The shadow grinds its teeth inside its lipless mouth. "You choose it."

"Is that so. Is there a list of options, or is my imagination the limit? And if there's a list, what is it?"

Yep, she's getting the hang of it.

"There is a list. It is a list of options for family background."

"You don't say! What are the options in the list?"

"A criminal family, a dignified family, a dark family, and an honoured family."

"What can you tell me about the criminal family?"

"They are the wealthiest of the families, and will provide you with an extra bodyguard, as well as a higher personal allowance per week."

"What else can you tell me about them?"

"They are comparatively not well-respected."

"What are all the things you can tell me about them that are relevantly different from the other families, including the nature of their criminal activities?"

"I am not obliged to answer that question."

"No. You aren't. What is the nature of their criminal activities?"

"I do not know."

"What is the composition and size of the family? As in, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, et cetera."

"I do not know."

Hmm... "Is the reason you do not know it that any of those details is at least partially up to me?"

"No."

Is it smiling? It's definitely smiling a little. It's hard to tell without a mouth.

Then again, maybe she should be happy that she can't see its teeth.

"...but is any of those details at least partially up to me?"

"No."

If it had lips it would definitely be grinning.

"Why are you smiling at me like that?"

"Because I enjoy denying you things that you want."

The 'smile' still hasn't gone away.

...well, that's better than the alternative in her head, namely 'I have thought of something you should ask that you're not.' In fact, she really doesn't care. "Is it one specific family or are there a pool of possible families and I'll be dropped in one?"

"The latter."

"Randomly?"

"Yes."