[ Matt is trapped in a perfect moment, gleaming like amber. On the one hand, there's Gavial's smirk over his upturned palm. It's an undeniably nice smirk, aesthetically speaking, and more on the amused end than the malicious. On the other hand, there's Matt's utter humiliation, piercing his fragile moment of disclosure like pins headed for a balloon. This is the worst. This would happen on a sitcom. He's in an iron maiden of his own making.

Then, mercifully, Gavial lets him off the hook. Matt's hand drops to his side, and he tries to smile at her in a normal way, but he's reeling from both the social consequences of the failed spell and what it apparently means. ]

I see ... [ Does he??? His cheeks are a bit red. ] Uh, well, good to know. I noticed I was kind of on the fritz, but it's happened to me before when things get stressful, so I didn't think too much of it.

[ He shoots Gavial a more successful smile, this one rueful. ]

In that case, take back everything I just said. I'm gonna be totally useless around here.