Scene #726: First BloodBank of America

Owner	Pose
Eric Bane	Really, it feels kind of weird. And it's a little unreal to think about. Which is why it's taken Eric this long to follow up on that 'blood bank' lead from Marrik. Seems to good to be true, even with the warning that not-so-nice people run places like this and there's a territorial thing going on. Not having to hunt for blood all the time is just a wonderful concept. He's not very good at that 'hunting' part. Just as often as not, his 'hunting' trips end up being kind of like a kitten pouncing on a Doberman-- comical as well as ineffectual. At the moment, Eric is in the lobby of the place, just trying to figure out what to do. How do you approach someone in a place like this about the subject of drinking blood. Do you just walk up to the receptionist and go 'hey yeah I'm a vampire, can I have some blood?'. Thankfully that weird Jedi Mind Trick that his vampire powers do to mundane people's minds should keep him hidden as long as he stays out of direct sight, so he has some time to figure out what to do.
Marrik	In all honesty the building was little better than a walk in clinic and at a glance had an assortment of 'regulars' that would sell for quick cash as often as allowed, a bored receptionist, and interestingly enough there was an armed guard. This guard looked, to be blunt, bored out of his mind and possibly a little overweight. Why did a blood bank need a guard? This wasn't a rough neighborhood and if anything it was a somewhat nice-ish part of town. When Eric stepped in the guard sniffed once, sneezed, then jerked a thumb to the receptionist. Interestingly enough the desk jockey's coffee cup had an odd sort of glyph emblem that might be taken to be some sort of new age thing ordered off the internet, except it was the mark of the local clan and they did not take kindly to it being used lightly. "Hello sir," Somewhat perky girl that addressed Eric after looking up from her paperwork. "How can I help you today?"
Eric Bane	Eric leans back a little, tilting his head away as the guard sneezes. And nods at the direction. "Thank you." He heads toward the receptionist, sending a look to the mug. He doesn't recognize the symbol. Except... what did he say? "Uh, I... I'd like to speak to someone regarding, the uh, policies on..." He pauses there-- shit, what does he call it? It's not like he really needs to continue. Daytime would have seen him coming in with a large black umbrella, he has a distinct pallor to his skin, and when he opens his mouth to speak the fangs are on full display. And unlike HIM, some vampires actually have the ability to sense the presence of other vampires. So Eric may not have to finish the sentence.
Marrik	The receptionist made a small 'ah' noise. "ID please?" She sounded pleasant in a sort of inoffensive professional way, but she held her hand out expectantly.
Eric Bane	Eric nods, and produces his ID. It's a human ID card, but Eric doesn't really know what to do here aside from, well, hand her his ID! It's does indeed introduce him as Eric Bane. Even if it was made before he became a vampire. It's still pretty obvious that he's a vampire, he's not good at hiding it.
Marrik	Look from card. Look to Eric. The receptionist made a small clicking noise before handing the card back. "New in town Sir? Ever since this multiverse thing happened it's been playing merry hell with our customer base." She sounded apologetic as she explained things. "If you'll just go down the hall, second door on the right, one of our technicians will be able to help you." Eric might have heard a faint buzz as a button under the desk was pressed. Was that good? Bad?
Eric Bane	Eric nodded to the question. "Yes ma'am." As for the Multiverse? "I can imagine it's been very difficult." He's not insincere, in fact he's completely serious. He imagines the paperwork has been hell. He's just trying to stay professional, too. It's hard, because he doesn't know what's going on. However, when he's pointed to the room down the hall, he nods. "Thank you, ma'am," he offers, and heads into that room. The buzz doesn't bother him too much, he figures there's thing in place that keeps the normal people from knowing there are vampires here. He just heads into the room...
Marrik	Inside was a pale skinned woman in a knee length lab coat sitting on a padded exam table. "Hello there," fangs were visible when she spoke. "I understand you are a man of particular needs?" She wasn't bad looking, but there was a way she moved that seemed 'off' for most people, and would bring to mind a big cat eyeing an unknown.
Eric Bane	Eric blinks at the woman, tilting his head slightly. "Hello." To the question he nods. "That's right." Yeah, his paranoia meter was going positively insane now. He's just glad he'd called Corvo to let him know where he was. But for the time being, Eric kept his head down, trying not to look expectant. He understands it's a major thing he's asking.
Marrik	"Yet you are not of clan or even these lands." The woman frowned at Eric as she considered the problem dumped in her lap. "I will be blunt. Whoever your source is should not have existed. We are a... family practice. Look out for eachother, all that you understand? We are not charity and do not have the resources to be such. So to have random people drop in is bad for business. Do you understand my problem?" She kept to her side of the room, but the way she moved reenforced 'big cat stalking' vibe.
Corvo Attano	Hm... Corvo could, totally, come in and, probably flash his Union ID around. He could. He probably should. It's probably protocol here. But truth be told he's having a hard time with the idea. He's kind of a wanted criminal back home, and he's not used to being able to handle problems diplomatically. He doesn't tend to handle them with just, buckets of violence, mind, but he's not used to being able to stroll in and flash an ID around. Now he's not sure on the capabilities of most vampires. But his eyes often tell him things that he just shouldn't be able to see. The lines of security systems, the vision ranges of his enemies, the very sounds he makes. So he might be able to discern a way in here, without being noticed. Because why do the easy thing and throw your Union cred around when you can sneak in like a paranoid bastard and destroy any and all credibility with those whom you're dealing with and possibly get in trouble? Sounds like a plan! :/
Eric Bane	Eric nods. That was mentioned too, that it's unlikely they'd do this for free. "I wasn't expecting charity," he assures the woman. "I came in knowing full well I'd have to give something back. And I'm prepared to do that. I work in espionage and discreet wetworks." Hard to believe, if his subtlety with his vampirism is any indication. But then again, he can't really help what his strain of vampirism does to him.
Marrik	"Even so," The woman looked irritated. Why did these things happen on her watch? Why not on somebody else's? Her body was tense. "We cannot have leaks, so the source must be found." Her dark eyes looked Eric over, "Would you be willing to give us your supplier so we may see if he is just another link in the chain, or our primary?"
Eric Bane	Eric raises an eyebrow. "Would you?" he inquires. He's not going to waste her time. If she didn't want to make a deal, he'd be on his merry way. No big, right? Well, he hoped not. "I can just tell him to remove your name from his references list and we can be done with it."
Marrik	"I have no assurances this person would do as you ask." The woman did not look in the least happy as two toughs entered the room dressed in orderly scrubs.
Eric Bane	When she speaks, Eric reaches up to his earpiece, though he makes it look like he's just scratching his ear instead. And he turns the receiver on. Corvo should be able to hear now. "Oh this doesn't look suspicious at all," he notes. "C'mon, it doesn't have to go down like this. You won't like the outcome if it does. Let me just leave, I'll be on my way. You don't have to waste precious manpower on trying to beat my head in."
Corvo Attano	And that's the signal, as it were. Corvo's going to have to down some serious water after this. But after a moment the door behind them would swing open softly, and a man in a skull mask whispers, his voice dull and distant behind the obscuring metal of the mask. "There's no need for any of this... A bit of unpleasantness, a bit of worry, but nothing more. Yours would not be the first organization I've taken apart a piece at a time, but as it is, this would be a good time for us to just wander out of here. I am his mentor. And I am NOT happy. But misunderstandings... happen. We will be going now. One way, or another."
Marrik	The woman's eyes went wide and even though she realized just how bad an idea taking Corvos on was the two wide bodies were more or less on auto and hadn't gotten the stand down order so immediately rushed Mr. Skull Mask.
Eric Bane	Oh, no you didn't. Eric's eyes narrow as the thugs rush Corvo. Suddenly Eric dissolves into shadows and swings a fist at the back of one of the thug's head. Not just swung a fist, said fist was engulfed in shadows as well. It's not likely to feel great. Y'know that whole 'not pulling punches' thing? Eric's not. He knows he's pretty weak compared to most in the Multiverse, but that doesn't stop him from trying. Just lets him know he doesn't HAVE to pull his punches!
Corvo Attano	Corvo's answer is simple. He leaps free of the two heavies, leaps again... and the dart shoots out- it's more like a cross between a large syringe and a very small crossbow bolt- it'd hurt, do a bit of damage, and inject the first thug with a heavy dose of some sort of knockout drug. There's a quick blur of his hand and another dart is being sent at the other one, the leap carrying him to a place beside Eric when he finishes his punch. He turns to the younger man, his voice low. "You and I are going to have a conversation when this is over and done with." It's a low, tight promise.
Marrik	Humans as your daytime grunts were great; no deep seated alarms set off, could walk around in daylight, and it gave your wannabes something useful to do. Unfortunately against two vampires? The woman merely buried her face in her hands as she watched the two get taken apart and finally, after the two collapsed... "This.... admittedly is far messier than I thought." She sounded calm as she looked between Corvos and Eric. "Those two walk him out, rough the fledgeling up so he knows better. Everyone walks away no fuss." Yet she stood as if she intended to fight.
Eric Bane	"I did try to warn you," Eric points out. "Nobody else has to get hurt. We leave, I let this friend of mine know to remove your name from his list of contacts to send off-world vampires to for help. That's it. Better yet, nobody in your world has to know about this."
Corvo Attano	His voice is low and tight. "He needs to learn it, but physical violence rarely makes a good teaching tool. I will... coach, him. Rest assured of that." He seems to extrude an air of predatory waiting of his own, the brand on the back of his hand boiling softly with slowly shifting shadows, every now and again. He looks cool, collected... and ready for violence, should it be needed. His voice is, almost gentle though, behind the mask. "...This can be a minor issue for you. A very minor issue. Or it can be a major one, and big things in your life can change. I doubt your superiors would be less suspicious of you chucking my friend out over here then if he, simply, never left at all. I assume they would think you'd, disposed of him. Yes? I can accomplish this. This does not need to negatively effect you, personally."
Marrik	This was something like a lynx facing a lion over a territory dispute and so the poor lab tech backed down, offering both hands palm forward. "Easy there, no trouble. Just trying to keep every wannabe and brain dead tween delusional from those damned movies knocking down our door."
Eric Bane	Eric sends a look at Corvo, now that he can. It's a chagrinned look. Yes, he knows he's in trouble. He should have told Corvo where he was going BEFORE this happened. However, he also winces a little at the mention of 'those damned movies'. Ick. "I don't sparkle in the sunlight," Eric assures her. "And I can promise I'm not delusional or a 'tween. I'm thirty." Is that what it is, then? Maybe she's not convinced he's a vampire?
Corvo Attano	"He's not a wannabe. He's a man starving to death and trying not to die. Nothing more. Your... sympathy, for him, will be noted." His eyes are thin behind the mask- not able to be seen, but the thinness in the voice might be noted. He lays a hand on Eric's shoulder, the head tilting a little to look over at him, and then he jerks his head. "Now's not the time. We'll be going." And then he, picks, Eric up, setting him over his shoulder, cautioning him. "...Don't move." A glance at the tech? And then he's, gone. Just like that. The door swings slowly, but there's no sign of him. He's gone. They both are.
Marrik	"No, you clearly are not." The woman reached for her belt and double tapped a button on what looked like a pager. "One pint then." She looked to the other two vampires. "We try keeping a low profile and not ask too much from the... donors." The predatory stance seemed to at least mostly go out of her stance, but she was what she was. When the two vampire left she slumped onto the exam table and started cursing in yiddish.
Eric Bane	Suddenly he's being picked up and what the hell is this? "H-hey, you're not helping the illusion that I'm not still wearing kid vampire pants like this--" His statement probably got cut off before that, but it still deserved being said. And then things are passing by at a massive speed and... Finally it stops. Is this...? It is. For Marrik? A swish as the door opens, a blur, and then Eric seems to literally APPEAR out of nowhere, looking chagrinned.
Marrik	Marrik looked up from the computer at the edge of his counter. Unlike the tent he used last time he met Eric, this place had far more creature comforts. The library portion of the shop had a couple wingback chairs and a table for drinks. The display cases on the shop portion of the place was far sturdier than simple card tables, and at least for a few there were locked glass covers to prevent casual pickpocketing. One of the locals, a dark skinned elf, frowned at Eric and growled low before making room. "Mind sending a warning before you pop in like that buddy?"
Eric Bane	Giving a sheepish look, Eric steps a little to the side away from the elf and replies, "Sorry about that. A... friend of mine dropped me off here. While he was running faster than the speed of sound." Which he must have been, to get Eric here. He looks around. "Do you happen to know where the shopkeeper is?" he inquires.
Marrik	Drow jerked a thumb at the counter where Marrik was doing book keeping as Sparks flew here and there to handle customer questions. The place wasn't very crowded and there was as much idle chatter as actual shopping. A few moments later Marrik looked up and quirked an eyebrow at Eric before motioning him to come on in.
Eric Bane	Eric nods to the elf. "Thank you," he offers, before looking Marrik's direction. At the gesture to come in, Eric heads in that direction. When he's close enough, he notes quietly, so not one can hear, "You probably don't want to refer people to one of those places you told me about anymore. They have this policy of kicking your ass if you're not one of their guys." He doesn't want to say the name, just in case someone /is/ listening.
Marrik	Marrik nodded slowly, "Was afraid of that." He saved/exited before looking over to Eric and letting out a low whistle. "You look like a mile of bad road man." Then he glanced behind Eric to see how busy things were for a moment before asking, "How hard up are you for a drink?"
Eric Bane	With a shake of his head, Eric noted, "It's not that bad. I went there to see how hard it'd be to get the ball rolling, so to speak. That ball's not going anywhere. Which was why I went now, before it got too bad. I was expecting trouble."
Marrik	Marrik nodded slowly as he seemed to mouth without actually saying anything. Then he refocused on Eric, "Got a friend on the line," ear tap even though he didn't have an earpiece in, "Trying to figure out how bad my lists are outdated." He paused and frowned at something before nodding again. "Worst case I can make a donation, but you'll understand if I frown on direct withdrawl." Too many strains passed on that way if the target lived after it was over.
Eric Bane	Eric nods. "Yeah, I understand that. Especially considering my strain's passed on by virus," he notes. "It doesn't affect humans if they don't die from being drained of blood, but that's just my world. I don't know how it would work here." He'll go quiet after that, so that Marrik can finish his call.
Marrik	Marrik nodded again as if listening before turning back to Eric. "OK got a couple folk giving me pointers since We never had blood drinkers back home." Flesh eaters yes. Blood? Nah. "Do have to ask if you've tried going off of animal blood or if that'd cause problems." If it could work there were hundreds of slaughterhouses he could go to for blood easy.
Eric Bane	Eric shakes his head. "Synthetic blood or animal blood won't work," he notes. "I've tried animal blood. Tastes like eating dirt and cardboard. Rose has tried synthetic, she says it's like a human trying to survive on nothing but water. Has to be human blood."
Marrik	Marrik hrmed as he started typing and made a small 'o' sound. "See this is the exact thing this box is good. Narrowing list down." Mouseclick and a printer nearby "Friend of mine suggested the Tampa Bay Blood Shed. Tend to get wannabes and tween girls as honors but she says they treat client confidentially seriously."
Eric Bane	"That's what they said down at the other place," Eric replies. "Guess a lot of guys come in with glitter on their face, asking for blood." A sigh. "I swear that movie's gonna be the death of me on of these days."
Marrik	Marrik hrmed as he started typing and made a small 'o' sound. "See this is the exact thing this box is good. Narrowing list down." Mouseclick and a printer nearby. "There's also a bloodbath and beyond. Description puts it more a decorating and home needs place though. Guess if you have specialty needs like specific coffin wood or soil from wherever that'd be nice. They do have a lounge if that helps."
Eric Bane	"I don't need a coffin or soil," Eric replies. "I'm essentially just a walking corpse who drinks blood. No special needs where that's concerned. We kind of have it easy."
Marrik	Marrik mrphs soft and stood. "If you do not mind-" By this point Sparks had gotten pretty much everyone out of the store. "It may not be as good as a drink, but it should give you a little more wiggle room. As he moved power gathered in his hands. His plan was simply to infuse Eric with Life to help prop his body up. Of course it had trust issues since if Eric opened himself up Marrik could turn him into a minion no problem, at least temporarily. Of course he wouldn't do that, but still. Gamble.
Eric Bane	OK that's WEIRD. But there's a good thing about it all. For the last couple of days, he'd felt like he was on the verge of a massive headache. Feeding hadn't seemed to help it. Just another symptom of his deteriorating condition, he figured. Whatever Marrick was doing, it was making that sensation go away. Did that mean that Marrick could stave off his en-ghoul-ing? Since he knows this requires concentration, Eric stays quiet until Marrick's finished doing whatever it is that he's doing. Then he speaks up. "I think you just did something more than you expected. My condition's been deterioriating. Not too quickly, mind. Just I'm starting to get more... it's harder to think sometimes, particularly when I need to feed. And I always seem to have a headache, or feel like I'm about to get one. Whatever you did, it got rid of the 'imminent headache' feeling."
Marrik	Marrik frowns at Eric's explanation. "Mind giving me what information you can? I Want to help, especially since reports keep mentioning you showing up to help people." The magic he used was simply the same he used to infuse zombies with life and allow ghosts to manifest. It wasn't hard magic, just required more than normal. Deep breaths. "I am sure the union has information that can help. In the meantime it might be a good idea for regular visits. No charge or favors. You're trying to make the world less dark. For me that is enough."
Eric Bane	"Information? On this 'turning into a ghoul' thing?" Eric inquires. "All I really know about it is that it happens to vampires who don't get their creator's blood. They just sort of... deteriorate. I don't know why, or what causes it. Maybe the virus is still doing things to the vampire's body, and needs the creator's blood to turn it off or something." He pauses a moment, remembering something. "Rose thinks that if I can find an old enough vampire, that it could theoretically take the place of my creator's blood, and solve the problems. But I've tracked down two in my own world. Both have been real pieces of work. Nutjobs. One wanted my hands to sew on a mannequin he was making with human body parts. The other one wanted to display my torso in a glass case." He shakes his head. "I drank blood from both of them. And it didn't help. They weren't strong enough. All I got was excruciating pain." Pause, and he explains, "Vampires in my world can't normally drink each other's blood. We're all just walking corpses, and we can't drink the blood of corpses. So unless it's creator's blood, or the one drinking the blood is a half-vampire like me, it's actually harmful to drink another vampire's blood."
Marrik	Marrik frowns, "No offence man but those two seemed pretty well bonkers." He stepped to Eric's side of the counter and put a hand on the guy's shoulder. "We're going to find a way to keep you from going nutty." If he couldn't he'd stake Eric himself then burn the remains. "Other than the whole fear of going insane thing How've you been liking the multiverse?"
Eric Bane	Eric nods quickly as Marrik speaks of the first two vampires. "I'm starting to worry I'll end up like that. It seems to be an inevitability of the vampire condition." And then the question. "It's been a learning experience," Eric replies. "I think if I tried to expose myself to one weird thing a day, I could do that just by walking in a random direction. In an hour, weirdsville. Not a bad thing, just... weird."
Marrik	"Hi welcome to the multiverse." Marrik let out a good natured laugh. "I'm a necromancer that hates killing people. You're a vampire that basically has managed to remain a decent human being. I think we've both proven the only normal is abnormal."
Eric Bane	Eric takes a resigned expression at that, but it's not a negatively resigned one. "Seems like it," he agrees. Then he seems to remember something, an ironic thing to realized considering what it is he's remembered. "Oh I forgot... the amnesia hasn't cleared up, either. I'm told that's normal in my world, though, and that it probably won't until I fix the problem."