I want to take one step back in Molecular Level. Talking with anyone starts them talking about the relay, but I want to turn side quests in instead. I have no option to do that, because dialog about the relay interrupts everything.
How do I step back in that quest to the "Return To Virgil" objective?
I'm playing on PC.
Best Answer
The only way to move a quest backward without the console is to load a previous save.
With the console, you still might not be able to do it. Nukapedia has a section on console commands related to quests. There are two commands which may be relevant for you, emphasis added:
So you can't use SetStage to go backward, but maybe ResetQuest would work. I haven't tried it, but I imagine that warning is there for a reason. Definitely make some backup saves.
Otherwise, you'll need to complete the Molecular Level so you can have normal conversations again. This is only an issue if you haven't joined the Railroad yet. Nukapedia says that
Other than that, entering the Institute doesn't fail any quests. You will be allowed to leave and continue what you were doing.
For more information on what quests you should be worried about completing, see When do I have to decide between the different factions?