[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[It's a cold, overcast day when Richard steps outside the house this morning, but that doesn't deter him one bit from the errands he has planned for today, even if it does cause him to duck back inside for a scarf first. It doesn't matter how much he hates the cold; today is important, so he can't wait for it to get warmer.

His first stop is the item store in search of the perfect gift. He'll probably linger around this store for the longest, because he wants to find just the right thing. After that, he'll head over to All Passions, where he makes a beeline towards the suits.

Finally, he heads to the bakery to grab a cake. This stop on his little shopping trip requires the most self-control... or not, as he'll probably end up emerging with a few more things than just a cake. Oh well, his housemates will eat them, right?

Once all of this is accomplished, he heads back to House 28, looking both very pleased with himself and just a little bit mischievous too.

He can be found in any of these locations or on the journey between them. Feel free to stop him and say hi or ask what he's up to!]

Comments

[ledbythewind]

[Wow Isamu, have you no faith in him?]

No ruffles, I promise.

[musubi]

[He takes the box from him, opening it carefully more to tease Richard than anything.]

[ledbythewind]

[True to his word, there are indeed no ruffles inside. Instead, what Isamu will find is a nice suit, which will hopefully fit given that Richard surreptitiously checked Isamu's existing clothing to get the measurements for it.]

[musubi]

[Isamu lifts out the top and raises an eyebrow at Richard.]

Going somewhere fancy, are we?

[ledbythewind]

Don't worry, it's not a date this time either, nor does it involve the beach.

[See, he really is behaving himself!]

[musubi]

I'm only somewhat relieved.

[Nevertheless, he'll start heading to the other room to change into his new clothes.]

[ledbythewind]

[Richard just grins and goes off to hide the actual gifts until later.

Once he's done that, he'll wait by the front door for his friend-- he's already dressed for the occasion, as he wore his royal outfit to go out shopping.]

[musubi]

You really don't know how to make a guy not be suspicious.

[Despite his narrowed eyes, Isamu follows along anyway because, well, it's Richard.]

[ledbythewind]

I never claimed to be trying.

[Bring a coat, Isamu, because it's cold out... as he will no doubt be discovering when Richard opens the front door to head outside.]

[musubi]

Of course not.

[He'll be doing just that, with the addition of earmuffs. Over his hat.]

Lead on, then.

[ledbythewind]

[That earns him raised eyebrows as Richard debates on whether to tease Isamu for it or not... but since it's Isamu's birthday, he'll be nice and choose not to say anything. (His face is probably a dead giveaway, though.)]

Have you ever been to either of the shrines here before?

[musubi]

Uh... [That's an interesting question to ask.]

Not really. Why?

[ledbythewind]

I was just wondering, that's all.

[It won't be too long before Isamu will be able to realize that they aren't heading into town; instead, they're taking the road up north, to the upper part of the village.]

[musubi]

[SUSPICIOUS. But of course he'll continue to follow.]

I'm trusting that you're the real Richard and this isn't some sort of trap here.

[ledbythewind]

Would anyone other than the real Richard be taking you to mysterious, unknown places on your birthday?

[musubi]

...And here I was hoping you might have forgotten.

[ledbythewind]

I'm afraid you'll have no such luck, at least for this year. But I do promise that there are no surprise parties involved this time.

[musubi]

Just other sorts of surprises, hm?

[ledbythewind]

You'll see in a few minutes.

[That's a yes, in case Isamu hasn't already guessed.

He'll make a detour from the road once he reaches the base of the hill that houses the magical cherry trees planted by Amatersu and begin the climb up, towards the shrine there.]

[musubi]

[Isamu isn't sure he gets where this is going, but he's still following along.

He's honestly not even sure if he should be worried or not.]

[ledbythewind]

[At least there aren't any streamers or anything all over the shrine; no, it's just a small, simple shrine, and Richard will stop in front of it, giving it a look over before turning around to smile at Isamu.

See? Totally harmless.]

[musubi]

[SUSPICIOUSLY HARMLESS.

Isamu raises an eyebrow at his friend.]

[ledbythewind]

[ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, he'll cave and explain his intentions, since Isamu still looks like he's prepared for something to jump out at him any moment.]

I read that it's a tradition in Japan to visit a shrine on Coming of Age day when you turn twenty. This was the closest thing I could think of here in Luceti.

[musubi]

[Blink blink.]

Oh yeah... I am turning twenty, aren't I? Imagine that.

[He's hardly been keeping track.]

[ledbythewind]

Well, if you haven't even been keeping track, I suppose there's not much of a need for those presents I got you after all...