[ it matters. the why, the how. not only might it help them find that path, but it sets the tone for their stay, in the meantime. if there was intent behind all of this, means that there's always going to be more in store for them. that it's not just, "congrats, you're now on a space station, and that's it!" ]

You're too kind. Time will tell if you're right, or if I'm just full of vapid, fancy words.

[ he defaults to this attitude. self-deprecation is all well and good in small amounts, but naturally? john doesn't tend towards it that often. he knows how it sounds when you hear it too many times, and honestly, he doesn't have a reason to play it that way. it's proven useful, before, to feign a lack of knowledge and be the ditsy bloke with the excessive sounding vowels, when being underestimated is powerful — but that's not now.

it's just hard to shrug off. ]

My name is John, by the way.

[ he extends hand, though the angle isn't the most fortunate, what with their sitting next to each other. doesn't seem to deter him much. ]