Noctisardor Bypass know your meme

Anselm was going along fine with all Druid had said, up until she asked if Etienne had ever taken him. 

The wording choice made him balk. What did she mean, exactly, by this phrasing?

Was it innocuous, or was she suggesting something?

He bristled internally, doing his best to keep the irritation at bay — but like a recently tamped section of grass, that single blade of irritation stubbornly stuck up. 

Vhat do you mean by that? Anselm found himself challenging, readying himself in case she pointed out something she interpreted about the pair that was absolutely not true.