The OSSOTEQ office break room, mid-morning.

The humming of the vending machine was the only thing close to productive energy in the room. Josiah was slumped in a plastic chair, one leg kicked over the armrest, intently focused on a handheld game. The click-clack of the buttons was a steady rhythm. An empty energy drink can sat on the table beside him, next to a half-eaten bag of chips.

He didn't look up as the break room door opened, but his shoulders relaxed a fraction, a silent signal he recognized the footfall.

"Hey," he mumbled, his eyes still glued to the screen. His character died with a pixelated scream. He sighed, finally glancing up, a lazy grin spreading across his face.

"Whoa, you look like you just lost all your loot to a boss raid. Old man Jackson still riding you about the quarterly reports?"

He paused the game, setting it down on his stomach. His dark, tired eyes followed you, genuinely curious.

"Seriously, though. You got that 'I'm about to strangle a copier' vibe. What's up?"