Eva’s train of thought is derailed as abruptly as Kathrine’s entry. A mildly irritated emerald gaze snaps up to meet the Malevolent. The blue hues of her computer cast her tired features in a rather sharp light. It takes her mind a moment to get back on track and assess the situation. It takes an extra few seconds to register when the last time she saw Kathrine was. An AQUA meeting most likely.

“Councilwoman Fairburne,” she challenges Katherine's soft smile with one of her own: sincere and delicate around the edges, “What brings you down to the depths of the research department?” her domain. She’s not naive, Eva knows this isn’t a social call.

---

Katherine Fairburne

People had a knack for sliding files across her desk. For some reason, it always seemed to be the thing to do. A practiced hand reaches out to snatch the file.

The Professor’s gaze flicks down towards the folder’s contents. Silence lingers for a moment while her eyes dart across the pages. She doesn’t need to read it to remember everything. She wrote it after all.

“Yes, the Blue Orb,” she sets the file down and focuses her attention back towards Katherine. There is a sparkle of intrigue in a slightly narrowed gaze. As always, the promise of discovery draws her in like the addict she is.

“Oh really?” her brows shoot up and she doesn’t attempt to hide her interest, “And what might that possession be?” she leans forward, her fingers tapping against the cover of the report, “Everything I know is in here,” the nature of the contamination was unknown as well as the extent. She hadn’t revisited the subject since she initially tested it, “This was a while ago . . . so I may be able to glean a little more with updated research. Depending on the object, I assume the same process could apply to seeing if what you have really was tampered with,” the energy signals would be the same if that was the case. If it was something different . . . then there was just more to discover.

---

Katherine Fairburne

As always, Kathrine doesn’t disappoint. Eva’s limited interactions with the previous Elite Four member had always exceeded her expectations and this is no different. She plucks a shard out of the Distortion world as if she was picking apples. Even the oppressive nature of the distorted energy doesn’t dampen her intrigue - it heightens it.

Eva handles the piece with an impressive tenderness. It’s not the first rare and delicate artifact she’s had the pleasure of examining. Katherine’s threat is unnecessary, but Eva smiles anyway, she knows it makes the dotting owner feel more comfortable, “Interesting,” she speaks softly, her brows knit together in contemplation.

“A few questions first,” she abruptly breaks her focus from the shard and back to Kathrine, “Questions pertinent to the evaluation,” Eva quickly clarifies to ensure the Malevolent she’s not wasting her time. After all, time lost is lost forever.

“A thorough history is part of a swift diagnosis,” she gently sets the shard down between them, now entirely focused on Kathrine and whatever tale she weaves, “Where did you obtain this artifact?”

---

Katherine Fairburne

Eva’s patience blossoms into a wider smile. Her success fully banked on Katherine’s cooperation and willingness to share. The vague answer was not what she needed, but it was all she was going to get, apparently. Eva learned long ago that prying and demanding more never made anyone feel more comfortable.

“A gift,” she repeats pointedly, the punctuated statement reflecting how vague of an answer it was, “Some must have been feeling quite generous,” she muses out loud, “I imagine something like this is hard to come by.”

Eva’s gaze lingers on the necklace for a moment then slowly draws a trail back down to the one in question, “That would certainly be useful, yes,” having a control is always important, “What makes you so worried about this one in particular?” she motions to the one on the desk between them, “Does it act as if it's contaminated or are you just worried about its origin?”

---

Katherine Fairburne