Erica returned to the penthouse, full of frat boy, her usual pick for a weeknight. They tended to be easier to convince of her political leanings and seal the deal with a kiss, a very tasty one for her, a very costly one for them. The assholes who differed from her opinion or treated her horribly never recovered at all. She would rather they just understand the work she was trying to do, but she was finding more and more they rarely played the long game. Not the way she did, at least, though that was most likely because her long game was on a completely different scale from theirs.  She tossed her bag on the couch, calling out into the empty space, hoping they'd be back by now.<br/><br/>She'd been concerned when she'd finally come in in the early morning hours, trailing Cass's meal and leading them to her office before she headed upstairs. She had knocked on Alfred's door, but he had either been asleep already or ignored her. When she found them both gone upon waking she became even more nervous, checking the whole penthouse three times and calling the studio twice before giving up. Her heart was torn with dread at what Alfred might be suffering and she once again wondered how she ever convinced herself to return with him, instead of keeping him to herself. She supposed her attraction to Cass had much to do with it, but she couldn't admit the other part. The part that meant she wanted to be here, like this. That now she knew what power felt like, she refused to abandon it. Even for him.<br/><br/>Her bad mood had cleared with a little academic discourse and a good meal, but knowing they were still gone made her heart drop into her stomach. What if it meant Alfred wasn't coming back at all?  Her nails dug into her leg and she drew blood. Licking it off her fingers, she retreated to her room to work on promoting the next rally, hoping her causes would distract her until they returned and she could see them again. Hopefully both of them.