[Uh-huh. He sees notices what you did there, Van, but elects not to pursue it. He'll take the evasion as a point scored.

And maybe go ask the archivists how far up the shelves his cousin managed to climb before toppling them.]

Well, and that's something I've got plenty of practice doing. [He keeps his own tone light.] There's just that extra bit of pathos now. Might work.

[He's being cruel. He knows he's being cruel and a part of him wants desperately to apologize--but why should he when Vandelin still hasn't.]