# Chapter 22 Adversarial Register Audit - Current Text

CLAUDE-POLISH CHECK: CLEAR - strongest candidate: "If you were going, I'd hope it went well. Since you're staying, I'm glad. I'm not making more of it than that" (line 93). It passes because the line is Theo deliberately restraining himself after the apology, and June grades it as "the right amount" (line 95). It is not narrator polish.

CODEX-ARRANGEMENT CHECK: CLEAR - strongest candidate: final card "`TUES = 4:00 / jar stays / I turn it or it doesn't turn`" (line 177). It passes because it is a literal index card in June's established pinboard grammar, not narrator tricolon or taxonomy.

GENRE-CLICHE CHECK: PREMISE-CODED - the chapter avoids public confession, grand apology, and portrait-as-proof. Evidence: Theo says "It isn't evidence of anything and it doesn't fix anything" (line 113); June sets the faced-in/no-Odile/no-wall/no-guest-list terms (lines 127-131); the kiss is off-center, brief, and hands-in-pockets (line 165).

COMEDY-REGISTER CHECK: HELD - strongest candidate: "That's the other annoying thing about you" (line 153). It passes because it is a craft-specific compliment-as-grievance after material terms, not generic banter.

PLAIN-SPEECH FLOOR: HELD - evidence: "I was being scared and slow" (line 71), "I'm staying, Theo. It isn't for you" (line 91), and "Tell me nothing else" (line 123).

Chapter verdict: REGISTER-HOLDS-LOCALLY.

REVISION ORDERS: none.
