"You don't have to stay that far away if you're just worried about my collar. I was talking more about just within an inch or so," Lee whispered as she folded.

"Oh, good." Neena replied with a smile. "Didn't want to assume. You're gonna have enough issues to deal with than me setting your jewelry off." She adjusted her position to be a bit more comfortable, but still not too close.

"If it's my powers you're worried about. Well, I understand that. Wouldn't be the first time..."

"Oh? Is there something else I should be worried about?" It was just an expression; Neena didn't worry about anything.

The new deal gave her a Jack of clubs and five of hearts. Bad hand. "Call." She pushed two pebbles forward.

"I'm going to pry a bit and ask what exactly your mutation does. Is it a healing response?" If so, Sara would probably be able to sympathize best. "Or are we talking electric shock? Or your hair turns green?" She tried to add a bit of light-heartedness to the gloomy gal.

Even in a place like this, even in the situation they were in, Lee felt conciderably better when Neena moved closer to her again. Not overly close, but definitely closer than the furthest edge of the bed she could squeeze onto. That meant that the woman had been moving away to make Lee more comfortable, not to get away from Lee's powers.

But then Neena went on to ask more about her powers, whether it was anything she should worry about. "No, nothing for you to really worry about," Lee said almost absently. She doubted she'd even be able to touch anyone for nearly long enough now for it to potentially be a worry. At least voluntarily touch them. Lee certainly had things to worry about, though. Not that she could really do anything about it, but then again, when had that ever stopped her from worrying.

Apparently, that wasn't enough for Neena, though. The woman went on to ask for more detail about her powers. Rather than answer right away, Lee decided to focus on the cards. Push two pebbles into the centre to call, flip up another card (a six of hearts), examine her pocket cards again. Pushing another two pebbles into the centre. Only then did Lee look back up at Neena.

"I siphon energy from people," Lee whispered, her eyes dropping again as she spoke. If only it were something as simple as her hair changing colour. "All the time. I can't turn it off. And it's stronger when I touch someone, or apparently when I'm angry."

Yeah, if only it were even that easy, Lee couldn't help but think as she closed her mouth. Yes, she siphoned energy from everyone around her, but without that stolen energy, she had none.

"No, nothing for you to really worry about."

Neena remained quiet as well, while Lee silently finished her turn. She could barely hear her when she did answer.

"I siphon energy from people. All the time. I can't turn it off. And it's stronger when I touch someone, or apparently when I'm angry."

"Oh, is that all?" Neena chuckled a bit. "You had me thinking your skin was made of acid or something. I can see why you were worried, though."

Then she shifted to her "thinking pose", with her head tilted and leaning into her hand, and her pinkie nail between her teeth.

"Well, I'm not very good with comforting words or sayings, or any of that. And unfortunately I can't tell you it'll get better any time soon, though I'd love to. And this place is definitely not going to help you much in the Depression department. Unless you're the type that just get's a bang out of doom and gloom anyway. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you're not."

She chuckled a bit again, softly. "So the only advice I can offer is to try not alienate yourself from everyone else here. You're power may be different, and hard to deal with. But the bottom line is that we're all different, and dealing with the same thing. And we all need support."

She straightened up and stretched, taking her nail out of her mouth.

"And since I know that sounded like a lecture your mom or school guidance counselor would give ya, I give permission for you to throw something at me if you want. Though I retain the right to duck if it's larger or heavier than a baseball."

She winked and grinned to show she was teasing.

<"That six does nothing for my hand...."> She put two more pebbles into the pot. "Call."

Lee simply looked at Neena in slight shock when she laughed at hearing about her powers. She had things she thought of saying, like pointing out that people tended not to think it was so innocent when she was able to make them almost pass out after only touching them for a few minutes. Or that even the one person who didn't mind it, who actually had wanted to touch her, still found it too much to deal with and had gone looking for someone else. And a hundred other little examples of things that had happened to her over the years, but not a single one of them passed her lips as she looked at the other woman.

Lee couldn't help a small smile as she heard Neena's apology at lecturing her like that. "No worries," Lee said in reply. "I've heard that lecture a few times before. Though, maybe it'll actually be easier now. At least here I don't have to hide what I am..." Just hide some specifics about my powers to protect myself, she thought. For, if the guards really found out how she was in the morning, how many problems she had when she couldn't get any energy, Lee was sure that the guards would take advantage of that knowledge.

But Neena had called her bet; the game was currently at a standstill. Looking back down at the cards, Lee flipped the last one over: an eight of diamonds. Looking down at her cards again, she had forgotten what she had, Lee thought for a moment. She had absolutely nothing, but it wasn't as if this was a serious game. Not by any means. And who knows, maybe Neena had less than nothing in her hand.

"Anything I should watch out for around here?" Lee asked as she pushed four pebbles into the middle. Just because she knew and had already accepted the fact that she would die in the camps didn't mean Lee wasn't going to try and prolong the inevitability.

"Anything I should watch out for around here?"

Well, the depression hadn't disappeared, not that Neena expected it to. But at least Lee seemed a bit calmer and collected. Just a bit. But even a bit was better than nothing.

"Well," and she took a deep breath and started ticking things off on her fingers, "obviously this place isn't meant to build your self esteem. So you can expect to be ridiculed, demeaned, insulted, blasted and just generally considered lower than dirt.

"I'm sure you've already found out, the guards are rather pushy. Some of them are also the 'touchy-feely' type, so unless you don't mind being treated like a 'Lady of the Night', try and steer clear of those." She rattled off a few names of the more known serial-sex offenders.

"If you get too 'rowdy' or 'dangerous', you end up in Isolation. Basically a black box with no food for twenty-four hours. Actually, the guards have gotten lazy lately, so you might end up in group confinement instead. Same box, more people, even less fun.

"Oh, and whatever you do, do not, repeat 'do NOT' make the Head Cook mad. Food is a bit on the scarce, formless, colorless and tasteless side, but I wouldn't let her hear you say that out loud. Not unless you can duck really fast. And it is actual food, and should be consumed when you can. I suggest you learn to hold you breath when you swallow. But don't eat the yellow stuff. I dunno what that cook puts in it, but the bathroom becomes your favorite room after you eat it." She grimaced in remembrance.
"And bathrooms are watched, by the way, so I hope you're not too shy."

Neena mentioned a few other hazards and explained the general way the day went, for most of them anyway. By then end it was fairly clear that she not only had been there for a while, but somehow had managed to stay positive the entire time. Finally she stopped, took a deep breath and smiled.

"Not exactly a day spa, is it?"

She called turned her cards over. "I fold."

Lee simply nodded as she listened to Neena list dangers and hazards to watch out for around the camp. Though she hadn't been here long, Le had already discovered for herself the warnings about the guards. She only hoped that, with how her collar reacted to her being touched, none of the guards would go that far with her. That would not be pleasant, not in any way, shape, or form, and that's without having to deal with the memories further down the line.

But then Neena mentioned isolation for when people got too 'rowdy', Lee's eyes widened in fear. A full 24 hours locked in a small, dark cell? It wasn't that she was claustrophobic, and even the lack of food and darkness would have been, if tough, at least bearable for Lee. It was the fact that they could, and potentially would, lock her away from everyone, from all energy sources, for a full 24 hours. Eight hours she could deal with, she had frequently simply to sleep at night. Twelve hours was was worrisome, she wasn't sure how she'd deal with that. But a full 24 hours was terrifying. Lee didn't know if she'd even be able to survive that. She'd have no energy whatsoever after 24 hours.

That wasn't the end of Neena's tips. Lee tried to make her mind focus on what the other woman was still talking about rather than worrying about being locked in isolation.

Don't make fun of the head cook unless you could duck really fast? Now normally, Lee would be able to, but she was sure that would cause the collar to shock her again.

"Well, I've never been to a spa," Lee said softly. "But no, it doesn't really sound like one.

"So," Lee continued. "I guess it's your deal, then?"

"Well, I've never been to a spa, but no, it doesn't really sound like one."

"You haven't? Oooo..... yeah, I guess that would be a bit of a problem, huh?" Neena made a comical grimace as she recalled Lee's mutation. "Well that's a shame. Every woman needs some kind of pampering. What about massages? There are places where you don't have to take your clothes off. I'm pretty sure I can point you to one. Does that siphoning of yours only speed up when you're angry? If so, a massage might do you some good once you get out of here. Or have you ever considered trying surfing? Now that makes for good stress relief. As long as you can swim, that is....."

As she rattled on she dealt out another hand. This time two Aces flopped, clubs and hearts, along with the King of clubs. She peeked at her hand. Ten and eight of hearts.

<"Wow. Possibilities....">

She pushed two pebbles out.

Neena seemed extremely surprised, at least until she remembered about her powers, about the fact that Lee had never been to a spa. Lee honestly didn't think it was all that surprising, even before considering powers. Spas cost money, after all, something that she frequently didn't have.

But Neena continued, spouting off ideas for what else Lee might be able to do instead, and Lee could only shake her head. "When I'm angry, whenever I touch someone, whether through clothing or not," Lee said slowly, almost dejectedly, as she slowly picked up the cards Neena was dealing to her. Five of spades and nine of hearts. Not exactly the best. Again.

"No, haven't really thought of surfing before," Lee replied as she pushed her two pebbles into the middle. "Never lived anywhere that surfing was really an option"

"When I'm angry, whenever I touch someone, whether through clothing or not."

"Then I definitely recommend it. Or maybe even one of those massage beds. Though those only work if you like heat...."

"No, haven't really thought of surfing before. Never lived anywhere that surfing was really an option"

Neena glanced up at Lee. "Not a native, eh? Long beach. One-hundred and eighteen miles of every type of surf you can think of. I suggest waiting till fall though. From what I remember, the Beach is a madhouse in the summer. 'course, that was nearly ten years ago. Maybe things have changed." She shrugged.

In her usual abrupt fashion, she paused to stare at Lee. If anger set off her mutation, then switching subjects back to why she was here might not be a good idea. But if Lee kept whatever was bothering her trapped inside, she might end up doing herself even more harm. But what could be bothering her so much? Other than the fact that she'd been rounded up, that is?

Neena cast through her thoughts of past students at the school, and the various reasons most of them ended up there. Runaways, castaways, confused seemed to top the list. So start with those.

"The Beach is a great place for picnics too. Popular with families and such for barbecues. Lots of little hideaways for budding couples, and such. Overlooks when you want to just watch the scenery...."

She watched to see if any of those struck a nerve, and how sorely.

Neena seemed very interested in the idea of talking Lee into going for a massage or something once she got out of the camps. Yeah right. Hadn't she just said that she siphoned energy even though clothing whenever she touched someone? For how long a proper massage would take, even one that was done through her clothing, the masseuse would be feeling it before the end.

Plus, Lee knew she wasn't going to be getting out of the camps alive, so there was no use in planning things that were possible. Her thoughts on Texas were a different story. She had known that that wasn't ever going to happen before she had been captured, before she had been stuck in the camps. Never once while she was thinking about it did she ever actually think that she'd be going, it was simply a little, happy, what-if dream of hers to keep her if not sane, at least calm.

Because of these thoughts, and how Neena kept seeming to be talking about what she could do when she got out of the camp (which Lee knew wasn't going to happen), Lee wasn't fully paying attention as she went on to talk about surfing.

Or at least she didn't really pay much attention until Neena brought up the things that some people did at this beach. At least she had never gone there. Tarin would have frozen if they had gone over the winter, never mind the fact that they didn't have a car to have made that drive. Which was another thing that had been planned for Texas, Tarin teaching her how to drive.

"Never been a huge beach person, either," Lee said, her eyes dropping back to her cards again.

"Never been a huge beach person, either."

"Tsk, tsk." Neena leaned back and crossed her arms, and shook her head. "Well you're just determined to be a Gloomy Lee, aren't ya?" In fact, she seemed as determined to be gloomy as Neena did to be positive.

<"It's only her first day,"> she reminded herself. <"She's entitled.">

Neena sighed. "So, I'm guessing there's not much I can say to pry that raincloud from over your head." She scratched her head. "Either you really are into doom and gloom, or something else is going on your head."

Abruptly she turned her head and sneezed once, twice, three times. She clenched her teeth tightly through the resultant shock. Once it subsided, a dull throb made itself know at the back of her skull.

"Ugh.... whoever came up with these things is a menace to society...."

Lee didn't answer at first when Neena asked about her gloominess. Not that Lee really thought she was being all that determined to be gloomy, more that she just really didn't know what there was left for her to look forward to or be happy about. It's not like she could really go back to the apartment she had shared with Tarin, not after what had happened. Which meant that if Lee got out of there, she had no where to go, and nothing she owned other than the (horrible) clothing on her back. And while she had been in situations similar to that before, Lee honestly wasn't interested in doing it again.

Neena didn't stop there. She went on to ask about what else was bothering her. Lee shrugged. "It's not like anything can be done about it," Lee said simply. "Well, not unless you can send me back in time at least three days. So there's really not a whole lot to talk about."

It was at that point that Neena started sneezing again, and by the look of it, her collar started shocking her as a result. "I know what you mean," Lee said gently. She knew what Neena was feeling, she had felt the collar more than often enough already for her liking. "Apparently, we're not beyond torture yet..."