Tunnel-visioned, Dustin continues trying to circle around Cal even as he rotates to block him. The effort seems to be annoying him slightly, in the way that he might be annoyed if someone held his lunch over his head and wouldn't give it back, but even then he doesn't quite get the hint until Cal gives him a more overt rejection. Dustin stops and stares with a look of betrayal on his face. His mouth opens to ask the obvious why not? that he feels ought to follow this up, but cuts it short as he answers himself.

He doesn't trust me. Well, obviously. Dustin's not sure he trusts anyone here, either, and he knows what his answer would be if any of these strangers asked to study his hypothetical robot pet for science. He's nowhere close to having earned anything different.

Dustin deflates with a defeated sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Can I do anything to change your mind?" he asks, the slightest twinge of hope creeping into his voice.