[The cheagle's glower doesn't have much effect on Van. Perhaps he'd pay it more mind if he didn't have other things occupying his thoughts, worth mentioning or not.]

I need a change of clothes, but you've created a mess to clean up first.

[...Well. Perhaps they are worth mentioning, however obliquely.

The last of the teacup gathered, Van stands. The shards clink together in his hand, and the wet leather of his boots creaks slightly as it flexes. Now his knees are stained with tea, not that Asch can see it, wicking increasingly outward through the damp fabric. He should toss a rag on that puddle, at least, even if he leaves the others for later...]

And how long would you wait; until I noticed? Not hiding something doesn't mean admitting it. [His voice, though he's still projecting it clearly, grows more distant while he goes into the kitchen to dispose of the broken cup, and louder again, when he returns with a tea towel to drop on the spill.

If he spends enough time needling Asch about the small things, maybe he can put off the real question for days.]