under a full moon // mason; ethan

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

outfit//costume

When it came right down to it, Key had no idea what to wear. Her inspiration came the early morning when she was rewatching one of her favorites shows ever on Netflix: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In the particular episode, Buffy was kicking ass as usual and Key noticed that she had a similar pair of skinny jeans. And then Key remembered she was also now blonde. The culmination of these facts seemed like a sign.

Buffy. It'd be a great costume, mostly because it wasn't exactly a costume. Key could wear her normal (well, not normal) clothes, and with a couple of props and a bit of sexy swing in her step, she'd be a Vampire Slayer. That morning, Key had spent two hours getting ready.

She used her heavy arsenal of herbal products – the fancy stuff; actual magic. Her hair was transformed into golden silk, dried into careless waves. Her whole body was smooth and soft and smelling of lavender and rose.

Her bra and panties were matching black lace. Her skinny jeans were tight; boots hugged her calves and put her just two inches taller. The shirt was studded tube top that left little to the imagination – Key actually wore a t-shirt during work to retain professionalism.

Now that she was out an about town, she had the tube top back on again. The chilly fall air tickled her bare stomach and collarbones. It helped the warm feeling she got having me Atlanta and anticipation seeing Mason. Mason. Her pulse quickened. She'd also never walked around town so alluringly clad (such outfits were reserved for college where no one had seen her grow up.) Caim had an impulse to zip up her leather jacket the whole way. Atlanta had imbued her with happy and sexy vibes, so Key just strutted to the designated meeting place and hoped she looked so hot that no one who knew her actually recognized her. She felt partially fierce, but also partially terrified.

When she got to the Town Square, she looked around, heart beating. Now that she was here, the whole situation seemed so much more real. Mason could already be here. Key did a quick sweep of the area and lingered at the edge of crowds. She texted Ethan first: “At the Square." She decided she'd text Mason after Ethan assured her that she looked good. It was a bit difficult to text whilst also holding a stake in one hand - but a Vampire Slayer had to always be ready.

[/blockquote]

[ETHAN REID DEXTER]

Ethan opened up the plastic packet that contained his costume. He had brought the Phantom Of The Opera costume, and he was already loving it. Even as he pulled off his normal clothes to pull the dress trosuers, white shirt and waistcoat on. He looked like he was going to some fancy dinner. He walked to his bathroom and gelled his hair back, in the same fashion as Gerald Butler did in the film, though he didn't have as much hair.

Ethan's phone buzzed in his pocket. He placed the mask back onto his face so that he had his hands free. It was Key. He walked towards the square and looked around for Key. He actually looked past her the first time, having not expected her to dress up like that. Not that it was a bad look. His eyes widened as they handed on Key properly. “Caim” he exclaimed. “You look... wow” he added after a moment. He shoved his phone into the pockets of his black dress trousers. His phone didn't fit in with his costume, but he didn't care. No one could see it anyway.

He circled her once. “You really put some effort into that didn't you” he nodded, and ran a hand through his gelled back hair. He pulled the mask away from his face to breath properly for a moment. “Your guy is so lucky I am gay” he mumbled. She really did look hot, and Ethan was sure if he wasn't gay. He would have been salivating at the sight of her. He pulled her into a hug. “Today is gonna be amazing” he chuckled. He swished the cape around his neck idly. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, and held her waist with the other. “What we gonna do now?” he asked curiously.

[MASON MIEL CAIN]

OUTFIT/COSTUME

As Mason had expected, his muscles prohibited him from fitting into some of his costumes. He didn't feel like going as the hulk this year, and sadly his Thor costume was a bit too tight on the arms and he sort of needed to be able to move in his costume. As such, he had to get creative. Pirates were over rated and a ghost was a cop out. Finally, after doing some internet searching, he decided he could do Hugh Jackman's version of Wolverine. And since he often wore a leather jacket, Mason figured he could do, since the temperature was expected to drop more. Fall weather was certainly upon them.

Once he got the essentials, jeans, white tank, boots and such, he realized he just looked like himself. Mason would have to fashion some metal claws. Most people would have used plastic ones, but given that he could manipulate metal, he figured he could do the real thing, and hopefully he wouldn't hurt anyone with them... He also had to make some dog tags as Wolverine was in the army.

So Mason got to work and fashioned himself a pair of dogtags and metal claws. Now how to attach them. He'd never tried to stick metal into his hand and that seemed like a bad idea. He made a metal band to hold them to his fingers and then managed to make them fuse non-permanently to his hands. The claws could then retract back into little clumps on the ring. Not perfect but better than most could do. He left the claws retracted as he went out.

Mason wasn't sure where she and he friends were, or if he was ready too soon anyway. He decided to walk slowly from his shop into town, texting Caim carefully. "Let me know where and when I can meet up with you."

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

The Phantom of the Opera was an excellent choice, in Key's opinion. It appraised Ethan dashing and mysterious look with an impressed smiled, but raised her brows when he nearly walked past her. His reaction was actually very reassuring, as Key could recognize “good” awe from “bad” awe. He said her name as though for the first time, and Key chuckled, resisting the urge to tug her jacket closed. She sortof missed getting this kind of attention – it certainly sent a buzz of energy down her spine.

“You, too. I had a major crush on the phantom in eighth grade. ” Key said with a small laugh – she was too nervous to really chuckle. She also forced herself to make some small talk, instead of grabbing Ethan by the shirt and exclaiming, ”We're going to see Mason. Probably soon. He could already be here.” Pretending to be casual and nonchalant might help her possibly feel that way.

Possibly. Not likely.

At the suggestion that Mason was lucky because Ethan was gay, Key laughed in earnest. “Hey, but I'm not.” Key joked. “You're kind of fulfilling all my fantasies with that costume.” She sank into his hug, feeling in all the closeness how hard her heart was beating. She just smiled at his assercian that the day would be amazing. I hope so buddy. Between the full moon (which Key always counted as her lucky symbol) and the festivities, tonight was definitely a night of things happening. It was old magic in Key's bones, and she could just tell.

Key linked her arm around his waist. Rather ironically, when he asked what they were going to do, she felt her cellphone vibrate in her jean pocket. It was ominous. She took out her phone – her heart felt like it was pounding in her throat – and read the text.

She turned and grabbed Ethan by the shirt with one hand. “It's him.” she breathed.

She let go and looked back at her phone. Without trying to give it too much though, she wrote back “Just got to the square. Closer to Town Hall building.” She sent it. She watched it be sent. And then the weight of it all hit her.

She turned back and grabbed Ethan's shirt with both hands. “I told him where we are. He could be walking towards us right now.” The whole shirt-grabbing-thing might've seemed more impressive if Key wasn't shorter than Ethan.

[ETHAN REID DEXTER]

Ethan chuckled. “Really? I thought most people fancied Raoul?” he asked her. He of course had fancied both. Though Gerald Butler was hotter than whoever played Raoul. He didn't even remember who the actor was. He smiled at her and was still a little in awe of her costume, Ethan had never seen her dress up like that. Mason was going to be speechless. Ethan was been shocked and he wasn't even interested in her that way. He was interested in men and Key was the very opposite of a man.

Ethan laughed again, “Sorry Key” he apologizied. Ethan smiled at Key. He loved to hug her. “I'm glad you dyed your hair blonde... a brunette Buffy wouldn't be Buffy” he joked. He knew that she hadn't dyed it because of the halloween festival, but it did suit the costume she'd gone with.

He watched her as she took her phone out, careful not to look at the screen. He placed his hands on top of hers, which were currently ruffling up his nicely ironed shirt. “Key. Don't bloody panic” he chuckled slighlty amused by her nerves, although, he was a little worried that she would pull his shirt out of place and he'd have to tuck it back in again. He tried to gently move her fingers from the fabric.

“It's gonna be fine” he said, then took the hand he'd gotten free, and placed a kiss on it. “It'll be fine” he repeated, trying to calm her a little.

outfit

[MASON MIEL CAIN]

Mason had forgotten how small this town actually was. He'd been trying to walk slowly, but despite the effort, he was nearing the town hall when he got her text and he looked up and around. He realized he had no idea what he was looking for. What had she dressed up as? Who were her friends? Mason knew he was pretty hard to miss, given both his size and the wide berth most people gave him.

But he found her.

Her hair looked silkier than normal, if that were possible, her jacket jutting around her painfully smooth stomach. Mason gulped lightly. She wasn't leaving much to his imagination any more and he couldn't help himself but get a little flustered. He took a step in her direction when he realized she was with a guy.

A good looking guy at that...

Caim was clutching him by the front of the shirt, they were obviously close. Mason realized maybe she had a boyfriend, it did look like they could kiss at any moment. Mason's spirits dropped, the feeling solidifying as he watched the guy plant a kis on her hand. "Dammit..." He sighed.

Mason might have turned and left if he hadn't been so obvious. Plus that felt like cheating, and he had promised Chloe he would invite Caim to her birthday. Though, she could no longer be a date...He sighed and tried to smile and he came up to them and cleared his throat.

"Hi Caim," He said with a small smile, trying to act nonchalant. "And this is......"

Your boyfriend?

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Most girls did like Raoul, but … “I guess I have a thing for older, mysterious, dangerous men.” Key conceded. It would sure make a hell of a lot of sense. And Key nodded, also conceding that only a blonde Buffy would have really been Buffy. “Yeah, otherwise I'd have to be either Cordelia, who has too many changing looks, or Faith who dresses like a domanatrix.” Key joked back. Being Faith seemed like a step too far in Key's mind, whereas Buffy always looked like she just happened to be really hot.

The hand kissing thing was only sweet because it was Ethan. Key had a guy try that once on a first date, where it seemed awkward and a gesture of cheap romance. But Ethan being affectionate was the equivalent of Mr. Rogers telling you from the TV screen that you were special – it made you all warm and fuzzy inside because you knew they both meant it. Key almost wanted to sink into Ethan's arms and let him baby her, but she was still restless and at that moment she sensed a disturbance in the force.

Something extremely attractive was coming their way.

She caught sight of Mason out of the corner of her eye just as he was clearing his throat and turned to face him. Rendered speechless for a combination of reasons – the two main ones being Mason's actual presence and “Holy f---” – Key admired him for a split moment before saying “Hey Mason.” perhaps a little breathlessly.

For a second he looked as though dressed normally, but the reference clicked in Key's mind. “You're Wolverine! That's such a funny coincidence.” Key smiled widely. Then looking from Mason to Ethan, she realized neither of them would get the reference. “For reasons that neither of you know ...” she quickly added, brushing away that topic.

It was up to her to make introductions. “This.” she said, gesticulating towards Ethan. “Is Ethan, my best friend.” And the only friend free to hang out with me tonight. Key wondered at that part – she did tell Mason she had friends – specifically friends in the plural form. Would she come off a bit weird if tonight she only had one friend to show – one friend who was dressed in reference to a deformed, lone sociopath antihero from a famous French novel?

“And this is Mason.” she said gesturing with more flourish towards Mason's being. She gave Ethan a significant look, as though saying I told you he was very attractive didn't I?

It felt odd not tagging along a superlative to Mason. She did have one which was “The Grand and Forbidden Love of My Life” but for obvious reasons she couldn't say it out loud. And anything like “my new and awesome friend” would be an insult to how much he actually meant to her. So Key just let it be and thoughtlessly stepped closer to Mason, whilst still being fairly equidistant between both guys – though leaning towards (because maybe she was subconsciously drawn to) Mason. She looked between them to see how this exchange would go.

She stole glances at Mason, and couldn't help from grinning really widely. She tried to control her face, but it wouldn't work. It was the classic goofy grin of girls in love. She only hoped Mason could chalk it up to the festivities making her really happy.

[ETHAN REID DEXTER]

Ethan chuckled lightly. “Bad boys have their appeal” he spoke. Ethan had a thing for the bad boys, but he never let himself fall far for them. Not the ones that spelt trouble. He didn't want to be hurt. Ethan laughed heartily. “Neither of those looks are you. Buffy is just right. Bad ass yet hot” he smiled at her, though he is a little amused. Though being gay, he knew when a girl was 'hot' or not. He just didn't find the same appeal in 'hot' girls as straight men did.

He bit back a laugh at her reaction, and focused his energy into smiling pleasently. He wondered what the coincidence was. Maybe the Wolverine was another one of her 8th Grade crushes. Now that he thought of it, he probably had a crush on The Wolverine as well, Hugh Jackman was pure sex appeal in his eyes. Plus he was austrailian. Ethan kind of had a thing for accents, though his most recent favourite was the New York City accent.

He watched the two and noted that Key had found herself an incredibly attractive man. Though attractive was not a strong enough adjective to describe Mason. He gave a small wave when Key introduced him. “The bestest friend ever right?” he asked her laughing, before holding out his hand for Mason in greeting.

Ethan noted the look she gave him, and realised what she was trying to convey wordlessly. He wiggled his eyebrows in return, and stepped backwards slightly, Ethan really wanted to ask Mason what he'd done that got him sent to prison, but he felt t might be a little rude. So he settled for asking “What do you do? Work wise?” he was pretty sure that Mason worked in town, pretty much everyone did, but a few people commuted in and out.

“What we gonna do here then? First I mean?” he asked after a moment. He looked at the stuff set up around them, wondering what would be cool to have a look at. The three must have looked a little out of place. Buffy, Wolverine and The Phantom of The Opera. He wondered if some people would even realise what their costumes where.

He placed his hands in his pockets, thinking about the night ahead of them, and hoping that he wouldn't have to entertain himself too much. He should have asked Atlanta too come along with them or something. Or Ken... That way he wouldn't have the possibility of being a third wheel, not that he minded too much.

[MASON MIEL CAIN]

Mason smiled, glad she got his costume. "Yeah, I even made some claws..." He said, checking his surroundings before making them grow out. "I didn't wanna hurt anyone with them though, so I really should have bought plastic ones..." Caim probably didn't much care about his last minute costume choices though. And he felt bad that he had basically no idea what she was, not that it even mattered, she looked fantastic, and he would be lying if he didn't say that he wanted to caress her smooth skin.

The exchange with Ethan was better than expected. Caim seemed to step closer to him, but maybe he was imagining it. Bestest? Frankly, this Ethan was a little absurd, and if she was dating him, well, she had odd taste. Mason supposed he was handsome, but that couldn't be enough for a soul like Caim. Mason shook his hand and almost sighed at the small talk. "Yeah I run the shop, basically the mechanic, handyman..." He explained with a little nod, feeling a little out of place. How long had it been since he'd been out with friends?

Ethan seemed like a nice guy, and best friends made sense, but he had to assuage his fears. "So, you're not dating him?" He asked, looking at Caim, finally meeting her eyes. He wondered if she could see his hope sitting there, hope that he could have her, win her, hold her... Part of Mason just wanted to plant one on her. Made him this of his cell mate who was always saying 'go big or go home', of course, he usually meant with crime. Mason let himself step a little closer to her, not managing much else until he really knew what Ethan's deal was.

"Um, I don't care where we go first." Mason shrugged, so tempted to grab Caim by the hand. Instead he moved towards a map that was posted on a street sign nearby, making sure to brush his fingers by hers as he went, while trying not to make it obvious. "Corn maze, cotton candy, ferris wheel..." He started reading off events.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Ethan had a valid point. Bad boys did have their appeal. Key never traditionally went for them, though. She supposed, retrospectively, that actually she had a thing for tortured souls with mysterious pasts. Like Angel, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which made her costume actually really perfect.

As was Mason's. Those claws were wicked impressive - and Key raised her brows in clear awe. Maybe she ought to have dressed according to her powers. She could've been Poison Ivy from Batman and made vines strangle her victims ...

... perhaps not her style.

The introduction and handshake went under way in a normal, casual way. All of which was very good. Key was hyper wary of all and any warning signs that might come up. As the mediating presence, she was ready to intervene at any point. Key thought Mason looked a little off trying to make small talk – maybe she imagined it, but she didn't want him to feel uncomfortable. “He fixed my car.” Key offered, jumping in. “That's how we met.” (She tried not to sound too sentimental at that part, but her voice softened.)

She never expected Mason to ask the following question. She blinked and looked over at Ethan as though double checking that was the person referred to. They've been friends for a substantial amount of time and those kinds of thoughts faded long ago. And she forgot people who didn't know them might see them as a couple (despite the fact that they joked about how hot of a couple they would make.) Key almost blurted out “No, he's gay.” But that was maybe too blunt and not her place to say. Instead she lightly chuckled. “Nah – I'm not his type.” she kidded, leaning in to bump Ethan with her shoulder. Part of her brain was trying not to overthink the very question - did Mason actually care if she was single of not?

As Ethan asked where they should go and Mason consulted the map – Such a man. Key almost swooned. Taking charge and all. – made all more impressive by his muscle-flaunting outfit (which Key was having a hard time keeping her eyes off of.) She saw her opening to jump in. “Well, first things first.” she started, looking from Ethan to Mason, her energy being channeled into the moment (something about being out and hanging with friends ((and a crush)) just made things more exciting. They were young people out and about in a festival - it created a buzz.) “I want sugar. So my vote's candy corn and cotton candy.”

[ETHAN REID DEXTER]

Ethan nodded, the claws were cool. If not a little dangerous. “They look cool though” he complimented. He fixated his gaze on the other mans hands, where the claws were. He wondered how he'd made them. They looked pretty hard to make. Ethan was never good at making stuff. He licked his lips his stomach rumbled quietly. He was a little hungry.

“Awesome, if my car ever breaks down I'll come to you then” he told Mason. So far his trusty car hadn't broken down on him. He loved hat car. He mused for a moment, that he'd never named his car. Wasn't that some sort of thing people did now? He would have to think of a name for his car. When Mason asked whether she was dating him, Ethan's eyes grew wide, before he burst out in hysterical laughter. It must have been a strange sight to see the phantom of the opera hunched over laughing.

When his laughter died down, he shook his head, and bumped Key's shoulder back. “She's really not my type” he chuckled. He wondered whether he should explain to Mason that he was gay, and not interested at all in Key, it might make things easier – or more awkward depending on Mason's views on homosexuals. “Seriously, you are more my type than her” he added with a raised eyebrow. He wondered whether Mason would get what he was hinting too.

“Candy sounds good to me” he grinned. He was hungry and sugar seemed like the best thing to eat right now. Plus it had been a while since he had candy. He licked his lips in anticipation. “Everyone loves Candy right?” he asked. Ethan waited for the two to move, before falling behind them. Almost like a little puppy following his owner.

[MASON MIEL CAIN]

Mason smiled at their comments, glad that his last minute thinking had paid off. Caim clearly looked impressed, and frankly that was more than enough for him. This was all about her anyway... He though back on when he met her, she had seemed so sad then, but she seemed better now. Mason knew it was selfish to assume that maybe he had something to do with her happiness, but he couldn't help himself. At Ethan's words he chuckled, "you'll have to, no other shops in town." He pointed out. There were nearby towns of course, but most people around here didn't wander into the outer world.

Then she said she wasn't Ethan's type, and Ethan agreed. Mason should have given himself a moment to think but his mouth went on ahead without him. "How can caim not be your type? Shes wonderful." He instantly shut his mouth. He was really smooth wasn't he. Maybe he was just a failure at new relationships. The last one he had was 5 yrs ago and he'd planned to marry her. Oh how odd life was, nothing turned out like you planned.

Then Ethan hinted that he was gay and masons mouth made a little "o" shape. Ethan was her gay best friend, the last person who was going to give him trouble. Mason had no problems with homosexuals, though he couldn't really understand it. Mason was very straight. Mason cleared his throat, "that would explain it then I guess." He gave Ethan a smile, hoping the guy would know he wasn't against him or whatever.

The topic of food was a welcome change and he didn't much care as long as they kept moving. He wasn't sure how long he could keep his eyes off caim's stomach. "Either sounds good." He shrugged, trying to maintain his own control. "Candy corn?" He suggested, just to keep them moving.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Caim had been chuckling over the whole mutual shoulder bumping thing, but when Mason expressed his disbelief and said She's wonderful, but looked over at him in genuine surprise. For the past countless days, she deeply believed that if only she knew how he felt about her then she'd know how to proceed. Was this compliment the sign she was waiting for?

Maybe he was only saying it to be nice. To promote Caim in a platonic friendly way. But as cynical as Key sometimes tended to be, she couldn't really believe that … it didn't feel that way … her heart sped up.

And then watched Mason carefully, wondering how he would react to suggestive hints from another gay man. The dawning of the situation on his face was a little priceless, and kind of cute. The smile at the end made Key certain everything was going to be fine. Considering how many people Key knew who weren't straight (or not entirely, anyway) it would've been a bit of a problem if Mason was in any way homophobic.

He wasn't though, apparently, so that was just another fat check plus in her book.

Now that seeds of hope and excitement were planted in Key's already speeding heart, when she thought she caught him staring her exposed skin, she didn't dismiss the idea. She suddenly felt very sexy in her own skin, and when they started walking, she noticed her hips swayed more with each stride.

“Candy corn.” she agreed with a nod. Falling into pace near Mason, Key took a second to say something. “Those really are pretty cool.” she said, motioning towards his claws. “Creative. Resourceful. And funny – you're pretty wonderful yourself.” Key tried to sound as though she was paying him a sincere but casual compliment. She smiled, her heart racing at the boldness she just allowed herself.

To minimize potential awkwardness, she turned and looked at Ethan in mock disapproval. “Don't linger.” she scolded with a smile, grabbing him by the hand and pulling him to her side.

She wasn't letting go. She wasn't the type of friend to let Ethan be the third wheel.

"So what kinds of drinks are Halloweeny?" she asked curiously to keep a communal conversation going. This was definitely an opening for liquor-store-guy (Ethan) to jump in with suggestions.

[ETHAN REID DEXTER]

Ethan shrugged. "I could go outta town.. dunno id get very far if my car had broken down" he spoke but kind of trailed off. He realised that if his car broke down it was most likely going to be in town. Ethan didnt often travel out of town. Ethan chuckled after a moment, “Your shop would be closest anyway” he conceeds, though hes not really sure if he was trying to make a point or not. By now, his mind wasn't really working with him.

“If I was straight... then she would be my type, but I'm not, so you're pretty lucky there” he chuckled, paraphrasing what he'd told Key earlier. “She is wonderful though” he agreed. Key and Atlanta were the two people he found himself around a lot. “It does explain a lot doesn't it” he added after a moment, Ethan liked men simple enough. He smiled to himself.

He couldn't help but smile at the two. Though he had his doubts about Mason – mostly because he'd been in jail – he seemed like an good guy, and had even called Key wonderful. So he figured that Mason was good enough for Key.. Well not good enough. Ethan thought that everyone was below Key's level. She deserved a prince charming or something, but that was a fairytale thing. Not real life. Mason did look like if he were in a fairytale he could have been a prince..

Candy was something that Ethan loved, so he was pretty happy to go along. He ran his fingers over his gelled hair, getting a little irritated that he couldn't run his fingers through it... he could, if he wanted to look like he had bad dandruff.

Though he was pretty happy to fall behind, Key grabbed his arm and pulled him to her side. He smiled brightly at her. It meant a lot to him that she wanted him to be involved in her little 'date'. Though he wasn't sure it was a date since he was there. He wondered if when he got himself a boyfriend, if he and Key would double date. It could be cute... “Bloody mary?” he suggested, “It's got bloody in the title?” he added, though he voiced it as a question. “A black widow would be cool, if they can make it” he added after a moment.

[MASON MIEL CAIN]

Mason was so glad that Ethan agreed that Caim was wonderful, she was, and beautiful... Ethan was rambling about cars or something but Mason had absolutely no concentration for that, he just nodded lightly. He wasn't trying to be rude, or not paying attention, but he was moving on-- his mind racing and his body on autopilot.

“Creative. Resourceful. And funny – you're pretty wonderful yourself."

Mason realized he was sighing. Oh thank god. She liked him too... how much more evidence did he need? Well, probably more, but for some reason Mason just wanted to kiss her, to feel those soft lips against his. But Key didn't give him a chance, asking Ethan's opinions on different alcoholic Halloween drinks. Mason didn't want to be rude to Ethan, but he really didn't want to let this go without doing anything.

"Sounds great, Ethan, can you just excuse us for a second?" Mason said, taking Key by the hand and leading her a little bit away from the crowd. But now that he had her aside, he didn't know what to say, or if just kissing her would be pushy or rude. But Mason couldn't figure out how to edit and just leaned down to kiss her.

It was quick and sweet, he didn't want to overstep. Her lips were warm and soft and pulling away was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. "Sorry," He breathed. "I couldn't resist."