403 - 1st FLOOR (RETAIL-BANK)

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

The first floor of 403 was once retail space, which currently only had a very small bank branch in it, and an unused area. The Chase bank was empty when survivors arrive, and has only some small offices and desks.

From here you can go to:

Stairwell North
Lobby

[Gillsing]

tab The sound of gun shots didn't stop Ben in his tracks. If they were shooting at something, he was outmatched, and if there was a breach it was more important to find it and get people to close it.
tab Arriving on the 1st floor he immediately went right to check on the lobby doors. Zombies wouldn't be able to get in through there, but if they had help, that might be the easiest way for someone else to bring in large enough numbers that it would matter.

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

Ben moved quickly through the whole first floor. Finding no one and no entrances breached, he had to consider his next move - the doctors must already have gone up by the other stair. Did he want to join whatever was going on up there, go get his weapons, or go to the back door guards and ask them if they know what's going on through the radio? If he wants to do that, go to the Parking Garage!

[Gillsing]

tab With no breach to be found, Ben wanted to know what was going on, so he decided to take the other stairs to the 6th floor, where he presumed all the action would be. But all that running had made him winded, so he was forced to take it easy on the way up.

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

Indeed! You get up there whenever you feel like it to discover... whatever's going on at that point! The action for the night is essentially over, but doowutchyalike!

[Suyoi]

Dr. Victor escorted Kerry down the stairs into one of the abandoned bank space cubicles, away from the doors of the clinic.

"You know, Kerry, I almost expected to hear monitors and alarms coming from that clinic to tell me if Sharma was still at his baseline. Excuse me a moment."

Kerry-
"Sure."

He moved relatively quickly and returned with a couple glasses of water after a few moments.

"He's still unconscious and more or less unresponsive... I gave him something to help him rest because I worried about what everyone would be doing, all the questions that they might assault him with. Call it an evil doctor trick, but Seth is out almost every day doing stuff for everyone. He can't exactly reprimand people for disobeying the doctor's orders."

Kerry-
"The men watching him - Thierry and Columbo - those were his friends, right? Maybe he should be able to talk to them... Well, maybe just Thierry. "

Dr. Victor glanced about the room, wheeling over two relatively comfortable secretary chairs into a position near the center of the room. He set one styrofoam cup down on a flat surface for Kerry and one for himself. Before he sat, he pulled out his wallet. It was worn, discolored and fraying at the seams. The doctor swallowed hard.

"Uhm... so... what I'm worried about isn't a single problem, its more like a complex monster made up of a throng of past errors, mistakes, and sins... You... you know how you always plan on solving problems later? Like, a grand-master procrastinator would be jealous of my skills. I've pushed just about everyone out. For crying out loud, I gave away my pet tortoise because I couldn't be bothered."

Kerry-
"My life was rather lonely, but that's worse for some than others. Then, there's figuring out what's right for you."

"I.. I wronged a woman a long time ago. I... I broke her. She... she left me one night... and... and all I had was this note in a picture frame on my bed."

He fiddled with his wallet, pulling out the small scrap of paper. He cast his vision downwards.

"I found myself wondering what I could do to make it right now, you know, in this place and time. If there was a chance she was alive somewhere out there, or... or if she would... if she would come back to me changed."

He spoke of the world change like it was vinegar on his tongue, his eyes narrowing as his head motioned to the blocked off entrance.

Kerry-
"I definitely have a notion about that, but continue."

"I've been letting this vulgar person I became dictate my actions. I won't like, it did save my life when we fought Mary. Do you know about Mary?"

Kerry-
"I've heard a bit of mention, but scarce specifics. A possession case, like our Doretta Harman?"

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

Kerry-
"You think being cold-hearted helped you in fighting against one of these monsters?"

[Suyoi]

Dr. Victor nodded at the woman slowly, his eyes now glued to the floor. He could feel his heart racing.

"Yes. I treated this person like a pile of over-dramatic dog crap, trying to scare everyone into thinking it was some form of great evil... and she was. Alex... Alex rushed to defend her when she changed into this hideous form, the corrupted face, the bile and blood rushing from her face and mouth, wounds opening up all around her all at once. I called her out... and... and she told me because I guessed what she was I'd die last."

Kerry-
"That tale is so eerie my mind doesn't want to contain it. The meaning of the words is trying to escape me."

He fumbled more with the wallet, rubbing the piece of paper between his thumb and the side of his index finger.

"She... she knew my name. I think she's going... I think she went out of her way to call me out on it. No one calls me by my name... and she knew it. Its not even on my business cards, Kerry."

Kerry-
"There's no way a random monster could know your name without some kind of mind-reading. I wonder how deep that ability goes?"

He let out a heavy sigh, relaxing a little.

"Anyways, there's been this thought of what Mary would do to exact her revenge on me. She killed a child and dropped his corpse down for the mother to discover and it killed this woman. I think there is a very strong thought about how best to destroy us all in this Mary, and she will eventually succeed if we can't stop her."

Kerry-
"We had a monster here not unlike that Mary. One could wonder how many there are, and whether any is especially more powerful or terrible than the rest. Well, perhaps you are right. You spoke to the terrible thing."

"Everyone is talking about these supposed mummy children or whatever, but I don't think it's all in them... So that's part one."

"Part two is more along the lines of... well, of a personal choice, wait that isn't politically correct anymore. It's about attraction. Physical attraction. It was always there, I won't try to deny or hide it. But, I wonder if it can actually translate into love. Is that just the craziest thing you've ever heard?"

Kerry-
"Now that is a quick turnaround in the conversation! Don't give me whiplash, sonny. "

[Suyoi]

The doctor set the piece of paper on the ground absently, looking at it like a puppy run to ground by some errant motorist.

"If love was easy, everyone would be doing it, right Kerry? I wonder if I really broke Linda's heart because I didn't tell her I loved her. To be honest, I did adore her and I did care for her, bought her whatever she wanted, went with her whenever she asked. But, I'm not sure if that was enough love. Well, I know it wasn't enough, but I don't know if that was what she wanted out of love... and my biggest problem today is whether or not I can take physical attraction and translate it into something meaningful... when all Linda wanted was to take something meaningful... and..."

Kerry-
"Hmm... That is a classic conundrum."

The doctor felt his face getting damp, especially on the bridge of his nose.

"I was careless, Kerry, and I don't deserve to have that again... I can't let myself... have the joy... I denied someone who never did anything wrong..."

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

Kerry-
"Oh, doctor, I'm sorry... I suppose I should say my piece, though I don't want you to think I'm saying your feelings aren't valid... She wrote that note because she was ready to try to move on, become her own person again. Wherever she is, maybe she doesn't need you so very badly now. Maybe she's going to be just fine.

Here you are... You feel guilt and passionate affection, but do you really feel romantic love for her? In your life, you found it easier to be without her. Maybe it's possible she managed to feel the same by now.

Love sure is a mess. I'm sorry."

[Suyoi]

Dr. Victor wiped the his face with his sleeve, nodding. He tried to laugh, but it come out more like a sudden cough. Kerry's words cut deep, but her tone made it seem like she was a surgeon rather than a madman. Why couldn't Jonah be this good with words? Sniffing a bit, he let out the heaviest of sighs, his head bobbing in his nod to her continued words.

"I... I think it's pretty foolish to keep pining over someone you thought you loved. I've been so consumed with moving on with my own life I felt she never did from me... but that can't be true. Linda was such a progressive person and so caring. I... I think I was being narcissistic about being un-get-over-able."

Kerry-
"Don't be cruel to yourself. It's just hard to imagine how other people feel sometimes, especially when your own feelings are strong."

"Kerry, I... I did love her; I had to have loved her for her to stick around all those years, right? I mean, I didn't bait her into staying."

Kerry-
"Just because something didn't work out or last forever doesn't mean it wasn't real."

"I guess it all is just my giant bucket of spilled milk now. I thought... I honestly thought this was going to turn into a confirmation of my fears when it is more simply just a staunch fact of my own arrogance about the whole mess. Love is a mess, indeed."

He stood up and moved over to Kerry, holding out his arms for a hug. She embraced him easily. Good grandma hug technique. You recover ten health points.

"While we're down here, I suppose we should go and see Sharma to see if he's awake. I bet you can make even the poor choices in breakfast foods next week seem like a gift from god."

Kerry-
"I'm going to start thinking too highly of myself if you keep on. I'd love to see that poor guy."

He led her out around into the clinic, extending his arm like a true gentlemen. She accepted is and got a very dignified stroll on.

[Thy Dungyeon Maestyr]

They went into the clinic.