Aventurine blinks once, twice, having been just...staring at the emblem of his shield for awhile. The shimmering gold was calming in a way. There's some sounds nearby, some fumbling, and a voice-
"Ghosts?" he asks, voice rough. He clears his throat. "Oh, ghosts. Alright, was that what that was? Makes sense..." He sucks in a breath. Not Sparkle then. In another time, it may be, but now...still half expecting a prank from her, he turns and...huh. Very much...not. Her.
Beside him is a rather short, round man, only slightly taller than him even while sitting on the ground, and wasn't that a feat? His proportions actually remind him of a cartoon character like Clockie from Penacony's amusement parks...it's so unexpected that much of his wound up tension just...drains.
Because the question sounded genuine and cheerful. And yet...ever the people watcher, he sees the trembling, gloved hands, the little too pale face. He does a good job covering it, but then, Aventurine knew alot about covering up nerves, didn't he?
"I'd thought I was playing a game with someone in a new place, but turns out it was more of a hazing from a mischievous ghost..." he sighs. He stays seated, finding himself already roughly on eye level with the man. He knows sometimes someone significantly taller can be. Off putting, to say the least. As is having fear pointed out when you're trying so hard to hide it. He absently adjusts his watch, and one of his shields drifts to the side and around, to float resolutely at the man's back. For insurance, not out of any sort of empathy, of course.
"But you look real enough to me in comparison. Name's Aventurine! What's yours?" he asks brightly, only a bit forced. He holds his hand out for a handshake, if the man is up for such a thing.
Re: guess what! it's also whistling
"Ghosts?" he asks, voice rough. He clears his throat. "Oh, ghosts. Alright, was that what that was? Makes sense..." He sucks in a breath. Not Sparkle then. In another time, it may be, but now...still half expecting a prank from her, he turns and...huh. Very much...not. Her.
Beside him is a rather short, round man, only slightly taller than him even while sitting on the ground, and wasn't that a feat? His proportions actually remind him of a cartoon character like Clockie from Penacony's amusement parks...it's so unexpected that much of his wound up tension just...drains.
Because the question sounded genuine and cheerful. And yet...ever the people watcher, he sees the trembling, gloved hands, the little too pale face. He does a good job covering it, but then, Aventurine knew alot about covering up nerves, didn't he?
"I'd thought I was playing a game with someone in a new place, but turns out it was more of a hazing from a mischievous ghost..." he sighs. He stays seated, finding himself already roughly on eye level with the man. He knows sometimes someone significantly taller can be. Off putting, to say the least. As is having fear pointed out when you're trying so hard to hide it. He absently adjusts his watch, and one of his shields drifts to the side and around, to float resolutely at the man's back. For insurance, not out of any sort of empathy, of course.
"But you look real enough to me in comparison. Name's Aventurine! What's yours?" he asks brightly, only a bit forced. He holds his hand out for a handshake, if the man is up for such a thing.