Alicia was a student not known for stuttering or showing this sort of emotion. Anger? Yes. Frustration? Sure. Happiness? Definitely. But the tears and the wavering in her answer confirmed Cressida's suspicion that something with the Kitsune mentor was amiss. Alicia attempted to speak more, stuttering still and then she was having difficulty breathing—no, she was going to cry.
Cressida was happy she set her own cup aside, and ignored the spilled tea and instead moved her chair closer to Alicia. "I hate to say this, but I don't believe you, Alicia," Cressida said, "I know I'm not your head of house and we haven't talked much but something is going on. And if you want to talk about it . . . I have plenty of tea and an open ear. I don't have any appointments this afternoon either. My afternoon is yours."