BOO! Happy Belated Halloween, all! So I made the mistake of going to see the new Addams Family musical on Broadway... you ask what the mistake is? Now I have even more fanfictions to write! Though I had told myself that I wasn't going to think about Addams Family, I was just going to concentrate on my Wicked fics. So what I happens this afternoon? I unintentionally think of ideas for two one shots and a short chapter fic... *sigh* Too much to write and too little time. Oh well. Enjoy!
Elphaba stood brooding in her personal thundercloud as she looked out the window into the garden below. She was happy for Nessa, she really, truly was. But with her sister's hair splayed beautifully in the snow, the joyous glow almost visibly emanating from her face as the boy who loved her dearly kissed her in that picture perfect winter wonderland, Elphaba felt jealous as well. Very jealous. She was never one to think about romance or love, until it was taunting her before her very eyes.
"I suppose I can't refuse him now, can I?"
The girl started a bit at her father's voice, not having heard him come up behind her.
"Tell me about him." It didn't sound like a command - a tone of voice Elphaba was used to getting. "He's kind of a wimp, but he has a good heart. Terrified of you, I'm sure."
The girl couldn't read the silence that followed, but she wasn't willing to look at her father to see his reaction. Frex decided to change the subject, "Tomorrow I have a guest arriving and he will be staying with us for the next few days. The Prime Minister of Gillikin Highmuster Arduenna. Please be polite."
"You're not going to shut me away in my room like you always do?" Elphaba finally turned, arms crossing over her chest. Frex looked at her with an abnormally softened expression, "You are my daughter, Elphaba. You have been recognized by the Wizard himself for your talents, and it's high time I, too, tried to value you."
He began to leave.
"But you still have to 'try'," Elphaba challenged his word choice coldly. Frex hesitated and his green daughter waited to see what he would do. It was the first time since coming home that she had dared to challenge him at all. Frex surprised her by simply walking away after a moment.
Political gain, Elphaba concluded cynically. After all, if she did indeed become the Grand Vizier of Oz, she would be the second most powerful person in Oz, and her father would be more or less at her mercy. Not that she'd ever abuse her power, however tempting the situation might be.
The bookworm was busying herself with her favorite pastime when the two romantics finally came inside. Boq headed to the Governor's office looking like a man condemned to the chopping block, while Nessa sat down beside her sister and eagerly pulled something hanging about her neck out from the layers of clothing.
"He wanted to wait until after talking to Father to give it to me, but he couldn't," the girl said as she proudly showed off her gift. It was a silver heart shaped locket with a fancy engraved rose on the front. Elphaba sighed inwardly as she complimented the love token. Boq came out of the office some time later looking much as he did going in, only visibly relieved, and even relaxed when Nessa got up to give him a congratulatory hug in front of Frex. The boy was welcomed to stay for dinner during which Elphaba remained stonily silent and only briefly responded when spoken to. She excused herself before dessert was served and shut herself in her room for the rest of the night. Nessa was apparently too busy with her new boyfriend to notice, and Elphaba didn't really care.
The next day the Thropp household was bustling with servants' last minute preparations for the Prime Minister's arrival. Elphaba and Nessa tried to stay out of the way for fear of life loss and consequently found themselves on their toes for much of the morning. By early evening, the Thropp family stood cleanly dressed and ready for the arrival of their guest. The handsome prime minister swept inside and the two men greeted each other warmly. Then Frex turned to introduce both of his daughters for once.
"This is my eldest daughter, Elphaba. And this is my little Nessarose."
Nessa's smile was charming. Elphaba's mouth didn't make it past an uncomfortable line. Highmuster Arduenna didn't help the green girl's discomfort when he took her green hand and pressed his lips against the green fingers. "I've heard so many wonderful things about you, Miss Elphaba."
The Thropps stared in stunned surprise until Elphaba found her tongue, "Who -?"
One cue, the answer to her incomplete question came in the form of a waist high, bone crushing constriction and an ear piercing, "ELPHIEEEEEEEEE!"
It took the assaulted girl several seconds to register that the blur of white and pink and blonde she had barely seen before the attack was in fact none other than her school roommate.
"Galinda?"
"Oh, Elphie, I have the most thrillifying news!" the petite girl bubbled as she released her green friend. "I got a letter from Madame Morrible! She's inviting me into the sorcery seminar with you! Can you believe it? We're going to get to study magic together! Hi, Nessa! I want a Boq report. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Governor Thropp," Galinda abruptly spun and curtsied to her new quarry without skipping a beat.
"My apologies, Governor," the prime minister said with a jolly laugh, "My daughter, Galinda Upland. Miss Elphaba's roomie at Shiz? She only found out about the trip yesterday and decided to invite herself. I didn't have time to notify you."
"That's quite all right," Frex replied still clearly baffled. "We'd be delighted to have her."
Elphaba was beyond words. She couldn't believe that her friend was actually here in her home. Galinda turned her beaming smile back to the green girl, a condition Elphaba found contagious.
"Trina," Frex called for his head servant. "Please set another place at the table for Miss Upland, and prepare another guest room to accommodate her."
"Oh, the guest room is not necessary," the blonde girl chirped. "I'll just sleep in Elphie's - er, excuse me, Elphaba's room."
There was a brief uncomfortable silence, then Elphaba encouraged, "You'd be more comfortable in the guest room."
"But, Elphie, friends sleep over in each other's rooms. It's what friends do," Galinda insisted innocently.
"You really don't want to sleep in my room, Galinda."
"Why not?"
Elphaba shot a panicked look at her father, but Frex did not look back at her. His jaw tensed, though. He was just as nervous as she was about the situation. She couldn't let Galinda see the poor condition of her attic bedroom. And Frex was undoubtedly concerned about what his esteemed guest would think.
"Oh, it just needs a little straightening up, Miss Elphaba!" Trina suddenly interrupted the awkward moment. "Here, why don't I take your luggage, Miss Upland, and I'll get everything ready upstairs?"
The stout woman winked at the eldest Thropp daughter and had a servant go fetch the unexpected guest's belongings - a second was summoned as well when the first discovered there was too much for him to carry alone. Frex opened up the parlor for drinks and courteous chit chat till dinner was served. Elphaba sat nervously beside her friend and across from Nessa as Galinda demanded to know how her little sister and Boq were getting along. She wondered what Trina had up her sleeve. It would take more than a little "straightening up" for Elphaba to let Galinda sleep in her room. The bed sagged too much for it to be very comfortable, Elphaba was just used to it. Even if there was a throw rug on the bare floorboards, it would be hard to sleep on. There was no heat in her room. In spite of the snow, the winter had not been terribly cold this year, so she had not yet asked Nessa if she could spend a few nights in her room, but she didn't want to make Galinda to put up with the cold as she did.
In her musings, she had not noticed that Nessa had excused herself from the group of girls and was now laughing at something with their father and the prime minister. Nor had she noticed that Galinda had not bothered to snap her out of her reverie, but merely watched her. When Elphaba did realize, however, Galinda gave a small smile, "What were you thinking?"
"Nothing," Elphaba quietly replied, trying to return the smile.
"How are things going with your father?" her friend asked in a much quieter tone. "I came to rescue you, you know. Just in case."
Galinda winked, grinning, and Elphaba laughed, but then responded in an equally hushed voice, "Things are different. He hasn't yelled at me since we've gotten home, and he actually got me something for Lurlinemas. Well, something for Nessa and me, but he's never done that before."
The blonde girl's bubbly personality started to erupt in excitement. "What did you get?"
"Nothing too thrilling, a puzzle, but a rather nice one. It took us a few days to put it together. Father even helped for a little while."
An odd feeling drew Elphaba's attention to the fireplace where Nessa and Galinda's father were still talking. Frex, however, was looking at her. She felt her face flush being caught talking about him, but his expression was unreadable and before either of them could say anything, the door opened and Trina announced that dinner was ready.
The family and their guests filed into the dining room, Frex taking the head of the table. Talk continued, though Elphaba was afraid to say much with her father so close. Frex did not seem to pay her any more attention than necessary though. When dinner concluded, Galinda was ready to make herself at home. Elphaba guided them up the stairs but only made it to the second floor when Trina's voice rang from the doorway the guest room mirroring Nessa's room.
"Oh, Miss Elphaba, perfect timing! Your room is much more presentable now, come and see," Trina gestured for the girls to enter. Elphaba followed the woman's direction and understood when she saw what Trina had done. The wardrobe door had been left conspicuously open revealing Elphaba's clothes that were typically folded away in her dresser's drawers. Many of her books now graced the larger book shelves in the guest room as well as some of her trinkets. Trina had even swapped out the hardly used pillows with Elphaba's though they were freshly covered. It was almost plausible. The only thing Elphaba felt was out of place was the happy pastel yellow color scheme.
Thankfully, Galinda did not seem suspicious as she bounced in, examined the room about her, then made herself comfortable on the bed.
"Oh, Elphie! You have no idea how excited I am to be here! I made a list of all the things we should do before school starts."
The green girl's eyebrows drew together in confusion, "I thought your father was only here for three days."
"Popsicle? Well, yes, he is, but I'm planning on staying till school starts! I mean, really, did you honestly think I'd pack all that luggage for only three days? That should last me till school starts and then Momsie and Popsicle will send the rest of my necessities to Shiz."
Elphaba glanced at the large trunk and two suitcases resting beside her on the floor, which already amounted to almost four times the 'necessities' Elphaba would bring with her to school in all.
"Oz forbid you ever actually move out of your house one day. You'd have to hire coaches from all over Oz to transport everything."
"Not if I become an adept sorceress!" Galinda argued amicably. "Then I can simply make everything disappear and reappear wherever I want it to go."
Elphaba grinned and sat down beside her friend, "'Adept sorceress', eh? You're not going to try to steal away my position as Vizier, are you?"
"Oh, Elphie don't be silly! I wouldn't be showing you much gratitude if I did that."
An eyebrow went up. "Gratitude?"
Galinda looked at Elphaba sincerely, "Madame Morrible told me not to tell you that she told me you had asked her that I be allowed in the seminar, but I have to tell you if I'm going to thank you for that." The tiny blonde cinched her arms around the green girl once more, "Elphie, this is the best Lurlinemas gift I've ever gotten, and you're the bestest friend I could ever hope to have!"
Now, I know you're all wondering one thing... What happened to "Popular"? It's coming soon, my little pretties! Very soon :D