Chapter Text
"Thank you, Ms. Thropp." The stocky mail carrier gave Elphaba a small nod - receiving a tight smile in return - before he turned to the other set of students waiting for their own things. The green girl quickly started to walk out of the mail-room and back to her own dorm, keeping the simple brown paper parcel held close to her chest. It was surprisingly softer and lighter than she expected when she picked it up, but then again she wasn't expecting anything to come to her today...or any day for that matter.
Elphaba usually never had to check Shiz's mail-room for anything for herself. She was used to getting nothing from her estranged father. Unless it was a letter asking (more-so demanding) for the well-being status of her younger sister, she knew not to expect much from him.
So it came to an even bigger surprise when she was called down to pick up not a letter, but a package from someone back home.
Once Elphaba got back to her shared dorm, she carefully placed the soft parcel down, taking a moment (not stalling, of course) to notice the quiet of the room. Galinda was already out and about, to spend time with Fiyero at the latest store in town. Elphaba was already woken up that morning from the girl's tittering around the shared bedroom, and she couldn't help but smile softly as she watched Galinda flit about to freshen up and do her hair just right, then giving Elphie her customary hug before running out the door.
Elphie…
She didn't think that she would be so used to her little blonde roommate's spontaneous nickname for her, the cutesy phrasing sounding nothing like her usual demeanor. But now, she felt a soft fluttering in her chest whenever she heard Galinda address her like that. And only her…there was no way she would let anyone else get away with it.
Sighing, Elphaba figured she stalled a little too long, especially since basking in the quiet of a lazy Sunday just made her start to miss her friend. She shook her head and glanced down at the package again. Just stood there staring at it for a clock tick longer than need be, as if the bag would decide to move on its own. Elphaba started to twitch her hands in frustration, her body starting to tense, and she took a shallow breath…shaking her head at the absurdity.
It's just a package from home, why am I getting so…so bothered about it??
But Elphaba knew why. It was because of where it came from, and who it could be coming from. And what in Oz could possibly be in it in the first place.
After taking another breath, the green girl rubbed her face and shook out her hands, before slowly reaching for the package to carefully tear open the top of it. She took a nervous peek inside - far past embarrassment at this point - and furrowed her brow when she recognized the shapes in the package to be rolls and rolls of colorful bundles of -
Yarn??
Elphaba blinked, taken aback, as she tore open the top completely to stare at the contents more clearly. The strands themselves looked to be thicker than a typical cardigan's yarn, about the diameter of a calligraphy pen. She counted about four bundles in the bag: one white, two yellow, and the last one a soft emerald green. She picked that last one up and looked closer at it, running her thumb over the soft texture of the yarn. The color almost matched her own, and Elphaba wasn't exactly sure how to feel about that. She pulled the other three bundles out of the parcel and gasped when she spotted what was sitting at the bottom: three pairs of black wooden knitting needles of different thicknesses and a letter with Duclibear's handwritten "To Elphaba" at the front of the envelope.
The green girl's eyes widened and she quickly picked up the letter and opened at. She recognized her former nanny's handwriting (or more so paw writing) anywhere, as she was the one who taught both her and Nessa their alphabet first. She remembered her caretaker's kind eyes and gentle warmth whenever her or her sister showed interest in the goings on around them. The way she would carefully balance a large pencil in between her claws to write out the first letter of the things Elphaba would point out with enthusiasm. Of course it was Dulcibear who sent her the package! She felt a little chagrin dreading it all now. After letting a puff of laughter release from her lips, Elphaba sat at her desk and turned on the desk light to read the letter.
Dear Fabala,
I hope this letter finds you well, my dear. When I heard that you would be attending Shiz along with Ms. Nessa, I was filled with pride. Things would be hard for you, but I know you'll achieve greatness in this world. I had the privilege to see both you and your sister grow up to be splendid young ladies, and even though I will miss you back here, know that I always believe in you, my dear sweet child.
I wanted to give this to you when you returned from dropping off Ms. Nessa to school. It took a little while longer because of the fleece from my friend. This little bundle is actually dyed yarn from a lovely sheep I know. She suggested that knitting helps to center the mind and relax you. I know you tend to go to your books for that, but if you ever feel like you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of school, you could pick this up if you'd like. It's alright if not, I know students have a lot on their plate these days. Just know that you were always my little bundle of warmth and sweetness, and I hope this gift gives you the same feelings.
Love,
Dulcibear
Elphaba clutched the letter to her chest and let out a small sigh between a watery smile. She quickly wiped her eyes with a nearby handkerchief, making sure no tear stains got on her precious letter. Dulcibear...there for her from childhood to now, always knew how to make her feel so seen and safe; something she seldom felt around anyone else. She gingerly placed the letter inside her desk drawer's top compartment where she stored important keepsakes (her official Shiz acceptance letter, a pressed poppy flower bookmark, a small pink pin Galinda gave her) and proceeded to write a response letter immediately back to her doting caretaker. As Elphaba started off her letter, she paused and glanced back at the once ominous opened package and grinned. She never considered a hobby like knitting but giving it a try sounded like just the thing on this lovely Sunday morning.
She just had a few books to pick up from the school library first.