[OPEN] Without the threat of death there's no reason to live at all

[manufactured]

WHO: Albert Wesker, whomever chooses to join him (presumably you!)
WHERE: Magatus, Bosuma, Recollé
WHEN: Throughout April
WHAT: Dealing with the various...problems associated with a couple of the outlying regions. (If a curse is both potent and extremely localized, does that make it the resident evil?)
WARNINGS: Possible discussion of torture in the first Magatus prompt; otherwise, I'll note it if something comes up.


[I. MAGATUS.]
( possible cw: discussion of torture )

[They say it's a curse.

Wesker shouldn't be surprised at that; this place had reminded him early on of that town in Russia, that place crawling with wolves and the undead - it had been "an accident" then, he's pretty sure, because back then everything had been "an accident", the Arklay Mountains and Raccoon City and South America and who knows, maybe Africa was considered an accident too before Unreality had taken out the world, it's hard to say.

This seems decidedly less accidental, however.

He makes quick work of talking to the townspeople, perhaps the first time he's made quick work of talking to anyone in this lifetime; he'd been here in February, it makes things easier, there are people he recognizes in passing and at least one that will send him into the woords, a sharp orange glow emanating from a large spot on the left side of his chest that he remembers having glowed like that at least one time before.

("At least one" because he doesn't remember any others, but that doesn't mean they hadn't existed; he knows there's at least one transformation he hasn't seen, and with any luck he'll never see it, but that doesn't mean it never happened, now, does it.)

Come across him in the woods and you'll find him there readily enough; he doesn't seem unsettled, but then he doesn't seem much of anything, just a stock-still figure dressed in black with a long coat on, shifting his head's position a bit once in a while like he's trying to source a sound and not succeeding. Join him, or just come to ask him what he thinks he's doing out here; maybe you'll get to hear it, too, faint whispers in the air tugging at the edges of your mind as they pass through.

- couldn't do it last time, could you -
- look at how she suffered for nothing -
- you can save all of this -
- look at how both of them suffered for nothing -
- do you want them to be used like you were -
- look at how all of them suffered for nothing -
- save them -
- save them -
- save them.

Of course, back in Magatus proper, that night will find him leaning up against one of the supports of the lodge, the mark burning bright and gnarled on his chest; he's got one of his hands pressed up against it but it's still present, and if he's asked about whether or not he's gone into the woods, he'll simply tell you that he didn't hear anything.]


[II. MAGATUS - CLOSED TO JAEGER.]

[He had told Jaeger to leave him alone for the night.

It wasn't pleasant, locking him out, but it was for the best - after all, glowing things like that are never promising, this one seems to be starting to spread already since his time in the woods, tendrils arcing out and searing a glowing path out over his chest and shoulders, and he knows it's best to at least remain in Magatus simply because at this point it's a numbers game. If this reacts poorly with anything, it's better here than in Recollé.

So he's alone in a room in the lodge for now, and those marks aren't going away and neither is the fever that's been steadily developing, and that latter thing is actually the part that worries him - he doesn't get sick, certainly not very easily and definitely not since the irregularities in his blood - but this isn't fading and neither is anything else and sleeping it off is going to prove ineffectual in small doses and impossible in large ones.

He knows where Jaeger is staying here; he's dressed when he goes to seek him out, fully so because he's cold (and he knows that's the fever talking and that bundling up is a terrible idea but he's got his coat pulled tight around his body anyway) and he doesn't hesitate for long before he's knocking on the door. It's likely not enough to wake him up if he's solidly asleep, though it's enough to get attention if he isn't, and in some ways Wesker generally hopes that Jaeger is too passed out to notice.]


[III. BOSUMA.]

[Wesker's memories of Bosuma are largely good ones, and that's why he's out here today; perhaps the important thing is that he still has memories of Bosuma right now, largely because he hasn't found the woman with the nice face and the horrid powers, and for now he's content to see what's here outside of, you know, the rainbow deer and what have you.

He'll approach those who seem to be wandering lost, however, those that have been touched by one curse or another, simply because in his experience people tend to wander around lost in places like these entirely too often for his liking; he can't guarantee help will be prudent or competently administered - but then, pretty much anything is better than wandering through the woods with no earthly clue who you are.

Isn't it?]


[IV. RECOLLE / BOSUMA PART II]

[...it's been an interesting day.

He's found himself back in the city proper, though he can't really say he knows where he's going; he doesn't look...terribly great, in that he has that general look of someone who's been having A Day for approximately the last year, and the random outpourings of mail here and there aren't helping matters.

But the fact is that he's here, and he seems calm enough despite the tiredness, and he'll approach you if you're looking like you don't have anywhere that you're in a great hurry to be - his words are even, confident, because what he's doing is important as far as he's concerned and he's not going to allow opportunities to simply be dismissed as though they're nothing.]

While I do hate to trouble you, would you mind giving me some of your time? Just some idle conversation, is all - it shouldn't take too long.


[V. ANYTHING ELSE?]

[Have something else you want to do? Feel free to PM me or grab me on plurk at InstantEternity, and I'll see what we can do! Either that or just sling a prompt at me and I'll roll with it, I'm flexible. o/ Prompt III is literally just LET ME DEAL WITH YOUR ISSUES IF NEEDED FOR A TASK AND/OR IT AMUSES YOU, part IV is...well, it concerns his own task and is liable to be some sort of conversational trainwreck.]

Comments

[manufactured]

...At first I thought it might be. As it stands, it's not behaving in a similar manner, though it...

[Mnngh.]

It continues to look similar - at least, the basic pattern of it does.

[scythegun]

[At least it's something different. At least there's that.]

I see. I'm sorry, Albert, that must be difficult.

[He's quiet for a moment.]

It doesn't hurt, does it?

[manufactured]

It stings from time to time. Not constantly, but it's a reminder that it's there.

[scythegun]

Is that why you wanted to be alone? Because of what it reminds you of?

[manufactured]

...That's a good amount of it, yes.

[Not all of it, but a good amount of it.

He shifts a bit. Shivers. Tugs at his coat again.]

I likely shouldn't be here now; there's no sense in making you come down with whatever I have at the moment.

[scythegun]

[Jaeger waves a hand at that.]

Even if I do get sick, it'll be okay soon enough. I don't tend to stay sick for very long, after all!

[He gets up off the bed and approaches then, stopping just short of Wesker and reaching out to rest a hand against his arm, if Wesker will let him.]

Besides, I'd rather be here with you.

[manufactured]

[He'll allow it, though it's likely obvious at such close proximity that he's incredibly warm. He tends to run a bit warmer than most people nowadays, though not to worrying extents, but this is clearly abnormal even by the usual standards.]

...If you say so, then.

[scythegun]

Of course I do.

[He pats Wesker's arm a bit.]

Unfortunately, I didn't think to bring any cold medicine with me. I doubt we'll be able to get any at this time of night. I'll check first thing tomorrow, though. Until then, will you let me look after you?

[manufactured]

[...Ah.]

I assume you won't take "no" for an answer.

[scythegun]

[Hey, he's trying to look serious here, don't make him grin.]

Of course not! You know I'd just worry about you all night anyway.

[manufactured]

And we can't have that, can we.

[It feels...better, being around Jaeger anyway; not physically - not at all, and honestly, the longer he avoids the topic the more prone those marks are to stinging, biting sharply into his skin - but at the very least it's calming in some way.]

[scythegun]

Of course we can't.

[That's calmed him down considerably, at least. The orange marks are still worrying, but Wesker doesn't seem to be in too much pain.]

Do you want to stay in here or return to your room?

[manufactured]

...Staying here would be preferable, I think.

[Guess who doesn't want to figure out how to make his way back to another room right now, pain or otherwise.]

[scythegun]

Of course, Albert. You're going to have to get rid of that coat though; you're burning up.

[He'll give Wesker's arm another pat before withdrawing to the bathroom and filling a glass with water. Here you go, take that and just let him fuss over you for a bit.]

[manufactured]

[...He'll take the coat off while Jaeger goes to do that, but he won't exactly move to set it down anywhere; he's got it folded over his arms and he's still holding it close to him when Jaeger returns.

It's cold.]

You know you don't have to.

[I mean. He'll take it and drink it anyway but.]

[scythegun]

[Well, at least you've taken it off...!]

I'm always going to do everything I can for you, you know that.

[There's a couch in here, come sit down with him. Don't just hover there by the door, make yourself at home.]

[manufactured]

[...He'll come sit with you, though making his way over there is not going to be the most graceful thing he's ever done.

He's kind of tired, and the fever isn't helping, and...ugh. He will come sit with you, though, just kind of flopping down onto the couch and letting his head tip back into the back of it.]

Yes, well. It's appreciated.

[scythegun]

[Oh, honey... He'll join you, of course, though he's sort of a bundle of energy right now so he's not going to be relaxing very well.]

If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.

[manufactured]

...I doubt I'll be able to sleep tonight, so don't stay up on my behalf. I'll wake you if I need anything.

[That coat is still going to be held close against him, though; he knows it's counterproductive, but still.]

[scythegun]

[Well at least it's not on you. This is probably fine!!]

Nonsense, I'm wide awake now and I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway.

[He'd be far too worried to sleep, so at least this way he can keep fussing over you!!]

[manufactured]

You do know I'll be all right eventually, don't you?

[You seem kinda worked up...]

[scythegun]

Of course I do! But you're sick right now, so I'm going to do what I can to help you!

[Well of course he's worked up, you don't usually get sick...]

[manufactured]

[He just...sighs at that, and let's his hands fall into his lap still entangled in the coat. He's still got his eyes covered with dark glasses, so it might be hard to tell that he's closed them; those marks really do seem to have spread quite a bit.]

...Bring me something cold, then, if you really want to help. Soak a small towel or something if you don't have anything else, maybe it'll help with the fever.

[scythegun]

Of course!

[He's got entirely too much energy for this late at night, but that'll probably wear off eventually. Jaeger returns shortly with a damp washcloth, here you go.]

I do hope this passes quickly.

[manufactured]

[Just...let him set that across his forehead for a bit, okay...]

Likewise. This entire business has been more trouble than it's worth.

[He's quiet for a moment before saying something else; his eyes are still closed, but...]

I noticed yours isn't doing anything yet. The mark you have.