Sore as she was, she'd hadn't rolled over quickly. By the time she'd settled onto her back and could look over at him, his white eyes were open again, further reinforcing her current working theory that if he slept it wasn't very much at all. That familiar, genial tone seeped into her consciousness as he realized that she was waking up. Idly she wondered if she were getting a little too comfortable with this whole arrangement.

"No worse than last night." she said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The place had sufficient ventillation that she hadn't been choking on smoke, but that didn't mean that the small chamber didn't smell strongly of burnt ashes now. Juniper reached her arms up over her head, one hand clutching the wrist on the other arm before she pulled both arms out to the side, stretching out her shoulders before she arched her back and then stretching her legs out. She grimaced gently, rubbing at a few spots on her body that threatened to knot up before gingerly applying pressure to her ribs.

"Mmph, I feel like I went a few rounds with a cement mixer." she grumbled, running her hands through her hair and shaking her head in an effort to get some of the sea salt out of her short tresses. She looked over as she heard that the Tinman had apparently wandered off, blinking. "Really? Well, I guess good things do happen to those who wait then." she smirked a bit and started climbing her way back to her feet, looking at the pile of black and gray ash that had been a fire last night.

"Although, if that's so . . ." she mused with a frown, "I should probably get my ass down to the infirmary around noon. Assuming the physicals haven't been cancelled anyway. I need to confirm my kill, so to speak, and I don't want to give them an excuse to come looking for me later." she said as she picked up the clothes she'd hung out last night, hoping that the heat from the fire and the night to air dry had them back in a wearable condition. Though she'd probably be trashing them once she got back to he room.

That is to be expected with all that you have gone through recently. You have gotten on their sights now … the monsters that is curtsy of Rena I am guessing from what I've learned. Today is the last day I have said I would stay clear from your mind so instantly knowing answers is one of those things I have not had with your ordeal these last few days.

Aegir noted her surprise with Tinman. I am uncertain why it had left but that is a bit of good and rather unexpected news. I was expected it to be waiting tirelessly. Of course ... He trailed off with that observation or comment as if thinking better of it.

Aegir considered. It was early and if he went to the campus it was usually to the dorms at night. Usually. I will walk with you part way. I will be lounging in the forest most of the day then paying the dorms a visit later on tonight. You can bet that I will at least past by your room after Midnight when I can peek into you mind and see how it all went and how today turned out.

He had considered for a moment, dwelling on something. Next time perhaps. I will wait for you outside and we can leave as soon as you are ready. I imagine that you are hungry and even looking forward to cafeteria food.

"Human beings are an adaptable species. We spread across all biomes of our homeworld and are currently making inroads into incredibly dangerous regions like the ocean depths and space. I'm sure I'll adjust, given a little time." Juniper said. She wouldn't deny that the situation was insane, but from a strictly practical perspective it was no worse than prison or being lost in the jungle. Since nothing was trying to kill and eat her, she was confident that she'd learn to survive even in this place. Though she likely wouldn't enjoy some of the survival skills she picked up along the way. Or maybe she would. She wasn't entirely sure which outcome was more troubling.

She untied the knot she'd left in the blanket overnight and let it drape more loosely over her shoulders as she stepped into her panties and pulled them up along her legs. She didn't mind that the Tinman had left, but not knowing why kind of tugged at her consciousness enough. He might have determined that he'd delayed whatever he'd been up to last night for too long, or maybe he was trying a different approach, or maybe he was off after some other girl. She really couldn't know, which meant she had no clue how likely she was to bump into him again. And next time she probably wouldn't have a big old ocean to hold him back.

"Of course, what?" she blinked as he trailed off, "You're not going to start holding back on me now are you?" she asked, acting a little bit hurt as she looked at the shirt in her hands. Yup, it still bore the somewhat embarrassing hole from Rena's powerful hug last night. She pursed her lips and considered simply cutting off everything below the gash, but frankly that was a bit too much undercleavage for her, to say nothing of the dress code violation. She shrugged after a moment and put the shirt on backwards, tugging hard on the collar to stretch it out and take some pressure away from her throat. It would have to do.

"Kinda eager, huh?" Juniper said when Aegir mentioned he'd be sliding by her dorm around midnight, "If you wanted to know that badly, I'm surprised you didn't ask more questions last night. It's not going to be quite as fresh in my memory now. . ." covered, at least, she pulled off the blanket and shook it out, folding it into a neat little square and setting it to the side before she picked up her skirt, "I'll probably be up though. Never did sleep much."

"Actually, what I'm really looking forward to is a shower." she said with a bit of a smirk as she picked up her skirt and "tsked" at the gash that curved down and around the front. "For breakfast I think I'm just going to have a nice, quiet morning in my room. Tea and biscuits. Not really feeling up to the noise of the cafeteria just yet." or all those eyes, for that matter. Well, there was nothing to be done for the skirt except to walk briskly and hope noone noticed. She skipped the stockings, they were a wreck after last night, and she made a face as the insides of her shoes squelched with sea water as she stepped into them. Greaaaat.

When he was out of sight, she lightly clasped the borrowed (gifted now, apparently) cross around her neck in her hands and closed her eyes. She hadn't prayed in a long, long time . . . but even she had to admit, having someone looking out for her sounded pretty good right about now. She wasn't sure what to say, what to ask for, what to thank him for . . . so she settled on something simple. She prayed for the strength of character to persevere, even against this.

"Sorry to leave you waiting." she said as she stepped out into the sunlight, wincing a bit as her eyes adjusted.

I am sure that you will adjust to it all. Others have, though they have no choice in the matter either but humans have proved to be quit adaptable. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that I admire them so much … there are challenges that they are ill suited too or situations that severely outmatch them yet they prove to be tenacious as a whole that is. There is little that makes one identical to the next but generally they don't curl up into a ball and quite but rather find a way to adapt to a challenging situation.

Those thoughts about Tinman were probably not going to be answered anytime soon though as crazy as it was tracking it was probably easy enough along the beach and see where it went off too at least she could determine where it was heading unless it grew extremely windy over the last hour or so and marred those tracks he left or used the rockets on it's legs to hover again. Even so, in addition to wasting fuel it had a low clearance and would have left some trace she thought if that were the case.

I have little data on Tinman. I have had no reason to check though now I am merely curious. Tinman has already had you. If it processes things it may have deduced that you had little to offer it, it already claimed you once and had no real interest in doing so again, not really anyway. I would have to get into it's psyche to determine how it thinks and have a look at it's physical needs. After all, there had to be a reason why it waited throughout the night unless it is opportunistic.

I was not holding back, merely considered sparing you that thought until you remembered on your own.

Aegir nodded at her as to his apparent lack of questions the night before. Certainly. These things don't exactly occur every day and while you had considerable help along the way it still perks my interests. How fresh the memory is happens to be irrelevant. After a time you may forget details or misremember something but I do not tap into that when I look back.

In your mind you form the exact memory. In time it corrodes of course to the point even I fail to see how things actually were and can only see them as you remember them … well I do not always have to resort to 'remembering' in such ways. I do have a few tricks. Months can slip by with me being to plug into the actual events as they actually happened, usually years even. Some minds are healthier than others. But I can play back memories for the most part as if I actually was there. In many cases I can retrieve a childhood memory that you might misremember with clarity. The major drawback is that I have to have some sort of idea what I'm looking for or else stumble onto something. Like if you were rummaging through a filing cabinet. If you had no idea what you were looking for your chances of finding a particular detail is slim. Yet you could get lucky and find something more interesting too by randomly looking.

He explain just how powerful some of his talents could be almost certain that she would be a little envious at the talent. It would be quiet useful for someone in her position. In fact, she might consider a node in the future given the benefits that they bestowed … he could use his powers through them, then tell her, of course he had made no such offers as of yet, it was logical to assume that she would have such thoughts though seeing how student abilities were diminished here though his had not been.

I would assume food would win out over cleanliness, that being number two on the list but I have been wrong often enough in my assumptions.

When she joined him outside though she could clearly see the path that Tinman left. The great stride between each step, the deep imprint there he seemed to be making his way towards the campus unless he made a detour along the way.

Not a problem. It won't be until the afternoon that anyone will be by their so I'll just be dozing until then. Unless something atypical happens that is ...

"You're kidding me, right?" Juniper asked, cocking her head to the side, "Junkboy has like two feet on me, is made out of rigid and unyielding materials, and has to weigh as much as a compact car. I'd think they wouldn't have to mindwipe me, because they'd be too busy picking me up with a spatula in the aftermath!" she pressed a finger to her temples. Well, it was obvious that hadn't happened . . . unless she had severely underestimated the potency of her rape-based healing factor. She winced a bit and cradled her head for a moment . . . she was going to have to avoid such outbursts until she'd had some time to heal up.

She settled her hand on the back of her neck and rolled her head from side to side, trying to find some relief from the stiffness she was feeling. She wasn't sure how much of it was from sleeping on the rocks, and how much was from the way she'd jerked her head when Rena had caught her with that desperate backhand, but it definitely hurt.

"Sounds like your pets have eidetic memory by proxy." she muttered as she listened to him go over his ability to pierce through self-delusion and memory drift in a person's recollection, "Though I'm guessing they don't often tap you for that particular service." which wasn't to say that it wouldn't be useful to her. But, once again, she didn't much trust the idea of storing exotic lifeforms inside her body.

"My judgement may be impaired . . . I got my brain rattled last night." she admitted, "But I need to get a change of clothes anyway, and the showers will be right there so I figure I'll work on feeling like a human being again before I grab something to eat." she tilted her head to the side and pointed at the deep footprints in the sand, "I swear, I have no idea how the faculty keeps what happens here as secret as they do."

She took a step in Tinman's broad, deep footprint as she started towards the campus. The metal juggernaught was heading the same place she was, after all, and if she had the opportunity to figure out where he was heading she should probably take it. He didn't sound at all like the sort to lay an ambush to her.

I kid you not though such knowledge I figured would serve to hamper rather than assist you last night. It is amazing some of the things that can be accomplished through the medical facilities here. They are even working on a serum to promote regeneration in humans from my tissue samples though to limited success so far I hear.

While I am not into the more brutal aspects that make such healing necessary not everyone adheres to that and thus I saw such a display beneficial for the students. That of course was the expected reaction, such information took a moment to process and she was eventually going to get the memory back.

I suppose they have it by proxy if I share something that they experience with them. I could do so without them asking of course and without them being any wiser to my meddling. The only one that has asked for any sort of memory enhancement was Komi and she did not really asked but showed an interest in getting lost memories back.

Of the top five only one and five do not posses nodes put neither is close to graduating yet so that is less of an issue ... He slipped just a little there but he was sure that she'd find stuff out on her own or that he would tell her eventually. He did not need to overwhelm her with too much at once.

Aegir tilts his head towards the sand and inspects the foot prints. He reached out sensing only her mind in the immediate vicinity. Only you and I are here. Chances are that these tracks will so be cleaned up soon enough before they become an issue. By themselves though they should be a curiosity at best if found. Those finding out the truth will only get them to get Tinman's attention and who would believe such babbling about it?

"Considering the way I get banged up on these little excursions, a regenerative serum sounds like a godsend." she admitted. Not even necessarily from monster attacks, there was always an element of risk when exploring things by one's lonesome. Deadfalls, loose soil, quicksand, wild animal attacks. "As it is, whenever I get myself hurt I end up having to balance the time involved with natural healing against the loss of dignity involved in courting some monster for sweet lovin'." she stuck her tongue out at that, "Ah, no offense."

She put the thought of Tinman taking her out of her mind for the time being. She was still sane and whole, so it couldn't have been too bad, right? Besides, she didn't think the faculty would let anything rampage around that was too detrimental . . . they had to watch out for their "product" after all. She made a particularly bitter grimace at that thought. She hopped from one of Tinman's footprints to the other for a few steps before she wobbled a bit and braced against a tree, walking more regularly again.

"Yeah. I have to say, the circumstances around Komiko's memories do sound kind of interesting. I wish I could be more useful there." she shrugged slightly, "But there's nothing I can do that you can't do better in that regard. Do you think that if you enhanced her moment-to-moment memory for a day or two something might jog loose?" she glanced back, "Sounds like your list shifted a little last night. Used to be just number one who was node free. . .you going to let sexy Ms. Six hang on to that node for a little while yet?" It seemed that, even a little foggy, Juniper remained the sort to sift through words for deeper details.

"Don't forget, you can't sense Tinman. It pays to keep an eye out . . . and an ear. He's not exactly quiet." she said, though she imagined he could be when he wanted to be. He didn't tire or get bored, so he could afford to sit motionless and wait soundlessly when the notion occurred to him. The woods provided considerably more cover than the beach by the cove . . . but, so long as she was in Aegir's presence she imagined she was safe.

Yes, I can see the benefit to that. The doctors here have other regenerative serums I understand harvested from other beings and worked on based on the strength of the original that such genetic samples are taken from determine how quickly and how efficiently it works. There are some where healing might be promoted over hours or something that is near instantaneous.. Some are limited in effect as to not regenerating from certain attacks.

And I doubt you would need such a serum should you and I ... He paused in mid statement as he considered.

The list always shifts as far as the order. The individuals may stay the same though. And since there are no grad students on the list they get removed once they graduate. I may shift a node or two around node or two. Number one will get a node after she has been told what they do, and if she wants one of course.

And I know. Those tracks are old though an hour or so. One of the talents I did steal from a mind once was how to track. Just because I can’t sense him doesn't mean that I can't keep tabs on him. He heads towards the forest looks as if he began to head towards the dorms then branched off after a few minutes to head there so it looks as if you're in the clear as far as getting back to the dorms at least from Tinman at least.

She was quiet for a few minutes, having crossed her arms across he chest and watched her feet as she made her way through the forests. The temptation of some kind of restorative serum was compelling, but the way Aegir was speaking it sounded like it was something still in development. She rubbed her chin and knitted her brow in thought. Even while experimental, the value of such a serum was high enough for her to consider tracking it down, she'd want to keep tabs on the development if nothing else. But it would likely mean another trip to the labs . . . and that hadn't worked out so well for her last time.

"Mmn, probably a pipe dream. The ideal solution for me would be something long term, even if the actual duration is slow, the less often I have to dose myself to keep the effect going the better. Though I find myself hard pressed to think of a way you could do that without risking cancerous tumors in fairly short order." she shrugged her shoulders slightly. She looked at him as he trailed off, but she didn't press this time. He seemed more to be thinking than dodging around information this time. She decided to take a stab at it anyway, "I'm sure we could enter into some kind of arrangement, but the thing is that you're not always going to be around. Having access to something like this would do a lot to help me establish my independence. Wouldn't even need to go to the infirmary anymore, and let me tell you, that'd be a boon."

"This place has grad students!?" she asked a bit incredulously, "I'd think anybody who knew what was up would make a beeline towards whatever degree they could snag for the faint promise of getting off this rock. I mean, I guess they might just be off the list, but the longer you're hear the odds of something taking a fancy to you pretty swiftly approach certainty." she shrugged her shoulders slightly, "Unless, I guess, they're going with kind of a 'better the devil you know' perspective."

Noting her look of thought it was apparent where her mind was at that moment, even if he was use to reading minds all the time to get the right info. To my knowledge there are many different serums. Some finished, some still experimental. The more potent ones are still in development though there are a number of them that are efficient especially when keeping someone out for a few hours and letting them go to work. They haven't had too much success with the near instantaneous stuff, at least to my knowledge but unless I do some digging there are things that even I am kept in the dark about.

It is not a pipe dream, it does exist though of course not distributed and only used I'm guessing in those cases where someone is damaged too much. At least, I am assuming.

Aegir was considering things. He nodded at that. He of course wasn't always going to be present of course. He knew what she meant by that though he was considering something deeply before deciding it was best to hold onto that option for a little bit longer. Besides, there would have to be a hefty cost to that one … he needed to think it through a bit more.

I have not encountered any myself, though you have to remember that for most people there is nothing nefarious going on so they may be inclined to stay on longer. The fact that I haven't seen the issue in the minds of others tells me that either there is none or they are far and few in between as to only be known to a handful of people, their classmates and friends. Thus far I have not had to look into the matter … it has only been important that when a student graduates they leave one list and possibly enter another.

It is nearly time for me to transfer number Three to that list, a list that is currently blank so while territory may seem new it is nonetheless familiar to me. It may be that grad students are off the menu, no one has told me one way or another so if they do exist they must be rare, maybe so rare that the school has not made any special arrangements for them. I agree, it might be the devil you know approach. They'll have tons of questions as to what will happen when a student graduates and wish to put that off for a bit longer and subject themselves to the known rather than press into that void, that unknown. Maybe the grad students do comprise of may of the victims, as many of the oblivious I cannot truly say with any certainty though my curiosity has been perked so I'll probably look into it.

Entering into the wood he noted where Tinman's tracks faded, where someone or something worked on concealing his path onward but by last recall Aegir could point out what direction it had been on. It was going off the beatened path though he had found himself on a hiking trail that was common enough. His favorite tree was just ahead and that was where he was going though the trail headed out of the wood and lead back to the school.

"Mmn . . . well, it's something to look into once the heat dies down. Though I'll still need to find a proper hidey hole for it, lest the formula go missing just when I need it the most. Still need to figure out what kind of contraband I can stuff places that they'll want to confiscate but won't get me thrown in the dungeons for possessing." she blinked after a moment and then let a mischievous smile crease her face, "Nevermind, I think I know. Getting it will be tricky, but it'll be a good dry run."

She rolled her shoulder a bit and glanced back over her shoulder at Aegir. Something about what she was saying seemed to have him in a reflective mood. She quirked an eyebrow, but she decided against asking just yet. Being curious was one thing, pesky quite another, and she didn't want to sour this working relationship just yet.

"Well, I guess it would stave off the Senior Year crush. Still, with the access I still have, it'd be easy enough for me to put the numbers and demographics together. Statistics are always good fodder for journalism projects, I doubt anyone would look twice. Well, they might wonder at my sources, but they should know that I'd protect those anyway." she shrugged a bit. The hiking trail was a bit easier to walk on than the rough and tangling vegetation before, even as Tinman had flattened it with his bulk, and she seemed a little steadier as they made their way forward.

She paused as he stopped turning around and looking as he regarded one tree in particular. Her eyes followed the wooden figure up and up to the lowest bough, half expecting to see a thick branch stretching out over the hiking path. It would, at least, explain why this particular tree would be the one he chose to lounge on. He wasn't terribly quick over land, but gravity treated all men equally.

"This your stop?" she asked, settling her hands on her hips. She was a smidge jealous, she had to admit. Her own life was turning into a rush of classes, projects, investigations, and desperate escapes. That Aegir could afford to just lounge the day away and visit his favorites at night . . . well, she supposed it wasn't necessarily that easy.

He was slow to catch on. Human humor was so difficult for him to Master especially without being connected to her mind. The fact that he did catch it though showed just how much he did grow after his exposure to humans. It may have taken him years but Aegir was grinning in that strange way of his.

I'm sure you'll work something out. Finding out what you can and can't have will be an experience. I have relaid some of that to you. The weapons will have to go back but the crucifix is another matter entirely that shouldn't cause any problems. That may give you a bit of a jump start at least.

The tree in question had been indeed as she envisioned. Thick lower branches that hung over the hiking trail and had lots of foliage this time of year. Gravity of course was a great equalizer as was the elastic nature of his limbs that allowed him to reach people on the path if he were in the lowest branches. The tree was quite old too, thick at the base though it slimmed the further up one went. It was also the sort that appeared easy to climb too.

Boredom was the main obstacle in his life. He nodded thought. Indeed this is. I am usually here and if you have any sort of trouble in the forest come here or try to make your way until sensory range at least. If you are close enough I will assist you. One benefit to being on the list.

"There are two other things I know they confiscate." Juniper said with a smirk, raising two fingers, she counted off one and then the other, "Alcohol and cigarettes. You mentioned the Elise generally has a line on contraband goods. I provide her with product, and maybe she'll clue me in on what makes a good stash." she settled her hands back on her hips and nodded a bit. "I'll probably get on that once I heal up. Gotta be easier than what I've been up to."

"Ah, so we're up to friends with benefits, eh?" she chuckled a bit, the promise more mayhem having apparently rekindled some of her spark, "I'll keep that in mind. Don't have too much fun now." she touched two fingers to her forehead in a mock salute and turned on her heel. It looked like she was on her own for the next little bit, but the siren's song of the shower stalls was ringing pleasantly in her head.

Yes, there are those things that you would have lost on the plane too that were taken as contraband of some sort. Alcohol, cigarettes, weapons, those are common enough takes. It has been awhile since I have had personal interactions with Elise but you should be able to find her by asking the right questions or maybe find someone that knows of her connections.

He considered the matter for a moment. There was little he could do to prevent her from looking into matters herself. She had enough information to get started on her. Still, he had not charged her for everything after all.

Aegir was not threatened by this though figuring that there would always b e things that she would need and come back to him in the future about.

Friends with benefits, hm, of course. I wouldn't save you for free after all. There are all manners of things I would and can do from an escape by altering your perceptions while the monster has some fun, driving off a creature by sending false sensory clues to their minds or seeming to snag you up as my own as we did last night to staff off Tinman last night.

Aegir gave some thought to this, envisioning all sorts of situations.

He bid her farewell for the time being. She made her way back, Tinman's track disappeared though slipping past head girls and what not was rather easy based on what she had been up to that date. Her next challenge wouldn't come until she was in the shower, the refreshing water washing away the ordeal of the night until fingers soft and relaxing pressed too her shoulders, sticky and wet, semi-solid in nature and a bluish in color the same color as the tiles of the bathroom floor and walls.

Something had seen her, something that would not pass up on the opportunity and though it did not speak it wasted no time in pressing her forward, pressing her chest against the tiled wall as water continued to stream down over her bod. An unintelligible burbling sound rupturing out behind her like a laugh or giggle of sorts.

Resist and this will be far worse ... It spoke to her at last, a popping sound to it's voice as it struggled with each word as if it weren't a fluent speaker of this language.

Ah, so she'd have to pay to get him to interfere. Well, she supposed that was only fair. With the way things had gone down, she kind of felt like she'd ripped him off for the advantages he'd given her so far. But, he'd been the one to claim he was in contract violation, not her, so she didn't feel too guilty about it. No matter how genial, he was a monster after all. Sure, she'd sign into a left handed pact to take advantage of his greater access, but the fact remained she wouldn't have to if not for the twisted nature of this place that catered to his ilk. Though, she had to admit, he seemed trustworthy enough so far.

The trip back to the school went a little quicker now that she wasn't slowing her pace to accommodate Aegir's slithering, though she refrained from trying to jog it. The last thing she needed was for another wave of dizziness to send her sprawling in the middle of the woods. She'd shielded her eyes as the cleared the treeline and the morning sun hit her fully, squinting a bit. She wondered exactly what time it was, she really couldn't judge that precisely from the position of the sun after all. Still, as she started her way back into the dorms it looked like most of the girls were about to head out and take their first classes. Maybe if she was quick she could lose herself in the crowd. Just another good little sheep, for a little while, at least.

That was the thought, anyway, as she got to her room and kicked the damaged clothing under her bed. It would probably be for the best of house keeping didn't dispose of that particular ensemble, she'd drop it down the chute to the incinerator tonight. She pulled the silver cross from around her neck and looked at it for a moment, a gift, of sorts . . . though it had belonged to one of the girl's on Aegir's list. She wondered how much of her own stuff would end up passed out to the other nine in time . . . hm . . . well, so long as she was unimplanted she figured she could at least extract a commiserate exchange for her services. She tucked it in her desk for now, beneath the hidden flash drive, and grabbed a fresh school uniform from the closet. Nothing fancy today, no accessories, nothing to make her stand out. Wrapping a towel around her body, she made her way down to the showers at a brisk walk.

"Aah" Juniper let out a deep sigh of satisfaction as she stepped forward into the flow of water raining down from the spiggot, closing her eyes. The flow of the water was just short of scalding, undeniably hot, but as she rested her hands against the wall and tilted her head forward to let it spill over the back of her neck and shoulders, she could feel the heat and the drumming flow of water doing it's work. The stiff muscles from last night's ordeal seemed to be coming unknotted one by one. It wasn't until she felt twin, firm presses working in a circular pattern against the base of her neck that she realized that water was getting a little help.

She picked up her head to try and look back and felt her arms buckle as the thing behind her pushed her forward hard, her cheek and her breasts pressed flat against the tile. Her head throbbed at the rough treatment, she wasn't in any kind of condition to be fighting again so soon, but the way the water was running down her back she knew that her feet hadn't shifted as he'd pushed her forward, meaning she was leaning forward and exposed. She openned the eye not pressed against the wall and tried to roll it to get a glimpse of the thing behind her, anything other than it's skin color which she attributed to a kind of natural camouflage.

"Yeah . . . about that . . ." she murmured, trying to push back with both arms, "I don't really believe you." though, if she were being honest, her options once caught were pretty slim.