Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow American readers!
"You are an absolute delight in the mornings, my dear sweet Elphie," Glinda giggled, kissing Elphaba's frowning lips.
The couple had awoken in each other's arms an hour ago, and while Glinda was a chipper morning person, Elphaba was a less-than-eager morning cuddler. The grumpy opera house owner let her blonde lover pepper her with kisses, and while she didn't fully reciprocate, she didn't pull away, nor push Glinda away. In fact, she was the reason Glinda was lying on top of her, her breath mixing with hers as she kissed every square inch of Elphaba's face.
Elphaba grumbled and turned over to her side, taking Glinda with her. The blonde squeaked and giggled, pulling herself closer. "Elphie!"
"Don't you have class this morning?" Elphaba asked, smiling for the first time that morning.
"Yes. At ten-thirty."
"What time is it? I can't see the clock."
"Because my beauty blinds you?"
"Because I'm blind without my glasses. I can only see you because you're in my face… and so is your morning breath."
Glinda huffed and pushed herself up. "Well, your breath isn't exactly minty-fresh. And you certainly weren't complaining about my morning breath an hour ago."
Elphaba smirked and rolled over, grabbing her glasses from the nightstand and slipping them onto her face. "You are correct. I wasn't complaining. Just simply stating a fact."
Glinda stuck out her tongue and slid out of bed, sauntering to the window and opening the curtains. She walked with an extra wiggle in her hips, taunting Elphaba to follow her. A few moments later, she heard Elphaba slip out of bed, her bare feet padding over to her. Elphaba took the bait and wrapped her arms around her from behind.
"I want to stay like this forever," Glinda whispered.
"I do, too. This is perfect."
"Would you stop time for me, if you could?"
"Yes." She kissed her cheek. "To make sure you're not late for your class."
"You horrible romantic, you," Glinda sighed, turning in Elphaba's arms to face her. She rose to her toes and kissed her nose before shimmying out to the living room.
Elphaba leaned against the doorframe as she watched Glinda pull clothes from her trunk and hurry into the bathroom. Taking a deep breath, she began straightening up the bed, the scent of Glinda's perfume floating to her nose as she shook out the sheets.
Glinda came out in her white leotard, tights, and dressing gown, and her hair wrapped in a towel. She saw Elphaba at the table, nursing a mug of dark coffee and reading a newspaper. A plate of toast and fruit sat in front of her, and another at the empty seat across from her.
"You read the newspaper every morning?" Glinda asked, sitting across from her and pouring her own coffee.
"Yes. I find it very important to be informed of the affairs of Oz."
"And how are the affairs of Oz?"
"Faring well."
Glinda smiled and munched on her apple slices. Once she finished, her hair was dry enough to brush and style. When she finished buttoning her dress, Elphaba was also ready to leave. The girls walked hand-in-hand down the stairs, and a cab was waiting for them outside the building.
"The cab will drop you off at the opera house first. I have a few errands to run," Elphaba said once they were settled and on their way.
"Errands?"
"To the bank, then the dressmaker's, then to the cobblers to pick up my winter boots. I won't be back at the opera house until later this afternoon."
"I have a packed schedule with Greyling, then Merante, and then a rehearsal with the other corps girls. I'll be busy until tonight's performance."
"It's good you'll be kept occupied."
Glinda tilted her head. "Your voice sounds like your mind is occupied."
Elphaba silently looked out the window, then slowly returned her gaze to Glinda. "I don't want to keep secrets from you anymore," Elphaba whispered.
"Why? Because now you see how frustrating it can be?" Glinda giggled, then noted her serious tone.
"Yes, and we've shared misunderstandings –"
"Many misunderstandings, in which there's blame to share."
"Yes. And I feel that moving forward, we're both at a place where we can put all misunderstandings to rest and be straightforward and honest."
"Completely honest." She looked her companion up and down. "Elphaba, what are you about to tell me?"
"I haven't been –"
"Oh, we're here!" Glinda exclaimed as the cab slowed to a stop in front of the opera house. "I have twenty minutes 'til class. You'll tell me later, right, Elphie?"
"Yes. I'll tell you later," Elphaba breathed, relieved at the slight delay in her secret reveal.
Glinda leaned forward and quickly hugged her before jumping out and running inside. Elphaba watched her run inside, craning her neck to see the opera house until it vanished around a corner.
Glinda hurried up the stairs to the dressing rooms. She threw her bag into the first available locker, quickly unbuttoned her dress, and slipped into her class skirt. She hurried to the studio and joined her friend group putting on their pointe shoes. They laughed and talked as they stretched and warmed up, and for the first time in a few days, Glinda felt like she was returning to her old self.
Greyling came in and tapped her cane. The girls hurried to their spots at the barre.
Glinda went through the motions of the barre exercises, breathing with the music and letting all her worries melt away. She felt loose, free, and felt energized for the rest of the day.
When she entered the pas de deux class, the principal dancers were all huddled together, deep in discussion in hushed tones.
"Glinda," Crope smiled, taking Glinda's hands and pulling her into their circle. "Have you heard the news?"
"What news?" the blonde blinked.
"There's going to be a special announcement on Monday."
"We're trying to figure out what it's going to be," Gysp whisper-shouted, like it was a huge open secret.
"Maybe the cast list for the anniversary celebrations and winter ballet will be posted early," Tibbett speculated.
"Morrible and Greyling seemed pretty set in their 'before the Lurlinemas break' release. I don't think they'll surprise us with that," Glinda said.
"That's what would make it a great announcement. Plus, they didn't say how long before the break. Now is still technically 'before the break'."
"I still don't know why we had to bother to have auditions," Gysp sighed, rolling her neck. "It's not like we needed a new –"
Crope loudly cleared his throat and shifted his eyes between Gysp and Glinda.
"I heard it had something to do with the opera house's mysterious owner," Gysp said, rolling onto her pointes, changing the subject, and avoiding Glinda's gaze.
"What about the owner?" Glinda asked, trying to play along that she had no idea.
"Maybe we'll finally meet him."
"Maybe it'll be Morrible," Tibbett said, and Crope choked on the air he just inhaled.
Glinda cleared her throat. "Perhaps –"
Merante entered and class began. Glinda tried not to let Gysp's interrupted comment about the auditions get to her. After all, she knew she did her best, and she also knew what the special surprise would be.
"Wonderful job, class. I will see you all Monday," Merante said, dismissing the group.
After the lunch break, she went to the main studio for the corps rehearsal. There, she was treated to a similar conversation from the partnering class, with her friends speculating about the announcement.
"I heard that three corps girls are getting promoted because of the auditions," ShenShen smiled, doing a perfect triple pirouette.
"Three of us could become principal dancers?" Milla gasped. "Really?"
"That's what I heard."
"I heard –"
"Girls, I don't wish to alarm you, but I have alarming news!" Pfannee said, hurrying over to the group and sliding into the space. "We're meeting the owner on Monday."
"Pfannee, that's just one of those rumors," Milla said, rolling her eyes.
"No, it's true. It's confirmed. I overheard Morrible talking with some board members."
"How did you 'overhear' something like that?" Glinda blinked.
"It's not my fault they chose not to be quiet. The point is that 'E' is finally revealing himself."
"Don't tell me you're going to thrust yourself upon him and start flirting with him," ShenShen huffed.
Pfannee fisted her hands on her hips. "Well, how else does one get ahead in this business? It's not what you know, it's who you know. Who do you think Gysp slept with to become a principal dancer? Or Letta, even!"
"Pfannee!" Milla hissed.
"I'm not saying they're not talented. I'm saying that they had to get noticed somehow. And it wasn't through auditions. That's why I thought those auditions were just a useless formality. I don't think any of us are getting promoted. Everyone already has their set spots because the people in power already have their favorites."
"You really think so?" Glinda asked.
"Of course. That's the way this business is. You must be willing to go all the way to get ahead."
After that evening's performance, Glinda returned to Elphaba's building alone. Elphaba left her a note saying she went back home after her errands. She said that both doors would be left unlocked for her, but to lock them behind her.
Glinda thanked and paid the cab driver before stepping down. As promised, the front door was unlocked, and as instructed, Glinda locked it behind her. When she walked up to Elphaba's door, she let herself in.
The lights were on, and Glinda immediately spotted her lover across the room. "How are you so comfy?" she asked, seeing Elphaba jackknifed in her chair by the window.
Elphaba looked up and smiled, abandoning her book as she crossed to meet Glinda. She pulled her into her arms and kissed her. "How was it tonight?"
"Fine. Are you alright?"
"I developed a headache after lunch, so I spent the day here. I'll probably regret it on Monday when I see today's paperwork waiting for me, but… I needed a day."
"I understand. There's so much rumor and speculation at the opera house. It was hard to not set the records straight."
Elphaba nodded and helped Glinda remove her coat before going to her bag. "Here," she said, handing Glinda a few bills.
"What's this?"
"For the cab back here."
Glinda pushed her hand away. "I have money, Elphie."
"I know, but –"
"You've already opened your home to me. And I'm more than grateful. But I don't need any financial help. I want you, not your money."
Elphaba looked into Glinda's eyes and nodded, putting the money back in her bag. "Any word on Ama Clutch?"
Glinda shook her head. "I haven't had a chance to go, and if the doctor's been sending notes to the hotel, they haven't been forwarded."
"We'll go tomorrow."
Glinda grinned. "Thank you. You know… as bad as this might sound… not having Ama Clutch has given me a small taste of a bit of independence. I love Ama Clutch, but I've never had this much freedom before. That being said, when she feels better, I will cherish every moment with her and never leave her side for the rest of my life."
Elphaba grabbed her book again, moving over to the sofa. Glinda went into the bathroom to freshen up, immediately sitting next to Elphaba upon her return.
"Can I ask you something?" the blonde asked, hugging one of the pillows against her stomach.
"Yes?"
"What are all those bottles in the bathroom?"
"Cleansing oils, since I can't use water."
"They work really well."
"Thank you for letting me know I don't have horrible body odor."
Glinda giggled and snuggled closer, practically burying her body against Elphaba's. She took Elphaba's hand, declaring that reading wasn't a "two-handed activity" as she read over her shoulder. "There was something you wanted to tell me this morning, wasn't there?"
"Yes. After our time in Munchkinland last week, I figured it was time I…"
"Elphie, wait. If you're not ready to tell me something, you don't have to –"
"No. I'm the one who said I didn't want any more secrets. I can't go back on my word."
"That's different. I don't want you to force yourself to tell me something you're not ready to tell me just because." She rubbed Elphaba's arms. "Tell me this; will this cause a potential miscommunication?"
"No. I… I don't think so. It won't. Not immediately. At least… not until Lurlinemas."
"Is it life or death?"
"No."
"Then I can be patient and wait until you're ready. I won't think about it, and I don't want you to, either. Promise me you won't let this stress you. I won't stand for grey streaks mixing with your beautiful raven tresses."
Elphaba smiled and kissed her knuckles. "Anything for you."
After a restful and snuggle-filled weekend, complete with the good news that Ama Clutch's fever had broken and she'd soon be ready to receive visitors, Monday morning brought sunshine to welcome the new week.
The morning of the big announcement, Elphaba snuck down to the opera house's small courtyard, sequestered on the far south side. She had come to terms with the announcement and made peace with her final moments of anonymity, but still wanted this final moment alone.
As fate would have it, she wouldn't have her private moment.
She heard a quiet splash, followed by a loud grunt, and peaked around the doorway. Glinda was there, wearing her leotard and tights, but boots instead of ballet shoes, and no coat. She stood under a low-hanging branch, where a small bell was hanging from a string. Elphaba watched as Glinda jumped up, rang the bell, and splashed the water when she landed. And apparently, making a splash frustrated her.
"Glinda."
The blonde squeaked and turned, the shock at seeing Elphaba staying a moment longer than expected before it melted into a smile. "Hi, Elphie."
"What are you doing? Where is your coat?"
"I'm landing my jumps too loudly. I couldn't even blame it on my shoes. Greyling said I had the lightness of a depressed elephant, stampeding away from a lion."
"That bad?"
"Probably worse, but I needed to keep up with my leap training, anyway. Now is the perfect time to do it. I've fallen horribly behind."
"This is why you left early?"
"I left a note. I even drew a smiley face within a heart, and a bunch of kisses." She did a few more jumps, not stopping until she barely made a splash. "Oh, and I received a message from Dr. Moures. The medical fumigation took longer than expected. But I'll be able to return home on Wednesday." She stretched her arms above her head. "You were looking for me?"
Elphaba nodded, wringing her hands.
"Because it's today." The blonde took Elphaba's hands in her own. Elphaba was still asleep when she left, so she hadn't seen her outfit for her big debut. Elphaba's long-sleeved dress was dark blue, a welcome change from her funeral-esque garb. Her ankle-length, full skirt bellowed out around her stockinged legs, and her cloak wrapped around her shoulders, unbuttoned. "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be. Morrible will gather everyone in the south studio after the lunch break. The whole opera house; performers, students, and staff. She'll make some speech that will make it seem like she did the brunt of the work of getting me to reveal myself. We've been working on some new pyrotechnics, so I'll appear in the center of the studio in a plume of green smoke."
"I thought those were in development for the spring show."
"They are. I'm kidding. I won't be the test subject."
Glinda giggled. "Then what?"
"I'll have to say how proud I am of everyone for all your hard work, and how I'm excited to celebrate the opera house's tricentennial amongst everyone. Then you will all form a receiving line and I'll meet everyone individually."
"A receiving line with everyone? Really?"
"If we manage our time wisely, the whole ordeal shouldn't take more than two hours."
"Well, if it'll make it go quicker, you don't have to have a heart-to-heart with me." She rubbed Elphaba's arms. "We'll have our heart-to-heart later tonight, with that delicious bowl of cream custard in your fridge."
She smiled. "I'd like that. I'll let you get back to your practice now." She squeezed her hand and turned to go back inside. "Come inside soon. I don't want you to catch a cold."
"I'll be in soon. I'll see you later, Madame Owner."
"Anyone who calls me that will find themselves employed by the traveling vaudeville show," Elphaba called over her shoulder.
…
Elphaba looked at her watch as she trudged up the back stairs. She had fifteen minutes before the announcement. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her twitching hands. She entered her office, but something on her desk caught her eye.
A single, lavender rose lay across her open book, with a pink pointe shoe ribbon tied in a bow around its stem, along with a folded note. She immediately knew who left it there. Her muse. The keeper of her secret. The owner of her heart. Her hidden lover, their passion stronger than the walls of the great Ozma Regent Opera House itself.
'I've had my debut. Now it's time for yours. I love you.' ~G.
She took the rose and smiled, holding it up to her nose. She knew exactly what she needed to get through the afternoon. She carefully untied the ribbon and pulled her hair over her shoulder. She tied it in a bow at the bottom of her braid, just like Glinda had done the morning after she spent the night at her townhouse. A wave of calmness washed over her. She used that boost, hid the note in her desk drawer, and made her way back downstairs.
Once she reached the double doors of the south studio, she took a moment to collect herself. She heard everyone's jumbled voices on the other side, and almost turned around, but stopped. She'd already come this far. She wouldn't allow her nerves to make her back down. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and ran her fingers over Glinda's ribbon.
Her lips curled into a confident smile, and she straightened her dress and squared her shoulders as she pushed the doors open.