"Then don't. No one's making you." That probably qualified as a whopper, since Loki knew better than anyone what a bad idea it was, usually, to be direct with him. But it wasn't as if someone had a knife to the man's throat, either. Say something other than what you mean or die!

...That would be rather entertaining to do, at some point. Loki made a mental note, in case the opportunity ever presented itself.