Oh, and he'd be so smug about it, the bastard.

[give him a moment to shovel a knife-full of food into his mouth again, bringing himself from a low-key rage back down to a thoughtful consideration of the cards he has been dealt.

eventually, he reaches forward to tap a fingernail on the table in front of them, as if pointing something out on a map that isn't there.]

I'll tell you this much--you've managed to make yourself the most interesting topic at the table again, from what little you've given already.