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[He just grins up at them again.]

I learned from the best.

[And it... doesn't hurt to say, the way it otherwise might. His heart is so full and joyful that the ache is just a pleasant aftermath. Sensei liked it when he laughed, too, and he's happy for the opportunity to do so again. They deserve this, don't they? Yeah.]

[Rue can assume just who Casey means.]

You certainly did.

[Because Leo's laugh also has a special place in their heart.

Casey grins up at them, looking so youthful and happy, as if for this one moment in time he is completely unburdened and free. Rue presses a quick peck of a kiss to his forehead before finally releasing him, a few more giggles slipping from their beak.]

I was so ready to write this day off and look how it has turned around.

[A correct assumption, albeit one sideways. Leo laughs differently from sensei, but he can see the origins of it. His own laugh just now was a lot closer to the former's than the latter's. Funny how life ends up.

Once freed, he readjusts his position back to where he'd been before, reaching up to smooth down the 'mustache' finally and get back to loosening the rest of the feathers.]

You've done that for me before. It feels good to turn it around and do the same for you.

As I would do again for you. Anytime.

[Sometimes the only cure for a terrible day is a reliable friend kicking in the door and bringing some levity and tender wisdom along. Rue is not too proud to admit that even they need the help at times.]

Oh! Darling, I fear my tickling attack may have messed up your hair. Here.

[It comes so naturally to stretch their neck out and gently preen Casey, using their beak to reposition and smooth his hair back into place.]

[The gentle brushing of Rue's beak through his hair has its own surprising, slightly ticklish aspect, but after a moment he adjusts to the sensation, and it actually feels quite nice. Cue the two of them fussing over each other. Who knew communal grooming could be so satisfying?]

Do you know how to style hair?

[Well, Rue can hardly stop now! Hair, it turns out, isn't quite as easy to adjust and fluff as feathers are, so they may be at this for awhile!

Though the owlbear is polite enough to not talk with their beak full, pulling away only enough to peer down warmly at the boy.]

I must confess, I do not have much actual practice in the styling of hair without magic, though I have watched enough online videos that I feel like an expert.

[Sorry, Rue, he's chatty now. You have activated him.]

Whoa, there's videos for that sort of thing? And you can do hair with magic too?

[He so needs to check that later. (The videos, not the magic, obviously. Can't do that one.) There's still so much he wants to learn, so much he wants to try. A whole world of aesthetics begging to be explored, and here he is with the hair on which to experiment. …Actually.]

You can practice on mine if you want.

[Chatty is always fine with Rue. They thrive off of social activity.

Rue stretches forward preen the teen's hair a little more, adjusting his bangs, smoothing the hair at the top of his head down and into place.]

Oh dearest, you can use magic for just about anything. Back in the Feywild, it would be quite normal to conjure meals, to apply makeup, to levitate anything that you might need to carry, all through magic alone.

[A paw reaches up to pat down one wild lock, talons petting over Casey's hair with all of the tender affection they hold for his teen.]

I'll have to show you the videos later. And truly? I would not mind playing with your hair. Especially after you have so taken care of my feathers.

[He listens, fascinated as ever about magic and mysticism. Changing appearance and levitating is not new to him, but conjuring meals immediately has his eyes wide with wonder. If mystic powers were capable of doing something like that, the resistance would have been in far less dire straits for... pretty much his whole life. Though Uncle Tello's speed-growth science had at least an adjacent effect. What does magic food taste like, anyway...?]

Maybe I can stay for a bit, after I finish? I'd like to see the videos...

[And maybe get his hair played with more. If Rue wants. He's not going to try and push as he doesn't want to impose... still, Rue seems to want company, so it doesn't feel like a burden to make the offer.]

[Casey will not have to guess whether Rue is happy with the suggestion or not.]

You'll stay?

[Their eyes light up immediately at the very idea of getting to keep Casey longer.]

Then you must. Leo has loaded many a tee-vee show and movie onto my device. We should watch a film together, in addition to few of my favorite hair tutorial videos.

[He looks equally pleased at once, sitting up a bit straighter, as if feeling a sudden rush of pride that his company could inspire such joy. He has no one waiting for him at his place or any other priorities demanding his attention, so of course he's free to stay as long as Rue wants him here.]

Okay... I'll stay, then. You can introduce me to TV shows properly.

[He's seen a scattering of old digital movies when they had extra power to spare, sure, but TV definitely did not exist in the apocalypse. (Get that shirt out, it's time for another "didn't have that" moment.)]

[Rue straightens up then, bowing their head for Casey to better reach their feathers, and rights him into place on their lap.]

Then let us finish this task swiftly! I can make us popcorn and hot cocoa. It will be a proper movie night.

[Casey chuckles, eyes bright at the mention of cocoa especially - one of his very favourite new things - and gets back to work on their feathers. He's on what appears to be the final patch now, so it shouldn't take long.]

It's been forever since I had a movie night with anyone. What kind of movie do you want to see?

[So much closer to freedom! Already Rue feels so much relief, like most of the itching and tension is just gone.]

What kind do you like? I admit, I much prefer romances, but I do not know many others who enjoy them. Hob was very fond of documentaries.

[With the last of the caps off and discarded, he retrieves the comb from his hair tie and brushes it through the new feathers, smoothing out the final unruly branches. It's looking like quite a lovely coat of feathers now, a far cry from the scrungly mess they'd started out with. A successful grooming indeed.]

Um... well, we mostly had the archives Donnie saved when they were all teenagers, so it was a lot of action movies, sci-fi, some science and tech films. I liked just about everything we watched... I've never watched a romance before though.

[If he has, he doesn't know it. He is not what one would call genre-savvy.]

[Casey runs the comb through their freshly revealed feathers and there is just no saving Rue from the way almost cat-like way they push up against the comb, hooting out a happy noise at how absolutely wonderful it feels.

There's no doubt about it. Next year, Rue won't hesitate to call upon the young teen for help.

But he just so happens to mention he has never seen a romantic movie and, look, Rue's eyes go wide.]

Would you like to try watching one? If you dislike it, we can watch something else easily.

I'll try anything once.

[It's sort of becoming a common phrase for him here, with so much new to try. Maybe he'll enjoy romance? Not really something he's given much thought to until very recently.

He sets down the comb and smooths the feathers down by hand one last time, indulgently enjoying the soft new layers, before finally smiling up at Rue, looking satisfied.]

I think I'm done. How does it feel? Did I miss anywhere?

I feel like an entirely brand new owlbear! If I find any spare pin feathers or any others come in late, I should be able to handle them just fine. It was simply the bulk of them all at once that was so difficult to manage. One or two I am entirely capable of.

[And once he is finished soothing out of their new feathers, Rue plants two massive paws gently on each side of his face, and tips in to press a kiss to Casey's forehead.]

Again, thank you. I feel wondrous. Now, I think I will go wash my face quickly, just to get a nice look at my beautiful new feathers, and then we can begin with our movie night.

[The kiss elicits a soft giggle on Casey's part, ducking his head a bit, though not to escape their gentle hold. Once they let go he slides backwards off their lap, standing up to stretch his arms out and roll his shoulders a bit. His hands are just fine from the work, but that was a lot of sitting, so a few stretches will do him some good before they settle in for a movie.]

Okay. I'll make the hot chocolate, then! Gonna need help with the popcorn, though.

[He hasn't yet made that one on his own, though at least it doesn't seem that complicated to make. Off he goes to the kitchen, leaving Rue to check themselves out, very excited for an impromptu movie night.]

[Rue disappears into the washroom for a good five or so minutes, but not before magically waving their paw over the dusty remains of their feather caps and making them all disappear. There! At least it was an easy clean up.

When the owlbear emerges, their feathers are fresh and fluffed up around their face and neck. They drop off two fluffy blankets on the couch before joining Casey in the kitchen.]

Well! No fire yet. You are already doing far better than my Hob did the first time I left him alone in the kitchen.

[Casey's sort of learning how to navigate their kitchen without poking around excessively or making a mess, but he does indeed have the hot chocolate well under way, and a bowl set out awaiting popcorn.]

I've... kind of been making it a lot at my place, so it's easy to do it now. But I can't help it! It's so good, and it really fills you up. We- ...well, you know already.

[Insert "we didn't have x y z at home" for the millionth time. None of these ingredients except for water even existed anymore.]

There is no problem with that. As long as you are eating well too, I don't see why you can not enjoy cocoa every day.

[Poor Casey has had to fight for his survival for so long. He absolutely deserves a little extra treat because of it.

As he preps for the cocoa, Rue is pouring a tablespoon of oil into a deep pan and getting it nice and hot on the stove.]

Have you made popcorn on the stovetop before? It's quite fun to do. And we can add any seasonings or toppings you'd like.

[He smiles and nods. He's still learning to cook the basics, but from the way his skinny structure has been filling out and his pallor becoming healthier the longer he stays here, he seems to be eating well enough. He shifts to stand beside them, careful to stay out of the way, and watches them prep to make popcorn with interest.]

I've never seen it like this. I know it's supposed to have butter and salt... what else can you put on it?

[The minute that any of the boys look even a little skinny, Rue is going to be bringing them meals every single day and filling up their fridge. Don't test them!]

I have recently learned that popcorn does not have as specific a formula as I was made to believe! Casey, you can put anything on popcorn.

[Don't worry, Rue, he just started out that way. He's done nothing but improve!]

Anything? [That's so broad. What does anything entail? Like for real anything??] What do you like to put on it, then?

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