Disclaimer: I own a cat, I own a computer, a few articles of underwear...
Note: Another chapter added! Perhaps one more shall be added soon, but one expects Sea Lion Woman to be updated at last. Duelly, I am currently writing a Sweeney Todd parody with a co-writer, which will be posted both on and LiveJournal. Coming to a monitor near you!

- - -

Suicide Canal was surrounded by a natural park dominated by the flora of grasses and deciduous trees, the weather often wispy, although it did not stagger students. The constellation of benches scattered throughout the park were always occupied, although Avaric enjoyed his wiggle room. He sat in the middle of the bench, one leg crossed over the other broadly enough to expose sock, the opposite arm stretched out on the rim of the bench's back. Impatiently, he shook the leg set on solid ground and popped pecans into his mouth, which originated from a satchel from his inner breast pocket.

On the particularly overcast day, it would seem every student had a class to attend, save for he on his vacant lunch break. Nut after nut, he sat chewing and watching the people rush by. Few dared attempt to sit on the bench, but he would simply extend an arm more or balance his shoe over his knee to produce a sizeable crossing of the legs.

Observing the park was demanding labour, especially when there was no one to ridicule other students with. However, it did seem one lecture had concluded, and a crowd of students were moving every which-way, an especially appealing group approaching his. Motivating as they were, Avaric made sure his coat was not crumbled with pecans, and that his smirk was charming instead of a plainspoken mean-spirited.

"… And as I'd mentioned before, it's wasn't the most appropriate of occasions to mention my father," Galinda was saying, moseying along unhurried to relay her story.

Pfannee giggled with a roll of the eyes, appearing girlish and uninterested at once. "This is a prime example of why, time to time, the key to my Ama's locked room… with my Ama within… is misplaced," she said, as though reading instructions.

The two were accompanied by four other girls, two of them Missus Shenshen and Milla, completely without Ama or other male supervision.

"Excuse me, ladies, but would it be too tardy to register for acceptance into the conversation?" he asked politely. "My, Miss Shenshen, if you were not the most exquisite sight to behold."

Shenshen smiled coyly, concealing an eye behind deliberately placed rust-coloured bangs, her pale skin blushing. "You're trying to soften me," she accused pleasantly.

"Of course he is, that's all he thinks of," scoffed Pfannee, obviously offended for having not been the object of Avaric's recent affection. The blonde boy prided himself on having that effect on women, however they denied it- it was no secret that society girls relied on compliment. "For we should move on and pretend as though he is a nonexistent waste of air."

Avaric furrowed his brow and clutched his breastbone. "Ouch," he cried playfully. "You have wounded me beyond repair, Miss Pfannee."

Pfannee smirked. "As was intended." She turned to her group, "Come along. I have a one hundred and twelve person date with Professor Kibaki, as well as you, Miss Galinda, while the rest of you attend lunch."

"And what a generous tipper the man is!" shrieked the blonde, rousing a round of laughter from the other girls. She snuck a glance at Avaric and flashed a charming, glowing grin. The boy could do nothing else in the moment of his captivation but return the favour.
"Miss Galinda," he called after them. "If you were not lovelier than I first thought!"

Galinda kept moving along with the others, but turned around and walked backwards in heels that rather worried the boy. She was grinning and called out to him, "You've been gravely mistaken to have thought I don't grow lovelier by the hour, Master Avaric!"
After they had left, the boy returned to popping pecans into his mouth, grinning, and waiting for something spectacular to dawn upon him. There seemed nothing better to do than remain lethargic and stationary until his satchel emptied.

In a flurry of billowing cloak, Miss Elphaba was appeared with her canvas bag slung over a shoulder. Perhaps she had been as indolent that morning as he, for her dark hair had been freed from its regular braid, and it accommodated her wiry spectacles quite well. Her cheekbones were flattered and her nose was attractive and slender, colour sparkling in an aura of daylight. Avaric rubbed his rough chin, then decided to dust off his front again so as not to appear shoddier.

"Miss Elphaba, you've got to hear this insane notion I've just stumbled upon," he called out as she approached his bench. "This park is full of oxygen, so none must be cut off from my brain when I declare you suddenly appear ravishing as opposed to other days."

Upon passing, the green girl shot Avaric a gruelling look, her dark eyes slits among pursed lips. "Perhaps you should be monitoring where your blood is flowing from your head, jackass," she jeered, storming off and not once looking back.

Avaric sprawled back onto the bench, having expected a comment thrown back at him, yet not swiftly as the girl proved to be. There was another group of girls approaching, this time with a boy attached, but Avaric hummed and reached into his pocket for the remaining pecans. Twice burned, and he would have to purchase oven mitts.

- - -

Avaric is a peep. He's like Lucius in the Voldemort regime that is Wicked. Especially with that hand shake in the musical- gets me every time.