Hello, I work with numerous humans. Navigating their emotionality is quite haphazardous at times, and today I have seemingly transgressed on my colleague “Mike”.

I have observed for numerous months that Mike appeared to be attempting a science experiment of sorts. It was a lacto-bacilli fermentation but I was unsure to what end. Mike had repurposed many parts of his meals and placed them into a sealed container to make something called “Kombucha”. I am familiar with many fermented human foods, however I was unsure that Mike would achieve a favorable result. When asked why he didn’t use the replicator for his “kombucha”, he said it’s not the same. I am still attempting to understand his logic as it quite literally would be the same.

Nevertheless, I have kept a careful eye on the fermentation, and as it’s entered it’s third month I noticed signs of bacterial and fungal contamination. Believing the dish to be clearly compromised, I safely discarded of it with the proper biohazard precautions. However, Mike is now irate, saying I ruined his lunch and that he likes it, “chunky but soft”. I do not follow his logic. AIBI?