[ This reaction definitely takes Matt by surprise. It's actually physical: he sits back with a a bewildered expression, kind of like a dog that's just been hit with water from a spray bottle.

The first reply he manages is: ]

I already told you not breakfast cereal.

[ Matt drags a hand through his hair, breathing a disbelieving laugh. ] Um. I mean I would say, I'm not sure how much my "just" getting here really means, or linear time in general, but also--

I'm not saying what effect I'm going to have, but those are the stakes as I understand them. Signing onto a side is signing onto its goals, isn't it?