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

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.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

"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.

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."

Well, the woman definitely had a more formal way of speech. Willow didn't have a whole lot of trouble parceling out what she was saying, but the redhead hoped she wasn't confusing Azkadellia in return.

"Nope, definitely not alone. She'd made a lot of friends before I got here and I kinda... met her through another friend but now she's my friend too. Maybe.. y'know... you and I could get to know each other sometime, too."

So careful in what she said and did, concerned with being misconstrued, especially for the woman many had seen her as for years.

"I'm glad to know she's found a place here," she said, sounding sincere and actually content. "I would appreciate that. I... I've not had many friends over the years." Or none since the witch had killed DG in their youth.

Willow would understand if she knew. At least Azkadellia had an excuse.

"I've only had a handful myself, but more wouldn't hurt."

She paused for a moment, debating bringing up the topic of her magic at some point. She was curious to know if Azkadellia had any and if it was anything like hers or DG's.

"And if we're gonna be friends, you have to meet my best friend from home, Buffy."

Sometimes friends of friends didn't always get along, but it was worth a try anyway.

"I admit, I'm a little amazed," she said with a smile. "Everyone around here does seem to be much friendly than I could have imagined. Especially more than I could have hoped for."

She had no way of knowing what they might know, especially about Glitch.

"I would love to meet your best friend. Anyone. I'm actually excited about getting to know others here. Due to situations back home, I had very little time to socialize with anyone since I was a child so I'm very excited about having that chance now."

"We've kinda all been through a lot here," Willow admitted, also smiling. "It's hard to judge someone on sight when you've been glitched to do things you regret." Nooot the most comforting thing to say, but it was there already.

"Then consider us friends already."

She meant that, too. If Azkadellia was DG's sister, she had to be a good person and any friend of DG's was a friend of Willow's.

"Not the most comforting of ways for people to become close but at least you have come together." What she always felt was important, especially lacking it for so long. "Glitched. Interesting turn of phrase. Is that what caused the possession I've been told DG underwent recently?"

Just thinking about it made her tense up, hating that her sister had endured that.

"I like that. Is it rude to ask... I know that people come from many places but I am just curious where it if you come from."

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

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