[Claude, for what it's worth, largely lets this roll off his back. He's dealt with way worse hostility, and honestly he's not even sure if she's pissed at him right now. He's getting a faint whiff of something Felixesque off of her right now - like she's gearing up to talk about something she'd rather not, and it's putting her in a foul mood. He's seen it enough in his boyfriend that he wonders if he's seeing that again here.
Or maybe he's just annoyed her. (And, of course, it could always be both.) He doesn't know her well enough to judge too accurately yet.
He listens intently, and the amusement fades into something more somber.] I'm sorry. Being so deeply betrayed by someone so close to you...that's awful.
[It certainly puts his own messy breakup in perspective.]
But you weren't stupid. You seem plenty smart to me. But I've learned even the smartest and most careful people can get played by someone who's good enough at...well, seeming like they're worth trusting.
It seems like it's a little more than that, though. I mean, like I said, Dimitri and I were flashing lots of money around at the auction. You too, for that matter. And, well, Riegfried and Soy...I can understand not wanting to let someone rich so close to you again, especially if you make a connection between rich and ruthless. But there's levels of trust, right? And accepting a general invitation is a much lower level of trust being asked than, say, dating. So...I guess the question is, are you willing to tell me what more there might be?
I'm not trying to argue you out of how you feel, for the record. I mean, no one has to like them, and it's not really my concern whether you like them or not, so I've got better things to do than try to change your mind. I just...like being able to logically follow why people think or do the things they think and do, and I'm not following your logic yet. So I'm curious.
Look I couldn't resist
Or maybe he's just annoyed her. (And, of course, it could always be both.) He doesn't know her well enough to judge too accurately yet.
He listens intently, and the amusement fades into something more somber.] I'm sorry. Being so deeply betrayed by someone so close to you...that's awful.
[It certainly puts his own messy breakup in perspective.]
But you weren't stupid. You seem plenty smart to me. But I've learned even the smartest and most careful people can get played by someone who's good enough at...well, seeming like they're worth trusting.
It seems like it's a little more than that, though. I mean, like I said, Dimitri and I were flashing lots of money around at the auction. You too, for that matter. And, well, Riegfried and Soy...I can understand not wanting to let someone rich so close to you again, especially if you make a connection between rich and ruthless. But there's levels of trust, right? And accepting a general invitation is a much lower level of trust being asked than, say, dating. So...I guess the question is, are you willing to tell me what more there might be?
I'm not trying to argue you out of how you feel, for the record. I mean, no one has to like them, and it's not really my concern whether you like them or not, so I've got better things to do than try to change your mind. I just...like being able to logically follow why people think or do the things they think and do, and I'm not following your logic yet. So I'm curious.