[Tim will keep working as they're talking, but there's no mistaking that he's giving Kepler his full attention for most of it. The direct eye contact is partway between threatening and (maybe just to him) a challenge, and he meets it readily.]

...yeah, understood. Different scale, but. I know the feeling.

[He straightens up so he can meet Kepler's eyes properly.] I'm gonna make sure he doesn't explode again. Not now he's got a goal, not when it'll mean the fallout's gonna be that much bigger.