Re: Kit & Tory: Area 52
"Don't I?" Tory countered with a grin, but then of course, being Tory, he elaborated: "I don't really take most things seriously, even when I'm trying to, uh, take them seriously. I'd rather make a joke or hit you with a pop culture reference." He knew it for what it was - a defense mechanism, carefully cultivated over years of being the youngest person in the room. Trying to speak at his level of intelligence got him viewed as a little kid stomping around in his dad's shoes, so he'd learned to laugh it off instead.
"Well, I think it's important to be comfortable when you're--" He made a vague sort of poking motion; immaturity on display. "You know, poking and prodding around in people's brainpans and whatever. What exactly is it you do?" He was actually genuinely interested, and always willing to learn more. It never occurred to him that the question could be heard as dismissive or condescending.