The way the man on the other line replied made Tristram's heart sink like a stone that had been thrown into a lake. They thought of him no more than a child, an angry, malcontent child who was angry with the world. And to him, he had every right to be. He'd been treated unfairly for all his life, growing up without a family, being tossed aside like garbage and left to the wolves that this world created. He wanted justice, wanted to at least fix one problem that was happening, and here he was, once again, being patronized like a toddler who had gotten his hands into something he shouldn't have.<br/><br/>Gripping the phone tightly, he clenched his teeth as he quietly listened to the man speak. He knew they were strangers, and he doubted any of them knew what he was capable of. His room at least, was clean of any listening devices, hell, the entire dorm was so old he doubted that the government even bothered wanting to waste their precious finances on adding that sort of technology. On the other hand, he knew that there was meaning behind the cautious words being said on the other end, because no doubt all of the hotels and such that were rented out to foreign visitors were wired, listening in on every single tiny word whispered in secret.<br/><br/>Despite how the man addressed his findings on Veasey, Tristram was unmoving in his thoughts of her involvement in something deeper than politics, he wasn't just guessing and pulling at strings here. No, he<span style="font-style: italic">knew</span>. They might not be able to see that at this moment, but sooner or later he would prove to them he was right, no matter what they told him or said how he should act. For too long he'd done his own thing, and, though he was willing to cooperate, there was no way they were going to start giving him orders like they were his bosses.<br/><br/>But what pushed him even further than he was already at that point, was when Neo spoke up. He was right in saying that Tristram was angry, and he was right to guess that his colleagues, no doubt, would say the same thing. But there were reasons behind his anger, and he was NOT going to stand around being told this. So what if Ratt guy was a Nazi? And yes, it was sad that this Jappy had triggers from what happened in the past. Because that's all it was. The past. What Tristram was getting at was a whole lot more than the past, it was the present, and it would be the future if they didn't listen.<br/><br/>For a moment after Neo had said his part, Tristram was silent, before he closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath, before sighing long and slowly. He needed to stay calm. He needed to fight the bubbling anxiety that was growing in his chest, to lash out and tell them that they were wrong. Instead, he opens his eyes and looks right at Neo, his expression, at that moment, hard to read. His ear still to the phone, he speaks up, voice steady, hiding the fact he was on the brink of exploding. "I know that you have your reasons to doubt, as there are doubts behind who I am. I know that. I can't help being who I am. If you want to confirm it, just look my name up in the Academy City registry. Then you'll know I'm legit."<br/><br/>He pauses, before continuing, still in his calm and steady voice. "I'm still going with my hunches, and if you want to meet somewhere with absolute certainty of secret, come here. I've checked the place myself, and there isn't a camera, mic, or any wire in the building or anywhere near for at least a whole block. Neo can show you the way. As for Mavis Veasey, she should be on television making a speech sometime this weekend, maybe look into it and see what you think of her. That's all I have to say right now."<br/><br/>Tristram hands the phone back to Neo and waits a moment until Neo finishes what he needed to say to his 'boss', and ends the call, before speaking once again. "As for you...I don't care what you say, but it's not "angst" as you will that's making me do this. It's a longing for a better world. For myself, and for others. Your friends have had their problems, but you know what? So have I...I'm sorry, really, that they had to suffer such pain and hardship, it's cruel, it really is. Thing is, I've suffered pain too. I've suffered when I was a little kid, I suffered in school, and even now, more than ever, the pain is real. It's not angst."<br/><br/>He looks away, staring at the floor slightly to the side of Neo's feet. "I want to be able to help you, I know that you're here for a good cause. I just...I can't be treated like a kid. You need to take the things I say to heart, not say that they are the words of an angry teenager. I may be an amateur, but I know what I'm doing, despite what you may think." He glances up at Neo's face, before looking elsewhere. "And..." He takes a breath. "Despite all that...has happened tonight, I do want to get to know all of you. And to be of any assistance that I can. Plus you're kind of interesting. Despite you're assholish way of speaking." Tristram then goes over to the spot on the couch he'd been sitting at, and picks up his drink, still trying not to blow up at any second. He may be acting calm, but that was in an attempt to hide his true feelings.