(no subject)

[do-gooddarling.insanejournal.com]

Who: Isabelle and Richard
What: Where's your brother?!
When: January 25th, 2012 Wednesday
Where: Local coffee shop
Warnings: None

Isabelle had been trying to call John all day. She'd barely caught a glimpse on the news about his behavior at court which had went local after his outburst. She was surprised, shocked and not really sure how to react. More importantly she wanted to know where he was now. She was worried, probably moreso than anyone else in his life right now.

She'd called Richard after John didn't pick up the day she was sure he was released from his overnight detainment. She hoped that he could give her some answers. She sat impatiently waiting, pulling off her hat and warming her hands up at one of the free tables.

Richard felt bad for a bunch of things. Seeing his brother like that never sat well with him, but he knew better then to approach John like this. John needed his time to relax and put this behind him.

Then there was Isabelle, who didn't know the full story and was still worried. Despite her not deserving his brother, it was still not his call. But he couldn't explain everything. He'd try to ease her worries though. He smiled at her when he saw her and sat down in front of her, removing his scarf. "Hello. How are you holding up?"

While she didn't know the full story behind John and his brother, she'd made friends of Richard. Now while John was momentarily MIA, she had some comfort in knowing someone that was the closest link. She'd never met John's mother or any of John's friends. Come to think of it, he didn't seem to have many friends at all.

Placing her gloves on the table she smile sweetly offering a hand for the neighboring seat. "I'm okay." It was evident in her eyes that she was terribly worried.

Taking a seat he sighed and motioned for some coffee. This was awkward because he could never be sure how much he was supposed to give away and how much he wasn't. John really needed to sit her down and explain more, but he doubted that was John's thing with her.

"He's alright last I heard. He's up in the country for a bit, taking some time off. He get's stressed and overworked, and he blows up. Anything else you'll have to ask him, but he's okay."

Her parents had seen the outburst, indicating very strictly that they weren't sure about her dating a man that was older than her. This only amplified their own worries.

She laughed a little awkwardly. "This the temper you warned me about?" she smiled but there was some insecurity in her voice. She wasn't sure how to approach this.

Sighing he nodded, "yeah. My brother's a bit...over dramatic at times. He's not always had it easy." He tapped his fingers on the table, "I don't know how much he's told you about growing up, but we both lost our elder brothers at an early age. We fought a lot even then, and he was always compared to me." He shrugged, "so he feels a bit less then he ought to and when this sort of thing happens he explodes."

"There is still very little I know or understand about his past. He's very hush hush on it." It was for good reason, but Isabelle was still innocent to what they truly were.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she was genuinely sorry, letting her hand rest on his with all sincerity.

Smiling he squeezed her fingers. She was a generally good girl and he hoped John wouldn't ruin that. Or he'd punch his brother all over again. "It was a long time ago, but thank you. But John's not very open about his past. Took me a while to tell it all to Aaron. Just give him time. He'll come around. Most of all he just needs you, even if he won't admit it."

"He won't pick up his phone. I've called for days." She pulled out her phone, thumb tracing over the keys as if he'd magically called. He'd been in such a good mood before too, and now she wasn't sure what to do. "I'd like to be there for him, but I haven't an idea of where to start."

Sighing he pulled out his own phone, "chances are he just doesn't have it with him." He held out his hand for her phone. "I'll call my mother and see where he is and then give you a call when I know more, alright? I only know basics myself."

Isabelle nodded. "Thank you." She handed over her phone. "We can still sit and chat for a while. I'd hate to call you all the way out here and then just leave when you've got some sort of answer. I'm curious about your childhood now that you brought it up." She just liked being around people, talking, learning new things about them.

Smiling he punched in his number and got her own for himself before handing her the phone back. "It's alright. You are worried for John. Can't blame you there." He shrugged, unsure what to tell her. "well we had a big family and our father was very restrictive and controlling. John was the youngest of the boys and dad liked him best. But by that time. most of the inheritance was split up. John had to fight for what he got, and at each turn was reminded of me or my older brothers."

"He doesn't seem to have many friends," and he always seemed to cringe when Richard was brought up. He didn't like it very much when she'd mentioned running into him. She wasn't going to say she'd contacted him again, not just yet. "I wouldn't know much about big families. Mine is fairly small, at least here. My parents only daughter, there wasn't any attention to divvy up." She was trying to get some feedback so she knew what she had to work with when she saw him again. If he even wanted to see her anymore.

Frowning he sighed, "John's a bit picky with friends." Not to mention didn't always trust and pushed people away. He hoped his brother wouldn't do that to this girl, but John was oddly hard to predict. "There's good and bad in both of that. Most of John's issues are with me. John thinks my goal is to ruin his life."

"Well, I find you quite nice." She said with a sweet smile. Where was the harm in her curiosity? She was just being friendly, surly John would understand that. "I get that, I do. I have no plans to change his mind, but you've been nothing but nice to me."

He gave her a smile, "I do try to be nice. I wasn't always like this." He scoffed. "John's mind can't be changed. Many have tried." He shook his head. "Just keep that in mind and it should be fine. John blames me, and never compare the two of us. He'll frown for ages."

"He'll frown for ages if he's still wallowing in self pity." She was a strong girl, she wasn't going to baby anyone unless it was the time to pamper. Right now it sounded like John just needed a kick in the pants to pull himself back out of the dark.

"Well, you are nice. I think. I'm a firm believer in letting go of the past. People are what they are now." There were things that couldn't be changed that happened to everyone.

He shrugged, "maybe. I can't say." He could, but John wouldn't be thanking him for it. He suspected John wouldn't like hearing anything about him right now as it was.

"I have my moments," mostly it was because she was a girl and his chivalry demanded he be nice. Myth had certainly changed that about him, and he didn't even mind either.