Ah, success. He's still got it, apparently, even if 'it' is 'being a menace to his friends', and he's had so little opportunity for practicing that particular skill in the last few years. After all, Admiralty parties are definitely not an appropriate place for such things, and neither had been the Expedition.

So he doesn't bother to hide how pleased he is with himself as Francis coughs, briefly reveling in his victory, and then Francis throws that jab at him and hey--

"Slightly?" Whenever he curls his hair he does so masterfully, thank you.