Oh Jack is very familiar with fear and its manifestations. From the tone of voice, posture, and look the younger man is giving him, he can already tell that any fear is buried deep down. Under a sense of bravado and surety that they understand the world and how it works, along with a deep mistrust and cynicism of anything they don't understand.

Were this Halloween, or in his own domain, Jack might focus on trying to dredge that deeply-buried fear up nearer to the surface. Change the icy stare in the other's eyes from disdain to a chill from fear. Test that bravado a little, see what makes this human hide behind their shield of cynicism.

But this was not his own domain, even if Halloween was close, and he was here for a different purpose besides.

"I doubt very highly that if they did not believe the need were dire, then I would not have been summoned so close to Halloween." Jack modulates his voice so that it is less bragging--no ego in it--and more statement of fact. Their hosts surely knew that only a great urgency would draw Jack from Halloween Town now. "I've not seen evidence one way or another yet to convince me they are lying. They also appeared quite busy, so I will not deny that I have further questions I'd like to ask of them as well, concerning this whole situation."

The other clearly disbelieved--now why. Was it simply that so-sure-cynicism, or something more?