So she had her own stick the whole time, is the takeaway here. Nonetheless, this is all very fascinating. He nods along, and very graciously does not snatch the magic thing, even though he might really like to. This isn't what he was looking for, from this chill-cave, but he's certainly willing to roll with it, most silliness put behind him in favor of scholarly fascination.

He looks from her to the rod and back, "And this is something you learned here? Why you want to get at the ceiling?" Her interest in putting any ceiling related discoveries to meaningful use seems less and less like a whimsical pipe-dream. He gestures very un-elucidatingly at their general surroundings, clearly considering his own questions rhetorical, carried away by the spirit of inquiry. "Sand isn't wood or metal. How far does it go?"

Her warnings about limbs may be a factor in his line of questioning.