There's a lot to unpack here. At least 30 is quite a bit more than at least 8 for captive population, and it makes Dustin's heart sink. Not because that's a lot of people for the Agrii to be abducting, but because that's going to make it much harder for him to hide from everyone. Thirty people in an abandoned city built for thousands is not exactly a high population density, sure. But it's an order of magnitude more than he was anticipating. He will have to moderate his expectations accordingly.
There's also a confirmation that Tommy isn't quite human, and that there are others that are fully not human wandering around, too. This is less of a gut-punch than it might have been if Dustin hadn't gotten the Agrii's missive as soon as he arrived. Aliens, on an alien planet? Perish the thought.
It is interesting, though, to know that the Agrii aren't the only other species out there. Tommy makes it sound like there could be several. And he's some kind of mutant human, apparently? Fascinating. Dustin's other eyebrow briefly arcs to meet the first one before he quickly schools his expression, waving a dismissive hand.
"Sure, whatever," he shrugs. There's not a second thought in his mind about telling Tommy about his own abilities - that he might also be, in a literal sense, some kind of 'mutant.' He's only just met the guy. It strikes him that he doesn't even know his name. Dustin usually knows at least that much before he even plans his route to find someone that might have abilities, and if they did have them, he still wouldn't tell them about his.
Rather than directly confirming Tommy's assertion that he's a normal human and catching himself in a lie, Dustin deflects. "I'll try to be an equal-opportunity asshole, then," he says, folding his arms. "What can I expect? You've been here a while, keep a watering hole. I'm guessing you've met everyone? Anyone I should watch out for?"
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There's also a confirmation that Tommy isn't quite human, and that there are others that are fully not human wandering around, too. This is less of a gut-punch than it might have been if Dustin hadn't gotten the Agrii's missive as soon as he arrived. Aliens, on an alien planet? Perish the thought.
It is interesting, though, to know that the Agrii aren't the only other species out there. Tommy makes it sound like there could be several. And he's some kind of mutant human, apparently? Fascinating. Dustin's other eyebrow briefly arcs to meet the first one before he quickly schools his expression, waving a dismissive hand.
"Sure, whatever," he shrugs. There's not a second thought in his mind about telling Tommy about his own abilities - that he might also be, in a literal sense, some kind of 'mutant.' He's only just met the guy. It strikes him that he doesn't even know his name. Dustin usually knows at least that much before he even plans his route to find someone that might have abilities, and if they did have them, he still wouldn't tell them about his.
Rather than directly confirming Tommy's assertion that he's a normal human and catching himself in a lie, Dustin deflects. "I'll try to be an equal-opportunity asshole, then," he says, folding his arms. "What can I expect? You've been here a while, keep a watering hole. I'm guessing you've met everyone? Anyone I should watch out for?"