...this is a lot harder for you than it looks, huh?

[ He lets his arms fall to his sides. A part of him thinks: it's a hug, not a kiss, how hard could it possibly be? It goes deeper than just not being hugged in his childhood. Or hugged ever. Claude has to suppose that being an immortal, the longer that he's gone without physical contact, the harder it's gotten. ]

You can do this. You'll have to, unless you want the Council, or whoever they are, messing around in your brain. But we can work our way up to it. [ He taps his foot. ] Let's go back to the Apothecary. I have an idea. And while we go there... maybe you can tell me a little about why this is posing a challenge for you.