John audibly exhales as Martin stammers, his lips pressed together in a line about as thin as his patience. "This is a serious offense, Martin, not a— not some minor oversight. You're simply not qualified to stay on. How do you suppose it would reflect upon me — let alone the Institute as a whole — if you were allowed to remain under our employ?"

He considers leaning forward to emphasize the point, but the desk is a little too wide for him to really invade Martin's personal space from where he's currently sitting. Besides, he realizes, moving closer would feel less in-character than the alternative. John straightens back into his own chair instead, putting more unimpressed distance between himself and his lackluster employee.

"And given your... performance... thus far," he adds, letting just a hint of sneering innuendo slip into his tone, "I find it hard to imagine just how you intend to 'do better.'"