It's not entirely unwelcome. Though Holmes can only awkwardly regard the contact too, now that he's more fully aware of the fact that he's not nakedly clapping a young boy on the shoulder and creepily complimenting his name, hmm. They'll be a pair of robots, then, Holmes' own steps stiff and not very accommodating of anything.

If only -- well, anyone could see him now. Being chummy with a kid like this.

"It's no matter, not when so many here seem so very unfamiliar with each other. The air is one of confusion, and the answers that others do seem to have are none to the right questions." At least John and him have that in common. Holmes seems almost bitter about the face that nobody can answer any of the questions that he really wants to be answered. "It would appear as if none of them have much more of an idea than us chickens."