It was starting to become a pattern that his words, though often slow in coming or far between, were just exactly right, and just now they made her smile. It was nice to hear, even in a somewhat roundabout way, confirmation that he was here with her for herself, to know he enjoyed who she was. "Same to you, bub," she said, patting his cheek saucily, and then giving him one final playful kiss before she drew back to get up.
"Alright, alright," she said, putting out a hand as if in any universe she would have been able to pull him up if she tried. "You and your work ethic put me to shame, let's get going, darlin. We got soulful masterpieces to create."