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.))

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"The truth is I was party to horrible things happening to you all," she said in a soft, prim voice. "I am quite aware of that." Not responsible and not the one that did it, but certainly a part of it, if only in face and name.

"Oh. I see," she said with a nod, trying her best to process that. "I shall do my best to not intrude on whatever life is had here by those I know then."

"No, that's not...Azkadee--" Oh it was much, much too soon for that and he flinched, then took a breath and nodded to himself, trying again. "Okay, yeah, that is true, but..."

But what? Glitch listened to her voice and it kept twisting in his mind, down to the feared snarl and up to the hated sing-song and he couldn't stop it. Even after so long wanting nothing more than to go home and start setting everything right, seeing Azkadellia again was more difficult than he'd imagined.

He sighed, dropping all pretenses. "But DG's been trying to get back to you for over two annuals, and I...want better memories. You're part of our lives here, now."

The name made her jerk, paling at that single nickname that was given. Swallowing hard against the lump in her throat, nodding because it she had expected this. How could she expect anything else from Ambrose after all that had happened to him. Logically, even if he knew she wasn't the one that did it, not Azkadellia herself, that didn't mean it was easy looking at her and facing that same face day in and day out and remembering.

"I am part of DG's, but I will never assume or expect you to do the same," she said softly. "I can not imagine what it is for you at this moment."

"At this moment? It's overwhelming." And painful and strange and all sort of other things. "But there's gonna be other moments, and one of the...things I've learned is that you've gotta believe they'll be better ones."

The optimism had saved him, and though it took a lot more effort to trust it Glitch had the feeling he'd be trying to hold onto it all the more for a while.

"I suspect that is an understatement," she allowed with a shy smile. "At this moment all I can have is better ones," she admitted. "Beyond barely a handful of hazy memories of my childhood, all I remember are the things she did."

Such horrible, twisted, sickening things that she was party too, even if not responsible.

"We'll try to change that." And Glitch gave her a crooked smile of his own and nodded once, firmly. Still, he hesitated before continuing. "I know DG's on her way to you, d'you...should I come too?"

Letting Azkadellia decide, giving her control of what she faced and when, seemed like the best plan for the time being.

"I..." She hadn't expected him to offer and she couldn't help the emotions she showed when he asked. Seeing her couldn't be easy and yet he offered.

"You have always been the best man I've known, Ambrose," she murmured softly. "I wouldn't do that to you though. Even if you know it's me, I still look the same and I wouldn't want to see her now if it wasn't me."

She made a sound. "I'm not sure that made sense."

He tilted his head, not sure how to respond. But...no, neither of them were ready yet. A few minutes-- or more like a couple hours, probably with DG as a buffer and then they could be properly reintroduced.

"No, I understand," Glitch replied. "Thank you, princess. Ah--" How much could he say? "DG'll likely have other ideas and try to get us all together soon. It'll be all right."

Even just speaking to him like this and a dozen bad memories flooded back. Azkadellia as the witch had taken so much from Ambrose, just the beginning being his brain that was the part most knew of. And perhaps only even she remembered. Without his brain, did he remember those murders committed against him? She bit back a sigh.

"Please. I don't think I'm a princess here, and I'm fairly certain no one from the O.Z. feels I should have the title but for my family. Thank you though for that." She nearly smiled. "Don't let DG talk you into things. I know I can't resist her myself."

Properly, Glitch didn't remember much. The scars only told him part of the story...except the burn on his arm, that he knew, that was why he flinched from fire.

He inclined his head in tacit agreement to refrain from usign the title, and did smile - a bit wryly - at her warning.

"I'm afriad it's too late for that. She's...yeah, hard to resist." Stop talking now, old man. "And I'm sure she'll be with you in just a moment to give you a more thorough introduction to town."

Thankfully for Azkadellia's mind in that moment, she took it for how she always saw her sister, and the ways she thought of DG. Of course, for the most part, DG to her was a darling and precocious child - even if Azkadellia was fully aware she was a grown woman now.

"Yes indeed. She is on her way and I shall set myself to the task of acquainting myself with much." Including herself.

"Good," Glitch replied softly. "I wish you luck with that. And...this place is strange and unpredictable, just remember that peopel are here to help if you ever need it."

She was silent for a long time, considering his words as they meshed with everything racing through her mind. "You are as kind as I personally remember. Thank you, Ambrose."

"You're welcome, Azkadellia." Glitch gave the tablet (and thus her) a slight bow, caught himself, considered adding more but...no, best not to prolong this. If the aliens had their way there'd be plenty of opportunity for discussion.

With a quick gesture that ended transmission, the little hologram of the little headcase vanished.

The bow made her smile, such sadness though that it never reached her eyes. She inclined her head in acknowledgment as Ambrose disappeared.

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

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