Cormac didn't look away like he wanted to. He kept eye contact, not backing down just as she was standing her ground. If she wanted to know, then he'd tell her. But he could see the dinner coming to an end even as they joked before about it. "I think that's a shame. I may not know you that well, but I think you'd get along great with people like Lavender and Katie. They might not be rich or the upper crest or the people that other people seem to look up to, but I've known people were were more loyal, caring, and straight-forward. I think it's a shame that you've never got a chance to really know those types. I think you, like me, when fit in better with them then the ideas and personas you have to display for those of our part of society." He was complimenting. In fact, saying she'd get along with Lavender and Katie was the best compliment that he could give. But he knew that she didn't know. She could easily find it insulting, or demeaning. She could take it the wrong way and he couldn't do a damn thing to stop her.
"You're defending them because you an empathize. There's nothing wrong with that," he said honestly. "In fact, it makes you a good person. It show that you have the ability to empathize which some people just lack these days. At least that's how it looks from where I'm sitting." He paused. "That's something that's different for us. I need a reason to respect someone before I do. People earn my respect; I don't freely give to anyone I meet. It's a bit for self-protection since it means I'm let down a lot less." He shrugged. "Life isn't fair. In general, life kind of sucks in this way. But it's what we have to do to survive. We all handle things differently. Some coat themselves in protection and sometimes lies to survive. Others just tell everyone to go to hell and do what they want anyway. It's true. No one wants to give up on someone, but people do it every day. People just turn away from those they are supposed to care about every day. Even the good people do it. People wr--" He stopped, shaking his head. No, he wouldn't continue to refer to Katie. The article was her choice no matter what he thought.
He grinned at her. "I don't think anyone ever told me before they were making an exception for me. I'm honestly flattered." And he was, to his surprise. It felt like a compliment, like she was saying he was worth her time and effort and impatience.