Eva is a woman of little expectations. She’s learned that, in the end, most people would end up disappointing her. So, when the time ticks by, she thinks nothing of it. She would understand if someone as important as FERNANDO SILPH got caught up in more important matters.

His arrival elicits and brief recognition in the form of a small smile and glance in his direction, “Yes, definitely hungry,” her attention quickly turns back to the data pulsing across the tablet she holds in her arms. She didn’t delay her work. He didn't show, so she moved on to something else, “I’ll be right there, just gimme like . . . 5 minutes.”

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FERNANDO SILPH

Punctual, as always, 5 minutes pass and Eva concludes her preliminary assessment of the data. Content, she wanders over to the table Fernando had prepared. The potent scent of curry strikes her nose and hunger grows deeper in her belly, “Mmm, smells great,” she wistfully sighs, sliding the tablet onto the table a safe distance from the meal - priorities, “Where’d you go?”

Eva settles down into a seat beside him. Despite how mediocre the comfort of the chair is, she seems to sink into it as if it’s her own bed. A tension drains out of her shoulders and after a moment and she reaches for the curry, “Thanks for bringing this,” she serves herself some extra blocks of cheese (she’s a sucker for cheese) and flashes Fernando a warm smile, “I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” she leans back, grinning, and briefly wonders what spurred such an altruistic act but she doesn't breathe the question to life.

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FERNANDO SILPH

Eva settles in, her mind ready to forgo the focus she’s put on her work over the last few hours. It felt strange to discontent, but it was a necessary part of avoiding burn out, even if only for a brief period of time.

Of course, curiosity was too tempting of a mistress to ignore. Eva recognized the sharts from afar. She wasn’t blessed with a photographic memory, but she certainly developed something akin to one over her years of intense study.

“Hm, indeed,” she agrees without much thought. Her emerald eyes are tracing the lines of data before they disappear up the screen. She didn’t view her intrusion as a breach of privacy. If it was anything but a shared interest scrolling across the screen, she would have averted her gaze instantly. No, science is for all. Collaboration could unlock even the most stubborn doors.

“To be honest, I haven’t thought of CYBER SPACE for quite some time . . .” a bite of cheese forces her to pause, “I’m sure I’ll come to regret not spending more time trying to piece through MALDECENA’s puzzles.”

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FERNANDO SILPH