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

[manufactured]

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.]

Comments

[thesettingsun]

Do you know anything helpful?

[Guessing not! But might as well talk while he's moving onto getting that other hip restraint off.]

[manufactured]

Depends on what you consider "helpful." You probably know how all of this works by now - I know what he needs me to know.

[thesettingsun]

Well, if you don't know where he is, can you at least tell me about whatever's most likely to kill me?

[He did say it was safer in here...]

[manufactured]

Well, Lisa's probably not too happy. I lost track of her a while ago.

[Alas, poor fucking Lisa.]

Of course, it's possible he'll just try to kill you himself, if he gets agitated enough. He's kind of like that sometimes, depending on his mood.

I'm not here to kill you, though. It's not really my area of expertise. Annette wouldn't hesitate to, though, if you decide you're going to rip my head off anyway.

[thesettingsun]

I'm not going to kill you for no reason, what does Wesker even think of me if that's a concern...

[Hip restraints done, it's on to the last two restraints and then he's Free.]

[manufactured]

Oh, don't worry, he likes you. It's just a standard concern around here. He probably wouldn't put it past me, either.

[...He does not sound bothered by that notion.]

[thesettingsun]

[Past Wesker's coworkers are weird and also lacking in moral fiber.]

That's fair. But I'm still not going to do anything except in self-defense.

[manufactured]

[Also social skills.]

That's probably the best way to do it around here, actually. Don't give anyone a reason to kill you and keep your head down, and usually that works out pretty well.

[thesettingsun]

Usually is good enough. I have to find Wesker, I can't just sit around here even if I wanted to.

[One restraint left...]

[manufactured]

Best of luck.

I don't hand out maps to the place or anything, but it's not like I'm going to be going far - I've got work to do. So if you get completely lost, coming back here's an option, I guess.

[thesettingsun]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Last restrait is off. Shuji sits up, stretching out his limbs instead of just immediately standing up and probably falling over like an idiot.]

God, that's so uncomfortable.

[manufactured]

I wouldn't know. I've never been the one on the table, and I'd like to keep it that way.

[...birkin there are some things you just aren't supposed to be casual about]

[thesettingsun]

It'd probably straighten out your back some, but I honestly don't think it would be worth it.

[Okay, now Shuji stands up.]

Later.

[And he's headed toward the cave-looking exit.]

[manufactured]

[Aaaaand off you go.

While the juxtaposition of the lab and the cave seenms odd at first, it isn't long before it begins to blend more naturally; there are sconces on the walls giving the entire thing a deep, bronzed glow that's more than enough to see by.

Eventually there comes a split in the path; one leads to what looks like higher ground, still subterranean but leading on a gentle upward slope that seems to fade away into darkness. The other seems to dip down slightly as it leads off, into water that can't be more than ankle-deep, but the lighting seems to be more consistent.]

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji would like to say that he carefully considers which avenue is more likely to take him to Wesker based on what he knows of Wesker's personality, history, etc. That would be the smart course of action.

In reality he just immediately takes the path that doesn't head into water. It might be ankle-deep now, but who knows how long that will last.]

[manufactured]

[I mean, that is entirely legit, and who the hell wants to get wet anyway? Let's go upward, then.

The path is quick to narrow out through here, leading into a tunnel both claustrophobic and dark; when the blackness and the shadows are finally pierced by light it may take a moment for your eyes to adjust. It's another of those sconces set into the wall, burning brightly and illuminating a pair of people occupying a curve in the path. One is lying on the ground; another is kneeling over them as though trying to take vitals.]

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji is less scared of darkness than he is of deep water, so that's fine. When he reaches light again, it takes a second for him to be able to actually see what's ahead of him.

Keep your head down, he thinks, and then does the opposite of that, hurrying towards the pair.]

Are they okay?

[manufactured]

[Upon coming closer, it's obvious that it's a pair of men there, both dressed in uniforms that appear to belong to a police or military unit; they both have insignia bearing the acronym S.T.A.R.S. across it.

The one on the ground is tall and dark-haired, and he appears to have taken a lot of trauma; he's incredibly roughed up physically, and there are a pair of large spreads of blood staining his uniform across the chest. As though he's been shot. He also doesn't seem to be breathing, or responding to anything the other man is trying to do.

The other man there is...well, he's doing his best, though he settles back as Shuji approaches, muttering a quiet "goddamn it" to himself as he does so. Shuji will definitely get his attention, though, and he seems to...try to get himself together and in reasonable-adult mode once he realizes someone's here that shouldn't be.]

Hey - it's probably not safe for you to just be wandering around here. You okay?

[thesettingsun]

I figured it wasn't. [Safe, that is.] But I'm alright so far. What happened?

[...Even if this isn't a 'real person', it's distressing to see a corpse.]

[manufactured]

...He was trying to warn me about something. Someone decided they didn't like that.

[thesettingsun]

I'm sorry.

[Both because of his comrade's death and because Shuji can't let this stop him from investigating.]

Have you seen anyone else around? I'm looking for someone - someone important to me, so I can't leave until I find him. Even if it's dangerous.

[manufactured]

[Well, that seems to get his attention, anyway.]

Who are you looking for?

[thesettingsun]

He's about six feet tall, blonde, wears sunglasses indoors for some reason?

[Wesker did this before he had any physical changes, he can't blame that on Retrospec.]

[manufactured]

...Sounds like Wesker. That's our commanding officer; we were looking for him, too.

[thesettingsun]

Then we should look together! Safety in numbers and all that.

[This will in no way backfire horribly.]