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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[The sound of his name pulls Richard away from where he's staring with rapt fascination at a very strange object on one of the shelves and considering it as a possible gift. When he spots Haruhi, he smiles at her and sets the strange-looking thing back down.]

Hello, Haruhi. I haven't seen you in a while-- how have you been? Are you looking forward to Christmas?

More or less. I have less people to give gifts to, but that's a part of being here longer -- but who cares! The important thing is that you're a king!

[ Animatedly, she bounces on the balls of her feet a little, letting a little childish excitement set in ]

[Richard's expression shifts slightly, his tone acquiring the faintest colder edge to it as he regards her. Years of being used for his status have rendered him wary of anyone who approaches him with a reference to his status, even if it is meaningless here in Luceti.]

That's right. What makes you bring that up?

You'd never mentioned it before! And I heard about it from Asbel.

From Asbel... I see.

[Mentally making a note to have a few words with Asbel about this.]

Might I ask how it came up in conversation?

We were just talking. Look, why does that matter? [She waves a hand dismissively. In part because it's embarrassing] The point is, when you're trying to make an impression on someone you should really play to your strengths!

And if I said that wasn't the impression I wanted to make?

[He arches an eyebrow, wavering somewhere between being amused and being annoyed.]

Then you're stupid. Why wouldn't you here? [She sighs, and then goes on to explain, as if she were explaining simple math to a child] It's not like it has any duty or danger you need to go through here and it just sounds impressive.

[But Richard just shakes his head, a tiny smile playing at the corners of his lips.]

I would prefer that people find me impressive due to my actions, not some title I hold in another world. Whether it has any weight here or not, many people still act differently around royalty. I'd rather not risk anyone feeling like they owe me special treatment because of it.

[ ... ]

Jeez, what a normal sort of response. That wasn't kingly at all.

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

I'm almost afraid to ask what I should have said instead.

[ She sighs and shakes her head, shrugging dramatically ]

That doesn't matter if you don't think of it.

[He laughs again, but quickly sobers, his smile turning a note wistful.]

Luceti is my one chance at a normal life. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that.

This isn't a normal life. It's not boring enough.

Is normal life in your world really that boring?

[He comes from a country that has had constant clashes with its neighbor for nigh on 20 years now, plus monsters that roam the wilds.]

Of course it is! A normal life anywhere is boring precisely because it's normal! What's interesting about something thousands or millions of other people are doing at the exact same time?!

... because it's something I've never had before.

[ ... Sigh. ]

Yeah, I figured.

[He smiles a little.]

I apologize if that means you find me boring as a result.

Yeah, whatever. It's not like I control you and I'm benefitting from you looking after Isabelle.

Is that what it is?

[But his tone is teasing.]

You don't even need to ask me to keep looking after her. She's grown quite fond of me, you know. I think she might have something to say if I were to suddenly stop visiting her.

And you don't need to tell me that. Outside of me, pretty much everyone else in the Brigade gets bitten at. [ Not her though because she can metaphorically punch a dragon in the snout and assert dominance ]

Everyone else?

[Richard is honestly a bit surprised to hear that. The hawkzile is so friendly to him that he finds it almost hard to believe that there isn't anyone else she likes aside from him.]

More or less. Maybe not Grune.

That I can understand-- Grune is something of a hard person to dislike.

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