Emory felt her heart breaking as she stared into his eyes, and his eyes stared back, filled with sadness and longing, yet also hopeful, as if begging. She felt like he was about to break into pieces. She didn't know why that stirred up so many things inside. Perhaps because she was sympathetic and kind by nature, or perhaps it was because she felt like he was dear to her already, despite the fact that they had only just met. She couldn't her next actions, as her body moved on its own, her arms wrapping around him, holding him gently.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">I promise you...I will do everything in my power to help you.</span>" She promised him, her voice soft and sincere. She didn't know that she could help much. Maybe even her best wasn't good enough... But she would do whatever she could. She wanted nothing more than to help him, to take away this pain he was feeling. She wanted to see him smile again. She also wanted to meet his friends, knowing that they must be great if he was so fond of them. That all started with waking Wednesday, so she had to do what she could to make that happen.<br/><br/>With that thought in her heart, she renewed her determination, loosening her hold on him. She gently pulled away, smiling at him with a hint of pink on her cheeks. "<span style="font-style: italic">Don't lose hope. Believe in me.</span>" she tried to encourage him with a more confident voice before she left him and headed to the kitchen.<span style="font-style: italic">Please believe in me. That's all I need.</span>She thought this to herself as she walked away. She figured it was as good a time as any to get started on the incense. She knew she couldn't actually burn it until tomorrow, as the final ingredient was most potent if picked just before the sun rose on the day it was to be used. She needed every advantage she could get, so she couldn't afford to use a less potent ingredient just to get started sooner.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Alright, Cessy. Let's do our best to help him, okay?</span>" she smiled, pumping herself up as she glanced at the little creature that had moved to her shoulder and then immediately went to work getting things ready. She didn't stop until she heard Prometheus's voice, asking her what she needed his help drying. She picked up the small bowl containing the herbs and held it out to him. "I need these dried. If you don't mind." she returned his small smile with a slightly brighter smile of her own.<br/><br/>Once he had taken them, she went back to grinding the root with the pestle and mortar she'd found in one of the cabinets. She was quiet for a moment before she spoke up, deciding that, since they had time now and he could probably use the distraction, it was as good a time as any to try to get to know more about him. "<span style="font-style: italic">I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you've never played twenty questions before?</span>" she asked sort of randomly, giving an almost sheepish smile, setting the pestle and mortar aside. She knew it was kind of cliche, but she guessed he probably wouldn't know that, at least.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">It doesn't have to be twenty, but basically you have the chance to ask each other questions, pretty much anything you want, in order to get to know each other better,</span>" she explained, or tried to. "<span style="font-style: italic">Would you... be interested in something like that?</span>" She asked, this time a bit more timidly, leaning against the counter and looking at him, trying to gauge whether or not it was a good idea. She didn't want him to feel weird or anything. If he seemed uninterested or uncomfortable, she wouldn't make him go along with it, even if he said yes.