16077/The Arts of Food

The Arts of Food
Date of Scene:	14 October 2023
Location:	The Lotus Taverna <Cafe>
Synopsis:	Mark, Donna, Diana and Phoebe meet at the Themysciran arts center and share news, outrage about scholarship, souvlaki and honey cakes.
Cast of Characters:	Donna Troy, Mark Grayson, Diana Prince, Phoebe Beacon

---

Donna Troy has posed:
    As a relative newcomer to the Titans, and one who is combat oriented, it was pretty inevitable that at some point Donna would take Invincible to see the Themysciran arts center before long. She's very keen on getting the Titans trained up, and there are so many Titans these days that it's hard for her to find the time for many one-on-one sessions. Fortunately these days there's an alternative outlet for training in the Themysciran combat arts, by way of the Themysciran Arts Center. Yes it's cultural, but Themyscira is a martial culture and there's lots of combat training here too. Some of the Amazon combat specialists who trained Donna are here now, offering training in New York -- and if Donna asks nicely they'll do special sessions for her superpowered friends, who can really benefit from having trainers who aren't too squishy themselves.

    No training today though, just a tour and introductions to some of the Amazon trainers. Mark had been shown some of the displays of Themysciran sculpture and artwork, and the library, as well as the rather impressive arena, a scale reproduction of the Great Arena on Themyscira itself. He'd even seen perhaps the oddest of widely-known Amazon fauna, the Kangas, giant riding kangaroos trained for warfare. Ever since the Warzoon invasion when a force of two thousand Amazon cavalry including many Kangas had shown up unexpectedly outside Metropolis to crush the remnant of the Warzoon land forces, Kangas had caught the imagination of the American public. They're the most popular thing at the Arts Center, and even the Themyscirans seem to have given in to the inevitable and offer plushie Kangas for sale.

    Touring is hungry business though, so it's time for refreshments, and that's where the Lotus Taverna comes in, and the next stop on the tour. It's more Themysicran-influenced than being true Themysciran cuisine, but it promises a number of authentic recipes on the menu, and occasionally they have specials cooked by Amazon chefs. It's also a great place to relax, and a good place to bump into other people who might be visiting the center. Everyone tends to find there way here eventually. That may even be part of Donna's aim as she leads Mark into the Taverna to find a table.

    "We have some genuine Themysciran wines you really should try," she tells Mark as they enter. "Including ones that are intended to mix with water if you think it's too early for drinking. That's a tradition that used to be all over and died out pretty much everywhere apart from Themyscira. Strongly-flavored wine and water is a very refreshing drink to go with any meal. If you're hungry I recommend the Souvlaki."

Mark Grayson has posed:
One of the reasons that Mark had decided to share his identity with the Titans was because he realized after his fight with Juggernaut, he was going to need more and more training. He can only get stronger the more he trains is ingraned on his brain. Or as Juggernaut had said 'Toughen Him Up'. Invincible still had his doubts in that department, so when Donna made the offer for him to come with her to visit the Arts center, he jumped at it.

If there was disappointment that there would be training today, it didn't show on Mark's face. Instead, he's in a bit of star-struck wonderment, as he meets with trainers, explaining that his fighting style is more of that of a bare-knuckle brawler and does not have a lick of finesse to go with it, and then the tour continued. There was talk on the fauna and flora, though the Kangas were a new experience. He had heard of them, but had yet the chance to see one first-hand. He had quickly shed the idea of a teenager on a field trip and more had started to take the seriousness that now he is a Titan. The duties and requirements of that settling in with him as he knows he can and should do better.

A plushie Kanga was procured for Bunny, who could not be with him today, he'll have to bring her back when it's more of a social call as the tour comes to a close and the pair are heading into the cafe. Which actually allows Mark to broach the subject in a rather easy way.

"My father wrote a lot of travel books on his travels through Greece, including Macedonia, Crete and Dodecanese, I think it was called?" That father, Nolan Grayson, also known to some as the former hero Omni-Man. "If I knew I was coming here today, I'd asked him to send me a copy before I visited to sound smarter about it all than I actually am." he admits with amusement. "But I'm always game for trying new things. When in Rome, I think is what the saying is?" he asks, before she mentions drinking. And reminds himself that this is different rules. That whole have to be twenty-one thing set aside. "Souvlaki? What's that?" he asks curiously. "And thank you again for the help, Donna. I have the feeling that things are only gonna get more difficult, and I want to be prepared to help however I can with the team."

Diana Prince has posed:
There was a rather large celebration coming up geared specifically to Halloween. One might call out how that Holiday is not a Themysciran affiliated celebration, but as members of the Arts Center will in-turn indicate, the point of this entire place is to let people ease in to the society of the Amazons. It is as much a celebration of Themyscira as it is a celebration of the people coming here who are not from 'paradise island.'

Or so Diana would specifically reiterate as often as she was able to in moments where applicable.

Here and now though, Diana noticed Donna from atop the main staircase in the main foyer of the Center's grand hall. Standing at the top of the staircase, speaking to a few of the Planners making final arrangements for the celebration, the Princess is wearing her traditional armor that has become famous worldwide through Diana's actions, though with a dark blue cloak on over it. She speaks a few moments longer, before separating herself, and moving down the stairs, with that dark blue cloak swaying around her as she descended the marble steps...

It only takes her a few moments before she thusly appears inside of the Taverna's doorsteps, heralded by people calling her out before she can even enter it... likely taking away any surprise of her impending arrival. Waving to some of the people who call her out, Diana smiles to them before she strides in to the Lotus Taverna, another wave sent to the workers behind the counters before she is sweeping over toward Donna's side. "Have you ordered yet? I very much would like some tea..." The Princess says in her naturally husky-hued voice. She gives Donna a one-armed shoulder squeeze of a hug, before she smiles to Mark. "Hello." She says simply, but carrying a sincerely friendly tone both in voice and her facial expression for him.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe absolutely, positively does not have a very light gray and black plushie kanga sticking out of the leather backpack at her feet from stopping in the gift shop -- but the nice thing is, she hasn't visited in such a long time, especially in casual clothes, that almost no one recognizes her, wearing a gray stab-resistant pull-over hoodie and a pair of designer-expensive-to-look-this-poor jeans and knee-high lace-up boots in soft brown. She had been nursing an unsweetened ice tea and dolmades, because there really wasn't a good place to get Themysciran food in Gotham City, and was studying her phone when she heard a familiar voice, and she straightens up a moment, then reaches to pull her hood over her soft rose-pink colored hair and tries to dip her head lower where Donna or Invincible can't see her, feeling her heart pound in her chest.

    It got worse when she recognized Diana joining in, and shyly she reaches for her bag and to try and stuff the grape leaf-wrapped goodness into her mouth.

    Typical Gotham, trying to hide in plain sight.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna greets her sister with an impressively wide smile, returning the one-armed hug and pulling out a chair for Diana to join them. "We have not ordered yet! Come sit with us and we'll order together. Diana, this is Invincible, one of our newer Titans. I was just introducing him to the center and some of our trainers to discuss one of our special programs for him. Invincible, this is my sister Diana. This whole place was her idea and her initiative."

    Diana doesn't really need to be introduced to anyone -- there are few faces on the planet quite as well known. Donna never fails to do so anyway.

    "I was just recommending he try the souvlaki." She nods her head slightly to Mark. "They're skewers of meat, flavored with various combinations of herbs, spices, butter, lemon juice and oil, grilled over charcoal. Kind of Themysciran fast food, but a whole lot nicer than a burger. Let's get a mixed plate and you can try a few."

    She turns back to Diana, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I was also suggesting that since he is here, he really ought to try some Themysciran wine." Diana knows that there is a specially made alcohol-free 'wine' the Amazons vintners have produced specially for the Arts Center's younger visitors to get a taste of what the Amazons drink, but that glint indicates she probably hasn't mentioned the alcohol-free part to Mark yet. "And of course some tea!" Donna flashes a grin back to Mark. "Diana does love her tea."

    Whether Phoebe has succeeded in her attempts to go unnoticed or not is hard to be certain of. Amazons are sharp-eyed. Was there a hint of a 'join us' nod in Phoebe's direction from Donna at one point there? There was something. Perhaps an invitation intended to avoid drawing attention in case Phoebe wants to keep to herself?

Mark Grayson has posed:
Invincible had just taken his seat and was getting ready to lift the menu off the table in order to start to look it over. He had caught a glimpse of someone sitting at one of the other tables and was considering her when another voice besides Donna's sounds out. If Mark even had a hope of recognizing Phoebe, which he really did not, it's lost the moment that Diana makes her entrance.

There's a few figures that command direct and undivided attention. Captain America, Superman, Wonder Woman. They are paragons of the superhero community and Invincible, who probably is way way down on that list, finds himself momentarily awe-struck as he will need a couple of moments to mentally reset and regain his composure as he rises to his feet, his goggles masking the fact that his eyes are probably clear up to his forehead. He does not know about the rite of passage of the whole Themyscarian wine thing, but instead, he manages to offer his hand to Diana. "H-hello." All that swagger he has when he's out in the midsts of battle gone, a reminder that despite what he can do, he's still young - very young in Viltrumite standards. "I'm. Well, Donna already introduced me. So. Yes. Nice to meet you."

Get it together, Mark! "The mixed plate sounds awesome. You're welcome to join us!"

As if he needs to give permission.

Diana Prince has posed:
Whether or not Diana knows Phoebe is here is anyone's guess. But Phoebe knows Wonder Woman well enough that she'd know Diana wouldn't break her cover unless she had to. Thus, Phoebe's presence is up to her to shape in the moment, and in that moment, Diana shakes Mark's hand, and does motion for him to sit again as she takes a seat on Donna's left.

Diana smooths her robe out softly over her lap, her hands wearing the fingerless leather gloves of her standard combat dress, though they look recently refurbished or entirely new, as it is quite common for her various battles around the world to require some level of maintenance on the lesser elements of her attire.

"Oooh, wine party?" She asks in a playful way with a grin showcasing this as she looks between Mark and Donna both. Her stare returns to Mark then. "Well, you have the best guide to show you the best choices to order while here. Especially when it comes to the tastey food options."

She lingers a grin for a moment as she sits with her back straight up, not leaning back in the chair, but rather seated on its edge with one armored boot extended out from beneath her blue cloak.

"I believe I have seen you around, Mister Invincible. I am glad to hear that you have joined up with the Titans. They are one of the best teams in the world, afterall." She says, offering a softer smile to Donna.

When their server arrives, Diana will place a order for a simple brewed tea, the server already knowing precisely what Diana likes regardless.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Amazons are very sharp eyed, Phoebe knows this for certain, and she might have missed the subtle nod and invitation that Donna gave. She refuses to believe Diana didn't notice her. And Invincible?

    Well. He might even still smell like roses and black pepper when she did the favor of cleaning his suit for him so he didn't smell like 'bad ocean water'. And she stacks the plates she was using, making sure the table was clear and putting them within easy reach of servers or bussers, and tucks several bills in cash under one plate so it doesn't fly off, and she stands up, and draws over to the table with the Two Titans and the Literal Wonder Woman.

    "Best at being the most chaotic." Phoebe adds to Diana's statement about the Titans, and she tilts back on her heel, giving a slight smile to the trio. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" she asks, drawing her hood back and showing her pink hair in its natural state, shoulders drawn up in nervousness.

Donna Troy has posed:
    "Only 'one of', sister?" Donna replies to Diana with a teasing grin. "I think we may have moved to the top these last few years..." she stretches out a foot to push the remaining chair at the table out, clearly an offer to Phoebe to take a seat and join them. "And that most definitely applies to 'most chaotic' too. We embrace the chaos. Not that we have much choice, it's either that or go mad." She tilts her head thoughtfully to the side. "In some cases both."

    It seems that the server, if not an Amazon herself, has spent the time to learn some Themysciran, because Donna does her ordering in Themysciran, and is clearly ordering for the table judging by the list of things she reels off. There's definitely wine coming for Mark, and Donna still hasn't revealed the non-alcoholic shocker. It's a shock to her, anyway. She still hasn't entirely forgiven Diana for forbidding her champagne the first time she turned up in America as a teenager. Not only had she been drinking wine at home for many years but this wine was *fizzy* and Donna was enchanted by fizzy drinks when she discovered that particular staple of the world beyond Amazonian shores. She does however add "Oh and a coffee for Phoebe here," in English giving the pink-haired Gothamite a grin.

    "I owe her a coffee," she explains to the others. "We were on Super Match game together, and it came up. Fortunately this time I managed to avoid falling into any black holes right after filming, and actually got to see my appearance. I still haven't managed to watch the episode I was on last time."

    "I've ordered enough souvlaki for everyone," she says. "And honey cakes. Baklava and similar things. We do love our honey cakes on Themyscira."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I've been trying to introduce myself to more of the Titans." Invincible admits as he is resettled in his seat and draws in his breath. He starts to say something, but he decides against it, instead concentrating on something more positive. "I'm hopeful to be able to contribute in a positive manner to the team." Even if in his mind, most of what he can do is covered well by someone else.

With Phoebe coming over to join them, Mark can only assume that the two Amazonians are already familiar with her and he raises his hand in a greeting. "Hi." he offers in a friendly enough tone. "Apparently we're having a wine party." His shoulders lift in a shrug, his back straightening as he shakes his head. "No interruptions that I know of!" This offered with a lot more cheer than he had a moment ago.

But the talk of the Titans does allow Mark the chance to broach the subject that he had been considering since the moment that Donna contacted him and invited him on the tour. "Donna was showing me the training here, which I really appreciate. I recently found out that I'm not the only Viltrumite on Earth. Besides my father, that is." he explains.

"There's a young woman. I don't know if she's ever made contact with the Titans or anyone else, but I was hoping to ask Donna if I could pass her contact information on to her. She's pretty raw as I am, and I'm not sure of how many contacts and friends she may have."

But then the conversation is turning to the Super Match Game and black holes, which brings a surprised, if slightly confused expression to the young hero's face. And he hasn't said anything on the wine yet, his father taught him enough about going native when in a foreign land to just roll with whatever the offer may be, as long as it isn't anything illicit. "Are there a lot of apiaries on Themyscira?" he asks curiously.

Diana Prince has posed:
The discussion of the 'Best' is exchanged, with Phoebe's arrival warranting Diana to pause her response, then point a finger up at Phoebe to indicate that 'this' is the answer she agrees with. She punctuates this to Donna with a self-satisfied smile, before she reaches a hand out toward Phoebe to offer her elbow a soft squeeze. "Yes, please sit and enjy anything on the menu that you would like, on us." She tells the Gothamite with a grin toward the plushie Kanga. "You should see the various Holiday ones we are going to be selling for charity at the Halloween event, let alone the other Holidays coming up soon." She notes, with her eyes returning over to Donna at the Match Game mention.

"Oh, I wish I could have gone. The last time that I did get to do that, was a lot of fun. Greer was such a good host too... Is it online?" Of course it is. "I will have to look it up."

Diana regards Mark them with a small smirk. "The Titans, tend to ... gracefully find themselves in very strange situations. But I am sure you have been forewarned about this." She says in a style that hints at her trying to be very diplomatic with her phrasing, for her sister's sake.

With a small grin on her ruby red hued lips, Diana nods softly once. "We have all manner of Bees on Themyscira. From your average sized, to some... less than average in size. The best are those that leave their honey high on the sides of the mountain peak. It... if properly acquired, has very interesting effects. Harmless, of course, but... interesting."

Uh oh, Themysciran Hallucinogenics. Some Ancient Greek traditions still exist today in the mythical island paradise!

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    There's a momentary tenseness in Phoebe as Diana gives her elbow a squeeze, but the daughter of Gotham City gives a smile, and a nod. You don't refuse a Princess.

    Phoebe gives a sweet smile, and orders another round of stuffed grape leaves for herself in lightly accented Themysciran, including asking that her coffee be black.

    "You'll have to split my portion of souvlaki." she replies as she sits down awkwardly at the table, kanga plush head sticking out of her backpack.

    "Well, it'd be easy to go both mad and delve into the chaos with Vorpal around. THere was enough chaos and glitter at the match game for a lifetime, I should think." she states, giving a smile to Diana, and then giving a nod to Invincible she introduces herself.

    "Phoebe, a pleasure to meet you. I think from the costume, you're that Invincible guy, right?" she gives a small smile, and at the mention of the Match Game:

    "Well, I'm sure if you'd come, they wouldn't have had a need of me being there. I stepped in at the last minute when Nick asked nicely. I'm not particularly as exciting as 'an eighth of the Titans and Nick Drogo'." she gives a smile, and she looks down, her cheeks flushing. "I really shouldn't be buying more stuffed animals -- but this one's rather close to Kheimon in appearance. It was a pretty happy memory." she gives a mild smile to the group.

Donna Troy has posed:
"We use honey for everything you'd use sugar for here in America. Or high-fructose corn syrup for that matter. So yes, lots of apiaries. Amazons love their honey." Donna flashes Diana a broad grin. "Even if for some reason young Amazons are forbidden form going climbing to find the mountain honey until they are older..."

    Donna gives Mark a quick nod. "Of course. Bring her to the tower whenever you like. We founded the Titans because there was a need for somewhere young heroes could find a place for themselves and learn together. There are a few more options available now..." Donna gives a quick nod of acknowledgement to the Outsider member sitting at the table. "But we take that part of what we do very seriously, and none who do the things we do should have to try to do them alone and without support."

    "At least this one won't try to eat your scarf," Donna says to Phoebe with a grin. "But you know you could come and spend some more time with the real thing. I'm sure that Kheimon would be glad to see you again, and the Kangas can always use a bit more exercise."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Hi Phoebe, it's nice to meet you." Invincible looks honestly surprised. People are recognizing him? It's weird! But a good weird, like finding out the McRib is back at McDonald's, not the bad weird, like finding out how said McRibs are made.

So the two Amazonians are discussing this special honey, which makes Mark only want to consider it more, but it's probably an island thing that he's better not asking about as he turns his attention to Donna as they discuss Sunny. "I'll let her know that the invitation is there if she wants to visit." he responds.

Diana Prince has posed:
When some of their ordered items begin to arrive via their friendly server, Diana is quick to accept it all upon the table, pulling her drink toward herself and reaching for a small bit of that honey that Donna is speaking so highly of. As the others speak, Diana lets some of it pour in to her tea before she wraps her hands around the base of the glass. She shows a small smile then toward Phoebe. "I would much prefer you have my spot on the Match Game, than occupy it myself. I like seeing you get out there, and make a name for yourself. You have come a long way since we first met, Phoebe. I'm very proud of you too." She says in a sincere way, before raising her glass up to take a testing sip from the hot beverage.

After enjoying the sampling test of taste, she adjusts her eyes to look toward Donna.

"How is Terry?" She asks. "I have not had a chance to check in with him lately. Has he been enjoying the library here? Or has it absolutely turned him off of ever working with us again?" She inquires, the slight grin suggesting she knows the answer.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe's ears and cheeks darken a moment, accepting her coffee, and she wraps her fingers around the small cup, feeling its heat as she focuses on the liquid that shares the color of her eyes. Her eyes soften and half-close, and she shakes her head, and mindful of others around her she murmurs an embarrassed and not quite heart felt 'thank you' to Diana with her shoulders forced down and tense.

    But she does look up regarding news of Terry. Who *wouldn't* enjoy the massive library?

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna gives a quick laugh. "He's in heaven," she replies to Diana. Who already knew the answer, to be honest. "Struggling with a bit of imposter syndrome inevitably, and there have been a few unkind comments from jealous scholars who considers themselves far more qualified. But I think he understands that ultimately this is an administrative position rather than a research position, and his enthusiasm is what qualifies him. Some of those scholars out there seem to think that simply because they have been studying Ancient Greek texts for many years that they should be given total access to everything we have and that we are doing the world a disservice by not throwing open our doors to them. It doesn't seem to occur to them that the best scholars of the Themysciran material are on Themyscira already."

    "I had some of the same myself because of the Margites thing. I should provide the text, not a translation, they tell me. They think that having someone known for swinging a sword doing a translation is a gimmick. I've had less of that since I wrote a paper for the Journal of Hellenistic studies explaining how the modern scholarship of the World of Men has misunderstood some of the cultural indicators in Homeric kinship terminology. Well except for a professor at the University of Nevada who is now furious with me because she'd written a similar paper a few years ago which was full of errors. Some people struggle to understand that what they thought of as a long dead culture is not as dead as they thought."

    Donna blinks a few times, grins and shakes her head. "Sorry. Ranting," she says with a slightly sheepish grin towards Mark and Phoebe. Diana knows the passion Donna has for Themysciran scholarship, but it might be a bit of a surprise to the others.

    Fortunately Donna is saved by the timely arrival of the souvlaki, a tray bearing a dozen assorted skewers of meat, and three of vegetables, with a collection of two-tined forks obviously used to remove chunks of meat or vegetable from the skewers. Phoebe's concern at having to split is obviously not going to be a problem.

Diana Prince has posed:
A big smile is shown over to Phoebe when she speaks of the library, then over to Donna when she fills in the details about Terry. The smile turns in to a grin then as she slowly shakes her head. "I wanted him for that position because of that spirit of his. He has the spirit of a thousand loving hearts. That kind of spirit is what we need for a project like the Library, which is meant to help merge our world with the rest of the world at-large. There is no one better for the spot, so I hope that he does indeed enjoy it."

She sees their food coming toward their table, but her gaze goes back between those she is seated with. "I have many Professors dropping me e-mails, or even hand written letters to appeal to me now that the word is spreading that invites to the island are an opportunity rapidly becoming more available... But I am not about to just bring those who I do not personally have the ability to vouch for, even if through someone else who I have trust in. But yes, this library is partially in existence now for reasons related to such inquiries. Such people can come here now, and be practically just as immersed as they would in the libraries at home..."

Their food is settled in then, and Diana draws in a breath. She eyes all the tastey options, but naturally her hand extends right over to one of those honey cakes first and foremost!

If Hippolyta were here, she would not approve of that.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "That is ridiculous. Really stupid of them--" Phoebe states softly, and then she takes a deep breath and points out things, counting on her fingers.

    "One, Themyscarian is an entirely different dialect than most Ancient Greek dialects that have been studied, and even if it hasn't changed albeit very slightly over the years, two, it's a living language, even reading the few texts I borrowed years ago you can tell the difference between it then and now with the introduction of new languages and vernacular in the way that it's spoken here in the center, and *three* --" Phoebe lifts a stuffed grape leaf, and points it at Donna.

    "Haven't they ever heard of warrior poets? Scholars with Swords? The Middle East is riddled with wise people who knew swordplay *and* could actually write things down. The only reason half those scholars even exist knowing Ancient Greek myth is because a bunch of scholars from Arabic speaking countries wrote things down after the Romans breezed through and picked up spare mythology in back alleys to stuff in their tunics!"

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna nods her head at Phoebe, her eyes glinting a little and a grin on her face. The passion Phoebe is showing here is one Donna shares, and Donna definitely appreciates seeing it in other people!

    "More than just that. There's the issue of *continuity*. We have people on Themyscira who were alive when Homer was. Some who actually met him. I mean he wrote about our mom and one of our aunts. We actually know the ways the language has changed, because our scholars lived through those changes and studied them as they are happening. We also have just... much better records."

    She gives a nod in Diana's direction. "What Diana says about those appeals from scholars... yes, there are so many. I made the mistake of mentioning publicly that I speak Mycenaean Greek. I'm not /great/ at it, but we have a good selection of texts in that dialect, and I can read them. Now I get a constant barrage of requests to confirm various scholar's translations, advice on reconstructions, 'I just need this /one/ word translated' emails..."

    She breaks off with a laugh. "Oh dear. Phoebe, don't let me get started on this stuff. But you should definitely get Terry to show you around the library. I don't know how well you've kept up your own Themysciran studies, but there's some fascinating stuff that you shouldn't have too much difficulty with. I think you'll enjoy it."

    Donna swipes the plate of honey cakes out from in front of Diana and slides them over towards Phoebe. They come in a wide variety of forms, some with soft flakey pastries, some with finer more sponge like pastries. Some are lightly drizzled with honey and citrus-scented, some are drenched in honey and filled with nuts and herbs, very similar to modern baklavas. Others are less familiar, but they all smell delicious. "I think you'll enjoy these too," she says. "But you'll have to be fast." She selects on of the nutty baklava style ones for herself and grins wide in Diana's direction with a teasing expression. "Otherwise Diana will eat them all!" She flashes Diana a quick wink before popping the baklava into her mouth.