"Interesting..." Cal mused. Yeah, he could definitely get behind the thought of deep-fried foods, no matter what they were. Hell, he'd tried fried butter once, although he wouldn't be doing so again. Even he could only take so much concentrated fat in one bite of food.

Jeane grinned. "See, I knew I had you at deep-fried," she teased, walking closer to him. "And don't even bother to deny it."

Cal rolled his eyes, but put an arm around her waist and pulled her a bit closer. He still kept an eye out for the man from before, though. Something about him out Cal on edge, aside from how sketchy he'd been acting.

Jeane walked with him back to the apartment, dumping her things off to the side before going to get a drink. "You want anything?"

"You?" Cal suggested. He grinned. "Nah, I'm good." He settled back onto the couch.

Jeane snorted and shook her head, taking her bottled iced tea and going to sit on him before she texted Khalid.

Hey, saw someone at the library you might be interested in. He was speaking really old Arabic, and he looked like the same lineage as you, only his skin's darker. I might have mentioned you were in town.

The message piqued Khalid's interest a bit.

He was likely another djinn, she replied. Although most would have someone else along as well... I know I told you that custom is for a djinn to stay close to his or her master.

Yea. This guy was alone. Jeane shrugged, realized that Khalid couldn't see, and had a face-palm moment. At least as far as I could tell. He didn't seem worried about meeting up with someone else, anyway.

That is unusual, Khalid replied. You remember how close I usually stayed to you, before you decided to move to the city. I only backed off because we both had to split our attention with other things. Otherwise I would have still stayed close, to be there to take care of whatever you wanted.

I know. Maybe he's not currently owned? Jeane sent that and was quiet for a few moments. Hey, maybe he's already free. Maybe I should go track him down.

Be careful if you do, Khalid replied. The thought had crossed her mind, as well. He might take offense to being asked, either way. Some do.

I'll find some way to hint at it and see how he reacts. Oh, he did seem to know you, though. Jeane figured Khalid should probably know that tidbit just in case.

Khalid blinked. That was interesting, she didn't know too many others of her kind personally.

Did he give a name? she asked.

Khalid ran that description through her short list of djinn she knew personally, and came up with a match.

It sounds like Husni, she replied. If it was Husni, then they might have a bit of a problem. We'll see if that's who it was, if he appears again.

Yeah. Sorry if I got you in trouble. I didn't mean to. Jeane scowled at the wall. Why was she always causing so much trouble?

Don't you worry about me, Khalid replied. I've dealt with Husni before, I can do it again. Of course, it wasn't quite so easy as that, but she really didn't want Jeane to worry about that. You weren't doing anything wrong.

Jeane sighed. Yeah, but I'm always causing trouble. Even after all this I'm still getting in trouble more than anyone else.

Don't worry about it, Jeane. You just worry about getting Cal to let you have his baby. Khalid could deal with everything else just fine. And if Husni wanted to make trouble, well, she had a puck and a peri who she was sure would be more than willing to get rid of the problem if she needed them to.

Nice wording. But I get your point. Just let me know if you want me to do anything, okay? I've got contacts now. And if Khalid couldn't hear the evil cackle by now clearly she hadn't spent enough time with Jeane.

Khalid rolled her eyes.

You focus on your issues. I can handle this.

Alright. Can't blame me for wanting to help. But Jeane didn't say any more than that, stretching briefly before settling down on Cal again.

I appreciate it, but I can handle things, Khalid replied. Then she set down her phone and settled back on the chair, enjoying the momentary quiet around the house.

Things were normal for the next two days or so. At least until the man, Husni, marched into Ishiah's bar while Cal was working, meaning Jeane was there too. He walked right over to Jeane, starting to talk in old Arabic, still looking briefly surprised when she answered in kind. And then he looked about ready to throttle her.

Cal kept an eye on him as soon as he walked in. He didn't trust the djinn for a second. He didn't understand the old language, but the murderous glare was universal.

"Hey," he warned. "Either sit down, shut up, and pick your poison, or leave. I have no problems finishing whatever trouble you feel like starting." And just to punctuate that sentiment, he gave a murderous look of his own, the one that was just Auphe enough to make the bar regulars squirm.