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“So, what? We're just having a mandatory movie night for one night only?" Jax asked.
“Yep!" Pomni answered on her way out.
“Did it have to be in Kinger's pillow fort?" Jax grumbled.
“Yep," Zooble stated.
“It's more comfy than the couches," Gangle agreed. Jax scoffed.
“One movie and then you are more than welcome to do what you wish, Jax," Kinger soothed.
“So, how does everyone feel about watching The Princess and the Frog?" Ragatha asked.
“No way," Zooble vetoed. "The animal transformations still freak me out."
“Still not as bad as Spirited Away, Zoobie," Jax commented.
“Spirited Away?" Ragatha inquired.
“You don't know Spirited Away?" Gangle gasped.
“Should I?" Ragatha rubbed her bicep nervously.
“I'm afraid I don't know that movie, either," Kinger frowned.
“We're watching it!" Gangle decided.
“It came out in the early aughts so Kinger gets a pass," Zooble supplied.
“There's no room for you to wiggle yourself out of this one, doll," Jax joked.
“Oh, shut up, Jax," Ragatha groaned before turning to address the others. "Ready to watch the movie?"
“I've got popcorn!" Pomni sang upon her return with a few bowls full of popcorn for the group to share.
“Thank you, Pomni. I suppose we should start the movie now that everyone is back," Kinger said.
“No problem. Now, who's ready to have a Ghibli marathon?"
“Me!" Gangle called as she put her hand up.
“Wait - marathon?! Are there really enough movies for a marathon?" Ragatha exclaimed.
“There are, doll. These ones are better than The Hobbit for binge worthiness in my book," Jax quipped.
“You know what The Hobbit is?" Zooble inquired, squinting at Jax in disbelief.
“What can I say, Zoobie? They were worth watching," Jax smirked.
“Oh, I know those books! Tolkien wrote quite the story!" Kinger clapped his hands excitedly.
“Ugh, books," Jax groaned with a dramatic fall backward onto the couch.
“Oh, fuck off, Jax," Ragatha grumbled. "Books are better than movies."
“Oh, that's bull, doll. Movies far surpass books!"
“No they don't! Movies cut out way too much of the important stuff to be considered better than the book! I can get behind a show adaptation a bit more since they have more time than movies could ever hope to though."
“How about we watch a show after we finish all the Ghibli movies?" Pomni suggested in an attempted to stop their argument before it really took off.
“We can think on what we want to watch and then use the Suggestion Box to pick what we watch," Kinger thought aloud.
“I'll agree to one movie but that's it," Jax huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Well, we'll be here if you change your mind," Kinger offered.
“So, what should we start with?" Ragatha asked.
“Ponyo, Castle in the Sky, or My Neighbor Totoro," Gangle listed off.
“Castle in the Sky is a good one. I grabbed extra so take what you want," Zooble agreed, setting a tray full of drinks down next to the popcorn bowls.
“No Princess Mononoke, Ribbons?" Jax taunted with an overly big grin.
“We'll get to it eventually but you'll have to keep coming to movie night until we do to hear anything about it," Zooble bribed as they took a soda for themself and a tea for Gangle.
“Wow, back me into a corner why don't you? Real nice of you, Zoobie," Jax sneered.
“Babe, stop," Ragatha chastised.
“Make me," Jax grinned. Ragatha quickly pressed a chaste kiss to Jax's lips. Jax hid behind her hands as her face quickly turned a bright red.
“Well, that's one way of doing it," Pomni joked.
“Everyone ready for me to start the movie?" Gangle murmured from her place snuggled up next to Zooble with their arm draped over her shoulders.
“Castle in the Sky, was it?" Kinger confirmed.
“Yeah! It's the first film Studio Ghibli is credited with last I looked into it," Gangle replied excitedly. She hit play on the TV remote.
"So we're protecting the golems with our lives," Ragatha stated as she snuggled deeper into Jax's side.
“Whatever you say, Dollface," Jax murmured, tugging her close enough that Ragatha's head rested on Jax's chest comfortably.
“Mm, I like this. You'll stay here, right?"
“Anything for you."
“Awww, aren't you a big ol' softie," Pomni cooed.
“Shut up, Kazoo. I am not soft."
“Uh-huh. Sure you aren't, Miss Snuggles."
Jax good-naturally rolled her eyes at Pomni's comment. Knowing her fur was one of Ragatha's favorite spots for snuggles was enough to brush off any comments from the others.
“Get some sleep, you two," Kinger murmured as he gently covered Jax and Ragatha with a blanket.
Jax fell asleep not long after Ragatha had. A soft click of a camera from the neighboring had Jax stir but wasn't enough to wake her.
Jax rubbed her eyes as she slowly came to a few hours later. Waking up with Ragatha being curled up at her side was now a familiar comfort Jax couldn't get enough of.
“Sleep well, you two?" Kinger inquired as Jax and Ragatha made their way over to the dining table where the rest of the group sat with mugs of hot chocolate.
“Yeah. Thanks, Dad," Ragatha answered, accepting two mugs from Pomni and passing one to Jax.
“Thanks, love," Jax murmured.
“Awwww, you're adorable," Pomni teased. Jax rolled her eyes.
“Now that we're all here again, what did everyone think of Castle in the Sky?" Gangle asked.
“We're protecting the robots with our lives," Ragatha stated.
“Oh, they were just adorable, weren't they? And the different relationships all the characters had with each other were marvelously done!" Kinger gushed.
“Haven't you drawn those characters, Gangle?" Zooble asked.
“Μhm! I started drawing because of this movie. I wasn't any good but I still managed to fall in love with the medium. A lot of people ended up commissioning my artwork before the accident, too!" Gangle rambled.
“Proud of you, babe," Zooble encouraged. Gangle blushed and ducked her head, a small smile appearing on her mask.
“Ugh. You two are disgusting," Jax groaned.
“Babe," Ragatha chastised with a glare at Jax.
“What? They are! Disgustingly cute, of course," Jax grinned.
“What the fuck, Jax?" Zooble groaned.
“How you managed to stop fumbling long enough to bag Ragatha still astounds me," Pomni deadpanned.
“How dare you, Shortie. I am a gal of many talents."
“Pompous ass more like," Zooble snapped.
“So very different from the nice townsfolk," Ragatha lamented.
“I hate all of you."
“Now, now. Enough of that from all of you," Kinger cut in.
“You've never fumbled though, Dad," Ragatha pointed out.
“I got lucky is all. Sheeta rather reminded me of Queenie, actually. The drive to protect those she loved was something I'd admired even if it did get rather frustrating at times." Kinger stared at his hands for a moment. "Well, enough of my reminiscing. How does everyone feel about doing this again next week?"
“Yeah, sure. It'll give Gangle more opportunities to gather blackmail," Zooble readily agreed.
“What are you talking about, Zoobie? Ribbons never got… " Jax's eyes went wide. "You delete it right now."
“Blackmail only works if you worry it'll come out. Be a doll and send it to me, won't you, Gangle?" Ragatha requested sweetly. "I'll make sure it is only something Gangle and I have if you come consistently."
“Fine. I'll go to the next movie night." Jax crossed her arms sullenly.
“Yay!" Ragatha cheered.
“So, Ponyo next week?" Pomni asked.
“That is a good one," Zooble agreed.
“Oh, I can't wait!" Kinger clapped his hands.
“Later, Losers!" Jax called with a wave over her shoulder. Ragatha quickly caught up to her. Jax linked their fingers together as Ragatha excitedly chatted away about the movie on their way back to one of their rooms.