[01 | Sanctuary{holo} | Arrival] Loss begets pain

[azoftheoz]

Take my hand.



Despite all she had been through, something in those words broke through the mental cage the witch had Azkadellia trapped with. All that she had witnessed second hand and through a fog and yet now she could see something more. More importantly, she could feel more. The sensation of emotion flood through her and for a moment the annuals seemed to have melted into nothing. Suddenly it was Azkadellia herself standing there in the light, the emerald ablaze about her neck and Ambrose's brilliant device twisted and on the verge of bringing darkness forever to the O.Z. Grown and hated by so many and yet the young girl that had lost herself to the witch's power that fateful day in the woods.



Reaching out, she could feel the witch fighting her, the rage buffeting her like a wild storm, tossing her about even as hands that were her own and yet unknown to her brushed against DG's. Clasping tight, holding onto that lifeline as she felt it. That sudden snap as the witch lost her hold, driven out by their magic joined. Stumbling from the dais, staring into DG's so pale eyes and then there was another wrenching, the world shifting as if the entirety of the Outer Zone was turned on its head. Then blackness.


Azkadellia came to in a small room that looked nothing like any place she knew in the Tower. Metal above, everything so different from her chambers, from that balcony where she stood during the eclipse, the darkness bathing over her

as the witch changed her world. Now her world had changed again.


"Don't let go!"


The words came from her lips before she could stop herself, scrambling to her feet. Heavy boots thudded on the floor as she looked around, gilded bodice gleaming as she turned quickly, looking for answers, looking for an exit, looking for one thing.


"Deeg?! Where are you?" Voice rising as she checked the walls, seeking a door though she found nothing but a table with a small device. The screen lit up, a small dot on a map blinking at her. Hand trembling, Azkadellia snatched it from the table, spinning on heel as the door slid open behind her.

"Hello?" She paused, peering at the door before taking a quick step toward it. Another careful step, eyes narrowing slightly. "Is anyone out there," she called, ignoring the tablet in her hands though viewing screens of a magical nature weren't entirely new to her. "Deeg? Anyone? Can you hear me?"

Another step toward the door, fingers clutching the tablet. Her lower lip quivered as she stepped out of the room and hurried along the hall, whispering under her breath.

"I swear, I didn't let go."

((ooc: For those that did the arrival on the voice test, feel free to handwave to outside the building, ie DG obvs.))

Comments

[holo] test drive meme remix~

[aintnoconvict]

Sure. Sure, Taxon, fine. Why not. Well played, good for you, the aliens get a gold star. Glitch looked away for a bit and listened to that voice, head in hands, and gathered together the strength and resolve he needed to not leave her alone here.

He smoothed down his hair, tugged at his clothes, breathed, asked Ozma for mercy, and opted for a holo broadcast. Holograms were his domain, after all.

"Azkadellia," he began, keeping his voice neutral. "It's Ambrose. Please tell me the last thing you remember."

[holo]

[azoftheoz]

Nothing seemed right and panic was gripping Azkadellia as she eagerly sought out anything that looked familiar. The witch had done a brilliant job this time, and she was certain this was punishment for daring to take DG's hand.

Especially when she heard that voice, that oh so familiar voice, and using that name.

"Ambrose," she gasped, raising the screen. "The last thing... I was on the balcony of the tower. I took DG's hand and then I was falling forward and she wasn't in me anymore and then..."

She looked up, seeing nothing in the buildings that looked familiar. "Where am I?"

[holo]

[aintnoconvict]

His composure slipped a little bit, and the sighed, relaxing. Good, the tower, the witch being gone (again), that was better than the alternative.

"All right, princess. This is going to be...difficult to explain but I'll try." He began pacing, the little hologram hovering hovering above her tablet. "It's a city called Taxon, and it's not in the O.Z. and it's not the Otherside, but people still slip here."

Comfort. Reassurance. What would she need to know?

"DG is here too."

[holo]

[azoftheoz]

She could only imagine what he was thinking and, deep down, she was relieved he would even help her. She, Azkadellia as she had been, would not have blamed him if he hadn't wanted to even speak to her.

"So I've slipped..." No, that wasn't right. "We slipped here? Was it because of what she started," she asked, confused but drawing herself up, trying to act the princess she was meant to be, not the child she'd once been.

"She's well? You?"

[holo]

[aintnoconvict]

Glitch shook his head quickly, not wanting to talk or even think about her at all. "No. The beings who've brought us here have power beyond any magic or science from the O.Z. There's a guide in the tablet - this communication device - which explains a lot of things."

He'd leave it to that, mostly, unless asked about anything directly, until he was sure of what he could deal with. One thing he was fairly sure he could was answering if he was well or not.

"I'm...all right." Mostly. "And she'll be happy to see you."

[Visual]

[tothelightshown]

For what felt like a long time, DG stared at the tablet in mute astonishment. For as long as she'd been in the city, her sister had never been far from her thoughts. She'd promised not to let go again, but the aliens had separated her from Azkadellia before they'd had a chance to begin the long and difficult process of rebuilding what the witch had destroyed.

They'd made her break her promise.

The witch had made her do worse. She knew, now, exactly what had sister had been through. She'd watched as if from a distance as she'd killed soldiers that displeased her and set out to break the people that DG loved.

None of this should have happened. It shouldn't be happening. But she picked up her tablet and responded anyway, because that was a voice that she would never be able to ignore.

"Az! Az, it's ok. I'm here. I didn't either. I didn't let go."

Not again. Never again.

[Visual]

[azoftheoz]

Rushing down the corridor, hurrying along as Azkadellia sought even the least little glimpse of something that might be familiar. Hearing that she was not in her home was unsettling enough but there had to be something, someone that could help her to find a way back. Especially if she could find DG. The combination of their magic should be enough to get them out of this, to help them get through it all. If they could find one another. If they were together.

The sound of DG's voice brought tears to Azkadellia's eyes and made her catch a sob in the back of her throat as she brought the tablet to where she could see that familiar, wide eyed face.

"Where are you? Are you here in this place," she asked. "Is this dot that I see you?"

[Visual]

[tothelightshown]

The tears in her sister's eyes made it even harder for DG to keep her already fraught emotions in check. Fortunately, the workshop wasn't far from the centre of the city and she was already running.

"It is," she answered in a slightly choked voice, "I'm not far. I'll be there soon."

Not soon enough, though. Even with her familiar face on the screen, it was difficult to believe that she was really in the city. That she would really stay in the city.

[Visual]

[azoftheoz]

She moved quickly, pausing at the door and then pushing it open. The city was there before her, nothing like anything she had ever seen and yet reminding her of home at the same time.

"Hurry, DG. Please. I though I'd lost you again," she admitted, smiling as best she could despite how much fear had possessed her in those first moments without DG's hand in hers.

[location: Sanctuary greenhouse | visual]

[hasaheart]

When Cain first heard the voice, he didn't recognize it. Granted, he'd never had the same connection with the princess as her sister or her mother's adviser, but that didn't make realization any less chilling to the core. His hands start trembling, and before he's quite aware of it himself, he's made a mess of the bench - soil scattered everywhere but where it's supposed to go, into the small pots lined up so neatly in front of him.

It isn't until a good ten minutes later that he actually opens up a channel to the princess - after he's cleaned up, while he's heading for her floor.

No matter what his gut tells him (that she can't be trusted, that there's no telling if the ancient bitch is still in there somewhere) he can't ignore the insistent thrumming of his mind. That's not the Sorceress. That's a girl who's lost her way.

And, like he told Party just the other day, if you're at all worth the title of father... Well, you never stop being a dad.

"Princess," he greets her on his way down. "I'm Wyatt Cain, a friend of your sister's. Are you all right? I'm heading your way."

[location: Sanctuary | visual]

[azoftheoz]

In all their time in the OZ Azkadellia had experienced very little time with the tin men and Cain especially. That was why, when she heard the voice she didn't know exactly who it went to. It took a moment before her to work things out in her mind. He knew her title. She paused, considering that and then the name hit her sharply. Wyatt Cain was a lot of things other than a friend of her sister's.


He had been the thorn in Zero's side. She had hard the name often enough, though not said in such softly gruff tones but in a cruel, hard growl of anger and hatred tinged with loathing.

She moved the tablet, staring into the image before she inclined her head slightly. "Good evening, Mr Cain and I am... confused but well. Not harmed except perhaps by the time of all I have been through. I... I am glad to see you well after all of the things I've heard," she said, speaking carefully. It was the same voice as the wicked queen might have used but there was an edge of hesitancy with it as she worked it all out with who she was and all she remembered.

[location: Sanctuary]

[hasaheart]

He nodded the once, cutting the conversation short on his end with a "Be there shortly." and hurried downstairs with pounding heart and spinning mind.

Once he spotted her, he removed his hat, as was only right and proper when faced with royalty. Actual royalty, unlike the wild child who'd spent most of her days on the Other Side. For better or worse, Azkadellia would always remind him of the throne and the royal court. There was no escaping that; especially when she looked so much like her mother.

"Princess," he greeted her with an added bow, unable to muster up the 'Highness' he felt was more accurate. Despite everything.

[location: Sanctuary]

[azoftheoz]

Clutching the tablet in her hands, Azkadellia could comprehend that this place was not the O.Z., and what applied there was not the same as this place. Still it made her stand a bit taller for him to act to the woman she was.

"Mr Cain," she said, looking him over with a smile. The clothes of the Outer Zone and not some conventions of the Otherside as DG wore. As most here seemed to wear.

"I'm glad for these improved circumstances to meet you once more." Improved not because of where they were but that she was not possessed.

visual;

[slayersidekick]

Willow wasn't the greatest at being the welcome wagon anymore - she knew way more than was helpful to newcomers these days - but the mention of that one familiar name made her pause. She turned on the tablet with a slight frown.

"You know DG?"

visual;

[azoftheoz]

Certainly not a voice that Azkadellia knew, nor was the image she saw someone that she remembered, even if things were a bit fuzzy around the edges when it came to some parts of her past. Especially the youthful years just after the possession.

"Yes. I'm... I'm her sister, Azkadellia," she said, hesitant in that she didn't know what DG, or the others, might have said about her. Or not said anything at all.

visual;

[slayersidekick]

"Oh... Hi!"

Willow smiled in response. DG hadn't mentioned her sister much, but they'd come across many topics of past things during their year-long friendship.

"I'm Willow, a-a friend of hers here. It's nice to meet you. DG's one of my best friends now."

And she hoped to get to know Azkadellia as well.

visual;

[azoftheoz]

The smile was more than a little infectious. Her own was a bit shy as she ducked her head before looking back to the monitor.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, such as it is for meeting," she said. "I'm glad to know that DG hasn't been alone in this place. When I had heard how long she had been here, it worried me she had done it all alone."

[text]

[angry_salad]

You'll pardon Arthur for not showing his face--he likes to be careful and honestly, texting is definitely more his style. It's a few days later when she gets this:

you seem to know a lot of people here already.

[text]

[azoftheoz]

It was something new to Azkadellia, the tablet and texting, but she was a quick study with a delight in learning and had put quite a bit of time into learning the tablet and its functions.

It does seem that way. My sister is here, as well as others who knew me before. As well as knowing the witch but she was trying to pretend otherwise. I admit, I'm thankful for it.

[text]

[angry_salad]

If you're got a crew, make sure you handle them well. Apparently we could all disappear.

[text]

[azoftheoz]

I will handle them as they let me. I do acccept I'm rather an unknown quantity to them. We've been technically separated for many years.

Not entirely surprising, given what brought us here to this place.

[genequeen]

"Hello."

Madelyne pauses for a moment, "I'm guessing you're from where DG and Glitch are from? I'm afraid I know know much about it but they are here - I can tell you that much." The redheaded woman looks almost hesitant as she speaks but there is a smile on her face.

[azoftheoz]

Forcing herself to calm, Azkadellia clutched the tablet in her hands as she took two deep breaths. Eyes closing for a moment, trying hard to get herself to try and think and not merely react. Even if the witch was gone from within her, she couldn't deny that with enough outward emotions, uncontrolled and wild, she might do things she would regret.

Blinking back tears, she stared at the the screen, trying to smile. "I am. DG and I... we're family," she said softly, unaware how much any might know about her and what they might think. "Thank you for that though. I admit I was afraid I lost her for good."

[genequeen]

"I know what that feeling is like. I really do understand." That horrible feeling of being sure that you'll never see them again and that you're at fault for it?

Yeah, Maddy knows that one pretty well.

"Has anyone given you the general welcome to Taxon speech yet?"

[azoftheoz]

Despite herself and her nervousness, Azkadellia smiled and nodded. "They have. I was certain I wasn't home then when people were being so kind to me," she admitted, taking another slow breath.

"I won't stop you from offering whatever advice you might have though."