manufactured | INBOX

You have some other concerns in mind, ja? What worries you the most about this?

...Something else happening to our memories. Of our pasts here in Recollé, and our current lives in general.

Like that time in Bosuma? I can certainly understand, losing our memories of our time here... it sounds terrifying.

Yes, like that.

[...]

I try not to mention it, since there's no point in dwelling on it. It's over now, and no one was harmed. It was temporary. But it's something that still crosses my mind from time to time.

No, I understand. If it could happen once, it could easily happen again. It's something to be worried about.

[He's quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping to his hands, where he's picking at his sleeves.]

There isn't... really anything we can do about that, is there? It's something that could happen, but we have no way of knowing if it will.

I wasn't expecting it the first time; there was no warning, and no indication that it would happen. It was sudden.

So no, I don't think there's anything that can be done. If it's going to happen, then it will.

[...]

Do you think that's something we'll be able to face together?

I know you're worried about hurting me, if it happens to you again. I can't promise you I'll leave, but I can promise you I'll be very careful. I won't let you hurt me.

You need to be able to promise me you'll leave if necessary.

[He's adamant about that point, at least.]

You've seen what happens when I'm not in my right mind. It was a dream then. The only reason what happened then is tolerable to me is the fact that it was a dream.

[He nods.]

Yes, I can promise you that. I've seen what you were like; I know what to look for. I mean it, Albert, I won't let you hurt me.

You need to be blunt with me. If that happens again.

[God, he doesn't want that to happen again.]

Don't try to be subtle, and don't try to be clever. Just be blunt and direct and don't give me a reason to believe that you're trying to do something without me noticing. Because if I do notice, it won't end well.

I understand. I... didn't know what to expect, or how to handle it. I was trying not to come off as knowing too much and therefore needing to be eliminated, but I... Well, you know how I am. I tend to get very flippant when I don't know how to handle a situation...

It won't happen again, should it be a concern again at some point.

[He settles back against the couch, letting his eyes slide closed for a moment.]

...It isn't your fault, and I'm not trying to be abrupt with you. I just don't know how well I could handle it if anything like that were to happen again, even if it isn't exactly real. We were fortunate that you didn't have to deal with anything of the sort during the dreams last week.

Yes, we were. I wouldn't have known how to handle that.

[It would have ended terribly? Yikes.]

I'll make sure nothing like that happens again. I know you don't ever want to hurt me - real or not - so I'll do everything I can to protect myself.

I know you will.

[...]

You do know that I'm not upset with you, don't you?

I... Yes, I know.

[...]

I'm just... I'm sorry it happened in the first place. I know it's not exactly my fault, but... It... really must have been hard on you, to deal with something like that.

[...]

Talk to me?

[You sound sort of upset, Jaeger.]

[He's quiet for a moment, just playing with his sleeves for a bit before he settles on what he wants to say.]

...I don't like seeing you hurt. And knowing I caused that in some way... it really bothers me. It bothers me much more than what actually happened. I don't blame you for that - it was a dream, after all. And it's... not really fair to blame myself for what happened either, I know that. But it's still frustrating that you were hurt because of it.

You can't protect me from everything, you know.

[It's quiet, but it's calm; there's nothing chiding behind it, it's just the way things are.]

I know that you want to, and it's frustrating when you can't. Even moreso when it's something like this, that wasn't anyone's fault in the end.

But I don't expect you to protect me from everything. Sometimes I'll be hurt by things, and I'll need some time to work through them. You're doing well enough by being here for me when I need you to be.

I know. I wish I could protect you from everything, but... it means so much to me that I can at least help you by being here. I'm not going anywhere.

[He forces his hands down for a moment before moving to reach for one of Wesker's.]

I don't mean to come off as too overprotective. It's not that I don't believe you can handle things like this. You're the strongest person I've ever met, so I have no doubt that you can handle anything that comes your way.

[He'll allow it, definitely; you can hold onto his hand all you want, Jaeger, he's fine with that.]

Just because I can handle it doesn't mean that you want me to have to, however.

[He understands the sentiment, he's fairly sure.]

[Good! He'll take Wesker's hand in both of his.]

Yes, exactly. I don't want anything to hurt you, but unfortunately there isn't any way to keep that from happening...

[Especially not with Retrospec in their lives.]

...I'll do what I can to make it through. If I start to feel overwhelmed, or like it's too much for me, I'll seek you out.

I know. It always means a lot to me that you'll come sit with me like that. I always want to do everything I can to help you, after all.

...It feels safe. Doing that with you.

[It always feels awkward, admitting that.]

[His grip tightens on Wesker's hand.]

I'm really happy it does. It's really important to me that I offer you something like that.

[He knows how difficult it is for Wesker to trust people after everything he's been through, so that means a lot to him...]

I feel the same way, you know!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject