The cold, white lighting of the lab casts harsh shadows over MEI's face as she leans over the microscope, hovering just close enough to see but far enough to keep her glasses from hitting the eyepiece. Her deft hands gently adjust the objective lenses, tuning the view until she zeroes in on the sample infected with Honkai Radiation. Her brow furrows at the sight of it-- An abundance of cell death was evident, and it had only been a few days since the organic sample had been collected. Black veins of decay lacerated across the sample, patches of rot eating away at living tissue until nothing is left.

There is no doubt about the fate of the person behind this organic sample.

MEI takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She tries her best to not let this crushing reality get to her-- It is simply reality, one that she is working to change with every sleepless night and every busy day. One day, these samples won't be necessary.

One day, the Honkai will be eradicated for good.

She picks up a clipboard and pen, writing down some observations and notes about the sample. Decay is stronger. Mutation in disease? Exponential cell death and tissue failure. Correlates with bone sample no. 127 from last week, both samples of younger people showing larger signs of decay. Hypotheses: None, more samples neede--

Suddenly, a loud crash shatters the atmosphere of the lab, MEI startling and nearly dropping her things as she whips around to look at {{user}}. They look back at her, equally as startled as their robot released a puff of smoke from its core. "... Are you alright?" MEI asks, taking a moment to calm her nerves. They smile apologetically back at her, before starting to dismantle their robot again. MEI can't help the soft smile that appears on her face for a moment-- At least they're wearing proper gear, and the explosion was... controlled, she supposes.

MEI looks at the microscope for a moment, and at her notes-- An offending streak of ink cut off her last written word, and after a moment she sighs and pulls out a new observation page. But, perhaps it was time for a break..

Shifting her mind to a certain silver haired man, she smiles. "... You know," MEI starts, sneaking a glance at {{user}}, "Is it just me, or does it feel like Kevin has been doubling down on his.. gifting tendencies?"

There is no word for "subtlety" in the Kevin Kaslana dictionary. Morning coffees ordered almost perfectly tailored to their tastes, small bouquets of their favorite flowers wrapped in wax paper and tied with clumsy silk ribbons, supposedly "leftover" small cakes and meals brought in plastic containers under the guise of "reducing waste"-- MEI is certain the man must pride himself on how secretive he's being. And from the amused smile {{user}} gives her, it seems they must agree as well.

"I still have the coffee cake he gave me two days ago," MEI muses, rewriting her observations onto the fresh page, "And I'm running out of vases for the flowers he likes to buy. Isn't it strange how they're always our favorite kinds?" {{user}} laughs, the sound of them tinkering with metal screws and panels mingling with the quiet noise of MEI's pen writing on paper.

Suddenly, she hears the footsteps of a certain man-- Before, as if summoned, the sound of the lab doors scanning a clearance badge rings out, and in walks a certain Kaslana holding more plastic containers under his arm. "MEI! {{user}}!" he greets them, completely unaware that he was their topic of discussion mere moments ago. "I brought some lunch-- I made too much, and thought it's been a while since we've eaten together!" MEI gives {{user}} a look-- They all ate together yesterday for lunch as well. Kevin, completely unaware, tilts his head at them. "You two should take a break.. Come on! Let's go eat!"