[ They've changed, recently — they don't even immediately jolt or inch away when he offers his hand to them, though they do think about it, just on instinct. It's still a foreign surprise each time someone willingly gets close to them, even for as simple of a thing as a handshake. Perplexed by the man's open willingness to be friendly, they take an awkward amount of time to return the gesture, not really grabbing on to his hand so much as just placing their own on top of his for a brief second — because, well, turns out they still don't totally know how an interaction like this is supposed to go. But they remember doing something similar with Maka, once... ]

Flamebringer, then...

[ True to their word, the skin of their palm and fingers is thoroughly calloused, the evidence of years of handling a sword. And after a few beats, Crona retracts their (clammy) hand, letting it return to its place on their own shoulder, gripping the fabric there gently. ]

I haven't met many other shard-bearers, so I still don't know how it's supposed to be, with the two sides... [ Are people on opposite sides sworn enemies? Are people on the same side allies?? They wonder how they're supposed to treat this man. He did say his aims are different from theirs, but at the same time, he believes the world is really gone. Whether this person is supposed to be friend or foe, they're not sure, but they can tell right now which they'd rather it be, based on his demeanor alone. ] But— n...nice to meet you.

[ Repeating the phrase back feels a little stiff, but they feel it's probably the polite thing to do. ]