002: Video

[hulkbusted]

[It's Saturday morning and Bruce's NV is propped against something to show him seated with a cup of something (tea, considering the string and tag hanging over the cup's lip) in the foreground. People move behind him, some holding cups of coffee before they take seats out of the camera's view. Looks like he's at an outdoor cafe. It also looks like he's found a charity that offers clothes to the poor and/or new arrivals because he's wearing a slightly dingy pale green button-down shirt with the cuffs rolled up over his forearms and a couple of buttons left open at the collar.]

Hiring in Siren's Port doesn't go the way it does most other places, does it? I couldn't give the panel at Siren's Port University my CV and published papers for examples of my work, but a few days of filling white boards with equations seems to have done the trick. It's much faster than hiring back home, too, but I guess there's a lot of turnover around here.

In addition, I'm offering my services as an after hours tutor while the days are long and until I go home, whenever that may be. If you need help with math or science up to the post-graduate level in most disciplines, contact me [he leans forward and swipes his fingers over the display, and a link appears at the bottom of the video screen] and we can make arrangements.

In the meantime, I'm at Cafe Bijan, and there are a few people who have been helpful to me since I arrived that I would happily buy a coffee. [He smiles, and the humor is meant mostly for himself and maybe one other person.] Unless you don't drink... coffee.

Comments

permavid.

[symmachy]

Congratulations.

Re: permavid.

[hulkbusted]

Thanks. I'd say that would never work back home, but there's an apocryphal story about Richard Price and the Price Equation... you probably have no idea what I'm talking about.

Let's stick with thanks.

[symmachy]

[oh gods, he's such a nerd
is what she's thinking
but she laughs anyway]

It's alright. And you're welcome. [and don't think she didn't notice that "don't drink coffee" mister] But honestly, who doesn't like coffee. [yes this is a jab at herself]

[hulkbusted]

[He wouldn't even argue with her on that if she actually said it. He smiles just a little more when she mentions coffee because it was kind of a shot in the dark that she'd get the reference.]

I'm learning not to make assumptions about people's dietary habits. [Under the table he's practically wringing his hands.] Can I buy you a coffee sometime?

[symmachy]

[Lucky for him, she can see in the dark.]

That's probably a good life-decision. [She smiles, without teeth.] Tea, if you don't mind.

[hulkbusted]

[He taps a finger on his cup and nods.] I can do that. I used to live on coffee, but I don't do caffeine these days.

[symmachy]

Excellent. Cafe Bijan, then?

[hulkbusted]

I'll be here. [And hurrying to get an umbrella to shade the table because he's not sure about the whole "vampires and daylight" thing, but he is fairly sure about the whole "redheads and sunburn" thing.]

[symmachy]

[He is correct. She's there a few minutes later, dressed in white shorts and a tank top, with some sunglasses pushed up on her head. She kind of appears from behind the building because trying to stay in the shadows is hard when you go through the street. The twin swords are conspicuously absent from her back, but you can bet your ass she has a weapon on her somewhere.]

Good morning, Bruce.

[hulkbusted]

[Pity he doesn't know her well enough to know she has to be armed or he could spend some interesting time considering hiding places.

He stands up when she addresses him and smiles while he and his inner dirty old man come to an agreement about staring - it isn't done overtly.] Good morning.

[symmachy]

[Oh believe me, there are plenty of places to hide a weapon on a body.

The redhead takes a seat across from him, secretly thankful for the umbrella. He was certainly a gentlemanly kind of guy.] Have you settled in alright?

[hulkbusted]

[His teacup is upside down on the table and he slides it closer to his side as she sits down before he takes a seat across from her.]

I have a roof, a roommate, and a job. It's almost miraculous.

[symmachy]

[She does notice said teacup, but doesn't think it's particularly strange to have it upside-down. Maybe he was just done with his tea.

In spite of herself, Scatty looks impressed.] All of that, in just five days. You're making your way in this world, Mister Banner.

[hulkbusted]

To give credit where credit's due, I only have the roof and roommate because of a Bruce Banner's reputation in another world. The job was all my doing.

[A server comes to take Scathach's order and makes a move to collect Bruce's cup, but he puts a hand over it to keep the guy from taking it.]

[symmachy]

[Why he wanted to keep the cup was beyond her for the moment, but she wouldn't ask yet. Instead, she ordered peach tea.]

It's always useful to have... notable counterparts.

[hulkbusted]

[Bruce asks for a glass of water and waits for the server to go.]

I'm not that man and I don't want anyone to mistake me for him.

[symmachy]

[She inclines her head slightly.]

Understandable. [Scathach knew what that was like.]

[hulkbusted]

[A shrug]

I got the job on my own merits, without that other Banner's reputation. I'll put a roof over my head with a little time to get rent together. The kid I'm staying with is a good kid, but it's kind of a small place for the two of us. [And the Hulk and Kevin's power.]

[symmachy]

[She raises an eyebrow.]

You're living with a kid?

[hulkbusted]

He's maybe 16, 17? That's a kid to me at least.

[symmachy]

[A small smirk.]

That's how old most of my students were.

[hulkbusted]

I assume you aren't talking about your once and future dojo?

[symmachy]

Why wouldn't I be?

[hulkbusted]

Because you used the past tense.

[symmachy]

[She dips her head a bit.]

Ah. I didn't even notice. [A small smile.] Funny what dimensional travel does to the head, sometimes.