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

[mightyratslayer]

[God, this is such a mess. He shouldn't have messaged Rhys in the first place. What got fucked up this time? He was trying so hard. Ugh. Now he's just the same amount of angry that he was before, but he also feels... Sticky. Like heartburn but in his head.

It's the kind of feeling he gets when he's been thinking too hard for too long and still can't figure out which way is up. Dennis used to make him feel this way a lot. And Frank and his mom. Beckett did a little bit too, and Watson, but only sometimes with Watson. What is this? He doesn't like it. It's gross.]

I don't know, man. I guess I wanted you to give me some reason not to think that stuff. Like, all this people think you're alright and I can't for the life of me figure out why, but there's gotta be something, right? But you just keep talking down to me like I'm an idiot.

[armoured]

I don't know, I'm sorry. I think we're going to discuss it now just before the doors open, I'll call you back when I know for sure.

@LELRIC; audio; late morning 165

[armoured]

[It's not long after they first spoke, but Al is already ringing back. Alas, not with the directions he promised.]

Rhys, I'm so sorry-- he took the Joker.

audio;

[headjacked]

[ Just when he thought things couldn't get worse! He should know better by now. ]

Wh-- where??

[headjacked]

Alright, so. How did you think I was going to go about that. Proving I'm a good guy in a single conversation.

@guardian; audio; uh day 165 right W/E

[phaseshifter]

RHYS WHAT THE ACTUAL FRICK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FREAKING DOING.

[ that's it that's the message

you know how angel doesn't *properly* yell very often

WELL, ]

[armoured]

I don't know.

[He is so angry right now.]

Batman knocked me out so he could get away with the Joker.

[headjacked]

Hwhhh... HOW. You're a guy in a living tank!

[ Maybe not the thing to be focusing on, though. Rhys sucks in an equally angry breath. ]

If I message this 'Batman' guy, I know it won't get anywhere. We'll have to just -- just scour the area.

[mightyratslayer]

...Not talking down to me like I'm an idiot would be a good start. [Is this guy even hearing what Charlie's saying? Is he hearing himself?]

And, like, there's a lot of space between being a good guy and being a bad guy. Like, gray area, y'know? [He demonstrates said gap by holding up his hands.] I'm not saying you gotta prove you're a good guy, just that you're not terrible.

[armoured]

[Doesn't Rhys think he feels guilty enough?!]

I know. I'm heading up to the hospital now to see if they went that way; if I don't find any trace of them, I'll head downtown.

[headjacked]

I'm still heading towards the tunnels. Dunno how - how fast they're moving...

[ Cool off, pull back. Breathe. ]

...you're okay, right?

[armoured]

Yeah, I-- my head kind of hurts, but I'll be fine.

[He more sounds annoyed than anything.]

I'm so sorry.

[headjacked]

Aaaaaal...

[ He slowly massages below the port. ]

Please stop with the self-loathing. You're just a kid. A weirdly massive kid with sick armor, but a kid.

[armoured]

It's not self loathing to be sorry I lost them, it just means that I'm sorry. That's all.

[For once, he snaps. He's so sick of people telling him that he's a kid and not to feel guilt for the things he's done.]

[headjacked]

Yeah, that's how it starts. The sneaky self-hate spiral.

[ take it from a pro ]

[headjacked]

Mmmokay, bud, I'll get right on that vague-ass request of yours.

[ Sarcasm isn't making him feel better either, shockingly.

God, he wishes he had something to cut through the random pain-stabbies. They're not helping with his irritability. ]

I'll work on that and maybe you work on not taking LITERALLY EVERYTHING as me insinuating you're an idiot. Deal?

[armoured]

I don't hate myself, Rhys!

[ARGH!!!]

And you shouldn't either.

[headjacked]

OkayokayokAY, maybe 'hate' was way too strong. Just. You know what I mean!

[armoured]

[He just huffs an angry little sound.]

--sorry, I guess I'm just frustrated, I'm so angry with Batman right now.

[headjacked]

You and me both. The hell does he get off, smacking you - YOU - around and deciding he's the Justice King of the Universe?

[armoured]

I don't know, but I'd like to smack him right back. He's such an idiot! Doing something like this is better with support, not off on your own, and I could have helped him.

@ASolomons; audio; day 172

[devoutish]

Rhys. Still hanging in?

@dickcheese, audio;

[headjacked]

[ Belated response, but at least he's talking. ]

Iunno.

[ S...ort of. ]

[devoutish]

Mm.

[Sorry, Rhys. Alfie is not who you want comforting you.]

Well. Dr. Watson's gonna be in touch soon.

[headjacked]

Mmmmmm.

[ Nothing for another short while. Then: ]

Do either of you know? What it looked like?