[ a smile in answer, hopefully silent but inherent— if nothing else, the sentiment of it all is nice and upstanding. but it also brings a development to the thought process they were already wandering down, and John wonders if he's catching up or developing when he asks, ]

... Do you think we should stick to observation then? To begin with. Give people the chance to get on with their lives well, step in if there's a risk? Either to them or fellow refugees. Or natives.

[ because that's not the least possible of things. and it's also, theoretically, a lot less likely to generate an immediate mob and put them on anyone's shitlist. more work maybe, but with a better payoff? ]