Steven starts giving Pumpkin a rub, settled down enough that he can do it less cautiously this time. It seems pretty obvious that Peridot isn't going to attack him, at least. Maybe she's genuinely confused, or... maybe she did actually know him from somewhere and he's just forgotten everything.

That idea makes him sad. How much of his life has he lost? He remembered his dad, at least, but even people like Matt had...

Wait, what?

"Werebeast?" he asks back, though he does know what that is at this point. It got explained while he was at the Sanctuary. He has no idea where she just got that impression, but it also sort of does him the favour of letting him know she's a werebeast, even if he isn't. "N-No? I'm just..."

He tugs down on his hood hoping it will hide whatever she sees about him that makes her think that, and looks away. Only for another thorn to visibly pop up on his cheek bone, reacting to his stress.

He flushes even more deeply, startling and trying to cover his face in his hands.