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[smugreport]

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[thedifferencebetween]

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.]

[smugreport]

[ 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. ]

Uhg- I'm gonna puke.

[thedifferencebetween]

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!]

[smugreport]

[ It's not fair, that after everything Rhys is back (again!) to being penniless and with little to his name except broken dreams and a bad headache.

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.

[thedifferencebetween]

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.

[smugreport]

[ "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 ]

Oh-- god!

[thedifferencebetween]

[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.]

[smugreport]

[ 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.

[thedifferencebetween]

Demanding little thing, aren't ya?

[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.

[smugreport]

I just- I don't want to know, okay?

[ 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???

[thedifferencebetween]

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.]

[smugreport]

Greeaaaaaat.....

[ 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. ]

[thedifferencebetween]

Still with us, fantastic.

[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.

[smugreport]

[ 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. ]

[thedifferencebetween]

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.]

[smugreport]

[ 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... ]

[thedifferencebetween]

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.

[smugreport]

[ 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.

[thedifferencebetween]

You do, kid. I could have you put out, left ya to go crazy and start killing people all over the place! Hell, I would have enjoyed watching it all go down! But I decided to be generous and give ya a hand. Feels better, right? After a nice nourishing drink?

[Not that Jack needs the answer, but it's demonstrative. An acknowledgement from Rhys that Jack really helped him out here. He leans forward, the light in his eyes flashing a moment.]

Yeah, that's cuz of me. And Bruce there, who went out and actually killed your snack for you. But Bruce is one of mine and he's getting paid so...still me helping. So maybe you stop being a snotty little prick, huh?

[smugreport]

I--

[ He wouldn't have done that! He would have figured something out. He just came to Jack because....because he was delirious. He could barely think at all let alone think of a better option in that moment but if he had to, the point is that he could have.

And now that he can think straight: ]

Y'know what? Coming here was a mistake.

[ And at that he gets up- fumbles a little cause he's still not 100% and his legs still feel like jelly- and smooths out his sweat-soaked, terribly wrinkled dress shirt and makes as though he's going to let himself out (he is still holding the glass.) ]

[thedifferencebetween]

Coming here was the smartest friggin thing you could have done. Sit down, look at yourself, you're a mess. You're not in any state to go anywhere. End up passing out at my gates or something. I got dogs wandering the grounds, not a good place to pass out.

[Jack holds up his hands in what he intends to be a gesture of harmlessness. Whatever the hell Rhys thinks is gonna happen probably isn't. He's got nothing against the guy, other than that he's proven to have a vast capacity for being annoying as shit.

Besides. He's bored and Rhys offers a distraction.]

You're hitting your changes, Rhys, trust me...you do not wanna be on your own right now.

[smugreport]

[ Rhys just scowls. He's right...he knows he's right! But he doesn't want him to be. Still, he won't go compliant for Jack without at least a bit of a fight. Whatever he can muster right now. ]

Cause trusting you has always gotten me the best results, right?

[ He stares down at the almost completely licked-clean glass in his hand contemplatively. He could at least make it past the gates. ]

[thedifferencebetween]

Considering this right here is about the only time you've ever trusted me...yeah! I'd say you got pretty good results.

[Jack just shrugs, a somewhat awkward motion with his robotic body. It's not like he and Rhys have had a whole ton to do with each other in the handful of months Jack's known him. It's not his fault Rhys didn't believe him about the monster stuff at first. But he hadn't lied about any of it, it had just been really upsetting info.]

I dunno what the hell you think I have against you or whatever. What, do you think this is some elaborate plot to steal your organs? That's stupid. What the hell am I gonna do with monster organs, I can't sell'em. Nobody touches that black market anymore! No, you're vaguely more interesting than a bunch of expense reports for the lab and it pays to have favors owed. So we can keep up this little round-and-round bullshit, or you can stop being a dick and accept a very generous invitation to sleep off your vamp flu in a cushy castle.

[smugreport]

[ He keeps forgetting that Jack doesn't remember- no, worse somehow- he never even knew Rhys. The realization stings every time.

And this Jack...well, while he's plenty threatening, he at least doesn't seem quite as trigger happy as the AI had lead Rhys to believe. He's a little more chilled out, a little less blood thirsty. In some ways, he's Jack in the best moments they had together.

A small, stupid part of Rhys wants to be happy about that.

For now he just sighs, holds up his glass for the help to take from him. He's too tired to keep this up, to be fueled by his usual cocktail of pettiness, spite and lack of self preservation.

There's your relent, Jack. ]

[thedifferencebetween]

There we go!

[The glass is taken from Rhys and whisked away. Jack stands up and comes around his desk, clapping Rhys on the shoulder.]

Smart choice, kiddo, real smart choice! Alright boys, I got this, go...stand and look threatening somewhere else.

[He waves his guards off in dismissal. He'll take over from here, the other guy's from back home. There's so little of that around, deserves a personal touch. ]

And lucky you! Nobody else but me lives here, outside of the staff! And they all live downstairs in the servant wing where they belong. Got the whole friggin bell system and everything - ya want anything, ya pull the silk cord next to the bed. Bell rings down in some maid's room and they come see what you want. So you've got a pick of the guest towers! I personally recommend one with an ocean view but let's be honest, they're all luxurious enough to make a gold digger shit themselves!