Today's my birthday!
Glinda was able to ignore the budding claustrophobic feelings as she was jostled by the growing crowd. Slowly, as more people finished studying the cast list, she squeezed her way to the front and scanned the list for her name.
The anniversary performances were first. She was cast in a duet with Crope, and a trio with Crope and Maehri. The two other names appeared much more frequently than hers, but she let it go as she shifted to the ten-week winter ballet.
She had heard of the ballet 'Cypila', but didn't remember much of the plot. Something about a lonely girl and toys coming to life. She scanned the list for her name, her stomach dropping as she passed each character until she reached the bottom and saw her name listed with the familiar corps ballet girls.
She tried not to be too disappointed. She would be part of the anniversary celebrations, but without a solo spotlight. She wanted to push her disappointment aside, since this could very well be her last performance here, but that was easier said than done.
At the bottom was an addendum of sorts:
Congratulations to our new principal dancers:
ShenShen Minkos
Liynn Moures
Himin Yoxt
Glinda blinked at the three names. ShenShen and Liynn would be moving up from the corps to principals, and not her? She was the one who performed the second variation solo at the last minute without much prep, proving she could handle it. She was the one in Merante's class.
"Congratulations, ShenShen," she said, plastering a soft smile on her face as she turned to her friend.
"Thank you, Glinda. Congratulations on your part in the anniversary performances. I… I didn't think they were actually serious about promoting people to principals," ShenShen said, her eyes welling with tears.
"You've worked so hard."
"So have you. We all worked hard. Greyling wouldn't accept anything less."
"Neither does Merante."
She giggled. "I'll consider myself warned." She took her friend's hands, giving her a soft smile that also seemed to double as apologetic. "Does this mean… we're still friends, right?"
"Of course, ShenShen."
"You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Of course not. I could never… I'm fine," Glinda half-lied, squeezing her hands.
Maybe this was her sign that her time at the opera house was limited. There would be no use promoting her if she was forced to leave. She didn't know if that made her feel better, but she didn't have time to dwell on those feelings.
She hoped Milla's shopping offer was still on the table.
…
"I thought I made my instructions crystal clear," Elphaba frowned, glaring at the two older women sitting across from her. She had called Morrible and Greyling into her office once word reached her that the cast list had been posted. She had seen it herself after the crowd left and was less than pleased with what she saw. "You were supposed to show me before you printed the list."
"I apologize, Miss Thropp, but there were last-minute changes and other anniversary preparations had to be rescheduled. If I wanted the list printed before the break, I had to send it out much earlier," Morrible said, not sounding apologetic.
"Without my approval."
"You've never expressed interest in approving cast lists before."
"That was before I was ousted from the shadows into the public. From now on, all postings must be approved by me before everyone else sees it."
Morrible's lips twitched into a frown. "Yes, Miss Thropp."
"And Miss Greyling, regarding the winter ballet casting, why was Miss Upland not cast in a principal role, after I specifically instructed you to?"
"We held the auditions as you requested. You said it was not to be just a formality, and I did as you requested," Greyling said simply.
"No, you didn't. I said I wanted Miss Upland to be cast as Cypila."
"I remember. However, in my professional opinion, I didn't think it a wise decision."
"Why not? Miss Upland has proven that she can handle it. She has spent years in the corps group, and I've watched her. I believe that she deserves a promotion. She's already in Merante's principal partnering class."
"Yes, Miss Upland has shown remarkable improvement and growth over the last few months. However, this is more than just that. I must think about the overall dynamics of the show."
"What about the other three dancers you moved up?"
"They've been here longer than Miss Upland."
"That doesn't mean they're more deserving."
"Why this interest in Miss Upland?"
"I've noticed her, which is something no one else here has done."
"If I moved Miss Upland up, it would only hurt her in the long run. She's not ready to sustain a principal role every night. And I want her to be ready. But it's not her time yet. Pushing her would –"
"She's ready, and she's already proven it."
"No, Miss Thropp, she hasn't." Greyling pushed herself to her feet. "She is performing in two pieces for the anniversary, which is one more than I originally planned for her. I will not have the artistic integrity of my ballet cast system interrupted by your whims. You may be the owner, but you still have much to learn." She turned and walked out, leaning more on her cane than usual.
"Greyling has a point," Morrible said, her tone not quite condescending, yet not quite deferential. "There is a way we do things here, and it's kept this ship from sinking. You cannot play favorites, Elphaba. It will cause a rift, which is the last thing we need right now."
"I just –"
"What agenda are you trying to push?"
"I was expelled from the shadows against my will. There are people in the shadows who wish to shine. I want to give them what I was given."
"How noble of you, but there are proper ways to do those things."
"You must recall the cast list."
"I can't do that."
"Say there was a misprint. You did, in fact, post it without my final approval."
"If I say that, everyone will be mad at you and turn against you."
"I don't care."
"Well, I do. Again, that would cause a rift in the building, and possibly tear it down." She stood and leaned over the desk. Not quite menacing, yet not quite reassuring. "I know you have connections, Elphaba, but you are still fairly new to this power. Being a woman in power is very precarious. Even I must be careful where I step."
A shocked look crossed Elphaba's face, but she quickly pushed it away. "I'm not new to this, just taking a more active role. I'll issue an executive order –"
"No, you won't." Morrible exhaled loudly through her nose. She could see this would take some coaxing rather than a firm hand. "We cannot change the cast list, but I will speak with Greyling, and we will try to find a way to give Miss Upland a spotlight performance you so desperately want for her." Morrible gave her a look. "Answer me this; has Miss Upland come to you to express her dissatisfaction?"
"No, she hasn't."
"Then why are you dissatisfied?"
"Because I see potential in her, and I want her to grow."
Morrible looked like she didn't fully believe her, but dropped the subject. "I will speak to Greyling."
Sensing that was the best she could get, Elphaba begrudgingly agreed, and Morrible quickly left before she changed her mind. Elphaba leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She conceded defeat in this battle but was arming herself to fight the war.
Glinda didn't bring up the cast list, so neither did Elphaba. It was the elephant in the room, but Glinda pretended she thought Elphaba didn't know about it. It was ridiculous, but Elphaba played along. It was clear that Glinda didn't want to talk about it.
Two weeks before Lurlinemas, Glinda dragged Elphaba out shopping in the City Centre. The green woman did little protesting, claiming that there were some gifts she needed to purchase. She was tasked with Ama Clutch's old job of carrying Glinda's multiple bags, and to both girls' surprise, she completed her job with minimal complaints.
"Maybe you don't need my financial help," Elphaba muttered as Glinda shoved another bag into her arms. Carrying Glinda's bags meant she'd lost track of her own small one containing a fountain pen set for her sister, a pocket watch for her father, and a leather journal for her brother. She figured she probably put it in one of Glinda's bags. Maybe it dropped into one of the shoe bags.
"Ooh! Jeweled flowers!" Glinda giggled, seeing something sparkle from a stall a few feet away. She changed courses, never looking behind to see if Elphaba was even following her.
"You go ahead. I'll have these sent back to your townhouse," Elphaba said, falling in step with her just to make sure she'd be heard. "Will Ama Clutch be able to receive them?"
"She's home. I told her to rest downstairs, but knowing her, she probably didn't listen to me. As long as I don't witness her hobbling up and down the stairs, she'll be fine." She was already distracted by the display. The flowers were made with colorful glass, some displayed in vases, others as jewelry or window ornaments.
"This one is beautiful," Glinda smiled, pointing to a stained-glass orchid. "How much?"
"Forty-five," a tall man with rose skin, sunset-red hair, and a thick accent said.
Glinda turned to see if Elphaba was near. She saw her down the street, handing the bags to their driver. Smiling, she turned back to the vendor and agreed to buy the glass orchid, along with a medium-sized glass canary that was probably a decorative paperweight.
"Many thanks, my lady," the vendor said, wrapping the two items in protective packaging and handing them to Glinda with a bow.
"Thank you," the blonde smiled, glad she had secured her two Lurlinemas gifts for Elphaba. She started walking back to her, but changed course again when she got distracted by a stall with marionette dolls.
"Excuse me, Miss?"
Glinda turned around and was met with a tall man with ochre skin, black hair, large brown eyes, and full lips, which, for some reason, she couldn't stop staring at. The rest of his body was hidden behind a warm, brown cloak. She blinked, forcing herself to look away from his lips and back to his eyes. He looked faintly familiar, like she had seen his picture somewhere, but never met him.
"Could you please point me in the direction of the Ozma Regent Opera House?"
"Certainly. It's on Minnipin Boulevard. Right down this road, take a left, go all the way down, another left, then a right."
The man blinked at her. "Um…"
"Sorry. I'm horrendible at giving directions." She turned and pointed to a building in the close distance. "See that green building –"
"They're all green."
"The one with the two dragon gargoyles, and that spire with the clock."
The man squinted and nodded. "I believe so."
"Go there, then cross the street. You can't miss it."
The man chuckled and bowed. "Thank you, Miss." He turned and headed off in the vague direction Glinda directed him to.
The blonde watched him leave, still trying to figure out where she had seen him before. She met so many people in the city that she might have seen him in passing, but she wasn't good enough with faces to remember seeing him if she only saw him a few times without any interaction.
"There you are!"
She turned as Elphaba came over, her arms free of the bags. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and adjusted her hat.
"Did you find everything you wanted?" she asked, taking the bag with the glass flowers from Glinda.
"… Yeah," Glinda muttered, still looking toward where the man headed.
Elphaba followed her gaze. "What are you looking for?"
"Nothing… no one. Just… a handsome man asked me for directions to the opera house. I hope he doesn't get lost, I'm horrendible at giving directions. I had a feeling I've seen him before, but I don't remember." She looked up at Elphaba. "He sounded Vinkun, and looked important. Are you expecting anyone?"
"Maybe. My schedule has been extra booked with meetings, but I don't have anything until later. He's probably someone meeting with Morrible or the board." She trailed off at the end of her sentence, distracted by the marionette dolls.
Music from street musicians grew louder as the small troupe approached. A string player, flutist, and hand drummer skipped over with a jolly, holiday tune. Elphaba smiled as she took one of the puppets from the stall. It didn't get past Glinda that Elphaba chose the one with curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and a dark pink dress. The one that looked like her.
There was a small stage set up, and she made the stringed doll dance to the music, much to the delight of the gathered group, specifically the children and Glinda.
Elphaba wasn't a professional puppet master, but she somehow made the dance somewhat graceful. She manipulated the strings to make the puppet move its arms, legs, and spin around. When the song ended, everyone applauded and Elphaba returned the doll to the vendor with a grateful nod.
"Is there anything else you want to buy?" Elphaba asked, exhaling as if she danced it herself.
"I think I'm good for now. Did the driver leave?"
"Not yet. Is that the last bag to send to your house?"
Glinda nodded and Elphaba led the way back to their coach. She asked the driver to tell Ama Clutch that she went directly to the opera house with Elphaba and to send a note if she needed anything.
"I'm sure Henv is making sure Ama Clutch isn't dancing a Quadling Reel," Glinda said, watching as their driver left with their bags. "Or perhaps he's her dance partner."
"I think I put my presents for my father and siblings in one of your bags," Elphaba blinked, realizing that now she was completely bagless.
"I'll bring it tomorrow."
Elphaba hummed, offering her arm and leading her down the street. "May I ask you something?"
"You just did."
Elphaba rolled her eyes as Glinda giggled. "I mean… the cast list… are you upset?"
"Not anymore," Glinda admitted honestly. "I gave it my all in my audition, even though I figured it was mostly a formality and parts were set in stone. I did my best, and that probably should make me more upset that I didn't get the part that I wanted, but I'm proud of my work. I'm proud that I'm in two of the anniversary performances. And I'm proud of my friends who are now principal dancers."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's not your fault. You had no control over it."
But I did have control. I could've used it to give you what you deserve, Elphaba thought.
"I thought that if I was cast in a principal role, it would prove to my parents that I'm being noticed by the right people and that I'm good at and love doing this. At least I didn't make a deal that if I didn't become a principal dancer, I'd get married to the man they want." She smiled, but Elphaba could tell it was forced. "For some people, the opera house is all they have. I feel that way, too, but it's not all I have. It's all I want. I have other options, regardless of how much I want or don't want it. But it's of little matter now. You'll introduce me to someone at the ball."
"And you'll charm your way into receiving a marriage proposal that night?"
"I'm sure I'll find someone sympathetic to my predicament." Glinda looked both ways before crossing the street, still on Elphaba's arm.
"Wait," Elphaba whispered, pulling her to a stop once they were safely across. "I… I don't think we should walk in together."
"Why not? Everyone knows who you are now."
"Yes, but they don't know about us." Morrible's words about her being perceived as playing favorites rang in her mind. She didn't want to admit it outright, but Morrible was right. She had to be careful, especially since she was trying to do her favorite a favor.
"Alright." Glinda slowly detached herself from Elphaba. "I understand."
"I know. And I'm sorry. I…"
"Stop apologizing for things that aren't your fault."
"Sorry."
Glinda looked up at her and giggled. She desperately wanted to kiss that apologetic smile on Elphaba's green-tinted lips. "Oh, Elphie, whatever shall I do with you?"
"I have meetings for the rest of the day, so you have until tomorrow to come up with a plan."
"That's alright. I have some training to catch up on. Training helps me come up with plans. Thank you for accompanying me, Elphaba."
"I enjoy your company, too, Glinda," Elphaba nodded and did her usual routine of watching Glinda go inside, not leaving her post until she was safe. She waited a few moments before going through the same doors.