[ Steve was waiting in that moment for a reaction - hesitant, in some small way, in case the reaction was poor. but the other seems fine with it, unbothered, and his tone is just enough that Steve can't help the very near excitement that fills him. ]

But do you know what happened? Like was it assassins or something?

[ he can't help the way that excitement pours out in his tone. it feels a little like a story, like he's hearing the plot to a movie he hasn't seen yet, but also somehow knows someone who was in the movie, too? maybe a better comparison is like finding out about some high school drama - big, important, crazy, but also not world ending. somehow. ]

Wait- were you all not allowed out of the castle before? [ he blinks, smiling a little despite the confusion. ] I didn't have many friends in Thorne so this is all new to me, but for real? Didn't that get boring?

[ maybe that says more about Steve's experience here in abraxas that he doesn't even realize the political implications of them just. talking about a coup. there are werewolves and vampires around them who glance in their direction, and Steve is just. not aware of them. ]