004. Video; un: driver

[killertrack]

[ When the video starts, nothing shows but a Cadelle street. It's the middle of the night and the streetlamps are all the light around. There's music playing, obviously coming from the phone's speakers, tinny. But it's half covered by Baby's humming. ]

Hellooooo everyone! I thought I'd sing you a lullaby.

[ It's obvious that Baby is drunk when he starts speaking, even without being on the screen, and it's even more obvious when he moves the camera a little, half his face appearing, shadowed by the streetlights he's walking under. He's wearing sunglasses.

Eyes half closed, the unsteadiness of the video shows how much Baby has had earlier. He stumbles for a step, then stops, laughing to himself as he runs a hand over his face.

Then, he starts singing, along with the song playing: ]

So take a look at me now
Since I told you it's over
You got a hole in your heart
I'll find a four leaf clover
You can't tell me this now
This far down the line
That you're never, ever gonna get over me

[ He might be drunk, but at least he's not a bad singer. It's a bit wobbly, and there are tears in his voice as he sings, the words feeling like they're stabbing him, over and over.

Isabelle's gone.

He stops singing, looking ahead at the mostly empty street. He stumbles again, closes his eyes while he takes a deep breath, head tilted up to the sky. When he opens them again, and then turns to the camera, he's grinning. ]

Feels like a perfect night for a joyride, right?

[ The words are slurred, and Baby's smile is already wavering, but then he turns the camera to his car, parked a few feet away. ]

Comments

ACTION. | bc i do what i want

[risers]

[ it's with a sigh alec regards baby's current state. he can feel the grey hairs beginning to transform his thick, black mop into a sign of his stresses. walking around the town while he can't sleep was meant to be simple — walk, overthink, grab something to eat, and then wander for a little longer before getting back to his assigned place. first izzy hightails out of this city after he arrives, and now he has to clean up the mess of her … whatever friend. ]

[ he doesn't have to ... but he's going to. the impulse to mom everyone is incredibly high right now. ]

[ he doesn't reply, as his long legs obviously get him to cadelle street within seconds (or a couple of minutes). when he spots the car — it's only familiar by the video of baby wallowing — he moves quicker, hands no longer in his pockets until he's resting against the side of the driver's door. arms crossed, he looks at baby with his usual expression — guarded, unimpressed, tired. ]

Nice car.

[ alec wouldn't know what a nice car is if it bit him in the ass. ]

yes well it'S ALL I WANT

[killertrack]

[ For a split second, when Baby sees Alec, he thinks - he thinks it's Isabelle. Of course, just for a moment, while the fog around his brain connects the dots, because Izzy isn't here anymore, she left, she went back home to be her selfless, beautiful self and she left Baby behind.

The good reasons are good, but it doesn't make Baby any less bitter and just. Sad.

At least he still has his car. His car would never leave him alone, she'll always be here for him, especially here in Cadelle. He approaches, ignoring Alec for a moment, just to run his hands along the top of his car, lean his cheek against the roof. ]

She is a nice car. She is the best. So fast, so strong, and so pretty.

[ The metal is cool under his cheek. It feels nice. Maybe he should stay right here for a moment, just to reflect. He knows he's not quite himself, and honestly, he knows he shouldn't drive tonight. He knows where he lives. He just... doesn't really feel like doing any of the responsible things he should be doing. ]

Why are you here, Alec?

[risers]

[ the way baby appreciates his car is very similar to the way alec regards his bow and quiver. he can recognise it, even if he can't quite understand the fascination with the vehicle. it is a story that isn't his to understand, either. he waits for baby to acknowledge him, letting him speak of his car, like it's an actual being. ]

[ he doesn't move from where he leans. ]

Passing by. [ easily said, perhaps even easily believed. he isn't the type to admit he's here for someone, unless that admission will get him what he desires: them safe. ] Where are your keys?

[killertrack]

[ Baby keeps a hand on the roof of his car, leaning close, looking way too affectionate with something that, at the end of the day, if a multitude of pieces of metal put together. It's just - driving saved his life so many times before, and right now, he feels like he's drowning. Surely it should help now. ]

My pocket. Why?

[ He eyes Alec suspiciously for a moment, patting his pocket with his free hands, keys clinking together. He opens his mouth again, but this time, he doesn't even think as the words come out. ]

You're just as beautiful as her, you know?

[risers]

[ alec inhales, annoyed, and it's almost like he's going to roll his eyes. he doesn't, despite the impatience he now feels. it hasn't been summoned at the mention of izzy (he'll go home and she'll be there, it's simple) but at the creeping emotion that's about to tackle them. and alexander lightwood tries to opt out of a lot of emotional conversations like this one's about to be, especially given he can't fix it. ]

[ holding his hand out, he nods his head towards his open palm. ] Give them to me.

[ na na na na na naw baby give it up give it up. ]

[killertrack]

Are you angry she's gone?

[ He might not be. After all, Alec has an advantage on Baby, and that's he and Isabelle come from the same world. He can see her again, much easier than Baby.

Which isn't fair.

Baby squints at Alec, patting his pockets for a second, before taking his keys out, and then... holding them over his head. ]

Do you know how to drive?

[ Because Baby might be impaired, but he's still a better driver than someone who doesn't even have a license. ]

[risers]

[ choosing to ignore the first question, alec opts to look unimpressed instead. he doesn't give it much time to ruminate — of course he misses izzy. he's here for izzy. the fact he doesn't show his sadness by drinking himself under a table is his own decision. alec copes by shooting arrows from rooftops and brooding. ]

[ not giving baby the satisfaction of glancing up, he doesn't make to reach for the keys dangling above baby's head. he stands with his arms crossed against his chest. with a pointed look, ] Why don't we find out?

▸ it's baby's party and he can cry if he wants to.

[recoined]

( it's been snowing these last few days. the roads are newly covered in a thin blanket of soft snow that crunches under her feet, recently fallen leaves just barely hidden under the surface; the crack of dead leaf and stick echoes out in the stillness of night with each step she takes, a low rustle that barely registers under the thump of music playing through her headphones as she runs.

you see, the middle of the night is exactly the right time to run through the city, practicing climbing up and over a building every block or so, or testing her landings as she leaps off a roof into the snow. just the kind of thing to do in the middle of the night, where no one can question it or ask her what she thinks she's doing. and while she's a bit preoccupied — and therefore hasn't had the downtime to watch baby's somber broadcast — it's nearly impossible to mistake the tell-tale gleam of red metal, baby's challenger parked on her route, a familiar silhouette leaning up against it.

it might have helped if she didn't spot said car and silhouette after leaping off a building, though. with a bit of a sheepish grin, kimberly sweeps her hair out of her face with her palm. ) Hi. ( observant as ever, it takes her a moment or two to realize just how unsteady he looks. )

What's going on?

[killertrack]

[ Kimberly. Lovely, sweet, funny Kimberly. Kimberly, who is still here. The girl he hurt, when he didn't mean to. Here.

She's a good friend, and Baby wants to stick his tongue out and taste the snow. Music is still playing from his phone's speakers, but he ignores it as he looks at Kimberly. He reaches out, running the back of two fingers against her cheek as he smiles at her, feeling just as unsteady as a moment ago. ]

I'm just enjoying the night, Kimberly. [ Drunkenly so. Oh so drunkenly. Slurred words as he fishes his keys in his jacket pocket. ]

It's a nice one, isn't it? You wanna go for a drive?

[recoined]

( oh, yeah. he's "enjoying the night", alright. enjoying the night, more like enjoying the buzz off whatever he's been drinking thus far in the evening. her money's on whiskey, if he's been at mahogany — but more importantly, she knows that whatever it's been, there's been way too much for him to get behind the wheel of a car. absolutely way too much. kimberly's seen a few too many melodramatic madd commercials to ever risk it. )

A drive? ( act cool. totally chill. no reason to spook the drunken man. ) Why don't we... walk instead? It's a nice night, you know, we can walk a little. Get some fresh air.

( she doesn't shy away from his touch, but she does reach out to take his hand, pulling him gently towards the street. away from the car, really. )

Come on, Baby, come walk with me.

[killertrack]

[ He sighs when she takes his hand, stepping away from his car with a look over his shoulder, regret making his heart heavy. Not just about the drive he's not going for, but for everything he's not done, or not said. For all these moments he could have spent with Isabelle and didn't. For seconds wasted. For refusing to follow her. ]

Okay.

[ He feels like he's about to cry, and he runs the back of his free hand under his nose, tilting his head up towards the sky again, letting the snowflakes fall on his face, tiny shocks of cold that somehow do nothing to make him feel more like himself.

He'd like another drink, at this point. ]

What are you doing out?

[recoined]

( kimberly is not unfamiliar with the concept of sadness. she's been sad too, the kind of soul-crushing self-inflicted sadness that can't be shaken off with just a friendly hello or a distraction. she's been sad here, too. their sadness shares a cause, it seems — after all, she knows who left. she has an idea of why baby might be quite so sad. but, if she's honest, kimberly has to admit she's not so sad about it herself.

but that doesn't mean she can't be there for baby when he is. she's careful to step closer, enough that their shoulders brush together as they walk; her thumb sweeps over the back of his hand, a reassuring touch repeated with each step. )

I was just going for a run. ( technically true. she was running. and also climbing over buildings and leaping off them, practicing mid-fall flips and tucks and rolls. but that's not very important, not right now. ) I'm glad I found you.

( a clump of snowflakes have stuck to his lashes, face still tipped up to the cold. her free hand reaches out to brush them away, fingertips soft against his cheek as they pull away. )

Tell me if you get too cold, okay? We can always go inside and warm up.

[killertrack]

[ At this point, Baby doesn't really feel the cold anymore. He can't tell if it's the alcohol, or just the numbness that accompanies wanting to forget all about recent events. It's taking every possible ounce of strength for him to not just break down, because there's a part of him that refuses to do so, especially in front of Kimberly.

Not that he's trying to appear stronger than he is. But he can't help but feel awkward, considering their past. She might not want to hear about his broken heart, and he wouldn't blame her for it. He squeezes his fingers around hers, probably holding on a little tighter than he has to, feeling the softness of her skin against his. ]

Why are you glad? I'm a mess.

[ It's the first truthful thing he's said in hours. He's been pretending to be fine, to be sober, he's pretended like he's happy to be here. The only one to apparently not buy any of his bullshit had been Otis, curling up to him every chance he got. Probable he's heartbroken too, the poor thing. ]

Would you walk me home? I should probably take - [ A little hiccup. ] - Otis out for a walk.

video;

[righthandgirl]

( She might not know this guy, but he sounded and looked really sad...and drunk, and it's kind of hard to ignore that. Especially when he finishes by mentioning joyriding and pointing the camera at his car. If nothing else, that's what eventually spurs her to respond to the stranger. That's a dangerous thought, for him; for anyone else on the road. She can't turn a blind eye to pain that would drive someone to even joke about that.

Jo's face pops up on the screen and she smiles a little, trying not to appear too sympathetic because she worries that might actually be kind of off-putting since they've never met. )

Hey, that was a really cool song, what was that?

( She actually really hasn't ever heard of it, so that's a genuine curiosity. )

Having a few drinks for fun or not so much?

( For all Jo knows, it could've started out as having fun and maybe he's just a really depressed drunk. She's met some of those. ...a lot of those... )

[killertrack]

Stereophonics!

[ Because he'll always be happy to talk about music, even when it's music that breaks his heart, or continues to break his heart, he isn't sure. Just - heartbreaking music. ]

They're from the UK. They're good.

[ She says for fun and Baby looks at the camera, feeling tears sting at the corners of his eyes. He shakes his head, looking away again. ]

I thought it'd help. Make me forget how much it hurts. It didn't, it just... it's making me even sadder.

[righthandgirl]

They're good, yeah, I'm into it. Maybe sometime you could show me more of their stuff.

( The more she talks, hopefully the less inclined he is to get in the car.

Well...and then he looks at the camera like that and she feels terrible. It shows on her sympathetic expression, which she's now lost control over her attempt to keep neutral. )

I'm sorry to hear that you're hurting. Do you want to talk about it? I know I'm a stranger, but I'm a really good listener.

[killertrack]

Sure! Just come over to B- [ A pause. Where does he work again? ] - the record store, whenever.

[ He sounds out of it, and to be honest, he probably won't remember ever inviting this girl to come around to the store, but whatever. More customers is never a bad thing. ]

It's just - heartbreak, you know? My girlfriend, she left. And I thought... I thought we were meant to last. But we weren't.

[righthandgirl]

( He doesn't actually give Jo the name but she makes a mental note to ask around for the name and location of the record store so she can stop by sometime. )

Cool, I will. Thanks.

( A small nod as Jo takes a deep breath. She's all too familiar with girlfriends leaving. Not in her own experience — well, yeah, she's had her heart broken, too — but more being the supportive friend who helped her boss and best friend get over the revelation that his girlfriend had been cheating on him with a friend. She'd walked away. Dave had been crushed. Jo had spent almost a year cleaning up that mess. )

I'm sorry. That's a really sucky feeling. Did she leave like went back home or left like you guys broke up...? Oh... ( She looks apologetic. ) Sorry, if I'm being nosy or making it worse, you can just tell me to fuck off, I promise I won't be offended.

[killertrack]

[ Baby blows out a breath, shaking his head as he turns, resting his back against the car door. ]

It's okay. No, she went back home. She has a lot of responsibilities and she had to get back to them.

[ He swallows back on the slightly bitter not like me, useless and selfish, because it's not thoughts he usually entertains. Blame the alcohol. ]

I knew she would. She was talking about it, from the moment we met. I don't know why I thought I would become more important than saving the world.

[ Which sounds ridiculous, but is actually what Isabelle is off doing, probably. ]

voice }

[wildkingdom]

Don't get in your car.

[YOU ARE DRUNK BABY, DON'T YOU START DRIVING. She's going to come find you just stay where you are.]

[killertrack]

[ The tone is very sharp, and it does make Baby jolt a little. His hand closes around his car keys when he replies, a little belligerent: ]

Why not?

[wildkingdom]

Because you're drunk.

[And drinking and driving is not allowed.]

You could hurt someone.

[killertrack]

I'm -

[ Swallow down some bile, thinks of driving gloves. ]

I'm a very good driver, Malia.

[wildkingdom]

Doesn't matter. You're drunk.

[He's close. She can hear him talking now, but she can't see him, so she just course corrects and hopes his voice will guide her the rest of the way.]

Drinking and driving is dangerous.

[killertrack]

I know.

[ He does know it's dangerous. But he's confident - maybe too confident? Probably too confident, especially now.

Suddenly, he slumps, the keys falling from his hand to the pavement with a loud clink.
]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I don't know what I'm doing.