[ He's relieved. Not relieved that he doesn't have to lie. Lying is easy. But relieved that the two people he has told to mind him didn't give it away so quickly and easily. ]
I have not said anything to her about it, my friend. We are—
[ not that close, he might say, but it's more complicated than that. They have one enormous vulnerability and a style of combat in common; otherwise, Bastien knows about Alexandrie only what could be gleamed from the Game and from the conversations he's witnessed her have with Byerly, and about him he assumes Alexandrie knows next to nothing. ]
Of course we've talked about you a little. But nothing like that. Little things. Trying to guess your age, you know? That kind of thing, and not at all recently.
no subject
I have not said anything to her about it, my friend. We are—
[ not that close, he might say, but it's more complicated than that. They have one enormous vulnerability and a style of combat in common; otherwise, Bastien knows about Alexandrie only what could be gleamed from the Game and from the conversations he's witnessed her have with Byerly, and about him he assumes Alexandrie knows next to nothing. ]
Of course we've talked about you a little. But nothing like that. Little things. Trying to guess your age, you know? That kind of thing, and not at all recently.