Video - Day 319

[teenyoda]

[There's a face that might be familiar to some people appearing onscreen. It looks a little less perky than it usually does and seems to be needing a moment before actually speaking.]

Hey. I don't know what happened, but I could swear I'd gone home for a while. But I'm back here again and... yeah.

I guess a few people missed me, judging by the messages waiting for me. I'll get to those in a bit, but I thought I'd let everyone know I'm back. Scott... I guess I'll see you when you've got some time. I hope things have been quiet and I have no idea how long I've been gone, so any heads up on that would be appreciated.

Comments

[freezerburned]

[Isaac doesn't move, but his back is to Stiles and he lets himself have a bitter smile down toward the floor. Boyd is sixteen. Erica is sixteen. They're both the first friends he's had since Matt drowned in his pool, since he had to start hiding bruises.]

But it all has a 'happy ending', right? [It's bitter, almost, his tone dripping with an ugly sarcasm.] I mean, forget the sixteen year olds who just wanted to get away from the war.

[Isaac turns toward the other boy then- his eyes are hard and his rage is misdirected, but it's there all the same.]

No, instead let's make jokes about it and say everyone's okay.

[teenyoda]

Don't even start with me, Isaac. I lost a friend too. My dad almost got sacrificed and Scott, Allison and I pretty much died for them.

[His hand lifted to his chest again, feeling that reminder, the one that would be there constantly.]

Was it some magical Disney story where only the bad guy died? No. Not all of them even got what they had coming. But you know what? Most of us lived. And I'll take that as a happy ending over more people dying. So excuse you if I'm trying to make the best out of what was a shitty situation.

[freezerburned]

You weren't friends.

[His words are jagged, saturated with anger. His hands are shaking in his pockets- Isaac just clenches them harder until he can feel his nails cut skin.]

'Almost' and 'pretty much' doesn't mean anything until you're lying in a box and nobody gives a shit. [Deep breath.] I'm going to go before I hit you.

[teenyoda]

I wasn't talking about Boyd. Yeah, I liked the guy, but no, I can't say we were really that friendly. I'm talking about a girl I knew since we were both kids. Someone I've known longer than Scott. Someone who meant something to me who's now dead because some psycho druid had a bad case of PMS. I had to watch the same bitch lie to me and try to use me and Scott and Derek to get her out of her own crappy situation.

So no, Isaac. You don't get to have the monopoly on being pissed off. You think this bugs you to hear it? Try living through it.

[Try it, Isaac, and you'd find yourself surrounded by flames. But only if he made a move towards Stiles. Angry he might be, he'd learned a few things while he was gone.]

[freezerburned]

I don't care.

[He cares. But he's going to move for the door anyway. Damnit Stiles, he told you he was done with the future.]

[teenyoda]

[Have fun trying to get past a wall of flame. You weren't leaving, Isaac.]

Bullshit. If you didn't care you wouldn't be so pissed.

[freezerburned]

[Is that fire? Are you literally trying to bar him from leaving? Isaac just stares at it for a moment, his hands tight and angry, as the shadows in the room slowly start fading away, shifting, collecting at his feet.]

Don't play this game with me, Stiles. I will kick your ass.

[teenyoda]

We slipping back to that again? Oh, right. I forgot you're still in emo mode here. All that maturing you did hasn't happened yet.

Well, come on then, junior. You want to take a swing? Take one.

[freezerburned]

[Isaac takes his hands out of his coat in one fluid motion, stepping in toward Stiles and aiming to just grab his shirt and shove him up against the nearest wall. He doesn't really want to hurt him, but if there's going to be a wall of flame preventing him from leaving after he's just been told that his only other packmate is dead, then there's gonna be some problems.]

[teenyoda]

[Oh, look at that. He's against a wall. He looks down at Isaac, jaw set as he waits for the expected blow.]

Well, come on then. What are you waiting for? Get it all out. I'm the jerk, remember?

[freezerburned]

[It doesn't come. He just holds him there with trembling fingers and watches him for a few long moments before he breaks eye contact, looking down toward the ground because- well, his eyes are wet and the last thing he wants is for Stiles to see him like this.]

...you don't get it, and I'm not going to explain it to you. Just let me leave.

[teenyoda]

No. I do get it, Isaac. That's the thing.

[For fuck's sake, Isaac. Don't cry. Now you're making him get teary. He grabs the wrist of the hand still grabbing him, just to hold it.]

It's okay, man.

[freezerburned]

No, it's not.

[His grip tightens. He's still dangerous like this, don't forget that.]

You wouldn't get it until someone came from your future and told you that Scott and Allison are dead and you didn't do anything to save them. And that's not even the same thing, because pretend for just- just a moment that Scott and Allison were the first people to ever give a damn about you since your mother died. [He lets out a shaky exhale, shoving Stiles back against the wall again. Isaac still isn't looking at him.] You don't know anything about my pack. Anything about who we were, so don't pretend you understand.

[teenyoda]

Isaac, Scott's my brother and my dad is all I have left. I almost lost them both. This isn't on you, for fuck's sake. This is on Jennifer and the Alphas. We got dragged into their bullshit and it's not our fault. It's not your fault.

[You know what? Fuck you, Isaac. That hand was coming up to grip your shoulder.]

Scott's been the only one other than my dad that always saw me and I almost lost him. I did lose him here and you saw how well I handled that. Don't tell me I don't know, okay?

[freezerburned]

You're doing that again. 'Almost'.

[If he notices the movement, he doesn't make any indication of it. Isaac knows that he won't make him understand- he can't. Stiles is too wrapped up in himself. They shouldn't even be having this conversation, but he's trapped, forced to stay here until the stupid flames recede and Stiles lets him out.]

-forget it.

[teenyoda]

No. God, you are really the most stubborn, pigheaded asshole since... Derek.

[If that's where Isaac had got it from, he needed a new role model.]

Talk to me, man. We're friends, regardless of if you believe that or not.

[freezerburned]

I'm trying.

[Because you won't let him go until he does. Good job.]

And you're telling me you know how I feel. You don't. You just told me that my friend is dead, what the hell are you expecting from me?

[teenyoda]

Why the hell do you think I asked you to come over? Jesus, Isaac. Sure, I'll just tell you this over the network because that's the sharing caring way, right?

I'm sorry, okay? I wish I could take it back. I wish we could have... I just wish it hadn't happened. Any of it.

[freezerburned]

Why did you tell me in the first place? I can't change it. I lose- I'm losing them both, and you think I'll just take it and have a heart to heart with you?

[His fingers tighten in the fabric.]

So, what now? Now, all I have are you and Scott, so we're all close, aren't we? I don't- I want nothing to do with you. Ever. [He's angry, he's upset, and he doesn't mean it- if he did, he'd have hit him by now.]

[teenyoda]

Come on, Isaac. You think you would have let me not tell you? Derek came and put a hole in the wall outside my door. You guys aren't exactly good with being told no.

[He squeezes Isaac's shoulder, almost massaging it.]

Maybe. Maybe not. You have more than just Scott. You have Derek. Me. Allison. Lydia. We're our own pack, Isaac.

[freezerburned]

I don't have Derek.

[But his voice cracks, just a little.]

And I don't want replacements.

[teenyoda]

You do, Isaac. And you have us.

[Guess what, Isaac? You're getting a hug. Tooooooo fucking bad if you don't like it. It's hug time.]

[freezerburned]

[He doesn't move to reciprocate, doesn't do anything at all before trying to push him off prematurely. Don't take it personally, but.]

I'm not your friend.

[teenyoda]

Yeah, you kind of are, dick.

[Nope. Squishy hug time and you can just deal, bro.]

[freezerburned]

Maybe later. Now? No.

[He takes a step back, letting go of Stiles' shirt.]

Maybe it would have happened here, but if you don't let go of me then I'll make sure I never speak two words to you again for the rest of our stay.