With a frustrated sigh, she stopped pacing. It suddenly dawned on her that, outside of Azrael, she hadn't seen anyone else in ages. She tried to remember if Markus had made it to the funeral, but once again could only recall vague blurs of color instead of details. She realized he must have been there- he and Mary had seemed to hit it off rather well, each sharing a sort of silent understanding that Emily had been mildly jealous of.

James and Tristan obviously had been unable to attend, and she found herself suddenly desperate for their friendship. She couldn't figure out why she hadn't sought their company sooner, and bolted for the garage, grabbing a set of keys on her way out.

It was late afternoon- still far too early for either of them to be up and about. Emily's stomach rumbled impatiently, and she realized with a start that she couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten. She backed the car out of the driveway carefully but without hesitation; she could get some dinner and then head over to James or Tristan's for a while.

The diner seemed oddly empty, and somewhat different than Emily remembered. With a shrug she dismissed the nagging feelings of displacement and sat down at the counter. A grizzled old man was in front of her faster than she thought possible, his eyes alight with a mischievous gleam.

Andhrimnir: "What can I get for you on this fine and lovely afternoon, dear lady?"
Emily: "I'm not really sure. Do you have any sort of special today?"
Andhrimnir: "I recommend the boar and mead- freshest you've ever tasted!"

Emily looked up sharply, trying to work out what on earth could have made her think she'd just been offered boring meat. She could come up with no logical explanation, and assumed her lack of sleep was catching up with her.

Emily: "I'm sorry, what was the special again?"
Andhrimnir: "How about I just make you up a nice hamburger sandwich with some French fried potatoes?"
Emily: "That sounds pretty good, actually. Could I get cheese on that burger? And pickles… and no tomato."

The old man behind the counter grinned widely, nodding with enthusiasm before turning his attention to the large grill. Emily breathed in the smell of the diner, her mouth beginning to water at the promise of food. The sun was already hanging much lower in the sky- she figured by the time she was finished eating and drove across town James and Tristan would quite surely be up and about.

The door to the diner opened with a jangling of bells, and Emily stole a glance at her fellow patron. At first her mind didn't quite register much beyond 'Familiar', unable to come to terms with what she was seeing. The waning sun was at his back, creating the illusion of one walking through a passage between worlds. He smiled warmly yet unknowingly at her before walking past and sitting at a far booth.

Emily started as she realized it was James. She stared at him from where she sat at the counter while he casually looked out the window at the cars driving by on the street, wondering if maybe it was just someone who looked uncannily like him. When she couldn't decide if it was more absurd that James would have a twin or be walking around in broad daylight, she pushed away from the counter and walked over to the booth.

Emily: "James?"

The faintest flicker of a memory played across the surface of her mind as the man looked up and smiled at her.

James: "Yes, may I help you?"
Emily: "James, it's Emily. Don't you recognize me?"

James paused for what seemed to Emily like far longer than was necessary, his brow knitting together in concentration.

James: "I'm sorry, have we met?"
Emily: "Very funny. Hey, I didn't know you could be out right now. I guess I still have a lot to learn."
James: "Miss, I'm really truly sorry but I believe you have me mistaken for someone else."

Emily's already faltering smile faded away completely.

Emily: "You're James Selwyn. We met last summer…"
James: "My apologies, then. It seems I'm the one at fault here."

For the tiniest fraction of a second the world seemed to blur slightly and almost flicker, as though Emily were looking at film that had been double exposed. Instead of the casual attire he'd been wearing when he came in, he was momentarily dressed in an oddly old fashioned suit. The window he'd been looking through seemed to transform from a large single pane of glass into a smaller window set in red brick. The image was gone so quickly she had little doubt that she'd imagined it all.

Emily: "I don't know what's going on, but something's not right. Have you seen Tristan at all recently?"

James's gaze narrowed on Emily, the intensity giving her chills as she fought the urge to take a step back.

James: "How do you know Tristan?"
Emily: "We've all been friends for the last year. James, what is going on?"
James: "I don't find this amusing. What happened to Tristan was a tragedy and should not be made a joke of. He was a good man."
Emily: "What do you mean? What happened?"

James' face darkened, a shadow of sadness falling over his deep blue eyes. He seemed to be miles away from the small diner, back in a haunted memory.

James: "He died several years ago after a long illness. It tore his family apart."

Emily could only stare in puzzlement, not sure she was hearing what she thought she was hearing.

Emily: "I'm… I'm very sorry."
James: "It's been a very long time, but he was my closest friend. It still hurts."
Emily: "I don't know what to say, really. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful."

James rubbed his eyes, as if trying to wipe away the memories. Emily felt a stab of sadness as he smiled warmly at her, his lack of recognition obvious.

James: "It's quite all right."
Emily: "I'm really sorry… I… I'll leave you alone now."

She backed away quickly from the booth, her mind spinning wildly.

Andhrimnir: "Miss, your burger's ready."

Emily blinked, turning her attention fully from James to the cook. The old man looked oddly anxious as he stood over a plate piled high with food.

Emily: "I'm not hungry anymore, sorry."

She ignored his calls as she ran out the door, her mind burning with confusion.