"An open book? You?" He laughs as he says it though, tilting to the side to bump his shoulder lightly against Claude's. It's a little awkward, he's unused to allowing himself such casual interaction after all, but it's also nice to be able to offer a measure of his affection for the other man alongside the usual criticisms. To soften the sting of his teasing in ways he wouldn't allow before.

"Not everyone will be warm anywhere, I could hardly expect that to change in Almyra. And I've rather gotten the idea that your people's warmth is a great deal closer to Raphael's than mine."