The Eternity Effect
Chapter 2 – A Meeting
Elphaba
A letter is, in essence, a simple thing. It's meant to deliver a message. Be that correspondence in good humor or well…not, is perhaps not so uncertain if you know the one attempting to get in touch with you. Which is true of every letter I've ever received in my past life.
Not that there were very many during those twenty some years.
I never really had the privilege of being written to in my previous life. After all who would ever want to send a letter to the green girl? I can literally count the number of envelopes handed to me via post on one hand. And only one ever made me smile. It came in a large blue envelope and the Shiz crest shinning out at me from the corner was all I had to see to know I had been accepted.
Somewhere I was wanted.
So to say I was surprised when Mr. Upland handed us the letter was a bit of an understatement. There was only one letter I was currently stalking the post box in hopes of receiving. And this one resting on the nightstand so innocently is most definitely not that letter.
It is not news of my mother. Nor the desperate pleas of forgiveness I am assuming are coming my way from my father. Which will also be promptly thrown into a blazing fire. The one placed on the nightstand at the moment doesn't even have the decency to be comprised in any proper manner. It's formal. So much to the point that there really is no confusion about what it is about.
Summons.
Summons from Lurline to appear in her offices no later than one the following day. No please, no thank you, not even a signature. One line.
Arrangements have been made to collect one Miss Elphaba Thropp and one Miss Glinda Upland prior to 1:00pm the afternoon of August the 5th for an obligatory conference with Lurline.
And that was it. That one line formed with mere paper and ink has caused my entire evening to be spent consoling Glinda who seems to believe we are in a mess of trouble. I finally got her calm enough once I brought her upstairs to my room where she promptly fell asleep in my arms. She always seems to sleep better when she's in here.
When she's with me.
Her head is resting on my shoulder, mascara still smudged from her tears earlier.
I think I am going to smack Lurline when I see her tomorrow. She completely upset Glinda without reason. But every time I think about how our new life here is being governed over by Lurline all I can seem to do is smile in depraved amusement.
I would gladly die twice to see the look on Nessa's face when she finds out just whom she should have been praying to all along.
I'll just have to settle with seeing her aged one whenever her time finally comes to pass. I hope she's all right back on Oz. I hope she's found some ounce of happiness now that Frex has passed.
Oz knows I have.
I press a soft kiss to Glinda's forehead, watching as the corner of her mouth curls into an adorable smile as she snuggles further into me. She always tells me how being near me warms her heart. If what I am feeling is the same then perhaps the word warm needs to be redefined.
I never need to sleep with the bed covers with her wrapped around me as she is.
She makes me feel so much more than a simple word like warm can describe.
Because she makes me feel something so absolutely indefinable that I could spend the rest of our afterlife searching and still wouldn't be able to find the perfect word.
She deserves perfection.
And as much as she tells me I am perfect for her I can't help but think otherwise. How could I be perfect for her? She doesn't notice the way men's, and sometimes women's, eyes linger on her as we walk hand in hand down the streets. Or the way they stumble over themselves to hold doors open for her. To get a chance to speak with her, be near her.
She just radiates flawlessness and has them in the palm of her hand with just a simple turn of her head and smile of gratitude in their direction.
And when they see my green hand entwined with hers, all that overwhelming infatuation I know was coursing through them moments before disappears in one blink of their eyes.
Because she deserves better than me and even they can see that.
I tried telling her this once. She refused to listen to a word I was saying. And to stop anymore from spilling forth she dragged me upstairs to her bedroom and set about proving to me just how much I apparently deserved her. Halfway through a rather intense start to our evening she burst into tears and made me promise I wouldn't ever think such things ever again.
I promised her I wouldn't and told her I would love her, always. Because I will, I realize, forever love this fiery girl in my arms. And I selfishly want to keep her for as long as she'll have me.
She is my life. The last one, this one, the next and whatever there is to come.
For as long as she'll have me.
The carriage came just as we finished having lunch. Glinda's mother wished us luck. Glinda's father requested we bring back a souvenir of sorts. Apparently having a conference with Lurline was quite a sought after appointment here.
Though judging by the simple building we were brought to I wouldn't understand why.
Lurline's office reminds me of the Appointment Center at the Palace. From the walls to the furniture everything is covered in coordinating shades of green and white. Glinda and I were picked up at the house in a carriage matching the walls surrounding us. It's not a very fitting color for anything let alone a Queen's (Or is she a Saint? A God?) waiting room. I mention this to Glinda and she forces out a smile as she tries not to show how anxious she is about this entire ordeal.
I hate seeing her so on edge.
"Glinda," I whisper softly, reaching over to still her shaking hands as she tries to bring a steaming cup of tea up to her lips. Her eyes dart up from the cup to meet mine. She looks so terrified. I rub my thumb gently across the back of her hand, pleased when her shaking subsides under my touch. "It's all right."
"I'm sorry, Elphie," She tells me, setting the cup down on the small table in front of us, spilling some of her tea onto the table below. She looks distressed at the small mess she's made but I give her hand a soft tug and she focuses her attention back on me. I feel more than see her lacing our fingers together. A pulse of warmth rolls up my arm at her touch. Glinda sighs. "I just… I don't know what to expect and what if she wants to tell us something awful!"
"It'll be ok." I say, squeezing her hand. I slide closer to her, needing to reassure her in a way words cannot. Glinda gives me a wobbly smile as she leans against my arm and rests her head on my shoulder.
A few moments later a tall blonde woman emerges from a door off to our side. At first glance I think the receptionist has come back to check on us. But it can't be her. This woman carries herself with far less poise. And the blouse and skirt on this woman seem more haphazardly placed on her frame. Even her hair is quite mussed too. She lets out a loud yawn as she comes to a stop in front of us.
Glinda sits up more as the woman levels her with an inquisitive stare. I feel a small, manicured nails digging into the skin of my hand. I try not to grimace as I squeeze Glinda's hand back gently, silently urging her to calm and spare my fingers.
"You're early," The woman states as her eyes move to me. She takes in my appearance slowly and I can't help but shift uncomfortably under her sharp gaze. "Cute frock," she says.
"It's not a frock!" Glinda exclaims, and I know she's completely resentful of the remark.
She picked out the dress I'm wearing.
"Whatever," The woman says, unruffled. She smiles widely at Glinda as she motion for us to stand. "Anyway welcome to my office! I'm Lurline and you both are obviously my one o'clock."
Wait… this is Lurline? This rumpled unapologetic mess is the supposed Fairy Queen? Saint? God? I don't even think any of the above apply to her.
"What?" Lurline asks as she notices my questioning gaze settled on her. She looks down to her chest. "Did I spill something again?"
"No," I assure her as she blatantly grabs her breasts and readjusts them. Glinda is staring in utter horror at the woman who claims to be Lurline. Because surely this is some joke… this really isn't Lurline. Even I know this can't be Lurline. Lurline is all beauty and deportment and everything this woman in front of us is not.
The obvious imposter lets out a groan as she looks back up to us. "Are you two just going to stand there gawking all day? I do have other appointments to get to, you know. Very busy here running your lives!"
"Prove it," I hear Glinda say suddenly from beside me. I arch an eyebrow at her as she narrows her eyes over at Lurline.
"Excuse me?" Lurline says, glaring back at Glinda. "Prove what?"
"Prove you're Lurline. I mean you don't look like Lurline and you certainly aren't acting like Lurline should. So prove it."
Lurline rolls her eyes as she snaps her fingers and a rather large tome hovers in the air in front of her. She licks a couple of her fingers before flipping through a couple hundred or so pages before coming to a stop. "Glinda Upland, born Galinda Upland the 15th of April of the year blah, blah, blah. Boring, boring, boring… where is the good stuff? Oh! Here we are. At the age of seven prayed for a pony. Specifically 'pink with purple polka dots'. Classy. Aged 14 prayed for puberty to strike already so she wouldn't be the last girl in her class without breasts. Aged 15 prayed I would take away her breasts because all the boys kept trying to touch them. Age 16 prayed speedy death to some boy named Tomin who touched your breasts and-"
"Ok! Enough! I get it!" Glinda interrupts and I realize her cheeks have turned the deepest shade of pink I have ever seen grace her skin. "You're Lurline." She mutters, crossing her arms over her chest. I can't help but chuckle at the look of dissatisfaction planting itself on her pretty features.
I step over and put a soothing arm around my embarrassed girlfriend. "It's all right my sweet, I would have wished the same for Tomin."
She gives me a grateful smile that is quickly replaced by a scowl as Lurline coos at us.
"You two are sickeningly adorable. Seriously." She says through an exaggerated grin. Then it falls from her face as she turns to walk back into the room she entered from earlier. "Now get in my office so we can get to business!"
Glinda and I follow after her into the large room and the door magically closes behind us once we're inside. Her office is an absolute reflection of her physical being as well. Stacks upon disorganized stacks of paper and books fill nearly every spare foot of space. Yet the desk is surprisingly sparse save for one folder at the moment.
"Sit, sit!" Lurline ushers us to the two chairs placed in front of her desk. Glinda plops down unceremoniously without a word, still very much upset with Lurline. I sit as well, waiting for Lurline to tell us exactly why she summoned us here today. So many thoughts are running through my head, so many questions.
What could she possibly want with us?
What is in the folder?
Is this about my father?
Will this hurt Glinda?
Lurline seems more focused on trying to maneuver her chair out from behind her desk than the obvious apprehension building up inside of us. Glinda can't stop rolling her eyes every time Lurline hits another stack of papers and they tumble to the floor. Finally she gives up trying to move it and instead sits down in front of us on the edge of her desk.
"So," She says rubbing her hands together as she smiles down at us. I realize she would be rather pretty if she weren't so crazy. "You're probably wondering why I asked you here today."
"I don't recall being asked so much as ordered." Glinda grumbles under her breath.
I purse my lips to keep from smirking.
Lurline seems to have heard anyway and squints in annoyance down at Glinda. "And here I thought the Green Pole would be the mouthy one."
"Don't call her that!" Glinda exclaims hotly.
I clench my fists and sit further into my chair. If Lurline wants to resort to petty name-calling then so be it. I've long since stopped letting the idiocy of others sink beneath my skin.
"Oh myself, calm your cute butt down already, Glinda. I didn't mean it in any sort of insulting way." Lurline explains as she gives me an apologetic look. "Seriously, Elphaba, don't take anything I say to heart. I'm just a bit of a nickname tramp I'm afraid."
I nod, accepting her truce. There's more important matters anyway. Glinda mutters something under her breath that neither Lurline nor I catch. But she looks pleased with herself as she settles back down again.
"Now then, shall we ladies?" Lurline asks, turning behind her to pick up the folder. My fingers twitch of their own accord. I assume Lurline doesn't expect a response when she faces us once more and begins to speak. "I have asked you here today because there seems to be a weeee little problem over on Oz."
I sit up straighter, thoughts turning instantly to Nessa. What could have happened? And if Lurline is the one delivering this news then… Oz! What has happened? Lurline pauses as she let's this information soak into our heads. I'm growing ever impatient of her and her necessity for dramatic flair! Glinda is the only one allowed to get away with it. If she doesn't tell me what's happened with Nessa I swear...
Lurline's eyes lock with mine, her gaze instantly turning towards a shade I recognize as sympathy. "It's not about your sister Elphaba," She tells me softly. "So please calm down."
Glinda's head turns to mine with a snap. And now I have two sets of eyes focused on me. I choose to look down at my lap instead. I still feel Glinda's eyes on mine though, even as Lurline sighs and stands from her desk. I'm about to assure Glinda that everything is all right when Lurline suddenly lets the folder fall into my lap.
"As I said there's a bit of a problem in Oz." Lurline explains this time leaning casually against her desk. I look up and she motions for me to open the folder. "If you look in there you will see what I mean. The place is an even bigger mess than my office, if that can be believed."
I reach down to open the folder but Glinda stops my motions before I can even touch it. She shakes her head at me and then up to Lurline.
"No, no way." Glinda says.
"Yes," Lurline affirms with a nod. "I need you both to fix this problem."
"Wh-hat?" I stutter, focusing my attention up at Lurline as well. "Fix what problem?"
"That's crazy!" Glinda exclaims. She obviously is privy to some information I am not because I don't even know what she believes to be so foolish. I open the folder while she's busy staring Lurline down. I don't know whether to be relieved or anxious at what I find. Report after report detailing massive death tolls. An article about the Wizards escape. Prayers to Lurline for help, for food, for peace. Amidst everything are images, clipped neatly to reports bearing the crest of Lurline's office. One gives my heart pause. A shot of Shiz, Briscoe Hall, engulfed in towers of flame. I can just make out the figures of students running along the paths below, some lying still in dark puddles.
What has happened to our past?
"Look, I know what I am asking is a lot but Oz is in turmoil." Lurline implores us, sitting back down on her desk again. "In the seven years you've been gone it's all gone to poop! The Wizard has fled; Morrible's amassed a following of nut jobs. No one can agree on who should take over and since the last of the Ozma line is lost in paperwork they can't even find her if they wanted to! So yes I need you both to fix it."
"Seven years?" Glinda yells.
"Really?" Lurline says, raising her brow at Glinda. "Out of all that all you care to focus on is the seven year thing? Yeah, so time moves slower here, so what? Could you imagine how boring this place would be if it moved the same speed as Oz? Snore fest!"
"But why us? Don't you have people for this!" Glinda shouts standing from her chair.
Lurline stands as well, towering over Glinda. "You are my people for this! If you hadn't died you would be the one in charge!"
Glinda takes a step back hearing those words. I feel my breath still as I find myself lifting to my legs as well. Glinda's eyes have gone impossibly wide as she stares up at Lurline.
"What do you mean… Glinda was to be in charge?" I ask Lurline slowly. My skin prickles, almost as if every nerve in my body is on alert.
Lurline lets out a sigh as she looks over at me. "Glinda was never supposed to die. She was supposed to take the Wizards place."
"You're lying…" Glinda says between heavy breaths. "If I was supposed to live... then why did I die? Isn't it your job to… to make sure fate works!"
"I can't be everywhere at once you know." Lurline says calmly as I go to take Glinda's trembling hand. "I'm not some sort of Unnamed God here. Everyone's life has different outcomes really. But I was not expecting you to get axed in some science lab of all places. So I had to fix the situation. Thankfully you were still fresh so it was easy to get you back to Oz. But you were dead, you know, so I had to get a bit creative with you."
"Creative?" Glinda squeaks.
"Well, once I got word you were dead I had to try and make things right. Someone needed to take your place. And since this one over here was supposed to be the dead one-"
I hear Glinda gasp as all the sensations rolling through my body halt at the news. My breath ceases, my heart stops pumping. A chill runs down the length of me and I shiver against the cold forming inside me. "I was supposed to die?" I utter pathetically.
Lurline brings a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "If you two keep interrupting and getting all indignant every other minute I'm never going to finish!"
"I'm starting to wonder whether or not I care for you to finish." Glinda snarls.
"I'm going to finish, because this is important, and you two will shut up and let me. Ok? Excellent." Lurline says as she levels us both with an audacious glare. "As I was saying. Yes, you were supposed to die, Elphaba. Does that mean you would have died? I don't know. I'm sure you've all heard that old saying about life's path taking different turns and blah, blah, blah. It's half right anyway. It's more like odds. And your odds were tipped in favor of dying. Sad but true, moving on! I figured if I stuck Glinda with you then everything would fix itself. You'd run Oz in her place and all would be well in the land of the annoyingly living. But then you had to go and let yourself die so now I am left with a giant mess! Thank you, girls. Truly brilliant."
"So you're saying what's happening in Oz, all of it is my fault?" I ask, a bit puzzled but more so offended this woman has the audacity to accuse me of anything when she's the one not doing her apparent job.
Lurline grins mockingly over at me as she raises her arms in the air. "Ding, ding, ding! Give the clueless green wonder a prize!"
I narrow my eyes at her and hold Glinda tighter against me when I feel her about to move toward Lurline.
"Yes, I am blaming you entirely for this mess. Her death I had no control over, but yours… well you chose to die! And therefore this is your fault!" Lurline shouts.
Glinda wriggles free of my grasp and stalks up to Lurline. "You're the one who sent me to her! Had you not sent me we wouldn't have-... none of this would have happened! She wouldn't have died!"
"Yeah, I was told that this little romantic outcome might occur. So I took measures to make sure it wouldn't. But you two are really something else. Really bring new meaning to all that meant to be mumbo jumbo."
"What do you mean… what measures did you take?" I ask quietly as Glinda backs up against me once more. I steady her as Lurline rolls her eyes and slips off her desk to sit on the armrest of one of her chairs.
"You really didn't believe she was allergic to you by some cruel twist of fate did you?" She asks me with a small patronizing smile. "I mean honestly girls. Even that is a bit far fetched. So yes you can blame me for all your gripping hardships as a couple. I'd figured if the temptation of touch was subtracted from your equation you both would just get the hint and move on. But sweet me are you both stubborn! And possibly a bit masochistic but that's only Greeny really."
I feel my blood boiling beneath my skin as I grip Glinda closer to me. It takes a lot to keep my voice even as I say, "So let me get this straight… the reason we couldn't touch, the reason I would wake up hearing Glinda crying in the middle of the night, the reason for everything we've had to suffer through to be together… is because you wanted things to go your way?"
"Eh, the delivery was a bit melodramatic for my tastes but pretty much yes to all of it." Lurline says flippantly.
And before I can even think of a string of words callous enough to spit at this pretentious woman Glinda launches her own attack. Literally and figuratively. She lets out a deep cry as she rips herself from my arms and in a flurry of skirts tackles Lurline hard to the ground. I can only stand, speechless and stunned, mouth hanging open in astonishment as Glinda struggles for the upper hand with the ancient woman.
"I can't believe you!" Glinda is screaming as Lurline rolls them over again and pins Glinda to the ground. A hair tug, another shriek and an avalanche of paperwork later Lurline finds herself underneath my surprisingly strong girlfriend.
"Get over it!" Lurline groans, trying to free herself.
Glinda slaps her across the face. Lurline squeals, swatting desperately at Glinda to get off of her. I finally register that I should be getting involved. I rush over and reluctantly pull Glinda off of Lurline. She protests of course and about decks me as she tries to free herself from my embrace to send more fists at Lurline. I breathe deep and will myself not let her go. Attacking Lurline is not going to solve anything.
If anything it'll just infuriate her further and who knows how much power she has over us here.
"Shh, my sweet." I whisper into Glinda's ear before pressing a soft kiss to her temple. She stops trying to escape and instead melts against me as she chokes out a small whimper.
I glare over at Lurline as she picks herself from the ground and tries to smooth out her already wrinkled blouse and skirt. She mouths a sorry over to me and I shake my head at her in reply. There's no excuse she could ever give that would make what she's said to us go away.
Everything we thought about our time together in Oz… all of it was just a ploy. A ploy so that I wouldn't die. So that things could go her way. My death was the biggest middle finger I could ever send her way.
Glinda wraps her arms around me as she hugs me against her small frame, tears leak through my dress and wet my skin. I frown realizing Glinda's crying.
"What do you want from us?" I ask Lurline finally, tired.
Lurline busies herself with organizing the papers that scattered to the floor in the tussle. She answers while she reassembles a pile. "I need you to find Ozma and take her to the Emerald Palace, where she rightfully belongs."
"And you just expect everything to fall into place once she's there? Let's not forget that we're dead and she wouldn't even be able to see us in the first place." I say. Glinda sniffles against me as I soothe her by rubbing my hand along her lower back.
"All taken care of. Just get her there and the rest is simple really. Plus the geniuses I've collected up here were more than happy to whip this baby up for you." Lurline grins as she reaches inside her skirt pocket and pulls out an ordinary looking compass.
"A compass?" I raise an eyebrow. "Are you serious? That's your big genius invention?"
"Well, you need to find the Ozma somehow right? This'll point you to her. Whoever she may be. We think someone tossed her file away somewhere because no one has been able to find it."
"Why do you need paperwork? Can't you just summon that book of yours again? Oz knows it had enough information about me!" Glinda huffs.
"I'm not some all knowing Unnamed God you know. I was just like you once! I have people here to keep my shit in line for me! That book is all them, I just have access to it whenever I please." Lurline says with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It is fun at parties though." She adds as an afterthought.
I'm inundated with skepticism over all of this. There are so many holes, so many ways everything could fall apart. And for what? So a place I no longer consider my home will have a ruler?
Glinda seems to be thinking the same as me as she tells Lurline, "Why should we bother with Oz? It's not our home anymore."
"It may not be yours but it is home to your friends, is it not?" She asks softly, and then turns to me obviously knowing I've seen the contents of the folder. "Your sister? The Animals? Did you know that after you left people came out to help give the Animals their lives back? Oz was united! It was great! And when the Wizard fled and left no one to rule in his place those same Animals were forced to seek shelter once more. In fact, in worse conditions then ever before. You wondered why the Find system is so backlogged when you went to locate your mother? Well it's backlogged because so many of them, and so many other Ozians, are dying by the thousands every day. All. Because. Of you."
I feel my grip on Glinda loosening as I gulp. "Me?"
"She is not to blame!" Glinda shouts, hugging me closer to her.
"Oh yes she is. Because if she hadn't let herself die, then maybe all this would never have happened! In fact I know it wouldn't have happened! I have a report to prove it! Somewhere!"
Glinda argues back to Lurline but I can't will myself to listen to them any longer. Because if what Lurline is saying is true then this is entirely my doing. It is my fault Oz has fallen into turmoil. It is because of my own selfish doing that thousands are dying a day.
All because I chose to die and be with Glinda.
This mess is my responsibility.
"When do you want me to leave?" I ask calmly.
Lurline and Glinda stop arguing. The smack Glinda was about to land on Lurline's cheek stays frozen in mid swing as her eyes widen to twice their size.
"Excellent!" Lurline squeals pushing Glinda away as she comes up to stand before me. "I knew I could count on you. So basically I was thinking that-"
"No! No!" Glinda interrupts as she pushes Lurline aside this time and comes to stand in-between the two of us. "There is no way I am letting you send her back to Oz! Not by herself!"
This time I am the one sending wide eyes down to Glinda. "Glinda, you-"
She whirls to face me and puts a silencing hand over my mouth. "Shut up, Elphie! I don't want to hear it!" Then she turns quickly back to Lurline. "And you! Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't be throwing you on the floor again!"
Lurline seems to be taking Glinda's threat seriously as she stares with conviction into my very enraged girlfriend's eyes. "Do this for me and I'll give you what you want. That apartment I know you've been searching for. Consider it yours. And your Mother," She says looking up at me. "Consider her found. In fact how about I make it a house instead? With a great big yard! I'll even throw in some apple trees and then you can go get a cute puppy or a cat if you're cat people. I really can't tell. Whatever adorable animals you decide to let run about will totally add that perfect little domestic touch."
"No amount of cute puppies, or kitties, or anything can convince us to face Morrible again!" Glinda replies heatedly.
"You're already dead, you'll stay dead, and there's nothing out there that can hurt you. Not even Morrible. The moment it starts looking bad I'll reel you girls back in. So really there's nothing to worry about."
"Nothing to worry about! You said she had a following of nut jobs!"
Lurline waves her hand dismissively. "She's powerless remember. I told you, no worries."
"I don't care what you think, we know Morrible so you can take all those promises of yours and shove them up yo- Elphie!"
Glinda doesn't get to finish because I've grabbed her by the arm suddenly and start pulling her away from Lurline. She gives me a confused and slightly annoyed look as I walk us over to the door in a rush.
"Excuse us for a moment, will you?" I ask over my shoulder to Lurline. I don't even bother to wait to for her rude response as I open the door to her office, push Glinda outside gently and then close the door behind me as I exit. Glinda is already standing with her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed squarely into mine as she waits to hear why I've pulled her out here.
"Well? You better have a good reason for not letting me tell her off, Elphie. Because I am this close to throwing her down again. And this time I am so going to kick her ass!"
"I know my sweet, and that's why I couldn't let you. She's right you know… this is my fault. Oz, even you wanted to save me in the end and I still chose this path. I chose to let myself die so I could be with you. Don't you see? I chose you, Glinda. I chose you over everything. And now it's all falling apart because of me… people are dying because of me…. because I was selfish."
Glinda's once exasperated demeanor deflates instantly as she hears what I've said. "Are you saying… are you saying you regret choosing me?"
Oz! That is not what I meant! Fuck, her bottom lip is quivering. Say something you idiot!
"No! Never! I don't regret my choice, Glinda." I assure her quickly, taking her hands in mine. "I'd choose you over and over, again and again. But I have a chance to make things right. We have a chance to help. And we really could use that house…"
Glinda lets a small hopeful smile cross her lips. "And you would have your mother."
My heart skips a beat as I grin down at her. "I have to make things right."
"Elphie, are you sure? There's so many things-"
"I'm sure Glinda. I'm so sure. I have to do this. Please… let me do this." I will her more with my eyes then my words could ever hope to convey. And I see her resolve crumbling. I see her gaze softening. And then I hear her sigh.
"Ok… ok. Oz, we're really doing this?" She breathes.
"You don't have to go, Glinda. You heard Lurline. This is my mess."
"And you chose me. So it's just as much my fault, too." She says then lets a rather coy smile form over her face. "I shouldn't have been so irresistible. Must have been the nightgown, huh?"
"You have no idea," I chuckle not able to help myself as I find my arms sliding along the familiar path behind her back. I breathe deeply as she takes the final step into my embrace, her own lithe arms hugging me tightly against her.
We part when Lurline opens her door to chastise us for using her office as a sex cave. I have to hold Glinda's hand to keep her from smacking it across Lurline's face, as I know she wants to. We all sit back down again, Glinda still on edge though calming with every stroke of my thumb over the back of her hand. Lurline repeats her promises to us.
One house, big yard, apple trees, no puppy.
And one address for Melena Thropp.
I hold out my hand for her to shake. She does so with a wide, excited grin.
"I'm so glad you girls are on board!" She squeals as Glinda reluctantly shakes her hand as well. "I'll be at your place tomorrow afternoon for the transport."
"I thought you said this was urgent?" Glinda says, brow crinkling in thought. "If it's so important why aren't we leaving first thing in the morning?"
Lurline laughs, waving off Glinda's comment as she sits down on the edge of her desk. "Because my little blonde firecracker, I never get up past noon if I can't help it. Besides, Oz has lasted this long without you, I think they can make it till lunch."