Indeed, Charles does come over as harmless, or at least as far as these things go with strangers. But he's dressed smartly in warm layers, carrying a leather satchel in one hand and a cup of something hot in the other, so it doesn't look like he's capable of doing much else than sipping his hot beverage (which happens to be hot chocolate this time around, he's a maverick like that). Not to mention they're in a public place and he's forgotten to take off the hospital pass around his neck.

He flashes an amiable smile. "The latter. I get to do my reading the old fashioned way, unfortunately. Speaking of which, the book you're currently reading looks familiar." He tilts his head to the side, peering with a small frown of concentration. "Yes, I think I had better luck with that than some of the others."

Then glancing back to Steph, "You're new, too?" Of course, he already knows the answer.