Steve grins a little at that; "I can appreciate the healthy skepticism."
After all, it's a large part of the reason he called the guy here at all. If he hadn't seemed skeptical, he wouldn't be likely to turn on the police.
That grin stays put when the officer asks for a name - well, close enough - while clearly acknowledging it likely wouldn't be the real one. "You can call me Nomad," he says, which is more of an inside joke than anything, and won't mean anything - and, more importantly, won't show up on any official records anywhere. "For now," he adds, because he'd like to eventually get to a place where they could maybe exchange names.
"Look," he finally says. "I know how easy it is to get caught up in what you're doing. To think it's right, without questioning it. I just... I'd like people to think for themselves, a little more. And you seem like a guy who wants to do that. I just want to give you the chance."
For now. This guy - Nomad - seems way too...friendly. Not in a fake way, so much as he doesn't seem like the type to be involved in violent criminal things.
And maybe that's the point, but Cloud's still feeling this out.
His chin lifts slightly, his eyes narrow. "Already know how to think for myself, thanks." Who does this guy think he is, anyway?
Cloud watches him for a long moment, expression unchanging.
"Say I don't." Which is, of course, an admission, if one with the barest sliver of plausible deniability. A little bit of his suspicion fades. "What are you after? You already got that Interventionist out of there, and I'm not looking to follow up. So what else do you want?"
There's less hostility in his tone than the words themselves might suggest. He's treading lightly, but he's listening.
Admittedly, there's a little twitch of Steve's lips at that. He can't help it; his poker face isn't perfect, and this is already going the way he wants.
He's got hope. That's all he's ever needed to keep him going.
"I'm after more people that are willing to think for themselves. Honestly, that's all. The world is a better place when people don't just follow blindly. Especially when they have doubts."
And sure, yeah, maybe some of those people come over to the blackout blocks and help build up the community there. That would be great. But he knows that's a farther leap of faith than what this guy is going to be willing to take right now.
"I just want you to think. About what you see. What you like. And what you don't like about the way you're living." And making other people live.
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After all, it's a large part of the reason he called the guy here at all. If he hadn't seemed skeptical, he wouldn't be likely to turn on the police.
That grin stays put when the officer asks for a name - well, close enough - while clearly acknowledging it likely wouldn't be the real one. "You can call me Nomad," he says, which is more of an inside joke than anything, and won't mean anything - and, more importantly, won't show up on any official records anywhere. "For now," he adds, because he'd like to eventually get to a place where they could maybe exchange names.
"Look," he finally says. "I know how easy it is to get caught up in what you're doing. To think it's right, without questioning it. I just... I'd like people to think for themselves, a little more. And you seem like a guy who wants to do that. I just want to give you the chance."
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And maybe that's the point, but Cloud's still feeling this out.
His chin lifts slightly, his eyes narrow. "Already know how to think for myself, thanks." Who does this guy think he is, anyway?
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"Because I'm assuming that's why you don't like what's going on in the SOPD."
Yes, it's a big assumption. But he dares you to say he's wrong.
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"Say I don't." Which is, of course, an admission, if one with the barest sliver of plausible deniability. A little bit of his suspicion fades. "What are you after? You already got that Interventionist out of there, and I'm not looking to follow up. So what else do you want?"
There's less hostility in his tone than the words themselves might suggest. He's treading lightly, but he's listening.
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He's got hope. That's all he's ever needed to keep him going.
"I'm after more people that are willing to think for themselves. Honestly, that's all. The world is a better place when people don't just follow blindly. Especially when they have doubts."
And sure, yeah, maybe some of those people come over to the blackout blocks and help build up the community there. That would be great. But he knows that's a farther leap of faith than what this guy is going to be willing to take right now.
"I just want you to think. About what you see. What you like. And what you don't like about the way you're living." And making other people live.