[action] in the lobby!

[totallynotaspaz]

Okay. Okay. You can handle this, Masters. This isn't so hard to grasp.

[Yes it is.

He stares at his acceptance letter yet again, even though he's probably memorized half of it by now. He's still not sure what aspect of all of this should freak him out the most, which is his biggest problem right now.]So I'm on a different world with no way home

Comments

[dumpsterdives]

Pretty much.

[ sympathy? what?

There's a girl settling into a crouch next to Danny, smoking. ]

You know why they call 'em SeeDs?

[totallynotaspaz]

Oh.

Uh...no. Why?

[dumpsterdives]

[ She looks side to side, as if making sure no one's watching, then leans in. ]

'Cause there's something you gotta know. Before it's too late.

[totallynotaspaz]

[Danny leans in a little bit too, pretty clearly confused--especially about the "before it's too late" bit.]

[dumpsterdives]

When you got here--hell, they might have already gotten to you--they put a spore. In your brain. Makes you obedient.

[ The straighest face SHE IS 110% SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, DANNY. ]

[totallynotaspaz]

What.

[dumpsterdives]

[ She makes sushing motions. ]

Quiet down! They might hear you.

[ More shifty eyes. ]

Look, you didn't hear it from me, alright?

[totallynotaspaz]

[He nods, still dumbstruck.

It takes him a few more moments before his mind starts functioning enough to form questions.]

How--

[Oh wait. He leans in closer and whispers.]

How do you know about this?

[dumpsterdives]

I'm...immune to this stuff, I guess you could say; it's my power. I managed to convince them they'd planted me, but.

[ She looks at him, completely earnest, almost mournful. Like she's looking at someone terminally ill. ]

You're probably already planted...just, try not to drink the water, okay? And whatever you do, never go into a teacher's office.

[totallynotaspaz]

Okay, I'll try.

...What happens if you go in a teacher's office?

[dumpsterdives]

[ Frown. Come on, Danny, work with her, here. ]

Isn't it obvious? It's code for 'we're gonna check on your spore progression'.

[totallynotaspaz]

Spore progression? They multiply?

[Hey, he believes every word you're saying! That's work enough, isn't it?]

[dumpsterdives]

Well yeah! The point is that it takes over your brain so that you'll join their army without putting up too much of a fuss. Come on, did you honestly believe they're just taking in off-worlders as charity cases? Hell no.

[totallynotaspaz]

[OH GOD OH GOD WHAT THE FUCK]

So--so, I can't do anything to keep it from happening?! I'm just going to turn into some mindless soldier, no matter what I do?!

[dumpsterdives]

[ A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH. She shifts a bit, uncomfortable. ]

Look, I--I'm not sure. It's just something I heard, but...there might be one way.

[totallynotaspaz]

[He doesn't say anything, simply sits and stares, breathless, as though this were his last chance at staying alive.]