Bren grinned, watching their friends staring uncertainly at the Addams lined up and waiting to greet them. It was entertaining to see them all so on edge...while it lasted, at least. Which Bren doubted would be long at all.

"Welcome! We are so glad you have all joined us in our festivities!" Gomez crowed, beaming, as he kept Morticia close by his side. "I am Gomez, and this is my bewitching wife, Morticia." He paused to bring her hand up for a lingering kiss before continuing. "Then there's the children: Pugsley and Wednesday. My brother, Fester. Grandmama. As well as our wonderful butler, Lurch. Thing is inside preparing for the evening. Now, what may we call each of you? Oh!" He looked excited, perking up even more, if that were possible. "As well as your preferred pronouns! Did I say that right, Bren?"

"Proper form, old man." They reassured, chuckling at the warm, happy feeling Gomez recalling their discussion on pronouns produced.

Once introductions on both sides were done, the awkward silence sat heavily for a moment before a gasp sliced through it.

"OH MY GOSH ITS HUGE!!!" The squeal came from Claire, who was clinging to Fin's arm as she shook it slightly. Fin just chuckled for a moment before responding.

"I told you it was."

"But its-I mean-Look at it!!"

"I see it, Claire. I fired it off the other day."

Big grey eyes looked up into Fin's...which were an almost comical distance away since the top of Claire's head only reached his chest.

"Is-Could I...?"

"Best to ask Pugsley on that one." His tone was...different than usual with the girl, Bren noted. Watching Fin's eyes follow Claire's nervous approach with an odd softness.

"Jace, yes? You are on the running team with Bren, here!" Gomez's voice ripped them out of their musings before turning to see him vigorously shaking Jace's hand. "They say you are a natural cross-country runner. You know I took a stab at it in my day. Ran clear across Russia! Ah, that was a wonderfully chill winter."

"The blizzard winds did wonders for you, mon cherie. Your eyes shone maddeningly. Absolument sauvage." Morticia hummed, prompting Gomez to turn to face her with utter adoration in his gaze.

"Oh Tish, you spoke French!" Immediately, he began his usual display of devotion. Morticia's arm quickly held captive and having kisses liberally applied as Morticia tried to calm him down. Bren tugged a gobsmacked Jace's arm.

"Come on. They'll be occupied for a few minutes." They informed, pulling them over to where the others had gathered around as Pugsley explained how he had built the trebuchet. As he spoke, Claire took pictures of different parts, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Do you not need some kind of permit for that?" Chad's friend....Kazarious? Asked in mild disbelief.

"No, I checked. The range is within our property bounds and does not attain altitudes where it enters regulated airspace." Pugsley assured confidently.

"...I feel less suprised than I feel like I should that you actually checked on the legality of this thing." Purnima drawled. "So, are we firing this beast or what?"

"We can. I did already tell Claire she could launch it, though." He explained. "After this time, we should go ahead and start chopping it up. It will be dark enough to really enjoy a bonfire soon."

After a few more questions, Pugsley talked Claire through how the launch would happen, as well as agreed to video it for her. Of course, since Claire was about April's size, the lever barely budged. Bren held back a chuckle as she called for Fin to help. Of course, the walking beanpole was only to happy to oblige. Walking over before she had even finished asking.

Any idiot could see the blush on Claire's face as Fin stood behind her, leaning down with his arms around her to help pull the lever.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Somehow Bren had doubts that was the ideal form to help, but who were they to stop a lovely little medieval romance moment?

They were sure there were at least 10 innuendos around the situation that they could use to tease Fin later, as well. So they really had no reason to point out the bad form.

Gasps rang out from the spectators as the mechanisms went to work with a dull clatter, soon followed by the "whoosh!" of the stone as it was released to sail through the air. A large, splashing thud sounded out as the rock landed farther out in the swamp. Claire squealed excitedly, turning to look up at a softly smiling Fin as she squeaked out what, Bren assumed, were disernable as words at a lower frequency.

Their focus on the juicy little budding romance was broken by a firm clap on the back. Fester's somehow ever present scent of damp earth reaching them before his voice did. They heard a grunt from Jace who he assumed had received the same treatment as Fester spoke.

"Wonderful arc on that one! Well, are you kids ready to get to chopping? I sharpened the axes myself this morning just for the occasion!" He announced happily, giving both a shoulder-cracking side hug before letting go. Jace stumbled a bit from the embrace with a light cough at the unexpected assault on his lungs. Bren just grinned, used to it by now.

"Absolutely! You use the grinding stone wheel thingy?"

"No, no. Of course not. We needed a good, keen edge!" Fester insisted gleefully. "By hand is much more precise! Only the best for such a big event."

"I'm sure they're perfect. Oh, Jace, for real be careful." Bren warned as they readily accepted an axe, testing the weight of it in their hand. "Uncle Fester here is an artist with a whetstone. These things can likely split a hair at a glance."

Jace accepted his axe far less readily, handling it carefully as if it was going to come to life and bite him.

Though now that Bren considered it, that wouldn't be to shocking in this household.

"You guys weren't kidding." Purnima proclaimed, accepting an axe from a giddy Gomez. Stepping back just a bit to give it a test swing while Kazarious hesitantly accepted another, looking skeptical. Chad was already happily holding his while Fin's sat leaned against the trebuchet as he, by Bren's reconing, rather unnecessarily showed Claire how to hold it to get a good swing.

Gomez and Fester were soon encouraging the others to take a few test swings against a pole they'd set up earlier to get a feel for it. Of course cheering everyone on with such wholesome encouragements like:

"Yes! Yes that would have been a perfect disembowlment!"

"Exemplary high swing! A bit more momentum and bracing in your stance and it would likely be a clean beheading!"

"A bit more passion, my dear! Find that little bundle of depraved bloodlust in your soul and unleash your demons!" Claire had nodded fervently in response, grunting slightly as she hefted the axe to give it another go. Fester soon arrived and offered her a freshly sharpened...something, instead. Insisting it was a more suitable weapon for her. It kinda looked like an axe and hoe hybrid. Sure enough, with a bit of coaching from Fester, she took another smooth hack at the pole. Eliciting a cheer and gentle shoulder shake from Fester after it gouged a decent chunk in it.

Of course, gentle from Fester meant the poor girl got shaken like a snow globe, but she was beaming none the less.

Shortly, they were all hacking away at the Trebuchet with wild abandon. Soon working on their own little felled sections. Everyone seemed to be having fun. Purnima especially was giggling to herself as her eyes held a maniacal kind of gleam. It was nice seeing her let loose after her initial reservations...though Bren made a mental note to avoid teasing her when she had access to sharp objects.

Once everything was declared adequately decimated by Gomez and Fester, Wednesday organized the structuring of the bonfire itself. Excited in her own quiet way. Finally, it was time to light it, with Pugsley insisting April do the honors since it was her trebuchet.

Bren watched, entranced, as she struck the flint, the resulting sparks illuminating her green eyes in a flash that was otherworldly. Another mesmerizing flash or two had their heart pounding from the gold it shone upon her hair alongside the bewitching allure of her eyes.

"I get why you won't shut up about her. Chick's hot. Think I'd have a shot with her?" They startled slightly before turning to glower at Jace.

"That's not fucking funny." They grumbled, trying not to be to loud.

"Chill out, just joking. I wouldn't actually go for her. I'm not a dick." Jace assured, snickering. "But fact remains: She's a looker. Kinda quiet, though."

"Only when she doesn't know you." Bren defended. "She's great to talk with! It's amazing how much goes on in that pretty little head. I can sit for hours listening to her dissect Shakespeare and truly enjoy the discussions for fucks sake. Pretty sure she could find poeticism in a damn Ikea construction manual and it'd make sense." Jace raised a brow and smirked.

"She's already got you whipped."

"Saying she's fun to talk with doesn't mean Im-"

"Bren?"

"Yes?" They replied instantly, turning to look at her over by the growing fire.

"Mind helping me with the soda tab? You know how my nails get in the way." She requested sheepishly, a can in hand she had gotten from somewhere.

"Of course! I'll be right there!" They assured before absently patting Jace's shoulder and starting to go over to her. Only to see Jace smirk and make a flicking motion with his hand, accompanied by a whispered imitation of a whip crack sound.

Flushing slightly, they simply shot up a middle finger in response before focusing on more important matters...like making sure the pop tab wouldn't ruin April's nails.