Who has two thumbs and always stakes out an empty table with all the exits in his line of sight? It's this guy. It's not that the Chief's antisocial, he just doesn't like to intrude in spaces he doesn't belong. Like casual conversation. Yeah.

This is a bit of a weird vacation for the Chief, partly because he doesn't do vacation and partly because the mission-assessment part of his brain expects something to go wrong. They're inside a heavily modified world full of bizarre life with an artificial sun. The whole thing screams Forerunner bullshit, even though he knows this universe just doesn't have that. He's not afraid, exactly, he's just prepared.

...Which is making it hard for him to deal with mission objective number one: relax. Right. Doing that. Forcibly. It's fine.

At least he didn't order meat, he's been casually keeping an eye on the unfolding waiting drama over in that direction. He's content with well-prepared vegan and strong coffee as he checks the news on the comm.

If anyone drifts this way looking for an open seat, especially as things fill up, he nods a little. He's not exactly brooding in the fortress of solitude over here.