You initially approach with some hesitance, attempting to read the proverbial room; at a glance, though, it doesn't seem like anything especially hostile or weird is going on.

You take a deep breath and march toward the discussion.

"I--" you announce, "was attacked by a giant-ass opossum."

"...Oh damn you were right," trails off the young man in the hoodie.

Kate, with a slight hand-to-throat motion, ignores him and turns to you. "You got the stuff?"

"Yeah." You nod, and hold up the backpack.

"Yo. Lagi," says the young man with an upward nod.

"Plaire," you reply. "I, uh... wanted to ask about Brainsate."

He gives a small shrug. "Mood stabilizer and anti-psychotic in one, only short term side effects are eye pain and loss of appetite. Take as needed, prob'ly not more than two a day. I got 50mg, and... yeah, I got fifties. That's it."

"What are the long term side effects?" You're honestly surprised how smoothly he worked through that opening spiel.

He sniffs. "Same as any antipsychotic. Somnolence, anhedonia, hyperglycemia, tardive dyskinesia, gynecomastia--I think that last one's just dudes, though--and y'know, like, studies suggest antipsychotics might be tied to cortical reconfiguration and degradation of gray matter, but people that gotta do antipsychotics also tend to do shit like smoke an' don't eat right. Most antipsychotics you gotta take every day anyway, so at least with Brainsate you can kinda pace out what long term means. Ya mean?"

. . .

What the fuck is this town

"So why did they take it off the shelves...?," you ask, bracing for Dr. Deals Drugs Out Of His Trunk to hit you with the scientific facts.

"It was the cheapest part o' like, five big drug cocktails," he replies. "...Of which I only tried like three, and I heard one's not really worth it. Anyway they shut all that shit down before it could get widespread, all the Brainsate I got is what I could grab outta the back o' some trucks."