Jewel turned a hard gaze at her husband, but gave a curt nod to the Pumpkin King and took her usual position behind the chair.

Carver scowled at the implication that he needed help. “I’m [i]fine[/i]!” he snapped. “I’ll just take a nap in a nutrient bath once I’m out of this stupid trash can.”

He pushed himself away from the wall and took two confident steps away from the wall -- then promptly lost his balance and, with a [i]fwoop[/i] followed by a clattering [i]bang[/i], fell forward to land face-down on the floor.

"Stupid exoskeleton..." he grumbled into the stone surface.