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Richard need to think, to process all the things that Tommy had told him. He had no idea what his response to his crazy place should be. Escape at this point was impossible without alot more information. Further the featureless confines of his duplex provided no distraction from his reality. He need to do something with himself, keep his mind busy and let the thoughts sort themselves out on his own.

There was single activity would quell his brain and he only had one deck of cards on him. He had scene a building marked "entertainment center" while he had been walking to the cafe with Tommy. Just like the ones in a senior center, Richard assumed they would have the 5 to 10 decks of playing cards he would need for what he had in mind.

The Center proved more stocked than Richard had imagined, it was also strangely deserted. Maybe the islanders found other things more rewarding than movies and video games. Richard gave a small shudder as his imagination started to run away from him.

Anyway the stillness suit him. Richard quickly found 5 packs of untouched cards, opened them, selected the table that had no wobble with it and began to build. Slowly the structure began to take shape as the cards began to be added, one after another...

Richard did not immedately detect the presence of the lizard girl. He was completely adsorbed in building what was now recognizable as a replica of the labs out of playing cards. The first, second and third stories were complete after consuming nearly three decks. The work was getting very delicate a slight bump could topple the entire structure. Some cards were being placed with a pair of tweezers that Richard kept for grooming his mustache.

Eventually, Richard heard the door open and shut but didn't dare look up at this point. For several reasons. "Hello?" He asked the room.

Richard finished placing the next card, carefully leaned back and released his breath. Someone was behind him, a young girl if he had a guess. He hadn't caught what she said exactly it had been too soft for his ears. He steeled himself, resolving to be more polite this time than he had when he met Tommy. He just hoped he was up to the task.

Slowly, he began to turn around.

Try as he might, Richard's poker face failed him... again. His eyes widened and his mouth opened and then closed. While the girl, he thought at least it was a girl, was far easier on the eyes than Tommy the shear inhumanity hit like a ton of bricks. If it wasn't for the two legged stance and the pendant around her neck, there was no indictation that she had ever been human. Her intellegence however was never in doubt. Her stance, flat against the door and looking down at her feet spoke waves of emotion.

With a slight swallow, Richard recovered somewhat and manage to speak without a waver to his voice. "Ah hello there. There is no need to be shy. It's okay." He hoped his smile was reassuring.

There were alots of word that described the lizard girl who seemed so sad but scary was not one that had occured to Richard.

He arched a eyebrow, studying her face. "Scared of you? Why would I be scared of you?" Startled yes but not scared, he added mentally. "There's no need to hug that wall there. I don't bite." Richard chuckled a little at the turn around.

Richard's smile turned into a grin as he took Amaya's hand in his own. "Name's Richard, Richard Harrison. Nice to meet you." Pumping Amaya's hand up and down, before releasing it.

"I arrived yesterday, maybe two days ago, depending on how long I was out." The tone was one as if he was talking something perfectly mundane, like going to the gorcery store. "They put me in duplex 70." Richard gestured toward the direction of his duplex.

"Its alright my dear. I should have probably known better anyway." As Richard talks he turns his attention back to his card structure. He was going to need a stool soon to reach the cards in the middle. "I've lived a long time anyway, maybe eventually I can think of it as one of those themed retirement communities. Not that I had ever planned on retiring." The last statement is a tinged with bitterness.

"A whole year eh? Does that mean your done?" Richard didn't want to think what happened if she could go father down Moreau's ladder.

"Can't complain about the people I've met to far. Of course I've only met two, you and Tommy. Compared to him you've lucked out in the looks department." The old flattery machine was running fine appearently Richard mused, never the less statement was true.

Richard placed cards on the left tower as he spoke. He doubted any of this would every be okay, but nobody seemed to be in crippling pain or dieing that he'd seen so far. Admittitly the sample size was low. "Some people make life worth living."

Like Erica The thought rose up out of his mind like bubble released from a deep ocean fissure. Richard's hand trembled slightly just as he was placing a card and the whole structure shook. Inhaling Richard jerked his hand back. It wobbled for a moment but did not fall.