That feeling in the pit of his stomach was growing worse, and his smile faded with every word that Brainiac 5 said. He looked happy about the things he was saying, but it was wrong—off—all of it. And being addressed as 'John' just drove the meaning behind the boy's words home. He wouldn't have minded, if it weren't for the fact that Brainiac 5 knew that it wasn't his name.
The boy in front of him wasn't quite Brainiac 5 any longer. (And who was Tyler?)
The Doctor swallowed, and there was a definitely moment of hesitation before he forced a smile back on his face. "Well... I'm alright—getting along; you know me," he answered. He was coping—he was good at coping, but it was never easy. Brainiac 5 didn't need to know that, but there was one bit he was willing to admit. "I've missed talking to you, though; I don't know that there's anyone else around here who'd be able to keep up." Well... Maybe the mathematician who'd been leaving posts on the bulletin, but even that was a long shot.
He reached up, starting to rub the back of his neck. There was also one thing he could add, one thing that he could really use to test how much of Brainiac 5 remained. "Speaking of which, I never quite managed to get you those schematics for the screwdriver. I've been carrying them around in my journal, so if you'd still like them...?"
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The boy in front of him wasn't quite Brainiac 5 any longer. (And who was Tyler?)
The Doctor swallowed, and there was a definitely moment of hesitation before he forced a smile back on his face. "Well... I'm alright—getting along; you know me," he answered. He was coping—he was good at coping, but it was never easy. Brainiac 5 didn't need to know that, but there was one bit he was willing to admit. "I've missed talking to you, though; I don't know that there's anyone else around here who'd be able to keep up." Well... Maybe the mathematician who'd been leaving posts on the bulletin, but even that was a long shot.
He reached up, starting to rub the back of his neck. There was also one thing he could add, one thing that he could really use to test how much of Brainiac 5 remained. "Speaking of which, I never quite managed to get you those schematics for the screwdriver. I've been carrying them around in my journal, so if you'd still like them...?"