There's no sense in arguing with that it not looking like the bridges around here so Claude says nothing in response to that, instead studying Jesper carefully. The cornered expression is noted and it's one that resonates with him far too much. It's hard to not think of his own experiences in life. There's an attempt to be objective here but it's unsuccessful when Claude's frown grows the longer he's silent while thinking this over, and the silence stretches on for a decent amount of time before he breaks it.

"Listen, I'm not going to pretend like I understand your history all because you've told me a few things about it here and there. I know that's never true for anyone including myself, but listen carefully when I tell you experience taught me this. There was a time in my life - or more like for most of it - that I felt I had to take on everything by myself. I didn't have friends, not really, and I kept others away because I thought it'd be better to stay uninvolved with anyone and to leave them at a distance to make what I wanted to do easier. And it did in a lot of ways, especially when I thought all I had to worry about was myself.

"But then everything changed, and the problem with that is this: even though I didn't want to acknowledge there were people on my side? They were still there anyway and just waiting for me to recognize it myself. People don't stop having your back just because you want them to, and friends won't leave you behind, either."

The frown on his face softens slightly since, well, point made and all - but Claude hasn't looked away from Jesper to make sure all of that sinks in, or at least sinks in enough for later if it's not enough now. "If they're going to threaten us then they're going to do it whenever they feel like it. They could at any time and no matter what the threat is that's not a good enough reason to abandon each other. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way."