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Then coconut it is.

[Rue is just going to press the jar of popcorn kernels into Casey's hands. Protect it with your life, darling.]

Pour out just enough to loosely cover the bottom of the pan, and right after, you will want to put the lid over it before they begin to pop. I'll get the rest prepared for us.

[He's doing it! He's protecting the popcorn! ...Actually, he's pouring it in as directed, covering the pot at once. And now he's watching it, leaning down to be level with the pot. Something mysterious is going to happen in there, and he's going to witness it. (Sort of. It is still covered. But popcorn is at least a little magical to him, so he's attentive.)]

[No kernel will go unpopped! Not on his watch!

As the oil heats up and the kernels begin their chorus of popping inside of the pan, Rue has already spread some coconut shreds across a baking sheet to pop into the oven for a gentle toast, a tray of various bowls already prepared and ready for when the popcorn finishes.]

There it goes! The trick, I have learned, is to listen to the pops. They should all happen in quick succession. Once there is a lull between them, then we must remove the pan from the heat immediately or risk burning them.

[Casey continues watching the pot with a quiet fascination born of infinite new experiences somehow never getting old. It's such a simple thing, a food that explodes into better food. One more that he'll never take for granted.]

Whoa... it's easier than I thought it would be. Usually food transformation takes some kind of techno-alchemy!

[A little confused but he's got the spirit- and as soon as there's a lull in the popping, Casey hurriedly lifts the pot off the stovetop, setting it down on the next burner.]

[Oh, he certainly has the spirit! Enough that Rue chuckles softly at the phrasing of 'food transformation', a massive paw brushing affectionately at his back as they pass by him.]

Perfect timing! And I do not detect the smell of anything burnt in the air, so I'd say we have a popcorn professional on our hands. Here, would you like to split the popcorn among these three bowls? Just be careful to not touch the pan.

[He nods, cheeks a little pink at the compliment - deserved or otherwise, since he didn't really do much, he'll take it anyway - and carefully distributes the popcorn between the bowls. There's a few loose kernels, but nothing seems to be burned. He might've taken it off a wee too early, thankfully not too late.

Setting aside the pot, he plucks one of the plain popcorn bits from a bowl and tosses it into his mouth, chewing happily. No flavour is no problem for this one.]

This is dangerous. I really could make this all the time.

[POPCORN WITH EVERY MEAL- someone stop him.]

Popcorn and hot cocoa sounds like a lovely evening snack anytime of the year.

[do it do it DO IT]

Here you go, dearest.

[Casey gets the warmed, gooey chocolate bowl pushed gently into his hands next, a whisk nestled in the chocolate. Rue takes it out (carefully) to demonstrate how to drip melted chocolate over the fresh popcorn, while they sprinkle the toasted coconut over the same bowl.]

We will want to go light on the chocolate, just so the flavor does not overwhelm everything else.

[MAYBE HE WILL

And it's a good thing they said that, because after the initial demonstration with the drizzle Casey was fully prepared to upend the entire chocolate bowl onto the popcorn. (Because chocolate is amazing and MORE chocolate can only ever be MORE amazing, right? No? Huh.) Instead he copies the softer drizzling, which admittedly does look very appealing. The coconut flakes look kind of odd to him, but he trusts them not to steer him wrong, flavour-wise.]

It smells really good... [Don't mind him as he (carefully) dips his finger into the leftover chocolate for a taste. Just because the popcorn needs less doesn't mean he's not 15 with limited impulse control around sweets.]

[Even while they are busy beginning to prep the other two bowls, Rue still manages to catch that finger dipped into the chocolate and reaches out to gently swat Casey's hand away - but not before offering him a spoon instead.

Fingers are nasty little guys, at least use silverware to lick up the leftover chocolate.]

Doesn't it though? Alright, tell me what you prefer with this last one, I am stuck between these two. Cheese or cinnamon-sugar?

[THOROUGHLY CHASTISED ;-;

But no he accepts the spoon for scooping, though he doesn't see much of a difference, personally. That might be due to growing up mostly unwashed and perpetually sharing germs with the resistance population his whole life. Oh well, he's learning propriety on top of everything else...]

Um... how about cheese? Since we have this for something sweet already. And cheese is good on anything.

[He says like he knows. He's had it on like ten different things at most by now.]

[Casey, you need to step up your cheese game stat!!

But Rue looks pleased with the response, giving a small nod and immediately complying with some parmesan over the top of the final bowl.]

There! I think we are all set.

[And no need to carry the loaded tray because Rue just has it rise up into the air and float behind them, as they press a paw at Casey's back and lead him back to the living room, chocolate bowl and all.]

I brought us out some blankets so we could get comfortable. Is there anything else I'm missing?

[It's a good thing Rue has their paw at his back guiding him, because he keeps turning his head to watch the floating tray over his shoulder. He'd definitely have walked right into a wall. Magic is so cool...

He almost misses their question, and his answer is a bit belated.]

Oh- no, that sounds perfect! Do you know what movie we're gonna watch?

[Thank goodness that Casey's attention is behind him, because he won't be subjected to the adoring look that crosses the owlbear's face at the way Casey keeps turning back to watch the tray behind him. It's just so darling.]

I was going to show you a few that Donnie has so sweetly loaded onto my relic. Then, if you are up for it, I thought we could choose together.

[It's not much to go off of, a splash screen and a vague title, but Rue wants Casey to have some say if he is already so kindly letting them indulge in a romance.]

Okay, that sounds good. I'm sure whichever we pick will be great.

[He doesn't especially care either way, as he's bound to not know what to expect from any romance movie (or most movies, in truth). A movie is a movie to him, more often than not. The point was always distraction and company, and he's getting plenty of both.

He parks himself back onto the couch, leaving just enough space for Rue (an unspoken expectation of cuddle), setting his bowl down and bundling one of the blankets around like a miniature nest. He keeps watching the tray until it's back on a solid surface, and when he reaches out to fetch his hot chocolate, one hand touches the tray, as if the magic might linger and be felt.]

[It may be wildly unnecessary, but it is just one of those silly considerations that Rue holds so very dear to be able to offer, even if Casey has no point of view to choose from in the first place. Though there is still some power in having the ability to choose, even when one does not fully understand their options.

- Also if the movie ends up being not so great, Rue can tease him about it. Win-win.

Once Casey is settled, Rue takes the space next to him, automatically raising a wing for him to flop in close as they wrap up in their own blanket and move to settle the tray into their lap for easy popcorn access.

If the tray was fun to see fly around like that, next up to magically hover is Rue's relic, which settles mid-air between the two of them. They reach over to flip through a few options on screen before pointing out a handful of different films. There's a few options - a period piece, a modern day rom-com, or romantic musical.

Rue is not at all shy to point out which ones are their favorite.]

The musical is quite breathtaking, though a touch more sad than the rest. And the historical one is a slow-burn, I believe it is called, but the tension is what keeps you invested.

Edited 2023-10-19 06:22 (UTC)

[He appreciates the courtesy! And doesn't hesitate at all to cuddle in close when the space is made for him, closing the gap and practically melting into their side. He's careful not to spill the popcorn as he helps himself to a couple of mouthfuls as they explain - and wow, the chocolate-coconut combination is a big win, turns out - and after a moment's consideration, points towards the musical. The relic-floating is also very cool, but this time he'll try to pay more attention to what's on it.]

That one, I think. If that's okay?

[Not much of that in his movie-watching history, but he's heard of them. And maybe the gala left him with a lingering weakness for music and dance. The big selling point is that Rue seems to like it, and he trusts their judgment. He's also in a good enough mood that the idea of tackling something sad isn't so daunting.]

It is perfectly okay.

[A wing settles over Casey and the movie begins! Many apologies in advance for how sappy and overly dramatic the whole thing is. Think Moulin Rouge level of ridiculousness. What that means for Casey though, is that at any high tension moments, Rue gives him an excited squeeze, trilling above his head, and that whenever that sorrowful music begins in the background, Casey is getting engulfed in feathers to be cuddled and soothed.]

[It is very silly, but Casey seems to appreciate the whimsy of it all, the levity very welcome as a bookend to a pleasant feather-preening afternoon. He's attentive to Rue's reactions about as much as the movie itself, honestly. It's cute, and makes him glad they picked this one. And if he gets a little emotional over the sad parts, well, it's just nice to be doing it for a normal reason like sad fiction instead of the usual 'real life is hard'. It makes it that much easier to switch back to laughing at the silliness.

In short, an excellent call, and he can see why Rue likes it. (Apparently he likes silly movie musicals now, too.)]

[By the end of the movie, after two hours of popcorn and cuddles and fresh refills of hot cocoa, Rue is just a little teary-eyed as the film comes to a close, nuzzling against Casey's head, a touch of emotion choking their voice.]

Ah, I always forget how much the ending touches me! But was it not lovely?

[He's a little sniffly himself, scrubbing knuckles against his eye.]

It was really good! Even though it was sad... it wasn't hopeless... I liked it.

[Very different from your typical action movie. Or Jupiter Jim.]

[Even just sitting beside them, he'd be able to feel the way that Rue preens at the knowledge that Casey enjoyed one of their favorite movies. What a special moment to share together!]

Whew! I think, if you would enjoy it, we should watch something much lower stakes next, just to calm down from that rush of emotion. I could put on hair tutorials or a cooking show or perhaps animal videos? I am happy with any of them.

[He's just happy to be here and enjoying their company. The fact that they can enjoy the same things is a bonus.]

Hmm... [He can't decide. He considers for a moment, lifts a hand, clenching and unclenching it into a fist, then lifts it up towards Rue, two sets of fingers together like a Vulcan salute- or a turtle hand.]

Pick one.

[Rue could not agree more. It is funny how it all worked out. That Casey and Rue can come from such wildly different backgrounds and end up falling into perfect sync with one another.

It is just so easy. Far easier than it had ever been with any of the fey back home.]

Hm, how about this one. [Rue reaches up to gently tap the first finger with a talon.]

[Apocalypse Turtle RNG is a go- he clenches the rest of the fingers and thumb in, leaving the tapped fingers uplifted as he smiles.]

That one's a hair tutorial.

Hair tutorial it is.

[Just give Rue a moment to flip around through menus to drag up a running queue of random hair styling videos. Look, they may not have hair, but Rue is quite fascinated with how hair can be so artfully styled.]

Do you need anything else first? More cocoa? Another blanket?

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