"Yeeup," Avery agreed with an exaggerated grin, showing his teeth. It felt weird, stretching his mouth wide like that. "We work. Weeeeeee work. Wework." How hadn't he noticed how his lips felt, making those sounds before? He made an odd laugh and then rubbed his mouth with his hand to erase what he'd done.
Then he snapped his fingers and pointed upwards to where Lyra had been looking a moment before. "Not all cryptids are aliens. Some are manifestations. Do you know about manifestations, Mackenzie?" He looked back at her, eyes widening. "Maybe they're aliens and manifestations. Immortal. Unkillable. Outliving every one of their mortal children. We believe in them." He said the last word with sinister import, and then grabbed another handful of popcorn to shove into his face. "Mmmhmmmhmmmm f'goo'."