hackitude | ic contact (mask or menace)

[ He suddenly jerks back, nearly knocking over the mug in the process. Luckily, he manages to lean forward and grab a hold of either side of the mug so nothing spills over. ]

W-Why did this all have to get so complicated?!

[Skye's eyebrows shoot right up.]

Whoa. Calm down there, buddy. Breathe. Take a biscuit.

S-Sorry...!

[ He means it earnestly.

The mug wavers as he lifts it toward his lips, taking a quick sip before he places it back down on the table. He doesn't reach for any biscuits yet, trapped in his own thoughts again. ]

... It's been a long night.

[She grabs a shortbread biscuit for herself, then.]

Do you... want to talk about it?

[ He glances up her momentarily, tugging his collar nervously. ]

I don't... I don't know?

[ He thinks about it for a second, wondering if Skye would have any advice on what to do. Her previous advice had actually worked, but no one could have expected baking vatrushka and then pressing about what was bothering Kenzi would have led into a confession.

His throat is dry, so he takes another sip of the tea. ]

I-I don't know where to even begin...

Hey, no pressure. You don't have. You can just... go to bed, if you want. But if you need an ear or anything... mine's available. ... Figuratively speaking.

[ Could he? Should he?

But Skye is so kind. Maybe she can help? He hasn't an idea what to do in these situations and Break's not around to exacerbate it or provide help in his own eccentric ways.

No, it's probably best Break isn't here. ]

D-Do you remember that f-friend of mine...?

[ Is the tea burning up his insides? He thinks he might combust any given moment. ]

You know that conversation wasn't even 24 hours ago, right? Yes, I remember.

... Did something happen?

Oh, right...

[ He swallows nervously. ]

W-Well, I took your advice... and it seemed to work...?

But then... then when I asked about... about what was wrong...

[ A shuddering breath. ]

She started talking too fast and acting strange and then she screamed and shestartedsayingmorestrangethings!