Science. Helena could focus on science. It was something that she did tend to cling to when she needed to focus her mind on something other than what was actually bothering her. Science always made sense when the rest of the world didn't. It was something Helena had escaped into on more than one occasion when her mind was too chaotic for her to properly function.
"All intriguing topics to be involved with." Even now, Helena was still a bit in awe that dragons actually existed in this world. "Have you found genetic anomalies in dragons?" Genetics was an area of interest to Helena. While her understanding of the science may be a century out-of-date, she had a firm grasp of the basics of the science. After all, she'd done research when she'd written The Island of Doctor Moreau. It was also an area of science where Helena could sit and read on the topic for hours and not become bored of it.
The joke, while unexpected, was not unwelcome. Though Helena knew it was undoubtedly brought about by the tension in the air. Which was coming solely from Helena's side, it wasn't Gwen's fault at all.
"If anyone should apologize it is me. I have not had the best of weeks." She paused long enough to take a steadying breath. "Today is my daughter's birthday." Might as well start with that and work her way up. And for the life of her, in that moment Helena couldn't remember if she'd told Gwen before about having a daughter or her death. Either way, she was about to find out.