Sounds like acting to me.
It is, this is likely part of the game though. They now realize they have to bring up what they are doing to the table and debate it since its about to be known to everyone. It should be our jobs to tear them a new one.
You know it! My ass feels so much better but you shitty peasants wouldn't know the joys of having a plummer really get in there and clearing your pipes.
He really did just disappear off the face of the world, spare of course us mocking his bullshit.