damned_institute | Day 38: Patients' Library

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Day 38: Patients' Library

The intercom rang out, disrupting what had turned out to be a rather pointless breakfast conversation, at least in Brainiac 5's eyes. He couldn't wait to put more distance between himself and Scar's blather of how logic, of all things, might not work the same way in this dimension. It was almost enough to make him believe that the man may very well have been a lion originally after all, as he'd never heard anything so very... ignorant and uneducated.

He quickly finished up the fruit he'd been nibbling on - he was no longer as hungry as he had been - and looked around automatically to see where Clark was. Unfortunately with the press of people around, some being led off to the library and others to the mentioned 'therapy sessions' - if that was what they really were - he had lost sight of the Kryptonian. Still there wasn't many places he could go, so Brainiac 5 would be able to catch up with him eventually to check on his condition and try and learn more about what had happened last night. That the Chapel had healed him - admittedly by passing his injuries to another - was interesting, but far more important in his eyes was what had happened to Clark and his powers. They hadn't been working correctly and that worried the Coluan boy more than he would normally have admitted. Without Clark's abilities... he wasn't sure what they would have to rely on in order to escape.

Another problem he would have to deal with was Grell... or, if he was to believe the notes on the bulletin board, the person pretending to be Grell. But that was going to require more careful planning before he made a move. Come to think of it, he had agreed to meet another in the library today on that same post that had sparked this whole mess. At least then he would have something of interest to look forward to, as he doubted any of the 21st century books were likely to be worthwhile to someone of his advanced intellect.

Following the nurses led him to what must have been the library; a reasonably large room filled with a range of archaic books on tall shelves, a few tables and chairs interspersed around the room. The Coluan boy couldn't refrain from wrinkling his nose in distaste as he entered the room, not liking the cumbersome books and the dust that he knew would have gathered on them; he much preferred the clean arrangement of his C.O.M.P.U.T.O. systems back in the Legion headquarters. It was much more practical then shelves and shelves of books on fictional worlds and dated information.

Trying to avoid as much of the room as possible, Brainiac 5 settled himself down on a chair to wait, keeping an eye out for a tall, dark-haired man with a red... something on his forehead.

[for Homura]

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Sora hadn't really expected to almost get bumped into by someone a little bit older than him and a whole lot taller than him. Startled for a moment, he reached out to grab for a nearby shelf in order to steady himself. That had been a close one!

"It's okay," he quickly assured the other patient. "These aisles are pretty narrow..." Even though there were already so many people here that it probably wouldn't matter, Sora did his best to keep his voice down. This was still a library.

So far, Sora hadn't found any book that looked like it would suit him. Most of them were fairly long, so he wasn't sure how anyone would have the time to read the whole thing unless they were a really fast reader, which he wasn't.

In the end, talking to someone or at least trying to help them out seemed like a better option. "Were you looking for a particular book?" he asked the stranger. "I could help look if you want."

Clark shook his head. "Not really. I mean, I never thought about sitting down and reading a book here," he said, indicating where they were. He'd been too busy worrying about that nurse on the bus, his secret, Lex, Brainy, Wally and it seemed like he really hadn't sat down to do something relaxing other than bask in the sun like a lizard a few times.

[Ack, sorry it's short ;-;]

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Sora responded with a brief smile. "Are you not big on reading? I never was very good at paying attention in school..." But could he really be blamed for that? When there was the ocean to swim in and their treehouse and everything else, being crammed into a desk just so he could learn about things that didn't really apply to him seemed pointless.

Now, though, maybe there was more to it. He had seen much more of the world, but strangely enough, it left him with a sense that there was still so much that he didn't know. But finding the time to read up about it wasn't easy...

Since this had turned into more than a simple "excuse me," Sora figured it was about time for introductions. He stepped forward and extended his hand to the older boy. "I'm Sora, by the way."

Clark's smile was a little embarrassed, "Actually, I love reading," he admitted. He'd always been reading up in the barn's loft or in the Talon, something that Lex had commented on in amusement before; he never figured a Smallville farmboy for a bookworm too.

He smiled in return as Sora introduced himself, reaching out and shaking the younger kid's hand. Used to being tall, Clark still felt like a giant when he looked down and noticed his hand almost enveloped Sora's.

"I'm Clark Kent," Clark said. He asked the next logical question, "You new here or it's been awhile...?"

Showing no recognition at the name, Sora just nodded amiably and then pulled his hand back. There was nothing wrong with loving to read, but Sora did have to admit it wasn't his cup of tea, even though he was wondering if he should change that. On the other hand, he was who he was.

At Clark's question, he gave a quick shake of his head and then started to move to a less crowded part of the library, since people kept trying to get by them as they searched for books. Hopefully Clark would know to follow him.

"A while," he responded as he walked. "I actually think I'm one of the people who's been here the longest," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. He realized it wasn't obvious just by looking at him, but hopefully Clark wouldn't underestimate him just because of his age (or his size!).

Clark looked again at Sora, eyes wide in surprise. He really didn't look like someone who could last for that long, which had to be several weeks now...but Clark looked again and he knew there had to be something in Sora; persistence, being a survivor, something he couldn't tell just by looking at him. Color him impressed.

"Wow," Clark said, as he followed Sora. "How long have you been here exactly, do you think?"

He knew he'd been here for a least a week, but he hadn't met anyone who'd been here for months on end. Whether that was because they got killed or "got better", remained to be seen though.

Noticing that Clark looked impressed (and maybe a little surprised, but that was understandable), Sora flashed him a grin. He couldn't help it. Even though he wished that other people would have lasted as long as he had, at least there were a few who had endured, himself included.

But trying to guess at the length of time became more difficult as the days went by, and he put a hand to his chin as he thought it over. "I'm not really sure, but it's been a while. Maybe a month?" He knew dropping such a large amount of time on another patient tended to discourage them, but Clark had wanted to know. Hopefully he would see it as something positive rather than as a sign of how much longer he would be stuck here.

After all, if Sora could last that long, then maybe others would too. He would still remain one of the "oldest," but he had to cross his fingers that his friends would stop leaving - in one way or another.

Clark realized a second too late that his jaw had dropped. He hurriedly shut his mouth. Wow, a whole month. That was incredible. Clark didn't know anyone who'd been here that long. For being here this long, probably away from his friends and family, Sora seemed surprisingly well-adjusted and, well, normal, despite all the things he must've seen in Landels.

"I've maybe been here a week, maybe two weeks," Clark admitted. He knew he should've been keeping a closer count, but looking back on his days here, he realized he wasn't one hundred percent sure. Clark looked a little sad. "I really miss my family and friends. I bet they're freaking out..."

"Hmm." Sora had worried about that same thing himself, but after seeing a few of his friends from home here and then catching word from some of the other patients, he wasn't sure it worked in quite the way that Clark thought it did.

"I think that time might be stopped here. Uhh, I mean... the people back home, they probably don't know we're gone." It was a comforting thought, wasn't it? After seeing everyone at Destiny Islands again after being gone for so long, he didn't want them thinking that he'd left once more, without even a word of goodbye.

Once he did did get back, chances were it would be right at the time that he left. That's what he was guessing after everything he'd heard, at least. And while that would be a bit disconcerting, it was probably for the best.

Time stopped? Clark was still trying to work out if he believed in this different worlds, different dimensions, much less the idea if time could be different in one place.

"How do you know time's different here?" Clark asked. There had to be some reason he thuoght that, right? It'd be nice if his family wasn't freaking out about him, but, on the other hand, that meant he couldn't expect any help from Mom and Dad or his friends. It didn't explain how come Lex knew he was here, except he was calling him a different name altogether.

"Well, I'm not sure," Sora clarified as he rubbed the back of his neck, hoping that he wasn't giving Clark the wrong idea. He believed this, after all, and so he wasn't trying to lead the other boy astray. It was up to Clark whether he agreed with it or not.

"But when people come from the same world, sometimes they'll be from different times. Like, someone will come from another person's past... except that for the one from the future, that person never left, y'know? Uhh, I don't know if I'm making any sense." He was sure that other people could explain it better than him, so maybe it would be best if Clark just asked on the bulletin about it. But Sora was doing his best!

Clark frowned, trying to think this over. He wasn't really sure that was proof...but then again, he hadn't met anyone from his time; only a few people claiming to be from other versions of his world or from another planet entirely.

"I guess it makes sense," Clark said slowly. He chewed the edge of his lip, "I wish there was a way to make sure though. Like, get a letter out or an e-mail or something."

Computers were a no go. He'd learned that last night with Kvothe when they'd investigated the doctor offices and found out the computers couldn't be used. The phones, too, hadn't worked. It'd be nice to believe his parents didn't know he was gone, but at the same time, he'd like to know for certain.

A letter? Did Clark really think that would work? How was a letter going to get all the way back to his world? For someone who had been here for over a week, Sora found it hard to believe that the other boy still believed this was his home world...

"Yeah, I wish we could make some contact," he said, since he still agreed with the sentiment, even though he wasn't sure it worked that way.

He puzzled over whether or not he should try and explain to Clark, but before he could decide the intercom came on and there wasn't any time left. "Ahh. Anyway! It was nice talking to you, Clark," he said with a brief smile. Waving, he made his way back across the library so the nurse could lead him to the cafeteria.

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Day 38: Patients' Library

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