Isabelle "Izzy" Shaw (izzy_shaw) wrote in low_tide, @ 2009-12-03 21:52:00 |
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Entry tags: | isabelle shaw, npc |
Just Visiting
Izzy finished scrubbing the paint away from her face, then returned to her bedroom from the bath to look over her handiwork with a satisfied air.
The overdose of pink had finally been too much for her, and the witch had spent the past day transforming her room into something more adult with a few coats of white paint. Whatever she had been before the re-alignment, now she was something very different and having a bedroom that looked like something out of a Disney princess movie was more than she'd been able to stand for long. White walls were a good first step.
She still hadn't heard back from Rhiannon and Izzy hoped the Slayer would get in touch before too much longer. Lord knew she didn't want the brunette to run into her former fiance on the street cold, what a mind job that would be! Joseph didn't remember anything about their past in the other dimension, the New Yorker was a completely different person. Izzy could imagine what it might be like to run into Mark, with what memories she had now of their relationship, only for him not to remember her. The witch shivered slightly and steered clear of pursuing that line of thought any further. Hopefully Rhiannon would call her before anything happened.
The sound of the doorbell ringing through the house roused her from her woolgathering, and the witch made her way out her bedroom to answer it. "Coming!" She yelled out as she started down the stairs, wondering who it could be.
Standing on the front porch, Bobby adjusted the duffel bag on his shoulder and bounced lightly on the balls of his feet. HE was only passing through Key West on his way to Gainesville, but he'd made time to stop in and see his sister since he'd missed her on Thanksgiving. The message he'd gotten on his voicemail from his stepfather had been frosty to say the least, and it was difficult for him not to scowl as he waited. Geoff, apparently, thought he had no life of his own, or work to attend to.
Still, it would be nice to see Isabelle. Alone, without the parents around. Sometimes it was just easier that way.
Izzy opened the door in jeans and t-shirt spattered with paint, her hair protected with a bandanna, only to find her older brother standing on her doorstep. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped before she threw her arms around her brother, feeling a mixture of emotions welling up. "Bobby!"
Isabelle had just seen him a few months ago, but to Izzy it had been fifteen years, and the witch hugged him tightly. "I wasn't expecting to see you before Christmas!"
"Well. Hey, there."
The lawyer was a little surprised to find himself glommed onto in such a fashion, and he hugged his sister to him before finally releasing her. He hadn't expected such a big welcome, and while it wasn't unpleasant, it was a little strange. You'd think they hadn't seen each other in ten years. "What? Can't be that big of a surprise, can it? I figured after missing you before I could take a day or so to drop by. I see you've been busy today."
Izzy shrugged as she let him go, and quickly wiped away happy tears that had welled up. She'd always looked up to him, both versions of herself had in both dimensions, but in this one he was alive and full grown. "I guess it's just a happy surprise, I don't get to see you that often anymore with you living in L.A. and I wasn't expecting you." The witch looked him over, taking it all in and comparing him to the memories she had. "You look good."
She laughed a little at his comment about her being busy. "I guess I finally got tired of pink, repainted the walls today." The blonde stepped back and ushered him into the house. "C'mon in Bobby."
"My doctor was on me to lose weight," Bobby said. He had to duck his head a notch to get through the door, his tall frame filling the doorway for a moment, and he dropped his duffel near the couch. "I took up racquetball for exercise, turned out to be pretty good at it. Even joined a league with some of the people at work." He put both hands in the small of his back and stretched. The ride in the rental car had left him cramped up. He was going to have to make a note to get a larger car next time.
"I'm due in Gainesville in three days," he said, his tone already apologetic despite the fact that he'd just walked in the door. "I'm supposed to interview some witnesses in a federal case, but after Geoff kicked my ass over the phone I decided I'd better make some time to atone for my sins."
"Daddy means well," Izzy knew the two men didn't get along all that well, but she'd always tried to be peacemaker between them from what she could remember. "He just wanted the family together on Thanksgiving, you know how he can be when he gets something in his head. You were working on a case and couldn't get away, I understand. You're here now and we'll all be together for Christmas, that's all that matters."
"Do you want something to drink? We've got soda, tea, water, ever a few beers."
"No beer, I'm driving, but some tea would be fine." The attorney took a seat on the sofa. He should probably leave off complaining about their stepfather. It never led anywhere productive.
"You'd hardly know I was making a dent, but the law's a difficult career for anyone. If this case goes well, I might be getting a promotion."
Izzy made a beeline for the kitchen to get the tea. "I'm so proud of you Bobby, I don't know that I ever told you." She called over her shoulder. "I brag to my friends that my big brother is a hotshot lawyer." It was true. Her Bobby had been a gang leader, and while he'd always treated her well she knew he hadn't been anything like a saint. Now in this dimension he was working to break gangs up and do good, she was very proud of him.
"I know you'll get that promotion. I'm hoping I'll be able to come back to an assistant manager position after my honeymoon." That would include a transfer back home more than likely, Mark wasn't going to be able to live down here after all.
The young woman took the iced tea out of the refrigerator and poured a drink, then brought it out to her brother. "Here you go."
Bobby accepted the glass, settled back against the cushion. "So you and Mark have taken the big plunge, then," he said, not quite idly. 'Is the date all set? How much time do I have to buy you an appropriate gift?"
On the inside, he was a little more concerned than his casual demeanor let on. Mark was a nice enough guy, but he felt like things might be getting rushed along a little. It didn't help matters that he was practically Geoff minus thirty years. The lawyer sipped at his tea, then asked, "You looking forward to it? The whole marriage thing, I mean."
"May 22, 2010, plenty of time for you to come up with something." Izzy told him, flashing the ring as she sat down on the sofa next to her brother. His question caused her smile to become a bit more forced, since Izzy hadn't made up her mind about how she felt about that.
"I think I am. He's a good man." It felt wrong that she was so ambivalent about the whole thing, the memories of Isabelle's relationship with Mark were clear and she knew that her other self had loved him. But Izzy hadn't met him yet, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was doing the right thing.
"It is a big step though."
"There's a reason I haven't taken that leap yet. It's a big deal." If he tried to advise her to take it slowly, would she listen? Sure he was the older brother, and he'd always tried to be there and helpful when Isabelle needed it, but it seemed as if the time for his advice might have passed. The blonde was an adult now, and she was already living her own life. If he was to gently suggest that she should perhaps take some time to really think things over, would she take it as interference on his part? "I just want you to be happy, that's all."
He drank some more of the tea his sister had brought him, then asked, "Did you have plans for dinner tonight? I'd like to take you out someplace."
"You just like to play the field." Izzy teased him, memories tugging at her indicating that he always seemed to have a different girlfriend whenever she saw him. "And I'll be happy to go out tonight, I'd just need to change first."
The blonde paused and wondered if she should tell him about her change, whether he'd believe her. If she had no knowledge of the supernatural and magic, she might not believe it herself. "Have you ever known someone to wake up one day and feel like a different person from who they were before?"
"You wouldn't ask me that if you met some of the people I have to deal with at work."
Bobby lifted the tea glass in a half-mocking toast and finished off half of the contents. He enjoyed his job, even loved it some days, but it could be draining. Fifteen year old gangbangers tended to take a lot out of you if you let them. He put the glass down, extracted his cellphone from his shirt pocket. "I can make reservations while you're changing. It'll be dark before we get there, so it's late enough to leave whenever you're ready."
Izzy nodded. "All right, let me get cleaned up and changed and we'll go out." She leaned over and kissed her brother on the cheek. "I'm glad you're here Bobby, if only for a few days."
The young woman got up to go upstairs. "Feel free to watch TV or do whatever. What's mine is yours big brother."
The attorney leaned the back of his head against the sofa cushion, listening to his sister's footsteps recede as she climbed the stairs to the second floor. It had been a long drive. A long drive and a long day. Bobby rubbed his forehead. When he heard the water star running, he sat up straight.
A plastic bag was pulled out of his jacket, along with a small mirror. Only time for a quick toot, but a toot would get him through dinner. He was almost out, which meant he'd need to make a buy while he was here. Even the Keys couldn't lack for partying, right? Bobby carefully laid out one thin line, then another before leaning forward. Snort, up the right nostril. Snort, up the left.
The lawyer put away his stash, wiped his upper lip for traces of residue before brushing the fingertip over his upper gumline. Now he could make his call and get those reservations. The world had sharp edges again. Life was focused.
[Note: The NPC Bobby Shaw was written by Stargazer]