[ Surely he must have struck the nerve, and he wasn't even teasing very much. He stands up and gives one (1x) head-pat. ]

You can keep telling yourself that if that's what you want. But if it's a lie, you'll just end hurting yourself.

[ If there is a taboo about shinki and gods being together--- he never got the memo. ]

Well, I'm going outside, I gotta feed something.