Sarge and open (1/2)
It would be very easy to assume that Sarge would simply follow Rodeo everywhere, like a very large and quite aggressive form of a lap dog. That blindly follows orders, is obedient to a fault. Just because in their decades of friendship their interests and ideas usually happened to lined up in the most convenient ways, at least on most of the major turning points. That doesn't mean that the man can't or won't think for himself, and as of late he has done way too much of it, at least as far as he is concerned. There has to be a limit that, once reached, causes to shut the brain down to prevent overheating. Too bad it doesn't, because Sarge has always been all about the thinking, moving things around in his head, poking them with a stick to see what happens.
Right now there seem to be two opposing fractions in his head, but they do agree on one thing, namely that Rodeo is right to make this decision, to make it now and to make it without putting it to a vote that would have taken forever. And that this will undoubtedly lead to Sarge moving on, away from all of this. Because he doesn't think he'll be able to stick to this here new plan that seems to be a solution to quite a few, if not almost all, of their problems. Maybe it will make things easier for Addie and Rodeo, maybe she'll be able to flee from her undoubtedly cerebral husband up there in that shiny Capitol cage. It will certainly improve the overall situation of everyone, at least as long as people can stick to the rules. Because they don't need a war, they don't need it now and maybe they don't ever need it, because there is no way that they can take on the mayor and his resources. Which doesn't mean Sarge wouldn't have tried if Rodeo had kept going. He is a stickler for a lost cause, maybe because he is considering himself one. But too many would have died and it's already weighing down his conscience.
But that also means things will be more like they used to be and if Sarge has proven one thing... it's that he doesn't quite fit in with the normal people.
The kid trying to shove a square peg through a round hole comes to mind, at least briefly before that image is shoved back into the dark crevice it belongs in, because children are not thought of for so many reasons these days. But the image fits. Sarge doesn't trust himself around normal people, finds it hard to believe that he will ever be able to reign in all his demons enough to be a functioning member of whichever society is forming here. But it's okay. He doesn't have to be. And for the greater good, the survival of all those people living here with them, he thinks it won't matter much if he removes himself from all of this. Not right away, but in due time.