Dorothea... [It's a familiar story, one he's heard before. Children tossed aside for lack of a crest, just like Miklan. Others adopted precisely because they have a crest, like Marianne, to bring wealth or prestige to the family, regardless of whether that crest makes their life a living misery. It's almost funny, considering how little a crest did Claude any favours in Almyra. All Fodlan's strange little obsession with a certain type of power... He didn't understand it at all until he witnessed it firsthand.

Still, she doesn't want to linger on the subject, so he won't either. He nods and gets to his feet.]

I'll go place our orders. Hang tight. [Of course, as soon as he gets up, Naira is happy to swipe his seat again, and he just rolls his eyes fondly at her as he leaves the table.

It only takes a few minutes -- the cafe's not busy, since it's past the lunch rush -- so soon enough, Claude's returning with a tray laden with a teapot, cups, and a plate laden with small cakes and pastries.]

...I couldn't decide what sweets to order, and you could use the pick me up, so I sort of went for everything. [He laughs, placing the tray down before he evicts his familiar again.]