I would appreciate it if you could refrain from insinuating anything further from this line of questioning. [Lorenz is quick to respond, arching a brow in disapproval.] And while you may see fit to make glib remarks, I will have you know you caused quite a stir when you up and vanished to your "parents," whom I'm sure live in an actual place with a proper name that I note you are deliberately avoiding mention of.

[It is alarmingly easy to fall back into routines. To critique and second-guess near every word of Claude's, even though he has hardly done much of... well, anything yet. In truth, while much of it might simply be reflexive at this point, it would be hard to dismiss the possibility that much of Lorenz's frustration, over this situation and Claude's- Claudes'- behavior has become... pent up.

Really, he can only be expected to handle so much. Even if he should have a notion by this point, it means nothing if the man before him cannot even be bothered to speak its name. Surely he has earned that modicum of trust between them by now.]