[...and he does, lips quirking vaguely at that, even as he snorts in response. He's not so stiff that he can't handle poking at his own nonsense, after all, and he's never considered himself particularly dignified.]

I see we understand each other well. That is for the better. It would be troublesome if I had to explain myself further.

[But no...Rei gets the joke, and he's pleased, because usually he's such a stiff that there's a chance nobody will even realize he's joking...]