I can't tell either, which is somewhat worrying. At the very least, they don't seem openly malicious, but that's hardly comforting when we don't know their true intentions.

Please. Do I really seem like the sort of person who would make a contract with the devil just to get a woman to notice me? I'm more than capable of that on my own.

[...why does saying that feel so hollow... at least the conversation has been pleasant enough thus far that he can easily pass it off as a joke.]

Well, it's as I said in my opening-some days I loathe this place, and some days I find it absolutely fascinating. I suppose today is just one of the former, I'm afraid.