[His mouth makes a thin line and his eyes are on his tea. He flicks the handle, spinning it a little on the saucer. Nothing spilled.]

Fair. Especially since they came at him with the whistle. No hiding after that, is there?

[There's a drop. Anger is still there, but it's wrangled at the neck by a plummeting resignation.]

...I know it was better to...take care of it. Before it got worse. [He almost says more. You know that Claude hid his infection on our own trip, right? Bites it back. The kid had trouble trusting enough already, there's no point spilling old secrets now. Even if they're playing parallel to the thing that got him axed.] Just was a shock is all.