[ He'd had plenty of warning, but that didn't make things any easier. Right until the end, until the changes started being undeniable, he'd been hoping that he would somehow be the exception.
At first he was sure he could handle it, sure having a sudden aversion to sunlight was a pain in the ass and he kept catching the inside of his cheek with his shiny new incisors (his old ones falling out? that had been a Bad Time) but he was managing. It's not until this morning- or what would be considered dusk for everyone else- that something seems exceptionally wrong. Still, it takes until he's shaking and sweating profusely for him to give in and seek out help from the last person he wants it from.
A castle right? How many of those could there be on this island? And Rhys was sure it would be the biggest one. That's all he needs to tell the cab driver with regards to directions, and after a short drive he finds himself outside the ornate gates, jacket pulled over his head to shield himself from the setting sun, sunglasses perpetually slipping off his sweat slink nose as he waits for one of the staff to announce his arrival. ]
[So the new kid in town has deigned to pay Jack a home visit.
Okay so there's plenty of 'new kids' in town, but only the one from back home. And this isn't entirely unexpected, Jack figured he'd end up here sooner or later. He's not sure why, exactly, Rhys is calling on him but the why doesn't really matter. He instructs staff to have Rhys meet him in the receiving hall, a far smaller and more casual room than the throne room. Rhys already knows who he is, he doesn't need the extra flex. It's still lavishly decorated with a lot of expensive crap.
He waits until Rhys is already brought in and settled before joining him, wearing his fancy black leather duster over his yellow Hyperion sweater and black jeans. Not that he can sneak in or catch the guy off guard, the hydraulic whirring and clunking he makes every step pretty much kills that little power trick.]
I brought my work home tonight, got a big-ass project going on right now, so I hope you're bugging me at home for a very good reason. Holy shit...you are not looking great! Ha!
[Rhys is looking pretty pale and death-ish, to be quite honest.]
[ Honestly? Rhys doesn't really know why he's come to Jack of all people- well, "people"- either. He sure as hell doesn't trust the man, but that doesn't change the fact that everything Jack said would happen had come true thus far. Also if he does like, vomit his guts out at least it will be on Jacks floor and not his own.
Rhys slumps back on the nearest arm chair, sinking into the decorative pillows as he whips his sunglasses off his face to wipe at his brow.
He doesn't need to look up to know that Jack has joined him, even before he starts talking. ]
Wow, really? Thank-
[ Even talking takes a lot of concentration and effort right now, breathing heavily between his words. ]
[Because this isn't the first time Jack has had a sweaty, distressed half-monster in his living room. Hell, he's been that sweaty, distressed half-monster! It's like spring around here. Predictably regular and without ceasing, the months turned over and some new monster started getting Weird Feelings.
Which generally only means a couple of things, so he goes with the most common first.
Jack takes a seat himself, unmoving face fixed on Rhys.]
You're hungry and you don't know what to do about it. Not besides 'eat some guy', I mean. Obviously...obviously you gotta eat a guy. But I'm betting you're not sure how to do that! Second guess is you're literally dying, but you kinda look like maybe you already did that, so...
[ Rhys glances sidelong at Jack, brows furrowing. God, he's never going to get used to how creepy that unmoving face is. But what Jack's saying is even more distracting. ]
What? I ate today-
[ He's not keeping up with what Jack is putting down yet. Just hears "need to eat" and his mind immediately goes to the smoothie he forced down a couple hours ago. It had been revolting, even though it had ingredients he really liked his senses had rejected it. And even after it, the feeling of hunger hadn't been satiated. Instead, it morphed into what Rhys was feeling now: like his insides were eating themselves. Like he was dying. Which is why he goes pale (more pale, somehow) at Jacks words. His eyes going wide and panicked. ]
I'm [ A hard breath, voice going up an octave ] What?! That really isn't funny!
[ No no, come on. He couldn't have survived everything he has just to die from some weird monster island flu in Handsome Jack's foyer. ]
Oh relax. I was a lich for a couple of months, had to die when I changed into one. It happens. It's so many kinds of not fun, though!
[Jack leans forward, giving Rhys a real looking over, actually paying attention to him. Yeah he looks bad. That is a guy who is struggling.]
Seriously, it's fine, I honestly prefer people I know show up with this problem before they go nuts and feed in some god-awful, messy way. My old body double, way back when, holy crap he came home friggin shell shocked from it, had to spend the whole night dealing with his emotional breakdown.
[That had been a miserable night. And they'd been in that shitty house, too, which only made it worse. No, he does not want to deal with that bullshit ever again.]
So really it's up to you. You can try and deal with it until you snap and eat a whole local field trip that looks at you funny, like you're some kinda movie monster...or you can deal with it now like a civilized person.
[ Just like when Rhys first arrived, Jack is so damn casual about it all. Like, "you're going to go through grotesque bodily changes, nbd!" Come on. ]
I'm not- You don't have to- Ha...haha...
[ He runs a sweaty hand through his sweaty hair. He feels so awful he can barely concentrate, distracted by the feeling of wanting to tear his own skin off, let out whatever it's constricting. ]
We don't actually have to eat people like some Pandoran psychos. Right?
[ That part had been a joke! Right??????? Oh god. ]
You mean like actual literal cannibalism involving consuming flesh? I don't do that. And I'm gonna bet you won't, either.
[It's a gamble, but sometimes the dice came up right. Which in this case means not eating human flesh.]
I eat energy. It's literally like something out of some kinda tech-based horror movie, just plug my wires into'em and suck'em dry of all vital energy. You...yeah, you're a dead or soon to be dead thing. Which is different than me, I'm inorganic. You're a corpse that's still walking around. You either drink blood or do an energy kinda thing, and those pearly new fangs of yours are saying blood! Good news, we can split dinner!
[And that's something Jack always enjoys. It's just fun, it's good bonding, it's just a good time overall. Besides, he figures Rhys will probably not be able to manage it himself. He's kinda soft, for a corporate dude from back home. But he's young, still, he's got time to toughen up.]
[ Some visceral, instinctual, animal part of his hindbrain perks up at even the mention of blood, and he can feel his saliva glands kicking in. The way they would at (usually) the thought of his favorite food, or the way they would when he's about to yak he can't be entirely certain. It's gotta be the latter right? Drinking human blood...He slaps his organic hand over his mouth. ]
Not in here you aren't, I know you can't afford to pay for the carpet cleaning.
[Jack would roll his eyes if he were capable of it.]
You're a creature of the night, just deal with it. Friggin hell, here I thought you came from the same cutthroat business world that I did. It's a little blood, Rhys, it's not any big deal. Come on, you've been here months, you know how this shit works. You're not special, you don't get a pass, put on your friggin grown up panties and freaking feed yourself!
[Okay, maybe it isn't any better dealing with this problem pre-feeding. Why does everybody gotta be so dramatic about it? Hell, he'd been sucking people's energy since before he even had to!]
It's really not. Look I'm gonna break this down for you. For one, it's not any kind of actual cannibalism cuz you're not human anymore! For two, I don't honestly care what you do, but if you don't take care of it...you will snap and just start ripping the throats out of everybody ya see.
[That seems like the kind of thing that would mess Rhys up, and Jack would really prefer not to have to deal with the fallout of that.]
But you're not alone, I run a whole side business that caters to self-deluded people who like to pretend they're not eating humans. And you're in luck, we do make blood smoothies and shit! You want a blood smoothie? I'll make ya a friggin blood smoothie if it'll keep you from yakking on my luxury flooring. But we gotta go get a dude to drain, I don't keep blood at home and my staff works for me cuz I promise not to eat them. Gotta actually make good on that so I still have staff, you get it! And I know, I know. You're thinking Jack, you have a castle. You've got a dungeon under here. Why not just keep some asshats handy in case ya get the munchies?
[Of course it's something Jack's thought about.]
It's just more trouble than it's worth. Prisoners make noise, you gotta feed'em and keep'em clean, bleeding heart lickbags start sniffing around and yelling about ya on the network...I've seen it happen to other people.
[ "just start ripping the throats out of everybody"
Rhys eyes the few staff members in the room and there is something heightened about it, an energy surrounding each one of them that he can feel in the air. He quickly looks away.
But despite all that, he's still resistant to the whole thing. He huffs, moving to stand. ]
No no no, I'm just gonna- I'll go to the pharmacy and grab some asprin and fizzy water. Thanks for like, wasting my time with all this but-
[ Aaaand that plan of standing? Totally not working out for him. Rhys is upright for only a second before he's tipping forward, a fresh wave of that nausea-not-nausea hitting him in full force ]
[There's a small, contained fury of mechanics and then a strong, robotic hand is grabbing the back of Rhys' collar to keep him from hitting the floor.]
Okay so you're the one wasting my time, if we're gonna open up that door. You show up at my home, I'm in the middle of work, you have some kind of crisis in my receiving hall, and now you're just gonna stumble out and leave a trail of your sick mess in my hallways? I don't think so, sunshine.
[Jack hauls Rhys up and back into his chair.]
No, you interrupt my evening looking for help, you're gonna get what you came for. Or I swear I'm gonna have a couple of big giant dudes dig a nice six foot hole in my garden and I'm gonna chuck you in it and leave you there.
[Besides, at this point, Jack just really wants to see the guy drink some blood. It seems like it'd be a fun show.]
[ Rhys makes a pathetic yelp-whine as he's grabbed, another pathetic "oomph!" as he falls back into the chair. He tilts his head back, groaning at both all the effort that took out of him, and the realization that all roads look bad from here. ]
Y'know, this helpful version of you almost makes me forget about the one that tried to body-snatch me.
[ He lets out a weak laugh, knowing that this Jack won't get it. He's somehow managed to keep all that bitterness (mostly) at bay, despite being reminded every time he sees Jack's face, but it's an anger with nowhere to go when this one doesn't know him from Adam. Doesn't know their history. Here and semi-delirious he lets a bit of that control slip.
He runs his hand over his face again, pushing the sweat up into his already damp hair. God, he must look like shit. ]
Fine. Fine. I'll...drink it. Just like, put cocoa in it or something, ok? So I can at least pretend I'm not drinking...that.
[Jack will leave the other comment alone. For now. He's already getting tired of dealing with this whole thing as it is.]
Fine, fine, I'll dress it all up for ya so ya can play pretend and stay in denial. Cuz that's the healthy way to deal with this.
[Okay, Rhys...he is not going anywhere. Other than maybe sprawling on the floor. No hunting for him, not in this shape. Ugh, Jack has to do everything himself.
...Or maybe not. He has employees, after all. Including dudes who will kill for him with no questions asked.]
Alright, you stay there. I'm gonna go to the kitchens. And one of my loyal and oh-so-casually-violent guards is gonna go find some poor dumb asshole for you to eat.
[ The hand that he had run up into his hair comes back over his face and stays there as he slumps even further into the cushions of the couch below him.
Had he ever felt this bad in his life before? He feels like that's impossible, no flu or cold or hangover has ever hit him like this.
Except...
When he was supposed to ween off the painkillers he'd been prescribed when he got his augmentations done. They were the really strong kind, and he'd been instructed to reduce his dose gradually. Instead, he'd gone off them cold turkey as soon as the stitches were out, assuming he could handle any residual pain.
And with that Rhys suddenly realizes what this feeling really is. Withdrawl. ]
Shit. Shit, is it going to be like this every time?
Not if you keep yourself fed regularly. Sit tight, don't die on me.
[Jack leaves Rhys there under the watchful eye of a silent, imposing looking guard. And another is dispatched to go do some murder. It'll just be quicker and easier that way, and give Rhys less time to make some unholy biological mess in Jack's castle.
Much as he's complaining to himself, it's a good thing Rhys came to him. Shows he has some respect, shows he knows Jack is The Guy. Even here in crazy monster world. There's promise there, potential.
Which is the only reason Jack's making an effort to help. By the time his errand-boy guard is back, a fresh corpse over his shoulder, Jack has a chocolate milkshake all ready. It's quick work to bleed out the body and run the whole mess through the blender. It probably won't mask the taste, but Rhys can pretend. That's what the entire exercise is all about.]
You better not be dead.
[Jack returns, followed by a kitchen servant with a tray. And the promised blood and chocolate concoction sitting a top.]
[ So it is just going to be like this now. Drink blood or feel like his skeleton is trying to remove itself from the rest of his body.
He Just sits there and takes deep, measured breath. Trying to remember what he was taught in those non optional "Wellness Meetings" at Hyperion where they made you learn how to do quick meditation when your body felt like it was failing from being overworked.
It doesn't work as intended, he doesn't need oxygen to live anymore or anything, but it still has the desired effect: Rhys just concentrating on something steady and not thinking about how awful he's feeling. He gets into it enough that it doesn't feel like much time had passed between closing his eyes and cracking them open again at Jacks voice.
Rhys smells it before he sees it, the rich and coppery scent of fresh blood, causing him to immediately perk up. So fixated on the smell he doesn't even come up with some sarcastic or snide response, or notice that his fangs have extended. ]
[And no mess! Even better. Jack sets down the tray and offers the cup full of blood and chocolate to the guy. Maybe he won't even make a big deal out of charging Rhys for this particular service.
Maybe.]
Alright, have at it, sunshine! You scarf that sucker down, you'll start feeling better.
[ He's barely registering what Jack says at this point, too fixated on the drink in front of him. Moving without thinking he reaches forward and grabs the glass, knocking it back and chugging the blood like he's in junior year at a kegatron party all over again. Good thing he doesn't need to breath anymore, cause he wouldn't be able to stop and take a breath. ]
Now this is a sight, holy crap. Congratulations, Rhys, on single handedly killing the myth about vampires being elegant and classy. You look like a homeless boozer coming off a week's dry spell.
[Jack resumes his seat, leaning back and crossing his legs to just watch the other guy with his eternally fixed expression. He's never actually seen one of the blood drinkers go at it before. It'd be a lot more interesting to see him do it for real, Jack decides. This...meh. It's a dude drinking out of a fancy cup. Not exactly exciting fare.]
[ It isn't until the last dredges of the glass are gone that he finally moves it away from his lips, and even then he goes back in to lick what he can reach. It would be degrading, humiliating if he weren't so focused on the taste and smell and overwhelming feeling of pure satisfaction he's getting right now.
And it's like coming out of a trance when he finally comes back to himself, suddenly and with his tongue stuck halfway down the glass as he stops mid motion. ]
Uh.
[ He...quickly retreats it, shaking his head and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. It comes away covered in blood and drool.
Uhg, okay there's the humiliation. ]
Okay first of all, rude? I'm the one going through it here. It's not like you'd know the feeling with the whole...
[ He gestures to the entirety of Jack, the whole robot body thing! He's trying to play it all off alright? His hands still covered in blood and spit... ]
What, you think I just woke up one day, poof, full robot? Yeah, no. I went through friggin hell when I changed.
[Jack's motionless face remains turned on Rhys, the glow in his eyes and at the edges of his faceplate glowing brightly.]
Plus I've got an organic brain, so I experience sensations. I know what the hunger's like, cupcake, I've been living the monster life way, way longer than you. Pretty sure the charred outline of the first dude I fried is still on a wall somewhere in Bavan's shitty bar district. You should be grateful I'm taking time out of my busy schedule to walk ya through all this crap.
[ Rhys's expression twists at the thought of Jack's metamorphosis before it sours completely at a realization: Jack actually did it, it was in a round about way but he got his whole robo-skeleton with his mind inside of it deal. God! Why hadn't he thought of it that way till now... ]
Oh yeah, I have so much to be grateful about when it comes to you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 07:13 pm (UTC)At first he was sure he could handle it, sure having a sudden aversion to sunlight was a pain in the ass and he kept catching the inside of his cheek with his shiny new incisors (his old ones falling out? that had been a Bad Time) but he was managing. It's not until this morning- or what would be considered dusk for everyone else- that something seems exceptionally wrong. Still, it takes until he's shaking and sweating profusely for him to give in and seek out help from the last person he wants it from.
A castle right? How many of those could there be on this island? And Rhys was sure it would be the biggest one. That's all he needs to tell the cab driver with regards to directions, and after a short drive he finds himself outside the ornate gates, jacket pulled over his head to shield himself from the setting sun, sunglasses perpetually slipping off his sweat slink nose as he waits for one of the staff to announce his arrival. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 09:14 pm (UTC)Okay so there's plenty of 'new kids' in town, but only the one from back home. And this isn't entirely unexpected, Jack figured he'd end up here sooner or later. He's not sure why, exactly, Rhys is calling on him but the why doesn't really matter. He instructs staff to have Rhys meet him in the receiving hall, a far smaller and more casual room than the throne room. Rhys already knows who he is, he doesn't need the extra flex. It's still lavishly decorated with a lot of expensive crap.
He waits until Rhys is already brought in and settled before joining him, wearing his fancy black leather duster over his yellow Hyperion sweater and black jeans. Not that he can sneak in or catch the guy off guard, the hydraulic whirring and clunking he makes every step pretty much kills that little power trick.]
I brought my work home tonight, got a big-ass project going on right now, so I hope you're bugging me at home for a very good reason. Holy shit...you are not looking great! Ha!
[Rhys is looking pretty pale and death-ish, to be quite honest.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 09:55 pm (UTC)Rhys slumps back on the nearest arm chair, sinking into the decorative pillows as he whips his sunglasses off his face to wipe at his brow.
He doesn't need to look up to know that Jack has joined him, even before he starts talking. ]
Wow, really? Thank-
[ Even talking takes a lot of concentration and effort right now, breathing heavily between his words. ]
Thanks for noticing!
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 10:07 pm (UTC)[Because this isn't the first time Jack has had a sweaty, distressed half-monster in his living room. Hell, he's been that sweaty, distressed half-monster! It's like spring around here. Predictably regular and without ceasing, the months turned over and some new monster started getting Weird Feelings.
Which generally only means a couple of things, so he goes with the most common first.
Jack takes a seat himself, unmoving face fixed on Rhys.]
You're hungry and you don't know what to do about it. Not besides 'eat some guy', I mean. Obviously...obviously you gotta eat a guy. But I'm betting you're not sure how to do that! Second guess is you're literally dying, but you kinda look like maybe you already did that, so...
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 10:23 pm (UTC)What? I ate today-
[ He's not keeping up with what Jack is putting down yet. Just hears "need to eat" and his mind immediately goes to the smoothie he forced down a couple hours ago. It had been revolting, even though it had ingredients he really liked his senses had rejected it. And even after it, the feeling of hunger hadn't been satiated. Instead, it morphed into what Rhys was feeling now: like his insides were eating themselves. Like he was dying. Which is why he goes pale (more pale, somehow) at Jacks words. His eyes going wide and panicked. ]
I'm [ A hard breath, voice going up an octave ] What?! That really isn't funny!
[ No no, come on. He couldn't have survived everything he has just to die from some weird monster island flu in Handsome Jack's foyer. ]
Can't I just take an antacid and call it a day?
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 10:45 pm (UTC)[Jack leans forward, giving Rhys a real looking over, actually paying attention to him. Yeah he looks bad. That is a guy who is struggling.]
Seriously, it's fine, I honestly prefer people I know show up with this problem before they go nuts and feed in some god-awful, messy way. My old body double, way back when, holy crap he came home friggin shell shocked from it, had to spend the whole night dealing with his emotional breakdown.
[That had been a miserable night. And they'd been in that shitty house, too, which only made it worse. No, he does not want to deal with that bullshit ever again.]
So really it's up to you. You can try and deal with it until you snap and eat a whole local field trip that looks at you funny, like you're some kinda movie monster...or you can deal with it now like a civilized person.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 11:15 pm (UTC)I'm not- You don't have to- Ha...haha...
[ He runs a sweaty hand through his sweaty hair. He feels so awful he can barely concentrate, distracted by the feeling of wanting to tear his own skin off, let out whatever it's constricting. ]
We don't actually have to eat people like some Pandoran psychos. Right?
[ That part had been a joke! Right??????? Oh god. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 11:25 pm (UTC)[It's a gamble, but sometimes the dice came up right. Which in this case means not eating human flesh.]
I eat energy. It's literally like something out of some kinda tech-based horror movie, just plug my wires into'em and suck'em dry of all vital energy. You...yeah, you're a dead or soon to be dead thing. Which is different than me, I'm inorganic. You're a corpse that's still walking around. You either drink blood or do an energy kinda thing, and those pearly new fangs of yours are saying blood! Good news, we can split dinner!
[And that's something Jack always enjoys. It's just fun, it's good bonding, it's just a good time overall. Besides, he figures Rhys will probably not be able to manage it himself. He's kinda soft, for a corporate dude from back home. But he's young, still, he's got time to toughen up.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-20 11:41 pm (UTC)Uhg- I'm gonna puke.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-21 01:21 am (UTC)[Jack would roll his eyes if he were capable of it.]
You're a creature of the night, just deal with it. Friggin hell, here I thought you came from the same cutthroat business world that I did. It's a little blood, Rhys, it's not any big deal. Come on, you've been here months, you know how this shit works. You're not special, you don't get a pass, put on your friggin grown up panties and freaking feed yourself!
[Okay, maybe it isn't any better dealing with this problem pre-feeding. Why does everybody gotta be so dramatic about it? Hell, he'd been sucking people's energy since before he even had to!]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-21 02:12 am (UTC)That Jack sits here in his castle threatening him about the carpet....it sucks!
Rhys glares up at him over his hand. ]
Yeah, making a deal here or there that takes a few dozen lives isn't the same as literally drinking human blood.
[ Uhg even saying it makes his head swim, or is that the hunger? Hard to tell at this point. ]
Shady business deals, knives in specific backs, [ crashing a space station of thousands... ] I can handle all that. You know this is different.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-21 02:37 am (UTC)[That seems like the kind of thing that would mess Rhys up, and Jack would really prefer not to have to deal with the fallout of that.]
But you're not alone, I run a whole side business that caters to self-deluded people who like to pretend they're not eating humans. And you're in luck, we do make blood smoothies and shit! You want a blood smoothie? I'll make ya a friggin blood smoothie if it'll keep you from yakking on my luxury flooring. But we gotta go get a dude to drain, I don't keep blood at home and my staff works for me cuz I promise not to eat them. Gotta actually make good on that so I still have staff, you get it! And I know, I know. You're thinking Jack, you have a castle. You've got a dungeon under here. Why not just keep some asshats handy in case ya get the munchies?
[Of course it's something Jack's thought about.]
It's just more trouble than it's worth. Prisoners make noise, you gotta feed'em and keep'em clean, bleeding heart lickbags start sniffing around and yelling about ya on the network...I've seen it happen to other people.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-21 04:17 am (UTC)Rhys eyes the few staff members in the room and there is something heightened about it, an energy surrounding each one of them that he can feel in the air. He quickly looks away.
But despite all that, he's still resistant to the whole thing. He huffs, moving to stand. ]
No no no, I'm just gonna- I'll go to the pharmacy and grab some asprin and fizzy water. Thanks for like, wasting my time with all this but-
[ Aaaand that plan of standing? Totally not working out for him. Rhys is upright for only a second before he's tipping forward, a fresh wave of that nausea-not-nausea hitting him in full force ]
Oh-- god!
no subject
Date: 2021-09-21 04:26 am (UTC)Okay so you're the one wasting my time, if we're gonna open up that door. You show up at my home, I'm in the middle of work, you have some kind of crisis in my receiving hall, and now you're just gonna stumble out and leave a trail of your sick mess in my hallways? I don't think so, sunshine.
[Jack hauls Rhys up and back into his chair.]
No, you interrupt my evening looking for help, you're gonna get what you came for. Or I swear I'm gonna have a couple of big giant dudes dig a nice six foot hole in my garden and I'm gonna chuck you in it and leave you there.
[Besides, at this point, Jack just really wants to see the guy drink some blood. It seems like it'd be a fun show.]
no subject
Date: 2021-09-21 04:44 am (UTC)Y'know, this helpful version of you almost makes me forget about the one that tried to body-snatch me.
[ He lets out a weak laugh, knowing that this Jack won't get it. He's somehow managed to keep all that bitterness (mostly) at bay, despite being reminded every time he sees Jack's face, but it's an anger with nowhere to go when this one doesn't know him from Adam. Doesn't know their history. Here and semi-delirious he lets a bit of that control slip.
He runs his hand over his face again, pushing the sweat up into his already damp hair. God, he must look like shit. ]
Fine. Fine. I'll...drink it. Just like, put cocoa in it or something, ok? So I can at least pretend I'm not drinking...that.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-23 03:03 am (UTC)[Jack will leave the other comment alone. For now. He's already getting tired of dealing with this whole thing as it is.]
Fine, fine, I'll dress it all up for ya so ya can play pretend and stay in denial. Cuz that's the healthy way to deal with this.
[Okay, Rhys...he is not going anywhere. Other than maybe sprawling on the floor. No hunting for him, not in this shape. Ugh, Jack has to do everything himself.
...Or maybe not. He has employees, after all. Including dudes who will kill for him with no questions asked.]
Alright, you stay there. I'm gonna go to the kitchens. And one of my loyal and oh-so-casually-violent guards is gonna go find some poor dumb asshole for you to eat.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-23 03:18 am (UTC)[ The hand that he had run up into his hair comes back over his face and stays there as he slumps even further into the cushions of the couch below him.
Had he ever felt this bad in his life before? He feels like that's impossible, no flu or cold or hangover has ever hit him like this.
Except...
When he was supposed to ween off the painkillers he'd been prescribed when he got his augmentations done. They were the really strong kind, and he'd been instructed to reduce his dose gradually. Instead, he'd gone off them cold turkey as soon as the stitches were out, assuming he could handle any residual pain.
And with that Rhys suddenly realizes what this feeling really is. Withdrawl. ]
Shit. Shit, is it going to be like this every time?
Every time he needs a...a blood fix???
no subject
Date: 2021-09-23 03:38 am (UTC)[Jack leaves Rhys there under the watchful eye of a silent, imposing looking guard. And another is dispatched to go do some murder. It'll just be quicker and easier that way, and give Rhys less time to make some unholy biological mess in Jack's castle.
Much as he's complaining to himself, it's a good thing Rhys came to him. Shows he has some respect, shows he knows Jack is The Guy. Even here in crazy monster world. There's promise there, potential.
Which is the only reason Jack's making an effort to help. By the time his errand-boy guard is back, a fresh corpse over his shoulder, Jack has a chocolate milkshake all ready. It's quick work to bleed out the body and run the whole mess through the blender. It probably won't mask the taste, but Rhys can pretend. That's what the entire exercise is all about.]
You better not be dead.
[Jack returns, followed by a kitchen servant with a tray. And the promised blood and chocolate concoction sitting a top.]
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Date: 2021-09-23 03:55 am (UTC)[ So it is just going to be like this now. Drink blood or feel like his skeleton is trying to remove itself from the rest of his body.
He Just sits there and takes deep, measured breath. Trying to remember what he was taught in those non optional "Wellness Meetings" at Hyperion where they made you learn how to do quick meditation when your body felt like it was failing from being overworked.
It doesn't work as intended, he doesn't need oxygen to live anymore or anything, but it still has the desired effect: Rhys just concentrating on something steady and not thinking about how awful he's feeling. He gets into it enough that it doesn't feel like much time had passed between closing his eyes and cracking them open again at Jacks voice.
Rhys smells it before he sees it, the rich and coppery scent of fresh blood, causing him to immediately perk up. So fixated on the smell he doesn't even come up with some sarcastic or snide response, or notice that his fangs have extended. ]
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Date: 2021-09-27 01:21 am (UTC)[And no mess! Even better. Jack sets down the tray and offers the cup full of blood and chocolate to the guy. Maybe he won't even make a big deal out of charging Rhys for this particular service.
Maybe.]
Alright, have at it, sunshine! You scarf that sucker down, you'll start feeling better.
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Date: 2021-09-27 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-09-27 02:48 am (UTC)[Jack resumes his seat, leaning back and crossing his legs to just watch the other guy with his eternally fixed expression. He's never actually seen one of the blood drinkers go at it before. It'd be a lot more interesting to see him do it for real, Jack decides. This...meh. It's a dude drinking out of a fancy cup. Not exactly exciting fare.]
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Date: 2021-09-27 05:25 am (UTC)And it's like coming out of a trance when he finally comes back to himself, suddenly and with his tongue stuck halfway down the glass as he stops mid motion. ]
Uh.
[ He...quickly retreats it, shaking his head and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. It comes away covered in blood and drool.
Uhg, okay there's the humiliation. ]
Okay first of all, rude? I'm the one going through it here. It's not like you'd know the feeling with the whole...
[ He gestures to the entirety of Jack, the whole robot body thing! He's trying to play it all off alright? His hands still covered in blood and spit... ]
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Date: 2021-10-07 02:04 am (UTC)[Jack's motionless face remains turned on Rhys, the glow in his eyes and at the edges of his faceplate glowing brightly.]
Plus I've got an organic brain, so I experience sensations. I know what the hunger's like, cupcake, I've been living the monster life way, way longer than you. Pretty sure the charred outline of the first dude I fried is still on a wall somewhere in Bavan's shitty bar district. You should be grateful I'm taking time out of my busy schedule to walk ya through all this crap.
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Date: 2021-10-07 02:27 am (UTC)Oh yeah, I have so much to be grateful about when it comes to you.
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From:5million years late u_u
From: