Harsh is fine--Brendan can take harsh, and it rolls off of him like water off a bird's back. It does, however, remind him: Kurt isn't from his place. Isn't from a world of hash heads and heroin, of guns and blades, of lockers and payphones.

There's a gentle thumping sound as he flops back into his chair and tilts it back, balancing it once more. There's no non-awkward way to tell the other he has the same eyes as Emily.

"Don't think of it as protecting. Just know you have a fallback if you get yourself into a jam, alright?" A sigh, and then he shrugs.

"I used to be in the drama club."