controlledvariable: (Default)
(ง︡'-'︠)ง ([personal profile] controlledvariable) wrote in [community profile] exsiliumlogs2014-01-09 02:15 am

[closed] all work and no play

Date & Time: Afternoon of the 12th of December yeah you read that right this is backdated a month
Location: An abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town
Characters: Stephanie Brown, Isaac Lahey
Summary: Steph and Isaac punch each other and then have feelings probably
Warnings: Violence, likely references to child abuse


[Regardless of Peter asking her to talk to Isaac about his problems managing his temper, she'd have wanted to speak with him anyway, because she knows what it's like to be scared of yourself, and she doesn't want Isaac to feel that way. She knows that the moon can't have helped the situation, and that it might have been almost entirely because of the way being up there was effecting Isaac's temper, but she suspects there's more to it than that. From the way Peter talked about it, and the little bits and pieces she's picked up from Isaac himself, especially when he told her he knows what it's like to be trapped, well...

She doesn't want to jump to conclusions, but what Peter said about her and Isaac having things in common is a thought she can't shake.

And anyway, she could use someone to spar with, since coming down to Exsilium has seriously cut down on her training time. There's no VR rooms or training area like she's used to, and she can't exactly use her environment like she normally would, what with all the snow. And she doesn't have the time that she had up on the moon or in the city before, when the Initiative paid them every month. Sparring is a good way to ease into a conversation, too, since she can make sure Isaac's worked out any frustration before they discuss potentially upsetting things.

So she sends him a text and invites him to spar, then heads to the warehouse she's been trying to spruce up. It's not the best place, just an empty building on the edge of town, abandoned for at least a few years, but she'd swept out all the snow and boarded up any holes in the walls, roof and windows. There's no training mats, not yet, but she doubts Isaac will care about that, just like she doubts he'll mind that it's not as warm as it could be. She's in her Batgirl suit, for the armor, mostly, but it also means she 's protected from the chill.

Steph gets there fifteen minutes before she's due to meet Isaac, but waits outside, leaning against an outer wall as she keeps an eye out for Isaac.]

freezerburned: (You've got no place to go)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-09 09:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Isaac is running a little late, but he chooses to blame the snow. It's hard to get good enough traction to run through, and walking takes twice as long because his feet sink with every step. But he makes it there eventually- five or so minutes late, bundled up and still freezing, but he grins at Steph despite that and glances over the building.

It looks... well, like an abandoned warehouse. Which hopefully won't collapse on them any time soon, but now that he has experience with being inside collapsing buildings, it's not exactly the greatest threat to him right now.]


You look pretty comfortable. [And he opens his arms a little, indicating down toward his coat, scarf, gloves, boots, and everything in between.] If Peter had his way, I'd be wearing twice this.
freezerburned: (And what fades away)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-09 10:26 am (UTC)(link)
[That is warm. Isaac raises an eyebrow, impressed, before starting inside.]

A little warmer, I think. Especially near full moons. But Peter worries, you know.

[Isaac shrugs.] I'm sure a little sparring would warm me up though.
freezerburned: (Blame it on my own sick pride)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-09 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I live with him. Tell me about it.

[Once they get further inside though, Isaac shrugs out of his coat and starts tugging his gloves off and unwinding his scarf. Also eyerolling at her second comment, and he tries to ignore it, but it's too tempting.]

Somehow, I don't think you'd be up for the follow through on that. [He laughs, letting the excess winter wear fall to the floor.] So I guess I'll just have to live with trying to beat the crap out of you.
freezerburned: (You've got no place to go)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-09 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[That just earns her an eyeroll as Isaac turns to face her, flexing his fingers to warm them up a bit.]

Alright. Rules? I can't really control healing, but I can try to hold back on the strength, speed, and claws if you want.
freezerburned: (Lord I'm gonna cut him down)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-09 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hm.]

I've been stabbed a few times, but it's not something I really want to experience again. If we've got weapons and claws out, maybe just be a little careful?

[He doesn't particularly mind her pulling blades on him- he'd just like to not be outright stabbed. And Steph has less to worry about than he does on that front because... well, for the most part, he can just heal it right back up if she does accidentally stab him.]
freezerburned: (Gotta move fast to beat the devil)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-09 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[He lifts an eyebrow with that before laughing, falling back into a stance that might be a little better for fighting and pulling the strength back to him. His eyes shift in colors, changing to a bright gold in the dark of the warehouse.]

Alright then. Ready?
freezerburned: (These changes ain't changing me)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-09 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[Isaac is strong and fast, but he's not entirely adept. When she moves forward, he's able to get out of the way of her first strike easily enough and he moves to dodge her second- her foot clips off of his shoulder and throws off his momentum for a moment, which he makes up for in a driving attack back toward her.

He relies on his strength much more than any sort of skill or finesse, and while he's quick, he's still figuring out how to use his speed for anything more than offense. It's not that he's a terrible fighter- he's survived this long, after all- but he's just simply never been properly trained and had to sort of go about all of this by himself.]
freezerburned: (pic#7253787)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-10 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Isaac is growing a little more frustrated with the fight as it goes on- not that he's outright losing, but it's clear that Steph has her head in the game and he doesn't. He's moving based on instinct, throw a punch, try to move out of the way of the returning blow, fuck don't overbalance in the followthrough- and she seems... calculated, almost. Like she's intentionally not bowling him over, but also letting him land a few offcenter strikes for his- self confidence? What?

The second time he gets knocked completely on his ass, Isaac stays down for a moment, his palms flat on the floor. He can feel the tug of the fight as it bristles through his veins, pulling forward a sensation that's not unlike the full moon. He's not sure what it means- he's never felt this on a regular night before, and the moon isn't for another five days. Isaac's fingers flex as the claws slowly push their way through his nails, scritching over the floor and leaving faint white marks when he pushes himself to his hands and feet.

A deep breath, and then another. It's not that he doesn't have control- he does- it's that instinct is telling him how to move. How to stand, how to flow into this fight. He doesn't know where it's coming from, but in the thrill of the moment, who is he to question it? Isaac lets out a deep breath then, before lunging for her from his position on the floor, intent on using his speed to take her down, rather than just to knock her around a bit.]
freezerburned: (The devil won't let me be)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-13 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Isaac is holding himself back a little, hitting her with closed fists instead of raking his claws across, shoving and punching rather than closing in with his teeth. Still, he can sense her growing slower and uses that to his advantage, his own stamina still pumping through him as he finally knocks her down to the floor.

And he's standing above her, about to slam into her again when Steph speaks and stops Isaac in his tracks. His fingers tighten slightly, before loosening from their fists and he has to close his eyes with the effort it takes to pull the wolf back, retract his claws and slowly reach a hand out toward her with a little murmur of acknowledgement.]


...sorry. Was that okay?
freezerburned: (The mirror shows not)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-15 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Isaac looks down curiously at his hands, flexing his fingers a little before just letting out a small shrug.]

...I'm not sure. I could feel it though. I just... I knew what to do. Like I was moving on instinct.
freezerburned: (pic#6323429)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 10:01 am (UTC)(link)
That's what I need. Another thing I have to control.

[He takes a deep breath and shakes his head.]

I don't know. When I get angry- well, before I got control, when I got angry, I'd shift. I was already half-transformed and in control of it while we were fighting, so I dunno.
freezerburned: (pic#6390061)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 10:12 am (UTC)(link)
Is that a statement or a demand?

[He quirks up an eyebrow, before moving toward the nearby wall and sitting down with his back pressed up against it. His voice and demeanor is lighthearted, but his fingers are flexing, tensing up and relaxing slowly as he props his hands up on his knees.]

But yeah. Control is the general idea. Not letting things get to you.
freezerburned: (pic#6390054)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Isaac looks up when Steph crouches in front of him, the smile faded completely from his expression as he lifts his eyes- regular blue again now- to meet her own.]

You know what keeps us from going crazy? From cutting loose and murdering everyone in sight? It's not like the werewolves in stories, Steph. If you get mad, if your heart rate goes up, you lose control and you go on a rampage- no matter what phase the moon is in.

[And Isaac shrugs, breaking eye contact, looking down toward his hand as his fingers tighten into fists.]

You have an anchor. You keep something close to your heart, something- I dunno, meaningful. Something that can only be human. My anchor wasn't enough on the moon, but it's enough here. [And then, pointedly.] What I mean to say is that I'm not gonna be going on any rampages anytime soon. I promise.
freezerburned: (Living in my hometown)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 10:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Wow excuse you don't knock on the Derek Hale school of werewolfism!

Either way though, Isaac sort of doubletakes at that, his brows furrowing once he realizes what she's talking about. He goes tense pretty quickly, eyes narrowed.]


What did Peter tell you?
freezerburned: (pic#6323429)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Isaac is quiet for a moment- and he's unpredictable enough to where it's not immediately clear if he's going to lash out at her. Instead, after a few moments of tension he just lets out a deep breath and turns his head to rest against the wall behind him.]

And what are you looking for?

[He's pretty sure he has an idea. They've talked about this before- he's helped her through her issues anyway, told her that he's sympathized, it should be more than enough for her to put the pieces together if she cares to. Maybe he just didn't expect her to look into it- maybe he thought she wouldn't care enough to. Either way, she proved him wrong and he's not entirely sure how to feel about it.]
freezerburned: (pic#7253789)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
[Isaac watches her, pushing back against the wall with a sigh, not quite meeting her eyes anymore. He doesn't know how to reply to that, not really.]

Yeah?

[Quiet, but not quite soft, like he's still tempted to react with anger. His gaze flicks back to Steph then, charged, still just as dangerous as the boy who was sparring with her a moment ago.]

This is about Jesse, isn't it? Look- that little shit needed a good talking to. I'm not afraid to admit that. [A pause, and then-] -and I'm not afraid to hurt people. In case you haven't noticed, it's one of the only things I'm good at. I know there's a line, and I know I'm not going to cross it. I won't.

[And then again, like he's saying it more for himself than for her.]

I'm never going to lose control like that.
freezerburned: (Some kind of revelation)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
[That's unexpected, and it makes his eyebrows raise a little, surprised.]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it.

[She wants honesty, she'll get honesty. Still, Isaac shakes his head in the end and moves to stand up, feeling a little crowded... even if she is giving him some space.]

-no. You didn't do anything wrong.
Edited 2014-01-17 11:47 (UTC)
freezerburned: (And the air in my lungs)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-17 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Something flickers over his face then, and Isaac turns away, his hands tightening at his sides until he shoves them in his pockets. He doesn't like this. The compliance. If anything, it just makes him feel worse, makes him feel- like he's the one in charge, like he's the one who gets to make that decision.

And he wants that control. He does. But he doesn't know what to do with it once he has it, and choosing to do nothing doesn't make him feel like the bigger person, contrary to what Steph says.]


I'm not scared.

[It even sounds like a lie.]

And I really don't need a 'power and responsibility' speech. I know what I'm capable of. I know I don't have to be a monster.
freezerburned: (See I was thinking that I lost my mind)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-18 12:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure what you want me to say. [At the very least though, he seems to have calmed down a bit. Steph is a good person, she knows how to talk to people.]

I'll keep that in mind, I guess.
freezerburned: (Too many bloodstains on the ground)

[personal profile] freezerburned 2014-01-19 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Nah.

[He sighs, turns back to her, and crouches to the floor, juxtaposing their earlier positions.]

I think instead, I'm gonna say this: we're not on the moon anymore. It's not that bad anymore. I can keep myself in line because I know how to control myself. If I go too far, then that's on me, but I won't. I've been taught well enough to trust myself with that.