Room 406, afternoon.

[izzyalienqueen]

After meeting Max at the Meet & Greet, Isabel led him up to her room.

"Xander's gone," she said as she led him into the room. "And I've been lucky enough that I haven't gotten another roommate. Well unless you count Annie." Hearing her name the small kitten poked her head up out of her basket.

[Locked to emo_alien_king.]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen]

"And that sounds like a crisis. We have a lot of them around here," Isabel told Max. "Here. Cuddle Annie, she likes." Without waiting for him to respond, she dropped the kitten in his lap and went to open the door.

"Jack? What's wrong?"

[anextimeagent]

Jack registered that there was someone else in the room, and figured it was probably her brother, since he didn't recognise him, but he didn't hesitate to reach out and pull Isabel into a huge hug, just about lifting her off her feet.

"Sam kind of disappeared," he told her, trying to keep his voice light.

[emo_alien_king]

Max raised his eyebrows, then narrowed his eyes, watching the new guy, and remembering 'Jack' from Isabel's letters. Sam he wasn't so sure about -- his girlfriend, maybe? He waited for Isabel to introduce them, not wanting to interrupt anything he might overhear.

[izzyalienqueen]

"She what?" Isabel asked, returning the hug fiercly, knowing that Jack probably needed it. "How? Why? When?"

Max was pretty much forgotten as she focused on Jack.

[anextimeagent]

Jack did need it - a lot - and he buried his face in her hair and held her tightly. "Last night, in a flash of light, she just disappeared, right out of my arms." He drew in a deep breath, and was surprised at how shaky it was. "The flash of light came back for her shirt," he quickly added, because it was the only positive thing he had to offer. "So wherever she is, she wasn't helpless."

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel couldn't help it, she snickered. "She was shirtless in your arms? Oh god, she must have been pissed with whoever took her." Isabel ran her fingers into his hair and ruffled it, gave him one last squeeze and then stepped back. "Given who she used to work with? Maybe they needed her for something?"

[anextimeagent]

Jack let her go reluctantly, but he smiled at the image. "Yeah, whoever took her would have got a hell of a shock." He reached for Isabel's hand, twining their fingers together, because he didn't want to let go completely. "I dont know who she used to work for--but if they're the sort of people who'd just snatch her? I'm glad she doesn't work for them anymore."

[izzyalienqueen]

Leaning into his side, Isabel squeezed his hand. "It is kind of rude. But she's going to be okay, I'm sure of it. And you know I'm never wrong." She tugged him towards Max. "There's someone you need to meet. Max, this is Jack, one of my very best friends. Jack, this is my brother Max."

[anextimeagent]

Jack eyed Max, then summoned his most charming smile, because falling apart in fornt of Isabel was one thing, but he wasn't going to do it in front of a stranger, no matter who he was related to.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Max," he said as he offered him his hand, the other still holding Isabel's. "She's talks about you all the time, but she never told me how cute you were."

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel's eyes got wide but she didn't say anything. Instead she waited to see what Max would do.

[emo_alien_king]

"Uh, yeah?" Max gave Isabel a what the hell? look, and said, "Isabel didn't exactly say anything like that about you, either. Not that I'd want her to. And she knows that. So..." He shook Jack's hand, watching him carefully, trying not to get into a macho contest. At least, not in the first two minutes.

[anextimeagent]

Jack smirked, very grateful for the distraction, and smoothed his thumb across Max's knuckles, keeping his grip light but firm. "Izzy, I'm disappointed you haven't been spreading the word about your incredibly handsome Jack." He slanted her a wicked glance and a wink that he was pretty sure Max wouldn't be able to see. "But meeting your charming brother more than makes up for it."

[emo_alien_king]

Max was almost sure this guy was messing with him. Almost. "Yeah, that's, uh... great." He managed to disengage his hand and avoid any repeat performance by sticking both hands in his back pockets. "Isabel? Dinner? Right?"

[izzyalienqueen]

Unable to control herself any longer, Isabel burst out laughing. "You! Behave! Or I'll tell Cedric and Sam." she ordered, thwapping Jack on the back of the head. "Ignore him," Isabel told Max. "He can't help himself. But he'll behave now. You'll be safe. The Perk has good sandwiches and coffee. Want to head there? Jack? You want to come with us?" she asked, not willing to leave him alone to worry about Sam.

[anextimeagent]

Jack laughed and ducked away from Isabel, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Hey! Cedric and Sam both let me flirt. But she's right," he said to Max, "I'll behave, I promise."

He let her go and ran a hand through his hair. "I'd love to come, if you're sure you don't mind?"

[izzyalienqueen]

"I don't obviously," she said, resting her head on his shoulder. "And I'm sure Max doesn't either. He came here to see the school and meet my friends after all. Right Max?" Isabel asked. There was really only one correct answer to that question.