Day 32: Cafeteria, Breakfast

[darwinism]

Sylar's gears were still turning as the nurse and a burly orderly escorted him down long halls and through a strange, sunlit room. He'd been forced to drop his pen when the orderly had seen it, and since then, he'd realized that this place had better security than he'd originally anticipated, as well as a large population of patients. It looked like he'd have to bide his time for now, pretending to be this 'Zachary Blaine' and trying to figure out how the hell he'd gotten here.

His mind went over and over the events in Mohinder's lab, tracing every second that led up to his unconsciousness. According to the computer logs and the decked-out loft, Mohinder was working for the Company now, so had that woman with the electricity been an operative? Was this all a Company front? Even so, it didn't make sense for them to drop him off somewhere without any close supervision. They knew how dangerous he was. How special he was.

But right now, his abilities had been nullified and he was left only with the option of playing along. It was a very good thing that it was something he excelled at, even with his sudden loss of the cure clouding his thoughts and telling him to do something drastic.

Still, it was fun to take ahold of strings and let someone think they were pulling him when in fact he was the puppetmaster. Who knew? Maybe he could find a new toy now that his last one had worn out.

Sylar took his syrup-covered waffle to a table and tried to keep track of both the security and the people flooding in. Soon, he'd find an opening, a weak link he could exploit. It was only a matter of time.

Comments

[manhattan-red.livejournal.com]

Brooklyn was hoping to find Cloud as he wandered around the cafeteria that morning. The blond hadn't looked at all well as they left his doctor's office. (The thought of what they found in the drawer there caused him to pick up much less for breakfast than he might normally.)

As he passed one table, however, he couldn't help but pause and take a longer look at the occupant. He was the size of that kid. He even looked like that kid, but his hair color wasn't the same.

Then again, Vlad's hair had changed during that brief time he transformed too, hadn't it? In any case, even if this wasn't the same person, they might at least be related. So he changed direction and sat down at that table instead, leaning his head in the palm of one hand and just staring at Danny.

"Feeling more like yourself?" he asked finally.

[notaghostreally.livejournal.com]

Danny was stirred out of his stupor by a familiar voice, but he couldn't yet put a name or a face to it. He looked up to find one of the guys he had attacked two nights ago and had an urge to slam his head on the table. It was a good thing he suppressed the urge, though, or else he would have scrambled egg all over his face.

His first thought was, great, I'm still karma's doorbell. His second was a mad scramble trying to figure out whether or not Brooklyn knew about Danny's powers--how else would he be able to recognize him in human form?! How did he figure it out, anyway?!

No--no, this didn't mean anything, he didn't say anything that gave it away. Danny prayed that Brooklyn didn't know about his powers and decided to play dumb and innocent--or as dumb and innocent as he could.

"Huh? What do you mean?" he said, trying to sound confused. It was just his luck that he sounded more jittery than perplexed.

[manhattan-red.livejournal.com]

This had to be him. The voice matched up too. Then there was what Vlad had said... Brooklyn frowned. "I'm just saying. I'd hope your actions the other night were simply due to Landel's brainwashing, since your pal Masters says you're not always like that. Because, you know, otherwise I might have to stay upset with you."

He picked at his food a little, but kept his eyes on Danny. "You look like you're just a kid, so I'd rather not, you know?"

[notaghostreally.livejournal.com]

Yup, that was confirmation--Brooklyn knew exactly who he was and what he'd done. He sighed and hung his head low, pushing the tray away a bit. Even if it was irrational for him to feel guilty, he couldn't help it. He'd dealt with brainwashing before, hadn't he? So why couldn't he deal with it this time?

"You can stay upset," he said, sighing. He realized what the statement implied and lifted his head a bit. "But it was definitely brainwashing! I'd never do something like that to anyone!" Not even his enemies.

[manhattan-red.livejournal.com]

"Hey, hey. Don't worry about it. I believe you." Brooklyn held up both hands in a pacifying gesture. "Besides, it's not me you did the most damage to, anyway." Vlad should be the one asking for an apology, and he'd leave that between them. "Trust me, I know what it's like to have things out of your hands like that."

He was reminded of the time he'd been possessed by one of the three souls within Coldstone - the evil one, as was his luck. Nothing terrible had come of it (save maybe the beginning of Angela's attraction to Broadway) but he hated not being in charge of his actions all the same. Worse was when he'd almost made Goliath Demona's slave - and THAT had been when he should have been in his right mind.

Still, he'd never injured someone as badly as Danny had. No friends or innocents, anyway. He wasn't going to point that out, though.

[notaghostreally.livejournal.com]

At Brooklyn's words, an image of Vlad, collapsed on the floor and immobilized, ran through his mind. His face paled at the idea--he hadn't seen Vlad since, but in all honesty, he kind of didn't want to see him now. It would mean having to face the man he could've easily killed.

"I know," he said, sighing somewhat distractedly. Then, a murmur, more to himself than to Brooklyn: "But that's not the first time I've been controlled."

With nothing else to say, he realized Brooklyn knew that he was Danny Phantom. He understood it earlier when Brooklyn began talking to him, but the concept of it only just hit home. He looked up again. "Uhh, if you haven't already, could you keep my powers a secret?" he asked quietly, leaning in slightly. He doubted that he had a big reputation for what he had done, but all the same. There had been plenty of witnesses, and he wanted to avoid the complications that came with being associated with the ghost boy.

[manhattan-red.livejournal.com]

"No need to worry about that either," Brooklyn nodded. "I already talked with Vlad, and I won't be telling a soul about either of your special powers or whatever." Not unless it was absolutely necessary, like someone's life depended on it. But he wasn't going to add that right now. The kid had enough to trouble him with right now.

"Let's not dwell on that too much right now, okay?" He held out his hand. "I already know your name, but haven't introduced myself yet. My name's Brooklyn."

[notaghostreally.livejournal.com]

Danny almost wanted to laugh--Vlad? Helping him? It wouldn't be the first time, but the circumstances were different. This time, it wasn't to save Amity Park from being pulled into the Ghost Zone. It was to save Danny humiliation even though he nearly killed the other half-ghost hybrid. He was tempted to think Brooklyn was just playing with his mind, but something told him that maybe he was telling the truth.

"Alright, thanks," he said, nodding. "And uh...sorry for trying zap you halfway to death." Danny tried smiling a bit to lighten the mood, taking note of his breakfast buddy's name--Brooklyn? Wasn't that in New York? Or maybe Chicago...

[manhattan-red.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that wasn't so pleasant." Brooklyn quirked his mouth a bit and stretched his previously injured shoulder without thinking about it. "But I'm still alive, so I'll cut you some slack. Sorry for, uh... trying to bash your brains in with my shovel." For as little good that had done. And granted, he hadn't exactly been sorry at the time - probably wasn't even sorry now - but it was the right thing to say.

"So now that's apologies done. Last night was better, I hope?" It had definitely been better for Brooklyn, though he couldn't speak for his companion...

[notaghostreally.livejournal.com]

His eyes strayed away from Brooklyn's yet again. Still alive, huh? The comment stung more than he expected it to. Yeah, great--Danny considered it a wonderful day if his unintentional victims were still alive. Not okay, not getting better, but still alive. As if that was what people aimed to be at the end of the day--'still alive.'

"I, uh...didn't go anywhere last night. I stayed in my room," he muttered, turning his head to the side slightly as he prodded at his food and popped some of it into his mouth.

[manhattan-red.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Right. Gotcha." It made sense when Brooklyn thought about it. If he'd almost killed a couple people while being brainwashed the night before, he might not want to come out of his room either.

Poor kid.

"But at least they didn't come after you again, right?" He tried his best to sound comforting. "Maybe it won't happen any more?"

[notaghostreally.livejournal.com]

"No they didn't." He shook his head. "I don't think they come after you if you're in your rooms at night." He was referring to both the staff and the monsters. After all, he didn't remember much after dinner the night he attacked everyone. And when he had been injured by those giant birds, once he was in his room nothing came in.

"I'm just never gonna let them touch me after dinner again!" He grinned, trying to force himself into putting his sour mood behind. For the moment, at least.

[manhattan-red.livejournal.com]

So they came for you after dinner if they were going to brainwash you for the night? That was good to note. He'd have to be careful. If they could restore Danny's powers, then perhaps they could return him to his proper form as well. And if he attacked people as a gargoyle... well, that would be pretty bad for their image. His image, for sure. He didn't need gargoyles getting a reputation for being monsters before he could do more to prove otherwise.

"Yeah, we should all be careful." If it would do them any good. The staff here seemed to be able to overwhelm anyone without any problems, even if you'd think they'd have trouble with some.