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]

It didn't feel like I was suffering at all, at least.

[So there's that; his words are again quiet, but it sounds like he's trying to have some control over them.]

It was something I expected, something I was used to.

[scythegun]

Even if it didn't feel that way... it was still a lot to have to go through. You were so angry - at the world, at your life here, at everyone... It sounds exhausting, honestly.

[But he's never liked being angry, so maybe that's just him.]

[manufactured]

...I shouldn't have told you about some of the things we ended up discussing.

[His curiosity regarding Uroboros, for one thing, but also things like murdering his siblings.]

[scythegun]

[Jaeger's quiet for a moment while he tries to figure out how he feels about that.]

...I want you to be able to come to me with anything. I don't want you to feel like you have to keep anything from me.

[...]

But... I think I understand why you did. There are some things I'm just... not really able to handle very well.

Thank you for trying to look out for me. I'm not upset that you told me these things - you didn't remember, after all.

[manufactured]

Part of it is because I don't think it's a good idea to tell you, but part of it is because I don't want to tell anyone. Some of what I've gone through is no one's business - I don't want to discuss how I don't remember my family, how the closest thing I had was a little girl not much older than me who tried to protect me, how I was apparently lept underground in locked cells and I don't know how many of my siblings died down there but I definitely was in the practice of murdering other children before I was ten-

[He shakes his head a bit. Tries to pull away from Jaeger's grasp. He's agitated and he can feel himself getting worked up and angry; he needs a moment, to try to calm himself down.]

Sometimes it's to protect you. Other times it's for my own sake - because I don't want to talk about it.

[That's what bothers him about this whole thing, there are things that he just...didn't want anyone to know.]

[scythegun]

[Jaeger doesn't want to let go, but he lets Wesker pull away. He's not really sure what to do with himself once Wesker has put some distance between them, though. He wants to reach out to touch, to try to comfort even in some small way, but he's not sure that will help.

...Honestly, he's not sure anything will help.]

I'm sorry. I didn't realize.

[The words are quiet and it takes him a little while before he finds something else to say.]

We don't ever have to discuss it. I... I don't want to push you into talking about something you're uncomfortable with, so I... I'm sorry.

[manufactured]

It's fine.

[Give him a moment.]

I understand that you're trying to help me, and I appreciate it.

But there are things that I can't talk about. Not with you, and not with anyone.

[scythegun]

I think I understand a bit better now.

[It only took learning about something Wesker didn't want him to know in the first place...]

I'm sorry. I won't ever try to discuss that with you, I promise.

[manufactured]

...The most I'll say about it is that I don't remember.

[The one saving grace in this entire situation, really.]

The old man told me about it before I killed him. I've seen the basements myself, but I didn't remember or understand what was happening there until he gave me context for it.

The little girl was my sister, Alex. I don't remember her well, either.

I don't have memories of my own from back then that take place before the age of eighteen. Given how much the old man had to tell me about my life, it's likely to stay that way - the memories themselves simply don't exist anymore.

[It's likely better that way.]

[scythegun]

I see.

[That's definitely for the best. It's still difficult to hear something like that, but remembering it would be even worse. At least Wesker doesn't have to worry about regaining memories of that.]

Thank you for telling me. I... I'm so sorry you had to go through that, even if you can't remember it.

[Jaeger hesitates for a moment before reaching out to rest a hand on Wesker's. He's not trying to take it since he's not sure Wesker will really want the contact, but he can't just sit here either. It's sort of awkward, but he's trying, okay.]

[manufactured]

[He'll definitely allow the contact, and after a moment he'll shift his hand a bit such that they're holding hands properly again; he doesn't mind it, he just needed to not be latched onto for a while.]

It's all right, Jaeger. I'll be fine, and it's not as though you knew the extent of it.

[scythegun]

[That does get him to relax a bit, and he's quick to squeeze Wesker's hand a bit.]

No, of course not. Is there anything I can do for you now?

[manufactured]

...Not for the time being, though I'm sure you're frustrated with that by now. I just need some time.

Stay with me until then?

[scythegun]

Of course. I wouldn't dream of leaving you. Not now, not ever.

[It's true that he's frustrated with that, but at least for now he can be here. That's something, anyway.]

[manufactured]

...Your presence really does help me, you know.

[He wants to be certain you know that.]

[scythegun]

I'm so glad to hear that. You've been through so much, so hearing that I can help means so much to me.

[He tightens his grip on Wesker's hand.]

[manufactured]

Of course you can.

[He'll return that, all right.]

I know it's been difficult for you, knowing that there wasn't anything you could do. It isn't like that anymore.

[scythegun]

[Jaeger's gaze darts for a moment before he forces himself to look back at Wesker.]

I know that sometimes things will just be like that, that I won't be able to help any. It was difficult to face that, though.

[He shakes his head after a moment and smiles again.]

I'm so happy you've remembered. I missed you so much.

[manufactured]

I love you.

[The words come more easily now than they have for the past while before all this happened; it's something he's had difficulties with since the virus. But if anything this has made it clear to him - he loves his boyfriend, he loves him and he wants him to know that he loves him, and at least for now he doesn't want to let go.]

[scythegun]

[Ah, it's so nice to hear that... It's a bit unexpected, even if it shouldn't be, and Jaeger laughs a bit before settling.]

I love you too! You mean so much to me; I'm so happy to be here with you.

[manufactured]

...I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but if you need to we can.

I'm fine with just staying near you for a while, however.

[scythegun]

...Thank you. I think I'm okay for now.

[It might just be because everything's happened so quickly, but he really does feel fine right now.]

I'll admit I don't want to go very far from you, however. I've missed being able to be so close to you.

[He squeezes Wesker's hand; physical contact has always been important to him, after all.]

[manufactured]

...I didn't want anything like this at the time, but it feels like I've missed it somehow regardless.

[This is noce, okay...]

[scythegun]

Well, you have been subjected to it so much, I'm not surprised it's something you'd miss!

[He looks very pleased with himself, okay.]