[h3][color=red][i]Bernard White[/i][/color][/h3]
[right][color=gray]Starring: Everyone[/color][/right]
[hr]

[right][color=gray][sub]Location: Monument > Stanton's Building > Stanton's Office -- Time: ~8:00PM[/sub][/color][/right]
	[color=gray]The good assistant answered him promptly, to which Bernard gives a grateful nod. [color=red]"Nice to see you,"[/color] the man only manages out so much before more members of the group arrive. The direction he was facing doesn't suit him well as the winds push against him awkwardly and aggressively, forcing him to pull his hood back up and turn away from the worst of the weather.[/color]

	[color=gray]First that Bernard can see is Roux and he says something in his native tongue, and if memory serves correctly the man has a French upbringing. An expression to attempt to understand what he said is painted clearly on his face until he corrects himself and mentions the sea. [sub][i]Is this the first I've heard of it?[/i][/sub] Russell. Fairly old-school in the way he dresses and acts sometimes, reminds him of those old noir films he was so fond of as a kid; even in the age of thrillers and the bizarre, there was something comfortably simple about those detective movies. [sub][i]All that to say, I think he's a fine man.[/i][/sub] Next up was Alex. A talented young woman, pretty intuitive with technology in a way he could never personally comprehend. Well, perhaps that's every millenial now. [sub][i]Or is she Gen Z? Not that it matters, I suppose.[/i][/sub][/color]

	[color=gray]There's the punk-clad Valerian. Years ago, Bernard would have been worse than skeptical of the young person, but they have their issues like anyone else, no more a saint or a sinner than he is. [sub][i]We actually may have something in common.[/i][/sub] Impossible to forget Emily's name, as from time to time others may have to interrupt her if she goes on too much of a tangent. He goes out of his way to thank her, even if she retreated the treats before he could get his paws on them. [sub][i]She's very attentive to what's around her. Inquisitive. Reminds me of me.[/i][/sub] And to Bernard's surprise is the one skulking around in the frigid shadows, Serena. [sub][i]Taken to the comforts of the world. Perhaps I can reach out to her...?[/i][/sub][/color]

	[color=gray]Light chatter ensues for a few minutes between a few of them, though everyone seems more than ready to head inside and find some real warmth. Even with the knot in his stomach as tight as it is, he couldn't help but enthusiastically agree with finding refuge inside. Linda leads them along, Bernard carefully allowing the others, namely the women, to go ahead of him. At this point in his life he doesn't even think about it, it's what he was raised to do and has done his whole life. [sub][i]While God is first, everyone else comes before me.[/i][/sub] Shortly they are inside and he takes the chance to remove his hood immediately, revealing the ponytail wrapped around the back of his neck. Linda allows everyone to board first, yet Bernard takes the rear so that he is closest to the doors beside the assistant. Once he is inside...[/color]

	[color=gray]Clean metal doors before Bernard clearly reflect his image. A man in his fifties, though rather dignified even in his casual utilitarian wardrobe, is wracked by bouts of paranoia and hardship. While he has had noticeable improvement over the last year, and more so with the group therapy as he no longer felt like an outcast, he can feel the looming wave of familiar anxiety about to crash down on him; personified by an early onset of sweat in his pits. With a quick sniff, he does his best to hide his demeanor by straightening himself up and pulling the front of his jacket center and downward. As far as nobody else in the elevator can tell he is unwell just from the ride, then he will get over it. [sub][i]But why is this all so familiar? The feeling is intense... How long have I been in here? Seconds... Days... Years...[/i][/sub] The doors slide open--[/color]

	[color=gray]The silent dread was palpable. Even Linda, the spearhead of this mini venture, nearly seemed glued to the floor. Bernard could feel his own heart beat in his chest, thudding heavily enough to be all that he hears until Linda's foray into the vaguely familiar hallway snaps him out of it. The elevator ride was a precursor to [sub][i]something else oh God what is happening?[/i][/sub] He does his best to slink around the doors first, ahead of anyone else in the group like a shepherd would navigate a new trail before their flock. The dim lights catch his attention first, one of the few that are functioning anyways. As he passes beneath them, he reaches out to one of the fixtures to take one of the broken bulbs. The fact some are working while others are broken is... irregular, to say the least. He is curious about their filaments, if they have burnt out or if they are simply broken in another way.[/color]

	[color=gray]What breaks him from this focus is once again Linda, this time when she called out for the good doctor. The way she stumbled and tried to keep herself together worried him, and he intends to rush to her side. The scene is grisly, [sub][i]demonic even[/i][/sub]. But this isn't a task he is immediately equipped to handle, even as his eyes are transfixed to what he sees before him. Nonetheless, he reaches out to Linda's shoulders to console her. His first thought is to keep everyone together. He almost misses the commotion of someone leaving the office from another exit. At this moment he instinctually turns to look at Russell and Serena, almost willing either one of them to give chase with his eyes alone, but chooses to say nothing. His expression is serious, yet at the same time horrified.[/color]

	[color=red]"Come, come Linda. Come. Look at me,"[/color][color=gray] Bernard will, if she is able and willing, turn her to look at his face.[/color] [color=red]"We need to let someone else take care of this."[/color] [color=gray]He spends the coming moments simply trying to keep him and anyone around him safe, keeping an eye on the structure around them if others decide to explore.[/color]