[ The kind of person Harding is is becoming rapidly clear: aloof, even toward those he recognizes as his own. These are the men who are truly dangerousβlittle of the human desire to socialize, no desire to be regarded with fondness. The ones who decline drinks after a long shift, who don't laugh at jokes, who just show up and impassively administer beatings. That having been said, he doesn't doubt that some of this is undoubtedly context: he's tired, his shifts are probably long, and American political establishments are Rightist and anti-Soviet and he's presently sitting next to someone who might as well be a goddamn leper.
Pushing this kind of person will get him nowhere. Hell, he always hated it when civilians tried to strike up conversation with him on the metro after a long shiftβso he lapses into silence, thanks the waitress for his coffee, takes a careful sip and determines that it's not scalding or anything.
He lets several minutes pass like that before offhandedly noting, ]
Probably police have been as busy as hospital lately.
[ It's a deliberate, gentle reminder, seeing as they haven't ever crossed paths in uniform: he plays a supporting, albeit gunless role as an emergency medical worker. ]
no subject
Pushing this kind of person will get him nowhere. Hell, he always hated it when civilians tried to strike up conversation with him on the metro after a long shiftβso he lapses into silence, thanks the waitress for his coffee, takes a careful sip and determines that it's not scalding or anything.
He lets several minutes pass like that before offhandedly noting, ]
Probably police have been as busy as hospital lately.
[ It's a deliberate, gentle reminder, seeing as they haven't ever crossed paths in uniform: he plays a supporting, albeit gunless role as an emergency medical worker. ]