[ there are a lot of new faces amongst the group that sam hasn't seen before. it makes him feel a little behind - he'd been working hard, before, to make sure he touched on as many people as he could. just to get names, just to meet who he's here with. it had been important to him, and now, in realizing how much he's fallen behind, he realizes how much has happened over the last couple of months. he feels bad, makes a mental note to shift back over again, especially with more faces around...

either way, when one of those newcomers approaches him now, sam turns to him easily. friendly. approachable. he gives a casual sort of chuckle in response, first. ]

Everyone's a bit on edge, lately, so that probably has something to do with it. But this is actually the first one of these things we've had, or at least that I've known about, so your guess is as good as mine. [ and then, after a beat, sam holds out his hand - he gets the vibe, almost right off, that this gut isn't someone he has to explain what a handshake is. (thank god) ]

Name's Sam. You new?