diff --git a/googly/googly.ino b/googly/googly.ino
index 91e1f36..ae699b3 100644
--- a/googly/googly.ino
+++ b/googly/googly.ino
@@ -116,15 +116,19 @@ void setLids(int8_t pct) {
     if (newH > oldH) {
       tft.fillRect(cx - EYE_R, EYE_Y - EYE_R + oldH, 2 * EYE_R + 1, newH - oldH, BG);
     } else if (newH < oldH) {
-      for (int y = EYE_Y - EYE_R + newH; y < EYE_Y - EYE_R + oldH; y++) {
+      // reveal bottom-up so the lid visually rises
+      for (int y = EYE_Y - EYE_R + oldH - 1; y >= EYE_Y - EYE_R + newH; y--) {
         int dy = y - EYE_Y;
         int w = (int)sqrt((float)(EYE_R * EYE_R - dy * dy));
         tft.drawFastHLine(cx - w, y, 2 * w + 1, SCLERA);
       }
-      tft.fillCircle(cx + cur.pdx, EYE_Y + cur.pdy, PUPIL_R, PUPIL);
-      tft.fillCircle(cx + cur.pdx - 8, EYE_Y + cur.pdy - 8, 7, SCLERA);
-      if (newH > 0)
-        tft.fillRect(cx - EYE_R, EYE_Y - EYE_R, 2 * EYE_R + 1, newH, BG);
+      // redraw pupil only once the lid has cleared it (no through-lid flash)
+      if (EYE_Y - EYE_R + newH <= EYE_Y + cur.pdy - PUPIL_R) {
+        tft.fillCircle(cx + cur.pdx, EYE_Y + cur.pdy, PUPIL_R, PUPIL);
+        tft.fillCircle(cx + cur.pdx - 8, EYE_Y + cur.pdy - 8, 7, SCLERA);
+        if (newH > 0)
+          tft.fillRect(cx - EYE_R, EYE_Y - EYE_R, 2 * EYE_R + 1, newH, BG);
+      }
     }
   }
   cur.lid = pct;
@@ -138,7 +142,8 @@ void drawMouth(int8_t curve, int8_t openR) {
     tft.drawCircle(MOUTH_X, MOUTH_Y, openR + 1, SCLERA);
   } else {
     for (int x = -MOUTH_HW; x <= MOUTH_HW; x += 4) {
-      int y = MOUTH_Y - (int32_t)curve * (32 - (x * x) / 113) / 100;
+      // +curve bows the center DOWN (U = smile), -curve up (frown)
+      int y = MOUTH_Y - 16 + (int32_t)curve * (32 - (x * x) / 113) / 100;
       tft.fillCircle(MOUTH_X + x, y, 5, SCLERA);
     }
   }
@@ -225,8 +230,9 @@ void bumpMood(int8_t d) {
 
 void blinkOnce() {
   int8_t base = moodLid();
-  setLids(100);
-  delay(90);
+  setLids(55); delay(20);
+  setLids(100); delay(70);
+  setLids(55); delay(20);
   setLids(base);
 }