amicably_absent

How good is evident in the way Glitch lets go of the jar with a giggle and wraps both arms around Cain's neck to return the kiss.

Then breaks the kiss and steals Cain's hat, putting it on. "Mine."

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The next time the door opens, it's by tiny little hands clad in fur-like, fingerless gloves. Jeb found Kalm, and the two of them volunteered to make a raid of the kitchen for something to eat. Kalm's hungry, Jeb wanted to help (and sort of put himself together better for proper socializing with Dad's friends). It was an easy decision to make.

Kalm holds the door open, beaming like a little beaming beacon of a fluffy thing, and waves at the mass of people on and beside the bed. Jeb comes in, none too gracefully manhandling the biggest tray he could find through the door.

"We brought coffee and sandwiches."

"And chocolate!" Kalm adds, triumphantly, closing the door behind his newfound friend. "And cheese!"

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"OH MY GOD YOU'RE ADORABLE!" Glitch is off the bed, out from hugs and pouncing on Kalm, sweeping him up, ruffling all his furry hair with long fingers. "Can I keep you?"

Raw is trying not to chuckle.

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It's down to shock and shock alone that Kalm doesn't slip and slide and zip his way to under the bed before being swept off his feet in the most literal sense. Shock, and wondering just what is up with people. He glances at Raw, frowning when there's no help forthcoming, so turns his big eyes on Glitch. "I'm Viewer. Viewers keep Viewers. Sorry."

Jeb smiles, trying to hide a grin, glancing at Raw. Kalm is sort of adorable. "Gather round everyone, it's chow time." He starts pouring coffee for the ones he knows wants it (meaning him and his father). "Who wants cocoa?"

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"I know, I wouldn't take you from Raw, but damn, you are the cutest little thing since kittens and ducklings." He puts Kalm down and slips back over people to snuggle into his spot again. "Coffee, please."

"Coffee not help headache. Glitch have cocoa."

Glitch pouts at Raw and sighs. "Cocoa, please."

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Kalm grins at Glitch, and decides in a fit of cheek to hug him around the waist before he can slip away. Then, the little guy gets to act helper. Mug after mug of hot beverage is handed to him to bring to everyone, with the cautionary "Careful, it's hot," from Jeb. Once everyone has a mug of tasty brew, including Kalm, Jeb brings the tray of cheese and ham sandwiches, and a plate of cheese sticks for Kalm that one of the cooks were kind enough to cut out for him.

And then, well, he just needs to find himself a place to sit. After some hedging also known as deliberation, he takes a seat beside Raw; Kalm's already occupied the other side of the bed, and that boy can sprawl.

"I figured maybe Kalm wasn't the only one hungry after your trip." He smiles, trying not to blush when addressing the princesses. "...Highness-- es?"

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Glitch likes hugs, it makes him smile again as he's settling and getting comfortable to drink without having to actually sit up really.

Azkadellia perches on the edge of her chair, delicately tugging off her gloves before taking a sandwich as well. "Thank you, Captain Cain."

Raw rests a hand briefly on his charge before taking his cup.

"Thanks..." Glitch pauses, looks at Jeb, back at Cain, back to Jeb and sighs. "Nope. It's gone again."

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"It's okay," Jeb reassures him, and doesn't even really bat an eyelash at him wearing Wyatt's hat. It's nowhere near the weirdest he's seen since coming to visit. "I'm Jeb."

Kalm is going through his portion of food like a starved, fluffy little animal, and not even the calming influence of Raw so close by helps with slowing him down.

Cain sips his coffee, perfectly content with Glitch leaning half into, half over him and DG. "Thanks, son."

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"Jeb! That's it. I know you're Cain's son, but names..." He flops back and sips at his cocoa, managing not to burn himself as he did it.

Raw taps Kalm's back. "Slow. Be ill otherwise."

"It takes twenty minutes for your noggin to get the message you're full from your stomach," Glitch casually mentions.

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"Names don't always stick, even for me," Jeb says with a shrug, glancing at his father with a smile. Wyatt smiles back.

Kalm growls, huddling over his plate. His plate, and no one else's. To his credit, he slows down just a bit, glancing at Glitch. Skepticism is Kalm's last name, from the looks of it.

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Raw doesn't growl back. He knows why Kalm's possessive of food. Hell, they all do. "Not taking away. Just slower."

Glitch isn't even looking at Kalm, watching nothing much with the hat on like that. "You know what food I really missed out there?"

"Apples," Azkadellia says softly. "Big, red apples."

Glitch gapes at her. "That's it exactly..."

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Wyatt watches as the older princess ducks her head, her cheeks going warm. DG reaches out to take her hand again. "It's okay, Az. It's okay."

He really hopes she's right about that. The silence in the room is nothing short of deafening.

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Glitch rolls over, looking at her. He takes off the hat in a practiced, sweeping gesture, the expression muting and gaze going solemn. "I used to let you on my shoulders to pick the reddest apples in the garden in Central City. When Anoria thought I needed sunlight and you two were being a handful."

Azkadellia nods silently, soft light playing from where her hand grips DG's.

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Hushed, timid and scared, she finds words somewhere deep inside, despite everyone watching her. "You were always so sweet to us. Always."

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He looks down and away, shy. "Thank you, your highness. You were such good girls, even when you got into my projects. Or the day we sat for the portrait and you were..."

He looks up suddenly, panic filling his eyes though his face stays relatively somber. He looks around, somehow not showing the fear that's evident in his eyes in his body. "Who are you people," he asks softly.

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Somehow, Wyatt doesn't think a glitching Ambrose will react too well to being called Sweetheart. Nevertheless, he's the one who speaks up, when no one else knows what to do. He doesn't know either. "We're friends, Ambrose. You're with friends."

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"I don't remember any of you..."

But there's a slight murmur at the name.

"Where's Anoria?"

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He swallows thickly against the stab to his chest, trying his best not to let it show. By the look on Jeb's face - drawn and worried - he can tell. He doesn't like any of this, and Wyatt can't blame him.

"She's safe. The Queen is safe, reorganizing her court and the government. The entire royal family is safe and sound."

Of all the things Glitch could have blurted out, as himself or as Ambrose, that's the worst thing he could have ever said.

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"Reorganising?" Ambrose just looks even more bewildered. He looks around the group again and suddenly turns and buries his face in Wyatt's chest, clinging onto him.

"My head hurts," he whispers. "And Ambrose is all fuzzy."

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Heart stampeding in his chest, Cain hands their two cups to Raw, then envelops Glitch in a tight hug, one arm around his back, the other curved all the way out to the tips of his fingers to cradle the back of his head.

"Shh. It's okay, Sweetheart. It's okay." In an undertone, "Raw, please?"

Raw passes the cups along to Jeb, who watches silently. The frown line between his eyebrows hasn't smoothed out, and is showing no sign of it. The two princesses hold hands tighter now than ever, the light between them shining brighter in response to their escalated alarm.

"Glitch is safe. Safe with friends." Raw places his hand slowly on his cheek, looking to soothe the ache.

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"I know. I know that. Just he didn't... He's not good with stuff after the surgery. Like you guys."

He reaches over and grabs the jar, sliding it into the hug between them, head tipping back into Cain's hand and then over into Raw's palm. "Sorry... crazy got to me for a moment."

It's aimed at everyone.

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It isn't Glitch's fault. None of this is Glitch's fault, and Wyatt will be damned before he starts shoveling the blame onto him. He needs air, needs out of there, just for the tiniest moments so he can breathe, but he's not leaving Glitch.

It's not Glitch's fault Ambrose forgot. Not even if it feels like it is. "Someone's got to keep our unbridled sanity in check."

DG breathes a chuckle, chin trembling slightly as Azkadellia sits down beside her at the edge of the bed. No one's leaving.

Not even Jeb.

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He shakes slightly, then nods tightly. He's calming, the rising panic kept at bay by the push of Raw's concern against him.

"Raw thinks maybe Glitch needs sleep. Lots of healing. Too many glitches, too soon after surgery."

"I don't wanna sleep. Wyatt leaves soon." He clings on tighter.

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Too many glitches. Too soon after surgery. Wyatt's heart sinks in his chest, and he holds Glitch closer, not caring what anyone thinks or who's there, or what propriety means in the face of the Queen's daughters.

"It's been a rough few days, Raw. He's only trying to cope, and he's been sleeping more than his minimum hours."

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