As Martin starts to explain the situation more, Eliot frowns. He nods along, and it's not that he doesn't follow Martin's take on it or even feels particularly surprised, but he can't get past the irritation of the first bit, like something stuck in his teeth.

"Okay, okay, so it's complicated," he says, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We can circle back to that, but did you honestly think I was flirting as a joke?" Eliot can't help sounding a little angry, either that his actions were misunderstood or that Martin apparently thinks so little of himself, or both. "I mean yes, I assumed it wasn't going anywhere but for--you're really cute and nice, Martin, I wasn't fucking doing it to make fun of you."