What goes around... {Ariella}, ;; at the cemetery

[Kallan Knight]

“Well, at least its a warm day, Alex. One of those ones you always loved to sit outside and paint in,” The man glanced around him as he approached the large memorial he visited every week without fail, the picture of the beautiful brunette which was set into the cement smiled back at him and one corner of his lips quirked into an almost crooked smirk as he bent his knees to crouch down and rest a bunch of orchids by the grave of his long deceased wife. “You know, you’ve caused quite the stir now with everything that’s going on...” He sighed softly, “I just wish you’d stuck around long enough so I could ask you what you knew...”

Kallan’s voice trailed off as he then remained crouched where he was for a few minutes, one hand playing idly with the grass at his feet while his gaze stayed fixed upon the small portrait that smiled back at him. Sometimes, if he closed his eyes he was almost sure he could feel her there still – even after so many years the memory of his wife was so extremely vivid. He doubted it would ever leave, which was why he was content in his bachelor life, and would be until the day he died.

“So, you remember Caleb’s girlfriend, the one he mooned over for months when he was a knee-high? Of course you do...” Kallan shook his head and chuckled, “I met her. Reminds me a lot of you too, and Brianna loves her to bits. I hope things work for them...” Once again his voice grew quieter as he considered everything that had happened lately again. He really did want Caleb and Aeree to work out, and he wasn’t even sure why except that it just seemed right. Though, in honesty, he’d wanted Caleb to be able to find happiness for the longest time – mostly because of the Ice Queen. While he hoped it for his youngest son as well, the boy just didn’t seem as interested at the moment. It would happen when it was supposed to, Kallan guessed.

With a sigh, Kal pushed himself up to stand straight, but didn’t leave just yet. Instead he closed his eyes and bowed his head in silence while his hands shifted into his pockets. Just for a few moments, he’d let his other senses take over – the scent of freshly mown grass in the air as well as a mixture of fresh flowers from the nearby botanical gardens, the sound of a few birds amidst the backdrop of city noises in the distance, and the warmth of the sun on his skin. For a moment he was almost positive he wasn’t alone there either.

[Finesse Ariella]

She was laying in the shade beneath a tree and among some tall grasses that camouflaged her form, but barely. Sure the cemetery itself was well groomed but the edges degenerated a bit, which was perfect for her. It was quiet here and she liked that, mostly because all the vehicles scared the hell out of her. The rumbling, big things stank too, and she could still smell them here but so much less than just a few blocks away.

Finesse was hungry and tired. The money she had been given hadn't got her much, not nearly what it would have in the 1700's and she hadn't had anything to eat in a few days now. For a normal human, not so bad. But even in her human form she had the metabolism of a lion and she was starving.

At the moment she was contemplating giving in and doing something she really didn't want to. She was actually thinking about selling herself. It would be humiliating but she needed more money than she had ever dreamed possible in order to survive on this side. If she could find food it would be easy, but there was nothing in this stinky city to hunt. Sighing, her rounded ears flicked at the sound of speech, and her tawny head turned, intense eyes peering out to see a human.

They were everywhere here, but this one was a little older, a bit of grey in his hair and he seemed to be talking... to himself? No, he was speaking to one of the graves, and her initial estimation changed. He not longer earned her automatic hatred, just automatic wariness and dislike. When he paused and closed his eyes she was tempted for a brief moment to stalk and kill and eat him. But she didn't, mostly because she knew that was a very, very dark path. Besides, she'd been human once too.

Shifting, the motion causing a faint rustling in the grass, she grabbed her grass-stained jeans from beside her and slipped them on, then adding her t-shirt over top. Leaving the shoes, she got to her feet and slipped out into the cemetery proper, her ebony hair disheveled. If she wasn't going to eat him she might as well talk to him. Maybe she could get some sort of useful information so she didn't have to go back to Aeree with nothing.

"Hello," she said softly, her English accented, "I like this cemetery. It seems more peaceful than anywhere else I've been in this city." She eyed the male warily, and stopped a few feet away, offering a quirk of a smile. It was a little fake though, mostly because she was nervous. He WAS a white man after all, and even better he was around the age her master had been. Thank god he looked nothing like the man otherwise she'd be cowering.

The few spirits she could 'see' were calm, a reflection of the care that had been taken with their surroundings she supposed. The lioness blinked when she saw an indistinct shape hovering over the flowers the male had placed on one of the graves. A spectral hand traced the petals, and then she saw a face with a small, gentle smile. It pulled an answering smile from her, which she directed at the male standing in front of her after a moment's hesitation.

"The spirits like your flowers," she murmured, though immediately kicked herself. She really didn't blend well, kept on saying things she really shouldn't if she wanted to be taken for normal and not some crazy.

[Kallan Knight]

The longer he stood there, the more certain the feeling grew that he was possibly being watched, but Kallan had no reason to bother moving. Whoever it was, if they wanted something they they could come out and approach him themselves. Strange, that odd sense of calm that almost always took hold of Kallan, no matter what situation he seemed to find himself in. Perhaps it was simple over-confidence, or maybe it was something more. Hell, he didn’t even know half the time but when it came to his own safety, he wasn’t exactly worried about it too much.

Rather, Kal was simply enjoying his quiet time with Alex, the rustling in the grass a short distance away hadn’t alerted him to anything worrying and even when the young woman walked out toward him, he’d barely noticed her until she spoke.

"Hello," The woman’s voice was soft and there was a slight accent to it, and Kallan opened his eyes and turned his head, blinking as he took in her slightly dishevelled appearance. She looked like she’d only just woke up! "I like this cemetery. It seems more peaceful than anywhere else I've been in this city."

Kallan blinked again; what an incredibly odd thing to say. However, the small part smile, received one in return and the older man nodded his head politely, “And hello to you, miss. And I have to agree with you, its extremely peaceful out here. That’s why I chose it for the resting place for my darling departed after all.” He chuckled softly with a small shrug of the shoulders as he looked back to the memorial, though her chosen words still confused him a little except for the one guess he could make from them, “From out of town then are you?”

Considering her appearance, it was possible she may have been travelling some time, but then was she a runaway or something? Were there family looking for her at all? Not that it really was any of his business if there was, but she’d approached him after all, and not the other way around.

"The spirits like your flowers,"

Now that was strange... at least for a complete stranger to say. Kallan was still coming to grips with the idea that Alex had been gifted with being able to see things that other people couldn’t – not to mention it seemed his granddaughter had taken after her. However, the only reaction the man gave was another soft laugh and a nod of the head, “I would hope so, they’re Alexandria’s favourite – I wouldn’t dare bring anything else or she might haunt me. Of course, that might not be an entirely bad thing I suppose.”

Pulling his gaze from his wife’s smiling face, Kal glanced at the young woman again and tilted his head slightly, “And what brings a young lass like yourself out here? Also visiting family?” He doubted it, but it did hurt to subtly prod for something in case he needed to contact the authorities in case there were reports about a missing woman.

[Finesse Ariella]

“And hello to you, miss. And I have to agree with you, its extremely peaceful out here. That’s why I chose it for the resting place for my darling departed after all.”

She frowned and shook her head. Even if she was uneasy she could still sympathize with losing a loved one. "I am sorry for your loss," she murmured.

“From out of town then are you?”

Finesse grinned.

"You could say that."

“I would hope so, they’re Alexandria’s favourite – I wouldn’t dare bring anything else or she might haunt me. Of course, that might not be an entirely bad thing I suppose.”

The lioness sighed and shook her head. Haunting was never a good thing.

"No... if she haunted you then neither of you could move on," she said softly, even if her words were blunt her tone was not. "And that's never a good thing. I have been haunted once and..." She trailed off, remembering her friend that had been killed by a Blood Lord, and she hadn't been able to save him either.

“And what brings a young lass like yourself out here? Also visiting family?”

"No... I just like it here and don't like the rumbling metal things. It's peaceful here and people don't bother me." Again she was out of tune enough that she didn't realize how odd this would seem. "Besides. It is quiet here and there is some grass. Perhaps there will be something here to hunt."

[Caleb Knight]

Of all things in life, only two things were certain - Death and Taxes. Though when it came to Kallan Knight, one other thing was certain - the man never missed going to the cemetary each week. Caleb knew this for a fact and while he did not visit as often as he should, he felt today was one of the days he should. Perhaps it was coincidence, considering Caleb had encountered a near death experience just a few days prior with Shi. Or maybe it was the bizarre incident with Aeree afterwards.

Regardless he felt the need to visit his mom's grave. He owed her his life after all; her paintings had been his one saving grace in his escape from Shi. Caleb was also worried about what had happened with Aeree, or rather the lack thereof. Something was not exactly right and whatever it was had seemed to trouble Aeree more than him.

His mom always seemed to have the answers after all... maybe he could figure something out this time as well.

After he left the fare and tip with the taxi driver, the cab pulled away to leave Caleb at the cemetary. It would only be a short walk to the memorial. As he walked, he could already make out the familiar outline of his father in the distance. However, the human's footsteps slowed when he took notice of the young woman he was talking to.

Caleb continued on and just so happened to catch the tail-end of what they were talking about, "No... I just like it here and don't like the rumbling metal things. It's peaceful here and people don't bother me. Besides. It is quiet here and there is some grass. Perhaps there will be something here to hunt."

He had to force himself not to stop in his tracks a second time at her words. It sounded a lot like the way Aeree spoke. Instead he put on a polite smile and nodded to them both when he was noticed, "Hope I'm not disturbing anything..."

[Kallan Knight]

"I am sorry for your loss," Kallan simply nodded in response as he glanced toward the memorial once more. Though, he continued to listen as the young woman answered his question about her being from out of town, "You could say that." A small smirk touched his lips for a moment, though his mind then continued to consider what to do, or whether he should contact someone and any possible reported missing persons.

"No... if she haunted you then neither of you could move on, ... And that's never a good thing. I have been haunted once and..."

Kal’s gaze then did shift from the memorial to raise an eyebrow at the woman, “Oh really?” He began paying even more attention to her mannerisms; the way she observed the area, and how she’d acted with him when she’d first appeared. Not to mention, the way she spoke reminded him of something... or someone.

"No... I just like it here and don't like the rumbling metal things. It's peaceful here and people don't bother me... Besides. It is quiet here and there is some grass. Perhaps there will be something here to hunt."

Suddenly, a realisation came to the man and he chuckled softly – he wondered how much he’d be willing to bet that this woman came from the same place as the dragoness who’d been spending a bit of time around his family. “I somehow doubt you’ll find the kind of game you’d be looking for, Miss.”

From the corner of his eye, Kal noticed movement as someone else approached, and turning hsi eyes from the woman for a moment, a wider smile broke out on his features to see Caleb. Both his sons knew his routine, so the younger man must’ve been there to see him as well as his mother, "Hope I'm not disturbing anything..."

Kallan considered whether Caleb might have caught much of the conversation before shrugging lightly, “Not really, just a casual chat in the cemetery. Nothing out of the ordinary here.” There was a little humour in his voice, before he then glanced back toward the young lady he’d been talking with, “Though I think my new acquaintance here may be from the same place as your girlfriend. What’s it called again? Luna or something?” It was a bold statement to admit in front of someone he didn’t know, considering she could be dangerous, but she hadn’t shown hostility and, if nothing else, simply seemed lost.

[Finesse Ariella]

“I somehow doubt you’ll find the kind of game you’d be looking for, Miss.”

The lioness eyed the man intently, only keeping her eyes from flashing by sheer force of will. He couldn't know right? How could he? It didn't make any sense that she would meet one of the few humans that knew about the other realm. He smelt vaguely, vaguely familiar though, and she couldn't place why. She knew she had never met him before so where was this sense coming from?

She was so involved in thinking about it that she didn't even realize someone was approaching until they spoke, and then she jumped a good foot in the air and hissed in surprised, her eyes flashing a bit. When had HE got here? Why hadn't she smelled him? Was she losing her touch? Maybe she was just so unnerved by everything. That and she was hungry as hell.

"Hope I'm not disturbing anything..."

Her eyes narrowed on the male, but she said nothing, watching the two humans. The elder seemed to know the younger, and they even looked similar. And the sense that she recognized the younger was even stronger than in the elder. They smelled similar, so he was the younger's father perhaps...

“Not really, just a casual chat in the cemetery. Nothing out of the ordinary here.”

Finesse caught the sound of the humor in his voice, the tone pulling a small smile from her despite herself. There was something about their scents that didn't really bother her so much. The fact that they were white wasn't really bothering her right now, though she wasn't sure why.

"Yes, this is the most ordinary thing in the world," she said, eyes twinkling but her face was set, basically deadpan.

“Though I think my new acquaintance here may be from the same place as your girlfriend. What’s it called again? Luna or something?”

Her eyes went wide, and she growled, her form tensing.

"You know someone else from Luna?" Immediately after she said it she was mentally kicking herself, and she growled a little louder. "I am not doing well," she growled to herself, gaze still on the pair. "My name is Ariella," she tilted her head. If the cat was out of the bag so to speak she might as well introduce herself, but she wasn't going to say her given name. "Who is your girlfriend?"

[Caleb Knight]

“Not really, just a casual chat in the cemetery. Nothing out of the ordinary here.”

"Yes, this is the most ordinary thing in the world."

The younger Knight looked warily between his father and the stranger, a brow raised slightly. He had a sinking suspicion that this was not just an ordinary chat. Not to mention casual chit-chat in a cemetary just sounded odd to him. Bu he supposed he would not argue with it as his gaze moved over to his mother's memorial. Instantly he felt a pang of regret for not having come out here in so long. It had been a month or two at the most...

“Though I think my new acquaintance here may be from the same place as your girlfriend. What’s it called again? Luna or something?”

Caleb's full and undivided attention snapped back to his father in an instant. What the hell was he doing?

"You know someone else from Luna?" The growl from the woman forced his attention to shift once more, "I am not doing well ... My name is Ariella." The more she growled the more certain Caleb was that it seemed more and more feral, "Who is your girlfriend?"

Caleb really wished he could have given his old man a smack on the back of the head right then. Though the girl did not seemed shocked in a way that she did not know what they were talking about - rather she was shocked that they knew anything about it. He cast a look toward his dad with a slight grimace before he focused on the woman named Ariella.

"My name is Caleb... and yes, I know about Lunariata." He felt wary about saying anything and even in the back of his mind he wondered if this woman was one of those evil creatures that Aeree had warned him about. Mentally going through the list of things he was carrying on him, determining if any of it was silver, he continued on, " ... and her name is Aeree."

"What do you mean you're not doing well?"

[Kallan Knight]

The mixed reactions of the two others with him caused Kallan’s smirk to widen quite a bit. While he knew better than anyone the importance of keeping his family’s relation to what was happening a secret, he couldn’t help but get the feeling that this woman wasn’t out to hurt anyone in particular. If she was then she wouldn’t be wandering around a cemetery, looking as though she hadn’t eaten or bathed for a few days. Certainly, if she’d been ruthless enough it wasn’t difficult to mug a person or find some other way to make life a little more comfortable. And there was no doubt that she definitely wasn’t involved with the military.

The older man loved the fact that he’d hit the nail right on the head – being right made Kal just that more smugly happy that he hadn’t lost his touch.

Besides, if he was wrong, it could’ve always been passed off as senility setting in.

"You know someone else from Luna? ... I am not doing well ... My name is Ariella." The growling did little to bother the man who seemed as calm as if he was watching Bree playing with Jaz.

“You’re not very good at keeping a cover, are you?” There was still humour in Kallan’s voice after the young woman had spoken again about not doing well, and introduced herself. He somehow doubted that anyone from the other side would normally go about announcing where they were from or what they were, especially to strangers.

"Who is your girlfriend?" Glancing across at his son, Kal was silent as the younger man then spoke – his grin growing just a touch more since Caleb hadn’t instantly argued back that Aeree wasn’t his girlfriend.

"My name is Caleb... and yes, I know about Lunariata... and her name is Aeree... What do you mean you're not doing well?"

“I’m guessing its probably something to do with whatever it is this lovely lady is doing over here,” Kallan raised an eyebrow before he glanced back at Ariella with a smile, “A pleasure to meet you Ariella, I’m Kallan... and you might have to keep those reactions in check if you meet more people in the future. There are quite a few dangerous people around who wouldn’t be very kind to women who growl like wild animals and have eyes that flash like yours. A lot of paranoia flying about these days.”

[Finesse Ariella]

"My name is Caleb... and yes, I know about Lunariata. ... and her name is Aeree. What do you mean you're not doing well?"

Her face registered her shock. THIS was the man that Aeree had mentioned? No wonder his scent seemed vaguely familiar. She must have smelled him a bit on the dragon before. Still, she could see why the dragon might be conflicted. He really was rather cute. Still, she couldn't exactly SAY that Aeree had sent her to spy on the humans could she? One that would be a betrayal of her mission, and two she didn't want these too to think badly of her. For crackers they were definitely alright.

So basically..... she ignored the question.

“You’re not very good at keeping a cover, are you?”

She started, but ignored that question too. Maybe if she didn't admit it they'd forget? Well, fat chance in hell but she could hope right? Still, she heard the humor in his voice, and she did want to smile. He was much like her old master, but not really. The same age but that was about it. Her old master would have beaten her as soon as look at her, but this one's first reaction seemed to be humor, she liked that.

“I’m guessing its probably something to do with whatever it is this lovely lady is doing over here,” Kallan raised an eyebrow before he glanced back at Ariella with a smile, “A pleasure to meet you Ariella, I’m Kallan... and you might have to keep those reactions in check if you meet more people in the future. There are quite a few dangerous people around who wouldn’t be very kind to women who growl like wild animals and have eyes that flash like yours. A lot of paranoia flying about these days.”

She eyed him, but damn she wanted to submit to that charm. It was old school, more the time she was used to. It pulled a genuine smile from her and though it was brief it was very bright.

"I will keep that in mind. And thank you for the compliment. Last time I was here.. well, I was human. And a slave. Things are so different now.." She didn't immediately register that she had revealed more of her past than she liked, but when she did her only reaction was a sigh, then she continued to speak. "I know Aeree by the way... we don't exactly get along." Well they hadn't anyway, so it wasn't exactly a lie, and besides, she couldn't tell them that the dragon had sent her here could she? "And it is nice to meet you as well Kallan. I don't usually feel at ease around the crackers, but you're alright."

To her it was one of the highest compliments she could give, but she didn't realize how it could be taken as an insult either. Her gaze switched to the younger male, and she made an effort to tame her eyes. "I'm a lioness" she said softly, making an effort to tame her growling as well, "not a Blood Lord. Trust me, you wouldn't like them. They killed a friend of mine." She looked back at Kallan. "Hence the haunting comment."

[Caleb Knight]

“You’re not very good at keeping a cover, are you?”

An arched brow was directed to Kallan. Caleb felt just a bit uncomfortable about so casual with the topic of Luna out in the open - cemetary or no. Not to mention he did not know who this woman was or what her intentions might be. Better yet, how she even got here. Had she fallen through the Veil or perhaps gone through the Gate that Aeree protected?

Despite his adversion to the topic and now he found himself glancing around the cemetary for anyone watching them, Caleb remained silent a moment longer while his father spoke.

"I will keep that in mind. And thank you for the compliment. Last time I was here.. well, I was human. And a slave. Things are so different now ... I know Aeree by the way... we don't exactly get along."

Caleb's gaze snapped back Ariella at the mention of the dragoness. Somehow the mention of them not getting along made him just a bit edgy if not for the fact that he still did not know what she was doing here, "And it is nice to meet you as well Kallan. I don't usually feel at ease around the crackers, but you're alright."

The man could not help but blink. Did she just call them crackers? His mouth opened to speak but no words came, only a faint 'uh' before Caleb promptly shut his mouth once again. This woman said she had been a slave... good grief, how old was she?

"I'm a lioness ... not a Blood Lord. Trust me, you wouldn't like them. They killed a friend of mine. Hence the haunting comment."

"I've heard about them... Aeree told me." A glance was given to his father, "Haunting?" Even with the history that Aeree had told him, Caleb still felt a little lost. He shook his head and looked back to her, "Ariella, how did you get over to this side?"

[Kallan Knight]

"I will keep that in mind. And thank you for the compliment. Last time I was here.. well, I was human. And a slave. Things are so different now.." Kallan’s brows rose slightly at that small confession, and he glanced at Caleb for a moment. Did she say she was human... meaning she was originally from here? So these inhabitants of Luna were once human as well? Or maybe just a few. He’d have to find out later from his son – no doubt he knew at least something about the place by now. "I know Aeree by the way... we don't exactly get along."

Kal’s attention had returned to Ariella as she continued to speak and he sighed with a small shake of his head, “That’s a damn shame that, I know my granddaughter loves the woman to bits,” He leaned just a fraction closer almost conspiratorially, “And I’m pretty sure her father isn’t far off that either.” His eyes slid across to indicate toward Caleb – the man couldn’t help but tease him – before al straightened back up.

The use of ‘crackers’ though had the man almost in pain as he cut off the urge to burst out laughing. Despite the fact that it was a known insult – from quite a long time ago – he couldn’t help but be massively amused at being called one. He did grin widely though and released a small chuckle, “You might need to be careful what you call people as well, Miss Ariella.”

"I'm a lioness ... not a Blood Lord. Trust me, you wouldn't like them. They killed a friend of mine. Hence the haunting comment."

Kallan tilted his head slightly... Blood Lord? Immediately, his gaze shifted to Caleb again with a slightly more serious expression as the younger man spoke – he would definitely have to ask him some questions later, "I've heard about them... Aeree told me... Haunting? ... Ariella, how did you get over to this side?"

“I was mentioning how I wouldn’t mind if your mother haunted me a little,” Kal glanced at the memorial a moment before turning back and shrugging as he raised an eyebrow at his son, “At least she might be able to answer a few questions...” He spoke pointedly before a small grin broke through his features again, “Like where in the bloody hell that good China is.”

Kal’s gaze shifted back to Ariella though as both his brows rose, “He does have a very good question though. How does one get from this... Luna place, to here?” The older man’s attention was diverted quickly, though, as a message alert sounded on his cell phone and he pulled it from his pocket to check, “Ah, the vet’s finished.” He glanced at Caleb, “I’ll have to go pick up Jezebel,” his eyes then cut back across to Ariella before shifting back to his son, “But I’d really like to continue this conversation.”

Glancing back at Ariella, Kallan regarded her state for a moment, “Since you know Aeree, even if you don’t really get along, I’m gladly willing to offer you my facilities to clean up a little, as well as some food if you like. Believe it or not, not all ‘crackers’ are bad.” He spoke with amusement, “I have to go pick up my overgrown baby on the way though, so would you mind if Caleb gave you a ride there?”

It would be better to take the conversation a little less out in the open anyway the way it was going.

[Finesse Ariella]

"I've heard about them... Aeree told me." Had she? That was interesting, mostly because if she had thought to warn the human then it seemed like she might really care for the man. "Haunting?"

Oooh, maybe she shouldn't have made that comment.

"Ariella, how did you get over to this side?"

She looked at him and looked away, sighing. She hated having to lie but if she said she came through the Gate they'd either think she had somehow managed to hurt Aeree or had been sent by her, and she couldn't let them think either.

"I was drawn through the Veil. It weakens more and more..." She looked up at Caleb and smiled wanly. "The trip was not pleasant." Not that she knew what it felt like, but she'd talked to a couple who'd been drawn over.

“That’s a damn shame that, I know my granddaughter loves the woman to bits,” He leaned just a fraction closer almost conspiratorially, and surprisingly she didn't draw back. Didn't actually want to. “And I’m pretty sure her father isn’t far off that either.”

Her eyes lit up as she smiled at Kallan, and then looked over at Caleb. Was she imagining it or had he actually blushed a bit?

“You might need to be careful what you call people as well, Miss Ariella.”

She blinked in confusion, turning her head back towards Kallan and giving him an inquisitive glance. "What? Why?" What had she called them that was so strange?

“I was mentioning how I wouldn’t mind if your mother haunted me a little,” Kal glanced at the memorial a moment, “At least she might be able to answer a few questions...” He spoke pointedly before a small grin broke through his features again, “Like where in the bloody hell that good China is.”

Finesse burst out laughing. "Oh you're not a bad cracker at all! I like you." She smiled at the older man.

“He does have a very good question though. How does one get from this... Luna place, to here?”

That at least she could answer. "You can be drawn across the Veil. Or possibly go through a Gate. But the Gate is the only reliable way and it's guarded zealously by the dragons. I understand why, but I don't like how they get to judge who goes through and who doesn't."

“Ah, the vet’s finished.” He glanced at Caleb, “I’ll have to go pick up Jezebel,” his eyes then cut back across to Ariella before shifting back to his son, “But I’d really like to continue this conversation.”

Her face grew confused, her head tilting at the grey haired male. "Vet? Do you mean veteran? And Jezebel? You're going to pick up a whore? I don't understand..." She hadn't thought the man they type to want a whore, but she guessed she was wrong... Growling a little she looked away. Maybe they could continue the conversation, but she didn't like the idea of a man she was growing to like taking a whore either.

“Since you know Aeree, even if you don’t really get along, I’m gladly willing to offer you my facilities to clean up a little, as well as some food if you like. Believe it or not, not all ‘crackers’ are bad.” He spoke with amusement, “I have to go pick up my overgrown baby on the way though, so would you mind if Caleb gave you a ride there?”

The lioness grew even more confused. "You're... picking up your overgrown baby whore from the veteran?" She shook her head. "You make no sense, but yes I will ride with him. I appreciate the offer of food." Her stomach chose that moment to rumble and she sighed. "I don't have anything to pay you with but my body though."

[Caleb Knight]

The more they conversed in the open about Luna and other such things, the more antsy Caleb became. But he could not help but want to know where in the hell Ariella had come from and how she had gotten through to this side.

A curious glance was given to Kallan when he mentioned that he would not mind if mom haunted them or answer some questions. Caleb could certainly relate but it was a little off-topic from what he wanted to know from the woman that stood before the both of them, "I was drawn through the Veil. It weakens more and more ... The trip was not pleasant."

Her choice of words to describe her passing through the Veil made Caleb's brow raise. It was not so much as a trip but just a fading out of surroundings, at least in his experience. Was it different for different people? A frown slipped over his features as he considered the possibility. He would have to ask Aeree how it was for her when she came through the Veil. As he considered those things, he zoned out for a moment, at least until he heard his dad say he had to go pick up Jez.

"Vet? Do you mean veteran? And Jezebel? You're going to pick up a whore? I don't understand..."

Caleb could not help but chuckle before he shook his head, "No, no... Vet as in veterinarian... er, an animal doctor. Jezebel is a dog." Hopefully that would clear up the vastly different description that Ariella had come up with.

Not at all surprised that his father's offer to help the woman, he nodded in agreement that he would give her a ride while Kallan picked up Jezzy, "I don't have anything to pay you with but my body though."

"... Uh, that won't be necessary." Caleb piped up first, "You don't have to worry about paying us back for anything."

Bloody hell, it was a good thing his dad had found her... there was no way she'd be able to survive on this side.

[Kallan Knight]

Jokes aside, Kal listened intently as Ariella spoke about this ‘veil’ and a Gate, a small glance cast to Caleb, who probably already knew about all, or at least some, of this. The mention of a gate that was guarded by dragons did pull his attention a little as he considered the little bit of information that Aeree had given him when she’d visited him at work to let him know what had happened to Caleb when his car had been found in a ditch. It was bad enough that strangeness going on every day at the moment, without adding wrecked cars and houses to it.

What was next... no, he really didn’t want to think about it. Anything much worse would have the military involved, and Kallan didn’t want to have to clean up those messes.

As the call came to pick up Jezebel from the Vet though, Kal’s attention wandered elsewhere briefly, hoping that the examination had gone alright. The St Bernard was getting old, he knew that, but he didn’t mind forking out the money to keep her around a bit longer. His brows did rise though when he caught Ariella’s interpretation of what he’d said though and simply stared blankly at her a moment before blinking as Caleb stepped in with an explanation.

“Geez, its been a few years since Jez could have really been considered a whore. I mean she was one back in the day, but she’s a bit old for that now,” He chuckled softly and shook his head, “The only thing she’s a whore for these days is cuddles.”

"I don't have anything to pay you with but my body though."

"... Uh, that won't be necessary... You don't have to worry about paying us back for anything."

It was probably a very good thing that Caleb had spoken up first, considering the dark look that crossed Kallan’s features for a brief moment. While he could deal with the innocent remarks regarding what he’d named his dog, prostitution was certainly not something the older man condoned, nor did he much even like the insinuation that he’d accept payment in that fashion. But he let it slide since Caleb had taken care of that, and simply nodded in agreement, “Consider yourself a guest, Miss Ariella, nothing more.”

Kal then checked his watch before turning toward the memorial and smiling at it a moment. With a simple pat to the stone, he winked at it, “See you next week, Alex.” He then turned to the others, “And I’ll see you two back at my place. Safe driving.” With a nod, the man then began to stroll out of the cemetery to his car, musing over the strange coincidences lately.