[ He can feel heat creep up the back of his neck at the direction they take the conversation next. Not... where he expected it to go, honestly. But he can't tell if he's relieved that it's drifted away from his family or embarrassed that they're pointing out things he hadn't realized anyone had noticed. Things he never even looked at too closely on his own to define them as such. It was never a comfortable thing for him, being seen. Maybe just because he was so very unfamiliar with it.
The quiet gestures he's always tended to make to look after those around him were all too overshadowed by the rest of his escapades and the masks he put on for everyone else to see, so they were rarely noticed for what they were. Or were just never enough to make up for dealing with the rest of him, he supposes. Which was valid - he knows exactly how too much trouble he is to be bothered with. Which is why it still takes him by surprise that they were both still here trying.
But with that heat creeping higher up the back of his neck, he huffs out a self-conscious sigh and lifts a hand to clap it over Claude's mouth before he can go any farther. He would do the same to Hilda, but his hands are dirty and he'd like to continue breathing. (Clearly that's not a worry where Claude and dirt are concerned.) ]
I am particular about tea.
[ He doesn't argue their compliments, but that's about as close as he can get to acknowledging something that just makes him feel extremely uncomfortable and self-conscious. Although there is the faint curl of pleasure deep within him, if only for the novelty of having them corner him for this of all things. He has no idea what to do with this part of the conversation, and it clearly shows. ]
no subject
The quiet gestures he's always tended to make to look after those around him were all too overshadowed by the rest of his escapades and the masks he put on for everyone else to see, so they were rarely noticed for what they were. Or were just never enough to make up for dealing with the rest of him, he supposes. Which was valid - he knows exactly how too much trouble he is to be bothered with. Which is why it still takes him by surprise that they were both still here trying.
But with that heat creeping higher up the back of his neck, he huffs out a self-conscious sigh and lifts a hand to clap it over Claude's mouth before he can go any farther. He would do the same to Hilda, but his hands are dirty and he'd like to continue breathing. (Clearly that's not a worry where Claude and dirt are concerned.) ]
I am particular about tea.
[ He doesn't argue their compliments, but that's about as close as he can get to acknowledging something that just makes him feel extremely uncomfortable and self-conscious. Although there is the faint curl of pleasure deep within him, if only for the novelty of having them corner him for this of all things. He has no idea what to do with this part of the conversation, and it clearly shows. ]