"Ah, you're good!" The young man's voice dripped with a cocktail of bravado and mockery, his eyes twinkling like shards of glass in the soft glow of chandeliers that hung overhead. "I'm placing a bet with you. But stakes are high; it's life we're dealing with. A man may face death but not dishonor. Let's formalize this wager."
"Ah, no, no, no, hold your horses there, sport!" I interject, waving my hands as if conducting an invisible orchestra, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Life for life? You've got to be kidding! Your life's market value isn't exactly a million points; it's more like clearance aisle material. So, no offense, but I'll stick to wanting a million points from you." I lean in, dropping my voice to a stage whisper. "After all, why settle for a knockoff when you can have the real deal?" I offer an exaggerated wink for good measure.