Darrus gave AJ a smile as she entered the room, both out of conveying a greeting and because she was arriving with a big ol bowl of salad. Salad, hm? Darrus had always thought farmponies ate heavier than that. Eh, well, maybe it was just to start with or they were all on some health kick right now. Either way, a salad like that was still miles and miles better than a mouthful of trampeled, and sometimes really gross and dirty, grass, Darrus happily looking forward to his portion of the meal.
When Granny Smith arrived and began to stare at him, Darrus offered another smile, this one of slight discomfort over the elder pony's attempt to figure something out about him. What exactly that was was a mystery to the pegasus up until she spoke up with a question as to how he was related to their family. Before he could correct this misunderstanding, Applejack beat him to the punch with an explanation of his lack of a relation to these ponies, Granny apparently then taking that as a revelation of how Darrus and Applejack were then apparently a couple instead. Darrus glanced down at the table at that, giving a quiet laugh more out of not expecting the old mare to jump to such a conclusion so quickly, but he couldn't help letting his eyes briefly flick over toward AJ as well, Darrus also not being able to help the slight hint of an amused smile pulling at his lips when he saw her hiding her face with her hoof. Darrus then braced himself for whatever the mare was about to tell him, but was fortunately saved by the new arrival of a rather sizable stallion which prompted Applejack to cut her grandmother off with the announcment that the time to eat was nigh.
Darrus, having been struggling with his stomachs grumbling and attitude, wasted little time in taking a big bite out of his salad just as Applejack introduced him, probably not displaying the best manners at the moment as he wasn't very used to showing them and his hunger was being a jerk. Cider season was comiiiiing~! The vagrant Pegasus hadn't forgotten his original reason for seeking work here, and the idea of them working to make even more cider than was apparantly normal was a pleasant one. Darrus paused for a moment after thinking that actually... hmm... what of he doesn't even like the cider?
Bleh, shaking that thought off and finishing his mouthful of salad, Darrus looked to each of the ponies as they were introduced. To Granny he was going to smile and say 'hello', however, the critical edge to her gaze kinda made him rethink that, him instead opting for clearing his throat and straightening his posture a bit before simply nodding with a quick, "Ma'am". That's what you did, right? Round tables with other ponies family's? Been a while since he'd done this kind of stuff now that he thought about it... Big Mac was different. Stallion of few words this one, but Darrus was prepared for that after speaking with Apple Bloom. For him Darrus gave a nod, though the stallion seemed to be distracted by his salad dressing at the moment. Mmm... Salad dressing... Hadn't had that in a while either...
Blinking himself back to the present, and realizing he probably should say something, Darrus cleared his throat once the introductions were complete. "Uh, thank you, everypony, for all this. Its very kind of you, the food and everything. I look forward to earning this and the rest of my keep here." ... Yeah, that'll do. He guessed. Normally he just showed up at a shop or work site for bits. Wasn't very used to being welcomed into an employer's home for a meal or anything, so, he was treading new ground here and was expecting to make slips here and there. Just have to make up for any in the fields it seemed.
The inquiry as to what kept both himself and Apple Bloom so busy at the club house was met with a simple shrug as Darrus began to return to his usual attitude and tone as he kept things light and jokey, "Eh, you know, AB here was just telling me about the farm and that club of hers. Gave me a heads up on who I might bump into around here, what I can expect, that kind of thing. Real helpful, this filly. Made me all jealous of her cool group and their shenanigans though. But! She might be able to find a way for me to even be a crusader myself. Isn't that right?" he asked Apple Bloom before smiling at Applejack and gesturing towards his cloak with a hoof, "can't you just imagine that patch on my back? Awesome."