Khalid nodded.

"As far as I know," she replied. "Half seems about right. Less, and it wouldn't be as obvious; more, and he wouldn't be the way he is now. I'm not surprised he's touchy about it."

"Okay. I get that he's half, and I get that the Auphe are incomprehensibly scary." Jeane's brow furrowed. "But I don't get it. It's not like it makes him any different."

"Because you only know him the way he is," Khalid reminded her gently. "You've never seen a true Auphe. Compared to them, Cal is... watered down. Like tea on the fourth or fifth brew of the leaves." But Khalid had no doubt that, given enough time or provocation, Cal could easily lose more of his human side and become more Auphe.

"Okay," Jeane said, looking at her. "I get that, too. So... why exactly are they all... squicky about the subject? I mean, yes, Auphe are bad. But he's not Auphe. Not really."

"Not visually, maybe," Khalid replied. "Like I said... It's obvious to anyone not human. Something about him calls to that visceral terror of death and darkness that every creature knows. He may not be torture and murder given physical form, but that doesn't mean there still isn't that sort of presence about him. I felt it the very first time we saw him." She glanced at Jeane. "And I can imagine it's a very delicate subject with him. It's not exactly a heritage anyone would want to own up to." She didn't even want to think about how it was possible. Just knowing that it was freaked her out a little, still. Sometimes.

Jeane nodded slowly. "So, basically, he still has the potential?" she guessed. "There's the possibility that he could sort of slip into a more Auphe mentality?"

"To be honest, Jeane, I don't know," Khalid said. "I doubt anyone really knows. It's not like there's a real precident for it."

Jeane nodded again. "Okay." Now she had to decide if it was worth talking to Cal about and risking his ire. Because he sure as hell hadn't wanted to talk yesterday.

"Good enough for now, then?" Khalid asked. Because she knew that Jeane wouldn't stop until she had every scrap of information she could get her hands on.

Jeane nodded slowly. "Yeah, for now." She was quiet for another few moments. "I'll have to talk to Cal eventually."

"Would you like me to warn him ahead of time, so you don't blindside him with it?" Khalid offered. It seemed like a bad idea to surprise Cal with that kind of question if he wasn't prepared for it.

Jeane considered for a few moments. "That might be a good idea." She sighed. She was really just trying to understand. It wasn't like she was going to think of him differently or anything.

Khalid nodded.

"I'll pass the word, then," she said.

Jeane nodded and continued shopping with her for a while, absently winding her arm through Khalid's and relaxing as they shopped. It was distracting, at least.

Khalid let Jeane dictate where they went. She was just there to offer companionship. Jeane was the one who was really looking at things.

When Jeane was satisfied with their shopping, she headed for her apartment again.

"Are you going to stay for dinner?" she asked, setting her bags down on the couch. "Or do you want to go join Robin and Ish again?"

"I can stay if you want me to," Khalid replied. As much as she was enjoying 'getting acquainted' with Robin (again) and Ish, Jeane still took priority. She could always join her men later on, too, that wasn't a problem.

Jeane nodded. "I was planning on getting Indian from the place down the street, if you want to stay. Either way is fine with me." She glanced over at Khalid, already pulling the menu over so she could decide what she wanted to bring back.

"Sounds good to me," Khalid replied. She looked over Jeane's shoulder at the menu and pointed to a few things. Spiced lamb and lentils were always good.

About a week later, Jeane had joined them at the bar again, perched behind the bar next to Cal. She was keeping an eye on everyone else, and waiting for Cal to leave the bar so she could ask him more.

Robin was next to Khalid, sharing a bottle of scotch between them.

Even though the bottle of scotch was there to be shared, Khalid had taken very little of it. She was more intent on the sheet of paper in front of her that she had been sketching on. Normally, she wasn't one for drawing, but this particular sketch was important, and she wanted to make sure it was exactly right. Even as she worked, she glanced up at Jeane and Cal every so often and then go back to her sketch.

Cal had managed to switch for an early shift that day, so it was coming up on time for him to leave. And he would admit, he was counting the minutes. Khalid had warned him that Jeane wanted to talk to him, and it wasn't exactly something he was looking forward to.

Robin peered over at her sketch. "What, exactly, are you doing?" he asked mildly. "Looking for a change of scenery?"

Jeane blinked at that and looked at the sketch. It was, indeed, a bottle, sort of like Khalid's own. How curious. But she couldn't think of any immediate reason for the sketch.

"Commission sketch," Khalid mumbled as she erased a few lines and redrew them carefully. The sketch was bizarrely well-detailed, with a few notes written near the sides. "And I have a bottle, remember?" She didn't offer any more information, however. There were some things she wanted, and needed, to keep to herself a little while longer.

Jeane heard that comment and fastened onto it. Khalid wouldn't do a commission sketch for just anyone or anything. So this had to be important. Her eyes narrowed briefly as she tried to figure out the puzzle.

Ishiah rolled his eyes and reached across, flicking Robin's ear. "Leave her be," he scolded. Then he looked at Cal and nodded, signalling it was time for him to go.

Cal didn't need any more permission than that. Digging under the counter, he grabbed his jacket, and then glanced at Jeane.

"Coming?" he asked her.

Khalid set down her pencil for a moment, studying the sketch. Something still seemed like it was missing, but she wasn't sure what it was. After a moment of thought, she waved her fingers over the picture, and it took on some faint color. The sketch ended up being shades reminiscent of the desert: gold, tan, and ivory, with some arrows and notations indicating frosted glass or other materials.