it would be foolish if she didn’t consider them just as potentially alien as the animal-folk if not more so. She looked at them trying to soak in as much detail as she could.
While there were predominately light shades of skin perhaps due to the temperate climate, she did see those with darker brown and even a few more with black skin. Perhaps travel was more restrictive then in her contemporary world. There was no evidence that humans here were as ‘tribal’ if that was the right world. Alethia was a large cosmopolitan city that seemed blind to differences. Still… humans were still human were they not? Did they not feel any fear seeing a snake in a grass, let alone a snake tail attached to one of ‘their own’? She knew humans of her own world, and knew these sights would terrify most of them… but at the same time, Jon seemed to find moments to delight and smile at the differences. She was quietly watching a young family with goat-like legs walking by. Two children, a son and daughter both having the same kind of hooves instead of feet.
Maggie was looking to Jon curiously. “Hey, Jen? You thinking of marrying a human?” She asked innocently.
Jon gasped. “What? No!” She coughed a bit of her coffee. She felt herself burning red in embarassment. Marrage? Having a husband? With.. all that might come from that?! With one question Maggie just put Jon in a really weird mental place.
“I wouldn’t mind,” the Harpy quickly added.
“… does… does that happen?” Jon hesitantly asked.
Maggie giggled ruffling her wings a bit in the air. “Well its not common but yeah, it happens. Humans sure are curious. The only thing more curious are the cat folk- probably why there are a lot of cat-human families.”
“So- what about families? Did they have...kids? Actually.. related…”
Maggie looked innocently to Jon not quite sure what the big deal was. “sometimes yeah.”
“But- how?” Jon felt her wing go against her brow again. This was starting to get very confusing. Not to mention that motion was not really normal for a harpy to do.
Maggie wondered how best to answer the question to her ‘older sister’ type figure. “Well- when a hu-man and a.. ‘different’ woman love each other very much...”
“I don’t mean that!” Jon groaned. This was getting awkward. “I mean- how are they even compatible?”
“Why wouldn’t they be?” Maggie looked curiously.
“Because...” Jon was thinking in terms of genetics.. species… science. However she was starting to realise, science seemed to work well for the physical world, though the biology of this place was more then confusing. Perhaps it was all just magic? “Nevermind- so- you are telling me humans can have children with anyone?”
“Well- humans are pretty open, they try it with anyone. Most of the other folk won’t do that. Mostly” Maggie nodded. “There are some exceptions but.. humans are pretty magical I guess- or wiling to make the most sacrifices. Course, if magic were involved then anything goes. There’s an old saying; don’t question what the gods make possible- just what -you- make impossible.”
Jon bit her lip at that. Magic had to be why she was the way she was now… even if everyone insisted her body had no magic in her. “So if a human did mate with a harpy… what would the kid be?”
“A harpy of course!” Maggie giggled. “You’re older then me and don’t know this?” She started laughing having a fit of giggles. All the while, Jon sat red faced. “I’m sorry Jen, it’s just this is too funny. It’s like you don’t even know about-”
“I know enough,” Jon huffed.
“Really? So you know all about-”
“I know about that!” She insisted. “I really don’t want to talk about it now.” It was so unsettling that this girl was trying to give her an ‘education’ especially out here.
Maggie nodded, perhaps glad she didn’t have to go into it after all. “You know, you do make a fun big sis to be with.” She thought idly. “Your songs are a hit too. You might become the next Melody Marigold.” The black feathered harpy looked so in love with Jen in a sisterly sort of way. She wished she could help her more.
Jon nodded finishing her coffee- which mostly consisted of using a straw. It was made of paper but… the small thing really did help. Things... had become quite routine. She’d been here a week now and.. every day she learned a new aspect of this world. “The librarian spoke of these Ancients… do you know anything about them?”
“Just what everyone else knows,” thought Maggie. “Most of their stuff is useless unless you’re an Ancient- and if it works, best to leave it alone.”
“What did they look like?” Jon wondered.
“Well- the ancient harpies believed they had these huge wings made of light. With just a flick of them, they could move the worlds oceans.” Maggie recounted the story. “I think everyone agrees on, is that they could fly- though nobody seems able to work out how. Their stuff is pretty powerful, but nobody knows how they work. They say they might have upset the gods, others say they tried to be gods… mind you very few claim they actually -were- gods- it kinda upsets the real gods.”
“The ancient stuff.. It could get me home though… or even… human again...” Jon thought. She frowned a bit as she glanced down at her body. The annoying breasts and- was she putting on a bit of weight now? She was starting to feel off...
“Want to become an Ancient hunter?” Maggie looked intrigued. “I dunno Jen. Ancient stuff is really dangerous… it could get you home, or it could take you to some other world that’s even weirder then this one. I know you don’t want to live here but… I wouldn’t want you to go to a worst place.”
Jen bit her lip. Maggie really knew how to make her feel a lot of guilt. “Maggie… I… it’s not that I don’t like it here. You’ve been really kind.. hospitable.. everyone here has been really nice. The city, the people.. even the.. witch I guess wasn’t all that bad...”
Maggie giggled and gave Jen another hug. “Please stay Jen!” She looked up at her. “I won’t stop you going but.. if you stay I’ll make a big nest and find the juiciest worms!”
Jen blanched at that. “Uh- yeah- maybe...”
