With a flinch of surprise, stunned at the man's reaction, Mavek stopped and found himself sinking, making himself small as he made a step of approach, one hand outstretched carefully. He uttered a whispering apology, a dim tickle at his mind, watching with wide eyes as he sunk into the stones. Pulling his scarf closer, pinning it to his collar with one hand, he crouched at the stranger's side, feeling worry well up in his chest and float to his throat. He didn't know where his concern came from-- by all means, he should have run off from the beginning-- but he got a sense of some greater understanding he couldn't possibly know, the familiarity and fear that trickled into the man's words haunting him.<br/><br/>With his brow slightly furrowed, Mavek observed the man's face, flitting between his eyes and his mouth as he spoke. Cautiously he shook his head, the scarf sliding even further down his scalp, the green more close and clear as he leaned a few feet away. "<i>So you have witnessed things like them, then?</i>" he sparked, feeling electricity running through his bones, his pupils narrowing to slits even in the dark. He pressed his lips together, staring brazenly, searching for an indicator that he was too close, too personal.<br/><br/>He took in the mention of lifetimes, though chose to not mention it-- he had lived lifetimes, as well, and found no surprise in the idea that someone with an inkling of the knowledge he sought lived the same way. It was none of his business, anyway. "<i>My lack of understanding is my burden. Please, enlighten me,"</i>he finally said, then with hesitation added, "<i>if you know any of these things you-- I would be eternally in your debt. I know naught but that things exist, and they pretend not to know me.</i>" Was it pretending? Even as the words left his thoughts, he wasn't sure.<br/><br/>He reached his hand out to Quinlan, offering it pale and slender, unhindered by his usual gloves. Was he being too trusting, too open? Likely, he decided. But then again, maybe his usual caution was the real burden-- he wouldn't have even met this man, with his unknown knowledge and curious familiarity, had he not curiously happened upon him, piquing some suspicion or anxiety unbeknownst to the squid-man. Mavek's brow furrowed further, his eyes intense and bright, the green lighting up his pale face in the dim as the sun escaped the horizon.