Time for some plot! I know many of you were looking forward to Ethan going up against mega-bitch Elise, so hopefully this delivers. Next update: 1/27. Also rating will go up next time! Also also check out my profile to see the inspiration for Ethan's dress. Once again thank you for reading, and a special thank you to my reviewers!
Century'sRain: You always give such high praise :") Thank you! I hope you recover soon, you know from the dying thing :-p
MBAV fan66: I rewatched the episode and technically he rented the tux and it didn't fit him, but I thought it was too funny not to use the blue tux. I did not think about the fact they'd match (but that's cute, right?). He has a full skirt, it would've covered a boner ;-)
HoneyandPeanutbutterSammiches: I was trying to emphasize the idea that his face is basically the same, so Ethan with a wig and some girl curves is a good enough visual.
Dominus Trinus 13: haha, well you can odd. We're all a little odd here. Get ready for some cattiness. I had fun writing Elise mean. Yeah, I think that's why I fell in love with the Bethan ship in the first place: they're so easy and open with each other as friends.
TiredOfBeingNice: Too excited? I think not. Well she might not be evil enough, but when has Benny ever been timid to use magic for dumb reasons? I'm glad you're enjoying my story!
Bethan Forever: OFC they'll run into Elise :-p Things will never just go smoothly for them! I really like the idea of 30 year old Benny pulling out a ratty blue tuxedo, lolz. Do you think Ethan might lose Benny's interest to Elise?
TheQuietSongbird: Thanks! That's not really the direction I'm going with this story. Although the spell altered Ethan's sexual orientation, his gender identity and mind are unaffected. And imho hormones don't account for much of a person's personality. However, you're welcome to write an alternate ending to my story.
Ethan takes a sip of the sparkling cider; apparently they carded at weddings. His other hand is secured in the crook of Benny's arm as they meander through the reception area looking for their assigned seats. Most guests were mingling near the refreshments waiting for the ceremony to start, but the boys wanted to avoid 'pleasant' small talk.
"Here we are," Benny says finally.
The place settings are lavish. The plates are overly large and completely gold. Even the silverware is gold. Ethan picks up the name card on his plate to show to Benny. The ornate script reads, "Ethan Morgan."
"Oh yeah," Benny remarks laughing, "I put yo-Ethan down as my plus one when I RSVP'd. I don't think they'll mind I brought you instead," Benny explains, pulling Ethan's rose-bedecked chair out.
As Ethan was discovering, Benny excelled at these cliched romantic gestures. A small internal voice grumbles at the treatment, but Ethan gives in. Really he's caving into the encouraging smile that Benny gives him when he hesitates. Benny has never affected him this way before.
Ethan tucks his skirt under himself as he sits down. Ethan hadn't thought about it before, but it would be cumbersome to deal with his dress while scooting into the table. Huh, so in this case chivalry was practical.
Benny squeezes Ethan's shoulder, sending warm tingles down his spine, before sitting down in the adjacent seat. Both boys fish out their cellphones to entertain themselves. Weddings are purportedly the most romantic event in a person's life, but left with only idle conversation and cellphone games it feels more like being stuck in a bus terminal.
"I have an idea," Benny says.
"Hmm?" Ethan hums, tilting with his phone as his racecar turns a corner.
Benny drags Ethan's chair over until they line up like a bench. Ethan let's himself be moved with an amused grin. "See," Benny says, "now we can save battery power if you watch me play Plague Inc."
"Good idea," Ethan agrees, shutting his phone off. He leans against Benny's arm, knowing he can get away with it. Wordlessly Benny drapes his arm around Ethan's shoulders. Ethan feels like an idiot for being thrilled with the affection.
Benny misses popping three bubbles in a row. "Are you even paying attention?" Ethan asks looking up to find Benny's eyes on his chest.
"Ahahaa," Ethan scoots his chair away covering himself with his arms. To avoid drawing attention he keeps his voice at a harsh whisper, "Were you trying to look down my dress?! Could you even see anything?"
"Sorry," Benny smiles sheepishly. "You're just really hot... in that dress."
Ethan furrows his brow at Benny. He's not getting away with it that easily.
"I promise I won't do it again, girlfriend. Remember the being my girlfriend thing?" Benny says pleadingly. "Besides, you didn't seem bothered when I was checking out your ass," he adds.
Ethan let's his forehead fall on the table in front of him. That was true. Why was that true? "Uh... I don't know, it just feels different. I mean, I let you check out my butt."
"You did?" Benny asks. "What else would you let me check out?" He seems far too pleased to be honestly contrite.
"Okay new topic," Ethan says sitting up. "Which one is... she?" Ethan asks gesturing discretely to an older woman who's having trouble standing straight.
"Uh.. Aunt Maggie." Benny says glancing up.
"Aunt Maggie is super drunk." Ethan says quietly to avoid being overheard.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's an alcoholic, but no one talks about it," Benny replies.
"Oh shit, I made eye contact. She's coming over this way." Ethan says steeling himself for the encounter. Benny wraps his arm around Ethan again, as if he could shield him.
"Aren't you two lovebirds just the cutest thing I've seen all day." Aunt Maggie manages all the words, but the way she leans until she falls into a chair leaves no doubt that was probably drinking before she arrived here. Her martini doesn't lose a drop, though. "How do you," Aunt Maggie covers her mouth for a moment, her eyes unfocusing and refocusing, "how do you know the bride and groom?" Ethan hopes someone else drove her here.
"I'm Mary's cousin, Aunt Maggie, remember? Charlotte's son." Benny patiently explains. Benny had told Ethan a little bit about his mother's family. Mostly just that it was always awkward.
"Oooh," Aunt Maggie draws the syllable out making it sound scandalous. "You're Charlotte's boy. Shame about your father." Aunt Maggie tuts and saunters off. Ironically, she's judging Benny's father for losing himself in alcohol after Benny's mother's death. By now he had to be at least five years sober though.
"Is your whole family like this?" Ethan asks slightly appalled.
"What do you mean?" Benny asks thumbing his phone back on.
"So... dismissive. She might be drunk but she didn't recognize you, and then she had all this disdain." Ethan was feeling more appreciate for petty squabbles that ended with the 'you're siblings, so you have to get along' talk.
"Yeah... Grandma says my mom's family never liked my dad." Benny shrugs. His thumb on Ethan's shoulder is rubbing circles. Ethan wonders if it's a tell of Benny's nerves.
"That doesn't mean they shouldn't like you!" Ethan exclaims indignantly.
Benny smiles flirtatiously, "Veronica, are you getting defensive on my behalf?"
"Maybe..." Ethan says getting flustered. It's not like he wouldn't say that as a guy.
"It doesn't matter what my family thinks. You like me." Benny says. He sounds sincere.
The moment is broken by Elise suddenly joining their table. She does look stunning. Her platinum blond hair accented by a pink flower that matches her very snug cocktail dress. Benny's cousin Barry is in tow.
"Hi Benny," Barry greets them. "This is my date Elise."
"Barry, this is Veronica," Benny answers in kind.
"Benny," Elise chirps plastically, "How good to see you here! I know how hard family can be for you." Barry looks confused. Elise probably didn't tell him that she used to date Benny.
Ethan, personally, is floored by Elise's audacity. He now realizes that being quiet and polite is not nearly as much a handicap as being completely unable to think of clever underhanded jibes.
"Can you get us beer?" Ethan asks tilting his head vapidly. If he can't play her game, he was hoping to just derail her whole train of thought.
Benny, amazingly, brings the insult home, "Elise is our age, Baby. She can't get beer either." Benny tucks Ethan further into his side, smiling down at his date with clear amusement. His green eyes are sparkling.
Elise's cherry red smile falters momentarily before she continues, "Oh, I know I look older. I'm just really good at doing makeup and wanted to look more sophisticated for the wedding. You know less party-girl," Elise waves her hand in Ethan's direction. Her nails are the same cherry red and threateningly long.
Ethan was sure he had been insulted but not sure how. His confused reaction suits the dumb persona he's using with Elise though. He spits out the first thing that comes to mind, "Uh.. how about your hair?"
He can feel Benny's chest shake as he desperately tries not to laugh out loud.
"Hmm-mm well, baby, maybe I can do something about your hair." Elise reaches in front of Benny to untuck Ethan's hair from behind his ear. When her hand touches Ethan, it sends him into a vision.
He sees a young Elise playing in the woods somewhere. Little Elise kneels down at the edge of a pond and drinks some of the water. A nymph emerges looking pissed. "For drinking my precious waters I lay this curse upon you: Everyone you care for will slowly grow to hate you." Elise ran away crying.
"Yeah everyone here is really boring," Ethan stammers, trying to think of a way to talk to Benny alone.
"Totally," Benny agrees, nodding.
Ethan continues, "Let's go find an empty room to make out in." He drags Benny off by his hand towards the hallway.
"Nice to see you Barry, later," Benny calls back to the table as his lanky form twists around, avoiding the chairs.
When they get out into the hallway. Ethan turns around to find Benny standing very right next to him. Benny rests his hands on Ethan's shoulders, bringing him in a little closer. His eyes darting between Ethan's eyes and lips, clearly lusty.
"Wait what?" Ethan takes a step back, hitting the wall. "Benny, we're not actually making out!" Ethan gasps in disbelief. He relegates Benny's apparent willingness to kiss to the back of his mind, for when he can safely obsess over it.
"Then why are we out here?" Benny asks. Relenting, he leans against the wall next to Ethan.
"Elise is cursed!" Ethan says getting his composure back. "I had a vision when she touched me. A nymph put a love curse on her. You have to figure out how to break it."
"What? Why me?" Benny asks. The curse had to be what was making Benny so uncharacteristically venomous towards Elise.
"You only hate her because of it. And you're probably the only person in her life who can help her," Ethan argues.
It only takes a moment for Benny to cave, his body slouching down against the wall, "Fine." Benny reaches his hand out, and his grimoire appears in it. "So what details do you have about the curse?"
"It was a water nymph that said everyone she cared for would grow to hate her." Ethan watches Benny flip through pages. There are some pictures in the book.
"Okay here it is. I have to get her to drink water out of cup of someone she cares about," Benny says, screwing up his face. "Huh. How do we do that?" He says looking at Ethan expectantly.