[ To his credit, Claude chokes on his own spit at her response. But not because he's so touched by her concern—if it can even be called that.

Instead, he's appalled that, ] Toko! You- How- ... [ A breath. ] A lady shouldn't sully her mouth with talk of a gentleman's v-v— experience. And while I do appreciate the offer, I must say that I can't approve of you offering yourself to a man without even arranging first for a cup of tea!

[ It's very charming, the way that his face has gone slightly pink. But that's it, that's the only thing charming about this entire situation.

The rest of it, the way that the entire car seems to be crumbling around them, buildings disappearing into nothing as if they never existed at all, and the sudden silence that surrounds them, all of that warrants much more attention than anything that Claude is prattling on about. Not that he seems to clue in to the way the streets of Danaca—previously bustling and vibrant—have gone still. Not a soul around them.

But he does pick up that Toko seems unsettled, temperament simmering down as he frowns at her. ]

Nevertheless, something appears to be troubling you.