It doesn't matter either way how he responds to the treatment she's giving him; Caren is dutiful regardless. When Matsui actually breaks his silence to respond to her proposal, Caren looks surprised that he's engaging. If his lack of reaction to her gestures was any sign, she might as well have assumed that any verbal prodding would go equally unanswered.]
What an interesting proposal. Are you saying you have no problem being indebted to me, even if we aren't aligned? Maybe you figure I have no means of enforcing it. [Even with no way of knowing what future payment she'd try to extract... it's a dangerous proposition in an alien world when so many of their fellow refugees are in competition.]
If things continue to degrade, then it's doubtful I'd be able to bank it for long. It'd depend on the favor offered. [The nature of his harmonization (or lack thereof) hasn't gone unnoticed; a free agent is both uniquely disadvantaged and uniquely in a safer position than everyone who is already working for the cause of a city. Exactly what would he think to put up in exchange?]
points!! you got to me before i got to you!!
It doesn't matter either way how he responds to the treatment she's giving him; Caren is dutiful regardless. When Matsui actually breaks his silence to respond to her proposal, Caren looks surprised that he's engaging. If his lack of reaction to her gestures was any sign, she might as well have assumed that any verbal prodding would go equally unanswered.]
What an interesting proposal. Are you saying you have no problem being indebted to me, even if we aren't aligned? Maybe you figure I have no means of enforcing it. [Even with no way of knowing what future payment she'd try to extract... it's a dangerous proposition in an alien world when so many of their fellow refugees are in competition.]
If things continue to degrade, then it's doubtful I'd be able to bank it for long. It'd depend on the favor offered. [The nature of his harmonization (or lack thereof) hasn't gone unnoticed; a free agent is both uniquely disadvantaged and uniquely in a safer position than everyone who is already working for the cause of a city. Exactly what would he think to put up in exchange?]