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The Food of Love

The host blinks, checks the guest list, and then looks back up as the three walk in together. He stammers and greets Mike by name, thanking him for choosing to dine here. They have a table prepared -- in the back, for privacy -- and he leads all three to their table. The waiter appears almost instantly, and Mike, being the connoisseur, selects a good bottle of wine from the menu. Glasses are poured, and when the waiter leaves Jason lifts his glass in salute. "To us, and the journey ahead of us," he says solemnly.

Mike nods thoughtfully, "May it be... a growing experience for us all." Diana beams, a wineglass held between her slender fingers as she imitates the other two in gently clinking the wine glasses together in the toast. She appears to drink with the two men, although a very observant person might notice she but wets her scarlet lips, and no more. A moment later she brushes an errant sable curl back behind one ear, then rests her chin on her linked fingers, her golden eyes sparkling, "So, did we surprise you, Mike? Jason planned it!"

Mike grins ruefully, his gaze turning to Jason, "So I have you to blame for nearly choking in there?"

Jason shakes his head, looking regretful at Diana's lack of drinking. It's a pity she can't enjoy all the same things we can. Though I'm willing to bet we taste better than any filet mignon or veal Parmesan, he thinks as he listens to Mike's answer. He did indeed plan it, to his eminent delight. He's surprised at how much he enjoyed 'setting Mike up,' much as he did Croaker... though in Croaker's case much less deliberately. "Guilty as charged," he says cheerfully.

Mike grins and shakes his head amusedly at Jason, and Diana giggles. When the waiter approaches, Mike orders, waits until Jason's ordered and the waiter departed, then looks curiously at Jason, "So... how're things going with Croaker and the party for Beatrice?"

"The plans for the party are proceeding with no further hitches so far... but with Croaker, well... do I have news for you about him," Jason drawls wryly. He then starts filling Mike in on what happened. "Can you believe it? That Croaker or his ancestor might have been the actual Cretan Minotaur?" he finishes finally.

Mike listens in growing fascination, his eyes widening slightly several times. He seems a bit uncomfortable as Jason talks, shifting in his chair a few times and having several sips of his wine. Diana, on the other hand, looks like the cat that's eaten the canary, her golden eyes half closed and a distractingly sultry smile curling up the corners of her scarlet lips. When Jason has concluded, Mike says a bit breathlessly, "That, uh -- that's amazing, Jason. Do you think we might be able to help Croaker with his memory through this?" He twitches, one hand hastily going under the table as he throws a slightly desperate grin at Diana, "Have mercy, woman! I'm only human!"

Diana's small grin grows, if possible, slightly more wicked. Jason stifles a laugh. "You've only been with her a handful of minutes... I've been living through her growingly talented antics with her tail for a number of days now," he drawls, eyes dancing. "She said it was practice."

Mike raises an amused eyebrow at Jason, "Really now..." He turns to Diana and gently touches his fingertips to her cheek, "Sweetheart, please... a breather? Show us what you can do with Jason, please?"

Diana's grin gets impish, "For a kiss I might!" Mike chuckles and leans in, Diana gladly meeting him more than halfway.

Jason's eyes open wide. "Oh, for goodness sake, that's not fair..." he mildly accuses, barking a laugh...

For a moment Jason's just watching a kiss... warm and affectionate, but a simple kiss. Then he starts noticing the small details: the way the pulse in Mike's throat speeds up a bit... the way the fingers of his free hand tighten around the napkin he's casually holding... the flush spreading slowly down his throat and the ever-so-soft caress of lips meeting his... the tingling warmth spreading through his body and the breathless taste of mixed adrenaline, lust, and fear...

Jason is confused, and then suddenly breathless as he processes what he's experiencing. Is this what it's like for her? Is this the taste of emotion, the wonder if what it feels like to have a man desire her? He can only stare, breathing shallowly in amazement, not wanting to break the moment. His face burns too, because it's not merely that he's possibly feeling what Diana feels... but that she's also feeling what Mike feels, as they kiss. It's quite unnerving... but not actually bad. Not at all.

It seems like forever before Diana sighs softly, smiling as she holds Mike with her smoky gaze. He's breathing shallowly too, leaning hard on his arms to hold himself steady. Diana slowly licks her lips, her face so close to Mike's that the tip of her tongue lightly and slowly brushes along his lips, and Jason feels strongly the rush of half-ticklish, half-agonizing yearning Diana's touch generates. Mike quivers, closing his eyes and obviously struggling for composure. Jason shakes his head. "Diana, that was... I have no words to describe it. It's no wonder you crave these emotions, if it feels like that," he murmurs, still flushed. "It's incredibly intimate."

Mike says hoarsely, "G-god, Di-" then takes a deep breath. Diana's eyes are literally glowing like golden fire, and she murmurs softly, "How can I resist requests like that, sweetlings?" She turns her warm gaze towards Jason, still smiling serenely, and a moment later, even though she doesn't appear to have moved, Jason feels a gentle caress along the inside of his thigh. Mike straightens slowly and carefully, taking slow, deep breaths. He gives the waiter an almost startled look as his meal is served... then looks once at Diana and Jason, and almost determinedly starts digging in.

Jason laughs weakly, knowing what that is. "Michael, we clearly have to be very careful of what we request of her, or our brains will surely turn to mush before too long," he says finally once the waiter is gone. He doesn't ignore the caress of Diana's tail, but doesn't precisely encourage it either, just feeling it... but even as he starts to eat, he quickly finds that Diana will not be denied. Even his familiarity with Diana's impish play does not render him immune to her wiles. He finds he has to stop eating before long, for fear of dropping his fork and staining his nice clothes with sauce.

Diana grins mischievously, reaching out slender fingers to retrieve his fork. Unless Jason objects, she plays a curious, weirdly pleasant erotic game with him, feeding him small bites of his meal, then teasing him mercilessly under the table with her tail. Mike, being no fool, eats swiftly, obviously trying to get as much consumed as he can before Diana turns her attention to him.

Jason complies without complaint, though he wonders what anyone watching makes of this display... even with what they can't see, what is seen is enough! "I- I think unfortunately we won't be able to stay long enough to provide Croaker with much assistance ourselves..." he says after a long time of this... at least it feels like a long time. Warmth suffuses him from head to toe, grinning foolishly. "But maybe BJ can unwittingly help him in this matter..."

Diana chuckles quietly, taking Jason's hand in hers and bringing it to her lips. He can feel the slow trail of her tongue twirling around one finger, and is momentarily shocked at how arousing that feels, and how he can feel it elsewhere in his body as well... and then she gently tucks his fork into his hand and turns her gaze on Mike. Almost accusingly she purrs, "Mike... you're rushing, sweet. You're not savoring that delicious meal!" Mike freezes for a second, a slightly desperate look in his eyes -- then he grins ruefully, surrendering his fork without protest to Diana when she takes it from him. He shudders once, his eyes half closing... then says breathlessly, "Sorry, Di..." She grins and winks at Jason, "Breath deeply, lollipop!" and then turns back to Mike.

It seems clear Diana is making up for not being able to eat real food with them by snacking from them even as they feed their bellies. Both men are willing slaves to Diana's appetite. But the meal is finally over, and Jason guides them both back out to the car and on to the next activity. The Sorcerer, Jason explains, is one of Gilbert and Sullivan's first collaborations, and one of the favorites. It centers around a couple who are to be wed, who see many around them in their village who pine for one or another and yet lack the bravery to declare their love. This is a point of consternation to the groom, who thinks that 'love should unite all classes and ranks.' They thereupon hire a Sorcerer to prepare a love potion to instill such bravery in them... but as happens so often in Gilbert's scripts, things go awry.

Jason brings them to the theatre forthwith... the performance is actually not being done by a professional troupe, but rather from one of the local colleges that regularly put on Gilbert and Sullivan performances. "They're very good though; I've been to a number of their performances," Jason assures them. But he does turn to Diana then, giving her a pleading look. "For the duration of the play, love... please behave?"

Diana smiles wickedly, her tail curling loosely around one of Jason's legs... then she tilts her head, studying Jason's face thoughtfully. She slides an arm around his waist and leans to whisper in his ear, "For a kiss, lollipop?" Jason gives Mike a rueful grin, and responds with the act itself... he would never refuse a kiss from Diana. He also doesn't try and keep it short and perfunctory... he knows Diana would never be satisfied with that. Thank goodness he expected these delays and planned accordingly!

Diana curls her arms around Jason's neck and presses warmly against him during the kiss... this time it's Jason who needs a moment to, um, reorganize himself! When he's ready she links arms with him and Mike. Her hips sway gracefully but not too distractingly as she walks demurely between the two men towards the theatre. At one point Jason catches her glancing sideways and up at him. She smiles with quiet warmth at him, murmuring, "Thank you for arranging this, lollipop... it really tastes wonderful."

Jason laughs lightly, eyes warm. "Oh, I think I understand... being with two men you like, two different tastes of infinite variety depending on what you stimulate... this is the kind of sustenance your mother needs more of."

Diana looks thoughtful for a moment... then smiles and nods, "I'd like her to feel something this nice, yes." Mike glances over her head at Jason and smiles a touch ruefully.

Jason gives Mike a smirk. "Make the most of your respite during the play, Mike... you're going to need it," he drawls... not so much wickedly, as with promise. Making love with Diana is so much more than the physical, and it's an experience Jason wants Mike to appreciate as much as he did. Mike's response is simply another of those oddly quirky/thoughtful smiles.

The three find their seats in the orchestra shortly, and rise with the others when the conductor asks them to all sing 'God Save the Queen,' as was custom in the days of the Savoy Theatre prior to the opening of a play. Diana, of course, is watching those proceeding with delighted amusement. Then the overture plays, and the curtain finally lifts on the exterior of a mansion, the set exquisitely done up. A chorus of men and women are singing:

Ring forth, ye bells, With clarion sound
Forget your knells, For joys abound.
Forget your notes Of mournful lay
And from your throats, Pour joy to-day.

Diana is grinning, enjoying herself as much looking around at the receptive audience as she is watching the play. Curiously, Jason can almost feel her pleasure in the moment, like a soft brush of lips against his skin. The chorus goes on to celebrate the wedding of one Alexis Pointdextre to Aline Sangazure. And as the opening song ends the first of the disappointed villagers come out, a woman and her daughter, and the daughter sings a song lamenting her unfulfilled love. The daughter then explains she is in love with the local vicar, who arrives then on stage for the two to gaze on.

"My child, be comforted. To such an union I shall not offer any opposition. Take him -- he's yours! May you and he be happy!" says the mother. "But mother dear, he is not yours to give!" protests the daughter. "This is true." "He might object!" "He might."

Diana giggles, watching. The interchange goes on as the Vicar has a solo now, and then the three speak together, where the mother gently probes the vicar on matters of love. The vicar is sadly resigned to believing there are none that would want to marry one such as he. The three leave and Alexis -- one of the main characters to be wed -- enters with his father. Jokes are made in regards to Alexis' intended being in the ancestral line of Helen of Troy (and her 'unfortunate affair' with Paris) and also on the decidedly unbecoming PDA that Alexis is pursuing with his bride to be, which the father parodies to the amusement of the audience.

This is clearly a setup for the next scene, whereupon Alexis and Aline greet each other with the very words the father parodied, while Alexis' father and Aline's mother greet each other with much overblown stateliness. The two lovers are then alone, and Alexis speaks of his desire to see to it that men and women could be wed regardless of rank. He goes on to marvel at how the common man almost universally declared themselves perfectly willing to wed rich ladies of stature, while the 'aristocracy holds aloof.' "Ah, the working man is the true Intelligence after all!" Aline asserts. "He is a noble creature when he is quite sober," Alexis agrees.

Diana giggles again. She's focusing more on the play now, holding one of Mike's hands and absently stroking the other along Jason's thigh, her eyes bright with curiosity as she watches. Jason squirms as he feels the caress... he's seen this play before, so it's not as if he minds a little distracting. besides, it would seem to be open proof that she is enjoying herself, and just wants to see that he is too. At the dialogue between the two lovers, Diana looks a bit puzzled, watching intently. After a bit she leans over and whispers to Jason, "Is this an old play, lollipop? I thought people didn't do aristocracy here very much any more?"

Jason nods lightly, leaning in to whisper. "The play was written about a hundred and thirty years ago, gumdrop," he explains. Diana ah!s silently, then grins and lightly brushes her tongue across Jason's lips. At his small, startled quiver of pleasure she sighs happily, her eyes glowing red as she beams at him... and then she politely turns back to watching the play.

As the two confer, Alexis explains his plan to hire a sorcerer to test out his theory in this very town... the sorcerer supposedly belongs to a firm of well known magicians, and upon meeting the sorcerer, he appears to be a veritable salesman of magic tricks. Diana blinks, her interest sharpening as she watches. And as the Sorcerer continues his spiel, he resorts to musical patter to proceed:

Oh! my name is John Wellington Wells
I'm a dealer in magic and spells
In blessings and curses And ever-filled purses,
In prophecies, witches, and knells.
If you want a proud foe to "make tracks"-
If you'd melt a rich uncle in wax-
You've but to look in On the resident Djinn,
Number seventy, Simmery Axe!

Diana's fingers tighten on Jason's thigh, and apparently Mike is noticing her reaction also, as his head turns to give her -- and Jason over her head -- an inquiring glance. The patter song is one of the staples of Gilbert and Sullivan, and is clearly delivered at breakneck pace for humorous result... but at Diana's reaction, Jason finds himself wondering if this was the wisest play to pick... to one such as her, a sorcerer is a very real thing. But he doesn't want to disrupt, so as the song proceeds he gives Mike a comforting glance as he lays a hand on Diana's, caressing it soothingly trying to send out waves of reassurance as his fingers trail around her wrist coyly, giving her something else to concentrate on. Diana gives him a worried look, leaning to whisper anxiously, "Jason, what if he sees me?!" Behind the threesome, Jason can hear someone whisper, "Shhh!" at Diana.

...And then, if you plan it, he
Changes organity,
With an urbanity,
Full of Satanity,
Vexes humanity
With an inanity
Fatal to vanity-
Driving your foes to the verge of insanity!

Jason squeezes her hand. "He's just an actor, Di, not a real sorcerer. It's entertainment," he whispers

Diana still looks increasingly worried -- and then Mike leans over and whispers, "It's fiction, sweetheart." Diana glances between the two men, then murmurs anxiously, "You sure?" There's another, "Shhh!" behind her as Mike smiles, holding a finger to his lips, then whispering, "Promise, sweet." Diana takes a deep breath, then nods once and firmly returns her regard to the play. It takes a bit, but as the sorcerer doesn't seem to notice her she starts to relax again. Her hand simply rests on Jason's thigh instead of slowly stroking... but she's not tightening up any more.

The play proceeds on after what seems like forever -- this is the longest song so far -- and finally it's back to narrative again, where Alexis arranges to buy a quantity of potion. "In buying a quantity, sir, we should strongly advise your taking it in the wood, and drawing it off as you happen to want it. We have it in four-and-a-half and nine gallon casks -- also in pipes and hogsheads for laying down, and we deduct 10 per cent from prompt cash," Wells informs Alexis. "I should mention that I am a Member of the Army and Navy Stores!" Alexis proclaims. "In that case we deduct 25 percent," Wells bargains smoothly.

Diana watches in wide-eyed, somewhat uncomprehending fascination, her gaze switching back and forth between the two actors. Mike, after realizing what Jason's doing, is imitating him and gently stroking Diana's hand held in his. Jason hmms, realizing what is coming next from experience. He therefore leans in and nuzzles at Diana's cheek, kissing lightly as the deal is transacted. Diana smiles at Jason as he kisses her, her fingers trailing lightly along his thigh -- then she blinks and stiffens, staring at the stage in shock. A moment later Jason can feel her start breathing again in long, slow, deep breaths as Wells starts to sing in a haunting voice:

Sprites of earth and air-
Fiends of flame and fire-
Demon souls,
Come here in shoals,
This dreaded deed inspire!
Appear, appear, appear!

There is a response of a chorus of male voices from the wings of the stage, and Wells begins another summoning litany, which is then responded to by a chorus of female voices. Jason can see out of the corner of his eye that Mike has a slightly worried look as he leans in also, murmuring softly in Diana's ear, "Remember, sweet: fiction. Not true." She nods once, and continues watching. Her eyes are glowing brightly enough at this point that Jason can see the reddish reflection against the black plastic seat in front of her.

Jason focuses all his effort towards projecting calm. "Just fiction, love," he agrees. The bride and groom step forward then, diving into a duet as the two sing of their regret for dealing with unnatural forces... but it is too late, too late... the deed is done. Then the potion is poured into a teapot, which is accompanied by little flashes of light thanks to play with the spotlights, and the rattle of sheet metal, but nothing else. Diana shivers slightly, staring in wide-eyed fascination, but remains quiet and still. She continues to hold hands rather firmly, though, as if the touch of her lovers is anchoring her.

It is then that the rest of the cast comes onto stage, come to celebrate the wedding. There is merry singing from all, though there is an overtone from the bridge and groom of regret as they pass around the teapot, now doctored with the love potion. The entire cast keeps singing happily, though growingly drowsily as they all start to 'go to sleep,' comically in some cases. The music comes to a more frenzied pitch and all those present finally 'fall asleep' on stage as the orchestra plays the final dramatic notes of the first act, and the curtain closes on the stage. At this point the lights come up, as this is the intermission. Diana looks startled, then glances at Jason, "That's it?! But what happened to them all?"

Jason chuckles, and he shakes his head. "No, love... this is a paused called the intermission. It gives the audience a change to stretch their legs and go to the bathroom... then everyone comes back, and they tell the rest of the story," he explains.

"Oh!" Diana considers a moment, then says cautiously, "Can... we go see the sorcerer? Er, the actor, I mean?"

Jason chuckles. "Maybe after the play is done, Di... right now he's busy getting his costume adjusted and his makeup touched up."

Diana nods thoughtfully... then smiles, "Um, so should we go stretch our legs, then?"

Jason waves a hand. "By all means." They finally return, and the lights dim again as the play proceeds. The curtain opens on the magician Wells and the bride and groom looking on all the sleeping chorus members. They then depart after the two thank the sorcerer for his workmanship and decorum, and all the chorus members 'wake up' and start pairing off, suddenly 'falling in love' with each other as a result of seeing them after imbibing the potion. The music is quite cheerful... and then the young maiden who loved the vicar comes on stage and sings despairingly that she's somehow fallen madly in love... with a 67-year old notary!

Diana watches a bit confusedly, although she's markedly more relaxed now. Her eyes still glow brightly in the dimness of the darkened theatre, but she's not lighting up the seats in front of her any more. Amusingly, Alexis and Aline seem to be totally unaware of some of the fairly entertainingly inappropriate pairings off... but then trouble comes when Alexis asks Aline if they should drink the potion as well so that they might always love each other, which gets a bad reaction from Aline... doesn't he trust in her love? Diana is looking more confused now at the dialogue, although she seems to very much enjoy the songs.

The play continues, showing more and more odd pairings... but the comedy reaches a peak when Aline's mother suddenly falls in love... with Wells himself! During a duet with her, he tries to eschew the noblewoman's love to no avail, until he lies and says he's already engaged, to the lady's despair. Diana looks astonished -- then very, very thoughtful as she watches intently. The performances takes a bittersweet comical turn then, as Aline finally takes the potion out of love for Alexis... but instead of seeing Alexis first, ends up seeing the vicar and falls in love with him instead!

As Alexis learns of this state of affairs, he finally confronts Wells himself, demanding that the potion be undone. Wells admits it can be done: "You or I must yield up his life to Ahrimanes. I would rather it were you... I should have no hesitation in sacrificing my own life to spare yours, but we take stock next week and it would not be fair to the company."

After studying this puzzling turn of events, Diana finally leans over and whispers, "Jason... this is all fiction, isn't it? They don't really know anything about real magic, do they?"

Jason shakes his head reassuringly... Diana sighs softly at Jason's reassurance, and he can feel her finally relax completely as she continues watching. At the insistence of all those present, everyone declares it was the Sorcerer's fault, that he should be the one to pay, and Wells reluctantly agrees... jumping into a 'pit of fire' (which looks nothing like real fire), there is the bang of a gong, and the 'spell is broken'... all those present go back to their original beloveds, and the rest of the cast exult that things are back to the way they should be, to glorious chorus. The music reaches a thunderous climax as the cast dances around the stage... and the curtain comes down again -- only to rise once more as each of the cast members come out and take their bows.

Diana's startled momentarily at the applause, then grins and imitates everyone else. The actor that plays the sorcerer is the last one on stage, and he is applauded as well... the cast all bows together and the applause finally dies down as the curtain is lowered for the last time. "Next time I pick a play that doesn't have 'magic,'" Jason comments wryly to Mike.

Mike grins, "Oh, it would have been fine if we'd warned her ahead of time, I suspect. That was something she and I worked out a while ago, in fact -- if I told her it was fiction, she knew it wasn't true and she didn't have to worry about it."

Diana looks a bit embarrassed, "I'm sorry, guys. I was just startled -- I didn't know, and it was a bit of a shock when he looked right at me!"

Mike gives Diana a considering look, then looks back at Jason, "Do they have a 'meet the cast' area here?"

Jason shakes his head. "I don't know where my head was... the title is called 'The Sorcerer' and it didn't twig at all that might be a problem." As he ushers out with the others, he indicates a corridor leading from the main foyer. "This way, should be..."

Diana blinks a bit uncertainly, but Mike rests his free hand on Diana's, where her hand rests on his arm, "Fiction, sweet -- promise." She looks up at him, glances over at Jason, then back at him and nods once firmly, squaring her shoulders, "I'm all right, sweetheart, really. I just... well, we've never known if that summoning stuff would work on us or not, you know? So... so it was a little scary for a second there..."

Jason nods wryly there. "I can pretty much guarantee the author of the play knew nothing about real magic, much less the actor." Jason's instinct appears to be correct, and there are several audience members already there chatting with the actors, still mostly in costume... Wells among them, in his top hat and monocle and all. 'Wells' appears to be quite young, not more than twenty or twenty one, and he's chatting with a couple guys that look his age. Jason can feel a small thrill of anxiety, hastily squelched... and then Mike brings Diana forward, between the two of them to meet the actor.

"Holy shit, dude, mondo babe heading your way," is the first thing they hear, spoken by one of Wells' friends, who blinks stupidly at Diana in her slinky dress. "Uhhhh... hi," he mumbles, staring at her... not the stare of one who sees what she is, but one who seems overwhelmed by the overall hotness that is Diana. "Dan Justin," he introduces himself belatedly. "You like the show?"

Diana blinks startledly at the young man, momentarily seeming almost as stunned as he appears to be -- then she lights up, laughing delightedly, "Oh! Yes, it was wonderful fun!" She grins mischievously, reaching out to tap lightly on his nose, "You don't know anything about magic, do you?" Mike chuckles quietly, relaxing a bit himself as well.

Dan smiles sheepishly, resembling a pole-axed ox, suaveness seeming to desert him completely. "Uhm, no, I... I can't even pull a rabbit from a hat, sorry... but I could learn! Would you like me to learn how to do magic tricks? It can't be that hard, right? I could do, uhm, what is it... pulling handkerchiefs out of my empty fist?"

Diana giggles, then shakes her head, "Don't do that for me. I prefer singing! You have a lovely voice. I really liked the summoning -- for a moment there it felt real, you know?" Over Diana's head, Mike smiles at Jason, giving him a thumbs-up behind her back.

Jason just grins... Dan is clearly the right man for the job. Then again, most folks like having their wits dribble out of their ears when confronted with Di. Dan perks up then, "Oh, yeah, they had me practicing that spooky voice for days... I mean, it's not a movie, you know? No special effects or nothing, no pretend ghosts to rattle their chains... so we gotta go up there and do our best to kinda, create a mood you know? Woowoo, gotta make it seem spooky!"

The casual conversation seems to do its work...Diana seems muchly reassured that the actor is not a sorcerer, and in fact is much like any young boy -- easy putty in her hands. But Jason finally drags her away from her 'playdate,' and ushers Diana and Mike back into the car. Mike naturally asks what's next, and Jason just smiles and tells him he'll see... and in short order, Jason pulls up in front of Mike's hotel. "Last stop. Everyone off," Jason says, looking like the cat that ate the canary.

Diana beams, not quite bouncing with excitement, "Yess! When will you be back tomorrow, Jason?" Mike smiles at her, then draws a slow breath. Curiously, even though Mike's smiling Jason can see what almost looks like nervousness in his eyes... but Mike is, as always, the perfect gentleman: thanking Jason courteously and offering Diana his arm as they walk into the hotel.

Jason watches them get out. "I'll be by with breakfast... or maybe lunch," he drawls, astonished by how pleased as punch he is, in expectation of the culmination of this evening. It heartens him, that he sees Diana melting all over Mike and yet remains not the slightest bit jealous. He watches them till they're inside, then puts the car into motion, heading back home. "Here's hoping the party goes this well..."

Jason makes some calls on the way home... things seem in good shape for the party. Enough of Alan's list can attend, the entertainment is locked in, and he even managed to find some pretty-boys from campus to agree to join Croaker in showing off a little skin for the ladies. The overall attendance isn't over about a couple of dozen or so folks, but that should be more than enough. He heads back up to the dorm then, intent on getting more packing done in anticipation of his departure time, which is closing in on him. Fortunately, he doesn't have that much stuff... living in a compact dorm has made it so he's had little space in which to collect stuff. A couple hours later, he's climbing into bed, and absently wondering how Mike is finding being at Diana's complete mercy...

Jason's dreams are troubled that night. He falls asleep easily enough, but at some point a restless nervousness slides through his mind, keeping him from really deep sleep. Sensations slither through his head and crawl across his skin like velvet-footed spiders -- some wonderful, some terrifying.

He finally shakes that off and rises, as if from a pool of water. There's a huge archway made of stone in front of him, sturdy and carved and weatherbeaten. It's easily the diameter of 3 people lying head-to-foot, arching in a complete half circle before him. Around both him and the gate he sees forested rolling terrain -- at least as much as he can see by the light of the stars. Overhead the Milky Way glows with light, practically rolling through the sky -- he's never seen it so bright in his life!

Jason stares for a few seconds. "Okay... it's a dream... question is what kind of dream," he murmurs, studying the archway.

The archway is dim and dark as the watery pool that surrounds him -- wait, surrounded him. It seems to be gone now. He can hear the sounds of life around him suddenly spring into hearing... crickets, the soft sussurus of the cool night wind in the trees, the lonely howl of a distant wolf... and disturbingly near by, a sort of screeching snarl that sounds like ripping metal. There's an adrenaline-crawl of sensation across his skin as he realizes he's nude as well... and then, shockingly, the darkness in the archway ripples fluidly like water, starting to brighten, as if something bright were swimming towards it.

The archway perfectly frames and contains the increasing glow -- except for a spot near the top, where sparks and ragged streamers of dark, liquid light ripple shakily through a nasty crack in the stone. Just as he notices it, there's a sudden burst of bright light shattering through the damaged crack -- and then a body flies through the gate, landing heavily and rolling limply, as if it had been knocked unconscious and violently thrown through the gate.

There is a sudden breathless silence in the night, as if it were holding its breath and listening. Even the breeze seems to have fallen quiet.

Jason is startled... where he had been carefully backing away from the arch moments ago, he suddenly moves forward, concerned with the limp figure on the ground... crouching down, he tries to push it onto its back to see who or what this is...

The body is humanoid, mostly -- huge, delicate bat wings have been crumpled by the fall, one of them obviously broken and with a bloody spike of bone protruding. The human part is small and female, a wash of shining hair flowing around and over her. As Jason reaches for her, she groans in agony -- then his fingers almost touch her skin, and a shocking white spark arcs between them both, from Jason to the other. It's like being smacked with a baseball bat! He feels the ground rise up suddenly to hit him...

Abruptly, in the way of dreams, Jason and Mike are standing together, waiting for Diana. Mike is obviously nervous -- sweating and pale as a golden-glowing Beatrice walks slowly towards them both. Though they are dressed and she is not, somehow it is she who feels more in control of the situation... perhaps the simply enormous snake writing slowly about her body has something to do with that sensation. She smiles predatorially, her scarlet lips as blood red as her hair and fingernails, and reaches a hand out towards them. Mike draws in his breath sharply and steps hastily back.

Jason looks at Mike... and then at Beatrice. It wouldn't be wrong to say he was scared, or at least unnerved... but on impulse he reaches a hand guardedly back, curious... he cannot live his life scared of everything, much less Beatrice -- particularly when she's clearly a power he'll have to deal with over and over...

The darkness flanking Beatrice seems to ripple and solidify into huge, misshapen, vaguely wolf-like beasts. Their eyes glow as redly as Beatrice's, and their fanged jaws open in guttural snarls. Behind Jason, Mike mutters urgently, "Jason, don't!" Beatrice's eyes grow wider, like pools of fire Jason could fall into with but a touch... Jason can feel heat around his neck; something burning against his chest.

Fear wells up in him, and yet he does not step back. His lips curl into an angry sneer. "I refuse to let you make me afraid to live!" he snarls at the dark wolves, standing his ground. "I am not weak, not with Diana's love. You may destroy me, but I'll still live in her!" He's not sure what he's saying, or why he says it, but it feels true.

Heat... flames... they dance and shimmer around him, and it's not really Beatrice, he realizes... she rises up above him on her powerful serpent's tail, iridescent patterns gleaming on her skin, her hair dancing flames as bright and forked as her tongue, flickering as she bends her human torso down to bring her face close to his -- as bright and dangerous and beautiful as the flames dancing in her unblinking, slit-pupiled eyes.

She points with one clawed finger and hisses softly, "Choossssse, mortal... are you a ssson of Adam or a child of the universssesss?" The blessed cross on his chest feels like it's going to brand him, it's so hot -- and the closer she comes, the more it heats up.

Jason blinks, finally realizing it's the cross that burns... him? Why? Diana said they do nothing to her... "What do you mean? I don't understand!" he calls out to the serpent, still standing firm, gritting his teeth at the pain...

The glowing woman straightens and folds her arms, swaying slightly on the serpent's tail, her redly under-lit face a good 10 feet above the ground as the flames continue to dance around her, her hair flaring along with their scarlet writhing. The heat from the cross lessens as the distance between Jason and the lamia increases slightly. She hisses softly, "Sssso... child of Adam, you dare court my granddaughter?!" The huge wolfen things shift and pace restlessly in the darkness, their coughing snarls coming closer.

From behind Jason, Mike steps forward and shakes his head. "He is not my god. I choose child of the universes."

Jason is still confused... there is too much going on around him for him to track easily what is going on. "She courted me -- caught me like a fly in a web. But though I willingly stay ensnared by her, I would not be as helpless as a fly... I would be worthy of what she offers, and learn what she has to teach me... and teach her in return." He addresses the woman boldly but respectfully.

The flames seem to dim a bit as the lamia turns her attention to Mike. She studies him for a moment, then nods once to him. The firelight glows off his upturned face, and suddenly he's not sweating and nervous looking any more.

The huge snake-woman turns her face back to Jason, and the firelight brightens noticeably. Mike looks stunned and awed, as if he's just been hit with enlightenment. The woman hisses again to Jason, "Thisss isss your choicsssse then? You wear the inssssignia of the raging dessssert god. You are a Sssson of Adam?"

Jason blinks, then reaches up and takes hold of the crucifix by the chain. "I am not a believer," he admits. "And I never have been. I wore it only as a defense against the unknown. If there must be a choice, then no, I am no son of Adam. Diana is more important to me than a God I never embraced." He casts the cross aside.

As the crucifix's chain leaves Jason's fingers, it glitters and sparkles, writhing in the dancing firelight, falling in slow motion into the flames. Abruptly, everything goes still, like a photo -- the flaming lamia, the disturbing shadowy wolf-like things, even the flames themselves freeze in place.

Then, shocking but still calm and gentle, dark as flowing water at night, there's a rippling laugh from behind Jason and Mike. A warm, laughing voice calls, "Grandmother Lamia, I come!" Shining feathers of raven's-wing black fold around Jason and Mike, cool and refreshing against the heat of the fire, with gorgeous blue-black iridescence shimmering across them.

The fiery scene before the two men fades like a melting daguerreotype as the lamia hisses, "Abide sssstrongly by your choicssssessss, children. You will risssse together -- or fall sssseparately." Then she's gone, melted away with the fire and the wolves... although Jason could swear just before she disappeared... did the serpent woman wink at him?! Jason is confused and troubled... the seeming acceptance of the Lamia does not fill him with reassurance, but not dread either... but there is no doubt in his mind when he turns to face that familiar voice with Mike...

Diana walks towards Mike and Jason, smiling. Her eyes glow scarlet in the darkness, and her slow, swaying walk is breathlessly full of promise. The shining dark wings sheltering the two men reach back to her, dark as the soft tassel of fur at the end of her slowly waving leonine tail. Her reddish skin glows like she's lit from within, and the brilliant stars of the Milky Way twinkle and dance, scattered through her flowing hair as it washes up to the sky above, rippling in the night wind.

Mike draws in his breath slowly and shakily, then whispers, "Anima, my soul..." She holds out her arms to them in silent welcome. Jason looks at Mike in bemusement... but he doesn't really feel like asking questions right now. Instead he goes to Diana, seeking refuge and comfort in her embrace, looking expectantly at Mike to do the same... offering a hand to him as well.

There is a shocking closeness, an almost painful intimacy as their skin touches against each other. Mike gasps, staggering, as Jason's sight blurs confusingly -- he can see Mike's face and Diana's serene smile, but he can also see Diana as a being of pure light. There's a strong halo around himself as well, like a fainter aura of power, and within him and Mike both he can 'taste' bright, pure sparks of sweetness/joy/life.

Awake. Jason bolts upright, gasping and clutching at his chest... though it ended on an overall positive note, he still feels like all his nerves are screaming at him. After a minute of trying to calm his breathing, he looks under his shirt, as if wondering if there's a burn there from the dream... if it was a dream, exactly. Things have only gotten stranger and stranger in his dreams, and he wonders if there is a crossover between them and reality. After all, there's magic and succubae and lamia... he doubts this is all the creation of his own mind.

No burn... but for a moment, before it fades away, he can see the glowing spark inside himself, the shining aura of power around him. Soft and warm, like velvet caressing his skin, there is an internal surety, a knowing -- he and Mike and Diana are emotionally linked; they will always be a part of him, just as he is of them.

It's a vaguely scary, warmly joyous sensation -- is this what falling in love feels like? In the golden morning sunlight, anything seems possible. The only slight strangeness he feels comes when he turns his gaze to where he left the little crucifix last night, on his desk... and he notices it is missing.

Jason feels like he should be scared... but oddly nothing comes. He's made his choice, and he doesn't regret it... though to be honest, he's not entirely sure what choice it was. He needs advice; he checks the time. It's late... late enough to go see his friends soon. He pauses then and checks one of his books. Just from his fleeting memory he knows the Lamia was a creature of Greek myth that supposedly ate children as a result of a curse by the gods... but surely there's more to it than that. How interesting that two of these creatures I've met so far come from Greek myth...

Searching his books, he finds an embarrassment of riches: the lamia is of Eastern mythology, is supposedly connected to Hindu deities and Hebrew witches and Assyrian goddesses, is associated with screech owls and jackals and deserts and the dark of the moon, is an evil scavenger and a symbol of wisdom... he also finds, curiously enough, connections between Lamia and the mythic Lilith, succubae and wolfen-shaped demons. There's a curious and contradictory mix of viewpoints: some claim she is a moon goddess, associated with water or willows, protector of pregnant women and children... others believe she's either the Mother of Demons, birthing at the edge of the sea, or the thief of children's lives.

Jason shakes his head... this is fascinating. He had no idea the Lamia crossed mythologies, let alone any of the rest of this stuff. "I need to do more reading, clearly," he mutters to himself as he dresses and jogs out to Mike's car. He drives as fast as he can without breaking any laws, and pulls up in the hotel parking lot. As he crosses the hotel lobby, a young woman behind the counter calls, "Pardon me, sir... are you Mr. Jason Burke?"

Jason skids to a stop. "Yes... yes that's me?" he queries.

The young woman smiles, "There's a message for you, sir." She lays a digital key on the desk, along with a folded note. When Jason opens it, the note says: 'Bring lunch! -D-' Jason groans... in all the excitement, he completely forgot. "Thank you... very much miss. I'll be back." A good half-hour later he's back with... well, not enough food to feed an army, but a sizeable portion from a good restaurant. He shoots a grin at the counterwoman, and heads to the suite. His arms full, he knocks on the door lightly with his noggin.

He doesn't hear any response. On the other hand, he does still have a key... Jason laughs wryly, puts down his packages and gets out the keycard... sticking it in, he works open the door and opens it a crack, wanting to make sure he isn't interrupting anything as he listens in...

It's quiet and dim, and he doesn't hear anything except the faint hum of air conditioning. Jason chuckles again and picks up his packages, holding the door open with his foot as he edges in, taking a look around... wondering if the place is going to look like it did that night BJ came over...

The hotel room looks mostly tidy in the dim light... except for the trail of clothing leading towards the bed. Lying on the bed, half covered by the blankets, Diana is comfortably sprawled across Mike's front. She's purring softly, her glowing red eyes half closed in contentment, wrapped snugly around Mike. He's got one arm about her, lying silently in the bed, breathing slowly and steadily in sleep. Jason can't see them well, but (perhaps surprisingly) he can clearly see Mike's throat, where the point of his jaw and his neck join. There Jason observes, glowing steadily, a tiny, bright burst of writhing color, almost as if it were dancing there like a firefly.

Jason gasps slightly... another thing he had forgotten. He puts the bags of food down, then, and comes closer, wanting to get a good look at it, staring in wonder... Diana doesn't move, but she does smile lazily at Jason, her eyes gleaming like beacons in the dimness. Jason smiles wryly at getting caught... then again, he expects she knew he was there the second he entered the room... his scent and all.

The sparkly little mote becomes less confusingly glowy as he approaches, instead turning into what he thinks is... a pattern of some sort? Vaguely runic, a bit cursif looking, with the bright jewel-colors running through it... maybe if he touched it he could understand it better? Jason is hesitant at first... but remembering Mike touched his and was none the worse for wear, he reaches out with a single finger and touches it...

As he touches the mark, several things happen simultaneously -- he can suddenly see a vibrant view of Diana, almost aglow in sunshine, her eyes laughing as she holds a hand out to him. His own mark pulses in sympathy with the one he's touching, and Mike groans softly in his sleep. Diana purrs, writhing slowly against Mike, and Jason is suddenly keenly aware of his aching sexual need for Diana.

Mike gasps, his eyes fluttering open, and he looks confused for a moment when he sees Jason. Jason looks startled himself, but then smiles at the older man. "Hey, sleepyhead." he drawls teasingly, feeling his face flush for some odd reason.

Mike blinks at him, then struggles upright a bit, trying not to discommode Diana as he does so. "Uh... what the hell was that?!"

Jason chuckles. "Your new mark, Mike... I suspect it looks and feels a lot like mine."

Mike stares in astonishment at Jason, gently reaching out a hand to stop him -- and Jason suddenly realizes he's still gently caressing Mike's mark... and he's leaning forward, about to kiss Mike! Jason's eyes open wide, shocked by his own actions... and at how right they felt. It was in his brain, a fleeting impulse, to lean forward and kiss him. He felt it, but did not realize he was acting on it till he was interrupted. "I'm sorry," he says, pulling his hand back. "I guess it was... I don't know, something about the mark must work like Diana's own power does," he mumbles, in part embarrassed... even more so by the notion that he was just 'rejected'.

Mike is still staring, although it's hard to tell what emotion he's feeling in the dimness. He whispers huskily, "Did- was that you, Jason? ...or just general need?" Diana sighs contentedly, lazily licking along Mike's bare chest -- that causes him to shudder, his gaze leaving Jason as his eyes half-close -- then purring to Jason, "Scritch my horns please, lollipop?"

Jason answers the only way he can... honestly. "I don't know... I had a very confusing night," he admits ruefully. He reaches out casually and happily scritches Diana's horns, liking to see them together like this. "Did either of you have a dream about... a half-snake woman, and shadow wolves? And a choice?" he asks after a moment, pushing aside that unexpected detour.

Mike's gaze is a little haunted, but after a moment of studying Jason, he says nothing. Diana purrs, pressing her head against Jason's scritching fingers like a large cat, "Mmm, more to- yeah, there... ah, oh, yesss, right around the base, mmmm!" The scent of hot food rises to tantalize Jason, and he realizes suddenly he's both exhausted and starving! Puzzlingly, there's also a vague sense memory of Diana's horns being smaller...? Jason laughs at Diana's expression. But then he turns his gaze to Mike, serious. "You did, didn't you. I know, because I had the same dream." Oddly, he finds this impulse to eat rather strange... it's not as if he was the one that had spent most of the night lovemaking...

Mike sighs quietly, "Yes, I had the dream, although..." He falls silent, studying Jason with a curious intensity again.

Jason tilts his head, continuing to scritch as Diana directs. "What?"

Diana finally stretches, lithe and warm and tantalizingly seductive, "Mmm, lovely though this is, you two should eat." She slides onto one side of Mike, causing him to gasp again -- and shockingly, Jason can feel the sensuous thrill of Diana's bare skin sliding against his as well. Mike looks away, flushing a bit, and murmurs something.

Jason doesn't let it go. "What's wrong? Did the dream scare you?" he queries, trying to focus on one thing at a time...

Diana grins, her eyes gleaming in the dimness, and gently runs a hand along Mike's throat. Coaxingly she purrs, "Don't be embarrassed, sweet... he's not going to hurt you. Why would he, when it'd hurt him too?" Mike reflexively smoothes one hand gently down Diana's gleaming hair as he gives her a troubled glance. Then he takes a deep breath and says quietly to her, "I... don't know where I'm going, my heart. This is... uncharted waters for me." He looks up at Jason then, his gaze still troubled, but meeting Jason's eyes unflinchingly. "I said I did not reject you, Jason."

Jason suddenly has the need to sit. Unfortunately he forgets he's crouching by the bed, and his sitting motion makes him flop back on his ass and he has to catch himself. He finds himself speechless. "You heard my thought?" he finally stammers after a moment.

Mike nods, watching Jason. Quietly he says, "I didn't mean to, if that helps any." Diana rises up onto all fours, reaching above her to flick the light switch, and the soft golden glow of the bedside lamp suddenly illuminates them all. Mike adds a touch wryly, "I'd just about kill for some of that food, too, Jason -- I'm ravenous!"

Jason finally breaks his captive gaze from Mike, seeming as flustered as he is. He licks his lips and looks sheepishly at Mike. "I think we'd better eat, then," he offers.

Mike smiles, leaning over from the bed to hold out a hand to help Jason back up. Jason hesitates, and then takes Mike's hand, using it for the purpose that it was intended. As he takes Mike's hand, it happens again -- Jason's suddenly exhausted, starving, and clearly hears, Still don't know if he meant it or no- oh, hell, we're connected again! Mike's hand closes almost convulsively on Jason's, and Mike's expression tightens -- then he takes a deep breath and composes himself, letting his thoughts flow naturally. Jason can feel, as if it were his own, Mike's worry about losing himself, his anxiety at possibly being rejected by Diana, his concern that what happened the last times will happen again... and then, gently, Mike opens his hand and releases Jason's.

Jason's eyes get wide, and he glances at Diana, wondering what she makes of all this. Then he looks back at Mike, trying to compose himself. "Mike... hell, I don't know what's in store for us either. I saw some things -- not last night, but before that -- that have confused me. We're both feeling kind of raw about all this. But whatever the future has in store... we're going to face it together, okay?" He puts a hand on the other man's shoulder, face once again flushed.

Diana settles comfortably back down, curling up next to Mike and purring contentedly again. Mike smiles quietly up at Jason, "Yes. I think... perhaps we are more closely linked than we realize when we touch, though. I noticed your mark pulses every time we make contact; does mine do the same?"

Jason nods wryly. "Hooo, yeah." He looks at Diana. "Di, do you... is this normal?"

Diana shakes her head, her lips gleaming in the golden light, "I have no idea, lollipop; I'm sorry. Mother never had any pets she marked at about the same time, though, and... I think the how of your marking might have been important too? Uhm... because I'm not sure she ever thought of any of them but Daddy as beloved...?" Her tousled mane of hair shines with red-gold highlights, and her horns curl back from her forehead, twisting and clearly larger than Jason last remembers.

Jason tilts his head. "Diana, how... what determines how your horns grow? Is it just that time, what with you maturing?"

"Mmhmm, think so." She grins, rolling her eyes, "Mother's been giving me talks about being an adult, and that was part of it. You know, the usual stuff -- take good care of your pets and they'll take good care of you, always have sex on top so you don't damage anything, don't forget to oil your horns and wings and hooves as they come in so everything grows cleanly... stuff like that."

Jason chokes on a laugh, and looks sidelong at Mike. "Don't... damage anything?" he queries, not sure he wants to know...

Mike smiles serenely, gently stroking Diana's hair. Diana grins perkily, "Sure! Like if the guy is behind you and you toss your head, you can jab them in the face with a horn... or if you're on the bottom on your back, you can break a wing, or have it grow in wrong. Who'd want to do that?" She adds amusedly, "Like I really needed telling. Mother worries too much sometimes!"

Jason blinks and laughs. "I guess... I never thought about it that way," he drawls wryly. "Succubae clearly seem to have a lot more to worry about than human women..."

Diana looks curious, "Why would we worry differently about human women? They need caring-for too, don't they?"

Jason shakes his head. "It's very different. They don't have all those extra body parts... though I'm sure certain biological processes they have, that you don't, are just as cumbersome." He blinks then, suddenly curious. "Diana, do you have, uhm... a menstrual period?" he asks gently.

Diana looks curious, "I don't know! What is it?" She grins, "Is it fun?"

Jason really decides not to laugh now. "Not hardly. It's uhm... it's related to human reproduction. Clearly certain things work the same if your mother had a child with a human... but the period has to do with, uhm... fertility. It involves a certain amount of pain a couple days out of every month, if she hasn't gotten pregnant."

Diana looks trepidatious, "Uhm... do I have to have one?"

Jason smiles gently. "I honestly don't know... but if you haven't had one by now, I suspect you won't," but then, realizing that if she hasn't reached 'puberty' till now... "I think." He looks at Mike. "Xenobiology makes my head hurt."

Mike chuckles quietly at Jason's comment, then gives Diana a shortened, concise explanation of human female reproduction. She looks initially baffled, then horrified, "They carry them how long?! Why not just lay an egg instead, like we do?!"

Mike blinks. Jason purses his lips. "Well, that explains why no menstrual period," he says sanguinely.

Diana says firmly, "Good! You can keep it."

Jason looks at the bags of food, suddenly glad he didn't get omelets. "Let's eat!" he quickly says, diverting this train of thought.

Mike starts hungrily devouring food, and shortly thereafter Diana happily bounces off for a shower. When the bathroom door closes behind her, Mike pauses, his expression quiet as he studies the door... then he turns slowly to look at Jason. "So... we did it. We're marked now."

Jason looks calmly at Mike. "As far as I'm concerned, that's just a formality. We were hers a long time ago," he says solemnly.

Mike sighs quietly, studying his half-eaten hamburger. He murmurs softly, "True... but I still wonder. Did we choose to do it of our own free will? Or... do we just think we did?" He looks up at Jason, his expression a bit haunted.

Jason looks at Mike. "Last night... when you said 'he is not my God'... you meant that, didn't you?"

Mike smiles wryly, "I'm an agnostic, Jason -- I don't believe a just god would allow some of the things I've seen. Either he's not really there..." his voice gets very quiet, "...or he doesn't care."

Jason nods. "But you said it because you believed it. No one forced you to make that choice," he explains. "Just as I made my choice of my own free will. We aren't blind to what she really is. If we wanted to, we could leave and never come back... but we won't." He nods at the bathroom. "We need her, and she needs us."

Mike smiles slowly, his eyes thoughtful, "Do you believe that? I'm afraid I don't... I've tried leaving once already. Admittedly, I don't know if it was me or her that made me come back -- I've always been terrible at resisting women -- but... well." He falls silent, then simply takes another bite of his food.

Jason picks at his food. "This is different, though. This might be the place, for you, where avocation and vocation meet."

Mike looks curious, muffledly mumbling, "Exfpwai'?"

Jason smiles enigmatically. "'Only where love and need are one, and the work is play for mortal stakes, is the deed ever really done, For Heaven and Earth's sakes,'" he quotha. "It's a poem by Frost."

Mike chews and swallows, then sighs quietly, "I hope the mortal stakes are important to the immortal ones, then. I just can't help but wonder... and hope Diana never falls out of love with us, you know? I... don't want to be regarded the way Beatrice regards her flock."

Jason tilts his head. "It seemed at the end that we had the Lamia's favor... whatever that means. As for Diana... well, Diana's more human than her mother, but on the other hand, even humans fall out of love. But I don't think she'd ever look at us like Beatrice does. She was the one that was encouraging more humanity in Beatrice's choices. All we have to do is encourage that in her. As for Beatrice..." He takes a fry between two fingers. "I'm working on it," he says smugly.

Mike studies Jason quietly, still smiling faintly. He murmurs, "Well, you have my best wishes." He has another bite of his cheeseburger, then adds in an entirely different tone of voice, "By the way, I have a surprise for you and Diana too. I figured if we were heading East together, we might as well do so in comfort... so I got us an Airstream."

Jason blinks. "A whatawhat?"

Mike grins, "A... trailer home, sort of. Well, it's a trailer home the same way a palace could be considered mere shelter." He chuckles, "Wait until you see it. It's very nice."

Jason finds his jaw dropping. "Mike, you rented us a whole plane? You didn't have to do that."

"No, no, not a plane -- a motorhome! And it's ours. I didn't know how long we'd be."

Jason blinks. "Oh... you mean like an RV? Sorry, the name threw me off."

Mike smiles, "Sorry. Hopefully Diana will like it -- from what I've heard, supernaturals are a bit territorial."

Jason laughs. "I have no doubt she will... and it's probably a better idea to have a steady place to call home rather than going from motel to motel." His expression gets serious. "About what I was saying earlier... what I mean is that this is more than just the connection between us and Diana, more than love. This is the center of your life, just like it's the center of mine. Diana has the answers of what's really Out There... something which you've been searching for all your life, and what I now need to know to keep myself safe. Vocation and avocation: one."

Mike winces slightly, but nods, "Uhm, yeah... it's terrifying, but I happen to agree. I'm just... not sure I'll like the answer once we find it, you know?"

Jason gestures with a new fry. "The universe isn't out there to please us, Mike. It just is. It's our job to find our place in it, scary or not."

Mike chuckles quietly, "Suppose it is, at that," then goes back to eating.




Last modified: 2006-Jun-11 22:24:13

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