[ the pause is what he's looking for. it's not a thought he's seriously entertaining -- but similar to how he would poke and prod at Emet-Selch's scars till he lost his temper with him, so too does he want to see if there's a point at which Levity would truly balk and be disgusted. or not even that -- to see if he would be frightened by him. it doesn't seem like he's reached that point yet even with that suggestion.

he sighs as if exasperated by the bird's reaction. ]

You have no sense of romance, do you? Would that not be a tale fitting of a tragedy?