He didn’t look impressed.
Did that mean the performance he only just acted out was not an actual salute? Did it come across mocking?? Maybe not. Because he didn’t look particularly angry either. Just perplexed. Which wasn’t a farfetched look for anyone to forge upon their faces when sharing his company.
It would be better fitted for him to observe situations before he dived right in. Unfortunately, circumstances did not always provide for him [or anyone for that matter] the most ideal aspects to work with. He didn’t have time to observe. Once he met those who sought, he had to make contact or risk losing them forever.
He wasn’t good with making contact.
He wasn’t good with people.
The only thing he really had was his skills of observation and he couldn’t even rely on that aspect of himself presently.
Mercifully, the guy didn’t cast him out immediately. Or worse, walk away from him. So... he did something right? Not very right, but right enough not to ruin things from the start. He hesitantly stepped forward, kneeling down where the man worked his magic in the dirt.
“Oh. OH!” He perked up. “You use your hands as a manner of communication?” Many people used their hands to communicate, though it wasn’t usually to convey actual words. It was the bodies reaction to certain stimuli. Like it just couldn’t help acting out the passion of whatever conversation was transpiring!
He smiled, a weak sort of smile, not the sort of smile that proclaimed much of anything. It was just sort of a surface level thing, a reaction he thought was appropriate for the situation.
“Do you mind.... closing your eyes for a minute?”