subject_013 | deerington/deercountry Inbox

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"It should not have happened in the first place," Wesker replies, tiredly. "I wasn't the only one: there were dozens of others selected, many found wanting. I was one of the survivors of the gauntlet they put us through. There were thirteen of us in the end, and it would appear I alone remain." The image of a computer file, a list of thirteen names might tick through his mind.

That quote from a Disney movie garners a hint of a smirk from him. "It may seem hard to envision, but I have a god-daughter in my world. I was close with her father, who made a better scientist than parent, and I had some exposure to Disney films. So be prepared for my teeth and ambitions to be bared." At one in the same time, it's a joke veiling a hint of menace.

Edited 2021-02-15 04:07 (UTC)

The Doctor takes note of the thirteen names. Figuring those are the names from the folk-tale Wesker told last time.

"I'm sorry, I'm so, so, sorry." Ten hand still rests on Wesker's back.

"Did you just tell a joke?" Ten sorts of teases but also delights in the manner.

"Don't be. You had no hand in their demises. That should never have happened, but there's no going back to change it, is there?" he says, his voice harsh. The Doctor might sense the warring emotions in the other: rage at the past and the ones who treated him and his adoptive siblings as so many test subjects in a long term science experiment, despair at losing track of Alex and her presumed demise, given Spencer defining him as the only survivor of Project W, envy that he could have had a normal life free of, a burning hatred for humanity itself, that no one thought to look into this dire act of subtle cruelty and stop it, that humanity would rather dodder along in its mediocrity than truly advance itself. So many conflicting emotions seething behind this generally stoical facade, like a caldera-type volcano hidden deep beneath a rolling grassland, threatening to explode and spread destruction...

However, he makes no movement to push The Doctor's hand away, accepting its presence, accepting the mind behind it.

He might look toward The Doctor, the tiniest grin, just uncovering the tips of his teeth, crossing his face. "Perhaps I did. I'm not without a sense of humor, though it's a dark and sardonic one and likely unsuitable for Disney's target audience."

Edited 2021-02-28 21:59 (UTC)

Ten tries to sound like Rafiki, "The past can hurt. And the way I see it - you either run from it or learn from it."

He doesn't want to touch, can't change the past. The Doctor doesn't fully trust Wesker if someone suspected someone was a time traveler.

Ten side-head nods. It's a start.

He's too mentally exhausted to be annoyed by this joke. Also, it does remind him of arguably a better time in his life. However, he was a different man, still human, still flawed. He wonders, with a glance to the photo of the family he had come from, if Albert Winters (if that was the first name his parents gave him) would have giggled at it. In between lay Progenitor, the gasoline poured onto the fire of the cold anger already kindled there.

"Or you are consumed by it," he suggests. "If I was better clued in, I could compare myself to Scar, only less willing to end his more-favored sibling, but keeping the British accent.

The brooding closes in again "It may be too late for the child I was, but is the hour passed for the man I have become?"

^{(from here})

[The Doctor follows. His eyes are darting around at the surroundings. He does wonder why she's leading them in the back, whereas the other tables are empty.]

Chamomile Rose silver tea.

[Ten notices Wesker is eyeing the waitress over a bit. He looks at Wesker, clearly not impressed but also expecting it. As for The Doctor himself, he doesn't seem to notice their waitress is basically - nude or doesn't care. The Doctor begins to waggle his tongue openly in thought. How do they get back?]

^{continued from here)}

Couldn't tell you.

[It's clear there's fog in those brown eyes. He's trying to work his way though. Spouse. That's what they are even if Jack and Rose are more than that]

Just because they both have the same face doesn't mean you should reflect those feelings onto him.

Edited 2021-09-09 01:11 (UTC)

There is that. However. add to the fact that your spouse seems to like me about as much as my former friend did - that only reinforced my dislike. There's always someone who gets under your skin, and we got under each others. You probably don't recall it, but the day you and I made our farewells, your Jack shadowed you and pulled a crossbow on me. I might have let him hit me, if he'd let fly. I might simply have dodged it. If you hadn't convinced him to stand down, I might have attacked him for his impudence. However, I didn't.

You affected me, Doctor. You infected me. You recoded me. I had it in me to fight him, but I couldn't. You obliged a virus, as it were, to mutate quickly in order to survive.

[He says this with no trace of pride, but a simple statement of fact, a fact that bewildered him when it happened.]

[The waitress chirpily repeats the order back, then sashays off to the kitchen Wesker keeps his face impassive, but a tiny shift of his head indicates he may have had an eye on her.]

You'll have to excuse me for for watching her so intently. She looked familiar till I scrutinized her. [In his slightly aroused state, he's trying hard not to think of the long-lost Miss Mueller.]

[He turns back to The Doctor, crossing his legs under the table top.]

An obvious question, but it needs to be asked: what do you make of this place? A social experiment or a cruel joke? Or some combination of the two?

[Ten ruffles his hair in thought for a moment, while his eyes dart around in thought]

Bit of both. Possibility part of thar culture.

They could be more selective in who they bring to this place. For the sake of transparency, I have a low sexual drive coupled with a generalized distaste for that aspect of human nature, coupled with a chronic viral infection which makes having an intimate relationship near to impossible. What marvels humanity could have created by my time, if they weren't so distracted by tousing one another. Less sex and more meetings of the mind, if you ask me.

[A dark gaze across the cafe to the rain-dimmed windows and the street beyond.[

This culture is doomed to consume itself, mark my words, if it insists on goading people to consume each other like so many pieces of meat.

((Continued from here))

"Mmm, but it carried you through that strange awakening. I'm wondering why squids, though, why choose that form, though I suppose squids are incredibly intelligent and resilient creatures. Did you know they have three hearts and their brain is distributed through their body. Also, some species taste and see colors through their tentacles," he says, with a glance to the sea.

"The change surprised me, though the danger in it didn't. I'd been exposed to an often deadly virus in my world of origin, and it had caused a chronic infection. I have a feeling that transformation cured me of the worse effects of it.

"So you're able to transform? Some of the magic from your world?" he asks, curious.

"I did not know ALL of that stuff about squids, but I did know some of it! I guess I didn't think so much of the significance of them, insomuch as they seemed like a creature that's sort of like our intro into this world, how we have to adapt to this place and how different we'd have to be to adapt?"

Luz had given it SOME thought, but was somewhat concentrated on what she would have to do once she got her body again, but did wonder how it related to their Moon goddess.

"Oh, well, I was just thrust into a den of crabs, so I guess I was just scrambling to not die? I guess that instinct sort of won out, and once I got away from them, that whole thing made me remember what I was doing before I got here?"

Luz hesitated. "Well. Other people's blood can do strange stuff. Mind just sort of glows in the moonlight and smells like milk? Otherwise I think people with blood like mine have kind of more mental magic manifest."

"Add to this: they're incredibly adaptable creatures. The seas are warming in my world of origin, due to climate change, which is affecting the ocean life. Some species are dying off, but the squids and their cousins the octopuses are thriving and adapting," ne notes. "There's a lesson for us there: that we must embrace change as a chance to develop and adapt and become greater version of ourselves. But I suppose you're probably bored with my parables," he adds, wryly.

"A den of crabs? Why am I envisioning you stunning them with rocks and scrambling away?" he notes, almost mischievously. "I have a feeling it was just as well that I missed out on that particular local fauna.

"Paleblood, I think the call that kind. It sounds like a beautiful blood type," he says, with a hint of awe and admiration. "And it fits your magic and your personality." Perhaps it's a trick of the light from the string lights and a mist coming in from the sea, but a whitish vapor might start to rise from the back of his neck.

"Whoa. I didn't know all that about squids. I haven't been giving the squid thing much thought, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's a mistake. Adapting and changing. How it relates to our being reborn, at least however the moon goddess put it. Maybe there is something worth thinking about there."

Clearly, Luz was more forgiving about parables, particularly when they related to her.

"'Stunning them; is a nice way of saying I started to throw them at the crabs and then took on some ones with the rock intending to break them if they got near me. Believe me, I was not playing around with those things. Their sting was weird."

Someone still hadn't figured out that her blood was susceptible to it.

"Beautiful? I guess. Pale things tend to usually be the description of frail things, like if someone's sick. Thanks for that, but I'm still trying to figure out if I have a blessing or a curse. I'm used to glyphs and magic that I can attempt to shape. I've never had to live with magic inside of me. That changes things in ways I have to figure out now. What if I accidentally activate it by mistake?"

"Greetings. You've reached the inbox of Dr. Adrian Winters. I regret that I cannot answer you at this moment, as I am busy with another client. However, if you leave a message here with your name and contact information, I will respond as soon as I am free. Thank you. And may the Good Blood heal you."

"Locrian here. Speak."

"I have a feeling I'm better off not knowing what flavor of weird we're dealing with, though doubtlessly it had to deal with something getting into one's bloodstream which has no right being there.

"If it's any consolation, I've run across myths and legends of wondrous pale things: the Wampanoag of the North East believed that deer with white fur were the messengers of the Great Spirit. And the Lakota of the Plains believed that long ago, their tribe were saved by the wisdom of a white buffalo which transformed into a woman," he says, glancing up to the moon. "To this day, they consider the sight of a white buffalo to be a blessing and a warning, and the birth of a white buffalo is considered a sign of changes to come.

The vapor starts to coalesce into an animal shape perched on his shoulder, something fairly small but long and slender with short legs. The vapor solidifies and darkens into a small brown weasel.

"Oi, 'as anyone told you your 'ead is a dark an' wee-yud place, boss?", the critter asks, leaning over to look into Wesker's face. The critter then turns around toward Luz. "Oh, 'allo. Found your way t' this world, too? Welcome t' Trench. ..Luz, is it?"

"Not me. I definitely think I need to know what's going on with all of this weirdness. I was just jumping into things before when I wound up in Deerington, but now I have the chance to get all this information first hand!"

If that was any kind of easing of mind, only Luz Noceda could find it!

"That does put me a little at ease. I'm not sure exactly what will be the drawbacks or the assets of being a Paleblood, but maybe it'll be better not to jump to conclusions yet. Hey, what's that?"

Oh, it was a weasel! And it talked with a Cockney accent, that was so cute!

"I have, weasel friend, thanks for noticing! Yup, I'm Luz! What's your name?"

"Mmm, the locals here seem far more helpful than they did at Deerington, even friendly. This welcome was... almost a shock compared to arriving in this world's predecessor, as if they see us as kindred. I wonder if this what an extended family feels like," he muses.

"Give it time, you'll discover it's strengths and how to balance any frailties - Here, what's this?" The release of his Omen doesn't hurt in the least, but having a literal brain weasel emerge from one's head would put anyone, even the most implacable man, out of sorts the first time it happens.

"Call me Cypher. Nice t' finally meet yah, Luz!" the critter says, cheerily.

"You took the name of the sly fellow in the first Matrix movie?" Wesker asks, dryly bemused.

"Why not? Y' always found that bloke funny."

Wesker raises both pale eyebrows and looks to Luz, still bemused by this. "I pray your Omen is less of a joker, but that may be cursing it into existence."

"Maybe? I mean, I'm more of a found family fan myself, but I'm certainly fine with extended ones too! Granted, that was not the only thing that shocked me about this place."

The blood magic was certainly an adjustment.

"I'm sure you're right, I'm just getting the hang of some things. They're definitely taking some time to use right."

Luz raised an eyebrow. "Cypher? The jerk that sells them out and kills off Apoc, Mouse and that underappreciated character Switch? Don't know how much of a 'sly' character he is."

Someone had apparently had certain feelings about that movie.

"Oh, Tempest doesn't talk, but she really doesn't have to. I can hear what she's saying loud and clear!"

He may glance about without turning his head, as if making certain no one pays them much mind. The accordion player has paused, and a few other large-eyed folk have joined him, chattering among themselves.

"I'll let you in on something I haven't shared with many people: I lost my family at a young age. I was taken in by a wealthy scientist, but while he provided well for my physical and intellectual needs and while he had adopted twelve other children like me, it wasn't a warm and wondrous upbringing. Family is... a foreign notion to me, at best." And this is as much as he's willing to reveal on the subject. Certainly not the megalomaniacal plans he and his siblings were meant to be part of, much less how it ended.

"Every story needs a good antagonist. He had some of the funniest lines in the movie, for one thing. For another... I suspect he was a true believer who grew disillusioned and when that happened, as all too often happens, he turned hard in the opposite direction," he muses.

He glances to his own Omen. "Perhaps you could take a page from Tempest's book."

"Where would be the fun in that?" Cypher retorts, paws on hips.

Yup, a story teller is bound to garner some attention. Luz herself was listening attentively.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I was born as the only child, and even then my dad wasn't around for very long. I've been raised by only my mom as long as I can remember. After that, if I've been with other people, we all tend to look out for each other, whether it was on the Isles or here. I couldn't imagine someone adopting me only to act like I was just one of many."

Luz frowned. "But he wasn't that antagonist, the Matrix was. He knew the truth, and chose comfort over fighting to live. Artificial reality was more important than those who cared for each other and struggled together. That doesn't sound like a way I'd ever want to live."

Luz was all about living her truth, no matter how hard it was. She chuckled at Cypher's retort though.

"All of our Omens are just a little different from us. I think I like that about them, honestly. I think I agree with Cypher there."

Edited 2021-10-09 09:17 (UTC)

The fish folk band fortunately are tinkering among themselves: one has taken a mandolin from their back, while another tunes a guitar and a third taps a few practice beats on a hand drum.

"Better not to imagine it, then. Perhaps there's hope that anyone may find their own found family." With the unspoken implication that it may apply to him. Something like longing, wanting this may flicker in his strange eyes and then fades back into his usual quiet anger.

"True, though as horribly as the Machines treated the humans, they were harmed first, and sadly, they may have learned to oppress them from the way humanity treated them in the first place. Considering how humanity scorched the sky and ruined their own planet, it may have been a mercy to live in a simulation, though... it wasn't implemented in the most humane fashion." We admit, someone may have some insights into the rationale of the Machines, given his training - read, the awful rewiring of his mind.

Cypher points to her with one paw. "I like this girl! she gets it!"

"I like her as well," Wesker admits out loud, and for once, he's completely truthful, no shades of a secondary meaning.

"Of course there is! I didn't know what I was doing when I first got to Deerington, I was lucky that Eda was already there and then I found Margot not long after! It might take a little time, but you'll find them, trust me!"

Luz squinted her eyes. She was very anti-Cypher, and just as anti-simulation.

"I did see the Animatrix! Luckily mom wasn't with me to see that or I never would have. You were definitely right about what humans did with the machines and how they treated them. I'd love to say that humanity isn't that cruel, but that's not true. The easier machines make things for human beings, the more they expect technology to make their lives easier. I'd hate the idea of living in a simulation, but right now, that reality tends to make sense for the way people are than I'd like it to be."

Luz wanted to be an idealist, but she was also dabbling in being realistic. Thanks, Deerington. Also, the first section of Animatriz? Waaay too sexual.

She grinned at good Cypher. "I'm on Neo's side! Fight back against the simulation!"

Well now Luz was blushing. "Aw shucks. Thanks Wesker!"

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