[Oh yeah that's totally how it works, a foolproof tactic.....except Jade has been hearing just enough--from Skulduggery himself, mind you--that an admission like that is notable in itself, even despite the joke framing.

The speculative look remains on Jade's features. He's also letting another slight pause fall, just to really let that not-joke fall limp, before speaking once more.]

That would track, wouldn't it? It's a rather surprising concept, though. I hadn't thought you a sort of person capable of liking much of anything, particularly.

[Much less another person. Much less a passenger. And yet, and yet...]

Have you ever let any other passenger into the bridge, before? I've been wondering if Skulduggery's actually the first...