There was exactly one question that Tony was capable of answering about this creature, so he tore his gaze away from it to roll toward Jon with his lip raised incredulously for the asking. His gesturing hand remained suspended in the air, becoming a kind of placating gesture toward the creature as it continued its slightly off-putting, slow examination, more of it folding in through the hole in the roof and its head angling watchfully, all the while mottling with more of the grey stone colour of the ceiling. What Tony could answer was a slightly belated, "Anything you want, boss, you know I'll make--augh!"

The animal was moving so carefully that Tony didn't anticipate that long tongue suddenly darting in between them, sending Tony stumbling back another step and recoiling from the glistening membrane. Almost as fast as it appeared, it went reeling back in, liberally coated now in a still writhing smattering of the nesting beetles and a generous array of pebbles, its sticky surface uncompromising. As the animal thoughtfully considered its bounty, jaw working in that same slow, deliberate way and the inedible rocks falling from the corners of its mouth, Tony tugged Jon closer again and watched with some horror. That was gross. And there was no way they were going to be able to give this place a proper examination if that thing was...watching. Maybe Tony could just startle it away, so after watching yet another stone fall from its lips, Tony tried a sharp whistle.

It certainly didn't like the sound that echoed around the library, startled jerking suddenly as it tried to retreat, but lodged part way through the hole in the roof and in a panic mostly made the creature strain against the rocks and send a new shower of debris down to the floor. Effectively cornered, it used its next best option to retaliate, and spat its long tongue out toward the threat.

It stuck.