Waking Dreams

After much preparation and some last minute 'emergencies,' the huge Airstream is finally rolling. Mike is driving, with the GPS system smoothly talking him through the process of leaving San Francisco. Diana's in back, sitting on the bed and silently watching her former home recede behind them.

Beatrice and Diana had hugged and cried, and Diana almost hadn't been able to make herself leave. Joe and Rita had been there too, each of them giving Di a tight hug and best wishes. The fragrant bouquet of flowers Joe gave her is even now sitting on the little table in a vase, next to the chocolates Rita had given her. Croaker had made a hearty stew for the two men, and hugged Diana silently, practically enfolding her in his arms. Jason's pretty sure the big bull man had been shedding silent tears also as they left. Mike and Jason had received hugs from everyone as well, and Beatrice had looked like she was struggling between threatening both men with something dire if anything happened to her precious baby -- and understanding quite well that wasn't the answer. Croaker and Joe had flanked her silently as she stood waving goodbye, the last Jason saw.

Jason's own feelings are mixed... he's gotten attached to all these new folks. Which is certainly odd for him: if someone had asked him a couple months ago if he'd miss San Fran when he left, he'd have said no. But then he hadn't been more involved with other people's lives before Diana. But he knows he has to go... if anything, the appearance of the night hound reminded him that if they stayed, more supernaturals would come. He finds himself hoping that things work out though... with Rita, with BJ, with Bea and Croaker and Joe. That said... those that matter most to him are right here in this vehicle. How can he argue with that?

Jason is sitting up front with Mike, though leaned over in his seat and watching Diana watch the road behind them as they make their way out of the city. "This is really hard for her," he murmurs. "Forget just leaving the nest... she's had a whole lot more time to get used to the nest, as it were," he murmurs to Mike.

Mike nods silently, carefully navigating a turn as widely as possible, so as to not clip the light posts with the tail end of the big Airstream. A moment later, safely straightened out, he murmurs to Jason, "Got a hankie? Bet she's crying."

Jason blinks, as if he hadn't considered that. "We're still supposed to carry hankies?" he queries with a mutter, fumbling around for some tissues...

Mike gives a small snort of laughter, reaching into a pocket and handing Jason a hankie without taking his eyes off the road. He grins, adding, "According to the eminent Lord Chesterfield, a gentleman is never found with any less than two -- one for himself and one for any lady in need whom he may discover." He chuckles softly, adding, "Of course, that was the late eighteen hundreds, but I've found it useful advice."

Jason studies the hankie. "Normally I'd say you were being silly, Mike..." he drawls with a smile. "But considering how long Bea and Di have been around, I'm almost positive that they'd agree with your interpretation." He squeezes the man's shoulder... and then as an afterthought, adds a kiss to his cheek.

Mike smiles -- then blinks at the kiss! He turns and grins at Jason, "I've yet to meet a lady who said I was too much of a gentleman, so I'll stick with Lord Chesterfield for now!"

Jason grins impishly at Mike. "You are the very soul of a gentleman, Mike," he assures him, and then goes into the back to the bed, sitting next to Di. "Hi," he greets her, patting her knee.

Diana looks around, her eyes bright with tears, and gives Jason a shaky smile, "Hi, lollipop..." She's curled up tightly, even her tail twined around one leg.

Jason's face crinkles up. "Oh, love... I'm sorry," he coos, presenting the hankie. "Compliments of the gentleman driving the vehicle!" he says loud enough for Mike to hear as he dabs at Di's face compassionately. Diana blinks, ducking her head to try and surreptitiously wipe away the tears... but at Jason's attentions she sniffles... then ends up hugging Jason tightly and crying heart-brokenly on his shoulder. Jason shushes her, making tenderly sweet noises as he pats her back, sighing at her upset. "I know, dear, I know," he murmurs, just sitting there with her for as long as she needs.

The first day of driving is a short one, as Diana is more shaken than she realized by leaving her home of over a century. When she feels that insecure, she tends to want physical contact very badly -- and it's tough to drive with her sitting on one's lap. Although some of the results of Di's neediness are amusing, Jason quickly surmises that progress on their journey is not nearly as important as helping Di. He is regretful that Di unfortunately can still not deal well with food, and so a good dinner cannot be a part of said plan. But good food is replaced instead with a little music and some dancing, followed by a long, drawn-out, and tender lovemaking between the three of them... the intensity in previous coupling is put aside, as what Di needs most here is attention and solace. Jason does his best with Mike to provide that, and the soft music plays on as they lay cuddled up against each other afterwards.

Mike apparently planned ahead, as the Airstream is parked that evening at Yellowstone National Park. Diana seems somewhat distractedly appreciative of the beauty about her, but the dancing causes her to brighten noticeably. After the lovemaking she seems to finally relax a bit, languidly trailing her fingers along the skin of whomever is closer and inquiring for the first time where they currently are. Jason doesn't hear the question at first, but gets it on the second try. "Hmm? Oh... Yellowstone. It's a big national park..." he murmurs in response. "You know, I've never been... should we sightsee, Mike? I mean, it's not as if we're in a hurry, are we?" He looks up at Mike, who is cradled against Di's front, while he's spooned up lower on the other side, head resting on her belly.

Mike sighs contentedly, "Yup. Thought Diana might like seeing the country she traveled through as a child... and we want to hit as many cities as we can, right, to find any other supernaturals?"

Diana says thoughtfully, "That's... a good point, sweetheart -- I'd not thought of that!" She smiles slowly a moment later, adding, "And it feels really nice and peaceful here, actually."

Jason's eyes widen then. "Wait, wait... we're actually looking for other supernaturals?" he queries then, suddenly far more awake. "I thought we were just... trying to find where Bea came from..."

Mike murmurs relaxedly, "Well, what better way to find out what happened than to check with any supernaturals we might meet? Maybe one of them remembers more?"

Jason turns that over in his head. "I suppose... I just..." He sighs. "I'm worried. The night hound could have had us for lunch if I wasn't able to talk with it. Going looking for more feels a little like... looking for trouble."

Mike shifts enough to look over at Jason and smile ruefully, "Well... in a way, isn't looking for where Beatrice came from looking for trouble too?"

Jason looks up at Mike with sour amusement. "Smartass," he says affectionately to him. "But you've got a point... I just wish I felt like we had a good defense..."

Mike grins lazily, "Well, I usually try to keep it covered in public." He chuckles, then adds, "Well, what do you think of when you say 'good defense'?"

Diana puzzledly says, "We have a fine defense, don't we? We're smart and prepared!"

Jason hugs Diana's leg. "I think of you not getting knocked out with one hit, Di," he murmurs, suddenly protective. "Of course, to be fair he ambushed you." He looks wry. "I don't know -- I just wish I had like... laser-beam eyes or something."

Diana sounds chagrined as she rubs her side where she was struck, "Well... okay, I let my guard down there. But still, between the three of us we handle most things okay, don't we?" She giggles, adding, "Well, I for one am glad you don't, lollipop -- that'd be messy!"

Mike chuckles, "Or painful."

Jason gets this wide-eyed look. "But then I could start campfires all on my own, and cook a meal just by staring at it!" he says disingenuously. Mike snorts amusedly again, and Diana giggles, reaching down to cheerfully mess up Jason's hair.

The next days are rather pleasant, as the threesome make a leisurely vacation of it. Diana finds the park remarkably relaxing, and Mike's in no hurry to push her back onto the road, where she'll have plenty of time to think about what she's left behind. Instead he makes sure she can explore every path she'd like in the park. There are a lot of them, and many of them are not just long and winding, but also quite breathtakingly beautiful. Diana particularly likes sitting by the falls and just lying back with one of her lovers in the shade. Sometimes she wants to go at night as well, which Mike has no problem with -- he seems to have excellent night vision. Jason is at first reluctant to go hiking... he doesn't tend to have good endurance for that sort of thing. On the other hand he realizes, considering their quest, it would be a good thing to get in better shape than he is. Therefore he goes as often as he can muster, though making sure to take plenty of breaks and bringing plenty of water on said excursions.

Mike will, after the first day, take both Diana and Jason to the closest store with good equipment for sale. Both of them walk out later with a good pair of hiking boots, a nice shady hat, and other useful equipment like water bottles that snap onto belts. Mike clearly has some experience in this sort of thing... Jason's boots are comfy and don't chafe at all. A good pair of boots makes all the difference, and after a week Jason's overall demeanor and physical energy has taken leaps and strides upwards. The effects are noticeable in his symmetry as well... his girth was mostly a result of lack of exercise rather than eating all that much.

Diana also seems to be enjoying herself immensely. It's almost curious, and Jason catches Mike making notes about it on occasion on his laptop -- but Diana seems to be growing a little. Her former slender physique develops a few more curves, and her skin seems to have gone from the previous red to a slightly more tanned sort of effect. Her horns are twisting into nice wide curves, more like her mother's, and her tail tuft is as thick and shining as her sable mane. Indeed, her entire general demeanor has improved; she tends to sing more often, and to enjoy spending lots of time simply touching or caressing her lovers -- sometimes even when they're on the trails!

Jason takes note of the difference in Diana's tail, and confers with Mike about it a little, suggesting they make a point of studying differences in any other succubae they might meet... unfortunately it's during this conversation that Diana's tail appears to be in an impish mood, as it curves around Jason's waist and right into his shorts! This leads to an amusingly embarrassing moment, especially as other hikers round the bend at that moment, and cannot see for themselves exactly what the excitement is about... Diana is giggly and cheerful and entirely unrepentant, of course. Jason chastisingly shakes a finger at Diana, which only results in said digit being coyly caught in her mouth, an act met with grins from the other hikers. Jason just groans and shrugs ruefully at them.

Mike is careful to keep the Airstream well-stocked, and after two or three days he decided it would be wise to lay in a few more food staples for them. Accordingly, once Diana's had her fun and they've combed the leaves out of Jason's hair and off his back, Mike grins and gently urges Diana on to the small general store they're headed for. It's a deliberately charmingly quaint log building, carefully maintained to blend in with the environment. When the threesome walk in, Diana is entranced, wandering and happily looking at the huge variety of produce and products the little store routinely stocks. Aside from occasionally asking what something is for, though, she leaves Jason and Mike in peace to shop... and eventually wanders outside to see what's happening out there.

The older man running the store has to elbow the much younger assistant more than once to keep his attention on what he's doing. It's understandable, really... Diana in her wide-brimmed hat, hiking boots, shorts, and tank top is quite eye-catching. Jason follows Mike's lead in acquiring provisions... of course, a store like this doesn't tend to have things like TV dinners and the like, but mostly items that can be cooked in the wild... or at least without high tech cooking equipment. He notices the young man noticing Diana along the way, and just grins. "Maybe we should negotiate for Pepsi commercials along the way," he comments in amusement to Mike.

Mike chuckles at Jason, and grins with some sympathy at the young man, who is busily packing what appears to be a very, very large order. The older man snorts amusedly as well, overhearing Jason. A moment later, observing the young man, he sternly barks, "Jim! Watch whatcher doin', boy! You know those packs haveta balance!"

Mike raises a curious eyebrow, "Is the person who placed the order on a horse or mule or something?"

Jason peers at the order. "Maybe he just plans on having a large meal before leaving the shop..." he murmurs.

The older man nods, "Ayup. Th' ol' guy's been in the park long as I can remember. Comes in every six months or so to pick up his staples. Nice fella, keeps to himself..." he glares at the young man, who is once again staring longingly out the window, and adds sharply, "Unlike some folks!" The young man starts, hastily returning to packing.

Jason looks a little curious. "He actually lives in the park? People can do that?" he queries, looking at Mike and then back at the old timer.

The old shopkeeper nods, "Ayup. He's one a' th'rangers." The saddlebags are actually more like gunnysacks sewn to a wide strap of old leather. Jason can see them being filled with packages of flour, salted bacon, sugar, and other packages that aren't as clearly labeled. Jim adds wryly, "He rides everywhere!"

Jason nods a little. "Suppose that makes sense, then... wonder what that must be like -- living so far away from everyone, his only contact with other folks being when he picks up his order. Guess he's not the most social of folks." He tilts his head at the shopkeeper. "How long have you been here, sir?"

The old shopkeeper chuckles, "'Bout fifty years or so now." He looks around with evident satisfaction, "Doin' okay by my family still, I reckon." The young man grins, rolling his eyes amusedly at Jason, then going back to packing.

Jason blinks. "Really... you've been here that long; how old is the ranger?"

Mike smiles, then pays for their much-more-modest order. It's while the shopkeeper is ringing it up that the young man says, "Done, Grampa. Want me to pack this order too?" The shopkeeper nods to his grandson, then studies Jason for a moment, "Dunno, son. You could ask 'im, though." He nods towards the window, "Your lady friend's chattin' with him there." Jason turns his gaze towards the window, his curiosity piqued.

Outside is Diana, one hand holding her sun hat on as she cheerfully chats with someone. She looks remarkably human at the moment, her sable hair shining richly in the sunshine and her horns concealed by the hat. Even the tail isn't immediately visible, curled around the wrist of her free hand behind her back. She's looking up at the person she's chatting with. He's got an open, heavily tanned, wrinkled face shaded by a beat-up old cowboy hat, and his soft flannel shirt, worn leather gloves, and rugged, weather-beaten jacket mark him immediately as a real, old-fashioned cowboy... except for the fact he's also a centaur.

Jason does not faint. He's so proud of himself. Of course, his next thought is how in the world other folks see the guy... and if the nature of him makes it look like he brings his 'horse' with him everywhere, including inside the store? He gives a tug at Mike's sleeve. "Don't get flustered, but I think we know why this fella is so long lived. Finish up in here," he murmurs before going to the door.

The centaur is huge next to Diana -- big hooves, thick fetlocks, a shaggy reddish coat on his heavy body... he stamps one hind hoof, his thick tail swishing casually as he nods to Diana while they speak. Mike glances over casually -- then starts visibly, "Holy shit!" He bolts for the door, leaving the shopkeeper a bit startled looking, credit card still in his hand. As Mike darts out the door he shouts, "HEY!" The centaur shies sideways, the heavy hooves thudding almost menacingly on the packed dirt, and stares at Mike warily.

Jason swears. "Just, uhm... hold on one second," he says to the shopkeeper. He then darts out after Mike, taking him by the shoulders. "Mike, Mike, hold your, uhm..." he then realizes what a bad turn of phrase that is right now, "...horses," he finishes lamely.

Diana turns, covering a giggle at Jason's comment. Mike stares warily at the centaur, muttering, "Uh... yeah..." without taking his eyes off the huge creature The centaur clops nervously to one side, staring back... then nods and rumbles, "She your daughter, mister? Was just talkin' to her, s'all."

Diana looks back and smiles at the centaur, "No, he's not my father. He's my... I don't know what word you'd use." She takes off the hat and pushes back her hair. The horns show clearly -- and the centaur spooks seriously this time, practically teleporting backwards with a heavy thunder of hooves.

Jason groans! Suddenly, things are going from bad to worse! He suddenly wishes he knew something, anything, about calming startled horses... it might be of some help with centaurs too. "Sir, please wait!" he calls, trying to be loud and grab the centaur's attention without being startling. He holds up his hands, trying to be as non-threatening as possible.

The shopkeeper's wary voice comes from behind them as well, "Phil? You okay?" A bit sharply he adds, "Mr. Hellinger, shouting at horses is a bad idea. Why'n't you 'n' your family c'mon inside for a bit?"

Jason looks at Mike and Di. "Guys... go wait inside, like the man says," he tells them, trying to give the centaur/ranger his space as he moves in the direction of the door. He wants to talk to the centaur... but folks in numbers likely isn't helping. Mike looks unconvinced, but Diana takes his arm and gently urges him to follow Jason towards the door. The shopkeeper stands aside, watching with a hint of disapproval at all the fuss... and behind them Jason can hear the centaur snort in startlement again.

Once they're all inside the shopkeeper follows, shutting the door behind them. He murmurs, "Jim, take Ol' Phil's packs out to him," then steps behind the counter and addresses Mike, "Need you to sign here, sir." As Mike is signing, the shopkeeper adds, "Ol' Phil's a good man... no need to be spookin' his mustang, sir."

Jason is meanwhile watching from the window... he's already regretting his actions. He thought letting Mike know beforehand would make him less likely to spook. He tries to think of some way to regain the man's good will as he watches... and absently wonders what a centaur's speech sounds like. Diana's hand on Jason's shoulder warns him of her approach. She slides her hand down his arm and leans against him with a smile, "Isn't he pretty looking? He's like a larger quadrupedal form of Croaker." She studies the centaur outside, watching as Jim helps load the saddlebags on his back, and murmurs, "Think he's lonely."

Jason nods, more than a little fascinated himself. "Have to wonder about that, what with him choosing to live alone... but I'd sure like to find out. Just have to figure out how to approach him, now," he murmurs, thinking.

Jason approaches the shopkeeper after thinking for a little while about it. "I don't suppose there's any way to contact him once he's back at his cabin, is there? We didn't exactly cover ourselves with glory there, and I'd like the opportunity to apologize..." He gestures with a thumb at the ranger and his 'horse.' "I'd do it now, but I'm not sure I want to make things worse than they got..."

The old shopkeeper glances a bit disapprovingly over his glasses at Jason, then murmurs, "Reckon Ol' Phil's used to it, son. Wouldn't worry about it... just don't do it again, 'kay?" Outside, the young man is struggling with the heavy packs, which the centaur is easily hauling across his back. He keeps glancing up at the shop, though, his tail occasionally swishing agitatedly.

Jason mmhmms. Clearly, he's not likely to get the answer he wants out of the shopkeeper... but that's okay, because he has other options. Drifting back over to Diana, he leans against her. "Di, as soon as the young fellow out there is done with his job, do you think you could, er, 'talk' to him... see if you can get the location of the ranger's cabin out of him?"

Mike comes over with the backpacks for Jason and himself, shouldering into his after he's handed the other to Jason. Diana smiles, "Sure, I can try." Mike growls softly, "Not alone. Don't know why, but... not alone." Outside, Old Phil is completely loaded up with all his purchases. He straightens, standing quite still as he stares for a long moment at the window where the threesome are standing and watching from. Diana smiles and gives Mike a gentle kiss on the cheek, "That's fine, sweetheart," then heads for the door.

Jason stares at Mike. "Come on, Mike... like the kid is going to be any danger to her..." he argues quietly. He grunts and hefts the pack onto his back. It goes easier than it might have a week earlier.

Mike shakes his head, "That's no kid, Jason."

Jason is confused. "Wait... are we talking about the shopkeeper's helper, or the ranger? Isn't that who you asked Diana to talk to?"

As Diana appears in the door, the centaur shifts nervously, straightening even more... then cautiously tips his cowboy hat to her. "Ma'am." Mike follows Diana, staying out of the centaur's sight, and whispers to Jason, "The ranger, of course!"

Jason shakes his head. "No, no... we're obviously not going to be able to talk to Phil... he's too skittish. I want Di to pump the Bag Boy there for the location of his cabin... or at least the right trail to take."

Diana steps out the door, standing on the wooden porch to talk to the centaur, "Hello! We were wondering, um... well, we're sorry we startled you earlier." She beams, and his eyes widen slightly. He's still huge in comparison to her. Young Jim isn't in sight, having gone around the back of the shop again. Jason blinks and then realizes that Diana misunderstood as well... perhaps to her, everyone is young. He starts out, but then stops again and just watches... rushing in blindly is what got him spooked the last time.

The centaur leans his human part forward, sniffing cautiously at Diana, who grins and obligingly holds out one hand. This causes Phil to pull back a bit... then pull a leather glove off and cautiously -- very cautiously! -stretch way out, reaching forward to touch his fingertips lightly, just for a split second, to Diana's -- then yank his hand away. Diana looks curious, tilting her head and leaving her hand outstretched. When nothing happens, the centaur cautiously touches Diana's hand again... then slowly closes his hand around her fingers. Mike draws a sharp breath and steps into view, and the centaur hastily backs up a few steps again, releasing Diana's hand.

Jason watches carefully as Diana opens a dialogue again... absently noting that the centaur seems to be as strong as tales would suggest... if the size of the packs are any judge, he's carrying as much weight as a medium sized man, and doesn't seem fazed by it at all. Watching, Jason's face crinkles up and he looks worried -- this reminds him of trying to calm an animal. But so fascinated by this is he that he loses track of Mike again... and when Mike steps out, he groans and puts a hand on Mike's shoulder, trying to keep him back. "Easy, tiger... this isn't exactly a dangerous predator," he whispers.

Mike looks unhappy, murmuring quietly to Jason, "I... I don't know, Jason. It's just... well, Diana looks like Diana, you know? But this guy, he looks..." he frowns, squinting, then says slowly and confusedly, "...dim? He... isn't as brightly glowing as Di?"

The centaur gives a gusty sigh, shivering vigorously all over -- then swishes his tail fiercely back and forth a few times and takes a few steps forward. "Y- uh, y'all camping here? Reckon if y'wanted I could help carry y'stuff?"

Jason's lips purse, suddenly wondering exactly what the gift from Beatrice to Mike entailed. Apparently something to do with glowing. "If he's glowing less than her, Mike, I'd be suspecting it's because he's less powerful than her... and that's in our favor. You were the one reminding me we had to talk to folks like this... so let's talk," he whispers quickly. He takes one step forward then, just to get the centaur's attention. "I think we're doing fine as far as our luggage, sir... but the pleasure of your company and conversation would be welcomed." He gestures a thumb back at the general store. "The proprietor says you've been here a good long while... probably seen a lot of interesting things during your tour of duty." He's trying to keep his tone friendly, which isn't hard... after all, centaurs were never mentioned in myth as being particularly evil.

The centaur glances swiftly back and forth between Jason and Mike, then looks back at Diana for a long moment. Finally he nods once, again tipping his hat, "Be happy to. How far away y'all camped? Less than half an hour's walk?" He hesitates, then says slowly, "If'n y'all want, y're welcome to walk with me to my place after?"

Jason beams. "I can't speak for my friends, but I would be pleased at such an invitation," he responds, suddenly fascinated by the idea of what kind of furniture a centaur would have! He looks at Di and Mike, trying to seem encouraging.

Mike looks uneasy, but nods. Diana beams brightly, causing the centaur to focus intently on her again. She steps light-footedly forward, heading for the trail, "Sounds like fun!" The centaur backs up hastily, politely nodding to her again, "Ma'am," then follows behind her. Jason gets the impression of a huge amount of nervous energy, tightly reined in.

Jason follows and keeps a tight grip on Mike's hand... trying to project his calm at the older man. "Di, why don't you lead the way; show the gentlemen where we're at," he says loud enough for Phil to hear... guiding Mike around, he puts them on the Centaur's flank. Two good reasons for this... one, it make it easier for Phil to keep track of them all, and two, it's not a good idea to be behind a skittish horse... that much he's pretty sure of.

Diana grins over her shoulder at her lovers, looking marvelously beautiful in the sunlight, with her sun hat shading her face. "Sure!" The centaur seems almost startled, looking back and forth between her and the two men -- then hastily sidles in between them and Diana, hooves flashing. She heads out, almost bouncing along happily as she chats to the centaur, "So how long have you been here? Your fur is the loveliest russet color... how do you keep warm over wintertime?" Jason lets out a laugh... count on Diana to cheerfully jump right in. He knows the trail narrows in places, but tries to keep to Phil's side for the moment.

The centaur starts slightly at Jason's laugh, glancing over and down past his shoulder -- then hastily jigs forward to pace along next to Diana. It's a swift pace she sets, and the big horse-man easily keeps up, his huge, muscled flank moving rhythmically next to Jason and Mike. Mike is silent, eyes narrowed as he walks along, trying to keep up. The centaur's low rumbling replies aren't always easy to hear, but he hesitantly talks to Diana. His speech becomes less stuttery as everything remains calm, and his gait loosens up a bit from the previous nervous tension. Jason points this change out to Mike even as he does his best to give the centaur a wide berth. "You see? Everything's going to be fine," he assures Mike, squeezing his hand.

Mike just looks at Jason quietly, "Hope so," then goes back to keeping up.

"I, uh, I... been here a whiles... dunno precisely how long, ma'am. Er... thankee. I g-get a lot shaggier in -- inna winter, ma'am. Uhmm... my name's Phillip Thessalioi, ma'am. If, uh, if'n it's not too forward... what's yer name?"

Jason hnhs thoughtfully, looking at Mike. "You hear that? Sounds like he doesn't know where he came from, either..." he comments in an undertone... not because his words are secret, but because he doesn't want to startle Phillip.

Diana cheerfully introduces herself and the other two, and the centaur looks back to give a quick, polite nod to both of them. He is quite astonished at the size of the Airstream, staring up at it open-mouthed. While Diana stays outside to chat with the nervous centaur, Mike and Jason dump their backpacks in the Airstream. Mike is very uncomfortable leaving Diana alone with the centaur, but seems to be relaxing a bit as nothing untoward happens.

As the two men come back out of the Airstream, Diana cheerfully waves, "Hey, he doesn't remember either, just like mother!" She beams at the centaur, who tentatively leans forward and touches her shoulder as she says, "So, shall we go visit your place, so you can take all those packs off too?" Phillip blinks, looking back as if he'd forgotten them all... then nods, "Yes'm." He hesitates, then says a little shyly, "Would, um... would... y'all like to ride?"

Jason was opening his mouth to ask if that offer was still on the table... and smiles as Di takes the initiative. At the offer to ride, though... "Er... is that safe? I mean... none of us have ever ridden, I don't think, and... it might be a bit much to carry three..." he says hesitantly.

The centaur takes a breath, then says carefully, "Only one at a time, please?"

Jason nods wryly. "Well, in that case..." He looks at Di. "You want to try it out, sugarplum?"

Mike shifts uncomfortably, then restrains himself. Diana brightens noticeably, "Ooh, yes!" She turns and beams up at the centaur, "What should I do?" The wattage of that smile seems to have struck him dumb, as he just gapes at her for several seconds -- then hastily starts, shaking his head several times, "Uh, yes'm, right away! Er..." He glances around nervously, then sidles up next to her, hooves almost dancing in place, and... easily scoops her up! He twists in what looks an impossible way, gently depositing her on his back, "There y'go, ma'am, Miss Diana, um, just um put your arms, uhh..." Abruptly he flushes, turning back to face forward, "Er, arms 'round my waist, ma'am..." Jason remembers with a touch of wry humor precisely what it feels like to suddenly have Diana's décolletage flashed before him, at that flush.

The centaur's horse skin shivers again, as if trying to dislodge a fly -- then he stands suddenly quite still, head tilted forward a bit, as he waits for Diana to settle. She comfortably arranges her skirts, tucking them under her, then leans forward and puts her arms around the cowboy's waist, "How's that?" He flushes again, mumbling something incoherent, and hastily jigs forward towards one of the trails.

Jason tries not to laugh... the poor fellow doesn't deserve it, and he doesn't want to make things more difficult. "Relax, Mike," he whispers, squeezing his shoulder affectionately as he watches Phillip try to cope with a Diana...

Mike nods a bit grimly, taking slow, deep breaths... he glances at Jason, "Hope we're doing the right thing here. Let's go." Jason just smiles and follows after Phillip, only a little worried... about Diana falling off more than anything.

The centaur seems to be setting a swift but gliding pace -- Diana's hair only ripples slightly with the big horse-man's movements. Jason can hear the softly rumbled query, "So... if'n you don't mind my askin', Miss Diana, if'n they ain't yer daddy 'n brother, who are they?" and Diana's cheerful, laughing reply, "They're mine, of course! Didn't you see my mark on them?" The centaur is silent, his hooves thudding heavily on the beaten earth track.

Jason has to struggle this time not to laugh. "Hear that, 'dad'?" he teases Mike, putting an arm over his shoulder.

Mike blushes, giving Jason a wry look, "Gee, thanks... son..." he drawls.

Jason just grins cheerfully. "Are you mad? Are you going to spank me?" he queries with big eyes.

The centaur is obviously not used to humans -- he's starting to outdistance the two men as he walks along. He quietly and fascinatedly plies Diana with questions now he's not afraid of her -- what is she, where's she from, where'd she get the horns, how does she stay well, how much does she remember, is her mother like her, and so on. They've been walking for a while now, the underbrush getting thicker and the path getting fainter and twistier. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are very few people out this way, and other paths have come and gone, crossing this one. Mike snorts amusedly at Jason's query, lightly punching him in the shoulder, "No way -- you'd probably enjoy it!"

The centaur is about two horse-lengths ahead of the two men by now, pacing along smoothly and easily. He glances back at Jason and Mike, then tilts his head to check the happily chatting Diana, his arms resting lightly under hers where they're wrapped around his waist. Then he breaks smoothly into a thundering canter, his stride lengthening as he swiftly speeds up. Diana gives a startled squeak, then a delighted cry, "Ooh, neat!"

Jason erks, and suddenly breaks into a swift jog. "We're getting our exercise today..." he calls back, puffing a little as he tries to not let the gap between them get too far...

Mike swears, breaking into a run, "I was afraid of this -- the Lapith centaurs tried to steal the bride at a wedding!" He shouts, "Diana! Leap off!" The two men see Diana give a startled glance over her shoulder just before the galloping centaur bolts around a corner and disappears. His swift, heavy hoof beats can be heard fading out...

Jason suddenly looks startled. "Mike, what..." he caught about half of that and sounds utterly bemused at the idea... and then there's a shriek of rage from Diana! There's no mistaking that. Doubt flees his mind, and Jason starts running all out... his mind suddenly filled with chagrin. He trusted too much...

Mike, running pell-mell beside Jason, winces at the shriek. Jason can hear him mutter, "Oh, no, no... don't kill him, Di, he's just... just being what he is, I guess..." Jason doesn't even spare Mike a baffled look... whatever he is, he can't just steal Di... then again, who knows if Di can even be stolen. He just keeps running, ignoring the ache in his side.

It takes what seems like forever, running down the trail and hoping the centaur didn't break off or take a turn-off... and then suddenly and faintly, they both hear the oddest sound -- a sort of mixed whinny/scream. Mike doesn't say anything as he runs. He's drawn ahead of Jason, having slightly better wind, and Jason sees him check suddenly as he's rounding a long curve -- then giving a gasp of relief and running forward again, "Di! Sweetheart, you're okay!" Rounding the same curve, Jason spots Mike hugging Diana tightly. Her hair is tousled, and her sun hat is clenched in one fist as she returns the hug. She looks... pissed.

Fortunately Jason manages to keep his feet as he reaches out and holds onto the nearest bluff as his lungs gasp in air. Even athletes can't run like that without getting a stitch, and Jason is no athlete. "Oh, thank goodness," he mutters, both at Diana's presence, and at no dead body.

A moment later Mike leans back, still holding Diana, and anxiously asks, "The centaur, Phil -- what happened, sweetheart?"

Diana smiles a touch grimly at Jason, then says fiercely to Mike, "I... ate him. I told him to stop and he wouldn't, so... I ate as much of him as I could, and he flipped. I went flying, but I didn't hit anything, so when I woke up I just came walking back to find you both."

Jason slowly processes that in between deep breaths. "Right... okay... new rule. We don't ride anything alive," he groans, staggering over to the others.

Mike glances worriedly between Jason and Diana as she moves to hug Jason. Slowly Mike says, "Di... sweetheart... is he... dead?"

Diana says sharply, "I don't know, Mike, and I don't care! He tried to grab me!" Mike winces slightly again, but then says quietly, "We... I have to see."

Jason looks confused. "Wait, hold on... why would he be dead?" And then a flash of memory answers his own question... supernaturals cannot regenerate their 'essence' like humans can. If she ate enough... it could kill him. "Crap," he mutters.

Mike nods soberly to Jason, "If... he was already dim..." He hesitates, then puts a gentle hand on Diana's shoulder, "Why don't you stay here with Jason, sweetheart? I'll... just be a minute, okay?"

Jason wraps an arm around Diana's waist... comfort and support rolled into one. "And this was starting out so well..." he murmurs, nodding to Mike.

Diana looks indignant, "I'll do no such thing! You're not heading off alone after that nasty man!" She puts her arm around Jason, adding firmly, "We'll all go!"

Mike opens his mouth to protest -- then gets a look at Diana's face. He grins ruefully at Jason, then says quietly, "All right, sweetheart... but remember, horses can't run as fast through trees as a weaving, dodging hu- er, biped, okay?"

Jason blinks. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Mike says grimly, "If it comes at us again, we need to get off the path and remember to stay out from underfoot... since it could easily crush us.

Jason shoots a finger at Mike. "Noted."

Mike doesn't look happy... but he takes a deep breath, then starts pacing cautiously forward, trying to peer ahead down the trail as much as possible. Diana marches forward, passing him. Mike protests softly, reaching out, "Di..." but she just shakes her head, her eyes flashing scarlet in the dim sunlight filtering through the trees, "You guys are my responsibility, and if you're going to go searching for this unpleasant man, the least I can do is go first!" Mike darts a frustrated glance at Jason, unsure what to say to her.

Jason is still clutching his side as he lurches forward. "Di, if we're going to do it then we do it together," he says slowly. "We're supposed to take care of each other." He smiles a little. "Besides... I could use some help... I think I hurt something on that run..." he adds, trying to play up the 'hurt puppy' eyes... he aches, certainly, and so therefore he tries to play to that to keep Di with them.

Diana blinks, then suddenly looks guilty and darts back to Jason's side, "I'm sorry, lollipop! Here, lean on me..." Her voice is low, crooning, and calming as she slips an arm about his waist. She walks next to Jason, adjusting her pace to his. Her gentle stroking along his side certainly feels extraordinarily nice, as well! Over her head Mike throws a grateful look at Jason, then turns and leads the way more slowly than Diana's initial determined march. Jason smiles back at Mike for more than one reason... he got the better end of the bargain, and quite contentedly leans against Diana. He makes approving noises back at Di, keeping her concentrating on that and not on Mike.

It's not long before Mike pauses, staring ahead of him... then glances back at the others with a worried expression. His voice is low, "We found him."

Jason's face falls. "Oh, no..." He tries to peer around Mike.

The trail ahead is a mess. Not only are there boxes and bags tumbled everywhere -- some of which have broken open, scattering their contents along the trail in splashes of white flour or scattered black beans -- but the trail itself is almost completely blocked by the huge sprawled body of the centaur. The heavy horse ribs rise and fall with agonizing slowness, and there's an audible wheezing from the human body as he struggles for air. At the sound of voices the heavily fetlocked hooves scrabble a bit, leaving deep scrapes in the dirt as he vainly tries for purchase on the ground... then, gasping, the huge horse-man falls still again. His eyes are rimmed with white as he slowly pants open-mouthed, but he seems curiously resigned to his fate.

Jason straightens up, moving to stand next to Mike but keeping his arm around Diana's waist to keep her with him. He looks at Mike. "How bad is it?"

Mike shakes his head slowly, looking worried, "I... am not an expert on centaurs, Jase. If he were a horse, though... I'd try bracing him up on his chest so he could breath easier, and maybe get up." He considers, then calls, "Mr. Thessalioi, can you hear us? We'd like to help, if you promise not to kick us?" The centaur doesn't answer, still wheezing slowly, although his skin quivers when Mike speaks. Mike seems a bit perplexed as to what to do next, considering...

Diana says firmly, "Mike, he won't kick you." She glares at the centaur, fiercely adding, "I'll hurt you again if you try anything against my pets -- you hear me?" The centaur flinches again, his eyes getting wider, but aside from bracing himself up a bit with one arm so he can see the group better, he doesn't stop panting. It's a rather... painful sounding noise.

Jason frowns. "Mike... the glow. How's his glow?" he queries urgently, suspecting that's what the real measure of the centaur's state will be... more and more, it feels like he might be clinging to life.

Mike takes a breath... then nods once firmly, and strides forward. He heads for the centaur's back or top side, away from the heavy hooves, crouching next to the withers. "Um... okay, can you rock yourself at all? If you can, we can coordinate..." His voice trails off as he studies the huge body lying in front of him... then he looks up unhappily at Jason, "He's um... kinda flickery, Jason. It's... a bit scary. But... how do you feed a centaur?

Jason grimaces and clenches a fist. "Dammit..." he looks helplessly at Diana. "He's dying... he's dying and there's nothing we can do about it," he sighs.

Diana blinks, looking first indignant, then hurt, "But... he tried to kidnap me! I didn't want to kill him, but he wouldn't listen to me!"

Jason shakes his head. "I'm not... I'm not blaming you, Di. I just... I wish it didn't happen like this. Hell, I wish we had some way of making those healing potions like Bea used for Croaker..." he sighs, looking frustrated. "Mike, you're the expert... any ideas?"

Mike crouches where he is, his wrists dangling off his knees, and considers. "Well... let's see. Succubae are sexual in nature. Centaurs... hm. Mythologically I know of two kinds. One was the Lapiths, who stole the bride at a wedding Hercules was at, and he killed them all in revenge. The other was... Chiron, I think? He was um... I think he was Hercules' teacher? So... hm." He tilts his head thoughtfully at the centaur, "How's he staying alive here, I wonder? Maybe... maybe if... if he taught someone, or... letting someone ride, maybe? Except... he seems a bit weak for that...?" His voice trails off uncertainly.

Diana stares at the centaur almost accusingly, hands on her hips. Jason purses his lips. "Maybe he can't. Maybe he doesn't know how, and that's why his, er ... 'life force' was so dim, in comparison to Diana's."

Mike nods slowly, considering, "So... we need to get his glow to stop flickering first, I'm thinking. We need to get at least a little bit of energy into him... but how?"

Jason waves a hand. "Maybe we're over-thinking this. There's an important difference here... Di doesn't eat food. But Thessalioi here bought a ton of the stuff... I say maybe we start by feeding him that."

Mike looks ruefully around at the incredible mess, "Only if we can find something already prepared... don't think raw beans or flour will help much." He rises, though, dusting his hands off and starts to search. "Jerky, maybe? Do centaurs eat meat?" The centaur in question is still wheezing, but has slowly collapsed back down, his head resting on his arm and his eyes half closed. His longish hair is a mahogany spill across his face and arm, lying on the dirt.

"Don't see any reason why he'd buy something he couldn't eat... so with any luck, we can find something like that... or maybe trail mix..." Jason muses as he helps Mike search. Diana joins in the search through the bags and bundles. Mike starts tidying, piling together the foodstuffs which have already been examined. He's getting a more and more frustrated look -- they're finding beans, a slab of bacon, flour, sugar... all the staples someone could possibly need! -- but nothing already made. Jason blinks then, as he considers something. At first he rejected the idea, but if she could... "Di...would it be possible for you to give back what you took? You know... like your mother used to feed you from her take?"

Diana looks up startledly, "But I..." She pauses, considering... then gets an interested look, "Gosh, lollipop, I don't know! I've never tried it before, but I guess I could." Mike looks up a bit worriedly, watching as Diana rises and moves over to kneel next to the fallen centaur's human upper portion. Diana smiles reassuringly at Mike and Jason, then gently leans down, framing the man's face in her hands. His eyes fly open at the touch and he jerks slightly, hands coming weakly up to push ineffectively at her. She murmurs quietly, soothingly, "Shh, shh, it's all right, shh..." until her lips touch his.

Jason puts his hand on Mike's shoulder. "Watch closely, Mike... I'm curious what this might look like..."

Mike's eyes widen, watching, and he whispers softly, "Holy cow..." For a moment the centaur struggles weakly until his hands fall away from Diana, lying limply on the ground. Even the horrible wheezing stops... and for a long heartbeat it's hard to tell if he's dead or alive. Diana is still kissing the centaur slowly and thoroughly, one hand gently stroking his long dark-chestnut hair out of his face. Mike takes Jason's hand, unwittingly squeezing it a bit uncomfortably as he stares intently. Jason just stays quiet and watches, not wanting to break the moment and hoping this works... whatever the centaur did, it's not deserving of death.

...and then there's a deep, almost choking gasp from the centaur as his head falls back from Diana and his legs spasm a bit. Diana smiles with slow, confident triumph at her lovers, and a second later the centaur abruptly swings up onto his horse chest, careful not to kick her where she kneels by his human side. Jason shoots a relieved grin at Diana, but stays where he is, giving Thessalioi room to maneuver. The centaur is still panting, shocked and wide-eyed, but that horrible wheeze is gone now. This seems more... more a nervous panting than a dying one. Mike cheers! -then sighs in relief, "It worked -- smart thought, Jase!"

The big horse-man jerks his gaze back and forth between the two men and the woman next to him, leaning slightly away from Diana, his voice hoarse, "Wh-what... what did you do?!" He moves very, very carefully, putting each hoof in place before suddenly heaving himself upright with a grunt of effort. He stands there slightly spraddle-legged, then backs away from Diana with wary respect before he shakes himself off.

Jason shakes his head. "I almost didn't... I had myself convinced that she wouldn't be able to because he wasn't a succubus... we lucked out." He looks squarely at the centaur. "The lord, he taketh away and he giveth back," he says with a tinge of ironic humor.

Diana smiles up at Jason, then at the huge centaur, her small hands resting on her thighs where she's still peacefully kneeling on the path. The centaur lowers his human half to snuff at Jason confusedly, "You... you're a religious man? I... don't understand... what are you people?"

Diana holds out a hand almost imperiously, and the centaur reacts automatically, stepping forward and leaning down to give her a gentleman's hand up. He mumbles embarrassedly, "'Scuse me, ma'am... where're my manners..."

Mike grins, slowly shaking his head as he murmurs softly to Jason, "Damn... she's good."

Jason smirks at the centaur. "Not any religion you know of, Mr. Thessalioi. I was just trying to lighten things with humor..." He waves a hand, "We're just folks, sir. We've dealt squarely with you every step of the way about who we are and where we're going. That said... you should consider yourself lucky that we don't hold more of a grudge." His expression and tone are firmer, now.

The centaur looks like he'd like to shy away from them all, except for Diana's hold on his hand. He glances at her and takes a deep breath, then licks his lips nervously, "I... what do you want from me?"

Mike murmurs quietly to Jason, "He's not flickering, Jase, but he still doesn't look good. Look, his legs are trembling."

Jason shakes his head at the centaur's bemusement. "What we wanted, Mr. Thessalioi, was a new friend. Someone we could talk with about our predicament, pool information... we wanted to reach out to you because we have common ground, and folks like us should stick together. But I'm not sure if we can move past what just happened. We'll help you with your things... but after that, maybe the best thing would be for us to go our separate ways."

The centaur is silent for a few moments, glancing between them all... then he whispers, "You... that's..." He falls silent for a moment, staring at Diana, then looks back at Jason. A bit desperately he says, "Wait. Don't... don't go. I, I... would you like some pancakes?"

Diana giggles softly. Jason looks at Mike... before, he leapt into trusting the centaur with both feet, and this is where it's gotten them. Once bitten, he now looks to the advice of the most paranoid of them all. "What do you say, Mike?"

Mike says slowly, "I... think maybe he's learned his lesson?" He studies the big, slightly shaky centaur, adding, "And... and I'd feel bad if we left without knowing he was all right..."

The centaur laughs, a quick gasping snort, "Me? I should be asking y'all to promise not t'kill me..." He sounds like he was trying to be amusing, but his voice trails off unhappily as it registers just how true that is.

Jason nods solemnly, and then looks back at the centaur as he speaks. "Good pancakes?" he queries, a hint of a smile crossing his lips.

Phil looks down at Jason, studying him carefully... then glances warily at Diana at his elbow, "Umm... don't rightly know, sir. Never made 'em fer a lady b'fore."

He shifts a bit tiredly, and Mike murmurs, "Umm... maybe we could make them and you could rest?"

Phil gives Mike a grateful glance, "That... might be best if'n the lady's p'ticular 'bout her meals?"

Jason smiles wryly. "Unfortunately, the wonder of pancakes is lost on her... maybe someday we should see if there's a way around that, though. You eat... there's no reason to deny you the wonder of solid food if we can manage it." He looks musingly at Phillip. "You rest," he asserts. "We'll try this again." The centaur looks confused, but doesn't argue, instead simply turning and clopping slowly and heavily over to where his stuff is piled. He picks up his hat, dusting it off against his equine knees before he puts it firmly on his head, then starts slowly re-loading himself with his bundles and bags.

Diana walks over to the two men, her eyes bright, "Poor guy! Isn't there anything we can do to figure out how he gets energy?"

Jason purses his lips. "Mike... what did you see when Diana fed him? Any clues there?"

Mike shakes his head, "He just... the flickering stopped." He considers, then says slowly, "He... actually, it was before, I think, where he seemed better a little bit... while Di was riding? But... it shouldn't be her, should it? It should be one of us, right? And... maybe we should try testing out the theory about teaching too?"

Jason looks hesitant. "I suggested Diana the first time because, of all of us, I thought it least likely she'd get badly hurt if she fell off. And that was before he tried kidnapping. I'm willing to give him some slack, but I don't know if I want to give him that much slack. Teaching, okay... but no one gets on his back. Not yet."

Mike grins back at Jason, "Riding's easy, Jase -- just sit there! Diana and I will walk right beside him, 'kay?"

Jason is put on the spot, then... he's not sure he wants to, but Mike seems to like the idea. "Well... I guess," he murmurs, looking uncertainly at Phillip.

Mike steps up next to the centaur, shouldering some of the saddlebags himself, "Excuse me, Mr. Thessalioi, but would you be willing to carry Jason here back to your cabin?"

The centaur glances tiredly at Mike, "Phil. Jus' Phil's fine." He glances at Jason, then takes a deep breath, straightening, "Uhh... 'kay, guess I can give it a try. Is he... lame or somethin'?" He looks a bit uncertainly between the three, but politely holds out a hand, bending one equine knee and lowering a bit so Jason can easily scramble on. Jason gingerly eases himself on. Grandmother, take pity on a reckless fool... he thinks to himself as he swings one leg over...

Diana grins cheerfully, "It's easy, lollipop!" She scoops up several saddlebags herself, throwing them across her shoulder. It's a little startling to see her slight form carrying as much if not more than Mike. Phil watches carefully as Jason eases on, his weight swaying a bit disconcertingly to compensate for his rider. "Jus' put yer arms around my waist, 'kay?" Once the centaur starts slowly walking it's much easier -- a swaying but smooth gait that doesn't require clinging or anything.

Mike grins up at Jason, "There you go! Here, take this too," and hands him a saddlebag as well. Then he trots up to walk next to Phil's human half. Diana rests a hand on Jason's thigh, pacing along next to him and occasionally smiling up at him. Mike cheerfully interrogates the centaur on how to make pancakes, and Phil (somewhat confusedly) obligingly replies. Jason feels odd about this, Mike now being the far more gung ho one of the group. He's also still a little nervous, even at their steady gait and with his lovers to either side... but he tries to not tense up and enjoy the ride... and hoping this does actually work.

The swaying walk does actually become easier to sit after a while, and the weary, not quite staggering clopping eases into a smoother, more sure-footed gait, at least as far as Jason can tell. It's about 15 minutes later the small group breaks through the trees into a small clearing. Snugged under the heavy, shading trees is a rough log cabin with an empty corral behind it. The centaur nods towards it, "There 'tis." He draws a gusty breath, adding, "Feelin' better, folks. Think I c'n be a good host 'n make th' pancakes now."

Mike turns his head and studies the centaur carefully, then grins a touch smugly up at Jason, giving him a thumbs up. His expression almost makes Jason giggle. "We'll have to make a note of this," he suggests, to the clear bemusement of Phillip.

Diana, on the other side of Phil from Mike, looks up curiously, "Of what, lollipop? Oh!" She brightens, "Did it work?"

Jason nods. "By all accounts, yes...." He pats Phillip's flank carefully. "Phil... I'm thinking maybe you want to open a new business if you want to stay healthy..."

Phil glances perplexedly between the folks he can easily see, then simply paces forward to the cabin. Up close it's bigger than expected; the trees just dwarf it. He pulls the little string hanging through a hole in the door, then nudges it open with an equine knee, nodding politely to Diana to enter first as he holds the door open, "Ma'am?" He tilts his head to listen to Jason, holding still as Mike follows Di in.

Jason steps up after dismounting. "I don't blame you for wanting to stay away from normal folk... but by all accounts you get stronger carrying people on your back. So maybe you should put yourself in a position to do that more often..." He smiles a little. "Maybe not women, though."

Phil stares down a bit uncomprehendingly at Jason once he's dismounted... then simply shakes his head, "Think we gotta lotta 'splainin' to do. Here," he hands saddlebags to Jason, adding, "G'wan in. Gotta clean out m'hooves 'fore I c'mon in." Jason nods and takes the bags carefully, heart a little more hopeful as he strides in.

A moment later the four of them are in the little cabin. It's clean, neat, and relatively bare -- unsurprising for a one-room cabin that has to hold someone as large as Phil. Along one wall is a comfy overstuffed sofa; along another is a large pot-bellied stove. Across from the sofa is what looks something like a futon with a woven Indian blanket and a pile of furs tosses on it. There's a low, knee-high table, various tools hung high on the walls or off the ceiling... and that's it. Phil ducks his head under the door lintel, removing his cowboy hat as he steps in and straightens inside the high-roofed room. There's a small clatter of hooves as he does a few routine things -- hang up hat and jacket, stooping to light the already-laid fire in the potbellied stove, hanging saddlebags on the wall... then he smiles a bit quirkily, glancing at the waiting threesome. "Umm... y'all are welcome to muh home. Make yerselves comf't'ble, an' I'll whip up some pancakes?"

Jason does not immediately follow the centaur's suggestion... he spends some time looks around the room, as if trying to read something about the mythical creature by what he keeps around him... and as he does so, he ponders what is going on in Diana's brain. She seemed so angry before, and now she's her normal self... or at least acting like it. Sadly, there's no real privacy to ask... and even if he whispered, it would be at best rude. At worst the centaur might think they were plotting against him. Sadly, what is present doesn't seem to give him much of a clue, so he watches the centaur instead.

Initially the centaur simply goes about the business of making flapjacks. His movements are sure and economical, as if he's done this hundreds of times -- which, actually, he may have, considering the old-fashioned stove and the expert way Phil handles the griddle. Once there are bacon and flapjacks cooking and coffee heating up, he gives Jason another of those quirky smiles, then tilts his head in silent invitation. Turning to a cupboard, he starts pulling out things to hand to Jason, with another nod to the low table. A few bent old steel eating utensils, a few metal plates, a handful of chipped old ceramic mugs... a small jug of syrup, some butter and sugar, and finally, after a moment's thoughtful consideration of Diana... a tiny pitcher of cream.

Jason quite readily starts assisting Phillip without even thinking about it... in fact, he's so caught up in his own thoughts that he merely reacts while keeping thinking, and is surprised when he wakes up again, and finds himself finishing setting a table. He does take a whiff of the cooking food, though, and smiles. "Smells good," he murmurs aloud, suddenly looking regretfully at Diana... she cannot appreciate this food any more than she could the chocolates Rita gave her. Or can she? "Phillip... do you have any issues with eating? I mean... do you digest naturally?" he queries, suddenly.

The big centaur pauses, staring down in surprise at Jason... then asks confusedly, "What?!"

Diana looks up in curious interest from where she's been curled up against Mike. Jason is startled, not understanding why the question garnered that reaction. "I'm asking, because Diana can't eat human food. Well, at least, she's tried, and not succeeded. So I'm wondering, maybe, if there's some trick to it..."

The big man gives Diana a startled look -- then blushes and looks hastily away. He busies himself moving flapjacks onto plates to give himself a moment to recover, then simply hands them to Jason. "M'real sorry, ma'am, but I ain't got but th'three mugs. Y'all can have coffee first, though?" Then he blinks, realizing what he just said... then simply shakes his head once and looks back at Jason, "Wait. No food? Nothing a'tall?"

Jason blushes faintly. "Not... human food, no," he murmurs, looking askance at Mike and Di. "She, er... takes her sustenance from us."

Diana smiles dazzlingly at the centaur, who for a moment gets very much a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look. Mike reaches out for the plates, setting them on the table, then giving a thoughtful look at the centaur. A heartbeat later Phil shakes his head once and mutters, "Don't... please don' do that, ma'am." He looks a bit disoriented. Diana looks puzzledly at Jason, raising an inquiring eyebrow. The centaur clops carefully over to the low table -- then hesitates, his thick tail swishing nervously back and forth. "Uhh..." he rumbles, glancing around the three of them, "We, uh... we're gonna be all friendly-like now, yeah? No more... no more whatever that was?"

Jason doesn't even want to think about that! "She won't hurt you, Phillip. But yes... she can't feed from you like that without killing you. You don't have much to spare as it is," he says seriously. "You should do something about that."

The big centaur noticeably flinches away from them, shifting nervously for a second -- then catches himself and goes still, standing slightly spraddle-legged. He takes a few deep breaths, then nods once, and paces carefully forward, very deliberately. Placing his horse body sideways in front of them, he slowly folds his front legs, lowering his heavy body, then easing down onto his side. First he helps himself hungrily to his coffee mug... then, since he's now at about eye level with them all, he studies them with wary care for a moment.

Jason decides to take a moment away from confronting Phillip with weighty matters of import... and instead picks at the food on his plate, putting syrup on and taking a test bite, to see how well Phillip cooks. Trying to show a bit of trust and confidence to calm the fellow down. There's silence for a few moments as everyone but Diana decides food might be good. The coffee is strong and black, the bacon crisp and flavorful, and the flapjacks light and tasty, smothered in butter and syrup. Diana leans back and casually runs her hands through her hair, straightening it and humming quietly to herself. Jason can feel her quiet contentment as the good food generates contentment all around.

Jason glances at Diana as he eats. "Does it even smell appetizing at all?" he queries, gesturing to the food.

Diana beams happily at Jason, "It smells wonderful, lollipop! I can't eat it, but I can sure enjoy it through you and Mike!"

Phil looks up in wide-eyed wonder, then says slowly, "It... are... are you a vampire, ma'am?"

Jason tries not to laugh! He doesn't succeed, and at least tries not to spew food. He swallows and then wipes his lips. "She's a succubus, Phillip. The skin and horns didn't give it away?"

Phil's tone is, if anything, respectful. Diana grins at Jason's, um, issues, then answers Phil just as gravely as he asked, "Not in the classic sense, if you mean a blood drinker. If you mean someone who lives parasitically off humans, though, I think we all are? I just... try to give something back to my pets."

Phil looks like he's struggling to understand that. Mike gets an 'aha!' look, pausing in his eating. Phil says slowly, "I... don't understand, ma'am."

Jason tries to help out. "You know how you felt stronger, after carrying me? That wasn't just any old thing. You recharge that way. Mike saw it."

He shakes his head at Jason, "Never seen anyone with horns that wasn't an animal, like a deer or ram, and I've never heard that word before." He pauses, considering Jason's further comments. Jason hunhs... but that might make sense, if Phillip's exposure to humanity was as limited as it seems.

Diana grins, shifting to kneel between Mike and Jason, and cheerfully asks, "Can I touch you? You can touch my horns too, if you want, to see they're real." Phil looks a bit startled, and his horse skin twitches nervously.

Jason looks comfortingly at Phil. "She can't feed from you just by touching you, sir. She's perfectly safe."

All three other people give Jason startled or amused glances at the statement about "perfectly safe" -- then Diana giggles, looking back at Phil. He says slowly and a bit uncomfortably, "Um... I..."

Diana takes this as permission, cheerfully saying, "Okay!" She rises and moves around behind Jason, her fingers trailing lightly and sensuously along his shoulders as she passes.

Phil's eyes widen, and he abruptly throws one huge front hoof out before him -- then he catches himself again, freezing in place. Mike rumbles quietly, "Di, sweetheart... take it easy. He's lying down. It's hard for horses to get up quickly, so they're uncomfortable in that position when they're not relaxed -- and you're spooky."

Jason looks at Phillip. "Please be patient with her, Phillip... Diana has a certain energy to her that can be startling, but really... she's a good soul," he entreats, not wanting Diana to be stepped on, and start making things worse again.

Diana pauses, glancing back at Mike, then looking thoughtfully at the rigid centaur. Jason can see the whites of Phil's eyes, in fact, from where he's sitting. Diana tilts her head... then smiles and settles down at the end of the low table, within arm's reach of the larger being. "Tell you what -- why don't you touch me first, hm?" Phil takes a long, slow breath, his gaze flicking back and forth between the three of them... then gives one small, tight (and disbelieving) nod. He studies Diana for a moment... then very, very carefully he reaches out towards Diana, who obligingly leans her head towards him.

Jason is watching with interest until his stomach complains to him rather loudly... he look sheepish and tries to eat and watch at the same time, not wanting things to fall apart here. And then it occurs to him, as he feeds his hunger... outside the store Phillip looked hungry too -- the kind of hungry that Di and Bea get when they're contemplating a particularly appetizing human. He should know, he's seen it on Di's face often when she looks at him.

Slowly at first, but with rapidly increasing interest and fascination, Phil gently touches Diana's horns, then runs his fingers along their twisting curves. She grins and flicks her tail around, and he repeats the slow, wondering process again... then looks up at her in faint awe. "How... how did you get like this, ma'am? Were you born, or do you not 'member either? And with white humans that don't hate you or fear you..." his voice sounds almost wistful, "And so... so healthy... just seein' you makes me hungry." He stares down at the dark-tufted tail resting across his equine knees -- then suddenly blushes hotly, "Pardon me, ma'am, y'all, that -- that was uncalled for..."

It hits Jason then. "That's why you wanted to run off with her. You knew, without realizing why, that taking her for a ride would feed you in a way that human food never could. That's it, isn't it?" he says softly.

Phil looks up uncomprehendingly, but Mike nods thoughtfully, "That'd explain it." Phil blushes again, looking away and hastily pouring more coffee all around, and Mike smiles ruefully, "Except... if we understand this correctly, Phillip cannot actually feed off Diana, right?"

Phil mutters in embarrassment, "Dunno what I was thinkin'... damnfool thing to do." Diana smiles, leaning over and giving the centaur a hug, which causes him to almost drop the battered blue-zinc coffee pot.

Jason shakes his head. "It must be instinct. Supernatural instinct. Everything living knows how to feed itself, even if they don't consciously know it. Have you ever taken anyone riding before?"

Phillip looks a bit distracted at the moment, obviously struggling with what to do. A beautiful and desirable -- and dangerous! -- woman is hugging him! His big hands drift almost of their own towards Diana, hovering over her shoulders a moment before he sighs, slumping slightly in surrender, and hugs her tightly back. He turns his face away from them all, burying his face in Diana's sable mane, his skin twitching repeatedly again. Jason chuckles at the sight, completely reassured at this point. "No one can resist her," he chuckles to himself.

Diana smiles slowly at Jason, shifting so she's kneeling directly between the big centaur's equine knees. One arm is still around him, but the other hand slowly strokes along his back in long, easy, reassuring strokes... and eventually the centaur's almost panting breathing slows, and he relaxes, his skin going still. Mike pragmatically helps himself to more bacon, giving Jason a grin, "Who'd want to?"

Jason nods a little in response, remembering the worries he had a while back about her feeding too much, and being unable to resist her when she decided she wanted him... but now, knowing what he does, he finds himself agreeing. Why would he ever want to resist her? She promised unconditional bliss. He gives Diana and Phillip a little privacy now, concentrating on feeding his rumbling belly. Diana doesn't hurry, and she wants to curiously touch the big centaur too, so some time passes. However, the strained emotional environment seems to have been dissipated, and Mike keeps the coffee and flapjacks coming.

Who knew Mike made such a mean flapjack? Indeed, with a bit of gentle cajoling, the group ends up chatting and laughing together over the meal, with Diana happily sprawled on her stomach across the centaur's wide barrel, chin resting on her hands and feet lazily waving in the air like some exotic princess would on her tiger skin rug! Jason can't help but smile... the image is so adorable! It reminds him of the way she used to cuddle with Croaker, as a matter of fact.

It's after the meal but before cleanup that Mike says firmly, "All right, let's compare notes, shall we? We know Diana's well fed -- Jason and I take some pride in making sure of that. Plus we know how to feed her. Phillip says he's hungry most of the time, right? And yet he's here, and thinking." Phil looks a bit confused at that, but nods once. Mike continues, "So... how is this possible? Croaker couldn't do it alone, right? So how is Phil doing this? Can we figure it out?"

Jason only shakes his head. "Oh, now I see the way it is... you like folks with fuzzy skin best," he teases Diana.

Diana giggles, her eyes dancing, "Not best -- but it is nice!" Mischievously she adds, "Come over here and I'll show you!" Phil blushes, but doesn't move.

Jason shakes his head, chuckling. "I don't think so... Phil doesn't mind you, but he's not a bed," he replies.

Phil goes bright red at that, and Diana giggles, then looks innocent, "But I was going to just straighten your hair, lollipop!"

Jason mmhmms, not necessarily believing her. "Nonetheless, I think he might take issue with the combined weight," he says, and then diverting the conversation away before she gets too enamored with the idea.

Phil hastily says, "I, uh, was wonderin', actually, what, uh, what that was?" He waves one hand vaguely at about Jason's lower left jaw line.

Jason says, "Couldn't have something to do with the myth, Mike? I mean... minotaurs, as the story goes, were little more than beasts. It took magic to subvert that. Centaurs, on the other hand, were considered far more intelligent, on the whole. Could human perception be shaping the reality?"

Mike says thoughtfully, "It... depends on the stories, Jason. Sometimes the centaurs actually were little more than beasts, like the Lapiths that kidnapped the bride." He frowns, adding puzzledly, "But they lived up alone in the hills. The single centaur Chiron lived among the humans, and was Hercules' teacher, right?"

Jason nods, and then shakes his head. "It can't be that, though. The stories had to come from somewhere. And now that we know that supernaturals actually existed, then we have to assume that the stories sprung from the reality. Personally, I still don't get why riding would be a source of sustenance... eating is an obvious one, and so is what Di and Bea do... but riding? Unless there's some kind of emotional link there too..." He looks at Phillip. "When you had me and Di on your back did you... could you feel what we were feeling?"

Phil looks startled, then uncertain, "I... don't know?"

Diana grins, sliding off his back, "Let's test it, then! Phil, can Jason sit on your back?" The big centaur looks around a bit uncertainly, then back at Jason... then nods slowly, "Um, all right... if you don't uh, jump around or anything, please?"

Jason chuckles. "Of course not..." He slowly gets up, and waits for Phil to sit up, so that his feet aren't stepped on when he rights himself, giving the centaur plenty of space, so he doesn't feel crowded. And when he does, after noting the way Phil looks up at him as if he were towering, he decides to try something different. He brings himself lower, and instead of mounting Phillip sitting up, he sits closer to Phil's rump and practically lays down on his back, pressing his cheek against his smooth fur. He smiles a little. "You're right, Diana... he does feel nice..."

Phil's tail switches nervously a few times as Jason approaches -- but he blinks startledly as Jason relaxes against him. It looks like it's hard for the centaur to remain tense when everyone around him is calm, in fact... he takes a slow breath and, after a moment, neatly tucks his fore-hooves under him again. Diana settles back between Phil's knees again -- garnering another half startled, half pleased look from him. She lets one hand lie reassuringly across one foreleg, and curiously asks, "So, do you want to touch him too, Phil? And Mike, Jason, how do we tell if Jason's feeding him or not?"

Phil hesitates... then his entire upper torso twists easily towards Jason and he reaches out towards Jason's lower jaw -- then pauses, "Um... d'you mind?"

Jason would normally not be this way... to touch him like this would be more intimate than he'd be comfortable with, with a near stranger... but Phil's fur is so soft! He's not touched many horses, but he likes it... and he wants to give Phil good vibes to pick up on. Perhaps it is because he is enjoying himself like this, stroking Phillip's coat, that when the centaur asks he just smiles and says, "Sure. And... well, Mike might be able to tell... Mike?"

Cautiously Phil runs a finger along Jason's left jaw line, touching the mark. His head rears back a bit startledly, and Jason can feel the electrical tingle as well. Mike frowns thoughtfully, "Mm... nothing yet?"

Jason blushes, suddenly remembering what happens when marks are touched. "Well, maybe it really is riding, then... just... being on his back is not enough." He cranes his neck, trying to look at Phil. "What does it feel like to have a, uhm... passenger?" he queries.

The big centaur thinks about it for a while, then simply shrugs, "Um... y'all aren't p'tic'ly heavy or anything, if that's what'cher askin'?"

Jason shakes his head. "I don't mean now... I mean... well, like, when you were carrying Diana. Was it exciting? Stimulating? Did it make you nervous?" He starts to wonder, himself, how normal horses feel when carrying someone.

Phil looks a bit taken aback, his tail switching nervously a few times as he glances warily down at the lovely horned woman lying against his front. He mumbles awkwardly, "Er... cain't rightly say..."

Diana smiles up at him, "It's all right. Please, say what you really felt, okay? I won't mind. I used to have a minotaur for a housemate, after all."

Phil goggles at her after that statement, "A... a what?!"

Jason smiles a little at Phil's reaction and strokes his flank, trying to be soothing. "We're not going to get mad at you. I mean... yeah, it was difficult right after, but I'd like to think we can all be adults about this. I'd like to think that you weren't trying to be deliberately hostile."

Phil glances bemusedly back and forth at the threesome, then swallows a bit nervously, "I, uh, well... a minotaur, you say?"

Jason chuckles, sitting up a little. "Is that more disconcerting than a succubus, Phillip?" he queries curiously. Jason is surprisingly relaxed right now. He's not sure if Diana is responsible for that, or just the experience of lying on Phil's back.

Phil scratches his head, considering that one, then finally grins a bit ruefully, "Well, uh, yeah... when you put it that way..." He takes a deep breath (causing the horse barrel to expand, then contract notably under Jason), then steadily replies, "I wanted t' steal your lady friend. I know it sounds stupid now, but standin' there, she looked -- she was... man, it was like she smelled wonderful! I thought I had been starvin' all my life an' never known it, lookin' at her there." He hesitates, then adds a bit confusedly, "Although... I didn't feel it no more oncet I'd carried her away from y'all...?" He adds wryly, "An' then, while she was yellin' at me -- rightfully so, ma'am," he hastily adds, "-uh... ever'thing went black, an' I woke up onna ground."

Jason hnhs, looking at Mike. "Have you never felt that way before? -or, more to the point... have you ever had anyone else ride on your back before today?" he queries.

Phil hesitates, thinking... then replies slowly, "Well, yeah, I've carried folks before, but ain't never had that kinda feelin' before. I mean, I been hungry -- guess everyone is to some degree -- but... not that starvin' sensation, y'know?" He pauses again, his torso twisted around so he can regard Jason curiously, and after a moment he reaches out again, "You wanna sit up? Don't hafta lie on me. C'mon 'n sit a bit farther forward -- might be a mite more comfy?" He will, unless Jason objects, take Jason's arm and guide him to sit on the broad barrel, just behind Phil's human torso.

Jason smiles and moves without qualm. "I just didn't want to spook you... you looked a little nervous earlier," he says to Phil before glancing back at Mike. "It might have been what Diana is, to some extent. I mean, she makes everyone feel that way a little... but it was probably also that she's a well-fed supernatural. Had a much stronger effect on him," he thinks aloud. Phil's human torso is a bit taller than Jason's, when Jason is seated on Phil's equine barrel, so Phil is looking slightly down at Jason as he re-settles. He's got a weather-beaten face and a distinct "cowboy tan" right where his hat crosses his forehead. His hands are strong, but he's obviously careful not to grab or pinch accidentally.

As Jason turns to glance at Mike, he is completely unprepared for the soft touch at his jaw line and the careful snuffling noise right by his left ear, where Diana's mark is -- he could swear he'd just been snuffled and lipped at by a horse! At the exact same instant, Mike's eyes widen, and he looks like he's struggling with laughter. Jason gyuu-yaah! He bats clumsily at his face, trying to get away from Phil's mouth and wipe the saliva off reflexively. Of course, as a result he almost falls sideways, but manages to catch himself before he does. "Dammit, Phil! That's not funny!" he demands, face burning even as he tries not to smile... it is a little funny.

Jason's seat gives a convulsive heave for just a moment -- and then Phil catches himself, jerking his face well away from Jason's flailing hands. He grabs, catching both wrists and holding Jason's hands away from him, "Easy! Easy, son... sorry, you said you didn't mind the touch there!" Phil looks -- and sounds -- a bit startled and confused. He adds slowly, "Think it's you, though... not your lady friend." Once Jason isn't flailing any more, Phil carefully releases.

Jason is feeling more than a little embarrassed. "Touching, no, but... nibbling is a little..." he tries to explain... and then blinks as everything registered. "Wait, what? What about me?"

Phil tilts his head curiously at Jason, a forelock of hair falling across one blue eye, "The smell? The tastes-so-good smell? I think it's you, not her." He twists around, politely adding, "Ma'am? May I?" Diana giggles and nods, and Jason can hear another careful snuffle as Phil checks the top of Diana's head. A moment later he straightens and nods to Jason, "Shore 'nuff -- it's you that smells s'good. Well... 'ceptin' it's not... smell precisely. It's just a sort of, um..." he frowns, obviously struggling for words for a concept he's not familiar with.

Mike says slowly, "He... makes you feel starving?"

Jason is confused for another few moments... and then he laughs. "No, wait... of course! That makes perfect sense!"

All three stare curiously at Jason, Diana even leaning around Phil's human torso so she can see. Then she laughs, "Oh, yes! Of course!"

Jason faces Phillip and Mike. "Something that Bea found out after our, uhm, first time... I'm what she called a 'succulent.' I'm like... super-nutritious for, uhm... supernaturals. Like that whatsis... that elven waybread in Lord of the Rings."

Diana grins, shifting to sit next to Jason on Phil's back so she can give him a hug, "You're my lovely lollipop!"

Phil looks aghast, "I... yer tellin' me I wanna eat you?!"

Jason happily returns Diana's embrace, even as he looks ruefully at Phillip. "Well, I mean... I don't know, really. Some supernaturals have to ingest humans, but that doesn't mean you're that way... Di and Bea sure aren't," he explains.

Phil still looks a bit horrified, but is obviously struggling to deal with this. Mike frowns, "Okay, let's think about this logically. The Lapiths were bestial; Chiron was not." He looks at Diana, adding, "When you first met Croaker he was bestial, right? But now he's not... why is that? What changed? Maybe whatever that was is the reason Phil here isn- er, is doing so well? And why does Phil feel starving around Jason -- does that have anything to do with this?"

Jason looks at Di. "That last part might just be a normal reaction to an encounter with a succulent... you kept telling me you, uhm... couldn't get enough of me, yeah?" Diana grins with lazy pleasure at Jason, then leans forward and calmly starts nibbling on his ear in silent answer. Jason lets out an unexpected and unrestrained groan, which leads to a very embarrassed Jason as the other two men stare. "Uh... hmm... right," he mutters. "Well, let's think about this... a potion made Croaker sane, for whatever reason. How are these potions made? Phil, are there any, like... local plants or berries that you eat, besides the food you buy?"

Diana giggles -- unrepentantly, as always, and Phil blushes and looks hastily away, helping himself to some more bacon. Mike grins -- he knows quite well how hopeless it is resisting a determined and happy succubus! -- but simply says, "Wait, Jason. The potion was being used to hide how Croaker looked, wasn't it? It was Beatrice feeding him mostly that kept him fed and rational, right? At least... I think that's what he told me?"

Phil finishes chewing, swallows, then nods to Jason, "Yeah, I harvest when I can here. Allus short on food."

Jason blinks. "I don't... maybe. To be honest, I never really got clear what did what. He said, uhm..." He racks his brains for a moment, trying to remember clearly by recalling Croaker's voice. "He just said she used the potions to 'help him.' I always assumed it was what cleared his mind, as that would seem to be a natural effect of a potion that heals."

Diana tilts her head, considering, "Um... I'm not sure precisely, guys. Ammah always modified them a bit, though -- I know that much." She pauses, then suddenly brightens, sitting up abruptly, "Hey! Hey, guys! I fed someone! I fed someone else!" She bounces gleefully in place, causing Phil to snort startledly. "Didja see, did you?! That means I'm really really an adult!!"

Jason laughs, the oxymoron of hearing her so gleefully proclaiming herself an adult so adorable, among other things. He silences her for a moment with a kiss, stroking at the base of one of her horns. "We're all very proud, Di," he promises when she's calmer.

Diana giggles, hugging him tightly, "Wheee! I'll have to try it on you guys sometime too!"

Mike covers a grin, glancing away for a moment, and Phil tilts his head with curious amazement, regarding Diana, "Uh... is that unusual?"

Jason smiles at Phillip. "No, this is very normal for her," he assures. Returning his attention to Mike, he adds, "I think it has to be the potions that made Croaker sane, Mike... if it was the feeding, that doesn't explain Phillip at all... he hasn't had anyone feeding him that way before today. That's part of the reason why he's got so little left now." His brow creases. "Unless, of course, he was just always this way. Maybe the impulse that was in the wife-stealing centaurs is still in Phil, just, uhm... much weaker." He tilts his head to look at the centaur. "Have you always lived here?"

Phil shakes his head, "Nope. Came n' settled here years ago. Useta run with th' Injuns, then the cowboys when the Injuns were dying out, n' then one day I met a wolf-woman who said t'follow her. So I did, to here. She said she was followin' a power line, 'n here were two crossing. We lived here for a short while, but she was restless -- couldn't stay in one place long, n' there weren't 'nuff power for both of us, she said, so she'd take off since it was easier for her to pass 'mongst th'humans." He sighs a little sadly, "Kinda miss her." He adds tiredly, "Never knew what she meant by power lines, though."

Mike blinks -- then stands up suddenly, "Power lines?! Be right back, guys!" and dashes outdoors. Phil looks utterly confused.

Jason gets Phil's attention back... he suspects he knows what Mike is up to -- he's read fantasy fiction too -- but there're other questions to be answered. "Okay, so... in all the time you remember, have you always been, you know... intelligent? Able to understand and speak with humans?"

Phil gives Jason a puzzled look, "A'course, son. How else would I've run with 'em?" He frowns, wincing slightly, and adds, "I... I remember... th' Injuns caring for me. There was... was a medicine man who could see me, an' he... he healed me after the Gate nearly killed me... I... I think...?"

Mike bursts back into the cabin, "Sitting on them! The cabin! Sitting on two crossing lines -- I've never seen that before! It's beautiful, guys! Like huge, soft, almost invisible, shining blue lines underground!" Diana looks a bit startled!

Jason sits up. "And what are these lines, Mike? Is it like... ley lines? Like the stuff they write about where magical energy pools into a river? Can you tell?"

Mike paces excitedly around the room as he talks, causing Phil to stiffen up a bit and watch him warily, "I don't know, Jason -- do you suppose it is ley lines? Just think -- proof that they're real! What a story that'd make! This could be... could be so cool!"

Jason giggles then. "You're cute too, Mike," he says fondly before looking at Phil. "Seems like it's hard to say what might be doing this, Mike. Might be you're just different. That some supernaturals are sapient and some aren't. I mean, you say the shaman healed you, which might be similar to what Croaker gets... but he keeps having to get it renewed. But here's a different question... if you're sitting on top of these 'power lines,' what do they do for you? If they feed you, then why are you so weak in comparison to Diana?"

Mike whirls excitedly, "Jason! That's it -- that's it! People! The sapient ones are all around people!" Then he frowns, "No... Phil wasn't."

Jason's brow knits. "I think Croaker was around people too, Mike. He spoke of being tortured." Then he snaps his fingers. "But I think I might get the lines. They feed you just enough, I bet. Not enough to keep you full, but enough to keep you alive. That's why your wolf-woman friend had to leave."

Diana shook her head slowly, "Um... no, Croaker wasn't around people when he was... was bestial. He was running wild and, uh..." she glances around, then says in a small voice, "He... was killing and eating people... he says he remembers that vaguely, and being enraged that they'd shoot at him..."

Mike nods slowly, "So... the supernaturals do need people -- human people, that is -- to survive, or some rough equivalent thereof." He's silent a moment, then grins again, his eyes alight, "This'd make a great story, guys!"

Diana looks puzzledly at Jason, "You mean... they're all like me? The supernaturals, I mean? They all need a bit of human energy to thrive? Maybe even to be sapient?"

Jason shakes his head. "I just don't know... I mean, it seems we've got a lot of information now, but we're having a hard time putting it together to form the right answer. One of the first questions to ask would be... what is the nature of these 'lines.' Does anyone know? Any insights?"

Mike frowns thoughtfully... then leans out the door and stares intently for a moment, looking back and forth between Jason and outside. Finally he straightens, "Actually, yeah... the lines look like a very, very pale and washed-out version of how Jason glows."

Phil looks a bit squicked, "I... ain't gonna eat no people to live, no way!"

Jason tsks, putting a hand on Phil's shoulder. "You don't have to eat people, silly. I'm sure there's another way," he murmurs, squeezing. He moves over to where Mike is staring, wondering if he can see anything. "Then I bet I'm right, and Phil is getting life energy from these lines. Of course... then we have to ask where do the lines get their energy."

Phil looks worried and unconvinced, but simply nods once. Mike (still studying the outside) says thoughtfully to Jason, "Well... could it be that comes from humans too? I dunno... over-wash or something? Do we shed energy if it's not being consumed by folks like Di?"

Jason scratches his chin, nothing visible to him... which he half expected. "Now that is a very interesting question. Di, are there any lines like that in San Francisco?"

Diana looks up from where she's been massaging Phil's broad shoulders and murmuring quietly to him, and smiles, "Lollipop, I've never seen anything like Mike's describing... but then you don't appear to glow to me either. You just taste wonderful, you know?"

Mike frowns thoughtfully, murmuring quietly to Jason, "Okay, we're on to something here. Phil did glow slightly better after we came here. What were we doing? Something in there was Phil's feeding -- it must've been!"

Jason nods understandingly. And then his eyes alight. "Hey, you know... here's another thought, Mike. I mean, it comes from more fiction, but maybe there's a germ of truth: they say that healing energy often comes from, er... it's energy borrowed from the healer? Maybe the healing potions are like that... it's concentrated people-energy."

Mike's eyes widen, "Oh, man, that's brilliant! Do you suppose that's what they are?!"

Jason shrugs with a rueful smile. "Sorry, I never got a chance to ask the guy I stole it from... he was busy fighting a tentacle monster."

Mike laughs aloud! Diana's cheerful voice calls to them, "What's so funny, guys?"

Jason looks over his shoulder at Di impishly. "Just supernatural geek talk, love," he quips, kissing Mike's temple.

Mike snorts amusedly, taking Jason's hand and turning to face Diana, "Sweetheart, do you have any idea what the healing potions were made from?"

Phil looks a bit blissed out, his head hanging a little as Diana rubs his shoulders. She considers for a moment, then shakes her head regretfully, "I'm sorry, I don't."

Jason purses his lips. "But you had one once, didn't you? Did it taste like, er... people?" He then wags a finger at Mike, "No Soylent Green jokes, mister."

Diana opens her mouth to reply -- then pauses, a considering look on her face. A moment later she says slowly, "You know... it did kind of taste like... like someone who wasn't very strong..." Phil glances up as Diana stops massaging, looking a bit disconcerted at the direction the conversation is taking.

Jason shakes his head at Phil. "Don't think of this like vampirism, Phil, or cannibalism. Think of it like... oh..." he tries to think of a good analogy. He picks up a strip of bacon. "Food is chemical potential energy. But we can't access it, except through the process of digestion. But now, Diana... she has a completely different way of accessing the potential energy in people that has nothing to do with physically consuming it. The same could be true of you."

Phil nods, watching puzzledly... and, Jason notices, with a touch of a hungry gleam as well. Diana cheerfully says, "I'd guess he's more like Croaker, though -- food and energy is what he needs!"

Jason blinks at Di. "Croaker eats human food? Huh. I had no idea. Should have paid more attention. I wonder what determines that... you're half human, and you still can't digest."

Diana grins, "Silly, you had a picnic with us! Didn't you notice him eating?" She adds more thoughtfully, "I... don't know what determines it. But maybe if the myths describe them eating normally, they do actually do so? I don't know of any human myths about succubae eating like humans do -- just eating energy -- but I know centaurs and minotaurs were supposed to eat... um... weren't they?"

Jason blushes. "I wasn't really paying attention... I was kinda more focused on, uhm..." He trails off and decides not to follow that train of thought. "Phil, let's try something. Take me for a ride. A real ride -- full gallop," he suddenly suggests.

Phil looks a bit puzzled, but nods, "All right, if'n you want." He adds to Diana, "Ma'am, yer gonna need to dismount, please?"

Jason muses and nods. "King Minos supposedly kept the minotaur fed by tossing folks in the labyrinth... that's what was supposed to happen to Theseus."

Mike frowns, considering, then adds, "Jason, ask him to -- to tell you about the park as you go? Maybe... well, the only centaur we know that was sapient was a teacher too, right?"

Jason's head tilts. "Couldn't hurt... we're still walking in the dark a bit on what causes the transfer of energy."

Diana slips off and with a grunt Phil boosts himself up to his feet, shaking his body once to settle himself. He collects his jacket and cowboy hat, then carefully clops around Diana to exit the little cabin. Diana, who is holding Mike's hand, says a touch worriedly, "Um... this is all right, right? No one's going to get hurt?"

Mike is carefully studying Phil, as if he's trying to memorize the centaur as he currently is. Phil bends one foreleg and offers Jason a hand up again. "Button up -- er, zip up yer jacket, son."

Jason looks reassuringly at Di. "I'm not a bride, Di... and I think Phil can take care of me," he assures as he follows Phil's instruction before taking the centaur's hand and trying to swing carefully atop.

Mike makes a muffled snort at that, and Diana gives him a stern look. Phil looks like he's trying not to laugh too as he swings Jason up into place, but manages to quash it into casual-sounding commentary, "Put yer arms around my waist an' hold on tight, 'kay?" He takes a few slow, pacing steps, adding, "You want me to teach you 'bout Yosemite as we go, right?"

Jason grins... but does indeed hold tight. He's not entirely calm about this. "Lay on, MacDuff. Tell me of your home."

Phil grins at that, "An' damn be he who first cry, 'Hold, enough!' Allus did like Shakespeare. Okay, let's see..." He wraps his arms around Jason's, holding them securely about his waist, and picks a trail, his gait speeding up into a gentle, rolling canter that's easy to sit, "Yosemite's on'y 'fficially been a national park for... lessee... relatively short whiles, really..." He threads his way to wider trails, following a smoothly winding path and being careful to not jolt Jason around, and his voice is a relaxing rumble of information -- dates, place names, and anecdotes told from the perspective of a man who's been here for a good long while. It's surprisingly pleasant!

Jason tries to encourage the centaur with questions, and when Phillip speeds up, he holds tight and tries to focus on the enjoyment of the wind against him, and the strength of Phillip's muscles under him. It is quite compelling, borrowing the centaur's strength, like this. Indeed, at some point it's almost intoxicating, and Jason finds himself laughing aloud with Phil, for the sheer joy of speed and movement and physical endeavor. The centaur seems to be enjoying himself greatly too -- the trees are whipping past faster and faster, and occasionally Phil simply leaps over small streams instead of thundering through them with huge fantails of spray. It's glorious!

Jason's fear is far behind him... he is lost in the wonder of this experience, and does not even cringe when Phillip leaps for joy. In his mind, this is almost how it's meant to be. Though he fights the impulse to grab Phil's hat and wave it in the air with a rebel yell... that might be rude, after all!

It's hard to tell how long they've been galloping, and Phil is huffing when he finally starts slowing down. Jason's rather tired himself too. He can feel he's slipping a bit on Phil's back, but the centaur has a good hold on him, and curiously Jason's quite sure there's no danger of him falling off. Phil finally slows to a long-striding walk, breaking out of some trees to stand high on a dizzying cliff. A waterfall pours and shatters and roars below them, and Jason realizes this must be off the usual paths tourists are allowed on. The two of them stand silently, surrounded by the astonishing beauty of the moment while Phil catches his breath.

Jason shakes his head. "My goodness... I can see why you might never want to leave. You can't find this sort of thing just anywhere anymore..." he murmurs, and wonders if he's going to feel sore now that they've finally stopped to take a breath. "Am I right? It's not just blending in, is it... you probably feel ill at ease in places where nature has been eschewed for buildings and roads and... industry."

Phil sighs gustily, shaking his head and saying sadly, "Dunno no more, son. Just know I don't fit in most vehicles, an' most towns don't take kindly to horses no more. Ain't no room for folks like me."

Jason nods. "That's true too, I suppose," he muses. "There might be some place out there, though... somewhere with kindred souls where you could find a home among other people. I mean... maybe you could live here indefinitely, but don't you get lonely?"

Phil's hands on Jason's arms tighten a bit, and he looks away. After a long moment of silence he says simply, "Yes. The horses an' mules I keep over the winter for the summer tourists help... but it ain't th'same as talkin' to folks."

Jason nods, laying his cheek on Phil's upper torso. "Not saying I got any ideas off the top of my head... but maybe we could help find you a place like that. Me and Di and Mike... we've got a long journey ahead of us. Who knows what we might find," he prompts softly. Somewhere along the line the embrace becomes less just to hold on, and more a comforting hug, as he wells with sympathy for this proud old centaur. Not the last of a dying breed, exactly... but certainly one of a kind, in a world that does not treat his sort well. Phil seems to appreciate the hug, standing very quiet and still. His only movement is the wind tugging gently at his tail and mane of hair.

Jason is quiet with him for a while. "Feels like there should be some music. Some horns, slowly getting louder, more majestic," he murmurs almost amusedly.

Phil gives another gusty sigh and straightens slightly, "Well now... dunno about horns, but I'm thinkin' the last thing we want is your lady friend upset at me on account you ain't come back yet." He grins faintly, "Ain't never felt better, truth to tell, an' don' want her to eat that... so let's head on back." He spins easily, pacing back under the trees, and adds a bit wistfully, "If'n y'all happened t'find such a place, sure wouldn't mind hearin' 'bout it, that's for sure."

The ride back is almost dreamily easy, although Jason's starting to get really, really tired. Looks like the sun is setting too... the lengthening shadows are lovely, as twilight smoothes out all the hard edges of sunlit day into gray softness. Jason's not sure he's not nodded off a bit, in fact -- Phil's gait is surprisingly comfortable and easy to sit.

He awakens to Mike's arms receiving him from Phil, and Diana's slightly worried voice. Jason smiles a little as he sags into Mike's embrace. "Sa'wright, Di... m'fine... we were right..." he mutters sleepily. He's soon sleepily cuddled up between Mike and Diana. It's wonderfully relaxing... he feels like he could sleep blissfully there with them all on Phil's back forever. His dreams are full of huge, thundering horses practically flying through the skies, over field and stream, with brilliant music dancing exuberantly around him. It's lovely.

Last modified: 2006-Oct-30 21:22:41

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