Ruby owns a monopoly on hot chocolate (thewolfwithinme) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-06-24 20:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, regina mills (evil queen), ruby lucas (little red riding hood) |
Who: Regina Mills and Ruby Lucas
What: Bonding
When: Recently
Where: Casa de Mills
Warnings: Low/None
Status: Log | Complete
Little Red Riding Wolf was one of the last people she expected to ever be even remotely ‘chummy’ with, but considering she’d been on somewhat decent terms with the Savior Herself, and perhaps even okay with Mary Margaret (their last encounter had been beyond bizarre), it wasn’t the most ludicrous thing. Neal’s disappearance for the couple days he and Lina had been nabbed caused Regina to stick close - the woman had been somewhat of a mess, and they joined forces in investigating some of the many tunnels running under this goddamn county.
“How’s he doing?” she inquired, figuring it best to ask the wife-to-be rather than smothering Neal with concern and requesting details. Which she’d done good not to do; nothing good ever came from being held hostage and close to death, so she’d help focus on the silver linings. Such as the trip at the end of the month, visiting Henry to ease all their minds of his well-being.
Ruby had been invited over the spacious Casa de Mills, with its pristine and spotless interior with classic woodsy decor that flowed with elegance. In her kitchen was a wine cabinet built into the wall, with plenty of vintage selections. All of them red. A couple bottles of something different here and there (tequila was a weakness, and there’d been vodka and vermouth for her martini cravings), so her guest had plenty selections of poison.
Ruby would forever be amused at the way things had turned out. After all, in the Dreams she either hated the Evil Queen or just didn’t trust her. Yet between spending a lot of time at Regina’s home during the Dark One possession of Neal, breaking into Disneyland with her and then the searching for Neal when he’d been kidnapped? Go figure that they’d actually have some sort of friendship. Or at least they had formed a something.
“He seems to be doing okay. I mean, he’s not hiding away or living in his head and avoiding.” Because goodness knew Ruby wouldn’t put up with that. She could do the distance if necessary, but she could tell that he was actually dealing with what had happened as opposed to pretending. It was probably Ruby herself who was living inside her head with worst case scenarios. She was doing better now though. Peace of mind and all.
At the moment, she wasn’t feeling the need for anything to drink and instead just leaned against a counter. Really, the way things turned out to be.
Well, if she ever changed her mind, plenty of opportunities. For Regina, an evening probably wouldn’t be complete without a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon to melt the stress of the work day away. Uppity clients that were stubborn, back ordered supplies, vendors and their invoices. Who thought making things pretty would be such a pain in the ass, but it was.
“I keep trying to distract him with details on our upcoming trip,” she sighed, uncorking the dark bottle and pop it went, and gave herself a rather generous pour. “Knowing Henry’s alright will help with his spirits. And how are you? Considering the entire thing was a vast amount of stress for you too.”
And by thing, of course, dealing with his absence and not knowing where he was. If he was alive. What they were doing to him. It had Regina’s own stomach in knots, but the woman had a will of steel and a collected demeanor. She kept it together well, for Ruby.
Sometimes alcohol was necessary. As much as she loved being able to create a difference and help women and children in need, there were times when Ruby needed that sort of break. It could get very heavy very fast. Or it could get too close to her own experiences and she needed to take a step back. That day hadn’t been on of those, so it would be a matter of seeing how the conversation went to determine if Ruby ended up changing her mind.
“That will definitely help, I know he’s looking forward to the trip.” It was something that Ruby herself didn’t have, but she knew Henry in the dreams, had their hot chocolate valentine’s date, things of that nature. So she was happy for Neal that it turned out Henry really was his. And as she had told him, it made more sense that Henry was his as opposed to just some kid who happened to be adopted but being Henry.
As for her? How was she? Better than she’d been, that was certain. Especially given all the legal documents were signed so now they just had to prepare the ceremony for the symbolism and having that experience. Just without the threat of impending death and luck running out looming over their heads. Or Ruby’s since it seemed to be something she was more panicked about.
“I’m.. better, actually. A lot better now. You?” Because even if Regina had managed to hold it together for her sake, Ruby knew how much the woman cared for Neal. It had been a hard few days for all of them
After giving the wine a swirl in the glass, letting the aroma air, she took the first sip. “Relieved,” she expressed honestly. Because things could have ended up much, much worse. All kinds of scenarios went through her mind and even though those scenarios hadn’t happened, shaking it off was near impossible. Regina’s scapegoat was often this stupid place, but Orange County’s usual horseshit wasn’t responsible for this particular chaotic rodeo.
Just angry human men, thirsting for vengeance. It was the nature of people, not some unexplainable phenomenon they couldn’t find rhyme or reason to.
“I think we’ve all had a little too much gloom and doom lately, so let’s see if we can have a conversation about happier things. Like your upcoming nuptials,” she grinned, lips against the rim of the wine glass.
Because chair ribbons.
The worst case scenarios were always the worst. Just knowing how things could have turned out and then didn’t. Knowing it was luck that they hadn’t. Ruby was well acquainted with the what ifs and might have beens and while she couldn’t live her life like that, they remained. The fears were just not so bad now. Really, it was the fact it wasn’t Orange County related that scared Ruby the most. That every facet of life was out to get them, not just the randomness of the county.
So she nodded at the relieved comment. Because really, that summed it up.
And then...turning the wedding. Which...had Neal told Regina the new plan? Probably not if she was being asked. Oh hey there random concern of cross over and getting her heart ripped out, though really it was just nerves on the entire situation and less she thought Regina would actually do anything. And it wasn’t like they weren’t doing a ceremony and still needed the planning. It was fine and Ruby was still just panicky. Which..admittedly not hard to do for someone who tried to go with the flow and was now legally married and still had the ceremony to plan.
“So I’m guessing Neal didn’t tell you that we went ahead and did all the legal aspects at the courthouse?” Because really, after everything that had happened, the uncertainty and just wanted the solid aspect done? It made sense, “The ceremony for the vows and ring exchange and everything is still planned for the 5th of December.”
Wow did Ruby feel ever so awkward. Which okay, did tend to be a normal reaction for her at times.
Regina’s reaction consisted of her trying not to spit up the wine she just sipped. That was classless and messy, and she also didn’t expect a response such as that. “I missed the memo,” she gasped after finally swallowing down that gulp and being able to suck in air for those couple seconds she’d been without it. Composure regained, chocolate brown eyes widened. “And a congratulations is in order, regardless, Mrs….Cassidy? Are you keeping your last name, taking his, or hyphenating it?”
Well, alright, perhaps the entire thing startled Ruby much more than she thought it did. To make her want to go right to courthouse doors and seal the deal on paper - not exactly elopement, since they still planned to go forth with a ceremony for the friends and family and even a reception, maybe?
There were definitely plans for both ceremony and reception for family and friends. And perhaps it had rattled Ruby more than most people would have realised. But it was more of a constant theme she was noticing. The constant threat and worry and knowing that it wasn’t just Orange County strangeness at hand. But anything. Live each moment as the last but making sure to actually live it as well. Though who would have thought a day would come where Regina was rendered temporarily speechless?
“Thanks.. and I’m taking his name, moving Lucas to my middle name.” Because that had also been important to her, to keep that part of her history since Granny was such an influence on her even if she had moved halfway across the country to start over again.
Well, that was out of the way at least?
The news was still a little odd, but they had to do what they thought was best for them anyway - so if signing the papers and taking care of the legal things made them at peace, then that was the right choice for them. “Part of me is still rather excited for the celebration part, however,” grinned the Queen, this time with a purely innocent scheme. “Neal and I barely have an age difference, but since I will never help the closest thing I have to a son with his own nuptials, I can live vicariously by helping his father tie the knot?”
And Regina had done this before. She’d gone through the hoops of engagement and wedding planning, had to remove her previous in-laws from the process entirely and without shame, and she was very meticulous with everything - the centerpieces, the favors, the food selections, colors and flowers. It was all decor, and that was her specialty, wasn’t it? To put things together in a cohesive manner, making a client’s vision become reality. And giving them advice, when she thought their decisions were absolutely horrid.
“If you ever need a wedding planner and coordinator, I’d do it for free. Would allow you to have a smooth ‘engagement’ and not worry about things,” she offered, brow raised. “And I promise no decisions will be made without the bride and groom input, hm?”
And with that smoothed over, it was talk of the actual celebration aspect, the part for everyone who mattered to them, friends and family, friends as family being a more apt description all things considered. But that was how she and Neal were. Beyond Granny, they made their own family and they were the ones who were important to them and should be there for the more symbolic and emotional aspects, the promises.
“We’re excited, too.” And overwhelmed. Probably more Ruby on that front given her extent of planning things tended to be rooftop parties. All the pages she had marked just tended to have information start swirling around her head. She was determined to make sense of it, but god was it overwhelming. But Regina was offering to help with the coordination and planning and all and Ruby could just blink. She knew that Regina had been helping Neal with some things and it always seemed those happened when Ruby either was working or there was an emergency at work so she couldn’t be there.
“Are you sure? I mean, you wouldn’t have offered if you weren’t, but really?” Yes, Regina was an interior designer so this sort of thing probably was more up her alley anyway. But Ruby still felt bad about that.
“Yes, really,” she reiterated, setting the almost-empty wine vessel on the white marble nook, resting her arms on it as she leaned. “Hiring someone to help with this is a common practice anyway - because it can get overwhelming. Looking up vendors for multiple things, where the best place is to get your flowers, your cake, venues, all that sort. And I do know a couple people in the industry from common conferences, so…”
Yes, that was her way of saying she had connections and plenty of them. Networking was the best way to get her business out there, form relationships of the working kind. They certainly helped when she was getting married, and she’d extend the courtesy of making sure these two technically newlyweds got the best deal.
Because weddings cost quite the pretty penny.
“Again, entirely up to you. Every time I ask Neal a couple questions about planning he gets cross-eyed and a little sweaty,” she smirked. “Think of it as one of my wedding gifts to you.”
“That sounds like my reaction whenever I look up things and try to make sense of them…” Because really. It was terrifying in its own way. Going into wolf form and fighting vampires? No big deal. Trying to make sense of all that went into planning a wedding? That was where Ruby suddenly felt overwhelmed. Give her rooftop parties, those were easy.
And well… Regina did bring up valid points. It was unsurprising that she would have connections and would know the best way to go about planning these things because of said connections. Just hearing everything that was being listed was enough to remind Ruby of how much there was.
“Well.. I certainly won’t say no, because one, that would be stupid, and two… it sounds like you know what you’re doing far better than Neal or I do.”
“I’ve been there, done that, and know business, I assure you.” Despite the fact that her first and only marriage went to shit, she had a twinkle in her eye about this one - she guessed the feeling must have stemmed from helping people she actually cared about tie the knot, people that would actually last together. A fairytale sort of thing, as cliche and cheesy as it sounded.
A hand was held out for a shake, to seal the arrangement. “Deal, then? I’ll even make you a binder - color coded tabs, things in alphabetical order, the works.”
Fairytale endings seemed so strange, even when they came from the Enchanted Forest. But given the fact it seemed that Regina seemed like she’d enjoy it, and well… would know what she was doing? It was good. And less freaking out was always a good thing. So with a smile, Ruby shook Regina’s hand in the official sealing of the deal type fashion.
“It’s a deal.”