| Logs |
2006-05-14
| Dreams |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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High above me, she's so lovely
After talking with Mike, Jason starts to put his plan into action. He'll need to talk to several folks, he knows... no time like the present to start the ball rolling. He makes a list. Alan, he'll talk to about getting the word out about a private party... but with a little less zealousness as before. He doesn't want just anyone at this party... if he wants to get a good, positive vibe going, they'll have to be folks he at least knows, if not knows well.
Alan is quite excited, and also wants to know if there'll be stripping. It's obvious he's asking for a different reason, since he's a bit crestfallen at hearing Jason's plan. He agrees to Jason's request to 'vet' the guest list, although he's a bit curious as to why Jason wishes to do that. Jason smiles and assures Alan that even without stripping, he won't be disappointed. "Just wait till you meet Diana's mother," he says suggestively, his smile getting wider.
Alan's eyes widen a bit. "Dude, she'll be old! You like old women?!"
Jason laughs. "Al... when you see her, you'll think you're in one of those porn films where you can't tell who's the mother and who's the daughter..."
It's clear by his initially startled, then attempted-suave reaction that Alan hasn't actually seen any of those films, but he assures Jason he knows just what Jason means, and he knows just the guys to invite! Jason's smile is a little pained, and he reminds Alan to bring Jason the list before breathing a word of this... Alan cheerfully agrees, and hustles off to start right away!
Jason will also want to talk to Kendra, see if she'll agree to bring the sound system setup from The Cul-De-Sac -- the name of the exclusive cafe he went to the other night with Diana -- to Dante's. Beatrice, of course, will need to be consulted slightly: he will want her to dance, and dance provocatively, but not strip. There will be women there at the party, and he doesn't want to alienate them, seeing as there would likely be no quid pro quo... though he does briefly ponder and then reject Croaker in that vein.
Kendra is interested, if a bit dubious about a party held at what is ostensibly a strip club. She asks warily if there will be stripping going on? Jason laughingly assures her no. There will be entertainment, but not stripping. That's part of the reason he requires her setup: the club's sound system isn't equipped for performing purposes, only for playback. Kendra smiles and agrees to help, then.
Jason decides after speaking with Alan, however, that he won't be the best person to convince a mixed co-ed party... at least in terms of women. Taking some effort, then, he finds Bonnie Jean. He explains to her a little more of the truth: Diana's moving away, and her mother is getting depressed as a result... he wanted therefore to have a large going away party for her at Beatrice's club, to cheer her spirits. He also confirms there will be no stripping and drinking will be controlled... but Beatrice will be doing a more 'clothed' performance as part of the night's entertainment...
BJ listens with amused interest, then asks if there will be male dancers also for those audience members who are neither male nor females attracted to females? Jason's thoughts turn once again to Croaker. "I have someone in mind, though I still have to make sure he's available to do it," he replies, looking a little sheepish. "He's a little shy... but I'm sure the ladies would love him."
BJ looks, if anything, more amused, "Uh-huh... so you, who obviously prefer females -- extraordinarily, ah, well-endowed ones, it would appear! -are going to select a male for all the females to ogle?" She grins teasingly at him, "And he's a little... shy?!"
Jason coughs. "He's mute. And he also happens to be the club's bouncer," he explains.
BJ laughs, then folds her arms, "Okay, this I've got to see." She considers, then grins and says a moment later, "As well as find out exactly why you're telling me all this!"
Jason sighs. "BJ, it's important. I want a good crowd there, a crowd that's going to keep up a positive vibe without it going south. You seem like the kind of person who knows the kind of people I'm looking for." He spreads his hands. "Can you picture Alan trying to invite some girls to a party? He'd get all tongue-tied and forget his name!"
BJ gets an enlightened look, "Oooh! I understand now." She chuckles in spite of herself, then nods, "Yup, that's Alan. Sure, I can help..." her grin gets mischievous, "-but only if you introduce me to this mute wonder-bouncer first! Like... tonight?"
In for a penny... "Sure... why not. After all, you'd be the better judge of what women would like..." he agrees, slightly flushed.
BJ giggles, "Tonight, then!" and sets a time to meet, then cheerfully notes, "I can see why Diana likes you -- you're cute when you blush!"
Jason groans... he just knew he was going to end up red after talking with Bonnie. "'Scuse me, I have to tell a friend he's got plans this evening..." he comments wryly...
BJ laughs and lets Jason go with no further teasing -- just calling after him, "Can I bring Rita?"
"The more the merrier!" he calls back, retreating... Now to put my money where my mouth is...
At the top of Jason's list is Joe: if Joe doesn't agree to this, the plan is dead in its tracks. So, after his last class of the day, Jason heads down to the club. The best way to do this is face to face. So, shortly thereafter Jason is at the bar. He'd initially intended to knock at the back door, but since it's around 5pm already the bar is open and Jason can walk right in. Croaker nods to Jason, still smiling with quiet joy. "Well met, Seer. Our ladies are upstairs if you seek them."
To Jason, Croaker always looks like a minotaur. He knows when Croaker's 'glamour' is on he can 'force' himself to see Croaker as human, however... just as he knows he can sort of squint and force himself with some difficulty to 'not see' supernaturals as more than a sort of menacing foggy awareness at the corner of his vision. Jason does this now, reacquainting himself with how Croaker looks to everyone else. "Not exactly, Croaker... I wanted to talk with you... and Joe, actually. I have an idea concerning what we discussed earlier."
Croaker looks a bit puzzled, but nods his heavy head amiably, "All right. Let me get someone else on duty here, and then I'll join you at the bar." To Jason, the 'human' Croaker looks like a large, powerfully built, black-skinned man. Jason scratches his chin... looks impressive enough to him, but Bonnie Jean will be the real judge.
A short while later Croaker comes over to the bar, leaning against it next to where Jason's seated. Joe nods silently to both men, sliding a beer in front of Croaker and raising an eyebrow at Jason. When he joins the others, Jason starts explaining his plan to Joe... that he wants to bring a bunch of his friends from the college over for a going away party for Diana. He iterates that he's specifically having it here to get Beatrice in on the positive vibe, that there will be a drink maximum, and that he would like Beatrice to perform: not strip, just dance.
Croaker and Joe listen silently, interrupted only by Joe occasionally having to make a drink for one of the girls to serve to a patron. When Jason doesn't request a drink, Joe simply opens two Cokes, setting one in front of Jason and sipping occasionally from the other himself. Jason sips lightly from the Coke... he's on a bit of a nervousness high already, and doesn't need the extra jitters from the caffeine. "So, what do you think? There'll be a cover charge so you'll make some money off it, and I can bring in some other stuff on the cheap, paid out of pocket... but it's your club. I just think... it might be a good way to help Beatrice. What do you say?"
Once Jason's finished explaining, Joe is silent for several minutes, thinking. Finally he looks up at Croaker, "What do you think, man? You've known her longer than I." Croaker blinks, then considers for several moments, his ears flicking absently every once in a while. Finally he sign-gestures to Joe (and rumbles in Jason's head), "Could be a good way to get rid of the more nasty ones that hang around her. You should tell her that's what you're trying to do, though, Joe." He smiles wryly, adding, "She tends to get... hostile if she feels pushed, after all." He and Joe just chuckle quietly at that, and then Joe turns to Jason, "All right, sounds good. You do realize she may choose to strip anyway, yeah?"
Jason groans. "Well, I'll deal with that if it comes up... but there's a slightly hairier problem first." He faces Croaker. "You're going to have to learn how to dance sexy."
Croaker looks completely uncomprehending. Joe bites his lip in an attempt not to laugh. The big minotaur looks confused, and finally rumbles, "What's wrong with my hair?"
Jason waves it off. "Figure of speech, Croaker. What I mean is there has to be equal entertainment for the ladies. You're going to be it."
Croaker hesitates, then nods slowly, "I... am... no, I am sorry -- I do not understand?"
Jason rubs his forehead. "You know what Beatrice does for the guys in here? You're going to do that for some college ladies," he says bluntly.
Croaker looks shocked, "I what?! I cannot do that! I would hurt them!" Joe is starting to look a bit thoughtful himself as well.
Jason waves his head. "Not that! Dance! You are going to make the ladies swoon with that ripped muscular body of yours," he clarifies.
Croaker's ears go back, and he pulls his head back, his eyes narrowing like when he thought Diana might whack him. Joe says, "Wait, wait, let's think this through. We want someone for the ladies to be attracted to also, right, Jason? So... why not just dress Croaker nice and provocatively and have him serving drinks? That we know he can do. Dancing, though... we don't know if he can do that, and I'm not even sure the stage can bear his weight." He adds, "We might even hire a few more pretty guys, if you think it's important? How many women are we looking at having attend?"
"Well, I was thinking Diana could teach him... but the weight thing is an issue, unless he just does it not on stage," Jason muses. "On the other hand, if you have one or more male friends you can ask, I suppose Croaker doesn't have to perform... it's just that I was kind of hoping to keep this in house. People we trust. There's likely to be more guys that girls, but I'm hoping for at least half a dozen..."
Joe grins slowly, "I don't know any, no. I was thinking you might know of some, Jason -- since you want to get poor Croaker all duded up for the ladies."
Jason laughs. "Joe, I barely have a circle of friends... and the friends I do have are not equipped for that. Croaker's the -- if you'll forgive the expression -- studliest guy I know."
Croaker is looking warily puzzled; Joe chuckles, then says quietly, "Well, I'm guessing from Croaker's behavior you can probably push him into doing something he doesn't really want to do, so please be nice. Moment..." He turns to help one of the girls with a bar request. Croaker gives Jason a worried look, but doesn't say anything.
Jason looks at Croaker, calmly assessing his behavior. "Croaker, this is important. I wouldn't be asking you this if I didn't have to," he says softly. "You remember a little while ago you were bemoaning that you had no way to thank me for what I did? I could call this in, if I wanted... but I don't want to twist your arm. I want you to be a willing participant, helping me create a positive mood for Beatrice to feed from." He looks at his watch. "I have a female friend whose name is Bonnie Jean... she wants to meet you in a couple hours. Let's just see how that goes... if you really don't want to do this, we can decide then."
Croaker sits very still, watching Jason a bit hauntedly. Only his tail is moving... switching nervously back and forth. He nods once silently at Jason's words, his gaze not wavering from Jason. Jason purses his lips... Croaker's behavior concerns him. "Is there something you're not telling me, Croaker? Are you just embarrassed by the idea, or is there something else?" he queries, putting his hand on the minotaur's softly.
Croaker tilts his head, looking unhappy. He opens his mouth as if to say something, but then hesitates, his ears flicking nervously back. Finally he takes a deep breath and slowly rumbles, "Seer, you know I would unhesitatingly lay down my life for you, yes? But... things I do not know how to do, when I know they are important to you... then I am fearful, yes, because I..." he hesitates, then mumbles unhappily, "I do not want to let you down, and I do not want to embarrass you for my lack of knowledge..." His voice trails off and he looks away ashamedly.
Jason's expression softens, if possible, further. He squeezes the beast's hand. "Oh, Croaker... no. You don't have to worry about that. I'm not going to just put you on stage unprepared. You're going to have several days to get ready. I'll get Diana to help you. And I mean..." he chuckles wryly, "I may not even get Bonnie to agree. We'll have to see how she reacts to you... I'm just going off a general, stereotypical concept of what I think women might enjoy..."
Croaker nods once, not meeting Jason's eyes, and simply murmurs, "So... we have to convince this woman Bonnie? If I am to be pleasing, it would help if you told me what she prefers?"
Jason shakes his head in amusement. "Croaker, I don't have the faintest idea... I only knew her enough to recognize her in the dorm. I didn't even know her name before yesterday." He squeezes the minotaur's hand again. "Besides, I don't want you to put on an act. I think she'd see through it anyway. I want you to be yourself." He gives Croaker a half-hug. "I'm going to go talk to Diana about this... you just think about it. And make sure you have a break in two hours."
Croaker is a bit tense, but returns the hug willingly, and Jason can feel the gentle tough of Croaker's muzzle against the top of his head for a moment as well. A bit wistfully Croaker says, "I... am not completely sure what my goal should be, Seer, but I will abide by your directives. I will be ready in two hours."
Jason smiles and touches Croaker's cheek, surprised with the depth of affection he has for this man. It's something in Croaker's manner that brings it out, he suspects. "You have only one directive, Croaker: to be friendly. Obviously without telling her the truth about you and Beatrice and all, but..."
Croaker smiles a bit worriedly at the touch, then takes a deep breath and nods, rolling his massive shoulders in an attempt to relax. "I can do that. I will do that." He nods again, more firmly this time, and adds, "I will not let you down, Seer, I promise." Jason only squeezes Croaker's shoulder once more, and then retreats upstairs... to see if Diana can provide additional advice and support.
Jason finds Diana in her room... well, sort of. Actually, Jason looks into Diana's room and sees her lovely posterior, tail raised and with the black-tufted tip cheerfully flirting back and forth, as she searches for something under her bed. She's humming happily to herself, and there are piles of clothing heaped all over the bed. Jason is quiet for a second, half amused, half aroused by the picture Diana makes... it's the tail, he thinks, that makes it comical. Before Croaker and Diana, he never knew how expressive tails could be. "Di? What are you up to?" he queries, a smile in his voice.
The humming stops, and Diana says muffledly, "Ja-" thump "-ow! Blast it..." Her tail flicks decorously back down as she backs out carefully on hands and knees, then rolls over to sit on the floor by the bed, grinning ruefully at him and rubbing the back of her head. "Hiya, lollipop! Was just thinking about you."
Jason awwws, "My poor, bruised sweetie..." he murmurs, coming over and kissing the bump on the back of her head. "I'm sorry, Di. I didn't mean to startle you," he adds, stroking her hair as he cradles her head to his belly.
Diana sighs happily, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling against him, "Mmm... s'worth it..." She presses her face against him as she nuzzles, running her hands provocatively along his rear and the backs of his thighs, and he can immediately feel fiery stirrings inside himself as she does so.
Jason shivers and lets out a startled laugh. "Di, no... much as I'd like to, I need to discuss something with you," he apologizes after a moment, squirming as her chin bumps against certain pokey bits of him. "I'm trying to arrange a party in the club." Jason tries turning off his sight as talks to Diana, curious what she looks like to others...
Diana mmms softly, her breath warm, "Mmmme too, lollipop... sounds like fun..." One hand continues to cup his rear, while the other slides over his hip and starts fumbling with the button on his pants. Trying to turn off his sight while Diana's distracting him is not necessarily a good idea, he quickly realizes. She looks amazing... he's not sure what she physically looks like to others, but he discovers he can no more tell her 'no' right now than he could dance on the moon!
It's some time later Diana raises her head from his chest and purrs, "Mmm... you're wonderful, lollipop. So what did you want to discuss with me?" The two of them are sprawled across the rumpled bed, with clothing from several different eras scattered across the floor and the end of the bed. Diana's contentedly holding Jason close, her arms and legs and entire body wrapped almost possessively around him. She wriggles her nude form slightly against his also-nude body, causing a lovely chain reaction of emotion in him, and slowly, lazily licks his throat. Jason feels a touch tired, but not tapped out -- it's obvious Diana's doing her best to not utterly consume him each time they're together. On the other hand, when Diana goes very still after the little wriggle, Jason realizes it would take very little for him to push Diana into not being able to stop again. She smiles at him with momentarily sated pleasure, her golden eyes gleaming.
Jason blinks stupidly at the ceiling, feeling more like he's in a movie version of his life. Real people don't end up like that, do they? Clothes scattered everywhere, lying in the afterglow of sex that escapes proper description. "Not only do I not remember, I think I lost memories from my childhood..." he chuckles wryly... and then suddenly checks his watch. It was about 5 to 5:30ish when he arrived at Dante's earlier. Now it's almost 9. Jason's arm flops back down. "Fuck. I had this great plan, and now... we've got to get up." He struggles upright. "I just hope Croaker hasn't eaten Bonnie Jean by now..."
Diana makes a small startled noise as Jason abruptly shifts to sit upright with her in his lap -- and they're suddenly both deeply intertwined physically and mentally. He can see her eyes shining bright lambent gold before him, feel her re-enfolding his body within her own, sense the shifting of her muscles as she swallows him... feel her shudder and moan with pleasure, her head rolling back at the sensations they're sharing... it's shockingly, paralyzingly sexual for an instant -- and then Croaker's voice at the door rumbles quietly, "My lady? Seer? Pardon my interruption please, but there are two women here who say Jason invited them?" He hesitates, then adds amusedly, "One of them is... quite insistent?"
Diana starts giggling, and can't seem to stop! Jason is startled, and one arm flails. "Croaker... just... entertain them for a minute! We'll be down shortly!" he says in a strangled voice, trying to... he doesn't even know how to react to this. "Diana, stop... laughing... what's going on?!"
Croaker grins, but simply nods his head, "As you wish." He starts to withdraw, but Diana, her eyes tearing from the giggles, gasps out, "Croaker, wait!" He pauses, looking a bit bemusedly amused.
Diana stifles the giggles, her eyes shining with happiness, and leans in to give Jason a gentle, leisurely kiss. A moment later she sighs, sitting back. "Ah, well, duty calls! I'll entertain them, sweetness. I think I can distract them better than Croaker, if you have some great plan in mind...?"
Croaker looks a bit surprised, glancing between the two smaller humanoids, "You... have not told her yet, Seer?"
Jason blinks, that... odd but not unpleasant experience having ceased. He then looks wryly at Croaker. "She had other plans. You know how it is," he croaks. "Just... let them in and see them to a table, Croaker."
To Jason's eyes, Croaker looks nervous but trying hard not to show it. His fur is still a bit damp from washing, firmly and neatly brushed into submission from its usual randomly curling state. Both his horns and their decorative metal inlays are gleaming and polished, and his hooves are shined. His simple clothing is as plain as usual, consisting of nothing more than jeans altered for a jack-legged being, and a sleeveless "Dante's Bar" T-shirt straining at the seams across his massive chest. However, also as usual his clothing is neat and tidy.
Croaker grins, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement, but he simply nods and withdraws. Diana takes a deep breath -- then rolls away from Jason in one quick, smooth movement! She grins wryly at him from where she's landed in a crouch next to the bed, "Whew. You really are hard to let go of, you know that, lollipop?"
Jason struggles into a sitting position, feeling covered in sweat and wishing he had time for a shower. "I guessed as much. We'll have to talk about that... but not now." He then gives her, in the broad strokes, the details of his plan to her... the whole thing.
Diana is nothing if not pragmatic -- she hauls him cheerfully out of bed and into the bathroom as he explains, listening intently as she gives first herself, then him, a hasty wash-and-clean-up with wet towels. At the end she nods, "All right, I'm with you on everything except getting Croaker to dance. Um... you do realize good exotic dancing is more than just taking your clothes off to music, right? I don't think I can teach him that in just a few days... even if we don't have him taking his clothes off."
Jason sighs, feeling better now that he's clothed again and Diana is no longer being incredibly, deliciously distracting. "I hadn't thought that far," he admits. "Maybe we'll just have to go with him being eye-candy like Joe suggested... or maybe I can find a professional. I wanted to keep it in house, because there's a slightly questionable legality to all this, but..."
Diana giggles, nuzzling his ear gently, then takes his hand and, weaving gracefully through the piles of clothing, starts hauling him out of the room. "We'll see what BJ suggests!" Jason nods and gives himself a quick spot check to see if he still looks and/or smells like he just had sex... he's not sure... he hopes not!
Moments later the two of them are downstairs, standing by a small table at the side of the bar. BJ and Rita are seated there, and Croaker's obviously done his best to make them comfortable -- they have drinks and hot appetizers from the bar already. It's then Jason realizes there's more to Diana than just being incredibly alluring -- she's good with people! She greets the two women gaily, pulls up two more chairs, and apologizes for keeping Jason from them. They're soon laughing together -- not without some blushes from Jason as Diana and BJ both gently tease him -- and chatting happily over the very loud music.
Jason is actually relieved at Diana's skill with it all... she even makes up for his lack of social eptness, and he's glad of it. He does his best to keep it up on his end, though, even when that leads to embarrassing topics... but he finally broaches the reason he asked BJ here. "Croaker's a hell of a sweet guy..." he looks around, to see where the minotaur has gotten himself to, "...but Diana points out she can't exactly teach him to be an exotic dancer in five days..." he comments ruefully.
Croaker is in eyeshot, not quite hovering near the door. He's got his replacement there already, and when he sees Jason look at him both ears shoot alertly forward, as if he's not sure whether Jason wants him there or not, yet. Jason does in fact encourage Croaker over, gesturing with a hand. They can meet him, at least... Croaker hastens over, then slows as he approaches the table. Aside from the nervous twitching of his tail-tip, all his movements become very slow and careful -- he's obviously trying hard not to be scary and overwhelming. He nods politely to the women.
Diana smiles encouragingly at him. Rita's eyes widen a little trepidatiously. BJ blinks, tilting her head back to look up at the huge man. Jason gestures to each. "Croaker, this is Bonnie Jean and Rita... ladies, this is my man Croaker." He claps the beast on the shoulder. "Forgive him for not saying hello himself... he can't speak." He looks at the two. "Or can either of you read sign?"
Both women shake their heads, "Not me." "No, sorry." Croaker gently takes BJ's small hand in his huge one, and bows gracefully over it, then nods politely to Rita -- who looks a bit relieved. Croaker's obviously trying to be on his best behavior. BJ says automatically, "It's a pleasure to meet you, er, Croaker...?" She looks around, then smiles at Jason, "Pull over another chair, would you please, Jason?" Croaker hastily shakes his head, murmuring in Jason's head, "I have my own chair -- let me get it."
A moment later Croaker is carefully seated with everyone else, a little back from the table so he doesn't crowd anyone. Jason chuckles. "His nickname... well, Diana gave it to him, and it stuck. 'Course, he's fond of it, so... Croaker." He gestures as if he were going 'Hey, Presto,' and pulled Croaker out of a hat. He leans over then, "Be gentle with him, ladies... when it comes to guys, he's more intimidating than a dozen football players... but with girls he's like jello," he confides to them quietly.
One of the girls comes up with something that requires Diana's attention, and she apologizes and leaves for a moment. Rita looks faintly wistful, watching Diana walk away, but Jason has BJ's attention. Croaker's ears twitch nervously as he watches and listens the group before him, and he gives a tight, small smile at BJ as she turns her thoughtful gaze to him. Still looking at Croaker, BJ says, "Jason, can you interpret for us?" Then she brightens, "Oh! Wait, I have a palm pad -- maybe he could write on that?"
Croaker hesitates, then makes a small, quick, embarrassed looking sequence of signs. Jason hears him rumble, "I... can't read, Seer, I'm sorry."
Jason blinks. "Croaker, you never told me... really, Beatrice should have seen to that a long time ago. I should talk to her about that," he replies, surprised but feigning a lot more surprise. He looks back at BJ. "He says he can't read either. Don't worry, I can translate. And he can understand everything you say... which is good because although I'm good at reading sign, I suck at pulling it off," he lies smoothly.
BJ is getting an even more thoughtful look. She studies Jason evenly for several heartbeats, then turns her gaze back to Croaker. He blinks, his ears flicking nervously back, and she smiles warmly, "Reading English is easy if you already understand the language. Let me know if you want some help with it, all right? Where are you from originally?"
Croaker looks worriedly at Jason, rumbling, "I usually say Africa. Is that all right?" He adds, "Would it be better to say somewhere in the United States nowadays?"
Jason gives Croaker a reassuring look. "He actually doesn't know where he was from originally... from what he's told me, he moved around a lot when he was a kid... he doesn't remember much of his parents, sadly. What seems clear is that at some point he was, er, abandoned... he grew up on the streets of San Francisco, trying to take care of himself till Beatrice found him." His hesitation in telling the story is easily chalked up to the tale he tells... though what it really means is that he's hedging with the truth a bit.
Croaker looks relieved. Rita looks sympathetic. BJ narrows her eyes for a moment, studying Jason. She raises an eyebrow, "Let me be clear on this. You're telling me Croaker here grew up on the streets of San Francisco?"
Jason gives BJ this look. "Are you implying that's somehow impossible? That parents don't abandon their kids, that there are no homeless in this city? Look, I'm just relating what he told me... and I'm also being gentle about it. He doesn't exactly like to talk about what life was like before Beatrice rescued him." The closer he cleaves to the truth, the easier this is for him.
BJ looks at the big minotaur and gently says, "Croaker, have you ever been able to talk? How old were you when Beatrice found you?"
Croaker hesitates, glancing nervously at Jason. "Uh... what should I say about my age, Seer?"
Jason looks back at Croaker firmly. "You only have to answer what you feel comfortable with, Croaker. This is not an inquisition." He does try to subtly indicate his hands, though... he can't 'translate' if Croaker doesn't 'sign' at him.
Croaker takes a deep breath, then firmly signs and says, "I know I used to be able to talk, and I don't know how old I am, so I don't know how old I was when my ladies found me."
Jason grimaces, absently wishing he could somehow communicate with Croaker silently, the same way he understands the minotaur. BJ and Rita watch Croaker sign, then look expectantly at Jason. He looks back at the ladies. "He has vague memories of being able to talk once. He's not sure how old he is now, though he was more or less a teenager when Beatrice first met him. Best guess, he's in his mid to late 20's now."
Rita says sympathetically to Croaker, "Maybe some traumatic occurrence was what caused you to not be able to talk any more? I've heard some forms of amnesia can happen like that." BJ nods thoughtfully, then adds, "Croaker, have you considered trying to track your parents down? Do you have any ID?" He nods and smiles, relaxing a bit, then signs and speaks to Jason, "You can tell her I have ID, Seer, and my lady Diana did try to find any rumors of other minotaurs a few decades ago... with no luck, though."
Jason spreads his hands. "He says that the ladies did try to help him track down his family when he was younger... no luck. He does have ID now, and he works and lives here with Beatrice and Diana... they're his family." He tilts his head and smiles at Croaker.
BJ says curiously to Croaker, "May I see your ID, if you don't mind showing me?"
Jason looks at Croaker. "It's up to you, big guy." He does admit to being curious himself as to what the ID will say.
Croaker smiles, shifting to pull a wallet from his back pocket, and opens it to show BJ his ID card. BJ leans to look, one hand tilting the wallet slightly. As she reads she murmurs softly, "Oh... you don't drive?" She glances up in smiling inquiry at Croaker, who silently shakes his head and politely smiles back.
BJ looks back at the ID card, reading aloud, "Michael Ridwan." She studies the ID card for a moment, then sits back and smiles at Croaker, "So... you prefer Croaker, then?" He nods again, quietly putting the wallet away. She tilts her head thoughtfully, then says a bit diffidently, "Umm... Croaker, could I ask you to get me a refill on my Coke, please? If it's not too much of a bother?" He smiles again and nods, rising carefully and heading for the bar.
BJ watches him walk away, then turns to Rita and says inquiringly, "Bullshit?" Rita nods firmly, "Yup. No way a black man would be that shy if he was raised in the US, on the streets of San Francisco." BJ nods thoughtfully herself, "Yeah. I didn't notice that, but his body language is all wrong to me -- and he was born in 1965 according to his ID card." The two women look at Jason and BJ says gently, "Jason... how well do you know Diana and Beatrice? Is Croaker possibly... a bit dim? It's possible they're taking advantage of this poor guy."
Jason doesn't have to act offended at all. "What... how can you think that? Besides, aren't you being a little quick to the point? How exactly do you know how shy he would or wouldn't be? Spent a lot of time on the streets of San Fran, have you?" He quiets then, a little gentler. "The man is illiterate -- possibly dyslexic, if they haven't been able to teach him to read by now -- he can't speak... this guy is not exactly gang material here. I bet he didn't even know how to sign before Beatrice found him. And besides all that... you don't know him like I do, and you don't know the ladies like I do. I can't believe you! I bring you here to meet him, and the first thing you do is give him the third degree!"
Rita grins at Jason, "Firstly, yes, I have spent a lot of time on the streets of San Francisco -- not San Fran -- this is my home town. Secondly, my major is anthropology with an emphasis on minorities, which includes people of color. I may think your girlfriend is hot, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid -- and Croaker doesn't act like any black subculture I've seen or read about in the States. So yeah, he may be dyslexic, but he didn't grow up in the US." She folds her arms, adding, "That, I'm sure of."
Jason also folds his arms. "I see. So what are you suggesting? That he just fell out of the sky?" he scoffs.
BJ shakes her head, "No, Jason, and please don't get upset at us for caring about folks. My guess would be he's a refused green card, and they're sheltering him somehow -- the ID card looked legit enough to me, but I'm no expert on that. I'd guess they're holding it over him to compel him to work for them." She adds a little sadly, "It wouldn't be the first one I've seen. Poor guy." She glances over her shoulder and smiles at the now-approaching Croaker, as she gently elbows Rita and murmurs, "He's coming back. Don't scare him, Rita."
Jason sighs, rubbing his forehead. "This is moronic. I should never have even come up with this idea..." he says under his breath...
Both women regard Jason with some sympathy, and BJ gently puts a hand on his arm, "Jason, let's talk about this later, okay? If this is what's really happening, you'll want to help your friend, right? -not scare him."
Jason smiles a little wryly. "He doesn't need my help. You have no idea how happy he is... he couldn't fake that if what you're saying is true."
BJ studies Jason thoughtfully, then says quietly, "Later, please." She looks up at Croaker, beaming her thanks at him as he hands her a Coke, "Thank you!" Once he's settled again she cheerfully says, "Well, I think he's very nice looking, Rita -- sometimes it's nice to have men around!"
Croaker, surprisingly... blushes. Rita giggles. Jason just chuckles... whatever else happens, he doesn't want to alarm Croaker and make this any worse. He does wish for a moment that some patron would act like an ass, though... give these ladies some food for thought as he showed just how unshy he is about giving some crude member of the male gender the bum's rush.
BJ looks around, then grins teasingly at Croaker, "So... are you comfortable wandering around with no shirt, Croaker?" Croaker nods and grins in faint relief, signing and speaking, "It's actually easier that way. I tend to tear them if I'm not careful otherwise."
Jason tries not to choke on his drink. "Now you're just being playful..." he barks a laugh. At the blank looks from the women, he explains, "He says it's easier that way... he tends to tear them if he's not careful."
Rita laughs! BJ blinks, and looks Croaker over again... then says slowly, "Well, now..." She smiles slowly at Croaker again, then asks, "Would you and Jason be willing to walk us to the bus stop, then? And once we're outside you could show us?" Rita giggles, poking her friend, "BJ! Bit forward?!" BJ looks demure, "Purely for analytic purposes, Rita -- Jason and Croaker wanted my opinion, and I can't give an accurate one otherwise!" Rita snorts in amused disbelief.
Croaker grins and shrugs, opening his mouth and raising his hands to communicate -- and there's a ripping noise. Croaker winces, looking embarrassed, then signs and speaks, "Uhh... no comment..."
Jason blinks. "Good god, he was telling the truth." He glances at the ladies in unmodified surprise.
Croaker gives Jason a mildly indignant look, signing and speaking, "Of course I was, Seer! I wouldn't lie to you!" He cranes his head to look over his shoulder, and BJ rises, "Here, let me -- you'll give yourself a crick in your neck if you do that!" She steps behind Croaker -- his eyes widen and his ears flick back a bit nervously at someone this close behind him -- and reaches out a hand, "Yeah, right there across the back of your shoulders." She leans to look inquiringly at Croaker, "You want to go now, or go change shirts?"
Croaker sighs, then gives Jason a rueful look, speaking and signing, "I'm happy to escort the ladies now if you'd like, Seer?"
Jason looks apologetically at Croaker. "I thought you were exaggerating earlier, I'm sorry... sure, you can escort them to the bus stop now... after all, it's not your shirt that needs to impress them any more..." He chuckles again.
Both women laugh, and Croaker grins. BJ says firmly, "Jason, call me later, all right? I want to talk to you more about this." She scribbles on a card, then hands it to Jason, "This is my phone number." She locks her gaze with Jason and says again, "Promise you'll call by tomorrow at the latest, please?"
Jason sighs. "Yes, BJ," he rumbles, not looking forward to this at all.
BJ smiles, "Thanks, dude." She and Rita collect their stuff, thank Croaker for accompanying them, and head out with him. As they head for the door he politely offers his arm to BJ -- who looks blank for a moment... then grins, "How charming of you, Croaker!" She takes his arm. The door swings shut behind them... and a quiet voice behind Jason murmurs, "Something wrong, lollipop?" Diana's hands slide over Jason's shoulders and down his front, and she gently nuzzles his ear.
Jason buries his face in his hands. "Goddamnit... I must have had my brains dripping out my ears when I thought introducing the ladies to Croaker would be a good idea. They're not brainless bimbettes, and I'm not James Bond..."
Diana giggles softly, nipping his ear, then slides into his lap, her arms around his neck, "True. They seem like fun, and you're ever so much nicer than him. I saw that movie -- he was a jerk!"
Jason groans, not in the mood for her playful antics at this point. "You're not getting it... well, maybe Bond is a bad example. They asked questions I didn't have convincing answers for... Di, they think he's an illegal immigrant, and that you and Beatrice are keeping him here for cheap labor, with the promise of helping him become legal."
Diana looks puzzled, then ah!s and nods as she gets it. She considers a moment. "Well, want Mother to charm them? I think she could probably get them to forget, one way or another." Diana considers a moment, then adds slowly, "It... might hurt them, a little...?"
Jason shakes his head. "You know, I could have just kept this simple. We don't need this to be a coed party, but I just thought it would be better... help even out the tonality of the evening, maybe even show Beatrice she might be able to get what she needs from women as well as men..." He trails off at her words. "What? No... well, maybe no. I don't want to do that unless I have to... I'll fix this, somehow."
Diana nods, then smiles a bit wistfully, "It'd be nice if we could have women too. They're much more polite, on the whole, than men."
Jason nods wryly. "Can't deny that... 'course, you aren't going to find many women in here that aren't dancers... which is why I thought the party would be a good way to 'introduce' Beatrice to the possibilities..." He blinks. "Or are you saying you can't feed from them?"
Diana chuckles, lightly running one finger down Jason's cheek, along his throat, and down his chest, as far as his collar allows. "Oh, we can feed on them just fine... but I thought you were looking specifically for more courteous folks for Mother to have as her pets, yes?" She lazily flicks her tongue tip against Jason's throat, along the path her finger left, then murmurs softly, "Mmmkay... so what's next, sweet? You might want to talk to Joe, let him know his ID card for Croaker might be getting some attention?"
Jason squirms at Diana's sensual teasing. "Yeah, that might be smart, but..." He catches Diana's hand, then. "Di, could you... please not? Not right now? There's a time for this sort of thing, and now is not it," he whispers gently. "I understand if you're trying to make me feel better but... you don't need to be all sex-bombish to accomplish that."
Diana looks a bit puzzled, getting a thoughtful look as she says, "Uhh... I don't know why I was doing that." She considers, then grins, "You're tasty, sweet! But I'll stop... although maybe I should sit over here instead." She giggles, adding, "Is this what binge snacking is like? -you keep doing it, and don't realize, and eat too much?"
Jason smiles apologetically, and was wondering if it was something like that. "Could be something like that, yes..." He laughs wryly. "It certainly indicates we need to be careful. Maybe in this case, this little issue with Croaker was smart... it got me agitated enough to not respond in the kind of way that would get you chowing down on me again..."
Diana looks a bit embarrassed, self-consciously tucking her dark hair back behind one ear, "I'm sorry, sweet... I didn't mean to make you late for your plan."
Jason snerks. "It's not a plan at this point... it's a disaster." He does stand up, and kiss Diana on the forehead. "I do love you, Di... but right now, I've got to clean up the fallout...
Diana looks puzzled, but just nods, "All right. Can I help?"
Jason pauses. "Can you explain to me how you've dealt with things like this before? I mean, you've been around a long time... how do you keep officials from realizing you're not, you know... citizens?"
Diana smiles, "Oh, that's easy. Mother dazzles them while they're signing the requisite paperwork." She adds thoughtfully, "I'm pretty sure I could do it now... I think. Do you need me to?"
Jason shakes his head. "I don't need paperwork, and I don't want to zap them if I don't have to... I don't like the idea of hurting them, even if they are busybodies. What I need is some way to convince them they're barking up the wrong tree..." He sighs at Diana's confused look. "It's an expression. Never mind me... I'll let you know if I could use your help, sweetling." He kisses her again, and then goes over to talk with Joe.
Joe finishes a tray of drinks for one of the girls, then turns to Jason and nods. Jason looks ruefully at Joe. "I was a moron," he says by way of introduction. Joe's lips quirk slightly, but he simply raises an inquiring eyebrow.
Jason quietly explains the situation. Joe listens silently. About halfway through the explanation he pulls a beer for Jason, sliding it in front of the young man. Jason concludes with, "I'm going to try and call the ladies off... but I wanted to let you know in case I can't." He purses his lips. "I suppose I shouldn't be that worried... Beatrice can take care of anyone official asking questions, yeah?"
Joe smiles faintly. "What're you really worried about, Jase?"
Jason stares at the beer, picking it up and staring at the malt beverage. He takes a sip. "Everything. I'm in over my head, Joe... I talk a good game, and try to swing with the punches, but the truth is I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm going to do when I get there. All I know is Diana's got me -- hook, line, and sinker... just a few weeks ago I was just an average guy. Now I feel like someone out of a fairytale, handed a destiny, and I don't feel up to the challenge."
Joe smiles at Jason -- a surprisingly gentle smile. He pulls a beer for himself, has a sip, then leans against the counter, "Let me tell you a story, Jason." He has another sip, then gets a slightly far-away look in his eyes, "A long time ago there was a kid born to two idealistic hippies, who was going to be a hot shit lawyer when he grew up, despite his parents constantly telling him there was more to life than just making a metric buttload of money. He didn't believe in karma, but it has a way of catching up with you, y'know? So he graduated top of his class from a prestigious university, and on his graduation night he went out with a bunch of his asshole friends -- 'cause by then he was damn good at being an asshole too -- and they got drunk and wandered around being stupid idiots that night, flashing their money and thinking that meant they were hot shit." He pauses for a sip of beer, a faint, rueful smile on his face. Jason blinks and sips some more at his beer, captivated.
"And this pack of morons walks into a strip bar and tries to throw their weight around, and they're surprised and angry that no one else there thinks they're as wonderful as they think they are. And then..." Joe smiles again, his eyes distant and his voice soft, "-then... karma seriously catches up with one of them and slaps him upside the head -- and this girl walks out on stage and she's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen, and though he doesn't know it yet he's lost his heart and he's never going to call any place else home for as long as he lives... 'cause he just gave his heart away to that girl." He's silent for a moment, remembering... then murmurs quietly, "And 'cause he's a dickhead he thinks that means he's got to own her." He sighs quietly and has another sip of beer. Jason blinks, and grimaces sympathetically.
"And... well, let's cut to the chase here. He does learn eventually, although it takes him a while and it's painful to swallow that you're nothing more than a dickhead. But by the end of it he's finally figured it out... before he destroyed himself, fortunately." He looks over at Jason, his quiet eyes as calm as always, "He's figured out his parents were right, and there really is more to life than just the things you own -- 'cause really, in the end, you don't own anything. And he's learned the eternal things, the things you can't really explain... they take care of themselves in the end. The best you can do is accept your life, try to make those you care about happy, and do the best you can." He smiles quietly, adding, "I don't know the whole story, and I don't need to. But I know my wife and my stepdaughter and stepbrother are something special... and I've learned to have some faith in them. Things... turn out all right despite my fretting. So... don't panic yet on Croaker. He's got internal resources he doesn't even know about, I think."
Jason nods to himself... he wonders how much Joe knows, from the way he phrases things, and from what Croaker said earlier... he makes a note to ask Diana later. "We'll see. Meantime, I'll have to see what I can do... gonna catch up with 'Mike.'" he drawls. He hesitates, then offers Joe his hand.
Joe smiles and shakes Jason's hand firmly, looking him in the eye, "You do that. If you need my help, you know where to find me."
The phone rings. Jason blinks and fishes his cell out, holding it to his ear as he holds his hand over the other to drown out the noise. "You got Jason."
BJ says cheerfully, "Hi, Jason! The busses aren't running this late, so we're taking a taxi, and Croaker offered to see us all the way home. He asked us to call you so you wouldn't worry, okay?"
Jason sighs. "Sure, BJ, no worrying going on here at all... look, I'll talk to you when I get back, okay? I'm on my way."
BJ chuckles, and there's a slightly... different tone to it. "Take your time -- tomorrow would be fine, really. Later!" She hangs up.
Jason blinks and stares at the phone, wondering if he heard that right. Joe finishes some drinks for one of the girls, then turns back inquiringly to Jason. Jason breaks into a slight laugh. "I don't know how... but somehow he managed to break the 'communications barrier'... that, or BJ's the mothering type..." he murmurs in amazement, looking at Joe. "I think you probably won't see Croaker till tomorrow, Joe..."
Joe smiles calmly. "Might be. Good for him, if so... he could use a little more exposure to the outside world." He gets a lazy grin, "Finish your beer, son, and go make my stepdaughter happy."
Jason does finish the dregs in the glass, and looks around for Diana. "I'm not sure I have the stamina..." he muses wryly.
Joe chuckles quietly, "Just your company makes her happy, son." He turns to deal with a drink request from one of the girls.
Jason does find Diana shortly thereafter, and does spend the night... but he makes a special point of only cuddling with her, and not encouraging any instinctive overtures that Diana makes. It's an effort, but one that needs to be made under the circumstances. Diana's initially a little worried about him -- he'd seemed so upset earlier; was everything okay? -but once he reassures her about that, she's happy to cuddle. She's just as warm and nice as he remembered last time, too.