[color=purple][i]Heads up, we have incoming.[/i][/color] Mortimer said suddenly.
Despite being lost in his own thoughts, Richard immediately snapped to attention. The demon heckled the boy at any given opportunity but he could be relied on to be serious when he needed to be. And as he was spoken to, he turned to see who it was.
[color=lightyellow]"Oh, Zachary!"[/color] Richard said in surprise.
He hadn't been expecting someone he knew, so the brown haired boy's arrival was not unwelcome.

Richard straightened his back as the pair fell into step, adjusting his hat as he did. Normally he was on high alert against people he didn't know that well, but Zach didn't seem particularly bad so he supposed he could afford him some leeway. Nevertheless, he couldn't show a shabby appearance to someone he'd just met.
[color=lightyellow]"Yes, it does seem a little strange."[/color] Richard said in response to Zachary's question. [color=lightyellow]"But, I wouldn't think too much of it. Perhaps they simply wish to let us choose who our allies are, and our enemies."[/color]
The blond haired boy smiled conspiratorially at the brown haired boy as he spoke, before giving Zachary a pat on the back. He laughed lightly, as if his actions just now were a joke.
[color=purple][i]Hope you don't do what I think you're doing. You don't even know the guy.[/i][/color] Mortimer muttered in Richard's mind.
He ignored the demon. It would be ideal for him to have a room to himself, but failing that he would much rather share one with someone he was at least acquainted with. That would make his life much easier.

Still smiling, Richard spoke to the boy once more.
[color=lightyellow]"Well, in any case, I think it would be good to get there before anyone else does."[/color] He said in a lighthearted tone. [color=lightyellow]"Shall we go retrieve our belongings?"[/color]
While he had no intentions of becoming close to anyone, he did want to have some friends. It was important to have someone to trust, even though there could be a time where he would not be able to return that trust.
[@Scribe of Thoth]