victory_road | GHOST TRICK PART ONE: Festival Log!

Entry tags:

GHOST TRICK PART ONE: Festival Log!

Who: Everyone!
Where: Either Ecruteak City or Lavender Town; please mark your toplevel comments accordingly!
When: August 13th-15th
Summary: Celebrate O-bon at a festival near you! For details, see the infopost.
Rating: Will vary from thread to thread. Warn for common triggers if something comes up.
Log:

The streets are lined with NPC-run stalls for food, games, and the assorted tchotchkes of every summer festival you’ve ever seen in your animes! There’s Goldeen Scoop, heaping cones of Swirlix Candy, Test Your STRENGTH (there are two different machines for people and Pokémon; HM04 not required); basically, if you can think of it, it’s there. There will also be a yukata rental stall if you want to go full hog on the cultural side of things. Ecruteak boasts a small stage where the Kimono Girls give a short performance once every two hours; the festivities in Lavender Town are a little quieter, but they also have Haunter-shaped ice cream treats. When you lick them, they Lick you!

On the last evening (August 15th) of the festival in either location, there will be a large bonfire and traditional bon-odori dance in which everyone is welcome to participate. In Lavender Town only, they also set paper lamps afloat in the water past the cliffs.

The closer you get to midnight on the last night of the festival, the more ghosts pop up.

Again, please say which city your character's in and note what dates/times they're there in the header of or within your top--level comment to avoid confusion. Play nice and have fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ That voice is enough to make Rhys jump. He hops up to his feet, looking at Jack like he's the ghost here.

Which...Jack looks anything but. He's in a yukata, him and Doom Boner both. Jack just looks at Rhys like everything's normal. Like he didn't just give him hell over a video chat, and he wasn't going to do something utterly terrifying here in a few days. Then there was Rhys who apparently looked like crap (and he felt like it too), not dressed in anything special and more or less shaking like a leaf on his feet.

He shakes his head, trying to look like the big tough guy here, but feeling anything but. Handsome Jack was a very intimidating figure on a good day, let alone when you've pissed him off to the point where he's promised to seriously hurt you in some way, shape or form.

If Rhys is being approached like this, it probably promises nothing good. ]

N-No. J-Just, uh, just watching.

Yeah, I don't blame you.

[Jack just plops down next to where Rhys had been sitting.]

I tried just watching, but...eh, gotta give the adoring fans what they want! Relax, Rhys, you look like you're about to crap yourself. This is a party. And you sure look like you could use the fun. Plus...

[Jack leans forward, conspiratorial, all smiles.]

I don't wanna spoil anything, but you should probably enjoy this kind of thing while you can. You...you're probably not gonna be on your feet for a little bit! You know, after we have our little employee disciplinary meeting. So c'mon! Sit down, have some fun!

[ Adoring fans. Oh, wow. He could say something about that.

He almost thinks about it, until Jack reminds him that no, he's not forgotten about their chat (why would he?). He also gives a hint about Rhys being...well, not dead but not well, and he kind of wants to throw up.

Rhys tells himself not to sit down. But he does. If anything, he just kind of flops. Is the world spinning, or is that just him? ]

Is this your definition of fun? [ Jack had smiled when he said that. Smiled. ]

Eh.

[Jack shrugs and pulls his flask out of his robes.]

I like my fun a little more grown up, if you get my drift. Yeah, you get my drift! But it's not bad. Little taste of the local flavor. Kinda bummed my lady friend's at the other festival, but whatever. Plenty of people to see here! Want some?

[He offers Rhys the flask. it's silver. There's an 'H' on it. Jack's acting for all the world as though he hadn't just casually reminded Rhys that he's going to torture him in the near future. Because that's a done deal. Signed and sealed. Why make a big thing about it? Rhys knows what's coming.]

[Rhys will behave.]

Grown up fun. [ Rhys repeats, raising an eyebrow when the flask is offered to him. None of this makes sense. This guy has told him that the next time they meet, Rhys will leave in worse condition than he arrived. Something bad's going to happen, and it's not going to be pleasant. But here Jack is, offering him a flask full of what he assumes is booze. Seriously?

This is so, so stressful. Rhys wants to do nothing more than just bury a hole and stay in there. Months ago, he probably would have been shitting his pants because he was so happy. Now? Not so much.

Everything has gone to shit, and the best part? He doesn't know whether the AI he had stuck in his head reflected what the real Jack would have done. What if he had destroyed Helios over some flawed, glitchy hologram?

He looks at the flask, before taking it and taking a...pretty big swig. Whatever's in there makes his throat burn and his eye water, but hey. ]

S-Strong stuff...

Hell yeah, it's strong. It's my own personal stock. I've been drinking since...wow. I don't even remember. Hell of a long time!

[Fourteen? Thirteen? Something like that. Of course, as a kid, it had been to dull the pain, not for fun. Not that it wasn't fun, 'cause it was. But the intend had never been to relax and unwind. Just to shut out the burning of his back and the god awful sound of his grandmother.]

It's nice to relax. You gotta. You know, leave work at work. All work and no play....

[He winks, leaving the rest of the old cliche unsaid.]

[ Rhys raises an eyebrow, but he nods along. How old was Jack, exactly? He's got to wonder why (or what made) him drink such strong stuff, but who knew. Handsome Jack was Handsome Jack. Was there a reason?

Did Rhys even want to know?

He sits on that for a moment, before looking over and opening his mouth before he even thinks twice about it. ] Makes Jack a dull boy. I know.

So why is it that you're threatening to hurt me over work related stuff then?

[ He hasn't been overly worrying about that since that video chat. Nah. ]

Seriously, cupcake? I thought made it clear why I need to punish you. You lied to me. You hurt me. That's not just business, kiddo, that's personal. And let me be completely clear: there's no threat. A threat, see, that's an implication. That's a possibility. We're not talking implications and possibilities here. I'm going to hurt you, Rhys. Because you hurt me.

[Jack takes the flask back and pulls a long draw from it. It's clear from the way he knocks it back like water that he's been hitting the hard stuff for a while.]

But hey, bright side! I'm just gonna hurt ya. I get my satisfaction, you get to continue breathing...I mean that just sounds like a win-win to me.

[He offers the flask again. Like they're sitting here sharing old stories or making plans to go fishing. There's nothing about Jack's body language or tone that implies he's casually discussing torturing his employee.]

[ Rhys isn't sure what's more unsettling: the fact that he's going to get hurt (how hurt, he doesn't even know) is an actual thing that's going to happen, or that Jack's completely okay with this. It's like he doesn't care. Either way, his heart is doing flip flops right now. He shudders. ] It's not like other people have hurt you before. I told a lie. So what?

[ When he's offered the flask again, he takes and mimics Jack to the T. He pulls his head back and takes two gulps, but he's unable to hide the grimace that follows. It feels like hellfire going down his throat and settling into his stomach. ] Doesn't seem like a win-win to me.

And you know where most of those people are now, Rhys? Little piles of leftover matter. Ashes, or compost, or in some cases literally just rot in some dumpster somewhere. Or floating in the vast cold vacuum of space, I guess, I've vented a lot of people out of airlocks. I'm not someone you lie to. Not when I've trusted you. Not when I've extended a hand of friendship. That's spitting in my friggin' face, Rhys. I don't take that lying down.

[Jack shrugs. The kid's trying. He can practically see Rhys trying to draw himself up, trying to be the big man. He's not doing half bad, either.]

But I like you. Maybe. I dunno, I like you a lot less right now. I mean, I can kill you. If you really have a problem with our current arrangement, hell, you could trip over my fat little dog and right into that friggin fire. I can make sure you do. Even if you got pulled out real quick...yeah, that metal in your head'll heat up like that.

[Jack snaps his fingers, close to Rhys' cyber port.]

And that's...that's in your brain. Your brain would literally melt. I've seen it happen, it's...it oozes right out the ears! It really does! Nose too. It bubbles and everything....ah. Good times.

[ Already, his head is fuzzy. Rhys knows when he's drunk. He's not quite there yet, but he's close. It's to the point where his world is doing spinny things, and the lights are a lot brighter than they were like, an hour ago.

Handsome Jack also isn't as scary as he was before. ]

What makes you so important? [ He's not sure whether the booze is speaking, or whether it's helping. ] Nobody else would care. What did you do to make people fear you?

[ The finger that snaps near his port makes him wince. Rhys has seen so many brains coming out of mouths and noses that he can picture itself happening to him way too well. It kind of makes him sick. Yeah, he won't comment on that. ]

Were you dropped on your head as a baby? Serious question. 'Cause...you should know damn well what I've done. I clawed my way to the top of Hyperion from nothing. I wasn't even born Hyperion, I had to break in. I saved Pandora from the Destroyer. I discovered the vast deposits of Eridium that's all through the planet. I found the Vault on Elpis. I saved Elpis. I was blessed by the gods of the Vaults themselves. I killed President Tassiter. And...you know. Like thousands of other people. Including entire bandit clans and so many Vault Hunters. I'm the guy with all the money, all the power, and all the brains to use'em both for the greater good. That, cupcake, is what makes me so friggin important!

[He's a hero. A real life hero. Bigger than life, better than life, the king of kings! And Rhys has to ask him why he's so important? What is wrong with the kid?]

I was born for greatness, kiddo, and I seized it. I'm a legend in flesh. You know that. And here's another thing...people only fear me when they have a reason to fear me.

[ The booze is definitely talking by now. Rhys is hardly in control of his words. He's barely in control of what he's feeling right now. ]

And that's why I looked up to you. You were, you were a god to me, Jack. For the longest time, I had pictures of you hanging on my wall, and, and in my room, 'cause you were inspiring to me. You came from nothing, but you did all of that! [ He laughs, and it almost sounds...kind of manic. ] If Handsome Jack did all of that, maybe I could too.

But you know what throwing your problems out of airlocks and into dumpsters makes you?

[ He pauses, because Rhys has some serious heartburn going on. ]

It makes you a goddamn coward.

[Jack raises an eyebrow, leaning back and just looking at Rhys. All puffed up, spitting fire. Little bit crazed, but hey, that happens.]

[And then he laughs. He bursts out laughing and slaps Rhys on the shoulder, leaning forward and shaking.]

Oh...oh, christ, I needed that! Look at you! It's like...it's like...you ever see those commercials, where there's like...a little house cat kitten, all puffballed out and hissing at like a friggin lion? And the lion's just bored and confused? That's you and me, right now. Little kitten all spitting and clawing at the lion.

[Oh, Rhys had a pair on him after all. He apparently just needed a little liquid courage. Maybe if Jack himself wasn't riding the moonshine wave himself, he'd be more pissed. But right now, it's just ludicrous.]

Alright, you're cut off. [He reaches for the flask.]

Look, some problems need to go out of airlocks or into dumpsters. I've only got so much time to do a whole freakin lot. Sacrifices have to be made. Corners have to be cut. And for me, killing people is really, really easy. So yeah, I take the easy way when I can. That's just smart, Rhys. I can waste my time trying to watch everybody all the time to make sure the problem's contained, or I can get rid of the problem.

[ Oh. Well. He wasn't expecting that.

Maybe it was because he was just a little hammered now, but he was expecting Jack to break down into tears. Then he'd talk about how Rhys was right, and that he had issues, sure. But maybe with a little bit of help (from Rhys, of course), this all could be fixed. The hurting thing would be put off forever, and they'd be best buds like they probably should be.

But nope. Handsome Jack is laughing at his face.

When a motion is made for the flask, Rhys pulls away. ] N-No! [ He pops it open and takes one more long swig. At least with him being drunk, the burning doesn't hurt as much. ]

S-Still stupid. It's, it's a dumb idea, and you're dumb for thinking it's not dumb.

Oh, pookie...you ever get to the top of anything, you'll see. You gotta prioritize, figure out what's important. And it's the bigger picture. It's a peaceful Pandora. A Pandora where I don't have to kill anybody anymore. But that's just not gonna happen without a whole lotta mess along the way. But it's all worth it, so in the future, kids can grow up on a planet that isn't gonna murder them on the way to school.

[He lets Rhys take another swig and then goes for the flask more forcefully. Enough is enough.]

I mean it, kiddo, give it back. It's my turn now. See...a smart little kitten knows it should be learning from the powerful, wise, older lion. Not trying to piss it off and get his cute little head bitten off. I'm, uh, not made of chances, Rhys.

D-Don't, call me pookie! I have a name. It's Rhys. [ Oh man, the world is spinny. If it could just stay still for a second or two, maybe things wouldn't be so weird. And he could get the hell out of here, like the little tiny sober part of his brain is telling him to do. Instead, he's listening to Jack rabble on about stuff that he ultimately failed to do.

Rhys listens, but he holds the flask away from Jack as far as he can. In his drunken state, he figures tossing it will make him go away. Right? If he's going to talk about lions and kittens and shit, he can pretend the booze he has is some kind of prey, and have the lion take off after it. So he throws it.

And it gets right, right in the center of the bonfire. There's a burst of flame, shooting right up the middle, and- ]

U-Uhh...

[ Rhys tries to scramble to his feet and take off, because once again, his life is now on the line. The world won't stop tilting, though... ]

I'll call you whatever I want. I....

[Holy shit, did Rhys just throw his flask into the fire? He did! he absolutely did!]

You little douchebag! It cost extra to get that monogrammed! I had to draw the goddamned right kind of 'H' for them and everything! Now I gotta do it again!

[He lets the kid get to his feet. And then he pulls up the hem of his robes - he's wearing his jeans underneath - and sticks his foot out. Right in front of Rhys' ankles.]

[ Rhys would have called out something like 'I didn't mean it!' because in reality, he didn't! That was just a really, really bad coincidence. Maybe it was fates way of telling Jack that he had a bad flask? He didn't know, and he didn't care.

He yelps in surprise as something catches one of his feet, and he falls face first into the dirt. The world spins even worse, there's something super gross in his mouth, and oh god he's not feeling good...

As if (literally) eating dirt wasn't embarrassing enough! Rhys rolls over to his side, curled in on himself with his metal hand clasped over his mouth. Because yup, he's going to be sick. In front of a crowd and Handsome Jack himself, Rhys pukes up all the booze he's ingested, and the little food he's eaten.

Cool moves, Rhys. Cool moves. ]

Oh jeezus christ, Rhys...that's...that's just embarrassing...

[Holy hell. Jack sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. It was funny up until the guy went fetal and started puking.]

No, Doom Boner, get away, leave him alone...

[He stands and nudges the puppy away from Rhys. That's not gonna help things, and god knows if the kid's got anything left in him.]

Okay, kiddo, you...you are done. Festival's over for Rhys. You need water, a shower, and sleep. Let's go.

[Jack reaches down to help Rhys up - not out of any real concern or care, but because hey, this is a really easy way to get the kid alone. And with him.]

[ This is horrible. His night was already kind of cruddy, and then it got worse, and now he was just sick in front of a huge group of people. And he ruined Handsome Jack's flask. His pride is so incredibly damaged right now, to the point where he doesn't even care when Jack comes to pick him up off the ground. The guy who has guaranteed to hurt him in the future. And tried to kill him on Helios (or was that the AI?). And has gotten pissed at him numerous, numerous times in the past like, month.

He clings to Jack the whole way back, unaware that yeah, this is a dumb idea. He's also unaware that he's kind of crying about everything. ] 'M, 'm sorry about Helios. And I'm sorry about you. And I'm sorry about lying, and I'm sorry 'bout- [ hiccup ] s-sorry about your horse, and I'm, I'm, I'm really s-soh-sorry...

Hey, hey, it's okay!

[No, it isn't okay, but this is progress. This is encouraging. Jack holds Rhys up, letting him babble on and on, responds in soothing and encouraging tones. He likes what he's hearing. This is what Rhys should have been saying to him from the start!]

This is what's called a breakthrough, Rhys! You know you screwed up. You feel shitty about it. You're expressing that to me. This is good! Everything's gonna be fine. We're gonna get you all sorted out, kiddo, and we'll be cool. Everything'll be back on track.

[Yes, this is good. And Rhys can replace his flask. He'll take Rhys back home - the festival's pretty much over, and the kid is not paying attention to where they're going. Jack's pretty sure they can fast travel without Rhys even realizing. Okay, so his plans got pushed back, but now they're getting back on the rails. It would be so much easier if he didn't have to friggin coddle and coax Rhys through everything, but they'll work on that.]

N-No, 'snot!

[ The alcohol is totally making Rhys think this is fixing things. Maybe after this is all said and done, they could actually be friends! Things happened. Rhys made mistakes, so did Jack. Just don't tell him that.

He sniffs. His mouth still kind of tastes like puke, and it's really disgusting. ] You're, you're not gonna hurt m-me, right? [ He stumbles to his left for a second before regaining his balance. Somewhat. ] I mean, I was just...

...I just j-just, scared. Of you. 'N I thought lyin' would make it better. Helios 'n stuff is gone, but y'know. It, it isn't gone wher'you are.

Rhys. C'mon. Begging like that's pathetic.

[Jack keeps a steadying arm around Rhys. He's just being a good buddy, getting his drunk friend home, nothing to see here. It's not that he's unmoved by Rhys' pleading, but they're grown men. Grown men don't beg and cry over a simple punishment.]

I'm not going to do anything to you that you can't handle. I get you had your reasons, for lying. It was still a screw up, but I get it. I'm intimidating. And you're just flailing around in the deep end, in a panic. But we'll talk about it in the morning.

[He guides Rhys to the Pokemon Center. He can only fast travel to Goldenrod, but that's all he needs.]

We're gonna get you home, get you cleaned up, get you in bed.

You're, you're not gon'a do anything bad? [ The closer they get to Goldenrod, the more he honestly wants to throw up. Jack's still intent on hurting him, but from what it sounds it won't be terrible? The worst Jack would do would be amputate another limb. Or break something. That's honestly all the bad things his drunk mind can think of right now.

He's still going to cry a bit, because he doesn't want that. ]

'mkay. [ They enter through the Center's sliding doors. The light's bright enough to make Rhys wince a bit. ]

We, we there yet?

GHOST TRICK PART ONE: Festival Log!

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

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)