Her face returns to her hands, "It was nice out, okay, and Caine's place was right on the edge of town, so you could get a good look at the stars," she tries to explain. 

“Erin, are you a wandering drunk?” Haylin asks, mock-horrorified 

“We had to start locking the doors before the whiskey’d come out.”

"At least I never kissed anyone out of nowhere. Which is more than can be said of some people." 

“Oh, Robin. Here’s hoping his octopus tendency has lessened in his old age.”

“I get terribly snuggly. Emily suffers terribly when I’ve had a few.” Her voice is very fond. She misses her wife a lot. 

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen a person look so bewildered and offended as Caine did when Robin kissed him," Erin muses. She shakes her head, "How long are you in town, anyway, Haylin?"

“Not long. We’re still in the process of moving our lab kit back to San M, not that we should have to. It’s hard to watch some people file past you, while you’re putting all your things in boxes.”

"Is anyone I know sticking around?" 

“Hmmm. Not sure. I could have a look, but it wouldn’t be anyone you studied with. Why? You interested in what your parents were doing?”

The tone is not approving. 

"Only in the sense that I'd want to know if what they were working on is the thing we're trying to counter," she murmurs. "And- well." She glances around at all the military hanging about, determining that their attention has drifted enough from them for it to be relatively safe.

"Have you actually seen my parents?" She asks, quietly, "Because I haven't heard from them in months." 

Haylin frowns. “Now that I think of it,” she says, dropping her voice low to match. “I haven’t heard from your parents. Their lab is still active, though.”

If they've been confined there and aren't allowed any calls or emails... but what could they be working on that would be that deeply secret? 

...Well. Whatever the hell is going on in this town, maybe. Glowing, veiny apples, the infection... Whatever it is is clearly important enough to have the military out in force, and some kind of agent following her around. 

She sighs, "I don't want to get you in trouble," she tells Haylin lowly, "But do you know anything about what they were working on? If it does have to do with the infection that's running the hospital ragged..." 

Haylin looks genuinely concerned by that, and turns her head to face the door. “I...I would want to hope it wouldn’t. But...” 

She turns back to Erin, shaking her head. “I don’t know, Erin. I’m sorry. I’ll see if I can get a message down before we head back to the city.”

“Have they changed any of the pass codes in the last few months?”

“Not that I know of. Why?”

“Professional curiosity.”

Right, Cati had mentioned she'd done some security work for the lab. That could definitely come in handy if they ever have to actually break into the place. Though she very much hopes they don't.

"I'd appreciate it, but please be careful," she tells Haylin. "Don't put yourself in danger just to get a message to them."

Haylin takes Erin’s hand and squeezes it. “Don’t worry so much. Labs always have stupidly tight security, but I can promise that nothing is going to happen to me!”

"With all this," she subtly motions at the nearby soldiers, "I think a bit of paranoia is warranted. But I'll try not to worry." 

“Yes, well...” Haylin looks around the room of soldiers. “That worry may be warranted. But for now, let’s just have a drink?”

"Yeah, that sounds good to me," she agrees. She can worry all she wants later. For now, she'd like to spend time catching up with two friends she hasn't seen in years.

Cati seems a little reserved, and is checking her phone more than someone who claims to not go out much should, but she seems to get on well with Haylin. 

Haylin, at least, seems to be absolutely thrilled to be around people who aren’t her team. She’s lively, for someone with deep purple eye bags. 

Erin is delighted to see them getting on. 

After a few more drinks, though, it starts getting late enough that Erin starts thinking about heading home. 

"Do you have a ride home?" She asks Cati.