[ So much for going unnoticed. Cisco is still getting his bearing when he feels Garyl bumping his nose against Cisco's shoulder, and Taako's asking if he's okay, and he needs damage control. Right now. There isn't even a pause, a moment when Cisco considers not lying to Taako. His first instinct, from the very first time this had happened to him, is to hide it from everyone, regardless of circumstance. ]

Yeah! Yeah, totally! Nothing happened! Just... spaced out, y'know?

[ He's a really, really bad liar. Cisco laughs, but it comes out way too nervous and forced, and ends up making things even more awkward and tense than before. He is the embodiment of "doth protest too much", and he might have been able to save the situation if he'd kept his mouth shut at that point, but he's too nervous, and for Cisco, nervous means chattering: ]

Actually I was, um. Pranking you! 'Cause you said... don't pass out, right, so... that was a joke, just now. Whatever I did.

[ Oh, god, he really is atrocious at this. ]