Rhys MacKay

*I'd rather be me than be with you.*

*This page is incomplete, and will be updated as work is done on the series.*

**Rhys MacKay** is the deuteragonist and main love interest in the *Fire On Fire* series. He is a character in a book who turns out to really exist.

## Biography

### Early Life

Rhys MacKay was born (11 Apr. 1992) in Glasgow, Scotland. As a child, he lived with in a tiny council house in Bridgeton. Rhys and his elder brother, Celyn†, were raised by their father after their drug-addicted mother abandoned them in the middle of the night. Rhys was three. He never saw her again.

In primary school, Rhys met his life-long best friend, Jack Hughes. Jack witnessed Rhys' first bipolar episode, which happened in the middle of a lesson, and was the only one to offer him comfort afterward. Shortly after this, he was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, but his father wasn't able to pay for treatment, and so he was unmedicated until the age of fifteen.

### Adolescence

In 2006, a report was filed with the Glasgow City Police, stating that Rhys was a danger to himself and others, after he experienced a severe dysphoric mania episode at school. He became violent with another student, and had to be removed from the premises. The local Tribunal decided it was necessary to put him on a Compulsory Treatment Order (CTO), and he was hospitalised against his will.

Social Services were also involved, and Rhys was removed from his father's care, as they believed the incident was due to the fact that he wasn't receiving any form of treatment for his bipolar disorder. After being discharged from hospital, he was placed in emergency shelter for several weeks, until another home could be found. Until the age of eighteen, he lived with the Hughes family, who paid for his lithium, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, as well as weekly therapy appointments, electro-convulsive (ECT) treatment, and hospitalisations when necessary.

From the age of fourteen to seventeen, Rhys worked alongside Jack Hughes as a pot washer at a tiny Indian restaurant called Hyderabad Halal.

When he was fifteen, Rhys attempted suicide for the first time by overdosing on lithium tablets, which he washed down with a bottle of hard alcohol. He was found in the bathtub, crying uncontrollably, covered in vomit. The Hughes family decided it was necessary to hospitalise him, and he was admitted to an inpatient ward, where he spent the next three months.

In 2009, Hyderabad Halal closed due to bankruptcy. Rhys found a new job at a prominent bakery in Glasgow, and soon was able to afford his own flat. He and Jack devised a plan to steal money from the bakery, and were successful with it for about six months. That was, until Rhys was caught taking money from the register. He was arrested, charged with theft from employer, and sentenced to one year in prison. However, he displayed exemplary behaviour, and was released early, after nine months.

## Mental Health Concerns

Rhys suffers from severe bipolar I disorder, but refuses to take his medication, instead preferring to self-medicate with drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex. He also struggles with self-harm, which becomes increasingly severe, until Charlie is eventually forced to once again hospitalise him against his will.

Due to his frequent up-and-down behaviour, many people mistake Rhys for having multiple personalities, as he can appear to be a completely different person, depending on whether he is manic, depressive, or somewhere in-between.

## Physical Appearance

Rhys has brilliant blue eyes, pale skin, and blond hair with a red-gold tint, which is shaved along the sides and longer on top. He has multiple tattoos across his arms and chest. Rhys prefers his face to either be clean-shaven or slightly stubbled, and wears all black clothing. His personal style is best described as "masculine punk rock, with feminine elements," and is inspired by that of Thorne Jamison, from the 2004 film "Laws of Attraction".

## Personality

Rhys has a complicated and unstable personality, and is never the same from one moment to the next. He acts extremely different based on where he is on the spectrum between mania and depression, to the point that he almost seems like a different person.

### I - Euphoric Mania

During periods of euphoric mania, Rhys is extremely loud and extroverted. He is intensely charismatic, and has been described as "smoother than a storm." This version of him is electric, bewitching, and absolutely addictive, like walking heroin.

### II - Dysphoric Mania

During periods of dysphoric mania, he is irritable, and can become violent, whether provoked or not.

### III - Depressive

During periods of depression, Rhys becomes reclusive, and pushes everyone away.

### IV - Static Personality

On the days that he is somewhere in-between mania and depression, Rhys is bubbly and cheerful, but also extremely sassy. He will not hesitate to call anyone out on their bullshit. He is thoughtful, kind, and fearless. Although he appears quite tough, in reality, he is sensitive, and gets hurt easily.

## Sexuality & Gender

### Gender Non-Conformity

Rhys is biologically male and uses "he/him" pronouns, but does not conform to the norms and expectations of masculinity. He frequently wears heavy eyeliner and smokey eyeshadow, and paints his fingernails black. He keeps his hair short.

Although he isn't strictly opposed to any form of compliment regarding his appearance (ie. "hot," "sexy," etc), Rhys responds particularly well to being called "pretty." Many people refer to him as a "pretty boy"--a title which he accepts with pride.

## Relationships

### Celyn MacKay †

Celyn was Rhys' elder brother. He committed suicide (by firearm) when Rhys was twelve-years-old. On his last day, he took his younger brother for ice cream. He is the one who taught Rhys that self-destruction runs in the family.

## Quotes

* *"I'd rather be me than be with you."*
* *"So, here's a middle finger to how I should behave."*
* *"What you did to break me only made me brave."*
* *"If you thought I would wait for you, you thought wrong."*