Emelie was silent for a moment before sighing.

"This is so not ideal." She said quietly before fading from view as was her tendency.

She knew she was one of the only people who could just appear in Hal's office, but didn't even bother trying. Instead, while on the spiritual plane, she knocked on the door of it, planning to appear just inside of said door if he allowed her entry.

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

Emelie appeared on the other side of the door, a sombre air about her.

"I'm sorry." She said, weight to her words, along with a sadness.

"I am so, so sorry. She gave her life to save me, save the realms. I know that doesn't mean much at the moment, though." She said as she approached them, keeping her distance out of respect.

"I am here for a couple of reasons. One.. Hal, I realise you likely have questions. I should be able to answer them, and Jacob, I would like to grant you one request, one wish, one favour. Whatever you wish to call it." She continued.

"Name it."

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

Emelie maintained her silence, but as Jake approached, she laid a hand on his houlder.

"Jacob, please, trust me. I will make sure that the hole you have in your heart is filled, and not so painful." She told him.

"Just please, have some patience." She added, her voice sincere.

"I won't blame you if you don't, I couldn't fault you for rejecting me here, but just know that I will make it up to you."

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

Emelie just sighed as Jake left.

"I know how to help him." She said simply.

"Do you want in?"

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

Emelie just smiled softly.

"Well then." She started.

"I wish---"

---

It was late. Stupidly so. It was close to midnight, and Hal was still in his office when there was an unexpected, and familiar, knock on the door.

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

The door opened and in walked someone he did not expect to see again. Her white hair was most certainly recognisable, but nothing was as identifiable as her black eyes.

"Hey there Mr. Dark Chocolate." She greeted with a smirk. It was something she often called him, ever since he first shot her down when she made a play for him. she hadn't seriously tried since, was respecting that he wasn't intereted, but still had fun with him in terms of conversations and such when they were alone.

"You feel like letting a dead demon walking taste your chocolate surprise?" She asked with a laugh.

The question was if she was referring to the decadent Brownies that he'd been given by Rowena to pass on to Jake (as she'd heard about what happened and felt bad for him or not.

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

Anya just laughed before stepping up.

"I know. You and Emelie worked together on this." She said, her voice sincere.

"I've already thanked her, as she was there when I was revived, but... I haven't said it to you yet. Thank you, and I mean it." She continued. He couldn't deny that this was a bit weird. There was nothing to her voice, nothing aside from the sincerity and gratitude that he could see on her face. She was a good actor, but this was another level, if it was an act.

"You now have an archdemon indebted to you." She then said. "And I mean it. I'll do anything I can to repay you, even if it takes millenia."

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

"Dying can change a peron." Anya commented with a smirk.

"But seriously, the whole 'stronger' thing is temporary. It's a mix of djinn and God mana lingering for the moment. It'll tade in a few days or so." She added.

"As for the presence, that ... might be a permanent thing. Because being in the Empty was.... not nice, not fun, and it's just.... I'd rather not go back there."

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

"Tecchnically, being what I am, I'm a big part of a lot." Anya commented before sighing.

"..... how I Jake?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"Let's stop with the niceties... jut.... is Jake even alive? I fear how hard it hit him when I just left that like. SAdly, I didn't have a choice."

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫

Anya was silent for a moment before looking to the ba, and then back to Hal, concern in her eyes.

"... would he... take it all right?" She asked.

"Or ...will he believe that I'm... actually me?" She asked, her voice making it apparent that she was worried about him.

♫Feed my insanity || Write me a tragedy || Let's make a memory || A night to forget♫