025: Waiting All These Years to Dance Again [Location: the Northern Island]

[tothelightshown]

Even by the strange standards of Taxon, the last month had been a busy one. The prisoners had been moved from one twisted game to the next with little time to catch their breath. They hadn't been particularly dangerous glitches - no zombies, no wicked witches, no damage to the life support systems - but they had been inconvenient. And it felt as if

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[justaddmarbles]

Perhaps the best sign that Glitch was feeling more like himself? He was driven to create again, which meant more long hours in the workshop. As of yet he didn't have anything of note, but there were sketches all over his drafting table and the proverbial cogs were turning in his mind. Soon enough there'd be real ones on a prototype.

All of which meant, of course, that he'd need all the help he could get in relaxing, and if the note on the door was any indication he'd be getting in. Glitch grinned fondly and crossed the main hall, following both the music and the trail of twinkle-light wrapped columns (left since last annual's Christmas party) to the ballroom. He unwound his scarf and removed his hat before entering the hall and...

And had to pause to catch his breath.

"...hello, princess," he murmured and stepped closer to DG, a wondering smile spreading across his face. "What's the occasion?"

Brain or no brain, he wouldn't put it past himself to forget something.

[tothelightshown]

"Hello," she echoed, straightening up after lighting a final candle and tucking a stray curl of hair behind her ear as she smiled at Glitch. "We don't need an occasion, do we?"

DG moved towards him in time to the music, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I just wanted to spend time with you."

[justaddmarbles]

He smiled and brushed her hair back. Everything had been...difficult and painful for a long time, so many distractions, so much stuff but now that he'd mostly healed he hoped that was overwith. Now was a chance to get better.

"Definitely don't need an occasion for that," Glit agreed, then sighed ruefully. "Though it's certainly felt like it for a while. I'm...I'm sorry, DG."

[tothelightshown]

"Don't apologise," she warned him and, although her tone was light and her smile suggested that she was only half serious, she meant every word. He hadn't done anything that he needed to apologise for. "You've not done anything wrong. Things have been confusing for a while. They'll get better."

And she was prepared to work to make sure that they did get better, if that was necessary.

[justaddmarbles]

He nodded and slung an arm around her to press her close for a moment, grateful for her faith. "They are better," Glitch said, nodding. "Or they're getting there, I think I've got me figured out now."

It had been a process, and he was still working on it, but at least the helpless anger had wrung itself out. He was more comfortable in his mind and skin and heart, and that counted for something.

[tothelightshown]

She’d been waiting - hoping - to hear that for days, but there was a fine line between wishful thinking and educated guesses and confirmation was exactly what she’d needed. She hugged him back tightly.

“Then maybe there is an occasion.”

[justaddmarbles]

"We could make it one," Glitch suggested wryly and, swaying a little to the music, reached up to take DG's right hand in his left. Not quite what he would call dancing, not yet, but the potential was there.

He smiled down at her and gave a little nod. "So yeah, hi. Name's Glitch, on account of...well, it just is."

[tothelightshown]

It was close enough to dancing for DG to be satisfied that her plan, such as it was, had worked. As Glitch was the dancer, she was happy to follow his lead and swayed to the music herself, unable to resist both the beat and the joy that came with knowing things were back to normal.

Or their version of normal, anyway. It worked for her.

"It's very nice to meet you, Glitch."

[justaddmarbles]

Glitch laughed, one of those quiet, breathy chuckles that used to come when he didn't know what to say but now carried genuine humor. He slid his right arm lower around her waist, hand on her hip to guide as the sway became a bit more of a dance. Step back, then right, forward, right, then back and left, slow pace for the moment but--

"I'll have to teach you some moves for Annual's End," he remarked. "I mean, if you want. I just don't think it'd do if the old guys were showing up the princess."

[tothelightshown]

“You’re not old. And what makes you think you’ll be able to show me up?” She followed his lead, which was an answer itself. He was a brilliant dancer. She was passable, but in need of practice and probably more than a few lessons.

“Maybe a few moves,” she conceded, “You need a partner who can keep up with you if you‘re doing to show what you can do.”

[justaddmarbles]

It was entirely possible that Glitch kept making cracks about his advanced age for the sole purpose of getting DG to deny them. He grinned and twirled her so her back was to him, then resumed dancing.

"What I can do is help make folks look like they know what they're doing," he replied. "Besides, this isn't really gonna be a party for formality or making sure you've got all the right steps. I'm sure there's a thing or two you could show me."

[tothelightshown]

As well as denying his self deprecating comments, DG endeavoured to show him that he was wrong at every possible opportunity and in every possible way.

“That’s almost the same thing,” she said, then smirked a little. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

[justaddmarbles]

"Do you?" He grinned and ducked his head to speak into her ear. "Now I'm curious, and you know my curiosity. Can I get a demonstration?"

Yes that may well be a challenge.