First point: This was something I forgot to clarify, but the option to kill the test subjects in-game frees up a chemical which allows more lives to be saved later on. It was deeply uncomfortable for her, and something she still struggles with, but she weighed the costs and- as the mission she was on was time-sensitive and guards were just around the corner- she made the hard choice in the moment for the greater good. Her kindness and desire to do good usually extends as far as the people she cares about, people with 'faces' so to speak, it's how she rationalizes dealing with marauders and space pirates while still caring for her crew, and she rationalizes doing things for the 'greater good' by it also working to care for the people she cares for. A rising tide raises all ships, and all that, and she'd rather raise the tide than individually lift each ship up.
Second point: By the end of her adventures, Patty was sort of forced to open up to her companions, her stress mounted to the point where the mask broke and she had to admit that she needed help. It was uncomfortable, but now she's in a position where she would be willing to open up again with time and evidence of trustworthiness. She'd likely open up again if offered some sort of vulnerability she felt was equivalent to her own.
Third point: The further out of her comfort zone she gets, the closer she clings to character, and so she's more likely to break character when feeling both safe and comfortable, potentially in a winking joke that she'd breeze right past immediately afterwards.
Clarifications
This was something I forgot to clarify, but the option to kill the test subjects in-game frees up a chemical which allows more lives to be saved later on. It was deeply uncomfortable for her, and something she still struggles with, but she weighed the costs and- as the mission she was on was time-sensitive and guards were just around the corner- she made the hard choice in the moment for the greater good. Her kindness and desire to do good usually extends as far as the people she cares about, people with 'faces' so to speak, it's how she rationalizes dealing with marauders and space pirates while still caring for her crew, and she rationalizes doing things for the 'greater good' by it also working to care for the people she cares for. A rising tide raises all ships, and all that, and she'd rather raise the tide than individually lift each ship up.
Second point: By the end of her adventures, Patty was sort of forced to open up to her companions, her stress mounted to the point where the mask broke and she had to admit that she needed help. It was uncomfortable, but now she's in a position where she would be willing to open up again with time and evidence of trustworthiness. She'd likely open up again if offered some sort of vulnerability she felt was equivalent to her own.
Third point: The further out of her comfort zone she gets, the closer she clings to character, and so she's more likely to break character when feeling both safe and comfortable, potentially in a winking joke that she'd breeze right past immediately afterwards.