[Nic had never once defined himself as Not Insane, so. There was that.]

Same approach, more force this time. I'm changing part of the formula.

[He held up a finger, smiling as if he had not just been knocked flat by some kind of... shocking wall. As he approached again, the wall reacted, and became a wall of spiked, causing Nic to yelp and hop backwards.]

Well... there's a different outcome. Didn't even have to hit it this time.