His head snaps towards the voice, his confusion mixed with something akin to relief at how...unafraid it sounds. More cautiously interested, almost curious, than anything else. That assessment's borne out all the more when Darlington gets a look at the man leaning against the stone--gray eyes sharply assessing him through his glasses, one hand resting on the notebook in his lap, as though merely waiting for the appropriate moment to begin taking notes once more. There's surprise, but not fear, nor the kind of befuddled shock Darlington himself is still fighting his way through.

"It seems redundant to confess I had no idea I could do that," he says, breaking the silence at last. "Given the apparent nature of this place."