Eliza left the tall paladin at the front door as she walked towards the downstairs lounge. She took off her bag and guitar, and placed them against the shelves in the room. She knelt down in front of the towering shelves as she inspected the lower drawers where she knew her father kept his pipes.

Spotting an intricate looking pipe, she picked it up; it was a brass kiseru with a silver tip. It felt weighty and the length was around seven inches. It would make for a nice smoking pipe when she was out and about. The brass body was engraved in a leaf pattern; it felt pleasant in her hand as she inspected it. Whilst holding it she wondered if it needed a clean; she was unsure when it was last used. She noticed a leather pouch in the same drawer and pulled it out, assuming it was a bag full of cleaning equipment for the pipes. She collapsed onto the soft armchair, opening the satchel, happy to see the pouch contained everything she’d need to clean the pipe she spent the next few minutes in a comfortable silence as she worked on making the pipe functional.

Pleased with the shine she had managed to get on the kiseru she placed the pouch and its contents haphazardly on the side table. Her focus only on the pipe, she failed to notice the tin of metal polish roll onto the floor. She stuffed a pinch of tobacco into her pipe from the small wooden container on the table and clicked her fingers to produce a small flame. Singeing the dried leaves, she puffed to make sure it lit, then clenched her fist to snuff the flame. Falling back into the soft armchair she relaxed as she exhaled a plume of smoke. She looked up when the door to the lounge creaked open and a man walked in; her father.

Logan Jenkins was tall human man in his early sixties. His dark brown hair that would have normally been brushed back was currently a mess. He had a set of magnificent sideburns and what Eliza considered a silly moustache that almost curled up at the edges, he looked exhausted as he looked at her with the same aquamarine eyes as hers.

“Care to join me for a smoke papa?” Eliza asked her father. He sat himself on the empty sofa opposite his daughter as he pulled out his pipe and stuffed it with tobacco, and struck a match to light his pipe.

“I take it you had a safe journey home, Elishba?” Logan asked her, wisps of smoke leaving his mouth, he shook the match and placed it into the ashtray on the small table. He had used her full name instead of her stage name, which she did not mind.

“Yeah, nothing exciting happened apart from Rin talking to me.” Eliza responded, her father's eyebrows shot up at the mention of Rin.

“She talked to you?!” He asked worriedly, leaning forward in his seat.

“Telepathically, it wasn’t that big of a deal and it was harmless.” Eliza said, as she sunk into the chair, the day had been long and somewhat stressful.

“I beg your pardon, but it is not harmless when a devil is talking to you.” Logan said in an exasperated voice, the concern on his face was obvious.

“She’s shown no signs of harming me and I doubt she will, if she does try… well, I can easily get out of there, Papa and I have a paladin with me, so don’t worry so much.” Eliza nonchalantly responded. Logan let out a deep sigh as he leaned back on the sofa, sinking into it.

“I will always worry, Elishba.”

“It was interesting spending most of the afternoon with Julia.” Eliza decided to change the subject, she did not want to think of Rin.

“Oh? How’d that go?” He seemed genuinely curious. Eliza supposed he would be since Julia was his good friend; her godmother's daughter. It would be a lot easier on both their families if they were on friendlier terms.

“It was… well, I had thought it would be painful spending all that time alone with her, but it was almost like nothing had changed.” Eliza said as she refilled her pipe and relit it, Logan made a noise in agreement as he waited for her to continue. “She was kind and patient whilst she taught me and we even had dinner together. It was… nostalgic and confusing.”

“Do take care of yourself during this, I don’t want you getting hurt again.” Logan said. She knew he was referring to what happened four years ago.

“I don’t want that either.” Eliza responded as she looked wide eyed at her father through the haze of smoke in the lounge.

“If you ever need to talk, Elishba, I’m here for you; I always have time for you.” Her father told her as he leaned forward and looked at her kindly. She suddenly realised what it was that was causing her heart ache with Julia, she was treating her so kindly. A kindness she did not think she deserved. She smiled sadly at her father.

“Love you papa… Oh, and I’m going to keep this pipe.” Eliza told her father.

“Why?” He cocked an eyebrow at her before he glanced at something on the floor.

“Because I’m trying to behave and not go out to buy one. Plus I like this one.” Eliza said as he reached forward from his position and picked up the metal tin of polish.

“Let me see it.” Logan asked her, she passed him the brass pipe as he chucked the small container in her direction. She reacted fast enough to catch it but looked bewildered at him. “Put that back, will you.” He chuckled at her as he inspected the pipe, his pipe hung out of his mouth. Eliza, doing as she’s told, put the polish back in the leather pouch.

“This was your mother’s, I got it for her as a gift for our eighth wedding anniversary.” He passed it back to her as he continued. “You’re more than welcome to it.”

“That’s a shame, it’s a beautiful pipe.” Eliza said.

“It is, anything that belonged to her is yours.” He quickly adds. “If you want it.”

“Her loss is my gain.” She said cheekily, which caused her father to chuckle.

***

Hey all, gonna start doing some recommendations over the next few weeks of work's I like and enjoy. Hope you like 'em! :)