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Post by Ellie Baum on Jul 23, 2008 20:37:07 GMT -5
"Well, I haven't made a fool of myself yet. But don't worry, it's early" she joked.
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Post by Claire Heart on Jul 24, 2008 13:01:12 GMT -5
"Aww, El, you're fine." Claire crinkled up her nose and grinned at her. "I've been trying to spread those little social butterfly wings of hers since first we met. She just inisists on staying in her cacoon. But I know one day, you'll take my place as the most popular girl at Shiz. I mean, with Glinda for a mentor all these years, and with a little help from...myself...there's no getting around it." She laughed, it was a light, musical sort of laugh. It was high and femenine, but not shrill. It echoed its way around the room, almost like a harmony to the music playing.
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Taye Keats
Full Member
Chief advisor to the Crown of Oz
Dream Big...
Posts: 242
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Post by Taye Keats on Jul 24, 2008 13:09:29 GMT -5
Taye smiled. "You'll be fine, Ellie." Honestly, why was she so insistant that she'd make a fool of herself? She was a little awkward at first, sure, but she seemed to be getting the hang of things pretty easily. He wondered for a moment who her parents were. Baum wasn't a name he recognized...
He laughed a little at Claire's comment, though felt a little uneasy. Hopefully Ellie wouldn't become Claire-ified... he had seen it happen plenty of times to unwary freshmen. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing, he liked Claire... but Ellie was different, unique. He had no doubt that she had more social potential than she realized, but that didn't mean that she needed to sacrifice her personality to get there. What was it she had said before? Something about comprimising things to get to the top...
"Well, just be yourself," Taye said, punching Ellie lightly on the shoulder. He grinned. "I think everything will take care of itself on its own."
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Post by Polly Chrome on Jul 24, 2008 14:00:39 GMT -5
Suddenly from the top of the stairs a glowing presence entered. If Claire had competition from anyone as most popular - it was from Polly. But she wasn't really a threat. She was popular without trying, and she didn't seem to care too much what people thought of her either way. She pratically glided down the stairs in a, well, rather bright dress made out of hundreds of pastel colors. She swept through the ballroom like a breath of fresh air.
"Oh hello Claire darling!" Said Polly. She liked Claire a lot. To some degree they were cut from the same cloth. "Oh, all this hustle and bustle... so...Ozmapolitan!" She said. "It just makes you want to dance doesn't it? It's all so beautiful, so many colors - just like being at home!"
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Post by Claire Heart on Jul 24, 2008 14:09:52 GMT -5
Taye was right. Everyone seemed to like Ellie just the way she was, and if she could be comfortable with who she was she wouldn’t need much help from her. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t need fashion tips from time to time, but Ellie could stand on her own without Claire. And Claire was aware of this fact, but she really liked the idea of being needed. She’d always been wanted, fawned over, but never really needed. Maybe that’s why she’d always wanted a boyfriend so badly. She wanted someone whose very world would stop turning without her in it. Maybe it was a silly thing to wish for, but she did.
The closest she’d ever come was her little sister, but even Leila hadn’t needed her. She’d gotten along just fine when she left for Shiz, her parents had sent her word. In the short time since Ellie had been here, so many people were genuinely drawn to her, not as something to worship or strive to be like really, but her courage, her individuality. Ellie was just plain Ellie, and Claire bet that if Ellie went missing people would be genuinely sad, but what if she were gone? People would only think what a shame that pretty thing wasn’t here to walk around anymore. They would act sad, but would they be sad? Probably not…
Polly brought her out of her daze. "Polly! Darling!" She beamed, giving her a quick air kiss on either cheek. "It does. I've missed it." She hadn't seen Polly since the school year had started, and she did look lovely as always. "Polly, I'd like to introduce you to my roommate and friend, Ellie Baum. Ellie, this is Polly Chrome."
Claire had been made for politics. She could turn off her emotions as easily as anyone. At the very sight of Polly she could switch back into her pristine popularity figure, her mask.
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Post by Ellie Baum on Jul 24, 2008 14:11:35 GMT -5
Ellie looked up as Polly swept into the room. She looked every inch a Princess. How elegant and graceful!
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Post by Claire Heart on Jul 24, 2008 17:27:24 GMT -5
She could see Ellie was a smidge uncomfortable, so she proceeded on. "So, Polly, my sweet, tell us all about your lovely summer. I'm sure it's been far more interesting than ours. The only thing Ellie and I have done worth merit is meet with Glinda the Good in the Emerald City. She's basically Ellie's mother." She didn't know why she always reverted to this alter ego whenever she was around Polly. She wondered if they'd ever had a moment of sincerity in their friendship. They must have! But it sure didn't seem like it now
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Post by Polly Chrome on Jul 24, 2008 17:57:39 GMT -5
"Oh how lovely!" Polly said. "My family's known Glinda for ages. Isn't she just wonderful?" Polly squeeled. It wasn't true that there was no sincerity in her relationships it's just that... well to be honest, Polly didn't go very deep. Perhaps it was because she'd basically never had a care in the world. Well... except for getting seporated from her father during the Gale incident. Polly was... well fragile. True, she wasn't the deepest of souls, but one got the feeling that she could break rather easily.
"Did you know that The Tin Man nominated me to be a T.A in Gale Tower? I think I might have you in my class - oh it'll be so lovely!" Flowers and bells seemed to float down on Polly's voice.
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Post by Claire Heart on Jul 24, 2008 18:11:55 GMT -5
"Fascinating, darling! You always were a bright thing. Congratulations!"Secretly, she was a bit jealous. She studied twice as hard as Polly, but Polly generally got all the academic credit (and most of the popularity too). They were great friends, so similar in some ways, but it couldn't stop her jealousy.
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Post by Polly Chrome on Jul 24, 2008 18:17:30 GMT -5
"It's silly really" said Polly, "they probably just chose me 'cause they know I won't be a bother." Polly wasn't the best student - but the fact that she didn't have the hardest major evened things out.
"I've been so lonely all summer - I'm so glad I'll get to be with all my friends again!"
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Post by Claire Heart on Jul 24, 2008 18:46:58 GMT -5
"We're glad to have you back." A little of her fake facade seemed to melt and her smile softened.
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Post by Polly Chrome on Jul 24, 2008 19:04:39 GMT -5
"Oh it's so good to be back - especially with all of you" she said - the epitome of absolute perfection. Oh, please excuse me... it's silly but they asked me to sing a little something tonight". Polly was known for her amazing singing and dancing skills. In the Rainbow Kingdom people danced to dry off after a rainstorm (which was rather frequent.) They said that only Elphaba in her day had a voice to match - though it was, unusual and Elphaba almost never used her talent. But she had sung a little something at the "memorial" if you could call it that since he hadn't died, for Doctor Dillamond.
Polly took the stage, motioned to the band and began a sweet but moving song. All the couples joined together to slow dance as the lovely melody floated in the air.
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Post by Claire Heart on Jul 24, 2008 19:43:37 GMT -5
Claire wasn't sure what to do. She wanted to dance with Taye, but she didn't want Ellie to feel left out...She'd never been unsure of a situation. A month before she would have grabbed Taye up in her arms at the first note, but not now. Now she was unsure of herself, of everything.
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Post by Ellie Baum on Jul 24, 2008 19:57:22 GMT -5
Ellie leaned over to Claire. "Go ahead" she said, and quietly removed herself from the little circle. Ellie would never want to stand in the way of her best friend.
Ellie was having the best time of her life! Finally she felt like she fit in.
But there it was again... that rumbling... what in Oz name was it?
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Post by Elphaba Thropp on Jul 24, 2008 20:11:37 GMT -5
The rumbling was indeed getting worse. But now it wasn't just coming from the ground... it was coming from the air. The lights started to flicker. They dimmed, and then burst into brightness. Standing dead in the middle of the room was... The Wicked Witch of the West! As soon as people caught sight of her, they froze, and then ran back to the edges of the room, forming a giant circle. There she was! All in black with her signature cape and hat. And broom! She was real. Not a figment of imagination. Everyone started to scream. Could it be a joke?
Elphaba raised her hands, and the room fell silent. Would she cast a spell? What was she doing? The rumbling was getting louder. Was she causing it?
"You are all in danger" she said. She wasn't able to get the rest of her statement out. The students were panicking. They wern't really moving but they all seemed like they felt it was a threat. Not a warning.
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