You are all amazing!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Warning: Language. A homophobic remark.
Tibbett had a reading of some of the texts he translated. They were beautiful. Albeit, they were some of the most depressing pieces of old words I had ever heard, but they were beautiful. A lot of people cried. The whole theatre, really. I think even Elphaba had a tissue shoved up to her nose to keep the snot from running all over her face. I had given her a considering look when I first noticed it. I wondered if her skin acted as a natural camouflage for the snot. I would be thoroughly impressed. I had to turn my attention back to Tibbett's crooning about someone named Christabel or something. Geraldine? I don't remember. Just that a lot of people cried and later told him he had done such a wonderful job at tapping into the deep emotions the poems required. Galinda and I were on the same page when she asked how these people would even know what was required if Tibbett was the first one to successfully (more or less) translate them.
We were sent away to make sure the apartment was in order for the guests. Not that our guests were anyone important. It wasn't like an important literary genius was going to show up to a small get together thrown at a student housing complex. Galinda and I got the hint, though. You can't rain on someone's parade no matter how justified and truthful the comments are. So we complained about it the whole way to my place and the entire time we did a sweep through of the one room we were using to host less than ten people.
More people cried at the party, which had nothing to do with me or Galinda making inappropriate comments. (Though it very well could have been the Vinkun Vixen we added to the punch, but we're not going to talk about that particular alcohol.) Nessarose, bless her soul, was the first one. I always knew she would be a lightweight. I think she had a drink the size of a cup of tea, and she was gone with two whistles. She was talking to Boq and Crope about something only she cares about, and there were times when she just sing one of her sentences. Of course, the two of them were taken aback, but no one else cared two twigs about Nessarose to notice. By the time Boq started bobbing his head to a tune that wasn't even playing yet is when Nessarose just burst out into song like we were living one of those musicals they play in the Emerald City. Galinda's makeup ran from laughing so hard when Nessarose started crying over how beautiful her own voice sounded.
Elphaba took her sister home after that. Galinda begrudgingly went with her after throwing a bit of a fit that involved tears. Elphaba was immune to tears, I had thought as I watched Elphaba keep a firm stance against her narcissistic sister and glitterbomb best friend. She gave us all a sweeping look and told us that if we weren't up and ready by ten the next morning for graduation, she was going to come back with pots and pans and a trick she learned from Madame Morrible. Most of them were too drunk already to be scared, but I was slightly turned on. There was something incredibly hot about Elphaba taking control. Or maybe it was the pregnancy hormones talking. I read in a magazine that men can experience sympathy symptoms when their partner is pregnant. Or maybe Elphaba was just sexually appealing to me.
"She's going to be a great mother," I sighed after she slammed the door shut.
"Not that you'll ever know," Crope snickered as he topped up everyone's cup. "Elphaba may be letting you hanky panky with her, but there is no way she's come around to the idea of carrying and giving birth to your spawn."
Later, when asked about it, I'd blame it on the alcohol, though I hadn't consumed much of it knowing what it was:
"Well, I hope you like the taste of your own foot, because Elphaba's pregnant."
There was a very uncomfortable pause after I said it and Crope dropped the pitcher of liquid onto the carpet. I realized as I was saying it that I shouldn't have been saying it. It was out, though. There was absolutely nothing I could do to take it back. So I was slightly worried about the stain the punch would make in the carpet. Sure, I had the money to pay to take care of it, but I have a baby on the way. I have to start thinking frugally. I can't just toss a gold bar here and there and expect my kid to respect and know the value of an emerald piece.
"If that stains, you're paying for it," I said, mostly to fill the silence.
"Fiyero, my friend, we need to have a talk about timing," Avaric said from across the room.
"Tibbett's poems were depressing enough, this news just makes the night better."
"First off," Tibbett spoke up, "fuck you. And second, unless your future offspring is more like Elphaba then my poetry is a fucking sunny Sunday compared to the hell the fruit of your loins will wreak."
"At least I'll be putting a child into this world," I snapped.
"My sexuality has nothing to do with my ability to produce sperm, you ignorant cock."
"This drink is way too frothy for us to be talking about cocks and sperm," Boq mumbled from where he was cradling his drink under the desk. He took a long drink before adding, "Does Elphaba know?"
Tibbett clamped his mouth shut as he was prepared to cut Boq off before he had even started. Crope opened and shut his mouth a couple times, like he couldn't find the right words to say. Avaric just started chugging whatever was left in his cup.
"Does Elphaba know…" I trailed off uncertainly for a moment but finished, "that she's pregnant?"
"Seems like she ought to," the Munchkin grunted as if offended.
"Yes, Boq, Elphaba knows that there is a tiny human being growing inside of her uterus right now."
"Good," he nodded his head, and I looked around for someone to help me. "You can't just keep something like that from her."
I patted his leg, "Just keep drinking, buddy."
"Munchkins," Avaric scoffed, "only a step above Quadlings."
"Weren't you raised by Munchkins?" Tibbett chided lightly as I said, "Watch it, the mother of my child is Munchkin."
"Agh!" Crope waved the damp rag he had gotten at me. "Don't say that. I haven't had enough time to process all this yet."
"Well, hold onto your britches, because you haven't heard the best part about baby Avaric," Avaric smirked. I glowered at him. We were not naming the baby after him. "Go on, Fifi, tell the boys."
"You didn't do something stupid, did you?" Tibbett frowned at me.
"When have you known Fiyero to not do something stupid, Tibbett?"
Tibbett shrugged a shoulder and looked at me expectantly.
I'll admit that I was feeling a tad sheepish about it.
"Elphaba doesn't know-"
"I told you that you have to tell her, you stupid Vinkun prick!" Boq barked from where he was pouring more for himself.
"-that I know," I snapped to finish, looking at the Munchkin.
"Aww," Boq gasped as if he was a teenage girl.
"Who are you?" Crope laughed at him.
"Boq of Munchkinland, son of Bfee, future-"
"Okay, boy scout," Crope patted Boq's head and steered him back into the living room. "What do you mean Elphaba doesn't know you know? What? Did you look through her things?"
Another silence settled over the room, and I looked to Avaric for help but the bastard just smirked behind his drink.
"Fiyero, you did not," Tibbett gave me a look.
"She showed up late to brunch the other day and had this bag with her that she wouldn't let me see. So I let it go for the meal, but it was just sitting there on the counter when she went to use my bathroom. Probably to deal with whatever pregnant people have to deal with. So I just took a peek, and they were a bunch of pregnancy books."
Crope and Tibbett stared at me.
"This was the most anticlimactic story I've ever heard." Crope stood back up and went into the kitchen to get some food.
"That was it? That's your proof that she's pregnant? Books?"
"In his defense, who just reads pregnancy books? I've known Elphaba for a long time, and I can't remember a time she's ever shown interest in that."
"Oh my Oz, I don't know which of you is denser. Elphaba studies everything. Remember last year when she studied the history of mathematical theory? Why in the Wizard's name would she study that? It doesn't matter. It's new material. Elphaba likes the challenge. This pregnancy business is new material and something she's going to have to acquaint herself with."
Crope nodded in agreement, "Think about it. She likes to be in control of herself, and being pregnant means her body will be in control of her. This is probably Elphaba's way of thinking that she'll have a leg up on nature by being prepared for what she's going to have to endure."
"Did you know that the vagina-"
"Shut up, Boq," Avaric threw a pillow at him. I let out a breath of relief when the Munchkin kept the drink from spilling. "Elphaba's had years to read about pregnancy. The only reason she'd research it so in depth would be because it's actually happening."
"Who the fuck researches the history of mathematical theory?" Crope cried. "What situation would that be required?"
"I know Fiyero's wife, and I'm telling you that her reading these books means something."
Tibbett stared at Avaric before turning it on me for a concerning moment or two. "I just want to shake you until you're not stupid anymore, but I don't want to touch you and catch your stupid."
"I've gotten perfect marks all term, thank you very much," I snapped back.
"Alright, children," Avaric sighed. "Not a word of this is breathed until Elphaba opens up about it. The last thing we need is a steamed asparagus with a handle on magic." Tibbett very much looked like he didn't want to let it go, but he gave a light eye roll and shoved my shoulder lightly before telling me that he'd be happy to help me with Elphaba's new circlet.
Vinkuns weren't an ornate people. Even as royalty, we didn't live as lavishly as some of the families in the Gillikin. Sure, Kiamo Ko was a massive structure, and we had a second castle in Kvon Altar, but they were both structures from antiquity that served good use nowadays. Kiamo Ko was the first castle built by the Arjiki tribe when we were the first tribe to rise to power centuries ago. The castle in Kvon Altar was built by an old tribe, one that had since died out, when they were in power a couple decades after the Scrow had taken power. It was the only remaining evidence of their existence, so every new King upheld the proclamation to keep it standing and maintained. The people recruited to maintain it, mostly those who have no place to call home or can't afford to settle, inhabit the castle. Certain rooms are set aside for show of what the lost tribe lived like, but the majority of the castle is a home for those who have none.
Anyway, my point is that though we don't spend a ludicrous amount on finer linens or utensils, but we take a great pride in our circlets. Of course, we don't get too extravagant with the designs or materials, but the collections of circlets in the vaults of Kiamo Ko are worth more than any fortune owned by any given person in the Vinkus. The circlets stretched back for centuries. Rows and rows of circlets, showing the rich history of Vinkun ruling families. The circlets ranged from my mother's own all the way to the first King of the Vinkus after the fall of the tribal anarchy that had been in place until the first time Munchkinland tried to take the Vinkus. You get a heavy feeling being down there and seeing all the circlets of the departed. Circlets have always been an important part of Vinkun culture.
You couldn't just have any circlet, though. There was a way about the circlets as there was with most things. Each circlet was particular to the person wearing it, and it was typically designed by their spouse. Or in the event of not being wed, by the person closest to the one wearing it. You get the original circlet when you turn thirteen, because it's when you're viewed as breaking into adulthood. Girls normally have started their thing, and both sexes have gone on their first quest, properly placing them into Vinkun society. The original circlet is nothing more than a piece of metal placed on your head. There's absolutely nothing special about it. It isn't even fitted half the time. It just sits there as a sign of what's to come.
When you're married, your circlet first changes. You get a second band, and both bands are fitted and designed especially for the wearer. You don't design your own, though, as I said. Elphaba and I had designed each other's circlet. I'd spent months trying to design hers. It was important. It was something that would show that I was accepting her into my world, something that would be a mark of my value of my wife as well as my own cultural history. I worked with the people welding it closely, pointing out how I wanted certain parts manipulated to resemble leaves of the Vinkus' deepest rooted tree. They did it perfectly of course, and the second band wove, rose, and fell between the first that was made to look like a slick branch with several tiny leaves. And set in the center was a turquoise gemstone that was particular to the Vinkus and matched the color of Vinkun tattoos.
If you have a child, ones who aren't bastards, you get another band that is designed to mesh with second circlet. Each child was represented by its own band. If a child died, though, the band was still kept but was burnt black to signify the loss. The same holds true with the spouse. If I were to die, Elphaba would chose the more intricate of the bands and have it torched to show that I was no longer in this world. Elphaba being pregnant, though, meant that I needed to add to her circlet. Tibbett had always been fascinated by that part of our culture, so I promised him that I'd let him in on helping next time I had to design a band.
The five of us were up and ready by the time ten rolled around the next morning. All of us were hunched over a cup of Vinkun coffee, but the others were complaining about a hangover that I did not have. I refrained from telling them about what Galinda and I slipped in. It was probably better for everyone if they didn't know.
"Don't look so disappointed," I frowned at Elphaba when her face fell after I answered the door, dressed as I should have been.
"Don't talk so loud," Boq grumbled from where his head was buried in his arms.
"I'm sorry. What was that, Boq?" Elphaba asked, louder than necessary.
"Don't be mean," I leaned against the doorframe, "he had just as much to drink as Avaric, and he's half his size."
"Is that supposed to be impressive?" She raised her brows, looking at me then at Boq. "He's been drinking with you two idiots for years."
"He's still a very small man," Tibbett said, draining the rest of his coffee and then ruffling Boq's hair.
"I hate you all." Boq gave a long suffering sigh as he pushed himself off the stool and shuffled towards the door.
"Awe, come on, Biq Boq," Crope, who was much more energetic than he had any right to be at this hour, skipped up to the Munchkin and threw his arm around Boq's shoulders, "don't be heartless."
Elphaba, Avaric, and I broke away from the others when we got to the courtyard outside of the auditorium where the ceremony would be taking place. My father and Baako were by the fountain, smiling and talking amicably with people who had probably never been in the presence of royalty before. They scattered when I broke through and grasped Baako in a tight hug.
"Where's Nessarose and your father, Fabala?" Baako asked, craning his neck to scan the crowd.
I scratched the back of my neck as Elphaba told Baako that Frex and Nessarose weren't coming to the ceremony. Baako, who was just as incapable of keeping comments to himself as I was, managed to keep his mouth shut. She went on to say that Nessarose had caught something from being out last night, and Frexspar was busy with work. Though, I suppose Baako just outright staring, slack mouth at her probably wasn't any better than whatever comments he would have made.
"Then we'll just have to invite Masters Boq and Tibbett along to dine with us after," My father said, kissing Elphaba's temple and talking her hand.
Madame Morrible came and whisked Elphaba away as the ceremony drew closer. She paid her respects to my father, brother, and (begrudgingly) myself before fussing over Elphaba's robes, dragging her away from our little group.
The ceremony itself was normal, nothing truly spectacular. Elphaba was recognized as being the top of the class and also for having finished two degrees in two years' time. The charmed circle hooted and hollered for her, earning each of us disapproving glares from the people around us. Elphaba, of course, shot us her own glare, but I saw the darkened skin at her neck that was threatening to make its way up her face. She sat back down after receiving something for her efforts and then, one by one, the graduates of Crage Hall were called up and given their diplomas and a firm handshake from Madame Morrible. A couple girls broke down crying, a few looked like they were nothing short of relieved, but most of them just looked bored and ready for the entire thing to be done with. Elphaba smiled, though. She had a big dumb grin on her face until she was one the stage, and the grin stretched into a wide smile.
"If only her father could see her like this," my father said quietly as Elphaba caught our gazes on her way back to her seat.
I winked at her, and my father nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"He wouldn't know what he was looking at even if he had shown up."
"He's coming up to get Nessa tomorrow," Avaric said from his spot in front of us.
My father hummed and nodded his head. Baako gave him a frown and then glanced at me.
"Well, we'll have to dine with him tomorrow, then."
"That sounds ominous, father," Baako whispered as another name was called.
"Hush and watch the ceremony, son."
My father didn't mention Frexspar to Elphaba or I at dinner, which made his threat—because that was a threat—even more terrifying. Baako and I excused ourselves to go to the bathroom halfway through dinner when Avaric was whispering things in Galinda's ear that were making her blush and the rest of the table was weighing in on a discussion Elphaba started. Tibbett gave us a critical gaze as we got up and told whoever was listening to order us another glass of whatever we were having. I waved him off, hoping to communicate that everything was fine.
"Do you think Father's going to assassinate him?" Baako asked the second we were safely in the bathroom.
"When has Father ever given an order to assassinate anyone?"
"When would we ever know about an attempt given on Father's orders?"
I stopped undoing my pants to consider it. Fair enough.
"Father isn't going to put a hit on him. If anything, he'll be so terrifyingly polite that the Governor will crack under the bittersweet setup of it all."
Baako nodded, "I still can't believe he wouldn't even show up for his own daughter's graduation. How many people can say they finished a double major in two years? On top of all the other things she was doing?" Baako shook his head.
"You know Frexspar doesn't give two twigs for anyone but Nessarose. As far as he's concerned, Elphaba stopped being an obligatory consideration when she moved to Kiamo Ko."
"What is he going to do when she finally gets pregnant?" Baako lowered his voice. "Continue to keep her at a distance? What kind of monster wants nothing to do with his own family?"
"He'll probably make a scene and call for it to be taken care of if it's green."
When we first caught on to how ridiculous Elphaba was treated by Frexspar, Baako and I had to consistently be reminded that different cultures had different approaches to family life. As is clear, we both had issues keeping our opinions to ourselves. I had poor timing; Baako had no filter. And back then we were just two opinionated boys with too many people listening to them. We stopped watching what we were saying after we realized what complete crap we were being told. We had met some of the other families in Munchkinland. They had solid family units. Some were a bit off the path of normality, but Frexspar was the only one we knew to treat the children as he does.
"What will you do if you two have a green child?" Baako asked me quietly while he slowly washed his hands. I glanced over my shoulder at him as I finished up my pants. "I mean, I know Elphaba isn't in any rush, and you said you haven't talked about it-"
"She is," I whispered. I heard the bar of soap fall into the sink.
"What?"
I joined him at the sink and cleared my throat before answering, "She is. Pregnant, I mean."
Whatever reaction I was expecting was not the one I got. I let out a rush of breath when Baako threw himself at me, wrapping his arms tightly around my shoulders and practically squeezing the life out of me. For a second I thought he was trying to kill me until he let out a giddy, schoolgirl squealing giggle. I groped blindly for a rag to dry my hands with, but the boy had a vice like grip.
"You just made me two emerald pounds richer!" He cried, pressing kisses to the side of my face like a dog.
I pushed him away. "Did you place bets?"
"Only with about a dozen others. Not that much!"
"You're terrible."
"You're doing to be a dad!" Baako grabbed my shoulders and shook me. He got still then and looked me in the eye, "Will you name the baby after me?"
"Gods, you're just as bad as Avaric," I grunted, pushing him off of me again and wiping my hands.
"I can't believe Elphaba let you get her pregnant."
"Why do you all say that?"
Baako shrugged and then hopped up onto the counter in the corner, digging through his front inside pocket for a cigarette and his matchbook. I took one that he offered for me and lit it off his own. Someone came in when we were trying to relight mine, but neither of us saw who it was. I figured Baako thought it was safer to speak in our native tongue rather than keep up in general Ozian. Not many people spoke our language. Usually just government officials and the Vinkus' own people.
"Are you scared?" Baako asked, blowing out a cloud of smoke.
"A bit," I watched my cigarette eat away at itself. "I'm afraid of losing her."
"Elphaba?"
"Neither of us grew up with mothers," I sighed. "What if she dies in childbirth?"
"Well, at least you won't have to worry until the second child."
"Baako!"
"I'm sorry!" Baako laughed. "Fiyero, Bax was sick when she went into labor to begin with. If childbirth hadn't killed her, she wouldn't have made it to see my first birthday. And Frexspar had Melena eating that damned plant. It's even illegal in the Vinkus. He made her chew it her entire pregnancy. Frexspar Thropp killed his own wife because of that giant public opinion stick shoved up his…" Baako trailed off after a stall door opened.
I looked over at whoever was walking out and had to take a double look.
Frexspar Thropp (because of course it was) jerked his head in acknowledgement, "Ashiike [boys]."
Baako and I watched in silence as he washed his hands then came over to the mirror right next to us, adjusting his clothes in it and then his hair. He repeated himself before strolling out of the bathroom like everything was fine. I didn't even know what to feel. Confused as to why he was even here. Pissed off that he was here and wasn't part of our dinner group. Murderous that he was here and hadn't even gone to the graduation.
"Fiyero."
"Hm?"
"Does Frexspar speak Arjiki?"
And like the cat that caught the canary because, "Yes," Frexspar was one of the only people I knew fluent in all of the languages recognized in Oz.
This was just Elphaba's graduation ceremony. Since everyone else was doing continuing education, they'd graduation would have been earlier.
So? Still interested? Still intrigued? Let me know:)