Create
freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 16, 2015
jackaxed
Dec 16, 2015

# handsome jack is bi

<

p>content://media/external/file/44832

you know how i said i’d write you an essay? i was serious. i’ll add visual aids tomorrow, from the computer.

The Borderlands franchise is a well-known and well-beloved series of video games, boasting vivid and memorable characters in each installment. None, however, have made as many waves in the fandom community as the infamous Handsome Jack– played flawlessly, might I add, by the extraordinary Dameon Clarke– fluidly shifting between the roles of antagonist, antihero, and your best frenemy.

Love him or hate him, Handsome Jack is a major player in the Borderlands saga: a hero turned bad by power and ambition, and a cautionary tale to players on what they might let themselves become. The final point is especially prominent in the Tales From The Borderlands series, in which a hologram version of the previously deceased Jack mentors a cybernetic youth by the name of Rhys. This is, of course, not without reason– Rhys, though introduced as a decidedly ‘good guy’, mirrors many of Jack’s traits– he’s an ambitious Hyperion desk jockey with dreams of granduer, and he shares Jack’s trademark arrogance and egotistical tendencies, if only to a lesser degree. HoloJack even describes them as “two really hot guys with perfectly coiffed hair”, and promises Rhys the illustrious position of Hyperion CEO if only he can get Jack back to Helios.

(It should be noted that no one else but Rhys can see HoloJack, as he was downloaded into Rhys’ system after Rhys plugs a hard drive wired with Jack’s AI into his head.)

With the release of Tales came a major new ship for the fandom: Rhys X Jack, otherwise known as Rhack. While many view this as a crackship, or downplay it because a canon relationship with Handsome Jack only spells trouble for all those involved, the most prominent reason for the dismissal of this ship is the belief that both Rhys and Jack are heterosexual. Certainly, both have evidence to back this up: Jack has had a number of affairs with women over his lifetime, having had two confirmed wives (first one was killed, second one bolted after finding.out about Jack’s daughter), and being formerly involved with Mad Moxxi and Nisha (Miss Kadam, if you’re nasty). Rhys shows obvious interest in Sasha, one of his female counterparts, and the player can choose to romance her (Sasha) or her sister, Fiona, as the game is determinant. You can also, however, choose to side with HoloJack, which earns you the hatred and mistrust of the sisters. If you do choose to ally with Jack and take the so-called “BFF Route”, then Jack will begin to show a partiality to Rhys.

As is befitting his character, HoloJack is constantly running his mouth about Rhys’ friends and associates– and if the player uses Rhys’ ECHO eye to scan some of his teammates, they can read Jack’s take on the person (or object) in question. While mostly pointless, Jack does take the liberty to score some of Rhys’ friends on a hotness scale from 1-10; he gives Fiona a 9/10, which ranks her just above Vaughn, who gets a 7/10. This would be mostly unremarkable, if not for the fact that Jack ranks Vaughn soley because of his abs. In fact, when Rhys reunites with Vaughn in the Pandoran desert, the first thing he notices about Vaughn is his chiseled abs. He even puts Vaughn’s catchphrase as: “'Jack, stop staring at my abs’ (paraphrased from what he would say if he could see me)”. This implies that Jack is in fact physically attracted to men, and opens the possibility of him being bisexual. Of course, one cannot forget how buddy-buddy Jack can get with Rhys, occasionally crooning pet names at him (“Oh, Rhysiiiiieeee~), or, variably, if the player chooses to [RULE HYPERION], calls Rhys "my special boy”.

Rhys is, admittedly, a little less subtle. We find out through talking to Vaughn that Rhys is absolutely obsessed with Handsome Jack– though he denies it, he reportedly has “dozens of [Handsome Jack] posters” in his office. Of Jack, Rhys says “he was the biggest and the baddest… and I wanted to be just like him”, with a tone hinting at idolization. Over the course of the game, it’s made clear that Rhys’ adoration for Jack sprouts from a sort of hero-worship inferiority complex. And even after the heartbreaking events of Episode 5 (SPOILERS: in which Rhys is betrayed by Jack or Jack is betrayed by Rhys, depending on your point of view), Rhys catches himself posing in front of a picture of Handsome Jack before shaking his head angrily and moving on.

So in Rhys’ case, it may just be an isolated instance of being attracted to one man– Handsome Jack–or it may hint at an overarching bi/pansexuality. Evidence points to the conclusion that Jack, at least, is decidedly bisexual, even if he shows a clear preference for women a majority of the time.

(And before you ask, yes, bisexuals usually have preferences; very rarely are they equally attracted to both/all genders.)

123 notes
Some replies may have been hidden, blocked, or removed
sideshowdaffy
Nov 26, 2016

When did Anthony Burch confirm Handsome Jack as bi-sexual? I've been trying to find a source but all I've found so far is this post among others saying it's the case.

## More from @freejstrashbin

freejstrashbin
Reblogged bandiit0-is-gone-deactivated202
Dec 16, 2015
suis0u
Dec 16, 2015

I’m still trying to draw these guys properly…

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 16, 2015
ourgodslayer-deactivated2020052

Title: Betting and Strangling Are the Same Thing, Really. Summary: In which Rhys and Jack work together, and Rhys strangles someone. Ship: Rhack Warnings: strangling

Notes: in the same universe as this AU

I also like to think they were both Nisha’s fucktoys but that’s not what this fic is about

it’s about murder, a murder most foul or something

Keep reading

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 16, 2015
zell-dincht
Dec 15, 2015

I’ve noticed quite a few Rhack playlists in this fandom, and they’re all missing some pretty important songs, like…

“Cold as Ice” and “Head Games” by Foreigner

And AC/DC is like a Rhack goldmine, “Moneytalks,” “Shoot to Thrill,” “If You Want Blood (You Got It)”

“Death on Two Legs” by Queen

“I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett

I mean, seriously.

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 16, 2015
ofstrangeshadows
Dec 16, 2015

Handsome Jack would totally say dick instead of cock, yeah?

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 15, 2015
jackaxed
Dec 15, 2015

my math teacher: (sees me drawing during class) oh, you’re so gifted

me: with great power comes great ability to fUCK thINgS uP

freejstrashbin
Reblogged rhacktrashbin
Dec 15, 2015
radishezrom

he abuses evverything inspired by jettiebettie’s awsome writting : ) <3

freejstrashbin
Reblogged dainesanddaffodils
Dec 15, 2015
jadedrosenakia
Dec 13, 2015

Imagine your otp gently touching foreheads with half lidded eyes and soft smiles while they gaze lovingly at each other, holding each other’s hands delicately. Now imagine one sneezing and smacking their heads together.

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 15, 2015
ym523
Dec 14, 2015

Werewolf!Jack dedicated to @lelelego

Omg! I had this sitting in my drafts from a little while ago. When I finally got Rhys future outfit, I decided to finish it. But with the requests I totally forgot! Ah!

Hope you like it! :D

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 15, 2015
slipperyguts-deactivated2017022

If any of y’all wanna talk to me you definitely can because I’d HIGHLY appreciate it. Either about borderlands junk or rhack junk or just general small talk.

asks/fanmails/instant messages are all cool w/ this guy.

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 15, 2015
yay-rabby
Dec 14, 2015

AU: Jack killed Rhys and has reconstructed his body by using the clones, but the ghost of Rhys harass him.

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 15, 2015
slipperyguts-deactivated2017022

Hmm… What if I made a tag on this blog for songs i use in my rhack writing playlist? like #rhackplaylist or something.

freejstrashbin
Reblogged thehyperionwetdream
Dec 14, 2015
antisorum
Sep 11, 2015

Those hot Pandoran days…

freejstrashbin
Reblogged shieldmaidenofskellige
Dec 14, 2015
nickvalentine
Sep 30, 2014

> Handsome Jack + The Pre-Sequel

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 14, 2015
soggypototo
Dec 14, 2015

idea: rhys gets gangbanged by everyone

hyperiontrashbin
Dec 14, 2015

i hope everyone loads him up good and gets plugged up afterwards. jack gets to do the finale, fucks him good, and lets rhys spill every single drop of cum out

freejstrashbin
Reblogged imthesaltydad
Dec 14, 2015
gongors
Dec 14, 2015

i’ll color this later

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 14, 2015
jennpy-deactivated20190410

quick doodle before bed ｡ﾟ( ﾟ^∀^ﾟ)ﾟ｡ don’t look at me

freejstrashbin
Reblogged
Dec 14, 2015
savarin
Dec 13, 2015

I’m still trying to figure how to shade so bare with me. Based on @donotchoosesidesyet‘s Queen Bee AU.

I’ve been Tales from the Borderlands and Rhack trash for quite a while now and I’ve finally drawn some fanart! (yayy!)

Anyway I have been in love with this au and love @donotchoosesidesyet‘s fic repertoire.

(I also forgot to add tails and didn’t know whether to have a blue or gold eye… whoops)