DRD Team

Talking to any NPC turns off most of the NPC behavior: NPC stops moving around, attacking (enemies will go melee if you'll punch them with a knife, though, but only while you're close enough; after you'll take a step back, they'll forget about you), Acolytes do not respond to the alarm. You can still talk to them, push them, kill them, etc.

UPD: Seems like they behave just like they're still talking

That's how Strife works.