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

@jwatson; text; Night 208

[jumpthegun]

[Okay. This particular apology leaves him feeling particularly anxious, if only because Rhys has guessed at something John would rather not have people knowing.

It was bound to happen, my darling. You shouldn't have turned on video.]

Rhys, hey. I wanted to apologize for how I talked to you the other night. My death price lifted this morning, and I think that's going to fix some things now I know what it was.

[Are you just going to insinuate seeing me was part of that price? Mary asks, raising her brows. She shrugs after a moment. Clever.]

I'm very sorry. I was rude and hostile, and you didn't deserve that.

[headjacked]

[ A whole lotta nothin' for a good long while. Then - ]

coooooooooooool

@Mnemosyne; text; Day 225

[bookofnope]

Hello, Rhys. I assume you've stopped panicking by now since you're checking your inbox. Perhaps Angel has already checked hers and averted the panic altogether? One can hope.

I can imagine in great detail the spiral of guilt I am sending you both into; I apologise, though I think you're well aware that I don't actually hold either of you responsible. MY departure has nothing to do with ill will towards you. I simply need time. To process, if you will. I suppose at heart I'm not as tamed as I thought.

As I've told Angel, I will meet you two at the entrance to the eastern tunnels in three days' time. Try not to lose any limbs in the meanwhile. Watch over each other.

[headjacked]

[ Panic has, indeed, settled to a dull but ever-present misery. He's tuckered himself out. ]

That's an actual promise, right? You're not just trying to make us feel better before you charge headfirst into an anomaly?

action; night 231;

[phaseshifter]

[ The all-too familiar anomalies may be gone, but that doesn't mean that sleep is going to come easily. Clan Vamperion are crammed in a bathroom overnight, and no amount of blanketage can make that entirely comfortable.

Still. Sleep comes. Angel's is fitful, though, and at approximately fuck o'clock she awakens for the billionth time and decides that sleep can go eff itself. Maybe she'll just surf the network for a while. It's better than just lying there thinking about things that she can't do anything about.

So she opens her eyes. ]

ERK--!

[ "Erk" is not a thing that real people actually say when they are startled. Except this once. Angel honest-to-god fucking erks before covering her mouth with both hands.

Jack has been freaking watching her sleep and that's creepy as heck. WEIRDED OUT WHISPERING, HO. ]

What the heck are you doing?!

[headjacked]

[ The blanket hog some call Rhys snorts and jerks his leg a little, but remains asleep throughout the Angel based disturbance. Jack himself just raises an itty bitty brow, unmoved by the Erking or accusatory whispering. ]

'It's called keeping watch, and it's a perfectly valid strategy in the art of Not Letting Our Asses Get Slaughtered.'

[ Another snorf from Rhys. Jack isn't bothering to whisper. ]

@ASolomons; audio; day 138

[devoutish]

Checking in.

[Sup, Rhys. It's been a while.]

audio;

[headjacked]

[ give him a second to eeeEEEEEE a lil ]

Still breathing over here, how 'bout you?

morning 254; text; @guardian

[phaseshifter]

Rhys I'm so sorry YOU AREN'T OLD OR STUPID

[ Typed in a rush, first thing in the morning, before any sensible people are awake. Because gOTTA SAY IT FAST ]

video

[headjacked]

Come on video, brat.

[ Smiling, hair looking a little ruffled but no worse for wear. Least he didn't pluck himself bald. ]

@Spoiler; audio; Morning 255

[spoileralert]

Rhys, I swear to god, I am going to destroy this fucking robot if Jack doesn't keep his goddamn mouth shut. Either tell me how to mute him or tell me how to delete him.

@dickcheese, audio;

[headjacked]

What.

[ That's one way to wake up a Reeser. His voice is strained and raspy, quiet despite his obvious distress.

Jack, in the background, titters. 'Language.']

No, nonono, it doesn't -- d-don't hurt him, okay??

Night 257, text @Enoch - AND NOW FOR SOME BACKDATED MOOD WHIPLASH

[warriorscribe]

Rhys, hello. I know I haven't spoken with you often of late, and I apologize for that, and more so for this having to be a warning. If you haven't spoken with Beckett already please be careful. His death has taken something from him; empathy, love, or something, and he may be hostile.

I know you're close to him, too, so I felt I ought to let you know. Be safe, and don't hold it against him, he isn't entirely himself even if he claims he is.

@Enoch, voice; Day 265

[warriorscribe]

[He spends hours in a stupor when he wakes up, mind lingering on what could have been a dream, perhaps even futilely trying to convince itself it was.

It's when that part of him finally gives up as it should that he reaches out to the people that had been there...]

Rhys. [Enoch's voice breaks on that one simple syllable. He's short of breath, tearful, words racing out as quickly as his mouth can make them. Rhys is the first person he contacted, and it shows.] I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Rhys, please tell me you're well again, please forgive me, how could I have- I know it wasn't me but I still- it was still my hands, my voice, that-

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Can't think, can't talk, just- sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... [He repeats until there are no coherent words left, only tears. Part of him has forgotten Rhys himself is on the other end of this.]

[headjacked]

[ Hearing this cuts straight through the joy he feels after being free, being together and whole, with Beckett nearby. Safe.

His heart is hammering inside his chest. Rhys paces, trying to burn off the excess energy before it fuels a major attack. ]

I don't --

[ Staggered breathing. ]

Want to hear this. Now. I -- nononono, nope, n-no. You didn't do it but you DID it and your face, your voice, I just.

No.

@imtheboss, text ; day 265

[24karat]

hey firstly fuck you

[ ...that felt like simply going through the motions instead of a genuine 'fuck you.' Man, he needed to sleep this off. But first-- this particular conundrum's bothering him, and Vasquez didn't want to think about it for more than the five seconds it deserved. Too late for that, though! ]

okay that did absolutely nothing to make me feel better and that is just disappointing on a fundamental level.
secondly, what was that. in there, with the whole...........not being a total dick in my direction thing. starting to think i'm losin my touch, here.
[ He prides himself in being a good nemesis, okay. He's not gonna halfass that, ever. For the sake of not leaving the message on that note, he throws in another line of text, although he's pretty sure the answer to it's obvious. ]

did you get your leg back

[headjacked]

Fuck you harder, buddy.

Or. Insert something less suggestive here.

[ Rhys has burned through fear, elation, and has settled on exhaustion. Bone-tired. The exchange of Fucks feels equally empty. ]

Call it a combination of being tired of you, tired of this, tired of everything. Pretty sure I've told you you're a tiny itch in the full body eczema that is Norfinbury life.
I meant it.

Also I stand firm that nobody deserves what happened back there, except maybe the Joker. That's not being soft, that's being human.

@Enoch; text; night 267 - I am so sorry for the inbox spam

[warriorscribe]

[So he's set up a vague meeting with Brian. They're both heading for "the tunnels" so he can hand off his stuff. He knows Brian is going to meet with Beckett and Beckett is with Rhys.

Only the next night does he realize he's forgotten the most important step of all, as the panic of nearly dying from drifting focus settles down. At least he has the presence of mind to use text, instead of video or audio. He's at the point where he can type more or less normally again, no matter how awful he feels.]

Hello, Rhys. I suspect I'm still the last person you want to hear from, and I'm sorry for this. But I'm afraid we may end up in the same place soon. When I died that night in my failed attempt to protect Beckett, I left my things with Brian. He still has them, and says he is going to meet you - or, rather, to meet Beckett. This means we may cross paths, as he doesn't know exactly where he's going or when he'll arrive.

I do admit no small part of me wants badly to rejoin our mutual friend, as well. But I won't stay if it will hurt you. If you'd like, I can only reclaim my belongings and leave as soon as it is safe.

I didn't want to arrive unannounced, after what happened. The last thing I want to do is cause you more pain.

I did find some things earlier to give to you, as a gesture of

[He's mastered the art of using a line break to indicate a confused pause.]

I'm not sure, really, whether it's apology, or goodwill, or both. But they are yours to do with as you wish, whether I am there to gift them in person or I send them along with Brian.

Safe travels, Rhys, and tell Beckett I wish him the same.

[headjacked]

No.

[ It's typed and sent in a second, fingers smashing against the tablet. And after a few seconds pass, after the initial reaction, he feels... the inevitable guilt.

He doesn't want to leave Beckett. He doesn't want to see Enoch in person yet. Something has to give eventually, and prolonging it... ]

Wait, hold up, nevermind, just come at me, bro. If I freak out and puke oh well I get it out of my system faster.



What kind of things did you find.

283 @zd; text

[swatsflies]

Yo, Rhys! Wanted to check up on your guys and ask if I could show you something. Thought you guys might be able to figure it out.
You both okay? How was all the other weird shit from the last couple of weeks?
How's Dumpy?
Get back to me when you can!

[headjacked]

YO, MY MAN

We're doing oka -- no, better than okay. Great. Getting ready for another round of Pancake Heaven, and YOU are cordially invited.
Just put that weird shit (any and all) behind you. That's my goal.

Oh and show me the Thing, what's the Thing?

@Enoch; text; Night 279

[warriorscribe]

[Angel might have told him this was coming, at least, so it may not be a complete surprise.]

Hello, Rhys. Angel tells me you two are returning from downtown. Are you doing well?

[headjacked]

Ultra-super-mega-inferno well, Enoch.
I could not be more well if I tried. Stick a fork in me, I'm well... done.

[ Yes, she warned him. Yes, he's overcompensating. ]

day 295; action;

[phaseshifter]

[ Continued from here! ]

What the fuck.

[ Angel has become more forthcoming with The Eff in recent years. Just a bit, mind. You have to deploy your F-bombs with care if you want them to remain effective.

Now, however, is definitely a moment for the most strangled and gobsmacked of fucks. ]

Is that - are you - is - what the fuck, Rhys!

[ Maybe TWO fucks. ]

[headjacked]

[ There’s a moment where the eye goes entirely dark, sickeningly long. He hates the way that makes his abused stomach churn. When the light comes back he exhales sharply, a headache building in one temple.

He needs to not be here right now. She wasn’t supposed to know — he told her he was crushed. Yers and years and years.

So he turns heel and runs. ]

night 298 probably shut up it's backdated to fuck; action;

[phaseshifter]

Rhys.

[ It's nighttime. There are sleep piles. Some of the sleep piles feature people who have been recently stabbed.

GOOD TIME FOR A TALK AMIRITE!!

Meaning Angel is quietly-but-insistently nudging Rhys in the ribs. He probably doesn't need the sleep anyway. ]

Psssst. Are you awake?

[headjacked]

Ange...?

[ Surprisingly enough, Rhys is awake. Almost totally alert, even, despite being curled up with Dumpy snuggled into his chest.

He doesn't need the sleep. Or. He doesn't feel like needs as much. ]

Yeah, just -- shhh, I don't think anyone else is.

Day 301; action

[bookofnope]

[It's been an odd day for all of them, with the sense of reality shifting, things spinning in their own minds. Between that and the beginnings of cabin fever, Beckett has given up on productive experimentation, and elected to spend much of the day sleeping. More rest is never unwelcome in Norfinbury after all.

Except in the middle of the day he wakes up with a start, stares briefly into space, and proceeds to freak the hell out.

It is a very quiet, contained freakout. He's experienced at those. With the cloak drawn tight, and walking fast down the corridors, no one can tell that he's shaking all over. Thank God he can even manage to move his legs in any sensible way. By the time he finds Rhys and drags him to a quiet out of the way corner, though, he's all spent with that effort. He practically collapses into a crouch, shaking like a leaf.]

Rhys. Remind me. The Book. When you and Angel - remind me - what did I do?

[headjacked]

Easy -- easy!

[ Rhys can feel Beckett's shaking as he stumbles, pulled down into the crouch with him. He flinches. Looks away. Eventually, his eye makes contact again. The expression is not unlike the one he wears around Enoch. ]

We... destroyed it and you...

[ Though he knows what ought to be right, the memory of teeth in his throat is still sharp and bizarrely fresh. ]

...you couldn't have -- you definitely didn't do anything.

@Mnemonsyne; voice; Day 346

[bookofnope]

[See, Rhys is the hardest. Because as far as Beckett remembers, Rhys just died himself. And Beckett is still very much in the mindset that birthed the Decisions made in the wake of that death.

This is the worst death price ever.]

I... probably owe you an apology. One way or another.

text;

[headjacked]

[ Rhys is usually one to go straight to video for reunions. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, snot and puppy dog eyes and etc unto you.

Except. Not this time.

No, Beckett gets text and only text. ]

Just "probably"?

day 376; @guardian; text;

[phaseshifter]

Dude. What the eff

[ oh hey angel is back and yes that's the full message

rhys is welcome ]

2/?

[phaseshifter]

[ an hour or two later: ]

DID YOU KILL ME WITH A PILLOW

@Enoch, text; day 405

[warriorscribe]

Hello, Rhys. Angel told me you followed when Squalo left the bunker with her. Is everyone all right?

[By that he means "are you and Angel all right", but the way Rhys answers this will let him know whether or not his communication is being watched. He knows Angel has a tendency to downplay any distress she might be in so a second pair of eyes on the scene is a blessing, and it might help Rhys's state of mind to know that someone is trying to look out for them from afar.]

[headjacked]

Enoch heyyyyyy.

Angel's fine, this is a super duper low-grade kidnapping. I don't even think it officially qualifies as one, since Angel very obviously WANTS to be here. My head feels like flaming oatmeal but what else is new.

afternoon 421; action;

[phaseshifter]

[ Okay, two and a bit days is enough of a time out. IT'S TIME FOR...... THE RE-SPEAKENING..........................

Or something. WHATEVER. The important thing is that Angel is approaching Rhys and actually offering eye contact and IT'S BEEN THREE THOUSAND YEARS ]

Hey. Feel like helping me out with something tomorrow?

[ PROFOUNDLY EMOTIONAL!! ]

Re: afternoon 421; action;

[headjacked]

[ It’s like every single emotion and reaction Rhys has stored tries to boot and immediately crashes. His face ends up with a concerned sort of hopeful expression in the end.

This is talking! This is words!! ]

You... want my help??

[ If only he was good at those. ]

@Enoch, voice; Day 416, after Watson's network post

[warriorscribe]

[Well...once he and Beckett had calmed down after it seemed the unusual anomaly had actually given up, against all odds, he had to go back and see what he could add to John's post. When he actually reviewed everything that had been said...]

Rhys, are you all right? I'm...I'm sorry, for what the- that other me did.

[It's not him, but it also is. Therefore, he must apologize.]