Ground? Please swallow him up, now. Cesar jumped and frantically tried to maneuver L around, or away, and it just doesn't happen, and he's being climbed on, and fussing further at this point is just clashing with L, making all of this take longer. He can't believe this just actually happened. It's astounding that he's even survived this attempted murder by mortification. His face is several shades darker, or it would be, if L could see it in this lighting. Did he feel the heat radiating off of it, any one of those near brushes during his trip?

L is past him. Then the man turns and chirrups something back at Cesar, who stares. Then Cesar drags his mouth into the shape of a smile, nods once, and considers what to do next for all of two seconds.