Glinda woke with the sun peaking in the windows. She cringed. Her hangover was terrible, and she did not have her wand handy for the spell she needed to cure it. She felt a weight to her right and turned to see her emerald roommate sleeping soundly. She smiled and placed a light kiss on that hook shaped nose. Elphaba eyes fluttered open and Glinda beamed at her.
"Morning, sleepy head." Glinda said.
Elphaba looked at her mildly confused. Though not the first time she had woken up in Glinda's bed (usually from consoling her over a bad grade) she could not remember how they came be there. She glanced down and noticed Glinda's state of dress. He eyes flew wide and she tried to pull away. Glinda was having none of it. Scrunching her face, she held Elphaba close with all her might. Though Elphaba was far stronger than Glinda she was at an angle where she could not get much leverage. Nonetheless, she continued to struggle.
"Elphie, stop. Elphie. ELPHIE! STOP!" Glinda shouted. Elphaba stopped and stared wide eyed at Glinda.
"Glinda…look, I-We-I don't know-"
"Elphie, it's fine. Do you remember last night?
"Parts of it. Look Glinda, I don't remember all of it but I didn't mean to take advantage of you. Please don't hate me. If you do, I'd understand." Elphaba rambled, not looking at Glinda. Glinda stared for a second, and then broke into peal of laughter.
"Silly. You must have been more affected by the booze than I was. I came onto you."
"Oh." Elphaba blinked. "I don't remember that. Did we?"
"No, we cuddled." Truth seemed like the best option, fun as it would be to make Elphaba squirm.
"Ok. Maybe the booze did hit me hard. Or Morrible's spell."
That sobered Glinda up. She watched Elphaba's face slowly set into the stern look she now more often wore. This time, when Elphaba went to get up, Glinda did not stop her. Glinda swung her legs over the bed and went to put on a robe. Unbeknownst to her, Elphaba's eyes followed her. As she opened her boudoir, the full length mirror caught Elphaba in its reflection. Glinda could see the hungry look in Elphaba's eyes, and wondered if it had always been there.
Elphaba's gaze stoked a fire in Glinda. The look was not just lust. It was wanting; need. Glinda slid one arm out of the chemise, then the other, and let it fall to her hips. She turned slightly so to give Elphaba a view of her side in the reflection, just enough to tease, and her heard a soft, sharp inhale behind her. She slowly wiggled the chemise down over her hips, making sure to gyrate just so to accentuate her body and make it bounce suggestively. It slipped past, and Glinda bent over slightly to push it down her legs, elongating them. She finally let it fall to the floor, and stepped out of it. She reached for a robe, giving herself a bit of an extra arch, and slowly slipped it over her shoulders. She pulled her hair clear and turned while shutting it, giving Elphaba a quick tease of her front before hiding it from view. Glinda watched Elphaba's eyes snap to her own, and she smiled angelically.
"I'm so glad we don't have class today. I don't think I'd be up for it."
"That's to be expected with Ama Clutch passing." Elphaba replied and Glinda's face fell. Though she had gotten over the worst of her grief after Ama Clutch had been hospitalized, her passing yesterday still hit her like a blow. She visibly dulled.
"Oh, Glinda, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up."
"No, it's ok. It would have hit me later." Glinda walked back to the bed and sat down heavily. Elphaba opened her arms and Glinda rushed into them. They lay back down and Glinda sobbed into her shoulder. Never good at comforting, Elphaba remained quiet but enveloping. It was a long time before Glinda stopped and propped herself on an elbow.
"I'm sorry. I'm such a mess and cried all over you."
"It's ok, Glinda, I don't mind."
"I hope I didn't get any tears on you."
"The dress soaked up most of it. I'm fine."
"I need to get up and do something, otherwise I'll just be crying all day."
"You can help me then. I want to start learning sorcery."
"Why?"
"If it can be used against me, I want to be able to protect myself."
"I don't even know where to get stuff for it! We get our equipment straight from the school."
"Anyway you could request replacements?"
"Yeah, but they'd wonder why I suddenly need one more of everything."
"Good point."
"There are a lot of novelty and antique stores in the older parts of Shiz. They might have it."
"Ok. We should get ready then."
"Elphie, most of magic is instruction. You'll need a teacher."
Elphaba gave her a wry smile.
"That why I have you."
Glinda was washing up in the tub. In all the excitement yesterday she had forgotten her nightly beauty routine. As such, her makeup was still on and her hair was a mess. As she began undoing the "damage" from the night before, her mind wandered. She had been doing this same process since she was fourteen. Ama Clutch taught her earlier than that, but at fourteen she banished the Ama from the bathroom. She began to think about everything Ama Clutch had taught her, and broke down. After a few minutes, the door cracked open.
"Glinda?" Elphaba said, and her response was a stifled sob. "Glinda, do you need help?"
"No," Glinda sobbed, "I'm fine. You can't help, anyway. I'm all wet."
Elphaba sighed and shut the door. Glinda started sobbing again but jumped when Elphaba walked back in. She was covered in a long sleeve shirt, and had elbow length leather gloves on. She walked to the rack that held the towels, and strategically placed them around the bathroom to catch as much water as possible. She left one folded. She grabbed a stool from in front of the vanity and set it by the tub.
"Come here. I assume you've completed your cleaning?"
"Yes." Glinda sniffed, surprised.
"Good. That's always the most difficult part. Now, face and hair."
Elphaba grabbed the washing bucket, and doused Glinda's head. She then shampooed, doused, and pinned it up to keep it out of the way. After she began scrubbing Glinda's face. Glinda was taken aback. Though intimate, Elphaba's approach was direct, effective, efficient, and strong. Very…man-like, unlike when she or the late Ama Clutch had done it. It both unnerved and aroused Glinda.
"Eyes closed." Elphaba said, and doused her face a couple of times with the bucket. She scanned the shelf next to the sink, looking for something.
"There." Glinda pointed to a jar. Elphaba took the contents out and applied them to Glinda's face.
"Perhaps Nessa should use this; it might help." Elphaba muttered, and Glinda felt a pang of jealousy. Elphaba then examined her hair, and got up and walked out. She left the door slightly ajar, and Glinda could hear voices. Several minutes later, Elphaba came back holding two jars of oil.
"I borrowed these from Nessa; technically Nanny. You have dry hair, just like her, and whatever you're using just isn't cutting it. We can buy some when we go out." Glinda felt a thrill of victory of getting to use something of Nessa's but still had to ask,
"Why didn't we just use yours?"
"Because I don't have dry hair. Maybe I once did but endless oil baths have made my hair oily. Therefore, my oils would not help."
"Oh." She said and went to ask another question, but all thoughts evaporated as Elphaba undid her hair and began to massage the oil into her hair and scalp. She then gently washed it out, and Glinda felt her hair. It felt great.
"Where'd you get this? It makes my hair feel amazing."
"Old Quadling secret. Now, up, up up." Elphaba replied, opening the folded towel, and Glinda groaned. She was enjoying the pampering. "We're not done yet; I just need you out of the tub for the next part."
Glinda shot her a disbelieving look and did not move. Elphaba sighed, and pulled the chain attached to the cork. The tub rapidly began to empty and Glinda let out a little squeak. She sprang out of the tub and into Elphaba's waiting towel but shot her a glare. It was wrapped around her, and Elphaba quickly used several smaller towels to brusquely dry her face, arms, and head. Glinda lifted a leg and placed it on the stool in front of her for Elphaba. Elphaba looked down, blushed a light violet, and handed Glinda one of the towels quickly.
"Finish up. We have a ways to go." Elphaba said huskily, and Glinda smiled. Elphaba grabbed her robe from the hook it was on, and handed it to Glinda. As Glinda took it, she let the towel drop. Elphaba's cheeks darkened to a deep violet, and spun.
"Glinda, we don't have time for that." She said throatily.
"What do you mean, Elphie? I have to change into my robe." Glinda replied innocently.
"You know. Sit. I'll be back."
Glinda finished putting on her robe, and pulled her hair out. Elphaba returned, having divested herself of her protective ware, and began brushing out Glinda's hair. Glinda let out a soft moan.
"Did I hurt you?" Elphaba asked.
"No. I've forgotten how much I like my hair being brushed." Glinda replied.
Elphaba nodded, and continued. She saw Glinda's eyes close in the mirror and the look of pure joy in her face. As she continued her task, Glinda gave little gasps and moans of contentment. Elphaba could not help herself and began alternating her fingers with the brush. The first time Glinda gave a little gasp of surprise; afterwards her moans grew louder every time. At her scalp, Elphaba massaged and pet her while brushing her hair. By then, Glinda had completely leaned against Elphaba for support. Job done, Elphaba stopped, and Glinda let out a whimper. Elphaba smiled and grabbed the other jar. Rubbing some oil into her hands, she began to massage it into Glinda's hair and scalp.
The repeat performance was even greater. The sliding of the hands through her hair with the gentle tugging and massaging sent waves of pleasure through Glinda. Her lips slightly parted and her gasps and moans were more passionate. Her skin, rosy from the heat of the bath, flushed red. Her robe slipped unnoticed (or so Elphaba thought) off her shoulders to lay just above the mounds of her breasts, revealing the gentle curves. Glinda may not have been consciously aware of it, but her body had been trained to make the best appearance possible in any situation. That included tantalizing and teasing. Elphaba stopped, eliciting a moan of disappointment, and leaned down.
"There, that's better." She breathed into Glinda's ear, causing her to shiver, but then frowned. Opening her eyes, Glinda reflected how the stern look suited Elphaba's face. The knitted brow, the slightly squinted eyes, the lips pressed tightly together. It all reflected the inner intensity of Elphaba.
"Maybe not all better." She muttered and breezed out. She came back holding another bottle of oil. This one Glinda recognized for she saw Elphaba use it on herself. Elphaba put some on her hands and then began to rub it into Glinda's shoulders. It felt good but she was a bit too rough; like everything Elphaba did it was effective first. All thoughts disappeared though when Elphaba found a knot. Glinda made sure to know she was being appreciated.
"I'm glad you cast that dampening spell or people would get the wrong idea."
"And what idea would that be?" Glinda replied devilishly and Elphaba turned violet again.
"I see why boys complain about girls be perplexing, now!" which caused Glinda to giggle.
Elphaba finished kneading the oil in, much to Glinda's dismay, and began to style her hair. It was a strange experience for Glinda; as paradoxical as Elphaba itself. It was softly but firmly done, with an eye towards aesthetics but carried out in the most unadorned way. At the end, Glinda's hair flowed in curls from parts pinned, giving her an angelic but serious appearance. Glinda, who prided herself at knowing her own beauty, saw a form of herself never before; a beautiful woman. Not a beautiful lady, elegant but an ornament, or an attractive young woman, to be desired; but a woman's who beauty was radiant but warned that to trivialize her was to do so at risk.
Elphaba then moved to the makeup portion. Glinda usually used a full base powder with a bit of rouge, and colored shadow and liner for her eyes. Elphaba, however, barely applied a base, used no rouge, and applied a light pink color to her lips that drew attention to them (and made them look fuller) without making them the center piece. She used a lighter liner on the eyes (which made Glinda nervous) and a light blue shadow design that accentuated her natural blue eyes. When done, the beauty conscious Glinda had to admire her work.
"Oh Elphie, I didn't know you could do this!" causing Elphaba to smile.
"Even the gypsy Thropp children had to attend social functions. My job was to help Nanny get Nessa ready. A few times I even had to do it myself."
"It's simply wonderful." Glinda breathed.
"I'm glad you like it. I have to get ready myself, and, though it does not take nearly as long as you, it will take me a few minutes. Can you finish getting ready in the mean time?"
"Yes." Glinda said, and shuffled out.
A little while later Elphaba came out of the bathroom to find dresses and shoes strewn about the room, and Glinda sitting on the bed in her robe.
"Glinda, what's wrong?"
"Elphie, I don't have anything to wear." At this, Elphaba arched an eyebrow and look around the room.
"What about all of those?"
"None of them work. I need something more…sophisticated."
"I see." Elphaba replied, even though she did not. Glinda could tell and she blew a raspberry.
"Something else on the list. Fine, give me that one." She said, and pointed to a white dress, white coat combination. Elphaba brought it to her and Glinda shucked off her robe. She was relieved (disappointed) to see she had undergarments on, but it still left very little to the imagination. Glinda slipped into it all the while grumbling about how out of style it was.