Ilias looked over towards her, and flicked her ear gently.

"Hey." he said.

"This is a double-date, not a field study." he told her.

"I dunno if you're serious with that or not, but this isn't the time or the place for it." he continued, before looking at Evan and Blair.

"And don't dwell on that, you two." he said further.

"Drinks. Then food." he stated.

"Ah... right." Evan responded. "Hey Blair, this High-Flyer cocktail looks interesting." he then added, moving the conversation along.

There was silence for a moment. She didn't get a response. However, she DID her the one she was talking to hyperventilating for a few seconds, before they started to try and regulate their breathing.

"Ah..! Ah...!" they exclaimed quietly.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" he apologised quickly, trying his best to regain his compsure.

That was the problem with him... he was arachnophobic. And very much so. However, he was also the best one to deal with Anya professionally, as they liked each other, and they got good deals done with each other.

"I'll... I'll be fine." he said.

"Just... I need... need to breathe... do my mindful exercises."

"Uh-huh, yeah. All right, that works." Vic responded.

"Thankfully... thankfully this doesn't need to be ironed out for another month." he said further.

She then heard him get off his chair, and sit down on the floor.

There was silence, before she heard rhythmic breathing. He was concentrating on it.

"...I'm sorry, again." he then said quietly.

"This stupid phobia of mine." he muttered defeatedly.

"Thank you." she heard him say, before she closed the door to leave him alone.

As she walked, her steps became a little heavier, and her expression darkened with anger. She was NOT happy, and was now not going to hide it. She rounded a corner, just as Azazel stepped out of a room ahead of her, and looked over.

"Hey Any-WOAH!" he started to greet her, before it turned into a shocked exclamation.

"...well, shit." he muttered.

"Looks like it broke, huh?" he asked rhetorically.

"Well, I'll step outta the way so you can get to Sharp." he then said, doing so.

"...." Hal was silent as he read the message, and then sighed heavily.

"Great." he muttered.

Send her in. he sent back.

He then took a moment, composed himself, inhaled slowly and let it out, before leaning forward slightly and maintaining a neutral expression.

He was certain that she would possibly come in guns a'blazin'.

And it sure looked it when she assertively opened the door, an angry expression in her eyes.

Hal was silent, before clearing his throat lightly.

"I see." he said, looking at the glasses.

"...I admit, this is most certainly unprecedented." he told her.

"And the situation will be looked into immediately." he assured her further.

"For now, I will get these tended to." he continued, pausing a moment.

"...is Vic doing all right?" he asked.

Hal just sighed again, this time more heavily.

"I'll get right on it." he said.

"Now. How much time do I have?" he asked.

"I know that you and him were discussing and ironing out an important deal or negotiation, or whatever it was." he continued. "The exact term to fit it escapes me at the moment." he mumbled.

"But what sort of time budget do I have to work with?" he asked her.

"When is what you two were working on due?"

"Duly noted." Hal responded.

He then checked his computer, and looked at the filed reports... before she saw him furrow his brow and pinch the bridge of his nose.

She knew what he'd seen. There had been a definite trend of failures with infernal glamours, specifically ones made by that individual.

"Great." he growled.

"Just great." he said.

"Well, that's going to need to be dealt with."

"Anya." Hal said.

"Don't destroy Jake TOO badly." he told her.

"I know you're angry, and have every right to be, and you need to vent. But don't take it too far, is all I ask." he said further.

"I also know it's a given at this point, and my saying it is little more than stating the obvious." he continued.

"...but, if nothing else, it helps ME feel better." he then said.

"Regardless, go."

"..." Hal was silent as he pondered the individual.

Was this just them not knowing how to work with infernals? Was this intentional? Accidental? Was it malicious? Or just incompetence? All he knew was that there wasn't enough to warrant a dismissal. Not right now, anyway.

Should he scale back their responsibilities? Put them more towards paperwork and organisational tasks?

He didn't know, and it was giving him a headache.

"Damn it." he cursed.

"One more thing I don't need on my mind..."