phaseshifter | IC Contact

There was another option. I was just too much of a coward to do it myself when push came to shove.

[ Talking it out is... good? Maybe. He's not hyperventilating, so there is that. ]

And now everything is a huge damn mess.

It's not cowardly if you can't do it yourself. I couldn't.

[ For different reasons, but. Shush. ]

You didn't make the mess. It isn't your responsibility to fix it up. And I'm sure that John will be able to reasonably talk all this through when he does come back! You can worry about it then.

That's different and you know it.

[ There's an irritating, 'this part of the discussion is over' edge to his voice, something he probably picked up from Jack. One of the many lovely side effects of having the man in his brain for the better part of a year.

Ugh. ]

John's... the last thing I remember, before I -- before I was down for good -- his face. [ Use complete sentences, Rhys. Get enough air and try again. ] I. Don't know if he's... when he comes back, if he's going to feel all that 'reasonable'.

Fine, then you chose someone else with a steady hand and intimate knowledge of how to kill a person quickly over doing it yourself. It was the smart choice. I'd have asked too, in your position.

[ HA. Meaning yeah no Jack doing that shit doesn't work on her, why would it work for Rhys. Rhys, you buffoon. You FOOL. ]

And if he's not going to be reasonable, then we'll deal with it later. We.

[ She's probably right, isn't she? She usually is. It just doesn't do much to loosen the knot of guilt coiled up in his guts. The corpse locker hideout plan is still tempting. Not, y'know, possible, but tempting nontheless.

Arguing with her is pointless, then. ]

...so, how. H-how are you holding up. Like. Your 100% honest situation, please, there's been enough truth-stretching around here.

[ Truth-stretching on whose part, Rhys? HUH? HUH???????? ]

I'm a little stressed, but nothing new there. Now that you're back, it's fine.

[ We're not taking her warped-ass idea of what is and isn't stressful into account here, of course. Angel's "a little stressed" is many people's "nervous breakdown." BUT WHATEVER, ]

It'll be even more fine when I can check you for missing limbs myself. Where are you?

Woke up in the creepy funeral home, ran to the shack. And, hey, I know -- I know I've been the guy playing fast and loose with the truth, so --

[ Video! There He Is, a little splotchy-faced but otherwise in one piece. The scar under his ear nearly connects with the one Angel carved on his throat.

He wiggles both sets of fingers and pans down to show off two (2) whole-ass leggies. ]

I can do a full physical. Ask me anything.

Oh - then you're close. I didn't travel far, because - y'know. Quark. So it won't be long bef-- oh, dude, you look terrible.

[ HONESTY!! Honesty that covers up a considerable amount of distress. Bff nooooooooooo ]

Tattoos all still there? Can you still smell and taste things? Are your toes all present??

Okay, there's being honest and then there's being a little too honest.

[ A joke! He's attempting something humor-flavored. It... falls pretty flat, especially with the way he jerks his collar up awkwardly, doing nothing to cover up the scarfest. ]

Yes, yes, and yes. I wouldn't lie about minor stuff like that. Maybe I... just got... lucky?

[ He feels anything but, but. Maybe the powers that be threw him the barest of bones. ]

You and lucky don't belong in the same sentence. Well - without some kinda negative modifier. Mmmmaybe it's a memory thing? Something so far back or obscure that you don't know it's gone?

[ That sure would be convenient and hahahahAHAHAHA ]

I guess I'll... figure it out when it comes back to me? It's. Whatever. I'm feeling like I got off pretty easy. In... just in that department, obviously.

[ Maybe, maybe he was SO PATHETIC Eve just gave him a pity freebie. Which is depressing to consider. no matter how illogical.

And hey speaking of convenient Rhys feels eyes on his back, sighs tiredly, and turns for a second. ]

Do you have something to say, or...?

[ 'Or.' ]

That's not an actual -- uuuugghhhforgetit.

Hey, you're gonna...

[ Oh. Well.

No prizes for guessing who made an appearance, then. ]

...jinx it. Ughhhh.

Well, I didn't lose him. Yaaaaaaay.

[ 'Ey, Rhys, shut the hell up., Quit acting like can just get rid of me, no problemo, 'cause you've shown time and time again you just CAN'T.'

Rhys opens his mouth for a retort, but. Nothing comes out. Which clearly isn't just a normal loss for words, what with the way he looks back at Angel, confused and still mouthing words.

Que the fuck? ]

Uh...?

[ For once, words are failing her. Just... not the same way they're failing Rhys. U wot, m8? ]

Sorry, I'm not -- [Is he trying to tell her something without Jack hearing?] -- uh. Slower? Maybe?

[ He mouths the words slower, then frantically points at his mouth, then throat, before throwing both hands up in confusion. What, did his price kick in now? Revivals are taking longer, maybe there are a lot of glitches in the Matrix and this is the newest.

Jack, however, isn't too sure. He slides back into Rhys' line of sight, uncrossing his arms and raising a weird, holographic-masky-eyebrow.

'Is this your way of mocking me, c-cause I gotta be honest -- this is making you look way, waaaaaay worse than me. Knock it off.' ]

-- alk! I -- wait, wh...? What just -- ??

[ Well.

Color Jack interested. ]

W...hat's going on?

[ Angel doesn't know what's up with this weird little pantomime, but she doesn't like it. At all. Especially since it's happening immediately after Douchelord McBlue showed up. ]

Is he doing something to you? Did the admin give him his control back??

No, I don't think it's that, but --

[ There are dots here, scattershot and he's so so so tired, but even so there's the barest hint of connection started.

Too bad Jack doesn't get tired. Jack's fresh as a fucking daisy, and he just needs another little test.

'Spin three times and do your best rakk impression'.

Immediately, he spins x3,, and then... if Angel thought it was confusing before, well, now he's flapping his arms and screeching in a vaguely familiar way. His rakk impression ain't half bad. ]

...He is doing something to you.

[ Because why else would Rhys be... doing some kind of ballet dancing rakk... thing...??

?????????

????????????????????????? ]

Re-remember ripping out your cybernetics is an option!

[ 'Say goodbye to Angel, Rhysie-bud. And only goodbye - we can't spoil the surprise! No more little dances or anything like that either, kiddo. No doing or saying anything that'll give it away.'

The dancing/rakk mating dance ritual/whatever that was supposed to be stops, extremely abruptly, with Rhys' arms falling to his side. ]

Goodbye, Angel.

[ It's his voice, his voice, thick with panic but all him.

Then the feed cuts and he's gone. ]

Rhys?

Rhys?

If you get this you should let Jack know that one day I'm going to get my powers back and I'm going to fre-- fucking phaseshift his face into a literal asshole.

[A day later, shortly after he gives Rhys this innately-doomed order, Enoch quietly gets Angel's attention to confirm that's more or less exactly what's going on.]

IC Contact - Snowblind

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Day 382 [action-ish/for record of IC knowledge]