Ugh! If he admits he hasn't seen it yet, that will open an invitation. Is it better to get dragged into an invitation or play coy?

Alastor bent over backwards to avoid a swing before leaping to the side - instead of sinking into the water, his boots landed on something just below the surface. An alligator, of course! Or rather, a taxidermied gator, though the shadows make it bob and hiss like the real thing.

"Haven't seen it."