"I don't know what cordyceps are, but I understand the sentiment. What you should know about me is that presentation is a very deliberate thing for me; I have polished myself into something very nice and shiny, and I like who I am these days, even on this ship. Is anything weighing on me? Of course. We've been kidnapped by an eldritch magician who's using the energy he derives from our negative emotions to attempt to become a god. That does stress a man somewhat."

He huffs out a humorless little laugh. "You're hardly the only bitch on this ship, and I've managed to get in good with no few of the kind by being friendly, useful, and not showing that I'm afraid until it's unavoidable. But I'm like many others on this warped displeasure cruise, fumbling around in the dark with little actual understanding of what I can do to help anyone with anything. I fear that little personal tiffs will fracture whatever sense of community and cooperation we can build to fortify ourselves against the captain. I fear seeing the people I've come to care about hurt, because a craven little wizard thinks he can play with us like dolls in a dollhouse."