Why should it matter how I'm dressed if it's all going to be coming off anyway? [ Claude shoots back, that quick wit of his he used to use towards languages and politics and mathematics still as alive as ever... just pointed in the wrong direction, perhaps. But even in that barb, there's a weakness in it. He deflates. ]

For your information, I was feeding Sapphire. Her appetite has been off lately, and I wanted to make sure to get some food in her before the day begun.

[ She's started eating meat. It's off-putting. He hasn't told anyone that yet, worried that someone will fear that his beloved horse has contracted some sort of awful disease and is to be put down. ]

And while I was out, I couldn't help but notice... [ He shakes his head. ] You can't tell me that's not concerning.