(Also: THANKS FOR THIS, MERRY! XD FIRST CHANCE I've had to use these TWIN ICONS back-to-back! XDD)
Matthew's eyes were... absolutely lifeless as he regarded his old friend. There wasn't even a spark of anger or... anything at all in them, not even when Stephen threatened to tear down his house wards, and even worse, to keep him alive to spite him. Still, in spite of this apparent emotional deadness, he managed a slight chuckle at Stephen's threat to tear down the home wards, and said dully, "I meant the journal wards, you stupid prat!"
Though he managed the right emphasis on his words, there was really no emotion behind them -- not even amusement, though he was making a poor facsimile thereof. He continued on, in that same, false vein of amused, "If you insist on keeping me alive, Stephen, I hope at least that your house has a library..." Not that Matthew was particularly interested in reading anymore -- save possibly gruesome ways to torture himself to death -- but at least it was something to say in response to Stephen's threat.