Esta has previously learned that he tends to get more of what he wants if he lets Mariona go quiet and think occasionally; and that trying to punish her into arriving at the same conclusions faster doesn't actually yield the results he wants. It is annoying to him; and it's more annoying that this seems to be actually the way she is, and not a clever strategem to frustrate him; and it's even more annoying that he can't solve the problem by applying more pain, not in mortal Golarion. There are days when it feels quite obvious and intuitive how much hate Asmodeus must have stored up for mortals.
But even considering that Merrin is of uncertain obedience and more uncertain defeatability if offended, there are things that must be done and soon. "I do not know what tasks we must do today in order to merely survive, but my own highest priority is reacquiring the expanding-space bag that was on my waist when I was struck by the tidal bore. It was protected by a metal mesh, but if it has been destroyed or simply lost beyond retrieval, then getting off this planet and back to Civilization becomes much harder. Is it perchance only stored by you, somewhere I could not see?"
Esta makes a note that he needs to later ponder that word his concept of 'civilization' translated into; there is weight behind it in Tongues and Cultural Adaptation. It sounds... mainly it sounds like those things you are allowed to learn of the slain god Aroden, after Asmodeus admits you to his 4th circle. The pathetic hopes that Aroden miserably failed at materializing in Taldor or Absalom, for that even as a god He was overconfident and uncomprehending of the depths of mortal filth's absolute incapacity.