[He's dead serious of course, but even as he explains it, it's hard to believe it's flowing from his mouth. He's not very accepting of it, even now, but it grates him that he's explaining this as if it were a simple rule of a game.

On the plus side, re: mermaids--]

Er. Actually, I don't think mermaids eat flesh. They just drown people. . .a lot. That's what you'd have to do if you became one. I can't imagine such a reputation would help sell your stage act.