InsaneJournal

Who: Elphaba and Glinda
When: 2nd April
Where: Mall
What: Showing Elphaba Portia’s designs
Rating: Low?
Status: Complete when posted



Glinda knew Elphaba didn’t shop much, you only had to look at her wardrobe to tell that, but she thought the other woman had potential. And to show good will, and also to show she was trying to curb her spending she had asked Elphaba to come along on her shopping trip to find a local designer.

She knew of one woman whose designs Glinda really liked but she truly did want Elphaba’s opinion and, though she wouldn’t admit it, approval. After all Elphaba was the only person who had actually told her that her parents were still supporting her, and who had encouraged Glinda not to accept that and to stand on her own two feet.

Waiting outside the mall she had chosen she wondered if Elphaba would be wearing a suit like she did to work or if she actually had casual clothes. Glinda herself had decided on a more casual look.

Elphaba strode to the mall, tucking her car keys in handbag as she walked. Glinda had asked to meet here so she could have a look at local designers. Elphaba took the offer as a hand of friendship, hopefully hailing Glinda’s willingness to work with her on this new business plan. Having finished an emergency conference call with another client who was having a panic about seeing some news article on a company he had shares in. Absolute nonsense, but she had managed to talk some sense into him eventually. The call, however, had put her behind schedule and she had had to throw on some clothes, being conscious of the fact she was with a fashionista all the time.

Seeing Glinda at the entrance to the mall, she approached her with her hand outstretched, smiling as she did. “Ms Upland, sorry I’m a little late, I had an emergency call from another client,” she apologised.

Glinda smiled and waved off the apology, “Oh please you’re barely late” she smiled, looking over the other womans outfit - not many women could pull off white jeans but Elphaba worked it well, the green suited her too. “And if you call me Ms Upland again I’m going on a spending spree” she teased, “It’s Glinda, I insist” she pressed forestalling any objection Elphaba might have, “Besides I’ve decided I’m calling you Elphie so it would be strange if you didn’t use my first name”.

Elphaba laughed, conceding to Glinda’s point. “It’s odd, no-one but my sister ever called me that, but since I’ve come here it seems to be the way. Maybe it’s my OC name,” she joked. “Shall we?” she indicated to the mall’s entrance.

“Well your name is nice but Elphie is just too cute not to use” Glinda informed her before nodding, “Oh yes let’s. I’m so excited to show you the clothes I’m thinking of” she added bouncing a little in her heels.

Elphaba couldn’t help but grin at the tiny woman’s enthusiasm about their venture, although she had never heard her name be called ‘cute’ before, and followed her into the centre. “I’m glad to see you’re really getting into this whole thing,” Elphaba smiled, dodging past a woman rushing by on her cell phone.

Glinda smiled at Elphaba but said nothing for a moment until she put her hand on Elphaba’s arm to stop them “Thank you” she said softly, “For being honest with me and for wanting to help me be more than just the blonde socialite” Before Elphaba could respond she plastered a practiced smile on her face, “Now it’s just over here” she said moving them on.

Elphaba took a minute and smiled quietly to herself before following Glinda to a boutique, a renewed bounce in her step.

They entered the store and Glinda immediately took her over to the rail where she knew Portia’s clothes were, “Just look at these” she gushed looking at Elphaba, “Aren’t they beautiful?”

“Uhh...” Elphaba gaped for a few seconds as Glinda showed her a top on a hanger. “Yeah, ...they’re...great,” she nodded, turning her attention to the other clothes on the rack. She parted the clothes and looked at another top, “This is nice, I really like that!” she showed it to Glinda with a smile, hoping she made the grade.

Glinda smiled brightly, “Oh yes” she replied looking at the top in Elphaba’s hand, “That is lovely. All of these” she gestured to the rack, “are by a lovely lady called Portia. I really think she should be the shining star of anything we do”

“Ok,” Elphaba couldn’t help but feel relieved by Glinda’s response, feeling like she had passed some sort of subconscious test or something. “So, I get the feeling that she’s a one-off design kind of designer, am I right?” Elphaba asked as she looked over the top again, trying to get a feel for the type of route Glinda wanted to take.

Glinda nodded, “I believe so” she replied, “When I spoke to the owner of this store she said the young lady comes in with new things whenever they call to ask and as far as she is aware only 2 or 3 places in the OC hold her designs”

“Ok, so do you think we can get a meeting with this Portia?” Elphaba hung the top back on the hanger.

"I was hoping you might be able to do that bit" Glinda admitted, "I'm bound to say something wrong and it would look so much more professional coming from you" she gave Elphaba a charming smile.

“I’m sure you would do fine,” Elphaba reassured her with a gentle smile. “But I have no problem with doing the introductory call for you. Could you send me a copy of your schedule for the next week or so, then I know when you’re free for a meeting?”

Glinda smiled as Elphaba confirmed that she would handle the phonecall, “Oh my schedule is pretty empty most days” she replied, “Especially as I’m on shopping lockdown” she teased, “So whenever is good for you will be fine for me”

"Ok, I’ll talk to the store owner and see if she can introduce us then I'll let you know when I set the meeting up for," Elphaba smiled, then held her hands up. "And don't worry, once we get some details from this Portia you can go back to spending...a bit..."

Glinda nodded, the plan sounded good to her, she laughed lightly, “Well actually it hasn’t been as hard as I made out it would be after all...” she admitted, “In fact it’s even got me thinking about other things I could do, career wise I mean”

"Oh really," Elphaba asked, her eyrbrows almost raising up into her hairline as she was impressed by Glinda's admission. "Do tell..."

“Oh well it’s nothing really, I’ve just been thinking about maybe, possibly looking at kindergarten teaching” Glinda replied, before quickly adding, “It’s silly I know, completely ridiculous but...” she shrugged.

"Who said it was silly?" Elphaba interrupted. "Its completely admirable and worthwhile," she smiled encouragingly. "And for what its worth, I reckon you would make a pretty cool teacher," Elphaba admitted with a little shrug.

Elphaba was the second person to encourage Glinda when she revealed her ideas. She had to admit it made a nice change for people to believe in her at least where her intelligence was concerned. It made her wonder if perhaps she could do it after all.

Seeing Glinda's almost hesitation to accept her compliment, Elphaba felt compelled to reassure her. "Look, I know we had a bit of a rough start, but I honestly think you're a smart cookie, despite the front and the..." she gestured vaguely to Glinda's outfit, which lets face it was pretty tame for her. "Pink," she teased.

That got a laugh from Glinda, “Thank you Elphie, truly” she said before grinning, “And you know you love the pink. It goes good with green” she added linking her arm with the other womans to bring their tops next to each other. She had a slight sense of deja vu but shrugged it off.

Elphaba laughed and patted the hand Glinda had wrapped around her arm. “Tell you what, you go grab us some coffees while I get Portia’s details then I’ll let you play dress up with me,” she offered. “You can spend through me,” she winked.

Glinda’s face lit up with a smile, “You know you really are the best accountant ever” she told Elphaba, “And I promise I won’t put you in pink” she added before skipping off to get coffees for them.