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"Really?" Aulus snorted and took a sip of orange juice before adding; "If it's any help to your memory, last we met you threatened to break my spine. I'm hoping that means you don't like me, because if that's what you say to the people you're fond of then the rest of the world is probably in deep s**t." It would be nice to be able to talk to Claire without this loopy old fart attempting to loom menacingly in a corner. Somehow he couldn't see that happening, though, so he supposed he was going to have to make friends elsewhere. Or not. He'd done fine up until now with just...

Oh. With just Tortie, who so far was totally oblivious to their change in circumstances. Well he'd sort that out later; he suspected she'd take the news pretty well, especially if it was accompanied by a treat of some kind.

"Break your spine?" His brow furrowed in thought. "No, that doesn't sound right. That's reserved for, uhh..." Spine-breaking was definitely for a special class of offenders. Now what was the offense... Oh, right. "For guys that hurt women, like Ian and Dactyl." He floundered to come up with a good reason for why he would dislike Aulus. Hell, he couldn't even remembering meeting the guy, save for his recollection of the stick. Or 'bow staff.' Weren't bows and staves two different things anyway? Or maybe it was a staff with ribbons on it. That sounded possible; Lucas found it completely unnecessary to decorate weapons, after all. "I think it's because of the ribbons," he said, nodding slightly.

At one name in particular, spoken so casually by not just one, but both of them, for the second time in less than ten minutes Claire went into another coughing fit from choking on her spaghetti. Tonight was definitely not a good night. "Don't," she said hoarsely after the sensation had passed, and treated both men to a frustrated, very displeased glance. "Do not say that name. I don't want to hear it." Hearing it made her want to go hit things, or break something, or.. or... go hide in her closet. And then break things. Ian and ribbons didn't matter at all at that point, she just did not want to hear that name again.

Oh great, and now what? One of those names meant something to Claire? Which one, and why? Somehow he didn't think that now was the time to ask either of those questions. "Right," Aulus said a moment after Lucas' apology, shrugging his shoulders slightly, "I won't." He didn't know anyone by either name, so it shouldn't be hard to avoid it until he could find out more... somehow. From someone. Whatever.

Scowling reflexively at Lucas, Aulus finished off his drink and poured another glassful; it had been a very long, very tiring day and now this guy had to go and weird up the end of it. He might almost have enjoyed dinner if it had just been Claire here; he could have asked her useful question and things, but there wasn't a chance he was going to unnecessarily reveal gaps in his knowledge in front of Lucas the ribbon fixated basket case.

"Yes." The next question would invariably be why, but that would be difficult to answer. He disliked Aulus because Aulus was a man similar in age to Claire who seemed to have regular dealings with her. He didn't like it, and he didn't trust it, and Dactyl was the reason for that. In lieu of explaining the exact reason, he turned his attention to Aulus, eyes momentarily sharp and expression level. "I don't care if you talk to her, or if you're in the same company as her, but if you ever do anything to upset her, I will know."

Aaaagh that was way too much thinking and effort and concentration. All semblance of the professionalism he had mustered fell away, leaving the man very tired and very sore.

Ah, there it was. At least that was something he'd managed to remember, and she couldn't help but think it might've been due to mentioning that name. Ugh, that name. It wasn't one she wanted to hear ever again.

Oh well. She went back to picking at what was left of her spaghetti, which, considering how long they'd been sitting there eating, wasn't too much. The warning system comment made her chuckle a bit, whether naturally or because she wanted to improve her mood manually. "No, I don't think I need one," she replied with a shrug. "I haven't needed one yet, and it's sort of a common sense thing anyway." Meaning if he didn't know if he upset her, he had to be either blind, deaf, or just plain stupid. Perhaps a combination thereof.

Aulus raised his eyebrows: it was an eloquent contribution to the conversation, which expressed the distinct feeling that Lucas going and lying down somewhere might be a pretty bright notion.