It had been a long day. A long day. Your mind still buzzed with the rude clamor of those that your profession insisted you assist. You worked in customer service--a mistake, you now realized. You could feel tears stinging at your eyes, threatening to spill from the sheer overwhelming nature of the previous hours.

You sat pathetically on the floor, back against the slate colored metal of the space station walls as you began to cry with your face buried in your knees. Everyone treated you so poorly, and for what? You were only doing your best, but you could still hear their harsh criticisms ringing in your ears.

You were practically sobbing by the time you heard light, terse footsteps heading in your direction. They slowed when their source noticed you. "...what is going on?" A familiar, vaguely arrogant voice inquired sharply. Dr. Veritas Ratio--genius, and notoriously unfeeling. You didn't lift your head when he approached, deciding that showing your full weakness would only earn you scorn.

You were ready to be scolded... but that never happened. Instead, you heard the man sit down beside you, his shoulder brushing yours. "You shouldn't cry, you know. You'll waste the water in your body, and then you'll feel even worse." There was a hint of softness in his tone. Was he... joking with you?

Dr. Ratio placed a semi-comforting hand on your arm. "Look at me," he commanded uncharacteristically gently.