Sharp paused for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"Ah yes, right. Csilla." he said. "I need to remember that that is how I am to refer to her here." he told himself.

"And some new tea blends?" he asked.

"That sounds divine!" he told her. "I'd love to try some." he said further.

He was then silent, before placing the papers he had down on her desk.

"And these are for you to review."

Sharp raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm." he mumbled.

"Let's... try 'dark and nutty'." he told her.

"Sounds like it'll have a bolder flavour that stays with you longer." he reasoned.

He then smiled a little, and laid back in the chair slightly.

"It's always exciting to try her new blends." he commented.

"One of the reasons I actually enjoy coming here to see you. Besides... your own company, yourself, of course."

He nodded in response.

"Of course." he replied.

"That only makes sense." he told her.

He then paused for a moment, looking at her face.

"...hey." he said.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"You look like you've got something on your mind. A bit distracted." he said further.

"Everything all right?"

Hal just smiled in response.

"Well, you're one of the nicest people to ME, if not THE outright nicest." he told her.

"And a place for a pair of necromancers?" he asked.

"...that's a bit of an odd answer." he admitted, before thinking about it.

"Any specific details?" he asked.

"Why are you personally involved in this? And whereabouts are you looking to have this residence?" he inquired further.

Hal was silent for a moment, tapping his chin for a bit.

"Hmmmmmmmm..." he mumbled.

"Actually..." he said quietly, the gears in his mind turning.

"I may have a solution." he told her.

"Oh?" Hollie asked.

"I own a property in France." he said. "One of a few I own around the world, just for emergencies. Or... well, the used to be, but since my life has become a bit more stable with the Triad being reinstated and such, I mostly stick to one place. I hardly EVER go to the one in France... haven't been there for... decades? Maybe?" he muttered further.

"If you have time later today, we can venture there and you can see if it might suit their needs?" he offered.

"We'll decide THAT when we see it." Hal replied.

"I haven't been there in a while. Depending on how much work it needs, the price will be slashed." he told her.

"We can head there ASAP." he went on.

"When's your next free time?" he asked.

"We can head there then." he offered.

"Heh, I even remember exactly where it is." he chuckled.

Hal shook his head.

"Jason didn't have all the info." he said.

"Or he did and misrepresented my visit a bit to give you some more free time." he went on. "He IS good like that at times." he reminded her.

"But the papers are nothing urgent." he assured her.

"If I come back with them, then that's all the better, but the deadline is my visit next month." he shrugged.

"So we can go whenever is convenient for you."

Hal nodded in response.

"Of course." he replied.

With that, they continued with their work, drinking the tea, and making conversation. Overall, it took them close to 5 hours, but they managed to get through all of it... and make SOME headway on the lycan case.

"I'll bring the info back to the Triad." he told her.

"Hopefully your solution is acceptable."

Hal smirked.

"Tolerate?" he asked.

"Please." he said.

"You are some of the best company I have." he told her.

"The Triad considers me their best liaison yet, mostly because all previous ones hated being here." he went on.

"I love it here." he continued.

"...more specifically, I love your company." he clarified.

Hal smiled when Hollie told him she reciprocated the feeling.

He then nodded, as they both stood up.

"Of course." he replied.

"You know the magic phrase." he chuckled.

---

They appeared in the den of a (very) dusty home, that... while still furnished, looked like it'd been abandoned for years.

Which wasn't technically right, but at the same time, wasn't wrong.

"...right." Hal mumbled.

"This place needs DESPERATE cleaning." he muttered.

"But, walk to the large bay window and check to see if this area will suit their needs." he told Hollie.