While Brainiac 5 could perhaps, a little grudgingly, admit that he could be a bit overly sensitive to critique, he felt that he was perfectly justified in his reactions here. He'd been more than willing to share his findings with Venom before now, but the man persisted in acting as though Brainiac 5 was either some sort of employee of his - which he'd objected to from the beginning - or that the Coluan stood to lose more from not working with him. Neither of which were true in Brainiac 5's mind. He already knew a few others who were skilled in similar areas and far more pleasant to work with, so he was perfectly capable of politely declining other offers if he didn't think they'd work out well.
Possibly it was better to find out how well he and Venom could work together now, then, before he'd given away anything that could make him a target again. Easier to break away and make a note to either avoid communication or only consider it when there was little other choice. Like the conversation with Lelouch some time previously...
He carefully set that memory aside, not wanting it to influence his behaviour right now. Instead he focussed on what the older man had to say, doing his best to hold his tongue until he was done.
"You might think they're petty questions," he said once Venom was done. "But answering trivial things can help create something of a sense of trust." He remembered that lecture from Saturn Girl. And Cosmic Boy. And Superman. It was a little difficult to forget it after that many times, even if he didn't have a perfect memory.
"Regardless, I was perfectly willing to help you to begin with, and even made it clear under what conditions, so I can't imagine why you'd think you'd need to 'spur me' to anything. If anything it seems like you miscalculated badly."
no subject
While Brainiac 5 could perhaps, a little grudgingly, admit that he could be a bit overly sensitive to critique, he felt that he was perfectly justified in his reactions here. He'd been more than willing to share his findings with Venom before now, but the man persisted in acting as though Brainiac 5 was either some sort of employee of his - which he'd objected to from the beginning - or that the Coluan stood to lose more from not working with him. Neither of which were true in Brainiac 5's mind. He already knew a few others who were skilled in similar areas and far more pleasant to work with, so he was perfectly capable of politely declining other offers if he didn't think they'd work out well.
Possibly it was better to find out how well he and Venom could work together now, then, before he'd given away anything that could make him a target again. Easier to break away and make a note to either avoid communication or only consider it when there was little other choice. Like the conversation with Lelouch some time previously...
He carefully set that memory aside, not wanting it to influence his behaviour right now. Instead he focussed on what the older man had to say, doing his best to hold his tongue until he was done.
"You might think they're petty questions," he said once Venom was done. "But answering trivial things can help create something of a sense of trust." He remembered that lecture from Saturn Girl. And Cosmic Boy. And Superman. It was a little difficult to forget it after that many times, even if he didn't have a perfect memory.
"Regardless, I was perfectly willing to help you to begin with, and even made it clear under what conditions, so I can't imagine why you'd think you'd need to 'spur me' to anything. If anything it seems like you miscalculated badly."