[A few seconds later, the smoke almost forms a pattern... Twisting rivulets running up and down, curling every so often into tight, darker circles before continuing and eventually disappearing into the air above. Almost as suddenly as it started, Tonic finally blinks and reaches forward, waving a hand through the hanging smoke and breaking whatever spell had come over him.

The feeling of magic settles again, receding gently like a tide out to sea. Tonic settles back down, though it's partly an extension of the sinking feeling he gets as he realizes that his already unbelievable day may have just become more complicated.]

I'm sorry, what were we...?

[Maybe if he just ignores it, they can all pretend it didn't happen...? Maybe it just looked like he had spaced out for a minute... He goes to run a hand through his hair, but is again distracted when he catches the glint of gold flake out of the corner of his eye.

He pauses, falters. Hesitates. But the truth is, Tek has done a commendable job of making a paranoid wreck of a human feel safe and assured through all manner of very frightening things. Several weeks ago, this would be buried if it was the last thing he did, but after today...

He glances back at Tek, unsure of his vision, but finding a strange confidence that the other might actually be able to help.]

Do you know what would be... Dark, but with small pinpricks of light in it...? So far you couldn't grab them.