[ Nothing to apologize for, not your fault, Petra says, and he's not sure that's true. Maybe not for whatever's happening now in particular, but the rest still going unspoken by his own choice? That's more he doesn't want to think about when it's easier to lean into that hug when she returns it to use it as something further grounding; far better to focus on being here and now. He should let go, probably, and not tip everything into being further out of balance. But Claude's reluctant to as if by doing so it'll mean Petra is no longer Petra again if he looks, so. Staying like this might be alright for a little bit longer. ]

I think strange might be an understatement. Like, a really big one. [ There's an attempt to go back to his usual teasing tone like this is all nothing at all. It falls decidedly short and hollow. But will that stop him from trying to pretend everything is fine for a few seconds? Absolutely not. ] I'm not sure they've stopped being whatever you could call any of this since we've all arrived here.

[ Now he will pull back, both because it feels like there's no delaying doing that anyway and because - he'll have to see if she's still herself and no point in delaying it. Claude lets go with some reluctance and straightens up, and upon seeing that it is still who should be there narrowly avoids something like an exhale of relief.

That can all be set aside for a minute while he contemplates what she'd said and then frowns in concern. ]

You said things are strange, which they are, but in a way that makes it sound like you're being affected by all of it, too. Are you... [ what's the best way to put this - ] ah, also seeing people you shouldn't?

[ Good enough. ]