Rhys Hancock

EMRYS “RHYS” HANCOCK

38 years old, cis-male (he/him), elementary teacher

WANTED CONNECTIONS

You hate/dislike Rhys’ brother, and you think Rhys agrees with everything his brother does - maybe he does to a point - and you enjoy trying to get him angry.

ADD buddies.

You have a history with Edith Alby, but you’ve never met her, you desperately want to know how it feels. 

FUTURE PLOTS

Rhys being forced to acknowledge his brother isn’t the best mayor and that Edith Alby is not a nice ghost. 

Getting someone in trouble because he isn’t paying any attention. 

PLOTS IN THE WORKS

“You know, I do what I want to do. When I feel like doing it. You are actually allowed to make your own decisions.” Despite claims otherwise, KJ did, in fact, spend quite a bit of his time doing what other people wanted him to do. 

Among them, of course, were his mother, George Alby, and the mysterious RMR. But once he and Ajita won this thing and were deputy mayors or co-mayors or however the ballots would play out, he would finally be the one with a say in things. 

He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to one side, studying Rhys almost like a shark circling its prey. “That’s right. So take it. Wear it. Do what you want,” he said at last, extending has hand as if to see what he would do. “So. What parts of your brother’s political platform are most important to you?”

-

Rhys nodded. He knew that.

He knew he could get a dog if he wanted to. Of course, he would have to leave said-dog back home and all that. He knew he could marry Sonny, if he wanted to, and everyone would support him, even if they were an old-fashioned family.

And Jesse could probably spin it his way, one way or another, and then be very proud of him…

Oh. 

But of course. 

Rhys tapped on his jeans, trying to stop himself from taking the button. 

He heard Jesse in the back of his head.

But he still moved forward and took it. 

It was such a nice button.

He liked it.

So he pinned it to his chest. He felt cool

He looked back up, a little confused at the question. “Huh?”

“Oh… I guess he wants what’s best for the place, and he said more money to schools.” And Jesse was very involved with the mysteries and such. But that was about the extend of it all.

“I’m voting for him because he’s my brother,” he dead-panned.

Hunter had been so wrapped up in work that he barely processed what was going on outside of that. It was just another day, another thing to distract him from what he’s endured. At least being at Dutch’s meant he didn’t have to be in his apartment all day, he could escape for a while. So, when he stepped outside and was immediately handed something, well, it was the last thing he expected.

He flinched upon when he heard someone, but at least he recognized him. “The fuck, Rhys?” Is what comes out of his mouth before he has a chance to think about it. But, then he realizes what he’s been handed and blinks, coming to the conclusion that this man, his friend, might have some idea of what’s going on. “…Sorry. Didn’t think someone was gonna be waitin’ for me right when I got off work.” He murmurs, scuffing his shoe on the ground and avoiding eye contact.

Rhys just smiled, he tended to surprise people.

So the reaction wasn’t surprising. 

“That’s okay,” he said, holding out the icecream still, taking a step closer so that while Hunter could avoid eye-contact, he couldn’t avoid the ice cream. “Do you want some?”

He knew from tv that ice cream always helped, and that people would know that talking wasn’t necessary. He thought it was a good universal sign.

Also he loved ice cream.

Rhys wasn’t the smartest tool in the shed, but he did pick up on things sometimes.

He handed Hunter a HUGE Ben & Jerry’s when he exited the bar. 

“Maybe too on the nose,” he said. 

“This is my offer of a listening ear... if you want it.” 

His face was soft, after all, Rhys knew what it was like to be rejected by people, whether romantically or just for who he was. 

“It’s my favourite, but you can eat it all if you want to.” 

Jesse wouldn’t like it. Something about that sentence just about tickled KJ, as much as anything could amuse KJ. The slightest hint of humor played across his features, revealing itself in the lift of a brow and the twitch of a lip. He sniffed, nostrils flaring, as he took a long breath. And holding the button up the air, KJ seemed to pause, narrowing his eyes. He almost smirked, but not quite.

“Do you always do what Jesse tells you to do?” The question came as something of a challenge. It would be something, he thought, for the reigning mayor’s own brother to be walking around touting a piece of the competition’s campaign merchandise. And if nothing else, KJ wanted to see how far he could push it. 

“I mean, do you want one?” He rolled his shoulders. “I’m actually looking to get rid of them. You’d be doing me a favor. And besides, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. I’m not asking you to vote for me or anything. It’s just a button.”

He raised an eyebrow. 

- 

Rhys didn’t even question the question. “Yes,” he stated.

He always did what Jesse told him to do.

If Jesse told him to stay home, he would stay home, if Jesse told him to put on a nice shirt, he would put on a nicer shirt. Of course, Jesse didn’t ask a whole lot of him. He didn’t ask him to stop seeing Sonny, or to chill, or to keep his mouth shut. Jesse was never mean, he was a good brother. 

But KJ was right. 

For one, Rhys really wanted a button. 

He felt like a Raven in a trap, he loved shiny things. 

And also he figured if he did KJ a favour, it would be good.

But more importantly: a button didn’t mean he was going to vote for KJ.

Rhys was voting for Jesse, no doubt.

“It’s just a button.” 

Closed starter for @rhyslovespopcorn​ Location: Spotlight Cinema Time: Night

“Vote for KJ Wake to ‘Wake up, Pleasance.’“ The theater was showing some old romcom that night, and with Valentine’s Day approaching, the couples of Pleasance seemed out in full force. KJ, clad in a somewhat neater getup than he might typically wear, was walking along the line to the ticketing booth, handing out the last of his election buttons, of which he had ordered far too many. And in truth, even with all their successes, he was not quite sure he and Ajita would actually pull this off. 

If nothing else, however, he would at least go down fighting, he decided. Their very presence, the fact that they were willing to challenge the status quo, had to mean something. This place, the people that lived within it, deserved better. They deserved to have their own voices prioritized. And they deserved leadership that recognized their best interests.

“Vote for…I don’t think you get a button.” He furrowed up his brow at Rhys, clearing his throat. He planted himself, though, not trying to look intimidating but succeeding at it anyway. “Sorry.” 

Rhys was going to the cinema to get a request in, hoping he could convince the owner to play “Singin’ in the Rain” for valentine’s day so he could take Sonny there.

So far they had looked at him with a sort of pitiful and endearing gaze, but never a full admission that: yes, they would make sure the movie was in the cinema. 

Rhys was holding onto the idea however, he could hold out, even if they didn’t want to show it for Valentine but the day after, he would be totally fine with it. 

But they took a lot of convincing. 

He felt like a mafia person.

Gently probing the owner every day.

Today however, someone was making his way along the cinema building, following the line front to back, handing something out.

He already had his hand out when KJ appeared, not really caring what was on it, just that he wanted the button. 

The sight of him gave Rhys pause. The furrowed brow and the clearing of his throat. He bit his lips together. 

“Oh.” Was his response. 

He took a look at the button. “Oooh.” 

“Jesse wouldn’t like it.”

Rhy’s infectious energy had the effect it usually did on Sonny, pulling out a genuine smile to break through the usual look of melancholy he might prefer to keep on his face. And when his boyfriend looked at him now, like this, Sonny could not help but unravel, floundering under the realization that someone so wonderful could even look at him like that. 

As he finished adjusting the scarf, he could not help himself then, rocking forward to plant a gentle kiss on Rhys’s lips. It was perhaps briefer than it would have been, hampered by Jesse’s imaginary gaze from the town hall windows, but Sonny had, by now, mostly gotten over the nervousness about public affection. He wanted people to know. 

“I love you, caro.” He replied with a laugh. “Yes. Next year. This year…Christmas Even, would you like to come have dinner with me and my uncle? He’s got an idea that I’m sneakin’ around with someone. And I think, well, I’d like to properly introduce the two of ya.” 

Sonny hummed a little now, shifting on his own feet. “It’s a, well, a big step, yeah? Meetin’ the family?” He smiled weakly. “My uncle’ll like ya, though. I’m sure he will. How could he not? He’s sorta quiet, but he’s got a good heart.” And in truth, Uncle Nick was not the one for whom Sonny was worried; the New York family, the bridge to be crossed at some other point, scared the devil out of him.

A hand came down to entwine with Rhys’s now “Hot chocolate! On me.” He began to walk, gently tugging him along. “What sort of place do you think we’ll have, the two of us? I’ve never lived in a house, only apartments. Is that too much to talk about?” A loaded question, but Sonny was making plans now, should he and Rhys need to set up shop themselves once all the families hated each other. 

Rhys’ heart fluttered when Sonny kissed him. 

He could almost feel his body floating up from the ground, so happy, so lucky. 

He was beaming at his boyfriend. 

Because he knew where Sonny had come from.

How even holding hands had been a little scary.

And now they were stealing kisses in the middle of the street. Just the two of them, with the whole world watching and no worries about it. 

“Love you tooo!!” he muttered back, leaning closer to Sonny with a grin on his face. 

He nodded enthusiastically, the idea forming in his head as Sonny told him about it. He had seen his uncle a lot of times, he was certain his uncle knew him... most people knew him. Maybe didn’t know what kind of person he was... aside from maybe that he made Sonny happy? He hoped he made Sonny happy. 

“OF COURSE, I would love to! You’re meeting mine too after all, so it’s only fair! And I am sure they will love you too because you have to, they know I’m over the moon. And I know they’ll think you’re very mature and adult.” 

Which was the description for: the best possible match for Rhys.

According to his mom.

“Yay!” 

Rhys was halfway through making up an answer when Sonny asked if it was maybe too much. 

 “I think we’ll have pets,” Rhys said in reply, pulling Sonny back to him, to make sure they walked next to each other in step. “And a garden. Like the one I have now, but bigger!” 

Closed starter for @rhyslovespopcorn Location: Town Hall Time: Evening

As another gust blew through the street, Sonny artfully arranged the scarf around his companion’s neck, having removed the heavy woolen thing from his own just moments earlier. It was a proper chivalrous thing to do, he had thought, and well, Rhy’s brother could have been spying on them through any of the building’s windows, he imagined. He probably wasn’t. But if he was, the impression ought to be a good one. 

A few workers were still buzzing about now, hanging baubles, arranging lights around the holiday tree, due to be lit for Christmas. A menorah and a few other symbols were also set up nearby. “One day I’ll take ya to the big tree at Rockefeller Center,” Sonny joked lightly. He smiled in an almost boyish way, looking youthful now that he had cut his hair again and shaved the mustache (some sort of premature New Year Resolution thing). “They got a whole store of the Nintedos too.” He hummed. “It’s cold. You want a coffee or something hot?” 

Rhys was exceptionally giddy, a boundless ball of energy. It wasn’t completely because of Christmas, though that was one reason: gifts, family, FOOD. 

But also because he got to introduce Sonny to the family… or more technically: the Christmas family. He was very much jumping around on the balls of his feet, only standing still for a moment when Sonny adjusted the scarf. 

He smiled his ever lovinging smile when HIS boyfriend started talking.

Didn’t even matter what he was saying.

“Oh I love nintendos!” Rhys said.

Which of course Sonny already knew.

“We can go next year!”

He suggested it because his parents had already arranged food for the whole family, and they always had just enough.

When they had been younger, Rhys and Jesse had always gone to McDonalds after Christmas dinner. Rhys intended to take Sonny along this year.

He looked back to him, smiling at the beauty that was Sonny.

He looked very nice with his short hair, like James Bond without a suit. 

Still wearing Sonny clothes, still Sonny.

And handsome, like always.

He thought it was daring that Sonny tried different things. Especially since Rhys’ hair would only ever be the mop of dark blonde hair, always a little tousled. 

He knew better than to question the weighing of sugar. Seriously, how much damn sugar did Rhys usually add to coffee anyway? Instead, he reached for Rhys’ phone to get a better look. “Nice.” Truthfully, Gram had never gotten the whole Pokémon thing. But to each their own. “I’m guessing you and Sonny went to a party? What was their costume?” 

He shook his head. “They didn’t like our spooky house, I guess. Or there were better ones to see. So now I’m feeling competitive.” His smile faded. “They really go out to the ranch and party huh? Wow.” Interesting, considering recent events. “So… what’s your take on the ranch? You know, what people are saying happened out there?” 

Gram wasn’t certain what raced through Rhys’ mind in those short moments. Rhys’ face heated up and cooled as he said he was known for his brother. Might help to make a point: “I was talking about you. I don’t know Jesse.” 

In Gram’s mind, a ‘ghost’ friend was an imaginary friend. But the lore of the town could’ve easily seeped into the unconsciousness of the residents. “What did this ghost friend look like? You don’t… still see her, do you?”

“Oh,” Rhys paused, looking a little awkward, a blush settling on his face. “I forgot.” 

The one thing he had remembered was that Sonny looked dashing, like he normally looked, but then a whole lot of care had gone into his outfit and looking like it was all so easy.

Not to mention, given halloween the year before, Rhys had done his best to take care of Sonny, to look out for him, be his personal bodyguard. And in the moment - and in the act of collecting as much candy as possible - he hadn’t really registered what Sonny was dressed up as. 

“Oh, yes, but I mean… actual spooky houses, not just the ones people set up, but the ones that actually house ghosts. Like… Horse Acre Ranch, uhm, the trees in the forest and Jenny’s tree, then there is the lake, and some other couple of spots. It’s usually houses that have a good story, and kids try to find the ghosts. Some come back saying they have found the ghosts, but I don’t always believe them.” 

“The ranch is haunted,” Rhys stated. “By dead horses mostly, or that’s what Jesse says. I think it was build on a burial ground, and it just wants to rest.” 

He blinked. The fact that someone’s didn’t know Jesse went right over his head. Maybe Jesse just hadn’t had the time yet to introduce himself to Gram. Maybe he was too busy with the whole calling thing. 

Rhys bit his lip to hold back a self-conscious smile. 

“Why am I famous?” He asked. 

At first, Rhys’ instinct was to keep Edith a secret, she was his best friend after all.

But time proved again and again that Rhys tended to forget his initial ideas pretty quickly. 

“Oh yeah, of course we do.”

“We used to see each other like twice a week, she’s shy but she’s also very lonely.”

“Now with Sonny around, I see her less, mostly just wave and such.” 

“Perhaps you’d like another?” he suggested, ignoring the multiple insinuations that this was probably not what the man would like to do. Or should do. Freddie didn’t well understand it. If it were some kind of health measure - his mother had plenty of those - that would be one thing. Rambling, though, didn’t bother him.

“I could go for a tea myself. There must be a shop nearby.” He hoped. This town was much smaller than he was used to, and he often found himself looking for various facilities that simply didn’t exist. Surely there was a coffee shop, though. That was a staple of life.

But would they only have coffee?

“I wish I could say my own name had such a rich history, but in truth… I don’t know. I’ve never thought to ask why my mother why she picked it. What name did your parents give your brother?”

Rhys nodded and smiled. “Oh yes, there is one nearby! Uhm, we can go to Dutch’s, or we can go to Common Grounds, I personally don’t like the coffee or tea at Dutch’s, I’m pretty sure the owner doesn’t really care for it, but Common Grounds has some nice discounts and every month they do this little special where they make some fancy coffee. Last month it was Pumpkin Spice because of the season.” 

“Oh, you don’t like your name?”

“Or… maybe you were named after a relative!” 

“My brother is Jesse, which makes me happy that I got Emrys…”

“How do you become a full adult?” Chase asked, genuinely curious. Maybe it sounded like she would have been mocking Rhys, but she hoped that he knew her well enough to understand when she was joking around. With the amount of time he was spending here, she sure hoped that he did. “Well, why don’t you select something lighter this time? Something a little more kids-oriented?” She suggested; and once again, she wasn’t mocking him. “Unless, of course, that’s not something Sonny would approve?”

Rhys considered the question. 

How did one become a full adult? 

He scratched his beard. “Uhm, when you… pay rent? Or, when you don’t…”

“Maybe when you get your first full-fledged job, I think that’s a good one.” 

He shook his head again. “And bills, bills are very adult.” 

Rhys didn’t notice the tone.. Okay, he noticed, but he knew Chase, he’d been in here so often that he felt like he knew Chase, and she never seemed to bring things up in a bad way.

So of course that meant that this was meant well.

“Hmmm, I don’t know. I haven’t asked him what he thinks of kid-oriented movies. He doesn’t mind when I watch Pokemon.” 

“Which movies in that category do you have?”

“Third hand…” Tariq muttered with light incredulousness injected into his tone, his head shaking subtly with almost a ‘tsk tsk, shame on you’ impression. It was somewhat amusing the way Rhys’s eyes popped open wide at the thought that maybe these treats he was handing out weren’t safe and he was facilitating some grand old lady’s dastardly scheme of lightly sickening the town. 

But then, after a bit of hesitance, Rhys took a tentative bite and Tariq’s mask of judgement broke into a playful smirk.

“Well it seems you’re not dead yet so that’s probably a good sign. You just can never be too careful, right?”

Rhys nodded, taking another cookie. “Who would ever think of poisoning kids during Halloween…” 

“That doesn’t happen often right?”

“People just get sick because they have eaten too much sugar.”

“I hear that’s pretty normal these days, that people get sick from sugar.” 

“Their bodies don’t know how to deal with the huge amount in their system.”

“I don’t know too much about biology.” 

“But I read Wikipedia sometimes.” 

Gram watched as several candy wrappers appeared on the counter. Without missing a beat, he swept them in a hand to toss in a nearby waste bin. Except for the one Rhys focused on straightening. “Are you supposed to have sugar, Rhys?” He felt it was a fair question. 

Kaz nodded and craned to follow Rhys’ search for the phone. “Oh, alright. Let’s see the costume. Uhm. Had a private party. Figured we wouldn’t get too many trick or treaters in a spooky house on the edge of the forest anyway.” His gaze flickered up with a small smile. 

His idea captured Rhys’ attention. Which said a lot. “I bet you do know them all. You’re a legend yourself around here, yeah?” 

He leaned again on the counter and asked in his most conspiratorial tone. “What is the most memorable thing you’ve ever experienced here, Rhys?”

Rhys nodded, despite his eyes being distracted.

“Oh yes, I can have sugar, not too much, but I can have sugar,” he said. 

“I never weigh it, but I didn’t have sugar all week so I could have some more sugar during Halloween.” 

“I even drank my coffee without any sugar or milk.” 

He made a face. 

“It wasn’t good.”

Rhys found his phone eventually, pressing a finger to get to the home menu, a quick picture of his face up close with Sonny sleeping behind him flashing on the screen put a smile on his face. He opened the photo app and tapped on the screen before turning it around and showing Gram the picture of himself as Ash Ketchum with the fattest Pikachu ever sitting on his shoulder. He was doing a pose. 

“Ooooh, probably not, though… kids here like the spooky houses. I know the cops always have to get rid of the kids partying at the ranch,” he said. 

His eyes flickered over Gram. “I’m not famous,” he said. 

But there was a blush on his face at the idea that he might be a legend.

His brother was a legend though. “I think I might be known because of Jesse.”

“Uhmmmmm.” 

Rhys thought for a moment. 

He’d learned that Rhys tended to start in the middle of conversations, throwing thoughts like balls of kinetic energy Gram was expected to catch. He didn’t mind, in fact Gram found it enjoyable. “What kind of candy? Did you dress up for Halloween?” 

A stack of used vinyls to sort was set aside temporarily in order to focus on Rhys. “We’re deciding what to cover first. How we’ll organize the next season. It’s a work in progress. Why, you got something to share? Wanna be a guest?” 

“Oef, I don’t remember, all the candy?” 

Rhys checked his pocket, producing a good number of silver plastic wrappings from the last bunch of snacks his mother had given to him that were left over from Halloween. He straightened one of the wrappings. “The sugary kind,” he decided, since the plastic had no brand name. 

“I went as Ash Ketchum,” he stated, proudly. “I stitched a Pikachu plushie to my shoulder.” 

“I think I may have pictures,” he added, rummaging in his pocket to find his phone.

“Did you go?” 

“Can I?” 

Rhys’ eyes were huge as he thought about the possibility of starring in a podcast show. “I know all the legends!!” 

“Rhys,” Sheriff Q called out, noticing that it wasn’t Bishan or George Alby (or one of their lackeys) buying up water but Rhys. He reached out to lay a gentle hand on his arm to get his attention. “I can’t have you buying all this water right now,” he said. He pointed at the sign. Due to water shortages - all peoples are limited to (2) cases of 24 bottles of water. “I’m gonna need you to put a couple back, all right?” he asked. He had been helping out at the store since the water crisis started, working to alleviate fears, working to ensure that the division of water was as fair as he could make it. “I get it - we all need at least half a gallon of water a day – but I have it on good faith from the Han family that another water shipment is comin’ in - emergency call from the state - so if you trust me enough right now to put some back, I’ll bring you a few more cases when the delivery comes in tomorrow.”

Rhys blinked up at the sheriff with a huge smile on his face, it didn’t even deflate when he was pointed to a sign that told him that he was making a mistake. 

Mostly because it hadn’t processed yet. 

He cocked his head to the side as he studied the sign, then was called back to attention as Q started talking again. 

He knew the tone of voice that suggested he was spoken to like he was a kid. 

He appreciated it. 

It was such a kind voice. 

Even if some unexplained distraught shot through him knowing he had done a wrong thing. 

He pushed it down when Q mentioned the emergency call. 

“Oh.” 

Rhys looked back at the water he got, way more than two cases of twenty four bottles. 

“Maybe I can shower at Sonny’s.” 

He stared back at Q. “Sorry.”

Sonny had spent his lifetime defining himself as protector. How utterly marvelous, then, for Santino Colasurdo, older brother, only son, golden nephew of the old man himself, to find himself protected now. He nestled snugly into his companion’s embrace, finding in his arms a pillar of surprising strength, those beautiful, familiar rays of sunshine piercing him in the way they only could when they were summoned by Rhys Hancock. 

He met his eye as he was held, nodding along, in appreciation or understanding, at the words. And then there was acceptance too. Rhys was making him a promise, and Rhys did not break promises, Sonny thought. And so, he would not have to feel that way. And nothing was going to happen. And love would trump all.

Love.

This word hung electric in the shared air between them, and Sonny seemed to grab it now, throwing away caution and taking this opportunity to simply be. “I love you.” A beat. His eyes widened, and he ducked his head, giving a breath, as if waiting to see what would happen. Had he said it yet? Not with such earnestness. But he had loved Rhys for many years, he was coming to realize. 

Still, Sonny laughed now, genuinely, at the notion that Jesse would protect them from Edith, slap her with a permit violation or something. He bit back his smile because he almost believed it could happen. “Are you askin’ me to move in with you, Rhys Hancock? Even just temporarily? It’d be scandalous. People would talk. I’m a good Catholic boy.” He smiled with quiet sincerity. “…Thank you. For…takin’ care of me.” 

Rhys still had a goofey smile on his face as Sonny snuggled closer to him, thinking he had totally got it, totally managed to make Sonny feel better about the impending doom he felt. Maybe even made his heart rest a little. 

Because Rhys certainly was going to defend Sonny. Even in the face of Edith Alby, even if that did hurt, because he knew he couldn’t ignore how often Edith had been there for him. 

He enjoyed the hug, he enjoyed how close Sonny stayed after the hug, as if they were still in the hug. It was warm, and comfortable. 

It was warmfortable. 

When Sonny said ‘I love you’, it was different from those moments in passing, the ‘i love you’s that were less pressing and less important.

It felt... momentous. 

Was that a word?

He pressed his lips together until his smile was lipless. 

“I adore you,” he said as a joke, waiting a moment to let silence spread out between them.

“And I love you too,” he added then, thinking he was funny.

Rhys’ face hurt from smiling when Sonny laughed, his whole being lifting up at the sound, warmth flooding him. 

When Sonny read his ideas as ‘moving in’, Rhys’ first thought was: oh, that’s a brilliant idea. Followed by a quick assessment of what he needed to move in order to create space for Sonny as the other continued his joke. 

“People would be jealous,” he offered instead, grinning with rosey cheeks. “You’re a catch, I caught you.” 

His gaze turned a little sad like it always did when Sonny was being sincere and sweet and all these things Sonny was that Rhys had no words for. He turned sad because he didn’t want Sonny to be sad, and also because he felt so lucky, so lucky that he couldn’t imagine a life without him, and that he was grateful that maybe he didn’t have to now. 

Rhys was walking through the main street with a small card filled with water bottles.

Because his faucet was having a black water problem - he still turned it on every hour to check - and Jesse said he would solve it.

But Rhys needed to drink. Water for Coffee, for tea, for noodles, for other things.

He was hoarding water. 

Apocalypse style.