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By now Enid was confident she had gotten a hang of Addams speak. A lot of people thought it was merely the family existing in opposite land. Bad was good. Terrible was well done. Foul was pleasant. Certainly to an extent that was true, but it went beyond that. The Addams preferred the dark and the deranged. Delighted in the dangerous. Harboured genuine affection for the horrifying. So, if one wished you terrible nightmares before bed, that was a good thing. To them at least. They enjoyed the fear those kind of hellish dreams inflicted.
Enid felt as if she had graduated from being an expert in speaking Addams to full on Master once her and Wednesday had started dating. While others might stare in horror, Enid could only blush when Wednesday complimented her in her own way.
“Your new hair dyes make me want to gouge my eyes out.”
“I feel sick looking at you.”
“Take a shower Sinclair, you smell foul.”
Alright, so that last one hadn’t actually been a compliment but still, Enid’s brain basically translated on autopilot. Wednesday was always quick to lavish praise. Enid was equally quick to receive and give it. There hadn’t been a day that had gone by since they got together were Enid didn’t reciprocate her girlfriends words with her own.
“Your hair reminds me of coal dust.”
“You’ve got really terrible skin Wednesday, you look like a corpse!”
“Such terrible form in fencing today, I bet your back will snap in half before you turn 40.”
It was strange, kooky and all together ooky, but Enid was happy. A life time of put downs from her family had left her starving for attention and praise. With Wednesday she got a 4 course meal with a take out to go. That didn’t even touch the rest of the Addams family, particularly Morticia. It was fair to say that more than once Enid had called her ‘Mom’ inside her own head. Hopefully she could say it one day too, out loud. After a destination wedding in the Bermuda Triangle.
However despite her proficiency Enid was still just a regular Werewolf girl, and they made mistakes. So it was, when during the evening of their four month anniversary and Enid saw Wednesday in her black backless dress that Enid felt her mind short out. The translator in her mind needed to reboot, but before that could happen the words slipped out of her mouth.
“You look so pretty Willia, I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful!”
Wednesday had stalled, her natural blank mask slipping away as her eyes widened in shock. Her lips parted momentarily, filling the room with a gasp. A deep red blush crept up her neck before she scowled and began to berate Enid.
“If you ever say anything so degrading like that to me again, I’ll stuff you in a linen sack and toss you into a river,” Wednesday snapped, stomping out of the door leaving Enid to feel guilty.
Enid had to spend a week making up for her comment. Even now the memory of some of the deeds she had to perform left her with a deep trauma. But that didn’t help shake off the mental image of Wednesday’s initial reaction to her words. Enid had a theory, and like all good theories it had to be tested.
Her first test? See how Wednesday reacted when someone else said something similar to her. Others had during Wednesday’s stay at Nevermore, but Enid hadn’t been able to read her so well then. Things were different now. Which is why one day, while she was hanging out in the quad with Yoko as she waited for her girlfriend, Enid turned the lovely dovey talk to 11. She knew it would annoy Yoko, who would look for revenge. And Yoko loved to pester Wednesday. Enid made sure to really hammer in how good looking Wednesday was, how sweet she acted with her and every other nice non-Addams thing she could think of. As the minutes passed Enid could see Yoko visibly straining.
Mercifully for Yoko it wasn’t long until Wednesday appeared. She arrived without warning from behind Enid, drawing a screech of surprise from the two. Despite her reaction Enid was upon her in a moment, pulling her in for very public kisses. That finally broke the camels back.
“Hey Addams, you’re looking full of life today,” Yoko might have meant it sarcastically, but Wednesday didn’t take it as such.
Wednesday’s face or body language showed none of what had happened over a week ago when Enid misspoke. Instead she quickly threw a knife at Yoko, the handle connecting with Yoko’s forehead and knocking her unconscious.
Conclusion? The reaction to disparaging words that Enid said to what others said to Wednesday was different.
Time for test number two.
How would a different member of the Addams family react?
A few days after Yoko recovered her coma Enid sat alone in their room, Wednesday’s crystal ball in front of her. The spectral fog within cleared, replaced with the sight of Morticia. As the two had grown closer they had kept in contact frequently. Enid was almost like an informant for the older women, reporting on every scrap of information her gossiping could dredge up. They always had a dreadful time discussing the going on at Nevermores, with Morticia reminiscing on the past.
Before Morticia could utter a word of greetings Enid acted, her nerves getting the better of her and forcing her to act before she could stop.
“I really like your dress Ms. Addams. It looks like it would be as soft as a soft, fluffy cloud!”
The temperature in the room dropped to a bone aching chill. Enid felt goosebumps explode over her entire body. For the first time ever, Morticia looked angry. At her. Nothing like Wednesday had looked before she could save face.
“Child, listen to me and listen well. We never, ever, say such things. Not to friends. Nor family. Especially to loved ones. Do I make myself clear?” Her tone was ice cold, but ever the parent Morticia tried to teach rather berate.
Enid felt guilt and shame, suddenly wishing she hadn’t tested her idea on the most powerful women in existence.
“I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking and it’s just you dress looks so ni-HORRIBLE! And I kinda just-”
“Enid, Mes Future Fille, it is alright. The Addams have had to endure much of this over the centuries. Your slip of the tongue will cause no lasting damage.” Morticia said, her tone warming slightly.
Enid reminded herself to finally learn French one day before responding. “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have to put up with that. From me or anyone else.”
“As I have said, do not fret Enid. Many have tried to use words to put us down, but none have succeeded. The muck and swamps are littered with their corpses after all.”
Alright, so death was possible if Enid was wrong. Anyone with more sense might have stopped then and there. But when it came to Wednesday common sense jumped out the window. Enid and Morticia continued to converse, her perceived mistake forgotten. After, she decided is was do or die. To put her theory to the test.
So now, here she was. On a regular Saturday evening, watching as Wednesday stabbed her fingernails at the keys of her typewriter. There was only 3 minutes to go until her requested period of silence was over. Sometimes she would continue to write even as Enid blasted music. More often than not she would partake in some other activity.
Today, when those last few minutes finally passed, Wednesday stopped and remained at her desk. Her eyes appraised each word, looking for faults and changes. Enid approached, resting her chin on the top of her girlfriends head. She felt Wednesday lean into her and smiled. Now was the perfect opportunity. Thing was gone and they were comfortable.
What she would normally say was;
“Just looking at some of the stuff you write gives me a panic attack.”
What came out of her mouth now was;
“Your writing is like poetry. I can feel how much love and care you pour into it. You’re such a good author Wends,” Enid could hear Wednesday’s heart start to beat faster as she froze in place beneath her. Given their contact Enid could also feel the full body shiver that crawled up Wednesday’s being. Wednesday had an image to maintain however as an Addams, so she wasn’t ready to give up quite yet.
Her voice was steel, carrying a razors edge. “Would you like to rephrase that Sinclair. Or would you prefer to sleep outside tonight.”
Well, not sense in backing out now.
“I mean it, no one else can write like you can. Even with all the blood and stuff it makes me feel good to read it. But not as good as you make me feel. So safe, so warm,” she moved her head whisper in Wednesday’s ear, “so full of love.”
Wednesday’s nails dragged deep gouges in her desk as her breathing picked up. “Enid? Why are you speaking to me like this?” She asked, feeling confusion and other emotions she couldn’t put a name on.
“Like what Willa? I’m just trying to make my favourite person in the world feel good about themself,” Enid pressed a kiss to the top of Wednesday’s head, taking a deep breath, “Your hair smells really good today. Like ethically sourced shampoo. You’re so morally just, Wednesday. I love how much you think about other people's needs and concerns.”
“S-stop this, at once. Why are you being so kind to me,” Wednesday asked with a shaky breath. Her hands were shaking now as her face was enveloped by a blush she couldn’t hide or contain.
“Because,” Enid said, taking a hold of the back of Wednesday’s chair and spinning it around until the two were face to face. Enid climbed atop Wednesday’s lap, enjoying how blown out the other girls eyes were. “Because you like it. You like it when I degrade you.”
There it was, out in the open. If Enid was right, her future would be a lot more interesting. If she was wrong, she would be very dead. When Wednesday didn’t respond Enid was worried she had overstepped. She was on the verge of apologising and begging to be spared until Wednesdays brought her arms around Enid’s waist and tugged her close. Still sitting, Wednesday pushed her face into Enid’s midsection, which muffled her next words.
“...More.”
Wednesday moved her head so she could look up at Enid. Her eyes were pleading.
“Please,” she finished with a needy whine, looking mortified with herself but desperate for Enid to continue.
Enid was shocked, the outcome everything she wanted and more. Slowly she moved a hand to Wednesday’s hair, petting it, as a large smile spread across her face.
“Good girl.”