"Oh," he sounds legitimately pleased to meet them both, "Would it be terribly rude to ask if you spoke British Mermish? I can manage 'hello', 'good-bye', and a couple of the other stock phrases, but it's more embarrassing than anything useful."

Velcro remains quietly at Sebastian's side while he offers the back of his left hand for Manticore to get a scent off of. He's learned his lessons (somewhat) well and remembers that he must never offer a manticore or any of the leonid magical creatures the back of wand-hand.