#and i think it will allow more room to show what elphaba is actually up to

[alinaandalion]

like, do not hold me to this but I actually wonder if splitting wicked into two parts for the movie will help fix some of the second act problems considering that it's so compressed and feels rushed to hit all the action points with less time for character moments.

basically, even if it does end up self-indulgent, I am here for a movie that allows more Elphaba and Glinda relationship exploration in that back half

[buckyshairstylist]

Elphaba let out a shaky breath as she covered Fiyero with a thick blanket, her eyes filled with tears. The spell had worked — Fiyero was human again.

The downside? Neither one of them had anticipated the pain that it caused him. Fiyero had screamed and writhed for an hour, Elphaba murmuring the same words over and over again, until finally he changed back to a human and immediately passed out. Maybe it was his exhaustion overtaking him, she didn’t know.

What she did know was that he hadn’t slept well since he became a scarecrow. And now that he was human again, she kept watch over him, just to ensure it wasn’t something temporary and they’d have to start all over again in their search for a spell to remedy what she’d caused in her desperation to save him.

“It’s fine, Fae,” he’d told her shortly after they had moved to the Vinkus. They had been promised solitude and Fiyero’s parents — who were two of the sweetest people Elphaba had ever met — had promised that no one would know their whereabouts.

“I don’t mind being a scarecrow. And I wouldn’t have minded if it had ended the other way.”

She always noticed how he avoided saying that he very well could have died. Fiyero was smart; he knew how to word things and get his point across without actually saying what he meant. And so, when an uncomfortable subject arose, Fiyero tried to take control of the situation and always managed to change the subject within five minutes.

Elphaba gazed down at him, a single tear falling onto her emerald skin as she pulled her fingers through his light brown hair. She had missed this. She had missed the sweet moments — playing with his hair, having him play with her hair, teasing him over his rosy cheeks when he’d been out in the cold too long, or having him grasp her hand and hold her close when she needed him to.

And while Elphaba was grateful the spell had worked and kept him alive, she had missed Fiyero being human. After all, they had reunited after being apart for two years, had ran off into the woods together, only to be separated again merely hours later. Elphaba had never been so grateful for her magic as she was in the moment she discovered that her spell had worked and Fiyero had been saved.

Fiyero had been a lot calmer than she’d expected about the entire ordeal, had even laughed when she told him that she would eventually find a way to turn him back. He’d waved it off, promising that it didn’t bother him much.

“Fae?” Fiyero croaked, turning his head toward her, his eyes barely opened, showing slivers of his blue irises.

“Yero,” she smiled softly, caressing his cheek. “How do you feel?”

“I think I’ve been hit by a cart. No, maybe it was a train. Train car. I was hit by a train car.”

Elphaba couldn’t help herself — she laughed. Fiyero, who was slightly more conscious than he had been a second ago, stared at her in bewilderment.

“I’m sorry, love, I’m sorry,” she chuckled. “You haven’t been hit by a cart, or a train, or a train car. It worked, Yero. It worked!”

Fiyero slowly lifted his left hand, his eyes widening when he realized that it was indeed a human hand. He sat up, throwing the blanket off and scrambling toward the mirror. He hesitantly brought a hand up, touching his face, letting out a breath as he gazed at his reflection — his human reflection — for the first time in months.

“Sweet Oz.”

Fiyero spun on his heel to face Elphaba, his eyes filled with disbelief and joy as he crossed the room, bending down and kissing her sweetly.

“I missed that,” he whispered as he pulled away, earning a breathless chuckle from her.

“So did I.”

“So… this is going to sound strange—“

“Everything you say sounds strange, Yero. What makes this any different?” she teased, earning an unamused look.

“I don’t remember what happened. Would you like to fill me in on that or are you going to keep it to yourself?”

“Well… we started it and it caused you a lot of pain. I’m pretty sure you screamed until you became human again — which took about an hour, by the way — and you’ve been sleeping ever since then.”

“Oh,” Fiyero blinked. “I… don’t remember any of that.”

“Maybe it’s best that you don’t.”

“Maybe…” he agreed softly, wiping the stray tear from her face. “How long was I out?”

“Just a couple of hours. I think you need to get back in bed. The adrenaline won’t last forever, and Oz knows what will happen when you have an adrenaline crash. You haven’t been human for months, Fiyero, please—“

“What are you so scared of?”

Elphaba stared at him for a moment, her dark eyes gazing into his blue ones. Eyes that sparkled with joy and concern, the two emotions somehow mixing and making Fiyero’s eyes shine brightly.

“I’m not entirely sure if it’s worked yet,” she admitted, hanging her head. “For all I know, it could be temporary and we have to start over again.”

“Is that all?” Fiyero sat down beside her, letting her lean her head against his shoulder. “Oz, Fae, you had me worried it was something serious. I don’t give a twig if we didn’t find the right one — I’m human now and that’s what matters. If it’s not right, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But for now, let’s enjoy this, hm?”

A comfortable silence befell them, Fiyero combing his fingers through Elphaba’s raven curls and allowing his fingertips to brush against the back of her neck. The silence lasted for all of forty-five seconds before Fiyero began to giggle with glee, putting Elphaba in mind of a small child.

“I can feel again, Fae!” He smiled brightly at her, shifting slightly. Elphaba lifted her head, allowing him to caress her face, then grasp both of her hands. “I… it feels amazing to be able to feel things again.”

“I’m glad,” Elphaba mumbled, observing him. She was certain that she’d never seen him look so overjoyed. “And I’m sorry. For everything.”

“What? For the scarecrow thing? I’ve told you before, Elphaba, I don’t mind that I ended up being a living scarecrow. You saved my life.”

“Not just that,” she shook her head. “I never meant to bewitch you. Or whatever I did. And I never intended for you to come with me when you and the other guards came in. I didn’t intend for you to think about the day in the clearing with the lion cub before I left for the Emerald City. There were a lot of things that happened that I didn’t want to happen, things that I didn’t intend to happen.”

“You didn’t bewitch me,” Fiyero rolled his eyes. “And I am fully aware that you never meant for any of the other things to happen. Those are on me, not you. Of course, if you’d been mad at me when you got mad at the rest of the class, we probably wouldn’t have had the day in the clearing, and we — well, I wouldn’t have realized that I love you.”

“You didn’t realize that until after I didn’t come back,” Elphaba reminded him.

“That’s beside the point.”

“It’s literally the only point, Fiyero.”

“Whatever,” Fiyero waved it off. “Come lie down with me. I want to hold you.”

Elphaba sighed and nodded, unable to deny him his request. How could she when he was glowing with the elation he felt? Fiyero was happy that he could feel again, so of course, one of his first thoughts is to hold her like he did every night.

Lying beside him, Elphaba turned onto her side, tucking her face into the crook of his neck. Fiyero wrapped his arms around her tightly and buried his nose in her hair.

“I missed this.”

“You still held me,” Elphaba countered, waiting to see what his response would be.

“But I couldn’t feel it. I couldn’t feel anything when I was a scarecrow. I like being able to play with your hair or rub your back. And I like being able to kiss you whenever I want to.”

Elphaba tilted her head upward, gazing up at him. Oz, she loved him. She loved Fiyero more than anything. And Fiyero loved her.

“For what it’s worth, I never believed you were wicked,” Fiyero spoke up, startling her out of her thoughts.

“Is that so?” She quirked a brow in amusement.

“Yes. I knew better than to believe the lies that the Wizard and Morrible told about you. Everyone else, on the other hand…” Fiyero shook his head. “I — I wanted to go looking for you after you disappeared. Glinda had come back and told me what happened, and I wanted to go find you. But somehow, she convinced me not to, and I stayed at Shiz.”

“You didn’t need to come searching for me. That would have put you in danger, just like this has put you in danger. You almost died because of me, Fiyero.”

“I would have done it in a heartbeat.”

Elphaba exhaled shakily, wrapping her arms around him. She had known that Fiyero was willing to risk his own life for her, and the thought terrified her. What if they ended up in a situation like that again and she couldn’t save him with a spell?

“Sweet Oz, Fae, I can hear you thinking,” he groaned, pressing a chaste kiss to her temple. “Stop thinking and try to rest. We both need sleep.”

“Oh, alright.”

The next morning, after he bathed, Fiyero had stumbled outside, making a startled noise as he tripped over his own feet and crashed onto the ground. He blinked, staring up at the sky for a moment before he burst into laughter.

Hearing the hysterical laughter, Elphaba made her way to the door of their home, smiling fondly when she saw her boyfriend sprawled on the ground, clutching his sides as he laughed. She leaned against the doorway, folding her arms over her chest while she watched him laugh, knowing that he was perfectly fine.

“What are you doing, Yero?” Elphaba queried, the smile still present. He turned his head toward her and started to laugh again.

“I fell,” he informed her.

“I can see that.”

“Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been able to feel when I hit the ground?”

“A while.”

“Yeah,” he breathed, turning his head back. “I love being able to feel again. And I like being human. It’s a little easier to walk this way.”

“Well, you’re not going to go anywhere by staying on the ground, Yero.”

Fiyero snorted, glancing at her before he sat up.

“Oh, leave me alone.”

“Never.”

She approached him, stretching out her hand. Fiyero took it, allowing her to pull him to his feet.

“Thanks, Fae.” Fiyero pressed their foreheads together, sighing happily. “Oz, I missed all of this.”

“Yero, we were together one day before—“

“That doesn’t matter,” he interrupted. “What matters is that we’re together. And that I love you. I love you, Elphaba Thropp. I love everything about you.”

“And I you.”

Fiyero captured her lips in a tender kiss, one hand cupping her cheek while the other wrapped around her waist. Elphaba placed her hands on his biceps, slowly bringing them up to his face.

When they broke apart, Fiyero wore a boyish grin. Elphaba couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her upon seeing his face, pressing another kiss to his cheek.

Fiyero gazed at her, brushing a single strand of her raven hair out of her face.

“You know,” he murmured, his fingers twisting the strand of hair, “I think I could get used to living like this.”

“Like what? Being a fugitive?” Elphaba asked dryly.

“We’re not fugitives,” Fiyero rolled his eyes. “We’re just… wanted by the Wizard for doing what’s right.”

“We’re still fugitives, Yero.”

“Whatever. Anyway, that’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?” She tilted her head slightly.

“I mean, I could get used to this. Us being together and being able to… I don’t know, make a life together or something. Stop looking at me like that, you know I’m not good with words.”

“You are excellent with words,” she laughed. “You just didn’t think that through very well.”

Fiyero laughed quietly, pulling her into an embrace.

“And besides, Fiyero, we’re living in the forest near your parents’ castle for a reason. It’s called necessity.”

“Oh my Oz, you’re impossible,” he huffed petulantly, burying his face in her hair. And of course, Elphaba began to laugh. It had been a while since she’d managed to make him pout, but when she did manage it, she loved it.

“You’re cute when you pout.”

“I’m not pouting!”

Elphaba hummed. She pulled out of the embrace and started to walk back toward the cottage, glancing back at him.

“What? Someone has to do the cooking, and it’s not going to be you.”

[keyenuta]

TW Prologue: So enters The Wizard: part 2

(I'm gonna change up how i write dialogue to test stuff out, of you prefer this style please let me know) pt1, pt3

Mirror of Darkness: Your soul's shape is...Ramshackle!

Despite no echo being made, all throughout the room the word reverberated in everyone's minds. How could that be it's just an abandoned dorm?! For what felt like hours suddenly the silence was filled with a loud,

Everyone: Eeeeh?!

As each dorm head and student each shouted out in confusion, even Zoroaster, the boy in question looked at the mirror in shock, his golden eyes widening as his smirk became waver, beginning to crack into one confusion.

Grim: Ffnah?! Wait were getting a new member?!

Grim's sapphire eyes widened in confusion as he looked to You, now without their carpet of hair covering their face, Yuu looked just as dumbfounded as Grim, all they could really do was shrug.

Riddle: H-Headmaster, can they really enter Ramshackle, it was abandoned for some time after all.

Crowley: Mr.Rosehearts, I am just as confused as you are.

Leona: geez, this is too troublesome, I should've just went to sleep.

Kalim: ooh! Jamil, were getting another dorm isn't that exciting! Haha

Jamil: Hmmm, I agree Kalim, it is certainly interesting to say the least.

And all the while, despite all the murmurs and talking in the background, Zoroaster, the boy that spawned this uproar walked back to the mirror and now spoke plainly.

Zoroaster: uhh, you sure about that mirror? I ain't ever heard anything about a dorm named ramshackle ever, we need to clean your glass or something?

His chuckle died on his tongue from the expression of the mirror, it's stone cold face still glowering down on the boy as if nothing was amiss, or was a laughing matter.

Mirror: If you would prefer I look once more I shall, but your soul still reads ramshackle

Zoroaster: wait wha-

The boy was cut off by Crowley's outstretched hand. Resting in front of the boy's mouth as he rushed over to the mirror. While in the background whispers and murmurs slithered even more.

Crowley: Wait, wait, oh great Mirror of Darkness, there must be a mistake, Ramshackle is not a dorm I dont under-

Mirror: Headmaster Crowley, have I stuttered?

Crowley: well no, but why, please at least explain why no other dorm is suitable.

The mirror cutting him off gave the headmaster pause, but still he pleased the mirror for answers.

Mirror: Ramshackle is the shape of his soul headmaster. The reason why is because no other dorm fits his soul. The trait I saw within him was innovation. Now that is all. Please whoever is next come forward and give me your name.

Zoroaster seeing as he wasn't going to get anything more, went over to where Yuu and Grim stood and introduced himself to his new dorm mates. He strolled over to them and gave a playful bow

Zoroaster: Thanks for havin' me here, if ya want you can call me Zoro, no need to say all of it, oh and why's there a flaming racoon here?

Grim: Grrr, i am not a raccoon! Hmph, I am the great grim, and you are my new minion! Heheh

The monster laughed as he grinned from ear to ear imagining all the new stuff he could do with a new minion around. Zoroaster on the other hand looked to yuu who gave him a smile and shrugged, welcoming him in while the ceremony continued.

Up next there was the green skinned boy from earlier, as he walked over to the mirror, you could've sworn his brown eyes were staring at Grim with stars in his eyes. And thankfully when they stopped at the mirror, it broke him out of his trance.

Mirror: Give me your name

Jolting out of his trance, the boy whirled his head to answer the question, his hood flapping with every movement before he stopped on the mirror once more.

???: Oh-oh! Right, I'm Theodore, Theodore Elphaba!

He spoke brightly with a highish voice as he bounced and wobbled on his heeled slippers, while his hands clasped behind his back.

Mirror: Your soul reads, Ramshackle

Theodore: gaaaasp!  Yay!  I got in the kitty dorm! 

Theodore cheered happily as he raced across to Grim, despite the monster's protests he still found himself glomped in a massive hug from Theodore as ge began to pet the monster while in the background Zoroaster trued and failed to hold in his laughter

Grim: hey! Let go im not a cat! I-i'm prrr the great grim!

Zoroaster: awww, nice to meet ya Theodore, seems like you met the great and adorable grim already he teased to the monster. Who hissed between his purrs.

And next up, the Lion from before shuddered up to the mirror, his long mane of dreadlocks bouncing with each step as he shimmied forward. Gulping, while gripping his tail he stuttered while his orange ears dipped down

???:I-i-i am R-Regis Anakh, t-thank you

All through his stuttering introduction, the Lion listened for the mirror to give his statement as his eyes were bound shut, as he muttered in a scared whisper

Regis: please don't pur me in the dark gremlins dorm, please no scary dorm, please-please-please

Mirror: Ramshackle

Regis: That's even worse, oh no oh no, um uh, your great and knowledgeableness, d-do I have to be in this dorm?  I mean I would be fine being in his-no I mean uh

Zoroaster walked up to Regis with a smirk on his face, but he did feel a bit sorry for the guy, so he placed a hand on his shoulder abd tried to calm him down

Zoroaster: Heheheh, don't worry man, you're gonna be fine, no worries, ain't...nobody...gonna hurt you.

His word's tapered off as Regis scurried away from him in a rush

Zoroaster: man stop being an actual scary cat it's gonna be fine, no ones gonna hurt you I promise

Regis nodded fiercely but made no intention to move whatsoever. In the end Zoroaster shrugged and walked back to his spot there wasn't much he could do.

     As the ceremony reached its end, and the uproars continued, you could see the look on Crowley's face. It seemed as if he saw a ghost as in a clean sweep, each and every member of the late arrivals all had been inducted into ramshackle. Dorothy and the tin man, Simon both went in there as well to his shock.

Crowley: a-ahem! I thank you all for joining us today for our late arrivals, as well as the apparent reopening of Ramshackle into an official dorm. It is truly another day of miracles I must say.

The headmaster gave a smile to the students around him as he paced in place, and continued his speech.

Crowley: but with a new dorm, there must be a dorm leader. And for I am so gracious, I will allow one dorm head battle. For whoever wants to be dorm leader, please step forward now!

And out of the seven dorm members, two students stepped out. Though one had to tear himself away from Theodore's iron grip. In the middle of the room, the two students who chose to be dorm leader, was Zoroaster and Grim.

Crowley: i see, very well, Students please follow me onto the field, if you would prefer.

Leona: feh, what do I care about a few herbivores fighting, Ruggie let's go, this was a waste of time

Ruggie: Shishishi, alright Leona bye bye!~

     Waved the hyena as Savanaclaw made their exit. For the rest of the dorm leaders, vice and otherwise, for their own reasons they stuck around. Whether it's simple interest, such as with riddle, entertainment(Kalim) or if its for more unsavory means, as with Azul, they each waited for Crowley to give his mark. On one side of the Ceremony room, Zoroaster smirked a wicked grin, bouncing on his feet as he shook his right arm, as soon an item tumbled from its dark abyss to reveal a black hooked handle. Zoroaster's eyes closed for a moment as he twirled the hook, feeling a familiar groove he snapped his eyes open as a metallic click sounded from the hook, as a long shaft rocketed from the collapsed cane.

Now instead of gold, his eyes have turned an emerald color as with one last twirl, he launched the cane to his left hand and snapped the cane to his side like a showman on set getting ready to perform. Green eyes met sapphire as Zoro smiled at the monster before him.

Zoroaster: So grim, how 'bout we put on a good show, i think the audience deserves a good one after all this

Grim: heheh! Yeah I'll show the great magician grim in action! They'll be like "ooh, look how cool Grim is!" Or "wow! I wonder when I could get that good"

Zoroaster: Heheheheh, a magician vs a wizard, wonder who'll win? Though I will say, my money's on the wiz.

Crowley: The rules are simple, when this mirror leaves my hand, please only use magic attacks only, good luck you two.

Theodore: GET HIM GRIM!

Yuu: Heheh, good luck you two

Regis: please don't hurt me but, y-yes, best of luck

A ear bursting shatter fills the room, it's trickle being closely followed by the roar of flames and a low mutter. Rapidly as an ocean of blue flames stampeded towards Zoro, he made no movement so move, no action to defend, all he did was mutter.

Zoroaster: Walk down a road of yellow bricks and come to see the wizard, of the Emerald city

After the flames enveloped the tall boy, in mere moments a fierce howl echoed all around. As from where the flamed had hit, a thick emerald mist billowed out. Surrounding everyone on its haze as from behind Grim a figure made of that mist drifted out, and with a swing of a cane, Grim was launched back by a emerald bolt of lightning.

Grim: Arrrgh, what the-why didn't you get roasted?!

Grim demanded annoyed, but without answering his question, Zoroaster snapped his fingers, as the very ground beneath them cracked and heaved up, thinning into a long winding road of amethyst stone that Zoro hopped on, sliding on the thin pavement as he rocketed towards grim

Azul: oooh, that's quite the impressive unique magic, very powerful indeed.~

Azul cooed, eyeing the display before him, but in the background, you see Regis cowering once more in the corner, trying to stay very far away from this fight. Meanwhile Theodore was calling grim to shoot a left, and right at the monster. Rooting for him with all his might.

All the while Grim on all his paws charged forward to meet the incoming boy head on, but as he went to launch fire onto the boy, he suddenly found himself shrink more and more, and for those outside, in a poof, they found grim transformed into a small lizard, landing square in the wizard's hand.

Zoroaster: if ya wanted to meet the wizard ya came to the right place, would ya rather be a lizard or frog

At those words, seconds after the words left Zoro's lips Grim turnt from a lizard to a black frog. Eyes bugging out frog grim leaped out of Zoroaster's hand and yelled angrily at him

Grim: nyaah! No-i wanna be normal now

Zoroaster: Pffft if that's your request I'll grant it, don't worry

Snapping his fingers, Grim in a second turned back to normal as the ground returned to normal as the wizard tried and failed to hold his laughter in

Zoroaster: Heheheheh, sorry about comin' off like that, guess I'm feelin' playful today

Grim: phew, hey, don't do that again?! What kinda magic is that?!

The monster demanded as the flames in his ears blazed from agitation while Zoro leant on his cane

Zoroaster: it's my unique magic, emerald city whatever's in this ring, whatever pops into my head i can do. Zero gravity? Got it, want a soldier of stone i got that. Guess ya could call it magic incarnate i guess.

To further emphasize that, he floated on the air and soon a soldier of purple stone was erected in moments. And in the back, you could see Azul's smile widening as he flicked up his glasses, chuckling lowly as he listened to what this magic was. Now he was sure he had to have it.

Trey: my, that seems like a complete opposite to your own unique magic Riddle.

Riddle: yes, that seems to be the case, Trey

Grim: well i don't care how strong that is, ill still show yiu who's boss minion!

Zoroaster: Wonderful, let's keep goin' then!

      The Wizard smirked wildly as he and the soldier charged forward, to respond Grim decided to run while sending out pot shots of flames, immediately, the soldier's rocky frame bounded together and took the flames head on, as Zoroaster hopped on its back, launching him to the cat, skidding to meet him, as in a second, water and fire magic collided into steam, surrounding the two in a blanket if thick fog, but despite this, the wizard still smirking, snapped his hand one last time, as now, a hiss was heard.

As soon, unbeknownst to Grim, from the steam the two had just made, two snakes formed and wrapped the monster up, binding him as the snaked coiled around him.

Crowley: Seeing as Grim can no longer continue the fight, Zoroaster Ozma wins, please release grim Mr.ozma.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Zoroaster gave one last snap as the fog receded, and any and all damage from it disappeared like smoke. Now unfurling grim groaned as he saw Zoro crouch to pick him up.

Zoro: We put on a great show I gotta say, how ya feelin' Grim?

He asked outstretching his hand, which soon met a paw

Grim: mmm, in fine, heh, i guess i can let you become dorm leader minion

Snickering with the monster Zoro shrugged it off

Zoroaster: ya ain't allow nothin' but alright

Crowley: Mr Ozma, congratulations on being dorm leader of Ramshackle, perfect, could you be so gracious and guide the dorm to their home.

Yuu: Sure why not, everyone follow me haha

[sabine-leo]

Wicked Tom...

Author: @sabine-leo

Pairing: Tom x female Reader  (Loki / Elphaba) 

Wordcount: 3094

Genre: Fluff (teeny tiny bit of hurt feelings)

Note: I finally found the time to write the 3rd wish for my 1k follower raffle. @adefectivedetective asked for this :  “ Tom was watching Wicked on the West End and reader plays Elphaba and he really enjoyed it so he goes and talks to her at the end”  

I do hope you like it and can excuse the wait!! 

Comments and reblogs are very much appreciated and LOVED!!

Once he had answered a question in an interview.

“What's my guilty pleasure? The thing is, I never feel guilty about pleasures.”

Well, sitting here for the second time this day made him feel a little guilty. But after being literally dragged into the theatre from Emma and Sarah to see the matinée he had found himself totally bewitched and in awe of the voices that had made him feel every single emotion there was. Using the side entrance only shortly before the show began, he felt a little wicked himself as his skin tingled in anticipation of a voice that had touched his heart and lit his soul on fire just this afternoon. 

Emma had started to tease him on their way out of the theatre. “You actually did enjoy it, just give in and say it. Sarah and myself have been right. At least this time!” Tom had chuckled “Yes, I must say that it was rather good! You have been correct. It is not above me to admit that I should have come here sooner. Thank you for dragging my sorry British butt along.” His sisters had laughed and said their goodbyes as the three siblings parted ways.  

Now, Tom leaned back in his seat and waited for the music to start.

Not half way into the show and he was, again, totally captivated by the story acted and sung before him. One voice in particular made the hairs on his arms rise, in a good way. 

Blithe smile, lithe limb She who's winsome, she wins him Gold hair with a gentle curl That's the girl he chose And heaven knows I'm not that girl

Tom gulped a little as he heard her sing those lines. He felt the heartbreak, the longing in her voice. Having felt his heart break in his life himself, he knew from where the actress drew the emotions into her voice. He felt the urge to leap onto stage and hug her close, to tell her that someone out there would be worth to open her heart for again.  

 Don't wish don't start

Wishing only wounds the heart

I wasn't born for the rose and pearl There's a girl I know He loves her so I'm not that girl

 With a sinking head and closed eyes Elphaba ended the song and the theatre lay in darkness for a second as applause erupted. Tom closed his eyes while he clapped his hands together, that voice really did a number on him. So gentle, so full of emotions yet so damn powerful that even the almost silent notes hit his ears like a thunderstorm. Some minutes later he – again - was amazed that this soft voice could blast out the probably most known song of the musical with such intensity. Defying gravity truly was a powerful song and Tom grinned as Elphaba was lifted up.

 So if you care to find me Look to the western sky! As someone told me lately "Everyone deserves the chance to fly!"

 That song sealed his fate. He needed to go backstage after the show and meet the woman with such a powerful voice. He, too wanted his chance to fly again, to defy gravity and leap into an unknown adventure…and maybe lose his heart in the process. Only to hopefully gain one in return.

 And that was what he did. Straightening his jacket as he approached the part of the Theatre where the actors would be after the show ended, he got greeted with a smile.

“Oh! Mr. Hiddleston!”

He had been under the radar the whole day but it did not faze him that he got recognized almost immediately. “Good evening.” Tom smiled politely.

“Would it be too much to ask if I could congratulate the actors on their performance…personally?”

“No, no no no, of course not. They would be delighted! As would I! Follow me.”

Tom thanked the man with a nod and followed him through the small corridors.

A door opened and Glinda stopped short at seeing him. “Oh my!” She said and pressed her hand against her chest. Tom chuckled. What a Glinda move, he thought.

“Hey, so nice to meet you!” He held out his hand and complimented her on the show but his eyes kept searching for her stage sister.

“A picture! Please let me take a picture. The both of you look so good together! Glinda and Tom, what a pair!” The man laughed and snapped away as Tom politely took Glinda sideways into his arm and smiled. That picture would likely hit the press, but Tom did not care what they would write about it. His intentions were not set on Glinda, though she was beautiful…but there was a voice he needed to put into context with a face. A voice that had touched a part inside of him he had thought lost after his last heartbreak. The man took another two pictures as Glinda lifted one foot and smiled very Glinda like with a girly expression on her face.

 At this exact moment you came out of your dressing room.

Still more than a little green around the nose and eyes, rubbing your face with a wet cloth.

“Dammit, is this another brand of body paint? It´s not yielding voluntarily!”

“Uhm…(Y/N) ?!” The actress playing Glinda said with a little chuckle and let go of Tom.

“What is it? I would hate to have to ride the tube still green. One half of the people would know who I am and the other half would look at me funny!”

“(Y/N)! We are in London after all. I really don´t think someone would even give you a second glance.” Glinda said a little louder before Tom stepped in and softly took the cloth down from your face with his big hands.

“Hey there, I´d hate for you to scratch your beautiful face in order to get the colour down.” He smiled and you could just look upwards with a stunned expression after you recognised who held your hand and the wet, slightly green cloth in his hand.

“I do think green looks rather good on you.” He grinned. “I would absolutely give you a second glance…But then again, I always had a thing for black and green anyways!”

You started to chuckle. “So that was the appeal to play Loki!?” Your witty comment made Tom laugh out loud. “Amongst one of the reasons, yes!” he slowly let go of your hand but held onto the cloth.

 “It´s nice to finally see you up close after your voice knocked me over more than one time from afar!” Tom held out his free hand and smiled. “I´m Tom by the way…” You smiled and took his hand into your green one. “Nice to meet you Tom, I am (Y/N).”

Glinda rolled her eyes but grinned. “First Fiyero and now Tom Hiddleston. Excuse me while I go dip myself into green paint to get a bit of attention around here!”

Tom and you chuckled and watched her walk into her dressing room.

Suddenly aware that he still was holding your hand Tom let go and messed up his hair instead.

“Uhm, so…I really am in awe of what you did on stage. Your voice is phenomenal!”

“Oh boy, I am glad that green counters red, otherwise you´d see me blush!”

Tom laughed a deep rumble of a laugh and looked at you intensely.

“You are correct, I can´t make out any blush under that layer of green!”

 He jabbed his hands into his pockets and teetered on his feet as if unsure how do proceed but then he tilted his head and said. “How about you accompany me for a drink or a dinner without the green paint covering you up. Then we would be on an even playing field regarding the blush department!” Tom grinned, happy with himself.

“Are you telling me you do blush too?” You asked still feeling a little wicked thanks to your role. “Only one way to find out!” Tom smiled and bit his lip.

“I suppose that is true.” You nod and smile. “If you have the time to wait until I get this paint off me, I gladly say yes to your offer. But let me warn you, it may take me up to an hour…”

Tom grinned. “Oh, no worries, I don´t have anything else planned for the night. How about you get rid of the wicked colour and we meet at John´s in about 1 ½ hours?”

“I´ll be there…” You said with a smile and turned to walk into your dressing room to jump into the shower. “See you in a bit…” Tom said and waved as he proceeded to talk to a few more actors coming out of their rooms slowly but steady with a smile on his face.

 There, he had taken that leap…

 The evening, the night turned out to be a fun and short-lived time. Tom and you connected on different levels and the conversations flowed easily from one topic to another. He was very intelligent, funny and a gentleman from head to toe. Walking you home because it was his so-called duty even if you were the wicked witch of the west turned into a rather slow and much longer walk that ended with a hug and an exchange of numbers before your flat. Over the course of the next weeks Tom and you got to know each other better and texted or talked to each other constantly if time allowed it. Both your schedules being all over the place made it not that easy but Tom took the time to walk you home at least one day each week after you finished in the theatre.

 “What are you up to in the next days?” Tom asked as you turned the last corner to get home.

“Tomorrow I do have 2 shows to play and the day after I am actually performing a song at James Cordon´s Late Late show… he is hosting in London this week.”

Tom looked at you with a big smile “Oh! Wow, that´s great! This is going to be fun. I know James, beware of his humour, he probably is going to get you to do something funny while singing!” You laughed out loud and shrugged. “He can try…Maybe I will make him dress up as Elphaba!”  

Tom burst out laughing and held his belly.

“I need to make sure I am there for the taping if that is the case!”

 Keying open your door you turn to look at Tom. “Do you..” you started and needed to clear your throat. “…do you want to come in for a drink?”

 Toms face got all soft and he touched your shoulder. “I would love to, but I get an early start tomorrow…I am so sorry but I do have to get home...” You could not help the slight pang you felt as his words hit your system. He had tried to let you down easy but given that you had needed to summ up your courage to ask him for three days did not make it better at all. “Next time?” He asked softly and tried to get you to look into his eyes. “Yeah, sure. Get home safe, Tom! And sleep well!” You said and went inside without giving him the eye contact. You could not let him see the hurt you felt. You knew it was childish and not reasonable but you really could not help it at this moment.

“Sleep well (Y/N)…” Tom said . “I am really sorry…”

To hell with it, you looked into his eyes and mustered a smile. “Good Night Tom, thank you for walking me home!” Slowly you closed the door and bumped your head against it.

You had taken the leap and…had fallen.

 Tom started to walk home. He had to get up in only 4 hours’ time but he hated himself for putting that look into your eyes. It reminded him of the song that had gotten him so emotional all those weeks ago as he had heard you singing it for the first time.

 Don't wish don't start Wishing only wounds the heart I wasn't born for the rose and pearl There's a girl I know He loves her so I'm not that girl

 He tried to shake of that feeling but he could not even come close to do it. If only you´d know that you were that girl. That you were born for the rose and pearl. That he wanted to be the one to give it to you. In the last weeks he had gotten to know you, deeply so. He had had the pleasure to hear you laugh with that beautiful voice of yours, knowing that he had been the one to cause you delight meant a lot to him. He wanted to hear you laugh again. He wanted to see you blush once more because he was a flirt when it came to you. He wanted, no, he needed to show you that he wanted, needed more than your friendship! Tom searched for his phone as he walked. He dialled a number after scrolling through his contacts.

 “James? Hey, it´s Tom… sorry for calling so late, but I need to ask for a favour. I have an idea!”

 ---- 2 days later----

 “Alright, I have got the text down and the costume fits as well. Thank you for being such a good sport and doing this!” James laughed and took your already green hand in a gesture of happiness.

“You will be an awesome Glinda!”

You said with a laugh and walked with him to the dressing rooms of his show.

As Tom had predicted James did not want you to just come in and sing, no. He had gotten himself a Glinda costume and was about to perform with you. Defying gravity would be the song the both of you would do in his show and you already had a fit of the giggles as you thought about him in a dress, with a curled blond wig. “Time to change! See you in a bit!” James called as the audience filled the seats and was warmed up by a stand-up comedian. “This will be an opening London will not forget so fast!” He called and grinned as he closed his door. You too went into your dressing room, got the final touches done and donned your black robe and wicked-hat.

30 minutes later you were standing behind the curtain covering up James´s stage as James himself walked up to you in full Glinda style. You clapped your hand above your mouth and hid a laugh.

“Ready to defy gravity…Sister?” He grinned and flipped his curls back with a swing of his hand.

“Ready when you are!” You grinned and closed your eyes to get into character.

 The curtain dropped and Glinda-James grabbed your hand.

“Don´t be afraid!” He chirped. The audience erupted into laughs and applause. As they were able to hear you again you said.

“I´m not! It´s the wizard who should be afraid… of me!” You started to sing.

 Something has changed within me Something is not the same I'm through with playing by the rules Of someone else's game Too late for second-guessing Too late to go back to sleep It's time to trust my instincts Close my eyes and leap!

 James played his part well, a bit over the top but that had to be that way. The both of you sung together quite well and as you sang the final parts of the song high above the stage…

 And nobody in all of Oz No wizard that there is or was Is ever gonna bring me down!

 A green light flashed bright and more fog wafted low above the ground as you heard a dark chuckle that did not belong into the song. It went dark for a second. Another flash before the lights came on again.

 “Well well well…the wicked witch of the west is finally about to meet a real wizard…a god even!”

You knew that voice before you could see who was speaking to you but as you looked down you nearly toppled over. Thank god that you were in a harness… Down below, next to Glinda stood Loki himself. Dressed in his full black and green leather attire. The audience was going wild!!!

 “I am going to bring you down, literally!” Loki grinned mischievous and help up his hand.

The harness started to lower you back to the ground.  What on earth happened here?

Glinda- James fell onto her knees before Loki. “Oh my GOD!! Take me! I am a witch too! And a rather beautiful one I might add…less…green!” Glinda-James batted her eyes at Loki.

Loki chuckled but waved James off. “That is the problem…I do like green. And I do like her slightly wicked behaviour…” Your feet touched the ground and Loki went around you, his eyes never leaving yours before it got impossible and he stood right behind you. He got rid of the hooks that held you in the harness and stage whispered into your ear. “Come with me Elphaba, let me tempt you to be even more….wicked!”

 The lights went out and your knees nearly gave up. Tom grabbed you by the waist and held you close to his chest. “Hello Darling!” He breathed into your ear with a chuckle and turned you to face him.

“You are going to pay for that stunt!” You said breathless but started to laugh and hugged the live out of him. The lights went back on mid hug and the hoots got louder and louder.

Tom, or better Loki leaned back a little and held out a hand. Glinda-James came in again and brought a single, deep red rose with a pearl attached to it that he handed Loki.

“Elphaba, (Y/N)…” Loki started. “You were born for the rose and pearl!”  

He handed you the rose and smiled.

“You are that girl…to me!”

His hand touched your face and the smile he bestowed on you melted your heart completely.

 The curtain came down and hid you from the audience. The microphones got shot down. It was as much privacy as you would get in a TV studio…

 “Let´s have that drink…at my place later. And I promise to make you breakfast come morning…” Tom grinned wickedly and closed the distance to finally kiss you.

 At last…you were defying gravity!

   Tags: @adefectivedetective @archy3001 @itscalledfandomsweetielookitup @faeriedelalune-blog @lil-mewlingquim07  @amazinggraces-world   @tanishahka @coniumalces  @emomemelordess @devilbat @usedtobegoodfriend96 @cest-le-temps-de-lamour @drakesfiance @confessionsofastrugglingteen  @inlovewithfreyamikaelson @heart-shaped-hell @theoneanna  @marikochi  @xxxeatyourh3artoutxxx @awkwardfangirl2014 @rainbowsinthestorm  @anchored-in-high-tide

[lord-rosenth0rne]

When Jim met Morgan Pt 1

Continuing on with the Morgan Nightingale(Morgana)/Jim Starling drama, or beginning with it, anyway. 

I have a series of events planned out during the time they were working together to further explain what went on behind the scenes. 

Morgan and Elmo (Megavolt’s actor) were theater partners in college and beyond until Elmo left for Hollywood. When there was an opening for a love interest, Elmo immediately snatched up a script and tracked down Morgan who had already been on a hiatus from acting to raise her little girl. 

Part 2 here.

(Also Elmo and Quackerjack’s actor are dating on the down-low during all of this. Their romance was more of a slow burn and they’re still together to this day.)

“Ooooh, I don’t know, Sparky. Television is a big leap from live theater. I don’t even know how you were able to do it so easily. What if I mess it up? What if the rest of the public doesn’t like me? What if I don’t do a good enough job for the role?”

“Nonsense, Morgan! This part was practically made for you- by people who probably don’t know your work… But I thought of you the moment I read the script! And if you mess up, they’ll either let you do it again or edit it out. It’s no big deal! I’ll be there too for emotional support. I mean, I AM a reoccurring villain for the show!”

“That’s sweet of you, but… what about Mina? She’s still so young. I’ve been putting off returning to acting in general at least until she’s in school.”

“I’ll watch Mina if your audition goes well,” a soft, clear German accent rang out. “You should try to expand your horizons, my darling. I think this will be a good experience for you. Go show the world how wonderful you are.”

“Oh, Rodrick… You know what? Let’s do it!”

The conversation of her auditioning for the Darkwing Duck role “Morgana Macawber” churned in her head on the way to the studio. Her old theater partner, Elmo “Sparky” Sputterspark, had tracked her down to deliver the script in hopes that she would get the part. After reading it, Morgan fell in love with Morgana’s character and, with a gentle nudge from her husband, decided to go with her friend to audition.  She elected to go in with her long dark hair pulled back in a low ponytail under a wide-brimmed red hat while wearing a red double-breasted trench-style jacket with a belt, black dress pants and heeled boots: the color scheme noted in the script. In truth, she looked as if she had stepped out of a detective novel.

Her fingers gripped the seat of the golf cart as they approached the building where it was to take place. The ride over was pleasant enough. She and Sparky were going over the script with Sparky delivering the best Darkwing Duck impression he could which resulted in hysterical laughter but the moment they passed onto the studio property, a sense of dread filled Morgan and the laughter stopped. Sparky drove up to the lot and parked the golf cart.

“Here we are!”

“I-I haven’t auditioned for anything since before I found out I was pregnant with Mina…” she grumbled under her breath and began to sink in her seat with her eyes on the building number. “I don’t know if I can do this… I-I’m out of practice...”

One of her hands was pried off the seat and held between Sparky’s which patted the back of it.

“It’ll come back to you. Just like riding a bike. You can do this. If you can belt out “Defying Gravity” to a full house with visiting royalty in attendance, you can audition for a small group. Trust me, they are waaay less judgy than the theater crowd.” he reassured her. “Or at least, from my experience anyway. Come on. I bet Jim’s here too to see  how well the actresses work with him.”

Sparky stepped out of the golf cart only to look back to see Morgan clinging to the interior. Her head snapped to him looking like a deer caught in headlights.

“Wait, Jim Starling’s here too?”

“Maybe, but you’d still have to meet with him anyway. You are auditioning for Darkwing’s love interest after all.”

“... I’ll just wait out here…”

“Morgan, I promise, he’s not going to bite.”

After the forty-somethingth audition, Jim looked like he was about to bite. He was now slumped down in his seat with over two dozen disposable coffee cups littered around him and an irritated scowl as the last auditioner left. He had been reading the same scene over and over. Beside him were three people who were tasked with casting Morgana Macawber.

“What did you think of that one?”

“Clear, strong voice. Seems to have an idea of who she’s portraying but delivery was a bit weak.”

“What do you think, Mr. Starling? Any thoughts on her?”

“No, and I would like to go home now!” Jim pushed himself up in his chair to stand. “You yahoos can do this without me!”

“Well, we wanted to see if you had chemistry with any of the actresses who auditioned so-”

“Pfft, ‘chemistry’. Like that has anything to do with acting.” he rolled his eyes as he grabbed his things and stormed toward the door. “Just pick one and get it over with! I’ve got better things to do with my time!”

“But we have a couple of more-” the head casting director tried to say but Jim disappeared through the doorway. “Aaaand he’s gone. Great. Well, I guess we can continue on without him.”

“You know he’s going to complain about anyone we pick, right?” another commented. “He’s done that with half of the cast already.”

“Yeah… I know.”

It took a little coaxing on Sparky’s part to get Morgan to release the golf cart and into the studio but by some miracle, he did it. On the way to the auditioning room, Sparky showed Morgan the sets and costumes to try to calm her down, as well as the costume ideas they had for Morgana that were hanging up in the seamstress’ area.

“Ooooh, so they’re going for the Morticia/Elvira/Lily Munster vibe. I love it!” Morgan gasped. “I hope I can look as good as them in such a dress after having a little one.”

“You look like you haven’t even had any kids, Morg,” Sparky laughed as he put an arm around her. “Besides, Lily and Morticia are mothers after all and still rock the dresses they wear.”

“I guess that’s true.” she snickered.

“Come on, we have to head this way-”

Movement out of the corner of his eye made Sparky’s head perk up to see Jim heading toward the studio door with a sour look on his face.

“Oh! Wait, there’s Jim! Jim!” Sparky called out, waving to his co-star. He took Morgan’s hand and rushed over. Jim glanced up only to roll his eyes.

“Great. I’m kinda in the middle of leaving-!” he called back but was stopped by the Megavolt actor.

“I see that, but I wanted you to meet someone first!” Sparky grinned, pulling Morgan into view. Jim’s face immediately fell leaving his mouth agape as Morgan gave a nervous smile and shifted some. “This is Morgan Nightingale, my old theater friend! She’s here to audition for Morgana!”

“Pleased to meet you,” Morgan offered a hand to Jim but he didn’t take it. He only continued to stare with a dumbstruck look. A frosted border framed his view of her and her voice became muffled as the woman withdrew her hand with a concerned look. “Ah… are-are you okay, Mr. Starling?”

A sound much like a squeaky toy being strangled to death escaped Jim’s throat with his mouth opening and closing several times in a struggle to actually say something.

“Hello? Earth to Jim! Come in, Jim!” Sparky waved a hand in front of the actor’s face then placed a hand under his chin. “Huh… Guess he’s had a long day. Let’s, ah, let’s get onto the audition and check up on him later.”

Morgan nodded, glancing between the men.

“Well, it was nice meeting you!” Morgan chuckled then followed her friend in the direction Jim had just come from. “Hope we have the chance to work together!”

Sparky paused to allow Morgan to catch up and she thumbed over her shoulder at Jim who had turned to watch them leave.

“He’s going to be okay, right?”

“Yeah, he’s fine. He does his own stunts after all. Maybe he hit his head one too many times.” Sparky flicked his hand.

“Wait, seriously?”

“Either that, or it’s love at first sight!” Sparky teased.

“Oh stop!”

Jim stood there in an intoxicated trance, his mind trying to process the woman he just met. His heart slammed against his chest, threatening to burst out to chase after her. “Woah, mama…” was all he could muster before stumbling back to the room he just left.

The three at the table stood the moment they laid eyes on Morgan. Sparky didn’t have to introduce her. They already recognized her which surprised both of them. The three had erupted in absolute gushing.

“Morgan Nightingale! You’re auditioning for this part?!”

“Please say you are! Ugh, you were wonderful in the Phantom of the Opera!”

“And in the King and I!”

“Don’t forget Wicked! You nailed Elphaba’s part to a T!”

Morgan looked startled at first before smiling and giving a small nod.

“Thank you. I didn’t expect anyone here to know who I was,” she admitted softly as she wrung her script some. “But I would like to audition if that is okay?”

“Okay?! That would be more than okay! Please, go ahead and-!” the head casting director started but paused at the sight of Jim drunkenly stumbling into the room and back to his seat. The director’s demeanor changed to a colder, quieter tone. “I thought you left.”

Jim shook his head hard, sat up in his seat properly and placed his elbows on the table while clearing his voice. “Nah, I just thought I’d stay for… one more…” he turned his gaze to Morgan with a smile. His mood picked up considerably which made the casting crew glance among each other and smirk. Jim grabbed his script and thumbed through the pages quickly. “Miss… Nightingale, was it? Let’s… ah… Let’s try acting out the scene where Darkwing meets Morgana…”

[forkanna]

[AO3 LINK] [EF LINK]

NOTES: Sorry to the Gelphie shippers for these Dozma chapters. I haven't forgotten you! You'll see! 

And of course, sorry for taking so long between updates. Boring IRL things distracting me - one of which being Camp NaNoWriMo last month. The upside is, you're about to get not one, but two new fanfics from me soon! so hopefully that makes up for me dragging my feet on getting this one posted.

Of course, within the hour, it was time to hold court. Glinda had hastily explained the developments to Elphaba, who remained with Dorothy to help monitor the recent immigrant. Then she bolted up to Ozma's chambers to investigate the current situation.

"No, tighter, Jellia," Ozma was urging her as the servant tried to cinch her dress closed. Never in a demanding, condescending tone; that just wasn't how Ozma treated other people, regardless of station. But she did sound more anxious than usual. "Sorry, I know, it's as tight as it goes, but… I need to look my very best! So we can't do anything halfway today!"

"Your Highness?"

"What? Oh… hello, Glinda." She looked a little cowed when she saw the disapproving frown on Glinda's face, and glanced down at her pristine white heeled boots. "Jellia, that's fine; thank you."

"Quite welcome, Majesty," Jellia said with a bow of her green head before she retreated, having enough sense to be able to tell Glinda wanted to talk to her alone.

"Are you alright?"

Laughing weakly, she turned to her full-length mirror and observed the effect. "I'll have to be, won't I? The court awaits."

"Ozzie…" When she didn't answer again, she bit her lip as she thought for a moment. Then she asked, "Do you like wearing these get-ups? You could probably pass a law. 'No queen shall wear anything but old trousers and pointed caps during royal ceremonies' or something."

That did earn a little more of an earnest chuckle. "Honestly?"

"Sure. I like honesty."

"So do I." Swishing the skirts around, she smiled vaguely. "I thought I might feel more comfortable in those old clothes. And I did, in a way… but not as much as I thought. They don't fit me anymore."

"Well, we know why that is," Glinda joked as she gave a light tap on Ozma's behind that made her squeak in surprise. They both giggled. "Not that I'm saying it's that big, of course."

"Of course. Just… no, I didn't mean only that the actual size is wrong. They don't suit me anymore. I think I might like to wear… suits tailored to my new shape sometimes, because they are more comfortable than these highly regal gowns. But that doesn't mean I don't like wearing these."

Glinda tilted her head a little again. "Can you clear that up a little for me? I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I'm not following your chain of thoughts quiiiite yet."

Ozma paused, truly pondering her words. She turned so that Glinda could really take a look at her. What a breathtaking beauty she had become! Quite youthful, but serene, her perfect auburn ringlets framing her cheeks and slender neck and supporting the silver circlet as if it had been made to rest there. Sunkissed skin, no longer as tan as when they had first met her but still not as pale as that of a spoiled princess, gleamed from above the neckline that began the concealment of the rest of her form in puffs of white fabric and sparkling green ribbons. Truly a regal presence, and one that was a joy to behold, unlike the frightened respect that the Wizard had demanded via use of his puppets. This was definitely an improvement.

"I love feeling this pretty. It's something that was deep inside of me that I didn't even know was there until you helped reveal it. But sometimes, I still feel like… I don't deserve it, or I'm not really a girl because I grew up as a boy. Which I know isn't true! This really is who I am, I believe that with my heart and soul. But the doubts come back and I can never seem to make them completely go away. So that's… that's what I meant."

Smiling gently, Glinda reached up to cup either side of Ozma's sweet face. "Oh, little angel Ozzie… it must be tough, having to always 'be the princess' in front of the whole Emerald City when it's such a new thing for you."

"Yeah. That part doesn't help; the… public part."

"But you're doing a great job. And you know all you have to do is ask Jellia to make you a few suits for casual afternoons, working in the garden with Jack, or just days when you aren't feeling quite up to the frills and frippery. She'd be happy to! You're the one in charge, so do what you want. We'll all support you."

Ozma nodded. "Thank you, Glinda. I don't know what I'd do without the coven around."

"Council," she corrected, and they both snickered. "Also, if you ever want to take a little vacation, we could probably arrange for that. Get away from the responsibilities of queendom for a week or so."

"I'd like that. As long as you and Elphie and Nessa came along."

"And Dorothy?"

Sighing, she turned back to the mirror, regarding it with a frown this time. "Do you think… she'll hate me for this? I thought easing her into the idea by turning up as Tip was a better plan, but now I feel… stupid."

"Only one way to find out." She didn't want to comment on whether or not the plan was stupid; privately, she thought it was, but she also fully appreciated why Ozma tried it in the first place. Being honest with Elphaba about her own feelings had been one of the most difficult choices she'd ever made, and she had been terrified of rejection. It was probably much the same for her forlorn Ruler.

"That's true. Do I look alright?"

With bald honesty, she whispered, "You look perfect." Then she leaned in to kiss both her cheeks and boop her on the nose with her index finger, earning a slight giggle. "And cute! Now go out there and face the music; your people await."

                                ~ o ~

So Ozma did just that. Glinda quickly took her place with Elphaba in the bench on the righthand side of Ozma's seat of power; Nessarose was on the other side, and there was room for further seats on each side, though the chairs were not present. The idea had been to allow for space for a larger Council, should the need ever arise, but so far it had not. When visiting the Emerald City, Fiyero would sometimes take a seat next to Nessa, as an honorary Councilman.

Glinda kept her eyes focused on Dorothy as Ozma entered, glancing back to make sure she could monitor how the princess was doing now and then. The girl had snagged herself a spot very near the front of the crowd, wanting her first glimpse of this regal being to be a good one.

"Hail to the Queen Ozma!" Jellia announced.

The crowd, appropriately, responded with "Hail!" and then burst into cheers and clapping. In the first few days of her reign, Jellia and the Council had tried to discourage them from causing so much commotion, but right away Ozma had told them to let the people celebrate if they wanted to. As Ozma sat, Glinda saw that Dorothy was clapping along with everyone else. Her brow was creased a little in very mild confusion, but she was otherwise as pleased as everyone else.

"Thank you all," Ozma said. Even though she was nervous, it barely showed; despite being a very young and inexperienced ruler, the ability to act "professional" in front of her subjects was something that came naturally to her. "Today, we will be hearing reports from outlying cities of the Land of Oz. If you have a grievance or report from within the Emerald City outer walls, or the cities nearest the walls in Gillikin, Munchkinland, Vinkus, or the Quadling Country, please refrain and hold your remarks for another date, wherein we will be welcoming them from your areas."

As she spoke, Dorothy's face began to come over with pure shock. To be fair, she did not make a scene, but it was readily apparent to her old friends that she had figured out Ozma and Tip were the same person without needing any explanation. Clever as she was, that came as no surprise.

"Well, there goes the neighbourhood," Elphaba muttered into her ear.

"Shh, Elphie." Still, she had a hard time disagreeing. A quick glance at Ozma showed that she wasn't paying Dorothy any attention. Purposefully. That was very like her to do, making sure that her focus remained on the matters at hand and to worry about personal issues later.

One by one, the reports were received. A band of thieves was trying to interrupt emerald mining in the Glikkus. Some city in the south of the Vinkus was in dire need of fresh water, for their well had run dry. The Quadlings wanted fairer trades for their wares. Most of these matters were settled in short order, though there was occasionally some debate needed to resolve the problem to the satisfaction of all parties involved. At the end of the day, however, the people remained as thrilled with their new ruler as before.

However, just when they were wrapping things up and the crowd started to stir and get ready to leave, Ozma called out, "One final matter for the day." After some brief murmurs, she added, "Dorothy Gale of Kansas."

A hush fell over everyone else. Slowly, Dorothy first pointed at herself, and then awkwardly pushed to her feet.

"Welcome to Oz. Myself and the Council wish to make it known to all here that you are forevermore Princess Dorothy of Oz, and should be afforded all the rights and respect that this title offers." There was only the briefest of hesitations before she went on, "And you may take a position of authority over any of the countries in Oz if you so choose, or decline such, and reside wherever you wish. For the services you have rendered us, we remain in your debt."

Glinda's heart sank. She was offering Dorothy a way out. Now that she knew Tip was Ozma and there was a possibility things might be awkward between them, she wanted Dorothy to know that she would not be required to continue living in the palace if she wasn't comfortable with the idea. It was a magnanimous gesture, but also could sound like she was sending her away.

But while the crowd was applauding the brief speech, all Dorothy could do was look stunned. When the clapping died down, and she noticed everyone was looking at her, she managed an ungainly little curtsy, then announced, "Th-thank you… Your Majesty." It seemed to be all she could come up with.

"Thank you," Ozma countered. Then she hastily said, "This concludes today's audience," and turned to step down briskly from the seat and leave the audience hall.

Immediately, the rest of the council followed her, but Glinda thought her efforts were best applied elsewhere. She whispered to Elphaba, "Tell Ozzie I thought she was very brave," then slipped down into the rest of the crowd to seek out Dorothy.

She had to chase her down. By the time she got to the audience seating, Dorothy was already out in the hall, so she had to push through the throng until she caught up with the dazed girl, leaning against the wall a little further down.

"Hey," she said in an imitation of her usual cheery voice. "Doing alright?"

"What? Oh… oh, yes, Miss Glinda, of course," she laughed — and it was a bit manic. "Why shouldn't I be? I'm… I'm a princess now! A-and so is…"

When no finish came to the sentence, Glinda provided one. "So is Tip."

"I guess so."

"Are you… really alright? Honest-to-Oz?"

"Sure! I mean, why shouldn't I be? Girl like me from nowhere, gettin' to meet a real live princess, a-and then become one? It's like a dream come true! I'm… I'm just over the rainbow about it!" But when Glinda only frowned, Dorothy turned away. "A-and she looked very nice up there, in that… dress, and the pretty crown…"

"Dorothy-"

"You know, maybe I will go and visit Scarecrow after all. See how he's doin'. A-and then I can come back and… and figure out what to do with myself. Can't just sit around bein' a big nuisance all the time! Aunt Em always said…"

But she didn't finish that thought; bringing up her aunt only took away her false joy. Glinda placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Dorothy… come on, you don't have to act brave if you don't feel brave. I'm your friend."

"I… I know. And you tried to tell me somethin' yesterday, but…" Her shoulders shrugged, taut and full of tension. "I wasn't listenin' properly. Thing is, I ain't wired like you and Miss Elphaba, so… I don't know. I need to clear my head, but after that, maybe… I can find a way to…"

She drew her in for a tight hug, and Dorothy only put up a fight for the first few seconds before she melted into it, shivering. Not crying, but clearly struggling to suppress some reaction. Whether that be sadness or anger, or something else, Glinda couldn't quite say. But she held on for some time. Eventually, the shivering petered out, and she took a deep, bracing breath.

"I'm alright now," she said with a false brightness, drawing back to beam up at Glinda. "Thanks."

"You are not. But… I'm glad you're better. Do you want to go and have lunch? We could take it somewhere… somewhere else."

Dorothy could definitely tell that Glinda was carefully not saying "somewhere without Ozma." It was written all over her face. After a moment, she nodded. "If you're sure it's alright? I mean, Miss Elphaba-"

"-Will survive one meal without me," she laughed, taking Dorothy's hand and patting it gently as she led her off to find another hall in which to dine. There were plenty in the Palace.

                                ~ o ~

Dorothy did set off for Kiamo Ko the next morning. As she had told them, even without "other things" being a factor, she still wanted to reunite with her old friend, and to see whether or not Boq was adjusting to life now that he was no longer carrying around so much rage and murder in his heart. After all, he had been nothing but good to Dorothy, so there was no pretending he was wicked through and through. Maybe the new lease on life would be enough to set right what had been darkened within him.

Ozma was distraught by this news, of course, but Glinda tried to reassure her that it was a temporary absence. If Dorothy came back and decided she was moving away, they could fret over it then, but for now there was no use worrying.

So they turned their focus to other matters. Tending the queendom, as was always pressing. Elphaba was still perfecting some new spells to make all their lives easier, and Nessa trying to change certain outdated laws in the hopes that governance would run more smoothly. Glinda busied herself consoling Ozma and meeting with members of Emerald City nobility when Ozma wasn't feeling up to it. Though they missed the girl who formerly wore the Golden Shoes, there was no shortage of distractions.

Finally, on the third night after she had gone, Glinda walked in to find Ozma was again wearing the Tip costume. Rolling her eyes, she came and sat next to her on the bench in front of her vanity.

"That's not going to fix anything."

A moment or two passed as Ozma stared forlornly at her reflection. Then she said, "Mombi was able to curse me once. What if… we found that spell in her books and did it again?"

"Then we would be robbing Oz of its rightful heir."

"I could still be a prince as easily as I could be a princess."

"Is that who you believe you truly are?"

"NO!" she burst out, slumping down so that her head thunked against the lip of the vanity. "But I… I can't stand the thought of… of being this way, only to have…"

Sliding an arm around her, she whispered, "Listen. I know this is hard; I know you want to do something about it. Really, we've all found ourselves in a situation where… what we want is so hard to get our hands on, and it's tempting to change something about yourself that's really important to get it. Like… me with Fiyero."

"Fiyero? What about him?"

"Both Elphie and I were in love with him once. Or we thought we were," she added in a mutter. "But he obviously cared more for Elphie than for me, after the initial charm of my good looks wore off." More as a force of habit, she fluffed her golden girls with one hand.

"I see," Ozma snorted.

"So I tried being a little more altruistical. A little more… giving, and kind, and thoughtful of others. Not because it's the right thing to do, which is more how I do things now, but because… I thought it would make him like me better. And it didn't; he's admitted to us now that he was a lot more interested in Elphaba for being… well, genuine, I guess."

For a moment, Ozma simply nodded. Then she pulled at her long, perfectly-coiffed hair and growled, "I feel so stupid, though! Dorothy is… is perfectly entitled not to feel the same way now that she knows I'm a woman. I keep telling myself that! What's wrong with me?!"

"Whoa, whoa! Alright, you're way too tensed up. Come over here now. No, no, come here."

Glinda led a very pouty Ozma away from the bench to two chairs arranged around a small table. The usual purpose for these chairs was for her to take tea with one of the Councilwomen, if and when they needed them — though usually, the small dining room was used. She pushed Ozma into one and then sat across from her.

"Here." At first, when she pulled one of the princess's old "boy shoes" off, Ozma rolled her eyes, but the minute she began to knead into her stocking foot with her thumbs, the annoyance and uncertainty vanished. "There now. Relax."

"Ahh…" A few seconds passed as Ozma did her best to resent melting at the pleasant sensation. "Alright, I get it, Glinda. You're right. I'm… worrying about this… too much. You don't have to…" A little sigh. "Keep going…"

"Was that 'You don't have to keep going', or 'You don't have to,' and then you changed your mind and asked me to keep going?"

Chuckling just a little, Ozma favoured her with a grateful smile. "Was supposed to be the first one. But thank you. I don't know why you keep doing things like this for me yourself when I'm sure we could get the royal masseuse. If we have one of those."

"Not yet, but we should!" They both laughed. "But I don't mind. Honestly… it might sound a little odd, but I like having you around to take care of. Maybe it's my motherly instincts having nowhere to go, especially since I like taking care of Elphaba but she's even more self-sufficient than the two of us put together."

More laughter, and this time Ozma reclined a little, letting Glinda finish the job and move on to the other foot. "So I'm your surrogate child? That seems a little funny when we're technically the same age. I just haven't known I was a princess so I have to relearn everything as I go along."

"Ah, but you lost those early years, so I'm older now," she teased, wiggling her toes through the stocking fabric. For that, Ozma picked up a napkin lying on the table and attempted to throw it at her, and it fluttered to the floor uselessly. "Wow, you really have fully transitioned into being a spoiled royal girl."

"That wasn't a serious throw. You and I both know I could pick up this teaspoon and chuck it hard enough to split your nose." That made Glinda laugh so hard she snorted like a pig, and Ozma really lost it then, pulling both legs back so she could double up and wrap her arms around her sides, tittering until breathless. "OH! Oh, Glinda, that's t-too much!"

Wiping her eyes as she laughed along with her, Glinda Upland regarded the sweet princess in her old, worn-out clothing, briefly broken from her dark mood. She did deserve to be happy. If Dorothy would make her happy, and she would make Dorothy happy, it was really quite pathetic for any other factors to get in the way. So she realised that she had two immediate goals. First, to determine whether or not Dorothy's feelings for the illusion that was Tip had been infatuation, or the elusive "true love" that some spent their entire lives searching for. And second… to figure out how to get them fixed up together.

                                ~ o ~

"Hello, everyone!" Dorothy cried out as she skipped in through the dining hall doors, eyes full of unshed tears. It had only been a week, give or take a day, but she still acted as if she had been gone for another dozen years.

And the Formerly-Wicked Witches reacted as if she had, as well. They all forsook their dinners to stand and envelop her in a crushing embrace, petting over her hair and laughing gaily as they welcomed her home. Dorothy squirmed and giggled freely, cheeks bunched with the force of her happiness. Even Jellia couldn't suppress a smile, despite her typically detached and professional demeanor.

Once the initial joy wore off, they turned as one to Ozma, who had at least stood to approach them but was hanging back, uncertain.

"Get in here," Glinda urged her through her toothy smile.

"N-no, I'd… better not," she said with a slight flush to her cheeks.

"It's alright!" Dorothy insisted, then covered her mouth with a shy fist once she had heard herself speak. Clearly, she hadn't meant to do so that suddenly. "I m-mean… I've missed you, too, Tip!"

"Ozma," Nessa corrected in a whisper.

"Ozma! R-right! Princess Ozma, y-your Majesty!" She did a curtsy, and her elbow connected with Elphaba's ribs. "Oh, s-sorry, I'm… awful clumsy sometimes!"

Before anyone else could try, Ozma was there to help steady her. Their hands remained in each other's as she gazed across into her eyes, smiling gently. "I'm… so happy to see you again."

"Oh? Happy?" Dorothy seemed to fixate on that. If Glinda were to hazard a guess, it was because there were two very different potencies of "happy" that the Ruler could be.

"Very happy. But, um… I believe I'm weary just now. I'll retire to my chambers and let you all catch up." Reluctantly, she slid her hands out from beneath Dorothy's and took a step backward. "Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow?" Dorothy nodded. Without any further comment, Ozma curtsied and left the dining hall at a quick pace.

And then they were left to look at each other. After a moment, Elphaba said, "So Glinda explained things to us. Which you can't be surprised about, but I'm sorry if you feel your trust is betrayed."

"Not really," Dorothy said with a little shy smile. "But gosh… I didn't think she'd look so… I dunno. Hurt, I guess? She looked hurt, and I didn't mean for her to be."

"You didn't hurt her," Nessa said in a reasonable tone, patting her on the shoulder. "And of course you didn't mean to. But… I think she had an unrealistic expectation that you didn't meet. Knowing it was unrealistic didn't make it go away."

Though she looked as if she already knew the answer, she squirmed and asked, "What 'spectation is that?"

"That Tip turning out to be Ozma wouldn't matter," Elphaba sighed. "What a silly thing to assume."

"Not silly," Glinda hissed at her roomie, who rolled her eyes toward the chandelier above them. "But yes, that's what she was hoping. You would see she was a princess in disguise, say 'oh my goodness!' and then move on from that. And when you didn't, even though your reaction was quite understandable…"

"I made her sad." All three of them nodded, and Dorothy walked over to the table and plopped down. "Well… I've been thinking on that a lot."

"And?"

"And… I ain't the kind to think a whole lot. But it seems to me that… that I should start over. Get to be friends with Ozma, like I did with you three."

Elphaba's smirk was nearly criminal. "You're going to throw water on her?"

"Hush up," she giggled, and they all shared a relieved look. It was torturous seeing Dorothy as anything less than happy. At least her drawn appearance was slowly beginning to even out; she'd been packed off with plenty of bread and cheese and cakes when she left, and had probably been richly served in the Vinkus, as well. Not quite the plump girl she had been when they all first met, but certainly healthier.

After a moment, they returned to their seats and called for some bread and jam for Dorothy, and they listened to her tales of her travels. As it turned out, they did run into a few interesting characters along the way, including a cat made of glass and a boy as bright as a button, but more or less her journey was blessedly free of complications. Fiyero had been a wonderful host. Alas, Boq was a little odd and distant, but at least he had been pleasant and spent no time complaining about former matters. After a couple of days, she felt she had reminisced long enough and started making her way back.

Which led them to ask her about Ozma. At first, she tried to ask them about the goings on within the Emerald City to distract them from the topic, but that didn't work for more than a pair of minutes.

"Alright, alright. Like I said, I want to start over. Because… I think I let Tip bein' a boy go to my head, and got wrong ideas. Maybe led him on? Well… not on purpose, but I think I did, anyway. If I'd known he was a she, I mighta been able to just… be friends! Like two normal people! Don't know why I acted so silly around him, I've never acted like that around boys before…"

Nessa smiled a knowing smile. "You grew up, Dorothy. I mean, you're still fairly wide-eyed, but you're an adult woman now. Really, I'm surprised you never chased any boys before now."

That earned her a disapproving gasp from the Kansas girl. "Oh, I couldn't! Chase a boy? Me? No, no, that's not how a lady behaves! Aunt Em told me…" She came over melancholy again, but pushed through it more effectively this time. "Well, that it ain't proper for a girl to chase after a boy; the boy is s'posed to do the courtin', and the lady waits for him, and…" Her voice faded with uncertainty.

"That may be how they do it in Kansas," Glinda conceded with her arms folded over her chest, "but sure as heck not how we do things in Oz. You like somebody, you tell them; simple as that."

Of course, she wanted to say more. She wanted to point out to Dorothy that she and Ozma had already kissed, whether the poor girl and her strangely restrictive views about romance wanted to remember the event or not. But it was painfully clear to her that Dorothy needed to take a step away from that aspect of their relationship for some reason or another. It seemed to mostly be because of Ozma being a woman now, but she wondered if it wasn't also because of how young and inexperienced she was. After all, from their many conversations, all she ever heard about from Dorothy was about the farm, the farm, and in rare moments of great variety, the farm. The girl was the furthest thing from Ozmopolitan one could be.

"This is stupid," Elphaba finally sighed. "Just talk to her. You have to start there, or you won't get anywhere."

"Exactly," Dorothy sighed.

"No, I meant right now."

"Huh? Oh… n-no, I don't wanna bother her! She said she had to lie a spell…" At their staring, she dipped her head a little. "D-do you think if I came to breakfast, a-and tried to act like everything's peaches 'n' cream, that… th-that it'd be alright?"

Feeling bad that they were pushing her so much, Glinda rested a hand on her shoulder. "Of course. And if you're not feeling up to it in the morning, that's alright, too! We just wanted you to know that Ozzie's going to be happy to see you if you do pop in, and not upset. Alright?"

Elphaba looked like she had a lot more to say on the topic. However, she merely let Dorothy nod, and Jellia hastened to make sure her things were taken up to her rooms in the palace. But hoping that would be the end of it was something Glinda wasn't nearly foolish enough to try.

                                ~ o ~

"You really think we're doing the right thing?"

Glinda's head lolled over to glance at the nude form in the bedsheets to one side of herself. Not that Elphaba was much for putting her body on display; something she understood too well herself. Still, that insatiable part of her heart wanted to see as much as possible every waking moment.

"Of course, Elphie. Ozma's no older than us, and has had to do a lot of growing up as a woman in only a few months. And Dorothy's… Dorothy."

Nodding, she turned her green eyes toward the light streaming in through the green-tinted windows. They had both been meaning to commission someone to fashion them clear panes, so that the natural colouring of the rooms could be enjoyed — at least in the private rooms within the Royal Palace. They could stand on tradition in the public audience chambers like the throne room.

"This whole thing is stupid." Her hand fell to find Glinda's and wrap around it. "They're only resisting nature's pull because Dorothy's worried about pointless gender issues, and Ozma's worried about Dorothy."

"I know."

"Then we ought to do something about it."

"Like what?" she giggled, rolling over to curl her body around that of her lover. Silky skin against her own made her stomach flutter, but it was a flutter she had grown used to. Not in a way that removed its thrill, but she no longer panicked and tried to run from the room.

And she saw Elphaba flinch. That was happening fairly often, ever since she got back from Kansas. She knew the reasons by now because they tried to be open and honest with each other about everything, but it still hurt to know Elphaba had her comfort levels with that variety of touching shaken by something that should never have occurred. Little by little, she was going to erase that discomfort. Even if it took the rest of their lives.

"Like… shove them into a closet and tell them they can't come back out until they kiss." Her further giggling made Elphaba crack a smile, and she rolled her eyes as she admitted, "Alright, alright. I know it's supposed to be none of our business."

"I think forcing two people to kiss isn't exactly the best way to cause 'love' to brew, Elphie."

"You're right, of course."

"But… I understand." Her lips pushed into Elphaba's neck, earning a sigh that caressed through her own golden waves of hair, down across her bare shoulder. That was better; she was relaxing, welcoming the reassuring touches. "Ozma's never been this worried about anything in all the time since she first took the throne. Once she was sure she wasn't going to be thrown out of the palace, I mean. Probably because…"

"Because?"

"Well, you saw how Tip looked at her."

"I saw how they looked at each other," Elphaba murmured, and Glinda snickered. "Like you used to look at Fiyero, and Fiyero used to look at me."

"You weren't supposed to look at Fiyero looking at you while I looked at him," she teased.

A dark chuckle floated out of her. The kind that set her skin ablaze, her heart to racing. "Where's that rule written down?"

"The Grimmerie. It's somewhere in the back, you haven't made it that far in yet."

"Oh I haven't made it! The only one of us who's read the entirety of the book!" They both laughed, and Elphaba rolled to embrace Glinda back, smiling through her mirth. "Ohhh… you're such a nuisance."

Glinda's cheeks glowed. "You only call me a nuisance when you mean to say 'I love you'."

"You say it enough for both of us." Still, gruff as she was, Elphaba wasn't too good to follow through once in awhile. So she kissed Glinda very gently, softly, and whispered, "I love you, Glinny."

"Gosh…"

"You don't have to act like it's a surprise every time."

"What if it is? Every time you say it, I'm shocked that I get to hear it from your lips. That it's meant for me."

A green hand drifted up and perched on her glowing cheek, thumb tracing its way gently up and down along the skin as she gazed across at her, raven hair spilling out over the pillow in the most artful of ways and making Glinda want to reach past and slide her fingers through it. But for now, she was content to perch hers on Elphaba's ribcage.

"You shouldn't be. Winsome girls with golden curls are the ones who always find love. It's me who's lucky; I'm-"

"Just as beautiful," she cut her off, knowing what would come next. The self-deprecation, the eye so critical that it would tear her own appearance to shreds at any given opportunity. "Moreso for being unique; cute blondes are a dime a dozen in Gillikin."

"If I could have a dozen of you for a dime… my purse would be empty."

Lines like that always worked on Glinda. She had figured they would wear off once they settled into a relationship such as the one they were now enjoying, but every last time, Elphaba could make her feel sixteen again. Tittering and burying her face in Elphaba's shoulder, she heard her chuckle and felt strong arms wrapping around her back, holding her close. Caressing every inch they could reach. Lips pressed into the crown of her head before they whispered again.

"You make my heart leap, Glinda. Every day we're together."

She pulled back to lean up and take her lips, unable to hold back for another second. There was no reason to, and she couldn't have if there were. Elphaba's response was not as enthusiastic, but that wasn't her way; she was patient, she was earnest. But that in no way meant she wasn't passionate; it was just a different passion than her own. And that was what made them work.

A few minutes later, when Glinda raised her thigh a little higher to slide between another pair, Elphaba shivered and drew back. The thighs were the worst of the zones; she always flinched from that. But now, the reactions were equally alarmed and excited. It was progress.

"Again, so soon? You normally don't try for twice in a night."

"Can't get enough of your…" Glinda's cheeks flushed. Neither of them were very good at talking about this topic in detail, even after months of trying. "Your rose and your pearl."

That got Elphaba to push her hand into Glinda's face, cackling and rolling away as if she were completely through with her. But when Glinda reached past her hip and resumed their play, she certainly didn't fight her off a second time.

                                 To Be Continued…

[ectoflowermaid]

Rainy Days Homestuck Headcanons

John: of course whips out every single goddamn one of his favorite movies who are y'all kidding!! The trolls haven’t seen them, he has to enlighten them. Karkat leaves the room the second John says, “hey guys! What if we-” because he knows what’s coming and he will not be here for it no sir. For reasons beyond any and all comprehension, Terezi becomes absolutely obsessed with the Ghostbusters. Whether she likes the way they handle “ghost justice” or she just likes licking the screen when the ghostly baddies show up, even John regrets showing them to her and everyone admits that it was a grave mistake.

Jade: on her island she used to like going out into the puddles and hunting for frogs. Um. She doesn’t want to do that anymore or possibly ever again. She still likes to take a rain slicker and some boots and go for walks in the rain tho, she’ll find a nice place to sit and be alone with her thoughts. Sometimes Jake will go with her and they’ll sit and listen to the wind in the trees and the roar of the rain together, but more often than not she makes the trek alone. Once Jane realizes this, Jade always comes home to a nice cup of hot cocoa waiting for her on the counter. She warms right up before even taking a sip because this, this is what having a family is supposed to feel like. Not some taxidermic guardian staring her down.

Dave: Uses the time to work on his sick beats which have, surprisingly for everyone but him, become extremely popular with the citizens of Earth C. They don’t know what the mysterious “Obama” creature is that the Knight of Time references so often, and conspiracy theories grow by the thousands. Was he an ancient deity? A fallen ally? A worthy foe? Entire websites are dedicated to putting the pieces together. Dave will also build blanket forts with Karkat in which they watch only the worst and cheesiest of romcoms, no one else is allowed in. Except the Mayor. Cuddles may or may not ensue.

Rose: knits way too many scarves in an attempt not to think about the rain because she is 1000% Done With Rain. She has zero good memories associated with this goddamn precipitation. It reminds her of her drunken mother and of the unfinished quest that still haunts her. To keep her mind off things, she spends rainy days obsessively poring over ancient tomes, writing drafts for “Complacency of the Learned”, and more often than she would care to admit, reading Roxy’s wizard fan fiction. It’s very good and she’s extremely proud. When the power goes out and Rose can no longer see the pages, Kanaya is always there, ready to light the room with her skin and her smile.

Kanaya: shares a similar aversion to frogs as Jade, but can’t help but be fascinated by the rain because she’s never seen it before. Rain on Alternia was extremely rare, even more so for her because she lived in a desert region. It takes her a very long time to get used to thunder, and the first time she heard it her chainsaw was out in record time and she was running around trying to figure out just what the fuck was happening. Once it had been explained to her by a patient, trying her best not to break down into hysterical laughter Rose, Kanaya felt pretty embarrassed but admitted that her reaction had been funny. She loves seeing lightning in the distance, and sometimes tries to light up at the same time.

Karkat: Dave and Roxy show him earth musicals and boy howdy does he fucking love musicals. He was very skeptical at first, but after being assured of romantic content succumbs to the intense peer pressure. Dave’s favorite is Hamilton because anything that can combine rap and history (aka dead things and presidents) is truly the highest form of art. He may or may not know every word to every rap. Karkat, however, latches on to Wicked and does. Not. Let. Go. He relates immensely to the off-color mutant human who stands up for what they believe in and faces incredible odds to become the best!! And she gets a love interest in the end! Karkat argues the entire time that Elphaba and Glinda had a million times more chemistry than Fiyerwho Gives A Fuck, but still cries every time at the end because he’s so happy that Elphaba is happy. Dave often catches him humming the soundtrack and teases him mercilessly for it, but is secretly glad that he helped Karkat find something he cares so much about.

Terezi: Thanks to John, now screams “WHO YA GONNA CALL” every time a ‘crime’ is committed and Justice™ needs to be served. John accuses her of debasing a classic, to which she responds by licking his face and telling him that nobody listens to losers who taste like blueberries. Likes to catch raindrops in her mouth and LOVES the sound of thunder, sounds like sweet, sweet music to her ears. Loves “watching” (smelling) the humans trip all over when the lights go out because cmon just smell your way through it! Trolls have night vision and do not trip, which Terezi finds massively disappointing.

Jane: Cooks the entire time. Raining out? Guess we’re having more cake, everyone! She tries a new flavor combination every time, so far the favorite is lemon cake with raspberry frosting, and the least favorite was carrot cake with mint frosting. Not a good time. She also likes to try out Alternian recipes for the challenge, not to mention because the troll kids are a little sick of human food. After a few months Jane manages to produce a close approximation of grubloaf and it was the happiest cry Karkat had since the time Dave told him they should probably date or something.

Jake: watches the storm through the window, sometimes goes and sits by the ocean to watch the wind stir up the waves. Something about growing up on the island makes Jake and Jade more in tune with the weather, they can feel it deep in their bones whenever a big storm is coming. It also gives them a strange sense of melancholy. Dirk tries to comfort him but there’s something ancient in Jake’s eyes whenever the clouds roll in. Sometimes it’s best when they sit quietly, watching the storm together.

Roxy: makes her own blanket fort suck a dick, Dave!! No boys allowed!! She and Callie built it using a combination of blankets that Rose has knitted for her and generic objects used as building blocks. No Dave, that’s not cheating, maybe if you could make building blocks out of your time powers you wouldn’t feel so inferior to us and our amazing blanket fort which is better than yours. Knows every word to every musical (she had a lot of spare time before the game) and Karkat vaguely idolizes her. Teach me your ways, oh great musical goddess. Watches movies with John and they weave in their own witty commentary, she helps slowly rebuild John’s faith in his shitty, shitty movies.

Callie: has lived underground her entire life and doesn’t know what rain is? Why is water falling from the sky I don’t understand? Also, still getting used to actually being able to see the sky. Finds thunderstorms therapeutic, she likes the constant thrum of the rain, the deep boom of thunder, and the sharp crackle of lightning in the distance. Her favorite place to be is snuggled up in blankets between Roxy, Jane, and Jade, all doing various things but it doesn’t matter because they’re together.

Dirk: will sometimes sit with Jake during his Rain Moods™, other times will watch Hamilton with Dave and they rap along to the entire thing. A lot of the time it will devolve into a rap battle and everyone chooses sides, bets pass along boonbucks like it’s the goddamn horse races up in here. There’s never a real actual set of guidelines that decide who the winner is, the only judge is the Mayor and he is a righteous and fair judge, Dirk and Dave both win equal amounts and no one (mostly) goes deep into debt. Dirk also likes to go running in the rain, he’s never had so much space to just *move* before, and rain was scarce down in post-apocalyptic Texas, so it’s like killing two birds with one stone.

Sollux: The static in the air from lightning messes with his psiionics and it makes for some sicknasty hijinks. Think of a balloon when there’s enough static, every time it thunders Sollux’s hair starts standing on end and if he’s too close to a wall he gets sucked in and stuck. The Great Storm Disaster ensued one day when Sollux decided to rub his feet along the carpet and shock the next person he saw which was, unfortunately, John. It was unfortunate because John, in an attempt to up his pranksters gambit, had a buzzer on his hand. No witness can accurately describe what happened on that horrible, horrible day, only that the blast of cheap buzzing, static electricity, and wackass psiionics threw Sollux and John in opposite directions where they got stuck to the walls and couldn’t move until the storm was over. It also singed John’s eyebrows off. Dave wouldn’t let it go for months.

[wilberdojo]

The Play

Based off an idea given to me by my friend @iwannatacoboutbatman

The first installment in the Children of Arkham series

Ever since the girls arrived at their first day of sixth grade at Gotham Middle, all the other children avoided them. They knew to stay away from the almost identical twins (the only difference being one had white hair, while the other had black), the reserved sapphire-eyed bookworm, and the honor roll student with emerald eyes and red hair. While Sadie Dent and Elizabeth Nygma wished that it wasn’t so, Carrie Crane and Pepper Dent enjoyed the solitude they were forced into. Even most teachers disliked the children of the rogues, all save the one who figured they deserved a chance.

Every day at lunch period, they’d go to Ms. Adams room, and she’d give them a sad smile, knowing full well what they were facing at the other students’ and teachers’ hands. Although she was grateful there was little physical torment, there was no doubt about the mental torture the kids were going through. They were targeted, the teachers and students alike would blame and pinpoint them for crime after crime, threat after threat, when in all honesty they were, with the exception of Pepper Dent, the most well-behaved students at the school.

Yet here the children were: outcasts, hated, and victimized. All because of their fathers.

“��What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,’” Ms. Adams read to the class.

Elizabeth was leaning forward, listening intently to each word. Sadie Dent had a hand over her heart, eyes closed, whimsically listening to the tones. Carrie mouthed the words as her teacher spoke them, having already read and memorized all the Shakespearean plays a few years ago. Pepper simply sat forward, braiding her sister’s hair to keep herself awake through the reading.

When the bell rang, the four all sighed sadly.

“Now, children, before you go, remember to sign up for the play if you want to. We’re going to be performing Wicked.“

Elizabeth looked back at Carrie, who shrunk down under her gaze. Sadie and Pepper also exchanged looks, Pepper shrugging to give her sister a response. As children filed out of the class, Elizabeth ran up to the sheet and happily signed her name. Ms. Adams gave her a smile as she waved and left. The twins also signed their names, waving at their teacher before heading to their next class. Carrie was about to leave as well when Ms. Adams spoke to her.

“Maybe you should sign up for the play as well, Carrie.”

Carrie paused a moment, then looked at her teacher.

“I saw you mouthing the words back there today. And any other day we read plays. Wouldn’t you like to perform in one?”

“‘Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?’”

Ms. Adams was surprised to hear her speak so clearly, louder than her usual stuttered whisper. Much more surprised was she that Carrie was quoting the play in question as she walked up and signed the board.

“‘After all, she had a father, she had a mother, as so many do. And like every family, they had their secrets. And, of course, from the moment she was born, she was… Well… Different. So you see, it couldn’t have been easy.’”

As she put the pencil down, she smiled at her teacher kindly, and Ms. Adams returned the smile.

“I'll see you tomorrow, Ms. Adams.”

“No, Patty. We’re not having that little... Little cretin in the part of Elphaba.”

“Listen, she's perfect for the part!”

“She never talks. What makes you think she can do a lead?”

“She's quoted the play to me all week. She's already memorized it!”

“I highly doubt that.”

“You'll see at tryouts. She's utterly brilliant.”

“I doubt that even more.”

“‘There's a girl I know, he loves her so; I'm not that girl…’”

As Carrie finished her song, she looked at the baffled face of the co-director, and the smiling face of the director, Ms. Adams. She smiled lightly in return.

“Thank you, Carrie. Tomorrow the cast list will be posted in my room. I can guarantee you have a part.”

Carrie smiled happily.

“Thank you, Ms. Adams.”

“I'll see you in class tomorrow.”

Ms. Adams straightened her dress again, waiting for the door to open. Six guards were in the room, two for each of the three inmates she was visiting. She had requested to meet them at the same time, and the warden expressed concern for her, although she had insisted she'd be fine. The guards made her nervous, not the super criminals she was about to meet with.

The door opened. First walked in a man who somehow still managed to look dignified in a straightjacket, with brilliant emerald eyes and fiery red hair. Elizabeth’s father, Edward Nygma. Following him was a half scarred man, the unscarred side giving a gentle and caring look as the scarred side seemed to glare daggers. The father of the twins, Harvey Dent. Finally came a man towering and thin, his eyes hiding behind messy auburn hair and a pair of eyeglasses. Carrie’s father, Jonathan Crane.

The guards seemed on edge now, a couple already preparing their weapons as Ms. Adams stood to greet the bound inmates. They looked at each other in confusion before walking up to the table she was at.

“Hello,” she smiled kindly. “I hope I'm not bothering you.”

“Not in the least,” Edward smiled. “This is a welcome distraction from the mundane routine we’re usually forced into.”

“Ah, good. I wouldn't want to be a bother.”

“Who are you?” Harvey seemed hesitant to ask, careful with his words, as if one wrong syllable could initiate an explosion.

“My names Patricia Adams, but you can call me Patty. I'm your children's theatre teacher.”

The three inmates looked at one another for a moment. Edward was first to respond.

“So that’s the connection…”

“There hasn't been any trouble, has there?” Jonathan inquired, his cold voice not having hid his worry well enough for his liking.

“No, no. The opposite, actually. They're going to be putting on a performance at school, and I've gotten permission from the principal and the warden to invite you to come.” The rogues seemed to light up, not only in surprise, but in pride. “The performance is in just over a week. I'm sure Dr. Arkham will give you the details of you decide to-”

“We’d love to,” Jonathan spoke for the three of them. The other two nodded.

“I trust my Elizabeth was given a lead part?”

“She and Carrie are the two leads of the play, yes.”

Jonathan said nothing, but he smiled, which was a feat in and of itself.

“What about Sadie and Pepper?” Harvey’s voice had deepened, grown rougher. That's how you knew Big Bad Harv was speaking.

“They take two major roles as well.”

“Do they know we’ll be in attendance?”

Ms. Adams smiled at Edward’s inquiry. “No. They don't know you'll be coming.”

Opening night was chaos. As people saw the Arkham Bus pull in front of the school, they complained about the safety of the children. Fifteen guards led the three inmates in, sitting them in the second row on one side of the theatre, the guards blocking all possible escape routes for the criminals. They were first to be seated, and they would be the last to leave. As people came in, no one sat anywhere remotely close to the inmates. People that would have had to sit within the three rows behind them in stead opted to sit in the isles or stand in the back of the theatre. The teachers understood, and said nothing to them.

Ms. Adams walked onstage, smiling at the audience in attendance, and to the inmates shunned by the other viewers. She spoke kindly to the audience, asking for them to be quiet and courteous, and saying they could record the show for home use only. She noticed Edward glancing at another viewer, the one closest to the inmates, who gave him a curt nod at the look. She stepped offstage as the show began, heading back into the sound booth.

Very few people recognized Glinda as she walked onstage. Edward smiled widely as he saw her, however, as Harvey and Jonathan also recognized the proud little girl onstage. Jonathan smiled wide when Elphaba stepped onstage, his shy little girl being the actress she always wanted to be. Harvey smiled proudly at the white-haired Nessarose and the black-haired Madame Morrible, and both of him agreed that his daughters were both amazing on the stage.

A trend started in the theatre during the performance of Defying Gravity. People started to pull out their programs, searching for the actresses names. Then, people started leaving. Ms. Adams went to the ticket booth to see what was happening, and heard many people asking for their money back.

“We didn't come here to be a villain’s advocate,” many were stating in various ways.

Ms. Adams wouldn't allow refunds. She said it was because they had viewed this much of the play. Profanities and curses were what she got in return. A few said they'd sue the school for the act. Ms. Adams didn't budge, only asking them to please either return to their seats or leave.

A majority left.

With the audience having dwindled down to a fourth its original size, Ms. Adams watched the children closely as they acted. Where most seemed phased by the difference, the children of Arkham’s inmates weren't. They were the ones to carry the play to its conclusion.

As the children lined up outside to meet their audience, no one stood close to the four girls. The visitors skipped over them. They were shunned by student and adult alike. However, they waited patiently. These strangers weren't the ones who concerned them.

All the children had already left by the time the inmates were led out of the theatre. All but their children. The girls ran up to their fathers and gave them hugs they couldn't return. Ms. Adams smiled as she watched the fathers praising their children, and teared up as they did as well.

“That was a disaster. I said you shouldn't have cast them in leads.”

Ms. Adams rolled her eyes at the co-director. “I think it was a success. The play reunited fathers with their children, and that's a rare victory to be won.”

[forkanna]

[AO3 LINK] [EF LINK]

"What… how… why are… huh?!"

That was the most eloquence Glinda could manage in the face of her almost-lover. Fiyero, her Fiyero was standing there, with the painted-on eyes and smile, ragtag old hat and straw sticking out every which way from the sack-cloth skin, he looked absolutely nothing like her old lover… except for perhaps the expression. Something about it was familiar, even if stretched across unfamiliar features.

But his voice was what truly made her think of the guard captain. Of the one she had hoped would make an honest woman of her someday, back before her life had taken so many unexpected turns. It was the same velvety tones that had talked and sang to her when they went dancing, that had agreed they were perfect together. His voice. He.

"Sorry about this," he laughed, nodding down at his chest. "But I didn't know how else to bring it up. Actually… I kind of forgot who I was for a little while, you know."

"Forgot? What? H-how does that work?" She couldn't string together her thoughts, they were so busy flitting off in a thousand directions.

"Well… near as I can figure it, somebody put a spell on me after I got crushed by that falling house," he mused as they ascended, Fiyero leading the way since Glinda couldn't seem to make herself walk unless he made it necessary. "The damndest thing, right? But I wasn't able to figure that out right away. At first, my head full of straw couldn't put together a single thought anymore. I ran away, then forgot how to walk. I tried to cry out, and forgot how to talk! A farmer found me limp in the field, out of my head, and decided to stick me up on a pole to make use of me. Can't blame him in the slightest, really."

"Oh. S-so… so you really have been a scarecrow."

"For a day or so. Then Dorothy found me." His eyes filled with warmth, in a way Glinda could only describe as fatherly. "At first, all I could do was tag along after her, hoping someone could help me think better. Someone like the Wizard. But as I got closer and closer to the Emerald City… well, my memories started coming back to me."

That sharpened Glinda's tongue a little more. Swallowing, she whispered, "And what did you do? Coming back to your senses, with Biq and that big Lion along for the ride! You must have been scared of saying the wrong thing!"

For some reason, that only seemed to bemuse him more. "Well, about the Lion — oh, I think I'll save that for later. First, I'd love to meet with Elphaba again. Is that where we're headed?"

"Yes, yes it is. I…" But she couldn't take it any longer. Throwing both arms around him, she pinned him to the wall and huddled close, eyes leaking crystalline tears as she cried, "Fiyero! Oh, I thought you were gone forever, we both did, but you… oh, Fiyero!"

A few minutes passed as he weathered her cries, a limp, thin arm eventually encircling her back; it seemed he had not been lying about the manacles not being fit for a scarecrow. Every time she tried to dry her eyes and speak again, she fell to a fresh fit of sobs. They were tears of relief, but they would not be stemmed, not for anything in the world.

"I am sorry," he assured her as gently as he could, when she was more receptive to hearing again. "About not saying before, and for the crows. All I knew was that a couple dozen black birds were divebombing Dorothy — I didn't want to see what they'd do to her if they succeeded!"

Glinda nodded before sniffing loudly and pulling back to pet his cloth face. "It's alright! Well, Elphie will disagree, but that's… by Oz, I've missed you so much! And I wish you had said something last night!"

"Couldn't. I didn't know what was going on, but I had a feeling from the moment I met Dorothy that it was important I tag along, find out what her goal was. Even more once the Wizard told us what he wanted us to do! And of course, I knew all along that the water wouldn't do a twigging thing to Elphie, but… hey, the more I kept them thinking it would, the more of a chance you'd have when they tried to melt 'the enemy', right?"

"Clever," she laughed wetly, kissing his fabric cheeks. "Oh, so clever! And you thought you hadn't any brains!" They both cackled as they embraced again. "But now you're here… I can't even tell you what this means, to find out you're alive!"

"If you can call this 'living'," he scoffed.

"Nonsense! Compared to you being dead?! I'd take this in a heartbeat!" Again, she kissed his cheek and then grasped the hand. "Come on, Elphie has to see this! Right away!"

In mere minutes, they were in the throne room. Elphaba had stated that it would look more imposing if she received people there, and Nessa and Glinda were inclined to agree, though due to Dorothy's fright it made as much sense to be more welcoming and warm to her, Glinda had argued successfully.

Saint Aelphaba's namesake sat perched upon the old throne, prim and proper with her hands folded over her knees. Nessa sat in the "queen's throne", which Glinda had to fight down a giggle at the thought of sitting in that throne herself by Elphie's side. Her feelings were all muddled now that Fiyero had returned, when a part of her had been wondering if him turning out to be alive would quash any feelings other than for him. Apparently, that would not be the case.

"Hello, murder murderer."

"Elphie," Glinda tried to hiss, but Fiyero cleared his throat so she fell silent.

"Elphaba. I had to protect the girl; I hope you can understand that. But… if you need to punish anyone for that, punish me."

Recognition flickered in her eyes from him speaking, but she didn't catch on right away. Glinda understood; the concept was so fantastic that anyone would doubt themselves, if they even thought of it in the first place.

"Who are you?" Nessa asked, tone equally cold as her sister's. "Name yourself."

"Why should I? I already have a name, and it's one I like. Even if I haven't been using it much lately."

Elphaba leaned forward, face severe. "You're an unwelcome stranger here. You ought to show a little respect to us!"

"Really?" he scoffed, somehow managing to strike a devilish pose despite the manacles. "Because by the way I figure it, you're the ones trying to invoke squatter's rights in my house! How do you like that?!"

The severe face froze for an eternal moment. Glinda let out the smallest of giggles, unable to help herself — and the sound seemed to shake Elphaba loose from the ice entirely.

"F… Fiyero?"

All he did was nod. It was all he needed to do; the witch who had seemed so dour moments before leapt up from the throne faster than Glinda had ever seen her move, sweeping down off the dais and onto him, wrapping her arms around tight. Unable to resist, Glinda embraced both of them, laughing and even hopping up and down slightly as she watched Elphaba kiss his cheeks just the way she had before.

"Y-you- it's not possible! How could you be alive now- and how are you this… this… this?!"

"Search me," he chortled. His voice was as emotional as theirs, though he didn't cry; Glinda had to wonder if it was even possible for a man made out of straw to shed tears in the first place. "I woke up underneath a house, and barely knew what I was doing with myself until Dorothy found me!"

As he told Elphaba the same things he'd told Glinda about his journey, Nessa eventually came over to join them, content to stay at the fringes for a minute. When there was a lull, she took a step forward.

"Hello again, Fiyero."

"Nessa!" he gasped, painted mouth agape and hands pressing to the sides of his head. Glinda couldn't help leaning in to see what might be inside said mouth, but it was just straw; she might have known. "Look at you! Up and about! Guess I'm not the only one enjoying a spell or two!"

"It's thanks to my sweet, talented sister," Nessa said so earnestly that Elphaba couldn't entirely suppress the slight flush of forest green that came to her cheeks. "In fact… listening to what you told us, I'm pretty sure your condition is thanks to her, too."

"Hm? How do you mean? I didn't see her anywhere around when I woke."

"That's because we had already flown the coop. Before that… she and Glinda were both trying to revive you, and I assumed Dorothy's shiny shoes had taken both spells, since I never heard anything about you surviving. But what if they only caught one spell?"

Elphaba drew back, unwilling to let him go completely but wanting to get a proper look at her sister. "Yes, my spell went under the house; I saw Glinda's get waylaid." Then she turned up to look at his lumpy head and smiled fiercely. "If I did some good for once… even just one good deed that worked out for the best, then I'll sleep a lot easier tonight."

"We both will," Glinda promised, kissing his cheek again. He grinned.

"Sorry about… what you've become," Elphaba breathed, running her fingers over the seams. "This wasn't at all what I imagined the spell would do."

"Ah, you did the best you could. You saved my life." His words were earnest and warm, and he pulled both women in again, clutching at them as hard as his stuffed limbs could allow. "You both did. Thank you. But I'm afraid I have apologies to make."

"Whatever for?"

"The Crows." Elphaba stilled, but he pressed onward. "They weren't… I hadn't any idea what I was dealing with, they could have been from anywhere! But as I've told Glinda, I am sorry; I didn't hear one of them speak until the others were all…"

The witch took a step back from Fiyero, manner more reserved than it had been upon first reuniting. "That is… regrettable. I've been sick to death over losing Draven and his compatriots, I… but I do know you, Fiyero. I know how you helped me with that cub, and that you'd never harm a hair — or feather — on anyone's head if you saw another way."

For a moment, he allowed her to grieve afresh, frowning over at Glinda with his cloth mouth. Glinda patted his arm in reassurance. Then he perked up and said, "Actually, I did have something to mention to you, if you might be interested. That cub we rescued…"

"Hm?" she said distantly, still seeing what became of the Crows in her mind's eye.

"He's in the dungeons."

Both of her eyebrows shot up at once. "What? You… no. That Lion is the tiny cub we rescued? The odds are… I don't believe it!"

"Well, believe it," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "He doesn't remember much, but remembers being carried out of Shiz by a pair of Munchkinlanders — and I'll forgive him for mistaking me for one, just this once. Isn't that something?"

"Oh…" Pressing a hand to her mouth, she took a few vague steps toward the door. Then she whispered, "I was worried that he might have to be put down, if he continued to pounce at Glinda, but if… if he's an Animal, if we can reason with him… well, we might at least keep him down there instead of being forced to do the unspeakable…"

Clapping her hands together, Glinda wriggled with glee as she embraced her two friends again. Elphaba remained sober from the mention of the Crows, but did not resist when she gave them both a kiss on the cheek apiece. "Isn't this wonderful? We've been through so much, and… well, I'm sorry you got turned into an old sack of rags, but I'm ever so glad you're here! Isn't it grand, Elphie?"

"Swell," she deadpanned. But then she smiled up at him. "And… I suppose I can forgive you for the Crows. You felt you had no choice but to defend her, I understand. But… you'll help me hold a funeral for them, when this is all over? Won't you?"

"Of course," he told her solemnly. "I'd have done it then and there if the Tin Man wasn't making so much racket about needing to charge ahead, axe at the ready."

"He'll either need to be disposed of, or executed in some way," Nessa said coldly, surprising all there. "I'm only being practical; if he's never loved me a day in his life, and he can't resist trying to kill me… all I ask is that he be taken away, made so that he can't attack me anymore. One way or another."

"Now, Nessie," Glinda sighed. She patted her on the arm, but the arm was pulled away so fast that she had to blink. "It's as much our fault as his; I was the one who encouraged him to ask you to the Ozdust Ballroom. Maybe if I hadn't… oh, I don't know. A girl isn't obligated to return a man's affections, you know! I should have been able to simply tell him outright that I was not interested!"

"But you didn't," Elphaba grunted. "Because you're too nice. Always thought you were, and as far as I'm concerned, this is the proof." Then she took a deep breath. "He's contained for now. Let's focus on whether or not we can trust Dorothy and the Lion and work from there. Morrible and the Wizard should be our main concern from this point forward."

The others all nodded in agreement. Then Nessa said, "What are we going to do? Nobody has ever dared stand against the Wizard; they all love him so much for unifying Oz and building the capital."

"Enlarging the capital," Glinda corrected. "It's always been there, he just made it shinier and bigger. And maybe he's not a terrible man, but he is a terrible Wizard and not fit to be our Supreme Ruler! We just have to think of a way to get him out of there!"

They all murmured about this for a few seconds. Seemed no one was going to be able to come up with an effective plan to depose the man immediately; further contemplation would have to be given.

"Guess I'll go back to my cell for now," Fiyero said, heaving a sigh. Glinda idly wondered if he really needed to sigh at all, or if he even needed to breathe. "Dorothy and Lion are probably worried. What should I tell them?"

"Oh, do you have to?" Glinda began, but Elphaba shushed her.

"Yes, he does. To maintain their trust, we can't appear to be showing favouritism. But… I do suggest you refrain from lying to them about what we've discussed, or who you are."

Eyes narrowing, Nessa asked, "What are you plotting, sister?"

"Not 'plotting'. But now we are four, and I think — except for the walking stovepipe — the others could be persuaded to join our cause against the regime if they realise Fiyero is already on our side."

Fiyero shrugged as he said, "How am I going to explain my lying up until now? At first I forgot who I was, but once I remembered I never said as much. That won't look good."

"Do the same thing: don't tell them until we're ready. I think… Dorothy should be brought up here tomorrow, as she's already shown that she's open to hearing our side of things. And I think that's just what we should tell her; the whole story. Either it will sway her or it won't."

"It is an awfully long story," Glinda snorted. "But yes, that's a good idea. Then, if that goes alright, we can try that out on the big kitten."

"Maybe we should leave him caged up instead," Nessa whispered. "He is a beast; if he decides once we get there to turn on us, he could tear us to pieces!"

"He's a Lion, not a lion," Elphaba said warningly. "And I have a great respect for the king of the forest, even if he's so far from home. Besides, he seems protective of Dorothy, and if she sides with us it might be enough to gain him into the bargain."

"Hey," the scarecrow said, folding his arms. "Don't forget those two are my friends just as much as you are. It's hard to stand here and listen to you talking about them like they're just pawns in a big chess match."

The women blinked at him a few times, and Glinda looked down guiltily. But Elphaba folded her arms right back, straightening to her full height.

"They are pawns. So are we; everyone is a pawn in the Wizard and Morrible's game. We're just hoping to band together and overthrow the players themselves. United, we stand a chance, but divided…"

The rest didn't have to be said.

                                                          ~ o ~

"I'm afraid, Elphie."

As Elphaba set her pointed black hat on the bureau, touching her index finger to the tip fondly, she asked, "Of?"

"Of what might happen if we can't trust Dorothy," Glinda sighed, shucking her dress and laying it gently over the back of a chair. She reached for the nightgown and began to walk toward the dressing screen as she announced, "I really think we can, but what happens if tomorrow we're talking to her, and she says something we don't like? Or that makes it obvious she could turn on us?"

"You aren't wrong. That would split our focus, having to sit on top of some girl and her companions while we figure out how we're going to bring down a Wizard with the entirety of Oz under his thumb. It's… oh, if only we could get Morrible away from him! Then the way would be clear!"

"This is so unfair! Here we are, the comeliest witches of the eon, and we have to do all the dirty work! What happened to the royal lineage? How'd the Wizard sweep in and take the throne in the first place? Whose hare-brained idea was this whole crazy crusade?!"

"Mine. Of course, it's really the Wizard's for persecuting Animals in the first place, but I am the one who decided it had to stop, and that in absence of any other volunteers, I was going to be the one to stop it. So… when it comes down to it, I have no one to blame but myself."

Emerging from behind the screen, swapped into her nightie, Glinda sighed and said, "Hey, this is Hiz Wizliness's fault, not yours. A good man would have seen that he was wrong and admitted it. His stubbornness is on his own head."

"That's true enough," Elphaba grunted as she wrestled with her bra strap. "Then it's… just a matter of… oh, I can't get this damn thing unhooked!"

"Here." Glinda's nimble little fingers made short work of the clasp, and it snapped open to reveal a smooth expanse of green skin. With a vague smile, she traced one of said fingers down the line in the middle of her back, earning a pronounced shiver.

"Y-you know I told you not to do that."

She drew back, lowering her eyes. "Sorry, Elphie. I didn't mean to- I'll wait for you in the bed."

Once Elphaba was changed into nightclothes, she put out the light and joined her under the covers, curling her body neatly around the back of her friend and pressing her face into her hair. A few seconds was spent adjusting their positions in subtle motions until they were both comfortable again.

"Elphie?" A quiet hum was her only answer. "Do… you really hate it when I touch your skin?"

"That's… not the right word. 'Hate.' But it does make me feel strange, and… and we don't have time to think about figuring such things out. Not with everything going on!"

Her stomach was wound tight as she rolled over to look into the sharp, alluring features that she had grown so fond of over the past few years. "When is the right time? When we're both dead?"

"What?"

"Don't think just because I'm a pretty face that I'm too dense to know what might happen if we try to take down the two most powerful people in the whole kingdom, Elphie. They might kill us, or worse. So…" She petted up and down Elphaba's back. "Do you really wanna put it off 'til later and risk never getting a chance?"

Green fingertips slid up to ghost over Glinda's lips, and she let them part slightly as Elphaba explored, teased. Did so with much more concentration and thought than the previous occasion they had briefly lost themselves in passion and desperation.

"If I do let myself feel this," she finally rasped, "I want it to be because it's my decision, and yours. Not because we feel we have no decision." Her hand vanished. "Besides, I thought with Fiyero back with us…"

"I dearly love Fiyero. And I dearly love you, Elphie Thropp. Do I have to give you up to welcome him back?"

"That's presuming you had me to begin with." When Glinda raised a hand and laid it across Elphaba's neck, cupping it gently, Elphaba leaned into the touch, eyes sliding closed. "Nnh…"

"We deserve each other. Once, I would have thought that was a mean little joke, but now… now I want you to know that…" Giving up on teasing her, she pushed her face into the area she had been petting, feeling the heat of skin, the scratchiness of the collar further down. "Fiyero can't give me what you can anymore. And even if he could, I… I know it's strange, and maybe some would call it 'deviant', but… I want this from you more than from him. From anyone."

"You're only saying any of this because we were stuck with each other's company for two full years."

"Yes, I am. Two full years to appreciate who you are. To me."

Elphaba drew back, turning Glinda's face up to hers with a firm touch that sent chills straight down into every cell of her body, making her toes curl in, her palms tingle, her mouth open. She didn't kiss her. That was what Glinda had craved and hoped for, but she got something else. Something better.

"I would never have made it through those years without you. And I don't want to lose you, now or ever. You came into my life for a reason; I fully and wholeheartedly believe that, Glinda! In and through you, I have been changed…"

"For the worse?" Glinda said with a twinkle of mirth.

"Maybe. But I don't think so. Either way, it's for good. Forever." Their mouths were close again, within an inch of each other, and it felt wrong and right in equal measure, but Glinda dug in with all her might to keep from abandoning herself again, to respect Elphaba's hesitance.

"Do you want this?" There was clear hesitance, so Glinda tried to help calm her with a compromise. "Maybe just a little taste-test?"

"Yes. But I can't take it. Not yet."

"You can't, it's true. I'm giving it to you. There's nothing to take when it's a gift, Elphie."

"What if you taste so good that I can't ever stop tasting you?"

Glinda's soft little shoulder rose and fell, and she let her eyelashes flutter as she felt a single tear leak from the corner of her eye. It couldn't be helped; her heart was bursting and there wasn't room for them all inside it now. "Sounds wonderful to me."

"I will. I promise you that I'll stop; I promise myself. One taste."

Elphaba kept that promise. Her lips dove in, and Glinda returned the gesture with heat and gratitude, the way her hands gripped Elphaba's shoulders making it crystal clear that she wanted the moment to stretch on for an eternity. But when Elphaba pulled back a minute later, panting and weak, Glinda let her go with the smallest pang of regret marring her joy.

"That's all for tonight," Elphaba announced numbly as she rolled to face the other way. "S-sleep well, Glinda."

But when Glinda's arms encircled her, it was so much warmer and more familiar than they had ever dared been before that Elphaba had to clutch at the back of Glinda's hand, shivering and trying to let her anxieties pass even as Glinda was rejoicing.

"I always do when you're with me."

                                                          To Be Continued…