Lincoln straddled the side of the small spa bed with his eyes, holding onto the image of him soon lying naked and bare on a table fit for an operating-room and labeled as a spa bed. The sterile, white ceiling held spiral patterns offsetting a subtle beige-brick background that laid against the walls of the establishment. Everywhere he looked a candle would sprout its incandescent flame or a mirror would peer back at him, subtly inclining him to take another glance at the spa room's artificial take on luxury and relaxation.

His feet itched to slide out of the fuzzy-white slippers they had him change into as he walked in, so that he could quicken his pace towards the exit and out of this rehabilitative establishment. He cursed his absent girlfriend, who always seemed to have an excuse to not accompany him to the tantalizing and pseudo-traumatic therapeutic activities she signed him up for in advance against his will.

On the surface, a day trip to one of New York's semi-luxurious, at least above average, spas ought to make anyone salivate at the thought of a first-world self-care privilege being made available to a Mr. Nothing Special like Lincoln. Yet Lincoln was no longer at the surface portion of this experience. He was about to be asked to disrobe and to display his hidden flesh to strangers. All due to the one he trusts' recommendation.

"Sir, if you could step into the comfort room. Once you are done changing into a bathrobe that fits you, please make your way back out to one of the many stations we have available. Should you require a reminder of the many treatment options open to you, any of our wonderful staff can provide what you need." The female worker who sported a sterile, yet fluffy outfit herself gestured toward the chamber of porcelain appliances which would seem to be yet another dead-end.

"Ok. Sure. Why not?" Linc drooped his head and shuffled his white slippers into a wall of warm air. There must have been a hot tub somewhere in the vicinity, for sweat droplets began isolating themselves on his forehead, eager to then drip down his already nerve-wracked face. 

The thought of strangers smiling at him through spurts of steam rising from beneath them, mirrored that of a horrific notion that if he somehow died in any of their hot tubs, his body would begin the slow process of being boiled like a potato. The white fluffy bathrobes loomed at the other edge of the room, as if perfectly poised artifacts awaiting to be worn by an emperor seeking to make love to another one of his concubines at a hidden chamber beneath his castle. 

"That's it. I'm out." Linc spun himself back out and clutched tightly to his black-skinny jeans and Adidas sweatshirt.

"Sir. You seem troubled. Let us take care of that for you." An employee stopped him, and body blocked his advance toward the exit. A couple other employees seemed to be alerted almost telepathically to Lincoln's plight.

"That would be because I want my-my-my money back. Yes! Correct. My money back." Lincoln stuck out a slippered foot against an employee, almost threateningly. 

Unfazed, the lady and her compatriots began a penguin like huddle and ushered Linc to a room further back.

"Why don't you sit down here for a moment while we inquire about your monetary deposit."

"That's ok. I forgive you. Keep the money, I can just go--"

"Sir, please." This time the woman's tense tone caused a shiver of obedience to ripple down Lincoln's spine.

"Yes. Ok. Ok. Fine. You can give me my money back." Linc allowed himself to be ushered one more time to a room with a singular TV, a futon and no other furniture.

"Odd." Was the last word he spoke before the lights turned off and a single hypnotic image manifested on the television screen. 

Lincoln's eyes dilated and his consciousness dissipated.

Aoi was having a fairly good low stress day and she was really hoping that would continue and her current destination should help she thought. The bear had been good lately and she was glad it had seemed easier to control it. Maybe the training was paying off, she had no idea. This was something her sister would like she knew.

Aoi had never been to a spa but she had been told they were very relaxing and she could always use that, Several incidents in the past few months had caused what she described as trauma. Her friend had encouraged her to go. She looked around as she entered and took in the strong smells that filled the air and the few people who were coming and going, she had gone up to the desk and had been directed torward a room called a comfort room, she had no idea what that was but it sounded nice and she had found her time here to of been relaxing so far which was a nice change of pace.

She heard a commotion and looked over to the man at the counter. She was unsure what was going on but kept watching with interest, she had not seen any other issues but as soon as the man had started arguing the vibe in the place seemed to change almost right away. The staff member who had been helping her turned to see about helping the man. She let out a sigh as mind went into alert mode.

"So where do we start?" Aoi asked the woman who began guiding her to one of the back rooms. Aoi simply followed as things seemed to of calmed down.

"right here" the lady said pointing to a couch that was very soft to sit on and a small tv mounted to a wall was playing something that seemed just out of focused. She went to turn to ask the lady what she was suppose to do but she found yourself glued to the screen. She quickly fell asleep on the couch from the effects of whatever the people had done, Aois mind just refused to focus, even the bear was sluggish within her.