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"Good to know you're willing to whip it out for cookie emergencies at least. And I am intrigued by the idea of you trying to do something nickname worthy. Should be an interesting day," Jamie teased back with a cheeky wink. Cheekiness was something he should probably reign in given how he kept swerving into perv territory. Thankfully Theo didn't seem to be holding his lapses of judgement against him. "Good to know they don't discriminate against other holiday mascots." Jamie returned Theo's attractive grin. He laughed easily at Theo's reply to his attempt at a baking pun. "There you go. Just got to put in the hard work and not crumble under pressure," he replied back. He went back to making icing and sprinkle lights on the trees when Theo got back to work. A few cookies later he spoke up again. "These are looking real good. You just might make Most Valuable Decorator and have a bucket of milk dumped over you if you keep this up."

Theo laughed again at Jamie's retort about his untapped talent. "I suppose that talent shall have to remain untapped, unless we run into any more cookie emergencies. As for the nickname, maybe I'll have to do something else that's nickname worthy, see if I can't shake this one," he teased. It was a relief when his teasing got a laugh from Jamie, his weird hand holding thing finally behind them. Theo laughed at Jamie's easy reply, charmed by how willing he was to be silly. It weirdly made him hotter. Which was not something Theo needed to be thinking about. "There you go, the folks around here will eat that up," he answered with a grin. And there was Jamie being silly and charming again, joking right back instead of groaning at Theo's dad jokes. "The sprinkle line up? Now that's ambitious. Frankly not sure I have the cookie discipline for something like that," he teased back. "But maybe a few more of these will change my mind," he added with a grin, picking up another cookie to get back to work on flooding now that he'd cleaned up the mess he made.

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It was a relief to know that weekly food fights were not standard American culture. Or even just standard Grant behavior. He did feel sheepish for not being sure. Diplomatically he chose not to answer the question of American sanity. "Glad to hear that. My mind would have been blown if the reverse had been true," he answered with a sheepish smile. Richard's sheepishness was long gone when he got a laugh out of Grant. He like that. Liked the cheeky wink and that quip about working wonders for him that had to be flirting even more. Even though he was less pleased his aimed biscuit didn't hit it's mark he couldn't help laughing at Grant's words. "Is that what this is, a war for dog biscuits? Seems poor taste to use them as ammunition," he teased back. Richard fell for the feigned toss and ended up taking a biscuit to the chest. "Oh no, direct hit. What a sneaky shooter you are," he told Grant with a laugh. The head of the biscuit snapped off when he went to pluck it from his shirt. "Alas, a casualty." A casualty that he then tossed back to Grant, sans head.

Grant burst out laughing when Richard asked if Americans really had weekly food fights. "Oh my God, no, of course not. Do you think Americans are insane?" He asked, though he was clearly amused. "Prepare to have your proper English mind blown, but aside from some occasional snack tossing I have never participated in a food fight, nor have most Americans," he said, as if he was breaking huge news and not something that should be very simple. He grinned when Richard asked about building character. "It is," Grant agreed, letting out a surprised laugh when Richard threw it back at him a few moments later. Richard was just as witty in person as he was over text, apparently, and Grant was a huge fan. He felt a little warm again as Richard grinning that cheeky grin at him, but addressed the feeling by throwing another cookie. "Apparently, and I've gotta say, I think its working wonders for you already," he teased, giving Richard a cheeky wink before laughing as another cookie came flying at him. Grant put up his hands to block the cookie as it reaching his mouth, very pleased with himself for catching it. "Is this how you ask nicely for advice? See if I help you win your war for the lives of innocent dog cookies," Grant said through a laugh before he tossed another cookie, aiming high with a feigned toss and then actually aiming for Richard's chest, hoping to throw him off.

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"Really?" Richard could not tell if Grant was teasing or not with that comment. On one hand that seemed like an awful waste of food. On the other Grant was currently throwing biscuits at him. He laughed when Grant told him it built character. "Oh is that so," he asked, clearly amused by Grant's cheekiness. Richard was laughing again at Grant's response to the return cookie attack. "No, this is character building." Richard gave Grant a very cheeky grin at that, proud of his retort. "Apparently today is the day for it," he answered Grant when Grant said he needed to work on his cookie throwing plucking the cookie off his shirt. "Any technical tips you'd care to offer since you're such an expert?" Richard didn't wait to hear an answer before tossing the cookie back at Grant. This time there was no hesitancy. Though it was clear from his toss that this was still a very new concept for him. He tried to aim this time too, trying to get Grant on the lips. After all if they were going to flirt via cookie tossing, which is what this had to be, the lips seemed like a good goal.

Grant laughed at Richard's retort, delighted by how happily and easily he went along with Grant's teasing about being royal. Teasing Richard about it really felt like the only good way to deal with the fact that he was the highest level of aristocrat possible and Grant almost wanted to hate him for it, except hating someone on sight because of who their parents were was admittedly terrible. And Richard was proving to be not at all what he'd have thought. So--relentless teasing about the monarchy it was. Including throwing cookies at a guy who had clearly never had cookies thrown at him. Which, once Grant realized Richard wasn't about to call in his RPOs, was kind of thrilling, in a way. He laughed at Richard's comment about food fights. "Oh they're totally a thing, we had a food fight about once a week. Sometimes twice," he commented, doing his best to say it with a straight face. But he was laughing a second later when Richard confirmed that no one had ever thrown a cookie at his face. "Too bad, it builds character," Grant told him with a cheeky grin. Though maybe he shouldn't have been so cheeky, because then it was his face getting cookied and he let out a surprised laugh. "Oh, so just like that you're not too dignified for food fights anymore? That was easy," Grant quipped, a wide grin on his face. There was something about the Prince of England throwing a dog cookie at him that was...well, kind of thrilling. "You need to work on your cookie throwing," he added, grabbing the cookie that had just barely bounced off his chin and landed in his lap and tossing it back at Richard.

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Jamie was surprised at how well everyone coordinated, it wasn't something he was used to. The more he saw the more he could see what made his mum love this place so much. It was far more peaceful then the city, even the town square full of people working on setting up booths felt more peaceful. A cooperative effort instead of a competitive one. No one wonder his dad had hated it. "It's beautiful," he remarked looking out at town square before giving Theo his full attention again. It was a surprise to find out he'd be introduced around. Jamie took that to mean Theo knew who he was, a shame but not surprising given his interest in hockey. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed with a smile. Watching Theo balance a tree over his shoulder with only minimal effort was nearly as surprisingly hot as Theo in a towel had been. It was a good thing he had something he was supposed to be doing or he might have just stood there. "Right." Open the door and don't be weird, he told himself. It also helped that they'd be going into a place with people. Jamie made sure the door was open wide enough for Theo before following in behind him.

Thankfully Jamie was far less distracting with a shirt on, though he was still unfairly hot. Though the break to take care of the horses had helped Theo clear his head a bit. Jamie was a guest, and Theo was here to show him a good time while he was stuck here alone for the holidays. That was all. Lucky for him Jamie was a good sport about helping him load up the truck and cart a bunch of small trees and wreaths into town. He chuckled at Jamie's reaction as they pulled into town. "Everyone coordinates," he commented. "We're passing the town square now, as you can see they're getting the booths set up for the winter festival. We'll be delivering some wreaths and garland there. But first we've gotta unload these trees at the community center, they're getting an early start on decorating for the Snowflake gala so they won't have to worry about it during the rest of the festivities," he explained with a smile, pulling into a parking spot around the back of the community center once they arrived. "For this first one I'll just let you get the doors for me, once we introduce you to everyone we'll prop the doors on our way out and really put you to work," he said with a teasing grin before he hopped out of the car and grabbed a smaller Christmas tree. "We're going right through those doors," he directed Jamie as he balanced the tree over his shoulder.

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"Oh no, we only sing it every time Gran comes into a room or leaves it," he quipped back with a laugh. Richard had never had someone tease him in this way about being royal. He was enjoying it. Grant was full of surprises. Like throwing a biscuit at him. He'd have felt bad about Grant sounding nervous except he was too surprised that he'd just had a biscuit tossed at him. "Yes, it took me by surprise. I didn't realize food fights were actual American things and not just in films." It was slightly less surprising when Grant tossed another one at him. Richard wasn't exactly sure how he was meant to respond to having biscuits tossed at him. This time he at least managed to catch the biscuit before he hit him in the face. Having cookie crumbs all over his face thanks to his fancy tossing biscuits at him was not a look he wanted, he didn't think. "As a matter of fact, no, no one has ever tossed a biscuit at my face," he replied laughing. Had he remembered Whiz sitting there witnessing this he might have looked to him for a clue what to do. But he did not. Instead he decided maybe the thing to do was to toss one of them back at Grant. Which he did with some uncertainty.

Grant let out a loud laugh at Richard's reaction to his remarks about the problems with the monarchy. It was probably for the best that Richard kept talking before Grant could explain how the real problem was the idolatry of one person solely because of their birthright that was the product of generations of colonialism. Instead Grant was snorting out a laugh at Richard being patriotic by birth. "Wait, are you saying you don't even sleep under a union jack and a grandma photo at the palace? Next you're gonna tell me you don't sing the national anthem every morning and night," he teased. Despite teasing Richard about it, it was also kind of easy to forget Richard was a foreign monarch. But maybe Grant should have stopped to consider that fact before he threw a dog biscuit at Richard. Unfortunately it didn't occur to him until after the cookie hit Richard's face and Richard just stared at him, clearly stunned by Grant's choices. "Uh....yeah," Grant answered, suddenly nervous. Had Grant gone too far? Was this the line? Was Richard going to call for his RPOs and have Grant kicked out of his dorm room, or maybe the country? Tara would definitely murder him if that happened. Which would be disappointing. The murder and Richard not being able to handle taking a dog biscuit to the cheek. Instead Richard started laughing, and cold dread was replaced with warmth, the grin returning to Grant's face as Richard teased him, clearly not bothered despite his apparent shock at the fact Grant threw a cookie at him. Which, Grant didn't really understand the reaction, but he was glad Richard wasn't pissed. "Ridiculous? Are you kidding? It clearly took you by surprise," Grant pointed out with a cheeky grin. "What's the matter, never taken a dog cookie to the face?" He tossed another one at Richard. s

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"If I gave the impression that I wasn't delighted at the idea I apologize now," Jamie replied back. He was always interested in a good book recommendation. "You can always send me on my way with the unabridged list." While Jamie enjoyed the lighter conversation he wasn't upset when the subject matter grew heavier. They hadn't been allowed to talk about their mum. Christmas was vastly different after she passed and the only option was to accept it. Talking about her and Christmas after all these years felt odd but not bad. And Theo was still bringing some levity to it. He chuckled when Theo talked about hot city blokes under the mistletoe. "Is that what you're after? I'd have thought you'd be on the look out for a hot veterinarian or... actually I'm not sure what occupation goes with Christmas tree farmer, Christmas wreath maker maybe? But you never know you probably didn't expect ot lose your bed to a daft city driver." If Theo had meant Jamie as the hot city bloke Jamie hadn't picked up on that. Instead he'd taken the teasing to mean that he wasn't Theo's type. Which was probably a good thing. Jamie wasn't focused on that instead looking delighted when it turned out they did have sleigh rides. "Now I didn't say I'd turn down hot chocolate or Chirstmas cookies, though with the way she cooks I might need to." Jamie laughed because last nights portions had been large and the food very good. "I just meant it would take a bit more then that to make it fun nowadays," he added with a cheeky smile. "I can't believe the sleigh ride was real. Though of course you'd have sleigh rides." Jamie smiled at Theo, it felt very in line with the Christmas vibes of the inn.

"If you don't want me giving you a stack of recommendations you should tell me now," Theo answered Jamie with a chuckle. It was hard to know if Jamie was trying to nicely tell Theo he wasn't interested in getting recommendations or if he was trying to be nice about Theo not going out of his way. As if getting the chance to talk about his favorite books was a hassle. "Because I'll take any opportunity to foist my favorite books on people. You're just lucky you're only here until Christmas, I can only give you the short list," he added, grinning. Despite the more somber edges to their conversation as the topic shifted, Theo was surprised to find he was still enjoying chatting with Jamie about their childhood Christmases here. It felt easier than it sometimes was, maybe because there was a shared sense of loss there. Theo let out a soft laugh when Jamie said he thought some of his memories were just coming from films. "I think they just get their ideas for the decorations from here. Maybe the festival too. But I've yet to have a hot city bloke show up looking to rediscover his love of Christmas with me under the mistletoe," Theo teased. Jamie was probably the closest he'd get to that, and Jamie was just looking for a place to stay until his car got fixed. Definitely wasn't looking for a small-town Christmas tree farmer. Which was fine. Theo laughed when Jamie said he wasn't as easily impressed as he was as a kid. "Our sleigh rides are a very popular Christmas activity, so you're probably remembering that right. And I suppose I'll just tell Bev not to offer you any hot chocolate or Christmas cookies, since you're so hard to impress these days, city boy," Theo teased, giving Jamie a cheeky wink.

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"Photos of my gran is the problem of monarchy? Heavens man she isn't that horrible looking," he quipped with a laugh. A laugh that continued at Grant's further teasing. "Perhaps that's the privilege of being a junior royal, I am patriotic simply by birth. Or perhaps putting gran in a room anyone sleeps in other then granddad is a step too far." Just when Richard thought Grant couldn't get more ridiculous he brought out the dog biscuits and found out Grant could be. He laughed as Grant talked to the biscuits. None of this was expected but the biscuit toss was very unexpected. The biscuit landed on his cheek before falling off his face and bouncing on his collar finally landing on the table. For a moment Richard was stunned. "You threw a biscuit at me?" Even though he'd clearly felt the biscuit and there it was on the table he still couldn't believe that actually happened. "That's your grand plan? Revolt by being launched by you at me?" Richard laughed. "Some savoir you are. Absolutely ridiculous," he added with an even larger grin.

Grant let out a surprised laugh when Richard asked him not to put a photo of his gran in his room, which was apparently what Brits did. And yet people wondered why Grant had a problem with the monarchy, honestly. "Photos of your grandma, are you kidding me? See, this is the problem with monarchy. One of the problems with monarchy," he corrected himself, though he was grinning, mostly teasing. "But seeing as you're, like monarch junior, I can't believe you don't have a Union Jack and a Grandma photo in every room you sleep in. I'm surprised you haven't been thrown in the dungeons for that," he teases. Teasing with Richard is even more fun in person than it was over texts. Seeing that cheeky grin of Richards just made it even better. Though Grant wasn't sure about the tea anymore, it had him feeling awfully hot under the collar. Still, it was easy to forget that in favor of messing around with dog biscuits. His grin widened when Richard laughed at his antics, and then Grant was laughing at Richard's retort. "Hoard them? I'm trying to free them so they can make their own destinies that don't involve a journey through your digestive system. Rise up, little doggies," Grant told the plate of cookies, feeling ridiculous but weirdly not worrying too much about it, even though he didn't know Richard all that well. "All men, women, and shortbread dogs are created equal! Revolt, while he's not expecting it!" With that Grant picked up one of the cookies off the plate and threw it at Richard, aiming below his face and going for a more gentle toss because he wanted the cookie to hit but he didn't want it to actually hurt.

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Richard laughed at Grant's comments about the lack of flag in his room. "Just please don't put a photo of my gran, which is how Brits normally show their patriotism, not the Union Jack. And before you ask my photo of her is the same place as my Union Jack, back at the palace," he added with a cheeky grin. Richard didn't expect to get cheeky over the biscuits as well but Grant's ridiculous reaction made it impossible not to. He was more fun in person. Which Richard had already known but each time he got to be in the same room as Grant he just saw it more. He laughed at Grant's response. "A tyrant? How rude!" Not only did his tone give away that he didn't think Grant was rude, the huge grin on his face did too. "I'm simply helping them fulfill their destinies. I think you're just trying to hoard them all for yourself. I suppose since you're not treating them as plant food, I'll allow it." Another huge grin in Grant's direction.

Grant laughed at Richard's teasing about having a Union Jack in his room. "If you think I'm going to put a Union Jack in my bedroom you are going to be profoundly disappointed," he answered with a grin. "Plus--" he added, glancing around Richard's room, "You don't even have a Union Jack in your room! What kind of Prince are you? Where's your sense of patriotism?" He asked, doing his best to look scandalized but grinning a little too much to sell it. Though he definitely wasn't trying to become an expat, he didn't mind enjoying some of the local culture, especially in the company of the local culture. He certainly wasn't expecting the local culture to relish in biting the heads off of adorable shortbread dogs. Grant let out a loud laugh, ignoring the way that cheeky grin Richard gave him made him forget how to breathe for a second. He was just surprised. Richard was surprising. Pleasantly so. "Oh my God, you are a monster!" Grant reached for the plate of cookies and tugged it away from Richard. "Don't worry little guys, I'll save you from the mean head-eating tyrant," he said to the dog cookies before glancing back up at Richard with a grin.

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Richard was thrilled that Grant and Whiz seemed to be getting along. And a little relieved that despite Whiz clearly being the cooler of the pair of them Grant hadn't forgotten he existed in favor of talking to Whiz. He laughed at Whiz's comment about his tastes and again at Grant's reply. "Your secret will be safe with us," he told Grant with a grin. "Though if you start having a Union Jack in the back of your instaowl photos they might get suspicious." Richard couldn't resist teasing Grant about the expat thing a little bit. If they did turn Grant into an expat, liking tea felt like a good start. Which was not why he was so pleased Grant liked his tea. Richard couldn't help but imagine a lot of cups of teas shared between the pair of them in his room. Grant's reaction to his biscuits had him laughing in surprise. "With relish," he answered Grant with a cheeky grin. "If you bite their heads off first you don't even notice."

Grant laughed at Richard's reply about getting a plant. "Lucky for you I know almost nothing about plants, so you don't have to worry about me trying to give you one," he answered with a grin. He laughed at Richard and Whiz's back and forth about naming the plant, whatever their inside joke was going right over his head. Though he did vaguely remember that the plant was named Audrey, so that must have been what Whiz meant. So far Whiz seemed cool, and didn't seem to mind Grant being here, which made him hopeful the three of them could hang out more. It would have been awkward if Richard's best friend didn't like Grant. Grant glanced at Whiz with interest when Richard said he was great at decorating. From how the guy was dressed today, and what he was wearing in a lot of the instaowl posts Grant had seen of them, he wasn't surprised to hear the guy had good taste in interior decorating too. "Somehow I'm not surprised to hear that," he said with a smile. "Maybe you can give me some tips once I've got my dorm set up." Whiz smiled back and replied, "I'm always happy to help, but I should warn you, my tastes are not exactly classic Americana." Grant let out a laugh at the teasing. "I'm cool with that, as long as neither of you goes running to the media to tell them I'm turning into an expat while I'm at school overseas," he joked back before helping himself to some tea. He grinned at Richard when he said he was glad he liked it, feeling weirdly happy about something so minor. This was just, like, fun. Maybe drinking tea in Richard's room would turn into a thing. Tea and biscuits, apparently. Which, Grant was reminded as Richard offered him one, meant cookies in England, not buttery pillows of goodness. Grant liked cookies too though. Especially the ones Richard offered. He let out a surprised laugh when he saw them. "Oh my God, those are adorable. Wait, do you eat these?" He looked up at Richard with a feigned look of shock. "You monster, how could you? Look at them! They're so innocent!"

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Richard feels a little flustered again by Grant's answer. Even though it doesn't have to mean things that can't be named in public. He has little doubt that Grant could in fact come up with lots of ways that aren't all of a private nature. Doesn't stop it being a thrill that Grant wants to do anythig with him. "I'm looking forward to it," he tells Grant. And he is very much looking forward to it. It's disappointing that there will be another week before they can see one another again. but he's not feeling that disappointment when he stares at Grant like a dopey idiot with a grin on his face. Nor does he feel like a dopey idiot with Grant smiling back at him like he is. H'es not certain how long they just smile at each other before the sound of someone clearing their throat reminds him they are in public. Nor does he know if it came from his RPOs or Grant's PPOs. But he gives an embarrassed little laugh even though he also doesn't know if it was done intentionally or not. "Should we get back to watching the rowing," he asks. Not because he wants to but it does feel like they hsould do something that reminds them they are in public.

It's a little disappointing to hear that Richard isn't quite sure when they can make this boat sleepover happen, but Grant isn't too worried since Richard is the one who invited him. Clearly he wants it to happen too or he wouldn't have suggested it in the first place. And clearly he wants to hang out with Grant on land too even if the boat thing has to wait, which is pretty cool. He returns Richard's grin. "Hell yeah, we do. And I'm very good at coming up with ways to have fun on land." Grant is very confident he and Richard can come up with lots of ways to have fun together, and it's...exciting. Having a cool new friend is exciting. Which probably explains why he's just standing there grinning at Richard like an idiot.

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Grant's declaration that he knew Richard would get it makes him stupidly happy. This fancy might be making him stupid but hard to feel like it when Grant's clearly fancying him back. Now that they are setting up dates it feels like they're past fancying even. Though Richard isn't sure what it would qualify as. No time to thikn on it either. Not that it matters. What matters is they want to spend time with each other. It's a thrill. "I'll have to check. Usually I don't have a lot of things on during the semester but occasionally I have to do something. Also need to make certain the weather isn't too bad for it." It's a disappointment that he can't give Grant a more definitive answer but a boat sleepover feels very close to happening. "But we've got plenty to do on land. I'm sure more can be thought of as well," he added with a grin. It certainly felt like they could fill Grant's wide open schedule.

Grant laughs again, delighted when Richard agreed with him like that. "I knew you'd get it." He feels like he's practically buzzing with excitement at the idea of spending the night with Richard on his boat, or maybe its just the fact that that's something Richard wants to do with him. Either way, Grant is excited, and it's a huge bummer they can't just go do it now because they have to stay here and pretend to be interested in these dudes rowing boats that Grant can't sleep with Richard on. Have a sleepover with Richard on, that is. It's even thrilling to hear Richard agree with him that its a shame he can't leave his own brother's royal regatta thing. Grant grins. "Well I don't know what you're schedule's like, but I'll be here next week and don't know anyone else in England so mine should be wide open."

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Grant's brand of cheek makes Richard feel out of his depth. But in the sort of way that thrills him. He's never felt anything like it. It's a rush just talking to the bloke. Not only is Richard certain they are on the same page now, Grant might actually be a few paragraphs ahead. "Why indeed," he replies back. A thrill runs down his spine at those words from Grant. All the reasons why he should in fact deny himself are dumped like excess baggage in the face of that cheeky grin. He laughs lightly, from excitement not amusement, at Grant's addition. He's so down for it. That's thrilling. Even though Richard doesn't know exactly what sort of good time Grant means exactly for their boat sleepover he's got no concern that it wouldn't also be a good time for him as well. "Yes, it rather is isn't it." Richard would ditch in a heartbeat if he could. Sadly he can not. "Hopefully we won't have to wait too long."

Grant's grin widens a little when Richard says he can't wait to hear his judgment on the coffee. Richard is joking, obviously. But Grant is also pretty sure Richard is planning on hanging out with him enough to get to hear all his opinions on coffee, and he's pretty happy about that. Richard is fun to hang out with so far. It'll be cool to hang out with him more on campus. And on his boat, apparently. On his boat overnight. Grant feels another weird flush of heat, and a weird little thrill when Richard confirms that's what he meant and adds on that teasing, giving Grant a cheeky grin back. He laughs, trying not to think too hard about why he's suddenly very excited about going on a boat. It'll be cool. "Excuse you, of course I live up to my hype. But yes, you should see it for yourself, 'cause why deny yourself a good time?" He added with another cheeky grin. "Like I said, I'm so down for a boat sleepover. Too bad we can't ditch this thing and go do it now."

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Richard laughed when Grant said he knew what he wasn't getting Richard for Christmas. "Rohan would be less then thrilled if he walked in and saw a plant. Truthfully I think even I would hesitate." Growing plants was best left to others that was sure. Richard laughed along with Grant and Whiz at Whiz's musical reference. He was soon feeling embarrassed again when Whiz teased him about his fancy in front of his fancy. Grant didn't seem to catch on at least. "We did not name it, unless you count the monstrosity. Nor would we have named it Audrey II," he added with a look in Whiz's direction. Hopefully Grant would think that's what Whiz meant and not look too deep into it. If he did it wasn't like it would be bad at least. They'd made plans. Grant had seemingly raced up here to see him first thing. His fancy was undoubtedly not a secret to Grant. He was just nervous because this was all new.

It seemed to be going swimmingly at least. No awkward pauses or awkwardness of any kind. He laughed a little when Grant talked about sitting on boxes. "No? You've come to the right place. Whiz is aces when it comes to decorating. His room is great." Richard had staff that made his room presentable, not sterile but nothing like Whiz's room. While he admired Whiz's freedom of expression he hadn't yet dared to try doing anything similar in his own spaces. It was a surprise that Grant wasn't more like Whiz in that regard. He certainly had a lot of personality he could work with. Richard's grin grew when Grant praised the tea. "I'm glad you like it." He was so pleased about it he couldn't even come up with anything clever. Instead he offered Grant a plate of biscuits. "Would you like a biscuit?" On the plate were several dog shaped shortbread biscuits, Richard's favorite since he was small.

"Sounds like it," Grant laughed when Richard said it was a proper mess, amused both by the story and by Richard's sheepish smile. Then he laughed harder when Richard said he'd been asked not to keep plants. "For real? So I guess I know what I'm not getting you for Christmas," he teased. He couldn't help asking about pictures, and he was pleased when it got him a laugh from Richard. Clearly he wasn't too embarrassed for Grant to tease about it. "Someone had to document that travesty, what if it had come to life and eaten someone a la Little Shop of Horrors?" Grant laughed, a little surprised by the reference that had been the Ilvermorny school musical one year. "Don't tell me you named it," he joked, earning a laugh from Whiz, who looked over at Richard and said, "I know exactly what we'd name it too," with a mischievous grin that made Grant feel like he was missing something.

Grant chuckled at Richard's comment about drinking tea everyday. "Guess not." He decided not to think too hard about how he forgot what they were talking about and also that Whiz was there for a second. These things happened. It was fine. And he totally recovered. Nothing weird here at all. He grinned when Richard said his record collection sounded groovy. Maybe Richard would want to come hang out in his room sometimes too. Grant liked that thought. That was just, like, what friends did. He chuckled sheepishly at Richard's addition about him decorating. "Yeah, we definitely don't wanna hang out there right now. Unless you like sitting on boxes. Maybe I should have thought more about decorating though, I didn't really bring much for the walls," he admitted. But his things were already spread between three bedrooms, how was he supposed to find stuff to decorate a dorm room too? He picked up his tea and took a sip, surprised by how much better it was than the tea at the regatta. "Oh, wow. That's actually pretty good," he told Richard with a grin. "Guess you do know your tea."

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Despite not caring about coffee he finds Grant's defense of coffee charming. Unsurprising as he finds a lot about Grant charming. Richard laughs and grins back at Grant. "I can't wait to hear your judgements on the coffee." He doesn't see it changing his opinion of coffee any but he can't help but hope there will be a few coffee dates. Richard has never been on an actual date but it feels like two blokes having coffee together would be something that could easily be a date that doesn't look date-ish on the outside.

Speaking of dates now that he's started inviting Grant out he can't seem to stop himself. Though it's beginning to look like an overnight excursion on his boat was a date too far. Disappointing but still lots to look forward to. Unless Grant found it creepy and this whole thing was ruined. Grant's unsure answer had him thinking just that. Only it seemed he'd rushed into catastrophic thinking. Richard felt relief when Grant seemed to confess not understanding what Richard had been attempting. That cheeky grin enough to wipe out any lingering worries. Richard laughed. "I bet you are," he replied. Grant seemed to be a ton of fun at anything. "And yes, if you'd like, I'm inviting you to sleepover on the boat. Especially now that I need to see for myself if you live up to your hype," he added with a slightly cheeky smile of his own.

Grant is surprised when Richard seems kind of flustered at his teasing, or maybe Grant is just imagining that weird quality to his voice. It's probably the latter, because when Richard speaks again he sounds normal, or at least Grant thinks he does. He doesn't really know Richard well enough to know what normal is for him. But he laughs at Richard's comment. "Nah, I'm not into wasting good food," he answers. Then he groans when Richard says he doesn't know anything about good or bad coffee. "Ugh. Just coffee? There is absolutely a range in quality of coffee and thank God I'm coming to your university so I can tell you if what you've been drinking is good or not," he says with a shake of his head, but he's grinning.

His grin widens as he and Richard tease each other back and forth, first with the skinny dipping and then about Grant's Richard impression. He's less sure what to make of Richard talking about sleeping on his boat. The opportunity would present itself? "Uh, I guess," Grant answered, unsure. The only person he knows with a boat is Richard. Who just invited Grant out on his boat. "Oh. Wait." A grin tugged at Grant's lips, along with a rush of heat that was easy to attribute to embarrassment over not realizing what Richard was very obviously getting at here. "Are you inviting me to have a sleepover on your boat? 'Cause if you are, I am so in. And if you're not," which, maybe he wasn't and Grant was misreading things, but even if he was at this point he felt confident enough to add, "You should consider it, because I'm a ton of fun at sleepovers." His wide grin turned a little cheeky; if Richard wasn't actually extending an invite this still felt like fair game for teasing over given what Richard said about an opportunity presenting itself.

[hrhprincerichard]

"Oh yes," Richard said with a sheepish smile. "Not even just a little either. It was a proper mess." He was embarrassed but not so much that he wasn't also pleased at how much Grant was enjoying the story. Grant's comment and Whiz stating how it had been the same as his had him laughing and hsaking his head. "Maybe a little too potent. I've been asked not to keep plants." It was the sort of embarrassing story he didn't mind sharing with a fancy. Grant's request for pictures had him laughing again. "Oh yes. Whiz was very keen on photographic evidence."

He chuckled when Grant called him the tea expert. "Well I suppose one doesn't drink it every day nearly all their life without gaining some insight," he replied back. Richard did his best not to show how pleased he was that Grant was calling him that and trusting him to give Grant a good cup of tea. All of which was forgotten as he and Grant smiled at one another bouncing 'cool' back and forth. There was a momentary pang of disappointment that Grant was inviting them both before it was shooed away by common sense. Whiz was currently with them, had Grant just extended the invitation to Richard it would have been rude. And Richard did not want to be involved with anyone who'd be rude to his best mate. That was a hard line. "A solid record collection sounds groovy. And I'm certain your room is great. Or will be once you've had a chance to decorate." The fact that Grant hadn't unpacked in favor of coming here first was still very much a thrill.

Grant's grin widened when Richard thanked Whiz, clearly not pleased that now he was going to have to tell Grant something that was apparently embarrassing, but also clearly not that embarrassing or Grant doubted Whiz would be outing him for it. Which meant it was probably going to be very entertaining. And sure enough, Richard didn't disappoint. Grant let out a loud laugh when Richard explained the story of the orchid that apparently took over his dorm room. And--"It got into the next room?" He asked through his laughter, thoroughly delighted. "Oh my God. Not a plant person, are you kidding? You're like, the plant whisperer," He joked, laughing again, and he was pleased when Whiz chimed in, "That's exactly what I tried to tell him!" Grant laughed again. "Please tell me you have pictures," he said to Richard with a wide grin.

If only he knew how the hell to take his tea, but this also felt like the kind of thing to take Richard's lead in instead of pretending he knew what to do. It'd probably be obvious he didn't know anything to someone who liked tea as much as Richard. Plus Grant wanted to actually like it and Richard was definitely the tea expert. He smiled when Richard told him how he took it even as he prepared Grant's or him. That was nice. "Sounds good," he answered, wondering why he felt sort of off-kilter over a cup of tea. He chuckled at what Richard said next. "I'm pretty sure I'll like it, you are the tea expert after all," Grant answered. He was kind of excited to taste it now. Only it was forgotten for a second after Richard invited him to hang out as often as he wanted and then grinned back at him like--like a new friend that Grant was making. Yeah. "Cool," he answered back, feeling a flush of heat under his collar when he remembered he'd already said that and quickly tried to get back on track. His comment felt stupid but it seemed to work at least. Okay, they also hung out in Whiz's room. "That makes sense. You guys are welcome to hang out in my room too but I've gotta be honest, it's not nearly as nice as yours is. I do have a solid record collection though."

[hrhprincerichard]

Richard feels a little flustered, and yes perhaps weak in the knees too, at the way Grant says baby. Not expected. "Right, good to know. Not average American thing." His voice isn't normal nor is his laugh but he clears his throat and manages to be normal with his addition. "Also good to know you don't just waste tea sandwiches for fun." Right. He's fine. I'ts all fine. Nothing to see here. Thankfully Grant being confused about coffee helps. "I have no idea regarding quality of coffee, just that it's coffee." He laughs when Grant says he's going to force him to try cinnamon. "Cinnamon in coffee, sounds very American turning coffee into some sort of dessert on it's own," he replies to that comment, threat?, he's not certain which it is.

But he's not worried about the cinnamon. There's too much to be excited over with how keen Grant seems to hang out. He just hadn't expected nudity to enter the picture yet. Richard is a little embarrassed at his answer, his face feeling a little warm from it. But he doesn't regret it especially at that grin he gets from Grant abotu it. "I suppose so." Certainly surprised himself. Still he's happy to put skinny dipping behind them for now. Richard laughs at Grant's reply. "Yeah, I'm not certain about that," he teases back. Gets a little of his confidence back and more or less invites Grant to spend the night with him. "It is, very cool." Grant's answer is hard to decipher. "I'm sure the opportunity would if you ever wanted it to," he replies. This is fine. Totally fine. Just because the first time he's ever asked a bloke out was last night via text or today, he wasn't sure last night counted, and he was already asking a bloke to stay the night was not a big deal. It was of course. A huge deal. But Richard couldn't really think about that right now. He hadn't meant it to happen, it just sort of slipped out. In public. Which was not ideal. but it was fine.

Grant laughs at Richard's quick reply to his teasing, enjoying it even more in person than he was over text yesterday. "I guess you can do both, but if the sandwiches really are good I won't need to dump them in a plant. Also, you're making it sound like an American thing, which it's not. That's all me, baby," Grant says with his cheekiest grin, thoroughly enjoying himself. He's excited about hanging out with Richard more, including to see bad bar music and coffee runs. What he's not sure about is the coffee. "Saying it tastes like coffee tells me nothing, there's a wide range in terms of quality when we're talking about coffee. Which isn't to say I wouldn't drink shitty coffee, but I like to know what I'm getting into," he adds with a grin. "I can respect drinking coffee black, but I'm probably gonna force you to try it with cinnamon sometime. Can't know its not for you if you haven't tried it," he says with a smile, definitely planning to spike Richard's coffee with cinnamon at the first opportunity.

And it's feeling like he'll have plenty of opportunities, since Richard seems keen on hanging out with him too. Even inviting him on his yacht, which is kind of wild to think about. Grant can't resist teasing about skinny dipping, though he lets out a surprised laugh at the answer he finally gets from Richard. "For real? Well damn, aren't you full of surprised," he says with a grin. Grant wasn't sure how he'd pull of skinny dipping with a prince, but if the opportunity presented himself he sure wouldn't say no. He laughs at Richard's teasing about his attempt at an english accent. "I know it's hard to tell what you sound like, but you're just gonna have to take my word on this one," he teases back. It's a surprise to hear Richard does sleep on his boat. "Really? Wow, sounds cool." He isn't sure what to do with the fact that Richard said he should try it when he's already said he hasn't been on a boat before. "Guess I'll keep that in mind if the opportunity ever presents itself."

[hrhprincerichard]

Richard laughed at Grant's comment about what sort of plant guy he seemed at. The laugh turned a little sheepish when Whiz joined the conversation. "Thanks, Whiz," Richard said when Grant wanted to hear the story. He wasn't upset, just a little embarrassed. "Bess bought me an orchid for the dorm room. She thought it would add to the decor. It was fine. But then we were going to Greece for a long weekend and I was worried about it dying. I found this book of plant charms at the school library and put a charm on the orchid. It didn't die," he said sort of stalling before he got to the embarrassing part. "Instead it um... well it was everywhere. The walls. The ceiling. Every bit of the furniture. It had even crept under the door and into Rohan's office next door. It was well and truly a debacle. Rohan had to get a plant specialist in to handle it so we could have the rooms back. So not really a plant person," he concluded sheepishly.

He'd never been so happy to have tea as a distraction. it just felt a little soon to be embarrassing himself in front of Grant. That was forgotten when Grant clearly didn't know how to take tea and was choosing to try how he took it. A weird thing to feel touched about maybe but he was. "A splash of milk and a sugar cube it is," he told Grant while fixing his tea for him. "There you are. If you don't care for it I'm happy to make you another till we find out how you like it." He gave Grant a smile. As long as it didn't go the way of the tea sandwich at the regatta he'd be happy. "Cool," he replied back when Grant looked pleased at the invite. Grant was fun, spending time with him would be nice. Grant wasn't the only one who'd momentarily forgotten Whiz was in the room while they smiled at one another. He felt a little warm under the collar, both embarrassed at his lapse and thrilled by the way Grant had smiled at him. "Er yeah, a good bit. Sometimes Whiz's room as well. Quieter then hanging out elsewhere."

Grant laughed when Richard pointed out that he didn't have any plants. Grant hadn't seen any in his quick look at the place, but it was hard to tell when Richard--and Whiz--were more interesting than what was in Richard's room. "I'm kind of surprised. You struck me as the type of guy who'd have, like, one meticulously well-maintained plant," Grant answered, and then he was surprised by Whiz's laughter in reply. "Richard clearly hasn't told you about the orchid debacle, then." Grant's eyebrow shot up and he looked at Richard in amusement. "The orchid debacle? No, Richard hasn't told me about the orchid debacle." Grant quirked an eyebrow at Richard, amused. "I'm all ears," he said with a teasing grin.

He laughed when Richard said his nice room was a perk of the dorm being named after his ancestors. "Of course it is," he answered with a roll of his eyes, the grinned when Richard offered him tea. Though he was thrown off by Richard's question. "Oh." Maybe Grant should have expected to be asked how he took his tea, but he had no answer ready. "Uh. I don't really know. I guess I'll just try it how you take it?" He said with a grin, hoping he didn't look too flustered. Anyways, the Prince of England seemed like as good a role model as any when it came to tea drinking. Plus Richard seemed passionate about his tea. Once Richard handed him his tea Grant smiled as Richard sat down next to him. This was nice, hanging out with Richard. And Whiz. His grin widened when Richard said he could hang out here as often as he liked. That was--yeah, that was really cool. It really felt like Grant had made a friend here. "Yeah? Cool," he said, grinning at Richard for maybe a second too long. "Maybe I'll do that." He grinned at Richard another second too long before he remembered Whiz was there and probably had that same invitation. "Do you guys hang out here a lot?" Yeah, that was a good save.