This wouldn't be happening if she had been getting more sleep - or, it wouldn't be happening if she had prepped more for this meeting - or, it wouldn't be happening if she had just transferred the case as she should have in the first place. She didn't want him to leave. She tapped the fingers of the hand he had pulled away from against the table.

"Wait," Zelda said, wishing that she could pretend like nothing was happening to her emotions or to her face at all. "The boat."

Because - well, if he was still willing, she could use his help. And because despite everything, she wanted to spend more time with him. God help her. She had really mostly thought that everything was over, and then Alfred had waltzed back into her life with a curse, and now she had to save him. Never mind if she drained herself empty in the process.

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