A Bad Turn into Unlife(Calazar)
Date: 2026-01-25 19:15
(A Bad Turn into Unlife(Calazar):Calazar)
[Sun Jan 25 2026]
In Downtown Chi-town
This is the windy city. The home of the Sears tower, Da Bears, the curse of the Great Gambino, and private toll roads that were supposed to be paid off decades ago still collecting fees. Composed of China town, Greek town, Little Ukraine, Little Puerto Rico and misc other ethnic hubs. On a clear day you can see Michigan from across the lake and still be disappointed.
It is about 55F(12C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Thornberry and Franklin/span
The trio steps through the mirror gate into the same corporate safe house-esque apartment from before. Teagan’s previous snacking has been cleaned up by a maid service most likely though the timeless stash of old snacks can never be replaced and so they are restocked with whatever the hot new things today is and in however many years they will become their own treasures. Once they are through Calazar pulls a curtain down on the mirror to protect from his own reflection and motions towards the furniture for Conrad and Mercy to settle either in the kitchen, breakfast bar, or the cream upholstered furniture facing an entertainment center. “Well let me provide the investigation the Twilight Bureau did into the aftermath of the incident and we will form a plan.” he says in a rhythmic spanish accent.
As Mercy steps out of the mirror and into the apartment, its interior is viewed almost anew between nostalgia and the obvious lack of prior presences. Whereas last time she was quick to take a seat in a plush chair, make herself comfortable, be at ease, she now lingers at a stand by the lounging area and braces a shoulder to the wall with her eyes on Calazar, expectant. “My attention’s all yers.”
Despite having some interest in his traveling partners’ former conversation, Conrad doesn’t bring it up once they’ve reached their destination. There was work to do! Once he steps out of the mirror, it takes a moment for him to regain his composure before he finds himself at the snack’s table, mainly to look over what was for offer today. When Calazar speaks up, he is then brutally reminded of the last time he was here, which does put a damper on things, doesn’t it? Partially turning in the other man’s direction, a glance first given to Mercy as he does so, rather than picking something to eat, he settles on a stool at the bar and looks attentive enough to be listening.
Pulling out his cellphone Calazar begins, “The death of Oberst was covered up by the bomb threat and Obadiah’s shifting was likewise covered up as someone releasing an animal from a nearby zoo. The fact that breed was not present was easy enough to bury in the 24 hour news cycle.” there is a tap tap tap and then both Conrad’s and Mercy’s phone ping with a text with some attachments. They appear to be three images. One is a building plane with address, the other is a photograph of a Doctor in scrubs, a man. The final image is a list of cases. “This is the city morgue and head Coroner Doctor McFannan. We need to break into this building or gain access. Alter or convince someone to alter the records on the deaths Oberst caused and then make contact with Doctor McFannan and either convince them or mentally manipulate them into a serial killer conclusion instead of what he is currently seeking which is confirmation of a vampire like predatory. He is looking at older cases believing them to have been coverups so if he flips or goes crazy and starts trying to kill people who might be vampires we have a Venetian breach.”
Mercy feels her phone buzzing and withdraws it to take a look, a thumb methodically swiping up as she reads the information line by line with the occasional glance back up at Calazar while her attention is split. “Dependin’ on how long Oberst been killin’, the location of the kills an’ causes of death.. could potentially roll ’em all into one long series of attacks by this ‘escaped zoo animal’, but m’guessin’ it won’t be that easy.” Having voiced her wishful thinking, she takes a breath, exhales and goes back to viewing the files. “What do we know ’bout this buildin’ an’ its security?”
With his stool turned around so that he’s facing Calazar directly, Conrad rests his back against the island counter as he pulls up the information on his phone as he listens to the man’s explanation of their task. Every so often, his eyes will lift to look on Calazar before looking down at the documentation once again. “I was going to ask about the latter.” It looks as if he’s pulling up Google, “Is the morgue part of the police department, hospital…? I’m just interested in what kind of security we should be expecting.”
“The building is known as the Cook Country Morgue and it serves for about 50/ of the population of the state it is in. It is a standalone structure with its own security. The way it works is if a case is deemed in need of investigation. The body is transferred from the local hospital or directly from crime scenes.” Calazar continues on his gregarious and rhythmic spanish accent. “I do not believe we can cover up over a week of vampire attacks as an animal attack. To many people will have seen Oberst who is likely a suspect in the investigations which is fine because no one will ever find his body. We just need to ensure Doctor McFannan does not solidify the jump to supernatural nor spread it throughout the medical examiners office potentially re-opening past cases that have been covered up.”
Calazar says “I would say this building is about as secure as a police station, a lot of cameras. These bodies are evidence in trials so at least as much security as evidence lockup.“
Conrad taps a finger lightly at the side of his phone, his expression thoughtful, yet amused. “And we can’t kill this guy and just erase all of his data that would lead to vampirism, right?” As he says this, his eyes refocus on Calazar. He very well may be joking!
“We can, but that will mean anyone he has shared his suspicions with may believe his wild suggestions because he was disappeared.” Calazar points out to Conrad. “Whatever it takes to prevent a full blown exposure is what we will do but there are better options and less desirable options. Normally killing a whistle blower without knowing who else has been clued in can create future issues.”
“Figured as much, convenient as that woulda been.” Listening still, Mercy takes a few moments to do some quick Google research on standard morgue security, given that’s one type of building she could definitively say she’s never had to infiltrate or escape from previously. “Lessee.. dependin’ on the lock types I could maybe get us through a couple doors the old fashioned way, an’ into some cabinets if need be, but m’sure this gonna involve a lotta restricted locations accessed through key cards an’ other electronic mechanisms. To say nothin’ of any data systems we might have to get into.” Her eyes slide over to Conrad and a brow ticks up. “You any good at that nerd shit? Hackin’ an’ all that?”
Mercy peers at Calazar for a moment with a sort of half-grin. “If we’d maybe had more time fer prep, coulda contacted this doc ahead of time an’ promised him another vamp corpse fer testin’. Sprinkle some blood on you an’ use yer delivery as an excuse to get near him.”
Mercy says “He ain’ know fer sure they turn to dust, so.“
“Right.” Conrad murmurs when Calazar mentions that there’s police evidence to be found within. Turning to Mercy, there’s a very slow nod. “A little. I wouldn’t say that I’m an expert at it. And I’m not one of those nerds who carries around their own laptop.” Yet… “But, if there’s a computer or keyboard at hand, I could try something.”
“Speaking of prep.” Calazar says while walking past the black screen of the TV and to a door to the left of the entertainment center which leads into a bedroom. “I have Fed attire for you two if we choose the soft approach.” and in the dark room there is no indication what is within but it is most likely a bedroom. “It’s sized for you and we have…” he pulls a leather wallet with a badge and a fake ID denoting him as a federal special agent (FBI) named Rodriguez Martin. “So we can go in posing as helping and throw around the we are taking over these cases because they have crossed state lines. As an option. Alternatively there are masks in there so we can do a breakin if we need too. It is really up to the two of you which you think plays better with your skillset.”
Mercy chews the inside of her cheek, mulling it over. “Well, breakin’ into places real fun but we did a more direct approach las’ time, an’ now yer sayin’ we got..” Is that an excited twinkle in her eye? “Disguises. Maybe we try the talk our way in route fer once.” She shoots Conrad a glance for his input.
Conrad‘ gaze follows Calazar when he crosses the room to open one of the doors, bringing up that preparations were made, if they wanted to take that route. Here, his brows lift in amusement. “Sure, people will believe that we’re feds.” Look, they look like kids, probably! “One day we’re doing 21 Jump Street shit, the next, we’re on this case.” He then slips out of his seat to wander to the changing room.
Mercy tsks at Conrad and fishes out a hair tie from one of her pockets, proceeding to do something few have ever witnessed- winding her hair up into a tight, prim, professional bun. It doesn’t age her considerably, but there’s a difference and it makes more severe her persistent RBF.
The bedroom has a queen size bed, a nice view of the city skyline, and its own TV and a desk. In the closet there are your traditional FED attire. Your Blazers with dark pants and a button down shirt, belt, watch, and shoes with GUNS! handguns only. Then there is windbreakers with FBI emblazoned on the back. There are also some less stock standard options really whatever Conrad and Mercy want to pull out to look FED like it seems to be on tap. For his own part Calazar remains in the living room and pockets his fake wallet and badge. “Okay so we will make the approach as Feds. Do either of you have a federal contact, obviously I do not normally base out of the US so I do not have any incase they make a call to vouch for us. If not I can just hypnotize people as we go.” [OOC Feel free to make your fed outfit as you please]
Conrad isn’t particularly shy about changing in front of others, so he does so easily enough, if they are sharing the bedroom as their changing room. He buttons things, he zips things, etc. After donning the fed outfit, he looks at himself in the mirror, giving his reflection a wink, “I make a pretty hot federal agent.” Turning to Calazar, he thinks on the question, “I don’t have any contacts, personally. My family might, but… it’s too late to ask them now I figure.”
With a notable bit of pep in her step Mercy hustles into the bedroom to have her disguise glowup montage with Conrad. Her selection ends up being a combination of the buttoned down shirt, slacks and FBI windbreaker over the blazer- because it’s too damn cool and official-looking to pass up on. She even makes a stop at the bathroom to wash all the smudged liner from her eyes, truly a momentous occasion. Fastening the handgun and its holster to her hip, the crossbow left on the bed, she finalizes the look by slapping on her dark aviator shades and the transformation is complete. “No contacts here, but m’lookin’ so damn LEGIT they ain’ even gonna question it.”
When the pair of young Windermere students finish their glowup to FBI Agent , Calazar lingers in the doorway watching with unblinking green eyes. “Mercy your badge is for Ramona Pots.” he pulls a leather wallet from his blazer and tosses it to the mirror shade wearing young woman. “Conrad your badge is for Richard Parks.” and another toss sending the wallet and badge to Conrad. “So I will be the senior agent, you are both out of Quantico, we are DC office assigned to Chicago. We need to review the cases, which should bring Doctor McFannan to us but if he doesn’t one of you will ask who the coroner on these cases is and get us in a room with them. Any questions?”
“Richard Parks…” Conrad tries that name out for size, murmuring it quietly. He then turns to Mercy, “You good there, Pots?” Yes, he’s trying out her name as well, but here, he can’t help but laugh a little. That’s followed by a bit of throat clearing, before nodding to Calazar, “You got it.” As an afterthought, he ponders aloud, “I always wondered if I would’ve made into the FBI.” Nevertheless, he puts on his professional face, which looks somewhat dour, but it keeps him from looking like some skater kid. “Not questions here, Sir.”
Mercy catches the wallet and inspects its contents for a second, maybe having hoped to find a few hundred dollar bills in there, then tucks it into a pocket with a nod, though she jerks a thumb towards Conrad while telling Calazar, “Missed opportunity not havin’ his name be Richard Pans.” Then she shakes her head, adjusting the outfit one more time and checking to make sure every strand of auburn hair is restrained in the bun. “M’good to go, I think.”
“WAIT!” Mercy exclaims, freezing, then she hurries over to the snack bar to rummage for something. “Anyone got gum?!”
“I think Pots and Pans might smack a little to much like a tongue in cheek joke.” Calazar says only for Mercy to exclaim everyone must wait… After a moment Calazar steps out of the doorway and nods to the kitchen where there is a box of BIG RED and Spearmint gum.
“Hush lemme have my fun, this what we got yer swirly-eyed hypnotism gimmick fer anyhow.” Mercy locates the last touch she needs for her ‘fit and persona, selecting the Big Red for obvious reasons and trotting right back to the group while popping into her mouth. “Mmkay ready.”
With all three of them ready although Calazar doesn’t change remaining in his brown suit. They head out into the hallway, down an elevator and then to the parking garage where a blacked out SUV with Government plates from Maryland is waiting for them. “I do not normally drive.” he explains in a gregarious rhythmic spanish accent and holds out the keys for whichever young FBI Agent wants to deal with snow, Chicago traffic, and a massive boat sized car.
Mercy is maybe a little too eager given how she tries to make a grab for the keys; this girl is not the safest driver, especially in winter, but she is the most willing unless Conrad wisely beats her to it.
Well, Conrad looks a little too eager too. Maybe neither of them should be in the driver’s seat. Is he a safe driver in the winter? Maybe. Either way, he just wants to drive! So if Mercy is going to get them wrecked, at least Conrad will get them to where they want to go. Probably.
Dangling the keys in front of the group, he ushers the pair in. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
Mercy sucks her teeth so hard it’s like an outright hiss when Conrad robs her of that opportunity, and maybe possibly ensures they both remain alive for a little while longer. Calazar obviously was not a concern in this matter. Grumbling, she at least calls shotgun and hops into the front passenger seat.
It appears Conrad will have their lives in his hands. Calazar gets into the backseat with a simple “Indeed.” and once he’s inside he leans back and gets out his phone looking up the directions, syncing with the vehicle and it is about a 30 minute drive. “Parks you mentioned you are tech savvy if we need to corrupt records or do anything related to computers. Pots you said traditional locks?”
“Yeah, I know my way around computers. Hacking into other people’s computers.” Conrad says to Calazar when asked and as everyone settles into the vehicle. “Like I said to Pots,” He continues as he turns the wheel a bit and looks into the rear view mirror, “I’m no expert, but I’ve done it before.”
“Ay-” Mercy starts, then clears her throat harshly and takes a second to try and adopt a different pattern of speech. “Correct. I’ve got some proficiency but only with physical locks.”
is not bothering as he is clearly foreign and very gentlemanly, everyone says so. While Conrad is driving there is some more searching through the phone as he asks, “Beyond locks, computers, and being able to rough people up do either of you have any soft powers?” and he looks up from his phone now from behind both Mercy and Conrad.
Mercy has to think about it some, but lists off another skill that paints her so plainly as the delinquent of humble beginnings she is. “M’kinda sneaky when I gotta be, good at tuckin’ into small spaces.”
Conrad drives slightly faster than one should in this icy environment, but he does slow down when necessary and minds those turns. “Soft power? Just my aura is all about soft power.” He says so straight-forward, as he keeps his eyes on the road. “Besides looks and charm, I have psychic persuasion as well, if needed.” He then glances up at the mirror to view Calazar’s reflection, “I guess that’s something that might be necessary on this mission.”
The fake FBI Agent looks down at his phone unblinking and sends off a few messages before tucking it into his blazer pocket. “Interesting.” he says though whether it is the updates he has received on the phone or what Mercy and Conrad said it is unclear. They are nearing the building and he does what every backseat driver ever does, “Park over there.” where is there? Does Conrad have eyes in the back of his head? Did Calazar give any indication of where and there even are?
If anything, Conrad is trying to grasp the exact location by viewing Calazar’s reflection in the mirror, his own eyes narrowing now. At some point, he just decides on what he’ll assume is a good place to park and does so. “Here?” At least, he asks for confirmation, but it’s not as if he was about to start the car up again if he were wrong. The engine’s shut down and it looks like he’s prepared to head on out as his door swings open.
Mercy can barely wait to leap out of the vehicle, though the second she does the shift begins; not into a wolf, but into her persona. She stands straighter and moves with a little more purpose while meandering a few feet away from the van to peer around.
The fake FBI Agent steps out with a simple, “Not quite.” but that is neither here nor there especially not there which is not where Conrad parked. They are outside a large concrete building one of those structures where some architect somewhere though that angles would make an inherently lifeless structure become more interesting but it didn’t and now everyone has to live with it. Not breathing and thus not causing a cloud of haze to come from his lips it is 9 degrees outside and that is pretty cold. Adjusting his own brown blazer he puts his hands into his pockets for possibly the first time anyone here has seen him do it. “Alright Pots and Parks. Remember we ask the questions, we need access, we are the FBI.” and he begins his approach through the snow and ice towards the front door… slip hazard extreme.
Under the cover of her shades, Mercy steals a curious glance at the blazer pocket Calazar had just moments ago stowed his phone, but she sadly or perhaps fortunately lacks the power to see through fabric. “Understood.” Is her sole, crisp reply as she falls in line by the ‘senior agent’ and follows him across the snowy parking lot while having to maintain intense focus on not slipping.
Nope. Conrad says nothing when told in not so many words that this wasn’t where he was supposed to park, but whatever! He does give the fake FBI Agent this look as he makes his way around the vehicle in the cold, but that soon fades as they approach the lifeless building. Rothwe- Parks stands straight and upright somewhere behind Calazar and at the instructions he nods and says, mostly in unison with Pots over there, “Understood.”
They enter through the lobby it is 8:25pm at night so entering the Graveyard shift… at the Morgue. There is a spacious lobby with a massive ceiling and a completely inadequate front desk with a clearly overworked and at the end of their shift young woman with the kind of dead eyes of someone who has to see people about dead bodies all day. On the approach Calazar pulls out his badge and flashes it to the young woman with dark hair, big spectacles, and a sweater top and jeans for an outfit. “I am Special Agents Martin, these are Pots and Parks. We are here to look into several killings recently. I have the case numbers.” and with the flashed wallet going into his pocket he pulls his phone out from his blazer and brings up the list of twenty odd cases showing it to the bespectacled dead-eyed young woman. While he is engaging the young woman it is an opportune moment for Conrad and Mercy to pester her with questions and other needs so she is unable to check the details.
Mercy lets Calazar open the dialogue, but playing up her youth and inexperience is quick to lean forward and brace an elbow on the desk, gaze tilted down to observe the weary woman from over the tops of her shades while she chews on that cinnamon flavored gum. “I can see it’s been a long night fer you ma’am and I wouldn’t want to trouble you much further but, there anyplace to get a strong cup of coffee in here?”
As Calazar speaks to woman at the front desk, Conrad gives the area a quick look around to see what the layout is like. He notes where her phone is and her computer most likely, things which she might need to use to check up on those case numbers. As well as, possibly, the file cabinets behind her. He’s just the young fed agent that looks a little anxious or eager. Most likely a mixture of both, with his roaming eyes, that even seem to look the young woman over from time tot time. He turns to Mercy when she brings up the topic of coffee and he lifts up a finger, “If you’re getting one, I’d like one too.” Before he glances Calazar’s way, as if looking for permission to do so, to which he then adds, “If it’s no trouble.”
The bespectacled dead-eyed young woman looks at Calazar first and begins to lean in, adjusting her glasses to look at his phone. Moments later Mercy is pressing her with a question and Conrad is echoing his desire for that strong cup of coffee. Calazar makes it all the harder by agreeing, “It was a long flight, can we get access to the breakroom while you look up these cases. Maybe call the coroner or medical examiner in charge of them if they are still onsite?” there culmination of requests and commentary has the bespectacled young woman leaning back and frowning. “Those look like the recent murders getting a lot of attention.” She has a two screen computer right in front of her and there are some cabinets underneath the counter but likely a lot of this stuff is digital or in restricted area. She begins to clickety clack away and confirms, “Doctor McFannan is in his office, the bodies are in different morgues though.” and then she looks up at the request for access to the break room. “Um.” and this is when it is really how attractive and charming the collective group of feds are… A selection of above average men and a woman there is a kind of war on the dead-eyed bespectacled young woman who finally bites her lip and stands up, “Sure I’ll walk you.” and she is looking at… Mercy who has won out as hottest fed.
If anything, Conrad looks openly disappointed when told that the bodies were in a different morgue. Turning to Calazar, he asks as he follows the group along to the break room, “Does this mean we’ll need to visit the other morgue, or will this be enough?” A polite smile is given to the young woman, however, when he offers up a, “Thank you.” Before he blows a tuft of hair that up and off his forehead, “Tell me about it. It really was a long flight.”
By not asking for permission as Conrad had, Mercy clearly establishes herself as the loose-cannon-to-be of the group and perhaps this badgirl attitude is what really wins over the tired employee who might be all too welcoming of some excitement in her life. The woman’s compliance is rewarded with a disturbingly winsome smile that probably looks all wrong on Mercy’s face to anyone that knows her, and she slides back from her lean on the desk to saunter out a few steps and gesture for the woman go lead her. “After you, ma’am, and much appreciated. These late night shifts are the real killers, aren’t they?”
The group dynamics are set with Mercy and the dead-eyed bespectacled young woman walking in the lead speaking with one another. She says in a midwestern accent, “You have no idea. Even in a city like this, I get off work and there’s nothing to do no one to see. All the bars are just drunks and all the cuties are already left for the night.” and she gives Mercy that smile that indicates maybe there is a cutie she gets to flirt with. They are walking down the carpeted floors towards a back section. Meanwhile Calazar comments to Conrad while following behind the pair of women. “No this building has multiple morgues.” and then adds in a voice loud enough to overhear, “Have you finished the psyche profile on our suspect for the serial killings?”
“Think I might have some idea, yer never really off the clock in my line of work. A call could come in at any time, day or night, and forget dating- the second anyone finds out what I do, they run from me faster than the perps do.” Mercy openly laments to her female companion, not-so-discreetly jerking a thumb back at the two men bringing up the rear while leaning in to talk to her at a more hushed volume. “Other agents aren’t even on the table, cause then yer just asking fer double the psych eval sessions.”
Conrad continues to visually scan the area as they pass through, though when Calazar asks him a question, he pats down his pockets before pulling out his phone, “Yes, Sir. I have it right here.” He flips through his own text messages, pretending that he’s looking over said file. Though he does eavesdrop a bit on Mercy’s conversation, “Isn’t that just twice the fun?” He speaks of this double psych evaluation. There’s a fleeting smile that crosses his lips, before he once more focuses, well, on his surroundings again.
The dead-eyed Bespectacled young woman leads them to what appears to be a check point. A reinforced steel door with a badge check. She swipes her and it opens with a *click* and then they are into a brighter lit back area with a lot more doors but the same thin carpet. Its a short walk and they walk through an open wall, no door, into a brightly lit break room with a microwave, two refrigerators, cabinets with snacks, and several kurieg coffee machines. There is a doctor in scrubs eating a microwaveable dinner who looks with some curiousity at the Feds with front desk girl. The front desk girl says to Mercy , “There is no one dateable here at all.” and the scrub wearing doctor kind of pouts into his dinner. She continues on while popping a k-cup into a machine and begins to make a cup for Mercy while the men are left to their own devices. “Do you do a lot of travel, I imagine it must be a night here a night there.” and that bite of her lip again before she suggests, “Just a night.” Meanwhile Calazar keeps his hands in his pockets and while Mercy is distracting the front desk girl he comments to Conrad , “Double back and see if you can find the security room or a morgue medical terminal. Just psyhically persuade anyone you run into that you are going to meet Doctor McFannan, we’re already past initial security so they should be suspectible to believing.” he says in a much quieter voice and then says, “I think the bathroom is down the hall.” much louder and providing Conrad with an excuse to split off. If he follows through he finds access to a Morgue behind a keycard scanner a few yards away and some scrub wearing middle-aged woman with her nose in a clipboard walking down the hall opposite him.
Conrad was actually looking for that moment to break off, but at Calazar’s instruction, he nods firmly. “Ah.. thank you.” There’s even a clearing of his throat that follows. With that said, he backtracks down the path which they had taken and gets a better looks at the hallways which they’d passed but never got a chance to investigate. And no, he walks casually, as someone would if they were searching for the bathroom or returning back towards the lobby for whatever reason. There’s no Mission Impossible snooping around going on just yet. He knows there’s most likely cameras.
Conrad is able to find access to a Morgue behind a keycard scanner with a scrub wearing middle-aged woman walking down the hall with her nose in a clipboard. On his way here he passed a bathroom should he need a place to double back. Now it is just a matter of how he will gain access to the Morgue and its computer terminal with the keycard scanner thwarting him at the moment.
They’re in. That affirming *click* says they’ve at least gotten past one obstacle and now the real work can begin, which in the case of Mercy seems to be employing a level of sociability and charm even she didn’t know she had. While miss spectacles sets up the Keurig, she idles by doing another smooth elbow-led lean into the nearby counter, much closer to the woman now, and holds her captive with rapt attention and a devilish smirk. “No? Coworkers all as lively as their subjects?” She asks while sliding a pointed look over to the rejected man in scrubs just trying to eat his meal. Easily overhearing Calazar tasking Conrad, Mercy intensifies the game a little since the other woman had made her interest well known. “.. A night here, a night there.” She echoes, grinning just a bit wider so her teeth show. “No real ties to any one place. Might like it here a little more than the last city, though. It’s got some uniquely nice sights.”
“How do you like it?” the front desk girl asks Mercy as she pulls the disposable coffee cup out having filled it up and sliding it over to her with a slender hand and nails painted with red and white stripes. It sounds like she’s asking how she likes her coffee, but clearly the flirting has entered inuendo stage. Calazar meanwhile reamins statuesque not blinking, not breathing, more or less drawing little to no attention to himself a trick of the undead while others are distracted.
Spotting the woman in the scrubs walking down the hall towards his direction, Conrad plays lost and somewhat confused as he makes his way down that same hall, his gaze looking at doors and reading signs on walls. In his confusion, he bumps into her and he’s hoping that he’s able to cut the keycard off of her lanyard in that motion with a quickly produced knife that he pulls out of his FBI official messenger bag. “Whoops. I’m sorry. I was.. ” He laughs sheepishly, “I was looking for the… Men’s room?” Does he look embarrassed? Oh yes he does. To further keep her distracted, he psychically reaches out to her, hoping that he can lean upon her emotions of pity, generosity and even logic to see that this poor boy needs help. “Did I pass it somehow?” If this works, maybe with her wanting to help, she won’t notice that she might be missing something or other.
The middle-aged Doctor makes a surprised “Oh!” as Conrad makes a show of bumping into her, his stealthy fingers swiping the keycard from her. A quick glance indicates she is a Medical Examiner so likely has very broad access through the facility. When the weight of his psychic suggestion hits, she just folds and nods. “Its just back over here.” she says while holding the clipboard to her chest and walking with Conrad towards both bathrooms and pointing them out. She waits to see if there is anything else and if not she has places to be, probably!
When she leads him all the way back to where he’d already passed, Conrad can’t help but look all the more embarrassed now. “Haha. I am so blind. Thank you.” And with that, he’ll disappear into the bathroom and wait until she departs before he decides to exit and try that keycard on the morgue door.
“Piping hot and intense, with maybe just a little bit of sugar.” Mercy answers with her head cocked to one side and the grin persisting. It’s been so long since she smiled this much it’s starting to make the muscles in her face sore but she soldiers on while Conrad is having his Mission Impossible moment elsewhere sans the music to really solidify the experience.
The front desk girl bites her lower lip again and gets a packet of pure cane sugar and empties the whole thing into the cup of coffee while watching Mercy with her just so smooth elbow lean. “I like mine cold brew with ice and shaken. You know a little messy.” she teases and it is in the height of this sapphic back and forth Calazar finally speaks, “Could you call Doctor McFannan here, while we enjoy the coffee?” it seems plans are more important than getting strange. Meanwhile Conrad is able to use the stolen keycard from Doctor Grey to enter the morgue. No one in this large cold space with the wall of coolers and tables for the examination. There are several computers near every table. They look like they require a keycard and a username with password to access. Conrad has half the equation can he hack in or play password roulette to get in to alter records?
Going up to the first console, Conrad studies it for a moment, presses a few buttons to see how it all works then cracks his knuckles and prepares to get down to business. “I’ve seen this done in the movies. How hard could it be?” Using that same keycard, he has it scanned. This might probably be easier with his own laptop, but he’ll try all of the tricks that he knows to attempt to access and break into the computer system. He plugs in a USB drive to help him along.
“Messy, but refreshing. Invigorating.” Mercy agrees while throwing in a couple extra suggestive adjectives for good measure. It’s only when Calazar speaks up that she kind of snaps out of what ever this is she’s gotten way too invested in, gesturing to the man while Front Desk Girl finishes preparing her coffee. “Right, yes, if it’s not too much trouble.” Surely it isn’t when someone so roguishly charming is on the line, and with a swift hand Mercy also produces a small notepad and pen from her pocket- the latter of which she holds up when pressing her thumb to the top so the tip extends with an audible *click*. “And here, in case you’re free to show me around town sometime..” She scribbles ‘Agent Pots’ on a piece of paper along with a phone number with a DC area code, tearing it from the notepad and sliding it over to the girl. It is the number to an IHOP in the DC area, but hopefully she won’t know that.
The front desk girl snaps out of it too with a blush and goes, “Oh uh yes… Um.” and she walks away from Mercy and Calazar to the eastern wall where there is a callbox. She presses it and speaks, “Doctor McFannan, to the main breakroom. Doctor McFannan to the main breakroom. Thank you.” and then walking back all sheepishly she watches as Mercy allegedly provides her digits and she takes them slipping them into her back pocket with a girlish smile. It really made her night Mercy , to bad IHOP will shatter her dreams! Meanwhile Conrad is unable to crash the matrix with his hacking skills. First attempt failed and there is a warning two more attempts before full lockout. He did just hear the intercom message for Doctor McFannan and he has a badge with a doctors name, there is a intercom box in this room, he could try hacking again two more attempts before it does a lockout and potential security incident, or he could try something else inentirely. After Mercy rizzes front desk girl with her digits Calazar suggests to Mercy “Why don’t you have her give you a tour of the facility, since we will be spending some time here on and off over the next few days. Maybe the security room.” the implication to distract her and maybe help cover up their movements as the doctor who needs to be mesmerized is coming to Calazar
“Shit…” Conrad murmurs under his breath as his fingers keep typing, because that’s what all hacking movies show us. “Okay. Let’s try this one again. This time, with feeling.” Whatever genre of movie he’s thinking about, it’s a mix of random things. Hearing a familiar name over the intercom makes him take pause briefly, but he continues on with this work just typing away.
Whatever mix of genres and expectations Conrad is drawing upon it seems to have worked as the young man breaks into the Morgue’s records. The list of cases all 17 of them are there now he just has to remove any commentary or records suggesting anything more than a serial killer which will take some time!
“Thank you kindly, ma’am.” As Front Desk Girl walks to the callbox Mercy makes a point of intently watching her do so; just in case the other employee in the room has been paying attention to their exchange and needs anymore reason to dine elsewhere. As the IHOP number is stowed away she reaches for her cup of coffee finally, tilting down to cleanly spit her gum out into a nearby wastebin before sipping. Slow. What can be seen of her eyes keeping contact with the other girl while she ‘mmm’s audibly. “It’s perfect.” This is still an act, right? Who knows. She catches onto Calazar’s plan though and perks up with enthusiasm. “An excellent idea! It would really help to be more familiar with the premises as a whole, don’t want us getting lost in here.”
Things are going relatively smoothly for Conrad who is now in the process of sanitizing the files and Calazar is awaiting Doctor McFannan now Mercy just needs to accidentally destroy or delete any records of them on the cameras and it is a clean in and out… or given they all have fake identities she could just hook up with front desk girl in a morgue somewhere the hottest thing you can do around dead bodies. While Conrad is working though the records it is now basically automatic and just a process running so when the BEEP and CLICK of the door can be heard he must decide, bluff or hide!
Mercy is already starting to head out of the room at an eager pace, beckoning Front Desk Girl along with an impish grin like they’re really just sneaking off to go snog somewhere. “I’d love to see the security room, bet it’s especially cozy. And private.” Then she makes a show of clearing her throat and glancing over to Calazar before she’s gone around the corner of the entryway. “I’ll be back shortly, sir. Please try the coffee, it’s exceptional.”
Things were going smoothly and, for the most part, Conrad ‘s job was done. The sound of the door unlocking, though, throws him into motion. He makes sure that everything looks as they should look. Untouched as can be, before looking for a cabinet to hide in, a metal table to lie on and drape himself with a white sheet or something to just hide behind. As he’s not certain how long this person will be in here for, he might want to find a hiding spot closer to the door in case he needs to make an exit suddenly, so in a closet close to the door it is.
The Front desk girl adjusts her glasses again and offers a kind of polite I really want to leave in a hurry smile to Calazar before beckoning for Mercy and they are off. While walking she girl talks, “It must be rough being in such a guy dominated space like Law enforcement.” and also, “You must not get a lot of chance to relax,” and a few hallways away they are nearing what appears to be a reinforced door with a keycard scanner. “I don’t have access, we’ll have to knock.” she admits to Mercy although do they want to knock or do they want to wander those bespectacled eyes suggest! Meanwhile Conrad has successfully hidden in a medical cabinet the size of a small closet. Who should come in but the scrub wearing doctor who was eating dinner and… middle-aged doctor who he stole the badge from they begin looking around to see if she dropped it in here!
Conrad isn’t a tiny person, so it’s pretty cramped in here. When the two doctors enter, he becomes perfectly still, like a statue and from out of a little crack through the cabinet door, he observes what they’re up to. He knows that it would be difficult to exit the cabinet and then sneak out the main door without being seen. At least one of them might catch some motion going on from out of the corner of their eye. Looking down at the keycard in his hand, then looking over at the console he was just using, he figures he won’t need it anymore, right? Carefully, he places the card onto the floor, before pushing it to slide over towards somewhere beneath one of the tables. He then slowly and quietly closes the closet door once more. In his mind, he’s hoping that once they find it, they just leave.
“Ugh, you don’t know the half of it. Agent Martin in particular is a real piece of work. Don’t get me wrong, man’s good at his job, but he thinks he’s God’s gift to women and acts like it. At least you get to work with real intellectuals fer the most part.” Now that they’re out of earshot of the breakroom it’s really time to dish about workplace woes, there’s even some hand motions from the one not holding her coffee cup. As they near the door and the need to knock is mentioned, Mercy considers that there must be someone present on the other side still but pushes the matter anyway; smiles and teasing tone ever-present. “Go fer it. I’m sure there isn’t anyone here who could look at you and say ‘no’.”
Now Conrad is able to steathily plant the keycard and slide it out into the open. Something draws the pair of doctors towards him and they pick it up before looking around and they begin to chat about the recent murders and how weird the bodies are with so many defensive wounds from biting. It seems like they are not in a hurry to leave, but they are kind of meandering that way while chatting work. Meanwhile elsewhere the Front desk girl knock knock knocks on the door and it opens to reveal a portly guy with a budwieser mustache in a rent-a-cop uniform. “Yeah?” he asks with a look at the Front Desk Girl like he has no idea why she’s kocking and then curiously looks at Mercy whom he clocks as a FED and adds, “What’s going on?”
At long last, it was time to do The Thing. Mercy reaches into the windbreaker for her wallet, lifts it up and flips it open to show her credentials like this is just routine for her, though the added bit of panache is surely to impress her companion. “Agent Pots. Sorry to bother you sir but I’m here with a couple of my fellows to follow up on an investigation, we’ll be spending a good bit of time in this facility and I’ve been tasked with getting the lay of the land, so to speak. Given the sensitive nature of these cases, that includes assessing your security system and checking for any potential blind spots in the feeds. We want to be sure this place is up to snuff, you understand.”
For now, Conrad will just uncomfortably sit in his little cubby hole hiding spot and listen in on the discussion. At some point, he struggles to reach for his phone and send out a text message to Calazar, just wondering if, you know, some emergency alarm could trigger at some point or… whatever. Take your time, No rush.
Mercy is able to smooth talk her way into the security room. Its a wall of monitors probably one for every exit, one for every morgue, one for ever security door internally. So about 24 which is how the guard missed Conrad on the computer earlier but Mercy and Front Desk Girl are able to enter and the portly rent-a-cop begins to give Mercy the run down about the security protocols none of which have been followed by anyone since Mercy and Calazar and Conrad had arrived. The room is stuffy clearly locked up most of the time, has its own coffee maker and minifridge.
A gregarious and spanish accented voice says over the intercom, “Doctor <static> please report to the break room. Doctor <static> please report <static>.” and just like that without knowing who is being called, the two Doctors decide to check it out and thus give Conrad his opportunity to escape after they depart the morgue.
Mercy nods and ‘Uh huh’s as the guard drones on, her chin ticked up as she prowls through the room like she is in fact thoroughly analyizing every monitor and bit of machinery with a critical eye. What she’s really looking for is the main computer powering it all; it may not wipe the feed recordings, but at least it might shut them off long enough for the group to make their very suspicious escape. Especially in Conrad’s case.
Conrad waits for a moment before he allows himself to exit the tiny closet and stretch out his limbs. Before he leaves the room, he goes back to the console which he was working on to ensure that everything is order and then he’s gone. He wanders his way down the hall towards the lobby for now, just keeping an eye on things out there, before tapping out another message to Calazar Files cleaned.
There is a text back to Calazar and Mercy at the same time: McFannan dealt with, meet back at the car. Meanwhile Mercy can see the server rack powering the monitors under the desk with a bunch of fans whirring and lights on. They have multiple power cables pluged into the back and video cords and the like. There are 6 that run the entire security network. The guard is pointing out the cameras rotating ability by using the front camera to track Calazar walking back to the car the live image of him causing paranoia, distress and confusion for anyone looking at it the security guard and front desk girl.
With one glance at the monitor following Calazar she quickly averts her gaze, the other two in the room left to risk the consequences watching him will cause while Mercy discreetly checks her phone for the text she felt come in. Then it’s time to use her improvised wildcard methods; she sidles in towards Front Desk Girl like she means to steal a brush of physical contact while the guard is distracted, leaning in closer, closer- and oops! Her entire cup of coffee seems to tilt a little too far down (in reality she tossed its contents very intentionally to try and get the power cords near the back) and the server rack is given a hefty dose of caffeine. She makes sure to gasp in horror accordingly. “Aw hell, my bad! I hope they don’t take that off yer paycheck!”
For whatever reason, Conrad remembers that he could be having coffee right now. Rather than just milling around in the lobby, he works his way back to break room to do just that. Looking at his watch, he wonders if the others are finishing up or what.
The front desk girl is all smiles despite her dead-eyes but then whoops Mercy throws the coffee on the sensitive electronics and there is a smell of burnt coffee in the air as the rent-a-cop goes, “No no no, fuck!” and quickly picks up a phone and calls support, “The cameras are down, the servers got wet!” and the Front Desk Girl looks white as a sheet, grabbing Mercy’s hand as she adds, “Agent Pots has to meet up with her boss.” and she quickly beats a hasty retreat!
The fake FBI lead is standing outside the car in near 0 degree freezing weather and finally texts Conrad, “I am outside, come open the card.”
Conrad looks down at his phone when he receives a text. “Damnit.” Reaching into his pocket to retrieve the car keys with one hand, he uses the other to quickly type out: OMW
This might be the first time Mercy has held hands with someone before, and what a story it would be to their adopted grandkids one day. Briefly looking surprised by how well her YOLO strategy worked as the monitors start to go dark in rapid succession, she gladly lets Front Desk Girl grasp her hand and lead her out of that room at a hurried pace before she can have yet another showdown with some flavor of overweight security guard. At least this one doesn’t have a cart.
Now Mercy just has to escape the affections of Front Desk Girl who is quickly hurrying her down the hall and back towards the lobby. Meanwhile Calazar and Conrad are outside in the SUV likely awaiting their slick departure. During that time Calazar asks Conrad, “So are you going to be attending class this thursday?” you know casual conversation stuff.
Mercy gives the other girl’s hand a squeeze before pulling her off to the side of the hall and to a stop after they’ve put some distance between themselves and the security room. “I must go.” She says, firm and serious, heralding the moment in every movie where the renegade must part ways with their love interest- for now. Then she’s breaking away to try and make her run for the exit with a hand up to wave farewell. “Call me later! We’ll grab some pancakes!”
Even before he reaches the car, Conrad has it unlock for the boss and even warm up, so that when they all get in, it’s nice and toasty. “Where’s Pots?” He asks, till sticking to character.
Calazar looks out the tinted windows as Mercy is jogging out into the cold waving to Front Desk Girl who will inevitably have their heart broken, hunt Mercy down, and become a member of the Vigil most likely all from being catfished by a redhead. Calazar says, “I believe she is coming.”
The second Mercy is outside and in view of the vehicle, slip sliding around every few feet, she’s waving her arms in that frantic ‘START THE CAR!’ way even though it’s clearly already running but for all she knows Front Desk Girl might be a stage 5 clinger and all she can think about is how close on her heels the girl might be. Almost skidding right past the passenger door in her haste thanks to the ice, she grabs the handle, wrenches it and throws herself into the vehicle. “Go! Drive!” She urges Conrad.
Watching Mercy slip and slide right into the passenger seat in her hurry gets an amused look from Conrad. With an arched brow and a humored smile, he asks, “So Pots, I heard you got a hook up. Nice.” He does, however, start the car and begins to drive back to their home base.