thedifferencebetween

[It's a nice house. The couch Rhys wakes up on is black leather. There aren't any personal effects visible, but it's a tastefully decorated place. There's a tiered tabletop waterfall on the black lacquered coffee table.]

[There are Meowth in abundance. Meowth sporting yellow collars with circular gold nametags bearing a single 'H'. The color scheme skews heavily to black and yellow.]

[No one answers Rhys' call. Jack had attempted to rouse him earlier, given up, called Athena, and ended up stuck with a comatose idiot on his couch.]

[Which pales in comparison to the visage of his daughter. A visage that doesn't talk, but is fully corporeal. Enough that he can hold her and stroke her hair and feel the weight of her in his arms. He doesn't know why, he doesn't know what, but he also doesn't give a good god damn. He's holed up in his bedroom, mask off, attempting on and off to communicate with his 'daughter'.]

[ The Meowths are a little alarming. It's not the Meowths themselves, but the collars they're wearing. All of them have a yellow tag with an 'H' embedded in the center. The colors, the H, the fact that Rhys can only remember Handsome Jack before things got too blurry to remember...

...He needs to leave.

Post-hangover disorientation makes finding the door out fairly difficult, though. How many floors does this house have? He remembers, very vaguely, that Jack had mentioned something about not hurting Rhys terribly badly. Maybe the need to leave this house isn't as major as he first thought. Either way, he's pretty uncomfortable right now, so hurts or no hurts to come, he keeps looking. He can thank Jack later, because apparently his old ex-boss who threatened to kill him (and tried to when he was an AI) hauled his drunk ass across the place and left him here.

He can hear voices coming from the next room nearby, but Rhys doesn't even think about knocking. He just barges through. ] Hell...

[ Oh. This was kind of odd. ] H-Hello?

..and this one's an Espurr, 'cause apparently these things are named by pulling random associated words out of a hat.

[This is not the Handsome Jack the world sees. He really doesn't know what the bloody hell is going on, but he doesn't care. He really doesn't care. He doesn't believe in ghosts or an afterlife or anything like that. And if Angel's ghost is gonna be haunting anywhere, it's not going to be here. That doesn't make any damn sense at all.]

[But whatever it is...it's close enough. It looks like her. Well, like she'd looked before...the accident. A tiny ten or so year old girl with giant blue eyes and tumbles of black hair and the brightest smile anyone's ever seen. She's sitting at the foot of his bed, silent, as he shares his Pokemon with her. It's...well, it's almost like it used to be. If he ignores the fact he's only got half vision right now, and he's in a rented townhouse on the stupidest planet of existence.]

[That is until his bedroom door swings open and...holy fucking hell. THAT ASSHOLE'S STILL HERE?]

[A growl rises in Jack's throat that crests to a roar. The soft fuzzy glow of this weird morning is gone, replaced by a surge of pure rage. One hand flies to his face to cover his dead white eye while the other scrambles for his mask on the bedside table.]

GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM!

[ It takes him a moment to hone in on the figure that Jack's talking to. He hasn't seen her much at all, save for a picture that was lying on Handsome Jack's desk. Was that who he thought it was? Without thinking, right when Jack starts to turn around, he asks, ] Angel?

[ Jack's daughter is quickly forgotten, though. Rhys' eyes widen in surprise as Jack turns around, looking more surprised than anything else, and...he's maskless.

Everybody on Hyperion talked about what was behind the mask. Some people said that Handsome Jack was simply too handsome without it. He had to keep his true face covered to hide the beauty within. Others speculated that he was in an accident, a tragic one while saving Pandora. Others didn't care, because the mask symbolized power and success, so why dig into it?

Jack's face is marred, branded with the symbol of a Vault that was actually blue. It went across his face and up his forehead, straight into his left eye. He wasn't sure, but he could see nothing but white, like his entire eye had just...vanished. He's never seen Jack like that before, ever. He might talk strong, but he was human. That was proof.

The growl snaps Rhys out of his thoughts. And then Jack screams.

He's heard Jack angry before, of course. His tone is a deadly calm; it tricks you into thinking that everything is okay, but it's everything but. Rhys has never heard Jack yell before, not like this. Jack reaches for his mask, and wails a command at Rhys, which he quickly follows. His blood has absolutely run cold.

He takes a few stunned steps backwards, bumping his head against the edge of the doorframe. Rhys stumbles outside, grabbing the handle and yanking the door shut. He's not scared at this point in time. Rhys is goddamn horrified.

With a shaky exhale, he presses his back against the door before running to the couch and fumbling around, searching frantically for his clothes. But he...can't find them. He can't remember! Shit, he can't even think about how he got here, let alone why he's wearing weird pj's and his clothes are just vanished.

Not good. Nope, not good. ]

[Jack fumbles attaching his mask. His heart's hammering in his chest and his breath is coming in hoarse wheezes. It's not like no one's ever seen him without his mask. There's plenty of people still around - maybe? - who were on Helios when it first happened. When his face was marked but before he'd gotten his mask. Angel asked plenty of times, and he'd obliged. And there'd been so many times he'd taken it off when he and Nisha were in bed.]

[But he makes that call. He chooses when it comes off, and for who. And Rhys? Rhys would not be one of his choices.]

[He apologizes to 'Angel' - he can't tell if he freaked her out or not - and takes a deep breath. He climbs out of bed and adjusts his sweater and jeans. He's got to get himself under control.]

Alright. First of all...what just happened? Never happened.

[He saunters into the living room, mask in place, expression hard. He leans in the doorway with a casually dangerous air.]

Second...what the god damned hell is wrong with you, Rhys? In what reality is it ever okay to go barging into the private room of someone you hardly know? To come barging into my personal, private bedroom Do you have a hand, Rhys? And a brain? And can the two of them communicate the concept of knocking?

[ Oh god, he hears the door opening. He hears Jack speak up, and this isn't good, this isn't good this isn't good...

Jack just...leans there. But after the way he literally yelled before telling Rhys to get out, he knows Jack's anything but calm. That cold, deadly tone is back and oh god, is it scary.

Back when Jack was a hologram, Rhys had told him that he wasn't afraid of him anymore. But how true was that, really? Rhys can feel himself backing away, not even daring to make eye contact. He's still looking for his clothes. They're fucking nowhere.

Okay, Jack is right. Should Rhys have knocked? Yeah. But... ] I didn't know it was your bedroom. [ Again, he tells himself not to apologize. But- ] I'm, I'm sorry.

Irrelevant! You're in someone else's friggin home, lickbag! My home. You...you do remember who I am? I can think of a dozen reasons, off the top of my damn head, why you shouldn't go opening random doors in my house!

[He hasn't noticed that his surprise visitor has wandered out as well, to stand behind him with wide, rarely blinking eyes.]

I am...crissakes, I am losing whatever patience I had with you, Rhys. I can't deal with you. I can't. I have a headache now, that's all your fault, thanks.

[He rakes his hand through his hair, letting out a heavy sigh. He doesn't even know what the hell to do with this guy anymore. Is he even useful? What the hell does Rhys even bring to the table? A headache. That's what he brings.]

And I swear, cupcake, if you breathe one word....

[He doesn't bother to spell it out. He wears a friggin mask for a reason. Even Athena hasn't stooped to that.]

Let's just say what I've got going on is gonna look like Mr. Goddamned Universe next to what I'll do to your whiny little kisser. We clear?

[ Point taken. Point very well taken. ] Oh-Okay. You know what? I should have knocked. Fine, fine! I get it! I'm sorry, okay?

[ Is Rhys scared? Oh hell yeah, he's absolutely quaking. But that doesn't stop the words from spilling out of his mouth. ] If I'm such a pain in your ass, then stop. Talking. To me. Don't give me more pokemon, or don't come walking up to me at a party after you're threatened to hurt me- [ yup, threatened. ] and act like you haven't done anything wrong. I'm not a part of Hyperion anymore, so leave me alone!

You know the truth about me, and everything else that happens when you're gone. Leave me out of the rest. I'm done!

[ Rhys notices a little movement out of the corner of his eye, but he doesn't think about it. It has to be another Meowth, or something. ] I don't know why you would expect me to tell anyone. It's a scar. Nobody here would care.

[ He opens his mouth, about ready to say more, but the figure makes itself more noticeable. Rhys pauses. ] ...Angel?

Oh, today is not the day, pumpkin. You...

[Jack's words are cut short. His mouth snaps shut and he scowls, lip curling, his expression not unlike a bull animal of some sort, who's territory has been invaded.]

[But Jack takes a very deep breath. He pinches the bridge of his nose and it almost sounds like he's counting under his breath. He knows it's not his actual daughter. Angel's dead. She'd died a teenager, almost a full grown woman. But whatever it is, it looks like her. It moves like her. It clings to him like her.]

[He puts a hand on the top of her head, smoothing her hair.]

Sorry, princess, Daddy just lost his temper. Everything's cool. [The words are quiet. Jack clears his throat and looks back to Rhys, eyes burning but tone even.]

Yeah, so, as you can see...I'm having kind of a weird morning. Your little bust in earlier came at a bad time. And maybe you haven't noticed, but I kind of have this thing where I lash out when I'm dealing with intense stress. Like most human beings.

[ Seeing Jack interact with Angel changes things. A lot of things.

First off, he has to remind himself that yesterday (the parts he remembers) Angel was not there. He can't remember a little girl with black hair following her father around, wide eyed and curious. "Kind of a weird morning" hints that yeah, this just happened. Literally just

Rhys didn't know anything about Angel- shit, he still doesn't. He can remember how AI Jack's face fell when he picked up the picture frame, how his tone of voice just...went soft. He's not sure what, but something bad happened to this girl. Exactly who made her life difficult is something he doesn't know, but Rhys just makes an assumption. Handsome Jack is a father who's suffering now, and he just literally barged into a moment that shouldn't be disturbed. Jack reacted horribly (surprise), but did he have a reason to? Maybe?

He hates this. There are so many doubts about Jack that he has, and it started the very second he arrived in this world. He's seen sides of the former CEO that he's never seen or heard of, not even in rumors. But then again there was AI Jack that tried to vent him into space. And attempted to convince him to be a meat suit for an exoskeleton.

Who was he even supposed to believe, here?

With a defeated sigh, he looks off to the side, eyeballing the pristine floor. ] Once I find my clothes, I'll go.

[ Rhys doesn't apologize, he doesn't mention the future events to come. He keeps his eyes lowered as he starts his search anew. ]

Yeah, good luck, a Handsome Cat probably took'em, you had shiny buttons. And I don't give a damn, I really don't.

[He keeps his voice perfectly friendly. The last thing he wants to do is scare off whatever the vision of Angel is. He's not gonna yell in front of her. He's not going to beat Rhys' face to a bloody pulp. He's cool. Everything's cool. Really.]

[Only it's not at all.]

I exhausted all my limited 'giving a crap' reserves after Athena tried to bite my head off through the damn net. She, uh, isn't coming for ya, by the way.

[Still his voice is friendly. Amiable. But when he informs Rhys that he's essentially been abandoned, there's a darkening in his eyes. A knowing look. A pointed look.]

[ Rhys swears under his breath, not even noting the fact that yeah, there's a child around here who could have overheard that. ] It's, it's fine. [ He waves it away with his robotic hand. ] I'll find it if I can just look for like, five minutes. [ No way is he going to leave his best clothes with Jack here. Absolutely not.

Jack's tone sounds nice, but Rhys knows very well that isn't what the case is. He's not stupid. Handsome Jack truly doesn't give a damn in a number of ways. None of them good.

He wants to mask himself from his old boss to make things harder. To show that no matter what Jack throws at him, Rhys will always keep his head strong and his shoulders square. But when he hears that Athena has left him, and he sees the look on Jack's face...he drops the act. His eyes go wide and his heart flips. He's on his own now.

There's no bodyguard to keep Jack away.

Rhys swallows hard, but in turn tries to shove the fear away with the strongest look he can muster. ] That's fine. I've been through worse.

[ He looks directly to Jack. As if to say, 'i'm talking about you, and only you here.' ] Much worse.

[There's what Jack wanted to see. That surge of fear. That sudden look of lost confusion. But Rhys does good, he wipes it away pretty well. That's surprising.]

[Every so often, Rhys shakes off his cloak of dazed screw up and shows balls. Real, genuine balls.]

Hey, language. I dunno what you said, but little pitchers, big handles. Chill. I mean I don't care if you just take the ones I gave you to sleep in. I don't give a damn.

[Jack turns his attention to 'Angel. He bends down, treating the apparition for all the world like an actual child.]

Hey, sweetheart, can you go back in the bedroom? Play with my Pokemon, okay? I gotta talk to Rhys here a minute.

[He has to physically urge her out of the room, but he manages it.]

Look, I'm not gonna do anything to you in front of my kid. Or...you know what I mean. But jeezus christ, Rhys, we have gotta work this out somehow. You have gotta work this out. I mean, it should be a friggin no brainer...I've been looking after you since you showed up. Sent you money, your Meowth. I opened my god damn home to you. Took care of you when you were sick. Didn't abandon you to someone I think is probably gonna murder you.

[Because he knows what Athena thinks of him. He also knows Rhys has in no way been abandoned, but he wants Rhys to think that. Maybe what the kid really needs is just a taste of betrayal.]

[ Rhys most certainly gives a damn, because he paid some big bucks for those clothes. They're in serious need of a wash because they're bloodstained and everything, but he'd rather have them on his person than just nowhere at all. But now's not the time to go whining about it. Rhys just wants to get the hell out of here in one piece.

He thinks that maybe it's possible, especially if he just takes the pikachu shirt and the sweats and runs. His heart sinks to the floor though, when Angel is dismissed. Jack's promise to cause pain in one way or another rings in his head (...didn't they settle that though? what part of rhys is nagging about that?), and he looks to the door. God, all he wants to do is leave...

But Jack approaches. It feels like this is a never ending cycle: Jack does something that gets Rhys in trouble (or he gets himself into trouble. drinking himself sick last night was a mistake.), Jack tries to "help". Ultimately, doesn't help. Doesn't see anything wrong with what he did, and ends up totally confusing Rhys. Then the cycle continues.

Half of Rhys is screaming for him to just turn away and go. This is Handsome goddamn Jack he's in front of. He's crazy, narcissistic, and unable to see others problems other than his own. The other brain is still, still clinging onto the image of Jack as a hero, the person who Rhys longed to be. How long had he idolized Jack? And now, after some AI program unleashed chaos in his head, he's throwing this all away?

The AI Jack could have been an exact copy of Jack to the T. Physically, absolutely so. Mentally...maybe? It had all of his quirks and his speaking habits that Rhys could pick out in the ECHO logs of Jack he kept around, but he didn't know. Rhys is absolutely, positively conflicted and it's starting to eat at him. ]

L-Look, can you at least see where I'm coming from? You were my hero for years, until I got stuck with this AI program of you. You tried to kill me at least three different times in Helios. Now all of a sudden I'm meeting you in person, and I'm being told that everything that people have told me is wrong?

Did you do all of that stuff? Yeah. Was it nice? Yeah. But I can't- [ He can't keep doing this. ] It's just...a little too much right now.

And I kind of doubt that Athena took off without me? Knowing her, she probably would have sent me a video last night telling me in a million different ways why I deserve it. [ Rhys frowns, crossing his arms. He's not going to tell Jack about Fiona or Vaughn, though. Especially Vaughn.

...Oh shit. He should really get in touch with him after he leaves. If he leaves. ]

The AI, the AI, the friggin AI! I am sick and tired of hearing about that stupid thing! 'Cause that's all it was, Rhys. A thing. A bunch of codes and light refraction and soundbites all put together by a sad, obsessed man! But that's not my fault! None of that has anything to do with me. I didn't make that thing! I didn't program it to screw with you or try and kill you!

[Jack throws up his arms. They're back to this again. Why can't Rhys just make the distinction between Nakayama's private Jackogram and the human being currently yelling at him?]

Would you please forget about the million times damned AI? Look, do I yell at you? Yeah, of course I do. I'm Handsome Jack. I yell! Do I threaten you? Damn right I do. Again. Handsome Jack here. But that's just who I am! Lemme ask you a question, Rhys. Have I ever done anything terrible to you? Like actually terrible?

[And right now, it's pretty handy that he hasn't. He ought to, but...it's a pain in the ass, when he has to go all over to actually get to the guy. By the time he has Rhys in a position to do something, he's moved on to something else.]

And I dunno what she's doing, just that she's not coming to get you. And she knows where you are.

[ Rhys is so tired of this. He feels his frustration boiling, to the point where there's a new headache throbbing away behind his eyes. He wants to dig his hands into his scalp and yell about how incredibly angry he is over this...but he doesn't. He can't. He can't show Jack how angry this is making him. Instead, he just lets out a wispy sigh, shaking his head. And he'll mutter under his breath, maybe loud enough for Jack to hear: ] I can't...

[ He wracks his brain, but honestly? Rhys can't think of anything. Jack has "guaranteed" the chance of him getting seriously hurt somehow, but how long ago was that? Here he was, even in front of the man right now, and he was perfectly healthy. Alive and well. Incredibly frustrated, but okay.

He stays silent, shaking his head. ] You haven't. But you will. [ Because he's Handsome Jack, and thinking that everything was peachy and okay was absolutely stupid. Rhys was smarter than that. ]

Do you forget that Athena isn't my only friend here? [ That was true! ] If she won't travel with me, there's a group of others that will. If she wants to be that way,then fine.

Oh, that's just great. Sure, now you're gonna be pissed at me and blame me for things I may or may not do at some point in the future. But I'm the bad guy here. Sure.

[Jack throws up his hands. Why is he even bothering? What the hell is it about Rhys that keeps him trying? He should just strangle the guy and be done with it!]

Awesome, perfect, you can call one of them, then! If I find your clothes, I'll send'em to you. Holy nutballs, you know...usually if I've gotta deal with this kind of crap in the morning, I had a lot more fun the night before!

[Jack's already turning away, heading to the kitchen. His visiting spirit, tired of being banished to the bedroom and intent on doing what it's here to do, has returned to follow at Jack's heels.]

[ Rhys doesn't respond to that. This whole entire charade with Jack has left him ultimately confused. He's silent when Jack almost seems to wave him away, turning his back on Rhys and heading to the kitchen. The little Angel appeared nearby, following him silently. And just like that, Rhys is left alone in the living room.

He doesn't dare stay. No way in hell. Rhys sighs as he starts for the door, looks off to his left where the bathroom is, and-

-hey, are those his clothes there? He can just barley make out his skag skin shoes in the corner. Silently, without disturbing Jack anymore than he already had today, he creeps his way into the bathroom and takes what's rightfully his. Socks and shoes and tie and everything.

He'll head for the door, slipping his way outside and leaning against it when it's shut. When will this end? ]

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