[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

[channellings]

[it's not fine.]

Sounds about right for bandits... anywhere in the multiverse, I'd say.

cw: mention of cannibalism..........

[theprezident]

Yeah, probably. I just kind of assume that non-Pandoran bandits have a little more sense and don't, uh ... eat each other on the regular or anything.

rhys yOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT STUFF

[channellings]

[thank fucking christ he wasn't trying to drink—] Excuse me, what? They eat each other?

mfdsölafdsf weeps

[theprezident]

Yeah. Apparently.

I've never seen it, thank God, but Gaige says they do, and they scream about it sometimes.

it's fine, everything is f i n e

[channellings]

That is... one of the worst things I've ever heard in my life.

But I guess if you're going to assert your dominance, shouting about how you'll eat them would be a good way, wouldn't it?

:')

[theprezident]

That, or blowing them up with your biggest gun. I think that about covers their preferred methods. Luckily only been on the receiving end of the screaming so far.

[channellings]

Luckily. Jesus tapdancing Christ—! [but he tries not derailing.] How the hell did you survive back home?

[theprezident]

As much as I'd like to say it's thanks to my ingenuity and understanding of the Pandoran population, honestly?

[ Pause for dramatic effect, or something. ]

No idea. Probably mostly luck.

[channellings]

[in spite of himself, klaus sputters into his coffee, laughs around the rim initially then lowers the cup. he reaches up, wipes away any stray flecks before answering.]

Hey, you and I have that in common. If anybody asked me how I made it through life without dying, that'd be my answer, too.

[theprezident]

[ He brings his own cup up to his lips, but his grin is visible past it. Happy to have made Klaus laugh like that. Takes some of the edge off all the bullshit that is Pandora, at least.

Finally, he takes a sip, and closes his eyes with a content sigh. ]

Man, you have no idea how good this tastes after being stuck with Pandoran coffee for months.

[channellings]

[true, it does, and now that they've gotten past the unpleasantries—]

Is it truly that bad? If so, maybe it's better that I got mindprobed rather than you.

[he hooks his fingers into the handle of the mug, reaches his free hand out, uses his first two fingertips to flick rhys's bangs out of the way.] At least it seems like they went— er, well, not easy on you, but... y'know.

[theprezident]

[ He raises an eyebrow at the flick, but doesn't react otherwise. ]

Well-- Odin would probably have gotten Hyperion coffee out of me, but I'll be honest: It wasn't that much better.