(Untitled)

[burbonmilkshake]

Faye has curled up in 202 with an English-to-Chinese dictionary. It's old, it's battered and well-used, but it's helpful!

...When it isn't torn and stained beyond use, that is.

Either way, she's desperately trying to learn to read Chinese. Come help her out! ...Or mock her mercilessly. Whatever floats your boat.

Comments

[tyrantmaker]

Wesker comes in. He's managed to stuff his usual air of self-satisfaction deep into a corner of his psyche, and is moving like a worried human instead. He seems not to notice her for a moment, wrapped in his own concerns, and then glances over with a small smile and a startled look.

"Oh, hello, Faye."

[burbonmilkshake]

"Hi, Albert," she says. She tilts her head at him. "Is something the matter?"

[tyrantmaker]

He shakes his head. "Nothing important. I'm letting superstition get to me." He settles down on the couch, looking down at the dictionary. "You look like you're having troubles yourself."

It's best to let the fish have a chance to swallow the bait.

[burbonmilkshake]

She tilts her head further as she looks at Wesker. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

Oh, Faye, you poor, poor, pathetic creature, getting caught in the fisherman's net.

[tyrantmaker]

He pauses a moment. "I've told you about my friend, haven't I?" He laces his fingers, turning his head away.

Everyone blunders into it. Don't worry, they'll be left empty soon enough.

[burbonmilkshake]

Her eyes widen. "No."

Damn him and playing off her sympathy.

[tyrantmaker]

"Don't-" he moves one hand towards hers in a gesture of comfort. "It--I came in on the streets. I met a man I knew. He and I were comparing notes on the situation when Harth found us. Poor Ed. We never had a chance. He managed to hurt Harth before he was overwhelmed." Wesker's spine is slumped a little, shoulders hanging. "I owe him my life. I tried to avenge him by hunting Harth myself--the thing must have just been laughing at me. I never caught a glimpse of him the whole time I was out there."

Nice people are fun.

"I feel I have to go out there again." He lifts an open hand to cover the shades for a moment. "But."

[burbonmilkshake]

By the time he's finished, her eyes are pretty much on the verge of overflowing. She swalllows and swipes at her eyes under the glasses.

"...but?" Her voice is definitely shaky.

[tyrantmaker]

"No-" he puts an arm over her shoulders, which is really as much as he can stand to touch anyone. "Please. I miss him. But he died the way he would have wanted to, and it was quick. I'm still going to pay Harth back for him, as much as I can.

"You remember that man at the meeting, where we spoke? Before Harth came through?" That sounds like genuine hate in his voice. "The one who said he saw visions?"

[burbonmilkshake]

She gives Wesker a quick hug, and then blinks up at him. "I think I remember him, yes. Why?"

[tyrantmaker]

ACK HUGGED. Tyrants should not have to put up with this. (And most of them never have to realize that.) Wesker tolerates it gracefully, which is to say he doesn't stiff-arm her across the room. Hopefully his tension can be mistaken for emotion.

Wesker pauses, letting it stretch out as though he's having trouble finding words. "We were talking." Pause. "He said I'd be killed by a vampire. He thought it would be soon." Pause. "He said I might be able to keep it from happening, but."

[burbonmilkshake]

Faye let go almost as soon as she wrapped her arms around him, so she didn't notice his warmth--or how much he stiffened. ...For as observant as she is, she really can be quite clueless.

"..But?"

[tyrantmaker]

Humans. Hugging. No.

"That's it, really. But. All this time I've been telling myself I will send him to hell for Ed, I will pay him back for saving me. It's the same thing we've always done, you know? Stopping murderers?

"But now. . ." he reaches up and hooks his fingers into the chain of the prayer beads and crucifix around his neck. "Of course I've known there's a chance I'd die trying to kill him. It's the idea that he won't go with me. That it'll just-" his voice drops to cold misery. "That I'll fail him once more. He died saving me."

[burbonmilkshake]

Faye sniffles and wipes her eyes. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. "But Albert--if--"

She can't continue.

Wesker is an Evil Bastard, all right.

[tyrantmaker]

Wesker stands for a moment, then goes for a box of tissues. He puts them on the sofa beside her, then sits for a moment with his head in his hands.

[burbonmilkshake]

"Thank you," she manages after a moment, wiping at her streaming eyes and nose.

"So--what... what might happen?"