Yes, he did know him, albeit briefly over a network communication. John visibly relaxed, a little, taking in the person he'd met over the network in to study. Richie had an interesting personality. The sort that made a joke of the situation because, sometimes, that was how people handled it. So long as he wasn't a threat.
He certainly didn't look it but then again. Appearances and this place were not something to skim over.
Word games was something short of what he was handling at the moment. "Yes, this whole thing is a game, something not meant for the sane...I have to ask what you think, if this will go, this rhyming kink?"