9953/A Talk on the Cruiser

A Talk on the Cruiser
Date of Scene:	07 November 2019
Location:	Bridge - Legion Cruiser
Synopsis:	Brainiac and Lar have a serious discussion regarding recent events.
Cast of Characters:	Brainiac 5, Mon-El

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Brainiac 5 has posed:
Whatever Lar was doing, when he gets to the ready room, Brainy is already sitting at the table.

"Hello, Lar." he says, lacing his fingers together. "I think it's about time we talked. I've already fed Livingston."

Mon-El has posed:
    Right, Brainiac wanted to have a 'talk.' Lar can't say he's looking forward to it, given how most 'talks' with Brainiac go. And he already has an idea on what the Coluan is going to say. Still, the team has to be there for each other, and trust is vital. So he shows up to the Ready Room as requested.

    He sighs as he arrives, sitting down in a random chair. "Okay, okay." Might as well get it over with. "What's on your mind, Querl?" he asks, watching the other expectantly.

Brainiac 5 has posed:
    "This isn't about me." Brainy says, "Rather, it's about you." He says, before he looks up, and meets Lar's gaze.

    "Considering that it's really just you, Lyle and I--" His forehead furrows, "An emergency election for Leader's going to be an awkward affair. Yet I find myself facing down the last recourse, which is to say, calling for a vote of no confidence."

    He puts his palms on the table, and pushes himself up. "Which is why I'm here talking to you. I'm not being furtive, or deceptive, I'm putting it right out there in the open. This issue with your mother and your brother has been interfering with your ability to lead. And you *know* it, and you're not handling it well. True?"

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar sighs. "You're right. I haven't." He stares at the floor for a moment. "But..." A long exhale, and he finally looks back up at Brainiac. "I think I've made up my mind about what to do with Del, finally."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
    Brainy sits back down. "I'm not here to threaten you or rake you over the coals. I'm your teammate, and I'm your friend, and I understand what you're going through. Acutely. I'm here to *help* you." Brainy says, before he folds his hands together and puts his chin on them. "Go on."

Mon-El has posed:
    "I know, and I know." Lar replies, nodding. Even if Brainiac can be... a bit abrasive at times, he knows his teammate ultimately still has what's best in mind for the team.

    He runs a hand through his hair, unsure if Brainy is going to like his decision or not. "I--talked to him. It went about as expected--we didn't have the greatest relationship growing up, but...I just--I don't know, Querl. I just had a feeling, that there's a chance."

    "I want to give him the serum, and let him go. If he goes back to Mother...well, we'll deal with that when and if it comes. But I just hope that...showing him that kind of unwarranted kindness--kindess that he never got back home, will make him think twice about going back to her."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
    "Of course you do." Brainy says, "It was the only logical course of action. We're not jailers. I wish I could say I shared your optimism about what he's going to do, but I agree with your decision. As Legionnaires, we have no other recourse but to let him go." Brainy narrows his eyes. "That said, we need to think about what we're going to do in the probable event that this takes one of the last limiters off of the Daxamite army."

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar nods. "You're right. If we are going to do that, we should come up with a plan to counter the worst-case scenario. And I can think of no better person to spearhead that effort than you." he smirks a little bit. "Back on Theseus, I wasn't sure what you were going to do but I knew it would be effective."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
    "There were some unexpected side-effects that bothered me, but you can't let your mask of confidence slip." Brainy admits, before his blond eyebrows raise, and he says, "I could have just used Dox particles to bottle their largest population centers, then put them back after the worst of the planetary disaster had been dealt with, but I didn't have time." He means Pym particles, right? ...Wait. Probably not.

Mon-El has posed:
    Why would Brainiac mean Pym particles? He probably thinks Pym's intellect is mediocre at best. AT BEST. Lar sighs. "I know, I tried not to. But--ever since I lost my memories...even though I got them back I just haven't been the same."

    He shrugs at the what-if scenario. "No use dwelling on the past. What's been done has been done."

Brainiac 5 has posed:
    Brainy fixes Lar with a look. "It's not your fault." He says. "You'd be the son she always wanted in a heartbeat, but *she isn't the mother you deserve*. It took me years to come to terms with that, Lar. *Years*. You are better than she deserves, and it's a miracle you are who you are at all." He stands up, and holds out his arms, with a faintly pained sigh.

    As that hangs in the air, awkwardly, he says, "As I understand it it this is where Legionnaires who aren't me would hug."

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar sighs deeply. "I spent most of my childhood and teen years feeling unsettled and disturbed about the way things were done at home, but being too afraid to do or say anything about it for fear of losing my relationship with my family. As a matter of fact I probably would've -kept- doing that, just like Del did, if Krypton's destruction hadn't forced us apart."

    Then Brainiac is standing there with his arms held out. He chuckles, and accepts the hug. "Thanks."