revivalproject | [event]

Entry tags:

[event]

WHO: Albert Wesker, one closed & some open stuff
WHERE: Temba, the library, the Warrens
WHAT: There's this volcano thing happening
WHEN: Rest of August
WARNINGS: %

a - Not a hero. - Library [ closed to Tony ]

He isn't still out in the city because he wants to be there. Wesker has been at the marked location punctually along with the few item he deemed important enough to bring along, all safely stored away in a briefcase modified with a locking mechanism of Weskers own design.

But not every member of this place's small population values their lives. Among them, naturally, some of the local self-proclaimed heroes. Wesker, possibly foolishly, has agreed to make sure that those that stayed behind to pick up stragglers don't leave themselves behind in the process.

It's because that intense little man that usually haunts the library had insisted that Wesker makes sure to check said library especially thorough that he finds himself in this place that somehow feels less oppressive than usual despite the impendig eruption.

And he does indeed encounter someone. He isn't interested to learn why the man lingers behind. What's important now is to bring him into the mines. "It's time to leave."

b - Not a friend. - The Warrens

Preserving energy has become Wesker's main objective roughly a week into being confined underground. His body is too demanding to function properly on the rations of food handed out while at the same time pride and stubbornness prevent the man from seeking help or permitting himself to show what he perceives as a clear weakness.

He could of course threaten someone, but that would yet again only work against him on the long run. No. He's better than this. He will endure this. Even if that means that Weskers days are filled with a lot more naps than anyone would consider normal to recharge at least some energy. And more often than not he finds himself waking back up with one or more of those strange winged cats curled up with or even on him. On at least one occasion he also found himself with one of the creatures dropping a beetle it had caught next to him with a proud flutter of its wings. Of course he would attract the local felines. Cats are known to be drawn to those that want nothing to do with them and Wesker doesn't want to have anything to do with anyone.

They brought him another gift today and Wesker inspects the dead insect in his hand. "I wonder what keeps them from hunting those little plant people..." He muses to no one in particular. He has thought about those beings that are helping them and very much is interested in researching them.

c - Not himself. - The Warrens - Even later in the event

Luckily the mothcats mostly leave Wesker be while he is awake. And Wesker has made it a habit to write his thoughts into a little notebook which he keeps in a small, surprisingly ornate box. A box that is of course locked. To unlock it, one needs to solve a little puzzle Wesker built into it along with a small key he keeps on his person.

It's with the mechanisms worked into this box that he is fiddling when he first noticed the trembling in his hands and the way his vision started to blur and the itching in his blood. The virus was destabilizing. Which obviously isn't good. But what's worse is that Wesker can't hide this very well. Not when he has to occasionally walk through the tunnels where he will clumsily walk into everyone that fails to dodge him and growl moodily at them.

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Being underground during the event of an erupting volcano is an experience Cal has decided he can definitely do without. For a long while since they'd all headed down to shelter, he'd been unable to shake the anxiousness, nearly on par with his early days on Bracca, back when he'd been hiding under the Empire's nose as a rigger in the Scrapper Guild. It's not a feeling he's missed.

As the days have worn on, he's not sure whether he's acclimated or if things have perhaps calmed down above, but it's been a little easier to find his center, to find some peace in the Force. It helps to find somewhere secluded, and at least there are numerous enough tunnels for that. Cal's threading his way back towards the main haven after one such meditation period when he comes across Wesker, the roiling emotions he senses making him stop in his tracks, hesitant to backtrack.

The Padawan is at the clear advantage in that he can sense Wesker before the man can spot him. But the moment Wesker does notice Cal, the younger man gets hit by a potent wave of anger and raw hatred that even Weskers dark glasses fail to hide.

Wesker can feel the virus trying to urge him on. To lunge at the Jedi and rip him apart with teeth and claws and-- He manages to push past those insistent urges. But not without effort.

Cal receives a low growl in warning. "Get lost."

It's a wonder that Cal manages to stand steady, but beneath that calm mien he tenses. Wesker had always been intense but it's an entirely different level when you had him angry, and that anger directed specifically at you.

He may not be able to read thoughts but there is certainly nothing good going on behind those sunglasses. When the man speaks, Cal brings up his hands.

"Calm down. I was just heading back to where the others are."

And it's a good thing that Cal can't Wesker's thoughts. They aren't nearly as clear as the man likes them to be. Not nearly as focused and under his control.

He keeps a contemplative glare on Cal for a few moments before his head tips faintly in the direction Cal intends to head into. It's not clear if he actually looks that way. But his head turns back to fully glare at the younger man again and the only response Cal receives is another deep growl. Fine. He may go that way.

At least he seems to be reasonable yet. That's a plus. Cal had his concerns when it had become clear they were once again all going to be stuck together in one place, but at least this space is much larger than Calibrations.

Still very much on his guard, the Jedi nods at the...well, he supposes that's as much of acknowledgment as anything. He starts to move forward to pass Wesker by. His droid peeks over his shoulder, purposely keeping to the side opposite the sunglass-wearing man.

And yet Wesker feels a lot less reasonable. He really wants to grab Cal right there and then and crush his skull into the closest wall. But he knows that's the virus trying to do what it had been designed for. And he knows that he can't afford any such actions now. Not with everyone locked up down here. Not with his own strength and body failing him.

He keeps a close eye on Cal and his little robot as they moved past, jaw clenched as much as the hand that isn't subtly keeping him balanced against the wall while he remains focused on maintaining appearance more than anything else. Make Cal Kestis believe that the only reason he can get away free is that they are trapped underground again. That he is nothing but lucky.

There's no missing the internal hostility. Wesker may be holding it in (barely) but it still feels like it's coming off of him in waves. Luck has nothing to do with it. Cal knows plenty of his brushes with death might be considered lucky but he knows there's more to the galaxy than luck. Sometimes you just have trouble trying to see how things are supposed to be working out for you in such situations as this.

He can't help but glance at Wesker as he passes, a brief one, but it isn't until he's managed to walk by without incident and some several paces away (he knows it's nothing when the guy can move fast if he wanted to cross that distance, but the physical space is still nice to have) that he looks back at the man in black.

"Do you need help with anything?" Pointing out the obvious seemed a worse idea. Phrasing it in a question was at least trying, and terrible person or not, Cal's more concerned that the guy will lose whatever grasp he has on his own problems.

"Haven't you asked enough questions already?!" Wesker snaps, his composure slipping more than he likes. Especially with the one harsh step he takes towards Cal, almost as if ready to charge right into him.

Though the small outburst is quickly followed by a curse as Wesker bringing the hand that has been eager to claw into the Jedi back to himself and up to his face, making a point out of adjusting his glasses when he rather wants to dig his fingers into his own skull.

He tries to reason against the pulsing noise. Neither slaughtering Cal Kestis nor ripping out his own brain will do him any good at this moment. But both options are incredibly tempting...

The only thing keeping Cal from an exasperated sigh is that danger sense that peaks as Wesker takes a step towards him. Guess that answers his question of whether or not the man remembers what had happened during Calibrations.

"Look, we're all stuck down here and unfortunately there's nothing we can do about it for the time being. Now I can try and stay out of your way for however long that is but that won't fix whatever's going on with you, so if there's anything anyone can do for that, I hope you consider it."

He's tensed, ready to move if Wesker's control slips again.

"Think of it this way. You have your secrets, and you can decide what you share and what you hold back. But something tells me that if you wait too long, people will find out more than you'd want them to know."

As much as Wesker's anger wants to disagree, he yet has to admit that this insufferable young man has a point. And he hates to admit that.

"You have no reason to help me." He growls, which is the closes to a confession that there is indeed something wrong that Cal can expect. No one down here has any reason to be inclined to help Wesker and he is aware of that.

"Maybe, maybe not. In this case, I think there's plenty of reasons," Cal says, slowly facing him, feeling like he's dealing with a wild animal for his given approach.

"I've seen how fast you move and how strong you are. If you can't control yourself, I don't want other people getting hurt. And I know you don't want to be used, but you might very well be, just because of who you are and what's happening right now. So do something someone won't expect and let me help."

Wesker remains reluctant to respond, but after a moment of contemplation allowed himself to drop against the wall so he can at least cross his arms in a display of disagreement regarding himself sharing the information of his predicament.

"If you know about the feats my body is capable of, then you should be able to imagine the amount of energy it takes to keep this body going. I am starving, Cal Kestis. And my body pushes for a solution that no one, includibg myself, will find acceptable."

It's some progress at least, and Cal manages not to make any movements in response as Wesker moves to lean against the wall. The situation isn't the most ideal, although he wonders if it could have been avoided... No, probably not completely. They still have no idea how long they may be down here, and a lot of the food they had above wasn't meant to be stored for long.

"...I have a crate of military-grade ration packs from one of the trips we took off world. I don't know how much they might suffice, but you can try some and see if it at least helps take off some of the edge in supplement with what we're being provided. If that works, you're welcome to them."

The sunglasses Wesker insists on wearing even underground do a good job at hiding the man’s reaction. It’s strange to him to receive such an offer. Not without any strings attached to it. According to Cal’s words he is merely interested in the safety of everyone else. Well. And maybe his own as well. If anything it is only right that he tries to put himself on Wesker’s good side after what has transpired in Calibrations…

Wesker contemplates a little longer, then let’s put a long, measured exhale to try and relief some of the tension his body is coiled up in. It’s a good offer, that’s the main problem. Rations of that kind are designed to deliver large amounts of energy in an efficient way. He would be a fool to refuse.

And so he nods, barely. “I accept.” Wesker finally says. “And no one will get hurt.” Or turn into a zombie. Which isn’t even something Wesker is sure might happen if he ended up biting anyone. He never bothered to find out.

Sometimes you don't have to do aggressive negotiations. While it's not untrue that he has his own safety concerns, his priority is still to look out for others. And while Wesker has done terrible things and doesn't seem remorseful in the least, he's still also one of the people here with them, and at this moment, he's trying not to be a problem.

It's still a weight off his shoulders when Wesker finally responds in acceptance of this deal, and so the Jedi nods. Cal fishes out one of the wrapped packs he carries, deceptively small, but then rations were always exceptionally compact, maybe even more so than what one would expect when thinking in Earth standards. He holds it out before starting closer, not wanting to give the other man any reason to give into another hostile response.

"Here. I can get the rest and bring it back here if that works for you."

There's no benefit for him to become anyone's problem at this point, so it is indeed high on Wesker's list of priorities to avoid that from happening. He still observes Cal's every movement closely. A habit he certainly isn't going to drop any time soon.

Wesker accepts the small pack with a nod and inspects it briefly. Though his attention shifts back to Cal within moments. Though there is a moment of silence in which he seems to consider how to react. This is when people show gratitude, isn't it. "Thank you."

Inwardly he wants to sigh in relief, but he's not letting his guard down around this man, ever. Cal nods back though, the thanks unexpected. They'll probably never be friends, but they don't have to be enemies either. At least, he'd rather hope they don't.

"I'll be back with the rest," he says, turning then. Behind him, BD-1 glances back at Wesker, content to keep an eye on him at least until they've gotten a little further away.

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