Hal blinked a couple of times, before looking around.

"I... it shows, huh?" he asked.

"You DO seem to be preoccupied." Vincent commented. "Why not get it off your chest?" he suggested.

Hal was silent for a moment, and then sighed.

"I suppose so." he said. "I didn't mean to bring up work-related problems during this happy event, but here's the thing..." he went on, before launching into a brief, but detailed, explanation of what Zach had come to him with.

"...and try as I might, I've been unable to find ANY leads on his soul-partner." he then said.

"Some forces are just beyond my scope of power." he lamented.

Hal was silent for a moment, before taking stock of who he was sitting with.

Hollie was arguably the most powerful mage on the planet, but even then, she didn't have the necessary mana or power to connect with souls. Rowena knew souls very well, but that was a part of her past... one that wasn't brought up any longer, and even then, it would be unlikely that she could help in THIS specific scenario. Vincent was powerful as well, but not as powerful as his sister. He'd lived just as long, but had been a wanderer for most of his life. As such, he'd made many friends along the way...

...and that was when the three of them saw the light illuminate in his eyes.

"Finally figured it out, did you?" Vincent asked, taking a drink of wine.

"It's deceptively easy for me to get in contact... though I DO reserve it for unique occasions. This is one I would consider as falling into that, however." he added.

Hal looked at Hollie, and nodded.

"Yes, of course." he said.

He then smiled, and dug out a small box.

"Now seems to be as good a time as any." he told her.

"Happy Birthday, Hollie.' he said further.

Vincent was silent for a moment, looking at the box.

He didn't know what was in it, but he was curious to see his sister's reaction to whatever it might be.

Hal just sighed.

"I know." he replied.

"But I couldn't help it." he said.

"By no means am I trying to show anyone up." he then went on, looking at Rowena and Vincent. "But I just... I had to get this." he went on.

"If you want to wait to open it, I'll understand." he then told Hollie.

Hal sighed a little.

"...that makes sense." he said, as Vincent chuckled to himself.

Later that night, Vincent sighed as he and Rowena arrived back at their manor.

"I suppose it's time to head to bed. It's pretty late." he told his wife.

"I'm going to get the ball rolling for Hal, first, though." he then said.

"So I'll make the call, and then join you in bed." he told her with a smile and a kiss.

"...........maybe you are right." Vincent replied.

"Call her if you wish." he said.

"Odds are they're finished with that gift giving anyway." he reasoned.

"Do what you think is best."

Vincent watched her go, before sighing and slumping down into a chair.

"...seems I make a lot of wrong decisions lately." he said.

He then took his phone out of his pocket and looked at the contacts.

"Should just get this out of the way." he muttered.

He then hit call on one of the contacts.

"Hello Syraene." Vincent replied.

"I need a favour." he said.

He then proceeded to tell her what Hal had told him earlier.

"See where I'm going?" he asked.

"As is stands, you have a more reliable way of getting ahold of him."

"I figured." Vincent responded.

"I would really appreciate it." he told her.

"This seems to be very important." he went on.

"And you know I'm a sap for souls tied together through the ages." he then said further.

"After all, it's a rare occurrence, and they deserve happiness."

"Thank you." Vincent responded.

"I really appreciate it." he said.

"At any rate, I will let you go. I know you're a busy woman." he went on.

"Let me know if you get any useful information." he then finished.