[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

[scythegun]

[Jaeger's been doing a good job of keeping his attention on Wesker, regardless of what Spencer says, but the moment the word "defective" is thrown out there, his eyes dart in Spencer's direction and his expression quickly goes dark. It takes him longer than he'd really like to recover, but Wesker is much more important than Spencer, so he'll do his best to remain focused on his boyfriend and not on the crazy old man who's doing a great job of pissing him off.]

He really is trying everything he can think of, isn't he? I know it hurts to hear all of that, but I promise we'll make it through. He wouldn't be this desperate if he didn't think he was losing his control over you.

[The words remain soft and his grip tightens on Wesker's hand reassuringly.]

You aren't defective. You've been through a lot of terrible things and they've shaped you, and sometimes that means you don't react the same way as everyone else. That doesn't make you defective. You survived and you continue to push forward, and you always do your best. If there's ever something you don't understand or don't know how to handle, you can always ask me. I'll always be right here beside you.

[He shifts a little after a moment, pressing closer if Wesker will allow him.]

This man claims to know what you want, but he just wants to control you. What is it you really want to do, Albert?

[manufactured]

[It takes him a long moment to respond; his expression doesn't flicker, and at first it seems as though he's frozen up.

But then he moves, and when he does so it's sudden and all at once; he jerks away from where he's been holding onto Jaeger, breaking off contact entirely and staggering back a few steps. He's obviously forcing himself to do it, but it's decisive, at least.

He lets himself take a knee on the floor once he's done it, the gesture graceless and awkward but he doesn't seem to care about that; it isn't long before he's brought both hands up over the spot where that device is attached to his chest.

It's difficult, and his breathing is strange and labored, but he's trying very, very hard not to hurt you.]

[scythegun]

[He knows, and while he doesn't want to let Wesker go, he does.]

I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere. You'll be okay - we'll get through this, I promise.

[He's a little concerned Wesker is just going to decide to yank that device out of his chest... He doesn't approach though, he just waits to see what Wesker will do.

He hasn't forgotten about Spencer, he's definitely keeping an eye on him too.]

[manufactured]

[He's shaking, but he remains where he is; he's trying to get his breathing under control, but he doesn't seem able to.]

...Jaeger, I can't...

[His voice is quiet but it's rough; again, it sounds like he hasn't spoken in a while. He shakes his head eventually, not seeming to know where he was going with that.]

[scythegun]

It'll be okay, Albert. I know things are difficult right now, but it'll be okay.

[He takes a step closer; he wants to be right next to Wesker, but given the state of things he's really not sure that's a good idea. Wesker's fighting for control, but he might not have it back entirely. So for now he'll stay out of grabbing range, just in case.]

What can I do to help you?

[manufactured]

["You can stay away from him, for one thing. Assuming you like staying alive."

Spencer's voice is quick to undercut the silence again; he doesn't sound concerned.

"It will take him a moment. But he'll come back around. What did I say about your best not being good enough?

"You can't save him because in the end, there's nothing to save him from. He is what he is."]

[scythegun]

Oh, shut up.

[Jaeger's patience abruptly snaps like a twig and he turns his attention to Spencer.]

You keep operating under the assumption that they're exactly the same person, that even in his past life you had complete control over him. You didn't. I sincerely doubt you "created" him with the intention of killing you should your plans not go the way you wanted, and that's just one example. While you certainly had a large and terrible impact on him, Albert has always been his own person.

"He is what he is", ja? You're right, but you're not seeing him as he actually is. You see him as a tool, something you can use and mold however you'd like, but he's a person. No matter what you do to him, he'll never be exactly what you want him to be.

I'm sick of listening to you go on and on about how you understand him and how he's "supposed" to be when you've never bothered to look at him as another person. So kindly shut up and let Albert decide how to handle this.

[He'll move a bit so he's closer to his briefcase, not because he thinks he needs to defend himself, but because he's seriously considering whether killing Spencer would actually be beneficial here. He's not reaching down to pick it up yet, at least.]

[manufactured]

[Wesker still seems to be having difficulty retaining control over himself, but he does seem to be trying rather hard to watch what Jaeger is doing; there isn't much recognition behind his expression, but there is some.

When he responds it's quiet, and it's labored, but it's angry.]

...Kill him.

[scythegun]

[Jaeger doesn't say anything, but he does pick up the briefcase and transform it. There isn't any hesitation or fear, and even after he's shifted the weapon to its crossbow form (easier to wield than the rifle, faster to fire, and if he needs another shot it'll be quicker) he doesn't show any signs of stopping.

Some part of him is very aware that despite how much he hates him, Spencer is a person, and he's never killed a person before - he hasn't even remembered killing anyone, although he's sure he did - but even that doesn't get him to stop.

Spencer is a threat and the threat needs to be removed, that's what it comes down to.

He aims and fires swiftly, though he's prepared to keep firing if he needs to. Spencer needs to die, and he's not going to stop until the man is dead.]

[manufactured]

[Spencer may be less frail here, he's less obviously about to die, but he goes down surprisingly easily; whether human beings are supposed to die this simply or not is a question for later, most likely, but as he's not there's a spray of blood, flowing deep and red from his chest and pulsing out hard with his heart's contractions while it's still beating, dripping down thickly to the floor until he eventually drops and remains still.

It's a lot of blood, but a surprisingly low amount of difficulty, and at the end of it Wesker is still on the ground, hands over that device.]

...He...needed to die.

[It's forced out between jagged breaths; he's trying.]

[scythegun]

[Jaeger doesn't take his eyes off Spencer until he's certain the man is dead. Killing him was easier than he thought it'd be, and surprisingly, it doesn't bring any strong emotions with it. He doesn't feel disgusted or upset by what he's just done, but he doesn't feel happy Spencer's dead either.

He's relieved, though. Hopefully this means that Wesker will be able to focus a bit better and recover.

He's quick to transform the weapon back to its briefcase form before approaching, kneeling before Wesker, but not reaching out to touch him just yet.]

He did. He was a horrible person, and I'm sorry you've been stuck dealing with him. He's dead now, though; it'll be okay. We'll find a way to remove this.

[manufactured]

[He'll unfasten the top part of the outfit he's wearing, just enough to expose the device; the motion is strange and absemt, obviously drugged in some way, though he's doing his best to try to focus.

It looks the way it did in the cell - while the device itself is resting on top of his skin, there are parts of it obviously embedded deeply into his chest.]

[scythegun]

[Mmm, he doesn't like that. He hesitates for a moment before he holds out a hand.]

We need to find a way to remove that; perhaps Spencer left information on it somewhere. Do you think you can stand?

[manufactured]

[He shakes his head after a moment, though it doesn't seem very confident. Not...sure.]

It's... It's not his. Like...what I did to Jill.

[scythegun]

Oh, is it?

[That's... well, he's not sure if it's good, but that at least means Wesker should know how to remove it, right?]

What can I do to help, Albert?

[manufactured]

...I don't know. It's not...intended to be removed.

[...Yeah.]

[scythegun]

[...Ah.]

Can you tell me more about it? What do you remember about it?

[There has to be a way to remove it...]

[manufactured]

It... It injects chemicals directly into the body. Constantly. He...said it would take a while and then I would be like that again. He wasn't wrong.

I don't...

[Mnnngh.]

Get it out. I don't care how. I don't want to harm you.

[scythegun]

I know you don't want to hurt me, and I know you're scared that you're going to. But we're going to find a way to remove this, okay?

[He has no idea how to do that, admittedly, and if Wesker doesn't know then he's not sure there will be any information here. Maybe he could ask Birkin...? But again, if Wesker doesn't know, then Birkin won't know either. Dammit.]

Do you feel like you're losing control right now?

[manufactured]

I...

[Is he? It's hard to focus...]

I don't...think so.

[scythegun]

Okay. I know you want me to stay safe, so if you feel like you're losing control, let me know and I'll move away, okay?

[But for now, he'll reach out to rest a hand on Wesker's arm, if Wesker will let him.]

I know this is difficult, but we'll make it through. I'm going to find a way to help you, I promise.

[manufactured]

[He'll allow it, though after a moment his other hand comes up to close over the device again; he doesn't try to just yank it off in one go, but he does find himself pulling at it a bit - there's some give in it, but it obviously doesn't feel too pleasant, either.]

I know. You...promised you would help before, I remember that.

[scythegun]

[He watches, but he doesn't stop Wesker. He doesn't think Wesker's going to try to tear it off, so it should be fine.]

I'm glad. I've been worried about you this whole time, you know.

[It's gentle, though.]

To be honest, I'm not really sure how to help with this. But I'm sure we can think of something. If I have to search this entire place from top to bottom to find a solution, I will.

[But again... he's not sure that'll help.]

[manufactured]

Just...destroy it. Get it out somehow.

[It doesn't sound any more certain than before, though; he pulls at it again.]

I can... You know I'll be all right. Physically.

You don't need to worry about me.

[scythegun]

[...Well, that is true, Wesker can heal himself...]

Are you sure? I... I don't really like the sound of that, but I don't want you to suffer with that...