Zen Times Ten...

Christian listened with interest and some concern. She wouldn't have had the nerve to do what she had done without Kem's added feelings. That could be a problem later but it might just be that she wanted to know that Kem would return her affection. Still she needed to face the possibility of eternity alone.

Her observations were interesting and he considered her thoughts of Danielle and Alfarinn.

" I do not believe that it is quite how you think. Some familiars are made with very little choice in the matter to be certain, and depending on how they are made, they have interesting reactions to their vampires. I have seen fearful familiars and those who believed their vampires were gods. That is rarely the case in Evenhet. Danielle and Alfarinn both agreed to the relationship and feel that it makes them both better. I know Alfarinn and he would take care of Dani and her dog even without her being his familiar. He found her to be an amazing woman long before she became his assistant. I am less certain of Danielle's feelings on the matter but she had always seemed very fond of Alfarinn as well. Likely she would have still plied him with cookies and worried when he came home late even had she not been his familiar. I don't think she's compelled, she's a caring person and that is her nature. They have grown closer because of the bond between them but they are still very much their own persons. Should you choose that action before turning then be sure it is with a person who would give you the same kind of relationship. "

He shrugged.

"Unless you enjoy making offerings of coffee and newspapers to some modern day Adonis."

Christian nodded in response to her family. She better get used to lying to them because it was going to become a common thing. There was simply very little way to explain things away. He wondered if she were ready to fake her own death in a few years so that they didn't know she was not growing older. Perhaps she could keep a long distance relationship up for longer or explain things away as plastic surgery for a few more years beyond the days when he was turned but no matter when she cut the ties she had with her family it was going to be very very soon in the life of a vampire.

"Good I am glad you've thought of it. It will be hard to lose them but it is inevitable for our kind. You most likely will have Kem to keep you from being lonesome through out the ages. That is a joy few of our kind experience for very long, those who have it are blessed. Be mentally prepared, the best you can, for the possibility that he won't return your love and that you might have to spend the ages alone. Something might happen to him. We are strong and resilient but not indestructible despite what some of our kind believe."

Chris frowned mentally at the antics of Alfarinn and Artemis, secretly wondering for the millionth time when they were going to blow one another up with one of their stunts. Alfarinn also took too many personal risks and should delegate some of the more dangerous responsibilities to others. Of course in all these years he had not managed to change anyone's mind on things. Vampires seemed to be a stubborn lot.

((OOC: Danielle and Alfarinn's views of a sort with permission))

Aishe had ears for no one but Christian, as information that she'd been dying to know poured forth. She still couldn't understand being a familiar. No matter how comfortable a bond Dani and Alfarinn had, she would always be afraid that on some level her choices were not her own. She had already admitted to the fact that her apparent bond with Kem had altered the course of her actions, and changed her somehow, but it was a change she was willing to embrace after the deed had been done. How much of that was her own free will, and how much of it was her feeling some kind of paranoia now that she understood the nature of the odd feelings she'd been experiencing?

That would require some more thought, but for now she was very happy to know she wasn't a lunatic, and actually found a measure of comfort in knowing that maybe eventually she could acknowledge the bond she and Kem shared.

Whe Christain moved onto the topic of losing her parents, of facing the ages alone, she shook her head. "Anything can happen anytime, that's true. And that's just it. I can walk out of here and get hit by a bus. Kem might not want me. He could be dead someday, and I'd still be alone. But I couldn't face myself if I hadn't tried."

She looked him in the eyes then. "And that's me talking. Not Kem, not my parents. Just me. I guess that's why since I got here, since I started learning so much about Evenhet and vampires in general, it's become important to me to be accepted, if that's the right word. I like everyone here. It's more than I thought it would be. You're really all a family. And if I join you, if you'll all have me, then even if I lose my parents, or Kem," she shuddered at the thought, "I won't really be alone. There will still be Evenhet. Still be a family."

She sighed. "And if it's me who has to go, I want Kem to know I never regretted a single moment. Once I take a step, I can't regret it. That's because I do make my own choices."

Aishe brightened with the realization. "I do make my own choices," she said with a smile. "Even though I can feel Kem in here, in my head, it's not because he wants me to do this that I'm here. It's because I truly want to be a part of this."

Maybe she sounded hokey, but it didn't matter now. Aishe was starting to realize that Kem's feelings had, perhaps, set her on this road, but she'd continued of her own free will. She wouldn't be sorry for that.

Grinning at Christian, unaware if he realized the thought process she'd just gone through, she simply said, "Thank you!"

Christian nodded and studied the woman in front of him as she spoke. She seemed convicted and that was about all you could hope for. She might regret her decision later, in fact it was very likely that she would more than once in her long life time but at least she had already given it more thought than most vampires had before they decided to become immortal.

He listened to her repeat herself as she came to the conclusion that the words were sincere. Christian wondered if Kem realized the full ramifications of the choice he had made. The Egyptian could have stayed longer and they could have talked about the possibilities. He could have given her the time to think of what she wanted out of life in the very same way Evenhet was doing for her now. The running scared strategy seemed to be in part an excuse for Kem despite him giving the noble reasons that he would not wish her to become like him and wanted to allow her to make her own choices. Kem was scared. Frightened to face the possibility of having something and someone he wanted. No doubt the man had his reasons. It was not Chris's interest to make judgments about the situation, only to observe them clearly. They might be needed later.

His mouthed twitched in a small smile.

"You are most welcome, Ms Nevrat."

Christian thought for a moment and then made a decision.

"Perhaps you would care to be of service while you are here?"

Aishe tilted her head curiously at Christian. Be of service? Oh, the implications. But still, the chance to do something here instead of take up space... that would be excellent. She didn't like being a freeloader, which was exactly what she felt like recently. The 'distant relative' who visits and then stays for... forever. So she did her bet not to jump at Christian's offer.

"Be of service? Absolutely. I'll help out however you think is fit... Mr. Bern." She returned his formality with her own, but smiled as she said it. She really liked this particular Evenhet. His forthrightness was appealing, and refreshing. The opportunity to repay Evenhet in general and this man in particular made her happy.

She remained where she was, curoius at what he wanted her to help with, but willing to do just about anything.

Christian considered his options carefully. Whatever situation he got her involved in could not be dangerous or Alfarinn and Kem both would likely have his head. Normally the Egyptian would not worry him from a physical standpoint but with emotional rage added in to scene anything was possible. Not that he had planned on having Aishe do anything dangerous anyway.

"Good, Mari can direct you to my office tomorrow evening at five o clock. "

He was an early riser unlike some of his kind and a light sleeper which was a handy trait for being a body guard as he had once been or a foot soldier fighting the Roman armies.

Standing up, he collected his bag and nodded to her once again.

He had not said do not be late nor had he said what to wear or what to expect. It was intentional. Christian doubted that Aishe would be late but it would be a way to determine how important making a good impression was to her and whether or not she took him and his position here seriously. Being an empath made him a fairly good judge of character but he had learned not to completely trust that sense when other information was also available.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Aishe, I will see you tomorrow."

With that he headed out of the door and back towards his office.

"Mari, where is Mr. Carlson and Mr. Torrano?"

((OOC: out))

Aishe stood when Christian did and bowed from the waist as he left the mats, as she'd been trained.

"It was nice to meet you too, sir."

Five o'clock the next night. He hadn't told her what to expect, either. She briefly wondered what use she could possibly be to the Security Chief as she picked up the towel she'd slung over the rack in the corner and draped it around her neck.

Obviously, being human had its advantages, but she expected Christian must already have humans as well as vampires working for him. Whatever he wanted her for would probably be something fairly elementary; she was hardly to be trusted with any important information, new as she was.

It didn't matter though. Whatever was expected of her, she'd do as best she could. If it involved learning something new, which it must, she was never opposed to that. Thoroughly perplexed she stretched for a few more minutes, towel and bottle of water right next to her, then picked both up and headed to her little suite for a shower and to begin her night.

((ooc: Aishe out))