[ Sylvain's surprise practically shifts the air between them even before that false step telegraphs it through their linked hands. It's expected. Here's where he should respond with a shrug and play it off as something else. In on the joke, like it is one. Instead there's a long moment - too long of a moment - where Claude says nothing and continues to look at Sylvain sidelong in silence. Cynicism and skepticism certainly are difficult habits to shake and they come to the forefront again momentarily.
He could just laugh. It'd take all of a second to do it, ready as that reaction among all the others always is. But they've been trying at honesty here and there, and Claude's not ready to undo that. All of that is a series of quick calculations shifting one factor here and another there before he finally says, ] Let's just say it wouldn't be the first time someone wanted me to put my guard down for their own reasons.
[ Claude's smiling while he says this as he looks back ahead of them again, but that smile doesn't extend anywhere past its edges. That's all the explanation Sylvain gets. ]
no subject
He could just laugh. It'd take all of a second to do it, ready as that reaction among all the others always is. But they've been trying at honesty here and there, and Claude's not ready to undo that. All of that is a series of quick calculations shifting one factor here and another there before he finally says, ] Let's just say it wouldn't be the first time someone wanted me to put my guard down for their own reasons.
[ Claude's smiling while he says this as he looks back ahead of them again, but that smile doesn't extend anywhere past its edges. That's all the explanation Sylvain gets. ]