Yeah well you'd have the shields up too if you'd been harassed all night by umpteen drunken idiots.

Go banter with an adjacent set, or the bar staff, or whatever. Let them see you being fun and natural...then transfer and open the set.

For me, I'd like to trust my instincts and my impressions about people, but I can't always do so because my brain would still rather I lead a careful little guarded life mainly in my own head. So when these impressions come up, just be mindful that it's partly based on truth, and partly your mind looking for a way to protect the old identity.

PS