8/2/17
x
"Do we have to?" asked Elphaba. Glinda glanced at her.
"No, but it will be nice to get away from Shiz a bit." she answered as she went back to preparing. "Even if we have our own place now."
Elphaba sighed and looked out the window. A soft coat of white sat over Shiz. Winter had finally come but, like all Shiz winters, sat gently. Elphaba glared as if the heat of her gaze could sear it from Oz. Glinda took that moment to look back at her girlfriend.
"It won't go away if you keep staring at it."
"You have no evidence of that."
"On the contrary; last year you were much of the same and it persisted."
"It disappeared eventually."
"The weather got warmer."
"Correlation does not equal causation.
"Quite indeed."
Elphaba stared out the window still.
"So, this villa Avaric has rented," she asked, "how far is it?"
"About a day from here."
"Good roads?"
"Paved. Well taken care of. There's a little hamlet nearby that serves the villa's there for all our needs."
"I still do not like it."
"Elphaba, relax." huffed Glinda. "Take a break. Run away with us for the winter. There's a little park nearby we can go if you get too claustrophobic."
"Fine. I shall try to relax."
"Good."
"I'm going to see if Nessa is in." Elphaba said. Glinda nodded.
With Nessa's current double majoring, Elphaba had been helping her draft papers. Ever the academic, the green girl dived into the subject. The political discourses had intrigued her. The new idea of political structure and their interactions had begun to fill in blanks in her beliefs. The current studies were more on ancient systems like slave states and feudalism, but Elphaba knew it soon come to newer.
Glinda finished organizing after a couple of hours. She was near the end of the new sorcery material for this semester. With practice over their little vacation she should be adept by the time there returned. Looking at the materials she planned to take with her, she sighed. Footsteps in the halls drew her attention.
"Elphaba?" she called.
"No Miss, it is I." Steward replied. He came to the door of the room. "I was looking for you or Miss Thropp. There are two...gentleman here to see you."
"Gentlemen?"
"They say they knew you from school. The would not give me their names."
"Quite mysterious."
The blonde followed Steward out into the hall. As the atrium was open, Glinda could see the two young men waiting. Additionally, they could see her.
"Hark! Her eyes warm cool days!"
"Her face illuminates the dark night!"
"The sun in winter!"
"The pale moon on warm night!"
"The Saint of Shiz!"
"The Goddess among mortals!"
"Miss Glinda Arduenna." the two sighed in unison. Glinda covered her mouth the the back of her hand to hide a smile.
"How she floats as if the earth has no tether on her."
"She glides as if the world makes way."
"Never doth dare the wind think to move a hair out of place."
"Nor doth the sun or the moon risk the ire of bathing her in imperfect light."
"Her bosom-"
"That's quite enough." Glinda cut them off as she came down the stairs. "How did you two rapscallions get our address?"
"It is a daring story of want, betrayal, and heartbreak." Crope answered.
"Which of the girls told you?" Glinda replied. The boys looked put out.
"So brief." Tibbett sniffed.
"Boq, actually."
"So, Milla."
"Yes. Quite interesting to keep from the boys." Tibbett commented.
"I wanted to host a formal party at some point. Having the address out there would ruin that."
"I can see that." Crope replied.
"So what are you two here?" Should you not be with one of the boys?"
"Avaric had suprise work come up and blundering around an empty house is unappealing." Crope answered as he went to examine a painting. "Boq and Fiyero are locked up in their dorms; they couldn't let us in if we tried."
"And we tried." Tibbett said offhandedly. Glinda smiled.
"Which leaves you." Crope finished.
"I'm sure we can entertain you for a few hours."
"Is Miss Elphaba here?"
"I am, you scoundrels." Elphaba called from the top of the stairs. Nessa and Nanny stood at her shoulders.
"Crap, Miss Nessarose. Clean up your language." Tibbett staged whispered. Nessa giggled.
The Thropp pair came down the stairs with Elphaba carrying a gentle hand behind Nessa, just in case. It was not needed. The three stood in front of the group.
"And just how are you, gentlemen?" asked Nessa.
"Quite well, Miss Nessarose."
"Are you going out?" asked Glinda.
"Yes. There is a service tonight I wish to attend." Nessa answered. "It was nice seeing you both. I assume you will be in town the next couple of days?"
"We will."
"Then I shall see you more then." she bowed her head. The boys bowed to her.
"We eagerly await."
After she left Glinda turned back to them.
"How did you escape the Emerald City and your work?"
"Taxes are done for the year and commerce tends to be slow in winter." Crope answered.
"And so does the security business. Besides, both of our employers know Avaric is our patron so they give us flexibility." Tibber finished. Glinda raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? I was unaware there was something so formal between you."
"Money is nice, and we still get to see you." Tibbett replied.
"Quite nice." Elphaba said.
"Indeed. Now, is your friend going to hover and glower the entire time or…" asked Crope. The girls turned to Steward.
"No need to glare, Steward. These are old classmates of our, Crope and Tibbett." Elphaba said.
"An...interesting pair." he answered.
"A Steward, eh?" Tibbett rebutted. "Did not know the ladies warranted an Inheritance Steward."
"Her Excellency does deserve it." the man bit back.
"Now gentlemen, relax." Glinda interjected. "Steward, can you please find your wife? I am in need of some things for our trip and cannot go out alone."
"Of course, Miss Arduenna." he said with a bow. With one last look he turned and went under the stairs.
"Stodgy bloke." Crope commented. "Good way to get rid of him."
"Unfortunately, I do have to go out." Glinda apologized. The boys feigned weakness, clutching their hands to their chest. "Enough of that. I shall not be more than a couple of hours."
"Well, hurry back." Tibbett said. Glinda nodded. Steward soon appeared with his wife. With a kiss on either boy's cheek, she departed. The boys watched after her. They then noticed Steward's look. As did Elphaba.
"Steward, please. These young men are quite fine. You need not worry about me."
"Still, Miss Thropp, I don't feel it would be wise to leave you alone. Young men often have ideas."
"Steward, I have nothing to fear from the young men. If you cannot tell, they are together."
"How bold!" "Really!" came the protests. Elphaba smiled.
"As you can see, the pair are quite fine and dandy." she emphasized. "If I so wished, they would have more to fear from me."
"Just put everything out there, Elphaba." Crope grumbled. "Excuse me while I bend over and grab my ankles. Tibbett, you mind at least warming it over before Elphaba makes me take it?"
"If Elphaba doesn't mind. I don't want to be on her bad side."
"The nerve!" Steward growled. Elphaba put a hand on his shoulder.
"Crope and Tibbett are very bawdy, and very loyal, friends, Steward. And Tibbett, don't worry about it. Maybe later."
"See, I always knew she was a lady." Tibbett commented. Crope snorted in laughter.
"Steward, please see to your duties. I'm going to take them to the third floor study."
"Not the sitting room?"
"No, and don't worry; just go about your business."
Elphaba led the boys up both flights of stairs. The third floor was empty, but still furnished. Elphaba went to the study located above her own. She motioned to the short couch and chairs, and took a stuffed chair for herself. It was oriented to be able to see the boys as they sat on the couch.
"Did you get my message?" Crope asked.
"I did. The are over there." Elphaba answered and motioned towards a cabinet. Crope went and opened it.
"Perfect. I don't need them now, but soon enough. If you're still okay with it?"
"I...am." Elphaba squirmed in her seat. Tibbett stood.
"I'll go find something to do."
"I assume you know?" Elphaba inquired. He nodded. "No sense in leaving then."
"You'd be more comfortable with less people."
"Possibly; or I might not be comfortable at all."
"Let's just start with the pose." Crope answered. Moving back to the couch, he withdrew a portfolio from his opened it and handed over some images. "You were still trying to decide which one."
Elphaba gazed at the drawings. She could tell they were her; the sharp lines, the determined brow, the dark hair, and of course, green. Elphaba wondered if this was how she appeared to Glinda; she could not see the appeal if so. She tried to measure the poses objectively to see which was best. There were a few reclining, some on her side, one facing forward, and one facing down. There were a few straight on; one with her sitting, knees drawn in; and a couple from the with her standing. The final was an over the shoulder. Elphaba eliminated all but one of each pose, except for reclining. That left her with five poses.
"These five; I cannot decide." she pointed them out. Crope took them back. "What are your thoughts?"
"Well, from a strictly aesthetic view?"
"Yes."
"The reclining ones are generally there to show off curvature. I hate to break it to you, Elphie, but you're not very curvy. While I think it would still be an exquisite picture, it probably wouldn't be the most aesthetically pleasing."
"I understand that.
"Now the forward facing is the most..direct. It hides nothing, if you get my meaning. The rear hides much but maybe a bit lackluster from the back. Gorgeous lines, but not necessarily erotic."
"I don't necessarily need erotic."
"Then forward facing may not be the one for you. The sitting one and the over the shoulder both would be aesthetically pleasing and a tiny bit erotic, but not overtly so as nothing would be explicitly revealed.
"That sounds good."
"So, over the shoulder or sitting down?"
"What do you think?"
"I'm not certain. Perhaps… Tibbett, go steal a mirror from one of the opposing rooms. We can give Elphie a look at herself."
Tibbett sprang up and soon came back with a large mirror. Elphaba watched as he situated it.
"Ok, give us the poses, Elphie"
Elphaba nodded a bit shyly. Glancing towards the door, she sat on one of the couches in the room and brought her legs into her chest.
"Hm, lay your head on your knees." Crope said. Elphaba did. Crope eyed it. "Very nice. Let's try the other.
Elphaba stood and turned around. She then looked over her shoulder. Crope eyed her a bit.
"Tip your chin down in the other direction; slightly less...Elphie, would you mind if I just moved you?
"Sure." she replied. Crope stood and went to the girl. He went to tip her head and she stiffened. He pulled back and waited. Elphaba relaxed slightly and nodded. Crope lightly touched her chin, and ducked her head down. Elphaba was tense the whole time. He gently turned her body and put her in a demure, even shy pose.
"Oh, you will look exquisite like that. Definitely that." he answered. Elphaba gave him a sceptical look.
"You sure?"
"Absolutely. Look for yourself." Crope answered. Tibbett angled the mirror so Elphaba could see. The green girl seemed surprised of the elegance her reflection displayed.
"I'll have to trust you it looks good. I know nothing of beauty. But I do not doubt it will be far from exquisite."
Crope clucked his tongue.
"Enough of that talk. It shall be exquisite because you shall make it so."
"There's no need to lie, Crope. I am no beauty."
"Beauty is not an impartial thing. One knows it when they see it, and I do see it."
"Perhaps you have been fooled then."
"Perhaps, but unlikely. Now, stand still! I have sketches to do."
"Didn't you sketch before?"
"Yes, but those were general sketches. This will be the first specific sketches to you. Then I shall fill in the details, and after that we will painting. Tibbett, the canvas and easel."
The other young man set up the canvas while Crope organized his supplies. Elphaba did not move as she did not wish to spoil the posture. Oz knew she did not know how to get back into it. Elphaba tried not to fidget as time wore on. She was never one when needed to be moving, but also never had to sit still for so long with nothing to do. It was annoying, so she began to go over her recent Life Science notes in her head.
"Okay, we can take a break." Crope said a little while later. Elphaba relaxed and stretched her limbs. "It depends on what you want to do next."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we can stop here for the day." he said. Elphaba glanced at the canvas. The form was there, but she could not recognize herself.
"It does not look like me." she said matter-of-factly.
"It does not. This is the outline. The next part is to fill in the details."
"Alright."
"Elphie," Crope said very warmly, very seriously, "unless you changed your mind, that means I'll need to be able to see your back."
"Oh." Elphaba answered. She looked down and shuffled her feet. A set of gentle but rough hands slipped into her own. She looked up into Crope's dark eyes.
"It will be a beautiful painting either way."
"I confess to wonder what i was thinking when I approached you. This is not something I would normally do, nor something to display."
"Quite true. I thought it unique as well, but am not one to question opportunities as they present themselves."
"I do not understand people's absurd obsession with me. I am neither pretty nor charming nor inclined of an effusive wit to please others. I have no grace nor real restraint, and quite frankly little patience. Yet here all of you are acting as if I am some sort of rare work of art to be gazed upon rather than a festival attraction."
"Absolutely false." Crope responded, his face hard. "You may not be conventionally pretty, or charming, and your wit is cutting, but you are unique you. There isn't anyone who can compare to you, and people recognize it. You are a phenomenon, and everyone wants to brush a phenomenon, to be able to say they did."
"Was that supposed to be a pick me up? You basically agreed with me."" Elphaba's lips quirked.
"Well, I dare not challenge you to a debates since you'll rule me on facts. Emotions are my battlefield, however."
"I see." Elphaba paused. "So, what should I wear for the painting?"
"I think the midnight blue will be a fantastic contrast." Crope replied.
"I'll get changed."
"I'll be waiting."
After Elphaba left, Tibbett made his way over.
"My primodivo, such a loss."
"The painting will still be wonderful."
"Truly. But a topless Elphaba it will not be."
"For the best for her."
"Oh, certainly. But to see something no one else than Glinda has; as sad thing to lose."
"You'll live."
"I shall."
X
Elphaba departed the carriage carefully, ignoring the offered hand of Fiyero. She squinted to take in the entirety of the villa. The cold did not bother the green girl. Her heavy skirt and woolen hose kept her legs warm while her dark grey wool overcoat, leather mortuary gloves did the same for her torso and hands. Her thick cap, double layers of scarves hid everything but inquisitive eyes.
"Elphie, dear, could you move?" came Glinda's gentle voice. The gothic figure did so.
Glinda was a contrast to her girlfriend. Her baby blue dress covered double layers of camisole and chemise. A fine pair of leather boots donned her feet. To top it off, her blue riding cape lined with rabbits fur was draped about her shoulders. Quite to Elphaba's irritation she went bareheaded, he golden curls gently swaying. The wind colored her cheeks a rosy pink, making her more attractive.
The pair followed the other members of the Circle though the front door. The boys were first to enter followed by the girls and their Amas. Elphaba pulled up the rear. She made sure to stamp the excess snow of her boots as best as possible.
"Can I take your coat?"asked one of the staff to her. Glidna inwardly smiled as the man omitted the gender honorific, unaware who was under the layer.s
"No, thank you. I shall attend to it myself." Elphaba replied. The man looked slight put out; until green skin was revealed, at which he looked relieved. He turned to take Glinda's cloak and then disappeared. Elphaba finished stamping the small amount of snow from her boots. Another man waited for them.
"If you will follow me I'll see you to your rooms." he said. Glinda smiled at him.
"Please."
X
After the had got settled in the went downstairs for dinner. It was a grand affair. Away from any responsibilities, Avaric wanted to live to the fullest. The table had many courses; bread and cheese spread first, a soup course afterward, a salad course, and then the main course. The dishes were various platters of pork and beef. Avaric let Elphaba know that he verified none were Animals.
After a light dish of vegetables, and finally a dessert of shortcakes. The dinner stretched many hours, and was deep into the night by the time it ended. Avaric smile.
"Perhaps we should move to another room? It will be warmer there." he said. The Circle quite agreed. After adjourning, Avaric had a tray of drink wheeled in for them.
"I hope you aren't planning on drinking too much; that meal was too good to throw up." Crope grumbled. Avaric smiled.
"I was not planning on it, no." he said, and gestured to a bottle. "This alcohol is special made to increase its potency without the poor effects after; namely, sickness. In addition, I had it specially prepared to enhance its effects even more. So much so that one glass will be enough for all. It cost me more than a few nights of drinking."
"Is there any harmful after effects?" asked Elphaba, warily. Avaric shook his head.
"No. I've been told it merely enhances the alcohol potency. Something I don't think shall be a worry for you." he paused. "Unless you don't wish to. I shall take it as a withdrawal from our previous bet."
"Such obvious bait."
"It does not matter if you still take it."
Elphaba glared at Avaric. He smiled back at her. She knew she should refuse; show him she was not so easily goaded. But the challenge was there, and it galled her. Finally, she said,
"Alright; if the others are up to it." she finally relented. Elphaba cursed her own tendencies.
"Good." Avaric answered and pick up a dark bottle. Grabbing several glasses, he began pouring the collected members' drink. As he filled, the other nine members of the Circle glanced at each other. The glasses were filled more than halfway. The last two were the exception at two-thirds. Avaric handed the glasses out; predictably he kept one of the more filled glasses for himself, and gave the other to Elphaba.
"Cheers. To health and friends." he toasted. Unusually, he only took a light sip. This unnerved the Circle, who followed suit. The wine was thick and cloying, with a deep smoky flavor. It had the bitterness of harder alcohols. There was something to it they could not place, however.
The Circle idly chatted as they occasionally drank from the glasses. As time wore on so did their caution, taking bigger drinks. The began to warm, the effects of normally much more alcohol being imbibed. The Circle thought nothing of it. Crope cuddled with Tibbett, Shenshen giggled with Pfannee, and Milla laid her head on Boq's shoulder. Even Elphaba drew Glinda closer.
The blonde was feeling a bit tipsy. The wine had gone to her head like always. The heat in her center was unfamiliar for the amount she drank, but she assumed it was something to do with the special ingredients. Her head was cloudy, but she was supremely aware of Elphaba's hand caressing her neck. Her world unfocused except for that hand.
"Something is wrong." Glinda heard Elphaba mutter. Glinda gasped as Elphaba nails lightly raked her neck. "I am feeling...warm. It's hard to think."
"It's called drunk, Rae." Glinda giggled. Elphaba shook her head slowly. The world bobbed.
"No; my coordination is still fine; our speech is unslurred; and my body does not ache."
"Huh?" asked Glinda. That hand was really distracting.
"All signs when alcohol affects me."
"Maybe you've passed the normal effects."
"No; it would make no sense. Besides, I'm distracted." he voice grew husky. She turned to look down at Glinda. The blonde noticed the violet blush on her cheeks.
"Rae, enjoy drunkenness."
"I'm not inebriated." came a short reply. "I'm just...hot."
"Yes you are." Glinda replied and her hand slipped upward. Elphaba did not resist. "I'm not the only one."
Glinda reluctantly looked out at the rest. Shenshen was giggling as Pfannee's hand roamed up one side and Avaric the other. Crope and Tibbett seemed engrossed with each other on the couch, and Boq and Milla were not far behind.
"So? Let them be…" Glinda groaned.
"No. They are not right." Elphaba gasped. "We're...not right."
The green girl started forward with a jerk. Glinda still hung on, turning the purposeful stride into a jumbled mess. Elphaba came before the quartet, as Fiyero had joined them. The stern stare drew heavy lidded eyes. They were entranced not just by her hard stare but also her slightly parted lips.
"Come to join us, Elphaba?" Avaric asked. His hand reached out to caress an arm. Elphaba closed her eyes. "There's room."
Glinda reached up to brush the arm off, but it took a moment. Her head swam with dancing figures. Elphaba's hard eyes had reopened. She stepped forward and pushed Avaric swiftly into Fiyero. Caught off guard, both boys went down into a pile. One of the girls cooed.
"Come." Elphaba commanded. Pfannee purred.
"But…" Shenshen whined.
Elphaba was not tolerating it. Grabbing both girls by their collars, she hauled them with her. The pair stumbled into the other duo, broadening the tangle of limbs. Elphaba willed them over to Boq and Milla. Not even stopping to say anything, she snatched the redhead up. The girl moaned in frustration. Elphaba swore she heard Boq whimper in the same. Elphaba cursed.
Elphaba powered the tangle of stumbling girls with venturing hands out of the room and towards to the stairs. The hazy heat lapping at the edges of her focus was only held in check by the fire of her anger and paranoia. Her observation of the ease the girls took the stairs confirmed her suspicions. She did not know what those suspicions were right now, but they were confirmed. Her ears detected raised voices from the other room.
Elphaba stumbled the girls into their rooms; well, Glinda's and hers. She could not remember at the moment where the other girls rooms were. Elphaba stopped, and precariously turned the group. The fire in her mind was dying and so was her focus. Her nose registered a familiar scent, and her ears familiar sounds. Her body's senses slammed back to her. The realization stoked the fire in her mind for one more moment. She strode over and slammed the door shut, securing it with the latch.
The fire died. Her mind now registered what her body had been trying to tell her. It crashed over her in wave, and she went under. She came back, gasping for air in the sea of sensations. She opened her mouth to say something, but pink lips captured her violet-grey own. Elphaba was fairly confident it was Glinda as she saw golden curls. As tongues dueled, hands began to dive inward.
"They don't want to see it." she protested as she came up for air.
"I want to." a voice growled in her ear.
It sent pleasure down her spine. Elphaba just wished she knew who said it. In the daze of her mind, it soon not mattered. Flushed skin met cool air; hot hands danced across. Elphaba moaned softly. Another pair of lips captured hers. In the blur of her vision, she saw more pink intertwining. As their lips parted, Elphaba took a deep breath and submerged herself beneath the waves.
X
Elphaba awoke, her head hammering her. The light peaking through the windows caused her to wince. Her hand brushed something warm, and she turned to see her blonde next to her. What she did not expect to see was a brunette, blonde, and redhead past her. Elphaba started, and slipped from the bed. Her body groaned in protest. The cool air on her skin let her know she was without clothes.
Hazy images from the previous night struck her. She stumbled to her feet. Fear washed over her; the ramifications of the previous night. It was soon replaced by anger, and every recalled image fueled that fire. Her mind focused that anger, hardening her face and narrowing her eyes as it was forged to a purpose.
Standing tall, she moved to the closet. Selecting a simple frock, she whispered a spell. The hangover cure only took the edge off her headache, sealing her suspicions. Elphaba silently slipped downstairs. Finding a steward, she gave him a list of what she needed. The man hurriedly went to fulfill the glowering girl's request.
The green girl waited until the glass and ingredients were brought to her. Combining them with milk, she stirred in the ingredients with her finger. She gave the man her other requests and then made her way upstairs. Ducking into the other girls' rooms, she grabbed robes for each. Returning to her room she placed the garments in easy sight. She gathered a robe for Glinda and laid it out likewise. Picking up a political treatise, Elphaba made her way over to a chair. She lost herself in the words.
Glinda woke, used to her lover's habits. As to what she expected, she saw Elphaba in the chair reading. Unlike normal, the green girl sat upright with her legs crossed at the knee instead of her scrunched and hunched position. Warning flags went up in her mind. Moving, she brushed one of the nearby girls. Glinda turned her head to them, then whipped it around in horror to her girlfriend. Elphaba responded with a finger to the lips. Elphaba crossed the room, and helped Glinda into her robe. Motioning to the door, the girls went outside.
"Elphie…" she started.
"There's a tonic downstairs that will get rid of the headache. I'm afraid it is the only thing that will. Porridge should be ready by now as well." Elphaba's voice held no inflection.
"Okay."
The two girls made their way downstairs. The porter that had served Elphaba earlier showed them to a side room. He quickly served them both the tonic and porridge. The only sound in the room was silver hitting porcelain. After they were finished, the made their way back upstairs. They stopped in front of the door.
"Rae, about last night." Glinda asked quietly, "What...I..are we..fine?"
"While I am sure we will have this discussion more later, last night was not of our own will."
"True."
"So that is a fact. What is also a fact is that I will not be able to go in there." Elphaba's voice lost its distant edge for a moment. "I will excuse myself to the study down the hall. Will you make sure they...the girls...our friends, understand?"
"I'll let them know. They'll understand." Glinda reflexively went in for a kiss, but stopped. Elphaba covered the distance and gave her a light kiss on the lips. Glinda opened the door and was greeted by light sobbing. Glidna sighed and looked back. Elphaba was already down the hall.
"Thank Oz you're here, Glinda." Pfannee's voice met her as she entered the room. The little blonde was fully clothed and carried none of the usual undertones in her voice. "Milla is having a breakdown about betraying Boq."
"I'll handle it." Glinda reassured, and placed an arm on the smaller girl's shoulder. "There's food and a tonic downstairs. Please have you and Shenshen bring it up."
"Thank you." Pfannee breathed.
Grabbing the brunette's hand, the pair fled the room. Glinda made her way over to Milla and wrapped her arms around her. The girl shied away, but Glinda's soft reassurances soon had the girl balling into her shoulder. Glinda soothed her, stroking her hair and patting her back. Though she felt much the same, her friend needed her right now. That was the most important.
X
Near lunchtime, the girls made their way downstairs. Elphaba and Glinda took a few moments to themselves as they changed. When they joined the others downstairs, they walked into a very awkward silence. The boys were on one side of the room with the girls on the other. Glinda found it curious that even Crope and Tibbett seemed nervous.
"I would like to apologize for last night." Avaric started stiffly. He paused, seemingly to gather the courage to go forward. "I was misled on the effects of the wine."
"How very true." Elphaba spat. "You drugged us, Avaric."
"That was not my intention."
"Intention or not, you were reckless with our safety."
"And I apologize."
"You think your apology makes it fine?" Elphaba hissed.
"No, but I hope it starts on the path towards reconciliation. I had not meant for what happened to happen."
"What was it anyway? The extra ingredient."
"Teliac root. I was told it would enhance the effects of the wine; I was not told its other effects."
"I'd fire your apothecary, then."
"I will."
"The wine." Elphaba muttered. Avaric gave her a strange look. "How is it made?"
"I thought you would want to know more about the root."
"I can figure that out on my own. The wine you said before is special made."
"Yes. That's a secret."
"Tell me."
"I should not divulge the confidence."
"You owe me, Avaric."
"That is true." he sighed. "It is strained through pinlobble leaves."
"What?" Elphaba bit out. The white hot anger, tempered and restrained, snapped.
"There's some in the wine but less than a single leaf-" the young man stopped as green hands clawed into his collar. Chocolate eyes bled hate.
"Pinlobble? You poisoned us with that?"
"Some minor amount. And it isn't poison."
"You son of a bitch." Elphaba growled and drew her hand back. Light fingers arrested its motion.
"Stop, Elphaba." a soft but commanding tone.
"Let her Glinda; I deserve it."
"Yes, but you're not worth it. Elphaba is above that." Glinda retorted. Avaric sagged a bit. Elphaba slowly opened her hand and let the boy go.
"Elphaba and I decided we're going back to Shiz. Today, if at all possible." Glinda said as she drew Elphaba away. "You're welcome to join us; any of you. Avaric, you will order us the carriage?"
"Of course."
"We're heading to pack. We will leave you to your devices."
The duo quietly made their way from the room. As they ascended, Elphaba said,
"Hitting him would have made me feel better."
"Take solace in the fact the boys were moving stiffly."
Elphaba gave her a sideways look before shaking her head in understanding.
"That'll be awkward."