[ More like he's disqualified because he's in love with their old Professor. That would be her theory if she were a betting woman, at any rate. There's a lull in the conversation as Dorothea smiles to herself, leaning over to gently bump Claude's shoulder with her own--carefully, though, so as not to jostle him too much. ]

You can be very sweet when you put your mind to it. I appreciate it, though. You're a good friend, Claude. At any rate, how are your eyes feeling? She didn't really give any indication of how long you're meant to leave it on.