2019-09-06 - The Morning Routine

Mornings probably came way too early sometimes. And Ruby was definitely a morning person as it helped her get more done before having to head over to the shop to open. So when Raul wakes up there's no Ruby, but the cat is sitting on the nightstand at Ruby's side of the bed. Judgy little eyes look at him. Then there's a meow and he hops off to head to go find Ruby probably. And the smell of bacon is in the air. Breakfast maybe?

Raul sleeps on his side so when he awakens he's just starring at the judgemental cat before sighing at the meow and jump. It isn't until the bacon smell becomes heavy enough that he instinctively licks his lips that he actually begins to sit up and lumber up and out of bed in airy gym shorts and no boxers, it's hot afterall. There's some scratching, a rub of his eyes, and finally he starts padding out of the bedroom and towards the kitchen with a mrrrrm sound and half-lidded eyes. "Ruby, why didn't you wake me up?" he wonders in the age old question he asks, though it's just as likely he fell back asleep after she did.

Storm wends his way around Ruby's legs as he enters the kitchen where she's cooking and there's a look down to the cat and then she hears the zombie-esque sound that Raul makes, "Morning sunshine." she tells him as she moves over to place a kiss on his cheek. She's dressed in one of his old shirts. "I did wake you. You always fall back asleep." she muses at him. "Bacon and eggs alright?" she asks as she looks to him. "I woke up pretty early so I didn't want to drag you out of bed before dawn, but I took a nap before getting up to make breakfast." she admits.

Raul squints up those slate black eyes with a red rim to them and circles under his eyes. It seems no matter how much sleep he gets there's always that lowkey wearied look to him in the morning. He doesn't even react as Ruby kisses him on the cheek until she's moving back to ensure the kitchen doesn't catch on fire. It's only then he takes an affectionate swat at her tush. "And toast." he adds to the order, watching her with sleepy blinks. "What time is it?" he mumbles while walking the other way from the kitchen, around a marble counter breakfast bar where he wobbles onto a stool and hunches forward for coffee and food. Not the most helpful boyfriend come morning it seems.

Ruby gives a bit of a giggle when he swats her butt. But she gives a smile when he settles down at the bar, "It's almost nine. Figured I'd come up and get you if the bacon didn't wake you." she grins at that. She scoots his cup of coffee over, "You look like you'll need a whole pot to yourself." she admits quietly. Then she goes about plating breakfast for both of them and settles the plates down on the bar. "What do you have planned today?" she asks him as she settles into the chair beside him.

"Today, I said I'd go down to the paper and see about getting a column. Pickup some groceries for the weekend. I thought you might like some homemade street tacos." Raul admits with a glimpse into why he probably put on that weight over the last few years. He's not an amazing cook, but he does think about food a good deal. When the coffee gets closer he picks it up and takes a loud slurpy sip from it with a contented ahhhh sound right after. "Maybe catch up with some of the people in town, since they don't visit the shop to much. You?" and the coffee cup comes up for a long sip, half-lidded sleepy eyes watching Ruby over the rim.

"Oh yeah, you said you were going to put an application in." Ruby nods, all those long curls bouncing as she does. "Good luck on that. If you need references you can put me down." she tells him with a smile as she takes a bite of bacon. "A few people don't really have a use for comics and things like that." she admits. "Or some think games and such are a waste of money." she shrugs. "Just trying to give a bit of happiness. And make a little money." she shrugs. "I've got some stuff to do at the store. Someone wants me to price their comic collection for them." she tells him. "And I love when you cook. Means I don't have to pick up take out." she teases him.

"Well we don't want to be one of those out of touch gaming couples that doesn't have anything else to talk about." Raul says in a wry voice after another sip of coffee and finally steals some bacon to munch on with a lick of his lips at the salty flavor. "I'll put you as a reference, you are my employer." he teases with a bit of the waggly brow at her. "Though if we ever get another employee you better watch out you don't get reported for favoring me just because we're dating." another crunch of bacon, well several crunches he inhales the strip only to chase it with some coffee. "I was thinking with Halloween coming up, your favourite time of year, we might do a costume party. Comics and Games, we could find a seamstress or tailor in town that could take orders maybe. One two punch or you could do it, sell custom outfits for the party? We could start promoting it now so you have time to make them all?"

"I don't think we're going to be out of touch." Ruby muses at that. Then she listens to him as she finishes her breakfast and there's a smile, "I already opened up Halloween commisions. So you're just a little bit behind." she teases him softly. "Already got one call for a Dark Phoenix costume, not the movie one either so that's a relief." she admits. "I like the comic book party idea though. We could build on that." she smiles to him. "And I think we have some other crafty people in town who might want to make their own." she admits.

Raul refills his cup of coffee and absently scratches at his chest with a sniffle, those bleary eyes beginning to track the messy curls of Ruby's vibrantly red hair as they talk, which sometimes gives him a looking off into the distance look. "Comics and games, Princess Peach, Mario the whole she-bang... Do you know anyone at the paper I should talk to specifically or just show up and talk to the receptionist?"

Ruby gives a look over to him and there's a smile, "You want to go as Princess Peach and Mario?" she asks him with a little twinkle in her eye. Hey, he sounded like he was the one who suggested it! "That would be adorable really." she winks at him. Then she sobers just a bit and shakes her head, "I don't know anyone off hand. I'd go in and talk to reception and then go from there really." she admits. "They probably are looking for fresh blood." she smiles to that.

"Don't make it sound like I'm getting into something dicey." Raul says with an absent laugh as he refocuses on her petite face with a toothy grin, his face bearing some peach fuzz that has yet to be shaved. "And we can if you want. Though I'll have to put on some weight to get the proper mario look." he counters.

"Well, they aren't vampires so not like they're going to bleed you dry." Ruby teases him. Then she leans over and places her chin on his shoulder, "You want to go to the gym with me sometime?" she asks him. Then there's a shake of her head, "Nope, no Mario then!" she laughs. "Maybe Luigi. He gets none of the love." she muses. "My mom keeps asking when the wedding is and asks where her grandkids are. I'm going to send her a picture of Storm today and tell her to meet grandchild number one." she muses as she slips off the stool to clear her plate.

Raul reaches back with one hand to give a squeeze to Ruby's thigh until she is slipping away to tidy up and replies, "Could do Luigi and that other Princess, I forget her name. There's another one though. Off-brand characters." then he's finishing his second cup of coffee in as little as half an hour with a roll of his shoulders, "I'll come to the gym but we're not going for a whole hour are we?"

Ruby moves back over to him when she's done with clearing dishes and there's a smile to him, "I will be happy to do whatever costumes you feel comfortable in. I could always go as Black Cat again." she musing. She leans in and nuzzles his cheek, "How about you start with 30 minutes? See how that goes." she smiles. "I'm not going to make you do more than you want to. Just want you to be healthy and things so you'll be around for a wedding." she states as she tickles him.

Raul 's cheek is scruffy a hint of bristle at the short hairs as Ruby nuzzles in and his arm slips around her waist, hand tracing down to her creamy skinned thighs and back up under the hem of his 'borrowed' shirt that he hasn't worn in some time yet always seems to be washed with his clothes anyway! As his hand settles on her hip under the shirt he turns to look at her with that toothy grin and a laugh at the tickle, "You just want me to be able to carry you through our honeymoon suite door. Don't you worry, I can still lift up a pipsqueak like you."

Ruby gives a little purr when he traces his hands over her thighs and then she gives a chuckle, "I mean, I doubt either of us are going to be up for carrying anyone after a wedding. People always think it's all romantic but we'll probably just want to sleep." she murmurs with a grin. "And I just want you around longer. I'm selfish like that." she admits as she kisses his cheek. "Can't blame a woman for that." she adds.

"We could always elope, then we wouldn't be tired after the wedding." Raul points out wryly to Ruby as she kisses him on the cheek and he gives her feminine hip a snap with the band of her panties (or whatever is under there). "Do you want to meet up after work at the gym or is there a certain time you prefer going?"

"You joke, but I'd be fine with just eloping and spending the money somewhere else." Ruby muses as she looks to him. She swats him gently when he snaps the band of her panties, "Sure, we could meet at the gym after work. I just go when I've got time and not going to be late for dinner." she grins. "And we won't put you through the ringer first time. I promise." she tells him as she wraps her arms around his shoulders to hug him.

Raul makes an mmm sound as she goes in for the hug and he gives her a squeeze about the waist with his lone arm. "Well if you're fine with eloping, then should I put an ad for a pastor in the paper once they give me a column?" he teases though given the years they've been together and the lack of a marriage yet, one wonders whether they're both playing chicken with each other or one of them is secretly putting it off! "What's the local gym around here again?"

Ruby gives a smile to his question, "Sure. Ask them if they don't mind a bit of fun with their ceremonies." she tells him. Then she gives a bit of a look to him, "Well, there's Kelly's Gym and then a few others that are more franchise ones. I tend to hit the Planet Fitness that's over by the strip mall, but could try something new." she states. "I'll make dinner tonight since you're going to the gym with me. How does that sound?" she asks him.

"Kelly's Gym works for me and dinner does too. Something with a lot of carbs." Raul insists as he finally plants a kiss on Ruby's forehead and gives her a little hip bump as he slides off the stool and thus straightens up gaining some of his height back. The call for carbs might hint why he's got a growler growing into a keg some day for a stomach. "Have you seen I am Mother yet, it's a new netflix movie. It only has three actresses in it, we can watch it over dinner after the gym?"

"Then I'll meet you at the gym after work then." Ruby tells him as he states Kelly's is the place to be. "Alright. Something with carbs." she muses. He didn't eat right. Maybe she'd slowly change their diet. She looks up to him when he stands and there's a smile, "I haven't seen that, no, but we can watch it over dinner." she nods to that. "I need to go get a shower and dressed before heading out." she tells him as she gives him another little squeeze and then starts to head off. She stops though, looking over her shoulder, "You are more than welcome to join me in the shower though." she gives him an impish grin and then disappears to head upstairs.

Raul is caught giving Ruby's tush an ogling as she looks over her shoulder at him and he just pats his stomach with a sheepish smile. "Well I need to shower too." he says and begins to pad along. By the time they're in the bathroom she has a hickey. By the time they're in the shower he's breathy and murmuring to bend forward. From there it's some life threatening odds of him slipping in the shower while having a quickie but he's going to the gym tonight so clearly this is bribery of the highest order. After they actually wash up he's toweling off his messy hair and says in an aside, "Love ya Pipsqueak."

"Thank goodness it's getting cool enough to wear high necked shirts to work." Ruby teases him as her skin is bruised lovingly. The redhead didn't mind before work quickies and more than that she enjoyed them. There's a giggle when he almost slips, "Alright, no dying before we get married." she muses softly. She steps out of the shower and wraps herself in one of her towels as she watches him and there's a brilliant smile, "I know." she tells him. "And I love you too. I'm going to get dressed and hope that no one is waiting at the store." she murmurs as she kisses his shoulder on the way by.