[he jumps a little at the voice behind him (he should have expected it), and turns on his heels, walking despite the twirls in his footpath]

Oh, right! I forget I can just look things up.

[which he does, taking a turn into the kitchen and going over to check out the cupboards for the tea-making stuff.]

So it's like the mount you were on at the carousel. A big, black cat. [definitely a pet] Wonder if there's any left around... [aha, tea bags!] Citrus or herby?