ledbythewind | [Action]

[Richard is up early this morning, out and about before most of the rest of the household is even awake. He's not about to let his odd sensitivity to any sort of wind stop him from getting things done-- instead, he simply bundles himself up until he looks more like a walking pile of coats and scarves than anything else before making his way in to the center of town for a shopping trip. Of course, the downside of said bundle of outer layers is that it's a bit hard for him to see, meaning that he might occasionally stumble into people or objects before he even realizes it...

His first stop is the grocery store, where he can be found consulting a list and selecting ingredients. Okay, maybe making a black forest cake is a bit ambitious on his end, but he wants to give it a shot anyway. It SOUNDS delicious, if nothing else.

Then he heads to the item store to grab a few more things, even though he'd already picked out his main present some time ago. Perhaps a new toy for Tiger Festival as well...

Of course, then he realizes that his recipe calls for cherry liqueur, which requires a stop by Good Spirits to pick some of that up.

Finally, he heads back home to House 28, where housemates will find him in the kitchen baking something that smells very delicious and very chocolatey. The end result may be a little lopsided and the frosting job definitely leaves something to be desired (maybe he should've whipped that whipped cream a bit more, it seems a little runny), but at least it smells good?]

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Yes, let's. We don't want to stay out so late that we miss making dinner and come home to Asbel having eaten the entire cake instead.

[In fact, he's already heading for the door. Isamu had best speed up if he wants to keep up with Richard.]

[Bundled as he is, it shouldn't be hard.]

If he does, you'll just have to make a new one.

Or make a trip to the bakery instead.

[Bracing himself, he opens the door and tries very hard not to shiver when the cold air hits him.]

Also an option, though it wouldn't have that homemade feel.

[Isamu watches him carefully as they go out.]

And here I thought you'd be insulted by anything less than homemade.

[At least it isn't such a long walk to the Battle Dome; he can fake being unaffected by the chill for that long, difficult though it may be. Still, he keeps his arms wrapped around himself for warmth and hopes that Isamu doesn't notice this part.]

[It's hard not to notice when he's purposefully looking for this sort of thing, but he doesn't mention it. Richard seems to be managing otherwise. It's just an issue he'll have to address again in the future.]

Should we train in a hot climate, then?

[Managing mainly because he's become so good at concealing things from others. He's still freezing cold even beneath the layers he's wearing, but at least it isn't quite as bad when the wind isn't hitting his skin directly.]

Are you saying that because you want to see me take off my shirt?

[Deflecting tension with humor: a classic tactic.]

No, I don't really feel like being blinded today.

[He's used to the deflection, but he'll bring it up again later for sure.]

Perhaps I should tell Asbel he can go ahead and eat that cake after all.

[It's hard not to sigh in relief when they finally reach the Battle Dome and make it inside into the warm air. That's much more like it...]

I'm just saying it like it is! Don't punish me for that.

[Isamu will just get a scarf tossed in his face for his trouble. Rude.

Except Richard is laughing.]

You don't deny it, I see.

[Knocking that scarf away. Now what station and program to use...]

Any attempt I made would just be met with accusations of vanity on my end.

[He does shed his coats, though, setting them off to the side so that they won't be in the way during the simulation.]

Why don't we start with something simple until you get better at drawing out your abilities on your own?

... Yeah, fine.

[He can't really argue. His ability to use symbology is still really weak.]

[With a nod, Richard heads over to the console. Technology is most definitely not his thing, so it takes a bit of poking around (and a few false starts) before he manages to pull up a simple simulation of an empty field with a single Peepit hopping around in it. There. A two-foot-tall bird isn't a very intimidating foe, right? Right.]

Now, try attacking that monster with your magic. I want to see what you're capable of so far.

... That's supposed to be a monster?

[Isamu frowns at it.]

Can it at least look slightly menacing?

You would rather risk angering something that can bite back?

[Because let's face it, he is NOT expecting Isamu to be able to take an opponent out in one hit just yet.]

[He rolls his eyes.]

I didn't say it had to be able to. Just look like it could.

[All right, give Richard a few seconds to alter the simulation here.

Is this better, Isamu?]

Edited (HTML, my mortal enemy) 2014-03-12 04:26 (UTC)

[Isamu stares at the creature, then back at Richard.]

You're kidding, right?

You might want to try attacking it before you get too disappointed.

[It only LOOKS cute.]

I told you it doesn't have to be dangerous, it just has to look...

[Siiiigh.]

Alright, fine. Whatever. Let's do this.

[Still smiling away, Richard just moves back and gestures to Isamu to try using his symbology on it. He'll step in with his own magic if the Peepit starts getting too aggressive (and if Isamu's magic isn't enough to stop it), but for right now, he just wants to assess his friend's ability first.]

[Alright, no problem. It's just a target for him to start flinging spells at.

Or at least, things that want to be spells.

He hops slightly a couple times, taking a deep breath, building up where he's found the center of his energy to be. Then, extending one hand, he shoots out a bit of flame perhaps almost the size of a tennis ball.]

[... yeah, that's about what Richard was expecting. It's not a bad start at all, but it's also not something that will be much good in battle just yet.

Still, it's enough to agitate the Peepit when it connects, and the birdlike creature lets out a few angry cheeps before turning its attention to Isamu and ru-- err, waddling towards him.

Richard stays back for the moment and just watches to see how Isamu is going to handle this...]

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