[ He wants to argue that. All of that, and more than anything else in recent memory. It still feels like Sylvain isn't listening to what he's saying if this response back is anything to go by, one that goes in opposition to the point he's trying to make: that it doesn't have to be so immovable. No odds are unbeatable.

But then - there's also the way Sylvain folds in on himself even if it's subtle at the start. It's the kind of thing that might go unnoticed if it wasn't for the arm he has around him; it could just be blamed on the fever. It isn't, and he knows that, so Claude decides to set that aside. Better to let it go, but only for now since he's keeping that in mind. It can't escape endless curiosity forever. ]

Alright, Sylvain. [ There's a heavy temptation to sigh but he restrains that too, instead shifting a little to get more comfortable while he spends a second thinking. ] On a scale of one to 'it's even better than Ailell' how excited are you for summer to hit Cadens again? It'll be happening soon, I'm sure.

[ No harm in lobbing an easy question out there to iron things back out when he hadn't truly meant to stumble upon where their conversation had taken them. At least this reaction he can predict. He's pretty sure. ]