Work Text:
The day Doctor Dillamond died would forever be burned in the mind of each and every student on Shiz. It had been a grotesque display of gratuitous violence. Everyone had been horrified by the monstrous crime perpetrated in a sacred place for growth, understanding and companionship.
Ama Clutch, the only witness who could identify the culprit, had become practically mute. The only thing that left her lips was 'clock'.
And then that Grometick figure had been seen lurking around… a chilling reminder of Morrible’s presence. When everyone noticed it, they scurried away.
It was one in the morning.
Galinda knew because the scant moonlight that filtered through their window was enough to see the clock on her bedside table. In fact, she had been looking at it for quite some time now.
Sleep must have been avoiding her that night. However, in a way, it was understandable. No one in their right mind could doze off at ease after knowing, and seeing, what she had seen. What everyone had seen.
It was unnerving. How could that happen in a place like Shiz? It was supposed to broaden everyone’s horizons, open their minds to new points of view, not– not… just thinking about it gave her goosebumps.
Galinda got off the candy-floss-like abomination she called her bed. What could she do?
Well, were she to be at home, she would ask her Popsicle if he could spend a little time sitting next to her, until she calmed down and fell asleep.
It could be argued that Highmuster Arduenna was a ruthless and cutthroat businessman, yes. But never doubt he was a calming, steadfast presence in Galinda's life. When she was but a pipsqueak, every single time Galinda was ill or had a nightmare, he would pick her up and nestle her between his wife and himself. He wasn’t there, though.
The next best thing could be risky. But she had to try.
She padded the short space that separated their beds. Fingers crossed. Shaking her friend's shoulder gently, just enough to not wake her up completely, Galinda took her chance. “Elphie,” she whispered. “I can't sleep.”
“And what do you want me to do?” Elphaba answered in a mumble. “I can start talking you about our assignment and bore you until you fell asleep.”
Galinda rolled her eyes. “Can I sleep with you?”
Elphaba sighed, but pulled her covers up and away so the blonde could get in. “C’mere.”
The blonde scooched close to Elphaba. By Lurnine, she was cold. Well, of course Elphaba had to be cold! Her bed was only covered by a modest blanket and the thinnest sheets she had ever seen in her life. Elphaba seemed to nestle even closer, poor girl. Thank Oz Glinda was a little Gillikinese stove.
Looking at the ceiling she stated thinking again, which went against the very thing she tried to do. She needed to sleep, not to ruminate on those disgraceful events.
“Elphie,” she said softly. “Why do you think that happened?”
“Because he was dangerous, my sweet,” Elphaba said. Then, she cradled Galinda close to her. Something told her it was going to be a tough conversation.
For her part, the blonde let herself being hugged. Tears were beginning to stream down her cheeks and the last thing she wanted was for Elphaba to see her in such a state.
“He wasn’t. Doctor D couldn’t hurt a fly.”
“He was, Galinda,” Elphaba stated. “Sometimes being dangerous doesn’t imply you can hurt people. Sometimes it means you can make them think, question the world around themselves. Doctor Dillamond was a dangerous Animal because he was educated.”
Elphie was right. Doctor Dillamond was the most intelligent Animal Galinda had the pleasure of knowing… and now he was gone. Just like that.
Galinda cried. She cried for her teacher, for Ama Clutch, but she also cried for Elphaba who had lost the one fatherly figure that cared for her in Doctor Dillamond, and a friend in Ama Clutch.
She wasn’t sure for how long she sobbed, what she did knew was that she had to say something. So, after calming down, Galinda looked at her friend with a resolute air.
“Popsicle said that in Shiz I would learn useful skills, but the most useful one would be one that wasn’t in the syllabus,” she began. “I believe he was referring to what you pointed out. Thinking and examining the world we live in can make us realise the injustices others are submitted to.” A clock tick could be heard before Galinda kept going. “If we do that, changes are due to be made. That shakes power and power figures to their core, because social instability can be the spark of a revolution. But going on a killing spree, just because a truth needs to be silenced, it will only lead to more violence and, ultimately, it will cause unnecessary pain to everyone.”
Elphaba was stunned. For a girl who failed her essays time and time again, her friend had surprised her with this little speech. She didn’t know Galinda had it in her. Were she to become a real influential figure in Oz… just thinking about that left Elphaba speechless, which was uncharacteristic for her.
“Where did that come from, my sweet?”
Galinda smiled for the first time that day. “You should know by now that you need to be very smart to act like an airhead, Miss Elphaba.”
“Huh. I should’ve known better.” Placing a kiss on top of Galinda’s head, Elphaba held her closer if possible. “Now, let’s sleep, sounds good?”
Galinda nodded and they both relaxed in each other’s arms. Elphaba combed the blond curls with her hands in a steady motion until her eyes felt too heavy to keep them open, and Glinda listened Elphaba’s heart and breath which lulled her to sleep.
Doctor Dillamond’s death could had been seen as inconsequential; however, it was a little domino piece in a story bigger than itself. And it began there, in Crage Hall room 22.