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Hold on Loosely

After his stew, Jason falls asleep again -- he's still exhausted, but it's astonishingly nice to fall asleep cradled against Diana. He wakes up some time later to folks rustling about in the room. Croaker's gently settling a wonderful smelling bowl of stew next to him, and Diana's pacing in from the bathroom, wet and nude. She's talking on a cell phone -- laughing, in fact -- then cheerfully says, "No, no, it would be ungentlewomanly of me to brag of my conquests." She pauses, then laughs again and says, "Sure! He's awake now. Want to talk to him?"

Croaker gets an amused look at Diana's entry, then just smiles and nods at Jason, laying his clean clothes on the end of the bed. Diana's absently rubbing off with a towel as she speaks. Jason beams friendly-like at Croaker, but leaves the stew to one side as he rolls over to just... admire Diana. He's far more comfortable with her naked now, which only makes sense... he spent a lot of time getting to know every inch of her body in glorious detail. "Is that Mike?" he queries, making a guess.

Diana grins, adding, "I don't think you're going to get any juicy sex stories from him, no." She pauses, listening, then laughs aloud. "No, no sisters either; sorry. Here's Jason." She settles on the bed next to Jason, holding the cell out for him and cheerfully saying, "It's that nice Alan -- he really wants to talk to you!"

Jason groans. "Oh, dear... well... better pay the piper..." he murmurs, shaking his head. He ruefully takes the phone, putting it to his ear. "Hey, guy." Diana's body is rather... distractingly attractive as she casually rubs the towel over herself. Rivulets of water trickle wetly down her gleaming skin from her heavy black mane of hair, and the way she shifts and moves to dry off leaves little to the imagination.

Alan half gasps, half laughs, "Jason! Dude, I was starting to worry about you! What're you doing, fucking like bunnies 24/7?! It's been almost three days now! Are you all right?"

Jason is stunned into shock, blinking up at Diana. His mouth works for a moment, trying to find an answer. Clearly Croaker and Diana did not tell him everything about what happened... also just as clearly, the risk they took appears to have taken its toll. "Er, ah... no, we just... well, we hit it off, but I ended up... going back to her place. We've been... spending some private time," he stammers, the lie not quite tripping off his tongue.

Diana smiles warmly at Jason, pushing wet hair back off her forehead. Jason smiles uncertainly back, a little too distracted by the news to fully appreciate the view she offers. "Three days?" he mouths to her then, eyes wide.

Diana looks a bit confused, tilting her head inquiringly and whispering, "What?" Alan is babbling something congratulatory and slightly envious sounding into the phone.

Jason speaks back into the phone, "Alan, give me a sec..." He covers the receiver. "I was out of it for three days? Why didn't you say something?" he whispers fervently.

Diana considers a moment, counting on her fingers, "Friday night to Saturday night -- one full day. Saturday night to Sunday night -- another full day. Sunday night to Monday morning -- one full night." She looks curiously at Jason, "Isn't that only two and a half days? Or were you unconscious on Friday before you came to me?"

Jason blinks and looks a little relieved. Okay, so he didn't miss a day of class. "No, no... okay, just hyperbole, then." He puts the phone to his ear again. "Listen, Alan, I've got to get going... I'm a ways from campus and I've got to get ready... got classes and rot. I'll see you this afternoon when I get back, 'kay?" Alan doesn't want to hang up -- he protests that Jason owes him some explanation for a gorgeous girl calling him and insisting he cover for Jason's absences for the next two or three days!

Diana rolls fluidly over onto her front and smiles lazily at Jason, one fingernail lightly trailing along his ear as she murmurs, "I thought we could stop at your place for you to get a change of clothes before we go to the park... and we could shower here first, mmm?"

Jason involuntarily groans, and then blushes when he realizes Alan probably heard that. "Aheh... Alan, it seems like Diana's got some plans I didn't expect... look, just do what she said, hmm? I, er... well, come on, you expect me to say no to anything she wants? I promise, I'll tell you more when I get back... just tell everyone that I've, uh... I've got a sick friend that I'm taking care of, or something..."

Alan is, quite frankly, awed at the impact Diana's having on Jason's life... and envious! He gleefully demands all the juicy details as soon as he next meets Jason, reassures Jason everything's handled, and a bit wistfully asks how Jason found such a girl. As he's chatting on, Diana slowly smiles, her golden eyes gleaming with promise, and rises, tossing the towel back into the bathroom. She wanders around the room casually collecting her clothing. It would be easier to concentrate on the phone conversation if Diana's doing so didn't involve quite so much bending over, of course...

Jason gives back half-thought out replies and promises to everything Alan says, absently discovering that in spite of comfortability he still can't keep his eyes off her. He absently looks at Croaker, wondering if it's the same for him. And he wonders if, since she can feel everything he feels, she unconsciously does things deliberately to continue to make him feel that way. It would explain a lot.

Diana comes back to the bed with a handful of clothes and drops them on the bed next to Jason's clothes, then settles down next to Jason, curling an arm around him to cradle him against her. Unless Jason objects, she gently takes the cell phone out of his hand. Alan's excited voice is still trailing from it. Jason lets her take away the phone... he's not exactly up to talking with Alan anymore anyway, completely distracted by the feel of Diana's bare bosom against his face. The experience is both entirely soothing, in a motherly way, but also... well, let's just say, it reminds him of that passionate night. He nuzzles in then, contentedly, though he resists the urge to act out the memories of their first lovemaking.

Diana purrs languidly into the phone, "Alan, Jason has to come take a shower with me now. We'll see you later, okay?" As she clicks the cell phone closed Jason hears no comment whatsoever from the (probably shocked) Alan... but he feels her tongue trail pleasurably along his ear as he nuzzles against her. Curiously, while he feels the same excitingly tingly sensations he usually does around Diana, his body isn't responding the way it usually does. Diana rubs her cheek against the top of his head, then wraps her arms around him and scoops him up, purring, "Mmmtime for a nice hot shower, my delicious, succ- er... hm. I have to come up with another name for you, don't I?" She paces towards the bathroom, continuing to cradle Jason in her arms.

Jason laughs weakly. "Sucker! My goodness, yes, I hope you come up with a better name than that!" he protests. And then he realizes how limp he feels. "Diana... how bad is it? I've been out of it for over two days, and even now, everything's heavy-feeling... how much longer will it take me to recover?"

Diana chuckles softly, her purr rumbling gently in her chest where his ear is resting against her breast, "No, sweet, I was going to call you my succulent... but it would be unwise to announce that." She thinks about it as she steps into the shower, holding Jason against her and turning on the water until it's pleasantly hot and steamy. "Mmm... as I recall sucker isn't a good thing, though, right? It means someone who's been maliciously fooled -- as well as a nice lollipop..." Her voice trails off for a moment -- then she brightens, "Oh, yes, that's perfect! My delicious lollipop!" She cheerfully suits her actions to her words, doing astonishingly distracting things to his ear and throat.

Jason laughs, which turns into a groan, which morphs into almost a whimper at Diana's delightful oral assault on his senses. "Diana..." he gasps, trying to get her attention back. "What's wrong with me, though? Why am I so tired? I feel like I'm moving through quicksand... every move is an effort. How long will it take me to recover?"

Diana doesn't reply immediately, being rather absorbed in causing Jason to cling to her, legs trembling. Once she's well and truly sure he can't stand without her assistance she leans against a wall, pressing him close against her, almost glowing with happiness. She reaches for the soap and starts slowly, languidly lathering him up as she replies, "Mother estimates maybe another day. Once you get to a certain point you recover pretty quickly... but right now, if it's like Mother explained, you should be feeling rather like your arms and legs are noodles." She grins delightedly, her fangs showing, as she adds, "Which means I get to play with you while you're awake for another day or so!" She grins mischievously, purring, "I may not be able to eat any more, but I can certainly make sure you're unable to feel anything but pleasure while you're in my hands like this!"

Jason shakes his head. "That's totally unfair, you know," he comments ruefully. "You could likely win any argument with me, especially when I can't even move away from you to clear my head!" he says, half joking.

Diana chuckles softly. "Then I'm doing it right, mmm?" Unless he objects, she proceeds to give Jason the most shockingly memorable shower of his life -- she's tenderly ruthless in her deliberate, languid, highly pleased tantalizing, teasing, and caressing. She does her best to leave him gasping and shaking helplessly in her arms, and is purringly pleased at her success.

Jason is ravenous after the shower, and eagerly consumes the stew left by Croaker. He mostly dresses himself, although Diana happily helps him -- when she's not cheerfully getting in the way as she gently rubs herself against him. Once he's dressed she tosses on a pair of cut-off jeans shorts (which ride distractingly high in the back), a pair of flip-flops, her ubiquitous shoulder bag, and a cropped T-shirt top. She walks downstairs with him, one arm steadyingly about his waist. When they emerge from the building she puts on a pair of sunglasses and beams at him, "Lovely morning. Joe's going to drive us to Golden Gate Park after we've stopped at your place for a change of clothes, okay?" She's walking him towards a small pickup truck. Croaker's comfortably settled in the back with a huge wicker basket, chatting through the open window with Joe in the driver's seat.

Jason is mostly recovered from his experience in the shower (and isn't that a pity?), actually feeling a little stronger now that he's no longer in constant contact with her. It's as if her touch pierces right through his armor, and makes him weak. A good weak, but... "How are we going to manage this, hmm? If I get spotted, I'll be asked questions... and no offense, Diana, but I don't believe you can sneak anywhere..." he drawls with a fond grin.

Diana gives Jason a puzzled look, "Where are we sneaking? Is it a bad thing Alan knows you'll be back?"

Jason waves a hand. "Alan, other folks... the dorm isn't exactly empty of people, and while I'm not the most well loved person around, I'm sure people are wondering. Alan, for one thing, isn't exactly good at keeping a secret." He looks thoughtfully at Croaker. "Maybe I could give you my keys and passcard..."

Diana looks more puzzled, "You... don't want to be seen with me?"

Jason looks back at Diana, "Diana, that's silly... I don't mind at all being seen with you." He chuckles. "I just... look at me! You've turned me into jello! Can you blame me for not wanting to dive into a cacophony of noise and questions? Not to mention that if Alan's going around telling folks that I'm away, wouldn't that make a big hole in my story if I suddenly show up, not away after all?"

Diana considers a bit as Joe drives -- he and Croaker both somehow are managing not to grin knowingly at Jason's condition. Diana finally curiously asks, "Well, why would he tell a story that'd have a hole in it if you returned -- when I told him you were coming back after we'd showered to pick up a change of clothes?"

Jason oh-ohs! "I see, you took that into account. I'm sorry, I didn't realize." He nods his head a little too vigorously... it's more like it's flopping around bonelessly. "Okay, then, I guess... we'll have to brave the lions, as it were..."

Diana still looks a bit confused, "Er... was it wrong to tell him that? He said everyone would want to see us, to know you were okay, so I thought it was all right to tell him?"

Jason laughs wryly. "No, no, not wrong, love... I just... you'll understand when we get there. It'll be a mob."

There's a small choked snort from Joe. Diana smiles at Jason in relief, "All right. Mobs I can handle."

When they get there, it seems that Diana's abilities will be put to the test. Keeping in mind there are classes going on, there's still several dozen folks there... most of them from his dorm, but also a healthy representation from the classes Jason goes to, and the classes he helps teach. They're all milling around outside the entrance to his building, chattering excitedly at each other, clearly trying to drain every last bit of info of what they know, or think they do. Jason's face flops into his hands. "I'm going to kill Alan. This is worse than I thought... there's like a hundred people out there!"

Joe's grinning calmly, and Croaker can be heard to chuckle through the open back window. Diana gives Jason a puzzled smile, "Er... is it bad they're happy for you?"

"Well, maybe there's some happiness out there, sure, but mostly it's just the average human desire to be nosey, and butt into other folk's private stuff," Jason explains muffledly, "Besides, it's not as if I can tell them the truth, and I've never been great about weaving elaborate lies..." He looks thoughtful. "Maybe I should leave that up to you? Have you distract them while I go in and get my things?"

Diana tilts her sunglasses down to give Jason a puzzled look, "Of course I'm going with you to get your stuff! You might need a hand!" She slides the glasses back on, studying the crowd -- then stiffens slightly as a thought occurs to her. A moment later she says slowly, "Are you saying... Alan lied to me when he said folks would want to congratulate you?"

Jason's not sure why, but something inside him tells him to answer that... carefully... he shakes his head. "Diana, no, he didn't lie. But... I mean, come on. I've told you about my life at school. Do you seriously believe everyone out there is a close friend? I'm no social butterfly. I can almost guarantee maybe a quarter of those people are actual friends... most of them are just folks who I know by sight, and are likely more curious about what's going on than falling over themselves to congratulate me. How can they? They barely know me enough to know my name! Alan's just... he's the talkative sort. And he probably went overboard in wanting to give me a big welcome... it's not his fault... really."

Diana's silent a moment, studying the crowd thoughtfully... then she gets a small grin, "Well, then... if they're not here to congratulate you, why don't we give them reason to envy you?" Her grin gets mischievous, and Jason can feel a small tingle of... anticipation? pleasure? -inside himself from her as she slides fluidly out of the truck and waves to the crowd. "Hello, boys, we made it! Is Alan here?"

Joe murmurs quietly, "Nicely handled," and Croaker smiles and nods once -- just as they can all feel the suddenly electric silence in the crowd as it notices Diana. Jason nods wryly to Joe, easily comprehending what the man's about, even as he gingerly climbs out, watching the reaction of some of the others with some amusement. Though he finds himself oddly perplexed by the silence, he assumes it's likely just the effect Diana has on everyone... holding a hand up to protect from the glare of the sun, he picks out one dark skinned young man. "Mr. Carson, aren't you supposed to be in Chaos Theory class?" he says in a mock-authoritative tone, grinning.

There's an outburst of commentary then -- an explosive torrent of excitement and murmuring. Folks are astonished, bewitched, pleased, excited... the young man so addressed is simply gaping open-mouthed at Diana. Jason can feel it too, as Diana smiles, one hand on her hip, casually running her fingers through her mane of ravens-wing black hair -- she's 'pulling' gently, and has everyone's attention. Diana purrs at the attention, tucking one hand possessively into Jason's arm and beaming at him, "So, lollipop, how's this?"

Jason stifles a laugh... if this were a movie, right now she'd be moving in slow motion to a musical backdrop. "You're incredible, gumdrop," he quips right back, half in jest as he takes the lead with her, curious to see if they'll part for them like the Red Sea... they do, actually, the closer ones staring wide-eyed and whispering, the ones further back jostling to see. She beams at him, leans in to give him a light kiss on his cheek, then practically promenades up to the building to him, her walk slow, swaying, and very aware of how she's being regarded. Alan's standing by the door, staring as well. He grins weakly when Jason notices him, swallowing before he husks out, "H-hi, Diana... hi, Jase."

Jason can't help but take a little pleasure in Alan's reaction... it's a little harmless payback for the mob. "I bet now you're wishing you didn't have that test you had to study for when I went out with the guys... oh, and that you were 21," he smirks, making a show of reaching out and pinching his cheek.

Alan blinks bemusedly at Jason, "Uh?" A moment later his eyes widen and he stares at Diana, "She's... a stripper?!" Diana raises an amused eyebrow at Alan, who turns several shades darker in embarrassment -- and there's an outburst of commentary and catcalls behind them.

Diana grins suddenly, then digs in her purse, pulling out a business card. She hands it to Alan, purring, "We prefer the term 'exotic dancer,' actually." She steps around him and holds the door open for Jason, as Alan stares bemusedly at the card in his hand. Other guys are streaming closer now, all wanting to see the business card.

Jason shakes his head... if only they knew how exotic! At some of the catcalls he looks back in a mixture of amused annoyance. "Oh, you... pooh-pooh all you want, but don't try to pretend that if it was you she decided to take by the arm, you'd be any less willing to go... wherever she wanted," he drawls. He comes up beside her, but instead of going through the door he pulls her instead into a kiss, as if in a parting shot at those folks who sneered.

Diana chuckles softly, then wraps her arms around Jason and puts her heart into it, taking her time and running one hand down his back and then back up under his shirt. She slowly rubs herself against him, rolling her hips, and he can feel her sensuously exploring him again, much like the time he passed out in the shower with her. He can, in fact, feel his breath getting short again...

Jason groans... that's more than he'd intended, but he feels like he's gotten his point across, and so regretfully pulls his lips from hers. "I suppose we really should get my things, Di..." he purrs, as if the others weren't there. Diana can't resist having the last word... he feels her teeth close slowly on his ear. Curiously, the crowd seems to be getting noisier and rowdier -- and closer. Jason's eyes rolls in that direction a little worriedly. "Di..."

Diana seems initially oblivious, intent on stealing all of Jason's attention again. It's when Alan accidentally bumps into them, backing up from the crowd, that she gives a small, irritated hiss, looking up... and then Jason feels her body stiffen against him and, right next to his face, her eyes flash. She snarls clearly, fangs baring, "That's... enough!" The tingle of raw sensual pleasure he could feel inside a moment ago transforms instantly into sharp anger.

And the crowd falls back instantly.

Jason tugs at Diana's arm firmly... he certainly wanted her to do something, but that was not it. "If you'll excuse us," he apologizes, pulling Diana to the safety of the building, trying to put some distance between them as he pulls her towards the elevator. "I didn't mean that hard, Di..."

Diana lets herself be hauled into the building, Alan hastily following behind. The door bangs shut behind them, and the lights indicating an elevator is on the way down to them turn green. Alan stands by the elevator with them, just staring at Diana, obviously not sure what to say or do. Diana raises an eyebrow at Alan, who flushes and looks down, muttering, "I -- I'm sorry, Jason, D-diana..."

Jason sighs... in spite of it all, he can't be too mad at the guy. "It's okay, Al... your heart was in the right place. But sometimes you just don't think these things through," he drawls, giving Alan's shoulder a little shove. He finds himself making a big show of forgiving Alan, just so Diana doesn't have any more 'moments' like the one before.

Alan grins sheepishly, then glances at Diana apologetically. She smiles, sliding an arm around Jason's waist, and Alan looks relieved, running a hand through his hair (and making a mess of it), "Ah... guess I should go hustle 'em off, right?" Diana's smile warms, and Alan perks up noticeably. He calls over his shoulder as he leaves, "See you later, Jase -- have fun, guy!" The elevator chimes, and the doors slide smoothly open.

Jason waves back, and just shakes his head again. "Poor Al..." he drawls, as he moves with Diana into the elevator, "he tries so hard to be popular."

Diana smiles again, wrapping both arms around Jason and leaning her head against his shoulder as the doors slide shut. The elevator starts rising with a small jerk, and she murmurs, "I'm sorry too, lollipop. I've never had so much fed to me before, so I had no idea how strong it would be." She sighs softly, her breath warm on his throat -- then a moment later he can feel her smile against his shoulder as she adds, "Although... it was the loveliest way I can think of to be overfed to the point of somnolence..."

Jason blinks. "Somnolence? And what exactly... I mean, how does what I feed you affect how powerful you are with that... I don't know how to put it. Succubae presence, maybe?"

Diana nods, rubbing her cheek gently against Jason's collar bone as she replies, "Yup, you knocked me out the first day almost as much as I knocked you out, lollipop -- you kept offering yourself to me, and I..." she takes a slow breath, and Jason can feel again that raw sensual lust inside, "I... couldn't resist you... I drank you all up and licked you clean." She takes another slow breath, her fingers tightening slightly on Jason, and purrs, "You're so very delicious, lollipop..."

Jason's hands close on Diana's wrists. "I certainly enjoyed it, Di, more than anything... but this is something we're going to need to work on," he says calmly but firmly. He looks into Diana's eyes. "You do know that, right?" he says, softer.

Diana nods, seemingly unruffled by his holding her wrists, "Oh, definitely. It's usually intoxicatingly nice to feel full, but this isn't that nice. I was almost painfully stuffed, and I'm afraid of hurting you if that happens again." She hesitates, then adds with some relief, "I'm glad you don't want to keep feeding me that much, sweet. It's... scary." She hesitates again, then adds ruefully, "And... for some reason I'm really itchy today, too!" She starts to shift one hand, coming up against Jason's hold on her wrists.

Jason lets go of her hands, now that she's moved away from being sex-kittenish. "I also think there's a difference, love, between wanting to keep offering you pleasure, and keeping wanting to feed you..." he adds with a smile.

Diana absently rubs her lower back, shifting uncomfortably as she does so. "Mmm-mmf! This is really annoying..." She looks up at Jason and smiles, "Well, when we're actually being sexual one usually becomes the other... but outside of that it should be fine, true." She sighs in frustration, then unbuttons her shorts and slides one hand down the back to rub her itchy spot, "Darn, this itch won't go away -- it's been driving me nuts trying to ignore it all day!" The elevator chimes, coming to a halt, and the doors slide smoothly open.

Jason blinks. "Is it just in that one spot?" he queries, trying to see the place where she's itching... from a purely clinical perspective, surely.

Diana turns around, letting her shorts drop, "Mostly, yes -- right there!" She uses her slender fingers to circle the spot right at the base of her spine where her buttocks join their gentle curve.

Jason bends over, trying to get a better look at that... spot. Not her magnificently sculpted posterior, just that one spot she's drawing his attention to. Really. No kidding. But as he does focus on it, his eyebrows tilt. "What the hell is that... I mean, it looks like an insect bite or..." The doors start to close and Jason abruptly reaches out with one foot to try and stop it from closing... things rapidly degenerate from there. In attempting to catch the door, he loses his balance and falls on his ass... the tangle of limbs, and the fact that Diana's snug shorts are around her ankles, don't improve matters -- the shapely succubus gives an "eep!" and falls unceremoniously atop him.

Seconds later the elevator door opens two floors up as the two are squirming around on the elevator floor... three young freshmen women stare at the two of them in shock. Though Jason's face is hidden, he raises a warning hand. "Don't panic... I can explain everything."

Diana tosses her head back, her slow laugh low, husky, and teasing, "Okay, I want to hear this too, then!" She grins, winking at the three girls, then turning to look at Jason under her, and lazily rubs her rear against him as she adjusts her short top to cover her breasts again. One of the girls absently licks her lips, and one of them blushes hotly. The third simply raises an eyebrow, murmuring amusedly, "Must be a doozie!"

Jason groans! "Diana, for god's sake, you're not helping!" he protests, his face flaming. "I'm trying to convince them that I wasn't taking advantage of you..." He's squirming as he talks, trying to get out from under Diana... or at the very least, move out of range of her tantalizing rump.

There are several giggles at that, including Diana's. She grins up at the three women, cheerfully saying, "Going down! Hop on if you're coming too!" The amused girl laughs aloud at that one, while the first one simply steps automatically into the elevator, trying not to stare at Diana. The flushing girl turns even brighter red, hastily murmuring, "I'll, uh, take the stairs!" but is cheerfully dragged onto the elevator by the amused girl, "Oh, hush, Hilary -- you've seen a naked woman before, surely!" She grins at Diana, "What floor?"

Diana makes no effort to help Jason slide out from under her, casually and provocatively leaning against him as she gives the correct floor. The amused girl presses the correct button, the doors slide shut, the elevator starts moving... and she tilts her head, "Jason, isn't it? Jason... Bark? No, Burke?" She chuckles softly, "Never would have guessed." She looks at Diana and calmly gestures introductions, "That's Hilary, who is born again, so you're shocking her terribly. I'm BJ, and this is Rita, who thinks you're hot. And you are...?" Diana lithely squirms out of her shorts, grabs them, and rises, extending a hand, "Diana! Pleased to meet you all. I think I've seen Rita at Dante's on Ladies' Night, yes?" Rita goes bright red, Hilary looks shocked, and BJ laughs aloud again, "Oh, my...!"

Jason groans, his forehead knocking against the elevator wall. "And the clouds rolled back to reveal the kingdom of heaven, and god did speak into me and sayeth, 'Suck it, Jason,'" he groans. He smiles sheepishly at Bonnie-Jean, who he remembers from a dorm party a while back. "This really is more innocent than it looks..." he assures her as he finally pries himself out from under Diana...

BJ and Diana both giggle at that. BJ tilts her head expectantly, grinning at Jason, and Diana takes a moment to slip her shorts back on. Rita blinks, abruptly jerking her gaze away from the cheerfully sensual succubus, and breathing deeply. Jason cleans his throat. "She was showing me a rash, and the, the elevator door..." he trails off at the looks the women are giving him. "Never mind. Just trust me," he mutters, his face matching Hilary's.

There's a lot of choked snickering and giggling at that. Fortunately the elevator arrives on the correct floor then, and mercifully he can disembark. Diana cheerfully waves and bids the girls goodbye, handing a business card each to BJ and Rita. As the elevator doors slide closed, Hilary's shocked voice can be heard stage-whispering, "That woman wasn't wearing any underwear!" Diana giggles at that, then slides an arm through Jason's and looks around, "So, which door is yours, sweet? Let's get your clothes and head out, mmm?"

Jason nods, taking her hand. "Yeah. And maybe we should use the fire escape on the way out. Safer that way," he mutters as he brings her to his room. Being a grad student, he's lucky enough to have a single... which doesn't mean he has a lot of space, but he has at least as much space as some folks are supposed to share between two. The walls are covered with bookshelves, and an odd poster or two of vaguely fantasy-oriented depictions... dragons and the like. No pin-ups, though. "So... how long exactly are we expecting to be needing clothes for?" he queries dryly.

Diana wanders around the room like a curious cat, lightly brushing her fingers over a few things as she explores. She smiles over her shoulder at Jason at his question, her golden eyes gleaming through the swirl of ravens-wing black bangs, "Mother says I should expect you to be able to be released around noon or evening, sweet. You're walking on your own already, so I'm going to guess she's right... although I'm also going to try to persuade you to spend the night with me anyway." She grins happily, adding, "I want to be sure you're really, really deeply connected to me, after all. Does that sound nice, mmm?"

Prolonged study of the shelves comes up with eclectic tastes: "Chaos," by James Gleick. Stephen King's "On Writing." One soft-cover called "Plagues and Peoples," which seems to discuss the possibility of sickness being something nature uses to keep populations in check. A sociology book called "Ain't No Makin' It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low Income Neighborhood." A few collections of poetry by Frost and Eliot. A half dozen Shakespeare paperbacks. Several dozen fictional works, mostly mystery and sci-fi, twenty or so computer texts... the list goes on. This explains much about why he never had a social life: Jason reads too much.

"I don't think there's any doubt of that..." Jason calls out of his tiny closet, changing into fresh clothes and tossing a clean pair onto the bed. He pokes his head out a moment later. "Wait... did you, uh, put the permanent mark on me that night? I don't remember..." He catches Diana looking at his copy of 'The Zombie Survival Guide.' "I should write a book... the Succubus Survival Guide. Make millions," he mutters to himself.

Diana grins happily at Jason's reassurance, "Okay!" She runs fingers lightly along the book spines, not really recognizing any of them until she gets to the Shakespeare -- at which she makes a small, happy, "Ooh!" She blinks, looking over her shoulder again at Jason when he asks his question, "Hm? Oh, definitely, lollipop. Didn't want to leave a blood mark any longer than necessary, and besides, I had to shed some energy or feel like bursting!" She tilts her head thoughtfully and smiles at him, "Why do you ask?" She giggles at his comment about surviving succubae.

Diana considers a moment, then studies the room thoughtfully. A moment later she heads purposefully for his tiny porch, "Speaking of marks... let's make sure you're clearly marked, territory and all..."

Jason disappears again for a second. "Oh, I was just wondering... I'm feeling you a lot more strongly now... well, stronger and more frequent than befo... pardon?" He appears again, dressed in a short-sleeved polo and new slacks, following after her. "What are you doing?" Outside on the porch, Diana's doing something by the sliding door's doorjamb, which seems to entail gestures, quiet birdsong, and colorful trailing streams of energy. Jason blinks, and is quiet, studying what she's doing, fascinated...

A moment later she pauses, regarding something, then smiles. She comes back in, "Just putting a territoriality mark on your home, sweet, so any other supernaturals know you're someone else's property. Unlike my mark on you, they'll fade over time since there's no one to feed them energy... but they'll do for now, just in case. Let me get the front door, and then we'll be done." She trails her fingers tinglingly along his arm as she slides past him in the small room, heading for the door. She repeats the same procedure, then steps back into the room, closing the front door behind her, and sighs happily, sliding up against Jason. "Mm... ready, sweet?"

Jason puts his hand on Diana's shoulder. "It's not that I don't appreciate the effort, love... but isn't that a little... I don't know, wasted?" he queries.

Diana chuckles quietly, teasing her fingernails lightly across the back of his neck, "It's a great way to use up a bit of energy, lollipop. When I said you were irresistible, I wasn't kidding -- Mother said had you been a more energetic person, I'd have been hurt!"

Jason smiles, flushing again. "For me too, I guess... didn't want to stop... but that's not what I meant. It just seems to me that such a mark isn't all that helpful if supernaturals are going to show up anyway to oust you, attracted by this aura of contentment... and if they're going to come after me anyway, because I am what I am," he explains.

Diana thinks about that, then looks a bit puzzled, "You know, that's right!" She continues to lightly, distractingly run her fingernails along the back of his neck as she considers. Finally she shakes her head, "I don't know, lollipop. Mother says one should always mark one's territory and property... and she also says you can't reason with invading supernaturals. So... wouldn't that mean the invaders know who or what to hit first?" Slowly she adds, "Maybe... maybe the ones just traveling through want to know what not to touch?"

Jason shrugs. "Seems to me, Diana, that a mark only has power if others fear the consequences of violating it. Don't get me wrong... your mark on me is far more significant than that. But as far as marking territory, perhaps we should look into something a little more potent, if we do it at all. It doesn't seem to me that supernaturals, from what little I've seen and everything I've heard, respond to any of the social niceties that humans do. We have to presume until proven otherwise that any other supernatural is a threat, and therefore simple marks won't ward them off," he says softly.

Diana sighs ruefully, "Well, to be honest I've only met two, sweet -- Croaker and Mother. I've seen a few in the distance, but Mother wouldn't let me go near them." She pauses, then adds wistfully, "I'm hoping we meet a few in our travels, though. I... well, I always wondered if they were all as bad as Mother said. I mean, Croaker came out all right, you know?"

"With magical help." Jason reminds her. "And we won't be able to carry healing potions around with us. Much as I'd like to hope there are other friendlies out there... if what your mother says is true, they might not be friendly once they find out I'm the equivalent of a Ming vase." He looks at his desk, and picks something up. "Diana, I don't want to hurt you... but maybe it's time you tell me if things like this can affect you." He dangles the crucifix from his fingers.

Diana giggles at the 'Ming Vase' comment, then bends to look at what Jason's got, reaching for the sparkly dangling cross. She straightens, examining it more closely, then smiles, "Oh, a religious symbol -- I know this one. No, this won't harm me -- no one of faith wore it, so the energy it has is just decorative." She hands it back to Jason, adding, "I'm not really sure if a religious symbol owned by someone who truly believes would bother me or not, though."

Jason nods thoughtfully... the crucifix was blessed, but apparently that's not the crux of it. Power comes from belief, not from any ritual. "How about things like salt, or silver, or running water?"

Diana gives Jason a puzzled look, "What? Are you just picking those things randomly, or something?" She grins, adding, "If silver bothered me, Mother's pets' moon phase bracelets wouldn't be in my bag, surely?"

Jason shakes his head. "It's not as if I knew for sure what they were... and no, I'm not picking them randomly. These are things that are supposed to harm or protect from the supernatural, according to legend and mythology and popular fiction."

Diana smiles, "Well, maybe they harm other supernaturals? I'm not aware of silver or running water being an issue, especially since I particularly like hot showers. Salt, though... solid food makes me nauseous unless I can eject it in... oh, about an hour or so." She points at his computer then, asking, "What's that? It's got a lot of your energy in it -- almost as much as your bed does."

Jason hunhs? "Oh, that's my Dell... it's a computer. I do a lot of work with computers... you say it has energy?" he queries, looking curious. "And wait... why would my bed have my energy?"

Diana wanders over, running her fingers lightly along the plastic frame, curiously studying the dark, reflective screen. "What's a computer? Is it a sort of calculator? Your bed has energy because you spend time there, sweet... more time than you spend with this thing." Curiously she touches the keyboard, murmuring, "A typewriter...?"

Jason blinks, wondering just how out of touch Diana is with modern technology. "No, that's..."

She says, "You named it Dell? Interesting... if you're that fond of it, that probably helped put more of your energy into it."

Jason blinks, then laughs. "What? No, no... that's the company that made it. I actually named him Benedick. But a computer is much more than a typewriter. It stores information, for one."

Diana tilts her head uncomprehendingly at Jason... then grins and pats the computer lightly, "Hello, Benedick!" She heads back over to rub her chin lightly on Jason's shoulder, murmuring, "Must be useful for things like finances, then?"

Jason chuckles. "Well, among other things, yes... computers have many uses. So you're saying... the more I use something, the more it smells like me, or something."

Diana giggles, "Well, taste more than smell, but yes, sort of! Why, sweet?" She grins, adding cheerfully, "Don't worry, I'm making sure you have my taste all over you too."

Jason laughs and shakes his head. "I'm just... trying to understand all the ins and outs, love. I'm sure that Mike would agree... the best defense is information."

Diana looks thoughtful, "I'd have to agree, but I'm afraid on a lot of supernatural stuff I don't really know very much, unfortunately. Mother and Croaker at least have a chance to remember something... but I don't, because I was born here." She considers a moment longer, then curiously asks, "So what were you saying previously about feeling me more?"

Jason taps his skull. "In here. I feel it when you're happy; when you're angry... it resonates in me. It must be like how you can sense what I'm feeling... not all the time. But during particularly potent moments..."

Diana looks startled, "Already?! Oh, my!" She falls silent, considering, and he can feel a flutter of excitement inside. Then she grins and enthusiastically says, "Let's test it, shall we? Here, you stand here with your back to me, and I'll move over here..." She suits her actions to her words.

Jason blinks. "Well... okay..." He wonders what she's about now, but does as she requests, facing away from her. He can hear Diana happily whispering to herself behind him, then falling silent. A moment later he can feel it, a feeling like need turning over slowly next to his heart... then clutching his heart agonizingly. Diana...! He has to go to her, he must, right now she needs him he'll die from the pain of being alone and separate from her...!

Jason is suffused with this feeling, and though a small part of his mind recognizes this effect and shrinks back in fear from it, the rest of him is responding in a flurry of motion... the world is out of joint, and he is barely able to perceive his half-spoken pleadings not to send him away again, his mouth and hands trying to offer her pleasure as if to bribe her to this end... he comes to clear awareness a few moments later, his shaking arms clinging about Diana as she kneels on the floor with him half across her lap. She's holding him close, gently stroking his hair and whispering reassuringly, "...-ll right, sweet, it's all right, I have you, I won't let you go, I promise..." She kisses the top of his head lightly, then continues, her voice unhappy, "I'm so sorry, Jason... come back, please? I promise I won't leave, as long as we both live..."

Jason lets out a racking sob and shivers, "Oh, god... Diana, what... how could you do that to me?" he whispers... less angry than shocked and afraid.

Diana shudders, and curiously he can feel her pain as his words stab her, next to his own pain given him by her. "J-jason? I'm so sorry!" She hugs him more tightly then, tears running down her face as she almost incoherently babbles at him, "I didn't know it would be so strong, I'm an idiot, I'm sorry, Jason, I'm sorry!"

Jason instantly hates himself, and wishes he could snatch back the words from his mouth. "Shhh, Diana, it's okay, I just... I'm sorry too, I didn't mean...we've got to be careful with that..." he whispers, trying to sooth her with the tone in his voice. Though it doesn't hit him as hard as it does her, he would never offer her pain, especially realizing how it feels to her. Diana cries harder at that, clinging tightly to Jason... although he can sense there's an edge of almost hysterical relief in her tears.

Some time later, after mutual cuddling and reassurance, and Diana promising not to thoughtlessly try stupid experiments like that again, the small group is safely en route to the park. It's still morning, and looks like it's going to be a gorgeous early spring day. Joe drops the three of them off, calm and patient as always, then heads off on some errands for Beatrice and Dante's. Croaker casually strips off his shirt, then stretches in some relief. Then he easily shoulders the large wicker basket and tilts his head inquiringly at the other two. Diana's been a bit touchy since hurting Jason, and she looks up at him and asks, "Any place in particular you'd like to picnic, or shall I pick one?"

Jason smiles encouragingly. "Whatever you pick should be fine, love," he murmurs, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. He absently looks at Croaker knowingly... a gaze that might say, if it had voice: 'this is what you wanted...feel free to speak up at any time'. Diana selects a spot in the shade of a large tree, with the broad green expanse of this part of the park before them. Croaker settles easily -- a dark-furred minotaur blending into the warm, dim shade -- and starts unpacking the (obviously brand new) wicker basket, shaking out a checkered blanket. Delicious smells drift by as he does so.

Diana shades her eyes, looking out over the green sward, then grins, looking back at the other two, "I'll be right back!" She trots off at an easy jog, heading for an ice cream stand. Croaker watches her leave, smiling with quiet happiness to himself... then glances at Jason and murmurs inquiringly, "Everything okay, seer?"

Jason smiles reassuringly. "Everything is fine, Croaker. Just... the normal bumps and scrapes every relationship has." he looks rueful. "Well, maybe not every relationship, but... you understand."

Croaker chuckles -- a low rumble -- and nods, "I've seen Beatrice enough to recognize some of what happens around me, yes." He starts laying out containers of food, adding, "They're... curiously fragile. Both of them, really... mentally as well as physically." He tilts his head to regard Jason, his paler horns and his teeth showing up more in the shadow than the rest of him. "Have you seen it too?"

Jason kneads his hands. "Of Diana, surely. And of Beatrice...though I don't know it for sure, I suspect that she talks a better game than she has played. She presents a cunning facade to ones such as me, Croaker...to me especially, because I have Diana's heart. You likely see more of her true self, not being human."

Croaker nods slowly, considering as he brings out eating utensils for two, "I think so. It's like their minds and emotions and spirits reflect their bodies, in a way... like birds, you know?" He hands Jason a plate, then starts opening the food containers, and Jason suddenly realizes he's ravenous again. "Joe told me about the bones of birds. They're very, very strong as long as they're being properly used the way they're intended... but hit the bone in the center instead of along the length of it, and they'll shatter." He starts serving himself, adding, "Like what happened to Beatrice the night you and Diana bonded. She's a bit shaken... if it weren't for Joe and I, I wonder how well she'd be doing."

Jason looks at Croaker sharply. "What do you mean? What happened?"

Croaker, who's just put an entire fried chicken leg into his mouth, rolls his eyes amusedly at Jason. He holds up a finger, still chewing, and Jason can hear some simply astonishing crunching noises... then a few seconds later Croaker swallows, "Excuse me." He wipes his mouth with a napkin -- it's almost startling how carefully fastidious the huge bull-man is -- then continues, "She's a bit... well, she's been taking all the flock she can, so she can support us all. That means her, um... emotional equilibrium isn't as... well, I think part of it is she knows a lot of them don't really care about her, and so she doesn't care much about them either -- they're just using each other to mutual gain, you know?"

Jason nods. "I had surmised as much, and have a good guess as to the reasons behind these choices. But what does this have to do with that night?"

"Well, she's, ah... torn over her daughter. They both know Diana must move on, but they've been together for all of Diana's life so far, you know?" Croaker smiles quietly, "I know you don't really care for Beatrice, but she does love her daughter." Croaker considers a moment, then adds thoughtfully, "She loves Joe and myself too, in her own way. So... she went out to hunt the human that attacked females on her own, to work off some, ah... some aggression, and... she wasn't as careful as usual, you know? Like I said, she's like a bird -- she's been hit emotionally in a way she isn't well designed for, I think, and she's a bit hurt by it." There is a quiet sympathy in Croaker's voice as he adds, "So the human came up from behind and hit her in the head and knocked her out. She came to with a massive headache, in agony from her broken wing, and with him assaulting her physically." He glances over to where Diana's still talking to the ice cream salesman, then looks back at Jason and adds, "So, to stop the pain, she ate him." He falls silent, watching Jason thoughtfully.

Jason finds himself curiously unperturbed by this news... not like he was alarmed earlier by her threat of violence against the gentleman that barged in on them. "I had wondered about that... but never suspected that might have been the course of events," he replies. "To me, she seemed far stronger than to be taken down so easily." He scratches his chin. "How curious, that emotion is both their meat and their poison."

"Ordinarily she is. But right now she's... her balance is shaken, and she just unwittingly swallowed a vile person whole. It's... eating at her a bit." Croaker considers a moment, then carefully adds, "But I... it is not that I wish to convince you of anything regarding Beatrice. I mention this because, ah..." he glances towards Diana again, and his expression softens, watching her laughing, hair shining in the sunshine, at the ice cream man's cheerful flattery. A moment later he blinks, turning back to Jason with a smile, "Pardon me. I mention it, Seer, because I would very much like to see you and Mike and Diana thrive... and I would like to pass on to you anything useful I've learned in the past time with them, that might help you all do well together."

Jason smiles at Croaker's reaction to Diana, sharing in his happiness. "I take your assistance happily, Croaker...but it seems to me that Beatrice is in far more need of aid than I am," he muses. "Perhaps we should see about fixing that imbalance."

Croaker sighs quietly, regarding his plate of food a moment... then looks up at Jason, "I'd gladly feed her more of my energy if it would help, Seer, but she says it would not. I..." he shrugs his massive shoulders a bit helplessly, "I serve their physical needs, I help Joe maintain Dante's so they have plenty of money and emotion available to them... I don't know how to help more than I currently am, and Diana unfortunately must leave. Do you know anything else to try?"

Jason smiles suddenly. "I do, actually, thanks to you," he grins, eyes twinkling.

Croaker's ears flick forward, and he goes still in sudden, narrow focus on Jason, "You do? What? Tell me too, please?"

Jason grins, leaning close, as if to convey some great secret. "Joe." he says sagely. Croaker blinks puzzledly, but simply nods once for Jason to continue. Jason spreads his hands. "If what has been said to me is true, he loves her. Beatrice has fed far too long on men who, at best, likely give her indigestion. And now she's swallowed something toxic. I think it's time to change her diet."

Croaker tilts his head puzzledly, "You... think she should eat more of Joe? I'm... not sure that would be g..." His voice trails off as he considers... then he straightens and with a hint of excitement rumbles, "Of course! If she's only feeding two instead of three, she won't need as many -- and Joe's contribution will have more impact!"

Jason nods excitedly. "Of course, that's only a place to start. While I agree that some of these men need to be kept under control, I think she might start looking for chosen partners somewhere other than in her own den. It doesn't exactly attract the cream of the crop, as far as disposition is concerned. The trick is to convince her to try this."

Out on the greensward, a few college age boys are now tossing around a frisbee, cheerfully calling back and forth to each other, and with a joyously yappy dog dancing delightedly around them all. It's a gorgeous day. The food smells and tastes wonderful, the sun is shining warmly, and on the far side of the field Diana finally turns with a bag in hand, waving over her shoulder to the enchanted ice cream man and starting to skip back towards Jason and Croaker. She looks very young, laughing and with her dark hair floating behind her.

Croaker starts to say, "Where else does one find lustfully admiring men, though, See-" His voice dies as he notices Diana coming towards them -- then he abruptly clenches his hands, drawing in his breath sharply. There's a slight 'crack'! and the paper plate gives way, dumping food in his lap. He snorts startledly, looking down at his lap. He mutters something that doesn't translate well -- something about cows kicking? -and hastily cleans up, glancing up at Diana several times as he does so.

Jason stifles a laugh. "Croaker... maybe we should talk about this more later. This is your day, remember?" he whispers, assisting the minotaur in his efforts.

Croaker gives Jason a sheepish sideways glance, then murmurs, "Thank you, Seer." Out on the greensward, the young men have noticed Diana and fallen silent... then one cautiously calls out a cheerful greeting and tosses the frisbee her way. She glances over startledly, reflexively dodging the frisbee... then whirls, watching it land. She glances uncertainly back at the young men, who all cheerfully encourage her to toss it back to them. She grins suddenly, impishly, and darts over to the frisbee. There's a flurry of instructions called back and forth, and then she gives a wobbly but willing toss to the nearest guy. Jason watches this interchange uncertainly... this is an unwelcome interruption to their plans. "Why don't you go join her... I can handle this..." he suggests.

The young man slowly tosses the frisbee back to Diana, giving her time to put down her bag and hastily catch the frisbee with both hands. There's laughter, and the next toss she makes is more confident. The young men are more than happy to include her in their game, and she brightens as her confidence grows. Croaker studies the scene for a few moments, then grins at Jason with a hint of excitement, "You're right, Seer -- that's the answer!"

"I'm sorry, which answer?" Jason replies confusedly.

Watching, Croaker rumbles with quiet contentment, "What Beatrice needs, Seer, just as you said. Admirers with a better disposition. Look how happy they all are... doesn't it make you feel good just to see them playing?"

The dog comes bouncing over excitedly to the new player -- then suddenly comes to an abrupt, bristling halt, staring at Diana, crouching and tail tucked. The young man who owns the dog calls to it reassuringly, but it has frightened eyes only for Diana. She smiles, holding out one hand... and a moment later the dog crawls forward, almost unwillingly, then rolls over before reaching her, its tail wagging in nervous intensity. She grins, kneeling next to it and rubbing its belly, and the young man comes over to chat with her a bit.

A few moments later the dog rolls back over and bounces around gleefully a few times, then darts off yapping excitedly. The young man offers her his hand and pulls her lightly to her feet. She laughs at something he says, then darts over to where Jason and Croaker are, and slides gracefully to kneel next to Croaker, her eyes shining, "Hi, guys! Guess what I got you?"

Jason smiles in answer to Croaker, and looks back at Diana. "What's that, love?"

Diana beams excitedly, "Ice cream!" She pulls two ice cream sandwiches out of the bag, and hands one to each man, then hugs Croaker impetuously, "Croaker loves ice cream!" Croaker grins, holding his ice cream sandwich in one hand and putting a gentle arm around the much smaller woman as she hugs him.

That's not all he loves. Jason thinks to himself, watching the two together. It heartens him, both just to see them happy... and his own reaction gives him hope. If he can only keep this in mind with Mike, there'll never be a problem. But thinking of Mike reminds him of that dream, which makes him flustered...that encounter was far more than friendship, and he wonders not for the first time from whence it came.

The three of them relax under the tree for a while. Croaker eats his (relatively) tiny ice cream sandwich with great enjoyment, then is enormously pleased when Diana proudly and gleefully produces another from the bag. This one is a bit meltier, and that's when Jason learns Croaker has a very long, dark tongue, as the minotaur tidily licks his fingers clean. Diana chatters happily, making daisy chains as she reminisces with Croaker, and Croaker and Jason eat. Listening, Jason realizes Croaker needs a lot of regular food as well as whatever Beatrice is giving him... and he also realizes things used to be very, very hard for the supernaturals. They laugh about it now, but Jason hears them reminiscing about times when they all went hungry, or when the only folks who'd stop for them on their trek were hay wagons drawn by rickety tractors or mule teams.

They also talk about the beginning of the 'good times,' when the men building the Golden Gate Bridge came to their bar for drinks after work... and when Diana had the brainstorm of using the bar for more than just serving food and drinks.

Jason tries to remain casual at this reference to these happenings over 75 years ago, spoken as if it was just six months or so ago. Though he does find himself asking, in spite of his amazement, if Diana and Croaker ever had the pleasure of meeting 'Emperor' Norton.

The two of them consider for a moment... then Diana grins, "Oh, yes! He was a very nice man, even though he could 'see' us just like you can." She turns to Croaker, "You remember him, right? You lifted the cart off his trapped dog for him, and he was just as charming and gracious as royalty should be! What was that dog's name..."

Croaker smiles, rumbling, "Ah, yes. Lazarus, I think?"

Jason laughs and shakes his head. That Emperor Norton was one with 'the sight' does not surprise him in the least, under the circumstances.

Diana looks curious, "Why do you ask, sweet? Are you related?" Jason smiles. "No, not at all, love...it's just he's one of the more curious men of history, and I couldn't help but wonder if you could shed some light on him."

Diana smiles, "Well, we didn't know him well, but he was always nice when we passed him on the street." She adds, "That was long before the bridge was built, though, I think...?" She frowns, considering, then murmurs, "I think?"

Jason nods. "A good long while, yes." Something occurs to him then. "Do you think foul play was involved with his death?"

Once she's finished the daisy chain, Diana grins mischievously at Croaker, then stands and starts decorating his horns and shoulders with it. He grins good-naturedly at her, obligingly holding still for her to do so. They both look at him, considering his question, then Diana shakes her head, "I... don't really remember, Jason, I'm sorry. I was very young then -- just starting to figure out money for us, and I hadn't gotten larger yet." Croaker nods quietly in agreement.

Jason waves it off. "It's not important, just curious..." he replies, not wanting to interrupt the adorable dance going on between Croaker and Diana. His heart is full, watching the two old friends and companions so.

Croaker looks really, really happy, actually, his gaze following Diana as she moves around him, occasionally reaching to steady her when she leans across him for something. She's happily chattering about things still, and he replies in quietly contented rumbles, handing her things if requested, sitting still for her to play.

A couple of times Diana pauses and absently rubs at her rear, obviously still itchy. Finally, once she's draped her little daisy chain completely about the smiling minotaur, she darts over to rub her rear against the broad, gnarled tree trunk as she cheerfully asks Jason whether he thinks Croaker looks marvelous too.

Jason grins wide. "Superb," he murmurs, winking at Croaker. When he notices what she's about though, he's curious. "What do you think that rash is about? It looked like an insect bite or sting or something."

Croaker grins shyly at Jason's wink -- then blinks at Jason's query, his large ears swiveling to regard Diana. She's actually somewhat absorbed, her hips grinding her itchy rear slowly against the tree's trunk, her eyes half closed, groaning very softly -- it's startlingly sexual. Jason finds his face flushing... but in spite of his arousal, he's actually concerned. "Di, maybe you'd better let me have another look at that..."

Diana gasps suddenly, then tosses her head back, moaning. Croaker looks startled and alarmed, starting to rise -- then blinks again and goes still in place, looking to Jason, "'Rash'? Swollen, on her rear?"

"Well, something like that... it was, a, I don't know... a swelling, discolored," Jason explains.

Croaker gets a faintly amused smile, settling back into place, "Ah. Yes, your touch will help, then... she's growing up. That'll be her tail coming in, I'm guessing."

Jason's mouth opens, and works for a moment without saying anything. "Well, I... yeah, that would make sense, huh?" He watches Diana some more. "Is the tail an erogenous zone?" he queries dubiously.

Diana cries out, then falls forward onto all fours, panting softly and with her dark mane of hair spreading out fluidly on the grass about her. It's still astonishingly sexual looking, and Croaker gives a sudden, sharp grunt, as if he'd been kicked in the stomach -- then abruptly jerks his gaze away. Staring determinedly out over the grassy sward, he replies, his voice a bit thick, "Ah... yes, when it's just coming in..."

Jason can't help but watch with a burning face... it's as if she were masturbating right in front of them... which in a way, she is. But when she falls forward, there's the indication that maybe she's done, as it were, he reaches out, and helps her back over to them. "Better?" he queries thickly.

Diana groans softly, momentarily a bit limp in his arms, and mumbles, "I feel so -- so hot!" She shifts restlessly, trying to rub her rear again, then kneels between Jason and Croaker, facing away from Jason and using Croaker's bulk to hide from the public. She unfastens her shorts and leans forward, presenting her rear to Jason. He can feel the heat radiating off her, and see the small, slightly wiggly little rat tail at the base of her spine. It's maybe a foot long. "Rub some more, please?" Her voice is a bit pleading.

Croaker looks down at Diana carefully, one horn tilted so he can't see her rear. His expression is a curious mix of sympathy and wistfulness, and he slowly, cautiously raises a large hand... then gently caresses her tangled mane of hair back from her flushed face.

Jason is hesitant, trying to figure out how to handle this situation, looking between Diana's wiggling rear and Croaker, trying to deal with his burgeoning feelings.

Jason finally looks at Croaker... and then the budding appendage, and then back again, giving him an expectant look. His heart thudding in his chest at the implicit offer he just made. Croaker's eyes narrow with perplexity at Jason's gesture... then widen in shocked realization. A moment later he smiles with slow rue, then closes his eyes shakes his head, rumbling something too softly to be heard. In his head Jason hears, "You humble me with your generosity, Seer... but my self control is not that good, I fear."

Jason gives Croaker a wry look as if to say 'and mine is?' Still, he understands... and is both glad and embarrassed he made the offer. Not wanting to keep Diana waiting, he gingerly touches at her tail tip, experimentally, as if not wanting to give too much too fast. The tail twitches at the touch -- then Diana moans softly, rocking back against Jason's hand. Jason swallows, and tries to keep himself under control, by focusing on her tail itself, rather than her wriggling bottom or her plaintive moaning, wondering if it will grow before his very eyes...

Jason's eyes go back up to poor Croaker, who's surely feeling most uncomfortable right now. His own heart continues to thud in his chest, wondering at the right thing to do...his heart goes out to the minotaur, who in having to watch this, is like torture. But it's not as if she can just stop, so... Jason makes a snap decision then. He takes Croaker's hand. "She knows," he says softly to him, almost as a distraction as he places the bull-man's shaggy hand on her tail nub, holding it there. "Give her what you desire."

Croaker jerks at Jason's touch, and he goes rigid, staring at Jason. The whites of his eyes are showing, and when his mouth opens to pant his teeth gleam in the dimness as well. His gaze is haunted on Jason, and then he groans, ducking his head and shaking with the effort of holding still. Then Diana whimpers, rubbing her rear hard against his hand -- and he's lost, reaching out automatically for Diana's smaller body and gathering her to him. His voice in Jason's head is anguished, "Oh, gods, Seer, I hope you're right!"

Jason smiles tremulously. "There may never be another today, Croaker. It would be...wrong of me to deny you, who have loved selflessly," he says haltingly, placing a hand on his shoulder as he rises. But he turns and walks away, then...as much as it speaks of him, to be able to offer this, he neither thinks he'd be able to watch... nor feels it would be appropriate to do so. So he gives them space, and in the process goes over to the guys tossing the frisbee around, acting as distraction as the two old friends take part in a long overdue joining...

The young men are curious, and happy to have another with whom to toss the frisbee around. They cheerfully offer to include the gorgeous girl in the game again if she wants! They're easy going, and tossing the frisbee with them is relaxing and doesn't require a great deal of concentration...

Some time later, when Jason glances over to the shady tree, he can see the two supernaturals watching him. Croaker's dark bulk is lying on the ground, curled around Diana like a giant bear or reclining bull, his head resting on the ground. She's leaning back against him, one leg stretched out and one knee up, her arms outspread across him as if he were a huge, comfortable chair, her hair cascading across his dark fur.

Jason smiles back at the two of them... seeing them together, he knew it was the right choice. Was it easy? Hell no. On the other hand, this would seem to be something he would have to get used to... not only with Mike, but who knows what else might come along? It is a part of her, and he can't afford to look at things the same way as other men. He smiles at them, but keeps up for a little while longer, giving them more time alone...to talk and just be with each other. This was always meant to be for them, and not for him.

The next time Jason looks, much later, Diana smiles and waves an arm to him, beckoning him over. Jason bids goodbye to the friendly fellows, and crosses the grass back to them. "Yes?" he queries, trying to look innocent.

As Jason gets closer he can see what looks very much like a black-tufted lion's tail (except with red skin) curling loosely around Diana and laying across her extended leg. Croaker's long, dark bovine tail is caught in its loop, while its tip is flipping slowly back and forth, like a cat's. One of Diana's hands is lightly rubbing at the base of one of Croaker's horns, and he's lying very still and relaxedly flopped out, his eyes half closed in blissful contentment. Diana looks up thoughtfully at Jason, then grins and says sternly, "Did you set this up, Jason? Did you know what happens when my tail is coming in?"

Jason laughs delightedly, his face flushed. "Diana, you give me too much credit. No, as a matter of fact I didn't know...but faced with the situation I was, I went with my heart. Sometimes, fate just...sneaks up on you like that." He gives her an arch look. "Are you disappointed?"

Diana smiles wryly at Jason, shaking her head slowly. Her voice is mock-stern, "I can see I'm going to have to keep an eye on you, sir!" Her tail flicks once again, curling ticklishly around his ankle. Croaker opens one eye, smiles faintly up at them both, then goes back to simply being blissed out again. He looks, in fact, like much more than that would currently be beyond him.

Jason kneels next to them. "Well, then I won't try to sneak around you at all for what I have planned next," he asserts with a grins.

Diana chuckles, reaching an arm out to draw him close, so she can rest her head against his shoulder. She murmurs softly against his ear, "Thank you, love."

Jason feels a suffusion of pleasure: hearing her call him 'love' for the first time, is more reward than he expected for doing this thing. He just kisses her cheek, and waits for his words to catch up with her mind...

The two of them lean against Croaker's solid bulk, Diana resting her head comfortably against Jason, while the huge bull-man makes the occasional soft grumble at the gentle scritching he's receiving from Diana. Finally Diana curiously murmurs, "Croaker? Why wouldn't you ever let me remove the nose ring, now you're sapient?"

Croaker is silent for a moment, then rumbles quietly, "I... kept it to remind me to humility, lady." Diana grins, gently tugging one bovine ear, "Diana! Say it! I know you can!" He chuckles rumblingly, then is silent again for a bit. Finally he says slowly, "D... Diana... if you wish to remove it, it is yours to do so. I... kept it to -- to make myself remember my place with you... but... you've placed me where you want me, my lady, so it seems foolish of me to object."

Jason looks between the two of them. "Don't look at me. It's kinda up to you."

Diana laughs softly, kissing Jason's throat, then shifts to kneel in front of Croaker's large head where he's lying on the ground. Carefully she takes a moment, unscrewing the pieces, then drawing them out. Croaker grunts once, his head twisting a bit at a sensitive spot. Diana oopses and apologizes... then once she's finished she leans down and kisses him gently on his broad bovine nose. "There. I hope your heart feels a little freer now, dear Croaker." He smiles slowly at her, rumbling, "Less weighted, definitely, my la- uh, Diana. But just as taken, I hope."

Jason can't help but laugh. "You two are adorable," he half-gushes.

Diana grins cheerfully at Jason, "That's good, though, right?" She shifts to settle back next to him, then grins and hooks the heavy brass ring onto Croaker's horn. He chuckles quietly, then closes his eyes again dreamily. Diana smiles at Jason, curiously asking, "So what was that about plans?"

Jason turns to look at Diana impishly.. "There's a book signing coming up, remember?"

Diana looks blankly at Jason for a few seconds -- then 'oh!'s delightedly and hugs Jason. "Yes! Let's surprise him, shall we?"

Jason laughs. "That was my thought, yes..."

Diana beams, happily planning, "I could dress up nice, like when he takes me to plays and ballets -- I bet he'd like that. What would you like to wear, sweetheart? Can you think of anything else fun we might do? Maybe we could take him out to dinner after or something?" Croaker chuckles softly, rumbling, "Doomed, poor man..."




Last modified: 2009-Apr-21 10:40:11

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