Tormented Tarns and he was the man for the job; a one-man bombsquad

He doesn't say anything in response to the man's words, but they linger in his thoughts a little longer than is comfortable; perhaps he's right. But the stranger's following question draws his attention back to the flow of the conversation, and he shrugs. Depends on your definition of 'these parts', He says, purposefully being difficult; if he's feeling a little evasive today, he'll blame it on the ghost of his brother sitting heavy between his shoulderblades.
Are you? His own question holds a slightly cheeky undertone, good eye sparkling with humor. He's not sure what kind of answer he expects, but he half-expects it will be entertaining — at least, from the perspective of someone who isn't taking the interaction seriously at all.