If Nathan has committed himself to explaining things, he supposes he should sit down. So he sets himself a respectable distance away on the bench, sliding off his backpack.

"For all intents and purposes, they seem to be. If it is any consolation, they have yet to cause anyone harm." It makes them easier to be around, at least. Nathan still doesn't like it, but so long as they aren't hostile, he can handle it. "You are new to it?"

Being Numbered, he means. It is possible that he is making an assumption here on how long the other has been Numbered; he may just have not contacted the network yet, or used text to protect his anonymity. Goodness knows Nathan had waited a while himself.