hmm. i'd have to think about that! here are some thoughts i had throughout afternoon as i went back and forth on my answer:

it's hard for me to say definitively because i go back and forth on g(a)linda possessing magic that strong that could properly interact with elphie's in that way. to paraphrase a post i saw that discussed perspectives on g(a)linda's sorcery abilities, i do very much ascribe to the idea that her magic moves people in a way that potentially she's not conscious of if she does possess it.

on the other hand, i think that more than anything, elphaba's desire to never do anything but love g(a)linda despite their troubles could be another factor that prevents her magic from ever harming a hair on g(a)linda's head. more than control, or mastery, or time, it's just-- it's galinda. and how could elphie ever hurt her? in a way, this feels a bit more tragic to me to think about, because we know later that the hurt does come. we know what happens because canon-glinda tells us, standing before the munchkins, that the wicked die alone, that their lives are lonely, and here she is in her bubble. untouchable. so maybe she never has very strong magic, not in the way that we're taught to think about it while consuming the show/movie.

then again, on my third, non-existent hand, i've also considered that it was g(a)linda's unbridled belief in elphaba, and as that slipped away, so did her elphie. it could have easily all just been dumb luck, too. hope gets you only so far, and after that you need a little bit (a lot) of luck. maybe elphaba's magic knew g(a)linda was there, but it sensed her fear, so it spared her-- but at what cost? it's an interesting thought to examine: if elphie had cast a spell on her, would she have less regrets, even if it would mean (physically, and therefore likely eventually emotionally as well) changing? there's so much that could have happened, infinite possibilities of what could have happened to g(a)linda at the hands of magic. i'm thinking @c-rose2081's meadowlark au, or @sirazaroff's morrible lightning au, or her scarecrow au. (or maybe one that's not yet written! like an au where she's imbued by a new kind of magic because of elphaba that allows for her to serve as a true double agent, or she's the one that goes flying that first day at shiz, or-- i could go on.)

in my head, these are all things canon-glinda's contemplated since elphaba's melting. how it could have easily had nothing to do with love, how they were just kids, and they had no clue what they were doing.

i'm sorry i can't give you a definitive answer, but all of this is to say: maybe! or maybe not. and the way that magic (or lack of) haunts the narrative is a story of its own that could be written a million different ways. the way i chose to write it for farmhouse verse was to secure their gentle life for many years to come, but i'd probably write it differently for a different au! thanks for the fun thought experiment! really enjoyed it genuinely

finding love on the road (your head on my shoulder)

Rating: T (will change to E)

Words: 10.9k

Status: 7/10

Collab with @judastarkid

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Summary:

Fiyero does a little spin in his new coat. “What do we think?”

“Dashing,” Galinda claps.

Elphaba nods in agreement. “Very on theme.”

Fiyero grins. “Of course I’m on theme— it’s my party.”

The theme he chose is Stroke of Midnight, which all of his friends bemoaned, wanting to get away from work for at least one night. When they complained, Fiyero’s argument was I’m method, which just made everyone try to convince him to change it more, because never in his life has Fiyero ascribed to going method on anything.

In the end, though, he won, because it’s his birthday, and because his sentiment was quite lovely: a very genuine smile coming to his face as he proposed that everybody should come in the role they feel they were born to play, the one they feel that they are inside.

(Or, Fiyero's birthday. And finally some true gay activity.)

[read it on ao3]

yes!! we post every friday :) thank you so much for reading!

finding love on the road (your head on my shoulder)

Rating: T (will change to E)

Words: 10.9k

Status: 6/10

Collab with @judastarkid

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Summary:

Liking Galinda is a stressful experience, more stressful than Elphaba realized before last night.

It’s like the dial is turned up to eleven on everything when she wakes up the next morning. Colors are brighter; Galinda is, somehow, even louder than she was before; the little things that she was convinced felt normal suddenly aren’t. Like Galinda reaching for her arm as they walk to the theatre. Like being worried that she’s going to miss her lunch break because the house manager is late to meeting with her, and Galinda bringing her a sandwich and a coffee without having to ask. Like just sitting in the same space as Galinda after the show is done.

Even worse, Elphaba is convinced that everybody knows.

(Or, Elphaba is stressed. Also, there's only one bed.)

[read it on ao3]

how essential to me (you have become)

Part Two: settling down to want you (doggedly, dismally, faithfully)

Rating: E

Words: 9.5k

Status: 2/2

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Summary:

“Technically, it’s the material from my first try at bridges,” Galinda tells her, looking almost… nervous. “I had this idea, instead of just getting rid of the scrap I could try to reuse it, and so I thought—”

“Galinda,” Elphaba says, turning from where her legs were spread out on the couch so now they’re flat on the floor and she’s looking up at her. “What is it?”

In response, Galinda simply holds out her hand, presenting her with— a ring. It’s silver, with a tiny shard of green sea glass set into the center. “For you,” Galinda states the obvious, but her voice is shaking a little. “If you want it.”

(Or, the one about acts of service, commitment, and marriage.)

[read it on ao3]