[ The chiding pushes buttons he doesn't care for, and it almost brings forth yet another reaction he doesn't want. That instinct to be defensive even if it's hidden in flippancy surfaces again considering, Claude thinks, it was hardly eavesdropping all because she didn't know he was there, but it's not worth it. Saying so won't do anything but give a chance for it to escalate, and it seems nudging open a metaphorical door to talk about something which has obviously been going on is equally pointless.
He's not sure what he expected, so he spends a couple seconds staring at the shelves in pretend appraisal for something to do that isn't looking at Hilda and to reign in his frustration. There's only so many things he can invent to say about their task before being at risk of cycling through them, and right now he's not compelled to try finding more. But then again: no one ever said talking was required for stacking things when a clear enough end goal doesn't require any coordination. If they're lucky, it'll go by faster without pausing to say anything.
Wordlessly Claude sets the box in his hands down to take the one she's holding out to set it into place, and then scoops up the other he'd brought over to set it on top. One literal step closer to getting out of here. ]
no subject
He's not sure what he expected, so he spends a couple seconds staring at the shelves in pretend appraisal for something to do that isn't looking at Hilda and to reign in his frustration. There's only so many things he can invent to say about their task before being at risk of cycling through them, and right now he's not compelled to try finding more. But then again: no one ever said talking was required for stacking things when a clear enough end goal doesn't require any coordination. If they're lucky, it'll go by faster without pausing to say anything.
Wordlessly Claude sets the box in his hands down to take the one she's holding out to set it into place, and then scoops up the other he'd brought over to set it on top. One literal step closer to getting out of here. ]