(Not that any ship in Ghost other than Terzopolitus or Imperator and Nihil has any basis in text, but I digress.)

ANYWAYS. Ifrit and Special. Special and Ifrit. My delightful little match made in Hell.

The replacement of Terzo's ghouls took a great deal of oversight, and as Imperator's assistant, Special was interacting with the new crew a lot. Most of the time as an annoying, stuffy bureaucrat that takes everything too seriously and everyone wants dead. Someone makes a joke that he'd be in a better mood if he got laid. Ifrit says he'll do it. "For the bit."

Unfortunately for him, Special is an asshole. He hates people. He hates ghouls even more. Any attempt at conversation results in a glare and quick dismissal. Ifrit needs an incentive, so one break from tour prep he approaches, a cup of Turkish coffee in hand. For the first time, he is not dismissed. Not that much of a conversation is had, but for once, his company is accepted. Progress.

Special never says he appreciates not being left out or alone all the time. But he does his best to reciprocate. When Ifrit bitches about getting spied on by siblings of sin during costuming, Special casually slips back some gossip about the specific offenders. When Ifrit and the rest of the ghouls throw a rager, Special indirectly covers them by calling for an emergency budget meeting with the higher ups. Across the Ministry where they'll hear nothing. He even fudges said budget to get Ifrit shisha for the tour. The implicit trust the Clergy puts in him comes in handy sometimes.

It's only on tour that Ifrit realizes this is no longer "for the bit," when he finds himself missing their mid-morning coffee and gossip.