phaseshifter | IC Contact

Rhys? He's --

[ "Alright" isn't really the right word. Not when he'd taken a beating from Jack yesterday even before the monster showed up. ]

-- he's alive, yes. He's here.

Rhys. Good. You two are friends from before, yes? He knew your father.

[Not the slightest hint of judgement there, for all that he already has some choice words to say about Handsome Jack. Not now.]

Chances of revival aren't very high, but - not very low, either. I don't consider myself an optimist, but it is a real possibility.

We - actually, we never met before coming here. He worked for dad, but he was pretty far down the corporate ladder, and, um. I was never really up on Helios where everybody worked anyway.

[ She goes very, very quiet instead of commenting on the likelihood of Jack coming back. It doesn't help matters that she has no idea what she wants to happen. She loves her dad - she really does, despite everything - but there's a part of her very deep down that feels relief that he's gone.

It's all very complicated and horrible and it hurts in a million different little ways. ]

[Her silence, in itself, says a lot. Just a few days ago, he'd offered to bring Handsome Jack to a grisly end for her - and he wasn't entirely joking. But he is old enough to have seen this sort of dance a hundred times, and seen his own kind succumb to it as easily as humans.]

It will take time, either way, [he says, still in that strangely soft voice.] You would appreciate a little time, I think.

Maybe. I keep - mhhhrh. I keep reminding myself that I shouldn't be upset? He was a bad person. Really, really bad. But he only died because he was saving me from the monster! And he's my dad. But none of that should excuse what - I mean - he beat the heck out of Rhys! That same day! It's all so dumb. And - and so fricked up.

[ And all so hard to not get really worked up about. She already misses him and she hates it. ]

Oh, yes, it is. But that is how it's done. Even my kind understand it... [he trails off briefly, still struggling with the idea of stepping into someone else's personal business.]

To control someone, fear will only take you so far. Love, though - love has teeth, pardon the obvious metaphor. No one controls you like someone who says they know what's best for you, and makes you believe it.

I... yes. And even moreso if they believe it themselves, I guess. Because then every stupid, vile thing they do is all for you! To keep you safe. And it's sort of true, but sort of not? I don't - I dunno. I'm rambling, I'm sorry. I didn't sleep well.

[ Awkward mumbling is go. ]

Since I am evidently no longer dying of a cold, I daresay I have time to listen to a ramble or two. [A gentle reminder. Of favours or of friendship - she can call it what she likes, really.]

But take it from an old hand in blackmail - you are not obligated to thank someone for something you did not ask them to do, even if they say that it was for you.

I. I know. But it makes it harder to condemn them for it? I used to want to just shake him or something and make him look at how crazy he'd got, but he never ever listened anyway so it wouldn't have worked and. Sorry, I'm not - you don't have any context. Sorry.

No - I don't. It's your choice how much to tell me, or anyone. Just as it was your choice whether you wanted me to go after him or not. [Still an open offer, as it happens.]

But I am listening, if that is what you choose.

[ There's a pretty long silence. More because she's trying to figure out how to say it - the fact that she's going to isn't really in question. ]

When I was little, there was an accident. My mom died. My dad had to look after me on his own, and me being a Siren complicated things. He had to keep me safe, and secret, so he shut me away in a bunker - Control Core Angel. As far as anybody else knew, I was his pet project. An AI.

It was okay at first? I understood why he did it, and I never really resented him for it. We kind of got on pretty well. Then he started searching for Vaults, and he got me involved - the spying and the backstabbing I talked about - and his obsession and his ego just kind of. Exploded.

Don't get me wrong! He was always a jerk. But when he was just Jack, things were okay. He only got really bad after the thing with his face - when he became Handsome Jack. Then all the controlling stuff and the murder happened, and just. Everything. Ughhgh.

[And listen he does - he's quite good at it, actually, putting in quiet encouraging sounds at the right moments. And in the end it's as he suspected. The particulars are a little different, but the plot is a familiar one.]

But whatever else he does, you remember that he protected you, or he is reminding you that he did. For the sake of the man he was, it's hard to hate the man he became.

[A guess, but a reasonably informed one.]

Yes!

[ It's half exclamation, half sigh of relief. Yes. Beckett gets it. ]

Or it's hard to hate him properly. Because I do hate Handsome Jack, and everything he stands for! But I love my dad. Before my mom died, all I remember is how he used to be my hero and make me laugh, like, all the time.

But Jack is dead. Long live Handsome Jack. Or - or not, as it is now. I guess.

[That sounds like he guessed right. And it occurs to him that he is, irreversibly, Involved in someone else's life and business. He is quiet for a long moment there.]

Mourning has its value, Angel, [he says at last, very quietly.] One of the first lessons of a very long life. You can mourn Jack now. And if you do - perhaps you will be able to better confront Handsome Jack, if he does return.

[ She goes quiet again, with only the occasional faint snuffling sound coming down the line to indicate that she hasn't wandered off somewhere. When she does speak, it's in a very soft half-whisper. ]

Thank you.

[ It doesn't seem sufficient, just to say that, but it'll have to do.

For now. ]

I'm afraid I have to tell you that when we eventually cross paths, I'm going to have to hug you and it's likely to ruin all your grouchy vampire credibility. Sorry.

[He is silent what she collects herself, not wanting to intrude. He can't pretend to really understand what she's going through - he gives what he can, which is an outsider's perspective really - always - and can only be grateful that is seems to help, however much it does.

He chuckles dryly at her response.] I might permit it in private. [If only to prove that he isn't grouchy. Seriously.] For now, don't be alone. I hope this Rhys is any use.

Oh, he is! He complains a lot and can be kind of a dou-- a butt, but most of the time he's pretty great! Especially at the not-leaving-me-on-my-own thing. I mean, he left with me and dad even though-- well, yeah, so I won't be alone any time soon. Don't fret.

[ as much as grumpires do fret, anyway

that's a word ]

I don't fret. [He sighs faintly, because he is a little, and they both know it.]

He did seem a little - how shall I put it? Fragile.

[He isn't trying to disparage Angel's friends, but he may just have pretty high standards for, oh, everything where people are concerned.]

I think skittish works better for him! And Iunno, I think that kind of helps a little. If he gets scared of things, it makes me at least try to be a little braver. I suppose to make him feel better?

It's like having a baby brother except he's older and over a foot taller than I am. But otherwise, exactly the same.

It's amazing how much braver people can be for the sake of someone else, isn't it? He can twitch as much as he likes, if it helps you. As long as he doesn't get into his mind to try to make too sudden a transition into daring hero.

Don't fr-- do whatever it is that you do instead of fretting! We'll both make sure that caution is a priority. Promise!

... I am fretting, aren't I? Appalling. You'll both do fine, I'm sure. Keep warm, and... [He hesitates, because it is appalling, but finally adds,] if he does return, and you wish for me to know, send a message.

IC Contact - Snowblind

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