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

@ADMIN; Night 121

[snowblindmods]

[This message is waiting for Rhys when he wakes up.]

You have demonstrated an inability to control your anomaly. We have taken steps to contain it ourselves.

[AI Jack's capabilities have been severely limited: he can still talk to Rhys and see/hear outside of Rhys's eyes and ears, but he is unable to take control of Rhys's body. He can still aid Rhys in hacking, but only when Rhys is directly hooked up to something. This is a permanent limitation.]

[headjacked]

My cybernetics are gone. For the most part. Is that what you mean?

@dissect; text; evening 122

[circumsutus]

Rhys, I would like to apologize for my earlier actions.

@dickcheese; text

[headjacked]

[ lmfao nah son

something pulls tight and snaps like a rubber band ]

FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
FUCK
Y
O
U

@quark; text; Morning 124

[averytinyparticle]

[This isn't first thing in the morning, but a couple of hours after his emotional outburst on the obituary he realizes that he has a reason to reach out to a couple of people.]

Mister Rhys? I just wanted to tell you that Dumpy is okay. I'm sorry if you were worried about him.

@dickcheese; text

[headjacked]

[ Reply comes a little later, as he has to form words with is dried out brainmeats. ]

Don't need the "Mr", thanks.

Can I talk to him?

@duster, audio; day 125

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't know why he's bothering, but Rhys is the only other person he can think of who might care that Alfie is dead. So. Here it is. ]

You need to change your message. [ Seriously, dude. ] Are you there or did you die again?

@dickcheese, audio;

[headjacked]

Uh, hi??

[ N...ot exactly someone he's expecting a message from. Not exactly displeased, either. ]

I'm doing a hell of a lot better now. And, y'know, I think one death in almost three months isn't that bad of a track record, con-considering.

@ASolomons; audio; day 130

[devoutish]

I've got your shoes that you lent out to Watson.

[headjacked]

Wh-- oh yeah, the sneakers.

You can hang onto 'em, Alfie. Like - like as backup. My boots are super tough and insulated.

@enhance; video; night 133

[plundering]

Hey, Rhys. Staying toasty?

[This is a dumb thing to say.]

@dickcheese; video

[headjacked]

Toas-- toasty? Really, that's what you're going with?

I'm cozy. What about you, She of the Shattered Ribs?

@jwatson; audio; Day 134

[jumpthegun]

Hey, Rhys? How're you, Angel, and Beckett doing? Wanted to let you know Fiona, Haurchefant, and I are heading over toward the tunnel Kesara dug. Meeting up to get Ecks some real food. Did you lot make it downtown?

[headjacked]

Dr. John, hey...! J-just the man I want to see. Hear. Whatever.

Everyone's fine, and we met up with Beckett, and Broken Keyboard and his dog girl friend. We made p-p... p-pancakes.

[ If John thinks Rhys sounds awful, well. he is absolutely correct. ]

@enhance; audio; day 147

[plundering]

[Every time she hears this inbox recording it grates a little more, honestly, but hey! She's made progress, so she's cheerful when she messages Rhys.]

Hey, Rhys. I talked to someone named Tony Stark, some big shot tech guy. John vouched for him. He says he thinks he might be able to get rid of Jack, but he might need to take apart some of your cybernetics to do it, or hook you up to some sort of... outside system or something.

audio; belated as heckie; day 148

[headjacked]

--Hey! Hi, Fi! Sorry I didn't get back to you A-S-A-P, we -- uh. We've been busy. With things. And stuff! And we're still SUPER DUPER BUSY. So. It might take awhile to get to -- g-get to the stuff you've mentioned.

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?

@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.

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




♥

@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 ]

@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?

audio;

[headjacked]

[ Hooooo boy, is this a relief. Rhys can feel a little knot of tension easing up.

He sounds surprisingly non-emotive when he replies. This is probably taking great deal of effort. ]

Good. Great. Not -- not the blind part, obviously, but the not-dead part. We've moved on, though - anyone else able to help you out?

@ketximq; video; Night 163

[mightyratslayer]

[Charlie's not sure what he's doing here, and that will be apparent from the look on his face. He's tired and still trying to calm down after all of that static bullshit. He knows he should wait until he's feeling better to have this conversation, but their last exchange has been bugging him. Stuff bugging him is his least favorite thing. He just wants this to be over.]

Hey. Um. So this is probably coming out of nowhere, but hear me out, okay? I think you said some shitty stuff back there, but I said some shitty stuff too, so can we just call it square or something?

[Well... It's a start. Not a great start, but a start.]

[headjacked]

It... yeah, it is. Considering the whole 'eat shit and die' thing.

[ But he doesn't sound mad, just a little perplexed. A little guarded, though he is in fact just trying to police his own tone. He's been doing better lately; he'd hate to do/say anything to blow up his relationships any further. ]

Early morning 165 before lockdown ends; @LELRIC; text

[armoured]

[After contacting Alfie, Al has one other person he promised to let know about Joker. It's a risk, but he's putting his trust in Rhys not to betray that.]

Keep to text.

It's Al, we've caught him.

[And because it's been weighing on him.]

Rhys, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Fiona before the obituaries, I had no idea you were friends.

[headjacked]

[ Rhys is buzzing with fear, regret. Purpose. It's a very weird emotional cocktail. He's light, airy. Nothing feels real. ]

That's not helping anything. The. The sorrying over not knowing. You didn't do anything wrong, Al.

Can you give me a more exact location?

@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??

@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, ]

@ASolomons; audio; day 172

[devoutish]

Rhys. Still hanging in?

@dickcheese, audio;

[headjacked]

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

Iunno.

[ S...ort of. ]

@jwatson; audio; Day 172

[jumpthegun]

Hi, Rhys. I just saw the obits. I wanted to say I'm so sorry about Angel. Are you okay-ish? At least for the moment?

@dickcheese, audio;

[headjacked]

The obits you yourself were on??

[ He's practically spitting, voice jumping from lifeless to pitchy in one breath. ]

@Spoiler ; voice ; Night 172

[spoileralert]

Hey, Rhys? You okay?

[ Maybe it's obvious why she doesn't turn on the video - she's been crying. Like, a lot. ]

@dickcheese, voice

[headjacked]

[ Voice twins, yep. ]

Ask yourself the same question and you have your answer.

night 174; @guardian; text;

[phaseshifter]

I'm back. Are you and the others alright? How are your injuries

[ look if rhys didn't expect immediate fussage idek what to say ]

Re: night 174; @guardian; text;

[headjacked]

[ Several 'oh my gods' are uttered, several tears are shed, and a robot nephew is grabbed and hugged before he replies.

Thank FRICK. ]

My injuries are whatever but nobody else has died LIKE YOU DID




I didn't mean that in an accusing way just stating the shitty shitty facts
(your death, not the fact everyone else is ok)
(so glad you're okay you're okay right what'd you lose where are you do you have enough food water etc???)

@ASolomons; audio; evening 175

[devoutish]

[Multiple people are getting this same message from Alfie this evening - and Rhys happens to be one of the chosen few.]

There's a man who goes by Undertaker - that's exequies on the network, E-X-E-Q-U-I-E-S. He's gotten his hands on one of my prescriptions, and is holding it for ransom, and I would like to get it back. If you spot him or hear of his location, give me a ring.

And we'll keep this between us, of course. Tight lips.

[headjacked]

[ He does squeal a little, with the implication that Alfie trusts and likes him enough to entrust him with this information. ]

Got it. I won't tell a soul. And I'm pretty good at lifting drugs without causing a scene, h-heh.

[ s w e a t s ]

An, um. Immediate scene.

@notasidekick; audio; afternoon 181

[nursetemple]

[After Watson, Claire immediately switches to Rhys. She's worried about him, about his injuries and the strain on them and on his mental health, especially after the night they had.]

Hey Rhys, it's Claire. I just wanted to check in - make sure you're okay, after....well, after last night. How are you holding up?

@dickcheese, audio;

[headjacked]

HA.

[ Rhys sounds like he's holding onto his sanity for dear life, and on the edge of failure. He breathes deep. ]

Oh, I'm fine, aside from all the violent killing business... which wasn't a dream after all. How about YOU?

@ofcorpse; text Evening 185

[exequies]

Hiya, duckboy.

Feeling better? Or are you wracked with guilt over what happened a few nights ago?

[He's kind of hoping for the latter.]

@dickcheese; text

[headjacked]

[ jesus wept

He does know who this is, after the intel he did for Alfie. If. If you can call 'looking someone up on the network' intel. And, well -- context. ]

Hey. Hi. You. Guy with the hair. How're things with YOU?

@notasidekick; audio; afternoon 189

[nursetemple]

Hey Rhys, it's Claire.

Just wondering if you're anywhere near the police station these days? In that area of town maybe?

[Maybe she sounds a tiny bit panicked, but she's trying not to.]

@dickcheese, audio;

[headjacked]

[ Claire, no, you are meant to be some paragon of stability and sanity. His panic levels rise to match hers. ]

Uhhhm, we -- wait, why a-are - are you okay??