[ Jack interjects in that brief silence with that much, since he can guess some of Rhys's thoughts here. That's not exactly something new, but it hasn't been common. After Elpis, Jack had closed himself off in a way that he didn't always like. Part of it was intentional, because it's exactly what he's talking about here, but there was just as much that wasn't. It's the way he gets wrapped up in his grand plan for the universe and how he sees a dagger in every hand waiting for his back as a result. So, really, only a few people had ever managed to see beyond Jack's mask, both physical and metaphorical.
He looked doubtful when Rhys asserted that Jack could trust him, as Rhys explains, that expression softens. Jack doesn't give his trust easily, and that's something that Rhys know better than Jack thinks, but it's almost a physical thing as he gives at least a small piece of it.
That's the thing about Jack, though. There aren't many people that can avoid getting wrapped up in Jack. He has a naturally magnetic personality, and it's what elevated him to the sort of cult-like devotion that was so unique to Hyperion, but even individually, when he's laying here having a moment of openness with another person, it's the same sort of thing. Jack isn't a liar, because every word he says is a truth or something he believes so strongly that it might as well be. He's genuine in a frightening way, because it's so easy to forget that there's so much of Jack that's completely divorced from other parts of him.
So that trust doesn't mean that Rhys is safe. In fact, it's so much more dangerous, and that's why every person that's seen beyond that mask has ended up dead. ]
You-- [ Jack starts to respond once Rhys has said his piece, but it comes with a laugh. ] I mean, to be honest here, you keep surprisin' me, Rhys.
[ Jack pauses, then shifts slightly closer. Usually he'd probably be at least a little more smooth here, but the handcuff and their proximity makes that less than elegant. The hand that's uncuffed at least comes up to Rhys's neck, but that's to help angle both of their heads here. As such, Rhys can probably guess what's coming next here and pull back if he wants, but really, Jack doesn't think that'll be the case, considering Rhys...
He kisses Rhys, and it's both brief and tender rather than the sort of aggressive that might seem to suit Jack better. After all, what Rhys says is bolstering and supporting Jack in ways that he might not have expected to, but also in those ways that aren't exactly good. But it's absolutely what Jack craves and appreciates, and at least for the moment, he thinks that something physical is a better way to convey that than through words.
After all, as he pulls back again, he proves that he's not actually smooth or a wordsmith. ]
[ this isn't the first time rhys has thought about kissing jack. he never really left himself indulge for more than a moment though because handsome jack was still more of an icon, a hero, than an actual human being. now though, things are a little different. when jack was in his head, he was kicked off his pedestal. when jack is at his side, he's brought to rhys' level.
on some level, rhys is aware of how bad this is, of how quickly it can turn into something that he can't handle -- that's how it always works with jack, right? every story from every person who got even a smidgen close to him. that's why no one really survives jack, not really. rhys though, he's naive and he wants so desperately to believe the lie that when jack moves in to kiss him, he doesn't back off.
his hands curl in jack's shirt, pressing in close to meet his mouth and feeling an odd but satisfying sensation as he feels the brush of the scar against his skin. it's still so cool, being this close to jack and this ... accepted? wanted? by him. rhys feels so jubilant in this moment, more than he's felt since jack smiled at him in his office and told him he was proud of him. this is better, this is a physical thing along with an emotional. it makes rhys feel whole.
when they break apart, rhys lets out a kind of breathy laugh, forehead pressed against jack's and not trying to move away this time. he grins, meeting jack's gaze in response and tries to squash the urge to kiss him again. not... yet, not now, but soon. ]
Nnnnot quite how I expected the night to go, gotta say. Thought you didn't want to make it that gay?
[ he curls closer, taking up more that little amount of space between them. his ankle slides against jack's and he lets out a pleased sigh, feeling... oddly relaxed now. he's accepted it, accepted how bad this is just how much he still wants it. it's fine, he thinks. it's completely fine. ]
Glad you -- [ he pauses, interrupting himself with a yawn and his eyes fall shut for a moment ] Glad you did though. I really like you -- different than the whole admiration thing. Just, y'know, you yourself. I really like that part of you and m'glad you finally believe me. I'll keep, [ another yawn here ] proving it if I have to, Jack.
[ it's said in a sleepy, content tone -- voice a soft mumble because in this moment, rhys is completely happy. surrounded by jack like this and given his affection, rhys doesn't want to be anywhere else in the universe. ]
Ha ha hah. [ That is absolutely a forced, sarcastic, and flat laugh. ] Least I'll remember your name, dickhead.
[ He gets a little defensive, but not nearly as bad as it could be. Considering he's the one that initiated that part, he can't really deny that it's pretty gay, but he also doesn't actually care too much about that part. Or at least, not as much as he was conveying, since that too is a way for him to keep a bit of distance. Jack keeps very nearly everyone at arm's length, since he has problems trusting people enough for any kind of intimacy. Even now, it's not completely there, not even close, but—
Jack shifts all the same to hold Rhys comfortably in his-- Well, ideally, this would be in his arms, but the cuff makes it a little more awkward. Still. It's close, even intimate, and he doesn't mind that at all. He absolutely prefers the comfort of having someone else sleep next to him, though he'd also never ask for it. And considering the sort of task he's been given here? It's more comforting than he would have expected to feel able to extend even this small bit of trust. It's physical, and even that much is no small matter for Jack.
Though for how he feels, that's something else entirely. Because even now, as he shifts and settles down, he's not sure what that is. It's appreciation for Rhys's admiration and loyalty, but the part Jack isn't aware enough of himself to recognize is that that trust comes more from the fact that Rhys is bolstering his ego and his beliefs. Jack's definitions of trust and betrayal are both very different from everyone else's, since both exist in a very black and white context. Agree with Jack, and he trusts you. Disagree with Jack, and you're a traitor. Both are far simpler than they seem, but that simplicity is part of what made Jack the monster he is.
Unfortunately, that's a harsh truth about Jack that Rhys will rediscover.
But for now, Jack doesn't think on what he feels here. Maybe it's just too late to think on it, which is what he decides on when he catches an infectious yawn. He finally relaxes too and gets them tangled further together to fall asleep. Considering the kiss, there's no need to hide that he's clingy, as if that's a surprise... ]
But, c'mon. Didn't even realize how goddamn little I've been sleeping lately.
[ More than Rhys knows and understands, but he's genuinely too tired to have his paranoia flare up. This is a good thing, since that would absolutely get him to back off. Without it, Jack just closes his eyes, just barely keeping the contact between their foreheads. It's super gay. ]
[ But not as bad as the fact that at some point in the night, they will absolutely end up spooning again and Jack will kiss his neck and mutter something about Nisha sucking his dick. That's canon now. Jack will not remember this, in fact. ]
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momijizukamori
this thread needs holy water
Date: 2016-08-10 02:42 pm (UTC)[ Jack interjects in that brief silence with that much, since he can guess some of Rhys's thoughts here. That's not exactly something new, but it hasn't been common. After Elpis, Jack had closed himself off in a way that he didn't always like. Part of it was intentional, because it's exactly what he's talking about here, but there was just as much that wasn't. It's the way he gets wrapped up in his grand plan for the universe and how he sees a dagger in every hand waiting for his back as a result. So, really, only a few people had ever managed to see beyond Jack's mask, both physical and metaphorical.
He looked doubtful when Rhys asserted that Jack could trust him, as Rhys explains, that expression softens. Jack doesn't give his trust easily, and that's something that Rhys know better than Jack thinks, but it's almost a physical thing as he gives at least a small piece of it.
That's the thing about Jack, though. There aren't many people that can avoid getting wrapped up in Jack. He has a naturally magnetic personality, and it's what elevated him to the sort of cult-like devotion that was so unique to Hyperion, but even individually, when he's laying here having a moment of openness with another person, it's the same sort of thing. Jack isn't a liar, because every word he says is a truth or something he believes so strongly that it might as well be. He's genuine in a frightening way, because it's so easy to forget that there's so much of Jack that's completely divorced from other parts of him.
So that trust doesn't mean that Rhys is safe. In fact, it's so much more dangerous, and that's why every person that's seen beyond that mask has ended up dead. ]
You-- [ Jack starts to respond once Rhys has said his piece, but it comes with a laugh. ] I mean, to be honest here, you keep surprisin' me, Rhys.
[ Jack pauses, then shifts slightly closer. Usually he'd probably be at least a little more smooth here, but the handcuff and their proximity makes that less than elegant. The hand that's uncuffed at least comes up to Rhys's neck, but that's to help angle both of their heads here. As such, Rhys can probably guess what's coming next here and pull back if he wants, but really, Jack doesn't think that'll be the case, considering Rhys...
He kisses Rhys, and it's both brief and tender rather than the sort of aggressive that might seem to suit Jack better. After all, what Rhys says is bolstering and supporting Jack in ways that he might not have expected to, but also in those ways that aren't exactly good. But it's absolutely what Jack craves and appreciates, and at least for the moment, he thinks that something physical is a better way to convey that than through words.
After all, as he pulls back again, he proves that he's not actually smooth or a wordsmith. ]
Yeah, it's obviously okay with me, dumbass.
holy shit
Date: 2016-08-10 07:37 pm (UTC)on some level, rhys is aware of how bad this is, of how quickly it can turn into something that he can't handle -- that's how it always works with jack, right? every story from every person who got even a smidgen close to him. that's why no one really survives jack, not really. rhys though, he's naive and he wants so desperately to believe the lie that when jack moves in to kiss him, he doesn't back off.
his hands curl in jack's shirt, pressing in close to meet his mouth and feeling an odd but satisfying sensation as he feels the brush of the scar against his skin. it's still so cool, being this close to jack and this ... accepted? wanted? by him. rhys feels so jubilant in this moment, more than he's felt since jack smiled at him in his office and told him he was proud of him. this is better, this is a physical thing along with an emotional. it makes rhys feel whole.
when they break apart, rhys lets out a kind of breathy laugh, forehead pressed against jack's and not trying to move away this time. he grins, meeting jack's gaze in response and tries to squash the urge to kiss him again. not... yet, not now, but soon. ]
Nnnnot quite how I expected the night to go, gotta say. Thought you didn't want to make it that gay?
[ he curls closer, taking up more that little amount of space between them. his ankle slides against jack's and he lets out a pleased sigh, feeling... oddly relaxed now. he's accepted it, accepted how bad this is just how much he still wants it. it's fine, he thinks. it's completely fine. ]
Glad you -- [ he pauses, interrupting himself with a yawn and his eyes fall shut for a moment ] Glad you did though. I really like you -- different than the whole admiration thing. Just, y'know, you yourself. I really like that part of you and m'glad you finally believe me. I'll keep, [ another yawn here ] proving it if I have to, Jack.
[ it's said in a sleepy, content tone -- voice a soft mumble because in this moment, rhys is completely happy. surrounded by jack like this and given his affection, rhys doesn't want to be anywhere else in the universe. ]
no subject
Date: 2016-08-10 09:16 pm (UTC)[ He gets a little defensive, but not nearly as bad as it could be. Considering he's the one that initiated that part, he can't really deny that it's pretty gay, but he also doesn't actually care too much about that part. Or at least, not as much as he was conveying, since that too is a way for him to keep a bit of distance. Jack keeps very nearly everyone at arm's length, since he has problems trusting people enough for any kind of intimacy. Even now, it's not completely there, not even close, but—
Jack shifts all the same to hold Rhys comfortably in his-- Well, ideally, this would be in his arms, but the cuff makes it a little more awkward. Still. It's close, even intimate, and he doesn't mind that at all. He absolutely prefers the comfort of having someone else sleep next to him, though he'd also never ask for it. And considering the sort of task he's been given here? It's more comforting than he would have expected to feel able to extend even this small bit of trust. It's physical, and even that much is no small matter for Jack.
Though for how he feels, that's something else entirely. Because even now, as he shifts and settles down, he's not sure what that is. It's appreciation for Rhys's admiration and loyalty, but the part Jack isn't aware enough of himself to recognize is that that trust comes more from the fact that Rhys is bolstering his ego and his beliefs. Jack's definitions of trust and betrayal are both very different from everyone else's, since both exist in a very black and white context. Agree with Jack, and he trusts you. Disagree with Jack, and you're a traitor. Both are far simpler than they seem, but that simplicity is part of what made Jack the monster he is.
Unfortunately, that's a harsh truth about Jack that Rhys will rediscover.
But for now, Jack doesn't think on what he feels here. Maybe it's just too late to think on it, which is what he decides on when he catches an infectious yawn. He finally relaxes too and gets them tangled further together to fall asleep. Considering the kiss, there's no need to hide that he's clingy, as if that's a surprise... ]
But, c'mon. Didn't even realize how goddamn little I've been sleeping lately.
[ More than Rhys knows and understands, but he's genuinely too tired to have his paranoia flare up. This is a good thing, since that would absolutely get him to back off. Without it, Jack just closes his eyes, just barely keeping the contact between their foreheads. It's super gay. ]
[ But not as bad as the fact that at some point in the night, they will absolutely end up spooning again and Jack will kiss his neck and mutter something about Nisha sucking his dick. That's canon now. Jack will not remember this, in fact. ]