Robert putting his headphones on at the start of his shift, not noticing anything different today. It seems like it would be a normal day.
Right as he signs on with the team, however, that is when he feels in. Something moving into his ear. A long tendrils from within the ear cuffs.
Of course he quickly reaches up to yank them off! His mind is racing as to what is going on!
But Robert is not quick enough.
The tendrils slide in deep, deeper. Robert can feel them moving inside of his head. His mind begins to relax. It feels...good. Everything is good now. He feels the tendrils throbbing a bit, moving inside of his ears. But it doesn't worry him.
So, he carries on the shift. Praising his team and telling them how good they are. Even if thinking about calls is a little hard right now. Serious thoughts are hard. All he wants to do is relax and feel good.
The team notices, or rather, they tell him back at how good he is being as their dispatcher. Flipping the script. Z-Team does remarkably well that day.
Especially when they get back to their dispatcher, who still has his headphones on with a dopey look in his eyes. His mind is still empty of thoughts now, letting them "help" him out now.
Later, when Robert finally can think without the headphones on, no one admits to having planted the fake headphones. (But everyone did get to have fun with Robert.)