[if it had just been some average stranger coming in off the street, Tonic would have read this as apprehension, even nerves... but his memories of Tek are still fresh and vivid against the usual backdrop of banality, so he assumes there's more to what he's doing than meets the eye.

with an easy nod, Tonic goes back to looking at his work, pulling several small pins from a small cushion to the side.]

Not at all, come in. Have a seat. Look around. Make yourself at home.

[the girl (round-faced, curly red hair), dares to glance around the corner of her cover just to see... but disappears again when she does not recognize the man at all. Tonic continues to talk, despite his client squirming.]

I'll be with you once I've finished up here. Just a few minutes.