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[...Ah.]

It isn't, no. Did it trouble you?

Yes, of course.

[He takes a moment to exhale before trying to steady himself.]

I know you like to discuss things with others to sort yourself out, so it's not as though I have any problems with that. It was just... a little unexpected to see, I suppose.

[He probably should have expected something along those lines given what the Retrospec post was about in the first place, but somehow it didn't occur to him that Wesker would want to talk about it.]

...You didn't answer my question, by the way.

[...Right. Right...]

I've been...all right, certainly no worse off than I normally am. I simply wasn't expecting Retrospec to throw that topic in my face today.

No, I... I understand. It's certainly not something I was expecting either.

[He's quiet for a moment, reaching up to toy with his bangs.]

...Do you want to talk about it? Maybe it'll help a bit...?

[Obviously Wesker's going to discuss it with people on the network, but Jaeger's not content just leaving it like that. Wesker may be fine, but he still feels uneasy.]

If you would like to, though I admit I don't know where to start.

Honestly, I don't really know either. It's such a complicated topic, and I'm not really sure I know what my feelings on it are.

[Let him think for a moment. He'll come up with a starting point eventually.]

I... still don't like the idea that you should be judged for your past life's actions. I don't believe it's fair to who you are now. But... it's not fair to completely dismiss those actions either. Our souls are the same as the person in our memories, so it doesn't feel right to just ignore what they did and pretend like it's unimportant.

I suppose there must be a balance somewhere in there, but I genuinely don't know what it would be.

It isn't something that's going to have a fair answer, I believe. It's a circumstance in which there's an answer that's technically correct in a moral sense - it isn't right to ignore what was done in our past lives - but that answer isn't a fair one, and that's why I find it important to consider it so thoroughly.

[...just because it's correct doesn't mean that it's right, um.]

[Man, he really hates this topic.]

You're probably right. In the end there probably isn't a fair answer. That doesn't mean I'm ever going to be able to just accept that. I just can't stand the idea that our lives here and now are somehow less important than our actions in a past life.

[He sighs and tugs on his bangs for a moment before letting go.]

This is another thing that's just going to be unfair, but it's so frustrating to think about.

[...Oh. That's...mm.]

It isn't that I believe our lives here are unimportant, or that nothing we do matters. You do know that...?

No, it's... more of a general thing. I don't think you'd believe something like that. Otherwise you wouldn't have agreed to date me.

[That's not just his ego speaking! You wouldn't have pursued your own happiness if you thought it really meant nothing.]

Yes, exactly.

[He settles a little at that.]

That isn't at all what I'm trying to say with discussions like that. I do want to believe that what we do here is important. I don't particularly know how to articulate my concerns well regarding it, however.

I don't believe you'd start thinking like that now, so don't worry.

I think I understand, though. This is a very complicated issue, and one that doesn't have an easy answer. Ignoring what our past lives did entirely doesn't sit well with me, especially because they were us in some form.

...I still believe that something needs to be done, regarding my actions then. I know I said as much in the post you saw earlier; that hasn't changed.

Yes, I know. There isn't anything that'll change your mind.

[Some part of him does wish he could, if only to make things easier on you.]

...Still, you've done nothing at all like that here. You're a good person. I don't think it's fair to ignore that, especially given the things you did in your past life.

Again, I'm not accusing you of ignoring it or anything like that, I'm just... frustrated with the situation as a whole, I think.

...I know you are.

[He's a bit uncomfortable with the insistance that he's a good person, but he lets it go for now; there's something more important on his mind at the moment.]

Might I ask you for something...?

Of course, Albert. You can always ask me anything. What is it?

I know that I've said that I deserve to be held responsible for my actions, and that I don't know what should be done about it just yet. I know that you hate that idea, but... I don't feel that it's a decision that I should make on my own, either.

I don't want to simply decide that for myself and inform you of how things are going to be; that seems entirely unfair to you, since I'm not the only one that's going to be affected, and you'll have to live with the results of whatever ends up being done.

Whenever I feel that a decision should be made, I want you to be involved. A discussion, more than a decision and an order. I...want you to have a say in things, if you would want one.

[Oh, that's... kind of punching him in the feelings really hard, actually. Give him a moment...]

...Thank you, Albert. I... I'm really happy to hear it. I know this is something you need to decide on, but that's... That really does mean so much to me.

[It wasn't something he really thought all that much about, but he always assumed it would just be something Wesker would decide on his own. Having a say at all is really important to him and it's kind of painful...? It's difficult considering what they're talking about, but it's definitely appreciated.]

Of course. I don't want to do anything rash, and I don't want this to be a decision made without consulting you. You're entirely too important to me for that.

I'm really pleased to hear that. Thanks.

[He'll reach out for Wesker's hand after that.]

I might not be able to help you with this, but thank you for taking my opinion into consideration. I'll be here for you, no matter what.

You do far more to help me than you think you do.

[It gets him to flush and his gaze darts a bit before he corrects it.]

...I'm really happy to hear that too. I do what I can for you, of course.

[He doesn't always think it's enough, but that really is so nice to hear...]

I know you do.

[Just...let him take your hand and squeeze it a little, okay.]

You've always been good to me, Jaeger. I'm...sorry for worrying you tonight.

[He'll return that immediately. He's a lot more relaxed now, even though the conversation wasn't exactly easy.]

It's okay. I know you like to talk these sorts of things out, and given the topic of the post I probably should have expected that... I'm glad you're doing okay, though.

I find it helps me to discuss them. It doesn't trouble you, does it? Outside of the initial concern things like that tend to bring with them.

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