'Saw what she wanted to see'? "Oh, I bet yo-" cutting himself off with a hoof clamped over his mouth while trying to play it off as if he'd just been coughing, the stallion decided that maybe he'd best tone that down a little... for now at least. Figured making sure her final evaluation of him here would be a bad time to joke and what not. But it was hard, so very hard, to keep his tongue in check with his usual attitude just trying its hardest to claw its way back to the surface after being pushed to the back of his mind and locked behind rather flimsy bars. Keeping his mouth shut, the Pegasus followed AJ as she led him to the barn, him glancing up and around as he got a good enough look at it on their approach.
Good news and bad news, hm? Well, Darrus would admit to being a fan of good news, and bad news tended to just roll off of him like droplets of rain on a rubber poncho, so he was ready for her news. At the good news, he grinned happily preparing to comment with a "sweet" but being cut off after only "swe" as the mare poked him with a hoof. Glancing down at the Lomb then back uo at her face, he just offered another smile as she explained the reasoning behind giving him a chance. Seemed he was lucky he came when he did at least, and he was still confident he'd be able to prove that hiring him on wasn't a bad decision, hopefully, so he just stretched his smile a little further to show some teeth. Teeth which slowly became less visible at the bad news.
No pay... Hmm... Well, he of course had been hoping for a steady supply of bits from the get go, that being the point of getting the job obviously, but... being a stranger who just kinda showed up... he guessed he couldn't blame her for wanting to make sure he wasn't just trying to get a few quick bits for the train then ditch... Looking down at his hooves, he took a few seconds to think. Room and board... That would certainly solve his problem of having no money to pay for a bed at the inn, and it would also prevent him from being stuck eating grass everyday. And actually staying on the farm itself would allow for plenty of opportunity to be around whenever he was needed.
Seemed fair enough, though he couldn't help but think back to Lamplight at the Guiding Light. He wouldn't need the room she was offering him anymore, which means he didn't owe her anything and therefore didn't need to go help out in the tavern later that day. But, still, she seemed nice and he'd given his word that he'd come back around later, so, unless he was needed to stay here, he supposed he could still come help out just as a friendly gesture and as thanks for the offer shed made him.
"... Okay, sure." He answered, smiling again at the mare and nodding before taking a few steps past to look up at the barn. For some reason, and he wasn't an expert or anything of course, to him the structure looked... recently built.... "Sounds good... As for proving myself, I'm ready and willing whenever you say the word." He boasted again before quieting down some and taking a more sincere tone, "and... Uh... Thank you, Applejack, for giving me a chance. I promise I won't let you down." Again catching his own shift in the tone of his voice, the stallion cleared his throat then gave his wings a short stretch to check on them before turning back around and giving the mare his usual confident smile.
"So, is there anything you need doing around here right now, or did you just want me to get familiar with the barn? Maybe I can help you with those other crates out in the field, or check on the water shoot up there? Treat you to a candle lit dinner or picnic of grass maybe? Or possibly pull a plow out in the fields?"