Dietre understood the need to have a hand to hold during these situations when meeting someone new. He grew up without that, and his first few friends here were made on his own as well. It was always a painful, panic inducing experience, full of self doubt and crushing insecurity. A sympathetic glance was given to Aleksi, but he did not embarrass the man by giving his weakness away, only squeezed his hand before turning back to Pippin.
“You’re not that late, don’t worry.” Dietre liked how much Pippin talked, it meant he didn’t have to come up with as much to say. He preferred to listen. With Pippin, he could simply sit back and bask in her energy. It was invigorating, in a way.
“It's nice to see you again. You know… in a better context.” Not one where he was splattered with blood and weilding a knife.
“Do you like pepperoni, Pippin?” Dietre himself had no real preference, but he knew pepperoni was what Aleksi wanted. He was willing to pay for more than one pizza if need be, just to make sure both his friends got what they wanted. "You can order when the waitress comes around next." He thought that she might be better at that sort of thing than he and Aleksi.