Chapter Twenty Two

The next day I was wandering the halls of RAD during afternoon recess when I passed by Diavolo, Barbatos, and Lucifer in the student council room. They were doing paperwork as Barbatos kept things moving along and serving them tea. Diavolo capped his fountain pen and took a calm sip of his tea, closing his eyes.

Wait.

A fountain pen. That’s it.

I left before I was spotted and pulled out my D.D.D. to search for shops in the area that sold what I needed. There were more than I anticipated, though, I guess computers are still fairly rare here. The D.D.D. has only been around for like a year before I arrived so technology is still behind a decent bit from humanity. The amount of options for places to look meant I didn’t really know where I should go. I can probably trust Barbatos to keep a secret. But, maybe Lucifer will know too. We could maybe even shop for Diavolo’s present together.

I sent Lucifer a text, asking if he would join me to shop for Diavolo’s present when he has the time. Even though I know he’s working he sent me a response immediately. He’d be busy for the next few days but he was free during the weekend. With our plans made I excited waited until then. Trying to not tell myself it was a date, because it wasn’t. But, at the same time I love any quality time with my partner. Doing everyday things with my partner is probably my favorite thing about being in a relationship.

So, when the day came that we would be shopping together, I anxiously thought about what to wear. It was getting fairly chilly now, but not cold, so I decided on my dark blue pants and long sleeve shirt with my turquoise poncho I made. I met him in the entranceway, with him wearing his usual clothes. He looked me up and down.

“You’re looking quite cute today,” he smiled.

I blushed, god he’s so cute, “Thank you. I made my poncho.”

“You’re quite skilled. Though, I wasn’t aware knitting was still popular in the human world.”

“There’s been a resurgence in recent years. Along with spinning yarn, which I also do. Including this poncho,” I explained as we walked into town, “The only thing I didn’t do it process the fiber or dye it.”

“You seem to enjoy the process.”

“Yeah it’s meditative, sorta like drawing. Would you like anything made?”

“You’d make me something?”

“Of course. My friend crochets and none of my family like to wear knits. So I can really only make things for myself, and I can only make so many things before I want to do something else.”

“In that case, as it is getting colder, can you make gloves? I was looking to buy new ones anyways.”

“Yeah, I can do that.”

On our way deeper into town we stopped to get hot coffees to-go. I sighed contently, very glad that things could be more like this during my time here instead of nonstop life-threatening situations. Walking the cobblestone streets of the Devildom with the warm glow of the shops and lanterns was something I hoped I’d be able to do freely without the brothers eventually. I wonder if Solomon would be willing to teach me magic? Probably not.

We finally arrived at the store Lucifer recommended. Thankfully, I’m not like Mammon and spend all my money as soon as I get it. I had a decent savings already and that allowed me to worry more about finding a pen that gives me Diavolo vibes, rather than budget. But, that did mean I spent quite a lot of time looking at all the pens, making sure I took each one in.

Then, I saw it. A mostly gray pen with taupe-brown marbling. It had a very subtle shimmer and the trim, clip, and nib were a matching silver.

“Can I see this one, please,” I asked the clerk. They pulled out the box containing it with a clawed hand and I knew that was the one. It cost a nice chunk of change but it was totally worth it. I found a deep, slightly rusty, red ink to go along with it. He didn’t have to use that ink but I thought the red would go nice with the brown.

We left the store as I asked Lucifer, “Do you think he’ll like it?”

“I’m sure he will,” Lucifer assured, “Although, I still need to find a gift for him. Do you mind making another stop? We can get something to eat afterwards.”

“Of course not. I’m happy to spend all the time I can with you.”

“Are you now,” he teased as he led us to the store he wanted to shop at. We chatted along the way and as we passed a storefront something caught my eye.

“Oh, wow, that’s so pretty,” I admired an earring in the window. It was one that was both a lobe and cartilage piercing, with a chain connecting them. From the cartilage piercing hung a moon and from the lobe hung a 4 point star. The metal was silver but the moon and star was made of some sort of blue crystal.

“Do you like it,” Lucifer inquired. Glancing at the price tag told me, no.

“I don’t think I’d pay that price for it. Especially not after what I spent for Diavolo’s present.”

“I see.”

We continued on our way and did the shopping for Lucifer’s present. But the whole time I was thinking of that earring. I used to have my lobes pierced but I took them out for color guard and never really put them in again. Though, I never really saw any earrings that made me want to get my ears repierced. Well, before today. I’d be totally willing to repierce my ear for that earring. Interesting that it was just one though.

“Drizzm,” Lucifer broke me out of my thoughts as we sat at Ristorante Six, “I wanted to thank you for helping reunite my brothers.”

“It’s my pleasure,” I smiled, “I’m glad it all worked out. Even if dying did hurt,” I laughed, letting him know that I wasn’t that upset about it.

“I do wish we could have not had the heart attack of seeing your broken body.”

“Well, I’m fine, I didn’t actually die. Though, that’s now the second time I’ve technically died.”

“Second time? When have you died?”

“As a baby. I got some freak mutation of an illness and at some point they lost my heart rate.”

“I’m glad you survived.”

“You think if I beat death a third time I become immortal?”

“Nevermind.”

We laughed, enjoying the rest of the night together, with me sleeping in his room that night. The next week went by with the Devildom gaining more and more decorations as Diavolo’s birthday approached. The whole weekend would be a festival and it started with his party on Friday.