recolle | [OPEN] Prick your fingers, it is done, the moon has now eclipsed the sun

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[OPEN] Prick your fingers, it is done, the moon has now eclipsed the sun

WHO: Albert Wesker (eventually) and whomever decides to join him (presumably you!)
WHERE: Dreamscapes.
WHEN: Slightly backdated to 8/24.
WHAT: Dreamdiving.
WARNINGS: Medical experimentation, brainwashing, child abuse, violence, body horror, depictions of self-harm, a general blanket warning that Wesker has been through Some Shit and as such this is probably going to suck on several levels.

[It's cold.

It isn't the familiar drop in temperature that might come from the weather, but a sterile, artificial chill, the sort associated with medical work - hospitals and laboratories and other places that bring with them a sharp, chemical smell and an unpleasant sense that you don't really want to be there.

Of course, the metal table against your back probably isn't doing much to keep you warm, either.

Trying to sit up will be a bit of a problem, given the heavy restraints locked around your wrists and ankles, your hips and your upper body; they're a combination of metal and leather, old-fashioned and imposing, clearly designed to restrain something very, very powerful, and they're keeping you from going very far. You can look around enough to tell that where you are is...probably not somewhere you want to stay for long - it is, in fact, a laboratory of some sort, full of instruments and vials and jars of things that don't look very nice, the metal walls giving way somewhere just on the edges of your line of sight, turning into something else - a sort of open entrance to what looks like a cave of some sort. Either way, it'll probably take you somewhere that isn't here if you follow it. Tipping your head back will show another potential exit to the area - a metal door in the wall near all the instruments and materials.

Of course, you can't really utilize either route if you're bound down, now, can you? You should probably work on figuring out what you're going to do about that, first.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[To answer questions in order:

First of all, your briefcase is here. It's sitting near some of the cabinets bearing specimens and the like against the wall; definitely out of reach and not much use in your current situation, but it's present in the room.

Secondly, there doesn't seem to be much in your immediate reach, because whomever works here doesn't like the idea of being stabbed by their projects. Understandably so, probably.

Thirdly, it's largely centered over that, yes.

As for what's audible, it sounds like someone may be pacing nearby? There's definitely someone out beyond that door behind you. It seems like they aren't going far - a lot of pacing back and forth in the corridor that's probably out there, the metal doing nothing to hide that fact, and it seems like they may be talking a bit? Not the sort of talking that implies there's someone there with them, but even if words can't be made out it sounds like there's some sort of very animated muttering to themselves that's happening out there.]

[It's good that his briefcase is here, but actually getting to it is definitely not going to be easy. There's nothing within reach to help and while he's got some wiggle room, that's not going to help him get his hands free. Okay. He doesn't have anything he can do like this, so there's really only two options as far as he can see.

The first option is to get the person's attention. They don't sound like they're going to be a threat, but given the setup here and how helpless he is, he doesn't really like that idea. The second option is... well, to wait it out and see what happens. Jaeger doesn't really like that option either.

He'll try to find some give in the restraints around his wrists, but since he's probably not going to find any he'll eventually settle and decide on the latter option. He'll wait for a bit, see if he's able to determine anything more about the person out there.]

[You'll actually probably recognize the speech patterns a little bit, if you're paying attention to them; they sound like someone else you heard a little while back, in Bosuma. You know, with Wesker.]

[...Of fucking course it's Birkin. Why is he even surprised.

Irrational hatred of Birkin aside, this is probably a good thing? Wesker told him that Birkin doesn't fight, and Birkin is probably not going to turn into a slug monster the size of a bus here, so in theory he should be okay.

It's just a matter of making sure he doesn't startle Birkin too badly, probably.]

Hello? Can you hear me?

[He raises his voice and waits for a reaction.]

[That seems to get a pause in the pacing, a soft noise like he's just realized that there's someone here that he probably should be dealing with; he'll make his way in and - ...yes, it's Birkin, looking about as nondescript as ever. Tired, perhaps, but generally not disheveled or anything. Just a bit overworked.]

Good to see you're awake. And not going anywhere.

[It's delivered casually, there doesn't seem to be any sort of open malice behind it; it is what it is, you're awake and not going anywhere, thank you for not being Shuji and sawing through your restraints with a big dumb weapon you carry in a book apparently?]

[goddammit how come shuji gets to have his big dumb weapon nearby

Anyway, Jaeger tips his head a bit in what's probably supposed to be a greeting? Look, he's trying.]

Ja, I do seem to be stuck here. Can you tell me why I'm here?

[He's careful to remain courteous despite talking to Birkin in a really bad situation like this. He also usually gets really flippant and he's doing his best not to do that right now.]

[As it stands, Birkin's got notes with him, they appear to be on a clipboard of some sort; he'll move to stand over by the wall, leaning back against it and crossing his legs idly at the ankle, flipping through what he's got on that clipboard because apparently he's decided that you are Officially Less Interesting Than His Notes. Because such is Birkin.]

You're involved in a project of some sort, or at least that's what I understand. It looks like my coworker here isn't too happy about that idea and isn't giving me the go-ahead to proceed, so I'm waiting on an override from above.

[It's pretty irritating to be dismissed like that, but honestly he can't say he wouldn't do the same thing. It's not like he's capable of going anywhere or doing anything, after all. Still, he'll try to free his hands again while Birkin's not paying attention to him, even though that's not going to happen.]

Oh? What sort of project? What are you going to do once you have the go-ahead?

[...You're absolutely going to test some kind of virus on him, aren't you. Goddammit, he hates Resident Evil.]

[He shrugs a little.]

It's something I've been making a lot of progress on lately. You've got a seventy percent chance of coming out of it better than you were. You won't be perfect, but then, what is, right? But you'll be powerful.

Twenty percent says nothing'll happen. Ten percent...well, nothing'll happen again, but it won't be in a way that you like.

Either way, ninety percent says you'll be fine.

[His first thought is Uroboros.

It isn't Uroboros, of course, because he wouldn't survive that. But the power that came with Uroboros was incredible, and if he had another chance at experiencing something even slightly similar to that...

No, that's crazy. Wesker's told him about what some of the other mutations looked like and even if their power could be comparable to Uroboros, would he really want to go through something like that? Absolutely not.

Still, it's unsettling how he actually has to think about it.]

Why is your coworker getting in the way, then?

[He doesn't exactly have many options here, and stalling probably won't do much good, but maybe he can figure something else out if he can keep Birkin talking to him for now.]

[That gets something that's almost a light laugh behind his words. Still casual, nothing sadistic. Maybe a bit more bite than most, but nothing threatening.]

Honestly? I have no idea. I'm guessing it's because he likes you. He doesn't really do things like that, it's not his way. But there's a first time for everything, I guess.

[That tells him some very important things, and for the first (and probably last) time, he's immensely grateful that it's Birkin he's talking to and not someone else. Anyone else might not have given him as much information to work with.

He figured Wesker is working with Birkin, but it's good to have that confirmed. It's also good to know that Wesker remembers him and is actually attempting to stop this, but waiting around like a damsel in distress is probably just going to end poorly, so he still needs to figure out some way to escape on his own.

He's careful to make sure the relief at Birkin's words doesn't bleed into his tone and he's careful to keep his expression neutral.]

So why did you all choose me as a test subject? Surely you know I'm not exactly normal, ja? It might interfere with your results.

A lot of the time, that's the interesting parts. The abnormalities can make for some interesting hybrid results, and it isn't like it's something we aren't equipped to handle. We've had some experiments go...interestingly in the past.

[He tips his head a little to indicate the restraints; what'd you think those were for, buddy.]

[...Well, fair, but also do you really want a blastia-powered zombie?? ...More of a zombie than he already is??? This just sounds like a bad idea.]

Well, I can certainly see why! This isn't exactly comfortable, though...

[Okay, there has to be some way out of this. There's nothing nearby he can use and he can't free his hands... The give in the binding around his chest is really the only thing he's got, and that's not going to be particularly useful. Birkin probably won't be convinced to let him go - everything Wesker's told him about Birkin makes him think that Birkin is way more interested in research than anything else - so what does that leave...?

...Nothing, honestly. Dammit.]

Can you tell me a bit about what you're working on?

[Hmm.]

Well... This place doesn't really like us handing out information to outsiders. But it's not like I've got much to do but kill time for now, so sure. Shoot.

What is it you want to know?

[Good man. At least Birkin's talkative (and less likely to shoot him).]

Well, the most pressing thing is what this will do to me, assuming I survive and it actually does something, of course!

[Oh, that's interesting.]

What do you think it will do? I'm curious about your answer.

[Still testing for any give on your wrists once in a while, buddy?]

[Of course he is, whenever he thinks Birkin isn't paying too much attention to him.]

Hmm... Well, this sort of thing usually causes mutations, ja? I imagine it'd be something like that, though admittedly I have no idea what it would look like. Given the restraints here, I'd assume it'd be something very powerful.

Oh, yes. Lisa breaks them on a regular basis.

[There's a bit of a pause.]

She's around here somewhere, I'm pretty sure. I lost track of her a while ago. Either way, you're probably safer in here with me than you are anywhere out there.

[One of those bindings on the right will start to have a bit more give, though, the longer this goes on.]

...Well, I'm glad to hear that, but wouldn't it be a good idea to at least know where she is...?

[Why is Umbrella like this.

Anyway, that's great! He's going to be incredibly careful about this because the last thing he wants is for Birkin to notice and come over here to tighten the restraint. Is Birkin still pretty involved with his notes?]

[A better question is whether Birkin is ever not involved with his notes.]

It's not my department. I'm sure Wesker would have handled her, if he were still around, but...

[Oh good, he'll work on trying to free his hand while Birkin's occupied.

...Also do you guys always call each other by last name?? He kind of forgot that "Birkin" isn't your actual name, but this is also a little weird.]

Did something happen to him?

[He's succeeding in keeping his voice carefully neutral to avoid drawing too much attention to himself, but he does not like the sound of that.]

[That gets a bit of a pause.]

He decided he's leaving. Not that I know why - they've always loved him around here.

[He doesn't sound bitter about it, though; a bit perplexed, maybe, but not angry.]

He can do whatever he wants; his life has been fine with us. So it's not like I know what he's so upset about.

["Fine", huh...?]

That is strange... When was the last time you saw him?

[How much progress has he made on that binding around his wrist? Is there any give in the other one?]

[You are making some acceptable progress! And you'll be experiencing some slight give in the other one as well, good job you.]

It's been a while.

[...]

Are you enjoying yourself over there?

[Whether he's seen you or he just sort of knows is up for debate.]

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