fandomhighdorms | Third Floor Common Room; Late Sunday Afternoon [ 11/14 ].

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Third Floor Common Room; Late Sunday Afternoon [ 11/14 ].

Alexander was just about at his wits' end with the strange way he'd been feeling this week, but he had done well, he felt, with staving it off with a lot of coffee ice cream and ~~handwavy~~ movie nights that resulted in a few close calls and scooting slightly away from the normal proximity. And so it was this afternoon that hewas feeling the need for another coffee ice cream antidote and went into the common room to fetch it.

Only to open the freezer door to a truly disturbing image.

"No!" Alexander muttered, staring for a moment before he started shifting through the contents within. "No, it couldn't possibly...how...How could we have honestly gone through all of that ice cream already?"

He was just going to stare into the freezer in shock and dismay some more.

If anything, it was at least cooling him down.

[[ open common room is open! ]]

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"Because when I return to Oz, there won't be a chance for a romantic relationship," Elphaba said. "The acceptance I have here does not hold true in Munchkinland. Even my father hates me because of my skin."

Scully studied her a moment, considering calmly. "So you believe that since there's no chance for romance, there's no chance for children. In the context of the lesson that Professor Skywalker was probably attempting to teach, you could be correct." She tilted her head. "However, you're here now. Who's to say you won't find someone here?" Especially during a week like this.

"That was his argument," Elphaba said. "And so far, I suppose it's a valid argument. But so far, it's not the case. But it's not impossible, and I know that now."

Scully looked away to hide her wince. It might not be impossible for her to have children right now, in this younger body. But if she ever got her own body back-- better not to think about that.

"I'm not certain what a better interactive assignment would be for the Ethics of sex or childcare; possibly a discussion about honesty and responsibility between partners. But he does like hands-on lessons, and it's not as if anything directly connected to sex could be acceptably taught inside a classroom in that format."

"I'd hope not," Elphaba said. "I nearly died of embarrassment in Miss Perrault's office as it was. I don't think I'd want Master Skywalker talking to me about... oh, no. Please no."

"Miss Perrault?" Scully blinked, then said, "You're in the Cigar class, right." Clearly, some explanation had been required, at some point. How much, Scully wasn't going to guess. "I think the entire class would revolt if he attempted it. It isn't Sex Education, after all."

Mmmm. Dean Winchester. Scully sighed. "That was an amusing course."

"There's actually been courses in..." Elphaba trailed off. "Well, that certainly isn't like anything in Oz."

Not that she'd attended a public school in Oz, but still.

Scully checked on her expression, and said, "Well, it's taught as part of basic biology in some parts of the country. Health awareness in others. And yes, sexual education in still others, including here. The level of detail involved varies greatly. Dean Winchester taught a very informative course that covered the basics of reproduction, contraception, and sexual gratification." Scully snorted. "It didn't hurt that he was almost brutally handsome and an incredible flirt. But respectful with it." She stuck another bottle in one of the dolls' mouths, whoever was whimpering the most at the moment. "I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable," she added, belatedly.

"It's not uncomfortable," Elphaba said. "Just... new. I mean, it just seems like I'm the only student here who hasn't... I only knew what I could glean from a book of biology, before Miss Perrault asked me to come in to her office. I feel... behind the curve, I suppose."

"Ah. Well. It's usually around eleven or twelve years old that they give us the information about puberty and babies, here in the U.S.," Scully said, sitting back. "The rest follows within the next few years, if curiosity doesn't make people do more research. On the other hand, we have people from centuries and countries where people aren't traditionally informed of the facts until they get married. I think that's rather late. Also, a shock." Her mouth quirked. "The Island certainly makes that untenable, as well." She considered Elphaba. "Do you want children of your own?"

Elphaba looked a little surprised. It wasn't a question she'd ever really considered. The fact that she'd technically had a son at Fandom High before her still was unknown to her, of course.

After a moment's consideration, she spoke. "I suppose not," she said. "Not if I were to raise them in Oz, at least."

"What's going on that you wouldn't want children there?" Scully asked, expertly giving the other doll another bottle, then checking her watch. Forty minutes until diaper-changing time.

"Well I can only assume that my children would be green, as well," Elphaba said. "And given my own experience, I wouldn't wish that on them. But if for some reason I were to make a home here, or some place else where they'd be treated fairly, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea. I think."

"It's a valid concern, if you've met overwhelming prejudice in Oz," Scully said. "Of course, you're very young for that. And the question of your co-parent does come up first." She quirked a smile. "Still. More choices are always optimal."

Frohike fell asleep, and Langley just lay there, burbling. Scully gave them an assessing, distanced look. "I still wouldn't choose twins. Personally."

Elphaba chuckled. "I wouldn't want children for a long time. I'm still mostly a child myself, even at sixteen. And unless something amazing happens, I think I will find myself with just one person to take care of in my lifetime, and that is my sister. She'll need me again, when I finish school."

Scully was quiet, then said, "Why does your sister need taking care of? She's ill?"

She'd chosen career over children, thinking there would be time, and then... Scully shut those thoughts away and concentrated on Elphaba.

"Nessarose was born prematurely," Elphaba explained, her tone sympathetic to Scully's. "She has lived her life without being able to use her legs. But she's strong of heart, and everyone calls her tragically beautiful."

"Well that's a horrible thing to call someone," Scully said, frowning. "It's good that she's determined, but 'tragically beautiful' just calls attention to her differences. Why not just beautiful?"

Wait, these were the people who despised Elphaba for her skin color, apparently. "Never mind. People can be stupid."

Elphaba grinned. "I like your candor," she said. "And you're right, that's exactly it. I always wondered why they call it tragically. It's not as if she doesn't still have feelings, or couldn't be courted. She will be the governor of Munchkinland when my father passes, after all."

"I'm usually direct, but this week has shredded my patience." Scully scowled at her animatronic offspring. "Unreal as these little dolls are, I'd be rather put out if anyone remarked on it but me. Your Oz must value a very high level of conformity. And if she's going to be governor, it's more important that she be intelligent and understanding. She can certainly understand everyone calling her 'tragic.'" She looked thoughtful. "There's therapies here, you know. Is it that her muscles don't work well, or that she has some spinal injury from being born prematurely?"

"I'm not a doctor," Elphaba said. "I know that the story is her legs were tangled when she was born. But I don't know what that would mean, medically. But I know father has petitioned to the Wizard to see if he could help her, and even he has said that magic has its limits."

"Get a second opinion," Scully said bluntly. "His magic may have limits; or it may be his understanding. Possibly her hip sockets were broken during birth, possibly other internal injuries occurred. You're standing in one of the most medically advanced countries on the planet. At the very least, make sure there isn't some way she can't walk with crutches, and increase her independence and mobility." She paused, momentarily abashed. "I'm sorry. I'm going to be a doctor. And as I said, this is not the week where I'll accept anything without question. You're not her guardian, of course. But when she's older...."

"If I could bring her here, I'd do it in an instant," Elphaba said. "But Father wanted her to remain under private tutors. I do wish to help her, somehow."

Especially as she still accepted part of the blame for her condition.

Scully considered, tweaking Langley's toes when it looked like the doll might wake up. "You've already learned how hard it can be to take care of someone," she said quietly. "I don't know anything about magic, and I don't trust it to fix things I don't understand. But you could find out as much as possible here. And give your sister some hope, when you go home. Or talk to your father, and see what he thinks."

"I will, when I do go home," Elphaba said. It was a better reaction than laughing at the idea of her father listening to her. "Thank you, Dana."

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