for theatrical_muse Flowers for Azkedillia

"I swear I didn't put those in your room, Sis. Why would I?" DG buried her nose in one of the huge, bright yellow flowers that stood out of the arrangement at odd angles. She breathed in deeply and made a noise of pure pleasure.

"Because you do wildly irrational and yet thoughtful things all the time." Azkedillia examined the vase full of flowers again. Full of almost painfully contrasting colors and a mishmash of sizes and shapes. The effect was of a child's drawing turned three dimensional. Just as she thought that, both sisters spoke at the same instant.

"Glitch?"

Az was satisfied enough by that answer that she didn't worry about it again until breakfast the next day when she came down wearing one of the smaller, less showy flowers at her waist. He bowed deeply at his waist to sniff it, then without standing glanced up at her.

"Pretty flower. Where'dja get it?"

She didn't like mysteries. Both she and DG quizzed the addled man until they were certain he knew nothing about the flowers. Their parents watched the exercise with small smiles which earned them the same interrogation.

Frustrated and still hungry since breakfast had been largely ignored, Azkedillia grabbed a hunk of bread and headed to her garden spot. She sat with the bread in her lap and the flower in her hand. Her eyes closed slowly and carefully examined every inch of the bloom until it disintegrated.

Only when it was too shattered to bother with anymore did she drop it and start eating her breakfast. Her fingers were covered with fragrant oils from the petals and every bite was a reminder of a mystery she hadn't solved.


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for theatrical_muse Madness

No one seemed to have any trouble calling Ambrose mad because they meant it kindly. Certainly it was better than calling him brainless or broken. Even calling him Glitch was an acknowledgement of his condition. He was maddening, charming and well loved by the Royal family as well as the citizens of the OZ.

Azkedillia had heard no one call her mad, not since she was freed from her possession. People wanted her to be completely normal now, with no signs of what she'd gone through under the control of the witch. Except for the ones who seemed to want her to drip guilt with every movement.

If any of them knew how she waited in the mornings to see if the voice would return, they might not call her mad. It seemed a reasonable enough fear. What no one would understand was the feeling of longing that crept over her some mornings.


153

#224: Madness

No one seemed to have any trouble calling Ambrose mad because they meant it kindly. Certainly it was better than calling him brainless or broken. Even calling him Glitch was an acknowledgement of his condition. He was maddening, charming and well loved by the Royal family as well as the citizens of the OZ.

Azkedillia had heard no one call her mad, not since she was freed from her possession. People wanted her to be completely normal now, with no signs of what she'd gone through under the control of the witch. Except for the ones who seemed to want her to drip guilt with every movement.

If any of them knew how she waited in the mornings to see if the voice would return, they might not call her mad. It seemed a reasonable enough fear. What no one would understand was the feeling of longing that crept over her some mornings.


Azkedillia, Sorceress of Tin Man, 153

for theatrical_muse A thousand words

“Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us without words?”

Azkedillia was having a good day. She'd woken with only a few moments spent adjusting to the silence in her brain before leaping from bed to dress quickly and go join her sister. They had an excursion planned and Azkedillia didn't want to be late.

Together they'd gathered an overflowing basket of food, another basket full of books and drawing supplies, and a huge blanket. The only promise they'd made anyone was to be back before dark. Mr. Cain had insisted on that one. It had taken a rather spectacular demonstration of magical pyrotechnics to get him to agree to no bodyguards.

The day was spent getting to and enjoying a grassy ledge overlooking a lake. They ate too many sweets and Az sat still while DG sketched her. By day's end three books were read and two sketch books filled with drawings.

When the returned home, they found Wyatt Cain waiting for them, glancing meaningfully up at the darkening sky. He looked back at them and asked with a small smile, "Did you have a good day?"

DG started nattering on about all the things they'd seen and how wonderful it all was, but Azkedillia just smiled.


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