She was weary. She didn't even think it was possible to be this weary. Mind and body were being pushed to their limits and she wondered absently when she would reach her breaking point.

Not today, at least. She walked through the streets of the WestEnd, amazing how they looked so different by daylight, towards Isis Manor. She debated stopping and pulling her pumps off and maybe the stiff suit jacket she was wearing. She was still dressed professionally for her little act as Lucien's co-counsel and was starting to feel uncomfortable in the attire. At least she had let the illusion fall: blond hair to blue, green eyes to grey, and round ears to pointy.

She made a decision as she walked up the stairs and knocked on Erin's door. She was not going scouting in the WestEnd tonight. She was no good to the Sisters if she wore herself out completely. They needed her on the legal side of things now as much--if not more--than on the watch side. She was going to relax in the Inn and spend the night with Skyler and take the longest bath imaginable.

Just the thought of such relaxation managed to calm her down and lift her spirits enough to greet Erin with a smile when the door opened.

She had been looking forward to this lunch date of theirs. Erin seemed like she needed a little chat--things were obviously weighing on her mind, though Jewell didn't know what things. She didn't like to see her friends so upset but hadn't had the time lately to be there for everyone. She was trying to rectify that right now.

Jewell couldn't help but smile as she was ushered inside with a hug, even if Erin's greeting was less than flattering, "Oh...I'll survive I'm sure."

She eagerly went along into the dining room with the promise of a lunch that sounded divine to her--and there was no meat to refuse! Even with hunger gnawing at her stomach she admired the hallway she was being rushed through and the grand staircase at its end.

As she sat, she looked about at the dining room she found herself in. She was used to elegant living and wealth but it had been displayed in an entirely different manner on her home world. Everything there had been light, crystal, glass, cool ocean stones. "Erin, this place is absolutely stunning," she called after her retreating form.

"Home" she mouthed the word after she heard it. RhyDin was home to Jewell now, had been for years. She absently wondered, with a little smirk, how one would decorate a house so that it would reflect RhyDin as their home.

She broke from her musing with Erin's return and eagerly took food when encouraged too. She wasn't wholly without her manners, though Erin's were certainly better; Jewell had had at least fifteen years to forget everything she had ever learned about etiquette.

Sipping the coffee first, her system was probably going to go into shock if she didn't get some into her fast, she smiled at Erin. "Never too busy for anyone, darling, especially not a friend. I probably needed this just as much as you."

She took a taste of her soup and practically died, "Erin, this is perfect!" Greedy little hands reached out and took one of those grilled cheese sandwiches too. The taste of solid food helped her to bring her down from the adrenaline high she had to keep herself on while scouting.

"Anything in particular you wanted to chat about?" She had a sense that there was and while she certainly didn't need any more bad news today she was more than willing to hear it. Jewell was nothing if not resilient, especially under most pressures.

As Erin's story progressed Jewell set aside her soup, sandwich, and coffee. She suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. Rather, her stomach was twisting in painful knots.

She let the silence stretch on for a fair amount of time, trying to process the information that had been revealed to her. No...she had already processed it; now she had to come to terms with it and deny her initial reactions: to cry with Erin--for Erin--to punch something, to go find Renna and make her hurt for hurting her friend. She had to resist every single one of those urges. Now, infront of Erin, was not the time to give into the pain and anger this occurrence provoked in her, that it dredged up from the past for her. For everyone else she would be strong--Erin needed someone to lean on and the others did not appear to be doing that, Grem and Lydia's behavior from the other night was now making more sense and it was not what Erin needed.

"Erin..." she had to clear her throat, it was feeling a bit thick, "you do know this wasn't your fault, right?" She wasn't sure if anyone had made that clear to her yet but Jewell knew how imperative it was to acknowledge that, believe in it.

She kept calm the best she could but not impassive. There was something in her tone, perhaps regret, over the fact that this had happened.

"I will keep a closer eye on Renna," as she should have been doing in the first place, she realized. Her shoulders felt suddenly heavy. She had been neglecting one duty, watching Renna, for another, helping Issy. She realized how Brian must feel all the time.

Watching Renna would be the easy part, however, as long as it didn't get her killed. Helping Erin could prove to be harder. "Do you need help with anything? It's," she took a deep calming breath, "I've been here before. Hell, some days I'm still here, back to square one again." None of the bitterness, pain, and anger she often felt reared their face. Her tone was along the lines of 'This is just how things are' acceptance.

"I have a great gym type set up at my house if you need to get any aggression out safely..." She smiled a little despite the empty feeling inside, "Maybe practice a few self defense moves? My kids would love to teach you."

She knew overcoming the feelings of helplessness had always helped her in the past. Power had helped--the knowledge that she controlled her own body and could protect herself if need be. Of course...it only made someone who could knock aside those defenses that much more terrifying in the end. At least they could try the empowerment bit out.

She watched Erin eat and listened as she echoed the words that Jewell herself had so often repeated without once believing in them. It made her feel a little sick inside and she had to wonder if that's how others had felt, over the years, when they had heard her insist upon it.

She mustered up one of those bright Empress smiles for her at the hand-squeeze and mention of her kids. "We'd love to have you over once a day. We're usually in the gym working out in training a little before lunch at noon...they have to practice with their abilities and stuff. And after lunch I'm usually in there by myself. So really, anytime..."

Erin's example stirred her to action once again and she forced herself to take a bite of her sandwich and swallow it despite the sandpaper feeling in her mouth. "Hey, I'm never to busy for my friends...I really mean that. And I'm happy to listen," flashing her another smile, "I know the worth of a listening ear by now."