Chapter Text
Bleacher Report
Thropp is Traded!
The Munchkinland Lions have traded their star center, Elphaba Thropp (26), to the Emerald City Wizards for two first round picks in the next consecutive years. Thropp was a team captain for The Lions, won rookie of the year along with an MVP in 2023, and is a three time PWHL All-Star.
Thropp’s team held a conference today in her new city for reporters to ask questions. Thropp explained about the trade. "I just recently got to thinking about where I was in my career and where I wanted to be. I talked to my team about it and then trade talks happened and here I am."
"I’m grateful for the experience I’ve had in this city. And, y’know, I’ve got a lot of love for this team, this city, this stadium, and these fans, but I think it’s just time to move on." she says about the team she got drafted to, first overall when she was just 21 years old. Thropp has played five seasons with Munchkinland and even helped take them to the playoffs 3 times in her career. Thropp also grew up in Munchkinland, only leaving the city briefly when she went to college at Shiz University and immediately became a top draft prospect.
When asked if she’d like to win a championship for Emerald City. Thropp laughs and says, "Of course. I’m a competitor and I know I can play at a high level and win big games so I'm definitely looking to win the big one." Despite her long career, Thropp has only made it to the finals once with the Lions and fell 6-5 in the 7th game to the Winkie Firehawks in 2024.
At the end of the conference she tells her new city this: "I’m here and I’m ready to win. Go wizards."
Elphaba doesn’t remember the last time she was in Emerald City for something other than an away game. The plane had landed just that morning and pictures of her arriving had made the headlines just after she had the press conference.
Her team had already sorted out her new living situation and as they headed to her new condo, she had gotten a call from her new coach, something-something-Dillamond. Elphaba had already known of the man. He was a big part of the reason The Wizards were so successful. He had helped them make it to the Finals twice in his six years with them, and even won them one in the process.
“Welcome to the team, Ms. Thropp. I can’t wait to see you at practice tomorrow.” the man said on the phone. His accent is quite strange, Elphaba thinks. The green girl hums noncommittally and thanks him before hanging up.
When she finally sets her bags down in her new, fully-furnished home, she lays back on the much-too-big-for-her bed and lets herself think it. Glinda lives here.
She closes her eyes softly and sighs. She had done a very good job keeping herself from thinking about her beloved (by the public, of course, not her) ex for the past four years. At least, that’s what she tells herself.
The condo is nice. Probably the nicest her new contract could buy. It’s an 5-year $40 million deal which she didn’t hesitate to sign. The place has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city with a view of the river on the other side.
Elphaba is standing in front of the window and getting way too in her head when a phone call from her sister comes through. She picks up immediately.
“Hey, Ness. What’s up?” she says, trying to sound as non-sulky as possible lest her sister grill her about it. She fails, of course. Luckily, Nessa doesn't say anything about it.
“Fabala!” she singsongs. “You made it in okay?”
The elder sister nods to herself. “Yeah, as good as anyone can, I guess.”
“When can I see you, sissy?” her little sister said with a tone that Elphaba could almost hear her pout through the phone.
She scrambles to think of her schedule, despite her not knowing much right now since so much was changing much too fast. “Um, I got practice tomorrow but maybe we can get a late lunch or something after?”
“Okay, perf. Don’t worry I’ll put you onto one of my favorite spots, ‘kay?” her sister doesn’t bother to hide her small, expectant excitement.
Elphaba smiles softly. “Yeah, okay. Sounds good, Ness.”
Nessa lets out a quick breath, trying to think of something else she wants to say and finds nothing instead. “Alright, well, I’ll let you settle in then, Fa. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
The hockey player gives her a small laugh. “Kinda, but I’ll talk to you later?”
“Talk to you later. Love you, sissy.”
“I love you too.” she says with a yawn.
Then they hang up, and Elphaba takes a melatonin gummy or two and lets herself drift to a dreamless sleep.
Two days later, Glinda comes home to a city that loves her so and one that missed her while she was gone. The official Emerald City Explore handle even tweets her upon her arrival at the airport. Welcome home @glindaupland! It said. To which she replied: I was only gone for a couple months, silly! Love u too tho ♡
She’s stayed away from social media the last couple of months, since her breakup with her Avaric, at least. It was right in the middle of her world tour and she didn’t want any more distractions than she already had.
The tour was huge. It was projected to be so before she even started but it still all felt so surreal. She had played 80 shows and had venues in over 30 countries. The album had gone number one and her tour was the highest grossing world tour by a female artist. Her fans love her, the critics love her, the world loves her. She couldn’t be happier.
It just hasn’t quite…set in yet.
She’d been waiting for it for months. That feeling of bliss that accompanied accomplishments such as those. But yet, nothing. When the breakup happened she figured it would hinder her virtues but no, she’d barely been affected if she was being honest. She had to act like she was, of course but honestly, she really didn’t care much for Avaric. She did. Once upon a time when the press couldn’t get enough of them and thought they were the cutest couple ever but those days are long gone.
Her phone rings and it’s her manager. She huffs before picking it up. For Oz’s sake she hasn’t even made it back to her apartment.
“Hey, M, what’s up?” she says sweetly, checking her nails out as she hears her manager take a breath, knowing what she’s probably about to say.
“Glinda, dear. I just heard that you’re back from tour and there’s this gorgeous party tonight that you must attend. All your friends will be there.” she coaxes, knowing Glinda doesn’t dare say no to her.
The blonde notices there’s a chip on one of her press-ons and pouts. She always did an almond nail with a pail pink french tip. Her signature.
“What’s the party for?” she asks half-heartedly.
“Some after party for some sports home opener. Who cares, anyway? There’ll be a car at your place to pick you up at nine sharp, alright? Don't be late.”
“Alrighty. Thanks, M.” she says in her regular tone, too tired now to feign sweetness.
She then texts her close friends, to fact check if her friends were actually going to be there or if her manager was just pulling her leg.
It turns out to be halfway true. Pfannee and Shenshen would be there. Crope and Tibbett were out of town for some obscure film festival. And Fiyero seems to be too busy for any personal events nowadays. .
She learns from her friends that the after party is for the hockey game. Glinda didn’t care much for sports. Even hockey, which seemed to be on everyone’s minds this time of year (especially considering the other Emerald City sports teams didn’t have much going for them). Glinda stopped keeping up with such things around four years ago. Truthfully, it just brought back too many memories.
Memories of staying after that final whistle to see her, of a jersey she wore every game despite it being much too oversized, of the joy that came with winning and the frustration that came with the losses. Memories of a girl she once gave her whole heart to only for it to be broken.
The three friends decide that they’ll pregame at Glinda’s place. She learns that the game is the Emerald City Wizards’ first game against their division rivals, the Quadling Cyclones.
Glinda does a softer party look. One that said ‘I don’t wanna attract a lot of attention since I just got off tour but I also look really good right now and am the life of the party’. Or something along those lines. (It was a dark brown plaid mini skirt, a black lace top, some white gogo boots, a chic leather jacket, and the cherry on top is her half-up, half-down, blown out hairstyle.)
“To the Wizards!” Pfannee toasts after pouring up shots for the three of them. The glass is filled with something clear and Glinda doesn’t hesitate to take her fourth shot in the past half hour.
When the driver comes to pick them up after the game has ended, Glinda looks up the score real quick and sees that they won (Phew! Imagine how awkward it would be if they didn’t!) 4-2 against their opponents.
The venue for the party is a luxury hotel lobby that has dimmed the lights a bit for the party. It is littered with A-listers, the music thumps off the walls, cameras are flashing in every direction. Glinda and her friends immediately head for the bar and on the way there, the blonde can tell the athletes apart from the rest of them because they seem to be dressed as if they are going to a Whole Foods and hoping they didn't see anyone they knew. She swears she saw one woman in just basketball shorts, a hoodie, and Birkenstocks!
The trio heads out to the dance floor after a while. When the popstar decides enough photos of her having fun have been taken for the general public to see, she comes back to her hiding spot by the bar. She raises a light hand and calls out her order to the bartender. At the same time, a mysterious yet familiar presence slides up to the space next to her and slams a hand onto the counter.
“Can I get an espresso martini?”
“Hey, man, lemme get a beer!”
The two of them say it at the same time and as soon as they did, Glinda recognizes a voice that was much too engraved into her consciousness than she would like. Her eyes widen and she turns to the person to her left and sees none other than Elphaba Thropp.
The air shifts around them. Her chest tightens and a lump forms on her throat. She so desperately wishes one of them would say something.
Elphaba seems to read her mind and quietly says, “Hello.”
Still so awkward, the blonde thinks. And she is brought back to the present. Standing in front of her is her ex, in the flesh, staring at her like she was simultaneously scared and curious. She gives herself a moment to look the athlete up and down, and suddenly realizes she’s part of the team. Elphaba is wearing black Wizards sweatpants, a black thermal, and a backwards, worn out Shiz University baseball hat.
Glinda purses her lips. “Did you seriously come to your team’s after party wearing that?” she says without thinking. After hearing it, she lets out a small gasp and puts a hand over her Ozforsaken mouth. She remembers that her and Elphaba weren't close. Honestly, they were closer to strangers than anything else. “Oh my goodness, I didn’t mean to say that, I’m so sorry.” she uttered, shaking her head a little.
Elphaba’s face breaks to a smirk. “Um, no,” she fumbles for something to say, seeming to realize that second how bizarre this was. I need another shot, Glinda thinks briefly. “I just came from the locker room and didn’t have any nicer clothes. Sorry.”
The blonde couldn’t believe she was apologizing. Her first instinct is to hold out a hand to her shoulder and insist she shouldn’t, but Glinda stops herself. Law of detachment or whatever that one Tiktok she saw the other day said.
“No, don’t be sorry, I—” she pauses, putting a hand on her chest and feeling her heart beat ever so quickly. She collects herself. “Congratulations on the win.” she says politely.
“Thanks.” Elphaba says sincerely.
The air shifts once more and the two seem to be in their own world as the party happens around them.
Glinda gets scared and feels the need to run away. So she does. She was always a pro at backing herself out of uncomfortable situations, though she's almost sure she's never been in a situation as uncomfortable as this one (and she once had to have slime dumped on her for some kids show).
“I should–I should go,” she fumbles as she grabs her purse and takes a careful step back. “I think my friends are looking for me.” she gestures vaguely to some place behind her despite knowing her friends are definitely nowhere in view. Clearly a blatant lie, she almost wonders if Elphaba could tell. (Obviously she could. She always could.) “Congratulations on the win—Again.”
Elphaba looks confused. She never was good at hiding her emotions. “Thanks, again?”
Nothing else happens and Glinda flees the scene without a moment’s notice. The last thing she remembers from the night is Elphaba leaning on the bar counter with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth.