bookofnope | [IC Contact -- Snowblind]

You panicked, didn't you. [His voice is just a little softer now. He's seen Rhysplosions before, he can imagine how it went down.]

I suppose I can't entirely blame you. Fiona's opinion of Jack is very clear. I doubt she's made much of a distinction between getting him out and destroying him.

It's probably the thing where he's a genocidal maniac and terrorized her home. Probably. If I had to guess.

[ Sniff. ]

She'd crush him herself if I couldn't.

Frankly, so would I. For your sake and Angel's. If it were my decision to make.

[And that is a tremendously important point.]

But it happens to be your head. However complicated that makes things for other people.

Yeah, but --

[ Eyebrow knit. Rhys was expecting universal chastisement, and that is putting it mildly. This is throwing him off his self-flagellation game. ]

Those other people are my friends. My -- Fiona's -

[ Good thing they didn't opt for video. Rhys is red-faced, and it ain't all shame. ]

Yes... now you might understand why I'm rather doubtful of "friends" much of the time.

[He sighs. It's not his intent to drive a further wedge between Rhys and Fiona - he's quite gotten the sense of what she means to the poor sod - but he's become familiar enough with how people in Norfinbury work to just imagine the kind of talks Rhys is no doubt about to get on this issue from others if he hasn't already. Others whose heads are not up to question no matter what they claim. Or feel.]

You'd think friendship would mean your friends understand your own position. Its... complexity. Though they do find that easier when you aren't an ass about it.

[It is a very gentle reprimand, really only thrown in because Rhys himself outright said he'd been an ass.]

That was fair.

[ Ain't even mad, dadpire. 'Ass' is the understatement of the century. ]

It - wasn't our first time arguing about him. I snapped. No, broke. It was -- it was just wow. She's right about pretty much everything but she boils it down to fanboy shit.

You seem so convinced about it, I wasn't about to argue.

[Ass or not, he's on Rhys's side here, but it is a little puzzling, about Fiona. She's clearly a woman who knows what she thinks and wants, but also clearly cares for Rhys. So what is he missing, here?]

If I may ask, what is Fiona's issue with Handsome Jack beyond the obvious? How does her planet play into this?

The obvious isn't enough?? He basically tried to wipe out life on Pandora and rebuild it in his image. Literally. There were statues involved.

[ There was a time he wanted to secure a spot in Opportunity. There was a time this seemed somewhat rational. God, they were all blind. ]

She -- all of Pandora -- has more than enough reason to hate him. Just. Wish she wouldn't belittle my feelings.

[He'd known bits and pieces before, but it clicks together now in Beckett's mind. Pandora. Angel's stories of Hyperion. Jack. Well.]

It is a little hard to compare feelings to the loss of all life on a planet. [But that isn't even a reprimand. This is Fiona's point of view and he understands it, but he also understands Rhys, Because people are not reasonable and it's absurd to expect them to be.]

It doesn't matter. It's your brain, and your mind. It's on you to understand what you want and what you are and are not willing to give up for it. Although I also recommend you figure out for yourself why you want it. What is Handsome Jack - no -

[A pause. Another realisation falls into place.]

We're not really talking about Jack, are we? What is the AI to you?

To me? That's a weird...

[ A weird, but legitimate question, and Rhys falters. The AI isn't his friend. The AI has tried to hurt him. Finds it funny. Ripped what made him him away and was deluded enough to think Rhys was still around.

But that there is the rub, isn't it. ]

... ...I'm his friend. I think. ...shit, that is so messed up.

Actually, that's very normal given the circumstances.

[No sarcasm there. If Rhys thinks he's going to phase Beckett with the idea of being friends with someone who's abused and killed you, he has clearly missed some memos.]

Human psychology has a number of names for it. But talking about the pathology of it is reductive. You two share a mind, thoughts, even dreams. You are all he really has. In a sense... I wouldn't be surprised if a part of you believes that he is all you have.

B-But I didn't say he's my friend! He -- it's different. It is.

[ His skin is crawling. Just a little. ]

None of me believes he's all I have, because I have Angel, and Fhhng... well. [ Chest. Hurts. ] Angel, always.

I might be wrong. [Casual tone, if not entirely convinced. But he doesn't want to push. It's a big idea to introduce, one Rhys probably will have to chew at on his own for a while.]

I did say, it is your head. You know it best. I'm only pointing out. The AI and you - even if you fight and have whatever falling out, even if whatever anomaly wanders by, or something else, he is the one person who can't ever leave.

[ Can't.

Ever.

Leave.

He thought his skin was crawling before. ]

This is why you need to stick with us. We can't just be left with him.

Don't hang it on me, Rhys. Your head. I can listen, and I can advise, but the call you make - to keep the AI, remove it, or destroy it - will be your call. And having anyone else around is no substitute to making it.

[That's the tough love part. He stops there for a moment, coughing faintly - same old unhappy sound - before he adds:]

Still... the week I've promised Angel runs out tomorrow. We'll find out if I can rejoin you.

[ Rhys keeps chewing his tongue 'til it really, really hurts. 'Til Beckett distracts him with the slight topic shift. ]

'If', pfft.

It's an "if". [A tiny hint of a warning now. He doesn't want to send Rhys back into Rhysterics, but this conversation is not about false hopes.]

Which is one more reason why you need to master this. You will be much less afraid of being alone when you have faith in yourself.

Nothing's going to make me stop fearing that.

[ Really, Beckett, not the time to mention that. No Rhysterics, but his voice dips back into pained wavering. ]

[It's not going away, baby bird. You gotta face the music eventually.]

Not stop. No. But you can know the fear and control it. Very few people like to be alone. [He hesitates a fraction.] Even I have enough of it now and then. But many don't find their own company to be so disagreeable.

[IC Contact -- Snowblind]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject