Heh. That's fine. I was only joking.

[He shrugs and straightens again, feeling the cool texture of a white stone between forefinger and thumb.]

It's not much skin off of my own back if I lose some pocket change. Though honestly, I shouldn't be thinking this way where money is concerned.

[He looks at her, and though his tone is mild and his expression polite, there is a glimmer of a challenge in his gaze.]

No such thing. I'm merely basing prediction this on past experiences.