His eyes twitch around the edges of their glare. "Good. I'll learn every one of them," he snaps, defiant despite his ancestor's agreement. "My face will be smooth and clean, and not a hazard to any wayward prongs."

He steps back, and his gaze is wary. "I'm going to finish this puzzle." He watches him, still for a moment, then says as he turns, "You go back to--"

His stomach lurches, or maybe lifts, like missing a step only to find the stairs were an illusion all along. He doesn't tumble forward, but his turn sets him into a lazy spin as his feet leave the ground.

"TAINT-LICKING NOOKMAGGOTS, WHY NOW?!"