"Um. Your, um. ...Torso?"
Silthax smiles tightly over the photocopier. "That's perfectly normal, thank you, Kelly," they say. "I've discussed with so-called Human Resources whether and when I'll need a plan for time off."
"I'm sorry," Kelly says, reflexively clutching folders of paperwork to her. "I didn't mean to be — I was just — I thought you — it's fine? You're, uh, that's healthy?"
"Perfectly normal part of my lifecycle, yes," Silthax says, patting their cracked and swollen chest. "You know we feed on emotive effluvia. I've simply absorbed enough heartwarming feels to enter initial spore production!"
"Uh," Kelly says, wide-eyed.
"I will of course take a personal day when my chest is due to explode! And then I'll be back on my feet in no time."
"Is—" Kelly swallows, lowers her voice. "Is this because I recommended that Hallmark movie marathon?"
Silthax narrows their eyes. "Kelly," they say firmly. "This is part of my kind's reproductive cycle. Would it be appropriate for me to ask you about your human Pornhub at work?"