(no subject)

[mkrobinson]

TITLE: Ruby Red

FANDOM: Everybody Loves Raymond

UNIVERSE: Pre-series

RATING: T

WARNINGS: Mentions exotic dancing

WORD COUNT: 274

SUMMARY: Robert meets his first wife.

 

Robert really wasn't sure what he was doing here. Strip joints weren't his thing. Bachelor parties weren't his thing. Spending his night carousing wasn't his thing. But Raymond was getting married to perfect wonderful Debra and their mother had insisted that Robert join the pre-wedding celebrations.

 

It hadn't been worth more than a token protest. What Raymond wanted, he got, and what Ma wanted, she got, and no one ever had any consideration for Robbie's feelings, so he just dealed. 

 

The exotic dancer was certainly an attractive woman, he noted, with long red hair, almost the color of rubies. It was a shame that she was giving Raymond more attention that he certainly did not need.

 

And so, Robert stewed, nursing his adult beverage. He really should have taken that extra shift at work, he thought, sighing at Gianni and Kevin's rather juvenile behavior.

 

Why hadn't he taken that extra shift at work? Ah, yes, Judy. She had thought he was working too hard, needed to take a break. Busting up perps was more enjoyable than this. 

 

That was when -- in the middle of plotting his escape -- the exotic dancer caught his eye and winked at him. Women didn't wink at Robert. They could maybe laugh at his jokes or consider him a friend, but to call him unlucky in love was an understatement. 

 

And there he was, being winked at by a woman named Cinnamon. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

 

He suspected this development would annoy Raymond though, and decided that alone would make it worthy of pursuit.

 

Cinnamon. Cinnamon the exotic dancer with the ruby red hair.