Gabranth had been watching the young man with subdued curiosity for several minutes while on his way to Moogletown's library. Never before had he seen a soldier with such a bubbly and cheerful demeanor. It confused him, in a way. After some time, he dared to make an approach. He removed his helmet to properly look into the young man's eyes. "I don't believe we've met," he said evenly, holding out his hand. "Judge Magister Gabranth, of the Archadian Empire."
Catching a glimpse of someone approaching him to the side, Zack quietly slowed his casual pace about this new town to a halt. He flashed the strange man a friendly grin, Mako-infused hues flitting about the other's attire-- that was definitely some interesting-looking armor he donned. With a curious head cant, the raven-haired swordsman watched as he slid the horned helmet off, revealing a severe countenance and short dirty-blond hair.
"Gabranth, huh?" That introduction was definitely a mouthful and Zack couldn't say much of any of it was familiar to him-- not even the guy's accent-- but he could at least catch his name. He nodded lightly and outstretched his arm to take the proffered hand, giving it a firm shake. "Nice to meet you! The name's Zack Fair," he replied, grin never wavering. He opened his mouth as if to add on his own rank to match, but-- that rank... didn't belong to him anymore. No longer SOLDIER 1st Class Zack Fair, just... Zack. He never... really had the time or the mindset to allow himself to adjust to that, despite it having been several years now since his official paperwork had him down as KIA and a fugitive of the Shin-Ra army.
Grin turning a bit sheepish, he lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck, the other coming to rest at his hip. "Guess everyone around here's from someplace else, huh? Don't think I ever heard of the, uh... the place you're from." He thought it best he didn't even try to pronounce the name (not that he even remembered it in full-- Arcade-something or other); it sounded foreign and if his experience trying to pronounce Wutaian names and words was any example, it'd take him a few tries to pronounce most things...
