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Paar-fay- [they gently correct.] You'll absolutely love that, dear. And a slice of cake to go, please. Thank you.

[It only takes a moment for the server to gather desserts and bring them right back to them, Casey's parfait heaping with various fruit and whipped cream.]

Par-fay. [He's quick to echo, the word sounding as strange on his tongue as any unfamiliar one does. He'll file it away, though. There's so many new foods on that list.

When it arrives, his eyes grow wide, and for a moment he can only stare at it.]

Whoa... is it like ice cream? [It came in a cup but it has solids in it. What!! He picks up a spoon and starts tugging chunks of fruit and cream loose.]

[Rue can think of nothing better than getting to sit back and watch their experience new things, it has to be one of their favorite things to do.]

Similar, but not quite as heavy or sugary-sweet as ice cream. Most of the flavor comes from the fruit and the cream is so lightly whipped it feels like a cloud against your tongue. It's a perfect summertime treat, especially during those hot months.

We'll have to make some to share before our next lakeside family day.

[Heckin yum. After a few mouthfuls he holds the spoon up towards them, where a creamy, particularly plump strawberry is resting, waiting to be plucked.]

Whoa, you can make these? We totally should! And it's tasty, it's melting in my mouth so fast but it doesn't hurt to eat like ice cream does.

[Yeah with how fast he tends to eat, brainfreeze is an ongoing issue.]

[Oh Casey.

Even if it isn't the most polite thing to do out in public, the temptation of that perfectly plump strawberry is impossible to deny! Rue delicately pinches it between their talons, a soft hoot of thanks sounding beneath their breath - a gentle hoo-hoo of a sound - before Rue's popping that strawberry into their beak

Somehow it tastes even better than it looked.]

I don't see why not! I've never done it before, but how hard can it be? We could learn together.

[The joy of growing up without strict etiquette rules is you kind of don't give a shit about them. He's going to keep trying to share the biggest pieces of fruit until they indicate they don't want any more.]

Sounds perfect to me. Until then, we can always come back to this place.

[Give that nice Rosie and her boss(??) their business. This parfait isn't lasting long at all.]

[Rue will accept only one more piece of fruit before waving Casey's generosity off. He is too kind, always so giving and happy to share everything he has, even after a lifetime of having so little.

It's one of the many things Rue is just endlessly proud of him for.]

As often as we like! I confess, I am enjoying learning to cook at home, but a mother-son date seems like the perfect excuse to treat ourselves to a special breakfast. We'll have to come back soon. Those breakfast potatoes were divine.

[It's because he had so little that he shares, really- as his family was always sharing what little they had with him. Regardless, he's all too happy to destroy the rest of the parfait on his own.]

I'm glad you liked them! [He's rather proud of that, and there's no hiding it. He's found a food Rue can eat in public.] Thank you for taking me here. This was awesome.

[Honestly, that is such a win on all levels. Breakfast potatoes are a top tier Rue food now.]

And thank you for listening to my concerns and my hopes, as well as everything else in between. I didn't intend to come out of this with such a full plan in place, but it feels as if I can breathe so much more freely knowing just what we are to do next.

Me too! On all counts. After everything, I think we deserve something of a happy ending. Or at least a happy future. I'm pretty sure some of us didn't think we'd ever get that.

[Some... if not all, depending on perspective and what counts as happy.]

Agreed, though it is hardly a happy ending. Much more the start of the rest of our lives. A turning more than an end.

[Folkmore is a nice enough home for now, but settling into what will become their forever home will be everything.]

I think we will have earned it after all of this.

Yeah... yeah, that's exactly it.

[And since they're done eating there's no need for making space for it- Casey scoots back over in the seat and leans against Rue's side.]

...Thanks, Mom. I'm glad it's you.

[He doesn't know how he'd feel or where he'd go if it was just him. He's so, so grateful none of them have to go alone.]

[How perfect for him to lean into them just as Rue was going to settle a wing carefully over his shoulder, giving Casey a gentle squeeze against them.]

And I am glad it is you. Every single day I feel that our bond grows even stronger. I'm beginning to believe there is nothing we can not overcome together.

[until like next week but]

[All too easy to cozy up to them, at least until it's time to leave.]

That's just asking Thirteen to throw something terrible at us again.

[Ha ha wouldn't that be crazy... he's in good spirits about it, though, clearly. The promise of a good future and stability in their own world has him feeling stronger than ever.]

[oh no, rue is responsible for mindscape-gate]

After November? Hardly! Thirteen would have to be very cruel indeed to throw something like that on us again. No, she must see the break we need from such drama!

[mom's fault mom's fault]

Stop, stop! [He lifts his hands to try and cover their beak, laughing.] She'll hear you and get mean ideas. Say something like, I'll become my best self by making a hundred perfect parfaits.

[Try and cover their beak, huh! Rue will not be silenced! Have some gentle nibbles coming for those fingers!]

I'm afraid my darling Casey will only become his best self if he is forced to eat a dozen salads!

[noooo you said the evil thing.]

You're gonna see me be my worst self if you try to make me eat leaves.

[never again means never again!]

[hehe look at that expression. rue tips in to give a nibbling owlbear kiss to Casey's cheek in apology, beaming at him when they pull away]

Forgive my teasing, my darling. No salads, only parfaits and breakfast potatoes from here on out.

[He's so very quick to smile again, easily forgiving- or more like his annoyance was only surface level to begin with.]

Proposal accepted!

[If only they could stay here teasing one another and eating parfaits for the rest of the day, but Rue does have a shop to open. One more big side-hug before they slide out of the booth.]

Would you hold onto Hob's cake while I take care of our check?

Oh, of course! I'll wait at the door.

[He'll pull on his coat and hold on to the package, though pardon him sneaking a glance at it to try and decipher what kind of cake it is. There's probably still loads of flavours he's never seen before and he's curious. (No tasting, though! It is not his.)]

[whatever is inside looks covered in delicate whipped vanilla frosting, topped with fresh berries

And while Casey is sneaking that peek, by the time that Rue returns to him at the door, they have an entirely different to-go box in paw. Not so sneaky son!]

Here, I'll trade you.

[surprise, rue quickly added on two more slices of cake for casey to take home for him and hunter to enjoy. might as well go all out for such a special day]

What's this?

[He trades of course, and peeks inside this box too. Oh, the delight in his expression, Rue. Your child is so spoiled.]

Oh! We get cake, too? Thank you, thank you so much! Hunter's gonna love it.

[look!! if anyone deserves a little extra spoiling, it is darling apocalypse boy, Casey Jones. Rue doesn't think an extra sweet or two is going to spoil him too much.]

Something sweet to enjoy together later, my treat.

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