Her question seemed to catch him a bit off-guard; his polished persona cracked a bit.

"No, I'm afraid not. In a way, I wish I had been. It seems like even with the stigma that is generally attached, that it would be amazing to possess such gifts. I suppose I'll have to stick to my humanity and its strengths and weaknesses."

The crack was quickly sealed, and buffed back over with an engaging smile, one which she returned.

"Everyone has a gift for something. Mutation may be a bit more obvious and dangerous than others. But in essence, what makes it a gift is all in how you use it. At least, that's how I look at it." She chuckled quietly. "I'm willing to bet, human or not, you have a special gift as well, Mr. Hornbuckle."

Back in the Foyer, Neena headed toward the basement, which housed the Danger Room. When she reached the sliding door, she placed her hand on the side panel, more for show than anything, so it would appear access was restricted. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the smooth silver walls of the enormous room.

"This is our gym. It's partially automated." She sidestepped to the mini consol against the wall, and pressed in a few commands. Normal gym equipment began emerging from the walls.

"The kids like to call it the Danger Room as well, since they can use there mutations freely here, within reason of course. We try to keep the danger level minimal though."

It wasn't exactly a lie, but not really the full truth either. But it sufficed.

"Everyone has a gift for something. Mutation may be a bit more obvious and dangerous than others. But in essence, what makes it a gift is all in how you use it. At least, that's how I look at it." She chuckled quietly. "I'm willing to bet, human or not, you have a special gift as well, Mr. Hornbuckle."

Roland couldn't help but grin at her from beneath his disguise. "Very good at revealing others, I assume. It's an excellent talent in regards to your duties here. Mutations aside, your own gaze would be hard to lie to." It did take a fair amount of practiced skill not to just tell his tale and see what she said next. There would be plenty of time for that, he thought to himself as they began walking to the gymnasium. He watched her curiously as she put her hand on the wall, indicating some sort of palm reader. He took note of it as they entered.

"This is our gym. It's partially automated"

Partially didn't give it justice as the gym equipment began revealing itself. The Mansion was immediately raised in threat level in his mind at the sight of such advanced technology. He revealed a phone from his pocket, pressing the depression that made it call itself. The phone rang and Roland stepped to the side." My apologies. Just a moment, I'll excuse whoever this is." He ran a one sided conversation , chiding and chastising whoever it was he was pretending to talk to. He paced back and forth, his camera phone snapping away silently, at the mini console, at the equipment. He had the subdermal trigger activated, just millimeters beneath the skin of his middle finger, a small pressure sensitive sensor that he would use to remotely activate the camera. He returned it now to his belt, not his pocket. It seemed to have a little leather holder securing it to his belt, facing outward.

He needed to keep her pointed towards the scenery, while also seeing more somehow. " It's just amazing. I am quite impressed with it. It is all ran from that little console? If so, it is is truly amazing indeed."

"Very good at revealing others, I assume. It's an excellent talent in regards to your duties here. Mutations aside, your own gaze would be hard to lie to."

Neena simply smiled. She wasn't sure if he was being honest, polite or engaging, but either way he didn't seem to mind, so she held her gaze steady.

His phone rang, distracting her. "My apologies. Just a moment, I'll excuse whoever this is."

She nodded politely as he stepped aside. While he argued with the party on the other end, she walked over to the nearest piece of equipment, the balance beam, and pulled herself up to sit. In an attempt not to eavesdrop, she pulled out the inventory list she'd been working on earlier.

With one eye she blinked, or winked rather, and did the equivalent of pulling up a window on a computer screen, in this case, the photographic memory of the pantry's contents. A slight bluish-red tint overtook the white of her right eye. She began comparing things to the list, altering it as needed.

A slight clicking noise reached her ears, and she looked up. She turned to check the various pieces of equipment visually, but saw nothing. She turned her gaze upward, and zoomed in on the Observation Room. No one there. Odd.

" It's just amazing."

Her attention was drawn back to Jordan as he hung up and replaced his phone.

"I am quite impressed with it. It is all ran from that little console? If so, it is is truly amazing indeed."

She blinked back to normal vision and replaced her list.

"Mostly, yes," she answered. "It let's us interact with the students for basic exercises, as well as handle the occasional power spike. Most of our students are teenagers, and puberty tends to cause them a bit more trouble than the average human. Obviously."

She dropped back to the floor, and walked back toward the console. The equipment retracted into their designated areas, and the door slid open once more.

While on the phone , Roland noticed that Neena seemed to be going over some sort of internal list, perhaps through a heads up display or something similar. Seemed appropriate with the tech level here. Roland seemed to have found all he was going to find, as far as he could tell. He wondered if there was a way to get into the administrative offices. Fortunately it seemed that the tour wasn't over yet, so there might still be possibilities for device locations.

Neena was commenting on the mini console and the actions of those in puberty. "It lets us interact with the students for basic exercises, as well as handle the occasional power spike. Most of our students are teenagers, and puberty tends to cause them a bit more trouble than the average human. Obviously."Roland replied with a knowing smile and nod. "Don't I know it. My little girl is hard enough to handle now. I am hoping that with the training and experience of the people here, yourself included, that she will be prepared when puberty comes. I surely won't be, more than likely."

He watched as the room collapsed on itself again, pulling in the equipment. He made sure to snap some shots of the actual structures pulling them in. He smiled and followed Neena out inot the corridor, looking back one more time at this gymnasium. What did she say they called it? The Danger Room. " So, what's next?"

"Don't I know it. My little girl is hard enough to handle now. I am hoping that with the training and experience of the people here, yourself included, that she will be prepared when puberty comes. I surely won't be, more than likely."

Neena grinned and passed the statement off with a wave. "I'm sure you'll do fine, Mr. Hornbuckle. We girls aren't that difficult, really, despite what the parenting books and old friends say. Just give her the 'Birds and the Bees' talk now, so you won't have to deal with it when the emotions and hormones kick in."

When asked about the rest of the tour, she glanced down at his feet.

"Next is all outdoors. Got your walking shoes on?" she asked, leading the way back upstairs, and toward the back door and yard of the estate.

"I'm sure you'll do fine, Mr. Hornbuckle. We girls aren't that difficult, really, despite what the parenting books and old friends say. Just give her the 'Birds and the Bees' talk now, so you won't have to deal with it when the emotions and hormones kick in." Roland smiled and nodded along with Neena's advice. He was wondering how Candy might find her imaginary unfortunate end, clearing the way for consolation and further relations with the goddess before him. His initial device placed, he felt satisfied to allow the rest of the tour to become leisurely and social. " Excellent advice. I suppose without my wife's perspective, many things aren't so obvious to me. I assume you have had to give this talk to many of the girls here, with their absentee parents leaving them here in your care." He gave the Library one last look as he found her looking at his shoes.

"Next is all outdoors. Got your walking shoes on?"

" Short of a trek into the mountains, I do believe I should be fine. Please, lead the way, Neena." As they continued on, again it was hard not to watch her move. She had natural grace, beauty, and excellent assets. He wondered if she was ever able to leave the Mansion, with her seemingly neverending duties. He hadn't seen too many other adults, regardless of the ratio she had mentioned earlier. Even then, these were more than likely teachers who went home or somewhere at the end of the day. Poor Neena probably had her own room here. Or maybe not?

" Pardon my intimacy, but do you live here on the campus? I assume you have a room in case of emergencies, but surely you do get out and do other things? I apologize for being too personal if I am. It just seems a waste for a young woman as yourself to dry up in here when there is a world of splendor outside the gates." Bold and forward. It was more of Roland's natural ways coming to the surface. It was becoming harder to suppress his true self to Neena, as her beautiful piercing gaze was disarming.

" Excellent advice. I suppose without my wife's perspective, many things aren't so obvious to me. I assume you have had to give this talk to many of the girls here, with their absentee parents leaving them here in your care."

Neena nodded amiably. "All part of the territory. Most parents tend to make it more difficult than it needs to be. No offense meant," she added.

When he had no objections to walking, she agreeably lead the way outside, and toward the pathway leading to the pool. She slipped her glasses back down as they left the less harsh indoor lighting behind.

" Pardon my intimacy, but do you live here on the campus? I assume you have a room in case of emergencies, but surely you do get out and do other things?"

She glanced at him curiously as he continued on.

"I apologize for being too personal if I am. It just seems a waste for a young woman as yourself to dry up in here when there is a world of splendor outside the gates."

She chuckled. So he had been eying her. She hadn't been sure at first.

"No worries, m'friend, it's impossible to embarrass me," she replied to his apologies first, then the rest of his statement.

"Yes, I live on Campus. It's much more convenient that way, especially since we have a good number of nocturnal-oriented residents, myself included. Every now and then I'll wander away for a few nights, when I don't have any classes scheduled."

She neglected to mention that often those nights were spent either casing and attempting to break into places she felt had faulty security measures, with intent to help the owners upgrade. Somehow she doubted that such motives would be a huge selling point to present to a prospective's parent.

With Neena's chuckle, she seemed to cement the fact that Roland was interested in her. Eyes shaded or not, he could tell she was glancing back at him. Since the cat was decidedly out of the bag and there had been no harm nor foul, there was no reason not to continue in his present course."No worries, m'friend, it's impossible to embarrass me."Well, that was good. It was also a challenge that he desperately wanted to aspire to at some point. But not embarrassing her necessarily, but rather to see her blush.

"Yes, I live on Campus. It's much more convenient that way, especially since we have a good number of nocturnal-oriented residents, myself included. Every now and then I'll wander away for a few nights, when I don't have any classes scheduled." Roland looked out at the pool as the approached it, seeing it becoming more a leaf catcher than a spot for recreation. He stepped a bit closer to her. Not close enough to be dangerous, just close enough to make an attempt." I see, I see. So when you wander away on these nights, is it always alone? Or do you generally have a companion?" Not very coy, definitely another bold attempt at information gathering. Roland felt though that this was a no nonsense woman, something he respected. There was no reason to avoid what he really wanted to know, yet also no reason not to remain dignified in his queries. Criminal or not, he was always a gentleman. Some things would never change.

" I see, I see. So when you wander away on these nights, is it always alone? Or do you generally have a companion?"

Well, he certainly didn't beat around the bush. His inquiry almost made her laugh aloud, simply because of the bluntness of it. She kept a cap on her amusement, though, and remained dignified. His question might have been completely innocent. He was a recent widower, after all, and quite possibly lonely.

"It varies," she replied noncommittally as they continued on, past the pool. "Due to my mutation, I grow bored very easily, so my companions depend on my hobbies at the time."

Hobbies that hadn't included dating for a long time, simply because, it had grown boring, like everything else eventually did. Lack of adrenaline in your system tended to make for a rather dull existence at times.

"That's one reason I love living and teaching here," she said aloud, returning the conversation to the tour, which had begun to curve toward the Tennis and basketball courts. "Every day brings someone new or something different to experience and explore. Its fascinating!"

It occurred to Roland that there was no explanation of the pool. Not that it needed one. Pit full of water. Jump in and swim. But still, the fact that Neena was engaging in conversation with him made him all the more confident that his aims were on course."Due to my mutation, I grow bored very easily, so my companions depend on my hobbies at the time." Roland always enjoyed watching doors opening. "It must be quite the mutation. Perhaps you haven't received the proper stimulus to keep you excited?" He left the look on his face should she turn to see it." It could also be your choice of companions. Maybe you haven't found the right one yet. What are your hobbies?"

They rounded the path to the basketball and tennis courts."That's one reason I love living and teaching here.Every day brings someone new or something different to experience and explore. Its fascinating!" Whether Neena was aware of it or not, Roland's mask was off and in his back pocket. The face regarding her as they walked was as true as it could be, Korean mutant surgery aside." Experience and exploration are necessities for an active and enriching life, Nehanda." He stopped walking, waiting for her to stop as well."Where should we start?"

"It must be quite the mutation. Perhaps you haven't received the proper stimulus to keep you excited?"

Neena paused to glance sideways at Jordon, amusement beginning to show through on her face as she saw his expression. She shook her head in reply to the veiled suggestion.

"My body doesn't produce adrenaline," she stated simply.

"It could also be your choice of companions. Maybe you haven't found the right one yet. What are your hobbies?"

Again, 'late-night security checks disguised as break-ins' just didn't quite seem an appropriate reply. Instead she shrugged.

"Whatever strikes my fancy at the time, I guess. If it looks appealing or interesting, and doesn't hold the threat of immediate death, I might try it." It was a vague but honest answer.

" Experience and exploration are necessities for an active and enriching life, Nehanda."

He'd been calling her Neena since she'd introduced herself. The change in moniker gave her pause, and she noted he'd stopped as well.

"Where should we start?"

" 'Start', Mr. Hornbuckle?" She tilted her head forward slightly, one eyebrow quirked, and her eyes showing over the rim of her glasses for a brief moment.

Lack of adrenaline. It had to make for a dismally boring existence. Roland enjoyed the body's rush to aid him in a pinch. He doubted that Neena was devoid of all biological responses to stimuli though. It would just take a bit of dallying."Whatever strikes my fancy at the time, I guess. If it looks appealing or interesting, and doesn't hold the threat of immediate death, I might try it."Another fascinating delight of foreshadowing, Roland thought. He was certainly appealing and interesting. He had no interest in dealing death to Neena either, though he did wish to put his hands on her.

" 'Start', Mr. Hornbuckle?"

Roland smiled and placed his hands in his pockets. " Yes, where shall we start exploring to find a mutually beneficial shared experience?" He smiled and kept his face on straight. Half Jordan, half Roland. " Perhaps I could accompany you on one of your late night outings?"

"Yes, where shall we start exploring to find a mutually beneficial shared experience?""

Idly Neena wondered how a tour with a prospective student's father had turned into a proposition?

"Perhaps I could accompany you on one of your late night outings?"

On one of her usual outings? Yet again, not a good idea. On a less questionable endeavor? That might not be such a bad idea.

"Pardon my bluntness this time, Mr. Hornbuckle. But are you asking me out on a date? I've only just met you." Then she tilted her head, and added, "What did you have in mind?"

She showed no hint of embarrassment at either his inquiry nor her reply. Instead, a one-sided grin had taken over her mouth.

"Pardon my bluntness this time, Mr. Hornbuckle. But are you asking me out on a date? I've only just met you."Roland sensed a possible defeat so early in the game. Then she tilted her head, and added, "What did you have in mind?" Ohh. Not defeat at all. Roland closed the gap between them slightly. " A date? Hmm, if you were agreeable to it, then yes. If not, then no I am not." He let his own smirk ride higher on his face. " Nehanda, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. That's all there is to it. The idea of merely leaving the grounds without a chance to see your face again just doesn't rub right with me."

He took a step closer. " I am a man of means so anything is possible as far as activities. I think it would do you a world of good to be pampered and treated like a queen for a while, rather than having to hustle and bustle all over the place. You name it and it is done. Perhaps I am bold. You don't get to where I am in life without making some bold moves and taking risks. Especially when there is something, or someone I should say, who is more than worth it." He had to think about it a moment, analyze it over the coals of his inner workings. He was indeed taken with her. He was within a foot or two of her now, her milky white eyes caressing him from over the shades. " Does it sound like something you might be interested in?"

" A date? Hmm, if you were agreeable to it, then yes. If not, then no I am not."

She chuckled slightly at that all-covering answer. Another crack in the polished exterior quickly filled in.

"Nehanda, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. That's all there is to it. The idea of merely leaving the grounds without a chance to see your face again just doesn't rub right with me."

She highly doubted that, but she would accept the compliment graciously. It felt good to hear, whether it was true or not.

She watched him inch closer without moving.

" I am a man of means so anything is possible as far as activities. I think it would do you a world of good to be pampered and treated like a queen for a while, rather than having to hustle and bustle all over the place. You name it and it is done."

His claim of being well-off didn't really impress her. But then again, she was quite content in life, and hard to enthuse. Being 'pampered' really didn't appeal to her much.

"Perhaps I am bold. You don't get to where I am in life without making some bold moves and taking risks. Especially when there is something, or someone I should say, who is more than worth it."

His forwardness intrigued her a bit more, as well as amused her. She doubted he realized what he was getting himself into.

"Does it sound like something you might be interested in?"

She cocked her head in the opposite direction and considered his offer for a moment, as she held his gaze without blinking. She hadn't been out of the Mansion for a while; things had been busy. She'd been considering making one of her usual nightly excursions in the upcoming week. She wasn't sure if Jordan's idea of a date would be quite as absorbing, but it would be a change of pace.

"I think your expectations of me might be a tad high, Jordan," she started, using his first name for the first time. "But routines do get old after awhile, and I could use a change in mine. I'd be delighted to spend an evening with you. On one condition."

She smiled, and recovered her eyes. "I don't really care what we do, as long as it doesn't include any of that pampering you mentioned." She grimaced a bit, indicating her distaste for the very idea.

"Now then, should we continue the tour? The grounds are pretty extensive, and there is a lot that your daughter might be interested in hearing about.."