[Video, backdated to Jan 3rd]

[theprezident]

[ Rhys has only just stepped out of the castle when he starts the video. There's not much that has changed about him. His hair is slicked slightly more to the side, with a couple of stylish stray hairs hanging down, and the colour of his left eye is golden rather than blue. Closer to his natural eye color, but still obviously different.

If he doesn't look very happy, well, that's because he was in the middle of something. Meaning that, after a lot of time and effort, they finally managed to open the damn vault, but before he got to actually see what was in that big chest, he ended up here. So, yeah, you can bet he's annoyed. All that work and he's left with a cliffhanger, and now it might be months before he finds out! ]

Hi, everyone. Not sure ... I don't know who noticed I was gone, or how long I was gone, or who's still here, but ... I'm back? Rhys. That's my name. I'm-- Uh. So. Slightly disconcerting fact. I went home for ... a while. Like. Months. Thing is, I don't think I remembered ever being here. I'm a little, uh, confused, still. It's like I need to sort out what order everything happened in and who everyone is.

A lot's happened. Not gonna go into that. Just a ... couple of things. Firstly, if Klaus and company are still here and you're still living in that house, I'd love if someone could meet me halfway with a coat or something because I'm dressed for the desert, not this. Secondly, Gaige, if you're still here and willing to talk to me, that'd be ... great. Or I guess you could just cuss me out more, or punch me in the face, or whatever.

Other than that, let me know if I missed anything exciting? Again, no idea how long it's been. Pretty sure it was winter when I was here last but, I dunno, maybe it's been a whole year. Or more.

[ He does one single finger gun, and ends the feed before he starts making his way through Honir district.

Feel free to run into him in person and say hi. ]

Comments

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[tealeafs]

[ Oh geez. What's up with that golden eye! It's not as if Rhys' eyes weren't a little odd before, but at least blue had no special meaning to her. Gold has never been much good news where Chizuru is from.

But rather than replying to the message, she instead moves to seek him out in person. It takes a bit to find him with him just wandering around, but then she manages to spot him and quickly jogs over. ]

Ah.. there you are! [ She halts in front of him, a hint of concern in her eyes. ] I saw your message.. Are you alright?

[ She doesn't know what could have happened to him back home, after all, so she wants to make sure of that first. ]

[theprezident]

[ While her face strikes him as familiar, he doesn't expect that he's the one she's jogging over to. When she stops in front of him with an exclamation like that, he starts, jumping back a step and staring at her with wide eyes.

Oh, right. He remembers now. ]

We made snowmen.

[ There's a slight pause, and then he shakes his head. ]

Sorry, it's just a lot. I'm fine. Really.

[ He even smiles with it, and it's perfectly genuine. After thinking that people he cared for were dead and then finding out they were very much alive, and defeating a vault monster together? He feels pretty great. ]

[tealeafs]

[ When she realises he doesn't immediately recognize her, Chizuru looks a little startled herself - she quickly clasps her hand over her mouth, as to keep herself from suddenly saying more while she's still surprised.

Relief dawns on her expression though the moment he recognizes her - along with a faint embarrassed blush as she nods. ]

It's alright, I should have been more careful.. It must be strange to find yourself back here if you have been gone for a whole year. [ There's a slight pause and Chizuru glances away, like she's hesitating about something. But then she decides to just say it anyway, since she's sure he's bound to hear it from someone sooner or later.. ] It hasn't been nearly that long here though.

[theprezident]

[ She's still very cute. He still wonders how she's even real. ]

Yeah, I had a feeling. So how long has it been?

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[channellings]

[okay, so, the first thing klaus notices is the new look. which he's digging, he really is, but the fact that rhys had disappeared in the first place has him feeling more frantic than he should about his sudden reappearance.]

Listen here, asshole, [somehow, even that sounds fond when it's meant to be firmer,] you have way more explaining to do than just, “I left and now, here I am again!” [such as why? and how the hell could he have been gone for months when it'd only been a few days here on asgard?

what kind of time fuckery is going on here???

klaus's end of the feed jostles, like he's moving too quickly for the camera to focus but once he's readjusted and (unsurprisingly) in his coat, he comes back into view, the arm he isn't using to take the video clutching tightly to familiar ball. except there's one minor change in the details: it's now wrapped in tiny little multicolored fairylights. despite his obviously upset demeanor (and that only makes him more flustered with the fact), he rolls his eyes, thumps his forehead against the metal sphere then huffs an exasperated sigh.]

Which doesn't need to be explained right now, I suppose? But you can bet your ass, I wanna know what the hell happened once I find you.

[a beat before he adds,] I'm bringing a coat, too. Can't have you freezing to death after I'd thought— [reverse, reverse!] —after you finally made it back.

And if Gaige doesn't get to it first, I'm gonna straight up deck you. [because how dare rhys just disappear like that! not that he had much choice but details.]

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[theprezident]

[ So, uh, that's Gortys covered in adorable lights, which is actually the best, and Rhys would really looove to focus on that. But he's being threatened and accused and frankly he is offended. ]

H-hey-- That's all the explaining I can do! I don't know what happened! You're not bringing me a coat if you're just going to punch me. Ask Lalli or Emil or, uh ... Tori? No. Ugh, names.

[ SCRUBS FACE ]

I have not earned a punch to the face, okay? Thank you.

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[channellings]

[he deserves it!!!]

Seriously? There's nothing else aside from that? [sounds fake, frankly, but the skepticism in klaus's voice is fading somewhat, the crease in his expression softening. maybe he's pissed, it doesn't give him the right to blame rhys for something out of his hands.] Fine, I won't punch you. [he snorts in spite of himself, angling the bracelet just right, his eyes can't be seen very well.] It's Tuuri, you... you dingus.

Are you sure, though? Because my fingers are still kinda itching. [but he's rushing out the door of the house, doing his best to keep the video steady despite his sprinting.]

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[theprezident]

[ Rude. ]

What, you thought I found a way out and just ... didn't tell anyone? Come on, man. Are you-- Are you running? I'm not that cold.

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[skittering]

What do you mean, you didn't remember?

❰ there's something sharp under his tone that he can't quite fully suppress. ❱

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[theprezident]

[ There's a sympathetic grimace at the tone. He gets it. It really, really sucks. Sure, what happened on Pandora changed him too, but Asgard - or rather, some of his fellow Wanderers - kind of ... made him a better person? He thinks?

Something like that. ]

Exactly what it means. It's like I was never gone at all. As soon as I woke up here again, I started remembering.

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[momsboy]

You do look different. [ He noticed the eye but since people with implants are pretty common where Peter comes from, he does't mention it directly. ]

My god, Rhys, when did you get a fashion sense? Proud of you, man.

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[theprezident]

[ Wow, rude? ]

Hey, my fashion sense was fine. What kind of welcome back is this?

[momsboy]

[ It's all in good fun! Fun for Peter, that's it. ]

If you are sure you can call whatever you were wearing before 'fine', this argument is lost already.

[ Peter laugh, then waves a hand. ]

Sorry, sorry...to be fair, I didn't realize you were gone. I've been kinda busy with the Wind Farm. Klaus is still around, are you two close?

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[draumstafir]

Your eye changed color. Are you alright, Rhys?

[ he'd offer to bring a coat, but it looks like klaus has that covered just fine. weird how he hasn't realized that klaus and rhys know each other until now, but somehow he's not surprised either. ]

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[theprezident]

Yeah! I'm fine. I just had to, uh ... Get a new eye, that's all. It wasn't real from the start, by the way, so ... Actually, maybe that doesn't make it sound any better.

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[draumstafir]

[ reynir hadn't honestly thought much on rhys' eye to begin with, but in retrospect that strange glow to it makes this new information from rhys register pretty cleanly for him without much trouble. ]

Oh, that makes sense. Like your arm. Why did you have to get a new one?

[hikikomori_king]

You look different, my friend.

[theprezident]

Oh, not too different, just a new haircut and some new cybernetics. But thanks for noticing!

[hikikomori_king]

Cybernetics? By the way you speak.. you... went home? [ He sounds so wistfully jealous ]

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[advivo]

You sure that's a good idea, Rhys?

[ You know the whole talking to Gaige thing. ]

Oh and welcome back.

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[theprezident]

I'm sure it's not a good idea, but I've been through a lot of shit since I was here last, and I just ... I don't know.

[ A SIGH.

It's fine, everything is fine, if she kills him he'll just come back, right? ]

Thanks.

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[advivo]

Just... make sure you've got someone on standby in case the worst happens, yeah? Don't think anyone needs a repeat of Rhys-paste.

[ Because no, it isn't fine. Dying isn't fun. ]

You're welcome.

[machinamentum]

Yeah, what do you want, fucker? Change of clothes doesn't fix lying to me.

[theprezident]

[ Oh, wow, she actually responded. That probably shouldn't be surprising. Vault Hunter. Definitely not afraid of confrontation at all.

He takes a deep breath, and then ... pauses for a moment. ]

Wait ... It's specifically the lying you're angry about?

[machinamentum]

Uh, yeah, jerkwad. I can't imagine why I - the person that got lied to by Handsome's Jacks kid who screwed everyone I know over - hates it when people lie to me?

It's shocking, I know. Who would have freaking thought?