"As simple as reading the words that are written," Khalid replied, nodding. "I'm sure Sangrida will be pleased with your improved efficiency."

At that Jeane snorted. "If she gives me another raise I might have to ask Cal to retire," she joked, grinning briefly. Because while Cal did okay on his own, she was definitely the better breadwinner.

Khalid snorted.

"From the bar, at least," she replied. "You wouldn't deny him the stress relief of his other job."

"No. Gods no, that would just a bad idea all around." Jeane shook her head. "If he didn't have that I think he'd start messing with humans just to have something to do. That or anyone who just looked at him wrong."

"Speaking of, have you talked to him?" Khalid asked, looking at her friend. "Like really talked to him?"

"Yeah." Jeane shrugged. "He said he doesn't really know what he wants and he's been avoiding the thought of kids for so long that he doubted he'd be very comfortable with it." She leaned back in her seat, looking at the pot with the chai silently.

"Which likely translates to him being afraid," Khalid observed. For Cal, such a thing was (while irritating for Jeane) understandable, considering his situation.

"Yeah, pretty much." Jeane shrugged. "Maybe I'll see about adopting a kid. Can't be anything but human then." It would work well enough, anyway, and it might alieviate some of his fear.

"You could," Khalid replied. "Or, like I told you before, the genetic material doesn't have to be from him. It can come from anywhere, and it doesn't have to get to you the old-fashioned way." She still figured Jeane would refuse, but she had to put the option out there.

Jeane sighed. "Yeah, I know." But she'd prefer if it were Cal's genetic material. She didn't think she needed to say that aloud, though. Khalid already knew. "Thanks, though."

"Let me know what you decide," Khalid said. Perhaps she would have another chat with Cal in the meantime.

Jeane nodded and got up to finish making the tea. "Yeah. I don't know, I might talk to him once more, just to be sure." Because she wasn't going to shove something on him that he really didn't want, as opposed to something he just didn't know what to do with.

"Alright," Khalid replied, nodding. "Let me know." Glancing down the hall, she stood up and went into Alexander's room. She came back out a moment later with a sleepy-looking, but awake child cuddled against her shoulder.

Jeane smiled a little at that, watching for a few moments before she went back to setting out mugs of chai. She added extra milk to hers before looking over at Khalid to see what she wanted in hers.

"A little milk," Khalid said softly. Sitting down again, she settled Alexander in her lap.

Jeane nodded and added a bit of milk to Khalid's before setting it on the table in front of her, taking her own tea and sitting as well.

"At least it's not half-bad," she mumbled after trying some.

Khalid took a sip of hers and suppressed a grimace.

"I can get us already-made chai, if you want," she offered. She didn't want to say it was bad, but she'd definitely had better chai before.

Jeane shrugged. "Doesn't make a difference to me. Go ahead if you want to, I don't mind." Because she'd kind of already guessed that Khalid didn't like it.

"Do you want it?" Khalid asked. She would put up with the chai they had, if she needed to. It was still technically chai. "You're the one in charge, Jeane."

Jeane rolled her eyes. "Sure. It'll taste better than this, at least." She shrugged and set her mug down for the moment.

Khalid nodded and snapped her fingers softly. Two mugs of good chai appeared on the coffee table, and she made sure some money changed places with it. She'd taken the chai from her favorite place, after all, and she made sure to pay for it, albeit indirectly.

Jeane took a sip of the good chai and nodded a little. Yeah, much better than her attempt. It didn't make her feel any better but oh well. At least it was warm and tasty.

Khalid took a sip of her own and sighed softly. Perfect chai.

Jeane stayed there for a while longer before deciding it was time for her to head home. Cal had been off on a job, but he was supposed to be back either that night or the next day.

Plus she had some things to think over.

Khalid put Alexander to bed after Jeane left, and then settled in with Arabian Nights to wait for her puck and peri to come home. She kept her phone closeby, though, just in case. She knew Jeane had a lot to think about now.