Cassius stared at the mess, his mind reeling. The sheer, unadulterated speed of Julie's kitchen disasters was...truly something to behold.
He took another deep, shuddering breath, trying to find his inner zen, as he really was on the verge of unleashing a lecture worthy of a tactical debriefing.
But then he saw her face: the downcast eyes, the fidgeting hands, the truly pitiful, heartbroken expression.
His frustration, though still a roaring bonfire, couldn't quite extinguish the tiny flicker of sympathy.
He softened, his tone gentle as he stepped closer. "It's fine, Julie, it's fine." He said, forcing reassurance into his voice as he waved a hand. "We're not done yet. Just move on to the next step, add the sugar. It's right there by the machine."
"...Just be careful this time, okay? Don't step on it." He flashed a small, almost painful smile, his curiosity still burning despite the growing internal inferno of his frustration.
