"It is simply a formality, truly. We agree on terms and offer a shaking of hands." Perhaps to be cheeky, he raises his crab-claw instead of his actual hand, giving it a little snap. "Such as where your stipulations and requirements lie, what I will expect in return, and I will expect very little. The joy of the work will be enough, I feel."

He is lying. Contracts with him are like contracts with Satan. Buyer beware INDEED. He gets a lot out of the very act of binding agreement in and of itself. But like he's going to disclose that.