They arrived quite early. Elphaba parked the car and left to get a ticket from the machine. Glinda pulled out a mirror to check her makeup, but everything was still in place and absolutely impeccable. As it ought to be; she'd spent several hours this morning polishing herself until even her critical eye could find no fault with any aspect of her appearance.
After that, she'd attempted to convince Elphaba to let her do her hair, or try some minimal maquillage—to no avail. She had to admit that her unusual complexion would most likely draw all of the attention anyway, rendering perfectly sculptured brows or prettily curled lashes rather insignificant. Other than that (and that interesting nose of hers), the girl was gorgeous as she was. Not that anyone at this conference was likely to appreciate this. All things considered, there was barely any reason for her to press the issue further, so she'd simply contented herself with making sure that Elphaba wore her scarf correctly and chose a suitable watch from her absolutely underutilised jewellery collection to accessorise herself.
She observed Elphaba as she sauntered back to the car, one hand buried in the pocket of her slacks, the other swinging back and forth, holding the small slip of paper. How dashing she looked. A little boyish, maybe. At least more so than in the outfits she tended to choose for her casual wear. Still, she looked comfortable enough, and at any rate, it was certainly a huge leap from her usual office attire, which was also formal, but not particularly flattering or fashionable.
Elphaba opened the door to the passenger side and, leaning on it with her arm, bent down to talk to Glinda.
"You ready?" she asked, visibly more nervous and less ready than Glinda herself.
"Just a little anxious," confessed the blonde, fiddling with the handles of her white briefcase. "But we mustn't show any of this once we leave this car park. The hyenas are all the more likely to pounce on easy prey."
The taller girl nodded silently, then offered her hand to help Glinda out of the car.
"Thanks Elphie," she said, giggling slightly.
A number of black and dark green cars passed them on their way to the main entrance. Politicians and other persons of note typically entered through the rear of the building, Elphaba explained. The lobby was fenced off to both sides of a desk that had been squarely placed in the middle of the room. Elphaba gave their names to the receptionist and received two badges in return, along with a timetable and a map.
"There has been a slight change to the schedule," the woman informed them, marking their time slot on the paper.
Elphaba looked miffed, but had the good sense not to let her frustration out on a blameless underling. When she walked off wordlessly, Glinda apologetically smiled at the receptionist and thanked her before hurrying to follow after her friend.
"They preponed our presentation," Elphaba groaned, running her hand through her hair.
"Preponed?" Glinda repeated, worriedly. "We haven't already missed it, have we?"
Elphaba shook her head.
"No. Although we could have, if we'd relied too heavily on the time they originally allocated to us. At the very least, they should have informed us via text or email. I expect this was not a coincidence."
"Do you think they guessed our purpose here when they read your name on the registration form?" Glinda wondered, and Elphaba scoffed.
"Most certainly. Maybe next time we should use your name."
"Next time?" replied Glinda mildly alarmed.
Elphaba playfully brushed it off.
"Well, I suppose you're right. It probably won't do, since you would already have developed your own reputation by then."
Glinda decided not to pursue the matter any further and changed the topic somewhat instead.
"But since we aren't late... isn't it possibly even better to speak earlier rather than later? The audience might be less tired."
"Not as tired," agreed Elphaba, "but hungrier." She pointed out the highlighted slot on the timetable. "This is prime lunchtime."
Glinda blinked.
"There is no actual lunch break?"
"Nope. No time for that, of course. Instead, they just lump all the less desirable speakers together around noon."
"Well, that sucks, but we have to make the most out of it. We still got over an hour, so let's have a look around."
She lightly bumped her shoulder into Elphaba's arm and motioned for her to follow her to the lifts. The second floor was full of people, despite the presentation that was ongoing in the congress hall. Some were having drinks at the bar, others were sitting in small groups, absorbed in lively conversation.
Glinda stretched her neck to get as close to Elphaba's head as possible. She was already wearing the highest pumps she could get away with at an event such as this, but since Elphaba's shoes also sported moderate heels, the advantage was minimal.
"Normally, I'd ask you to introduce me to literally anyone here you have ever spoken to. Yet, in this particular case, I don't want to ruin our element of surprise. That being said, if there's anything at all that might be useful for me to know about any of these ladies and gentlemen, now is the time."
The taller woman looked about thoughtfully. She knew a fair number of them by name, but hadn't actually properly met them before. In her pretty, styled head, Glinda's mind was working overtime as she tried her best to retain as much of the information as possible.
From the hall, the muffled sound of applause filtered into the foyer and got louder when someone pushed open the door. A number of people exited and were replaced by some of those who'd been lingering at the bar. Noticing the now empty stools, Glinda considered having a drink herself. Something for the nerves and a good tactic to blend in.
When she turned to Elphaba to make her suggestion, she was startled by the hard look on her face. She followed her gaze to the entrance of the conference hall.
"That's Morrible," Elphaba told her in a hushed voice, with a hostile undertone. "The Wizard's press secretary."
She was referring to a fish-faced upper-class Gillikinese woman. Even Glinda recognised her pudgy, excessively painted face from the news. Her outfit stood out as decidedly less drab than any of her associates'. The mostly currant coloured number abounded in frills and laces, in pearls and sequins. Her neck and arms were decorated with more ornaments than a Lurlinemas tree. All in all, she reminded Glinda more of a drag queen than a professional spokesperson. How a woman of her position was able to get away with such a getup was beyond her.
Stunned by the sight, Glinda only belatedly realised that Elphaba had been talking to her the entire time.
"... also in charge of the female campus of Shiz University," was the first phrase she could properly make out.
"Female campus?" she asked, still somewhat distracted. "As in segregated campuses for boys and girls? That sounds rather... backwards?"
"Proud tradition or something like that, I'm sure," shrugged Elphaba.
"I'm surprised she'd even have the time to fill two such demanding roles at the same time."
"They say one serves the other," was Elphaba's reply. Glinda finally tore her eyes away from the imposing woman to glance up at her friend. Her eyes were narrowed, her jaw muscles flexed. She almost looked like she was staring down the Wizard himself. "As it happens, many alumni of Shiz have found themselves in the service of His Wizardness, one way or another. This supposed school is prime breeding ground for mindless political servants, ready to pander to his every whim. As long as she keeps up with suppling fresh recruits, her position is secure."
"I see."
Exhaling noisily, Elphaba eventually averted her gaze.
"Come," she said softly, placing her hand at the small of Glinda's back and pushing her with gentle force. "I have no desire to get any closer to this woman. How about we check out what's going on inside the hall? Maybe this will also help you acclimatise to the atmosphere."
The conference hall turned out to be larger than Glinda had imagined. The seat arrangement reminded her of a theatre, though there were no boxes on the sides. Her best guess was that it could easily accommodate three to three and a half thousand seats—of which only a fraction were currently occupied, however. As the next presentation was already well underway, they took the first seats they could find.
At first, Glinda was too busy scanning her surrounding to pay much attention to the speaker on the stage. His voice was rather forgettable anyway, and from the distance, he was little more than a small speck. It wasn't before Elphaba leaned in to comment on what an absolute nutjob he was, that she actively listened to his speech about modern imperialism and the merits of cultural domination.
They stayed for another three speeches before making their way to the waiting room on the first floor. Around two dozen speakers and their entourage were gathered there, practicing their speeches or distracting themselves with idle chatter. The loudest group among them were four Vinkun males, sharing a bottle of exotic liqueur. Glinda immediately stuck out, as the other speakers that were present were all men, often accompanied by their wives. While she doubted that she was the only woman to participate in the entire event, it was clear that she was more of an exception than the norm.
Every now and again, a petite brunette would enter the room, seemingly oblivious to the fact that within milliseconds, every single head would be turned her way. She'd announce the name of the next speaker and whisk him off, leaving many of the still waiting men more anxious as their own turn was quickly approaching. Glinda managed to remain fairly calm, until the woman returned again, calling out her name. Elphaba almost started an argument with her when she was told that she wouldn't be allowed to stay with Glinda while she was in the backstage area. Only the blonde's calming hand on her arm and a reassuring smile had prevented her from starting a serious commotion.
Alone in the dark area on the other side of the stage curtain, Glinda could feel her heart beat just a tad harder than it usually did. She knew she had not much to lose. Her speech was good, her recall impeccable; acting and projecting came almost as natural to her as ordinary small talk. She most certainly wouldn't make a fool of herself, which was a relief. The only question that remained was that of her success regarding the prime objective of her speech: to convince at least a handful of people of note that Animal rights were a worthy cause to support. She tried to convince herself that she wasn't all that invested in Elphaba's cause anyway, that she could easily brush off a defeat in case she did not succeed. Whether it was true or not was secondary, as long as she could draw comfort from the thought.
Finding herself in need of some diversion, she stepped closer to the curtain, peeking through a gap on the far left where she believed that nobody could see her. The man on the stage spoke well enough, but behind the lectern, he fumbled with his notes as though he was about to experience a seizure. A quick glance at the crowd told her that they were bored and miles away with their thoughts.
The end of the presentation was met with scant applause, but the man still seemed glad, most likely relieved to finally escape the scrutiny of his audience. Glinda pulled back her shoulders and turned to check with the stage manager when to step onstage. Studying the screen in front of him, he held up his hand, signalling her to standby for just a moment longer.
Venturing another peek through the curtains, she could see several people getting to their feet, chatting with their companions as they stretched their stiff limbs. Just as per Elphaba's prediction, their need for nourishment was playing against her, and the somniferous nature of the previous speech had only made it worse. Impatient, she cast one more glance at the stage manager before making her move. What were they going to do? Seize her and drag her back behind the curtain? It was all or nothing, she told herself as she confidently took to the stage in the hope that her appearance might convince the one or the other audience member to remain for at least one more act.
Taking her place behind the lectern, she waited, watching them carefully. From the corner of her left eye, she spotted Elphaba and gave a brief nod in her direction. That was the last time she'd seek her out in the crowd, having other people to focus on now.
A few of the onlookers who'd been about to leave the hall indeed decided to stay. A small victory. One man who'd initially left returned, the Wizard's press secretary in tow, and Glinda's eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise.
Morrible's entrance had irrefutably heightened the stakes. Glinda had no hopes whatsoever to win her over, but she couldn't help but crave to impress the most distinguished member of her audience. She needed to prove to herself that she really was that good.
She waited until she was sure that the majority of onlookers were in fact looking at her, or had at least quieted down. Smiling just a little, she surveyed their ranks one last time, slowly and deliberately, almost like she was greeting each member individually. Entirely unintentionally, and perhaps against her own advice, she allowed her eyes to linger longer on Morrible than anybody else. The fish woman blankly stared back at her, unblinking, and with an air of self-importance that Glinda deemed hard to match.
Finally, she took a small breath and began to speak.
After her speech had concluded, Glinda gracefully left the stage. She made eye contact with Elphaba, who smiled and nodded at her, then motioned towards the exit. On her way to follow her friend, Glinda was held up by a balding man, eager to congratulate her on the excellent presentation. Flattered and grateful, she accepted his compliments and moved on. As it turned out, he was far from the only admirer she had acquired in the last quarter of an hour. Before she could make it to the door, she had to shake several hands, and utter words of thanks to various men and women whose names and importance she regretted not to know.
In the foyer, two more men scrambled to make her acquaintance. One of them was old, far beyond his seventies, Glinda guessed.
"Lord Marburne, Governor of Upper Applerue. At your service, Miss."
He struggled for a stiff bow and kissed her hand.
It was plain as day that he was not of Munchkin descent, nor had Glinda ever heard of any Gillikinese governors in Munchkinland. She smiled pleasantly and inclined her head before divesting herself of the old-timer's presence as smoothly, yet quickly as possible. She sensed that there might be trouble ahead if Elphaba were to recognise him.
The younger chap approached her as soon as the governor had left and introduced himself as a junior member of a minor political party, sympathetic to the Animals' plight.
"That is good to hear," Glinda replied.
She remained guarded, however, too cautious to take his word at face value. There were precious few true supporters of the cause, and she suspected that their enemies would not shy away from using deception to their advantage.
That being said, his appearance alone was ostensibly unusual enough to prove his innocence. His features were not classically Gillikinese, nor Vinkun, Glikkun, or Munchkin, though elements of all four of these ethnicities seemed to be present in his mildly tanned face, his coarse hair, and stout legs.
They exchanged a few pleasantries, discussing nothing of gravity. This was not the place to debate revolution.
When Elphaba began moving towards them, probably too impatient to wait any longer for Glinda to reach her in her own time, the man grew tangibly more uneasy and soon took his leave. Glinda couldn't help but wonder whether he had something to hide after all, or it was merely Elphaba's appearance that had disconcerted him.
It was quite possible that the people gathered in this room found her more approachable as long as she was alone. Elphaba's aura could be rather intimidating, even without the green, and she was, after all, a somewhat well-known figure of the resistance—not the kind of person most politicians and officials would like to associate themselves with. The thought of asking her to go back to the car crossed Glinda's mind. Maybe she could reason with her that it would be better to leave her to work her charms, making connections and arguing her points within the course of pleasant conversations.
But as Elphaba came to stand next to her, she dismissed the notion at once. Elphaba was the only reason she was here. She wouldn't dream of superseding her in her role as bridge between Animals and humans. She merely sought to be a supporting pillar. Besides, she wouldn't feel safe amongst this pack of wolves, nor was Elphaba likely to agree to abandon her like this.
"I'm proud of you," Elphaba said simply, making Glinda blush beyond reason. Praise from Elphaba was something she might never get used to.
She nodded in reply.
"Thank you. I did what I could."
"Do you want to leave now? There is not much left to do, is there?"
"Not yet," said Glinda, letting her eyes wander again. "Several people have approached me already. I think it's an opportunity to find those who already are on our side, and appease sceptics, or even those in the opposition."
Elphaba exhaled deeply.
"If you say so," she murmured, lightly kicking the carpet.
Another speech had ended, and the doors of the conference hall opened. When she saw Morrible emerging from the left entrance, Glinda made a quick decision.
"Elphie, please be a dear and grab me a bottle of water," she said in the sweetest tone.
"Or maybe a drink from the bar?" her friend offered in return.
"No, just water, please. I'm on duty, so to speak, and I doubt alcohol will aid my judgement."
Shrugging, Elphaba trotted off to fetch the requested water from the vending machine in the lobby downstairs.
Glinda slowly began to stroll about the foyer, moving very slowly in the general direction of the hall, where she hoped to catch Morrible's attention.
"Hello, my dear," a basso profundo voice greeted her from the side she'd avoided to look at in an attempt at faking unawareness.
Seemingly startled, she turned around, placing her hand on her chest in a display of surprise.
"Oh, please excuse me, Madame. I was just waiting for my companion to return and must have spaced out a little."
"It would appear so," the older woman chuckled amused. "May I introduce myself: Mardote Morrible, the Wizard's press secretary and headmistress of Crage Hall of Shiz University."
"Yes, of course," nodded Glinda bashfully. "Glinda Upland."
"I've heard your speech, Miss Glinda, and I must say, I was quite..." Morrible stopped to examine Glinda from head to toe. The only thing more unsettling than her lingering gaze was the fact that she never seemed to blink. It took all of Glinda's willpower to not flinch. "Impressed," the older woman finally concluded her sentence, and Glinda beamed gratefully.
"Thank you. I appreciate your praise. I understand that it is not lightly earned."
"Certainly not. But you, my dear, have a gift." The large woman put her hands together, smiling down at her like some sort of almighty fairy godmother. "You know, being in the fortunate position that I am, I consider it my duty to seek out and encourage talent such as yours. Say, have you ever considered a career in politics?"
For a clock-tick, Glinda froze. Had she bitten off more than she could chew?
"Not really, Madame. I majored in finance and marketing. I work as a financial advisor."
"A double degree!" exclaimed Morrible. "Well, well, that's all very good for you, my dear. But might I interest you in a postgraduate diploma at Shiz University?"
"That sounds very tempting, but I don't know if I—"
"To someone as bright as you, I could even offer a scholarship—all expenses paid, all necessities arranged for."
Glinda's mouth opened at the proposal, and she had to remind herself to stop staring and start formulating a befitting reply.
"Why, thank you. I'm shocked at the generosity of your offer."
"I understand this might all be a bit sudden. I did not intend to overwhelm you." Morrible unzipped her purse and produced a little red card with golden lettering. "My details are on here. Please don't hesitate to contact me as soon as you made up your mind."
"Of course."
With a smirk that somehow managed to look both, condescending and benevolent, Morrible took her leave. Glinda nodded slightly, thanking her one last time. She was still gawking after her when someone tapped her shoulder from behind.
"What did she want from you?" asked Elphaba with a deep frown before pushing the cool bottle of water into Glinda's hands.
Glinda considered her options, but couldn't come up with anything better than the bare truth.
"She, um, offered me a scholarship," she supplied matter-of-factly.
"A what?!"
The look on Elphaba's face did not bode well, and Glinda wished she hadn't said anything. At least not quite yet.
"I'm sure you understood me just fine," she replied rather tersely. "She invited me to the Shiz postgraduate program in politics."
"Wow. Seriously, the nerve of that woman."
Glinda cautiously studied her friend. Her jaw was set, her hands hidden in her pockets, but Glinda guessed they were clenched into fists. She hadn't thought it possible for Elphaba to contain her anger so well.
"To be entirely honest," she began against her better judgement, "I have half a mind to pick her up on that, actually."
Elphaba's head turned sharply.
"You're joking, right?"
Opening her mouth, then closing it again, Glinda remained silent in the end. In a different place, at a different time, she would have vented her frustration, but right here and now, she couldn't risk Elphaba boiling over. She lowered her gaze, then took Elphaba's arm and patted it soothingly.
"I think it is time we left," she said softly.
Since their presentation had been brought forward by over two hours, they had more of the day left than anticipated. Despite the tension between them, they decided to drive to a slightly secluded, but peaceful park for lunch, picking up two bags of fast food on the way.
The reserve was situated on a gentle rise, and from the top, they were able to survey a large portion of the city. In the distance, on a slightly larger hill, the emerald Royal Palace glinted in the midday sun. They sat down on the grass. It was warm and dry enough these days, even without the benefit of a picnic blanket.
Elphaba was a little dismayed to find out that the useless, undoubtedly underpaid kitchenhand had filled her wrap with chunks of chicken instead of the tofu cubes she'd ordered. Glinda offered to pick out the meat for her, but the green girl just shrugged and began nibbling on her food as it was.
"It's not that I can't eat meat. I'm neither unable to digest it, nor does the taste give me nausea. It's purely a matter of principle."
Beyond their short exchange over the undesired ingredient, there was no further conversation for the rest of their meal. Glinda could feel Elphaba's eyes on her, but opted not to let it on. She knew that their argument wasn't over yet. In fact, it had hardly even begun, and so she quietly contemplated her feelings and her reasoning, arming herself for the inevitable confrontation.
When all the food was depleted at last, Elphaba diligently gathered the leftover wrappers, bags and napkins for disposal in the nearby bin, while Glinda remained in the same spot. Arms wrapped around her drawn-up legs, she peered into the distance. Elphaba joined her upon her return, briefly surveying the city before them, then looking back at her again.
"I can't stress enough how thankful I am," she said eventually, then paused, maybe waiting for a reaction. Instead of turning her head, Glinda silently waited for the 'but' that was sure to follow. "You were phenomenal," Elphaba added instead, and she was genuinely surprised.
"Thanks, Elphie," she felt obliged to reply, flashing her friend a small grin. Had she been wrong? Was Elphaba actually going to leave the matter alone after all? She cleared her voice. "I'm glad I was able to help. I really am."
Glinda's gaze fell onto Elphaba's hand on the grass. They were sitting close enough for her to reach out and cover it, but even though she found herself compelled to do so, her arm would not move as little as half an inch to convey such a peace offering.
"You know, when I watched you onstage, behind that lectern, I really thought that you might have missed your calling," Elphaba continued solemnly, something akin to admiration sparkling in her eyes. "You're meant for greater things than sitting at a desk, crunching numbers."
"Maybe I am," Glinda answered, sensing the frustration rising within her once again.
She really wanted to take the compliment for war it was, yet she couldn't help but feel rather angry that Elphaba, despite clearly recognising her potential, seemed so intent on dissuading her from doing something that could help to change her future. Her first instinct had been to try and avoid a fight if Elphaba didn't push the issue any further, but now she realised that this was something that absolutely needed to be addressed before they could move on.
"I'm still not entirely opposed to the idea of studying at Shiz," she declared in earnest, looking Elphaba straight in the eyes.
The other girl blew a puff of air through her nostrils and looked away.
"Good grief, you were being serious," was all she said.
Her silence irritated Glinda more than any counterargument could have. Did she not deign her opinion worth any attention at all? Was she so far above it all that entertaining Glinda's apparently childish ideas was nothing but a waste of time?
"Look at me!" the blonde demanded, and Elphaba reluctantly complied. "You were the one who pushed me to take on this role. I was sceptical at first, but I have come to appreciate the opportunity you have provided me with. And now I'm more than happy to continue advocating for Animal rights and all that jazz—"
"You are?" Elphaba interjected, looking astounded.
"Yes." Glinda rolled her eyes, slightly annoyed with the interruption. "It will most likely earn me a fair bit of notoriety in the long run, and I have no clue how to handle my parents when they find out, but that's okay. I'll cross that bridge when I get there."
Elphaba leaned closer to carefully place a hand on Glinda's arm and thanked her gravely.
Despite her anger, Glinda's face flushed for an entirely different reason, and her heart thumped in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
"You're welcome," she acknowledged curtly before taking a deep breath. "But what I meant to say is that I could do all this far more efficiently after receiving further training. I know that Morrible is our enemy here, but through her I could acquire the tools needed to actually achieve what we set out to do."
The feeling of Elphaba's hand sliding off her arm hurt, as did the disappointed expression on her friend's face.
"Don't get me wrong, Glinda," the green girl said, "you're incredibly talented. But there must be another reason why Morrible would make such a generous offer. Without a doubt, she'll try and turn you against our cause."
"Try as she might, she won't succeed," Glinda countered confidently.
"That's easy for you to say now. However, Shiz' only purpose these days is to influence young minds and churn out supporters of the regime. If she can establish a hold over you, she'll gain a great asset, and an effective weapon against the Animal movement."
Jaw dropping, Glinda released her legs and scrambled to her feet.
"You're wrong, Elphaba," she cried, her voice thick. "Probably not about her, but definitely about me. I'm not as weak as you may think. And I do not appreciate being called a 'weapon'. It's dehumanising and wrong when I'm not even on their side. I'm not a mindless object."
From her own spot on the ground, Elphaba considered her for a moment.
"Apologies for that. It was merely a figure of speech. But I still believe you're taking this too lightly."
Crossing her arms, Glinda scoffed.
"And the oh-so-clever Elphaba always knows better, I suppose? Maybe for once I'm simply braver than you are."
"It's not bravery, it's folly to believe that you can outwit them. Let's say you're right and you do manage to leave, unpersuaded. After all the generosity she showed you, do you seriously think she'll resign herself to letting you go your merry way and continue working against her and the Wizard?"
"Have you read this in one of your books, or are you really that imaginative?" Glinda asked, one brow arched.
"Do you honestly think what I'm saying sounds absurd?"
Glinda hesitated, biting the inside of her cheek.
"It should," she said in a low voice. "Though I can't deny that there is at least a chance that you're not entirely wrong."
"And you really still want to take that risk?" Elphaba challenged.
Feeling torn, Glinda began to pace. She pulled out the red business card and stopped to study it. Even while reading the golden letters over and over again, the looks Elphaba continued to cast her did not escape her notice. After a good while of internal struggle, Glinda suddenly tore up the card in dozens of tiny fragments and tossed them in the air like confetti.
"I hope you're happy now," she huffed as the pieces drizzled down on Elphaba, and stomped off.
Elphaba took her sweet time to come after her. In the meantime, Glinda found herself a sunny place on a low wall of rough stone. There was no view to speak of, so she mostly occupied herself by watching her feet dangling. When Elphaba finally did approach, she looked up, and the wind brushed against her hot cheeks, cooling them. She hadn't even noticed the stray tears rolling down her face until then.
Taking a position in front of Glinda, Elphaba carefully reached for her hands, but abandoned her plan when the blonde retracted her fingers and curled them up under her palms. Her impatience briefly getting the better of her, she jerked around her head, but hardly a heartbeat later, she bit her lip in determination and forced herself to look back at Glinda.
"You are..."
She grappled to find the right word—long enough for Glinda to compulsively fill in the gap in her head. Annoying? Infuriating? Brainless? The possibilities were sheer endless.
"Amazing," Elphaba eventually managed, and Glinda's brows knitted in confusion.
This was not what she'd expected, but still; she wouldn't be so easily mollified, no matter what compliments Elphaba might try to shower her with.
"You know, your speech was easily the best these guys have heard all day today. You certainly don't need Morrible or Shiz to make an impression. Or a difference for that matter."
Heaving a heavy sigh, Glinda shook her head.
"You and your friends are all about grassroots movements. You don't believe in working for change from the inside out, do you? Anyone who gets too close to the Wizard's inner circle is immediately branded a traitor to the cause. That's why you're struggling to achieve your goals."
"We prefer to avoid temptation," Elphaba replied sharply, her features tense.
"You don't just 'prefer' to avoid it; you do so at any cost," Glinda daringly pointed out. "Even if it hurts your chances at making meaningful progress."
Elphaba's reply came just as fierce.
"There is never going to be any change from the inside when the inside is corrupt to the core, but you don't understand this yet." A little quieter, she added, "I understand that it's hard, but you must trust me on this. I've been around long enough to actually know better for once."
Lacking any tangible evidence for her arguments, Glinda decided not to take the dispute any further. She wouldn't give Elphaba the satisfaction of defeat though.
"I think I should get home and change," she simply said after a moment of silence and leapt down from the wall.
Elphaba took a step back to make space for her, but only as much as strictly necessary.
"Fine," she murmured, nodding. "Let's get to the car then."
"There's no need for you to drive me," Glinda declared, pushing past her. "It's just a short walk to the next bus stop."
Elphaba watched her, startled.
"What exactly does this mean? Are you... are you still coming tonight?"
Glinda turned around to consider Elphaba, the hint of panic in her eyes. It gave her an odd sense of gratification. In her mind, Elphaba deserved to feel at least the slightest bit anxious.
"Yes," she answered once she was content that she'd left her friend in limbo for long enough.
"I'll still pick you up at five?"
"If that's what you want."
They met Brrr with Chistery, his boss, and a couple of other Animals at a small restaurant in the southern part of the city. Elphaba introduced Glinda to everyone, but her mind was too preoccupied to absorb all of the information properly. The tension between her and the green girl was weighing her down more and more as the day progressed. Especially among so many unfamiliar faces, she very much felt like a wife in a defunct marriage, forced to pretend that everything was going splendidly, while being paraded around at her husband's work function. The main purpose of the gathering was to celebrate their appearance at the conference this morning, and upon introduction, many Animals expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the pair. To Glinda, however, it seemed like most of it was directed towards Elphaba, who, in their eyes, still remained the human figurehead of the campaign.
Brrr's boss—Kitty, Glinda never heard her real name that night—was a longhaired calico Cat. At first, Glinda was surprised to learn that it was her who was leading the Animal Rights organisation. After all she'd heard, she'd expected a visually more intimidating character. Yet, upon closer inspection, Kitty proved to be just as witty and tough as her reputation, despite her diminutive size.
"You, my love, must sit next to me," the Cat asserted as she put her paw on Glinda's hand.
Glinda appreciated the gesture and didn't dare to object. With Elphaba on the other seat next to her, and Brrr and Chistery opposite them, she felt a little more at ease. The head end of the table was wide enough for two small Animals, and Kitty was joined by her partner Grimalkin, also a Cat.
Once everyone was seated and the most urgent private matters had been settled, Kitty gently tapped her glass with a spoon.
"I know, many words of thanks have already been spoken, but I believe it necessary to formally address the two humans in our midst who have dedicated so much time and effort to help our cause. All of you are familiar with Elphaba, of course"—at the Cat's nod, a small round of applause was given, accompanied with some cheering—"and thanks to her, we can now also count Glinda here to our supporters."
Everyone—bar Chistery, who had no clue what was going on—drummed their paws, hooves or hands on the table in approval.
"Elphaba praised your performance today to the heavens, and while I do know that we should not take anything for granted, I have nothing but the highest hopes for our future collaborations."
She raised her glass and smiled.
"To our new friend Glinda."
"To Glinda," the Animals echoed and drunk deep.
The rest of the evening passed remarkably quickly, but Glinda's later memories of it were blurry. She vaguely remembered talking to Brrr, and exchanging a few words with Malky, as everyone seemed to call Grimalkin. She also remembered taking Chistery for a walk around the adjacent courtyard when he'd grown too restless in his highchair. Elphaba had soon come to accompany them, and somehow they'd talked and made up.
She couldn't recall the specifics about what had moved her to forgive her so easily, but seeing as she had no desire to keep the quarrel up forever, this seemed fairly secondary in the aftermath. The fact was that Elphaba had been unusually nice to her in the days since, and that pleased her more than anything. They'd spent the weekend together again. Without Shell anywhere in sight, it had been the most blissful and relaxing weekend in a long time.
On Monday afternoon, when she returned from work, Tibbett greeted her with a letter in his hands and a puzzled look on his face.
"You're not leaving us, right?" he asked quietly as he passed the envelope to her. Just as confused, Glinda ripped it open to reveal a sheet of thick, embossed paper, the Shiz University's coat of arms in the top right corner.