#wtb react

“No.”

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“Fine. What?”

Halley reveals a fuzzy mask and body suit from behind her back. “I need you to wear this.”

“No.”

“Don’t make me get MC in here.”

Eddie scoffs, “do it, see if anything changes.”

—

“You have to wear the suit.”

“I actually don’t.”

“Eddie,” you cross your arms, “think of the kids.”

“What kids? Halley and Kade?”

Your eyebrow twitches, “wear the suit, coward.”

Eddie leans across their desk and leers, “no.”

—

“Please, Eddie?” Amelie widens her eyes and blinks.

Eddie sighs, “not you too.”

“Just think of of how funny it would be, the irony!”

“I don’t believe in irony.”

“I-” Amelie pauses, “now you’re just being stubborn.” She folds the costume, fake hairs raining down from its fur, and places it on the corner of Eddie’s desk. “I won’t force you but we both know how much it would mean to everyone.”

Eddie feels the fabric of the costume, running their fingers over it and biting their lip in consideration. Suddenly, they shake their head and look at Amelie. “Seriously? A guilt trip?”

Amelie sheepishly shrugs and walks out the door.

—

“You gotta be kidding,” Eddie leans back in their chair as A takes a seat in the chair across from their desk.

A grins at the costume and then Eddie. “Look, red, we both know what’s gonna happen. So let’s just cut to the chase.”

“And what is it you thinks gonna happen?”

A stands and leans against the corner of the desk, crossing their arms and leaning in close to Eddie. “I think you’re gonna put the costume on.”

“Is that right,” Eddie glares.

A gets closer, only a few inches from Eddie’s face. “It is, wanna know why? ‘Cuz you failed to use that big pretty brain of yours.” A taps the side of Eddie’s head.

“Don’t,” Eddie growls.

Instead, A stands and walks behind Eddie to whisper into their ear. “You failed to think of the possibilities. Wearing a mask that covers your entire face means no one, besides us, will know who you are. You won’t have to talk to anyone because no one will be able to understand you.” They clap their hands onto Eddie’s shoulders, “you’ll be free to judge without judgment.”

Eddie doesn’t reply, simply watching as A walks back out the door and watching as A calls back, “think about it!”

—

Later that night a large fuzzy figure walks about the party, waving to their friends but never speaking. A scratchy head with marble eyeballs and a long furry suit with a white zipper that sticks out plainly. Guests laugh and clap at the ironic outfit and the werewolf bows graciously. As the crowd gets lost on the festivities, the werewolf makes its exit. Through the rain and the wind, the wolf walks on its two legs to the adjacent building, walking down the carpeted hallway and stopping in front of a pale blue painted door. Three soft knocks and the door opens.

The wolf takes off its mask as it waits. The door opens and Eddie stands there, smiling. Kade runs his hand through his hair, loosening the sweat soaked curls and smiles back.

“Thanks, Kade,” Eddie hands him an envelope of cash.

Pre-relationship

Amelie:

"How about we make things interesting," you wear a small, curious smile on your face. "If you win, you get a kiss." Amelie's eyes widen, her grip on her knife tightens. "No- that's not-" You stick a finger up and she stops stuttering. "But if I win..." You take a few steps closer, "then I get a kiss." She looks at you, stunned to silence. Then her gaze flickers to your lips, your smile, and she breaths out. "I- uh- oh!" She pulls out her phone, "would you look at that, I have to go! Bye!" And she speeds off, leaving you with a satisfied grin.

Eddie:

"How about we make things interesting," you wear a small, curious smile on your face. "If you win, you get a kiss." Eddie grimaces, but you keep going. "But if I win..." You take a few steps closer, "then I get a kiss." Eddie places their hand on your chest and stops you. "No. Here's what will happen. When I win-" They smile crookedly, "you will never suggest that again."

ex-friend Arlo/Aida:

"How about we make things interesting," you wear a small, curious smile on your face. "If you win, you get a kiss." A stares at you, confused. "But if I win..." You take a few steps closer, "then I get a kiss." They stare at your lips for a few seconds before speaking. "I-" They hesitate, almost unable to look away. But they do. "I don't think that's a good idea."

ex-lover Arlo/Aida:

"How about we make things interesting," you wear a small, curious smile on your face. "If you win, you get a kiss." A stares back at you, quirking their eyebrow. "But if I win..." You take a few steps closer, "then I get a kiss." They stare at your lips for a few seconds before looking back to your eyes. "Intriguing idea. Though we may have to go a few rounds," then they smirk. "Just to really gauge who's stronger."

In a relationship

Amelie

"How about we make things interesting," you wear a small, curious smile on your face. "If you win, you get a kiss." Amelie's face breaks from its serious facade. "But if I win..." You take a few steps closer, "then I get a kiss." You feel something sharp press against your chest. Her knife. And her smile is just as sharp. "I agree to your terms, $name, but you better be ready to deliver."

Eddie

"How about we make things interesting," you wear a small, curious smile on your face. "If you win, you get a kiss." Eddie quirks their eyebrow. "But if I win..." You take a few steps closer, "then I get a kiss." They chuckle, placing their fingers under your chin. "Alright, fair is fair." They lean in, nose brushing your own. "May the best win."

Arlo/Aida

The countertop is cool as your elbows slide forward. Eddie is halfway done with their breakfast by the time you arrive. You couldn’t figure out how they get the corners of their blankets so tight to the mattress, but they can fix it later. They get up and retrieve a small pack of blood from the fridge and stop to look at you. “Is that my shirt?” They step closer and grab the white sleeve and give it a sniff. “It is my shirt.” They place the blood in front of you as a slow smile grows on your face, "I didn't have anything else to wear." They frown, “don’t stain it,” and sit down again. As soon as they sit down they turn to you once more, their eyes raking up and down your body. It’s subtle, but you see them nod in appreciation and then continue to eat their breakfast.

—

A runs their hand through their wet hair, shaking it to get the water out. You step in, black button up not buttoned but held closed by your arms. They don’t stop what they're doing at first, briefly adjusting the towel that’s tightened over their body. But their eyes double take in the mirror and they step closer to you. “Is this… mine?” A runs their fingers up the sleeve, feeling the material. “It seems it is.” They step even closer, running their finger tips from your shoulder to your chest, fiddling with the unclasped buttons. "I didn't have anything else to wear," you state. Their face is soft and they smile, "I don't mind at all," then that face morphs into a stifled grin. “You know this shirt hasn’t been washed in like a week, right?”

—

—

*Eddie wears a wolf mask*

Arlo/Aida: “Wow, the werewolf wore a wolf mask. How long did it take you to come up with that?”

Amelie: “Oh, a wolf, huh? No, yeah, it’s, uh. It’s nice.”

Eddie: “I couldn’t think of anything else.”

A: “A masquerade involves intrigue, romance, mystery- and you chose the one animal that says ‘hey look it’s me Eddie the big bad werewolf’”

Eddie: “it’s not that bad-“

Am: “It’s not very good, but if it makes you happy…”

A: “A whole myriad of creatures to choose from. What if I chose a bat? Or Amelie chose a human face?

Am: “I would never wear a human face.”

A: “Exactly and Eddie should not be wearing a wolf mask.”

Am: "It does kind of defeat the purpose of a mask."

A: "Better put a collar on them, Amelie, wouldn't want someone else confusing their wolf with ours."

MC walks in: “Nice! A raven, a lion and a... oh. A wolf.”