A/N: Ok, I just read Wicked again, and must now write fanfiction! Yay! Oh, and I went to Dominick's and got Starbucks coffee, I walked in the door, set it on the table…and IT SPILLED! Arrrrrgh….
Disclaimer: Must we really go over this again?
Elphaba and Fiyero walked into the ballroom. It was done up all in green and gold. Banners and streamers bedecked the banisters, windows, ceiling, and fireplaces. Dozens of couples, women in long, bright gowns in the latest fashions and men in tuxedos in colors of varying ridiculousness, and hairstyles usually matching them in odiousness. Elphaba gave Fiyero a slanted look over her scarves.
"Can we go now?" she asked. Fiyero looked back at her.
"Glinda would disembowel you."
"I'm not afraid of her."
Fiyero shuddered slightly. "You should be." Elphaba sighed.
"Fine." They stood together awkwardly for a moment. Despite their disguises, in fact almost because of them, the two dark, shrouded figures stood out like sore thumbs among the bright gaudy costumes of the other guests.
"Well," said Fiyero, "shall we dance?" Elphaba gave him another look.
"For how long will you harass me if I decline?" she asked. He grinned at her.
"Until you accept."
"You could be there awhile," she warned.
"I'll wait." Elphaba smiled faintly at this.
"All right," she gave in. "One dance."
…
An hour later, Liir walked into the ballroom in an ill-fitting suit borrowed from the houseboy. He searched the room for his parents- well, maybe- and found them easily among the odd Emerald City fashions. Near the center of the dance floor, the two were waltzing quite skillfully. As Liir watched, Elphaba threw her head back and laughed, nearly unmasking herself. Fiyero carefully fixed her scarf, and she swatted his hand away from her face. He dipped her nearly to the ground, obviously threatening to drop her. At her response, he began to laugh as well. Liir smiled. He guessed she had said something like, "Get my feet back on the ground or I'll remove your testicles with my foot," like she'd once told him. Now that he thought about it, it was kind of funny…
As Liir stood near the entrance, lost in his thoughts, a girl shyly approached.
"Hi," she said quietly, scaring Liir out of his reverie.
"Whoa!" he shrieked. Several people turned to look.
"Sorry," said the girl, flushing. She was about his age and rather pretty, with long auburn hair and pretty grey eyes in a delicate, lightly freckled face. "I'm Cassia," she added. "Or Cass, if you prefer."
"I'm Liir," he said.
"I know…I mean, that's an interesting name," she replied. "Are you here with your parents?"
Liir groaned inwardly. "I don't know," he replied truthfully.
"What, can't you find them?" asked Cass.
"No…it's a long story," Liir answered, a bit wary of Cass. After all, the way she'd responded to his introduction was a bit suspicious. Even he could tell that.
"It's a long, boring, ball," Cass replied.
"True," Liir answered, laughing despite himself. Ignoring his misgivings, he decided to confide in Cass.
"Well, you see, my parents…that's a interesting conundrum," he began.
…
Elphaba, dancing with Fiyero, chanced to look over at Liir and Cass.
"Who's that?" she asked. Fiyero looked up and followed her gaze.
"How do you expect me to know this?" he asked. "That girl wasn't even born when I went to prison. How the devil would I know her? Ask Glinda, she ought to know, it's her party."
"Later," Elphaba answered, giving Cass one last suspicious glance and turning her attention back to Fiyero. "Much later."