[A/N: i thought of this once and didn't know what to do with it. But hey, everyone loves fanfiction right???... suuuure. This isn't the first fic i started for this fandom, but it's probably gonna be the first posted. I thought it'd be longer.
You can use whatever version of the characters you want, i'm sure any will work (i go w the book version myself). This is while they're on their way to Oz for the first time (i guess). Pretend it makes sense. Tinman's name is 'Nick Chopper' btw.
TW/CW: waking up, bickering/arguing/disagreeing (light), little bit of food/eating, apologies, drinking water, difference of opinions, disappointment, making up, walking/together]
She woke up to bickering. These past few days she had woken up to hear their friendly chatter, usually quiet, and sometimes barely at all. But this morning, the two artificial Munchkin men were speaking loud enough to be heard in the actual dreamworld.
"No, i really think you're wrong about this, dear friend. You see, this is a clear situation even without a brain."
"I don't believe that you need a brain to know this. It's very obvious which is better: so much so that i can feel it in my chest."
"I believe that you feel it in your chest! But i believe what you are feeling is incorrect." The Scarecrow noticed that Dorothy had awoken and hurried over to offer her the handfuls of berries that he and the Tinman had gathered earlier that morning. "Hello dear! We have breakfast for you!"
Tinman felt guilty when he saw the way that she looked at them. "I hope our conversation did not awaken you. I'm sorry that we got so heated. We truly did not mean to get so loud about it."
"It's fine, Nick." She put a greedy bunch of berries in her mouth. She knew that farmwork left her hungry, but she never would have guessed that just walking would leave her just as empty. "What were you two arguing about???"
"Oh my, did it sound like we were arguing??? I'm sorry."
"It was just a difference of opinion, really. Tinman and i agree about a lot of things, but this is something that we may never agree on."
"It's really a shame. Are you sure you feel that way???"
"I think i do! I simply prefer my opinion. It does not mean we can't still be friends!"
Tinman sighed. "I am very happy about that. I would hate myself if i allowed this to be the thing that tears us apart."
By this time, their two furry friends had woken up as well. Toto stretched his little body and snagged a few of Dorothy's berries, and Lion gave a great big yawn. "What was it that you were disagreeing on??" He still sounded exhausted.
"Ah, perhaps you two can bring some new perspectives!" Scarecrow excitedly explained: "you see, Nick thinks that farmers are the most attractive men. I, on the other hand, believe that lumberjacks are much more attractive."
Dorothy stopped chewing her food, and Toto stole a few more berries. There was a pause, and Lion tiredly asked. "You're arguing about which is nicer to look at?"
"Yes!"
"Well, no." They had answered simultaneously. "It's more than just what they look like for me. I think farmers are better because there is a lot of care in what they do. They bring so much necessary good to everything we know. They tend to scores of plants and care for all sorts of animals all day every day. It's as if they have their own little worlds on every different farm, and the farmers are the graceful rulers of all of those lands."
"The word you used was 'irresistible.'" Tinman sheepishly nodded. "I didn't disagree with anything he said about farmers. They're fine, i think farmers are fine." Scarecrow shrugged. "But i like lumberjacks better! They're rugged, they're masculine. They're solid and strong, and they do Herculean work everyday! They not only fell trees that are hundreds of years old, they also chop them up and move them!! And those are just the ones that cut the trees! Many are incredible woodworkers as well!!!" He held his hands to his cheeks and looked off. "Dear me, to be able to see a lumberjack work with my own painted eyes! I will not live until i see that!!!" Dorothy and Lion glanced at one another.
"You really give them more credit than what they need, dear friend." Tinman looked at them. "He saw them in a picture magazine once."
"It blew in my face one day! I guessed it belonged to somebody nearby my farm and had gotten lost in the wind. It must have been a real shame for them! I greatly enjoyed the images that i saw!" He sighed sadly. "I would have kept it, but a crow came and took it from me. Perhaps if you had seen the pictures, you would understand why i like lumberjacks so much."
"I have known many lumberjacks. They are strong, sure, but they are not as appealing as you believe them to be. Not many are creative enough to make unique things from wood. They cut down trees that have lived for centuries without much thought or remorse. And it's not like they carry wood to market themselves. They pile logs onto carts that are drawn by horses or oxen: animals that are raised by farmers!" Tinman nodded his head. "Farmers contribute to life every day. We would be nowhere without them!"
"They are both important people." The group had moved to a stream for the beasts to drink from, and Lion lifted his head after he felt quenched. "Farmers grow the food that people need to eat, and provide the cotton and wool that people use for clothing. Lumberjacks provide the wood to build fires to cook the food, as well as the wood to build homes for people to live in. People would be nowhere without either. Animals like me, on the other hand…" He carelessly scratched the back of his ear. "We have no need for either man. I live in the forest, where i do not need a house nor clothes." He shrugged.
Both of them deflated at his opinion. Lion really had a point about their preferences not mattering to wild animals. But they were both still technically closer to man than they were animal, so they still thought it was important. "T-true… But farmers do not chop down forests."
"But some do use the cleared forests as farms." Lion gave Nick a look, and he frowned sadly.
"Well, Dorothy! What do you think about this??? You are a person, so you must see that both men are important!" Scarecrow looked at her expectantly.
"Well, i do live on a farm. I'm kind of a farmer myself, and most of the people that i know are farmers." She thought out loud.
"Yes! And you must surely know many attractive farmers, right???" Nick looked at her hopefully.
She considered it. "Well, i don't really find any of them attractive." She shrugged. "I mean, i'm sure that somebody does. But i don't really like any of them myself." Tinman seemed defeated.
"Aha! So you must think that lumberjacks are more attractive!!!" Scarecrow was excited to be right. "I knew you'd agree with me, Dorothy!!!"
She made a face. "Nooot really." Scarecrow's mouth fell. "I met two lumberjacks in town once. One was not very kind at all. He was rather rude to everyone around. The other didn't have much personality to him. I know that some of the ladies thought they were quite something when they came through, but i didn't see what they were talking about. They were not nearly handsome enough for me to get past their personalities."
The two friends looked at one another. "I guess we're back where we started."
"I'm sorry guys. I guess i'm not really old enough to think that way about men yet." The other girls in her class were, but she never understood them.
"Yes, sorry for not being able to give you an answer either." Lion shook like a dog, and Toto barked once. "I think we best be off. We've still got a long way to go. We can still talk, but let's keep our feet moving."
Scarecrow sighed. "I guess Oz isn't getting any nearer with us standing here..."
Nick nodded. "Yes, we should get going." He put a hand on Scarecrow's shoulder. "I'm sorry, my darling friend, for disagreeing with you. I do so hate when we cannot come together on something."
"All is well, my precious companion! There is no need for us to agree on every single thing. As long as we can agree that you and i are the best of friends, then all is perfect for me!" He happily offered his arm.
Tinman smiled fondly and locked their arms together. "Absolutely, dear Scarecrow!! Ah, i am so relieved that we have made up. I hope that we never fight like that again."
"Likewise!" The group quickly found the golden marked path and began another day of travel, with Lion leading the way. "Though i will say, i do still prefer lumberjacks."
"Dear me… well, that is fine. As long as i may keep my preference for farmers."
"Certainly! You may absolutely prefer your less-attractive farmers, and i may prefer my more-attractive lumberjacks!"
"Lumberjacks are not more attractive!!"
His smile was audible. "They are!"
Dorothy rushed up to walk beside Lion as the others continued to chatter behind them. She barely leaned and whispered to him. "That was really weird. Am i reading into that??? They were calling each other attractive, right????"
He glanced at her. "My dear girl. Who knows what two mindless people could ever be speaking about?" He sighed. "But yes. Whether they know it or not. They're attracted to each other." He quirked his eyebrow, and Dorothy giggled.
She quickly glanced back at the two, who were still bickering about their preferences with their arms locked together. She smiled. "Well, at least they have each other."
[Post A/N: i really like the Oz books. I've only heard the first four, but i like what's there. It makes me happy. I hope i can come up with some other silly things. Send me some.prompts if you can think of any!]