Dr. Adriana Carmichael: Adriana is sitting alone at a table in the corner. She's still in her formal medical whites, bulky medkit next to her chair parallel to the legs. Her long dark hair is down and her posture is somewhat less formal than usual. She appears to be nursing a glass of vodka and thinking to herself.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: The man walks into the bar, looking around as he places a cigarette between his lips. The man is a little more casually dressed then Adriana last saw...subtle touches, like black jeans instead of the slacks, and a red Renaissance-style lace-up shirt instead of the dress shirt. Harder to tell until you get up close, due to the same old leather trench coat over it all and the steal-toed Docs. His hair is hanging loose, unbound, and his face is clean-shaven.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: Adriana clasps her glass in a daintily gloved hand and downs the rest of the vodka before placing it back in the ring of perspiration left on the otherwise spotless table. She blinks up with a sharp gaze to a passing waitress. "I require another Grey Goose." she states, as shrill as ever.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: He glances over at the voice, brow raising. He smiles a little as he sees Adriana...a moment's pause, and he moves to the bar, picking up a bottle of Chivas Regal single malt and a glass. He pays quickly, with a tip, and makes his way to the good doctor's table. "Evening."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: Adriana blinks a dull gaze up to the man, reeking of liquor and disinfectant. She gives an emotionless smile. "I remember you." She slurs. "Please, dear.. Sitdown."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: Oh, dear. He smiles warmly to her, and sits opposite her, setting glass and bottle down. "How are you, Adriana?"

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She gives a sad laugh, shaking her head with a glance down to the table. "I wish I were dead." She looks up to him with an odd smile. Perhaps the good doctor.. has finally cracked. "And yourself?"

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "About half-a-millimeter above you." He smirks faintly and uncaps the bottle, pouring himself a tall glass. "Sorry to hear it."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: The waitress sets Adriana's glass to the table. With a frown, she quickly picks up the glass and sets it in another spot just inches away. After a tiny releived nod, she looks up to him. "Well, then.." She gives another weak laugh with a bleary gaze around the place.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: His lips quirk upward, and he picks up his glass, taking a hefty draught from it. "Yeah. I take it things aren't well with you and your significant other?"

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She nods, still looking idly over to the bar. Watching the other patrons enjoy their drinks. "I came home from a quite.. devastating day at the lab.. to find that he had left me. He's gone." Her tone sterile as always, if a bit slurred.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "...shit." He sighs. "I'm sorry, Adriana. I really, really am." The cigarette is put back in between his lips and flicked to life. The lighter goes away, and he exhaled the first drag, away from Adriana.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She doesn't seem to mind. Not nearly as alert as she usually is.. it's hard to tell if she even notices. "It's.. for the best. I know this. It just.. hurts." She wraps a gloved hand around her drink, still looking to the bar. "I came home.. expecting to have someone to talk to.. And.. didn't."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: He nods, sighing sadly. "Yeah...I know how hard that is." A hand comes up, running through his hair. "Is there anything I can do?"

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She gives another sad laugh and brings the glass to her skinny lips. "No, dear. I.. shouldn'thave bothered you. I apologize."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "No...it's fine, Adriana. Honestly, I don't mind." He smirks a little bit. "Besides my desire to honestly want to help, it takes my mind off my own problems."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She takes a long sip before setting her glass back in its designated ring. "You shouldn't aim to help me. It's a dangerous game."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "Yes, well." He takes another heavy drink of his glass, and chuckles a little. "I have a bad habit of that, I'm afraid. Getting involved in dangerous situations."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She flashes the man a tiny smile of disbeleif and a condescending nod. "I don't intend on putting anyone else in danger, Aerin. Not if I can help it. Though I do appreciate the gesture." A tiny pause, looking back over to the other patrons "More than you know."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: He purses his lips, but nods. "You're welcome. If there's anything I can do...you know I'm here. And that includes just listening."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She nods, looking back over to the man. "If I thought it would change the situation, I'd tell you everything. But it won't. I was a fool. I should have expected something like this to happen."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "Why do you think you were a fool?" His head cocks curiously.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She looks down to the table, fidgeting with her glass. Rotating it in its ring. "I became too high profile. And because of it.. my career is as good as over."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "High profile?" His head cocks a little. "I would think that would help...unless someone stole your research or something."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: "In a manner of speaking. I found out recently that I've been working.. for the competition. I've been on their recruitment list.. for quite some time I'd imagine. They have access to everything I've been working on."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: A wince. "Shit. Any legal recourse for that?"

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She gives a sad laugh, shaking her head "No, dear. Not when dealing with these types. They have the beuracracy wrapped around their little finger. As I see it, I have only two options in the matter.. neither of which are pleasant."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "What are they?" He takes another drink off the glass.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: "I could join with the competition.. or simply remain at the facility I'm located at. They have rather.. severe means for recruitment." She frowns with a glance down to the table. "They do.. horrible things. I couldn't live with myself.."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: He frowns a little bit. "Then option one doesn't sound so good. What's the negatives with option two?

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: "Breach of contract? I lose my liscence and all face in the medical community. Live out my existence hiding in a hole, performing no function. Productivity is the essense of living, Aerin. If I'm not being productive.. I may as well.. not be."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "So it's your conscience versus your life's work." He nods, sighing. A drag taken off the cigarette. "That's a tough call, Adriana...do you accomplish your life's goals, or sleep at night..." He thinks on it a moment.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She takes another long sip from her vodka. "Sleep is of no concern to me. It's been quite some time since I've had a lengthy amount of it, anyway. Either way.. I've lost everything. I've been terribly counterproductive.. then on top of it all, I've managed to push away the one person who could at the very least pretend to tolerate me."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: (top it all off. *slapes forehead* i must be sleepier than i thought)

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "Well, I'm tolerating you so far...but I know I'm probably a poor substitute for him. Or rather, not even a substitute." He sighs. "I'm sorry, Adriana."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She shakes her head and brings the glass back up to her skinny lips, downing the liquid. She sets the glass back in its ring. "You needn't be. It's not your place to feel sorry for me." She moves like she might try to push herself to a stance, then clumsily flops back down in the chair.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "I'm not feeling sorry for you. I am sorry about the situation you find yourself in. Sympathy...not pity." He sighs. "And I'm not sorry because I should be, or need to be. It's just...how I feel." A shrug of the shoulders.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She frowns and tries again, this time managing to rise to a stance. "You waste your time feeling that way toward me, dear. I'm not trying to be crass.. It's simply the truth." she leans down to pick up her medkit, nearly tripping over her chair in the process.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "Adriana..." He rises to his feet as well. "First off, I'm not wasting time feeling how I feel. And second, I can't not feel this way. If I could help the way I felt...well, I can't. None of us can." He sighs. "Can I drive you somewhere? I'm still sober...not even buzzed."

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: Adriana looks at him with a suspiscious squint and makes a stumble away from the table, catching her balance on the chair "That.. would be acceptable, dear."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: He nods and picks up his bottle, capping it tightly and moving to lead the way. He offers a hand to help her out, but makes to move to touch her without permission.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: Adriana shakes her head at the offered hand. Too proud it seems, though her stance would imply she could certainly use the help. She makes a pathetic stumble for the door behind the man.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: He nods and stays nearby, ready to catch her if she falls...just a step ahead. When they get to the door, he holds it open for her.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: Adriana stumbles through, out onto the sidewalk. She takes a deep breath, clinging her labcoat shut to keep out the cold ngiht air.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "This way." He gestures to the right. "I'm only a quarter-block down. Parking was surprisingly good tonight." He moves to lead her to the hunter-green hybrid, staying close but not in her personal space throughout. He hits the auto-locks when they get close, and moves to open the passenger door for her.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: Adriana stumbles along and finally takes a hand if its offered to help get into the car.

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: He does offer the hand, and helps her gently into the car. He makes sure that the coat is fully in the car--a man with a trench coat knows that danger--and shuts the door, moving around to his side. He slips in and starts the engine. "Where to?"

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: She rattles off the name of her upscale complex not too far away. Turning, she flashes him a somewhat more sincere smile than she's used to "Thank you, Aerin."

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: "Of course, Adriana. Any time." He gives her a smile, and then pulls out into traffic, driving off toward Adriana's home.

Dr. Adriana Carmichael: (and i'm about to fall asleep. *hugs*)

Aerin Thomas [Midtown Bar]: ((No prob, hon. *Hugs* Thanks for the scene.))