locked to manufactured

[scythegun]

[When Wesker didn't contact him a day ago he was worried, but worry has quickly turned to fear and Jaeger's never been good at dealing with fear. Repeated attempts to reach Wesker have failed, so Jaeger's taken it on himself to go looking for his boyfriend.

Thankfully Wesker cuts a distinctive figure and Jaeger's able to trace his location to the outskirts of the city. He's worried that he's going to find that something's happened to Wesker, that he'll be injured or dying, or maybe even already dead—

But that isn't the case, and when he finds Wesker the man looks perfectly fine.]

Albert!

[He'll approach immediately; the worry and concern is probably obvious just from that exclamation alone, but once he gets close he speaks up again.]

Are you okay? What are you doing out here?

[If Wesker will let him get close enough, he'll reach out to touch Wesker's arm, as he usually does.]

Comments

[manufactured]

[There's a pause then, as though he's considering not saying anything more; there's still something about this that he doesn't like, and he isn't sure how much he wants to admit to.

But if he has someone willing to answer questions, it's pointless not to ask. Isn't it?]

...I don't understand what happened. The last I recall, I was being killed. Now I'm told I've been here for quite some time - is this some sort of project I was never made aware of...? I can't come up with a viable explanation without at least some information, and unfortunately that all seems a bit beyond me for now.

[scythegun]

[Oh boy. How the hell does he answer this? If he tells the truth, Wesker probably won't believe him. And if he lies...

Well, he'd be lying to Wesker, and that doesn't sit right with him. What the hell would he even say anyway? Maybe he could write it off with something like "sorry, I don't know" but if Wesker doesn't remember everything soon, then that's just going to make things more complicated...

He absently reaches up to toy with his bangs while he considers his options, but there's really only one answer, isn't there?]

This is going to sound very strange, but I promise you it's true. The memories you have right now are of a previous life - you did die and all of that did happen, but this is a new life.

We lived our lives here without any idea about our past lives until about a year ago, when we were introduced to Retrospec. Retrospec's stated purpose is to try to remake the worlds we originally came from... at least, that's what they say. They're the ones responsible for us remembering our past lives, and they're probably responsible for you losing your memory of this life. Strange things like this happen all the time here.

[...]

I know it sounds impossible and completely ridiculous.

[manufactured]

[That gets him to tense up again, tightly, and his eyes shift a little, emitting that odd, unnatural glow for a brief moment - it isn't prolonged, he seems to have close control over it, but there's definitely a visible flash.]

So I'm usually someone else entirely. You're saying I don't...exist, anymore.

[It's obvious from his tone that this is bothering him; he sounds almost angry. He doesn't move, however; if anything, he's gone very still.]

[scythegun]

[It's a stupid thing to get stuck on, but the last time Wesker's eyes did that, they were glowing for quite some time before they stopped. This Wesker has better control over it.

...It's creepy to think about, but they really are two very different people.

Jaeger's not really sure how to answer that; it's obvious Wesker's not happy with that idea, but he's not exactly wrong either...]

I wouldn't say that's exactly it. You went through different experiences so obviously you aren't the exact same person, but you do still exist in some form.

[Even if that form is just terrible memories his boyfriend's had to deal with for the past year.]

[manufactured]

[That's...better, perhaps, if a bit difficult to get his mind around.]

Reincarnation, then. And this...Retrospec is working to restore things to the way they should be.

[It sounds like a slow process, though not one without merit; they've apparently saved his life somehow, after all, so he's not going to bite the hand that feeds unless they render themselves deserving of it.]

[scythegun]

["And this...Retrospec is working to restore things to the way they should be." ...He really doesn't like that. The way things should be...

There's no sense in getting worked up about it, so he dismisses the thought.]

Ja, that's right. We admittedly don't know a lot about Retrospec or the people behind it, but I'm inclined to believe they're at least trying to help, even if they're often incompetent at it.

[How is wiping Wesker's memory helping? How could they do something like this to him? Hasn't he been through enough? He already went through this once, why would they do something like this again—

Getting worked up isn't going to help. He dismisses those thoughts as well.]

[manufactured]

...Am I very different, then, to how I was before?

[With the...new experiences and all.]

[scythegun]

[Yes, he thinks, but it takes him a moment to find an answer.]

I think so. I've heard bits and pieces about your past life, and it sounds very different from your experiences here.

[manufactured]

Does the Umbrella Corporation still exist?

[The question is tense, agitated, though he doesn't seem aware of how much so; if it's revived itself somehow, or if it exists in this world (because if their worlds need to be restored, this must be a different one, right?), then he'll have to tear it down again. And he will tear it down.]

[scythegun]

[Right, he wanted to destroy Umbrella. It makes sense that he'd be worried about it in this world as well, especially after everything that company put him through.]

No, it doesn't. I'd never heard the name until you mentioned it.

[manufactured]

[Hearing that is both a relief and somewhat strange to think about; a world completely untouched by that corporation sounds both promising and almost like a waste at the same time. Like a toy that's never been played with.

As much as he hated that entire setup, they did have ambition. He would grant them that much.]

That's good to know, I suppose.

[scythegun]

Yes.

[He could mention that there aren't any zombies or viruses or parasites or giant leeches here either, but he's not sure how Wesker would react to any of that. After a moment of awkward silence, he speaks up again.]

Do you have any other questions...?

[manufactured]

[He imagines that goes without saying, really, if Umbrella doesn't exist.]

...At risk of asking something obvious, I assume we both live here?

[...What...is the living situation, exactly...]

[scythegun]

We do, yes.

[He hesitates for a moment before pressing on.]

This is your residence; you invited me to stay over and we both liked the arrangement, so I ended up living here.

[It's a bit better than trying to explain what happened, anyway.]

I do have another residence, though; I can stay there for the time being.

[It would probably be too weird to try to stay in the house with this Wesker here, right? Right.

...It still aches though.]

[manufactured]

I won't stop you.

[It's fine with him, really; it would likely be best to not spend the night with someone he doesn't know in the house.]

Though I do owe you some appreciation for bringing me back here, in that case.

[scythegun]

Of course. I wasn't going to leave you out there, especially without your memories of this life!

[...]

I'm just glad you're safe.

[Maybe it's not something he should say, but he can't really help himself.]

[manufactured]

I'm more resilient than most people would think.

I imagine you know about that to at least some extent, however. Don't you?

[scythegun]

I do.

[He glances away. He's not really sure he wants to try explaining himself.]

I just worry a bit too much, I suppose!

[manufactured]

I suppose it's natural, if we're as close as you say.

[...]

I'm fine, Jaeger. Just disoriented. It'll pass.

[scythegun]

Yes, I know.

[It will pass, right? He'll remember everything soon, won't he?

...]

Would you prefer to be left alone? I'd still like to check in on you sometimes, if that's okay, but I can leave if you'd prefer to be on your own.

[manufactured]

If you're in a hurry to leave, then go ahead and do it; there's nothing standing in your way. I'm not making you, however; do as you wish for the time being.

[scythegun]

[Wesker's been perfectly fine to him so far, and while it might be better to get out quickly, Jaeger knows it'll be very difficult for him to do much of anything if he's home alone. So maybe... maybe it wouldn't hurt to stay for a little while longer.]

No, I'm not in a hurry. I just don't want to make things too awkward for you. I'm sure this is quite a lot to take in.

[manufactured]

I've handled worse.

[So he doesn't mind you staying for now.]

[scythegun]

[...Yes, you definitely have.]

Thanks, then. If there's anything I can do to help you, don't hesitate to let me know.

[Maybe that's something he shouldn't offer so easily, but it's Wesker. How is he supposed to resist offering it?]

[manufactured]

...You're taking this well.