ledbythewind | [Action]

[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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think that sounds delicious. Perhaps a bit of nutmeg as well, or maybe some whipped cream...

Whip cream is always good to have with it. You can dip cookies in it too that way.

[Richard looks over at the cookie jar, then at the hot chocolate ingredients.

WHY HASN'T HE EVER THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE?]

[Henry see's that look.]

You've never tried it?

[That's insane!]

Not on hot chocolate. I usually just put marshmallows in it.

Really? Well you should try it this time. It's really good.

I think I just might.

[And pouring the milk into a pan to heat up, then grabbing a plate to stack some cookies on. Mmm, chocolate chip, the best kind!]

Great!

[And Henry will just sit here waiting for it to be ready. Hope Richard doesn't mind that Henry's snagging some of those cookies.]

[Not at all-- the cookies are meant to be eaten, and Richard generally tends not to have a very large appetite, so he won't eat more than one himself.

He'll get the hot chocolate all prepared, then return to the fridge to grab the can of whipped cream.]

So you just put some on the top?

[Well, good bye cookies. They're all Henry's now.]

Uh huh, and then you sprinkle the cinnamon on top.

[Doing just that! Then he'll pass one mug of hot chocolate over to Henry, along with the container of cinnamon.]

You can put on however much you'd like.

[Henry will take both and smile at Richard in thanks, before he starts to add a bit of cinnamon.]

Thanks again, Richard. I really appreciate it.

[He just returns that smile as he sits down to his own mug, blowing on it lightly to cool it.]

Don't mention it. This makes the two of us even after you helped me back there.

You really didn't have to though.

[It's more like an observation than anything.]

So, do you live here alone? It seems kind of big for one person.

[He shakes his head, still smiling.]

Five of my friends live here with me. I would introduce you if they were around, but it seems like they're all busy at the moment.

No, it's okay. I actually should probably start heading home soon.

I would prefer to avoid anyone sending out a search party to find you...

What do you mean by that?

I mean that I don't want to keep you away from your home too long and cause your housemates to worry.

Oh, well, I don't really live with anyone. But you're right.

[He'll get up to go towards the door.]

Thanks for the hot chocolate, Richard.

[And soon he looks hopeful.]

When the holidays are over we'll go looking for that enchanted tree, right?

[He doesn't live with anyone? But he's so young...

Still, though he may be a bit concerned by that, he won't say anything just yet, not when they still don't know each other that well.]

Of course. Just send me a message over the journals when you're ready to go on our adventure. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find anything in the library that might help make our search easier.

I'll be sure too and that would be a good idea too. We're going to need all the information we can get for Operation...I'm going to have to think of a name for this one.