[ Being presented with a blunt truth like that by way of a list rather than the yes or the no he was expecting is a surprise it takes him a second to absorb without showing it. It's not lost on him that actions are a more than fitting way to vocalize care without saying the words. Hadn't he convinced himself for years it was the best way to show the meaning behind his affection to Hilda?

Hadn't he rationalized the same for Sylvain?

Still - another short laugh leaves him, this one more tired than anything else. ]

I suppose this is where I take that as a solid no to what I asked.

[ He needs a minute to think through where to go from there, and Claude drags a hand through his hair while studying the other side of the street. It feels like there's something missing in what's going unsaid from them both, but he's at a loss as to figure out what without asking so many more questions. Or maybe that's exactly what he should be doing with something far more direct, and he looks back to Sylvain after puzzling something over. ]

If I flat out asked you how you felt right now, would you answer?

[ Still asked with an out, though - as always. ]