Which part of that phrase is more surprising? The optimism or the logic? He's curious to know more what people's opinions of vampires are. That's one benefit to dressing this way. Besides, only his clothes from home are self-repairing.

"We all start over here," Mayerling comments with a small shrug. Whatever advantages, riches, or status vampires have where they come from, whatever of those privileges anyone else, they are more limited in Trench. Not vanished entirely, but reduced.

"Dabi," Mayerling repeats in a respectful manner but without any declaration of it being a great pleasure. His thoughts are far warier, and he'd rather not project them louder than he has to. Social niceties are far easier at the moment when they are unspoken.