Sitting down on her bed, writing a letter to her parents, the train Galinda was supposed to take back up to Frottica, just the train lines had been stopped due to excessive snow fall over the passed few days. It was gonna be the first Lurlinemas where she wouldn’t be able to see her family. Erasing and rewriting a word over and over again. Spelling wasn’t exactly Galinda strong suit. But if she couldn’t be with her family for Lurlinemas and Lurlinemas eve she might at least write them a letter.
« What are trying to write that takes that many attempts? » Despite how many students were gone for Lurlinemas break, Galinda’s green roommate was still here.
Galinda looked at her for a few moments before answering, it was rare for Elphaba to not have her nose stuck in a book. « A letter to my parents »
« That can’t take that many possible attempts to write it can it? » Her roommate asked.
« It’s more that I can’t figure out one word… since when do you care about what I’m doing? »
Elphaba didn’t respond to her question, « What word is it? »
« Know » Galinda mumbled.
Her roommate got up and sat down next to where Glinda was on her bed, their arms slightly touching, she looked at what Galinda wrote; « It is Spelt k, n, o, w. » before getting back up and sitting down with her book.
She watched her roommate, a bit confused for a minute before writing it down and continuing with the letter. « Thank you, » Galinda mumbled once she had finished with the letter.
« Your constant erasing was getting annoying. » The pair wasn’t particularly close overall, Galinda somewhat tried to ignore her roommate for the most, after all she wanted to have a room all to herself. Just she found it somewhat comforting having someone else’s there even if they rarely talked.
« What are you reading? » Galinda asked looking over at Elphaba, she had gotten a bit bored of the music.
Elphaba looked up at Galinda surprised that she had said anything. « Some old poetry… found the book in the school’s library though it would be interesting. »
« There’s still books there you haven’t read? » Galinda inquired a bit jokingly.
« Yes, have you seen how many book there are there? » She said putting down her book.
Galinda shrugged her shoulders. « I don’t tend to go to the library to much, unless I’m looking for artist to study, I’m not one for reading. »
« What type of art do you like? »
« Eh, at the moment mostly things from when the last Ozma was in power, » Galinda thinks for a moment. « I can’t hardly remember her name for some reason, I think it starts with a B… »
« Ozma the Bilious? » Elphaba asks.
« Yes! Her, a lot of the are around then is always to bight and colourful and watercolours start getting picked up again, along with softer lighting so they always look so smooth and delicate. »
Galinda’s roommate chuckles a bit. « Since when do you like are so much Galinda? »
« It’s always been a bit of a passion of mine, I prefer architecture more, just buildings get removed and destroyed and the only remaining part of how they looked are in paintings. »
Elphaba nods. « Well that’s how history goes. »
Galinda looked down at the book of poems that her roommate was reading, it was an old hand bound book, the fabric cover was clearly faded.« Why do you take an interest in dull old books? »
Elphaba shrugs. « I don’t know I find them interesting. They give me something to read and they help me learn more about the world around. I don’t usually read poetry. »
« What do you usually read? »
« There isn’t exactly one type of thing I read per say, I guess religious text sometimes, and papers on different scientific discoveries, even philosophy, anything that peaks my interest… » Elphaba looks over at the window, the snow was so high that you could barely tell what anything was anymore.
Putting her mug down Galinda got up and offerd her hand to Elphaba, who looked a her bit confused at what Galinda was doing. « Would you want to dance? »
« What? » Elphaba was baffled at Galinda asking her this.
« Would you want to dance? » Galinda repeated. « Usually, when I’m with my family, me and my cousins would usually dance around Lurlinemas eve for a while. It’s just something I like to do. »
Elphaba placed her hand in Galinda’s. « I never danced before so I don’t think I’ll be any good. »
Galinda pulled Elphaba up from her chair. « You don’t have to be good, I’m not great either, just follow my steps. We can start slow, okay? »
Elphaba nodded, following mostly Galinda’s movements, as the pair got more comfortable dancing together they started going a bit faster. Spinning around, the room around them blurring a bit, they were more focused on each other than anything else in that moment. Holding onto each other, hoping they wouldn’t fall over, and crash into one of the chairs. After a while when their legs got tired the pair fell back into their chairs laughing. The fire was mostly burned out by now.
« I think that’s the first time I’ve ever danced with anyone? » Elphaba said still giggling, her black hair a bit of a mess.
« Really, you never danced with anyone? » Galinda looked over surprised
She shook her head. « I don’t really have many friends and, well… my sister can’t really dance, It was fun. » Elphaba smiled, as far as Galinda remembered it was the first time she’d ever seen her roommate smile.
« I liked it too… » Galinda smiled back, yawning a bit. « What time is it? »
Looking over at the time Elphaba replied « Almost midnight. »
« Almost midnight? » She was surprised at how late it was.
Her roommate nodded. « We were dancing for awhile. »
« Guess we were. » Galinda got up. « I’m gonna head to bed, I’m pretty tired. »
« Good night. » Elphaba picked up her book again, as Galinda left to go back to their dorm.
After getting changed into pajamas Galinda laid in bed, she struggled to fall asleep. A mix of the cold and not being home for the holidays was keeping her up. She didn’t know how long it had been, she didn’t really bother checking the time, when her roommate came back.
« What time is it? » Galinda asked mumbling a bit.
Shrugging her shoulders. « Late, why are you still awake? »
« Cold. »
Elphaba nodded. « You’d think heating would be better, or at least a small fire place. » Pulling the blanket off of her bed she put it over Galinda.
« What about you? You gonna be cold.. »
« I’ll be fine, » Elphaba said as she went to get changed in their bathroom.
Once she had gotten changed Galinda had shuffled around so that there would be room for Elphaba in her bed. « Come here. »
« What? Why? » Elphaba was a bit confused.
« You’re gonna freeze. » Galinda replied
« Since when do you care? »
« If you freeze I won’t have anyone to dance with anymore. » Elphaba sighted then climbed into Galinda’s bed. « Thank you. »
« For what? Not freezing? I prefer not getting hypothermia.» Elphaba said looking over at Galinda.
« No, for being here. It’s nice not being alone, I like your company even if we don’t talk. »
« I liked dancing with you today, it was nice. »
Galinda smiled « I liked it too. Were you also planning on going home for the holidays? »
Elphaba looked down. « I’m not the most fond of celebrations, or my family, I know my Siblings are gonna miss me, at least Nessa might. I was just going to stay here over the break and send them letters wishing them well. »
« Oh, » Galinda didn’t really know what to answer to that.
« It’s fine I don’t mind not being there, the trip takes too long anyways. Did you have anything planned with your family?» Elphaba smiled.
« The normal festivities, seeing my cousins, having big meals, opening gifts, just the usual things. I like it, it’s peaceful. I’m just a bit sad I won’t get to be there. » Galinda lamented.
« If you want tomorrow we can eat together. »
Galinda snuggled up to Elphaba, pressing her cold hands between their chests.« I’d like that.. »
« What’s all this for? » Elphaba looked down at Galinda.
Mumbling a bit Galinda answered. « Cold. »
« Well there is a snow storm so what are you expecting? »
To this Galinda giggled a bit, « You're not wrong about that, I would have just hoped it would be a little warmer. »
Wrapping her arms around her blonde roommate and pulling her closer. Elphaba pressed a kiss to her forehead. « Sleep well my sweet. »
The pair of them snuggled up together. Elphaba fell asleep pretty quickly compared to Galinda who lied there for a while, watching Elphaba sleep. If you told her the day she had first gotten to Crage hall that she would be here with her peculiar roommate, Galinda would have laughed in your face without hesitation. Pfanne and Shenshen, if they knew would certainly mock her, even so in that moment she didn’t really care. In that moment Galinda felt safe and warm wrapped in her roommate’s arms. Galinda smiled, kissing Elphaba on the cheek before drifting off herself.
“All I’m saying is,” Elphaba’s voice was flat and emotionless, “that it started as a religious holiday centuries ago, and now it’s all commercial garbage and wasteful theatrics. There is no real point to Lurlinemas anymore.”
“You’re always so cynical, Elphie.” Galinda sighed. “Do you really think there’s no point to something that makes people so joyful?”
“Joyful? I doubt it. What about it is supposed to be joyful?”
“Well, the holiday spirit. Seeing the lights, hearing the music, spending time with loved ones—Don’t scoff! Why ask me if you’re not even going to listen?”
Elphaba readjusted her scarf and hat, pushed her spectacles up her nose. “Doesn’t sound very joyful to me. And there’s all this cold and snow to contend with.”
The cobbled paths of Shiz University were lined with grayish snowbanks, and fog curled from Galinda’s lips when she laughed. She hugged Elphaba’s arm closer to her chest, though the laugh didn’t quite reach her eyes. Elphaba could still hear it: the faint trace of sadness left in Galinda’s voice, the shadow of disappointment from being stuck here instead of returning home for the holidays.
“I find the snow quite lovely,” Galinda said.
“It sets off my allergies.” Elphaba sneezed as if to prove a point. “Makes my skin itch—and I can’t come into contact with the stuff.”
“How did you manage back home?”
“No snow in the swamps,” she said casually. “Or in Munchkinland, for that matter. The allergies wouldn’t bother me as much if it weren’t for all the festivities you’re so keen on defending.”
“Well, no matter how grumpy you get, you won’t convince me to hate Lurlinemas. You simply won’t.”
“Wasn’t trying to convince you of anything, just sharing my views.”
“Your views are boring, no offense.”
“You meant full offense.”
“Live a little, Elphie. I don’t believe you seriously have no holiday spirit.”
“Believe it,” said Elphaba. “And if you can’t, well, I’m sure you’ll realize the boring truth sooner rather than later.”
“Or, maybe—” Galinda smiled. “You will realize how lovely the holidays can be.”
Holidays at Shiz would only be tolerable to Elphaba on the following conditions: that she could lock herself in her room, light a candle, and curl up in bed with a blanket and a book.
No such luxuries were allowed to her.
“I signed us up as volunteers to help put up the school decorations.”
Dumbfounded, Elphaba stared up at Galinda, who hovered at the foot of her bed. “Surely you mean—you signed yourself up?”
“I’m not known for slips of the tongue.” Galinda tossed her hair over her shoulder with practiced grace. “I meant what I said.”
“But why me? What ever did I do to you, to deserve such vicious punishment?”
Galinda just laughed. “It’s something to do! Were you expecting to stay holed up in here the whole month?”
“Yes,” Elphaba said flatly.
“Well, we can’t have that. I know there isn’t much sun these days, but if you don’t go outside at least a little you’re bound to—”
“Wither?” she asked. “Like a decorative little shrub?”
“I was going to say drive yourself mad.”
“Can’t do that. I’ve lived with myself for eighteen years in little cubbies like this one. If madness were in the cards, it would’ve taken me long ago.”
Galinda was not amused anymore. “We’re doing this.”
“But why? Why? Half the campus is gone; this place is practically a ghost town. Who are we putting up decorations for? The three remaining idiots wandering around to gawk at them?”
“Hey, be nice,” said Galinda. “I’m one of those three remaining idiots here.”
Elphaba sighed. It was unfortunate for Galinda, who had been eagerly anticipating her trip home for the holidays, only to have her plans ruined by bad weather up north. Galinda had mourned it as a catastrophe of epic proportions
“Yes, and I’m idiot number two.” Elphaba pinched the bridge of her nose and sat on the edge of her bed. “But I’m not known for gawking at things, so I’ll have to pass on this.”
“You most certainly will not pass.” Galinda circled the bed to stand in front of her, hands on her hips, trying so very hard to look stern although the effect was diminished because the cold had turned the tip of her nose and ears pink. “It’ll be fun!”
“It’ll be miserable and pointless. Besides, I’ll melt if it snows.”
“It’s not going to snow again,” said Galinda. “And it’s not like we’re going to be out in the wilderness. Umbrellas exist, and there are tons of places to seek shelter. You’ve managed perfectly well with rain, and snowfalls are slower—more time to react.”
“Why are you so hell-bent on this? Is it because all your cronies left to spend Lurlinemas at home, and now I’m your consolation prize? Is that it? I’m the second-best? The only alternative to utter loneliness?”
Galinda rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t fall out of her head. “Nothing as grand as all that, I assure you. You're none of those things, Miss Elphie, you’re just my friend.”
Instinctively, Elphaba stomped on that silly feeling of warmth spreading through her. A common occurrence when Galinda was involved, but Elphaba preferred not to think about it. “The only one of your friends that’s left here, you mean.”
“Very much not what I meant.” Galinda smiled. “I know you find it hard to believe, but I do like you.”
No matter what Elphaba did she had no hope of stomping that. She cleared her throat instead, wishing she could retreat back into her book and escape this ridiculous infatuation.
“Well, that may be so, but I don’t like Lurlinemas, and the last thing I want to do is spend my short lived winter holiday wrestling tinsel around corners and getting glitter all over myself.”
“You don’t like Lurlinemas,” Galinda mused. “But you must think of how much you like me.”
That was it.
Elphaba was running late, and she knew she was running late but found it hard to care at all. She readjusted her coat about her shoulders, and gripped her two cardboard cups of coffee against her chest so they wouldn’t slip through her gloved hands.
The gloves weren’t hers, but rather belonged to Galinda and were fluffy beige wool, mercifully the only article of clothing she owned that wasn’t decked in absurd and pointless frippery. They were very warm and yet impractical, the material was too slippery.
Elphaba used her hip to push the door to the main student hall, although due to poor insulation and a faulty fireplace, it wasn’t much different from being outside. It took her a few tries to get the door open without dropping the cups, but she managed.
She immediately wished she hadn’t.
The hall’s common area was crowded with an assortment of decorations piled on the tables, boxes brimming with tinsel, oversized ornaments, candles, glittering stars and garlands scattered about in the world’s most chaotic glittery display.
Well, the world’s second most chaotic glittery display, the first one was—
“Elphie!” Galinda clapped her hands in delight and grinned as soon as Elphaba came in. She’d been humming and fluttering about, wearing a white knit sweater that shimmered with glitter under the dying gray sunlight streaming from the windows, and her hair was perfectly curled as if she intended to attend a gala after this pitiful job was completed. “You made it!”
Elphaba pushed a cup into Galinda’s bare hand, holding back a sneeze in the stifling air. “What sort of cyclone swept through this place?”
“The other volunteers already came to fill up their boxes,” Galinda said. “You’re late.”
“I know.”
“Yet you don’t look like you care.”
“Because I don’t.”
Galinda was still smiling at her, and she shook her head with something like fondness. How she put up with Elphaba, when they were so clearly different, was still anyone’s guess.
“Lucky for you, I did manage to save us some of the best stuff!”
“This is ridiculous,” Elphaba said, readjusting her scarf now that her hands were freed. She would have to keep it and her coat while in here, otherwise she would freeze. How did Galinda manage with just a sweater and no gloves? “I thought you said the holidays made people joyful, but how can that be the case? Look at this place—it’s just shiny clutter.”
“I cannot believe the first thing you do when you get here, after being late, is grumble.” Galinda took a sip of her coffee and skipped past towards where the remaining decorations were. “It’s festive clutter. There’s a difference.”
“I don’t much care to know the difference.”
Galinda dug into one of the nearest boxes, gasping in delight as she pulled out a string of lights. “Look! Aren’t these simply divine?”
“And they're simply divine.” Galinda laughed. “We've been assigned the main hall right here, on the account no one else wanted to stay here for very long.”
Elphaba sneezed, and burrowed further into her scarf. “Can't imagine why.”
The cold did not seem capable of affecting Galinda, though her nose was still pink and had been permanently pink for days now. “Let’s start by draping the lights along the mantle. You can help with the garlands.”
“Can I?”
“Yes, you can,” Galinda said, flashing a bright smile. “I’ve already assigned you the job. You’re welcome.”
Elphaba sighed and approached the boxes with the weariness of someone walking to the gallows. She rifled through the nearest one and pulled out a garland, shaking it out as pine needles rained onto the floor. “I hope you know this is going to make me sneeze until next year.”
“Think of it as a holiday cleanse,” Galinda teased, already climbing onto a stool to start hanging the lights.
Elphaba scoffed but started her assigned task nonetheless, grumbling under her breath as she wrestled the garland into submission. It was stubborn, tangling itself in her hands like it had a vendetta.
Behind her, Galinda hummed a cheerful tune as she worked, pausing only to offer Elphaba occasional “helpful” advice. “Oh, not that corner! It’ll clash with the star display we’re putting up later.”
“What star display?”
“Tut, tut. You’re not paid to ask questions.”
“You couldn’t pay me to do any of this.”
“Well, good thing no one is!”
Minutes ticked by, they drank their coffees and worked mostly in silence save for Galinda’s humming. It was a nice sound, one Elphaba was more than used to, though it was usually reserved for the quietness of their shared room, it did make the job more bearable now.
But it was still barely bearable. Elphaba had to take down her work with the garland around three times, because Galinda was never satisfied, and the glitter and the cold made her sneeze more than it was decent, not to mention—
“My gloves!” Galinda pouted, standing beneath the stool Elphaba was balancing upon. “Please tell me I did not just hear them rip.”
“You must’ve gone deaf,” said Elphaba.
She climbed down with a sigh, and turned her hands to show she’d indeed ripped a hole in the left palm after snatching the fabric with one of the sharp corners at the top of the fireplace.
“I’m sorry,” Elphaba told Galinda. “In my defense, this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t forced me to come here.”
“You could’ve left it at I’m sorry.”
“I really am sorry.” Elphaba removed the gloves and took a look at the hole, it was big enough to poke her thumb through it. She could’ve added the gloves were horribly impractical and did not even fit Galinda’s style, but she could, in fact, leave things at ‘I’m sorry.’
“It’s alright.” Galinda shook her head. “Put them back on, silly, you’ll get cold without them anyhow. You’ll have to borrow another pair when we get back.”
“All your other pairs are—”
“Yes, yes.” Galinda sighed. “Too too for you, I know. It’s either that or frostbite.”
Elphaba snorted. “No need to be so dramatic. And I can do without gloves for the rest of the day, they make this cumbersome job ten times more cumbersome.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why not? You’re managing.”
“Fine, be my guest.” Galinda clearly had her doubts, but she wasn’t so inclined to push the subject further.
Truth was, Galinda was clearly in a good mood, despite Elphaba ruining one of her precious possessions. The decorations had begun to take shape in the time they were there. The mantle glittered with lights and garlands, and they’d hung bells and ribbons from the window frames.
Galinda noticed Elphaba was glancing about their handiwork. “Doesn’t it feel so magical?”
“It feels like a lot of effort for very little reward,” Elphaba replied, blowing on her spectacles to get rid of stubborn glitter clinging to them.
Galinda rolled her eyes. “Even you can appraise the result of our hard work, can’t you? Give credit where credit is due.”
Elphaba hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the mantle before settling back on Galinda. “It’s—less terrible than I expected.”
Galinda beamed. “I’ll take it.”
“So are we done wasting our time now? Can we leave?”
“Almost!” Galinda rushed over to where the leftover decorations were, which she had been stacking up in a single box so they had an easier time putting them away. “Now, for the finishing touch—”
She pulled out a sprig of mistletoe, eyes alight with mischief.
Elphaba raised an eyebrow at it.
“You do know what this is for, don’t you, Miss Elphie?”
“Of course,” said Elphaba. “It’s an excuse for people to trap others into uncomfortable proximity.”
“It is not! It’s romantic.”
“It’s coercive,” Elphaba argued. “If someone wants to kiss you, you shouldn't need a plant to make it happen. And if someone doesn’t want to kiss you, dangling a weed over their head isn’t going to change their mind.”
“You have no sense of whimsy, you.” She waved the mistletoe in Elphaba’s direction, clearly disappointed. “It’s not just about kissing, it’s about holiday tradition.”
“Most of those traditions are absurd, but this one most of all.”
“I think it’s charming,” Galinda said, twirling the sprig between her fingers. “In fact, I think this will be perfect right over—” She pointed to the archway leading into the common room. “—there.”
Elphaba followed her gaze, frowning. “Why there?”
“Because it’s the perfect spot! People pass through it all the time, and it’ll add a touch of festive magic.”
“It’ll add a touch of awkwardness.”
“What’s Lurlinemas without a touch of awkwardness? Have you never had a holiday family dinner?” Galinda fluttered over and dragged a chair towards the archway. “Be a dear and hand me the ribbon, will you?”
Elphaba considered refusing on principle but decided against it. With a sigh, she grabbed the ribbon from the table and passed it to Galinda, who was already wobbling precariously.
“You’re going to break your neck,” Elphaba muttered, steadying the chair with one hand.
“Oh, stop fussing. I’m perfectly capable of hanging mistletoe without incident,” Galinda said, though the chair creaked ominously beneath her.
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
Luckily, she was able to hang it without incident, though she did jostle the garlands Elphaba had hung up scarce minutes ago, causing a small shower of more glitter and fake snow.
Elphaba sneezed again, and fought back a shiver. Her skin was breaking out in goosebumps under her long sleeves—goodness, but she began to wish she hadn’t been late so she and Galinda could’ve picked literally anywhere else to decorate.
“Sorry, Elphie,” Galinda said, deftly climbing down the chair. “But we’re done! Isn’t it perfect?”
Elphaba glanced up at the mistletoe, then back at Galinda. “It’s a plant dangling from the ceiling. I fail to see what’s so impressive about it.”
Galinda rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re easily amused.”
Galinda watched her with a soft smile, hands on her hips. “You know, for someone so clever, you’re awfully stubborn about letting yourself enjoy things.”
“I enjoy plenty of things,” Elphaba said. “Books. Silence. Not having glitter in my hair.”
“Well,” Galinda said, now peering up at where they were standing—or, rather, what they were standing beneath, “maybe by the time we’re done, you’ll enjoy this too.”
There it was again, that warmth from before—that feeling that surged within Elphaba’s chest whenever Galinda complimented her or when she got too close.
Elphaba would have to be a fool to say she hadn’t noticed the way they had been toying an invisible line for months now. Even she, as unaccustomed to such things as she was, could tell there was—something about Galinda, and something between the two of them that wasn’t entirely ordinary.
It was like Galinda’s sweet humming—soft and tentative, reserved just for the two of them, but growing more distinct with each passing day, more like something Elphaba could just get used to. But she didn’t know what to do about it.
Here was Galinda offering her an easy way to do something about it. That damn mistletoe.
She was devious, cunning, and lovely.
Something inside Elphaba softened, but right with it something else made her feel utterly unmoored. It was hard to deny Galinda, Elphaba’s presence in this holiday hellscape was proof of that, and that prospect was terrifying.
“I’m sorry,” Galinda said, snapping Elphaba out of her thoughts. She cleared her throat. “Clearly I’ve either misread the situation, or pushed too hard.”
“I—you—”
“Elphie, you’re trembling.” Galinda took both of her hands and squeezed them, trying to share some of her warmth. “You should’ve kept the gloves.”
She made things too easy, too normal. As if she hadn’t been the one so outwardly suggesting they should kiss just because of what hung above their heads.
The thing was, if Elphaba kissed her, she did not want it to be because of some bygone Lurlinemas tradition. The thought of kissing her at all made her head spin, but she wanted it to mean something more.
“How come the cold doesn’t bother you at all?”
Galinda didn’t look up, her eyes were fixed on their joined hands. “I grew up in northern Gillikin, we have snow falls often during the late year. This is nothing.”
Elphaba shivered.
“Clearly not nothing,” Galinda amended, finally making eye contact again, her expression tender. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Elphie—”
“You didn’t.”
“I meant with this whole thing.” She gestured vaguely towards the room. “I just thought—well, I’m here in this place alone instead of being home, and I didn’t want to be alone… Foolish of me, you never wanted to go home at all, so why would you want my company anyhow? It's fine, Elphie, really. I'll make it up to you, I'll reimburse you for the coffee, and get you some gloves you actually like.”
“You don't have to do any of that.”
“But—”
“Let's just get out of here.” She grabbed Galinda's wrist and tugged her away from the mistletoe, and towards the door.
There was a moment's hesitation, but mostly as Galinda looked over her shoulder to the remnants of decorations on the table. They were as tidy as could be, but it was clear this whole volunteering thing required them to bring everything back to whatever storage basement they belonged to.
Elphaba braced herself for Galinda's rebuttal, and braced herself for having to carry the remaining boxes out of here in this damn cold—
Instead, Galinda grabbed her coat and purse from where they hung by the door, clung to Elphaba's arm as she so often did, and led them out, humming all the way through.
Elphaba was wearing the gloves again, because her fingers felt like icicles. To prevent further damage, Galinda held onto Elphaba's left hand as if her life depended on it, and the small point of contact of their skins through the hole in the fabric made Elphaba dizzy.
It didn't do much to bat away the stinging cold, but it was very warm nevertheless.
They could've gone back to their room to pass the time, but somehow they had ended up taking a walk around the desolate roads of Shiz University.
A part of Elphaba still longed for the comfort of her bed and the warmth of the room, but there was something about Galinda walking so closely, holding her hand, and the silence of the snow-piled roads and the grey skies, that made Elphaba never want to leave.
“Elphie, why don't you like Lurlinemas?”
“My father hates it.”
Galinda frowned. “I'd have thought that'd be a reason for you to love it, then.”
“You're right.” Elphaba chuckled. “But, no. He hates it because it's a pagan holiday at the end of the day, pointless indulgence, and bordering on pleasure faith.”
“Is that so?” Galinda looked around, wrinkling her permanently pink nose, and her eyes fell on the garlands and ribbons other students had wrapped around the lampposts. “Such blatant indulgence, he must be right.”
“I don’t agree with him.”
“So what is it about it that you hate so much?”
Elphaba was quiet for a moment, her breath fogging in the chilly air. Galinda’s hand around hers grounded her while also making it harder to put her thoughts into words.
“I hate the noise of it,” she finally said. “I hate the way it feels like everyone is performing joy instead of actually feeling it. I hate the forced cheer, the garishness, the waste.” She gestured vaguely toward the decorated lampposts. “It’s hollow.”
Galinda tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. “I see what you’re saying, but some people are genuinely joyful because of it. Maybe it feels otherwise to you because you’ve never had the chance to make it your own.”
“My own? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Galinda said, swinging their joined hands, “that traditions don’t have to be hollow if they’re personal. If you give them meaning. Like—presents.”
“Presents,” Elphaba said flatly.
“You did get me a present, didn’t you?”
She had, it was waiting at their dorm. “Don’t be absurd.”
Galinda smiled. “Presents during Lurlinemas are traditions, too, but they mean something. To me, anyway.”
“You don’t even know what it is.”
“So you did get me a present!” Galinda giggled, but of course she already knew that. “It doesn’t matter what it is, it still means something.”
Elphaba’s cheeks flushed, and it wasn’t just the cold. She hadn’t thought much of getting a present for Galinda, she'd gotten one for Nessarose and sent it home, after all, but now she was questioning it. Did it mean something, when it came to Galinda? Did Elphaba want it to mean something?
She did.
“Well, good,” Elphaba muttered, “because it’ll be the only gift you’ll get from me.”
Galinda laughed, a light, musical sound that made Elphaba’s chest tighten. “See? Maybe Lurlinemas doesn’t have to be so bad.”
“Don't get ahead of yourself.” Elphaba’s tone had lost its usual bite somewhere along the snowy path.
They continued walking, the snow crunching softly underfoot, their hands still entwined. The silence between them was comfortable, but it thrummed with something unspoken. Galinda, of course, was the first to break it.
“So, what do you think about what I said?”
“About making traditions my own? Too sentimental and mushy. I still think this whole holiday is pointless, presents or not.”
“Maybe,” she said tentatively, “you just haven’t had the right people to share it with.”
“Ah, yes, people. Do you mean my family? Nessa and I exchanged presents sometimes, whenever my father wasn’t looking, if that’s what you’re asking, but if you’re trying to imply I feel as lonely as you do—”
“I don’t feel lonely,” said Galinda, walking closer to her. “Not anymore, at least. Truth was, Elphie, I was terribly sad about having to stay here—but then I realized you would be here as well. It cheered me right up.”
“My presence being cheerful,” Elphaba said with a smile. “I never thought.”
“It is to me, of course. Though I still think you deserve to have a reason to enjoy the holidays.”
For once, Elphaba didn’t have a quip for that. Instead, she found herself searching Galinda’s face, taking in the earnestness in her eyes, the slight pout of her lips, the way her golden curls framed her face like a halo.
She squeezed Galinda’s hand, surprising them both. “Well, if I ever find that reason, I’ll let you know.”
“I think you already have a reason, and I think you’re being coy about it.”
Elphaba stopped in her tracks, pulling Galinda to a halt with her.
They stared at each other briefly, and then Galinda glanced up at the sky when something seemed to catch her attention.
A snowflake lazily drifting their way.
“Oh, great, the weather is out to get me too.”
“Hold on,” Galinda said, and rummaged into her small purse for a moment, pulling out one of those tiny retractable umbrellas that were all the rave amongst young ladies now. It shimmered in a mother-of-pearl kind of material, and it was so like Galinda.
“I thought you said it wasn’t going to snow again.”
She shrugged. “I still can’t control the weather.”
“Sorcery doesn’t teach you even that?”
Galinda flashed a grin at her. “Not yet, at least.”
More and more snowflakes began to fall around them in slow little patterns, and Elphaba tugged her scarf up to hide more of her chin and ducked her face into her coat. This sort of gentle snowfall wasn’t enough to cause any real damage or truly burn her, she didn’t think—she had never been out in one—but it didn't seem wise to risk it.
Galinda opened up her ridiculous umbrella, smiling slightly at her own cunning, and stepped even closer to Elphaba, holding it between them, shielding them from the snow.
It was quite a small umbrella.
Suddenly, Elphaba's previous comment about mistletoes forcing uncomfortable proximity felt ridiculous. This was great.
“Here.” Galinda grabbed one of Elphaba’s hands and wrapped it around the umbrella’s handle, but kept hers there as if trying to steady her. “This ought to keep you safe until we head back.”
“My hero.” Elphaba breathed out a tiny wisp of white fog. She had to tilt her head a bit to look down at Galinda, the pressure of their hands together was as if holding a comforting hot coal, and their bodies were close, too close, their faces too. It made it easier for Elphaba to ask what she’d been wanting to ask. “Did you really want to kiss me, back there?”
“Oh.” Galinda used her free hand to cover her laughter. “Why, yes. It’s embarrassing that you’re even bringing it up now, have you no shame? But yes. Back there and—anywhere. I want to kiss you anywhere, Elphie, and always.”
Elphaba’s breath caught in her throat. The confession drifted everywhere at once like the snowflakes she’d been meaning to escape. That always echoed louder than the rest of the words, curling itself around her heart like a lovely holiday ribbon, pulling her closer without permission.
Elphaba swallowed hard. The only points of warmth were where Galinda was touching her, and the blazing heat of her cheeks. “Always, you say?”
Galinda tilted her head, her curls brushing against Elphaba’s shoulder, and her hand didn’t leave the umbrella handle. “Always,” Galinda repeated, as if daring her to argue.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit reckless? What if I’m a terrible kisser?” Elphaba muttered, her attempt at humor falling flat even to her own ears.
“I think I’d survive,” Galinda said. “But if you’re worried, there’s one way to find out.”
For once, Elphaba’s sharp mind didn’t come to her rescue. Words failed her, reason fled, and she found herself standing there, frankly at a bit of a loss.
Galinda didn’t push. She stayed where she was, her free hand now resting lightly against Elphaba’s arm. She was beautiful in the winter, that slight flush to her face, the gold of her hair magnified under the dreary colors of the world and the overcast sky.
Elphaba let out a shaky laugh. “You make this too easy, my sweet.”
“And you make it too hard.”
There was still no answer Elphaba could articulate. But maybe she didn’t need one. Maybe the only answer that mattered was the one she was finally willing to give.
With a deep breath, she leaned down, closing the small but infinite space between them. The world melted away at the contact—the cold, the snow, her reservations. None of it mattered. Galinda’s lips were warm, softer than Elphaba had imagined—and heaven knew she had imagined them. There was nothing awkward or forced about it.
It meant something.
It meant everything, truly.
Galinda’s hand slipped from the umbrella handle to rest against Elphaba’s cheek, and she angled herself to deepen the kiss, sweet and gentle, the kind that felt like a promise for more.
When they finally broke apart, the umbrella had tilted just enough to let a few snowflakes settle on their shoulders. Neither of them seemed to notice.
“Well,” Galinda said, her voice breathless and her cheeks rosier than before, “I suppose you’re not a terrible kisser after all.”
Elphaba chuckled, her own cheeks flushed. “Good to know.”
“But, um—just a small thing.” Galinda adjusted the umbrella between them, and dusted the snow off Elphaba’s shoulders. “You may need much more practice.”
“I’m a hard worker, and I love to practice.”
“Good—I do like that about you, Elphie.”
For a moment, they just stood there, the snow continuing its gentle descent around them. Elphaba finally cleared her throat, glancing down at Galinda with a rare, tentative smile. “Does this mean you’ll stop harassing me about Lurlinemas?”
Galinda laughed, the sound bubbly and giddy. Lovely. “Oh, Elphie. If anything, this means I’ll be insufferable about it for years to come.”
“Figures.”
“So—are you going to tell me what my present is?”
“You want another one?”
“I meant the actual present you got for me!”
“A kiss wasn’t enough?”
“Absolutely not. I’ll need at least a dozen more for that to count as a proper present.”
Elphaba chuckled. “You may be in luck.”
Galinda finally let go of the umbrella, though she did hold onto Elphaba’s free hand immediately after. “That’s all very well, but you must still tell me what you got for me.”
“I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
“You hate surprises!”
“Actually.” Elphaba maneuvered her grip on Galinda’s hand slightly, just so their fingers intertwined. “I know it’s Lurlinemas tradition to keep them a secret, and I wouldn’t want to break away from that. I’m learning to appreciate the holidays more.”
“Oh, Elphie, you are devious.” Galinda laughed again, squeezing Elphaba’s hand. “Fine! Let’s head back to the dorm and you can show me—and I can show you what I got for you. No, don’t ask. I see it in your face you want to ask, but I won’t tell you. Two can play this game.”
And she tugged Elphaba away, practically letting Elphaba hoard the umbrella as they walked through the snow.
Snowflakes landed and melted atop Galinda’s curls, and there was a spring in her step. Whatever lingering sadness she’d felt about not being able to go home had completely vanished.
Maybe she’d been right from the start—the holidays could make someone very joyful indeed.
6. I love coming up with titles! I'm gonna say 'tear your curtains down' because it's a lyric from a song I've loved for yeaars, Gold by Interference. I was originally going to use it for another fic back when I was watching cw superhero shows. but that fic (Kara and Barry, both hung up on other people and superhero sex issues, mess around a little as friends) never got written and if I write it, I'll pick something else. so I was happy to use it!
The real punchline to that title is the line /after/ it in the song. For sunlight is like gold.
15. Well I still have my big word doc o' Superman 2025 writing. Cooled on it a bit after the fervor, then my wrist issues came back a bit, but I want to revisit some of the stuff there!
I never did get to properly have my fun with the whole "Clark being superman's exclusive source means that people, including Lex Luthor, are thinking he's fucking Superman. So enjoy a bit from my files. Because I need to write more! (I have a 5 things fic in there that's just an outline!)
How soon was Clark Kent offering Superman sex? Did he spend the night with Superman, as The Daily Planet insinuated? Perry White likes to think the Planet is a bastion of journalism, but not even he could resist the mass-market appeal of “I Spent The Night With Superman.” For such a salacious title, the reader learned remarkably little about what Clark Kent actually did that night. They also learned that Superman wanted to give the impression he had nothing to hide. He told Clark Kent his height and weight, where he was from, and what the “S” on his chest meant. He was even stupid enough to tell Clark what sounded like his entire power set. Did it start then? Was Clark Kent so grateful that Superman had deigned to give him the scoop of the century that he dropped to his knees right then and there?
hey bbg i love you?? i hope it’s all beautiful where you are and the babes are happyyy
30. What’s your favorite candle scent?
anything that smells like citrus, but there’s a sweet pea scented candle I’ve been eyeing for a while
31. Three favorite boy names?
Milo, Felix, and Rory.
32. Three favourite girl names?
Miriam, Lillian, and Roslynn.
33. Favourite actor?
Mark Strong or Ewan McGregor (quiet shout-out to Chris Pine tho)
34. Favourite actress?
Mia Wasikowska.
35. Who is your celebrity crush?
It changes so often?? But I’ll always love Julian Casablancas and rn I really like Kang Seulgi
36. Favourite movie?
Pan’s Labyrinth? My Fair Lady?? (i’m so bad at picking my favourite things off the top of my head HECK)
37. Do you read a lot? What’s your favourite book?
sure do lmao i’m an english major it’s par for the course
and that’s a rough question?? but ones that i happily come back to over and over are Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (or Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom), I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, and Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.
38. Money or brains?
Brains.
39. Do you have a nickname? What is it?
I used to have a few, but not anymore (thank god because they went along the lines of ‘Norkus’ or similar)
