Being in this precarious and dangerous sort of business himself, he just assumes everyone also thinks like him. From how Arthur described his dream espionage gig, he knows Eames is likely to be on the same wavelength as him.

He only offers Eames a sympathetic look about the hands. He had been really going at it earlier, so it only makes sense.

"Is it strange when someone wishes to see how their fellow shipmates are carrying on?"