"Come in, come in!" Glinda called gleefully. Her friends had all come in the same cab. Boq, Milla, Shenshen, Pfannee, and of course, Fiyero. Avaric still was not there, but she would not remark on it. Not today.
"Thanks for offering the use of the house." Boq said.
"Yes, it always nicer not having to worry about getting thrown out." Fiyero agreed.
"Or Amas." Pfannee added.
"Yes, well, it's not as if you're entirely unsupervised." Glinda answered as Mister Steward took their coats. "But, we have a little time before dinner. Let's sit."
Glinda led them towards the sitting room. As they made their way past the kitchen, Fiyero stopped and took a deep breath. He looked towards Glinda.
"Is that rashama I smell?" he asked.
"How good your nose is! And how ruined my surprise. Yes, it is; at least, I think so." she laughed. "We hired a chef from Little Vinkus to do tonight's dinner."
"Oh?" Fiyero raised his eyebrows. "And how did you manage to pull that off?"
"You're not the only one who knows people." Elphaba said as she came out of the sitting room. "Now, are all of you going to stand there sniffing or join me?"
The group laughed and followed their friend back to the room. There were decanters of wine set up for the group. The five girls and two boys poured themselves glasses. AS the wine flowed their tongue eased in familiarity.
"How is everyone doing this semester?" Glinda asked. "On par to pass?"
"Yes." Pfannee answered. "Although the clases are such a bore."
"I'm quite sure your fun is found outside of class, Pfannee." Glinda commented.
"How true."
"Boq?"
"Yes, I'm doing well." he replied humbly. "The classes aren't as hard now; I think i just had to adjust. What about you, Miss Glinda?"
"Sorcery is a simple thing now after so much studying." she sighed. "But thats all things."
"Yes. It is more important for me to be finding matches." Pfannee put in. "You two are already well matched, as is Fiyero. But us? We have some ways to go, and not much time."
"It will come, Pfannee." Glinda reassured. From the outer hall, their door rang with knock. "I wonder who that could be?"
"Duran, probably." grumbled Pfannee.
Glinda did not give time to hear the response. She hurried up to the door as Steward had let the young man in. Well dressed and with a wide brimmed hat, Glinda could see his handsome face break into a genuine smile at the sight of her. Her own smile tugged at her lips.
"Miss Glinda." he said, and bowed his head in respect.
"Master Avaric!" she exclaimed. "I did not think you would be joining us."
"Despite the best efforts of salacious bores, I have made it." he assured. "I would not dream of being anywhere else."
The young man gave his coat to Steward, thanking him. He smiled still, holding out a package.
"Now, which way is the birthday boy?"
Glinda led him to the sitting room. Fiyero was on his feet when he saw the other boy, grasping his hand and pulling him into a hug. Avaric protested lightly as they pulled apart.
"Still a wild barbarian after all my work." he lamented.
"Hey, its my birthday."
"True."
Boq shook the other boy's hand and Avaric gave him a warm smile. He continued around the Circle, greeting each of the girls. He shook their hands, but did not press a lip to them or a kiss on the cheek unless presented. After his greetings, he turned and held out the present ot Fiyero.
"As is appropriate."
"You didn't have to get me anything."
"Nonsense. It is socially appropriate to get someone a present on their birthday."
"I'm just happy to have you here.
"Like I would miss a good friend's birthday. Come now, take it. I wish to hold wine in that hand."
Fiyero laughed and took the gift from him. Avaric, true to his word, filled himself a cup and sat. Fiyero, prying open the box, laughed at what was in it.
"Well, show us!" Shenshen giggled. Fiyero dipped in his hand and pulled out a set of braided military cords. Elphaba stiffened slightly at the sight.
"Pretty. What with the different colors?" Shenshen asked. "Gold I usually see, but your have no purple or green."
"The braids each represent something." Fiyero answered. "Gold is the Shiz Academy color. Hence why you always see it.
He fingered a gold cord out of the group to show them. He separated a duller, yellow cord out next.
"The purple and green are for Gillikin or the Emerald City, respectively. Less often you will see blue for Munchkinland. There's never been a red, for Quadling Country, or Yellow, for the Vinkus. Until now."
"And the other colored cords?" Shenshen prodded.
"This one," Fiyero said, and showed a blue and green braided one, "is for the force I'm training in - infantry is my specialty. But this…"
Fiyero looked at Avaric as he separated out a red and gold braided cord.
"This one's for graduating with honors. Something I won't know until the end of the year. Right, Avaric?"
The other young man sipped his wine and smiled.
"Of course not. Merely presumptuous of me."
"Uh-huh."
Avaric just smiled and took another sip. The Circle changed the topic to other things. After a few minutes of idle conversation, Steward came into the room.
"Dinner is ready.
The Circle members got up and went to the dining room. The table was filled with various soups and meat delicacies of the Vinkus. Fiyero's smile grew as he inhaled. The last dish, a pheasant, was brought in by the chef. After placing it down, he looked at Fiyero.
"So you're the one, I see?" he said in the trade tongue.
"I am."
"I did not think these snowbirds would want our food. Then again, I might not have cooked it for an Arjiki." he teased.
"Should I be worried? I see no clan markings on you."
"Larota. And you should not."
"I know how you are here now, and I see you. Thank you."
"Paid needs no thanks. My wonder, which of these delicate ivory dolls likes you so much to buy my services?"
"That would be the blonde and raven pair."
The man glanced over to where Fiyero gestured and swore.
"Dragonkin. The Great Daughter preserve me in this-"
"None of that. She has an affliction, like the wondermarked, that makes her skin so."
"So she's nice?"
"I did not say that. But she is not a daemon or dragonkin."
"Well, that's reassuring." he paused "And the one with corn silk hair is alluring."
"She is. But neither I nor any of us shall be with her."
"A real pity."
"Now, Larota-"
"Kaminor Garas."
"Kaminor Garas of the Larota, I am Fiyero Tigelaar of the Arjiki."
"Well met, traveler."
"Well met. Now, I do not wish to hurry you, but my companions are staring at us."
"I must be tidying up after dinner."
With a bow of the head he left.
"What was that about?" Glinda asked as Fiyero took his seat near her.
"Just the usual Vinkun greetings." he answered.
"I do not quite believe that." Elphaba answered from the other side of Glinda.
"Oh, and why is that?"
"I heard my name."
"That's not possible. I didn't say your name."
"I heard the name you always call me."
Fiyero smiled. Leave it to Elphaba to remember a little used nickname in another tongue.
"Not quite, as I wasn't speaking Arjiki, but close. Very good catch. He asked whose house it was and I told him."
"I see."
Dinner was a delightful affair. The food was spiced, not sauced, and it made the Circle drink more. Fiyero noticed Avaric was sparing with his wine. When Glinda thought Fiyero's attention pulled away by Boq, she leaned over and whispered something to Elphaba. The other girl nodded.
"And what was that about?" he asked.
"What was what?" Glinda asked, setting her chin in her hand and giving him an innocent look.
"That little whisper."
"I don't have the faintest what you are talking about."
"I see. I'll be watching you, Miss Glinda."
"It is your birthday; you may do what you wish."
Fiyero half expected some other surprise, and so watched the girls. Elphaba seemed the same; as did Glinda. The only thing he noticed was Glinda was less abstemious with her wine, but the spice could easily have been the culprit. She seemed to take a drink after every bite. Catching him looking a couple of times, she gave him a small smile.
Dinner ended and the group moved back to the sitting room. A small cake was brought out for him, and the Circle toasted to his health. As the night dragged on, his head took the enjoyable lightness from the wine. He could tell the others were the same. As it chimed near nine, Avaric stood.
"I hate to cut things short, but I best be getting home." he said. He walked over and placed his hand on Fiyero's shoulder. "Cheers, good friend."
"Cheers."
"I shall as well. I shan't want to be beat to bed by this one." Elphaba stood. Avaric dipped his head at the barb, but made no reply.
"That's probably best for us all." Boq said, and stood. The group groaned, but followed his lead.
As the Circle collected in the atrium, Elphaba made her way upstairs. A cab was called. They kept around until it came, and when it did made their goodbyes. Elphaba did not reappear, which was a not an unseldom occurrence. Glinda huffed.
"Wait, and I shall get her." she said as she trudged up the stairs. The group collected the last of their things and was about to set off when Glinda appeared.
"Ugh, she's being positively beastly." she complained. "Fiyero, do you mind catching the next? I do not think she should miss saying goodbye on your birthday."
Fiyero bid his friend farewell, and followed Glinda up the stairs. He had never been upstairs, but it was similar to other flat he had been in. Glinda led him into a darkened room. About halfway in, she stopped. Fiyero's eyes tried to adjust to the gloom. The door creaked shut behind him.
"Beware the dark corners of rooms." breathed a sinister voice in his ear. He senses had been dulled by the wine, and so had his reflexes. Two arms snaked under his, and lay across his chest.
"Elphaba, you scared me." he chuckled, and turned his head to try and see her. "Now, what is this about not saying goodbye?"
"Well, that's up to you, isn't it?" she cackled wickedly. The hairs on Fiyero's neck stood up.
"I'm here, aren't I?" he answered as he tried to hide his imbalance.
"Yes, though perhaps lured under false pretenses." Glinda answered. Fiyero turned his attention back to her. Glinda whispered something, and the dress she was wearing slid off, leaving her only in her chemise. Fiyero blinked. Glinda herself turned slightly. The light streaming through the cracks in the curtain caught her, silhouetting her form through the dress. "You see, Elphaba and I have been discussing certain parts of our relationship as of late."
"Certain," the hands on his chest ran over the embedded studs there, "physical parts."
"The physical attraction we feel and towards whom we feel it." Glinda continued, sounding more like Elphaba. "After much discussion, we realized though we love and are attracted to one another, there is also attraction to others."
"Seuxal attraction." he heard, and felt the nails raking down his chest.
"Sexual attraction to males in particular confused us. We love one another, are attracted to each other, but why some men as well? Was it something that was a natural thing, or a base reaction? Was it something different? It was very hard to figure out."
"Very hard." Elphaba hissed. Fiyero, though enraptured by the allure of pure, unfiltered Glinda, started to feel like he was being cornered.
"So, as our scientist here always states, we had to do an experiment to figure it out. Was it merely a biological imperative? To test this, we could not use just anyone. Between our unique needs and discretion, we had a small pool. And then you waltzed into the conversation."
"I don't remember this." he protested. He was not sure why, but he did. Glinda giggled.
"Not literally. Figuratively. And as we talked, you seemed a good choice. I had already professed some attraction towards you," Glinda explained, and Fiyero hissed as sharp nails dug into his chest, "and Elphaba admitted much of the same."
"I deny that."
"So, we thought, 'Why not Fiyero'? We've heard good things from the girls, and we know he'd be discreet. Besides, it is his birthday."
"How long have you made this decision?"
"Just tonight." Glinda giggled. "We decided at dinner."
"Ah, so that was it."
"Yes, and you almost ruined another surprise." Glinda pouted. She turned and swayed towards Fiyero. She stopped in front of him, and placed a hand on his chest.
"Do you understand what we are asking of you? We are asking you, Fiyero Tigelaar, to come to bed with us. To make love to your two friends, to let us feel what it is like to be love to by a man." Glinda's voice wavered then. From nervousness, Fiyero guessed. "To hold your two good friends tonight, to pleasure them and let them pleasure you in return, and tomorrow wake as if it never happened, with nothing more between us than what was before."
"I do understand that, yes, and I am honored you would feel safe enough with me." his lips twitched in a smile. "Even if I was lured here under false pretenses."
Glinda stepped back, biting her nail with a smile. Her eyes were full of mischief.
"Well, I wasn't completely lying." she giggled. Fiyero felt teeth sink into the base of his neck. Glinda's voice dropped into a husky whisper. "Elphaba is feeling beastly. I think she is a little possessive."
"Just a bit." Elphaba answered.
I stopped the story here as the rest is 1) a bit more graphic but more importantly 2) not done. I've not been able to finish it for some time, and want to get on with the rest of the story.