In this twilight, how dare you speak of grace

[freezerburned]

Who: Isaac and Jackson || Isaac and Derek || Isaac and Sophie
What: Isaac's three modes are: fighting, realtalks, and crying. So. Isaac stirs up a lot of shit everywhere because he's Isaac. Brawling with Jackson, talking about heavy stuff in the future with Derek, and most likely just breaking down on Sophie. Good times.
When: 293 || 294 || evening of 294
Where: On the streets || Derek's place in Thor || Sophie's place
Rating: PG-15 or so? Fighting and talk of death

Three threads in one post so it doesn't get spammy. :)

Comments

Isaac and Jackson (round 2) | Day 293

[freezerburned]

[It takes Isaac awhile to find Jackson after his conversation with Stiles. In part, this is due to the other Isaac showing up and just... making a mess of everything, and in part, Jackson isn't an easy guy to find. He's not where they're keeping all the other visitors, which means he must be with Lydia. Who else would actually like him enough to have him over? And with Lydia in Odin...

He feels almost stupid, doing this, but he knows that he's not going to get another chance, not if Jackson is leaving in a few hours like everyone else. So when Isaac sees the familiar figure moving down the street, he slips off to walk toward him. Stiles is already covering for him with Scott, Erica will vouch for him if he needs it... and Scott will believe both of them before he believes Jackson, wouldn't he?

But time is running out, and Isaac never did get to pay the snake back for what he did when Isaac himself first arrived to Asgard. So for that, and for the quip about his father, and for everything else he's done back home-]

I want an apology.

[His voice rings out from behind the other boy, where Isaac is standing, his posture laidback and easy, one hand in his pocket while he inspects the other, sliding a thumbnail along his fingers.]

But- I'm gonna be honest here. [And Isaac shrugs at that, letting out a small smirk.] I'm hoping that you won't give it.

lmao isaac you little d bag

[thoughtless]

[ jackson's bracelet had changed a few days in, and then odin started to get awkward. like, intensely awkward, and he was already annoyed enough with the general way things were going, so it didn't take long to wear him down. he'd eventually given up and gone to baldr house. still, he was splitting his time between there and odin for as long as he could put up with it, if only because lydia was one of the few people who wasn't driving him insane.

he had no idea what they were doing. he'd moved to another country, which was fairly clear as far as breakups go, but it hadn't really been about them, and now it was - complicated.

less complicated were his feelings about everyone else from beacon hills. he didn't hate them, exactly, but he'd have been content to never see them again in his lifetime. when he'd left beacon hills, the terms had been weirdly civil, if forced; now that the hostility was back up, it was impossible not to revert to old habits.

jackson stops when he hears isaac, but there's a delay before he turns around - long enough to school his incredulous expression into a long-suffering glare, anyway. ]

Then today's your lucky day, because you're not getting one.

[ maybe, if isaac hadn't already punched him and if stiles hadn't laid into him, but now - no way in hell. ]

it's what he does best

[freezerburned]

[Isaac is pleased enough with the response- anything less than that would probably have been mocked until they came to blows anyway. With Stiles covering for him, he's not too concerned about hiding who he is and besides, attacking from the shadows had never really been his style anyway.

He steps in closer, dropping his hands to his sides, before giving a shrug, that cocky little grin still on his face. Palms up, as if to show he's innocent, Isaac takes a step closer.]

No powers. I'll give you a fair chance, at least.

[Hardly. But as far as Isaac knows, Jackson is currently powerless, and while he doesn't generally have qualms taking down humans as a werewolf, using his shadow power like this is just begging to be made fun of later.]

a true talent

[thoughtless]

[ that earns a short laugh, but there's nothing amicable about it. jackson has no interest in looking for a fight, but the truth is - he could use one. after all of this bullshit and sniping over the bracelets, it's a welcome change of pace. ]

Fair's probably not the right word.

[ jackson has ideas about how great isaac is at fighting. awful, stupid assumptions, but they're still there; he's not scared. now that he's had time to get his bearings with this whole stupid situation, it's easy to act like he's got this under control. ]

Are you going to stand around wasting more of my time, or... ?

the biggest douche in the universe is you, Jackson

[freezerburned]

[Isaac has no qualms about striking the first blow- he's done so pretty often in his history of fights. So when Jackson mocks him, Isaac feels like it's perfectly fine to move closer, cracking his (already bandaged) knuckles.

The last few steps away are covered quickly, and Isaac lunges out, grabbing at the collar of the other man's shirt. If Jackson lets him, he'll yank closer and start hitting him, but Isaac is pretty sure that he'll have to come up with a plan B. Unlike last time, Jackson is perfectly prepared for this, and willing to fight back.]

SEMI-TRIUMPHANT RETURN also no action icons i hope u like annoyed faces

[thoughtless]

[ isaac gets hold of his shirt, but jackson takes the time he's wasted doing that to beat him to the actual first punch. he takes a focused swing at isaac's face before isaac gets one in himself, though that leaves him open to a hit from isaac; hopefully a sloppy one, assuming his lands.

jackson's not actually much of a fighter, as in he hasn't been in a ton of fights. he hasn't really had to. there's bullying by being arrogant and better than everyone else, and then there's bullying by beating people up, and jackson spent his high school career doing the former. still, obsessive training and sports have their perks, and there's nothing weak about the way he grabs hold of isaac's restraining wrist with his other hand and gives it a sharp twist. ]

ALL HAIL THE CONQUERING DOUCHE and yes

[freezerburned]

[The blow is quick and takes him by surprise. Unlike Jackson, Isaac without his werewolf powers isn't generally much to look at- he's less broad than the other boy, even if he is taller. Sophie has been showing him how to fight in these past few months, but it doesn't help at all if he loses his head and... well. Gets punched first.

His head snaps to the side when Jackson's knuckles glance off his jaw, and Isaac tries to ground himself by hitting him back, a quick jab to the stomach with his free hand. He's losing his advantage here, and quickly- the delicate bones in his wrist grind together when Jackson grabs him, and Isaac clenches his teeth, tasting a faint trace of blood.

The twist forces him to let go of his shirt, throws him off balance for a moment, and Isaac reaches to hit him again in the stomach- harder, trying to make him let go before the twist forces Isaac to his knee.]

[thoughtless]

[ there's a certain smugness that comes with getting in the first punch. or there is when you're jackson, anyway, and that flash of ego's enough of a distraction to get him nailed in the stomach. the second punch he does a better job of deflecting, but he lets go of isaac's wrist to do it.

which means another free fist for isaac to punch him with, and jackson goes for the same approach as before: hit isaac in the face before he can rally enough to return the favor. jackson's balance is still fine, and he's got that to his advantage - if he can just keep isaac off his. ]

[freezerburned]

[Thankfully, he manages to force Jackson into letting him go, even if his second punch is deflected, and Isaac works at getting his ground back, finding his balance. The blow that follows is expected, and Isaac rolls with it the way that Sophie has taught him to, letting Jackson's fist glance off of his jaw.

It still hurts though, and Isaac is fairly sure that his lip has just split further but the quick second that follows is enough to get him back fully on his feet with tightened fists. It's here that Isaac tries to return the favor in kind and aims a punch square for Jackson's face. While, you know, leaving the rest of himself unguarded because he's really not great at keeping his head and remembering the forms that Sophie taught him.]

Isaac and Derek || Day 294

[freezerburned]

[Having the other Isaac here had been difficult, to say the least. It was like navigating a minefield, and after learning about what happens between him and Derek, Isaac isn't sure if he wants to see his alpha at all.

But.

There's a strange sort of philosophical question here that Isaac doesn't think he paid enough attention in English class to answer correctly: if you know that a close friend will betray you, do you betray them first? He's fairly certain that Derek doesn't intend to screw him over, at least not here, and some small part of him can tell that Derek has been trying. He's given Isaac space when he's needed it, and Isaac saw the look in his eyes when he first saw all the bruises and cuts from the battle.

He cares. Isaac knows he does. He has to. But at what point does that caring become not enough to combat... whatever it is that makes Derek turn on him? He can't lose Derek as an ally now, not here when he has so few of them already, so... for the time being, Isaac shoves that insecurity under him, tries not to think about the intense negative reaction his older self had upon seeing Derek's response, and heads out to see him.

There are more important things to talk about. Erica... Scott- Isaac doesn't really even intend to touch on what Derek may or may not do in the future, but he needs to talk to someone about everything else. Preferably someone who can understand where he's coming from.

The knock on the door is nothing if it's not tentative, but at least it's there.]

braces self for this conversation

[predators]

[ to say derek's been impatiently waiting for isaac to contact him, or to show up, would be an understatement. there's tension in the air, has been since his very brief encounter with the other, older isaac, and it's left derek in a world of dark with no answers. isaac knows something, derek doesn't need heightened senses to know that much, so when the beta had insisted on telling him later, derek...

well, it had taken every ounce of keeping his temper in check and to not demand the younger wolf forget the rest of his plans and tell him right there and then.

instead, he's been waiting; restless and paranoid until that knock comes. it's isaac, it has to be, and derek's at the door in no time at all opening it up to reveal said beta. there's no hello, no how are you even if isaac looks all sorts of off; like the world is weighing down on him, seconds away from crushing him.

derek simply steps to the side, an invitation for isaac to enter. ]

clutches chest

[freezerburned]

[Isaac steps in when Derek bids him to, shoving his hands awkwardly in his pockets and staring at the floor. He has a feeling that this isn't going to be like how it was with Scott, all cookies and gentle words and hugs, and he's prepared to deal with it. Sort of, anyway.

Still, he can't meet Derek's eyes. Isaac distracts himself by looking toward the window and trying to focus on his breathing, despite feeling like the world is falling apart, despite feeling like he's making a mistake right now. But he has to trust him. What other option does he have?]

-sorry, I made it over as soon as I could. He disappeared this morning.

[Last night, more like, but Isaac spent most of the morning sleeping in and trying to come to terms with his feelings about everything before going to see Derek.]

[predators]

[ he shouldn't feel relieved to hear that, but he does because it means whatever this destructive mess the other isaac has been making will finally calm down again. or so he at least hopes. he would have liked to ask the other isaac more, directly, but derek knows he has to be able to count on his isaac to tell him the necessary information, too.

there's a simple nod after he closes the door and looks at isaac. ]

He wasn't too much trouble, right?

[ especially with that temper. but then, all of what he'd already seen had spelled out nothing good about the future. ]

[freezerburned]

Define 'trouble'.

[Isaac finds himself scoffing a little at that, even so. It's not like he's difficult to deal with or anything, but man, that other Isaac was a handful and a half.

Still, his hands clench and unclench- a nervous habit, he knows, but he can't help it, not when the worst is coming and he has to figure out for himself what he can and can't tell Derek.]

...I'm gonna tell you right now, you don't want to know half of what he told me. [Because he knows Derek wants to know, and Derek will probably demand answers, but Isaac just... wants to make this clear first. He can't look at him.] I wish I hadn't asked him, honestly. And maybe- maybe not knowing is better. It's not like we'll remember it when we go home.

[predators]

[ the nervous habit is one derek's seen many times in the past, and if anything, it leaves him feeling all the more restless. he needs to know, wants to know and everything isaac says only makes it more so. the caution doesn't go unnoticed though, leaves derek sighing quietly as he crosses his arms. ]

I understand. [ whatever his beta has to say, derek has to be able to take it. it's his job to as the alpha. he needs to be there for isaac to lighten that weight on his shoulders even if just a fraction. ]

But I still need to know.

[freezerburned]

[Isaac nods when Derek pushes, just like he knew he would. Still, it's not the easiest thing in the world to talk about, even if Derek says he needs to know, and Isaac stalls for a moment longer, casting his gaze out the window.

And then, quietly, almost numbly, as if he has pulled all of his emotional attachment from these words-]

...Erica is dead.

[predators]

[ whatever he's expecting, it's not exactly that. the plan had been, for the summer back home, to find erica and boyd, to bring them back, to check up on them and then to let them decide whatever they want to do with their lives even if the alpha pack was looming over their heads.

something, distantly, cracks inside of him at that fact. otherwise, he looks much the same -- it's big, it's a lot -- if only a little more rigid. the words are gritted out, all steel and unaccepting. ]

He could be lying.

[ why he would-- don't ask derek, but he has more than enough reason to doubt the isaac from the future, if the hostility had been anything to go by. ]

Isaac and Sophie || Day 294 (evening)

[freezerburned]

[He's made his rounds, he's paid his dues, and now he's simply done. The last few days have worn on him more emotionally than his last few months here at Asgard put together, and Isaac finds himself, frankly, unable to be in the same room as Erica without choking on his own emotion. He wonders how it happened. He wonders if her throat was slashed, or if she was cut in half, or if she was paralyzed and then slashed to pieces. If it's already happened in Isaac's timeline, or if she's still out there, if he has the power to save her and he just doesn't do it, or if he's helpless all along.

It's too much, all at once, and he doesn't trust himself around her right now, so he picks up a few things, packs a bag, and says something about staying with Sophie. Isaac knows that Erica cares, he knows that she's going to internalize this, like she internalizes everything, but what's the alternative? Breaking down in front of her and not being able to tell her why?

Or should he just tell her that she's dead, that she never gets her driver's license, never falls in love, never graduates high school?

That shouldn't be his responsibility. It shouldn't fall on him to tell this girl that her choices get her killed and there's nothing that either of them can do about it.

So he leaves, just for a night or two, he promises, and it still feels like he's letting her down, because he knows that she knows something is wrong, and he knows that she thinks he doesn't trust her enough to tell her- and maybe he doesn't, but the fact that it's hurting her makes him hate himself just a little bit more. Isaac hadn't thought that was possible, really.

Sophie's door is easy enough to find, and out of everyone he can go to, she seems the most logical choice. She knows him better than most of the people here, even the ones from his home, and she'll know what to do. Nothing in his future affects her, and unlike just about everyone else he knows, everyone he could go to, he has no reason to distrust her.]

[hollowchild]

[sophie's not entirely surprised to see isaac on her doorstep. there's a lot she doesn't know, but she knows something happened, probably a lot of somethings, and she's probably the only person he trusts who isn't caught up in it. she has no part in isaac's future, none at all. he has a bag and when she opens the door she doesn't smile, just nods and steps out of the way to let him in. her feet are bare and her hair is held back loosely, tied in a knot in the middle of her back, and there's something in the oven and the air smells like garlic and oregano and basil.]

Come in, Isaac.

[the apartment is sparsely furnished, with no kitchen table or television, but there are nice curtains up, the walls are painted with a forest mural and everything in the kitchen is clean and frequently used. there's a comfortable looking couch, and blankets and cushions and pillows and a beanbag chair on the floor of the living room.]

Connor's not home from work yet.

[freezerburned]

[Isaac steps inside when she moves, setting his bag down on the floor and nodding as Sophie speaks, taking the time for himself to look at the surroundings. Sophie seems to be the only one here, which is good. A part of Isaac hisses that he always runs to her for help, but he suppresses it quickly, trying to rationalize that this is the only place he can go.

He moves to sit on the couch without being invited, swallowing hard, still not entirely able to meet her eyes. His knuckles are still bruised, bandaged with a different, somewhat less experienced hand, and he flexes his fingers into fists nervously, cracking at the wrappings.]

-sorry. I just couldn't handle it at home right now.

[hollowchild]

[she sits too, next to him but curled up, one leg tucked under her and one knee up, arms draped around her leg and chin on her knee, not touching him]

Don't apologize. You're always welcome here. We have an extra bed, and I was going to invite you anyway. Did you rewrap your hands?

[freezerburned]

[He shakes his head at the question, looking down at his fingers before letting out a quiet sigh.]

Scott did that. I took the first bandages off because they were annoying.

[Scott's bandages are still on there, but hey.]

[hollowchild]

[sophie doesn't comment on that, because she knows she's not scott, and that's really quite all right]

I suppose they would be. Does anyone know you're here?

[freezerburned]

Erica.

[He told her, at least, where he was going. Isaac drops his hands, leaning back a little further on her couch.]

I should probably tell Derek.

[hollowchild]

I can leave him a message.