Normally Layland would have moved on once his little duty to politeness was dealt with, but something held him back now. After helping the other to his feet, he stopped to look at him in the face, to really look. What he saw made him tilt his head in confusion. His mind collected observations--the other's discomfort, his unfinished speech, the spacy look on his face, and the flush spreading across it. Observation was the first step in the scientific process. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again. "You look a little..."

Layland's scientific mind tried to put theories to his observations, putting things together like a puzzle. Everything was a puzzle after all and puzzles needed solving. Without thinking about it, he started to mutter aloud. Bits and pieces of scientific jargon, half formed ideas floating out of context, jumbled out of him in no particular order. He dropped his chin onto his fist, his other arm crossed over his chest. Although he was staring right at the person he'd run into, he saw only equations and mixtures with his eyes. He completely forgot he was in the middle of the courtyard talking to someone.