A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

When they had returned back home, he had gone back to the position he had been in. He had found nothing new during his extended search. No code, no calendar, nothing of any importance. It was definitely frustrating, and he wished that he could walk out the front window or even jump out of a window. It wasn't like he risked breaking a limb or a more serious injury from doing so anymore. If anything, a limb might come off, but he could reattach it, and it wouldn't hurt either. Admittedly, he was curious about what would happen if he lost his head, but he decided against testing that out in case he struggled getting it back on and no longer could see.

Not to mention that he didn't want it to kill him. He hadn't waited around for however long he had just to drop dead through means of curiosity. Already, he had died once, and he didn't really feel like going through that process again, though; given his form, it might not be as painful as the first time. His thoughts were interrupted, however, when he heard the two friends coming towards the kitchen.

"When are you going to date again, (f/n)?" Anita asked, her leather jacket thrown over the back of a chair in the dining room. "That way, you're not a third wheel when you come to meet him."

Chuckling and quirking a brow, (f/n) remarked, "I haven't even met the guy, and you're already planning on ignoring me at the bar?" She shook her head, and her (e/c) optics held amusement. "Appreciate it."

"Oh come on," Anita whined, but it was playful. "You know what I mean. You just might not get the conversation all the time or feel awkward. If you bring someone, you have someone to talk to during those times."

"Right. I don't really know if I want to go on a double date with someone I don't know and on the first time I'm meeting your boyfriend, who is really your first serious relationship might I remind you." (F/n) grinned and held a mischievous look. "I was thinking that we get him really drunk, and I ask him all the hard questions that a friend should ask."

"That might be hard since he won't drink in public. He doesn't want to end up drunk and embarrassing himself," Anita clarified while (f/n) only grinned.

"So, any chance he might be a lightweight?"

"(F/n)!" Anita exclaimed and hit her friend playfully on the upper arm. "You're not getting him drunk, and you're not going to ask him questions if for some reason he does." She held up her right index finger in warning, but it hardly could be taken serious given the pout on her face. "Got it?"

Holding her hands up in surrender, (f/n) muttered, "Sure, sure."

"I mean it!" she warned as (f/n) held open the door, and her friend walked into the kitchen first.

"Okay, I promise that I won't get him drunk and ask him tough questions." Anita gave a doubtful look. "I mean it. I'll keep it casual ... for now."

A pout formed on Anita's lips again, and (f/n) winked. Sighing, Anita threw up her hands and set her phone and purse on the counter before she headed over to the fridge. "You're impossible sometimes." She grabbed an apple before she walked over to one of the cupboards and took out peanut butter.

"Just when I want to make sure that he's a good guy for you." (F/n) took off her red, crop leather jacket and set it on the counter with her red clutch and phone. "I don't want him to turn out like some of the other guys you met, especially that one."

Grabbing a plate and knife, Anita began to the cut apple into slices and removed the pieces of core that came along with them. "He won't be like that." Anita looked up from her work and smiled reassuringly. "I wouldn't date him seriously if he was."

Well, that was interesting. He smirked to himself. This conversation might produce some satisfactory details for him, and he might be able to use them later on. No doubt, Anita was hiding something. That smile might've been genuine, but he could see in her eyes that something was hiding beneath her expression and words.

"Anyway," Anita started and pointed the knife at her friend. "You got me off topic. Don't you want to bring someone?"

"Well, I wouldn't mind if I knew the person and had gone on a few dates with them already. But, that's not the case, and I'm not going to rush things and just grab someone to bring along." (F/n) saw the cogs working in Anita's brain, and she cut off, "No. Don't even think about Hal or Blaise. You know as well as I do that dating the staff can cause problems. If it doesn't work out, then it makes things awkward, and I don't want to lose any good workers because of that." Anita went to cut in, but (f/n) continued, "As a friend won't work either. It'd be strange to bring one of them when I'm going to meet your boyfriend. If anything, that'd make things more awkward."

Leaning back against the counter, (f/n) remarked, "I don't like either of them like that either. They're good workers, and we might be friends later on, but that's it. Nothing more." She crossed her arms and wore an expression that wouldn't allow for any argument on the matter.

"Okay, fine. I won't suggest that, but ..."

Cutting her friend off, (f/n) shook her head. "I'm not going to rush into dating either. I'm fine with taking a break from it." (F/n) sighed. "I rushed into it the first time because I felt like I needed to date someone in college because it was the thing to do or whatnot." She shrugged and huffed. "Jake and I both thought that. If anything, we dated since we shared that opinion. Had some nice moments but realized it wasn't going to work long term."

Raising a brow of hers, (f/n) added, "Besides, I remember someone pushing us along." Anita paused as she now was spreading peanut butter on the apple slices. "Ring any bells." A sheepish expression fell onto Anita's countenance. "Ah, so it does." (F/n) pushed herself off of the counter and went over to a cupboard and took out a glass. "You wanted me in a relationship while you were in one so that we could do double dates and that sort of thing before. I'm not doing that again."

After taking a bite of an apple, Anita pouted. "Fine, I get it. I won't be your matchmaker."

"Thank you." (F/n) filled a glass with ice and water before she took several sips. She met Anita's gaze afterwards, and both friends slowly smiled to each other before they started laughing. "But, seriously, what does this guy drink?"

Rolling her eyes and laughing, Anita made the motion of sealing her lips. "Not telling." (F/n) playfully pouted before Anita picked up her plate and walked around her friend. "Anyway, I'm getting a bath and then heading to bed. Are you coming up?" Her light brown optics glanced over to the mannequin before back to (f/n).

"I'm going to get a snack, then head up. You go on ahead before I tease you more." A mischievous grin hit (f/n)'s lips, and Anita chuckled before she hurriedly left the room in a joking manner. The kitchen door closed soon after her, and (f/n) sighed a bit. Her eyes went over to the mannequin. It didn't move. Good.

Focusing on getting her snack, (f/n) set her water down by her other things and went over to the fridge. She opened the one door and bent over a bit as she inspected what was inside. Certain items were for services, so she didn't touch those. Instead, she grabbed a packet of string cheese and some washed-up blackberries. Once she had everything ready, she noticed that Anita left the peanut butter on the counter, so she put that away. (F/n) shook her head a bit. At least, Anita cleaned up if it involved service.

After she opened the packet of string cheese, she took a bite and leaned forward a bit on the counter. Her eyes narrowed at the mannequin, and she knew that she shouldn't be worrying after not seeing the mannequin move for so long. Not to mention she hadn't had any nightmares either. Still, she was on her own again, and she wondered if it might just surprise her again. Hopefully, it didn't.

No doubt it was amusing. She didn't even realize what she was doing. Staring so intently at him while she was eating the string cheese. A smirk graced his lips, and he couldn't stop chuckling lightly to himself. He wasn't going to move. That'd be too obvious. Plus, this was much more entertaining at the moment. If only, he could get away with teasing her about it. Then, it'd be even more fun.

Hearing information about (f/n)'s dating history made him wonder if perhaps she was now looking for something more long term. Not that he had any plans to take a liking to her at the moment. Yes, she was attractive, and he might consider entertaining her a couple times if he was alive, well alive in the traditional sense, but he didn't like her as in having feelings for her beyond those of simple attraction.

Regardless, he might be able to use that information later. Or, it might prove useless. He didn't know, but it was good to keep things in mind, just like he had in the past when he was watching someone. For now, however, watching her continue her staring and eating was enough. So, he remained motionless and waited for a better time to move again.