Regroup (RP)

"He's down with a fever" she motioned with her head toward the bedroom "But as soon as he feels better. I don't want him thinking it was some sort of a weird delirious dream" she cleared her throat, her hand playing with her necklace "So, what about Benji? I don't know what we can do to find him. If I did, I would have tried it already..."

When she heard that David had been sick, Persephone made a sympathetic sound, but then she remembered that David may have been unfaithful, so she scoffed.

"Aww!! Oh! Well, he probably caught it from that skank."

When they turned to Benji, Persephone looked exasperated and said, "Well, did you try to call him? I can’t; I lost my phone in the park."

Emma flinched at the mention of 'the skank', shoulders slowly dropping, her fingers tightening around her necklace some more.

"I tried calling him. Like a thousand times. I don't think there was any reception... down there" she shuddered, remembering how she ran through the dark tunnels, heart beating fast "..and I think he would have called us, if he managed to get away. I really don't know if there's anything we can do"

Persephone said, "Well, we could try checking the park… maybe we can find a portal or something? Alternatively, we can hunt down Chaudry; he’d know. And…" Persephone hesitated, then continued, saying, "Well, I do have the true name of the demon I was chatting up… I’ve never, like, summoned a demon before, so I might need some help doing so. Maybe we could ask that bookstore lady how? I wonder if she’d know a way to contact Benji too…"

"I am NOT going back to that park" her words came out sharper than she intended, but it was only due to fear "I barely made it out alive last time. You didn't" hunting down Chaudry didn't appeal to her either. That guy could summon actual demons to do his bidding, AND he wanted to kill her. What could she possibly do to stop him, aside from stepping in front of his knife? "But we could talk to Yasmine, I guess. She summoned demons before, so she could probably guide us how to do it if you got its name"

Persephone arched an eyebrow and commented, "You seemed willing to risk your life, and mine and Benji’s, on Friday… but ok, that’s fine. Let’s check with Yasmine."

Emma’s lip twitched when she critiqued her, and she had half a mind to snap back at her. That she let it slide said everything about how rattled she was right now. She glanced at her bag by the door, and even took a step forward, before stopping and sighing softly

"I need to stay and take care of David. I'm not going anywhere until he feels better", which meant she might be abandoning Benji, again, but tonight's scare put into perspective what her real priorities were "I'm sorry; I just can't do this right now"

Persephone sighed. She couldn’t help but feel that, even if she and Benji were both dead, Emma’s biggest and only concern would be Emma. Persephone felt anger rising in her and she struggled to hold it back.

"Yeah, you should take care of David. He’s probably been feeling neglected after this weekend."

Emma could feel Pers tense up, but she had no way to know she was angry at her (because why would she?)
"Is everything alright? Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?"

Persephone was on her way out the door when Emma asked her oblivious question. Persephone wheeled around, an indignant expression on her face, and shouts, "Is everything alright? Is everything all-effing right?!?! Are you kidding me? I was slaughtered like a pig in a stockyard, butchered by an amateur demon fanboy, while you ran! That’s Emma, always the center of the universe; we’re just NPCs, aren’t we? Even David!"

By now, her voice was loud, loud enough for David to hear, as well as the neighbors. She continued, "Yes, even David! The only reason you even care that he might have cheated on you is because of how it might reflect on you, you narcissist! Never mind how you were draped over any man who could benefit you this weekend, including your ex, Henry! What were you thinking? You selfish girl! Playing with things you don’t understand, like other people’s feelings, clearly. No, I don’t want a cup of fricking tea, Emma. I want you to start showing a shred of empathy for other people and stop making everything about you!"

And with that, she turned and stormed off.

"I’m a narcissist?" Emma’s nostrils flared as she dropped her hand from her necklace and planted both fists on her hips. "What exactly are you accusing me of? Running away from a demon? You wanted me to stay there and get stabbed to death, is that it?"

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her "I was investigating that cult with the only tools I had. But if you want to see a real narcissist, try looking in a mirror. You’re working for a fucking demon! You’re sending people to Hell so you can squeeze out a few more years for yourself. How about a little empathy for all these people, Pers? The ones you lure in so they can suffer forever because you want another chance at life. Because it is about you, and they are all just 'NPCs', right???"

Her voice cracked when she mentioned David, but the heat in her words didn't "And don’t you dare twist this about David. I love my husband. Who do you love, Pers? Who loves you? You’ve got nobody, and you know it. So you pick fights with the only people who stick by you, just so you can crawl off and tell yourself how unfair the world is and how you’re always the victim. It’s pathetic"

She didn't bat an eye when Pers stormed out. She didn't do anything to deserve this treatment from her, and she wasn't going to stand for it. She only moved when the door was slammed, moving to lock it behind her with decisive finality.

She stood in front of the door for a moment longer, the heat in her chest slowly turning into cold dissatisfaction. She didn’t exactly feel sorry for what she said. But it didn’t really help her either. Maybe she could have handled her better, pretended like there was something in what Pers was saying, and promise her she would ‘change’. Or maybe fake being deeply offended by her hurtful words and squeeze out a few tears, though she wasn't sure she had such a performance in her in her angered state of mind.

Keeping Pers close would have been smarter, considering how dangerous and unpredictable the supernatural world could be. But maybe it was for the best. Her tantrums, right there in her apartment, were endangering her private life, which she tried so hard to keep separated from all the mess. She should never have invited her to her home if she couldn't behave herself. Just like she should never have invited Sarah. If there was any lesson to be learned here, it was that she had to be far less trusting of people.

She shut off the living room lights and headed for the bedroom, where she slipped out of her clothes before heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth and tie her hair back with a simple band. Sighing to herself, she climbed into bed with David, trying to clear her head and not think of what he might or might not have done if she were to get any sleep tonight.

Persephone stormed off, tears flowing freely, talking to herself under her breath.

Emma… why does everything have to be about HER? I mean, yeah, I’m a monster… I am evil. She’s … she’s right about that. But I know it and I accept it and I try to do good regardless. But her? She hurts people and uses them and thinks she’s all innocent! Acting like a damned teenage drama queen with Henry, and…! Henry!

She suddenly realized she had left the poor guy in the lurch. Perhaps feeling a bit vindictive toward Emma, she decided that she would reach out to Henry, maybe check on him—and apologize, if he’d accept it.

But first, she needed a new phone, so she headed to the cell store to deactivate her lost one, get a new one, and download her backup.