"So I see!" Aventurine chuckles, clasping the other's- warm, solid- hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mario," he says, grinning. The handshake is firm and grounding in a way that settles more of his nerves after...all that. He makes sure to reciprocate before breaking the shake.

"Ah, so have you been here a long time, then?" he asks, crossing his legs and leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, a nonchalant but interested pose. A steady throbbing starts making itself known behind his eyes as he keeps his shields up, but it's worth how they seem to be helping. They're calming to him, and apparently to Mario as well; not to mention they illuminate the otherwise dim room. He'll keep it up for now. It'll be fine. It's not because his heart is still racing away in his chest, not at all.

He tilts his head quizzically at that last part. "What's wrong with the plants? I've seen some around...are they poisonous?" The man seems rattled by them. Better keep an eye out, regardless.