[The use of the word "friend" does seem to surprise him. There's the briefest show of a grimace, as if Caster had just said something utterly distasteful or overshared about a bodily function.]

Then, like I said, he wouldn't stand being defended so. He takes his hits about as well as I do. [In different ways, of course. Oscar was reckless with his body but he relentlessly defended his self. He was worth more than all the gold in the world to himself. Silas, on the other hand, seemed to sometimes value himself as little as a mothball clinging to an old robe. So, nothing Oscar said in jest would ever really hurt him. Still, he'd already gotten people to want to jump to his defense, hm?...]

I hope you weren't doing some cute little test, Caster. [he reaches his gloves hand across the table, setting it gently in reach of the other's.] I certainly wouldn't. I'd already made up my mind when the conversation began.

[... that he wouldn't mind either way. Still, though, people did love to feel important, like they were desired from the very first moment they connected. Although if this one got attached to Silas he'd need to watch his step.]