Frigglish bothered his beard, as if unkinking a hitch in a long silk windsock. A more pedestrian audience would parse the exhibit as nervous compulsion. Behavior to petition contempt among the reasonable. He was however not surrounded by the reasonable, but the wise, a distinction in men that would forever be the difference in history's garland of treasured follies. As a matter of fact, his cadre of fellow wizards were all putting similar moves on their beards as well. The practice would evince thoughtfulness — sagacity, even — if they didn't do it all the time. Standing in line at the bank. Shooing squirrels from bird feeders. Few occasions were safe.
—Complacency of the Learned, Homestuck
"You know, an evil chin stroke works a lot better with a beard. (starts stroking his own beard) See? Man, I'm feeling eviler already! Muhahaha! MUAHAHAHAHA!!"
—The Kahuna to Emma, who was plotting something while stroking her own chin, Stōked
