It Started With a Spinny

I Would

"Heeere's popcorn!" Vee sings her way into the darkened living room, the tv's stark light making the Lobster Shack logo look almost black on her oversized white t-shirt. It's so comfortably oversized it flows behind her, the wide sleeves leaving room for her four arms holding the four mismatched plastic bowls of popcorn, the buttery steam viscerally enticing!

She all but skips her way around the room, reaching down to give two bowls to a curious Gus, Willow and a grateful Hunter, then one to an even more grateful Camilla on the sofa, before bouncing up to Amity and Luz on the other half of the sofa to proudly offer the last bowl.

Amity and Luz are both hesitant to take it, Luz frowning: "What about you Vee?"

Vee looks down at the bowl, "Oh, I'm fine, really! I ate my last hexus holdum card earlier so I-"

"You ran out!" They both exclaim, Amity imploring, "Oh Vee why didn't you tell us?" Luz promising, "I'll find you some more tomorrow!" Camilla insisting, "Mija you're allowed to ask for help, remember? We've talked about this!"

"I, I-" Vee rubs the back of her neck with a free hand, still nervously offering the bowl in two others, "I'm sorry. Thank you. But, this was the last of the popcorn and I already ate so-"

Amity looks up at her with mock sternness: "Vee, I have it on good authority that you do still enjoy eating human food." She pointedly nods at Vee's t-shirt, the smiling lobster logo surrounded by the proclamation 'I ate a dozen lobster rolls at the Lobster Shack!'

Vee rubs her neck with both free hands, blushing: "I-"

Luz reaches out, "Oh will you come here already!" She's smiling as she pulls Vee down, Amity yelping as she holds the bowl aloft with minimal spillage, all while Vee and Luz laugh with Vee sitting mostly on top of her. Amity rolls her smiling eyes as she makes room for an apologetic Vee to sit in between her and Luz, Vee taking the bowl in one pair of arms, unsure what to do with the other pair awkwardly in Luz and Amity's laps. She breathes in to shapeshift them away, just as Amity and Luz take her hands in theirs. She holds her breath, blushing madly.

Luz looks over to Camilla, about to ask if she has enough room, seeing her smiling warmly down at the three of them.

Vee clears her throat: "W-we should, should we hit play?"

"Yes!" Hunter insists, Amity adding: "I want to know how they escape already!"

Camilla extends the remote, resuming the sound of building drums and deep brass, all while Luz and Vee share a covertly worried look.

Luz leans somehow closer, "Should we tell her?"

The drums build to an abrupt stop for the sudden declaration of: "You cannot pass!"

Vee's whispered response seems loud without the music: "That he comes back?"

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn!"

Amity's hand tenses in Vee's in time with the clash of a great flaming sword.

Luz frowns, "I, I don't want to ruin it for her though!"

"Go back to the Shadow!"

"She'll be sad if we don't tell her!"

"YOU, SHALL NOT, PASS!"

Amity holds her chest, her hand squeezing Vee's harder.

Luz nods, "We'll tell her if she asks! Okay?"

Vee nods over the sound of crumbling stone and a falling roar, Amity whispering: "Yes!" Her hand relaxes in Vee's.

Vee adjusts the popcorn in her lap, getting ready to hug Amity if needed, as Luz leans closer to whisper a last: "Also I think you'd make an awesome balrog by the way."