[ His smile up at her is, for just a moment, coldly ferocious. ]

Thank you for that freedom. Then I choose to be the sort of vermin that murders snakes such as the ones we're surrounded by, rather than being murdered by them.

[ Then he shrugs and returns to his prior casual unconcern. ]

In any case. Perhaps you're right. But I must ask, for my own curiosity - if they intended to kill me, how would you react?