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[It's several days after the events at the house party that Festival receives a voice message from Rhys.
The same Rhys that turned into a demon and then proceeded to ravish/ravage the pheromone-drunk bard, which explains why his voice is so hesitant.]
Hey. Um, Festival.
This is Rhys. I know you might not want to talk to me, but I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened in the house.
What I did in the house. If you're willing to talk to me, this is where you can reach me.
[He pauses, then adds,]
Thanks. Hopefully I'll talk to you soon.
The same Rhys that turned into a demon and then proceeded to ravish/ravage the pheromone-drunk bard, which explains why his voice is so hesitant.]
Hey. Um, Festival.
This is Rhys. I know you might not want to talk to me, but I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened in the house.
What I did in the house. If you're willing to talk to me, this is where you can reach me.
[He pauses, then adds,]
Thanks. Hopefully I'll talk to you soon.
[He's had Thoughts about this. Feelings, too. He's seen people talking on the network and he knows what happened to that guy from dinner, that transformations were a thing, but...
But it's complicated. He'd wanted it...or he'd thought he wanted it. That scares the hell out of him. It takes him a few hours after receiving the message to decide to reply.]
Did you...did you choose any of that?
But it's complicated. He'd wanted it...or he'd thought he wanted it. That scares the hell out of him. It takes him a few hours after receiving the message to decide to reply.]
Did you...did you choose any of that?
[Rhys takes in a breath when he actually gets a response, steadying himself as much as he can. Guilt wells up again at the sound of the bard's voice, and when he speaks again, it's quiet but emphatic.]
I don't know what happened, but I never would have. Not like that. I changed somehow, couldn't control myself. Didn't want to.
I woke up a while later and it was all sort of a blur.
I don't know what happened, but I never would have. Not like that. I changed somehow, couldn't control myself. Didn't want to.
I woke up a while later and it was all sort of a blur.
[Rhys lets out his breath slowly, because that word haunts him. Even back in the day, when he was young and first discovering his powers, it hovered over him, mocking his attempts to cling to his humanity.
Monster. Demon. Everything he doesn't want to be.]
Yeah. Incubus.
[He's a little grateful that Festival can't see the way his eyes squeeze shut.]
I think it was something about the house, the rooms. I've never changed like that before. I just know I was hungry, and...you were there.
I know, that's not an excuse, but...trying to understand what happened.
[He sounds very tired.]
Monster. Demon. Everything he doesn't want to be.]
Yeah. Incubus.
[He's a little grateful that Festival can't see the way his eyes squeeze shut.]
I think it was something about the house, the rooms. I've never changed like that before. I just know I was hungry, and...you were there.
I know, that's not an excuse, but...trying to understand what happened.
[He sounds very tired.]
[He lets out a long, shaky breath. For once the words don't come easily. Quietly, he says:]
You were violated as much as I was.
[He says it as much to bring it forefront in his own mind as to reassure Rhys, not thinking that violated might be a harsh word taken the wrong way--his concern is for the sanctity of the mind over the body, but he's hardly made that clear.]
You were violated as much as I was.
[He says it as much to bring it forefront in his own mind as to reassure Rhys, not thinking that violated might be a harsh word taken the wrong way--his concern is for the sanctity of the mind over the body, but he's hardly made that clear.]
[Oh, how much Rhys wants to believe that. Guilt still twists in his mind, though it settles a bit at hearing those words from his victim's lips.
He wasn't lying when he said that he didn't do that sort of thing. Normally he was so painfully careful about consent, so intent on not taking from people. There had been a time in his life when he'd been less careful, but he regretted that time with a deep and abiding ache.]
Thank you. It might take me some time to believe that, but...thank you.
[He lets his breath out in a low sigh.]
How are you feeling? Are you taking care of yourself? You, uh. Should start to feel better in a few days.
He wasn't lying when he said that he didn't do that sort of thing. Normally he was so painfully careful about consent, so intent on not taking from people. There had been a time in his life when he'd been less careful, but he regretted that time with a deep and abiding ache.]
Thank you. It might take me some time to believe that, but...thank you.
[He lets his breath out in a low sigh.]
How are you feeling? Are you taking care of yourself? You, uh. Should start to feel better in a few days.
[Having seen what happened to Tim, Festival is under the illusion that none of the transformations had anything to do with who or what the transformed are in their normal lives--and he's rather too thick to have put the dots together when it comes to Rhys.
He sighs back. He knows what it is to carry guilt.]
I'm tired. Sore. Magic does not obey me as well as I wish it. But I don't believe I'm hurt, really.
He sighs back. He knows what it is to carry guilt.]
I'm tired. Sore. Magic does not obey me as well as I wish it. But I don't believe I'm hurt, really.
[Rhys feels bad about everything he's leaving out, his mixed bloodline and the real source of his magical abilities, but he's also coping with the fallout of having his biggest secret pulled out of him. He needs time before he can come clean.]
That's what Incubi do. They steal life force. You can heal it back, but it takes a lot of care. Good food, plenty of sleep, some fresh air and sunshine if you're up to it. Mostly being gentle with yourself so your spirit can replenish itself.
That's what Incubi do. They steal life force. You can heal it back, but it takes a lot of care. Good food, plenty of sleep, some fresh air and sunshine if you're up to it. Mostly being gentle with yourself so your spirit can replenish itself.
[He meets that bit of humor with a chuckle.]
Two out of three isn't bad, at least. As long as you're taking care of yourself, you should start to feel better soon.
[He considers the bard's other question thoughtfully for a moment, before he answers.]
I think I'm okay. A lot of it is fuzzy in my mind, though I remember the pain.
I know I changed back a little while after...after. I woke up in a hallway, back to myself.
Then not too long after that the house actually let us go, so I went home and slept.
Two out of three isn't bad, at least. As long as you're taking care of yourself, you should start to feel better soon.
[He considers the bard's other question thoughtfully for a moment, before he answers.]
I think I'm okay. A lot of it is fuzzy in my mind, though I remember the pain.
I know I changed back a little while after...after. I woke up in a hallway, back to myself.
Then not too long after that the house actually let us go, so I went home and slept.
I'm sorry you woke up alone. Someone found me--Matt Murdock. Do you know him? Terribly helpful.
[He says it as much because he thinks it might make Rhys feel better to know he was looked after to some extent than because it really matters.]
I'm glad it hasn't lingered.
[He says it as much because he thinks it might make Rhys feel better to know he was looked after to some extent than because it really matters.]
I'm glad it hasn't lingered.
No, I don't know him but glad that someone was there to help you.
Seems like we've only got each other for helping out, here. Which sucks, but...at least we know there's some good people here.
[It does make Rhys feel a bit better, that Festival didn't awaken sick and alone. He's done that too often himself: he knows how horrible it feels.]
Seems like we've only got each other for helping out, here. Which sucks, but...at least we know there's some good people here.
[It does make Rhys feel a bit better, that Festival didn't awaken sick and alone. He's done that too often himself: he knows how horrible it feels.]
More good than bad that I've met among our company thus far. Though the bad ones do their utmost to make up for it.
I ought to have known better than to go exploring. Things ended rather badly the last time something unusual happened and I took it upon myself to go on a search as well.
I ought to have known better than to go exploring. Things ended rather badly the last time something unusual happened and I took it upon myself to go on a search as well.
That was my first event, so I went into it expecting...
Well, not what happened. I figured dinner and some blustery bullshit about the great City and its rulers, and then going home. But no, that would have been too easy.
And I've met quite a few decent people here so far, but then again, I've also heard about serial killers and vampires and all sorts of other things, so it's hard to say.
Well, not what happened. I figured dinner and some blustery bullshit about the great City and its rulers, and then going home. But no, that would have been too easy.
And I've met quite a few decent people here so far, but then again, I've also heard about serial killers and vampires and all sorts of other things, so it's hard to say.
Usually, vampires are one of those things you just leave alone, in my world. They're dangerous but they mostly keep to themselves.
[He lets his breath out slowly between his teeth.]
Yeah, I keep hearing about that. I can't believe he was only locked up for a couple of months? Even considering death doesn't stick here, that's...pretty horrifying.
At least he's identified as a killer now. People can watch themselves, and keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't get away with anything more.
[He lets his breath out slowly between his teeth.]
Yeah, I keep hearing about that. I can't believe he was only locked up for a couple of months? Even considering death doesn't stick here, that's...pretty horrifying.
At least he's identified as a killer now. People can watch themselves, and keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't get away with anything more.
He'd be put to death in a lot of places in my world, too. Or else locked up for the rest of his life where he can't hurt anyone else.
[He pauses, realizing he should clarify.]
In my world, people don't come back from death. Ghosts are a thing, but once you're dead, that's it, you're dead.
[He pauses, realizing he should clarify.]
In my world, people don't come back from death. Ghosts are a thing, but once you're dead, that's it, you're dead.
Huh. That makes sense, any kind of magic that can cross boundaries like that is pretty intense stuff.
[He lets out a long breath.]
I'm not usually the guy cheering for eye for an eye, but sometimes there's monsters that have to be dealt with.
[Is he worried for himself? A little bit, even though he's got tricks up his sleeve.]
[He lets out a long breath.]
I'm not usually the guy cheering for eye for an eye, but sometimes there's monsters that have to be dealt with.
[Is he worried for himself? A little bit, even though he's got tricks up his sleeve.]
That's fair, I can definitely agree with that.
Sometimes it's like a rabid animal. There's no coming back from that kind of atrocity, so the only choice you have is to make sure it can't hurt anyone else.
[There's a faint flicker of a smile, though weary. He's had to pass that judgment before. It's never easy, but sometimes it's the only thing that can be done.]
And those are good things to believe in.
Sometimes it's like a rabid animal. There's no coming back from that kind of atrocity, so the only choice you have is to make sure it can't hurt anyone else.
[There's a faint flicker of a smile, though weary. He's had to pass that judgment before. It's never easy, but sometimes it's the only thing that can be done.]
And those are good things to believe in.
Sometimes.
[And sometimes...well, a few of the monsters he'd been saddled with had surprised him. But several had very much not. He brightens a little, though his smile is wistful.]
It's--I'm the only one of my faith here, as far as I know. But it's not so difficult a faith to follow. The Drunken Hero asks that we welcome those in need, that we make ourselves and others merry, that things be made...well, fair. I try to live by that.
[And sometimes...well, a few of the monsters he'd been saddled with had surprised him. But several had very much not. He brightens a little, though his smile is wistful.]
It's--I'm the only one of my faith here, as far as I know. But it's not so difficult a faith to follow. The Drunken Hero asks that we welcome those in need, that we make ourselves and others merry, that things be made...well, fair. I try to live by that.
[Rhys has met humans who were every bit as much a monster as the werewolf or vampire down the street. He's also executed said humans. With some regret, but little hesitation when it was called for. It's what's in your soul, not your skin.]
I definitely like that.
My faith is pretty simple, too. I don't follow a god, more...a path. Be kind to others. Revere and respect nature. Appreciate the pleasures we've been given. Embrace love where you can, accept the end of things when they come.
[Why yes, Rhys is a druid with a little hedonism thrown in, why do you ask.]
I definitely like that.
My faith is pretty simple, too. I don't follow a god, more...a path. Be kind to others. Revere and respect nature. Appreciate the pleasures we've been given. Embrace love where you can, accept the end of things when they come.
[Why yes, Rhys is a druid with a little hedonism thrown in, why do you ask.]
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