[He gives a light hum in thought that ends on a note of confusion for the comment. Oh. The pen.

He delicately frees the pen from his mouth and works his jaw a moment before looking over at the other man.]

That wouldn't be advisable, would it? Thank you, that's been happening more often recently and usually when I've stopped paying attention. I bent a spoon this morning and chewed a pencil down to nothing. I'd thought the pen would prove less vulnerable.

[Maybe it was just stress? Must be, he was certainly that.]