(Untitled)

[halfahead]

Glitch was already up and about when sunrise came along, and had found himself a good spot to watch the sun peek out from behind the ocean and start climbing. When the sun was moving overhead, so was Glitch, already heading towards the compound for another book as the light stretched his shadow against the path.

Comments

[heartliketin]

He heard the shouting before he heard anything else and Cain dropped what he was doing to go running as fast as he could, panic riling him as he mentally chanted the same thing over and over again. Not again, not again, don't let me lose someone again and he whipped through trees and foliage before finding that Glitch...wasn't there.

Logically, he had to check the areas around, so he went into the school, the Hub, and finally the Compound, where he found him just sitting in a chair. "You're bound to give me a heart attack one of these days," he warned Glitch, exhaling in relief. He looked fine, if a little skittish.

Cain crossed the room and crouched down in front of him, trying to get a good look at his face. "What were you hollering about?"

[halfahead]

Ambrose simply looked at the man for a while, face remaining blank as his eyes judged him. He could be a figment of the imagination, could be another facet of this illusion or torture or whatever Azkadellia had chosen for him, or could be dead too.

"I didn't shout," he said quietly, and waited for the man to show him what was really going on, intentionally or not.

[heartliketin]

Cain stared with a little more concern, not touching him even if he wanted to reassure himself with a firm hand to Glitch's cheek. But even the way he was speaking, that was enough to tell him it wasn't Glitch, not anymore. "Yeah, you did," Cain said, a little lost himself. But he took a deep breath and steadied himself, looking him up and down. "Ambrose, it's me. Cain. Wyatt Cain, remember?"

[halfahead]

Ambrose recognized the name, although he'd never seen the man before. It was practically at the top of the roster for the uprising calling itself 'The Resistance' and Ambrose had kept a sharp eye on that list in case things had gotten out of hand.

In that case, he wasn't dead. He wasn't particularly fond of the other two options that left him. Ambrose cleared his throat. "I've never seen you in my life," he said honestly, and he realized that this could be one of the magical terrariums Azkadellia used for more 'humane' prisons. "Are you feeling alright?"

[notinutopia]

"Hi Headcase." Jonas teased, coming up to Glitch from behind. He heard his words and approached him with a smile. "What are you up to, Glitch?" Jonas asked innocently, sitting down with him.

[halfahead]

Ambrose stared at the kid for a moment in shock. Two extremely cruel nicknames, and yet the boy seemed genuinely friendly.

He paused. Either this was some form of triple-reverse psychology, or...he shook his head, not even knowing what other options there were aside from the large and most likely one. "Am..." Ambrose cleared his throat. "Am I dead?"

[notinutopia]

Jonas stopped and looked at Glitch, still smiling. It reminded him of the first day they had met and Glitch was having brain issues and couldn't remember things. Jonas laughed.

"I hope not because that'd mean I'm dead too." Jonas grinned. Then, playfully Jonas reached over and pinched Glitch's hand. "Did you feel that?" He asked playfully.

[halfahead]

Ambrose smiled despite himself. "I felt that," he agreed, and held out a hand. "I'm Ambrose. If I'm not dead, what's happened?" He paused, concern flooding his face before he even realized it. "Are you alright?" Azkadellia rarely hurt children, but then again she'd killed her own sister.

[lifeisa_test]

"Oh, hi, Glitch, I've got something to show-" Gil began. If there was one good thing to be said for having been torn out of the world, it was being able to show around and exchange advice on your creations without having to worry quite so much about what they would do with the knowledge. But the man in the chair didn't look like someone who would appreciate a spirited discussion on death rays. He looked like the bottom had just dropped out of his world. "Sorry, are you okay?"

[halfahead]

Ambrose turned to look at the newcomer, eyes nothing but calculation. Young, smart, and that probably meant arrogant too, knowing himself.

"You are very likely to be a figment of my desperate, tortured imagination," Ambrose stated simply, and motioned him to a nearby chair. "My name is Ambrose, and I have no idea what's going on. Would you be kind enough to explain?"

[lifeisa_test]

Gil had known about the memory loss, but this was... rather dramatic. His own expression flickered through surprise, faint concern, and his own calculation, before finally settling on a careful neutrality as he took the indicated seat.

"My name is Gilgamesh Wulfenbach," he began, "and I'm reasonably sure that I'm real. Unfortunately, I don't quite know what is going on- some kind of dimensional disturbance brought us here in the first place, and we've spoken a few times, but I didn't even know your name was Ambrose..."

[halfahead]

"It's relatively nice to meet you, Gilgamesh, and I'm sorry that you can't prove you're real," Ambrose said easily, leaning towards Gil as he spoke, practically lounging on the arm of the chair. "Could you simply skip the torture, possibly? Or maybe you could let me say no to all the questions right now and save us both time and effort."

[thedoctordances]

Beverly was in dire need of a cup of coffee. It was too damn early, for some reason, even when she got up regularly at this hour. Sometimes, some mornings, one just couldn't be bothered to stir. She yawned and padded through the kitchen, getting the coffee, and then going to the rec room to put back the book she'd been reading.

doctor my eyes have seen the years, and the slow parade of tears, without hiding, you must help me understand...

"Damn it, it's too early," she muttered at the jukebox, then glanced around. "Oh, sorry, Glitch."

[halfahead]

Ambrose stared at the woman for a moment as he tried to figure glitch out, but finally spoke after a deep breath.

"Would simply asking you for an explanation get me absolutely anywhere in figuring this out?" Ambrose kept himself from glaring at the woman, keeping his face completely neutral as he watched her.

[thedoctordances]

Well, shit. Beverly's brain kicked into adrenaline overdrive, for a moment, bringing her into wakefulness. "Ambrose?" she asked, face worried as she took a long sip of coffee.

[halfahead]

His mind screamed 'trap' at him, but Ambrose was tired and sick of the iron control he'd had over himself. He sighed, head tilting back to look at the ceiling. "I'm not going to tell you anything," Ambrose said a bit numbly, trying to ignore the feeling of the zipper against his scalp.

[az_from_the_oz]

Ambrose... or Glitch, looked more odd than usual, Azkadellia had decided. She'd come into the compound to try to find a new book to read, perhaps one on the history of the Otherside. Instead she found her mother's adviser sitting in a chair and looking distinctly uneasy. "Are you all right, Ambrose? What's the matter?"

[halfahead]

Ambrose's spine went rigid at the voice, and when he finally turned to look at her, it was horrible. Pure, sweet, innocent little Azkadellia was standing there, looking concerned. He broke all over again, and put his hands over his eyes, barely stopping himself from crying.

"Oh gods," he whispered, throat choked and eyes burning. Of anyone or anything, she couldn't have picked a more cunning and vicious form to use.

[az_from_the_oz]

"Ambrose?" She put one hand cautiously on his arm. This had to be one of episodes, but she'd never seen him quite so upset before. It scared her, like it always did really, and Az glanced up at the zipper for a moment. "Ambrose, what's the matter? Do you want me to get Mr. Cain?"

[halfahead]

"I don't know a Mr. Cain, Azkadellia," Ambrose choked out, and finally looked at her. Perfect. She was absolutely perfect, and it hurt even more. He cleared his throat. "...can I hug you?"

Ambrose hated himself for it, but he still loved her to the bottom of his battered heart. Illusion or not, it was starting to not really matter. If she asked questions, he wouldn't answer, but that didn't mean he couldn't pretend it was his little Azkadellia for a while.