Agents of the Authority come in all different stripes. They offer hope in exchange for obedience.

[ a pause, in which the leopard appears particularly smug though not even a look has passed between them. ]

I wouldn't trust the leadership any further than I could throw them, either.

[ he's heard plenty through the grapevine — a charismatic leader assembling all kinds to achieve a lofty objective plenty doubt is even possible. it's debatable if he objects from a moral and ideological standpoint or if he's just unwilling to fall in line behind someone so like himself. probably both. it's not winning the meridian any points. ]

She hasn't given you anything that you didn't already possess anyway. You get a rock instead of a daemon, but it's more or less the same idea.

[ which is at least a clue to the nature of his furry companion. he's sure everyone has perfectly acceptable rocks, but asriel feels underwhelmed. ]

I doubt her promised land would hold much interest unless you've given up entirely. Who could be satisfied with that outcome other than quitters and cowards?

[ said with the full, aristocratic confidence of a guy who has always had the luxury of making choices on principle and not for a myriad of other reasons why the zenith's proposal might sound attractive. that's not important. ]