#twoz dorothy

[doodleimprovement]

Shiz Babysitters AU: An Adventure with Atlases

Premise: Elphaba is asked to 'babysit' Dorothy for a few hours, and the two of them bond in a way that Elphaba in particular didn't expect

Characters: Elphaba, Fiyero, Dorothy

AO3 Link: Read Here!

Author Notes: Woo! First Fiyeraba hint :)c Also some more insight on Dorothy's backstory in this AU

“Pleeeeeease?” 

Elphaba cannot believe what she is dealing with right now - a grown man, giving her “puppy dog” eyes and pleading for her to… babysit

“I have to finish a research project in the library” She flatly responded “I’ll be there all day. I thought you didn’t want her exposed?” 

“Oh, as if anyone bothers you in there!” He pointed out “Plus… I’ll admit she could use the time outside when it isn’t dark” 

Huh. Thoughtful of him. Weird. 

“And why do you need me to watch her again?” Elphaba asked one more time.

“I have to at least pretend to go to class this afternoon.” he lamented “I can’t get kicked out before finding a way to send Dot home - Didn’t you say you’d help me with that? I do recall such a thing coming from you, hm?” 

Well… he had her there. 

Elphaba sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. 

“Well? Can you?” 

“... Fine” 

Fiyero cheered, but stopped himself with a cough and a light laugh “I’ll drop her off to you in the mid-afternoon just before my class” 

Elphaba just huffed “Okay. I’ll be in the back” 

“Excellent! See you then, friend” He gave her one of his disarming smiles, and he turned on his heel down the hall. 

Elphaba just hoped she wouldn’t regret this. 

-

Little Dorothy Gale was a silent sort. At least, that was how it seemed. 

Once Fiyero had dropped her off, the little girl had watched forlornly as the prince left her behind, but thankfully she didn’t seem upset that she was left with Elphaba. Thank Oz. 

“Would you like something to read?” Elphaba offered. She knew that some of the books in this library were simple enough for young children to read, or at the least had some pretty pictures. But when Dorothy gave her a nervous look and a shake of the head, Elphaba didn’t need to read too deeply into what that meant. “Hm… How about..” Elphaba turned, and grabbed a card she kept on her person - with the key for the school library “Do you know what your home country looks like?”

Dorothy nodded, expression plainly curious. She was quite easy to read, thank the unnamed goddess. 

“Hm, then maybe we can make a little headway for Fiyero, hm?” 

Just the idea seemed to make the young girl's eyes sparkle like amber. It was adorable, even if her admiration for the Vinkun prince felt… ill-informed. 

Elphaba looked around the part of the library they were situated in, and motioned for Dorothy to follow her into the bookcases behind them, leading her to where some of the physically largest books in the library were. 

“Here. The Atlas section” She introduced with a wave of her hand past the various books. “Do you know what an atlas is?” 

Dorothy nodded “Mhm” 

“Smart. We’re going to look at a few of these and see if you can spot where you’re from. Is that alright?” Elphaba described her plan. 

Dorothy nodded again, looking at the books whose harcovers were so big they came up to her little shoulders. Elphaba grabbed two books, “THE COMPLETE ATLAS OF OZ AND BEYOND” and “WHAT LIES BEYOND THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE LANDS”. A good start, if nothing else. 

Elphaba took one book, and Dorothy rather valiantly dragged the other as carefully as she could behind her. Something about her determination reminded Elphaba of herself when she was young and eager to learn. 

She helped Dorothy open the first book to its first page of maps, and instructed “Check every map, and let me know if you see your home” Dorothy nodded to her, and gave all of her little 6-year-old focus to the book. 

And so, that was how they’d spent the next hour, until Elphaba heard the sound of the book shutting, and Dorothy letting out a disappointed huff. “No luck?” Elphaba looked over to her with a curious expression. 

Dorothy sighed, and shook her head “... No America in there” 

“America… Is that the name of the country you live in?” Elphaba asked, trying not to bring attention to the fact that this was the most Dorothy had ever said to her at once. 

“Uh-huh” She pushes the book away, looking a little disappointed “I’s really big” 

“Hm, and it wasn’t on any of those maps?” Elphaba questioned. Dorothy shook her head “Hm.. Alright. Try the next one - here-” 

Elphaba helped her open the book, and got her to the first mapped page “How about this? This is called the reaches, it's a rarely traveled to farland - any of this look familiar?” 

Dorothy looked carefully over the map, eyes scanning every latitude and longitude line. “... Mmh-mmh” 

“No?” 

“No..” 

Huh. Maybe Dorothy really didn’t know where on the map she was from. Elphaba turned the page, and Dorothy’s eyes widened “Wh- Laska!!” 

The surprised shout startled Elphaba, who quickly shushed her, and Dorothy shut her mouth “Laska?” 

“Ah-Alaska” Dorothy corrected, pointing to a large mass on the farthest map of the eastern reaches past the HellowLands. “It.. it looks like Alaska…” 

“... That’s very, very far, Dorothy.” Elphaba pointed out with some concern “Is Alaska a part of America?” 

She nodded “Nnnnnnorth… west” 

“Hm…” Mysterious

“... Really far?” The little girl parroted. 

“Yes, really far. Perhaps on the other side of the world” Elphaba explained “Perhaps even beyond it.. You *are* pointing to the BeyondLands, after all” 

“.... Beyond Lands…” 

“Yes, and lucky for you, there are a few atlases with those maps” Elphaba recalled “Are you ready to take another look?” 

Dorothy gave her a firm nod, and helped Elphaba with returning the atlases, carrying one of them as best she possibly could with her six-year-old strength. 

Elphaba - feeling a bit emboldened at how much Dorothy had already spoken, decided to inquire “.. Dorothy, might I ask you a question?” 

“.. Yes?” She looked up at Elphaba with a perfectly polite little expression. 

“Can you read?” 

The girl paused, suddenly looking rather sheepish, like she was keeping a secret. Elphaba stared, waiting for a response as they both sat back at the study table. 

“... A little” she admitted “Papa said I was real smart an’ he wanted me to read, so he started readin’ t’me before I could walk - Tha’s what Mama told me” 

“Oh? So you’re in school in Kansas?” 

She shook her head “If I was in Topeka, I woulda been. But in Butler county you gotta be seven to go to school” 

“Seven?” Elphaba sounded fascinated “That’s pretty old. Here in Oz you start school at 4 years old” 

The girl's eyes went wide “... Auntie Em said schools just to learn the simple stuff so you can help at home… but Mama said somethin’ different” 

Elphaba kept her expression as soft as she could - She knew that Dorothy had lost both of her parents rather recently - she had to walk Fiyero through how not to address the poor girl’s grief, and she was going to be following her own advice. 

“.. Mama said that if you can learn somethin’ new, you always should. She said that I should go t’college, learn everythin’ I can even if I don’t do anythin’ with it. Cause learning is good” Dorothy recited, as if she’d just heard her mother say it to her this morning. “She went to the Lindenwood College for Women up in Missouri, an said she wanted me to go there too” 

“Well, do you want to? Do you like to learn?” 

“I love to learn!!” Dorothy proclaimed, it was the loudest she’d ever been, and this was the most Elphaba had ever heard the girl talk, even if she was starting to look upset

“You don’t have to defend yourself” Elphaba shushed the girl gently “I love to learn too” 

Dorothy looked a little taken aback “.. Really?” 

“Yes, really” Elphaba reassured, trying to give the girl a smile. 

Something in Dorothy’s eyes was telling, and the girl just looked back down at her hands, fiddling with the lace detailing on her little dress. Elphaba could tell he was done speaking for now - she’d tired herself out. 

“... Come here, right next to me” Elphaba invited, pulling out the chair beside her. 

Dorothy gave her a curious look, but pulled herself out of the chair she’d been sitting at on the other side of the table, and walked over, climbing up while continuing to visually question what Elphaba wanted. Elphaba took one of the history books she’d been reading, and flipped back a few pages, starting with one full page illustration of one of the original kings of Oz, before putting her finger just below the first word, pointing 

“To be king of Oz was to rule over so many, it was to be seen as the endeavor of a god.” She started “but our first king taught us rather valiantly that it was actually just an endeavor of great and terrible magic…” 

-

By the time Fiyero rushed back into the library to get Dorothy, the girl was deeply engrossed in the history book that Elphaba had been reading her, and was starting to read long, slow but steady in her understanding 

“But-the-great-king-could-not-han-dle-some-thin’-so… horr-end-ib-lee?” 

“Horrendible” Elphaba corrected

“Oh? Have you brainwashed my dear little Dot?? She’s learning?” Fiyero teased with the biggest grin that Elphaba had ever seen. 

Dorothy looked up, and gave the man a big, excited grin “Yero!” She called out softly, bouncing down from the chair she’d been sitting in to run over to him, and he effortlessly grabbed her and picked her up, resting her on his hip. 

“How was your time with Elphie? Boring as I said?” He asked, pinching her cheek.

Dorothy shook her head “Nuh-uh!” 

“What? Not boring??” 

“She’s a voracious learner” Elphaba explained, her own smile on her face “She’s also very quick. Her reading is very impressive for someone her age.” 

The compliment made the little girl beam with pride, and Fiyero grinned at the child “Hah! You’re turning her into a nerd then?” 

“No need. She already was” Elphaba argued, clearly amused by the back and forth. 

Fiyero playfully looked offended “you’re turning her against me, Elphaba! How could you!” 

Elphaba rolled her eyes, but Dorothy gave him a worried look “Nuh-uh! No!” 

Fiyero laughed “Don’t you worry, Dot. I don't care if you become a nerd or not.” he reassured. 

“You can be a nerd too” She encouraged “Cause learnin’ is fun!” 

“Hah! I’m just fine with having nothing going on in my head, little Dorothy Gale” He teased, before looking over at Elphaba “Thank you again for watching her, Elph. I don’t like leaving her alone in the dorm, you understand” 

Elphaba gave him a slight smile, something knowing there “I do. Dorothy was a delight.” 

“She is, isn’t she?” the Vinkun prince grinned like… Well, Elphaba wasn’t about to say - the last time someone did he’d sputtered and the poor girl looked both confused and uncomfortable. 

“Well, I have to stay here and finish my report for class” Elphaba offered the goodbye, and Fiyero took it

“Ah, yes, and I have to make sure this little black hole gets dinner” He bounced the girl on his hip. “What's a black hole?” Dorothy asked with a curious furrow of her brow

Fiyero coughed awkwardly “Uh, later. I will explain later. Let’s go - say bye to Miss Elphaba!” 

Dorothy looked back over to Elphaba, and gave the woman a wave “Thank you, Missus Elphaba” 

“You’re welcome, Dorothy. Have a good evening. Both of you” 

“G’night, Elph, love ya for this!”

He had already turned around, and didn’t see the shocked and lit up face of Elphaba Thropp… But little Dorothy Gale did. 

[seekincrows]

TWOZ 1939 sketch masterpost because HOLY MOLY DO I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!

[Please do not tag as kin/me/ID thank you!]

[artanislol]

We need more Dorothy!

I try bright colors. What do you think about it??

[fight-nights-at-freddys]

as a theatre kid™ myself, i have to say. I. Hate. Wicked.

i love the original The Wizard Of Oz, it was probably my earliest hyper fixation, i love the songs, the characters, literally everything. So i was expecting something great, something fun with Wicked, i liked Popular. But it was just a massive disappointment.

To me, it just felt like a boring love story, most of the songs are forgettable to me, and literally if you changed Glinda and Elphaba’s names, it wouldn’t have any ties to TWOZ. Just sayin.

[topsecretbowler]

[givehimthemedicine]

em talking about The Wizard Of Oz and tfs has caused a relapse in an idea I gave up on because it's not easily photosettable. here's as far as I got:

Max is Dorothy. I'll just stream of consciousness it for you: red shoes and pigtails... unconscious in bed at the end.. "you're not really here"/"you were there, and you were there"... rainbows and wizards... bffs with the good witch... bad witch threatens to drop a house on her... she feeds that little dog...

obv we're missing the literal doorway from the famous TWOZ scene, but if I squint really hard there's some loosely similar shot compositions as Max walks out of reality and into a dream world, and runs back out again...

that's all.

oh wait the bad witch also has a problem with water. ok that's all.

[cloudyfloss]

Gelphie in every universe but they get progressively worse because book gelphie is so unrequited on Elphie's end, and in twoz they're just spiteful exes. Got privately married, very publicly divorced, and now they want each other dead (and just want each other). I subscribe to that one theory that twoz movie Glinda wasn't good in the slightest and was using Dorothy to snatch up power and if that means getting rid of her evil ex wife who is so the reason the kids won't visit her then so be it.

[bijoupreciieux]

edit by beyondtheposter on tw.itter aka x.

dorothy’s “wicked” verse. i’d like to note that for me wicked and the wizard of oz are two completely different canons / separate entities all together. when i’m watching twoz i’m not looking at the wicked witch thinking of elphie or the scarecrow thinking of fiyero. i love both works but they’re separate for me.

🌈 in this au obviously oz is not a dream and dorothy’s companions do not have human counterparts back in kansas.

🌈 i think the silver shoes in the wicked film are gorgeous, but i’m choosing to headcanon that dorothy’s shoes will remain ruby red just a loving nod to her 1939 canon.

🌈 i have not read the mcguire novels but i am reading up on his portrayal of dorothy and i do agree that she would be genuinely and wholeheartedly apologetic to elphaba about nessarose’s death. regardless of everyone telling her that the “wicked witch of the west” is irredeemably evil and despite it not really being her fault at all in the first place —- she’s still going to be apologetic and feel bad, she’s too good natured to not feel bad even if people are telling her it was deserved.

🌈 in mcguires work dorothy is ten when she first lands in oz but since i am using judy i will continue portraying her as being sixteen when she lands in oz that first time.

okay just to be safe under the cut there will be a headcanons that contain spoilers for wicked part 2.

🌈 i like to imagine that her friendships with fiyero ( the scarecrow ), boq ( the tinman ), and brrr ( the lion ) are still genuine and that they do care for her. for example: from what i understand fiyero is tagging along with the goal of finding and reuniting with elphaba but i do like to imagine that even if he isn’t upfront with dorothy about this he does still want to help her get home and is fond of her. maybe seeing her as like a little sister.

🌈 before i go into this next one, i want to be clear i am not trying to push for a ship between dorothy and glinda the age difference would be problematic obviously but i do think dorothy would have a very innocent and sweet little crush on Ari/ana’s glinda. this doesn’t mean dorothy will be flirting with her of course but her inner dialogue / my writing might mention little things here and there that allude to her finding her beautiful and feeling “butterflies in her tummy” etc.

🌈 from Dorothy’s wicked wiki page: “Elphaba is physiologically and emotionally crippled by Dorothy's honest pleas for forgiveness for killing her sister. Elphaba then becomes furious since she never received any absolution for her sins. As it became apparent, Elphaba briefly realizes that Dorothy really was an innocent human girl from another world just trying to find her way home again.

Elphaba waves her burning broom in the air and, not paying attention to her surroundings, the hot sparks caught on her black dress and cape, setting her ablaze. Dorothy tries to save Elphaba and put out the fire by tossing a bucket of water at her, but to her horror, the water melts the Witch away, instantly killing her by accident instead of saving her.” **

** of course in the musical elphaba’s death is faked/staged. but i do like the choice to have this confrontation just being dorothy and elphaba.

[glynmostyn]

I misremembered and got stuff confused between the two, my bad. It looks like they did make it into a stage play, i didn't know that. Learn something new every day.

It's been so long since I've seen tWoZ though that i don't remember the details on Glinda manipulating Dorothy

Glinda was the real evil witch she saw a lady's sister get killed and while she was in mouring stole property off of her dead body to give to the person who killed her. Then she manipulated Dorothy into killing her by witholding information.

Wait didn't they make that into a play or something?

[baconpancaakes]

So, The Good Place. It has a lot of parallels to The Wizard of Oz, as many have pointed out. TWOZ ends with Dorothy clicking her heels together and “going home,” meaning waking up in her bed. I thus theorize that The Good Place will end with Eleanor “getting away” in some fashion and being resuscitated in a hospital (she did die, after all, but people do survive dying on occasion!) Micheal references time having passed, but that could very well be a situation where time passes differently in the afterlife than Earth (so it could have been only a few hours since she had her embarrassing parking lot death.) And that’s been my Ted Talk

[doodleimprovement]

Shiz Babysitters AU: What's Wrong With the Vinkus Prince?

Premise: Dorothy is sick, and Fiyero is being so weird about it - at least, for a prince who claims that nothing matters...

Characters: Galinda, Elphaba, Dorothy, Boq

AO3 Link: Read Here!

Author Notes: I always love when the "nothing matters" character suddenly decides that something matters. 10/10 would read and write again

Galinda didn’t know that Fiyero was even capable of being ‘manic’, as Bick was describing him. 

But when her and Elphaba arrived at the men’s dorm room per the munchkin’s request, where allegedly poor little Dot was burning up and red in the face, they found Fiyero dressed in what looked like pajamas, with the sick little girl cradled in his lap like she was the most precious thing in the world. 

And Galinda could absolutely admit that the poor child was not looking good. Her face was bright red, from her cheeks to around her eyes. Her skin looked clammy, and she barely looked awake, her breathing labored. 

“He hasn’t bothered to change since with morning” Boq spoke up as they entered, not even bothering with a greeting “She woke up with a fever and he’s been acting like the world’s ending” 

Elphaba and Galinda gave the prince a curious look, and Fiyero almost petulantly looked away. 

“Has she had any other symptoms?” Elphaba asked, approaching Fiyero’s side of the room with steady steps.

“Just a fever and what sounds like some bad congestion” Boq continued answering for the prince 

“She can barely stay awake!” Fiyero said almost defensively. 

“And fatigue then” Boq added, looking already at the end of his rope “For Oz’s sake, Yero - She’s probably just got an infection! Kids get sick! I have 4 younger siblings and they get sick literally all the time!” 

“This quickly??” Fiyero questioned with a frustrated expression.

“Fiyero” Elphaba lightly scolded, and - shockingly - that shut him up, his mouth closing almost comically “Can I see her? You have her face against you.” 

Galinda was impressed at how calm Elphaba was being - perhaps she was used to this sort of outburst? How? Galinda wouldn’t know, but approached behind her as ‘backup’ (That's what she liked to call it, at least!) “Please, Fi-Fi? We just want to help” She said as sweetly as she could. 

The prince huffed, taking his free hand and pushing his long hair out of his face - he hadn’t even put it up today! Oh, he really was out of sorts - it’s bizarre! Galinda couldn’t believe it.

Dorothy was turned on her back, Fiyero holding up her head with his hand, and Elphaba came closer, reaching forward and placing her carefully manicured green hand on the girl’s forehead. 

“Oh, that’s a high fever, but not overly hot. Nessarose had worse when she was little” Elphaba recalled, removing her hand from the girl's forehead, but not pulling away fully.Dorothy let out a whine, face red before she coughed. Elphaba reached her hand behind the girl’s head “Please lift her up a little, Fiyero. She’ll breathe better if she’s leaned up a bit” 

“Oh. Uhm” Fiyero took the advice immediately, and pulled Dorothy up into a sitting position that seemed to disorient the girl a bit, getting a whine. 

“Dorothy? Can you open your eyes to me, dear?” Elphaba gently asked. Her patience seemed to be the key here, and Galinda felt relieved when the little girl looked over at her with weary eyes. The poor thing looked miserable. 

“Hey there, little beastie” Elphaba kept her voice soft “Not feeling too great, are you?” 

“... Mhh Mhh” The girl managed to shake her head. 

“We’re gonna try to make you feel better, okay?” 

Dorothy almost looked like she didn’t believe her, and the girl looked up at Fiyero as if wanting his opinion. Elphaba watched his expression - She doesn’t know if a man like him had ever looked at another human like that in his life: Like they were all that mattered. 

Nothing matters my foot. 

“We’ll get you feeling better, Dot” Fiyero softly comforted. That seemed to be what the little girl wanted to hear, and she let out a wheezing exhale as her eyes fell back on Elphaba. 

“I have some fever reducer I keep on me for Nessarose. My father always made me carry it and I never bothered to stop” She explained “I’m grateful for it now. And it doesn’t taste bad, is that okay, Dorothy?” 

Dorothy made a little face that clearly displayed some disbelief, but she gave the woman a nod as Elphaba looked back down into her bag. Out of the bag came a small blue bottle with a rather thick liquid inside. Dorothy didn’t look pleased. 

“Ooh, I know that one!” Galinda bounced “It tastes just like candy, doesn’t it? The really sweet ones! Oh, Sweeterific!” Oh, that got Dorothy’s attention, eyes going wider than they’d gotten before. Galinda got a sneakily glint in her eye as she looked away “Hm, perhaps if she doesn’t want to try it? Try its sweeterific taste?” 

The girl shook her head, finally speaking up with a small “N-no!” 

“Oh? So you want to try the medicine?” Elphaba managed to school her smile into something gentle. 

Dorothy nodded again, before coughing rather roughly, which startled Fiyero. Boq grabbed the box of tissues, seeing that the rough cough was making her nose run. “Does the medicine need anything?” he asked, not looking at Elphaba as he handed the little girl a tissue and Dorothy rubbed her nose with an adorable little whine. 

“Nope. She can take it as-is. I just need a spoon” 

“Spoon! I got one!!” Galinda jumped, grabbing her bag and getting a funny look from everyone in the room. “.. What?” 

“Why do you have a spoon?” Elphaba asked before anyone else could. 

“Because I always bring utensils with me! I will not eat with my hands, no sir!” She argued, pulling out the silver spoon. 

Elphaba sighed “Your tendencies come in handy at the strangest times” 

“Hehe, thank you, Elphie!” Galinda grinned “Let’s get little Dottie feeling better, yes?” 

“Yes, yes. Lets” Elphaba took the spoon, and gave her attention back to the sick child sitting in a prince’s lap. Still a strange sight - still a little baffling, but alas. 

The medicine went down mostly easily, with the sour expression Dorothy made at realizing the medicine did not, in fact, taste like candy getting a chuckle from Elphaba “Sorry, dear. You need to start feeling better” 

The girl whined, but it was a defeated one rather than a defiant one. Elphaba could tell the difference. 

“She just needs to rest now - the medicine will work quickly to lower her fever” The oldest woman in the room explained, and Galinda nodded encouragingly 

“Ooh, let me get her into a new nightgown - that always made me feel better when I was sick!” She offered. 

Fiyero made a funny face at that “Do you want a new nightgown?” He asked Dorothy. Dorothy thought for a second, before nodding. 

As if he hated the idea of it, he shifted Dorothy to lay on the bed, and looked over at Boq, who seemed to have let go of his annoyance in exchange for sympathy

“Come on, let's go down and get something warm to drink” Boq offered. “They keep hot tea downstairs at all hours” 

Elphaba stood up “I’ll come with you both - Galinda will get Dorothy redressed” 

“Indeed I will!” the Gillykin noble encouraged “Do get going!” 

It took Boq and Elphaba both pulling him to get Fiyero to leave the dormroom (and by extension, Dorothy), and Boq made the executive decision to not bother with trying to converse with Fiyero - his roommate was too preoccupied with caring about something, which was clearly very new to him and Boq wasn’t feeling like playing therapist.

Elphaba, meanwhile, clearly wanted to say something, so she did. “.. Do you need something to eat?” She broached conversation with a plain question 

“Hm?” Fiyero seemed to finally snap out of it, and there was a slight shiver to him as he stood up straight. 

“Eat. Food. Do you need it?” She asked in an overly simplified manner

“What? No, why would I need to eat?” The prince asked, baffled at the question. 

Elphaba looked less than impressed, and looked over at the prince’s munchkin roommate “Boq, when did he eat last?” 

“Just before Dorothy woke up with the fever. This morning?” 

Elphaba huffed and looked back at Fiyero “You’re eating something” 

“What are you, my nanny?” Fiyero snapped. 

“No, but I like to think I'm your friend, hm?” She argued. 

Fiyero paused at that, before exhaling like he was an exhausted father “.. Okay, fine. An apple or something” Boq couldn’t hold back an eyeroll at his tone. 

By the time they got back, Dorothy was resting up in Fiyero’s bed on one side of the room, a new, frilly nightgown on and her hair pulled back into a single braid to keep her hair out of her face. Galinda was petting her head, humming the lullaby they’d come up with her for - aka the repurposed funeral dirge (Though at this point none of them seemed to associate the tune with that anymore, just the lullaby). 

“Oh, there you all are! How is the tea?” Galinda asked with soft voice, keeping it down for the sleeping child.

“Lukewarm, unfortunately” Elphaba commented with an even quieter tone, bringing the topic to Dorothy “How is the fever?” 

“She feels a little better already - I can tell the fever’s let up just a little bit” Galinda announced “She just needs to keep resting!” 

“Good” Boq entered the room, making a bee-line for his side. “I’m going to go get ready for bed. Be back” And the man disappeared with his toiletries for the men's baths down the hall as Fiyero walked forward towards the bed. 

“She’s going to be fine?” Fiyero asked, expression rather hard for Galinda to read. 

“Completely, Fifi!” Galinda gave him a sweet smile “You don’t have to worry at all!” 

Elphaba watched Fiyero’s tense shoulders relax, and he knelt down onto the floor, seeing that Dorothy had fallen asleep, little chest moving up and down more evenly than before. The relief in his expression was clear as day as he looked up and back at Galinda and Elphaba.

“... Good. Thank you, both of you” His tone was relieved, a little more like what he normally sounded like. 

“Oh, it's no trouble at all! We’re always here to help you, my dearest” Galinda gently rubbed his back, getting a strange look from Fiyero at the action. Elphaba realized that it was about time for them to leave - they were getting close to overstaying their welcome, anyway. 

“Galinda, the time” Elphaba quickly spoke up after checking her pocket watch.

“Hm?” She looked over at the grandfather clock in the room to check the time for herself, and let out an almost horrified and high-pitched squeal “My beauty sleep!!” 

She practically teleported out of the room in a flurry of heel clicks and a flash of pink, leaving little more than a sudden breeze and a strange amount of glitter in her wake

Fiyero chuckled after a moment of quiet, looking up at Elphaba from his kneeled position at his own bedside “.. Thank you.” 

“You’re welcome… Do you need anything?” Elphaba asked him, tone gentle as he got up and sat at the edge of the bed.

“No, I'm..” he cleared his throat “I’m quite alright. Thank you for your help and the medicine. Dot’ll get better in no time now, I’m sure” 

She wanted to say something - say more, call him out, just… “ No problem” 

“Good night, El” 

Elphaba hoped her face wasn’t turning that strange color it did when she was flustered. He’d never called her *that* before. “... Good night, Yero” Elphaba quickly shut the door behind her, leaving Dorothy and Fiyero alone in the dorm room. 

[doodleimprovement]

Shiz Babysitters AU: An Improvised Lullaby

Premise: A... Memory? Something is recalled, remembered... or is it?

Characters: Dorothy, Fiyero, Elphaba, Galinda, Nessarose, Boq, Toto, Uncle Henry

AO3 Link: Read Here!

Author Notes: Well, this took a little longer than anticipated. I do think its both sweet and funny though - enjoy!

It was an exceedingly rare night, when everyone was together. Everyone meaning Fiyero, Galinda, Elphaba, Nessarose and Boq. Admittedly their overlap wasn’t strong, but it was strong enough. Besides, this wasn’t about them - this night was about someone they all agreed on to varying degrees - Little Dorothy Gale. 

It had all started with Galinda overreacting, as she was prone to do

“NEVER?? You’ve NEVER had a SLEEPOVER?? A SLUMBER PARTY????” She shouted, looking horridified at the news. 

All Dorothy did was shake her head in response, eyes wide at the blonde’s animated speech patten

“Now, now, Galinda” Fiyero chuckled “It’s not a crime to have never had a sleepover. I certainly didn’t feel like I missed much” 

“Boy sleepovers are different!” She insisted “Girly sleepovers are wonderful - Oh, oh no this will not do!” 

“Galinda. Deep breath” Elphaba nonchalantly instructed as she turned the page of her nextbook from her bed. Galinda paused as if frozen in place, and took a dramatically deep breath. 

“Hoooo - Thank you, Elphie!” 

“It’s what I’m here for apparently” 

Fiyero chuckled, and looked down at Dorothy, who was leaning over to look at Elphaba’s book with interest - Now that there was an illustration on the page of course. 

“I still think I have a wonderful idea - A spectacularful one, even!” Galinda confirmed

“And what might that be?” Fiyero questioned. 

And now they were here, in Galinda and Elphaba dorm room - mostly because it was twice as large as anyone else's. How they fit all of them in there was still rather surprising, but Fiyero couldn’t help but notice that Dorothy was having a wonderful time. 

Elphaba had braided the little girl’s hair in a simple but elegant braid that Galinda had filled with the smallest (“But Cutest!”) flowers the Gillykin noble could find. Boq and Nessarose were doing their best to teach the child a munchkin card game. Dorothy didn’t seem to fully get the rules, but she was giggling endlessly, and everyone seemed satisfied at that. 

And Fiyero? Well, Dorothy was treating him like a lounge chair, and he didn’t much mind it. 

It was strange… This wasn’t typically how the prince liked to spend his time. Doing something so mundane, so relaxed.. But nice. It was nice. 

Dorothy yawned, leaning back onto Fiyero, looking worn out from all the sleepover activities. 

“Heehee” Galinda grinned “It seems out night is almost over” 

“Seems so!” Boq agreed, putting away his cards

“Aw…” Dorothy whined “Nothin’ else?” 

“What else would you like?” Nessarose asked. 

“Hm… What ‘bout a lullaby?” 

“Oh?” Elphaba looked up from her book “A lullaby?” 

“Ooh, We could all sing! Oz has so many lullabies!” Galinda proclaimed

“A lullaby for everything!” Boq eagerly agreed

“Everything?” Dorothy looked as if she was in awe at this fact. 

“And anything,” Fiyero assured. “Go on, what do you want your lullaby to be about?” 

“Uh…” She seemed to really think about it “Hm… Rainbows” 

The college students all looked at each other - faces showing a certain nervousness. Oz had many lullabies about many things… but not rainbows. 

Fiyero cleared his throat. “What Dot wants, Dot gets” 

Elphaba glared at him with a little bit of bafflement mixed into her expression. In response, Fiyero took a moment, letting Dorothy shift and get comfortable in his lap, those big brown eyes of hers - tired but attentive - looked up at him in interest. 

Okay Fiyero. You’re creative. You can do this.

“Some-where over the rainbow… Way up high” 

All of the adults looked at him with surprise - that was the melody from- 

“There’s a land that I heard of… once? In a lullaby” 

Yup. He took that melody from the funeral dirge they’d learned in music class. Was he nuts??

“Somewhere… over the rainbow… skies .. are.. Blue..” Uh oh. He looked stuck. 

But then… 

“And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true” Elphaba jumped in. 

Surprised, Fiyero watched as Galina leaned forward, singing in the softerst version of her voice he’d ever heard. 

“Someday I’ll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far be-hiiind Me-e-e” 

Nessarose raised her hand, getting everyone's attention as she added “Where trouble melts like lemon drops - high above the chimney tops!” She motioned to Boq, who looked a bit panicked before adding

“That’s where you’ll … find me?” 

Elphaba chuckled, and looked over at Fiyero again.  “Somewhere.. Over the rainbow.. Bluebird’s fly” 

Fiyero chimed in “Birds fly over the rainbow.. Why then oh why can’t I?” 

“If happy little bluebird’s fly…” Galinda twittered “Beyond the rainbow…” 

“Why oh why can’t I?” 

The end harmony was sung quite unexpectedly by all of them, and the time FIyero looked to see Dorothy’s reaction, she looked up at him with an admiration so pure he almost choked. Instead, he asked her, “… How was that?” 

“It was… Perfect. The most perfect lullaby there ev’r was” Sh complimented, resting her head on his shoulder in a hug “... Can you sing it again?” 

The others about the room looked both relieved and pleased, and Fiyero glanced briefly at Elphaba, whose smirk of approval was far more reassuring than even she could have guessed. He smiled down at the little girl. 

“For you, Dot? As many times as you want” 

-

“Heh, I knew you’d like that, Toto” 

The pup gave little more than a sniffed exhale out of his adorable little nose, and adjusted to curl up further in the crook of her arm. He was so small - were all puppies all this small? Auntie Em said that most puppies weren’t, but that didn’t matter. Todo was perfect, and he was the best 10th birthday gift that Dorothy could have ever asked for. 

There was a soft knock on the wall near her door. Uncle Henry. 

“Y’shouldn’t be lettin’ a pup sleep in y’r bed, Dorothy” he lightly reprimanded, though it had no teeth. 

“He’s too small, Uncle Henry” She argued “Plus, he likes lullabies” 

“I do hear you singin’ to him every night” The man recalled “I’ve never heard that’un before” he pointed out “The rainbow one.. Is that one y’r father sung?” 

Dorothy seemed to think about it “hm.. No. I don’t think so… I think…” She let her words trail off, recalling the last time she brought up ‘the Oz dream’ “... I think I heard it back in Topeka. Somewhere.” 

“Ah… Perhaps with one of those friends of your mothers. They seemed rather… kind.. When I met ‘em” He tried to sound nice - But Dorothy knew he hated Topeka - He hated cities. He liked being alone with Auntie Em on the farm. 

“What’dya need, Uncle Henry?” She asked, hoping she didn’t sound rude. 

The man coughed “Em want’s you in the kitchen. She’s uh, made some cookies for you” 

Ah right, cookies. Because Em had yelled at her about her reading books from the library in town - saying she was wasting her time when she had chores to do.. Without knowing that Dorothy had already done them. 

They were apology cookies - This wasn’t the first time. “.. Okay. I’ll be in the kitchen in a minute” 

“I’ll tell ‘er.” He nodded “Don’ bring down that book, if ya don’t want her gettin’ cross with you again” 

The child huffed “... Fine” 

He gave her a small smile “Don’ you worry, Dorothy. You can read whatever you want - Just not in front of Em” Something about that very “Uncle Henry” way of comforting her finally got her to smile, and Henry left her alone. 

She thought back to the song again, and sighed. That dream, that strange, strange dream from her childhood. . . 

A part of her still thought it wasn’t a dream. 

She looked at Toto, who had woken up again and was looking at her with a little, wiggling tail. 

“You know” she whispered “if you can talk, you can always tell me. I won’t tell a single soul. I don’t care if you’re an animal or an Animal. You’re my best friend now, okay?” 

All she got in response was a lick on the nose, and she giggled, 

“Okay, okay, lets get some of those apology cookies” She sat up, and put Toto on the ground to follow her out of the room. 

[doodleimprovement]

Some Shiz Babysitter AU sketches concerning the intermission between act one and act two of Wicked:

My take on Fiyero’s Gale Force uniform with a more Victorian-era silhouette

A pin Dorothy bought for him while out with Elphaba a few days before Morrible sent her back to Kansas

A rough take on Glinda in her good witch getup

A little backstory on the pin and why Dorothy brought it even though it was broken (forgot his arm tattoos whoops qwq)

And a brief interaction between Glinda and Fiyero

I’m gonna be posting that voted-on one shot once it’s finished so have this to tide ya’ll over lol

Side note but Fiyero misses her so much it’s 😭

I fully intend of prettying these up btw—- eventually

[doodleimprovement]

Currently playing with my markers

Have colored versions of Shiz Babysitters AU Dorothy in Wicked Act 2/The Wizard of Oz

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I think he just carries her like this all the time actually.

I'll make a proper tattoo reference for him. eventually.

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Sometimes your adorable pseudo-daughter takes on your wife’s lover’s stubborn attitude

She’s still adorable but you gotta redirect her energy sometimes

Act two of Shiz Babysitters is like. Insanely brutal to start (I’ll be posting about it soon) so having these little bouts of humor help me work through it lol - doodled this at work in between emails