There's much about this Claude is suppressing in choosing to focus only on very specific details to get from one second to the next. Like that there's not a horrifying altar with its bodies piled before it in front of them, even if he can still see it from the corner of his eye, in favor of focusing on Wilhelm. The scent of the jelly's replaced that of blood in the air, even if the ground beneath them is still wet with it and at risk of soaking into their clothes if it isn't already. A delicate balancing act between focus and reality though reality's winning when the teen tips forward.

"wilhelm. Look at me." Claude leans too without thinking about it but he does so to the side in an attempt to get Wilhelm's attention only to be pulled back by those roots as the thorns dig further into his arms and leave fresh stinging scratches behind. Whether the other looks his way or not, he'll keep his focus on him.

But what to say now - it's not like there's any comfort he can give with horror bearing down on them both. Can't say things will be fine when that's clearly a lie. Nothing about this is fine and even Claude flinches when someone nearby moans in suffering, but at what he doesn't look. Doesn't want to know.

In the end, Claude doesn't have to find anything to offer: his refusal to eat the jelly when it was offered results in it exploding.

What's left of it splatters across his profile and he jerks back into place as a cloud of ominous dust coats him. There's an attempt to hold his breath but eventually he has to surrender to needing air, and what he inhales immediately chokes him. Closing his eyes against it does no good when it stings everywhere and what breaths he does manage are ragged and numb his extremities that much faster. Maybe eating it's not so bad after all.