2019-08-01 - A Glass of Wine, a DM, and Thou

August's evening of not writing his next plant guide is interrupted by a text.

IC Date: 2019-08-01

OOC Date: 2019-05-27

Location: Gray Harbor/A-Frame Cabin

Plot: None

Scene Number: 970

Social

August

Itzhak

The bad luck continues unabated. August had to chase down his goats, who got out of the main enclosure, which had a hole in it from a tree branch that came down in the thunderstorm the other day. Fortunately no one was injured, and now the hole is patched. Sadly he lost a pair of jeans in the process. So now he's relaxing in his reading corner, Chick Corea on the little stereo, some red wine in a glass, and his home tablet in front of him. He really needs to get this next book finished.

For some Godforsaken reason, Itzhak hasn't suffered nearly so much from the bad luck. He's had his moments, like his D string snapping, the lock on Lemondrop's cage coming undone (how???) and her deciding that meant it was outside-time, and Hunter careening headlong into the coffee table while pretending he was a velociraptor. Stephanie had taken him to the emergency room, while Itzhak stayed to look after Philly. Actually that was nice because all Philly wanted was to watch him practice, so he'd practiced and she'd watched while whispering stories to her pony plush. Stephanie had been beside herself trying to thank him enough when they got home, Hunter with a couple stitches in his right eyebrow.

"Make ya look like a real tough guy, tateleh," Itzhak had told him, to make him smile, before Stephanie sent the kid to bed.

Then Isolde and Alexander had dropped by, and hadn't that been an interesting conversation.

So, no, his luck hasn't been that bad at all.

After they leave, he flops down on the elderly but very comfortable couch. His first thought is to text Ignacio, but his thumb hovers over Ig's number without tapping. Maybe not. Maybe Ig's got enough of his own girl worries right now. He don't need to listen to Itzhak.

Finch kind of falls in the same category. Minerva...uh, well, awkward. Even though they weren't going out and it wasn't like they were a thing, but, still.

Roen is the obvious choice here.

(TXT to August): Hey what's up, you busy

August glances at his phone as it buzzes next to him. He makes a low sound, takes up phone in favor of working on book.

(TXT to Itzhak): Incredibly busy with wine and chick corea, what's up

(TXT to August): remember the guy from last night you danced with, was drinking degreaser? Alexander

"Do I," August murmurs to himself, swiping a response.

(TXT to Itzhak): yeah, kinda dorky and pretty cute. needs to be coached in proper booze.

Itzhak squirms around to stuff himself deeper into the couch. He's grinning stupidly and he can feel it.

(TXT to August): I asked him out. Actually I asked him and isolde out

August almost chokes on his sip of wine as he reads the response. "Christ, Rosencrantz, when you go in you go all in, don't you."

(TXT to August): At the same time

August pauses mid-message to laugh, resumes typing.

(TXT to Itzhak): are you starting a collection? did someone dare you to have five dates by friday? srsly though well done.

(TXT to Itzhak): did they say yes, I'm assuming so but

(TXT to August): Izzy did!!!! Alexander said he'd had some pretty bad experiences and needed time

(TXT to Itzhak): well that sucks but hey, he might come around at some point, maybe just be patient

(TXT to Itzhak): good about isolde though, seems like a nice girl, and you need some tlc

Itzhak lets the phone droop against his chest, looking up at the ceiling, smiling like a dope. Buzz buzz buzz goes the phone and he picks it up again.

(TXT to Itzhak): (sucks that he's had bad experiences I mean)

(TXT to August): like you said, patience is one of my best qualities. seriously it's okay. He had reeeeeaally bad times. not even because of the date. because of all the other gray harbor bullshit.

August grunts, sips from his wine.

(TXT to August): you know Izzy at all?

(TXT to Itzhak): lot of that going around. guess we just need to be careful w/each other

(TXT to Itzhak): I feel like I've seen her around, when things have happened. don't really know her know her I'd say

(TXT to August): She's crazy. I mean there's no nicer way to put it. and I guess I find that attractive and that worries me. And theres like consent issues? Maybe?

(TXT to August): ...hey what do you mean I need tlc

(TXT to Itzhak): oh like...not crazy-crazy, but, got something going on? guess you can ask her, ask alexander

(TXT to Itzhak): come on you moved across an entire continent you have no family out here didn't know anyone and now you have weird powers like

August pauses a moment, smirks, bobs his eyesbrows.

(TXT to Itzhak): it's all v isolating and trust the guy who ran off to work in the woods for a decade and change I know how to isolate

Itzhak snorts. "Yeah, up yours, Roen." His tone is fond. It's New York style love.

(TXT to August): don't call me out like this

(TXT to Itzhak): someone has to be honest with you

(TXT to August): aaaand actually I think I mean crazy-crazy. and possibly on drugs? and okay so why am I excited about seeing her and not irvriya?

(TXT to Itzhak): I can counselor speak at you if you want but you're not wrong that might be something to think about

(TXT to August): I feel like a massive prick asking izzy out and not irvriya. My mother would love irvriya. My sister would love her. she'd be an amazing auntie. we could have kids and they'd be jewish. so what the hell is wrong with me?

Itzhak's going on a tangent he didn't expect, and as he slips his thumb across the phone, his eyebrows are tilted up, unhappily.

August starts to add something, decides against it. He makes a low sound in his chest at the new text, ponders it for a time before replying.

(TXT to Itzhak): we go for people who click, but click's not always good. can click because there's an itch you want scratched.

(TXT to Itzhak): not always that way though, gotta look at yourself to see why. are you trying to save her, fix her, that sort of thing

Itzhak reads that and winces. He flops his head back and sighs. "Maybe? I dunno," he murmurs. It's some minutes before he answers back.

(TXT to August): idk. maybe? god knows I love to fix things. irvriya doesn't need to be fixed. think she wants to fix me, though.

(TXT to August): there's another girl been playing overwatch with. bex. and she won't even tell people she games.

(TXT to August): how is she going to tell people she's going out with some ex-con mechanic?

(TXT to August): also, ghoul killed her sister. that's how I knew about him. Not a great time to ask her out

(TXT to Itzhak): that might be why you're not as interested in her. feeling like you're being fixed isn't that great.

(TXT to Itzhak): mmmm, hard to say there re: bex but tbh that's one of those 'if she can't deal with you being an ex con is it actually going to be good for you at all' things

(TXT to August): right, we have a great time playing overwatch and she's adorable. but she won't tell people she even plays overwatch. and she doesn't know i have a record. and anyway she's in really bad shape now.

(TXT to August): I pinged you so i could gush about izzy and maybe a little about alexander too and here I am unloading on you

August sighs, rolls his eyes. "Yes, because I have many other things to be doing," he murmurs as he gets another message written.

(TXT to Itzhak): don't sweat that, please. this book's going to write itself any day now

(TXT to Itzhak): anyways just because you do feel a click for isolde doesn't make it bad. just have to keep an eye on yourself

(TXT to Itzhak): bex needs a friend more than a boyfriend rn sounds like, that'd be better for her anyways. maybe your record comes up then and you can see

(TXT to August): yeah, what I'm thinking. I went to visit her, didn't tell you, worried it might stress you out.

(TXT to August): how do I keep an eye on myself? lay that counselor jive on me

"Stress me out?" August murmurs to himself. "...oh. Right." He sighs.

(TXT to Itzhak): number one thing is to listen if your friends say something sounds wrong. sounds basic I know but it's easy to make excuses 'oh you don't understand our relationship' w/e shit like that

(TXT to August): I'm fucking glad I have you guys then. None of you would shut the fuck up about it if you thought there was something wrong

(TXT to Itzhak): and then keep a clear eye on 'are we both happy' like, again I know this sounds real basic but so many people sit in bad relationships in the name of 'but it's been so long'

August almost misses that next text, laughs. "Yeah that's for sure."

(TXT to Itzhak): damn straight

(TXT to Itzhak): I think something's wrong you're gonna hear about it every day and twice on monday

(TXT to August): I need to ask her about ...a ton of stuff. omg what if she's never gone on a date before???? that can't be possible can it? she's so cute.

(TXT to Itzhak): hate to break it to you but my youngest sister didn't go on a date until freshman year of college

(TXT to August): I'm going to hyperventilate

(TXT to Itzhak): it's fine you're a decent guy

(TXT to Itzhak): if she hasn't then just take her to the boardwalk

(TXT to August): She's not stupid. I think people think she's stupid, but she's not. She's just crazy. Possibly on drugs. What am I doing. is there a paper bag emoji

(TXT to Itzhak): hey remember this is shit you get to sort out when you go somewhere with her and talk you're not getting married

(TXT to August): Yeah I have to ask her what she wants to do. Boardwalk would be good. Okay yeah. Yeah good point.

(TXT to August): I mean it's been a long time since I was on a serious date too

(TXT to August): in fact only since I got here do girls seem to be falling from the sky. must be the nose. they've never seen something so magnificent before.

(TXT to Itzhak): nose has to be involved for sure

(TXT to Itzhak): see if it's been a while for you then honestly I wouldn't sweat it, you're not on as different a wavelength as you might think

(TXT to August): Alexander thought we were dating btw

(TXT to Itzhak): ha you wish

(TXT to August): I wish a little

(TXT to August): You've never even brought around your girl

(TXT to Itzhak): only a little???? rude

Itzhak snorts and laughs silently.

(TXT to August): you're so out of my league

(TXT to Itzhak): yes a scarred up tattooed botanist is very out of your league

(TXT to Itzhak): also literally the whole town buys coffee from Ellie

(TXT to Itzhak): that said we could do a thing you me her someone you wanna bring along (doesn't have to be izzy if you're worried)

(TXT to August): are you asking me on a double date? awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

(TXT to August): Listen. Like you don't know your hot af

(TXT to Itzhak): eh, I've been better, but I'm flattered you think so

(TXT to August): and I accept

(TXT to August): maybe i'll bring de santos

(TXT to Itzhak): after that scene at dinner you might want to reconsider. don't think he and finch have had their chat

(TXT to Itzhak): might be fine once they do. or maybe he's not into guys?? I don't know I'm old I can't tell

(TXT to August): scene?

(TXT to August): No he's into guys. Not ME, but he's into guys.

August frowns at his phone. "Ho boy."

(TXT to Itzhak): when finch stepped out. julia had said she flirts with everyone. de santos works for julia part time. so...

Itzhak's frowning at his phone too.

(TXT to August): so? She said she was flirting with me too

August drinks more of his wine. Snorts a laugh. "From the top, then."

(TXT to Itzhak): it's pretty clear that whatever's going on with finch and ignacio they haven't like...sat down and worked it out. decided if they're a thing, or if it was just random sex. and finch's family has a history in this town, not sure if she's told you the specifics.

(TXT to Itzhak): so julia flirting with ignacio and ignacio not shutting it down is a thing

(TXT to August): oh shit you mean finch is mad at him because julia flirts with him?

Itzhak can be taught!

(TXT to Itzhak): yeah, it's different for women, if someone's coming at you and you don't shut it down, it looks like you're always on the hunt

(TXT to August): ok 1 why is that on him, julia's doing it 2 he's obviously super into finch, even I can tell that much

(TXT to Itzhak): doesn't kill you to signal that's not the case by being obvious with a no

(TXT to August): ...ugh

(TXT to Itzhak): what's obvious to us might not be to finch. and anyways they clearly haven't sorted their shit

(TXT to Itzhak): otherwise de santos is a fine option for a double date. hell. julia?

(TXT to August): you mean after I acted like an idiot to her?

(TXT to Itzhak): she wasn't disinterested also you met a unicorn and she's going to want to know everything about that.

(TXT to August): you know what's really messed up

(TXT to August): I really want to go out with the unicorn

(TXT to Itzhak): I want to judge you for that but also I know if I do the universe will punish me by sending me over there and having me fall in love with a gryphon or some shit so I am withholding comment

(TXT to August): I can always count on you to understand, pal

(TXT to August): dickhead

(TXT to Itzhak): look I'm not saying it's not weird

(TXT to Itzhak): just it's no more weird than any of the rest of this

(TXT to Itzhak): and since I feel we've only seen the tip of this weird iceberg I shouldn't tempt fate

(TXT to August): tbh I don't think I can handle Julia. She'll fillet me and not even blink

(TXT to Itzhak): it's true she seems a bit uh how should I word this high octane let's say

(TXT to August): yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeah bet she's mindblowing in the sack

(TXT to August): sorry mechanic talk

August laughs, shakes his head.

(TXT to Itzhak): you're a mechanic I can't not expect it. but maybe clear these texts before you ever let your phone get out of your sight

(TXT to Itzhak): anyways yes double date, also would help ellie to meet more people she has trouble with that

(TXT to August): believe it or not, I try not to be a ravening asshole about women

(TXT to August): don't always succeed, but I try

(TXT to Itzhak): I'd have never expected it!!! you're only worried about isolde not having been on a date before and being able to consent, that's stuff every guy learns in highschool now right

(TXT to August): hah. No. NO they don't.

(TXT to Itzhak): yeah, if only. I had 2 sisters and a mom to smack it into me

(TXT to August): you know if you're working in a shop and you never mention some girl is hot, the guys give you shit about being queer

(TXT to Itzhak): it was the same in the army honestly

(TXT to August): I had to learn that it wasn't fun

(TXT to Itzhak): had to prove you weren't gay on the regular. christ I bet it wasn't.

(TXT to August): I got down a rotation every 10 days saying something about some poor girl

(TXT to August): easiest if they were already running their yaps about her, I could just slide on in

(TXT to August): christ. men.

"A rotation," August murmurs around the last of his wine. "Why didn't I think of that."

(TXT to Itzhak): that's how I did it, just add in when it seemed like I hadn't enough lately. but then we shipped out and we had other shit to worry about

(TXT to August): It's such a goddamn relief that you know what it's like

(TXT to August): felt like a coward giving in you know?

(TXT to August): it's rosencrantz tells all night I guess

(TXT to Itzhak): eh, it's not cowardly to protect yourself from a shit situation that you didn't create and can't control

(TXT to Itzhak): sure it's nice to be the guy standing up to the crap system but those guys also wind up martyrs

(TXT to Itzhak): I saw what happens when people do that first hand. brave as hell but I won't blame anyone for deciding they'd rather live their damned lives

(TXT to August): I had to get fired from enough places for fighting, thought fuck em I won't participate, then they'd start messing with me and I had to knock em around

(TXT to August): eventually I developed the rotation

(TXT to Itzhak): and hey, same goes for you, it's not like there's hardly anyone over 30 who has a remote idea of what it's like, some of the shit I've been through, so you know

(TXT to Itzhak): see you even tried. I never did but, dad warned me not to and I decided to listen to him

(TXT to Itzhak): can't blame him, he didn't want his kid getting dragged behind a truck or tossed on a section 8, you know?

Itzhak grimaces and tips his head back. A great weight is behind those words.

he didn't want his kid getting dragged behind a truck

(TXT to August): my sister knows. Ma doesn't

(TXT to Itzhak): it works out like that sometimes. my mom didn't know for a long time. dad knew right away. his brother is, so he already had some experience

Itzhak looks at the words. He rubs his eyes.

(TXT to August): ok well it's been fun baring my soul and all let's do it again sometime

August smirks. "Indeed."

(TXT to Itzhak): sure thing. it'll be my turn. anyways I need my beauty sleep, us old people are only getting older

(TXT to August): dm me about double date when you wanna do it

(TXT to Itzhak): will do