Izzy October Catch-all

[withstyle]

who: Isabelle Lightwood & OPEN
what: Catch-all!
when: Various times throughout October.
where: Around and about.
warnings: tbd

I. Time to Shop, Shop 'til you Drop

[Her heels click as she walks down the street, eyes peeled for any boutiques or shops that catch her interest. Shopping, though previously done online for the most part, has always been one of Izzy's favorite activities. And she, sadly, hasn't sampled all that there is to offer in Riverview. And now seems like the perfect time with Halloween approaching--and having settled into her job and getting the kinks with household duties financially, and the like, straightened out.

Izzy's eyes run over the displays in the windows, along with the titles of the shops, waiting on something to jump out at her as to where to duck in. After all, the whole point of shopping is to go where the merchandies leads you. Or to where your heart does. Something like that, anyway!

Izzy's friendly smile is offered to just about anyone she passes--they aren't in New York anymore, after all...and she's not invisible to those around her. So, Izzy's freiendy and open to the people around,
murmuring a polite excuse me when she needs passed anyone, or brushes them, and slowly gathering some bags when she finds something that sticks out occasionally. It's going to be a productive day!]

II. Just a day, an ordinary day... (open any time throughout the day)

It's been relatively easy for Izzy to fall into a routine, well, at least after some of the initial bumps in the road with her family and Riverview itself. Now, though, she's settled in and made this place her home alongside her brothers. And in a reverse of her life back home--not in Wayward Pines, but in the home that she was initially taken from--Izzy's managed to build a pretty predictable schedule, working at the police station has helped with that, as has being a part of the 'adult' bunch responsible for her baby brother. Not that this status is a far cry from the way that things were at home, occasionally, but still...the feeling here is different.

Izzy likes it here.

So, there's some pleasure as she goes through her day. Getting up, putting on the heels that shoes chosen for the day, hanging out in the kitchen and attempting to make breakfast (on the mornings that Jace or someone else hasn't beaten her to it), heading to work and examining anything from bodies to simple blood samples, getting lunch at one of the cafes nearest work, more forensic pathology...and the accompanying paperwork, and then capping her day off with heading home and figuring out dinner--most days, anyway, there are the outliers and she still fits in sparring and training too. It's not exactly glamorous, but there's a sense of normalcy that Izzy never really felt back at the Institute. For once she doesn't feel like she's someone insanely different from everyone else around her, but then again here there isn't a need to hide from mundanes. So, it is something new in that regard. And it might sound boring to most people, but it's a chance to really dig into a life that wasn't open to shadowhunters.

And...Izzy's not all boring, of course. Anybody whose actually met her can probably tell that. After all,
she's not one to shy away from the activities of her new home either. And just because she's found a routine doesn't mean she's a stickler for adhering to it every day when something promising does come up.

III. Heeeeeey Brother (For Alec)

Izzy's done with just about everything for the day, so home sweet home it is for the evening. Instead of rocking her usual on-point outfit, Izzy's in a pair of sweatpants and a tank top with her feet uncharacteristically bare at the moment. After all, all activities should be done in the proper attire and padding around the house doesn't always require footwear. Her hair is even pulled into a loose braid rather than the usual curls or perfect coif. Though, the deep red polish on her toes and the style of the clothing items she has on doesn't make her look any less stylish than usual--even dressing down--or so she likes to think herself. Her braid shifts slightly around on her neck and in between her shoulder blades as she makes her way into the kitchen and toward the fridge.

The shared space makes it unsurprising when she spots her brother, shooting him a small smile before opening the fridge. "Big brother! You hungry, I could make you something?" She's more than a little aware of the loaded quality to that question--and the fact that pretty much everyone in the house would much rather eat something that anyone else has made, but she still tries anyway. After all, she can eat what she makes, and there is the hope that one day she'll get better. Pulling out a water, Izzy leans back to peek at her brother. "Oh, and how was your day?" She teases, coking her head to the side playfully.

Some habits, as a younger sibling, do die hard--teasing her brother has been one of her's.

Still, Izzy already has figured out exactly what she wants to talk about. Well, some of it, anyway....now that she's spotted her brother. And that does include not only his day, but also the shopping bags that she spotted the boys with the other day. Still, she'll work up to that. Conversation is an art, right along with interrogation. Closing the fridge, Izzy remains there as she uncaps her bottle and takes a sip, dark eyes on her sibling--a moment in the monotony of any other evening to steal with him, considering the settling in process has meant spending a little less quality time with him (and the others).

This is their chance, non?

Comments

[withstyle]

Izzy doesn’t even pretend not to be cheeky, lifting her shoulders with the grin on her mouth at the look from her brother. Their relationship has always been like this, though. Alec has never been able to see how good he is at a number of things, never had quite enough faith in himself, and she has always had more than enough on his behalf. She doesn’t comment on it, though, instead rolling her eyes only a moment later. “I just think we have to rise to meet the challenge.” Maybe this response was much more about stubbornness than an actual desire to eat fair food, though, truth be told.

Izzy sometimes just likes to goad her brothers, especially Alec in this case.

“I’ve yet to run into any seelies here, but that sounds ominous…what did you do…you and Jace aren’t quite as good at dealing with the fair folk as I am.” Okay, yes, it’s patting herself on the back, but it’s also true. Izzy’s got experience…namely Meliorn, but she’s good at navigating conversations with seelies. Jace…and even Alec don’t quite get the social nuances in the way that she does. She hasn’t managed to offend one so far, anyway, so she’s ahead of her brothers.

Meeting Alec’s eyes, Izzy’s quiet…giving the more solemn sibling a chance to say what he will. And she’s not surprised at what comes out of her brother’s mouth. “I know.” And she does. Alec and Izzy have known Jace for the same length of time. She’s been there to watch both boys grow and come to be the men that they are now—she’s seen how Jace has been in the past with bad times, and that’s part of why the experience has stuck so heavily on each of them. Izzy is jarred from her thoughts though, as Alec winds up making a bit of a mess with his tea, causing a small laugh to escape. “Might want to pay attention to what you’re doing.” The younger sister teases with a playful wink, moving to finish up her own cookie and follow it up with some tea, eyebrow quirking at her brother’s question.

“Mainly because that’s the way that it’s always been. That’s what we do.” Izzy tilts her head, confusion pulling at her features. She’s not a person that likes being confused either, but what her brother’s saying doesn’t make sense. And she has to remind herself that there are differences…even though it doesn’t help that much. “What do you mean mundanes fight with us?” Izzy straightens a little, speaking freely…knowing she can get away with it. “I know that we don’t have to leave things the way they are because we can grow and change, but I don’t know that that’s got as much to do with the Angel so much as times change and we grow and need to change with it.” Again, the differences between some of them…are still so incredibly headache inducing, which is the exact reason that Izzy reaches up, pushing some of her loose hair back, fingers brushing her scalp only to drop a moment later with Izzy’s laugh.

“I can probably manage to keep them to myself. I don’t know how you get so squeamish, Alec, we’ve seen plenty.” The younger sister shakes her head a bit at that thought before reaching out to squeeze her brother’s shoulder. “I know you would, I mean we’ve always fought together, but for now I’ll stay where I am. You know if you really need me I’m there, though.” She’s pretty sure that he and Jace both know that, anyway. Even if that’s not necessary because there are other members of the guard that are readily available. Still, it's hard to shake a great team when times of trouble slip up. Luckily, they haven't gotten there yet.

Other than some personal issues things haven't been too bad here, save for the thing with Jace. Izzy isn't prepared for what comes out of her brother's mouth next, though. Her every fiber freezes, staring wide-eyed at Alec. There's a part of her that wants this to be a joke--even if it hasn't happened for her--because the thought of Jace dying is terrible, but she knows better; Alec doesn't joke about things like this. The smooth move to slide off of the counter is done unconsciously, landing easily on her bare feet before Izzy reaches up for her brother's shoulders, squeezing both reassuringly despite the shock zapping through her brain. "As horrible as Jace...dying must have been, even though I don't know the details, and as terrible as I'm sure that felt for him and you you're still not failing him by not knowing what he needs automatically, Alec. Jace is a complicated guy, he always has been. He doesn't ask for help when he needs it, he hides things out of some...stupid need to try and be strong so that he doesn't need to rely on other people and sometimes, as hard as this might be to hear, that extends to you, big brother. So, even being right here....and prepared you can still miss things."

Izzy drops her hands and props herself against the counter, eyes gentle on her older brother. "It doesn't mean that you failed him, or that you don't care enough. Or that you're too distracted." She knows her reassurances only go so far with her brother, he could make himself feel guilty about anything, but at the same time she just hopes he'll listen this time. Because as much as she loves Jace too, he doesn't make it easy and parabatai or not Alec could only do what he was capable of, even if he had trouble seeing it that way.

Amusement pulls at Izzy's face, though, at the fact that her brother is going to be an angel (of some sort) for Halloween. So, she doesn't bother to hide the small laugh that bubbles up while she nods. "I think I can do that, you'll have to try and describe it to me and I'll translate that to your tailor." Izzy teases, always willing to help not only her brother, but anything for the sake of fashion. "The leather shop sounds like a place I need to visit, though, even if I don't foresee buying a whip. I'm partial to mine, it is special. And most can't quite compare." Izzy teases, but she does have interest in other weapons--as her brother knows more than well enough.

[angelic_archer]

“I haven’t either so I’m assuming we’re safe.” As he spoke, he considered how much to tell Izzy about their encounter in the Seelie realm. She’d been close to Meliorn but she hadn’t seemed too heartbroken over what Alec had done. But he’d also betrayed them all so that tended to make Izzy less compassionate toward someone. “Jace threatened to kill the Queen and I killed one of her favorite knights.” It hadn’t been one of his best moments, grief and anger getting the better of him but Meliorn had hurt their family and would have continued to do so if he’d gotten free. “And the Clave is being irrational, as usual.” There was going to be a war, eventually. Magnus had given his warnings, citing the centuries of bloodshed he’d seen, but only a few would listen to him.

Shaking his head at the thought… and the spilled tea. He’d been lucky that it had started to cool or he’d need to go find his stele. “As long as I’m theo ne damaged and not Jace’s precious kitchenware.” That was a statement that Alec never thought he’d ever make…

“But is it the Angel’s way or the Clave’s way. They haven’t evolved since the first of us were created. According to the old Laws, I should be stripped of my runes and they’d probably lock Jace up or experiment on him.” He almost shuddered at the thought. No wonder he spent more time with the Downworlders, working on policies to improve their lives, than with the Clave. Not that they’d listen to a nighteen year old gay Shadowhunter who refused to hide his relationship. At least here he didn’t have to hide or listen to the snide comments from their elders. “What if our purpose got lost over the years?” It was possible, and those thoughts could also be seen as traitorous. “It seems like the Clave wants us to go back to the ‘good old days’ instead of working toward progress.”

At least Izzy knew he was just arguing aloud, not suggesting any kind of revolution. Not that he could start one here. “There’s too few of us left. Too many of us died during the wars so they’re going to use the Cup to turn Mundanes into Shadowhunters.”

Making a face, he pretended to be offended, but they both knew that he really was the squeamish one of the group. Except maybe Clary. She hadn’t seen as much so she freaked out over things that the rest of them shrugged off as ‘normal’. “It’s different when it’s demons. When it’s people. What they can do to each other” Then Alec turned green, and in one situation, wept because of the horrors in front of them. Izzy was probably the only one who had noticed his reaction and she’d never teased him over it.

Giving his sister a proud smile, he nodded, knowing they could count on her if they needed help. Just like he could count on her being the voice of reason when he needed it. “I promise that if we need help, you’ll be one of the first ones we call.”

Watching his sister’s reaction, Alec wished he could have made that confession easier, but how could he make those words gentler. Someone that had been part of their family for years had died. Even if Izzy didn’t remember it and Jace was alive in another room, the event still touched them, still caused heartache that Alec wished none of them had ever had to live through. Setting down his mug, he gives her a weak smile before gently tugging on one of her curls. “It feels like I should know. I wasn’t there when he died. I think he wanted it that way, but I still feel like I should have been. I keep trying to make up for it, and I keep failing.” Maybe that was why he felt so guilty. He should have been fighting beside Jace instead of Magnus even if his parabatai had made sure that no one knew he was going to hunt Valentine alone. “I didn’t catch him sneaking out and now I didn’t realize he needed help.” Not realizing how guilty he looked, he gave his little sister a helpless shrug. “How do you fix that?”

Slowly, his expression turned to humor. Yes, he did know that he probably catered to his husbands whims too often, but there really wasn’t any harm in letting Magnus give him wings for the party. Unless his siblings sulked because they didn’t get wings as well. “If you want to look like a Renaissance painting, I’m sure that Magnus could magic you up a pair too.” Rolling his eyes at how much Izzy was enjoying his foray into her domain, he picked up another bite of cookie. “Maybe help me get another suit too?” Which was something else that he should suggest since they were discussing shopping.

“I’m going to need a suit to wear to a wedding. Traditional colors even if I can’t get a jacket with the runes.” Chewing thoughtfully, he was certain that Magnus wouldn’t mind if he suggested a few things to Izzy. “You’ll need something for the wedding too. I don’t know how long it takes to get something like that made.” Alec assumed it would be made and not something that Izzy would choose from a random shop. “Maybe we can find a place after I show you the leather shop and find some weapons that will live up to your standards?”

[withstyle]

"Now I wish I hadn't asked." Izzy murmurs, not wanting to think through the implications of what this all might mean for them...at some point. Those sorts of threats and actions were bound to have a fallout. The only good thing, for the moment, was that they were here...which meant they were safe for the moment. Pushing that topic to the side, Izzy decides not to dwell, but she won't forget about the warning...just in case. Laughing, Izzy can't help but think that sentence is something she's going to have to get used to. "I think his kitchenware is somewhat durable. I think, anyway." She hadn't tried to cook in any of it yet...so that was debatable.

Picking up her mug, Izzy takes another sip, not bothering to hold back her eye roll...a slightly exaggerated one at that. The Clave has never been a good subject. And this debate isn't really a great one to have either, but here they are. "I think we're stuck in the Clave's version of how to do things. It's become bastardized with little room for growth or change because they feel too steeped in the traditions of old when that was never the way that things were meant to be. It's not so much that our purpose was lost as the Clave's agenda and exerting their control has kept us from evolving and changing with the times." Izzy sits her mug down, caught up in her own thoughts. "We're where we are because of the way the Clave has conducted things. We don't need to make new shadowhunters, but we don't need to be elitist, racist, or continue on the path to destruction and self-service either...that was never what was intended of us." Or at least...that was the way that Izzy thought. She realizes how impassioned that was, and how much she just said after a moment and backs off ever so slightly, feeling as if she's thought a little too much about some of this with the way things happened.

Forcing a small smile, Izzy shrugs, speaking low. "It's harder to swallow when it's not someone who you can see as outright evil." She understands it. The only difference between them is her brother's queasiness, her own stomach is made of much stronger stuff, and her understanding of the biology make it easier for her to do something about it. "Don't worry, though, I can handle the people on people violence outcomes....that's part of me helping out even without being asked." Izzy winks, turning the serious subject a little lighter.

It's not easy to have so many heavy subjects come up so readily. It's a sign of just how different their lives have been from what is considered the norm. The fact that something, in their lives, could happen that's so horrible...Jace dead, the Clave wanting to get worse, it all makes being here much better. Shaking her head, Izzy levels her brother with a look. "When Jace makes up his mind, or shuts someone out, you can't change that just because you wish it were different, Alec. You can't make up for something that isn't you fault either, big brother. You're going to have to stop trying eventually because I'd wager a guess that Jace isn't holding this all against you the way that you are, I doubt he's keeping the score. So the answer...you don't fix it. You can talk to him and have him say, probably, the same thing or you can stop being so hard on yourself." Izzy reaches up, squeezing her brother's shoulder before smoothing his shirt out slightly with affection.

"Nah, I think I'll go for something a little different, as much fun as matchy-matchy can be." Izzy teases with a confident smile, never one to be afraid of being original. "Though, I may get his input, he has a great eye." The younger sister muses before giving a confident nod at the question of another suit. He really doesn't even need to ask, face brightening as he gives more details. "I'll have to see if we can do anything near the runes, we might get lucky and find a shop of some sort with some promise, but either way we'll make sure you look fabulous, Alec. And you know me...I always manage to find something to look great, we can make it a big outing or something." It's a tease, but she knows that her brother won't exactly say no. Especially when he's sort of prompting some of it, at that.