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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"Oh, uh, morning," Akihiko said with a nod. "And, well. Don't tell her I said this, but Mitsuru asked me to talk to you about the bulletin stuff."

She had better be somewhere else. With my luck, she'll have heard that and have a Bufu spell waiting for me later. He nervously glanced around for her, breathing a quiet sigh of relief when he didn't immediately see her.

"But, before I get into all that," he began, "did Mitsuru talk to you about what happened last night?"

"Good morning," Ken greeted in turn.

So that was why he wanted to speak with the boy regarding the topic. Although, it did bring up the question as to why the redhead had not mentioned it herself. "I see. Was there a problem with it?" Probably, if Akihiko's nervous energy indicated anything.

Brown eyes widened in surprise when last night was addressed. "Oh, a little bit. She told me Yukari-san was okay. That's about it, really," he answered. "I get the feeling more went on, though. Did...something happen?" Such as a fight, perhaps?

Edited 2009-01-11 23:03 (UTC)

"I, uh, well." Akihiko took a deep breath, trying to psych himself up. It didn't really work.

Okay, self. This is just a conversation. You can handle those, right? The subject matter does not change that. Argh.

"Well, there was some concern about whether you'd actually gotten, er, accurate information," he finally managed. "And, the question of why you were asking about that stuff in the first place. Why was that, anyway?"

It was funny that the topic of what had happened last night - even though it wasn't the most fun subject - was the easier one.

"I guess I should state first that Takeba got taken, but it was for what they call Special Counseling, and not what happened to you," he began. "We didn't get there soon enough to stop someone from trying to kill her, unfortunately, but we at least kept the damage to a minimum otherwise." That much was true - at least no one else had been hurt, and they'd worked things out with Renamon.

Accurate information? No one in that thread of notes, particularly the extra helpful individuals, had any reason to lead him and Ururu astray. That made the child wonder: did Akihiko hold greater knowledge on sexual activity than the informants? Only one way to find out...

"Then could you clarify the matter for me, Sanada-san?" he piped up in genuine curiosity. "Someone told me that people were more susceptible to certain, uh, supernatural causes if they were virgins." Of course, Alita had implied that front had been taken care of later that night, but the boy figured providing a general explanation wouldn't harm their investigation or give himself away. "I was confused, and that's when Ururu-san wanted to help. That's why she asked around and left a note for me on the bulletin."

It was a very simplistic explanation, but Ken supposed that was better than keeping quiet.

Unlike Mitsuru, Akihiko was far more detailed when it came to what occurred the night before. Additionally, the words confirmed certain suspicions he'd held since the bounty hunter's account. He needed to probe further, however; he did not have everything. "Someone was trying to kill her?" Ken repeated.

Edited 2009-01-14 23:31 (UTC)

"Supernatural conditions?" He had to question what kind of supernatural conditions one might be prey to in that state. "Did they mean there's a monster that preys on them, or something else?"

That at least explained why he'd been asking that stuff. "And, well, uh, I suppose I should start by saying that you and your friend shouldn't really ask stuff like that on the bulletin. I know you guys were asking an honest question, but some folks wouldn't be honest about answering it. They'd use it as a chance to play a prank on someone." Like the guy had who'd posted the diagram.

"But, uh...yeah. Well, I guess I should ask what needs clarified?" Akihiko shifted in his chair. For all the trying not to appear awkward, it was definitely the kind of conversation someone else should handle, in his opinion.

"If she wasn't, she was doing a da--I mean, a really good job of acting like she was trying to strangle her," he began, in response to that last question. "I hated to have to hit her, but, well, you do what you have to in a situation like that. Including summoning yourself, if you have to. Mitsuru had to last night, and I stand by her call on that."

Not least because he'd had to do the same later that night.

"A monster, yeah." In his mind, vampires counted in that category. "Or monsters. There seems to be more than one kind." Ken frowned thoughtfully, remember the comment regarding the birds.

The downcast look shifted to confusion, and the child peered straight into his senpai's eyes. "I gathered as much from the responses," he said in a matter of fact tone, "but...why?" Someone had said they were likely too young for the subject itself, but why couldn't they at least discuss it when the talk was beneficial to everyone? Also, why would anyone want to twist the discussion? Surely, Akihiko could shed some light on this matter. He seemed to know something about everything.

"Hm, well." Ken trailed off as he mulled over his list of unanswered questions. "How do you have or give sex?" he finally asked. "And is it anything like that picture?" The senior should know which one he was referring to.

On the last part, the boy simply nodded and left it be. He had the information he sought; it would require some time alone on his part to sift through.

...I think if the Evoker fired bullets, I'd be pointing it at my head right now.

"...I see. So someone scared both of you with a story about monsters that attack someone that's a virgin, and that's why you asked." He rubbed at his temple, trying to stave off the headache that was starting up, but to no avail.

"Well, as for why they'd twist the discussion like that, some people think that stuff is really funny, and giving people wrong information about it is just as funny. Don't ask me why, but they do. Anyway..."

That picture. Akihiko had half a mind to find the guy who'd posted it and punch him in the face right about then. After that, he'd make him handle the more difficult parts of this, with a punch for each time stuff wasn't quite right. That sounded really good right about then, and it was a shame he didn't know what the guy looked like. If he did, he'd be getting right on that.

As it was, he didn't have that luxury. "Well, the picture took some...very creative liberties," he began, shifting in his chair again. "It, uh, doesn't really work like that most of the time, because it would likely be really uncomfortable for the people involved." Not that I'd know...

Akihiko trailed off and took another deep breath. "Well, uh. Number one, it's best to wait until you're a lot older before you start thinking about having sex with anyone. That's because there are a lot of things to keep in mind - most importantly, uh, well. If it's with a woman, there's the risk of pregnancy to worry about. There are other things, too, but you weren't asking about that right now, so..."

He paused again, sighing and looking everywhere and anywhere but directly at Ken for a minute before keeping his eyes firmly planted down on the table. "Yeah. Anyway, uh, the way it works between a guy and a girl, who care about each other a lot, is that they go off somewhere private, and he, well."

You know how this works. Just close your eyes and say it, dammit.

Akihiko took another deep breath, closed his eyes, and very quickly said the last part: "The guy puts his penis inside the girl's vagina." Hopefully no one would notice the fact that he was now the color of the sweater-vest he usually wore.

Ken, honestly, was inclined to dismiss the first explanation. Granted, he could not speak for the anonymous tipster, but he was dead sure both Alita and himself found a vampire attacking virgins to be serious and valid. The bounty hunter wouldn't mislead him; if she wanted to, she had plenty of opportunity to do so from the beginning.

Regrettably, since that part was supposed to be under wraps, Ken would have to stay quiet.

He focused instead on the latter end, noting with growing concern that Akihiko was more or less beating around the bush. Like he was hiding something or worse, lying. The boy heavily doubted the presence of any lies--the senior was not the type to make stuff up--but he looked so uncomfortable. The guy appeared to be on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Uh, are you all right, Senpai?" He contorted his lips, worried. "It seems like you're bothered by the conversation. Did you have a bad experience with sex?"

Akihiko had been silently preparing for the 'so, have you done that with someone, Senpai?' question, and so the one he was met with instead caught him particularly off-guard. He had to quickly grab at the edge of the table to keep from falling out of his chair in surprise.

"I'm fine, Ken," he said, quickly regaining what he hoped was some semblance of composure. "And no, it's really nothing like that," he said. "It's just that it's a rather private topic, and some people are a lot more comfortable discussing it than others. But really, I'm fine."

He didn't think he really needed to say that he fell into the latter category.

"If you say so," Ken muttered, sounding entirely unconvinced. Adult claims tended toward dubious territory, particularly this one. Best to take the words with a grain of salt.

"To continue on," he said, clearer this time, "sex is generally the prelude to having babies, right?" Which brought about another dilemma. "But how can it also be an expression of romantic love?" Putting one's "appendage" in another's...thing (What did a vagina look like anyway?) was the last gesture he had in mind when it came to showing care. Wasn't it simpler to buy the girl flowers?

The senior very nearly smacked his forehead. Hadn't that been enough awkwardness? Besides, other folks are better at explaining that part than I am. That business in Yakushima...

"That's where it all starts getting really complicated," he said, rubbing at his temple again. That headache was starting up full-force now, and for all that the intercom normally grated on his nerves, he would have been glad had it gone off at that moment. "It...well, yes, it's both of those things, but it's difficult to explain. I think it will become a lot clearer to you once you're older." Or I can get someone else to explain that part. Whatever comes first.

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Day 38: Patients' Library

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