nolessthanseven | video ♦ 012

[If Isabelle looks happy and fresh, Desmond looks completely exhausted and drenched in sweat. No AC means no good sleep (not that he's really trying to sleep anyway). The video feed shows his naked shoulders, a sign that he's abandoned the idea of wearing a shirt inside. The bruises and cuts on his face have long healed, but he looks like he's unsure what to do or say. He tries to smile, but it doesn't really reach his eyes.]

Hey....Look....I...hum....well....I'm really sorry about the other night, Isabelle.

[as soon as she sees Desmond's face, Isabelle seems to sober visibly. She'd been doing all she could to push that night out of her head, and the fact that he still doesn't look great isn't helping.

[She purses her lips as he apologises, looking torn between disappointment and hurt.] Whatever. It's done.

[Desmond was already opening his mouth to explain to Isabelle what had happened, not to excuse himself, because he knows he was wrong that night, but simply to let her know what happened, so she can understand why Jace had been so enraged. But the moment she dismisses the whole thing, he closes his eyes, her disappointed look hurting as if he had been stabbed.

He frowns, shoulders slacking in defeat. It feels like nothing he can say will make anything better, despite the fact that she still called him a 'friend' in her message. But maybe this is for the best. Because with the sudden influx of people from his world, Desmond is starting to fear Templars will soon follow. That and with his nightmares picking up in intensity, the novice doesn't really know how long he has before he draws symbols with his blood on his walls. The last thing he wants is for anyone he cares for, his team mates and his friends here, to be caught between him and Abstergo, or to see him descent into madness. He's pushed people away before, for his sake and theirs, but why is this time harder than any other? This should be natural to him, but he can't even nod or smile or shrug.

He looks back at the screen after a moment]

I still think it's a good idea for you to join the university. Just....just let me know if you need anything, all right?

[despite what he may have thought, he was still her friend. He was probably one of her closest friends there, someone whom she could both rely on and knew that she had good reason to. The entire fact of the matter was that it's Jace's fault she was still feeling this way, and she doubts that would go away any time soon. Not without Alec around.]

Desmond- [she pauses, glancing elsewhere for a moment.] Look, I'm angry at Jace. Not you. You were stupid, I'm not denying that, but he was worse.

[the very thought of what Jace had said to her made her bite her lip to keep from crying again, but she swallows and goes on.] Thanks. I will. So you better not go anywhere.

[There's a humorless snort that escapes him at the mention of him acting like an idiot that night]

Hey, I'm not denying it either. Not my brightest moment. But still, he had no right to insult you like he did. [It's a good thing Isabelle can only see his face, because he's clenching his free hand into a fist as he tries to control his tone of voice. He can see the biting of her lip and it doesn't help at all]

I...[He pauses, if only to calm down and smile lightly at her]...I hope he realizes the chance he has of having you as a sister, Isabelle.

[The smile widens a little there]

I won't. I'm still holding you on hiring you once you turn legal after all.