[You’re ready to start the day. You greet your superior with friendly enthusiasm, turning sheepish when he questions you on the whereabouts of your best friend.]

"Hi, Wilbur! What do you need me to do today? Other than the walls. (Beat) Oh — sorry, Tommy’s still asleep, sir. (Contemplative hum) I, uh, I already tried.”

[You’re coming to a realization that a situation you just heard of was the final straw in a conflict and escalation was inevitable. This is horrifying to your character.]

“Surely not. Tommy, really — this is… (trails off) This was such a bad idea. It’s literally the worst thing that could have happened.”

[Another character, severely injured, is waking up after having been near death. You are leaning over them, surveying their wounds. You start off trying to be soothing, but you can’t help the subtle grief in your voice when recounting the experience. When the other starts complaining about their injury, you give level reassurance.]

“Holy crap, you’re awake. (shaky exhale) I genuinely thought you wouldn’t make it. It was — I — I’m glad you’re okay. (beat) Your, uh, your shoulder’s alright — it’ll take a couple of days to heal, I’d suppose."