Night 52: West Wing, South Hall 1-B

[lookitmemama.livejournal.com]

[From here]

Another bare hallway, Asuka observed once she poked her head out of the F-A block and shined her light back and forth. Even when she left her room rather promptly, there was almost always a handful of patients coming or going. Maybe she had just been way too uptight tonight for this mission. But was that such a terrible thing? This initiative clearly displayed her commitment to the club. The eva pilot had to show Okita that she was determined, that she showed leadership qualities so she could rise through the ranks. Higher rank gave her access to better resources, which got her closer to getting the hell out of this place.

No, there was nothing wrong with a little hustle at all. The other new members could learn from her, certainly. Keeping her objectives in sight, Asuka kept following the hallway until it split into the common area that most patients used to rendezvous with others.

[To here]

Comments

[bodhiandspirit.livejournal.com]

It looked like Rita was ahead of the other patients, if the empty hall was any indication. It meant she was less likely to be delayed by some idiot's interference... but it also meant she was more likely to be targeted by a monster. That was a risk worth taking, however, if it meant moving at a pace that would allow her to actually accomplish something tonight.

Rita continued, shining her flashlight around the hall as she walked, not allowing a single shadow to escape her sight.

[bodhiandspirit.livejournal.com]

[idkmybfframen.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/991949.html?mode=reply)]

Another hallway full of not much, and he was still on his way.

[idkmybfframen.livejournal.com]

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/989523.html?thread=73456723#t73456723)]

[autophoenix.livejournal.com]

[ from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988120.html?thread=73456088#t73456088) ]

"Anyway. I'm glad you're okay, and after tonight, hopefully Edward will be, too." Hopefully. She needed this to work, and she wasn't going to stop praying until she saw the burns on Edward's pale skin heal away into nothing. She needed it more than he did, probably. Her jaw set in a rather telling way and she just tried to focus on the beam of her flashlight instead of her uncertainty, with marginal success.

It was hard to be optimistic in a place like this, when she'd seen just two nights ago how slow her healing really could be. Unwittingly, she looked down at her hands, completely healed now, but she could still imagine the deep gashes that the mirror shard had put into them. Still feel the pressure that failed to alert her to the fact that she was getting hurt, that it would be slow to heal.

Hopefully, it wouldn't become too much of a problem.

[vitale.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. I am too," she said with a smile, nodding. All in all, she could have gotten hurt much worse - a bruise was nothing. Especially considering what had happened to Edward ... "He'll be okay," Bella said, certainty lacing her words as she looked straight ahead. "I know he will be. I have faith in your ... ability?" she said with a laugh. "Especially after seeing it first hand."

Bella stopped walking after a few moments, turning to look at Claire. "Edward's room is that way," she told the blonde, pointing towards the left. "Do you know where your Uncle's room is? Since I know there are more boy rooms than there are girl rooms."

How strange, that there were so much fewer female patients than there were male.

[godforsaken]

[From here.]

The sight of an empty hallway was nothing worth taking note of any more aside from the fact that Sync could either have been really early or really late. Figuring that it didn't matter either way, he continued on without paying much mind to anything else. As soon as he left the patient blocks he'd planned to climb up the stairs to the second floor, and with that he'd improvise what'd he'd explore.

[witchoftruth]

[ from here ]

The next hallway proved to be fruitful, yielding Erika a bored looking young man who looked like he had plenty of time to kill. That was why she wasted no time in approaching him, shining her flashlight on his body to signal that she wanted to speak with him long before she actually approached him.

"Hello there," She greeted him, not even pausing before moving on. "Would you happen to be looking for something to do?" The possibility that he could have been waiting for someone was there, but he certainly didn't look like the kind that would be. There was something about the way he walked around aimlessly that tipped Erika off about his complete lack of useful things to do.

In any case, Erika hoped he would join her, because she would hate to waste time trying to find monster bait.

[fangirlfatale.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/987879.html?thread=73503463#t73503463)]

Actually, it wasn't so bad getting around without a flashlight. She could handle it. It did make it a little harder to see what was going on around her, but Morgan could still tell that there were only a few people around. None of them seemed threatening, so she ignored them and kept going forward. She wasn't positive she was heading in the right direction, but she'd heard enough about the way the cell blocks were laid out to be pretty confident.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/991949.html?thread=73662925#t73662925)]

[ai-no-minako.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988120.html?thread=73505752#t73505752)]

Okay, it was probably best to start with the areas she'd already visited. That meant she could head toward the field, but after considering that end of the hall for a minute Minako decided to start with indoors for the moment. It had been kinda cold outside lately, and she hadn't thought to bring her coat along when she left the room for the night. Maybe toward the central hall, then, where she'd met that really tall guy the night before and never gone anywhere from that. Yeah, that sounded like a good plan.

[ai-no-minako.livejournal.com]

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/989523.html?thread=73506899#t73506899)]

[savagesolitude.livejournal.com]

[From here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988120.html?thread=73523928#t73523928)]

Judging from the map, she hadn't been too far off the mark on her first night when she'd set out to find the exit. She'd just turned around and headed deeper into the institute at the last moment. That was largely because of the kids. They'd decided as a group to go into the Sun Room together. If they had turned the other way, would they be free right now?

It can't be that easy, Claire reminded herself furtively. The door led to the outside, sure, but what did they have skulking around out there to keep them in? That haughty message on the intercom wasn't forgotten.

She gripped the knife tighter and kept moving. She'd been through worse nights. More frightening ones, for sure. And she'd rather die trying to find Aaron than stay cooped up like they wanted her to.

Nothing until now had been easy. Why should she expect anything different this time?

[To here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/989523.html?thread=73514835#t73514835)]

[scientist-skye.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988120.html?thread=73534168#t73535448)]

The sisters continued, hand in hand. Based on her knowledge of the hospital's geography, Ema knew they would turn right once they walked out into the larger hallway, then probably a left at the main hallway at the end of this one. From there, she didn't have any idea; the visitation rooms could be upstairs for all she knew.

Lana seemed to know where the room was, though, so she let her guide their direction. Ema made a mental note to ask how Lana knew its location another time. Had she gotten a visitor the same day Agatha did?

[fourstonewalls]

Ema moved without hesitation; that was good to see. How badly she'd been hurt, and how much it affected her now, Lana still didn't know. It was a question for another day. Assuming Ema would answer it -- she would be well within her rights not to. This place stripped away privacy as easily as it had taken their clothes.

Everyone had things to hide; Ema deserved to be allowed a few of her own secrets. Rather than ones kept from her.

[to here]

[falseblack]

[From here. For Senna]

Oh. Coming in this direction soon proved itself to be a mistake, as evidence by the recognizable voice. Nigredo stood in the shadows of the corridor's divider, his expression caught between apprehension and barely suppressed disgust. He had to pass, but he also didn't like potentially giving away his direction to an unwanted individual. It was not a matter of simple pride; it was a risk, pure and simple.

The maps had shown an alternate route, but that held dangers of their own. Already, this was starting off as frustrating.

[windstwilight.livejournal.com]

[from here] (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/992723.html?thread=73546451#t73546451)

There was no sign of the others. Which raised a tendril of worry along with one of relief. She wanted them safe, wanted to protect them, but in the same way... She wanted to prove her own usefulness. Senna felt as if she'd been failing in every way--doing something without letting them down again seemed the best way she could make it up. The ruins, maybe? Or should she look somewhere else? Maybe... The hall where Soma had been taken....

In thought, she almost passed the boy before realizing. Again, Nigredo's appearance had allowed her to pass over him--only a second look had pronounced him as someone important. She stopped mid-stride and took a step back. Cocking her head lightly, she looked at him a moment, expression soft. This kid. "Hey."

[idkmybfframen.livejournal.com]

[ from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/989523.html?thread=73456723#t73456723) ]

Naruto looked back to make sure Sai was following, then continued on towards the Recreation Field.

[tsunagari.livejournal.com]

[skipping to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/995667.html)]

[incaution.livejournal.com]

[]

Shining her flashlight down the longer hallway, Jo was surprised to still not run into anyone. Apparently everyone else had already bailed, or was still back in their rooms, not that she could blame them. Just being out alone was creepy enough, but not so much that she felt the need to turn back.

"Hello?" She called out, and waited a few moments for a response. Hearing nothing, she continued along her path and made her way toward the right end of the corridor. It sounded like other people may be lurking down in the area.

[

[thestormishere]

[ From here.]

There was no use to remain here long, and aside from a cursory glance towards the others there, Lightning gave no more attention to this hallway than she absolutely had to as she turned right at the doorway and continued forward. No monsters yet, of course, which was no different than it had been before. She wondered where they had to be where they could cause such caution and, apparently, bodily harm amongst the other prisoners.

[ To here.]

[gald_digger]

[from here]

When they reached the next hallway, Anise turned left, leading them north, where they would eventually reach the nearest exit.

As they walked, she realized Ilia probably didn't even know who they were looking for. It would be a good idea to clue her in while they had the chance to talk. "Oh, um... I should have mentioned earlier, but the person we're looking for is a girl named Tear. She's a few years older than me, with really long hair and bangs that usually cover one of her eyes." It wasn't a great description, but it was enough so that Ilia could know what to keep an eye out for.

[avengingfists.livejournal.com]

The recreational field would be a new area for Ilia. She would make note of how to find it tonight and keep it in mind, just in case someone else fell prey to this same evil.

The description of Anise's friend was good enough for Ilia. She had the basic traits and that was all that was needed in a search and rescue mission of this sort. It would be the girl fitting that description and fighting with other patients. Simple enough, in theory at least.

[mugenreppa.livejournal.com]

Door, door... Yes, there it was. Through the door, turn left. The sound of voices made her even slower, but thankfully, she only had a short piece of hallway to travel.

And then—yes, another door. At this one, she hesitated. She'd never checked out this door, after all. But no, it would have to wait. She had a goal tonight. She moved past it.

As her palm something sharp—presumably the vertex where the two perpendicular hallways met—she lightly leaned her shoulder against it and took the opportunity to rub her hands. Mentally, she reviewed her map. Almost there. She continued.

[mugenreppa.livejournal.com]

[angeritself.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/991553.html?view=73603137#t73603137), skipping WW, NH1-B]

Pushing through into yet another dark hall had given Shizuo the choice of left or right. He couldn't see all the way down left, but the open doors on the right showed another hallway, or a continuation of this one, or who the hell cared? He'd stepped further with his right foot, and launched thus right.

Wherever this one lead, he could see thin beams of light moving in the distance. Flashlights; it didn't take much deduction. Even for him. One of those would be useful right now; it pissed him off, that other guys had light and he was stumbling around in the dark. Not that he'd stumbled (yet). Shizuo thought he'd ask where whoever they were had gotten them. Then, maybe he should try and find Celty. He didn't have the same skill at locating others as he did Izaya, but like hell he wanted to run into the flea. Not until he'd decimated the real culprit. Once he did that, he could worry about killing Izaya.

Formulating even a plan as loose as that one, when all he, all his body wanted to do was destroy something, took some effort. At least he'd he'd managed to keep his feet moving while doing it, leading him to the larger hallway.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/989523.html?thread=73611347#t73611347)]

[mistressmadgirl.livejournal.com]

[skipping one, from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/992723.html?thread=73616595#t73616595)]

As so often, the halls were populated with little groups of prisoners, linking up with each other or looking for each other in little bands of twos and threes. Agatha wondered for a moment why no one seemed to be trying to mass together- surely something like that had at least been tried? She'd have to ask; it was a fairly obvious thing to try, after all. Maybe there was some reason for it not to have worked.

[mistressmadgirl.livejournal.com]

[and finally to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/989523.html?thread=73452371#t73452371)]

[divinebrushwork.livejournal.com]

[ From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988120.html?thread=73626840#t73626840) ]

This was the . . . West Wing? The goddess was pretty positive that it was. And she was supposed to head straight down, correct?

Ammy looked left and right and noticed something on the opposite end of the hall. There was a door up there. She'd never seen it on previous nights and now, she wondered it it could be used as a short cut to Honey or Mori's rooms. There was only one way to find out . . .

[divinebrushwork.livejournal.com]

[ To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/991949.html?thread=73629389#t73629389) ]

[oneman-onekill.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/991949.html?thread=73578445#t73578445)]

Alright, almost into the main hallways. It was just a little further and then he'd actually have to figure out where he was going.

Then, the intercom crackled to life, and Niikura found himself speeding up out of excitement as the Head Doctor began speaking. Oh, the drama. It looked like their girl Jill was really in a tough spot, and for a moment, he actually considered what it would take to rescue her. Probably a miracle--and his mask.

Then he heard the word "hypocrite", and he couldn't help but laugh a little. Hypocrite...how many times had that word been thrown at Akumetsu? Terror for the sake of justice, killing in order to purify: how could anyone do that? But he'd already told the world his answer: he knew what he was, and that was why he subscribed to "one man, one kill" and to the fact that he would need to die as well in order to equal out the sin. He could play the hypocrite as long as Japan came out the better for it.

Nice try, Landel-san.

With a wicked smile gracing his face, Niikura carried on.

[oneman-onekill.livejournal.com]

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/989523.html?thread=73653075#t73653075)]

[scalyfishman.livejournal.com]

At least Landel's little trick had one benefit: they didn't need to worry about their flashlights for the time being. In the last hallway the lights had barely been above a glow, and in this one they were flickering like fireflies- albeit in a way that just skimmed a few too many bad memories for Depth Charge's liking (why is the lighting always the first thing to go in bad dreams?)- but there was just enough enough to move by. If anything, Landel had managed to make it easy for them. Some evil genius he was.

Movement.

High on nerves, Depth Charge's heel-turn could've skinned the Scarecrow's nose if they'd been walking any closer, but even after he'd scanned every inch of the hall the only thing he saw behind them was their two shadows. He hesitated, then threw an uneasy glance back to his roommate. "Did you see that?"

[scarefaux]

"See what?" the Scarecrow asked as he looked around him, first craning his neck to look over Depth Charge's shoulder, then looking over his own shoulder back the way they'd come. Even with the thin lighting, he could see fairly well- if there'd been anything to see, of course. Nothing back there but more hallway and their trailing shadows.

It occurred to him that while there being some light in the halls was a good thing- especially given that neither of their flashlights was willing to work- because they could easily see anything that may have been lurking in the dark, in turn, said lurkers could see them more easily too. Not wanting to linger too long, he pressed down the hallway, retrieving his journal from his pocket.

[To here.]

[iwhipthefool.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988475.html?thread=73711163#t73711163)]

The trip out of her hall was easy. She'd done it so many times already that it was getting boring to be the truth. People were moving about like always, heading off to different places. Everything was just...normal. Not a single crime save for the one being perpetuated eternally by the man running this crazy house.

She paused at the doorway, putting a hand on her hip as the other turned the flashlight's dim illumination up and down the halls. Which did she choose? To go upstairs which was likely closer to where the lunatic had his lair? Or to attempt further investigation over the walls? Her father was heading out with his ally tonight, so she would need to keep an eye out for him as well. The last thing she needed was to inadvertently encounter him in the halls. He had an objective to obtain while she was merely wasting time by following loose leads and fairy tales.

[dreadofthegrave]

[from here]

Once he stepped out into hall again, Battler's pace was considerably slower. He kept his eyes peeled for Ange, wondering if maybe he'd been too impatient and left too soon, but she was nowhere to be seen, and before he knew it, he'd already exited the block. Hopefully, this was just a mistake on one of their parts that cold be easily corrected. After all, it was hard to imagine that anything had happened this early in the night. But still..... It was strange, wasn't it? That she hadn't been there. He frowned slightly, tucking an elbow close to make sure that the volume in his jacket didn't fall.

He was paying more attention this time, so it wasn't long before he caught sight of a familiar figure. Franziska? It looked like she was still carying that leash around, too. She wasn't his favorite person in the world after that first meeting, but he couldn't claim to hate her, either. Severe, maybe, but at least she was honest.

"Looking for something?" he called out, but before a word could be gotten in, the intercom cracked to life.

The first words didn't hold much meaning to him, but at the sound of an obvious groan of pain, Battler's body went rigid. From the clarity of the new intercom, it was more than easy to tell what was going on from simply from the sound, and in reaction, he clutched onto his items even harder. That bastard, what the hell did he think he was doing...?! Wasn't this too much for a display of power?!

The rest of the words barely processed. Hypocrisy? Contradictions? Yeah, right! And who was the biggest hypocrite of them all? It was him, it was the Head Doctor...! Looking down at them, sneering at people's lives, inviting them to challenge him, but never stepping out of the shadows. Why was it the man who wanted to play God had supposedly only showed himself on one occasion? The reason was simple, it was because he wasn't absolute at all! He was nothing but a human with a superiority complex...!

The whine of the electrical system was enough to temporarily snap him out his anger. He cringed slightly from the sharp sound and the shattering glass, and the unexpected shift in light made his eyes hurt. When it finally dimmed down it was easier to deal with, and he forced some deep breaths to calm himself down.

.... Light. Normally, it might be thought of as a blessing, but although this would make it easier to get around, Battler could only find himself irritated. This wasn't a favor, it was nothing but a display or arrogance. By doing this, Landel was only proclaiming that he didn't feel threatened at all.

"Show us our hypocrisy, huh? ... That's an interesting story. Doesn't that make you want to do same?" He had no real way of knowing what Franziska's thoughts on that would be, but who knew? Maybe they'd be on the same page.

[selfnighted.livejournal.com]

She knew her way from here, of course; she'd passed it more than once. At least twice! What an accomplishment. Amused at herself, Maya turned left and walked quickly, shining her flashlight both ways to cast the illusion of safety.

[selfnighted.livejournal.com]

[threepwood]

[From here.]

Guybrush rounded the corner and headed toward the main hall, aiming for the stairs he'd taken when his nurse led him to the chapel (... where he'd seen Elaine. Why did everything have to remind him of his Snugglecakes?). He slowed his pace a hair, interested in learning more about people from other points in time, especially one from as far as Leela. Did people still know his name? Was LeChuck still terrorizing the Caribbean? Were his books still in publication?

All questions were thrown out the window as he thought he saw something move from the corner of his eye. He stopped and turned sharply, clicking on his flashlight despite being able to see well enough from the dim light in the hall. Nothing there now, and certainly not one of the demon toads he'd expected to be there. "Did you see something just a second ago, or am I imagining things?"

[shorttank.livejournal.com]

"Wow. You guys are married?" Yes, that seemed weirder to her than zombies and voodoo. At least one zombie back home had done pretty well for himself, with a whole holiday to take care of and everything, which was saying a lot, given that robots were in charge of most of the other winter celebrations. Humanoids, alive and reanimated, just lacked that kind of stamina.

"I know what you mean about workplace hazards, though. Sometimes I think my boss is actually trying to kill me and my crew, what with the giant, deadly bees, and the planets full of watery weirdos." Granted, that last would have been no problem if Fry hadn't been such a dorkwad. And, fine, the other would have been all right if Leela herself weren't susceptible to adorable creatures with a killing instinct. "I mean the stuff like controlled time-travel, and turning off the universal translator."

She clicked her own flashlight back on and swept it around to see if she saw anything weird. Well. Weirder than a creepy insane asylum in a stubbornly indeterminable time period. "No, sorry. Nothing looks any more unusual than usual. What do you think you saw?" She was totally prepared to believe there'd been something there.

[ninelivesonce]

[from here]

The waiting was the hardest part. Taura settled herself up next to a piece of wall that looked unassuming. One could never be too sure, around here, but the barracks halls were usually pretty safe.

After a few minutes, standing got old. She set her bag between herself and the wall, bodily blocking it off from interested bystanders. Then in one swift motion, she dropped forward into a military press, throwing star in hand, and started doing press-ups. When that got boring, she started doing them one-handed, swapping the star back and forth with a bounce at the apogee.

A few minutes later, the intercom crackled to life. Taura suppressed the urge to pull to attention, though she did stand back up, and listened while she waited.

Hypocrites? Some people said that of every mercenary soldier. Some people said much, much worse things about Taura. She tried very hard not to notice; when that didn't work, she tried very hard not to let anyone see she'd noticed. This time it really didn't bother her. The words were just words; the light neither helped nor hurt. There'd been plenty of light even for these unenhanced eyes. And when she'd finished with Martin Landel, he wouldn't be able to say anything else. That she could promise. So if he wanted to talk, she'd let him ramble.

What was worrisome was the fact that every time she turned her head, something shifted in the edge of her peripheral vision. There was something out there in the dark. She stepped away from the wall; anywhere else it would add another line of attack, but here it took only a false sense of security.

She paced circles outside the door back to the women's block, her eyes darting to catch every stray movement of her shadow, but none of them grew legs and climbed off the wall. Yet.

[for von Karma and Scar]

[lawful_perfect]

[From here. Also, time-skipping to avoid Franziska and Battler.]

Thankfully, as von Karma entered this new hall, he saw Ms. Taura right away. From what it appeared, she was performing calisthenic exercises. Very good. He approved of efforts to remain in shape. Especially given their mission tonight.

Approaching her, he gave a cordial nod. "Ms. Taura. I am glad to see that you are well and have arrived promptly. Tonight, we are gathering metal for an appointment I have tomorrow night. I trust that you are agreeable to this?"

Then he remembered his insolent tag-along. "By the way, as you can see," it was difficult to contain the contempt in his voice, "we have an unexpected companion. Ms. Taura, let me introduce you to Mr. Scar."

As he pointed the head of his cane in the lion's direction, he caught another glimpse of oddness emanating from his own shadow. ...What in blazes was that? Best not to draw attention to this strange phenomenon, even if the other two were making more overt gestures indicating that they were experiencing the same thing.

[not-rly-fai.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/991949.html?thread=73839053#t73839053)]

It took a few minutes for him to regain his composure and force himself to continue down the hall to meet Tsubaki. Kurogane seemed to have his own worries tonight and with their strained relationship already on the outs, it was probably for the best. He could mask his emotions easily enough from Tsubaki, but Kurogane would've been likely to see through him in a heartbeat, especially with the broadcasts.

He waited, no need for a flashlight, outside of the women's dorms. The shadows movements much more defined now that the initial shock was over. It made him uneasy, watching the shadows, his own in particular, warp and distort as he stood still. It was no trick of the light, but it wasn't something he could dispel with his magic either. Hopefully they could leave soon and whatever was following him wouldn't stick around.

[thecamellia.livejournal.com]

_{[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988120.html?view=73877720#t73877720)]}

Tsubaki knew better than to think that she could outpace whatever ordeal was coming, but by the time she hit the door to the corridor, she was back to a dash. Though everything remained still when she was looking, the moment she wasn’t she could see the unnatural slide of the shadows--her shadow--from the periphery of her vision. The light wasn’t causing it and neither was she, which meant her instincts weren’t wrong.

Something was happening. To her, probably others.

This tense realization had settled in the forefront of her mind before she had even gotten out of the cellblock, and it added more urgency to finding Fai. Thankfully, it only a second to spot him in the clothes he was wearing; he was right where they had planned to meet. "Fai-san!" Tsubaki didn’t stop, but instead ran up to him. "You heard that, didn’t you?" You can tell something’s not right, too?

[stealthetruth.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/988120.html?thread=73860056#t73860056)]

Now, right or left?

Right, Kay knew, led to all the places she'd been, so far. Left took her... She shone her flashlight that way. It took her to a doorway of some sort, it seemed, with the unknown beyond.

Which way would yield weapons and Truth? It was a coinflip, with Kay's current information (for a moment, she longed for Little Thief, for data entry, to guide her; she would have to draw a map in her journal instead, she supposed).

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

[Poof! Stormie!]

622's patrol had so far been uneventful, but that wasn't any reason to get complacent. He kept moving, scanning the hallways to--aha. Look for someone who might look lost, or not entirely fit to fight. He'd just found someone who fit the bill.

"Are you in need of any assistance, ma'am?" he asked before he got close, making sure he was seen before approaching any further.