ledbythewind | [Voice, filtered from Isamu // 80% unhackable/Action]

[Okay, so between everything that's been happening lately, Richard ALMOST forgot what date was coming up. Fortunately he remembers just in time to actually do something about it-- and do something about it he will whether Isamu wants it or not, which is why he's carefully filtering this message away from his friend.]

For those of you who know him, Isamu's birthday happens to be on Tuesday. I'm preparing a small party for him at House 28; any friends of his are welcome to stop by to give him birthday greetings and enjoy some food. I just ask that you not say anything about this to him ahead of time-- it won't be much of a surprise if he knows about it, after all.

[Later that afternoon Richard can be found hauling home a sizable box of decorations (the birthday ones are hidden beneath a seemingly innocuous mound of Christmas decorations) from the store, looking in a much better mood than he's been in for weeks. He can't explain this sudden cheer and he's not sure he wants to; right now he's just intent on enjoying the festive atmosphere while it lasts and trying to prepare a surprise party for his friend without said friend finding out about it-- which might be a difficult task considering they share a room.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I believe it's chocolate-- the more, the better. Of course, if you'd like to make something besides just a cake, I certainly won't stop you. I'm still only a novice as far as cooking is concerned.

[But he's going to try his damnedest to make SOMETHING nice for the party.]

[Pssh, chocolate. Oh Isamu, you're such a girl.]

Heh, I bet he'd still appreciate anything you'd make. [He squeezes at his chin thoughtfully]

But I'll need an estimate of how many people will show up before I make anything - besides the cake.

[Richard raises a hand to his own chin (in a gesture mirroring Sanji's, though a far more feminine version) to consider this.]

I doubt it will be more than fifteen... I think most of the people Isamu knew well have been returned home.

[It's painful to think too much about that, because last year... well.]

[He subtly shifts at the mention of friends long gone - for Isamu's sake, for once - and only barely pauses before continuing on, discarding the subject behind them.]

Alright, fifteen... that won't take much time. [He's used to cooking for fifty (or the equivalent) by comparison. A soft mutter] Might have to barricade Luffy out the kitchen until I'm finished...

Or else the food will end up serving far fewer than fifteen?

[Yeah, he knows how that goes. He lives with Pascal, after all.]

There won't be any food.

... so it's even worse than I thought.

It's fine; I've got some mouse traps still set up, so that'll keep him at bay.

Mouse traps?

[Does he even want to know, man?]

Surprisingly effective against a shithead who's made of rubber. And when they're big enough, he can't free himself until I get in.

[Proud of himself and his methods? You bet your manly physique he is]

It sounds like your housemates are even more unusual than mine. Usually all it takes to keep them out of the kitchen is Miss Cheria threatening them with a spoon.

If that actually worked on Luffy and Brook, I'd be able to sleep at night.

[Okay, he can't help but laugh.]

Of course, there's always Miss Pascal and her science experiments...

[Like the flaming toaster.]

I remember meeting Pascal-chan! Quite the, uh, eccentric one, isn't she?

That's one way of putting it. She means well, but her ideas don't always turn out quite the way she'd planned.

Yeah, I remember when she tried to do something with the barrier... poor girl ended up getting nearly electrified.

There was also an incident with the toaster a few months ago that ended with a small fire in our kitchen.

... That so... How does that even work?

I'm afraid you'll have to ask someone who was actually there when it happened for the answer to that one.

Eeeeh... And where exactly were you during this shitty incident?

I was out doing some shopping for the household-- I was lucky enough to have my journal with me, but the fire had already been dealt with by the time I arrived home.

So long as no one was hurt. [By which he means, thank god the ladies were unharmed]

In any case -- [Sanji shifts his stance slightly] When do you want the cake dropped by?

[Voice, filtered from Isamu // 80% unhackable/Action]

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