[ he certainly wouldn't say no to one-on-ones with his favorite fury sister... probably anyway. if she was serious about not fighting him, his first thought is that he might not even get to see her much at all, when he's grown used to encountering her almost every single attempt through hell.

she's intimidating, but he knows her. he wouldn't even flinch if and when they try to murder each other, he meets her oblique threat with a challenging grin of his own. ]

It does matter.

I'm looking for a way out of here and I'll accomplish it with or without help. It doesn't really matter how long it takes. [ kind of a cocky thing to say, probably, when he's racked up countless deaths trying by now. but he'll get there and die more trying. ] And yeah, I do want you with me... but that's only if you're really sure about it.

I mean, you've punished Sisyphus for helping me before, right?

[ he doesn't blame her. it is her job, and sispyhus cheerfully continues to help him regardless. but that's just the fact of it: helping zagreus goes against the lord of hell's mandate. ]