Work Text:
Villy audibly exhaled as she closed the register and reached for her creamy, caramel cold brew from Ozbucks, finishing the last sip and throwing it away, not even minding that the name on the cup was 'Villain'. Friday afternoons in May were her favorite. It was busy enough to maintain business, but balanced with nice, quiet moments to keep it from getting overwhelming. The breeze flowing through the open doorway kept the shop cool, since it wasn't hot enough to blast the air conditioning.
"The full importance of 'measure twice, cut once' is now crystal clear to me. I've measured twice, but cut more times than I think you'd like to know."
The seamstress fixed her ponytail. "What happened, Scarly?"
"The workroom's covered in hot pink fabrics. It looks like a cyclone hit it. I know I shouldn't work on more than three dresses at once, but I never learn my lesson." She wiped her brow and took a sip of water.
"Which hot pink fabrics?"
She leaned against the wall. "The taffeta, chiffon, twill, and poplin, but they're all still useable. Nevertheless, the ball gown on the dress form is beautiful. I worked really hard on the velveteen over-dress, blush linen under-shift, and embroidered swirls. I was following my creative muse… down both ways of a forked road."
Villy's eyebrow quirked.
"I need to catch my breath, and my fingers are cramping from hand-sewing buttons, zippers, and pockets, but I won't leave the workroom in its organized chaos state."
"You know there's no such thing as 'organized chaos' with me. It's just plain disarray."
"'Cause you're an 'old spool' seamstress?"
Her lips pursed. "The sewing puns… will they ever end?"
Scarly snickered. "Never. You've rubbed off on me, so it's not completely my fault. Puns remind me that I'm human, not a robot-sewing-machine."
"You've been so busy with the custom orders, and I still have no idea why you chose to do them by yourself."
"You and Maven are working on the new vintage line, which takes more time than the custom orders. I can handle the socialites' dresses on my own. The only one that's taking longer than expected is Billa Tarvey's mermaid gown. She wants almost every special embellishment we offer."
"She takes after her mother, and wants us to do one final project for her before she goes away to university in Ev. But it'll be worth it when you receive that hefty tip." She rested her arms on the counter. "In-shop sales are up, which balances out the lower-than-usual custom orders. Even during our slower seasons, they've never been this low."
"Well, we must fix that," came a light voice from the doorway. "I heard this shop was run by a nationally acclaimed dressmaker, who makes all her clothes with love, so low sales will never do."
Villy paused at the newcomer's voice; a voice she heard giving speeches over the radio; a voice she heard in her head when she read her letters; a voice she hadn't heard in-person in six years. She tilted her head slightly, wondering if she was correctly identifying it. That voice… It couldn't be…
"I'd like to order a custom ball gown in your most beautiful purple – perhaps eggplant – taffeta, with an A-line silhouette, long, off-the-shoulder sleeves, glitter lace overlay on the bodice, a zipper up the back, and pockets, please, as befits the Crown Princess of the Vinkus."
The dressmaker's face broke into a wide beam as she came around the counter. Soft hands slipped into hers and she quickly pulled the princess into a hug. "Elphaba! What a delightful surprise! I didn't know you were returning to Shiz. Did you write? When did you arrive? What are you doing here?"
"I didn't write. That would've ruined the delightful surprise, Miss Villy," Elphaba chuckled. "We arrived an hour ago. I'm giving the keynote address at tomorrow's Shiz University commencement ceremony. Morrible's been asking me for the past four years. I think it's because Glinda's too busy ruling Oz, while I just have the Vinkus. But I had to come by, as if that's even a question. I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too. Where's Fiyero?"
"Down the street, talking to the press. He told me to go ahead. Aoide's with him."
"I can't wait to finally meet her. How long are you staying?"
"Just the weekend. We're staying at the Dual Miridan Hotel 'til Sunday afternoon."
"Does this mean you're reelly reunited?" Scarly chuckled from behind the counter.
"Scarly, the sewing puns!" Villy chided, trying to hold in her laughter and not break the façade.
"She really is the 'new me'," Elphaba whispered with a teasing nudge. "Hi, Scarly."
"Hi, Elphaba." The assistant took her turn for a hug. "It's wonderful to see you again."
"You, too. Where's Maven?"
"She's been on vacation this week. She'll be devastated she missed you."
"Geri's been on a business trip in the Glikkus this week, but he's returning tomorrow," Villy added.
"I'm glad I won't miss him. Oh, before I forget, I brought gifts." She went back outside to grab two gift bags from her bodyguard and handed them to the seamstresses.
Villy set hers on the counter and eagerly reached inside, pulling out a large bottle. She was about to ask what it was when she felt the braille label taped to the cold glass. "Apple rose essential oil?"
"There's more."
She pulled out a small, cardboard box, feeling another label. "And apple rose tea?"
"Both are handmade from the apple blossoms in our orchard."
"Thank you, Elphaba. I've never used apple blossom oil before." She unscrewed the top and took a quick whiff. "It smells wonderful." She closed the bottle and returned it to the bag, bringing it to her office.
Scarly thanked Elphaba for her oil and tea, and took Maven's bag. "I'll leave Maven's in the workroom for her."
"You're both welcome," Elphaba smiled when the two came back out. "I have a present for Nyris and Chozon, too. We got a few early apples this year. Yero, Aoide, and I picked them yesterday. He has the basket."
"The school bus should be dropping them off soon," Villy said.
"I can't wait to surprise them." She looked around. "When's the last time you reconfigured the shop?"
"Two weeks ago. And I just got the new layout down."
Before Elphaba could ask another shop question, she was interrupted by two young newcomers – whom she recognized from the multitude of pictures she's received – in the middle of an argument.
"Come on! I'll pay you back later," Chozon begged, poking his sister's arm.
Nyris pushed his hand away. "No, you won't."
"I will this time! I promise!"
"You have an allowance."
"And you have a job!"
"Mimsey, Chozon ate my choc– ELPHIE!" Nyris squealed, running up to the princess and throwing her arms around her. "You're back!"
"Nyris! I've missed you so much!" Elphaba chuckled, squeezing her close.
"I've missed you, too. Mimsey didn't tell us you were coming."
"She didn't know. I wanted to be a surprise."
Chozon's greeting was more hesitant, having met Elphaba only once, but remembered her enough to give her a hug and thank her for the toy heritage train she sent for his most recent birthday. "Mama, I got a papercut today," he whined, going over to his mother.
"Where?" Villy asked.
"My pinky."
She took her son's hand, feeling the Band-Aid around his little finger. She brought it to her lips and kissed the offending adhesive. "Better?"
He snuggled closer. "Yeah. Thanks."
"Ahh, it's so nice to be back," a new voice sing-songed from the doorway.
Everyone looked up as Fiyero entered, a little girl bouncing and chattering by his side.
He closed the door behind him. "Fae, we have fifteen minutes - tops - before the press gets antsy." He took a deep breath. "Hi, Miss Villy."
"Hi, Fiyero. Welcome back," Villy smiled, happily accepting her hug.
"Fiyero!" Nyris giggled, embracing him from behind.
He returned the hug. "Hi, Nyris! You've grown so much. How old are you?"
"Sixteen!"
"I'm nine!" Chozon offered without preamble, nudging his sister away to hug the prince.
He playfully ruffled the young boy's curly, ginger hair. "Hi, Chozon!"
Nyris stared at the basket in his hands. "Are those apples from your orchard?"
He handed it to her. "Yup! Twelve freshly-picked apples for you and your brother."
"Apple pie!" she exclaimed as Chozon shouted, "Applesauce!" They glared at each other, preparing for another argument.
Villy, the master deescalater, stepped in to mediate the impasse. "You each get six apples. So, both?"
"Both," the kids agreed. "Both is good. Thanks, Fiyero."
"Go put your bags and the basket in my office, then you can catch up with Elphaba and Fiyero."
The two hurried to the office, continuing their list of treats they could bake with the apples, but when they emerged, they both looked ready to fight as they made a beeline to their mother.
"Mama, Nyris called me a 'wild duck'!"
"No, I didn't. I said don't get 'riled up'."
Before Villy could mediate, the two switched gears, finding talking to the royals more important than their argument.
"I love your Girl Scouts uniform, Nyris," Elphaba offered.
Nyris modeled her short-sleeved white blouse under a khaki vest, knee-length pleated skirt, and beret. "Thanks! We have a meeting tonight for our lemonade stand. It's Sunday afternoon, and we're raising money for the Little Wings Animal Shelter. And I'm moving up from 'Senior' to 'Ambassador' in my troop. I'm going into eleventh grade."
"I'm going into fifth grade!" Chozon added, not wanting to be excluded.
Fiyero turned to introduce their daughter, but found her across the shop, browsing the colorful dress racks with curious eyes. "Honey Bunny!"
"That nickname stuck?" Villy chuckled.
"Sometimes it gets shortened to just 'Bunny', but overall, yes," Elphaba said as the six-year-old bounced over to her father.
"So you nicknamed a nickname?"
"Well, when you put it like that…"
Fiyero lifted his daughter onto his hip. "Do you recognize this nice lady, Aoide?"
Princess Aoide Ebaline Tigulaar was a perfect blend of both her parents – long, raven hair pulled back in pigtails behind her head with curled ends, chocolate eyes, and an inquisitive mind from her mother, and her father's everything else – tan skin and dimples, nose and nosiness, and optimistic, can-do attitude. She studied the seamstress, mostly staring at her eyes, tilting her head as she tried to conjure a memory.
"You know how Marmee tells you bedtime stories of how she used to work in a dress shop? This is it. And this is her old boss, Miss Villy."
Villy's eyes narrowed. "Forty-seven isn't old, Fiyero."
"Former boss," he corrected himself.
She softened. "Better."
"She made your favorite party dress," Elphaba said as the little girl shimmied out of her father's arms. "The purple one with the sequined bow on the strap, and the purple and yellow roses on the skirt. And all those letters and photos we've been getting? They're from her."
Aoide scratched her cheek. "The magical dressmaker and Marmee's special friend?"
"Yes."
Her eyes lit up in recognition as she wrapped her arms around Villy like she was a long-time friend. "Hi, Miss Villy!"
"Hi, Aoide! It's so nice to finally meet you!" the dressmaker grinned, quickly returning the hug. She didn't even question the 'magical dressmaker' description. "I've heard so much about you from your parents' letters."
"Thank you for my pretty dress!"
She recalled the present; a knee-length dress made from a mix of cotton and satin, with the floral-printed skirt. Purple and yellow translated to lilac and daffodil, and she thought she remembered putting a thin, silk ribbon around the waist and a zipper up the back. "You're welcome. I'm honored it's your favorite." She lifted her gaze towards Elphaba. "I couldn't resist after unsolicitedly receiving her measurements and permission to use my imagination, along with full payment and a generous tip."
"She says it makes her feel like a princess; not the servants, constant genuflecting, private etiquette lessons, or the fact that she's literally a princess," Fiyero chuckled.
"You're a princess?" Chozon asked Aoide.
"Yeah, Choo-Choo. She's Elphie and Fiyero's daughter," Nyris said with an eye roll.
"I told you not to call me that anymore."
The teenager shrugged, sticking out her tongue. "It's stuck."
Chozon scowled and started chasing his sister around the shop.
"Hey! You two know the rules!" Villy reprimanded, reaching for Chozon. She grabbed his arm and pulled him against her, draping her arm across his body. "No running inside the shop."
"Sorry, Mama," Chozon said begrudgingly, glaring at his sister.
"Sorry, Mimsey."
"Miss Villy, did you really teach Marmee to fix dresses?" Aoide asked.
The dressmaker nodded, releasing her son. "I did, and your Marmee was a wonderful student."
"Marmee fixes my dresses sometimes."
"Do you remember, when you came to the Vinkus, you said to enjoy the time when they're tiny and can't climb trees?" Elphaba asked.
Villy thought for a moment. "Not specifically, but that sounds like advice I'd give you."
"That's how her dresses rip, and scrapes on her legs and arms appear. She falls a lot, but brushes herself off and bounces back like a spring. I don't know where she gets this fearless from, but it scares the crap outta me. As much as I love supporting the Vinkun dress shops, we can't keep using our allowance on new clothes. After a long day, I like sitting down and maintaining my mending muscle memory. I don't have a sewing room, like you, but the bedroom does just fine."
"I'm glad you've been keeping up with your sewing, despite your busy schedule. And you know I'll make whatever you request, for a discount."
"You know I'm always looking for excuses to receive packages from you."
"As if you need an excuse." She turned back to Aoide. "Your Marmee had a special room upstairs, where she did a lot of beautiful work. She was a very dedicated worker." She didn't know how much Elphaba told her daughter about her past, and knew it wasn't her place to divulge any secrets.
"Marmee's very 'cated. Daddy is, too, but we still play together a lot." The little girl wiggled excitedly. "Can I see her special room?"
"Do I wanna know what it's been converted into?" Elphaba asked.
Villy locked her hands behind her back, giving her a sheepish smile. "I think you know."
"Geez, you go off to become a princess one time, and your room gets turned into a storage room!"
"I let it retain the loving memories as long as possible, but when our orders increased, I had to buy more fabrics and threads, and needed a place to store them."
"I hope this business growth is a direct result of me becoming royalty."
"I like to think it's due to my dedication, and people passing out my business cards, but I suppose your promotion has something to do with it. But tell me your updates. Your letters have become a rarity, and before you start apologizing profusely, I understand why."
"The King and Queen keep our calendar booked. When Yero and I went on our tour of Ugabu, our timetable was so tight, even our bathroom breaks had to be scheduled."
"Yeah, that part wasn't fun," Fiyero chimed in, making a face.
"The hardest part was leaving Honey Bunny for so long." She glanced at her daughter, who was counting the colorful patches on Nyris's uniform. "She was only three, and leaving her for two weeks was one of the hardest things I've ever done. We'd never been away from her for more than a few hours, but knew bringing her along wouldn't be in her best interest, and she would be safe and have fun with her nanny. When I did get a moment to breathe, I couldn't stop thinking about her."
"We did some bonding on that trip," Fiyero smirked. "When we weren't too exhausted."
"Too exhausted to do what?" Chozon asked.
"Have a pillow fight," he answered without missing a beat. "With all the fluffy pillows. Sometimes, the feathers would fly all over the room."
Elphaba made an embarrassed noise in the back of her throat, and Villy pulled her closer with a soft snicker. A sparkling light in the corner caught the dressmaker's attention and her brow furrowed. "Scarly, did you bring the glitter halter dresses out?"
Scarly shook her head. "No, Miss Villy."
"Then what's that?" She pointed and took a step back. "And why's it moving?"
Elphaba followed her finger, seeing two sparkle-covered mannequins wearing skater dresses come to life and twirl around each other in a waltz, followed by giggles and exclamations of awe from the Moxx siblings. "Aoide Ebaline Tigulaar!"
The little girl froze and whipped around, the sparkles vanishing as the mannequins returned to their lifeless positions.
"What have I told you about using your magic without my permission?"
She flinched. "I'm sorry, Marmee!" Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes watered, the tears slowly sliding down her cheek.
"Fae…" Fiyero whispered.
The princess quickly realized her mistake and scooped her daughter into her arms. "Oh, Bunny. I didn't mean to snap. I'm sorry." She gently rocked and bounced her, guilt quickly rising from the pit of her stomach as she watched Scarly wordlessly return the mannequins to their proper places.
"Would you like a peach, Aoide?" Nyris asked, offering the fruit to the little girl.
Aoide looked at the treat and wiggled out of her mother's arms. She took a small bite, the sweet, juicy fruit placating her as Elphaba tenderly wiped her tears.
"What do you say to Nyris?" she prompted gently.
"Thank you," Aoide recited before going back to play with her new friends.
She turned back to her former boss. "She was making the skater dress mannequins dance. Her magic covers whatever she's doing in sparkles. That's why you could see it. I'm sorry."
Villy shook her head. "There was no harm done, Elphaba. I didn't know Aoide inherited your magic."
"We found out when she was eleven months old. One morning, Fae walked into the nursery, and was greeted by a parade of magically floating stuffed animals," Fiyero said, wrapping an arm around his wife's waist.
Elphaba ran a hand through her hair. "She's very powerful. I don't want her to be afraid of her magic, but she needs to learn that she can't just go around using it willy-nilly. No one outside our immediate family and household knows yet. I just wish I had more time to devote to teaching her."
"It was crazy when she was a toddler. Things would disappear, lights would flicker, and servants would go flying. Once, she was running away from her nanny 'cause she didn't wanna get dressed, and teleported into Fae's office."
"She just appeared in my lap. I jumped and nearly dropped her. That was the moment I decided one child was enough. Now she mostly just conjures her toys if she's alone."
"You're a lonely child, Aoide?" Chozon asked.
Nyris rolled her eyes. "It's only child, Chozon. A 'lonely child' is what you're gonna be when I sell you at this lemonade stand."
"Unless your brother is a cup of lemonade, you won't be selling him," Villy tiredly deadpanned, and quickly found herself breaking up a slap fight between the siblings.
"At least I don't look like an overcooked shrimp!" the young boy goaded, sticking out his tongue.
Nyris tried to lunge at him, but her mother grabbed her arms, pulling her back. "Numbskull!"
"You can run into this brick wall and smash your face if you want to, Watermelon Head!"
"Tonight, while you're sleeping, I will shove my shoe in your mouth while sitting on you." She fought against her mother's grip, but Villy held fast, stepping between them.
"Knock it off, both of you!" the dressmaker hissed through clenched teeth, turning back to Elphaba once she successfully stopped her children from annihilating each other. "I understand. My hands are full with these two."
Aoide handed the peach seed to her mother. "I'm not lonely. I have Marmee and Daddy and Rosin!"
"Who's Rosin?"
"My pet bunny! She's orange, fluffy, has floppy ears and long whiskers, and likes it when I feed her carrots."
"A present from Fiyero on her fourth birthday," Elphaba said, tossing the seed in the trash and wiping her hand on the side of her skirt. "Mind you, he did this without my permission."
"I asked!" the prince protested.
"For my opinion, not permission."
"Last year, I asked Marmee and Daddy for a baby sister. Daddy got me a pony," Aoide giggled.
"Normally, it's the other way around," Villy said.
"His name's Bobbin, 'cause it rhymes with Rosin."
"I sense that's not the only reason."
Elphaba shrugged nonchalantly. "You're not wrong. This was also done without consulting me. I swear, one day, I'm gonna wake up, and we'll have a carousel in our backyard."
"Mama, can we get a fluffy bunny, please?" Chozon asked, tugging on his mother's arm.
The dressmaker looked down at him. "And who will take care of this bunny?"
"Me and Nyris."
"For the first week, maybe. Then the responsibility will fall to me and your father."
"Please?" he pouted.
"Pouting is pointless, and not just because I can't see it. We can have a serious discussion about a pet when you and Nyris prove you're responsible enough."
"We can be responsible!" Nyris chirped.
"Can; yes. Will; most likely not. We can discuss it later."
The royals stayed in the shop, catching up and reminiscing, getting as much pure enjoyment out of their reunion as possible.
"Nyris has a boyfriend!" Chozon blurted when Elphaba asked Nyris how she was doing in school. "They work together at 'Bagels & Donuts'! His name's Shan, and he smells like a rebel."
"He doesn't, you dirt puddle!" she hissed, her face reddening.
"Don't call your brother a dirt puddle!" Villy admonished.
"What can I call him if I'm to be stuck with him for the rest of my life?"
"Can't you be nice to each other for five tick-tocks?"
"She's going through 'the change'," Chozon stage-whispered to Fiyero, ignoring his sister's glare.
"A change, not the change," the prince corrected with a chuckle.
Villy turned towards the royals. "Are you sure there was a time you actually considered having more of these?" she asked, gesturing to her children.
Elphaba nodded. "I had a bout of baby fever, and told Fiyero I wanted another baby, to which he responded –" She deepened her voice to mimic him. "'Not tonight, honey. I have an early meeting tomorrow'. I guess that means we're not filling the extra rooms."
Villy laughed, covering her mouth when she accidentally snorted, and Fiyero flushed.
"Shan's not a rebel. He's cute, smells nice, and is a perfect gentleman," Nyris continued, missing the baby comments.
"And he has a car!" Chozon quipped.
"Because I don't!" she argued, glancing at her mother.
Villy feigned obliviousness at that statement being directed at her. Instead, she decided to put an official end to the car talk, not wanting to deal with the can of worms it was about to open. "It's been quiet for a while. Has your entourage still not arrived?" she inquired of the royals.
"The press is gathered across the street, waiting to pounce as soon as we leave. Our security is right outside, glaring daggers at them."
"And they'll probably start glaring daggers at us soon," Fiyero said, placing his hand on the small of his wife's back. "Ready to go, Fae?"
"You can still come back tomorrow, right?" Villy asked.
Elphaba glanced at her husband. "We'll try. I wanna see Geri again. But just in case we can't, can you do me one favor?"
"Anything."
"I was serious about ordering that custom gown."
The dressmaker searched for her tape measure from behind the register and took her former assistant's hand with a grin, leading her to the modeling stage. "Arms, Elphaba."