The following morning Izumi had decided to pay a visit to Lavina, as he only really got to see her whenever she rarely stopped by Wraith’s home. Wraith had left to handle his usual affairs, which was to be expected, so Izumi went on his own. There’d be no harm in doing so after all; Lavina’s library was a neutral ground that all shades, spirits, and specters alike upheld. Upon arriving via the necklace once more, it didn’t take much wandering for Izumi to find Lavina to the point that he believed that she deliberately showed up before him since it was far too convenient and unlikely to locate her so quickly in the immense athenium. Through the slight shine of her lens she looked almost pleasantly surprised, and for Lavina that was unusual.

“Izumi.” A hint of a chipper tone could be heard. “And without Wraith or his lackeys, strange. I assume you’re not just here to say hello, no one ever is and I would almost prefer it to stay that way.”

With her response seeing through his intentions, he felt shot down before he could begin.

“Well….”

Lavina sighed as she set a stack of books down onto the desk. “Yes? I’m assuming it’s about that carnivorous maniac you call a boyfriend.”

“Yea well…I kind of wanted to get him a gift? And I wasn’t sure what so..”

Another sigh left her lips before she reached for her once levitating kiseru pipe. This time, a cloud of smoke escaped instead.

“For what?”

“Just a gift, I don’t think I’ve ever given him anything but it feels like he does so much for me so I wanted to show my appreciation somehow. I thought about like a ring or something but–”

“He doesn’t wear jewelry.”

“Yea, and I feel like he’d–”

“Complain about it getting in the way when he fights.”

“Yea.” For a moment, Izumi began to understand Wraith’s distaste for Lavina and how they split apart. While her interruptions and almost mind reading didn’t bother him too much, he knew Wraith well enough at this point to know how insufferable he finds it. “Then I thought maybe just a nice coat or something but–”

“He’s pretty content with what he has.”

Izumi calmly nods. “It just feels like what he doesn’t have he doesn’t need and he also could really just have whatever he wants at the same time so I really didn’t know.”

Tapping the embers out of her pipe, Lavina sighed again. “For once I can’t really help you. I’ve never given Wraith a gift and I know little to nothing about the romantic ways, I’m sure you can see that from how my relationship turned out. Though, I know someone that can. Whether you want to actually ask them for help is up to you, but I will go with you if you decide to.”

“Which is…?”

“Vahan surprisingly.”

“Really?”

“Yes, believe it or not he’s quite the hopeless romantic–deathly in love with his wife. If anyone would know what a man would want it’d be him.”

“Would he really help us though? I thought he hated Wraith.”

“He does, but he has a respect for love and those who are in love. There’s a good chance he’ll put aside his differences to at least try to help you– if you’re up for trying.”

A flash memory of Wraith’s reaction to his initial meeting with Vahan replayed in his mind. He wasn’t really upset perse….sooo.

“Sure, we can try.”

Lavina had likely been waiting on a baited breath as without hesitation she snapped her fingers and they found themselves before Vahan’s home in a flash.

It was simultaneously different from what he expected yet also fell into his expectations, being an old English castle that didn’t have a very extensive color palette. No sooner did they arrive did Vahan’s wife appear in the entryway. Izumi had only recognized her because of the welcoming party for Thia, and if that wasn’t a giveaway then the shining bloodstone for a wedding ring on her finger was sign enough. The engagement ring brought life to her equally vermillion eyes and darkened lipstick. Her hair, although lacking in color, made up for its beauty in volume and waves; though its absence of color only seemed to compliment her appearance more. Around her neck was a diamond necklace which matched her earrings and champagne evening gown with what slight jewels it contained. Wrapped around her waist was a pair of white feathered wings, almost similar to that of her husband’s.

With her hands clasped softly in front of her, she spoke in a comforting yet elegant tone, “Ah, guests! I hadn’t known that we were expecting visitors, though I suppose that means you’ve arrived on a whim, correct? That’s unlike you Lavina dear! You’re always so formal with matters, I suppose I find it refreshing that you’ve come by without writing a notice first. And you’ve brought Wraith’s spouse to boot! Quite the treat I must say. Izumi Mitsue, correct? It’s truly a pleasure to finally meet you. I saw you at the party a few months ago and wanted to introduce myself but didn’t get the chance.”

Delicately she reached forward for a handshake, which took Izumi a second to notice due to his entrancement with her refined beauty.

“S-sorry, yes, Izumi’s fine.”

“Adira, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. May I ask what you’re here for?”

“U-um–”

Seeing Izumi’s struggle, Lavina decides to take over. “We’re wondering if we can talk to Vahan? Izumi was thinking about getting a gift for Wraith and neither of us could come up with something.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to ask him. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping, neither would I, but you see he’s–”

The large doors shuddered, cutting off Adira’s sentence as a pair stood in the entryway: Thia and Vahan, to both Lavina and Izumi’s surprise. A slight twitch of concern and distaste formed in Lavina’s brows as she made eye contact with the pair and her mind began to wander about the thousands of possibilities for their interaction, though this wasn’t the time for an investigation. For now, she would have to simply take note of it. Without any words, Thia shuffled on by, keeping her head low as she passed. Vahan looked equally perplexed about the presence of the contrasting pair, only speaking when Thia had finally left.

“Why don’t you all come in? It’s uncustomary to talk on the doorstep like this.”

Adira clasped onto her husband’s arm as they all migrated into one of the home’s lounge areas. Izumi was past being amazed at specter’s homes at this point, since they all seemed to flaunt wealth in some form, though a small part of him was still always impressed with how extravagant they are. The couple sat beside each other, no more than a few inches apart, while Lavina and Izumi sat across from them.

“They wish to ask for your help, love.”

“Oh?”

Finally collecting himself, Izumi figured it was time to put the pants on. “Y-yes um, I wanted to get a present for Wraith since he’s done a lot for me but I wasn’t really sure what to get, and neither was Lavina, and then she suggested asking you.”

“Ah, I see the problem. Considering that I know not much about Wraith as a partner, I will try my best. Is there maybe something he likes? Perhaps a hobby or something of the sorts. I doubt it, from what I know of him.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t have anything like that.” Lavina immediately answers.

“Well let me think first.” Izumi dismisses her response just as fast. “I mean he likes fighting? And drinking.”

“Perhaps a custom made flask? With an engravement.” Adira suggests.

“No, no. I take him as the type to prefer a glass, just as even though I’m fond of tea, I’d prefer a teacup over a steel carryon pitcher always. Though I do like the suggestion of something with heart, like an engravement.”

“Could get some expensive hard to find alcohol.” Lavina throws in, which causes the couple to quickly shake their heads.

“If he wanted that he could retrieve it himself.” Adira points out.

“And I imagine he has a liking for average liquor regardless. Usually those who drink frequently do.” Vahan adds.

“When you spend time with him, have you noticed anything that he does? Maybe a habit or a preference?” His wife continues.

“Umm…” Thinking back on the time they spent together, Izumi recalls a lot of the time that he’d move his hair out of his face, or ruffle Izumi’s own. Cutting his hair is obviously something Wraith doesn’t want to do, and he couldn’t imagine him wanting a hair tie or hair band.

“For example, Vahan loves to have a chat with someone when he drinks his tea. Tea time is essentially a house staple now!”

“I mean, he likes to have a drink when he smokes? But I don’t know how that’ll help.”

“Oh!” Rising in excitement, Adira claps her hands and beams. “An engraved smoking pipe! I’m sure he would love it!”

“Or an engraved lighter.” Vahan suggests further.

Lavina’s eyebrows raise at the propositions. “Ooh those are good, right?”

After thinking for a second, Izumi voices his opinion, “I kind of like the lighter idea better. He has a smoking pipe right now and I think it might be magical or something? It turned into a pair of demonic dog-like things once.”

The mention seems to bring up poor memories within Vahan as he holds back an eye roll.

“Do you need help formulating something to engrave, or perhaps a design?” Adira asks, trying to quell her excitement.

“I think that’s something he should figure out for himself, my love. It’ll come to his heart and with that it’ll mean more.”

Izumi nods in confirmation of Vahan’s statement. “I can figure that part out myself I think, it’s better I do anyways, but you’ve both been a big help already, thank you. I know that Wraith and you don’t have the best relationship but–”

Vahan sighs, shaking his head politely. “It’s of no worry. I can put aside my differences with him to aid you. Let alone you have nothing to do with my conflict with him, though I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

“Oh, wait before you go!” With a wave of Adira’s hands and some stardust, a white box appears. “We should have been more hospitable, I completely forgot to prepare refreshments, so please take this. It’s a tea I’ve brewed myself, plenty of supplies for you and your family if you have!”

“It’s fine–”

“Please please!” She pleaded as she forced the box as gently aggressive as possible into Izumi’s hands until he finally accepted. Thanking them once more, he and Lavina bid their farewells before leaving. And now, Lavina was left to wonder on Thia’s presence at the castle.