A Midafternoon Stroll

[Claire Heart]

To escape from the stuffiness of Glinda Tower, Taye had agreed to accompany Claire on a walk through the gardens. It was nice out, a slight breeze blowing through the high grass and assortment of flowers. It swept her knee-length pink day dress up a little, and she had to hold it down with one of her hands to keep it from showing too much leg.

Claire stooped and grasped a small, purple blossom in her fingers and inhaled deeply. The aroma was so sweet, almost like candy. She hadn't spent much time in the gardens since her freshman year here at Shiz. She was usually so busy studying and keeping up appearances that she'd never had time to just...stop and smell flowers. That seemed so silly. What good had it done her? She wasn't even sure...

She felt so at peace now in this moment. Not that the threat at hand wasn't in the back of her mind at all times, but she felt calm here, with Taye. Her heart was racing from just being with him. She was aware of his fondness for Ellie, but he was warming to her. Maybe, just maybe, he could feel for her what she felt for him.

[Taye Keats]

Taye strolled alongside Claire, his hands in his pockets. It was such a nice day out; the sun was shining, and the wind itself seemed to have a sweet scent from all of the flowers. He came to the gardens occasionally, at times when he needed to get away and think. He waited patiently for Claire as she stopped to pick one of the flowers. She was pretty in all respects; one of the most beautiful girls at Shiz to be sure. He had dated plenty of the "popular" type girls, both here and during his time at the lower education in the Emerald City. He knew what all of them were like... and he had grown tired of the monotony of perfection. That was what had drawn him to Ellie... she was so different from everyone else, but she had a beauty all her own. Her aunt was Nessarose Thropp... hadn't she been described as tragically beautiful? But Claire was different too... maybe she wasn't a year ago, but she was now. Taye wouldn't have known at first glimpse what a strong heart she had... seeing her actions the night before was truly impressive.

"It's a beautiful day," he said softly, in an attempt to break free from his musings. A gust of wind blew through the gardens, and every plant in the area rustled softly as if in agreement.

[Claire Heart]

"When you were young did you ever just throw yourself down in a pile of flowers?" She thought about carefree days when she was younger. "I liked being a child. I didn't worry at all. I just did....do you ever wish you were like that again? You could just do and be and not worry or think about what others thought? I mean, sure we have to. But if we didn't...wouldn't it be nice?"

Suddenly Claire just sprang off and ran a short piece then threw herself down in a pile of flowers, letting the wind blow right up her dress and spread it across the flowers around her. She laughed out loud at herself. She hadn't done something with such...abandon...in such a long time. It felt good to let go, if only a moment.

[Taye Keats]

Taye laughed as Claire threw herself at the bed of flowers. She looked so incredibly... happy. It was so much more attractive than the Emerald City girls who were always too busy worrying about appearances to actually enjoy themselves. Claire looked so carefree, so at peace, so... real. It was so different from the masquerade so many girls put on...

"I never had much of a childhood," Taye admitted, allowing a little bit of bitterness seem through into his smile. "My parents were social climbers; they were always too worried about appearances to let me be a carefree kid."

He suddenly stopped talking, then ran forward and leapt into the flowers as well, landing beside Claire and laughing. Wow... that felt even better than he had thought it would. The smell of the flowers enveloped them.

"But why not have that childhood now?" he asked, turning his head to smile at Claire.

[Claire Heart]

She propped up on one elbow. "Well, my parents were never around for my childhood, but I had a good one! My brother and I played all day long in the field outside our house. We had a swing that hung from the largest tree in our yard and we spent hours pushing each other. We played tag and hide-and-seek, and sometimes, if I was really good, he'd play house with me. I don't think he minded as much as he told me." She giggled, a smile spreading across her whole face.

[Taye Keats]

Taye put his arms behind his head in a carefree way. "Oh, you have a brother? Younger, older...? I was always an only child myself," he said lightly. "I always had to go to dinners and balls and stuff with my parents, as well as lessons. Maybe the reason I went clubbing so much in my teens was because of my lack of playing when I was younger..."

[Claire Heart]

"Older. Only by a year. We're both seniors here at Shiz. But I have two little sisters and a little brother at home: 15, 12, and 8. You're lucky. I bet your parents actually cared about you. I never knew why my parents kept having children. They didn't like any of us. They just kept passing us off to Nanies while they kept climbing social ladders and building the Emerald City..." She sighed. "But I'm glad I had my brother. We were best friends as kids. But because of that he's become a little overprotecting in the adult life. He thinks he's my dad sometimes. I swear he forgets he's only a year older than me!"

"You know, I've never been to a 'club.' I've been to balls. I've been to the Ozdust, but I don't think that quite qualifies as a club. What are they like?"

[Taye Keats]

"Oh, is he really? I don't think I've met him. And I'm sure your parents care about you." He stuck out his tongue teasingly. "Maybe they keep having kids because they love the experience of raising them."

Taye propped up his head on his elbow; he hoped they weren't crushing these flowers. The gardeners would probably have a fit if they found them here. He thought for a moment. "Clubs are fun. I think they'd really only be found in the Emerald City; it's the only place Ozmopolitan enough. They're kind of like the Ozdust, only louder, more crowded... not to mention ten times more swankified. There are all kinds of flashing lights, and sometimes magic shows. The dancing is a lot edgier and cutting edge, too." He grinned. "Not exactly for everyone; I think my parents would have flipped if they actually knew what was inside the nightclubs I was always going to. Unionists and Lurlineists protest them... they say they're testiments to the pleasure faith."

He shrugged, falling back down onto the flowerbed. "But they can be a lot of fun if you have an open mind. Maybe I'll take you sometime, if you want."

[Claire Heart]

"Really? I'd like that." Claire had lived a pretty sheltered life. She'd lived at her home in the Gillikin Countryside until she'd been old enough to go to finishing school to learn how to be a 'lady.' Then, once she finished that, home for two years to help her mother before leaving for Shiz.

"You know i've only heard of the pleasure faith. Does anyone actually still practice it? I heard this wild story once...or maybe I read it in a book..." As soon as it came out of her mouth she realized she'd said it. She read. She'd never told anyone but Ellie that she actually read. Her eyes went a little wide then she smiled to try and cover it up. "About a munchkin, a winki, a Pig, and a priest going into some sort of 'club' I think. There were crazy things described: nudity, exposing themselves in ways I'd never heard of, and I didn't understand a lot of the things they were decribing. They seemd a little...wicked..." She seemed intrigued by the thought of a taste of wickedness. Sure, no one wanted to be considered 'wicked' but just a taste of the other side couldn't help but be alluring.

[Taye Keats]

Taye nodded grimly, not noticing Claire's surprise at her slip. "I think I know what you're talking about. There was a place called the Philosophy Club, which was all about exhibitionism and such... it was either in the Emerald City or the area around Shiz, I'm not sure. It closed down years ago after one of the clients went mad from the experience."

"Some people certainly still practice it. The Clock of the Time Dragon was one of the biggest symbols of pleasure faith. Really though, the term 'pleasure faith' was given by the Unionist Church to anything they deemed as sacreligious." He smirked. "Sex, tik-tok machinery... even sorcery was at one time considered pleasure faith. The last two became far more mainstream after the Wizard came to Oz." He tone became teasing. "So really, you've been promoting pleasure faith, Miss Sorceress."

He was really quite well-read; the political history of Oz fascinated him, and religion was just a part of it. He had never talked this much about it with someone however...

[Claire Heart]

"Me? So I guess I am a little 'wicked' after all." She giggled at the thought. She always wanted 'the good' after her name, but there was just some allure to wickedness, just a touch of it. "Have you ever tried your hand at magic? Anyone can do it. All it requires is concentration and a little practice, and of course enough knowledge of things to have a clue where to start; but that's the easy part." She smiled, a little slyly, flirtaceously. She was enjoying herself more than she had in years, really letting her hair down. No one else let her talk about all of this, ask questions, be intelligent...

[Taye Keats]

"Magic, huh? Me?" Taye smirked, then shook his head. "Nah... I think I tried a few times when I was young, but nothing ever happened. I'd think that if I had any sort of talent at it I'd know about it by now. I'm good with people and books, not wands." He, too, was being way more open than he ever had been. He had opened up some with Ellie, it was true, but... something about Claire made him feel even more at home, like he was talking to another part of himself. The more they talked, the more similar they seemed to become... or maybe more was just being revealed about both of them.

[Claire Heart]

"Oh come on! You should try it!" Claire sprang up to a sitting position, a wild, childish grin on her face. "If you could do one magical thing, what would you want to do?"

[Taye Keats]

Taye thought for a moment, a smile on his face.

"Hmm... anything? I think... I would like to fly." He grinned playfully. "Maybe I could convince Elphaba to lend me her broom. Okay, how about you? If you could do anything."

[Claire Heart]

"If I could do anything..." Claire thought for a moment, considering all the alternatives. "I'd be in love with someone who loved me back just as much..." It was sappy and sad, but it was completely truthful. It was what she wanted more than anything: to love and be loved. She turned away, blushing, embarressed that she'd actually said it out loud.