03 ▒ EVENT: STRELA OUTPOST ▒ ASSIMILATION

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: Strela Outpost.
WARNINGS: Mind horror, hivemindery, etc.
SUMMARY: Communal brainwashing.
NOTES: Divided by locations; players are free to indicate which day/stage, and to begin new subthreads wherever they'd like!

Looks like the authorities have apprehended you and have brought you in for processing. After being forced to wait in the waiting room, you're brought to the assimilation room - a terrible white cell, where you're trapped for hours, sentenced to be slowly stripped of your individuality.

Comments

[redhotsummers]

"Nope, fuck you, Dave, I will punch you out if you try to get away." Alex knew that the other man might not have any of his own mind left right now, but this was for his own damn good. The minute they were in site of the shuttle doors, Alex grabbed Dave by the arms, and practically threw the younger by into the hold, skidding in after him, hitting the 'close' button quickly.

"Shit...shit shit." Okay Alex, okay. You did it. Now just hope Dave would go back to normal when they get out.

[insufferableprick]

He stumbled into the shuttle, catching himself against a wall, head snapping in the direction of the closing doors. Once they shut, all the fight, all the tenseness fled him, and he sat down, heavily, head slightly bowed in acceptance or obeisance or possibly vacancy.

He was a part of something bigger, better, even if it only lasted a short while.

It was okay.

The shuttle, preset to autopilot, came to life on its own, and slowly slipped out of Strela's dock, making its way back to the Tranquility.

And he sat and waited in abject silence.

[redhotsummers]

"...Dave. Can you--can you hear me?" Alex moved to sit next to him, hands moving to his shoulders, squeezing gently. He didn't know if he could get through.

If it would just take time, or something more familiar.

He was worried, so worried that he had lost Dave, even after he had saved him.

[insufferableprick]

Somewhere inside, past the empty contentment of the hivemind, hidden under layers of guilt and feelings of uselessness--Dave could hear him. He was just too far away to do anything about it.

So instead, he turned to Alex, red eyes blank, so unfocused as to be completely unseeing. And then he did something totally unsettling.

Surely Alex remembered that blank, unconvincing smile so many of the residents wore. That limp-wristed wave that barely passed for a proper greeting.

Because that was how he answered.

[redhotsummers]

"...well it's something."

Frowning, Alex let go of Dave, instead shifting to rest against the bulkhead as well, shoulder to shoulder with the younger boy, not letting him shift too much.

"I'm--"

"I'm sorry."

Sorry he couldn't have gotten to him faster. Sorry that he had to go through it all.

No matter what, he always failed.

He was silent after that.