Advanced years. [ Muttered, not at all under his breath, into the tea he finally takes a sip of after interrupting himself by talking several times over. All with good humor, because honestly: if the tables were somehow turned, he can't say he wouldn't be teasing Dimitri the exact same way. ] Remind me to tuck you into bed later tonight before it gets too late. The sun will be setting soon enough so it'd better not be too long after that.

[ Sleep escapes both of them; Claude hasn't forgotten that. If anything, war's only made his already deeply questionable sleeping habits worse, and for Dimitri... well. At this point he can only guess that had never changed for him either. Too late to ask now, though Claude's quick to push that thought away when the prince resumes speaking.

All of what he says is true enough, but that last part is what catches his attention more than finding ways to remind the other of his youth. Claude sets aside the talk of schemes to give Dimitri a sharp look even if the other was only teasing, a slight frown of something that's not quite concern but is close enough. ]

Dimitri. I wasn't planning on telling you to stay in Cadens and then just leave you to your own devices. [ Which, now that he thinks about it: that's exactly the sort of thing his younger self would have done if he hasn't already done that to the prince in some other context, so. Dimitri's worry (if it is one) isn't terribly unfounded and neither is that small mention of dishonesty. ] That's not how I do things anymore, and especially not while you're still adjusting to being here. Tomorrow I'm supposed to go organize a couple of storerooms so your first project can be coming along since it'll be a good way to get to know your way around.

[ A pause now where Claude taps a couple fingers on the tabletop, stops when a thought occurs to him, and immediately smirks. ]

Perhaps you just volunteered your way into being my first scheme here. That would be rather fantastic, wouldn't it?