Autor jumps, nearly dropping his whisk. "You poked me!" he says incredulously. "No one pokes me! And for good reason."

The boy squares his shoulders, huffing. "I'm well aware it's supposed to be fun," he says, concentrating very hard on making his béchamel base smooth. "I just... don't want to mess it up."

He does take the milk, though. "Thanks. Not for the poking. But for this."