Hills
Mercutio doesn't comment on Thenadier's stout denouement of alcohol, although the gnome-human-thing's insistence fails to convince him. The gnome-human thing does cause him to quirk an eyebrow, however.
"Didn't you just say you were-" a sigh,
"never mind."
The devil was quickly running out of patience with this not-mortal. He had his own opinions about immortality and watching those around you die, and drinking juice and eating meat you catch yourself sounds positively luxurious compared to the souls who ended up in his little corner of Hell. For a brief moment, Mercutio entertains the idea of inviting Thenadier to come visit after he dies to see what a real Hell is like, and promptly decides against it.
One thing does irk him, though.
"Evil? What a childish idea of morality. I am not 'evil'. I am a jail-keeper and a scholar. It is my role in life to punish the evil and the wicked, those who reached too far in their quest for knowledge or never had a quest at all. And whereas some devils choose to delight in the punishment they dole out, not I or my kin. We study and labour, using the souls and bodies that find their way to us to learn ever more. There is no evil in what we do, mortal. Only learning."
A waste of breath, he decides as he finishes his little speech. Mortals like this one before him often placed little value in the education Mercutio valued. Maybe he would meet with Thenadier in the afterlife, after all. Mercutio would freely admit that he did not relish the prospect.
But before he can say anything to this affect or further adamonish Thenadier, the gift which he has been waiting for arrives. Cutting off any retort Thenadier has with a silencing hand, Mercutio turns his eyes to the sky. He watches as the little orb drifts down, and blinks in surprise to see it take on the form of a
bird. It is a beautiful creature, with golden plumage, a long, pointed beak, and bright and clever golden eyes. Its wingspan is as wide as the arm Mercutio holds out for it to land on, the tops of it dusted a pastel pink. It settles down with long, thin, blue talons onto Meructio's coat-sleeve, it's pastel pink and purple tail hanging down as far as Mercutio's waist.
Mercutio watches his new pet in fascination for a while, before smiling as he realizes it's latent magical energy, untapped and ready to be used. Yes. Mercutio would benefit from this new companion.
"Well. It's been a pleasure," Mercutio lies,
"but I'm afraid I must be off now. You know how it is." Without waiting for an answer, the blue-skinned devil turns and leaves.