I'm back after over a month! That's crazy and I am beyond sorry! My writing tutor said, "There is no such thing as writer's block, just lazy writers", and man, did that kick my butt into gear! But coffee house work and uni assessment is a draining experience to say the least. PLUS I got a second job! What is life?
Also, did you know there is a competition to create the worst possible opening sentence for a novel? It's the most hilarious and brilliant thing I have ever seen!
And yet more notes: I recently finished watching an adorable anime called Spice and Wolf that had to most perfectly subtly romance worked through it that taught me a lot about writing banter and rapport. It's so cute and I loved how it had an economics focus instead of whacking people with swords. Sadly it takes them two seasons to get together, but that's what made it so great!
Thedoctor24601: 3am is a perfectly reasonable time to be awake! Even though I couldn't survive that late (being a morning person), I am assured by the rest of my species that this is a common behaviour :)
The Wizard Of Wicked: One short day to have a lifetime of fun! (Fun? Pfft! Not in this story! Well, maybe a little :P)
Elphabagirl: You make my heart smile :)
Fae'sFlower: Haha, I thought so! One too many zeroes! Yeah, Frex is a tough nut to crack.
The Emerald City was abuzz with life as the carriage carrying Elphaba and Father Frexspar clattered through the paved streets. Glancing out the window, Elphaba caught sight of the thoroughly green theme to the city, her eyes widening at the grandeur of the towering buildings and unique culture.
As she watched, the carriage carried them away from the densely populated, boutique-lined streets and into the less glamorous side of town, where the buildings had clearly seen better days.
As they pulled up outside a shabby looking hotel, the sign above the door was faded and peeling, but Elphaba managed to read, "The Emerald Star Hotel". Frexspar cleared his throat awkwardly to capture Elphaba's attention. "I have arranged for you to stay in this hotel for three days. You have until then to find employment and lodgings."
Elphaba nodded tensely, glad that he had at least given her a head start. He didn't utter another word as she had disembarked from the carriage and was seeing to her luggage.
The coachman Frexspar had hired for the trip dumped Elphaba's trunk at the foot of the hotel stairs and climbed back up to his perch without a word. Bending to pick it up Elphaba was surprised to hear Frexspar's voice call softly from the carriage.
"I will pray for you."
Elphaba whirled around and watched the carriage pulled away and disappear down the street.
Sighing, Elphaba hefted her trunk up the stairs. Pausing at the door, she glanced back up the street and found it empty.
Through the door Elphaba found the foyer, sparsely furnished with only a few hard wooden chairs and the reception desk, and an old gramophone scratched away in the corner.
A girl sat behind the desk, her hair piled sloppily atop her head in an attempt to make herself presentable. Her jaw schmacked noisily on some gum as she filed her nails.
Elphaba cleared her throat a little and spoke up. "Excuse me?"
The girl at the desk merely glanced at Elphaba through half-lidded eyes before droning "Name?"
"Thropp." Elphaba replied.
The girl nodded absently and handed over a room key. "Room 93 is yours for three days and three nights, you may come and go as you please. After three days that you can either extend your stay or leave."
Elphaba took the key and nodded her thanks before heading to the stairwell. Finding her lodgings she found it to be of little difference to her room back at the church, furnished just as sparsely as the foyer with the addition or a small dresser and a single, rickety bed.
Setting her trunk at the end of the bed, Elphaba got to work unpacking what she would be needing for her stay. She folded the few dresses she had into the drawers and the book from Mr. Dillamond on top, Grimmerie still seared into its cover. She left the rest of her belongings in her trunk, ready for when she would be leaving.
The bed creaked as Elphaba sat on its stained sheets, contemplating the past few days. Just last week she had been sitting in her room, reading and being yelled at to do her chores. Now the comfort of routine was gone, replaced with the relentless uncertainty that she may end up on the streets in three days time. No, it was certain she would be on the streets. After all, who would hire the green girl.
Rubbing at her face Elphaba stood hastily and gathered a the few coins she had saved over the past few years into her pocket and headed out the door. She wasn't about to sit down and wallow in self pity, she was going to survive, just like last time.
Elphaba walked out of her room and down the stairs, past the schmacking of the receptionist and onto the street. The rest of today would be for exploring and orientation in the city, so Elphaba strode purposefully in the direction she had come in the carriage, heading towards the more modern side of town.
As she walked, Elphaba once again noticed that the buildings towered over head, dwarfing anything she had seen in Longstone. After rounding a few corners and following her nose, Elphaba ended up standing on one of the main streets, taking in the hustle and bustle of the heart of Oz.
Stores of every kind clustered along the streets. A menagerie of dress shops and salons were lined up beside cultural monuments and cafes. There were people calling from every direction, trying to get passersby to enter the stores and buy their goods.
And all of it was green. Everything seemed to be green here. The clothes, the buildings, even the food at the cafes was green. And there was something else strange that Elphaba couldn't quite put her finger on, something to do with the people here.
Just as she was about to figure it out, a paper boy barreled into her, knocking her off her feet.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" She yelled up at him.
"Oops! Sorry, miss!" The fellow smiled apologetically and helped her to her feet, bowing quickly before hurrying on his way.
Elphaba blinked after him finally realising what the strange thing was.
No one was staring at her.
So unexpected was this realisation that Elphaba laughed out loud, finally drawing some looks from the surrounding crowd at whom she grinned toothily, willing them to whisper among themselves.
"I believe that's the first time I've seen you smile, let alone laugh."
Elphaba spun around, all humour draining from her face as she found herself looking at someone she had hoped to never see again.
"You."
"I have a name you know, but you seem to dislike using it." Said the man, cocky smile in place on his lips.
"I chose to forget you, seeing as the last time we met you were of no use to me whatsoever."
His jaw clenched slightly before he replied. "It's Fiyero."
Elphaba ignored him and turned on her heel
Snapping out of his his shock, Fiyero jogged to catch up with her. "Look, I'm sorry about your friend, but there was nothing I could do."
"Nice to know. Now leave me alone."
"Oh, come on. You can't honestly think so little of me?"
"I do." Elphaba rounded on him and stared straight up into the face, daring him to claim otherwise. Fiyero's eyes searched her face as he desperately tried to come up with a reply.
"Fiyero!" A petite blonde scampered up the Fiyero from the crowd carrying two large shopping bags. "Would you be a dear and carry these for me?"
"Of course." Fiyero took them from her and she latched herself onto his arm in appreciation.
Elphaba quirked her eyebrow turned her attention to his companion. "Today's accessory is a little much don't you think?" Referring to the petite blonde symbiotically attached to his arm.
Fiyero lip twitched as he tried not to laugh, the blonde at his arm gasping in indignation. Recovering slightly, the woman cleared her throat and shook out her curls in an effort to regain her composure before asking in a sickly sweet tone that oozed displeasure.
"Fiyero, dearest, who is this?"
"Oh, ah, Galinda, love." The pet name seemed to be added as an afterthought. "This is Miss Elphaba. I met her in Munchkinland during my service."
Galinda's crystalline eyes lit up in realisation. "Well, I'm so glad to have met you, Miss Elphaba. The glamour of the Emerald City must be quite the change from your more, rural roots."
"Indeed." Elphaba deadpanned back. "I've never seen so much needless expense in one place before."
"Keeping up with the times is hardly needless." Galinda chided. "Just look at you! You seem to have gone to quite the effort to blend in to the Emerald City."
Elphaba's eyebrows may as well have disappeared into her hairline.
"Galinda!" Exclaimed Fiyero, his eyes bulging with shock.
"What is it?" Asked Galinda, confused.
Fiyero's explanation was cut off by a snort of laughter from Elphaba. In second she was clutching at her sides as she laughed uproariously, yet again drawing the attention of the Ozmapolitan crowd. Fiyero and Galinda just stood watching her, dumbstruck, until she recovered enough to straighten.
Wiping the tears from her eyes Elphaba grinned up at Fiyero."Yes, she suits you just fine."
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"I didn't paint myself this way, I'm naturally green."
"Oh." Galinda's hand flew to her mouth in shock. Stumbling to recover she hurried to cover her blunder. "Well in that case it is quite becoming of you."
Elphaba's lips quirked in blatant amusement while Galinda attempting to maintain her bubbly exterior. Fiyero simply stood there, unwilling to put himself in the firing line.
When neither of them spoke, Galinda cleared her throat slightly. "That was a compliment, so the correct response is the thank me."
Elphaba's grin widened. "Right. Thank you, Miss Galinda."
"You're welcome, Elphie." Smiled Galinda, graciously.
Elphaba frowned. "Elphie?"
"Elphaba is too long and I am determined to be friends and make it up to you after that terrible embarrassment before."
Unsure of how to respond Elphaba blinked down at the blonde before looking to Fiyero for help. Fiyero just smiled and shrugged.
Admittedly, when I wrote Galinda here I was putting on a Lumpy Space Princess voice in my head. It seriously changes the whole dynamic of her character for the worst, so don't do it.
The answer was Guys and Dolls! I saw it earlier this year and it was alright. It had a very slow start but when it got going it was actually thoroughly entertaining and quite a good show. Congratulotions to Thedoctor24601 and guest 2! Extra cookies to you two for being the only ones to know!
Next question: Ian Fleming, popular author of the James Bond series, also wrote a children's story that later became a musical starring Dick Van Dyke. What is it?
Note: This chapter is unedited due to extreme busy-ness. I ask your forgiveness for any errors :)
Reviews are my motivation and make me feel loved :)