[Ethan would insist it was not his intent to startle, scare, or coax curses out of anyone. He still chuckles a little when it happens, though. It gave the kind of feeling of ah, I've still got it that was reassuring when everything else was so strange.]

What, were you worried I was curled up there because I got the snot beat out of me or something?

[... or, well, would it be more worrying if someone was lounging in an alley pretending to be trash without needing to lick their wounds?]

Real nice of you, if you were. Just felt like having eyes off me for a bit before I went and reported. I was kinda hoping I wouldn't have to go through "employee onboarding" again, y'know? Paperwork, or medical exams, or who knows what they're gonna ask us for...

[The short, terse words from the stranger gave Ethan the idea that he could just fill the silence, if he wanted. While the situation was undoubtedly weird, there were bound to be a whole bunch of normal things laced into it just like that long wait just to get checked into the place. Might as well gripe about the usual.]