[ Maybe that smile on his face turns a bit knowing when Sylvain takes light offense to shy like it's a deeply personal insult. He could run with that and probably would have if it wasn't for the clear hesitation which follows. Whatever Sylvain's struggling with, what it is precisely: he hasn't the faintest idea.

But Claude is patient and more importantly willing to wait; it's a key part of enacting a plan, a strategy scrutinized from all possible angles, and now is no exception. Not when Sylvain finally does move like he half expects to get his hand slapped for accepting an invitation freely given, and so when fingers trail over his offered hand he continues to wait to see if the other plans to withdraw after, find a firmer grasp, whatever will happen. He'll wait however long it takes until it's clear this is an offering and not a trap. ]

On the contrary, maybe I'm counting on that. Or maybe I've already accounted for it, who knows. But what's worse here, stumbling over one accidentally or never finding out what they are in the first place? [ A beat while he thinks about his own words goes by. ] That last one might be more applicable to me, but I still stand by it.