Joseph didn't look shaken as they walked into the mess together, having Morreti mix among the rest like he did certainly helped bring the idea of Cobra back to the realm of being Xeno. Joseph still looked like what could essentially be called hot garbage however, he thought over Morreti's words of finding out the importance of family, sharing that heartfelt similarity between the two really hit home for the younger man. Displayed humanity, commonality. He followed in silence now, seeming content with Morreti's words.
Joseph stood with Morreti, nearly shoulder to shoulder when they'd gotten into the crowded line, after being calmed down, the younger man's face had seemingly become expression and emotionless, his eyes did the talking though as he gazed to the man next to him with some sense of belonging. Rather than the alienated anger that had plagued his eyes previously. He seemed a little surprised when handed the plate, but shuffled after the man quickly before they got run over in everyone's rush for the same food Morreti had almost anxiously run off for.
This was when Joseph's perceptiveness was displayed, his eyes darted over the crowded mess, looking at and, and seemingly for people. Though what he was actually watching was for someone who was nearly finished and about to shuffle away from their seat. His gloved right hand lifted to tap Morreti on the shoulder, pointing out a pair of Xenos, as Joseph began shuffling through the crowd in some awkward, yet seemingly natural movements, securing the seats immediately after the two had moved away. From his seated position he glanced upward to Morreti as he waited for the man to take a seat. The Xenos in the nearby area seemingly knowing Joseph to some capacity, offering brief smirks and playful gawks despite his usually abrasive behavior. Their eyes shifting to the Commander briefly, but none of them seemed disgusted or in protest, leading one to believe that Joseph had gone out on a whim earlier, rather than trying to organize some sort of mutiny. "You'll have to tell me about them sometime." His voice had been given brotherly inflection, but it didn't sound forceful in topic. A hint of admiration trailing the end of his returned cocky, maverick-esk tone.
The second they were seated, Morreti dug into his meal and seemed to pause for a moment as he chewed his way through that first mouthful. The smirk on his face followed by the lack of any talking revealed that the food was worth the crowd, even if on the simple side of things. His manners forbade him from speaking while he was actively eating, so for now conversation was squeezed between the occasional bites being taken. "Not much to tell." He mentioned abruptly, elaborating soon after. "Wasn't much of a family. They were just people I was related to." He shrugged after saying that, if this fact had ever wounded him or made him feel a certain way then it wasn't clear now, and he was probably just over it.
"Maybe I'll start one of my own, or become part of one when the time's right." It was rare to hear people in this cause speak of the future, or even potentially wound themselves by considering it. To think this far ahead wasn't usually possible, but with the advent of what seemed like stable cashflow and talk of overhauls and reforms, it made people realize the cycle of hard times and hopelessness might actually be ending. What would take its place was absolutely unclear, but at least it would be different.
Like Morreti, and likely others in the crowded, well, "mess" that aptly described the place in many aspects. Joseph had dug into the food in a quickened manner, though ate with perhaps a surprising amount of manners, elbows folded inward as to not crowd the man beside him too much. A light chuckle was had at Morreti's response. It was true that none of them considered the future, and it was often met with grim, gritty and gloomy outlooks, even joked about to remind them all where they really were. Building a nation was a dream, settling down afterward, still sounded too damn good to be true. People like them didn't get to die old, each death a tragedy, that served to enflame the raging ember that tempered their star.
Joseph's eyes were brought back to Moretti, opting to finally comment after halfway-shoveling halfway-enjoying the food. "Retirement huh? You don't seem the type." He gave a friendly smirk, giving a brief motion to his dirtied clothes from work that he'd found the man in. Getting back to the meal while he watched for Morreti's response from the corner of his eye.
He shrugged and shook his head, offering Joseph a slight smile as he went through some more of his meal. "Things are different now, for me personally as well." It was a line of thought he gave some consideration, mentally noting just how much things had changed and seemed to keep changing as time went on. "We'll see." The way he said that was as if it was supposed to suggest something, and like something was on his mind when he'd brought it up. Maybe the more likely conclusion was that there was someone on his mind though.
Whatever the reason might be, he seemed content to leave it vague for now. Perhaps it was personal and he didn't see the need to divulge details. "How's the pie?" It was a subtle change of subject, not intended to seem secretive or rude, but he'd prefer to take the focus off himself.
