[ Unfortunately for Sylvain, one of those things he's figured out about the other? That list includes this: times where something's said as a joke, one they're both supposedly in on, and something he's certain he's supposed to laugh at as the expected reaction. All very funny, surely, except they'd both be faking any amusement in something else they both have experience with.

He's partially committed to this facade of deep Seteth related distress - for the next few moments, anyway - which conveniently gives him a cover to consider this. To pick apart those words for what's beneath them, in what Sylvain's saying while not saying and what matches something Sylvain's told him before now that he's mulling it over. ]

I hope you're not implying I have some kind of reputation to preserve here or anywhere else. [ So much for the act as he smooths his expression back out into something intentionally neutral to peer at Sylvain and that smirk, his tone implying this is something all rather benign and not a sore spot for one of them. Maybe both of them. ] Have you forgotten who you're talking to? You and I share the unique position of having traded number one and two positions in rumor mills often enough. That ship sailed a long time ago.