[attr="class","kap"]He was stirring as he arrived to the forest by carriage. He things weee packed up. Essentials. Clothes, toiletries, everything to make him presentable. And then there were the comfort things. The things he needed in order to help him make it through the nights. The pillow she used. The heavy blanket that soothed him. The cocoa he made for Emmie so many cozy nights. A few light reading materials. Books he's read so much that the binds had worn with use. And, his photo of them. Together.

Happy as they once were. Once difficult to look at, not the photo acted as inspiration; prevention. The word they dare not dream of. The one he hoped to save so many others from. Save them from this pain of loss and mourning that he suffered through every day.

He needed these things, and wouldn't take any less.

He left his things in the carriage as one staff member instructed. His bags would be transported to his room for him. Good. He'd already near broke his back hefting them out earlier.

His eyes were all over the facility, taking them in with persistently tired eyes. It was already a larger area for study than he expected. Far more well staffed and capable than what he had been working with before.

"Can I help you?"

He stirred from his thoughts as the stranger at the front noticed him. He walked over, apologizing as he did so, "sorry about that. I'm looking for Eirin Leyfson. She should be expecting me."

"Of course, Mr. Az'es. Just a moment." She dissapeared into the back for just a moment, only to return and beckon a hand out to lead him on, "right through these doors, Mr. Az'es."

He followed after, taking a deep breath. It was incredible. It was inspiring. Honestly, it felt like a playground. There was so much here he wanted to play with, just to see how they worked. What they could do. How they could be utilized for an ultimate goal of, what Eirin seemed to agree with him on- knowledge.

He looked to the woman in question, finally remembering to breath, "thank you for the invitation, Ms. Leyfson. I look forward to working with you."

In his mind, Artemis was stirring. He didn't enjoy this. He'd seen how Kap could fall into him work. Forgetting to take care of himself. Super focused. This time, the potoo expected worse, with no one there to remind him but the faithful avian.

[attr="class","kap"]He was being hospitable. Uniquely so. Typically in a large establishment, you had someone else handle things like that for you. A secretary, for instance. The fact that she offered to grab it herself...

She's lowering your guard, Artemis finished the thought.

They were on the same wavelength. "Just water, thanks," he stated simply. He was parched anyways from the travel, and it was the most effective without being a burden.

I'd say you should be one anyways. You are proficient at it.

He rolled his eyes at Artemis' thoughts, settling down in the seat just across from Eirin's desk. Their thoughts were soon confirmed as she pulled out a contract, flipping to the last page. Buttering him up to bypass litigation. He hadn't spent nearly every day in a library just to stop reading now. "If I may," he stated, though he would anyways. He picked the folder up, flipping back to the first page and giving the contract a glance through. Artemis was like a hawk, trying to pinpoint every attempt to make Kap's life more of a living Hell. Fiercely protective, this one.

"I have nothing against contracts. In fact, I prefer them. Something to look back on. And, oaths are only good for those who hear them." He paused from reading to glance up at her, a little jarred by that. ".... sorry. That took me a moment. It's not often someone is happy to see me," he stated bluntly. More self depreciating humor. "It's also quite the honor to meet you in person, Ms. Leyfson. Your reputation precedes you. He smiled, then dropped his gaze back down, "you made certain the trip here was a comfortable one, which I am thankful for. I have everything at home sorted, so your request for a long stay will be of no issue."

I will tell you what there is a lack of, Kap, the potoo was furious, and he could sense it.

He paused, then looked up, "I am to assume that I will be working long hours, which is of no issue, however I will still need some time here and there and the threat of my familiar hanging me himself. And also just to refresh myself. How much time can be afforded to me a month?" It was important to iron out details like this so that he could take advantage of them.

Artemis was grumbling, but at least he'd been quelled momentarily, "I also wanted to make a request. That my name be added to the published report for the research that I assist in. As a collaborator, I would like credit." His name had been through enough bad. He needed to rebuild it again, and this was one of the few ways he could.

[attr="class","kap"]He stowed away the comments of free time to figure out later, then. Not an issue. What was an issue, was hiw his secondary question was taken. The gravity had always been there, of course, but what he hadn't noticed was just how out of the light this situation was. Before he had been under the guidance of the rich and the powerful. He could no longer work like that.

"Right, I see," he answered calmly in a monotone before looking back down to the contract and signing on the line. If no one gets credit, then he considered it a humanitarian effort, which was far more in his book than anything that came before. He was also already well versed in confidentiality. This time, however, it was confidential to keep his head on his shoulders. And Eirin's, too.

"It will not be spoken of again," he handed the contract back to her and leaned back in his seat, looking up to the woman. She had a presence that demanded attention, and he certainly had all of his.

"All of my research notes have been brought with me. You can take a look at your leisure. I have already refreshed myself on them myself. I can also supply a cliff notes version to help you navigate them faster." He stood from his seat then and held a hand out to Eirin, "I can't wait to see what we can accomplish together, Ms. Leyfson."

[attr="class","kap"]She smiled, and he couldn't help but smile in return. He stood for his seat to meet her for the handshake as was properly polite to do so. And then he felt it again, like a soft wake compared to the mission he'd been on that felt like a crashed wave. The resemblance was uncanny. Then Eirin started to collapse.

He was quick, an arm coming around to offer her other hand a proper support before she could hit the ground. Thank the bit of Pegasus training for being quick on his feet now, even when dissociated. "Ms. Leyfson...? Eirin? Are you alright?"

Artemis would have normally been in a flurry by now, but he felt empty. He didn't like that feeling. Eirin didn't either it seemed. He released her when she pulled back. She looked pissed, and she had every right to be. Dots were starting to connect, and panic started to bubble up to the surface. If it was what he thought it was, this needed to be contained. Fast. "I shook your hand," he stated softly, "and it seems I passed on something to you."

Artemis was back, shouting in his head for him to listen. "Tch! Ow! Quieter!" he argued with the bird.

Artemis materialized, looking panicked. He settled on Kap's shoulder, drawing close.

"Well you were ignoring me! That feeling! It was like when we were out in the swamplands! Do you remember?"

He sighed, pinching his nose, and then looking sympathetically to Eirin, "what symptoms do you have? Are you able to communicate with your familiar?" He was in diagnosis mode now, and Eirin was another patient. "We had noticed it last for several minutes before it wore off." Though it seems his symptoms were much more mild than Eirin's. Perhaps he'd become more immune the second time around.

He was itching. A new puzzle, and he wanted to resolve it. Before it gets worse. Was it actually the handshake that passed things on? Touch? He touched a lot of people, why Eirin? Maybe the timing was just coincidental. Or maybe she was far more vulnerable than others.

[attr="class","kap"]He was trying to explain, mayhaps put her mind at ease, but instead she said one word that had him turn ice cold. Guards. He was frantic about touching anyone else at this point, barely making it a step away from them before they wrestled both of his arms and straightened him out with them behind his back. He squirmed as a tight strain wrings itself up his arm making him cry out shortly. Bad twist! Bad twist!

No need for violence, she declares a moment too damned late. Still, the twist was released, and he found himself able to relax again. As much as one could when your heart was thundering, and your mind was racing. "Please." he started, but she took control of the scene. Not given a moment to speak back, just given his sentence. Quarantine. He gaped a moment, but no. No. She had the right of it.

Eventually he shut his mouth, dipping his gaze down. "I understand, and I will go, but might I suggest no one else touch me until we understand how this transfers," he plead to her.

[attr="class","kap"]
The days all seemed to phase together. He kept up late hours, not always because of work. He had no sun to tell him when days ended or new ones began. You could never predict when the scientists hungry for knowledge would show to pick his brain. And, he complied. This was not about pride, or old vows. This was about the safety of Delphi. The safety of his family- the people he now considered may as well be his family. Ling. Zephyr. He didn't wish for ruin to fall upon the two of them as had happened in past experiences.

"Hero" was... a rather odd term that he wasn't sure how he felt about. He'd done everything wrong. He'd betrayed confidentiality and trust. He'd marked himself good as dead or otherwise should this ever break. Hero, he supposes, is a term instead used for 'criminal.' But maybe amount snakes that was the point. What greater crime could one commit? Murder?

Vaguely he remembers his conversation with Amari. The trust his friend had in him. If Amari found out, would it all be in shambles? Piece left so broken and tattered that you couldn't pray hard enough to repair them.

The door opens, and he nearly doesn't look up from his work, expecting another busy body scientist. He finishes the thought he was on on a journal they at least provided him. Mostly hypothesis and conjecture. He sees Eirin and- Eirin? He does a double take, then sets his pen down and looked in momentary awe; ".... sorry, just... how can I help you today, Eirin? Are you feeling any better?"

[attr="class","kap"]A moment interruption was nothing of a bither. The fact that she was approaching him at all after everything that happened gave him cope. Well, there was no point in quarantining when you were already ailed, he supposed. But he had become accustomed to the heavy suits by now, so to see a face on it's own without a mask felt almost rare.

"Yes, of course. Anytime," especially if the news was positive. He needed something uplifting after this partial seclusion he'd been under. Like a caged rat.

What she handed he took in eager hands, flipping through pages of articles. His eyes may have been tired from days of study and theories, but when it came to IMS, he immediately devoured the content, sinking into it and gaining some answers that put his mind at ease.

Then, she states the one thing that has his blood running cold. She's infected. But, as the information gathered from the articles and her words dictated, it was not because of him. "Only twice, and for brief periods. The moment we touched hands, and once some weeks ago during a mission."

He set the articles aside, drawing on to his analytical brain to try and deliver as much information that was pertinent as he could.

"Actually, we were bear here when it happened. Assisting Cerberus in healing their wounded. There was a daemon attack, and shortly after it felt as if a wave ran over us. We were all affected simultaneously fir a short period."

He stood from his seat, instead moving to lean back against his desk. He was antsy, and he needed some form of stretch to work it out. "I'm sorry that this happened to you, Ms. Leyfson. If there is anything I can do to help you, it would be my pleasure."

[attr="class","kap"]His name drew all of his attention to that one moment. He felt breathless as the words sank in. Revenge?

Against the daemons that murdered his wife and child?

Against Cerberus for allowing this taboo to so widely infect it's walls?

Against the people who spoke down to him?

Against those who laid their hands upon him?

He let out a slow breath, making sure his answer was one he felt. "I feel a great many things. Anger. Sadness. Anxiety. All at the hands of people who mean to do me harm. While there are times I fall into spurts that I wish karma would take them, they're spurts. Revenge wouldn't bring my life back, and it wouldn't make me any happier anyhow. Instead I put that energy to something more useful."

He hoped the answer was one she found acceptable. He couldn't even accept carrying a blade on him, despite Jae and Kasimir's attempts. The idea that he could hurt someone and the fear that accompanied it was far stronger than his own needs.

He looked far too energized when her commentary suddenly turned towards leaving this blasted room. He was up on his feet then, fixing the fit of his shirt as he walked a few feet behind her. "What I've been working on... I know I've given a lot of instruction, but I couldn't imagine that it would be very far yet..." he was surprised, honestly. But time was faded for him after being trapped to that room. Finally he had the concept of time returning to him as they walked. It was exhilarating!