On a quiet afternoon, Elphaba decided it was time for her to go and find some Lurlinemas presents for her friends and Nessa.
She had been strolling through the little shops in the town for two hours and had found presents for Nessa and Glinda so far.
For Nessa, she had decided on a studded hairslide that perfectly matched her beloved jeweled shoes.
The present for Glinda had been harder to find, but ulitmately, Elphaba had been lucky in an antique shop, where she happened to come across a gorgeous display of various perfume flacons.
She had chosen a diamond shaped one, with the glass tinted pink and a vaporiser from which a neatly worked metal feather was dangling as a decoration.
She was sure that Glinda would be thrilled about this present.
But the thing that really posed difficulties was the present for Fiyero.
She didn't have any idea what to give to him.
Everything she could think of sounded too vapid or like she cared too much.
The latter of which was actually true, she had to admit to herself after a little while.
She wanted to give him a good present, something that wasn't just a present for the sake of giving him one but something that he'd really enjoy. Something witty and smart.
As she came by the flower shop, an idea struck her.
Minutes later she stepped out of the shop again, carefully carrying a small packet.
I hope this is a good idea, she thought, as she headed back to the university.
In the hallway she ran into Fiyero who was lingering around as usual.
She withheld the impulse to hide the package, to not make him suspicious of it.
"Elphaba, I need to talk to you for a second!"
"Oh, of course, can I help you with something?"
"I'm desperate. I've thought really hard about this for a really long time and believe me, this is something I don't do very often, but I still can't come up with a good idea for a present for Glinda."
He looked so clueless that Elphaba almost felt a little sorry for him.
"Well, I think you have multiple options, actually.
You can never go wrong with something sweet and romantic, girls like Glinda adore that.
Then you could just try and find something she is passionate about.
A present is something that's coming from your heart, so anything with a little thought is great."
"I think I get what you mean. What are you giving her anyways?"
Elphaba pulled the carefully wrapped flacon out of her bag and showed it to him.
"This is nice! What is in the other package though?"
"Oh, I can't tell you that", Elphaba declared, "it's your present."
"Mine? You're giving me something too?"
"Of course", Elphaba laughed.
"But, that, that means I have to find a present for you as well!"
"Looks like you better put some more of your brains to this, my dear."
With that, Elphaba left the confused behind and carried her purchases up to her room with a smile on her face.