Howl sees the man, whose name he still does not know, long before they come close enough to speak to each other. He's... absolutely enormous, and very hard to miss. But suspecting him to be one of the most formidable Aions among the Kenoma, he has no intention of giving him the impression that he is intimidated by him in any way — even though he definitely is. At least a little.

Howl actually stops in his path when he's addressed, drink in one hand, to look up at the imposing man with a calm, neutral smile. Are neither of them going to address what happened in Venera, then? What Howl saw? He's okay with that, honestly. So many people had private moments from their past exposed to others. Howl had taken no pleasure in being forced to see any of it.

"I'll take that as a compliment," he says smoothly. "Sir...?"