[event]

[sunglassesincluded]

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.

Comments

[butterfly_kiss]

Boys, boys, you're both beautiful. And built. Which doesn't matter because Tae doesn't even notice that the subtle gesture from Tony is almost possessive. Which is a shame and a blessing. Shame because Tony remains a snack, and a blessing because that snack is on another man's plate.

"Be careful, Albert," Tae calls after her colleague before gently reaching for Tony's arm. "Please, Tony, let me patch you up. Jon would be distressed if he saw you like this, wouldn't he?"

[in_extremis]

That challenge was like pulling the pin on a grenade, a burning chemical reaction in Tony's chest that had his hackles up and teeth bared, and would have had him launching into attack if not for the grounding touch to his arm. Even then, he started to shake Tae off, too charged until he had tangled a finger around hers and forced himself to take a breath; he had hopefully bought Billy some time, he hadn't left Wesker alone with Tae, he didn't need to find out of Wesker would pull his punches in front of her, too.

Tony finally turned to her, eyes darting like he had seen her for the first time, other hand up to touch her hair then her cheek to check, "Are you okay?" It seemed she had gotten herself here well enough, and hadn't incurred Wesker's ire for taking too long. Maybe it was just Tony that had earned that scrutiny, because Jon must have been complaining about him enough that Tony was asking, "Is that what he said?"

[butterfly_kiss]

Oh Tony. Don't start a fight you can't win. Not that Tae knew that Tony couldn't win it. She was shocked at the way he touched her though. That was a lot of concerned from the injured man to the uninjured woman.

"Quite okay, I promise. I took the early warnings seriously and got down here with supplies. And while I haven't spoken to Jon directly, I imagine he would be concerned for his boyfriend."

[in_extremis]

Tony didn't look entirely convinced even as he backed away to drum restlessly at his heart, and throw another glance after Wesker, and he had to work through some distraction as he spoke, "Good, you did great, you're in the right place and people are going to need your help, even if they don't realize it, they're frazzled and they've been swallowing ash and mercury for way longer than anyone should have been..." He trailed off looking skeptical again, not sure what deceit he was searching for in her face, but quite convinced he hadn't been the one to tell her about the relationship, and that Jon would not have phrased his concern so gently. Tony could plan for an array of elaborate conspiracies as he muttered, "Come on," with a nod back down the tunnel. "Someone's looking for you by now."

[butterfly_kiss]

Oh Tony. Don't you understand that you're one of those people? Those people that need help who is frazzled?

Though it was true, in fact, that he hadn't told her. That had been York, and she had felt immediately embarrassed for the way she had been half flirting with both of the men.

"I'm sure they are. But they'll have to wait unless it's a serious emergency," Tae notes as she takes the hand still in hers and gently pulls him down the cave. "I have to patch you up."

[in_extremis]

Despite his reluctance, a slight resistance to Tae's pulling and Tony's feet remaining planted for a beat, he never had a good argument to a hand in his, and only looked around cautiously in case someone was on their way close enough to see it. With Wesker gone, Tony didn't have to pull away, so he had to follow, only arguing in a mumble, "I'm fine, it's not as bad as it looks, you should see the other guy..."

Hopefully, Billy could figure out how to stop a volcano now without Tony slowing him down.

[butterfly_kiss]

"I think I'll deal with them when they show up," Tae says as she guides him forward. "You're the patient in my care now, and I'm going to help you the best I can."

For now she's happy to just get him somewhere safe.