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[apuckalypse]

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[ruevealing]

Only us today, if that's quite alright.

[Rue would never say no to more time with Hunter, but today feels like a Rue and Casey morning.]

[apuckalypse]

It's okay! Just let me grab my coat.

[He leaves the door open so Rue can hang for one minute while he goes to call their intentions through the washroom door, then swiftly bundles up and tugs his boots on before they head out together.]

Any special occasion, or did you miss me?

[ruevealing]

Well now I feel silly for not making up some grand reason for calling you out so early.

[They take the stairs quickly, before they step out into the near freezing winter weather. It's still dark outside, the pathways illuminated under tall streetlights hazy with morning fog.]

You were just on my mind.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey shivers at the chill, hunkering into his jacket a little deeper.]

I'll just call it Lucky Casey Day, then. [How fortunate he is, to be in the thoughts of his mom.] Do you know a place that's open this early? I don't usually go out for breakfast.

[ruevealing]

[Rue won't torment him with the cold for too long, but they will drape a wing over him while they walk. May as well use their fluff and size for something!]

There's a kitschy diner just a few streets down from the shop. I can not speak to the quality of their cuisine, but there was a similar place back in Massachusetts that served quite the heavenly breakfast. I could almost ignore the peeling wallpaper.

[apuckalypse]

[Mom is the best blanket, hands down. He'll indulge and scoot in to accept the added warmth with a grateful smile.]

Well, you know me and my standards. It'll probably be fine. What about you, though? You okay with the public thing?

[He knows they don't really like to be seen eating and all.]

[ruevealing]

[It's still a little strange sometimes, for anyone else to know so much about them. Far above him, Rue blinks, long and slow, too thoughtful for what should be a very easy question.]

Well, I thought I might just have a cup of coffee and let you eat.

[apuckalypse]

Oh... yeah, that makes sense.

[Hm. It's technically fine, wouldn't be the first time.]

...Have you had breakfast potatoes before? They're like mini-fries, you can practically swallow them whole.

[ruevealing]

[And that's another thing that still takes Rue by surprise, even now - how, as family, the boys are always looking out for their parent too.]

I have not. You think it wouldn't be too much?

[apuckalypse]

[Family looks after family, it is the Hamato way. (Family also razzes mercilessly, so Mom is lucky to avoid most of that.)]

Personally I think if anyone judges you for eating they should have to eat rocks, but if you're worried about appearances, that's a food you can eat the same way anyone else would.

[ruevealing]

[It's so perfectly Casey, so intensely honest and caring, that Rue can't help the laugh that slips from their beak.

He's right. There's a part of Rue who absolutely knows no one will care. It just doesn't quite erase their own fear, no matter how silly it may be.]

Then I think I will have to try a breakfast potato today. [and much more soft,] Thank you.

[apuckalypse]

[He relaxes a bit at their eventual decision, pleased, though he would certainly have accepted whatever their answer was.]

We can get a big plate of it and share! If you don't like it, I'll bring the leftovers home. Oh, and I definitely need bacon. It's not breakfast without bacon.

[ruevealing]

Sharing would be perfect! And perhaps I will swipe a piece of your bacon.

[Or they'll just go nuts on the menu. It's been a long time since they've ordered out, the temptation of leftovers is strong.]

Here we are - [And indeed, it's just an old looking diner, fairly innocuous, but upon walking inside, the atmosphere is just utterly inviting and warm. A peppy server with a nametag reading Rosie sets them both up in a wide booth next to the front window, so as the sun rises, they'll be treated to the view of pretty shifting colors.

Rosie slides a pair of menus down on the tabletop, grinning at both of them:] Whatcha drinkin' this morning?

[apuckalypse]

[Casey mocks a gasp - not his bacon! - and follows them in. It seems like a nice old place, not unlike the first diner he'd ever seen (a similar unexpected trip with Steve months ago). He settles into his spot and flips open the menu, scanning his options before lifting a hand.]

A really big glass of orange juice please!

[It makes Rosie laugh, but not unkindly. He's full kid mode today, no coffee.]

[ruevealing]

[Full kid mode Casey is impossible to deny. He's so effortlessly adorable.]

Just coffee for me please. Thank you.

[Rosie's still laughing as she slips away to get their drinks.]

And thank you, dear, for indulging me this morning.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey shakes his head, scanning over the breakfast combos. Some come with heaping plates of pancakes, bacon, eggs... ooh...]

It's not really indulging... not like it's a chore to hang out with you. You're welcome, though. Thanks for inviting me!

[He's not even bothered by random 4AM wake-up calls. Better than surprise attacks in the middle of the night.]

[ruevealing]

Get whatever you like. And as much as you like!

[you could have pancakes for days, casey.]

To be perfectly honest, I had an ulterior motive to asking you out with me this morning.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey flips down his menu briefly to grin at them.]

I knew it! [He did not.] What is it?

[ruevealing]

[With it still so early, the diner is just empty enough that somewhere behind the counter Rosie absolutely laughs at that excited outburst of his.]

Did you? Truly? [A little fake gasp that quickly turns into a happy chuckle.] I'm losing my touch.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey's cheeks turn pink at both the callout and the laugh, hiding behind the menu once more, suddenly very fixated on pancakes.]

Well... I had a suspicion, anyway. You did text pretty early.

[ruevealing]

[They lay a paw on the tabletop, all too reminiscent of their first meeting, a tiny pinch at Rue's cheek as if they were trying to frown.]

Oh Casey, I must apologize for waking you up. I had so much on my mind and I wasn't paying close enough attention to the time. I did not mean to wake you.

[apuckalypse]

[Very different from their first meeting, Casey's instinct is to drop a hand from the menu to rest it against Rue's paw. The conversation isn't serious enough for him to pull his attention entirely off the menu - food needs to be ordered still! decisions to be made! don't inconvenience the wait staff (even if they laugh at him)! - but he notices.]

Oh, don't even worry about it. It wasn't that much earlier than I usually wake up. And I'm pretty good at going back to sleep most of the time.

[As long as it doesn't involve nightmares. Mom texts are so much easier to settle down from.]

[ruevealing]

[The pinch disappears from Rue's feathery countenance, eyes smiling as their server appears to drop off their drinks - proudly proclaiming she's brought Casey's 'really big glass of orange juice' with a grin - and to take their order.

Without having even looked at the menu, Rue politely pushes it back over the tabletop towards Rosie.]

I'll have a large order of breakfast potatoes and a side of bacon, thank you.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey gleefully chugs his juice while Rue orders. The glass kind of is comically large in his hands.]

I'll have the breakfast platter #2 please! With extra bacon.

[Once their orders are taken and Rosie bustles off, Casey is menu-less at last and gives Rue his full attention.]

You still haven't said what we're here for.

[ruevealing]

[There's no escape now.

Rue curls a paw around their mug - hilariously, far too small for their paw in comparison to Casey's giant juice - and looks down at their coffee.]

I've been thinking of what comes after this place.