001: Video

[hulkbusted]

[The man on the screen looks utterly exhausted. Haggard might even be apt considering the greyish pallor of his skin under his dark stubble and the even darker circles under his eyes. When the video jostles in his hold for a moment, it displays his bare chest before coming up to his face. He looks like he tried to wash off some combination of mud, sand, and various other things best not examined too closely and didn't do too great a job of it. Despite that, he tries for a tired smile and a finger taps the screen before withdrawing.]

First off, I'd like to say that Tony Stark makes the world's most durable phone. I'd do a testimonial commercial, but that might be in bad taste.

Second, I've read some of the information available and I think you'll understand it's not the easiest thing to swallow, but I'm going with it as a working theory for now. Don't ask why, it's a long story.

Third... [He trails off and turns his head away from the camera before looking back at it] I don't know what the third is, let's say I want to issue a blanket apology and leave it at that.

[ooc: The Hulk ended up getting stuck outside at sundown and fought (pounding and getting pounded on) all night. Between that and a chitauri invasion, I figure Bruce is feeling a little run down.]

Comments

[symmachy]

Randomly. At the whim of the Core, it would seem.

[hulkbusted]

Someone told me the Core's guarded, do you know who's doing the guarding?

Everyone asks these questions, right?

[symmachy]

I do not know. And yes, everyone does. There are scarce few answers, sadly.

[hulkbusted]

You know, what's funny about this is that six months ago, even a month ago, maybe even a week ago I would have thought this might be the answer to some of my problems.

Okay, yeah, it's not funny at all.

[symmachy]

And what problems would those be?

[hulkbusted]

[He says it lightly, like it's a joke, but it's not and he's not really that good at concealing that.]

The usual - problems with eh government, a chronic medical condition, social isolation. It's the song of my generation.

[symmachy]

[oh honey]

Sounds rough.

[hulkbusted]

I'm still alive, so I might as well do something useful with that.

Presupposing I get to a point where I have to go on as though I'm not living in someone's zoo, where do new people look for jobs? Or do we?

[symmachy]

Probably a good idea.

We do. And just go around town--just do it during the day. Nighttime isn't pretty, especially for people who can't defend themselves.

[hulkbusted]

It isn't pretty even then.

I've had to start over before. You can't go wrong with the basics - food, clothing, shelter.

[symmachy]

[she likes his style]

I could show you where to acquire those things, if you'd like.

[hulkbusted]

[After years of self-imposed isolation, it's almost dizzying to receive so many offers of help.]

I'm outside the city at the beach. If you can give me a reference point I can walk into the city and meet you.

[symmachy]

[oh, she knows that feeling well]

I can just run to you, if that would be easier. Don't want you to get lost already.

[hulkbusted]

Run?

[symmachy]

Yes, run. It'll take two minutes, tops.

[hulkbusted]

[Two minutes? Sure, why not?]

This I have to see. Do you want me to give you a camera feed of where I am or am I on the only beach around?

[symmachy]

A panoramic view would be nice.

[hulkbusted]

[Bruce turns the camera around and slowly turns in a full circle, wincing a little at the crater that used to have an ancient rock before someone tossed it into the ocean in the middle of a tantrum.]

There you go. I'll start my stopwatch.

[symmachy]

[She doesn't even care about the crater.]

On my way.

[And she starts running. In about one minute, fifty-three seconds, she's there. Scatty even slowed down a bit before actually getting there, but she's still moving inhumanly fast when she comes into view.]

[hulkbusted]

[That's it. He gives up. The weird-o-meter has busted its cap; the best thing to do is go with the flow.]

You must be Scathach.

[symmachy]

[That is probably for the best. The small redhead smiles, but doesn't show her teeth. She doesn't want to scare him off just yet. She offers her hand for a shake.]

I am. Hello, Bruce.

[hulkbusted]

[Bruce takes her hand, mindful of the fact that he's currently holding his pants up with his other hand, shirtless, barefoot, and in pretty much all respects, not at his best.]

Thanks for coming out.

[symmachy]

[It's okay, Scatty doesn't mind the shirtlessness or the almost pantslessness. She would give him her own belt, but it probably wouldn't fit, as she is roughly 5'3" and maybe a buck fifteen. Sorry bro. The hilts of her twin short swords are peeking out from behind her shoulders, and there's a pair of nunchaku tucked into her belt that she won't offer him.]

It was no trouble. [A quick up-and-down.] I believe clothing should be first on your list.

[hulkbusted]

Yeah, the weather's okay for this, but [he rubs a hand on his hairy stomach] in the interest of good taste and propriety, clothes are a priority.

If you don't mind my asking, are the ninja weapons customary in this city? I ran into a girl yesterday who had a good selection of her own.

[symmachy]

[She gives a short laugh, but it's almost melodic all the same.] Follow me, I will take you to a shop.

[The redhead runs her fingers gently over the wood of the nunchaku.] I don't know about others, but I always carry a weapon on me, just in case. I always have, and I always will. [Yes, even since she was born.]