[her biting response is taken on the chin, gaze slow to drift down to the discarded rag, then up to linger on the bone-collar, then to her eyes again. his question had been genuine, he didn't mean to jab at any open wounds. or maybe he did, to make her realize how serious he is. still, he sympathizes, recognizing his mistake.]

Some people don't know the Devil as I do. [as much as it pains him, he stands, leaning to retrieve the rag for himself. maybe he should have asked differently. he keeps his tone even, a calm to her brewing storm.] That's what I meant. Why do you think I'd laugh at you for that?

[it's one thing to be oblivious or naive, it's another to be purposefully ignorant. he's already met people here from other worlds that are so far from his own that he has to assume someone doesn't know what he's talking about. she's practically at his throat and he's hesitating - hesitating because of the information he has and the potential of outing himself. he feels she's trying to back him into a corner and force an answer out of him, which never works out well for anyone.]

Don't make deals with him, even small ones that don't matter.