"I have to say, people don't usually mind my meddling that much when it's explicitly to the benefit of something they want to happen," Claude says with a ghost of a smile. "But also, I do know how to stop when I'm obviously going too far. But I never saw any signs that I was, and Jaskier never said anything...though honestly, by his own admission, we hadn't talked about you, or the relationship between you two, for ages by the time this happened. And it only happened a few times that I recall, so I don't know how it ever even had the chance to get as bad as it did..."

After a pause, he sighs. "I have a question, Geralt, if you'd be willing to answer it. I know Jaskier's got a long history of short-lived casual relationships...and that you've known him for a long time. How often does - did - he get in relationships like that where he wasn't actually compatible with the person he was with? Where things fell apart once the novelty wore off, because he latched onto someone he never really liked as a person?"

It is, of course, extremely obvious why Claude is asking this question. Geralt may be surprised to hear that Claude is doubting Jaskier ever liked him, though.

The mention of the journal doesn't get any exultation from Claude. He glances questioningly at Geralt, but there's no laughing amusement, no idle predictions - not even a smile. "What did he think?"