This was one of the rare moments when Lawr wasn't all energy and smiles. Instead, he was idly tracing circles in the condensation on the bar, frowning down at his drink. Not for the first time he wondered if he was doing the wrong thing. Hundreds of people had died or been injured that afternoon alone, not to mention the countless attacks previously, and yet he spent his days doing research on brains. He had had the marks, he could have easily gone on to do something truly helpful and could actually be contributing something but instead, he was doing research on emotions. Valid work, he was sure, but right then and now, it seemed much less significant than what he could be doing.
But it was foolish, really, to dwell too much on what he could have done when there was nothing he could do about it at the moment. Doubting himself and his position would only be a waste. And at least he'd have Emmeline to help him take his mind off things. They hadn't spoken properly in ages, and he'd missed her company though he wished that they were meeting under different circumstances; it'd be hard, he assumed, acting normal with that afternoon's attack dangling over their heads.
He glanced up at the door, wondering where she was. It wasn't like her to be late, and for a moment, he found himself worrying that something had happened to her, that there had been another attack that she was involved it- but he felt himself relax as he caught sight of her. "Emmeline!" he called, waving her over, completely ignoring the annoyed stare that a man shot him due to his shouts. He offered her a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes; he never had been especially good at hiding how he was feeling.