prowess

She had a demented cackle that barely contained the anxious energy that burst forth. Every impulse to slow down and relax into the moment was met with a jerk towards extroversion. Images of successful, funny, articulate celebrities flashed through her mind. These vague aspirations of social prowess trickled down to the reptilian part of her brain and resulted in an occassional, barely perceptible, flick of the tongue.