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[manufactured]

NOAH ISAACS

Albert Wesker. Pharmaceutical Research and Development. This surely won't end poorly.

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Re: 4/15

[manufactured]

[Wesker is likewise feeling better today - physically as well as mentally. The marks are gone, having faded into nothing in the night, and the stinging and the sickness that had accompanied then is also gone. He's still bundled up, granted, but that's more because...well, it's cold.]

I don't know if I'd say it took a long time, but I wasn't precisely keeping time, either.

[scythegun]

That makes sense. I suppose we'll just wander around until we hear something!

[The red mark above his blastia is still glowing, though it hasn't grown any. It's a bit annoying having something glow red from beneath his clothes, but at least the blastia can't be seen.]

Thank you for coming out here with me, especially on such short notice. I can't help but be curious about all this.

[manufactured]

Of course. I imagined it would be better to have someone here - I don't know what you could possibly hear out here, but it's likely not going to be pleasant.

[...That said, though...]

I don't hear anything related to mine anymore, for reference.

[scythegun]

That's good! I'm glad. Hopefully you don't hear anything else.

[But he'll be right here if you do, and he's sure he can ignore whatever issues this brings up to help you instead. He's always been good at avoiding his problems.

Speaking of his problems, there's a sudden gust of wind and with it, a quiet whisper.

"—never were strong enough anyway—"]

...Did you hear that?

[Maybe it was just his imagination...?]

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[He'll look over at Jaeger curiously; that reaction was...probably not good, but - ]

Nothing concrete, no. What did it sound like...?

[scythegun]

...I think I'm just hearing things. It was probably just the wind.

[That's what he's trying to convince himself, anyway. He has a feeling he knows what this is about just from that alone, and he doesn't like it. But maybe he's mistaken...?

The red mark on his chest lances outward, a single trail leading out and down in the direction of his heart. It doesn't hurt so he doesn't notice it, but that's probably not a good sign.]

[manufactured]

[...Definitely not a good sign.]

Probably.

[Okay, he is...not sure if he should draw attention to that or not, but he's more interested at the moment in seeing if anything else is said. He didn't hear it properly himself, but at least he's aware of it enough to be listening for it now. It wasn't something for him, he knows that much.]

[scythegun]

[They won't have to wait long for the voices to pick up again, this time echoing around without any wind to potentially hide what they're saying.

"You never were strong enough, were you?"
"There isn't anything you can do, so you pretend everything is fine. Is it really fine?"
"You've always been weak, you just pretend you aren't. Everything's an act with you."
"You can't handle this. Deep down you know that, don't you?"
"It's just a matter of time before you break, isn't it?"
"You ran away last time. How long before you run away this time?"

Jaeger's gone pale by the time the voices begin to fade out as the wind picks up again.]

...Come on, let's go.

[Before he turns back toward civilization, a second thin red line makes its way upwards toward his right shoulder.]

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[He certainly does hear it this time.]

...Jaeger.

[He reaches out, taking Jaeger by the hand as though to keep him in place; he's...fast, unnaturally so, but he's trying not to be too harsh about it at least.]

Don't...panic, or get upset about it, but it's spreading.

[scythegun]

[Jaeger doesn't try to pull away, but he looks momentarily torn. He doesn't want to be here any longer, he really wants to leave, but he always does like physical contact even if it's something this small, so...

Wesker's words get him to glance down at the red mark and he inhales sharply. Don't panic or get upset about it... Easier said than done.]

...Ah.

[And for a moment that's all he says while he tries to find words that don't blatantly disregard what's happening. He wants to ignore it, to go back to town and pretend this never happened, but apparently that's not going to happen.]

...It'll be fine, ja? It'll vanish soon enough.

[That gets a matching mark to spread out to his right shoulder. Jaeger's grip tightens on Wesker's hand as it happens, though it still isn't painful. It's just startling to watch.]

[manufactured]

[...He knows it's not painful, at least, he's experienced it himself.]

Perhaps it will. Mine took some time, however, and I'm not entirely certain what stopped it.

[scythegun]

Well, something did, so there's no reason to worry too much about it!

[Another line, this one tracing upwards toward his neck. Jaeger tugs on Wesker's hand a bit.]

Come on, let's get back to town.

[He doesn't want to stand here and watch as more lines are added.]

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Of course.

[Come on, let's go, then.

...He won't let go of your hand for the time being, all right.]

What...were they talking about, if I can ask?

[scythegun]

[Thanks, he appreciates it...

That question gets him to shake his head, agitated, and an answer leaves him before he even has time to think about it.]

I don't know.

[It gets an angry red mark to jolt down towards his sternum and it takes him a moment of silence to amend it.]

...I don't really want to talk about it.

[manufactured]

[...Jesus. All right.]

...I understand where this makes me a hypocrite, given what happened with my own. But you know you can talk to me, correct...?

[scythegun]

...I know. But it's really not that big of a concern.

[Another mark. Jaeger brings his free hand up to touch the mark on his chest. It sort of stings a bit? That'll probably go away soon enough, though.]

[manufactured]

If it weren't a concern, you wouldn't be lying to me about it.

[The pattern here is not exactly hard to spot, Jaeger.]

[scythegun]

[Oh come on, couldn't you just let him get away with it...]

It's just something I've been thinking about sometimes.

[He really, really doesn't like lying to you (and being called out on it) but he really doesn't want to talk about this either. It's okay, it's fine. He isn't that worried about it, right? Right.

...Just give him a second to catch his breath before we keep going, the pain's getting worse.]

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[He'll stop, then, reaching out to run his free hand through Jaeger's hair; he's aware that he may have crossed some sort of line, but...]

Whatever you hear, if there's anything else, will probably make it sound much worse than it is. I was told a good amount about how I tortured Jill and Excella for nothing, and about how I was apparently just willing to let everyone here be used in the same way the old man used me. How I need to save all of you and make it up to them.

You may hear more while we're still here, and I have no doubt this is upsetting you, but whatever's being said likely isn't an accurate reflection.

[His words are calm as ever; it helps that he's gone through this before. He isn't pushing for Jaeger to tell him for now, just...trying to calm him down.]

[scythegun]

[No, you haven't crossed any lines. If anything, it's a good move, and Jaeger leans into it almost immediately. He's looking somewhere off to the side because he can't get himself to look at Wesker right now, but he does appreciate the hair-playing.

His hand is still on his chest and his grip tightens a bit at that.]

No, it's... They're right. What those voices are saying is true. I've always been the sort to run away from my problems or hide everything. I'm even trying to do it right now, aren't I?

[He laughs, but the sound is bitter.]

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...I know you don't like handling your problems very much. You tend to focus on mine rather than admit that you have any of your own. I know that.

[It's even, though; there's nothing chiding about it, nor does it sound like he's judging for it.]

It's why I ask you to talk to me sometimes. But it isn't as though you don't have to do the same for me.

[scythegun]

[He's quiet for a moment before speaking up.]

...I don't really know how to deal with my problems. I never really had to when I was younger. With enough money, you can make most of your problems disappear. I've never had issues like this before.

[The pain lessens a bit, at least, though he doesn't let go of his jacket.]

[manufactured]

[He's still playing with your hair, at least, don't worry.]

And now you're concerned you won't be able to...?

[scythegun]

[Jaeger hesitates for a moment before finally nodding.]

I should be able to handle these things on my own, ja? I should be strong enough. But I... I really don't think I am.

[manufactured]

[He...really hates to ask, but...]

What "things" are we referring to, exactly?