Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe, Part 4
(Nevermore school flashes across the screen, darkness having descended and the rain cleared. The camera shifts, then, to show the outside of Wednesday and Enid's dorm room, revealing Wednesday's figure as she stands within the right side of the window, which has been cleared of the colourful clear film that still covered Enid's side of the window. The camera focuses closer onto Wednesday as she kneels before the glass on the inside, using a blade to scrape at the edges of the film that still remained on two of the bottom panes of glass, expression full of concentration…)
"No!" Enid gasped, looking truly shocked and appalled by the sight, "You can't do that! That took hours!"
"Just as it likely took as long to remove it," Wednesday merely gave her a flat glare, "It's an improvement, Enid. Besides, it would appear that I am merely doing it to my side of the room, you have nothing to complain about".
"Yes, I do! I love that window; it's an expression of myself!"
"Looks kind of like it's an expression of both of you now," Tyler noted with a slightly wary glance between the girls, almost seeming to be hesitant to get in the middle of the argument.
"Shut it, you're not helping!"
He grimaced and eyed Enid slightly apologetically.
"I think he makes a rather good point, actually," Wednesday said lightly, not flickering an eye to glance at the boy, nor cowering under Enid's outraged glare, "It is my room, too. I should be allowed to decorate it as suits me, just as you have decorated your side…dreadfully as it might be".
The other girl merely glared at her hotly, but her lips pressed together tightly, evidently unable to argue with that…even if the angry glint in her eyes suggested that she strongly wished to.
(The door behind Wednesday, slightly out of focus, swung open and Enid's figure appeared, contrasting greatly in her bright coloured floral skirt and jumper. The girl immediately stormed over towards the window.
"What the hell did you do to my room?" Enid demands angrily, full of outrage.
Wednesday calmly looks up from where she has just dropped the last piece of film on the floor, the floor around her littered by curled scrapes. She simply gives the other girl a flat glare, dressed in a casually oversized black jumper and knee high socks, rather than the uniform.
"Dividing our room equally," she says mildly, standing and looking down briefly…a line of thick, black masking tape now divides the floor directly down the centre of the room. She uses her foot to kick the discarded film over the line and onto Enid's side, "It looks like a rainbow vomited on your side").
"So rude," Enid shook her head in disbelief, her lips parted slightly and her eyes wide, "I can't believe you just…totally destroyed my room and you didn't even ask!"
Wednesday gave her a cool, pointed glare, "It's my room to…or it would have been, in the future," she narrowed her eyes, then, "Besides, I didn't touch your side of the room, only mine. You have nothing to complain about".
"You could have at least asked! And you seriously don't need to be so rude and…and disrespectful of my taste".
"You do realise that you're fighting about something that hasn't even happened yet, right?" Xavier cut in warily, frowning slightly at the glaring girls, who instantly looked over to him sharply. To his credit, the boy didn't flinch away, but he did shift slightly uncomfortably.
"It's the principle!" Enid insisted with a huff, angrily glaring back at the screen.
(The camera focuses on Enid, who glares angrily and her lips curl, glaring after Wednesday, who turns and walks over to her side of the room, seemingly choosing to ignore her room mate's outrage. The once almost barren right side of the room has now been decorated, the bed set up with grey sheets, while a large black desk and chair are set up with a handsome, black typewriter. A bright office light sits on the edge of the desk, brightly illuminating the typewriter.
"I…" Enid begins hotly, looking close to stomping her foot.
"Silence would be appreciated," Wednesday speaks swiftly over her, taking a seat at her desk, rolling her oversized sleeves back, "This is my writing time.")
"You don't even have a laptop to write with?" Enid exclaimed weakly, her eyes widening, almost looking angst.
"Of course not," the other girl scoffed, lips briefly pursing in distaste.
"But…but…" she shook her head, looking almost pained, "Typewriters are so…noisy".
"I know. I enjoy the satisfying clinking of keys as I write".
Enid briefly closed her eyes and groaned lowly in her throat.
("Your writing time?" Enid repeats from behind her, slightly out of focus on the camera.
"I devote an hour a day to my novel," Wednesday explains without turning around, hands poised over the keys of the typewriter, while her dark eyes seem to scan over what she has previously written on the paper still sitting within the typewriter, "Perhaps if you did the same, your vlog might be coherent," she rather pointedly moves the paper holder sharply to the left, readying herself for the next line, while Enid grimaces in anger and hurt, "I've read serial killer diaries with better punctuation").
Enid's eyes widened in shock, her lips parting as a look of hurt flashes across her features.
"Ouch," Tyler winced slightly, green eyes darting appraisingly over to Wednesday, "I'd hate to see what you're like when you actually really dislike someone. Your ability to insult someone must be legendary".
"I simply speak honestly," Wednesday shrugged lightly, unconcerned.
(Enid glares angrily at the pigtailed girl, "I write in my voice," she gritted out tensely, looking as if she was struggling not to shout, "It's my truth. It's what my followers love".
Wednesday spins her chair around to face her, then, regarding the fair haired girl with a dubious, flat glare.
"Your followers are clearly imbeciles," she says, and rises from her chair, walking slowly and steadily over to the other girl, "They respond to your stories with insipid little pictures….")
"You don't even know what emojis are?" Enid gaped, her voice reaching near high pitched levels that only a dog would be able to hear before long, blinking rapidly.
"I know what they are, Enid," Wednesday rolled her eyes, struggling, hard, not scoff, settling for sighing very slightly to herself.
("Uh, you mean, emojis?" Enid blinked several times, taken aback, "It's how people express their feelings…"
The camera changes angle to show the girls standing on their respectful sides of the room, on either side of the masking tape, the contrast between the pair evident for all to see…)
"That's a pretty cool shot," Xavier said admiringly, leaning forward slightly to take in the scene curiously, "Like, you can see just how different the two of you actually are. It's a nice detail".
"It's terrifying," Wednesday corrected with a wary eye on the screen, "Enid is my exact opposite. At this point, it's amazing I didn't combust merely being in her presence".
"I'm right here, you know," Enid called pointedly.
Wednesday pretended not to hear her.
("… I realize that's a foreign concept to you," Enid finished with a slightly mocking tone, glaring at Wednesday.
"When I look at you, the following emojis come to mind," Wednesday stares at her blankly, her tone flat, "Rope, shovel, hole," she turns, then, and walks slowly back over towards her desk, leaving Enid staring after her, visibly swallowing, "By the way, there are two D's in Addams," she said over her shoulder, "If you're going to gossip about me, at least spell my name correctly".
Wednesday reaches her chair and moves to turn it around, readying herself to sit back down, while behind her Enid, glaring angrily, hits her Smartwatch and suddenly, the room is filled with a cheery, peppy pop song. She starts dancing to the tune, bouncing and twirling around on the spot as Wednesday, looking horrified, whirls around sharply…)
Wednesday, her eyes fixed on the screen, couldn't help her lips parting slightly in disgust. Could this get any worse? She heard Tyler barely stifling a laugh and sent him a venomous glare, though it only seemed to increase his laughter. Her fingers twitched for her blade stashed up her sleeve…
("Turn that off," Wednesday glares at the girl, her face growing stony with barely cancelled anger. Enid just kept on dancing, even puffing out her cheeks and mockingly shimmering her hands through the air, "This is your final warning…")
"Damn, Enid," Xaiver blinked, eyes widening very slightly in alarm, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"I can defend myself just fine, thank you," Enid huffed slightly, giving him a rather annoyed look, "I'm not completely defenceless".
"You're also not knife or fireproof".
"I suppose we'll likely find out," Wednesday said coolly, eyes narrowing on the screen, already feeling her ears starting to burn from the bright, bubbly music. If there was any way to make her go from mildly homicidal to outright murderous, hearing that music for much longer would do it.
(Wednesday stormed forward, looking ready to throttle Enid, or stab her…
"Rawr!" Enid growled, and brought her hands up, claws clicking out, sharp and multicoloured. Wednesday stopped short and eyed the claws, her expression flat as she slowly looked back to Enid's face, "Don't mess with me," she warned, glaring at her, "This kitty's got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them".
Door opens suddenly and both girls look at it sharply, Enid hastily turning off the music, just as a short woman in a long skirt and with red, bobbed hair stepped inside the room. Large, black framed glasses sat on her nose, while in her hand she carried a terracotta flowerpot with a black flower sitting within it…)
"Saved by the teacher," Xavier remarked, sparing Enid and Wednesday a glance.
"Enid possibly was," Wednesday said with a narrowed eyed glare at the screen, "I was far from concerned".
"Excuse me?" Enid rounded on her, her eyebrows shooting up sharply. She scoffed slightly as Wednesday gave her a level, cool look in return, "Did you miss how sharp my claws are?" she clicked her claws out and wiggled them pointedly at the other girl, "You seriously think you could take me on?"
She lifted an eyebrow, "Is that a challenge?"
"No fighting," Donovan cut in, his tone firm, if a little wary as he gave the girls a look, "I don't need to be called as witness when Addams commits murder in front of me".
Though, the dubious glance he spared Wednesday and then at Enid's claws, suggested he perhaps wasn't nearly as confident about his own assessment as he seemed. No one in the room seemed to notice how Tyler had stiffened in his chair, staring at the screen and the red headed woman that had appeared on it with wide eyes, his cheeks paling slightly. No one, but for Morticia, who eyed the teen boy with calculating, piercing eyes.
("Good evening, girls," the red headed woman greeted brightly, swinging the door shut behind her, "Oh, sorry about the mud. I wanted to make sure that Wednesday was settling in," she turns around to look between the girls, who stand, very pointedly, on their own sides of the room. Wednesday even steps slightly further to the side and away from Enid. The woman glances down at the tape and then, red gumboots covered in dried mud, stepped one foot on either side of the line, "Ah," she smiles back up at the pair, "Is this a bad time?")
"Perfect timing, actually," Enid muttered, though loud enough for everyone to hear.
Tyler, meanwhile, clutched the armrest of his seat tightly, his face rigidly set in a forced apathetic expression, struggling not to completely unravel on the spot.
(Wednesday and Enid exchange a brief glance from the corner of their eyes, neither girl speaking.
"I'm Ms. Thornhill, your dorm mom," the woman smiles broadly at Wednesday, walking closer to them, fixing Wednesday with a apologetic look, "Apologies, I wasn't here to greet you when you arrived. I trust Enid has given you the old Nevermore welcome".
Enid smiles brightly, if a little tensely.
"She's been smothering me with hospitality," Wednesday says flatly, looking directly back to the red headed woman, without any hint of emotion, "I hope to return the favour. In her sleep.")
Enid inhaled sharply and swallowed, hard, her eyes darting almost fearfully over to Wednesday, as if she had just threatened to do just that right now, and not her counterpart.
"Well…that's not terrifying or anything," Tyler smiled slightly awkwardly, glancing at Wednesday.
"No more terrifying that Enid's dancing," Wednesday said instantly, tone cool, frowning darkly with narrowed eyes on the screen.
(On the screen, Enid looks nervously across to Wednesday, which the pigtailed girl ignores completely, gazing unblinkingly at Thornhill, who eyes the girls closely, before glancing down uncomfortably.
"Well, here's a little welcome gift from my conservatory," she smiles brightly back up to Wednesday, holding the pot out towards the girl, "I try to match the right flower to each of my girls," she continues to smile as Wednesday takes the pot, peering at the black flower intently, "When I read your personal statement in your application, I immediately thought of this one".)
"How…thoughtful," Wednesday said slowly, her eyebrows arching.
("The black dahlia," Wednesday notes with a small nod, glancing back to Thornhill.
"Oh, you know it?" the woman lifts her eyebrows in pleasant surprise.)
"Let me guess…" Tyler smiled tightly at Wednesday, "Just like the famous murder, back in the forties".
"You know it?" Wednesday peered at him with vague curiosity and surprise, muted by the fact that only her eyes seemed to widen, while the rest of her face remained expressionless.
"Yeah," he nodded, shrugging slightly, his broad shoulders brushing the sides of his chair, given that he seemed to be almost disappearing into the seat, "I mean, kind of. Kid of a cop," he smiled faintly, "You kind of learn about some of the famous murders".
She eyed him still, not saying a word, until the boy glanced away first. Perhaps the boy had more promise to him, after all, though she doubted it very much. She had little interest in forming friends or social connections with anyone, but she supposed, if worst came to it and her foolish future counterpart had actually, impossibly, befriended someone, she supposed she could vaguely accept Tyler. Though, only very vaguely, he still had to prove himself and her standards were impossibly high. She sincerely doubted if anyone could reach such status in her eyes.
("Of course," Wednesday says with a flat look at Thornhill, "It's named after my favourite unsolved murder," she paused, then, glancing down at the flower in her hands, swallowing, "Thank you".)
Wednesday sensed Tyler's glance and slight smile, but she ignores it.
("Okey-dokey," Thornhill glances at Enid and smiles lightly, before looking quickly back to Wednesday, "Before I leave, I want to go over a few house rules. Lights off at 10:00, no loud music, and no boys, ever".
"What's the story about going into the local town?" Wednesday asks, peering intently at the woman.
"Passes to Jericho are a privilege, not a right," she gives the girl a firm, level look, "It's a brisk 25-minute walk, or there's a shuttle on the weekends. The locals are a tad bit wary about Nevermore, so please don't go making any waves, or perpetuating any outcast stereotypes…" she glances pointedly at Enid, "That means keep your claws to yourself…" and then back to Wednesday, expression stern, "…and no smothering people in their sleep. Are we clear?" Neither girl speaks, merely looking at her, and she smiles brightly, "Great talk".
She laughs and turns to walk away, pausing briefly in the doorway to wave back them cheerily before disappearing through the door. The doors shuts with a wooden thud).
"Is everyone in this school so unbearably happy and chirpy?" Wednesday hissed in annoyance, glaring at the screen, as if it had personally offended her…truth be told, it had. She found it quite offensive how sickeningly happy and bright everyone at Nevermore seemed to be, for a school made for Outcastes.
"I can be even chirpier if you'd like," Enid offered with a wide grin, teasing flashing through her blue eyes.
Wednesday barely resisted shuddering, fixing her with a steely glare, full of threat and danger, "You will contain yourself unless you wish me to fulfil my future counterparts threat of suffocating you," she warned darkly.
It only made the girl smirk and Xavier laugh quietly, which he swiftly stifled when Wednesday aimed her angry glare on him. His slight smile remained, however.
(The scene changes to show an aerial shot of Nevermore Academy during the day time, showing, seemingly, the back section of the school and part of the formal gardens that ran around the outside of the school. The scene changes to show a pair of white runners darting swiftly back and forth across a white runner, while bright morning sunlight streams through windows of the seemingly large room. The clinking of metal against metal sounds…)
"Oh, darling!" Morticia exclaimed in delight, her lips lifting into a brilliant, wide smile, her large eyes settling on Wednesday, "Fencing! How wonderful! You have always been a natural…"
"Of course you're thrilled, Mother," Wednesday said stiffly, glaring tightly at the screen, "I'm sure this was merely another part of your great scheme".
Her mother's face fell, her lips pursing in displeasure, "Wednesday…" she sighed, before shaking her head and looking almost sadly to Gomez, who dotingly brought her hand up to his lips, placing a soothing kiss to her knuckles.
(The camera moves out to reveal the room at large, showing that there was quite a number of students fencing against one another, all dressed in white, while a man, seemingly the coach, stands towards the end of the room, observing closely. A figure walks into view of the camera, then, hair tied into neat pigtail plaits and dressed in black fencing gear…)
"They weren't kidding about the change of uniform," Xavier's eyes widened very slightly, looking quite startled by the sight, "I'm amazed Coach let you join the team in that uniform, he's a stickler for the traditional gear".
"You're on the team, I suppose?" Wednesday spared him a glance, cool and assessing, weighing him up, vaguely.
He grinned at her, "Yeah," he said, almost eagerly, "We should spar sometime," he eyed her up and down, eyes glittering with something that Wednesday couldn't say she appreciated all that much.
"You couldn't handle me, Xavier," she replied coolly, taking a small degree of malice delight in her blackened heart at the way that he blinked at her, startled, while she calmly turned her gaze to the screen, dismissing him.
Someone who sounded suspiciously like Tyler snorted softly, while Enid seemed to make a small, 'Ooh,' noise beneath her breathe, smirking, almost smugly.
(Wednesday walks calmly straight down the very middle of the room, not pausing in her steps as she simply walked directly through sparring partners, who were forced to pause to let her pass through them safely. Her eyes dart off to the side, then, and the camera focuses on Xavier as he stands back from his partner and uses his free hand to remove his helmet, watching Wednesday as she walks by him. The camera briefly focuses on Thing, who slowly scuttles into view on the floor beneath a wooden bench, seemingly observing Wednesday, as instructed, before he scuttled back behind the bench leg and out of sight…)
"Good man, Thing," Gomez cheered brightly, smiling broadly, "He's always so reliable, but what do you expect from a right hand?" he shook his head and laughed lightly, utterly oblivious to the many stares of those without the last name Addams that he was receiving.
(The camera returns to Wednesday, who still walks down the room, but just as she reaches a pair who are in the middle of sparring, one of the pair suddenly trips backwards and lands with a heavy, painful sounding thud on the ground. A grunt sounds and the second fighter stands over the fallen one, pointing their foil at the fallen one…Wednesday pauses to regard the scene, expression showing muted curiosity. The fallen fencer suddenly sits up, helmet removed to reveal a sweaty faced boy with sandy brown hair…)
"That's Rowan," Xavier informed Wednesday, "He's my roommate".
"He's a pathetic fencer," Wednesday noted, though her eyes were slightly narrowed on the scene that had immediately paused at Xavier's words, looking at the second fencer that had bested the boy, Rowan.
("Coach!" Rowan gasps out, looking frantically up to the only adult in the room, who stands a few feet away, "Coach, she tripped me!"
The second fencer removes her own helmet to reveal Bianca, who looks down at Rowan, her stance now relaxed, and raises a slightly mocking eyebrow at the boy.
"It was a clean strike, Rowan," the coach determines with a flat look at the boy, hands clasped behind his back.)
"Rowan pulls stunts like this all the time," Xavier sighed slightly, his expression almost wary, "He's only on the team because he's got a legacy, and he used to be kind of alright. He's been slipping the past few months," he grimaced very slightly, almost grimly.
("Maybe if you whined less and practiced more, you wouldn't suck," Bianca gave the boy a pointed glare, scoffing slightly. Rowan drags himself onto his own feet, his expression tight with humiliation. Bianca turns to look to the Coach, frowning, "Seriously, Coach, when am I gonna get real competition?" she turns to look around the room, while the Coach silently hands Rowan a pair of glasses, "Anyone else want to challenge me?"
"I do," Wednesday says loudly, looking directly at Bianca.)
"Big shocker," Enid shook her head, but her lips were curved very slightly, and she glanced hopefully at Wednesday, "Are you good at fencing?"
Wednesday merely looked at her coolly, "Better".
She smirked and looked back to the screen, almost eagerly, "Oh, this I gotta see," she said almost excitedly.
The dark haired girl gave her a slightly puzzled glance, confused by how someone who seemed to dislike her so much only mere minutes ago, could suddenly seem delighted and even supportive, towards her now. She didn't understand it, but then again, what else was new when it came to social interactions that went beyond being glared at or mocked?
(Bianca whirls around to face Wednesday, while the rest of the room falls silent and turns to look, too. Ominous music starts playing.
"Oh, you must be the psychopath they let in," Bianca eyed Wednesday with mock lightness and friendliness, smiling widely at her.
"You must be the self-appointed Queen Bee," Wednesday replied without blinking, causing Bianca to smirk and briefly close her eyes, rather smugly, but Wednesday wasn't finished, "Interesting thing about bees. Pull out their stingers, they drop dead".)
"Oh, good one, roomie," Enid cheered slightly, grinning widely.
"I didn't realise you and Bianca didn't get along, Enid," Xavier glanced at the blonde girl with a slightly pointed eyebrow raised.
"Oh, I don't have anything against her," she said hastily, blinking, slightly wide eyed, "I just…well…" she smiled guiltily and glanced at Wednesday, shrugging slowly, "I guess it's kind of nice seeing someone stand up to Bianca. I mean, she walks around like she owns the place all the time, it gets kind of…annoying".
"Is she a bully?" Wednesday eyed the screen closely. Call her a hypercritic if you wanted to, she could care less, but she didn't like petty bullying, at least not the juvenile type. If it didn't draw blood and cause possible trauma, then what was the point?
"Well…I mean…" Enid shifted slightly uncomfortably on the spot, shooting Xavier a wary glance, "…I guess you could kind of say she is a bit of a bully, sometimes. It's nothing to bad, she doesn't target people, you know? It's more across the board sort of thing, but I guess, technically…"
Wednesday regarded the screen more intently.
(Bianca's smile slipped clean off her face and her eyes widened, shocked.
"Ooh!" several people murmur around the room, causing the dark skinned girl to look around hastily, before turning back to glare at Wednesday.
"Rowan doesn't need you to come to his defence," Bianca says to Wednesday, scoffing as she tosses Rowan a slight sneer, "He's not helpless, he's lazy".
In the background, Rowan uses an inhaler, shifting slightly uncomfortably on the spot.
"Are we doing this or not?" Wednesday simply stares at Bianca.)
"You're kind of supportive for the underdog, aren't you?" Tyler said slowly, almost seeming surprised as he looked over to Wednesday.
"Bite your tongue off," the girl glared back at him sharply, "Before I remove it with my dagger".
He grinned and hastily held up his hands in surrender.
(Bianca considered Wednesday for a briefly moment, before shrugging, seemingly agreeing. The girls take up positions on the matt, turning to face one another from their separate ends.
"En garde," the Coach called loudly, watching the pair with narrowed, calculating eyes.
(Dramatic music begins playing as Wednesday, looking at Bianca from her end of the matt, places her helmet down over her face, obscuring her face from view. The camera turns on Bianca as she does the same thing and then they're readying themselves for the fight, the pair shifting on the spot. Bianca lunges first, tapping her foil against Wednesday's, who allows the strike, lingering back. Bianca lunges at her again and the fight kicks into full action.
They lunge at one another, the metallic sound of each hit sounding through the air, while the grunts and gasps of each lunge follow the movement of the pair as they battle. They fight back and forth, neither of them gaining much traction against the other, Wednesday deflecting and attacking every blow, her every movement swift and confident. Xavier watches from his own matt, his eyes widening slightly in amazement as the fight carries on, right up until Wednesday suddenly ducks a blow, only to bring her foil up from her low lung, right up to touch directly against Bianca's chest guard. They both freeze on the spot.
"Point to Wednesday," the coach declared.)
Tyler glanced at Xavier, "Do you still want to spar with Wednesday?" he asked him, a touch of teasing and amusement in his eyes.
Xavier blinked and gaped slightly at the screen, a look of disbelief on his face, seemingly far too busy watching the fight take place to respond.
Wednesday allowed a tiny quirk to her lips, just briefly, gaze still on the screen.
(The sparring kicks back into life almost immediately, Wednesday now back to her full height as she swiftly and aggressively pushes Bianca back down the matt, while the other girl matches every blow, managing to stay standing, even as she awkwardly lunges backwards from Wednesday's attack…Wednesday, gasping, drops into a crouch, but it's too late. Bianca's foil touches her.
The camera briefly switches to show Enid and a dark haired, Asian girl standing off to the side of the room, watching the scene unfold with impressed gazes.
"The score is even," the Coach announces.)
"You weren't kidding," Enid shook her head, grinning broadly, "You're better than good. You're like…like a lethal ninja!"
Wednesday glances at her, her expression lighter and less rigid then it had been previously, far from warm, but…something.
"Thank you," she said, inwardly delighted at being considered 'Lethal'.
"You've got to teach me your moves!"
"I suppose…I could be agreeable to the idea…but only if you agree to cull at least fifty percent of the stuffed teddies on your side of the room".
"I'll…consider it".
(Wednesday stands from her crouch and reaches up to remove her helmet, glaring at Bianca with a vaguely murderous glint in her dark eyes, her fridge mused all over her forehead. Likewise, Bianca removes her own helmet and smirks smugly at Wednesday.
"That first point was clearly beginner's luck," Bianca mocked the other girl, eyeing her up and down, full of superiority, "Let's finish this".)
"I reckon Bianca might regret the attitude," Tyler noted with an amused grin, his eyes flickering over to Wednesday.
"I think you might be right," Wednesday said lightly, inwardly smirking to herself.
(Wednesday glares at the girl, who slips passed her with a smug, pointed look, but Wednesday immediately spins around to face the Coach, giving him a stony glare.
"For the final point, I would like to invoke a military challenge," she tells him, walking closer to the man, before turning back around to look back to Bianca, who stares at her openly, startled, "No masks. No tips".
"Ooh," the room rumbles lowly.
Wednesday simply looks darkly at Bianca, "Winner draws first blood".)
"Oh, damn," Xavier's eyes widen, almost comically, and he leans forward in his seat, very nearly ending up on the floor in his eagerness, "You don't mess around".
"No, I don't," Wednesday agreed stiffly, eyes narrowed.
(The music picks up with a dramatic flourish, while the camera darts around the room, lingering on people's shocked and startled faces, all of them watching and waiting to see what would happen next. Bianca laughs mockingly, but it falls flat and weak, her eyes slightly wide as she eyes Wednesday warily.
"It's your decision, Bianca," the Coach looks impassively towards the girl.
Bianca opens her mouth to respond, only to hesitate, glancing at Wednesday, who stares back at her…before raising her eyebrow challengingly. She glares back at her.
"Let's see if you bleed in black and white," Bianca says, and tosses her helmet off to the side).
"Sounds like fighting words to me," Enid remarked with a slight grimace, eyeing the screen, "You better show her, Wednesday".
"Oh, I have no doubt that I will".
(Dramatic music continues, while Wednesday drops her own helmet and then sinks down slightly on bent legs, looking at Bianca from beneath her brows…before she lunged at the girl, who barely manages to dart backwards on her feet against the aggressive attack. The pair battle back and forth, this fight even more intense than the previous two, as Wednesday lunges and twists and twirls her way out of Bianca's foil's range. The gathered crowd 'Oohs' and gasps as the impressive moves that Wednesday shows, seemingly easily parring every blow thrown her way, even at one point kicking Bianca and then flipping away from the impending blow.
In the end, Bianca ends up kneeling on the floor; her face screwed up tightly with concentration and effort as she struggles to defend herself against Wednesday's attacks, when she manages to get back onto her feet and, spinning on the spot, brings her foil up in a sharp swishing motion. Wednesday head snaps sharply to the right and she freezes on the spot, eyes wide. A bleeding, inch long cut marks Wednesday's forehead, above her left eyebrow. Wednesday reaches up and touches the cut, eyes wide with shock as she touches it and then pulls her finger away, looking down at the blood that stains it. Her eyes snap up sharply to Bianca, anger and shock glinting in her eyes…)
"Wow," Enid breathed, eyes wide with disbelief, staring at the screen, "That was…unreal".
"I lost," Wednesday said slowly, almost blankly.
"Oh, but you fought hard and strong, my deadly mushroom!" Gomez said brightly, giving her a wide, encouraging grin, "You made Uncle Fester proud".
Wednesday briefly pressed her lips together in displeasure and anger, eyes narrowing, "I failed, Father," she said stiffly, glaring, hard at the screen, "There is nothing to be proud of in that".
"You've always been far too hard on yourself, darling," Morticia shook her head lightly, smiling gently and slightly knowingly at Wednesday, "Fail or not, you left an impression. That's the main thing".
"The main thing, Mother, would be Bianca bleeding, not me. Honestly, you're constantly encouraging and coddling is exactly why Pugsley is how he is".
(Xavier laughs quietly in disbelief, blinking. The rest of the room watch on, Rowan frowns slightly, while Enid and the Asian girl regard the scene with hints of displeasure in their expressions.
"Your face finally got that splash of color it so desperately needed," Bianca remarks with a mocking smirk, laughing softly as she stands with her foil still aimed at Wednesday).
"Oh, my God," Enid gasped quietly, shaking her head in disbelief, "That was so…bitchy. No apology, even, no concern…"
"Don't insult me, Enid," Wednesday shot her a dark, warning glare, "Is it not humiliating enough that I lost, let alone to express concern or to apologise?" she glared murderously at the screen, tone darkening, "I'd rather dye my hair pink then have my opponent apologise. How disgustingly…nice".
(The scene changes to show a close up of Wednesday's face as she glares flatly ahead of her, eyes looking almost dead, as a hand moves into view of the camera and gently pushes her fringe aside to reveal a dry, thin cut on her forehead. A bandaid is pressed over the cut and smoothed out, and still Wednesday doesn't blink or move…)
"Do you…ever blink?" Tyler asked curiously, shooting the dark hared girl a look full of a mixture of concern and admiration in his eyes.
Wednesday looked across to him directly, meeting his gaze purposefully and unblinkingly, "Do you need to blink constantly?" she shot back blankly, quirking a brow.
"Um…" he frowned very slightly, almost looking taken aback, "I…think so".
(The nurse steps aside to reveal that there was a second person sitting on a stool behind Wednesday, while another nurse leans over him and checks his blood pressure. It's a boy.
"You're Wednesday, right?" a male voice speaks, causing Wednesday's eyes to dart to the side, before she stands and turns around to face the boy. It's Rowan, now dressed in his Nevermore uniform, save for his blazer, which is draped over his chair. He gives Wednesday a faintly sympathetic look, "Rowan. I know how you feel").
Wednesday scoffed, bleakly glaring at the screen and wishing she could stand before Rowan in person, simply so she could give him the same icy look in return. Why was it that it seemed as if people wished to pretend that they were anything like her? First Xavier seemed to feel some sort of connection with her; Tyler had seemingly had a vaguely similar feeling, though it was slightly more accurate, if only because of their similar parental disagreements, but now Rowan. How tiresome and annoying.
("I guarantee you don't," Wednesday looks impassively at the boy, voice stony.
"My mother promised me I'd finally fit in somewhere," Rowan tells her with faintly disappointed, uncomfortable tug on his lips. He takes a deep, shuddering breath and his expression darkens slightly, one eye flickering, "I never thought it was possible to be an outcast in a school full of outcasts..." Wednesday eyes dart briefly off to the side, only to swiftly look back to him when he smiles widely, "But it looks like you're gonna give me a run for my money…")
"That's…really kind of sad," Enid said quietly, frowning at the screen, biting at her bottom lip, "I mean, I knew Rowan didn't exactly fit in much, but I didn't know he felt that…lonely".
"Why would you?" Xavier glanced at her, shrugging slightly, but he was frowning faintly, "He doesn't really talk to anyone, does he? I've been rooming with him all this time and I still barely know him".
"Maybe that's the problem. Maybe no one's tried to know him".
"You're too soft, Enid," Wednesday said stiffly, gaze firmly planted on the screen. She wasn't entirely sure if it was said as a compliment or insult, but she stood by her assessment of the girl. Her soft, tender, blubbering heart was a great disadvantage.
("Uh… Sorry about the… nick," Rowan awkwardly points up towards his own forehead, eyeing Wednesday sheepishly.
Wednesday merely looks at him flatly, hands clasped down her front, "No good deed goes unpunished," she says, before turning and calmly grabbing her coat from the end of the bed, disappearing out of frame.
Rowan watches her go and frowns slightly, accepting a new inhaler without a word. The camera switches to show Wednesday reaching the door of the infirmary and pulling it open roughly, storming out with a positively murderous scowl on her features. She stops by the water bubbler and ruffles her fringe over the bandaid. The water dispenser bubbles and, narrowing her eyes, she turns to eye it sharply, before marching off.
Thing slowly scuttles around the edge of the large, full water tank, seemingly watching Wednesday go).
"I guess…it's kind of sweet you have your…" Enid trailed off slightly, frowning as she glanced questionably over to Gomez and Morticia, "Your…? Er, what do you call it?"
"Thing?" Gomez smiled pleasantly at her, "Oh, he's something of a helping hand for the family".
Enid seemed to briefly eye Gomez, almost as if she was questioning if the man was messing with her or not, before she smiled awkwardly, "So…it's kind of like a servant?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"A rather morally questionable word, but accurate enough," Morticia said with a gentle, light smile at the girl.
"Right…" she smiled, turning her eyes to Wednesday, "Well, either way, I think it's kind of sweet you have your…er, helping hand trailing you at school. Are you…close?"
"As close as a dismembered hand can be to a human being," Wednesday said stiffly, scowling very slightly, "And I would hardly call it 'Sweet,' Enid. Thing is merely following orders, his loyalty and devotion the Addams family is unquestionable".
"Either way, I still think it's cute".
"You're as delusional as Tyler".
"I'm going to try and ignore that," Tyler called with a slightly raised hand, throwing Wednesday a tight lipped smile, oddly, faintly amused.
(A chilling choir vocalizations begins to play over the scene as it changes to show Wednesday stepping outside of a building, rain pouring down from the sky. She opens a large black umbrella up and lifts it over her head, stepping out of the doorway, glaring impassively still. The camera shifts to show her figure walking across a small courtyard, her umbrella shielding her from view. A stone gargoyle on the edge of the roof wobbles on the ledge, the sound of stone scraping sounding…)
"Something of interest, at last," Wednesday remarked lightly, peering intently at the screen, "It would seem that someone is about to attempt to murder me. How…fascinating".
"Oh, darling," Morticia gave her a brilliant smile, "You never forget your first attempted murder. What a delight it is to witness it".
"It s a special moment," Gomez agreed with a wide smile, nodding.
Enid stared at the family blankly, before glancing at Xavier, who eyed the family in disbelief, to Tyler, who looked faintly bemused, as if he wasn't sure if he should laugh awkwardly or frown, while Donovan simply sighed and looked at the screen with almost resigned, tired eyes. Well, it was nice to know that you weren't the only one in the room low-key confused as all hell.
(The gargoyle continues to shift on the ledge and Wednesday, hearing the sound somehow over the pattering of the rain, stops and glances up at it curiously, right before the gargoyle suddenly falls right over the ledge and falls directly towards her…
"Wednesday!" a male voice shouts.
A teenage boy in a Nevermore uniform comes running out from out of frame and tackles Wednesday out of the way of the falling gargoyle, the two rolling and tumbling as the gargoyle hits the ground where Wednesday had been standing and smashes. The boy, Xavier, sits up from Wednesday's suddenly limp, unconscious form as she lies on her back in the rain, and stares at her with wide, shocked eyes…)
"Well…" Wednesday eyed the screen with a vaguely displeased glint in her eyes, her tone emotionless, "I suppose death by gargoyle would have been more imaginative then most deaths".
"Yeah, 'cos that's the main focus here," Enid said with a slightly muffled voice, her eyes wide with alarm, while fingers pressed against her mouth, seemingly to hold back a cry.
"I suppose," she agreed lightly, almost apathetically, "I've yet to have someone attempt to murder me before," her lips briefly pursed, "It's not nearly as exciting as I expected it to be. You didn't help…" her dark eyes flashed to Xavier, full of disproval and even slight annoyance.
"Me?" Xavier blinked at her, looking quite bemused, "I literally just saved your life, but I didn't help?"
"No, you didn't. I am perfectly capable of saving myself without you blundering in. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have lost consciousness and likely would have been able to immediately determine the one who attempted to end my miserable existence".
"That's…some logic you've got there. You're kind of ureal…"
"Unfortunately, I am quite real," Wednesday cut across him without a flicker of an eye at the rather exasperated, vaguely upset tone in his voice, peering back at him coolly, "For future reference; don't bother with the displays of gallantry. Not only is it outdated and boring, it's unnecessary".
"Fine," the boy gave her a suddenly icy glare, eyes narrowing, "Next time I see you about to be turned into mush, I guess I'll just look the other way. Happy to have that cleared up…"
(The scene changes to show Wednesday lying flat on her back upon the same bed she had only just left when she had her cut tended to. She remains unconsciousness, while her arms lie folded over her chest, as if she was dead, and with her skin so pale it was almost translucent, she very well could be. And then, suddenly, her eyes snap open and immediately dart upwards, the corners of them crinkling in confusion. The camera shifts to reveal Xavier standing above her, smiling.
"Welcome back," he tells her with a faintly amused look. Wednesday immediately sits upright and the boy hastily sits on a chair by the bed, holding his hands up in a stopping motion, "Just take it easy. Nurse said you don't have a concussion, but you probably have a nasty bump, huh?")
"Or several," Enid chimed in with a slightly wide eyed grimace, "That was some tackle, I practically felt it," she glances sideways at Wednesday, "And, I mean, you don't look like you've got much padding to begin with…"
"I actually rather enjoy bruises," Wednesday said lightly, her eyebrows quirked slightly, "The dulled pain and healing process of bruising is rather like a tattoo, only temporary and not typically for vanity".
The other girl sighed, "Of course you'd like bruises," she muttered, shaking her head, exasperated.
(Wednesday uses her hands to brace herself on the bed, her gaze dropping onto the edge of the bed as she frowns to herself.
"The last thing I remember I was walking outside feeling a mixture of rage, pity and self-disgust," she admits in a monotone voice, her eyes darting up sharply to Xavier, who smiles grimly and glances down. She eyes him carefully, "I've never felt that way before".
"Yeah," he smiles humourlessly, "Losing to Bianca has that effect on people, I think").
"Nice girl, by the sounds of it," Tyler noted lightly.
"Shut up, Galpin," Xavier shot the other boy a dark, warning glare, teeth gritted.
Tyler gave him a cool, tight smile and shrugged, "Just making an observation," he said, almost innocently.
("Then I looked up and saw that gargoyle coming down and I thought, "At least I'll have an imaginative death,'" Wednesday continues, glancing down, a flicker of morbid pleasure crossing her features and softening them, until her eyes dart up sharply to fix on Xavier, narrowing on him accusingly, "Then you tackled me out of the way. Why?"
Xavier looked thoughtful, frowning slightly as he shrugs, "Call it instinct," he says with a small click of his tongue.
She glares at him flatly, "So you were guided by latent chivalry, the tool of the patriarchy, to extract my undying gratitude?" she demands mockingly.
"Mm-hmm," he nods, almost mockingly and gives her a thin, sarcastic smile, "Most people just say 'thank you'".
"I didn't want to be rescued," she glares back at him flatly.
"I shoulda just let that thing smash you to mush?")
"This sound familiar," Wednesday barely restrained herself from openly rolling her eyes, turning to gaze flatly at Xavier
"What do you expect?" Xavier asked her mockingly, raising an eyebrow, "An apology to saving your life?"
"How about reassurance that you will keep the heroics to a minimal, and acknowledgement that I am perfectly capable of saving myself?"
He stared at her, silently and rather shocked, for a long moment, before he scoffed and shook his head, scowling as he crossed his arms across his chest. He looked away from her, almost bitterly, and Wednesday slowly lifted her threatening glare off the boy, gaze turning back to the screen. She didn't fully comprehend why the boy was getting so annoyed at her because she expressed her desire to worry about her own personal safety; it was her life, after all, if she chose to act to save it, that was her choice, no one else. She didn't ask, nor would she ask, for Xavier to endanger himself foolishly trying to save her. It seemed idiotic to her for someone to do such a thing for someone else. Xavier would only get himself killed trying to save her, if he was so desperate for the embrace of death, she could deliver it to him personally, she didn't see why he needed to waste time and energy seeking it out by playing the hero.
("I would have rather saved myself," Wednesday says instantly, eyeing the boy closely.
He laughs softly and glances down, "Good to see you haven't changed," he remarks with a small shake of his head, looking back up to her…)
"So you do know each other," Tyler frowned slightly, looking quickly from Xavier to Wednesday, eyeing the pair with an odd glint in his eyes, lips slightly downturned in displeasure.
"My memories continues to evade me," Wednesday said with a glance over Xavier, her gaze cool, "Evidently, the impression wasn't overly lasting".
"Ouch," Enid murmured with a small, sympathetic grimace, glancing sideways at Xavier, checking his reaction.
Xavier pressed his lips together and gritted his teeth, hurt flashing through his eyes. He clenched his jaw together and turned away from her, fixing his gaze firmly on the TV screen.
(Wednesday stares at him with calculating, intense eyes, tilting her chin down very slightly, seemingly trying to unsettle the boy enough to make him talk. It was unneeded, however, as Xavier went on with a small shrug.
"If makes you feel any better, let's just say I returned the favour," he says, but Wednesday merely looks at him blankly, still, evidently clueless. He gives her a slightly pointed look, smiling faintly, "Xavier Thorpe? You probably don't remember me. Last time we met, I was about two feet shorter, 40 pounds heavier…"
"What happened?"
Xavier seems to exhale slightly, looking briefly thoughtful, "Puberty, I guess…")
Tyler sniggers slightly, earning himself a tight, angry glare from Xavier…which melts very slightly into embarrassment, when Enid giggles softly. His head whips around to stare at her and she smiled sheepishly at him.
"Sorry, but…puberty?" she smirked teasingly at him, "If that's your way of flirting, you're kind of screwed to die alone".
"Thanks, Enid," Xavier sighed slightly, "And I wasn't flirting…" his eyes dart over to Wednesday, almost warily.
Wednesday merely turned her gaze swiftly back to the TV screen, ignoring the feeling of his eyes on her, or her mother's delighted smirk, which she exchanged with Gomez. She had always rather thought that if heaven and hell were real, she could at least appreciate the thought that she would have an afterlife full of constant torment to amuse her. This was not what she had in mind.
("I meant what happened the last time we met?" Wednesday corrects with a rather deadpan glare.
"Oh," he blinks and smiles, glancing down at his lap, "Uh…yeah, it…it was my godmother's funeral," he looks back up to her, "She was friends with your grandmother, and they spent their twenties in Europe, swindling the rich and notorious…")
"Colour me shocked," Donovan scoffed, shaking his head.
("…I don't know, but we were ten, and we were bored, decided to play hide and seek. I had the inspired idea to hide in her casket…" Wednesday almost seems to smile, her face brightening suddenly, "…I got stuck as it was headed to the crematorium…")
"Oh," Wednesday lifted an eyebrow, her eyes widening, just a fraction, "I do remember now…" her eyes darted over to Xavier, who gave her a thin, almost mocking smile. She eyed him slightly more closely, features softening, just slightly, "I…" she hesitated, lips pressing together briefly and an almost physically pained grimace crossing her face, before she sighed, "I suppose I owe you an…apology".
"Yeah," Xavier nodded, looking at her rigidly, "Most people might agree".
She hesitated, just slightly, "I…apologise for my dismissal," she said slowly, almost robotically, in a way, quite uncomfortable by the fact that she actually found herself needing to apologise, but it seemed that Xavier and her would need to remain in this room for a while yet, it would be…annoying if she was to make an enemy of the boy now. Later, once they escaped, she could care less, but for now a touch of self-preservation was needed, "In my defence…" she couldn't help adding, pinning the boy with a pointed look, "You do look quite different".
"Apology accepted," he inclined his head towards her, an oddly pleased, if slightly surprised smile lighting up his features, "By the way, you don't look any different".
Wednesday ignored the last comment about her physical appearance, stiffly turning back to the TV.
("I'd heard muffled screams," Wednesday cut in suddenly, almost sounding bright, or as bright as she had seemed yet. Xavier smiles and nods, "I just figured your godmother had cheated death and was trying to claw her way out".
She almost seems to smile again, though she seems to manage to stop herself, even though her dark eyes glowed brighter then they had before.
"Either way, you hit the big red stop button and saved me from being flame-broiled," Xavier said, smiling at her and shrugging, "So… now we're even".
Wednesday regards him closely, remaining silent…)
The screen faded to black.
"What a delightfully busy first day at Nevermore, darling," Morticia said excitedly, smiling broadly over to Wednesday, arching her thin, dark eyebrows at her pointedly, "And it would seem you've even formed some budding friendship, a revelry, and a would-be murderer".
"Wednesday has always been an overachiever," Gomez added with a warm, prideful smile directed towards his daughter.
"Please, Mother, Father," Wednesday grimaced, just slightly, "You're sickening coddling is causing me to break out in hives," she looked back to the TV screen, eyeing it firmly, "Enough. Let's continue watching, hopefully we see another murder…"
Her eyes glinted hopefully at the prospect, while the rest of the room simply sighed and exchanged rather bemused looks; poor Donovan even reached up to rub at his eyes. Only twenty seven minutes into these films he was already getting a migraine.
Next chapter is a monster of a chapter, it's huge, but we're officially halfway through the episode one! Very exciting :)
Let me know what you thought, please review :)