(OOC: Let me know if I over godmodded James. But I figured it fit into his character. )

“On the off chance I do get sent to Gwendolyn, please remind her about my resistance to drugs and painkillers.”

Neena tilted her head to look at Sara over her glasses.

"On the off chance you get sent to Gwendolyn, and not to Shya, I'll be happy enough to actually do that," she scolded slightly, but smiled to let the girl know she understood. Sara's bracelet gave her enough trouble as it was; she didn't need anyone to help it along further.

"Be right back," she announced a moment later, and headed inside with a load of dried clothes to fold.

Inside the building, the security cameras watched every move of its occupants. As Neena set down her load, she shivered. The chilly weather and icy water made her feel like an icicle. There were several sleeved shirt hanging on the wall. She grabbed one and slipped into it, but tripped off balance and banged into one of the shelves, dislodging a container of orange-ish colored soap powder. The bottle top popped off on impact with the counter, spilling its contents everywhere. Almost immediately she began sneezing.

Cursing quietly under her breathe, and in between sneezes, she began cleaning up her mess. She swept up her mess, replaced what was left of the bottle, reaching behind the shelf to retrieve the lid. It took a moment to reach something else from behind the shelf, which she slipped into her sleeve. She pulled her arm out, holding the bottle top, and replaced it on the shelf.

She went back to folding the still-damp clothing, most of which belonged to the guards. Every now and then she would sneeze violently, seemingly from the soap powder. An especially hard fit overtook her in the middle of folding underwear and boxers. She made a disgusted face as she held up somebody's G-string.

"Oh, for the love of...! Ugh! " She glanced at the rest of the load she was folding.

James. She should have known.... Honestly, there was something wrong with that man's head.

Neena decided his sexual libido needed to be distracted for a while. She dropped the damp undergarment and shook her hand, as if disgusted, a reaction that wasn't entirely feigned. Abruptly she inhaled deeply, and sneezed hard enough to make her backpedal. A small cloud of dust puffed out, and settled over the underwear, and several other garments belonging to James. Neena shook her head and settled an overly disgusted expression on her face for the cameras.

The back of her mind, however, was mulling over how much Habanero Pepper powder looked like the orangy-ish soap powder.....

She was still considering the thought, and sneezing, when she returned to the poolside twenty minutes later.

(OOC: For those of you who don't know what a habanero is, check out this scale, near the bottom, and compare it to a jalepeno, or even a banana pepper. Now imagine the ground powder mixing with the moisture in slightly damp clothes, and remember that pepper water/acid can soak into your skin and mix into your sweat glands, all with just the barest contact.

Then remember, that the word 'evil' is purely a relative term..... hehehe....)

(Actually I’m enjoying the input from different people for this character, James so no worries. I just might miss him when the camps are over with.)

"On the off chance you get sent to Gwendolyn, and not to Shya, I'll be happy enough to actually do that,"

Sara nodded. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was being scolded. She knew it but she also didn’t care. Neena had her way of dealing with things and finding things out, Sara had hers.

"Be right back,"

Sara nodded and watched Neena leave to the inner laundry room. There was a loud noise a moment later. Sara waited listening, Neena was still moving and now sneezing. Making Sara immediately breath through her mouth. She didn’t want to sniff that stuff. Not again.

Now alone, her eyes traveled back to the soap box where the package had been stashed earlier. Meanwhile the laundry room filled with the sound of sneezes. Sara could hear James and the other guard, off in the distance, exchange a few comments about how entertaining Neena could be. Yada, yada, yeah, yeah, didn’t have to shock her.

Sara smiled.

Standing back from the pool she flicked the fur on her hands dry, then proceeded to carry the next load to the laundry mangle. The soap box sat near there. She went on drawing the cloths through the machine, then acted as if she were getting more soap for the water. One claw slipped in the package while her other hand spread the new soap. A small incision was made and out came a small piece of food, that was quickly tucked between two fingers, and the package was disguised again. Left to mingle with the packets of soap, exactly how neena had left it, except for the minute hole.

Sometimes being ambidextrous came in handy.

"Oh, for the love of...! Ugh! "

Sara smirked. Wondering what of James’s belongings she had discovered. The mascara? Or worst? Sara pushed a new stack of dirty cloths into the pool, then let out a sneeze. A real sneeze. Crap that stuff of Neena’s was potent, even from her distance. She sneezed again, using it this time. The hand with the tiny piece of food covered her mouth. In slipped the food under her tongue. She’d wait till she got her nose under control, before swallowing.

Neena’s appearance didn’t help. The girl carried the hard sent with her. She sneezed harder, making sure her tongue stayed pressed against the bottom of her mouth, completely covering the bit. She drew the front collar of her shirt over her nose. “Having fun?”

“Having fun?”

Neena sniffed dramatically, and tears flowed from behind the glasses. She frowned, but the amusement in her voice couldn't be hidden.

"Tons. Especially with imagining the consequences." She was careful not to touch her eyes; her hands were already on fire from her liberal use of powder. The ice cold water was a blessing right at that moment. When Sara sneezed, Neena apologized. "Sorry. I'll be sure to take a thorough shower before bed."

Behind her, she heard the guards snickering. Her frown failed, turning into a rather evil grin.

Neena grew closer and Sara swallowed before another sneezing fit could take place. Well there was the time for truth. They would know in the next few minutes weather the food, at least, would do something. Well, if it would do something her healing factor would react to.

"Tons. Especially with imagining the consequences."

Under the front collar of her shirt, that was still pulled up over Sara’s nose like a bandit’s mask, she was beaming. Probably another good reason for her to pull her shirt up. Her grin, when it did show, could be quite noticeable. What with big pointy teeth and all. (Big pointy teeth a few of the guards, like Quinn, had gotten to feel, personally.)

She carefully painted on an impassive expression. Acting like there was nothing. No more smile but her mouth was slightly open so she didn’t have to breath through her nose. Wow that stuff was more potent then mint, It actually burned down her throat, through her sinuses, and turned the thin white rims in her eyes red within seconds.

"Sorry. I'll be sure to take a thorough shower before bed."

She concentrated on breathing, slow in slow out. A sly smirk flickered across her face. “Thanks.”

((OOC: Hope this is OK; moving Sonya/Doug and Red here from the Customs Area. The below is mostly happening on their way there. Neena, if you're still in the room, remember this is before our conversation in the closet... ))

It doesn’t occur to Sonya/Doug that she doesn’t exactly know where the Laundry is until she’s already left the Customs area. So she goes with her gut, hoping Doug’s memories will guide her… only to find herself heading towards the barracks room. Geez. That trick never works when I need it to.

Fortunately, there’s a check-in station not far from the barracks, with (among other things) a map of the Camp’s facilities. "OK, Puff. This is where you go if you want to find out where anything is. Customs, where we came from, is here; the barracks are here…" she points out spots on the map as she goes, memorizing them for her own use as well, "Not all the guards sleep here, but a lot of them do, especially after double shifts and stuff. If you’re planning on it, we’ll have to find you some kind of bed or something that you’ll fit in… not sure how we’ll manage that, but we’ll think of something. How much do you weigh, anyway? "

She continues pointing out landmarks on the map: "Male inmates here, female inmates there. Commissary, quarry, isolation ward, medical center, administration. Graveyard’s here…" she pauses briefly at that, thinking about the number of inmates who have ended up there already, and adds "It’d be nice if you didn’t help fill it… makes us look bad, y’know?" before finally finding the laundry facilities. "And there’s the laundry room. You won’t have to go there much; they deliver uniforms to the barracks and stuff… but that’s where we’re headed now."

A somewhat awkward silence descends as they head towards the laundry facilities, and Sonya takes the opportunity to go back to an earlier topic. "So, what was this lab in Michigan you transferred from? Sounds pretty cool."

Ayesac Casually listened to them..
OK, Puff…
A smirk came to his lips.. "That's a little better, humans were afraid of him too... except for that kid... but he fed puff food... that could be viewed as a peace offering..."
Watching them, following through the information, letting it file into his brain.. until they changed the topic, which snapped him to attention
......How much do you weigh, anyway?
shame!ing his head to the side, he smirked a little " Before or after meals?""
So, what was this lab in Michigan you transferred from? Sounds pretty cool.
Looked into their eyes... " "Wasn't transferred.. I excaped from there awhile back... with a friend of mine.."

Ayesac could smell werecat here.. though there was something else.. He sneezed... Peppery Powder of some type.. and strong too... "Someone cookin somethin spicy? Thought you took me to the Laundry place..."

(wow.. Red white and blue.. Patriotic!)

(OOC: Got it. )

Silence oversaw the women's work for a short time. During that interval, Neena's mind began to wander. Considering her thoughts were as varied as the stars in the night sky, the result might have resembled playing 'connect the dots'. Except that the dot only vaguely connected.....

As usual, the thought of death immediately drew her to her mother. What had been going through her mind at the time of death? Okay, so it was a rather morbid question, and one that might have drawn some awkward looks had she asked it aloud. However, time and events in the camps had made her think of the concept in depth.

<"In depth.... How deep was the laundry lake anyway? It hadn't taken long for it to grow cloudy, so either it was very shallow, or had no inlet/outlet point. Just a giant puddle then? How many snowflakes would it take to melt and fill the lake, if it ever dried up?

<"I need to get another bag balm tin soon. My lips are getting dry, and the tin's low.

<"Hmm.... haven't played a decent game of limbo in a long time. I wonder if of the other girls have?

<"Limbo.... lobo.... Huh, I haven't seen Emerald lately. I wonder if she's cracked yet? Thinking of which, I wonder if they'll fix that crack in the Barracks roof before spring....>"

Wandering in a maze would be easier than wandering through Neena's mind, unless you simply determined to be lost for eternity.

The sounds of footsteps approached. Neena glanced up to look at the newcomers. From the looks of it, Doug was leading over another inmate, a dragonman. That was unusual; Neena had thought the men had their own laundry pool. Perhaps they thought the girls were so far behind that they needed help.

"Incoming," she warned Sara under her breath, though the girl most likely heard them before she did.

"Someone cookin somethin spicy? Thought you took me to the Laundry place..."

Neena resisted the urge to snicker, but couldn't completely hide the grin. "Oops! Busted," she murmured.

Now that it was silent, Sara had fallen back into her routine. Taking her turns in the water, and at the laundry mangle.

"Incoming,"

Sara nodded. She’d heard them coming but she hadn’t wanted to let the other guards know her hearing had stayed that sharp. She was just trying to smell who they were through the spice Neena had applied on the cloths, when, an all too familiar voice, was heard.

"Someone cookin somethin spicy? Thought you took me to the Laundry place..."

Sara spun around. Head tilting at Ayesac. She quickly took in Ayesac and his attire. Trying to figure out what exactly was going on. He had a cuff around hi wrist like hers, but he didn’t have the grey sweets all of the other inmates were forced to ware. There was also a different type of interaction going on between him and Doug. Not the normal, I’m a high and mighty guard, you’re a lowly prisoner type of interaction. Ok. So power of observation is also a power to be confused.

” Oops! Busted,"

Note to self. Tell Neena later about Ayesac’s superb hearing.

Sara crossed her arms, letting her head tilt to the side. Hoping this look said ‘just play along’. Might of looked Sassy to any other guard. “There was a spill in the kitchen. They’re having us clean the towels and aprons now.”

Ayesac nodded to Werecat with a smirk..
“There was a spill in the kitchen. They’re having us clean the towels and aprons now.”

"Guess your right, Kitty-kitty" he pretended not to hear Neena... he cocked his head looking at her.. letting her know he's playing along.. looking around .."You really think they got clothing to fit me?" folding his arms infront of him, he kept his eyes on werecat.

> "Someone cookin somethin spicy? Thought you took me to the Laundry place..."
> “There was a spill in the kitchen. They’re having us clean the towels and aprons now.”

Sonya/Doug isn’t quite sure what either of them is talking about, and there’s something odd about Sara’s reaction she can’t quite put her finger on, but she lets it go for now.

> "You really think they got clothing to fit me?"

"Honestly? No. But if they don’t, nobody does, so it’s the place to try first." She looks around to Sara and Neena and explains "So, believe it or not, Big Red here is a new guard… just signed the ink twenty minutes ago. I can tell he’s a guard, despite the wings, because he didn’t fall down when he walked into my station. So of course bureaucracy in its infinite wisdom decided he needs a uniform, and it turns out they don’t have anything sized to fit eight foot tall winged lizards. Can’t imagine why. Anyway, I ain’t got a clue how to fit him, but I thought maybe you clever ladies might have some suggestions?"

> "You really think they got clothing to fit me?"

"Honestly? No. But if they don’t, nobody does, so it’s the place to try first."

Neena turned fully to look this time, curiosity kicking in in full.

Doug glanced at her and Sara. "So, believe it or not, Big Red here is a new guard… just signed the ink twenty minutes ago. I can tell he’s a guard, despite the wings, because he didn’t fall down when he walked into my station."

Neena tilted her head down to look over the top of her glasses. A guard, eh?

"So of course bureaucracy in its infinite wisdom decided he needs a uniform, and it turns out they don’t have anything sized to fit eight foot tall winged lizards. Can’t imagine why."

Neena snorted. Yeah, imagine that....

"Anyway, I ain’t got a clue how to fit him, but I thought maybe you clever ladies might have some suggestions?"

Clever ladies??

Neena settled her glance on Doug. Yes, something was definitely up. For one thing, the guards never explained anything to the inmates, unless the explanation involved either mental confusion or torture, that would in turn provide entertainment. And for another, since when did Doug have a sense of humor?

She turned her gaze to the new guard. Well, there was at least one other mutant guard, possibly more, that she knew of. But Bloodfang could pass for human. Usually. When his dementedness didn't shine through. And when he wasn't manipulating people's blood.....

Yeah.... Okay so 'pass' was a relative term. Still, his mutation was as obvious as this new mutant's was. So what had he done, or not done, to be allowed to be a guard, rather than a resident?

Neena stood, and placed her hands on her hips, sighing dramatically. "Sorry, kiddo, but I can tell ya for sure there's nothing even remotely in your size. But I suppose, if I had the materials, I could make something. I can sew, I guess...."

She frowned, as if the idea was highly distasteful. In actuality, she rather enjoyed it. Part of growing up as a Masaai woman involved learning to to make clothes for the family, plus she had learned how to bead, so her fingers were nimble with needles and thread. Of course, that was nearly two decades ago....

The frown had come from learning how to use reverse psychology on the camp guards. Some of them were amazingly dim, including her current escort. She glanced at Doug, then at Sara. "Might take awhile though.... And I'd need help," she added.

"So, believe it or not, Big Red here is a new guard…

Oh good. Give him a nick name after a type of chewing gum. Sara felt a smirk slide across her face that she quickly dropped.

Sara held her arms crossed pose a little longer as Doug gave the rest of the story. Red was a Guard? News to Sara. The people who ran the camps must have been getting desperate. Hard to tell.

"So of course bureaucracy in its infinite wisdom decided he needs a uniform, and it turns out they don’t have anything sized to fit eight foot tall winged lizards. Can’t imagine why."

“He doesn’t look quite eight feet tall to me.” Sara said. “You must be rounding up. I bet he’s around 7’5”. But yeah. Same problem I guess.” Sara replied thinking she was thankful Red wasn’t the full eight feet tall. “You must have been rounding up.”

"Sorry, kiddo, but I can tell ya for sure there's nothing even remotely in your size. But I suppose, if I had the materials, I could make something. I can sew, I guess...."

Sara nodded. “We have some guard uniforms in storage that have worn areas. Might be able to take patches of material from those if fabric doesn’t come in” She was tossing out a suggestion. Not really sure it would work.

"Might take awhile though.... And I'd need help,"

Being part cat, needle and thread was no problem to handle. Part of an old hobby too. Sara gave a shrug. “I’ve sewn before. Just have to make sure the rest of this stuff gets done.”

Nodding slowly.. "Then it's settled.. I must stay here, to allow the females to produce the uniform as they are suppost to.. And yes.. I'm 7'5.. but good guess" his mind was on trying to stay professional for doug, not knowing if he could trust them.. or this other person, whom he doesn't know.. Werecat he knows he can trust. his eyes wandered back and forth between the three, as thoughts ran through his mind of what to say, and what to do next...

He shrugged, and twitched his tail slightly.. "I really appricate your cooperation, and kindless to assist me in my situation... I can be your best friend, or your worst enemy, This is for you to deside.. and based upon your actions.. " he smiled at Werecat, Neena, and Doug.. "Prefer to have new fabric, but that is a grand idea temporaraly... " flicking his wings slightly, to get them more comftable.. he didn't spread them out all the way, just shuffled them...

> “He doesn’t look quite eight feet tall to me. You must be rounding up.
> I bet he’s around 7’5”. But yeah. Same problem I guess. You must
> have been rounding up.”

Sonya’s first temptation is to chuckle and banter back; her second is to snarl something annoyed and guard-like.

She stifles both for now, preferring to find out more about dragon-boy before giving too much away in either direction – if he’s potentially an ally, she needs to find a way to make contact; if he’s an enemy, she needs to figure out his weaknesses.

> “I suppose, if I had the materials, I could make something. I can sew, I guess...."
> “We have some guard uniforms in storage that have worn areas. Might be able
> to take patches of material from those if fabric doesn’t come in”
> "Might take awhile though.... And I'd need help,"

Sonya/Doug nods. This will actually work out well… it give her an official excuse to redirect supplied and manpower. Truthfully, she has no clear notion of what to do with any of that, but she’s guessing Neena does. "Yeah, that’s fine. Let me know who and what you need, I’ll make it happen. Management frowns on guards out of uniform, and it beats trying to pour seven feet, eight-and-a-half-plus-or-minus-three-and-a-half inches of scaly red into a six-foot suit."

"Yeah, that’s fine. Let me know who and what you need, I’ll make it happen. Management frowns on guards out of uniform, and it beats trying to pour seven feet, eight-and-a-half-plus-or-minus-three-and-a-half inches of scaly red into a six-foot suit."

"Mmhmm." Neena paused to think for a moment, then decided to leave the deep thinking for the night, when she could devote her sleeplessness to it.

"Well, a measuring tape or string for one. Whatever material the uniforms are made out of, and some scissors. I suppose it would be too much to ask for a sewing machine?" Well, the worse they could say was 'no', right? She rattled off a list of other supplies, then looked around. "And a place to work. Laundry shack's too small. Mess Hall maybe? Anything else?" she asked Sara.

(OOC: Sorry, having sudden Writer's Block. )