Day 56: Twin Pines Restaurant (Early Afternoon)

[girlsandgadgets]

Having spent almost the entire morning in the cold, Edgar finally decided it was time to address his groaning middle. It was hard enough to focus as he thumbed through the coupon book without his stomach doing flips: he was shivering, but still felt tremendous heat radiating from within him. The attempt at a nap on a park bench hadn't helped his

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[emotionl4arobot]

Brainiac 5's stomach clenched strangely at the sight of the scar on Peter's hand. It wasn't really a logical response; he knew that with Peter being a hero, not to mention being in this institute, he likely got injured much more frequently than the average human in his time period and culture, and that these injuries would result in scars. But... for some reason the actual sight of them made him wish they weren't there, that he could somehow make them disappear from his friend.

It was unusual, and he was faintly relieved when Peter pushed the sleeve back down. It was probably linked to how such things weren't usual in his own time. Injuries could be healed more easily, and his Coluan body healed without a mark. Having long term reminders was still a new idea, which was clearly why it bothered him.

Feeling better again for having come up with what was clearly the most logical explanation for the reaction, Brainiac 5 nodded in answer to both Peter's apology - which he thankfully realised wasn't necessary - and the suggestion of a work around.

"I think it found me more than it anticipated," he commented wryly, sliding into the seat opposite Peter. "But I agree that a code phrase or form of address would work. You could... use the name we came up with for me. If you wanted something that no one else knew, that is. If I answered with a similar name or word we'd worked out, you'd know it was me and vice versa."

The waitress approached their table as Brainiac 5 was still removing his own coupon and mentally retrieving the data he had on the basement, so he remained silent on the topic for now, focussing instead on what to order.

"I think I'll have some cocoa, and a muffin. Peter?"

[emotionl4arobot]

"No," he admitted, his expression becoming less certain now. He wasn't sure how Peter would react to being told more of what happened, but on the other hand, as it were, he had wanted to prove to his roommate that his abilities weren't automatically bad. This was a chance to do that.

"I used the abilities I gained the other night. They were... surprisingly effective."

Fortunately he was saved from going into further detail as the waitress returned with their drinks and his muffin. It had been warmed a little, and the steam rose from it and the mugs in a lazy coil that was surprisingly relaxing. And the warmth from the mug was welcome as well, he had to admit as he wrapped his hands around it and made an automatic, soft noise of approval.

"Olympus..." Brainy tried the word out as he tasted his cocoa. "I like it. I'd be happy to use it if we ever need to."

[emotionl4arobot]

Brainiac 5 was both a little hurt and a little relieved that Peter dropped the subject there. On one hand, he would like to use his experience to try and convince his friend that his new abilities weren't inherently bad (it was the controlling force he needed to be concerned with, not that he intended to share that knowledge if he could avoid it), but on the other, he could understand Peter not wanting to discuss what was essentially his own death, albeit via a doppelganger.

And he himself had to admit he didn't want to dwell too much on how easy he'd found it all. It was something that would wait for another time.

Fortunately a distraction presented itself in the form of Peter enjoying his drink, and Brainy laughed quietly at how eager his friend was. He was enjoying the beverage as well, but not quite so enthusiastically as Peter did. It was oddly refreshing to see.

It was almost a disappointment when they moved on to discuss other, more important matters. "Robot... raptors?" he repeated, drawing his hands away from the warm mug and starting to break apart his muffin. "Why would they have those?"

[emotionl4arobot]

Brainiac 5 wasn't really familiar with what a Sphinx might be, but he nodded for Peter to continue regardless. Unless he felt like facing down the challenges himself, it wasn't as necessary that he know that just now, and with the name in his memory, he could always research it himself later.

Besides, he was more interested and concerned with Peter's own experiences than those of the rest of this mysterious 'group'. ...which he was trying not to point out that he hadn't been invited to be a part of, though the thought did worry at the edges of his mind. He didn't even know who this Harvey might be.

As Peter's story came to a close, Brainy frowned, concern even sharper in his face now. "You should try and recover before you do anything further," he pointed out, likely unnecessarily. "Especially if you were burned last night. That needs time to heal, Peter."