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[Wesker has been content to let Jaeger sleep for as long as necessary; the past three weeks had been hard on everyone in various ways, and the posts to Retrospec afterwards had been...disconcerting in various others, and while he isn't sure what to feel about any of it he's just going to try not to think about all of it too much, at least not for the time being.

So Jaeger's been put up in one of his guest rooms, and Wesker's been awake for a while now but he's still...fairly exhausted, really, in that way that makes it clear that he's not going to not be exhausted for a good long while. But he's called in to work to let them know he won't be present – he has more than enough paid leave that he never uses, and now seems like as good a time as any to use it – and as such he's just taking time to himself until Jaeger wakes up.

He's in the study, as he usually is when Jaeger is over, even if the man isn't present just yet – he's writing things down and trying to keep his thoughts straight, because god knows there are a lot of them to keep straight in the first place. He'll likely be in here until Jaeger wakes up; it's generally someplace that they both know in the house, and as such hopefully it's somewhere Jaeger will check eventually.]

[Being in Wesker's house has gone a long way to getting Jaeger to settle. He's not sure what it is about the house that's helping him recover from the ordeal the past three weeks have been, but whether it's the safety of the location or the fact that he's here with his friend doesn't really matter in the end. Either way, he's feeling better.

When he's finally awake and dressed for the day (in something that isn't that stupid suit, thankfully) he makes his way to the study to check and see if Wesker's around. If not, that's where he was planning on staying, but it looks like luck is on his side for once.]

Good morning, Albert!

[...it's definitely not morning anymore.]

It's nowhere near morning.

[He doesn't even glance up at the greeting, though his words are a lot lighter than they usually are.]

...It's good to see that you're finally awake, however. I take it you've been sleeping well.

I have been! I'm not sure if it's because the bed is comfortable or if it's just a relief to sleep on a bed again, but either way I've been recovering just fine!

[He'll take his usual seat, resting an elbow on the arm of the chair and then his chin on his hand.]

And you? Have you been able to sleep after all of this?

...I have. Given that the group I was with was likewise spending a fair amount of time sleeping on the floor, it's been good to not have to do that anymore.

[For so many reasons, god his back - ]

I've been all right, though. Just thinking about things - it's a bit difficult not to.

Ja, I can imagine. There's a lot to consider.

[Between everything they went through and everything that Retrospec post decided to be...]

I'm glad to hear that you're doing all right!

Of course.

[He's quiet for a moment before setting the writing aside, and finally looking up to give Jaeger his proper attention; he doesn't have the dark glasses on for once, because there's no need to in here and he hasn't gone outside properly, save for a few minutes to let the dogs out.]

...I read those texts you sent me, by the way.

[It's a little weird to see Wesker without the glasses, honestly...

And oh no.]

I suspected you would. I really am embarrassed by those, you know!

[He shifts a little in his seat, crossing one leg over the other.]

I understand.

[And he does, really, even if he's sounding a little blunted, a little awkward about it.]

I don't intend to discuss them at length if you don't want to. I do have something brief to say to you regarding them, however, if you're willing to hear it.

[At least he wasn't the only one to send out awkward text messages. At least there's that...]

I'll listen, ja. What is it?

[It takes him a moment, really; this is difficult for him, for various reasons, and finding words isn't exactly easy despite knowing what he wants to say.]

You don't ever have to question whether I care about knowing that you're all right, or whether I would miss you if you died. You're important to me, of course I'm going to-

[He cuts himself off, though it's less because he doesn't want to finish and more because he doesn't seem to know how; just...give him a moment, all right.]

Things like that are going to matter to me. You don't have to doubt that.

[He was worried that would be the topic of discussion, but somehow he didn't expect a response like this. For a brief moment he looks caught off-guard, his expression open and honest before he glances away and starts playing with his sleeves.]

...That was cruel of me to say. I'm very sorry. I was so scared that night; I wasn't thinking clearly. I know I'm important to you. I never should have sent that.

[But some part of him really did need to hear that, he thinks.]

[For a brief moment he just...stares, before glancing away; after a moment he shakes his head.]

Whether it was cruel or not, it was likely deserved. It isn't as though I've given you many indications otherwise, I suppose.

It wasn't deserved.

[He shakes his head abruptly once that's out there, as if to clear it.]

I'm sorry. As I said, I know I'm important to you. And if anything happened to me of course you'd have a difficult time with that.

But nothing did happen, ja? Despite my worries, I'm still in one piece!

[...It's good to know Wesker would be upset if something happened to him, but he can lie to himself about already knowing that.]

...Nothing happened, no.

[He doesn't know what to say to the rest of it, so he just...doesn't; the concept of what he does or doesn't deserve is a weird, nebulous thing that he's not altogether sure that he wants to get into with Jaeger beyond what he's already said about it.]

Either way, it's fine now. Don't let the rest of it concern you.

I'll try not to!

[At... least he's honest...??]

I'm glad to be home. Even though those texts are really embarrassing, I'm glad we can have this conversation.

Oh, and thank you for letting me stay over. I really appreciate it.

You can stay as long as you want. I don't mind the company.

[...He's trying.]

...Thank you. I'm not sure how much longer I'll want to stay, but please let me know if you'd like your house back at any point! I don't want to overstay my welcome!

[It's not like he's going to move in or anything, he's just at a point where he's not sure he really wants to go back to his own large, empty house. At least Wesker's got dogs.]

Understood.

[...]

I'm not particularly fond of the idea of being alone for the time being. I don't want to see most people, but this is a lot to recover from.

[Oh, look at that, he's special!! Well, he already knew he was special, but it's nice to hear it anyway.]

Ja, it really is. I could probably sleep in for the majority of the week and still feel like I'm not caught up on my sleep! But I'd rather do that with someone around, so I appreciate it.

Of course, Jaeger.

[He toys with the pen he's been writing with between his fingers; it gives him something to do with himself, at any rate.]

It's the least I can do, really - you've done a lot for me over the past while.

I do what I can!

[He seems pleased with that, though.]

I'm glad I can help. There aren't many people I'd put this much effort for, you know!

I know.

[And he does, in some way.

That said, he's quiet for a moment before just - ]

The first week was...difficult. I didn't tell you much because I didn't want to concern you, but toward the end of the week we were all fairly sure we were going to die and no one here would have any way to know about it.

...You texted someone about that, I'm assuming?

[Some part of him is bothered by the fact that it wasn't him, but maybe that was for the best. What would he have done if those texts had gone through? What would he have done even if they hadn't and he had to read them after the fact?

...What he sent to Wesker really was cruel.]

I'm sorry. I understand what that feels like, but that hardly makes it any better.

It's fine. I did send texts to someone regarding it, but...well, as you said, obviously nothing happened.

[He also wasn't half as cruel in his as you were, he's fairly sure, but that isn't something he's too inclined to point out; he doesn't even know why that's bothering him so much, if he's honest with himself.

Maybe it's because the person in his memories wouldn't care about things like that.]

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