[ Arcade has gotten a good deal closer to the truth than Len here, in refusing to give Danse the grace of believing he left the Brotherhood of his own volition. Had that Institute data never been decrypted, he still would be as loyal a paladin as ever he was--or as loyal as he's been since Cutler's death, at least.
"You did the right thing, Danse." "It's what I was taught. I don't know if it was right."
He isn't altogether incapable of reason or question. He'd be a corpse on the floor of a lonely bunker right now, if he were. It's logic that sways him now, as it usually is, more than appeal to emotion or ego--or to the kind of isolation that makes him long to relent just so he won't feel so damn alone here, more so than he's ever been in his life, even when he had exactly two people left in the world back home who weren't calling him "it" or declaring his exile to be karmic retribution. He doesn't trust Len's motives, but he can still feel the warmth of that touch long after Len pulls his hand away. ]
I haven't set my mind to any conclusion yet. But I don't understand why you can't see how damning the evidence looks. You clearly know exactly whose insignia that is on the truck, and what they've done to make people want justice. Your friend had every opportunity to explain himself, and chose to feign ignorance instead until he couldn't hide anymore. And now you're trying to persuade me to let my guard down and look the other way, as if you're doing me some kind of favor.
[ He's just frustrated by it, and tired, because no matter how shady he still thinks it all sounds when he explains himself, it is a lot of effort for absolutely no discernible payoff thus far. He rubs his eyes. ]
This is how it happened in the Capital, you know. The Enclave never would have been a threat if the Brotherhood had struck before they built up their strength. We ignored the warning signs, and we lost a lot of good people for it in the end. If they'd ultimately succeeded in their attempt to take control of the water supply, it would have been absolutely catastrophic for the citizens.
[ Still with that "we," too recently made untrue for him to catch himself and avoid it. ]
no subject
"You did the right thing, Danse."
"It's what I was taught. I don't know if it was right."
He isn't altogether incapable of reason or question. He'd be a corpse on the floor of a lonely bunker right now, if he were. It's logic that sways him now, as it usually is, more than appeal to emotion or ego--or to the kind of isolation that makes him long to relent just so he won't feel so damn alone here, more so than he's ever been in his life, even when he had exactly two people left in the world back home who weren't calling him "it" or declaring his exile to be karmic retribution. He doesn't trust Len's motives, but he can still feel the warmth of that touch long after Len pulls his hand away. ]
I haven't set my mind to any conclusion yet. But I don't understand why you can't see how damning the evidence looks. You clearly know exactly whose insignia that is on the truck, and what they've done to make people want justice. Your friend had every opportunity to explain himself, and chose to feign ignorance instead until he couldn't hide anymore. And now you're trying to persuade me to let my guard down and look the other way, as if you're doing me some kind of favor.
[ He's just frustrated by it, and tired, because no matter how shady he still thinks it all sounds when he explains himself, it is a lot of effort for absolutely no discernible payoff thus far. He rubs his eyes. ]
This is how it happened in the Capital, you know. The Enclave never would have been a threat if the Brotherhood had struck before they built up their strength. We ignored the warning signs, and we lost a lot of good people for it in the end. If they'd ultimately succeeded in their attempt to take control of the water supply, it would have been absolutely catastrophic for the citizens.
[ Still with that "we," too recently made untrue for him to catch himself and avoid it. ]