Not irritate, no; tease him, perhaps, but it was mostly a way to make the conversation less of a perpetual bucking of horns and more of a... well, an actual conversation. Or something resembling that.

"He would be much happier, for one," It comes out almost without thinking, and it's completely honest, too. It wasn't as naive as it was hopelessly optimistic of her, but all Cynthia ever wanted was pretty much that - a world where everyone was smiling. "He might not be an incredibly warm person, or even show affection easily, but he would have close acquaintances and people to call his friends. His world wouldn't be perfect, but it would be good enough."