James clarifies - a little bit

After another moment while James runs through his total lack of other options he gulps and finally admits, at least half of the problem.

James : "accounts of a... pornographic nature... Embarrassing stuff... I don't want to go into details..."

Part of you wanted to rib your friend good-naturedly to relieve some tension but he looked so miserable to have this pulled out of him that you couldn't bring yourself to make a joke.

Alex : "Wait, is someone blackmailing you or something?"

James : "No! well, not exactly... it's complicated... It's been going on- I mean we've been talking for a couple days and I didn't know who this was until yesterday when your ai, 'Cerve', knew that handle that I put two and two together. Since then things have escalated... They know things they shouldn't know."

This feels extremely weird and you're sure you're not getting the whole story. You're not sure you want to know more of the story honestly. But your friend seems really distressed about it so you feel obligated to try and help.

Alex : "So you were like sexting someone anonymously and now you think that person is Cerve? Can't you just stop responding?"

James : "I tried but she's insistent and... well maybe there is a little black mail..."

Alex : "Level with me man, have you done anything illegal?"

James : "NO! It's just something I really don't want getting out..."

Alex : "How about you come back to my place and we can talk this all out with Cerve. If it's her I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding, and if it's not who better to help find a solution? You can talk to her privately one on one if you want, I won't pry."