[network] @hexappeal; let me enlighten you [open/video] [cw:blood]

[sleight_of_fate]

Characters: Jared Rhys, Beckett, chaos, Enoch
Location: Building 326- the high school
Date: Day 298, afternoon
Summary: Rhys pisses off some ghosts
Warnings: cw: blood, cursing, rituals



[On camera, Rhys looks a bit shaken and pale, but his jaw is set and his blue eyes are hard and determined. He's got a blanket wrapped around him, and he holds the tablet awkwardly to talk, doing his best to present a calm, professional face.

Hey, is not the first time he's been assaulted by a ghost and he doubts it will be the last.]

So I think we learned a lesson, though I don't know how useful it is. That lesson being, don't do magic in the high school because it will fucking shank you.

[He opens the blanket to reveal a patched wound on his heavily tattooed chest.]

We do have video, though. I performed a tribute ritual combined with a provocation, which is basically going in and deliberately pissing off spirits. "My god is better than your god", basically. We did a pretty good job, apparently.

I've got a few thoughts about a plan B and what else might get results here, but since I'm not quite up for getting myself possessed, I think I'm gonna take a break and come back to it. But if anyone catches something we missed? Have at it.

[The footage, taken from several feet away and clearly from another person, shows the hallways in the high school under unsteady light, mostly weak daylight with the occasional flicker of the overhead flourescents. Rhys is stripped to his heavily tattooed skin except for his jeans and boots, shaved head bare and his sash-wrapped tail out and lashing restlessly as he works. Beckett is with him, on quiet standby as Rhys sets up the ritual with a brief explanation of the plan. He moves swiftly and surely as he sets up a small fire, lays out an X-Acto knife, and puts out a can of cranberry juice and some chalk and charcoal. There's dark winged figures already scribbled over some of the eyes on the walls, and it's clear that this isn't going to be a peaceful ritual like the one Rhys performed in the house before. Even Rhys himself looks different, particularly with all his ink showing: Dark, primal, a little bit crazed.

The camera follows the prayers to the Queen of Crows and Winter, the clouds of dark, noxious smoke that billow up from the handful of wood and insulation that Rhys lights, the ritual sharing and pouring of the "wine" and the quick, practiced bloodletting that Rhys performs on both himself and Beckett with the proper offering of prayer in two different languages.

It's a prayer and offering for battle: against the interloper and the whore, if anyone listens closely enough. Or happens to follow Celtic Gaelic reasonably well. Someone well-versed in mythology might also put together that Rhys's patron might be the Morrigan, goddess of war, death, magic and fate...though asking him about it later probably will get a lot of evasions and not a lot of answers.

It's when Rhys is getting up to close the ritual that he suddenly curses, stumbles, and falls against the wall, one hand pressed to his chest. Red leaks through his fingers as he goes pale and wobbles in shock, and the taping is interrupted in favor of quick treatment of what proves to be a single but profusely bleeding stab wound high on the witch's chest. Then the video ends.]

Comments

[sleight_of_fate]

I'm pretty sure I'm not dying. I wouldn't be sitting up and talking if I was.

[He's got a point. Give the guy a point, okay, Flynn?]

Trust me, man. I'm getting it taken care of. Death is not a hobby I want to pick up here.

[This probably isn't going to be reassuring, but:]

Nothing inside is on the outside. It's only a flesh wound.

[cahooted]

Well, good, I'm glad. Because that is a terrible hobby to have.

[And no, it's really not, Rhys. It's really not.]

Again, setting the bar a little higher than that. Just... rest. Take it easy, okay?

[sleight_of_fate]

[Rhys's expression softens a little. He jokes when he's messed up, okay? Sorry, Flynn.

Also, he's used to having magic to get him through this. Give him a few hours, he'll be a lot less perky.]

Yeah, I think I'm about done on the experiment trail for the time being. I'll take it easy, I promise. No more running around or setting things on fire. At least till I'm healed.

[cahooted]

Good. Yeah, okay. [Look, he's worried. Getting yourself stabbed by a ghost weapon will have him worried.

There's an awkward pause before eventually,]

So. Offering for battle, huh?

[sleight_of_fate]

[He's actually a little divorced anyone picked up on that part. He blinks slowly.]

Hey, I figured if I was gonna go through the motions, may as well make it the real thing and maybe get something out of it, right? We...kind of are fighting a fight, here.

The ancient pagan worship is mostly a Christmas and holidays thing, though, just as an aside.

[Just in case anything is weirded out or anything because, you know, blood sacrifices to obscure war deities.]

[cahooted]

I'm not judging. [At... least not that part.]

I mean, it's not everyday that you see a live ritual to the goddess of war? That was kind of interesting.

[Flynn is not trying to call Rhys out on anything but, just like with his tail, it just sort of happens. He put the ritual on the network for everyone to see, so it's fair game to discuss, right? Surely others have figured that part out as well. Besides, it's a lot easier for Flynn to focus on mythology and ancient rituals than what is actually going down.]

[sleight_of_fate]

[He chuckles drily.]

Yeah, it's kind of gone out of style, but there's still a few that practice it, especially in my world when you can actually talk to them.

...I wouldn't recommend it, but you can do it. Powers and Patrons and Totems are kind of dangerous business when you use the direct line.

[cahooted]

I think I'll leave that to the professionals. [Really, he prefers reading up on that stuff.]

But you certainly rustled someone's jimmies.

[sleight_of_fate]

[Rhys gives a small snort of laughter. It still hurts. Oops.]

Research is good. Probably best.

Now that I pissed someone off, proved I'm still a sinner with the best of 'em, I just gotta figure out what to do with it.

Or what to let someone else to do with it.

[cahooted]

Just... don't get stabbed again.

[He really isn't sure if the outcome justified the experiment – and he isn't sure if 'provocation' might not be a better word than 'research' – but Rhys is injured and Flynn has enough tact to keep himself in check for now.]

[sleight_of_fate]

[In the back of his head, Rhys knows damn well that he's being an idiot: Bold to the point of reckless, forward to the point of masochistic. Here, in Norfinbury, it's more start than it's ever been, but he's still clinging to the excuse that it's getting results, and likely will for a while.

Until called out on his shit, which a few people are doing already. And while Rhys might be self-destructive, he's also smart enough to know when he's busted.]

Not at the top of my list, don't worry.

Think I'm done for a little while. But...thanks, I appreciate it.

[cahooted]

[Flynn shoots him another concerned look, awkwardly rubbing his chin.]

Alright.

[It's not really alright but he really doesn't know how to get his point across without yelling and he doesn't want to yell at Rhys right now.]

Let me know if you need anything, okay?

[sleight_of_fate]

[Good call, Flynn. Rhys already looks miserable, maybe he's learned his lesson. You can always hope, right?]

I will. I'll try not to need anything for a while, though.

[He gives a faint, crooked smile, a pale echo of his usual bravado.]

Thanks, Flynn. I appreciate it.

[cahooted]

[Always.]

Anytime. I'll let you get some rest, just... take it easy.

[sleight_of_fate]

Mmm.

@[He dozily turns off the connection, but will check back in a few hours later, after Sylar stitches him up to prove that he's safe, secure, and has been properly cared for.]