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

[phaseshifter]

I hope he isn't expecting to be tempted out with kind words like last time, because he can go eff himself. How could-- mmhrhh.

[ So mad. SO. FREAKING. MAD. ]

Is - nobody's giving you a hard time, I hope?

[headjacked]

He probably wants to talk to me... alone.

[ Which he is not looking forward to. He replies to her question with nothing but a ragged sigh-hiccup hybrid. ]

[phaseshifter]

If you'd rather I talked to him instead, I'd do it. Except you'd have to let him borrow your arm, so...

Ugh. Just - just stick with Al tonight? He's not mad at you. I'd offer hugs, but. You know.

Tablet hug?

[headjacked]

No!

[ Rather sharp and rather loud. He hiccups again and tones it down. ]

Not the hug, the -- arm. Thing. It's all gross right now anyway, it.

...okay.

[phaseshifter]

It's gross? I thought she fixed-- I mean, um, alright.

[ TABLET HUG. Complete with Angel patting the back of hers and rocking it slightly because you have to do these things right. ]

Did it help?

[headjacked]

Yeah...

[ Except: no. As evidenced by the hiccups quite obviously turning into tears. Accompanying is the sound of... something scratching at the glass, maybe?

They've dealt with that enough for it to be familiar-ish. ]

[phaseshifter]

Rhys... Look, it should only be a couple more days until -

[ Oh. It takes a second for her to register the scratching, but. Yeah. That's not a sound easily forgotten. ]

Wait, is that - did you get monstered, too?

[headjacked]

[ Another stupid pointless nod as he tries to get the tears under control. ]

It chased me all the way here.

[phaseshifter]

Oh my god.

[ And now she's back to angry again. YAY. ]

What the - the fuck is this place's problem with you?!

[headjacked]

I wish I knew! I really, REALLY wish I knew!

[ Might be hyperventilating. Just a bit. ]

[phaseshifter]

Rhys. It's okay. You've made it this far despite everything that's been thrown at you. Just two more days!

[ Probably. Definitely. Even if she has to sprint through the snow and hurt herself making sure it happens. SCREW YOU NORFINBURY. ]

Breathe.

[headjacked]

Wh-wh-who are we kidding, Angel, I'm. At this rate I'll be dead by the morning.

[phaseshifter]

Wrong. Look what you've survived so far, you giant spaghettilegged asshole. And if you keep talking like that you'll make me cry and Dumpy will sense it and he'll cry too and it'll be terrible.

[headjacked]

Dumpy's probably dead already.

[phaseshifter]

RHYS--!

[ THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR SUCH PESSIMISM

NONE ]

[headjacked]

COULD WE MAYBE STOP WITH THE YELLING.

PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

[phaseshifter]

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SCARED YOU ARE DON'T YOU DARE GIVE UP ON DUMPY HE'D NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU HE TRIES SO HARD HAVE FAITH IN HIM.

But okay, no more yelling.

[headjacked]

Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

[ SNIFFLE! ]

I... got a weird message from the admin.

[phaseshifter]

...Was it her freaking out and telling you it wasn't supposed to happen again? Over and over? Because that's what I got when I pinged her for medical assistance.

[headjacked]

I got that too, but she... or... they? Said that if I can't control my, uh. "Anomaly". That they will do it themselves.

[phaseshifter]

...oh.

[ Well. That. That sure does make it seem even more like the admin is using Angel's powers somehow. Which doesn't feel gross or violating at all.

Not that that gets more than a second's thought, because well. What an interesting threat. A horrible one, but interesting. ]

Well. I'd be interested in his reaction to that. I wonder what kind of control would be involved? You know - control as in assuming control of him, or...

[ Shrug. ]

You know. Like pest control. Extermination.

[headjacked]

He's not -- he's still not reacting. He has to have seen it, or. Dug around in my memories for it.

[ He kneads his face with metal and flesh fingers. Tired, but unable to sleep. This is going to be an all-nighter for sure. ]

Aaand... I don't... know how I feel about any of the above. It's still my head.

[phaseshifter]

Don't worry.

[ Her voice softens a little, because. Yeah. Free will. Important. ]

I'm sure Jack won't be stupid enough to risk his own neck. [Coward.] Even he has to realise that he's f-- fucked up badly. I don't think he'll do it again.

[headjacked]

I don't think he's stupid, but he is impulsive. And pent up. And I'd like to think he's learned a lesson from this, because AI, but he's a Jack AI.

[phaseshifter]

Ugh this would be so much easier if we were back home.

[ Except it wouldn't, because she ded, but shut your face. ]

I've worked out a plan with Alphonse, sooo. If it happens again with him around, he'll be able to stop it. Prrrobably.