[ That gets him to look over finally and now with a smile since the sincerity in Hilda's voice isn't difficult to hear. Even if it's just as quickly deflected by joking - a move he does just as frequently - about Judith in the thread of it he'd volunteered. As he picks up the ball to take his next turn Claude's about to answer with a smart ass remark he instead blinks when she follows it up by asking something he really should've expected. ]

No, can't say I've ever been aside from the Church sending us to settle their skirmishes while we were at the Academy. [ Is there disdain laced through that? There totally is. ] That didn't really provide the best impression of it, so it'd be worth seeing sometime. Maybe after things are more settled.

[ He takes the shot while once again not thinking about it too carefully, and this time it rattles along the mug's rim before falling in. A relief; even if they have plenty of coin to spare it still helps to not give up one more of them. Claude's still turning over Hilda's words even under the illusion of watching their opponent contemplate their shot. It's taking a while and is one of apparently great importance now that the number of who's left standing has been reduced considerably from the number at the start. ]

Here I would've thought you'd want to take over Thorne and Solvunn if only given the chance. [ Back to teasing as he feigns deep thought, like he's picturing such a reality where this might be instead of her being in Cadens - where he much prefers her to be as well. ] I have a feeling they would've gotten more than they bargained for with you and you would've had them doing what you wanted in mere days.

[ Maybe a slight smirk goes with him elbowing her nearest arm. For good measure. ]