( video | text )

[irrelevance]

Now I don't want to sound pretentious when I say this, but no matter how much this camera blows, you can't deny this view. [ booms the voice of some guy who still manages to find a great angle to showcase a particularly beautiful shot of the gardens that most residents are probably already familiar with. yes, residents. he's done his research. he's tech-savvy enough for that and smart enough not to run screaming, blabbing to the first person in his vicinity. he recovers what's left of his sanity and he waits; he learns. then he appears on his own terms. ]

It damn near takes your breath away. [ so does arriving face first in the pool. ] There are only a few things in life that have that kind of power. That kind of sway over you. [ hm? he shakes his head clear of it and steers the view away from the fountain ( far, far away ), cutting the feed and switching to text without ever revealing his face. ]

so, i wanted to pose a question to you, Land of Wonder. what would you describe as a sight for sore eyes, and why? is it something that can be physically found or does it exist strictly in the imagination?

and don't worry, i know all about how curiosity killed the cat. i'm more of a dog guy. on that note, if anyone's seen either one of mine, i'd really appreciate whatever information you have. one of them is like a wrecking ball. he's big, hairy, and he leaves a huge mess. he answers to Derek, and no, you never get used to the drool. the other one's kind of small, but he never stops trying to learn the same darn trick. Scott's just so predictable. you almost have to like him and feel sorry for him at the same time.

Comments

[irrelevance]

i'm getting that impression. [ or rather, he's playing into it. as much as he can. if they find out he's lying, it's going to backfire but he's not on the same playing field as any of them to begin with. ] so it's all random?

those movies never have any closure. i'd ask if you were making it up, but i don't see what you'd stand to gain from it. i imagine you'd come up with something better than that. it's bad enough everyone keeps calling this place Wonderland.

[algidity]

[ Isaac nods a bit languid but still, making it clear he understands. ] Pretty sure, but there are a lot of people from back home here. Like, I guess this place likes ripping people from their lives there.

Yeah, I doubt I could make this up, I'm just as stuck here as you are. But I'm starting to think maybe this place is the lesser of two evils. And I've never even read Alice In Wonderland, if this was my doing there'd be a lot more Star Trek, or Marvel, or something that doesn't make me want to repeatedly bang my head into a wall.

[ He's not sure what stance to take here, but he's made it clear that if Matt tries anything they'll stop him. Besides, the twins were way worse, he'll continue to focus his rage on them. Assholes. Matt killed his dad, and that's probably something he'll never forgive, but he's not sure how to feel about that either. He didn't deserve to die but at the same time, it's helped Isaac move forward. ]

I haven't seen any talking rabbits but yeah, there's Queens and everything.

[irrelevance]

i guess we make an interesting study. [ he could have told Isaac it was a cesspool. ] are you telling me you think living in a fictional fairy tale is better than being at home? that this is somehow less weird.

[ he tries to think about that, if he's being honest, maybe that's true. ]

how can you like it better here if it makes you want to bang your head into a wall constantly?

[algidity]

Great, an interesting study. [ He doesn't sound very thrilled. ] But... Yeah - I guess I am. Plus side - no high-school and magic closets.

[ It's very very very true. ]

Well, back home other people were banging my head into a wall. Sooo... [ His gaze falls from the video for a moment and he shrugs. ] I guess here... It's kinda easier. There aren't any bad memories and my friends are here. Like a new beginning, I guess.

[ His lips tug up in what looks like a weak smile. ] Did you find a room?

[irrelevance]

anyone from Beacon Hills has a very concentrated amount of weird in their every day life.

[ well, you're a Lahey, it happens. people smashing their faces into walls and whatnot. he wants to say he likes the sound of that, a fresh start. but he doesn't think anyone would believe him if he tried. ]

it was empty. i hope that means it's mine.

[algidity]

[ The teenager scoffs at that sentiment. ] Yeah, look at Coach.

[ He's not sure if Matt is being sincerely civil because he wants to or because he has to, and it makes Isaac fidget a bit. He's never been all that great at socializing. Looks like his father fucked up more than one teenager's psyche. There's plenty of reasons to be angry at Matt -- he killed so many people, he killed Lahey Sr, he hurt Scott, Derek, just about all of Isaac's friends including himself. But in a bit of a warped way he can see how something his father did would drive someone to their breaking point.

After all, they'd all been cut from the same cloth back them - all of them so willing to kill. ]

Yeah, that's usually how it works. The closet - it's magic; you can get whatever you need from it. There's also a kitchen if you get hungry.

[ He hesitates, baby blues falling away from the video feed for a moment. ] If you need someone to show you around...? [ He feels partially guilty for how Matt turned out, it is his fault after all. ]

[irrelevance]

[ Matt's not so sure himself. none of what happened to him as a child is Isaac's fault specifically. blood doesn't tie him to it. sure, he went over to the Lahey place because of Isaac and as far gone as he is in his head, that hasn't blurred. it hasn't made him think that everyone has to pay for what happened to him, not just the people responsible.

he's certainly mad with power and if he can't make people care, then the next step is to make them know what it feels like to lose themselves. to be powerless and weak, and to have nobody around be able to intervene. it doesn't have to be because of alcohol or carelessness. ]

why are you helping me? [ he cuts to the chase. ] none of your friends want anything to do with me. i think you of all people would want to stand beside them.

[algidity]

[ The bluntness of the question causes one of Isaac's eyebrows to hitch up slightly. It's a good question, and he has an answer for it, not one he particularly wants to share, but he does regardless: ] Because I know what it's like not to have anyone. [ Matt could have very easily been one of the ones Derek bit, things might've turned out better that way. It might not have ended in a teenager dying. That happens far too much in Beacon Hills. Then again, he could have turned out like Peter, or ended up dead like Erica and Boyd anyway. ]

I can make my own decisions. [ It sounds an awful lot like I can take care of myself. He took the bite to feel powerful, to be in control of his own life. And while he is a beta, and falls into the roll easily enough, he makes his own decisions. He's already made the threat that if Matt hurts people it'll be him who ends up hurt, there's hardly a point to beat a dead horse and continue to threaten him. Vengeance is so ugly Matt, and the saying rings true time heals all wounds - the only people he wants to hurt are the twins. ]

Is me helping a problem?

[irrelevance]

[ as exceptional as he is at playing pretend ( to those that don't know what signs to look for, like Stiles ), he's been called out. much like he called Derek and Scott out. the time for treading lightly is over. it doesn't mean he's going to crash through their conversation, full speed ahead. if they're going to be speaking as if they're old friends, then he wants to know what he's walking into. is this a trap of some kind? is Derek behind this?

does he want someone in his pack to get close enough to Matt to see what's really on their hands? or is it truly a decision born of Isaac's growth as a person?

Matt can't know these things in the same way that he can't afford to be trusting. you have no idea what it's like, he wants to shout but then, he does. he really does. with Lahey as a father, he was probably more alone than he is now with no other living relatives. ]

i don't have a problem with it, but i don't see what you stand to gain from it. [ gee, Matt, not everyone sees things that way. ] i should thank you.

[algidity]

[ With Matt, Isaac knows he should rather be safe than sorry but he's also not sure that wouldn't do more bad than good. He knows exactly how grating Stiles can get especially if Scott is in danger and that's enough to make him want to punch someone.

Isaac's got Scott now, he's got Allison and Cora and Derek -- even Stiles. He's not alone anymore at least in regards to pack. Sometimes all it takes is someone. Of course he's not dumb enough to think he would be able to convert Matt to some sort of good but maybe he can keep things neutral between both parties. He used to know Matt after all. ]

Nothing. [ It's said easily enough as he tugs a shoulder up as if to say "but I don't mind." But the second part makes his eyebrows knit together. Is it sincere? All Isaac can assume is Matt is feeling the same way to him - unsure if he truly wants to help or maybe he's giving him too much credit. Matt could easily be plotting how to take him out of the equation.

While he can't smile or laugh the thanks off like he would with Allison or Scott or even Derek, he does give a nod. ] It's alright. [ And it is, even if Stiles might be bothered by it, he knows his friends will respect his ability to make decisions. Everyone's stuck in Wonderland all the same, no point in being enemies when the lands are enough of an enemy for them all. And maybe Isaac's getting tired of fighting all the time. Monster after monster - malicious goal after malicious goal... ]

You've got to have more questions other than 'why am I helping you'.

[irrelevance]

i read up some before i got here. found a few other posts of people asking questions. then most of your friends told me about our timelines varying. the world changes, according to some guy. you're right, i have another question. [ Matt knows he needs to take this seriously, this Wonderland business. this is the chance he has. this is the life he has. the only life. Beacon Hills was garbage but he can't exactly go back now, no matter how much he might eventually want to. home is home, after all. nothing quite like it.

but he's going to have to learn to like this one, where the old one failed him.

so back to taking this seriously, he can't right now. he will because he's somewhat adaptable and he'll have it; it'll be proven to him, drilled in harshly if he doesn't just accept it easily. ] when do the decapitation orders from the queen begin?

[algidity]

Yeah that's all true. [ He falls silent for a moment, thinking of what else to say but then the next question is posed and he can't help but snort in some form of dry amusement. ]

So far I haven't heard any of those orders - the one time we spoke she was actually kinda nice. [ She knew his name even... It wasn't what he was expecting from a supposed evil queen. ] I think our heads are going to stay on our bodies for at least a little bit longer.

[ He presses his lips together in thought before offering a tired smile. ] Haven't seen a Cheshire cat, either. [ Isaac isn't sure whether that is reassuring or worrying... But for all he knows there could be one lurking. ] But there is a Jabberwocky.