In the general scheme of things, smiles meant nothing. Liev knew this because his own rarely meant anything. It was merely the face he wanted the outside world to see - though that assessment alone was probably proof that he needed to at least try and stop applying the same logic to everyone else. It wasn't that he mistrusted the man - though he was decidedly lacking in trust when it came to anyone outside of his pack - just that he found the motivations behind the expression did not often match the impression it was intended to give. Especially when, if you were paying attention, it was not all that difficult to note that the smile angled at you was not entirely right by most people's standards. That was alright; neither was his own.
Liev probably should have been worried that the signature smug smile that infuriated Odette came more naturally to him than a genuine smile. But he wasn't, and it was turned on the other vampire the moment he realised he was being addressed. "Good evening." The corner of his mouth turned up in a slightly more amiable variant of the expression he already wore, but in truth, he did not know how to react to such an apparently cheerful disposition. For a moment, he found himself wondering if he had ever come across a member of his own family who behaved like that - but conversation was being made, and it was rude to ignore it. "Indeed," he gave a nod of concession that was, admittedly, a little impressed. "I've seen a lot of fighting rings, but none quite like this." He didn't think he needed to confirm that he was one of the new faces. The man already seemed to know what he was talking about. "It is definitely a... diverse crowd." Including at least one person who saw no problem with bringing silver. "And you certainly appear to be enjoying the spectacle." One hand waved in the general direction of the ring. It was a spectacle, in all fairness. One that Liev might have paid to watch, but he was still not putting money on it.