Hal grabbed the mug and took a drink of the liquid within.

"Ahhh, lovely." he said.

"And yes, I have a VERY big favour to ask of you." he told her.

"Quite possibly the biggest favour I have ever asked of anyone before." he continued further, pausing for a moment.

"I know that sounds like an exaggeration, and it probably is..." he then admitted. "But regardless, this is something of the utmost importance." he stressed.

"I want you to look after an artefact for me."

"You would think." Hal responded.

"But not THIS time." he said.

"This artefact is very special, in the sense that if it is ever paired with another artefact, then certain disaster will befall the world." he told her.

"Eventually. It builds up to that." he went on.

"And if the two are anywhere close to each other, then they start exerting an obscene amount of influence over those around them, causing them to do whatever is necessary to combine them." he told her further.

He then dug into his pocket, and produced a small, long wooden box.

"Here." he said, handing it towards her.

"If you must know, it is the Nox Pen." he then informed her. "And if you are willing to hold onto it for me, I would be greatly appreciative." he said.

"It's just until the Council and Triad can find a more permanent and safe solution for storing it."

He shook his head.

"No." he replied.

"We're trying desperately to find it, though." he told her.

"As for throwing it in a volcano, that might end up being the solution." he sighed.

"I'd love for this world to be rid of it." he muttered.

"At any rate, thank you SO much for this. I know it'll be safe with you."

"Nobody knows you have it." Hal assured her.

"Just me." he said.

"I will come for it when the time comes to take it to its final resting place... wherever that may be." he then told her, taking another drink of coffee.

"Oh, and to say thank you, as well as keep up appearances, I brought you something else." he then said, handing her a box of premium expensive assorted chocolates... the kind that were stupidly hard to get ahold of, but well worth the pain and effort of obtaining.

Hal paused for a moment, thinking about it.

"Actually, it may be best if I see where you place it." he said.

"If nothing else, if an emergency comes up, and the pen is absolutely NEEDED... can't think of why, but entertain me here... then I'll be able to find it, if you can't get to it for one reason or another." he told her.

He then paused once again, before pinching the bridge of his nose.

"And yes, I realize that sounded like an IMMENSE stretch of ambiguity and vagueness." he sighed heavily.

"I trust you with every fibre in my being, but I can't help but think I'd feel better if I knew where you have chosen to hide the pen away, to summarize it down to its base." he finished.

"Unless you are uncomfortable with that." he then added.

Hal nodded in response.

"It does." he replied.

"Thank you once again." he said.

"I don't know for how long it will be here, but hopefully it won't be TOO long." he then sighed.

"And, obviously, no telling anyone about this." he told her.

"Not a SINGLE soul."

"Well... every plan has risks, I suppose..." Sharp admitted quietly.

"So long as you trust them." he said.

"We do NOT need this spreading." he reasoned.

"Regardless, I won't speak of the pen again, until the time comes." he told her.

"It's probably best for you to try and forget about it."

"..........." Hal was silent for a moment.

"Uh... well..." he stammered.

"Maybe." he said. "Just... maybe there's ONE more thing you can help me with." he told her.

"Angela... I've been around for a very long time." he said. "I've met with people in the past, plenty of them, and I daresay I am a man of the world with... experience." he went on.

"But for the life of me, I can't decide on a present for Hollie for our anniversary." he then admitted. "Dating anniversary, that is." he clarified.

As soon as she knocked, she heard a yelp from Levi.

"AH!" she heard, before she heard him tumble down from where he was.

"Owwww..." he groaned, before she heard footsteps coming towards the door. There was a click, and the door was opened, revealing a VERY tired-looking Levi.

"....oh, hey Ally." he greeted her.

"I knew you'd be up late, but I didn't know you'd be up THIS stupidly late." he commented.

"Was I bothering you? Or did I wake you up?" he then asked, guilt in his tone.

"........." Levi was silent, and sighed.

"I..." he stammered.

"Well... maybe." he said.

"I mean... I'm hearing voices again." he told her.

"When I try to sleep, voices enter my head." he said quietly.

"Makes sleeping VERY hard..."