[ Taako's gambit works; Cisco laughs, soft and surprised, and shakes his head. ]

The weird samurai hair, then? Maybe it's the weird samurai hair and the eyeliner and the leather all at the same time. Like a trifecta. [ Cisco gets to his feet, shrugs, and concludes: ] Well, at least I know what not to pick for my alias.

[ He says it as a light joke, but it's indicative of a general way of thinking that is already starting to make a tiny place for itself in a corner of his mind, saying don't be like that. do whatever it takes to not become like that. ]

Think we could maybe get some grub? I didn't eat since this morning, 'cause that's what they make you do before surgeries or whatever and it seemed like maybe a good idea.

[ All of a sudden he's feeling pretty eager to not be in this room, but he doesn't really feel like being alone, either, and he's not sure he could pull off seeming normal and unbothered to anybody else. ]

I could cook you that thank-you dinner, if you want.