revivalproject | Even When We Win, it Seems Like All We Do is Lose

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Even When We Win, it Seems Like All We Do is Lose

WHO: Cayde-6 and you I guess
WHERE: Deep End and outside around the city like a maniac
WHAT: Paranoia? What paranoia? Also scooping out any stragglers stuck in this snowy mess
WHEN: During the Storm
WARNINGS: N/A
NOTES: Will match pose prefs

I. The Deep End

"I'm sure Europa gets worse," the Exo says as he tries shoving the edges of a mattress back into place from where the wind had attempted to blow it loose from the hole he'd accidentally blown out in the hallway outside of the bar. The tarp definitely wasn't doing anything but he's sure no one's using this bed anymore and it's done well enough for a quick fix.

"There we go," he says, dusting his hands off and looking rather proud of his efforts. So many things can be solved with mattresses! Who'd have thought?

He stops by the window that he usually leaves open as his choice entrance and exit, now closed against the flurries, squinting out at the whiteness before turning to step into the welcome warmth of the bar. "Lakes don't freeze all the way through, right?" he says, peering at the great glass windows across from him and the watery life beyond. The unsettling feeling that they might just burst and flood everything is a lot stronger with all the craziness. Maybe he just needs a drink.

II. Open Arms of the Storm

Somehow, being outside doesn't feel as bad as staying inside. Outside, you didn't have to worry about anything collapsing or caving in. You were already in it. Sure, it's a terrible idea but there's something about the wild winds and the frigid temperatures that stoke something in the Exo, a thing he can't quite explain, but it counters the unsettling and inexplicable sensations he's had.

Unfortunately it does nothing for the ghosts with a lower-case 'g', and he's learned from the first storm to save his bullets no matter how bad the visitors got. But then they'd only got sneakier since Taniks. The latest card played has been a low blow however, and not one he'll admit to anyone if he can help it.

Running? Is that what he's doing? No, he'll deny that too. No point in running from an apparition that can appear wherever, heedless of the churning winds. He needs to keep himself occupied, keep his mind busy. Find any other fools out here that're built less sturdier than an Exo, for starters. That's a good excuse.

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Wesker's attention shifts to where his own gun is lying on the table. He doesn't have any ammunition for it just yet, but even if he had, his gun has not been his primary weapon in a long while. It has its uses, of course, but his bare hands can be so much more effective under normal circumstaqnces. "I simply walked away." Angrily. But even an agitated pace can be considered walking away.

Cayde's theory is answered with a small, displeased growl. "Fine. Then how about relocating a small group capable of tracking down the source of the storm while it's active? If someone is controlling them, there must be a signal. Signals can be tracked. And whoever sits on the other end can be dealt with."

The Exo shrugs. "Yeah, that's the tactic I've been taking these days." No need to get into details.

He points a finger at Wesker with the suggestion given. "That's what I think, and I heard at the beginning there was an attempt to do that even before the storm got to Temba. 'cept since then people've just been more scattered, weathering this thing alone." He sighs. "I try looking out there though, even though I'm not sure what it is I'm lookin' for. Hard to track signals when most equipment doesn't work."

„Like these things.“ Wesker assumes, tossing his phone on the table close to his gun. The device has been pretty useless since the storm started. „I will admit it’s not an easy puzzle to solve, but I refuse to accept it’s entirely impossible.“ Maybe not during this storm, but he has only just begun to collect data on these phenomenons.

He takes a sip of his drink, which is when he catches sight of the familiar figure standing unfar of the bar, staring at him. A young adult man, wearing a similar uniform to his own. The sight is met with an eyeroll and an annoyed click of Wesker‘s tongue as he sets his glass back down and stands up, picking up his coat instead. „Looks like it’s my turn to take a walk.“

"Yeah, like that. Convenient, right?" Cayde tips his glass back. "-oh, I'm not saying it's impossible either. I'm just sayin' the opposition's not playing fair."

He tilts his head at Wesker at that pause, turning to look towards the bar. "Friend of yours?" he says, keeping his tone light though he knows well that these appearances don't mean any good. But he's not going to stop Wesker. The guy hardly looks like a blizzard will keep him from anything.

Wesker shrugs on his coat with an annoyed little huff. "Not someone I'm going to deal with unless I can at least punch him." He gives a small wave in Cayde's direction as a nonverbal promise to return and heads towards the door, but not without casting the apparition a particulatly dirty look as he passes it. A look that the ghost returns impassively.

"You betrayed us, Captain." The ghost speaks up, prompting Wesker to stop in his tracks and slowly turn back around to face the ghost. His tone isn't without a threat. "So we're doing this again, Chris? I believe I already told you that I remember just fine."

The apparition doesn't budge at those words. "You sabotaged Bravo Team's helicopter to lure us into that mansion just to get us killed. To gather combat data and use that to buy your way into another company, betraying Umbrella as well."

It's Wesker's turn to look unimpressed, but he shifts his attention away from the ghost and back to Cayde. "Guess I don't have to lie about that part any longer. For your information: It worked out pretty well."

"Fair enough," the Exo says, although when the ghost starts to speak up, he finds himself tensing. Of course they couldn't keep quiet. They want an audience.

He can't help but arch a brow at the ghost's words. That's a pretty heavy accusation. None of his business, but he can't really ignore warnings, especially about someone new in their midst. Still, Cayde stands there almost casually, swirling what's left in his glass as he glances at Wesker.

"Should I ask for who?" he replies, his smile crooked, but he waves a hand. "Ghosts pop up to air out dirty laundry but they like twisting things around." He turns his attention to the ghost. "Hey, if you're not here to drink then stop harassing the customers and skedaddle."

"For myself, of course." Wesker shrugs again. The only person he's really incluned to do any favors for remains himself. Though even Wesker must give the Exo some credit for accepting this information like a professional. Which in turn tells Wesker quite a bit about Cayde in turn. For one, that he shouldn't underestimate Cayde. Especially now that the Exo is a lot less likely to underestimate him as well.

He lets his attention return once more to the apparition that has reset itself to just looking at him again. Almost as if it is contemplating its next move. Wesker doesn't verbally address it himself this time, simply gestured with one hand as if to invite it to go on and lay out more details. And while the ghost doesn't react, it still lingers maybe a little longer than necessary before dissipating. Which seems oddly fitting to Wesker.

"Typical Chris. Always a little stubborn." Wesker remarks before returning his attention to Cayde, knowing that behind that inhuman face he is being judged.

At last Wesker wasn't attempting to hide it. Somehow owning up to the ghost's accusations made things sound less worse than they were. Or maybe it's just the way it's presented. Cayde smirks a little, finding some odd amusement in the situation in spite of things.

Not that he's writing Wesker off so easily, of course. This guy's fueled by ambition and clearly not afraid to cause a few casualties for it. Least of all, he's unashamed. Dangerous combination there. Cayde leans back against the table, finishing off his drink as though they weren't having a strange third wheel of a guest in the room.

"Huh. Guess he figured he had nothing else to say," the Exo shrugs. His glowing optics meet Wesker's unseen eyes, silent a long moment before he turns to set down his empty glass so he can pick up Colonel, tucking the chicken into the crook of an arm as he strokes her feathers.

"Your secrets aren't mine to tell," he finally says. "You just keep that sort of business outside of things here and we won't have any problems."

Wesker knows very well that the ghost would have had a lot more to say, but he doesn't argue with its disappearance.

He waves a somewhat dismissive hand. "Not necessarily secrets. Just information I consider to be on a Need to Know basis." The sort of information that helps build a certain reputation in certain circles. But so far the circles here don't match up with anything Wesker usually deals with. Wesker crosses his arms casually. "My agenda here is not the same as it is on Earth anyway."

Cayde shrugs. "Funny how those can be the same things sometimes." And not like Wesker's the only one on Earth to go to such extremes for personal ambition. ...of course, not that Cayde's condoning that sort of action!

He sweeps up his empty glass from the table, taking both it and Colonel over to the bar counter, his usual abode. The ghostly interlude was an oddly welcome distraction but that impending feeling that something's off in the building still lingers. The Exo casts a glance towards the floor at a creek, nothing really unusual but for some reason he can't help but feel anxious about the possibility that the thing might give. He makes it to the bar without incident, setting his chicken on the counter.

"So you still thinkin' of taking that walk or you hanging out?"

And it's a good thing that Wesker isn't someone to ask permission for any of his actions. He has yet to fully plan out his future actions back on Earth anyway. Finally tracking down Spencer has just shed a new light on certain aspects. Aspects that now require some lamentation. And possibly a little additional research.

Wesker observes Cayde as the Exo walks across the bar himself and allows himself a moment to look out of the windows and the occassional fish swimming by. "Hm." He muses before making his way back to where he has left his own yet unfinished drink. "I'll stay. Even though this place could really use a pool table."

"..." Cayde stares a moment before he bursts out laughing. It's brief, but it helps with the tension that's been rebuilding. Damn storm.

"Oh man, I totally forgot about that thing!" he says as he wipes an imaginary tear and makes a beeline for the back room. There's the sound of boxes being moved before he starts tugging out a tarp-covered rectangle nearly as tall as him.

"My buddy made this thing for the bar some time back and I never got to set it up. Totally forgot about it."

The laughter isn't something Wesker expects and he pauses a moment to simply look at Cayde as if the Exo had suddenly gone mad. He remains silent when Cayde goes to the next room and returns hurling out- Well. Certainly something. And Wesker can only guess what it might be, which results in a single brow being lifted over his shades. He does, however, step forward to assist in bringing the covered item out.

"You forgot an item this big." Wesker can't help but tease. "I will not ask what else lays forgotten in your little treasure trove over there."

"I've been busy!" Cayde protests, but there's no heat in it as he brings the thing through the door. He flashes a quick grin as Wesker comes to help.

"Nah, no treasures back there. I make maps for those," he says with a wink. "Let's get this thing over towards the other end of the room, should be space there. Then I can grab the legs and stuff."

The wink gets a little frown in response. Please don't do that. It's weird.

But Wesker doesn't protest or make any further inquiries about these maps but instead remains focused on moving the large object safely to the assigned spot. His virus may be dorment, but fortunately Wesker hasn't lost his natural strength to this storm.

"Your friend must have a lot of spare time." Wesker observes once the heavy part of the table has been set down.

Two makes it easier to haul the table top to the other side of the room. Cayde has them lean it up against the wall before he starts moving chairs and the smaller tables in that area away to give space for the setup.

"I'd say we all have an unhealthy dose of spare time around here," he notes as he heads back towards the storage room to grab the pool table's legs. "Gotta find ways to keep yourself preoccupied here when finding answers to the copious amount of problems we've been settled with aren't forthcoming."

The Exo comes back with the legs, setting them on one of the chairs as he looks towards the pool table. Flip it over and stick them on and then flip the whole deal over again? He glances at Wesker, gesturing to the thing as he moves to grab it.

"Spare time, huh? That's a first." Wesker mutters more to himself, but he doesn't hesitate to assist in turning the table around to help assembling the pieces. He's used to work on a tight schedule. It's just always been that way. If he wasn't busy doing lab work, he would find information or track down someone that either had those information or simply had to be removed. But that doesn't quite apply here. While Wesker can try to learn as much as possible about this place, the people occupying this place aren't the ones able to give him answers.

They finish adding the legs to the table, which leaves them with the somewhat awkward part of turning the whole thing around again. "What have people been doing in their spare time in a city that barely exists?" Wesker finds himself asking.

"Pretty sure you're not the only one who feels that way," Cayde chuckles as the table starts looking more and more like a pool table. At least between the two, turning the thing over isn't too difficult. Once it's set upright, the Exo flashes him a thumbs up. Teamwork!

"Oh, well that's no big secret. Fixing places up or doing other things that'll make it easier for us to live around here while we're stuck. Along with trying to work out new angles to approach the problems that we need to solve. Just because there's been no progress doesn't mean there's been no effort."

Teamwork, indeed. Not that Wesker necessarily considers himself a teamplayer, but he knows when it's better to play along if required. And the end result this time turns out to be quite satisfying indeed. He lets his eyes rest on the table for a moment, then decides to set any memories of Arklay aside.

"I noticed some of those fixing jobs. The priorities regarding what people here consider worth rebuilding are questionable." A pause and Wesker raises his attention up to the Exo. "So. Do you play?"

Cayde shrugs. He's not going to question the priorities of people too much if they're just trying to help out, and in his opinion something's better than nothing.

With the table ready, he heads back to the storage room to bring out the two billiard cues and a box presumably carrying the balls. He chuckles a little as he sets them on the table.

"Been a while but I think I might remember a thing or two," he grins.

"Then the odds are at least even." Wesker nods and picks up one of the cues. An item that he would easily have turned into a weapon at many points during his life and only ever used to play an actual games the few times Birkin nagged him into doing so while he tried to figure out whichever issue was currently stalling his project. But aside from that, to Wesker at least, games are solely a way to waste away time. It's strange that for once that's exactly what he hopes to achieve.

He watches as the Exo sets up the colorful balls, the simple numbers on them an oddly human thing to encounter on this planet. Just a little out of place, just as Cayde's feathered pet. A thought that prompts a more casual inquiry. "Mind telling me why there is a single regular chicken in this entire place?"

"Hm? Colonel? She's from home. Guess the Agrii thought to drop her off at some point," Cayde says as he corrals the balls within their little triangular pen before removing the latter with a satisfied grin.

"They do that sometimes, you know. Seems most likely around whatever they deem holidays, you find something meaningful to you left as a present of sorts. Usually." He pauses. "Oh, well I guess there was also that one time Echo had two crates of instant spicy ramen nearly dumped on his head."

Wesker doesn't immediately respond, but he takes one of the cues and sets the white ball down in its intended starting position while considering the Exo's words. Something meaningful. He can't exactly say there's anything he'd assign that definition to that isn't just the goal he has set for himself. But the idea of getting food dropped onto him isn't exactly appealing as well.

He set up to take aim and take the first shot of their game. "Seems like the best they could come up for me was an old uniform of mine." Wesker finally remarks. This at least isn't entirely useles.

Chuckling, Cayde picks up the other cue, bouncing it in hand as he watches Wesker break the balls up.

"I didn't say they were great at it. But you haven't been here too long either, right? I don't know how long they research these things or how long it takes for them to even do what they do. Let alone how they do it."

It's not a particularly impressive shot. For the mst part it's just scattering the balls around the table, but Wesker isn't someone that takes games like these very seriously. They are a means to occupy himself with during conversation or other musings.

"Long enough to accept the ridiculousness of my situation." Not long enough yet to not feel displeased about it. "But if they can give us useless stuff, I wish to know why they can't give us something we can actually use to make any notable progress."

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