ic inbox

[headjacked]

Heyyyyyyyy, kiddo, you've reached me. Me who is Rhys. Anyway, not sure why you're trying to get in contact with the king of the dweebs, but I'm sure you've got your reasons. Reasons you should probably re-examine. I'm just sayin'.

Last chance to back out.

No?

Don't say I didn't warn ya.

Comments

[headjacked]

Your planet, my goddamn body.

[ She wants his cybernetics gone, apparently, so maybe it's NOT so terrible, the way he's stress-scratching around his port. Maybe. ]

Macro vs. micro. And yet my feelings STILL! DON'T! MATTER! Why don't they matter, Fiona?!

[plundering]

You didn't even hear his plan! He might not even have to touch your cybernetics! Just admit that you don't give a shit about anything but Jack. Just admit it. All this other bullshit you're spewing is just a convenient excuse. How many people have been hurt because of that fucking AI? If you don't give a shit about me or House, what about Angel? What is it going to take, Rhys?

cw self harm

[headjacked]

Fine, fine! You want to settle this right now -- let's!

[ The scratching intensifies until he draws blood, though he can't get farther than that with shaking fingers and no tools on hand.

Dumpy drifts closer. He's witnessed many a screaming match, but even his simple programming recognizes that something is different here. He screams right in Rhys' ear, distressed. ]

Shut up, Dumpy!

[plundering]

Hey. You leave Dumpy out of this.

[God, Rhys, quit being an asshole. She lets out a frustrated noise.]

If you've got something else to say, say it. Otherwise we're done here.

[headjacked]

[ It is at this moment Rhys realizes that breathing has become quite difficult. His heart has been racing since the beginning, and now, as he looks beyond his tablet, he realizes the room is spinning.

Rhys is not doing well.

He sucks in a few gaspy breaths before dropping the tablet.

They're done here. She said so. They're done. ]

[plundering]

[That was the last of his last chances, and he doesn't respond, which just cements in her mind everything she's already suspected. It's a good thing those tablets are durable, because she's whipping hers at the wall, and she won't respond again.]

Night 148

[spoileralert]

[ Steph is wrapped up in a nest of blankets, towels and stuffed animals with Zach and Steve when she calls. ]

Hey, I need a favor. Do you have any secrets you're willing to give up that would entertain Ecks?

[headjacked]

[ Rhys is still recovering from his immense fuck-up. His... most recent one, anyway. He has to listen to the request a few times for it to really process. ]

Secrets?

[spoileralert]

Secrets. [ Steph knows nothing of this, but it's... always something with Rhys, isn't it. ] Doesn't have to be juicy, just interesting.

@Spoiler ; video ; Day 154

[spoileralert]

Hey. Listen, I've been thinking, and... I've probably used up all of my second chances, and if I die again I don't want to leave anything unsaid.

[ Her speech is slow and stilted. She hasn't exactly scripted this talk, and her brain isn't working as smoothly as it normally would. ]

Since I came back, from... whatever my last death was, I realized, I've been kind of shitty. Especially to you. I was so focused on keeping myself safe, physically, and emotionally, that I didn't think about how anyone else was feeling. And, well, I'm sorry. You never did anything to me - I mean, not really.

I should have trusted you.

[headjacked]

-- um.

[ Unexpected, yes. So much so that his nervous stutter is even more pronounced as he chooses his words carefully. ]

W-well, we've all been under some massive pressure, and you're -- you were just a kid. And. I'm probably not winning any Best Person awards myself.

What I'm saying is - is -- you're okay, Steph. I forgave you a long time ago.

[spoileralert]

[ She manages the tiniest of smiles. ]

Thanks. But I'm not sure it really counts if I don't actually apologize.

[headjacked]

It's nice to hear an apology, and I'm sure it feels like a weight off your shoulders.

[ That last bit he knows from very recent experience, even though certain apologies didn't go nearly as well. ]

It was kind of implied, though, with your -- you kinda changed, demeanor-wise.

[spoileralert]

Things... things were going well, back home. Things were getting better here, too.

[headjacked]

'Were', huh.

How are you doing now? Honestly?

[spoileralert]

Right now?

I feel... scared. Helpless.

Alone.

[headjacked]

Is anyone nearby?? Can someone get to you?

[spoileralert]

I don't think so. And I need to get a move on, anyway. I have to get supplies to Kesara.

day 155; @guardian; text; yes I know they're like in the same room but fuck u;

[phaseshifter]

Roses are red,
Just like that dumb tie.
I'm glad that it's gone,
But that you're still close by.
Have a happy Loverpalooza!! ♥

while being a sad lump in another room

[headjacked]

doooooooooooooooork




♥

[headjacked]

Well -- all right, but you'll be okay in the meantime? Do you need to talk to Angel? HAVE you talked to Angel??

@Mnemosyne; voice; Day 160, ~3am

[bookofnope]

Can you [static] me? Rhys? Are you [static] something's [static]be the death price. Not this. Tell me it's [static]

voice;

[headjacked]

BECKETT -- [static] have everything under control. You're [static]. We're okay.

[ Somebody has to keep their wits about them. ]

Where [ prolonged static ]

[bookofnope]

[Hearing Rhys's voice is immediately comforting, though perhaps not entirely for the reasons Rhys might think. Rhys - brave and sweet and an absolute trainwreck, nothing like the company Beckett normally keeps. There's a conclusion there.]

[static]ossibly have imagined you.

[It's probably meant as a wry comment. But the chuckle that goes with it has a brittle sound that, if this wasn't Beckett, could quite possibly be edging on the hysterical.]

I'm at the chapel. And I'd lik[static] soon as possible. The irony's painful.

@ASolomons; audio; night 161

[devoutish]

[The call comes late, after Alfie has talked a bit with Watson. Angel and Rhys both get the same brief message.]

I'm alive. Police station morgue; completely blind. I hear you're in the area?