[It was less Pitch's inhumanity than the expression that had crossed his face that unnerved Evan. There were things he was missing here, and if he hadn't been in the midst of his own problem he might have been able to piece them together.

As it was, when something had Evan's back up, sarcasm was a familiar and easy defense.]

And here I thought you looked exceptionally perturbed.

[Pitch was unnerving him badly, but Evan did not himself want to appear suspicious. That in mind, keeping one eye on Pitch, he hunkered back down towards the pit of ash and charcoal he'd been excavating.

Now, though, instead of going for the embers he began to pull chunks of charcoal out of their moorings, put them in the leaf bundle he'd brought along originally for the embers.]

So are you up here to help me gather some new writing materials? [He said, dryly as he could.]