[ Chris had no problem talking about their audience, whether they could hear them or not. People were bound to be curious about all of this. He was playing his part with her but they never specified that he had to act like everything was normal. ]

Yeah, you're right. [ She was. ] It's nicer to imagine that they're choosing to do this. To act the way they are, same as we have been.

[ Less nice to think that they're robots, of a fashion. Used and controlled. That was something Chris didn't like very much. ]

I'm a practical man, which you know, so do me a favor. [ Another pause. ] Love. Don't let me turn out like them.

[ A favor, from one stranger to another. A kindness, that he can only hope she'd give him. ]