Bren waited giddily for April to come out of the bathroom, having quickly thrown on some dry clothes, themself. Admittedly they were far more excited than was reasonable to have her wear something of theirs. Something they picked for her.

Also feeling a little bit guilty for issuing the bet after seeing that the hole created by the spiderweb of strings was just barely too small for her hips to get through, thus garunteeing that she wouldn't fit through without touching them.

But, you know, alls fair in love and war. And what was war but hate? Which, by her own philosophy, love and hate were basically reflections of each other and the same thing, really, so technically they were completely justified!

That made perfect sense, right?

But also they were just a selfish bastard and wanted an excuse to see her in their clothes.

"Um, Bren? Are you sure-?"

"Uh-Uh, you agreed. No input, no arguing. Whatever I gave you, you would wear the rest of the night!" They insisted.

"I know! I know, I just-it's-" Their heart performed a rather confusing combination of tap dancing and flat-lining as she opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom in a mis-matched pajama set. Reasonably long shorts for her to feel comfortable, as well as an old, soft, well worn vintage Queen shirt of theirs that was their favorite to sleep in. By the time they had thrifted it, it was already rather faded, so they didn't feel bad not really being precious with it. Besides, clothes were meant to be worn.

Never had the title on the garment suited someone so perfectly, though. There she stood in an old T-shirt that sat a bit loose on her with some basic grey sleep shorts and she was radiant and regal. The light from the bathroom backlighting her so that she glowed like those religious images where they've got the crazy halos all around their heads...but if it were fire and fading light from embers.

"I guess I just assumed you'd put me in something a bit more outlandish." She admitted."I mean, at least something on par with me having you read for Cleopatra."

"Eh, we both know I'd kill in that role." They dismissed, trying to play it cool despite how dry their mouth suddenly was. "I was going to put you in a cat onesie I bought on a dare, once, but realized if the other obstacles are anything like the first few something like that could impede movement and that could be a bad choice. So, I picked these, instead. I know I said no arguments and all, but, for real: Are you comfortable wearing that in front of everyone? I can pick something else?"

They melted as she gave a shy smile. "They're perfect, Bren. Thanks. Those damp clothes were getting pretty uncomfortable."

"Great. Want socks or you good running around barefoot? I'd offer shoes but I think my feet are a bit bigger than yours." They said quickly, needing an excuse to turn away to keep from blurting out how gorgeous she was. Rummaging through their sock drawer to find that nice pair of soft, thick socks they knew she'd like.

"Oh, yeah that'd actually be great. My feet were getting cold." She admitted as they turned to offer her the green, fuzzy socks.

"Well we can't have that." They mused as she accepted them, quickly slipping them on before she rocked up onto her toes and then back to her heels. Fuck she was cute as hell.

"Oh, they're so soft!" She cooed, seemingly delighted. "You have such nice taste, Bren! I've always admired that about you, you know."

"Y-You have?" They managed, hoping they didn't sound as star-struck as they felt.

"Mhm. It's always so inspiring to see what you put together." She hummed before smiling at them. "Well, are we ready to join the others?"

"Right! The others, yeah, I guess we should catch up." They agreed quickly, snapping themselves out of continuing to stare at her.

Soon enough, the duo were carefully but quickly making their way through the obstacles. Managing to catch up with everyone once they reached a space that had been set up like a chess board.

"Finally! We need two more people to fill out the board!" Jace insisted while Purnima instantly pulled April to the white side of the board with her, Kazarious, Pugsley and Claire. They ambled their way over to the black side, surprised to see Wednesday on the same team as themself and Chad with how close she had stuck with the girls until now.

"Uncle Fester said to let someone else be the one who actually plays the moves, so Pugsley and I will simply be pieces. Each team will have one play maker." Wednesday declares simply before walking herself to a particular spot on the board and situating herself there. Upon closer inspection, each side had four empty spaces. With five to a team, that meant one person would stand to the side while the rest acted as pieces/piece movers. Or so they assumed.

"Great! April with you we'll win for sure!" Claire insisted, only for April to give her a puzzled look.

"I don't know how to play chess."

Almost everyone stopped to look at her in shock.

"Wait, what? But you give total chess vibes!" Jace blurted.

"Um, well, I don't play chess. Never really wanted to learn, either." She insisted awkwardly.

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"I mean, I'm in the chess club?" Kazarious offered. "I'm still kinda new to it, so I'm not the best, but I'll give it a try."

"Works for me!" Purnima declared, making her way to an empty spot. "Claire, why don't you play King?" She prompted while steering April to a square.

"Wait, who's gonna make the calls for our team?" Bren questioned, looking to Fin. "I've seen you play chess on your computer a few times."

Fin shook his head, already stood on a square. "No, I'd rather not." The refusal was simple and resolute as he nodded to Chad. "He's running the game."

"Wait, Chad? Sick, we're gonna win!" Purnima joked, though Bren caught Fin's barely there smile and the glint in his eye. He only looked like that when he knew something you didn't.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

"I'm down for Chad being captain." They agreed, randomly picking a square to stand on, Jace simply shrugging before taking the last one on their side.

Once they were all situated, Kazarious, who had control of the white pieces, took a long moment to consider before having Pugsley move a piece two spaces in. Bren was pretty sure it was a pawn because it was short and basic compared to the others.

Chad almost immediately spoke. "G2 pawn to G4."

Bren had no clue what the fuck that meant, but apparently Fin had it covered as far as moving things.

It went that way for another round before Chad called out for a bishop to move, but nothing happened. He called it again before Fin chuckled, putting a hand on Bren's shoulder. "You're the bishop, Bren."

"Oh shit, guess Madre's dreams came true of one of us kids joining the clergy." They mused. "What square am I going to, again?"

"Riiiiight here." Fin informed, gently steering them to a spot that had them in front of Pugsley.

"Oh hi! Wait. Am I supposed to do anything? Because I only really remember the Hail Mary's since my mom had me recite them all the time." They informed, only to look closer at Pugsley. "What piece are you again?"

"Pawn."

"Gotcha. Question!" They asked, throwing up a hand like it was a classroom.

"No you cannot convert him to your religion and make him a fellow bishop on our team." Fin informed almost immediately.

"How'd you know I was gonna ask that?"

"Because you're chaos incarnate and chronically online."

"Valid. The game may resume." They conceded before shrugging at Pugsley. "I'm corrupt, anyways. So we'll end up next to each other in hell, regardless."

Within another few moves from both sides, a good few pieces were gone and Kazarious looked confused. Chad, shockingly, was cool as a cucumber. When Kazarious broke and demanded to know how the Californian was so good at it, an almost wicked grin spread across Chad's face.

Huh. At this point they'd come to the conclusion that Chad didn't have a mean streak. Guess they were wrong.

"My Oma was a chess champ. We played every Saturday afternoon. Got to where I could beat her about half the time. I gave you a couple moves. But it's getting a bit boring. Don't worry, it will be over soon. I'll make it quick."

Bren had no clue what else to call the next minute or so other than a dark acedamia vibes clusterfuck for Kazarious. As the moves were made, none of which they really understood other than that they were creating mounting tension. Chad was a hunter and they were his dogs. Running down their opponents and mercilessly removing them from the board. Chad at some point sacrificed Jace, R.I.P. but death is necessitated in war or whatever. Quickly, they closed in on poor Claire until Chad chuckled, nodding to Fin. "End it, my faithful knight."

Bren's eyes widened as Fin smirked and stepped to the edge of his square, Claire looking up at him with wide eyes. That's when Fin: Hides in his room, avoids strangers, tries to attract as little attention as possible, anthropomorphic coat rack Fin, made them seriously consider who the top contender for most suave individual in the house was.

Taking her hand, the smirk somehow held a sweet, teasing tone "Checkmate, your majesty." He hummed, bringing her hand to his lips for the briefest of kisses before stepping back as if he hadn't just been absofuckinglutely acting like an enemies to lovers tall, dark, and oh so smutty love interest!

Jace, dependable as always, ruined the moment.

"...You seriously used Chad's secret Chess Master skills to wingman you into getting to use that line?? Fucks sake save some charm for the rest of us!" Bren considered for a moment while Claire turned an increasingly concerning shade of red. Though notably not removing her hand from Fin's.

"Hey, how'd you know that Chad was a Chess nerd in the first place?" They demanded, receiving a self-satisfied smile from the lanky man.

"Princess there is who's been teaching me chess. We play online a lot."

"Well shit."

"How did I not know that you play chess?!" Kazarious demanded. "You saw me struggling to learn!"

"I only know how to train using my Oma's methods. Trust me, you didn't want me teaching you chess." Chad insisted gravely before Bren recalled something. Sidling up to Purnima in the chaos, they grinned.

"You sneaky bitch, you were helping them." They teased quietly before taking on a false high pitch. "Oh Claire! Why don't you be the king so your wanna-be boyfriend can be a knight and make his own moves on the chess board!"

"First: I detest being called a bitch. Second: I wish I had but I had no clue. I just kinda pushed us into places to get the game going." They nodded.

"Noted. Well shit."

"Yeah. Means it wasnt a planned move and he pulled that little stunt out of his ass."

"Huh. Well I feel a bit lacking, now. I thought I was charming and then he goes and pulls a stunt like that."

"You are charming." Purnima assured. "In a stray cat kind of way. You know. Notched ear, waify look, don't touch me but also shower me in affection vibes. Acts like they'd bite you but actually lives for scritches kind of personality."

"Jokes on you I do bite."

"Yeah. Unless it's April. Then you just want to be a perfect little domestic housecat for her and get scritches all day." They flushed at the teasing, but didn't bother denying it at this point. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get your chance. Just happens to be Fin's night to be brave."

"Yeah, no kidding. He went from shy to seduction in a matter of hours." They scoffed, still in disbelief.

"It's cute, isn't it? Chad worries about him being shy and not having a lot of friends to let loose with, but it seems Claire brings him out of his shell rather effectively. Haven't known her long, but she seems genuinely sweet."

"Sickeningly cute. Speaking of sickening, I think I see Jace trying to flirt with April to annoy me. Regretfully it's rather effective."

"Oh perfect, so if I flirt with her I'm guaranteed to annoy you! That makes it easier." They side eyes her, bemused.

"So just into girls or equal opportunist?"

"Bi. It wouldn't be fair to humanity to fully limit who has a chance with me." They nodded, chuckling.

"I'm Pan, myself. Never really cared about the packaging so much as what was inside. That said...if you steal April from me I'm going full Addams and challenging you to a duel."

"Noted and accepted." Purnima mused before chuckling. "Sadly she's not exactly my type, doesn't mean she wouldn't be fun to flirt with a bit. That said..." She strode towards the beauty, smiling. "April! Your nails look amazing! What shade is that?"

They sighed, but couldn't help the smile on their own lips at her antics. After all, April's nails did look rather amazing. Just like the rest of her.