Exodus 7/?
Fandom: Wicked (Book)
Characters: General Cast
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Implied non-con, captivity, physical abuse.
Summary: Based off of the Gregory Maguire Wicked Years, AU. The Philosophy Club is everything it's rumored to be; disgusting and filthy with unspeakable acts happening in every corner. What Fiyero Tigelaar didn't expect was to find an enchanting emerald woman locked away in the basement, a slave to the club's mysterious owners. Warnings for non-con, captivity, physical abuse, and language.
Southstairs was as much community as it was a prison.
Shacks and houses of a grander nature lined streets, some with residents standing outside chatting as if they weren’t in an underground prison. The smell of meals overrode the stench of the streets from time to time, a nauseating contrast.
There were the less desirable parts too, the parts where only the worst seemed to reside, where there were truly jails. Despite their dangerous surroundings though, none seemed interested in harming their guide. They followed her into yet another neighborhood, this one predominately Animal.
“We will rest here for the evening,” she turned to inform them.
“No, we must leave tonight,” Elphaba challenged her.
“I cannot guarantee your safe passage in the night. There are those who would gladly kill me so they could claim the price on your head, Elphaba Third Thropp Descending. There are even more who would kill you for a higher price so that the truth is not uncovered,” the Antelope opened a door into a small home, “Please, come in. I will explain everything.”
Fiyero couldn’t explain it but he trusted the Animal, “It’s okay,” he whispered to Elphaba, urging her towards the door, “we need to rest.” He squeezed her hand gently in reassurance and she nodded slightly before following him into the house.
The house was as welcoming as any home could be in Southstairs, at the very least warm. The Antelope set about placing a kettle over the fire, “I’m certain that you’re hungry.”
Elphaba looked around the dwelling, studying the shadows dancing about the walls from the fire. It reminded her too much of the Philosophy Club, the shadows that would skulk away from the walls in the middle of the night to torture her. She wondered if she’d ever truly feel at ease anywhere, even if safety was guaranteed.
She kept close to Fiyero as her eyes fell away from the shadows. She could not look at the Antelope as she addressed her, “You called me Elphaba Third Thropp Descending. What does that mean?”
Their guide stopped what she was doing and turned to Elphaba, “It’s who you are. There are many who worked to see that this day would never come and many who gave up on it coming.”
“What day?” She asked, frustrated with the Animal’s riddles, “Who are you?”
A semblance of what could be considered a smile crossed the Antelope’s lips, “My name is Essie. Before the Animal Acts were passed down, I was a midwife. The midwife who delivered you, actually, and what a surprise you were.”
Fiyero looked surprised, “Delivered her. Does that mean you knew her parents?” He looked at Elphaba, though reluctant to the idea, maybe getting her home to her family would be the best way to safety.”
“I know them. Or what remains. I’m afraid her mother Melena passed. But her father, Frexspar the Godly still lives. As does her sister and brother. Her sister is currently the Eminent Thropp, though the title should be yours, Elphaba as you are the eldest.”
Elphaba shook her head, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. How could I possibly have a family? The only thing I’ve ever known is…”
Essie settled next to her, “I’m sorry to say, young lady, but you do have a family. ‘Twas your father that sent you there, so convinced that your skin was an abomination and he being the right hand of the Unnamed God, well, he couldn’t lay claim to you. So Munchkinland mourned the death of an infant child born to Frexspar the Godly and his beautiful wife Melena Thropp while I was forced to cart you to the man who swore that he would keep your existence a secret. And what a handsome fee he was paid to do so.”
“My family sold me,” she repeated quietly. There was no emotion mixed with the words, how could she have emotion regarding something she never experienced? She didn’t know what it meant to have a family, to lose a family.
“What will happen if they discover that she’s freed?” Fiyero asked in spite of himself.
“Well, there are those who have been charged with making sure that her existence is never known and would go to great lengths to conceal that existence. There are those who want her back in the Philosophy Club and are offering a large sum for that return. It is you, young man, that make sure that neither party get her. Elphaba has a great fate upon her and it is your fate as well. You have to protect her.”
“I did a fine job of that today,” he said sourly, his thoughts traveling back to the bazaar.
“But you did,” Essie interjected, “you’re here. You’re safe. You’ll get out of the Southstairs alive.”
“I didn’t-“
“You did,” Elphaba answered, “I…whatever I did. I couldn’t have done it without you. I did it for you.”
Essie nodded gently at Elphaba’s words and left the two alone to continue about preparing a meal for the travelers. She glanced back at Elphaba, who still only knew half the story. She couldn’t have imagined the horrors that faced that child the night she carted her away in the middle of the night. Had she been able to, she would have never done it.
Fiyero waited until he assumed Essie was out of earshot, “You did that for me? You know how to do it?”
“No,” Elphaba shook her head, “they were hurting you. They were going to kill you. I didn’t want them to and it just happened. It always just happens.”
“But twice when you’ve needed it to,” he mumbled, almost to himself, “there has to be more to it.”
“I don’t want to hurt people. I don’t want to need it.”
He took her hand in his, “You won’t. We’ll get out of this place soon and then we’ll keep moving.”
“But she said that I have a great fate-“
“You do, child. You are to become the Governor of Munchkinland. You must set things right.”
“How would making her Governor keep her safe from those that seek to harm her?” Fiyero asked incredulously, “We may as well send up a smoke signal so they know exactly where to find her.”
“I did not speak of timing. That is not my place. I only know what she must do. Things will happen with time. Change does not come overnight.”
Essie pushed two bowls in their direction, “but for now we musn’t dwell on these things. Now you need to eat and rest. Regain your strength. It’s a long trip to the Vinkus and your journey will start early tomorrow. It’s not much farther to the gates of Shiz.”
“What will happens when we get there?” Fiyero asked, “Without a doubt they’ll be looking for her in Shiz.”
Elphaba tried to keep a placid exterior but all the talk of people hunting for her did little to make her feel at ease. She kept her eyes trained on the table, fingertips curled into her knees, “Do we have to go to Shiz?”
“It’s the only way out,” Essie confirmed, “but your safety is guaranteed on your arrival. A girl will be there with something that belongs to you, a book. It will help you on your journey.”
“A book is going to help us?” Fiyero asked.
“When in the right hands, a book can do many things,” Essie answered calmly, “you have no reason to distrust me. For all my trust is placed in her. Many of my kind are here in the Southstairs, sentenced to life simply for being. Above all others, we understand Elphaba’s plight and she ours. We will see to her safety as much as we can.”
Fiyero’s hand slipped over Elphaba’s in quiet reassurance. They had to trust Essie, trust that this book would keep Elphaba safe.
There were no other options.
Characters: General Cast
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Implied non-con, captivity, physical abuse.
Summary: Based off of the Gregory Maguire Wicked Years, AU. The Philosophy Club is everything it's rumored to be; disgusting and filthy with unspeakable acts happening in every corner. What Fiyero Tigelaar didn't expect was to find an enchanting emerald woman locked away in the basement, a slave to the club's mysterious owners. Warnings for non-con, captivity, physical abuse, and language.
Southstairs was as much community as it was a prison.
Shacks and houses of a grander nature lined streets, some with residents standing outside chatting as if they weren’t in an underground prison. The smell of meals overrode the stench of the streets from time to time, a nauseating contrast.
There were the less desirable parts too, the parts where only the worst seemed to reside, where there were truly jails. Despite their dangerous surroundings though, none seemed interested in harming their guide. They followed her into yet another neighborhood, this one predominately Animal.
“We will rest here for the evening,” she turned to inform them.
“No, we must leave tonight,” Elphaba challenged her.
“I cannot guarantee your safe passage in the night. There are those who would gladly kill me so they could claim the price on your head, Elphaba Third Thropp Descending. There are even more who would kill you for a higher price so that the truth is not uncovered,” the Antelope opened a door into a small home, “Please, come in. I will explain everything.”
Fiyero couldn’t explain it but he trusted the Animal, “It’s okay,” he whispered to Elphaba, urging her towards the door, “we need to rest.” He squeezed her hand gently in reassurance and she nodded slightly before following him into the house.
The house was as welcoming as any home could be in Southstairs, at the very least warm. The Antelope set about placing a kettle over the fire, “I’m certain that you’re hungry.”
Elphaba looked around the dwelling, studying the shadows dancing about the walls from the fire. It reminded her too much of the Philosophy Club, the shadows that would skulk away from the walls in the middle of the night to torture her. She wondered if she’d ever truly feel at ease anywhere, even if safety was guaranteed.
She kept close to Fiyero as her eyes fell away from the shadows. She could not look at the Antelope as she addressed her, “You called me Elphaba Third Thropp Descending. What does that mean?”
Their guide stopped what she was doing and turned to Elphaba, “It’s who you are. There are many who worked to see that this day would never come and many who gave up on it coming.”
“What day?” She asked, frustrated with the Animal’s riddles, “Who are you?”
A semblance of what could be considered a smile crossed the Antelope’s lips, “My name is Essie. Before the Animal Acts were passed down, I was a midwife. The midwife who delivered you, actually, and what a surprise you were.”
Fiyero looked surprised, “Delivered her. Does that mean you knew her parents?” He looked at Elphaba, though reluctant to the idea, maybe getting her home to her family would be the best way to safety.”
“I know them. Or what remains. I’m afraid her mother Melena passed. But her father, Frexspar the Godly still lives. As does her sister and brother. Her sister is currently the Eminent Thropp, though the title should be yours, Elphaba as you are the eldest.”
Elphaba shook her head, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. How could I possibly have a family? The only thing I’ve ever known is…”
Essie settled next to her, “I’m sorry to say, young lady, but you do have a family. ‘Twas your father that sent you there, so convinced that your skin was an abomination and he being the right hand of the Unnamed God, well, he couldn’t lay claim to you. So Munchkinland mourned the death of an infant child born to Frexspar the Godly and his beautiful wife Melena Thropp while I was forced to cart you to the man who swore that he would keep your existence a secret. And what a handsome fee he was paid to do so.”
“My family sold me,” she repeated quietly. There was no emotion mixed with the words, how could she have emotion regarding something she never experienced? She didn’t know what it meant to have a family, to lose a family.
“What will happen if they discover that she’s freed?” Fiyero asked in spite of himself.
“Well, there are those who have been charged with making sure that her existence is never known and would go to great lengths to conceal that existence. There are those who want her back in the Philosophy Club and are offering a large sum for that return. It is you, young man, that make sure that neither party get her. Elphaba has a great fate upon her and it is your fate as well. You have to protect her.”
“I did a fine job of that today,” he said sourly, his thoughts traveling back to the bazaar.
“But you did,” Essie interjected, “you’re here. You’re safe. You’ll get out of the Southstairs alive.”
“I didn’t-“
“You did,” Elphaba answered, “I…whatever I did. I couldn’t have done it without you. I did it for you.”
Essie nodded gently at Elphaba’s words and left the two alone to continue about preparing a meal for the travelers. She glanced back at Elphaba, who still only knew half the story. She couldn’t have imagined the horrors that faced that child the night she carted her away in the middle of the night. Had she been able to, she would have never done it.
Fiyero waited until he assumed Essie was out of earshot, “You did that for me? You know how to do it?”
“No,” Elphaba shook her head, “they were hurting you. They were going to kill you. I didn’t want them to and it just happened. It always just happens.”
“But twice when you’ve needed it to,” he mumbled, almost to himself, “there has to be more to it.”
“I don’t want to hurt people. I don’t want to need it.”
He took her hand in his, “You won’t. We’ll get out of this place soon and then we’ll keep moving.”
“But she said that I have a great fate-“
“You do, child. You are to become the Governor of Munchkinland. You must set things right.”
“How would making her Governor keep her safe from those that seek to harm her?” Fiyero asked incredulously, “We may as well send up a smoke signal so they know exactly where to find her.”
“I did not speak of timing. That is not my place. I only know what she must do. Things will happen with time. Change does not come overnight.”
Essie pushed two bowls in their direction, “but for now we musn’t dwell on these things. Now you need to eat and rest. Regain your strength. It’s a long trip to the Vinkus and your journey will start early tomorrow. It’s not much farther to the gates of Shiz.”
“What will happens when we get there?” Fiyero asked, “Without a doubt they’ll be looking for her in Shiz.”
Elphaba tried to keep a placid exterior but all the talk of people hunting for her did little to make her feel at ease. She kept her eyes trained on the table, fingertips curled into her knees, “Do we have to go to Shiz?”
“It’s the only way out,” Essie confirmed, “but your safety is guaranteed on your arrival. A girl will be there with something that belongs to you, a book. It will help you on your journey.”
“A book is going to help us?” Fiyero asked.
“When in the right hands, a book can do many things,” Essie answered calmly, “you have no reason to distrust me. For all my trust is placed in her. Many of my kind are here in the Southstairs, sentenced to life simply for being. Above all others, we understand Elphaba’s plight and she ours. We will see to her safety as much as we can.”
Fiyero’s hand slipped over Elphaba’s in quiet reassurance. They had to trust Essie, trust that this book would keep Elphaba safe.
There were no other options.