Sarai Isaacs

Punch first, ask questions never later. Sarai Isaacs. Driven by mystery, grounded by a photographer. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Jacob

[invisiblcthought]

It involves a lot of blood— and thunder— and lightning— and usually the other ends up dead.

Pretty much, yeah. I had to get away, otherwise there would have been serious  collateral damage and I didn’t feel like dealing with those consequences. Not today anyway. Can’t you see I didn’t even clean up properly?

[stubbornsarai]

"Well, alright. That's just vague enough to be impressive." It was in situations like these that Sarai felt like an odd man out. She had no powers or abilities, she was just... a human. But not one of those goddamn yuppies who crowded around City Hall, so she supposed that made her special enough as it was. "Serious collateral? Guess that comes with all the thunder and lightning, eh? Are you going anywhere to get cleaned up, or do you need a rag or something?

[tsarchived-deactivated20150713]

Terra chose to saynothing. This girl might have deserved her initial bite and the apology admittedly served to make herself feel better, but there was no reason to dwell on their uncomfortable first impressions any longer. If the two women were anything alike neither would enjoy this pity party very much. Terra ran a hand through her wild hair and nodded, “Right.”

Of course Terra noticed that she was being followed. She did not believe in the coincidence that the girl just happened to walk in the same direction and she was awfully curious too. Naturally Terra had a well practiced set of lies to explain the bruises she wore. Everything that she said was rooted in her truth, but most of what she told a stranger was abstract and not very revealing.

“Are you interested?” Terra inquired, looking at the girl with a questioning raise of her eyebrow. From the outside she looked robust, stable. She walked comfortably and there was something in her eyes that Terra found familiar. “If you are, there are wonderful places in town where you can learn.”

Formal introductions were something Terra despised. There was no easy way around them, especially if the other person was expecting a handshake. Terra wondered if this girl had purposely put her in this position knowing this, or if she was merely polite. Remembering the way they met, she thought the latter unlikely.

“Terra,” she introduced herself, returning a small but genuine smile. She took Sarai’s hand for a firm shake. “Isaacs, as in Lee Isaacs?” There weren’t many Isaacs in town; not anymore anyway. “It is my pleasure.”

[stubbornsarai]

Martial arts wasn't something Sarai had given much thought to, if she was being honest. When traipsing through the woods, she much rather preferred to be armed with a weapon rather than just her fists. There was something decidedly safe about the weight of a gun at her hip and hilt of a blade in her hand. Despite the fact that such weaponry wouldn't be useful against more abject horrors, they brought a sense of security that Sarai had found nowhere else. The question, of course, was if she might heighten that security with the use of hand-to-hand skills.

"Maybe," she admitted, though perhaps not as freely as she should have. "I'm more of a weapons kind of person, though. I've got an axe, and that's been working so far." Needless to say, she found it imperative to omit details that involved being quick to assume that danger was afoot, causing her to act rather foolishly. Forrest himself probably had a scar from her own gruffness, though it was how they met and perhaps the happiest accident in her life. 

The stranger's name was Terra, and Sarai took care to note that no surname was given. That wasn't incredibly odd, of course, but something that she decided was important enough to memorize. Something about this woman -- this Terra -- seemed to reek of concealment and mystery, but perhaps that was Sarai's own paranoia getting the best of her.

"Lee?" Her brows shot up, then settled into a quizzical position. "Yeah, that's my uncle. You know him?" Lee, of course, was more like a father than anything else. He was the man who taught her how to chop wood, how to drive a car, how to shoot a gun. He was the very man who said that a person with a firm handshake was trustworthy, and -- because of that -- Sarai deemed that Terra couldn't have been something to be feared. 

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Forrest

[forrestandrewss-blog]

And although she meant it in the best way, and he smiled at the little swat, something felt off. Forrest didn’t have people do things for him. Fiercely independent despite being quiet to a fault, Forrest found it strange to have someone else do things for him, especially something as simple as untying his shoes. Yet still he let out a breath, and smiled softly as he said, “Thanks.”

He ran his fingers through his short (though admittedly growing longer) blonde hair, before standing up after her. Forrest towered over her slightly, but it never really felt that way. “You were working,” he said, with a small apologetic shrug. “And it was fine, I just mostly couldn’t…. get everything to work.” Same thing as always, now with the cast. He hadn’t taken a proper photo in weeks. ” Not that I wouldn’t want you there.” Forrest laughed though, before he shook his head as he walked to the kitchen, “It’s not that hard once you realize the ground isn’t trying to hurt you… most of the time.”

[stubbornsarai]

His gratitude caused Sarai's lips to curl upward. Rather than any conventional method of acknowledgment, she only blew a shock of hair from her eyes and murmured "Don't get used to it," as if to say that she understood his desire for independence. Funny how she didn't care to help him, but she would've been fiercely opposed to the same treatment if she was the one in his position. A moment should have been taken to ponder such musings, but Sarai opted instead to follow him to the kitchen.

"I'm always working on something," she pointed out, "but none of it's that important. Not as important as your trigger-finger, anyway." And though there was something lingering behind her thoughts -- an investigation she couldn't quite tie together -- Sarai remained, for the most part, silent and smiling.

Falling into familiar conversation with Forrest was incredibly easy, and Sarai found her spirits lifting almost immediately after he had entered her home. For him to joke about her inability to be as graceful as he was enough for her to let out a laugh and give him a nudge. "Excuse you. It's not the ground I'm worried about. You never know what's waiting, so it's better to make them -- or it, or whatever -- feel like they should be scared of me." And perhaps they should have; she was, after all, quick to draw her gun or axe. 

After finding herself a spot atop the counter, Sarai hummed thoughtfully under her breath. "So," she breathed, studying him as one might a fine piece of art, "how long before both arms are fully functional?"

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Nicolas

[loyaltyisreturned]

Her tone made him narrow his eyes slightly, but beyond that, his body language didn’t change as he answered. “Well, I live in a swamp. So, that’s probably where I picked it up. ‘Cause you know. It’s a swamp.” 

"Why do you care? Knowing how I got the dirt on me won’t change the fact that the dirt is here," he said with a shrug. The human girl in front of him was odd and nosy. two of his least favorite traits of the species, and he was quickly growing bored.

[stubbornsarai]

'I live in a swamp.' 

Well, that was one thing Sarai didn't expect to come out of his mouth. She shouldn't have been surprised, though; actually, nothing in Barton Hollow should have surprised her anymore. Even so, her eyes widened and her brows arched to betray her.

"That so?" A beat passed, "So are you one of those swamp people, or do you just like the neighborhood?" 

He did have a point that there wasn't much call for asking about the dirt. Sarai herself wasn't sure why she bothered, but she stood her ground and gave a shrug. "Would you rather I leave our conversation at 'Wow, you look like shit.'? Because that's an option." And truly, it was.

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Cordelia

[cordeliahathaway]

Cordelia managed a smile, stuffing her hands into her pockets and glancing up at Sarai. “Yeah - I’ve just been taking some over-the-counter stuff, but it hasn’t really helped.” Not that she cared.

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai's distaste was shown in the scrunching of her nose, though she had to admit that her concern was more for the fact that this woman had a cold at all. What an inconvenience. Not for Sarai, of course, but that didn't matter; the lumberjack was in a particularly empathetic mood, it seemed.

"Sounds like more than a cold. But, I'm not a doctor, unless you count a lot of experience with WebMD." Her grin turned to something more akin to childish before she sucked in a breath through her teeth. "So, what are you doing out here if you're sick? There's not much to do except cut wood and pick flowers." 

[surmamort]

If I wanted your opinion on smoking, I’d ask for it. 

[stubbornsarai]

"Just don't drop the butts on ground. My job's gonna be a lot harder if the forest goes up in flames, although I could use a vacation," she chuckled at the sound of her own joke. Great job, Sarai, you certainly know how to keep the crowds pleased.

[tsarchived-deactivated20150713]

There was a look in the girl’s eyes that Terra recognized and inspired in her a feeling of guilt. ‘Implying that I have friends’ was a sentence Terra could hear herself say and she realized just how hypocritical her question had been. She did not make many friends with her attitude either. There was Ira, and he was the only one. She was well liked at the company, a respected hunter, but no one cared for her on a personal level.

“I am sorry,” she said and swallowed her pride. On second thought, this girl was probably very aware of the fact that she was not successfully making friends; Terra was very aware of it anyway. She did not complain, however. Making friends is not something she wanted as every friendship besides Ira’s had miserably failed. It was better to keep the people away.

The girl’s question wasn’t one Terra could easily answer without giving away that she worked for JMT. The boy that had fallen victim to her wrath was an aspiring hunter and Terra was never taking gently to them. No one had treated her carefully when she joined at the tender age of fourteen and she was not about to change the tradition of giving the newbies a hard time; they needed to learn, and the world wasn’t going to be kind to them either.

“I am an over-achiever,” Terra confessed and this was half-true. She glanced at the girl curiously when she announced that she was not going to judge, wondering just why. People usually had opinions about things that should not matter to them; that this girl did not was a pleasant surprise. “He did not do anything; he signed up for it. Martial arts have never been more popular, and if someone is capable and willing, I will not take gently to them.”

[stubbornsarai]

I am sorry.

The words threw Sarai for a loop -- something that had been happening quite frequently lately -- and caused her to frown. 

"I don't know why you're apologizing. We already decided it's my fault, right?"

By the time Sarai had fallen in-step with the stranger, an explanation was given as to the state of her appearance. It was believable enough, though Sarai wasn't exactly fact-checking as she looked Terra over once more. It looked like the woman had been put through some kind of ringer, but if she was the trainer... Well, Sarai certainly did feel a pang of pity for her student.

"Martial arts, huh?" Her hands found the warmth of her back pockets while she mused on the idea. "I guess it's fair that you're giving them what they bargain for. Is this your job, or do you just kick ass for fun?" 

Had Sarai known that this woman was of the infamous JMT, her reaction might have been much less pleasant. Here was a potential piece of the puzzle to a mystery that she yearned to solve, yet Sarai remained somewhat oblivious. The workings of fate were likely in the woodcutter's favor, though she had no idea of that fact. 

She flashed a grin, seeming to come to some kind of mental conclusion before one of her hands was freed from it's prison. "Sarai Isaacs." As her hand waited to be taken or ignored, she gave a nod, "Nice to meet you." 

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Jacob

[invisiblcthought]

Just a small altercation with a friend. Nothing that I couldn’t handle— eventually! It’s getting pretty late, why are you alone out here?

[stubbornsarai]

"A friend did that to you? I"d had to see what would happen between you and someone you don’t like."

"I’m just taking a walk. Exploring. What about you? Or is this—" a motion was made to his current appearance, "— your reason?"

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Cordelia

[cordeliahathaway]

"You’re very welcome," Cordelia responded, her tone gentle and sweet. "It’s true, really. You’re stunning." A blush quickly colored her already rosy cheeks, and the woman averted her eyes, mortified. "Just a cold. Not really a big deal."

[stubbornsarai]

Stunning? Sarai would have scoffed if the girl didn't seem so damn sincere. Rather than offering a reprimanding remark, Sarai stood a moment in what could have been shock, but was likely indecision.

"Uh... thanks? You too?" Was that right? It seemed off-kilter, but she soon found herself pursing her lips in that oh-so-Sarai way. It'd have to do.

"A cold?" Yes, Sarai, that's what she said. "Sounds like a pain. Have you been taking anything for it, or are you just gonna let it run it's course?"

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & OPEN

[forrestandrewss-blog]

"Well, thanks for that?" he said, laughing as he put his backpack down. Trying to take off his shoes, he struggled with only one hand as he added, "I tried to go out into the forest today. Probably not the best idea yet."

[stubbornsarai]

Without missing a beat, Sarai made her way to Forrest and knelt down so she could swat his hands away from his shoes. "I've got it," was all she mumbled as she made quick work of the laces, untying them in a show of affection that was a privilege belonging only to Forrest. 

It wasn't shocking that he made an attempt to venture out into the woods, but it was an action that Sarai would have deemed stupid if it was performed by any other person. Forrest, though, was considered a dreamer and completely devoted to his photography. He was special.

"Take me with you next time? You don't need to break your other arm." She paused, taking time to rise to her full height. "And, I'm getting better at the whole 'not destroying the forest every time I take a step' thing."

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Nicolas

[loyaltyisreturned]

Nicolas looked down at himself in confusion, searching for anything out of the ordinary. There was mud on his shirt and pants, and some soot on his face smudging his bronze skin even darker in spots, but nothing out of sort. So he shrugged and crossed his arms, moving his eyes back up to squint at the girl. “What do you mean, ‘what happened’? 

[stubbornsarai]

"What. Happened." The two words came slowly, enunciated with no small amount of sarcasm to accompany the quizzical glint in her eyes. It didn't take long for her to give him another once-over before her gaze settled firmly on his face, taking note of the dark smear on his countenance.

"I'm guessing dirt isn't part of your wardrobe, so you probably picked it up somewhere. I'm just asking where." Call it curiosity, call it what you will, but Sarai was interested in another human being and that was rare enough as it was.

[tsarchived-deactivated20150713]

A remark burned at the tip of her tongue; a remark laced with sarcasm and poison, but then Terra remembered that she appreciated honesty. It was rare that people spoke what they thought; it showed a lack of sensitivity and sympathy, and these were traits Terra had never acquired either. She looked at the fellow brunette curiously, “Do you make a lot of friends this way?”

She couldn’t imagine this girl was very popular; an attitude like hers kept the people away, or it intrigued them. The former was wanted in Terra’s case, and the latter was a bother. So Terra decided to be a bother and vow to find out just why this girl was as unpleasant as she was.

“They are working just fine,” Terra said calmly and began to wander into the general direction of the Piggly Wiggly. The girl’s curiosity pleased her, but she would not give up information easily. She looked at her, “The other party is unable to get himself ice. Does this answer your question?”

[stubbornsarai]

For someone so abrasive, Sarai was -- on occasion -- remarkably self-aware. It did come as a shock that this stranger didn't offer a biting remark or even a quick 'fuck you', but the biggest surprise came with the question she posed. Did Sarai make a lot of friends with her attitude? 

"Implying that I have friends," was the only retort Sarai managed to come up with.  It was true, Sarai was a loner; she had her uncle and Forrest, and that seemed to be enough. Besides, the woods were alive enough to keep her company while she was at work. What more could she ask for? 

For reasons that mostly related to boredom and maybe a bit of masochism, Sarai opted to follow the woman in the direction of Piggly Wiggly. She could always use a few ace bandages, maybe protein bars, or maybe just a snack to munch on as she walked back home. There was always a reason to go to the store, so Sarai convinced herself that she wasn't actually interested in the woman who had apparently kicked some serious ass.

"Himself?" Her brows lifted incredulously, though they settled just as a mischievously curious grin took control of her features. "So, what did he do? Or what did you do? Either way, I'm not gonna judge."

[directedbyford]

[idunn-svensson-deactivated20150]

"Even then, no one is allowed here." Idunn huffed, grabbing the flowers from Sarai and placing them on the floor and each with a gentle touch they revitalized, now growing as they were before the girl plucked them from the ground. Idunn glanced up and noticed the Issac girl was still here, "When are you leaving?" It was a question, of course, but her tone suggested it was more of a command.

[stubbornsarai]

"Yet here I am," Sarai mumbled under her breath. Her own words seemed less sarcastic and more of a knee-jerk reaction, but it didn't stop her from arching her brows in a way that was decidedly sarcastic. Even as the flowers revitalized, Sarai stood her ground; unwavering, like the forest itself. 

"Well, I was on my way out when you stopped me. So probably as soon as you're done here." 

"I thought I'd look around for a bit; admire the forest and all that jazz, but I can clear out. I'm done for the day." Something behind her voice betrayed more than disinterest. Perhaps it was disappointment that laced her words.

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Nicolas

[loyaltyisreturned]

"Is that how people normally greet each other? Really?"

[stubbornsarai]

"Just did." Without missing a beat, Sarai looked the boy over once more and pursed her lips, "You gonna tell me what happened or not?"

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Cordelia

[cordeliahathaway]

"Don’t remind me - I know. I’ve been sick for weeks. You, on the other hand, look wonderful.”

[stubbornsarai]

"Wonderful and woodcutter don't go hand in hand, but thanks." A pause lingered as if Sarai hadn't expected to be meet with a conversational tone, "But -- uh -- what do you have? You contagious?"

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Jacob

[invisiblcthought]

Wow, did you have to take your glasses off to notice that?

[stubbornsarai]

"Wouldn't have done it if I didn't have to. What happened to you?"