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

[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.

[hulkbusted]

I've been noticing that.

[He waits while the server brings Scatty's tea and his water.]

Maybe 16 and 17 wasn't a kid once, but these days they should be worrying about getting a driver's license and whether their favorite band is breaking up. Not... [he shakes his head] Not what's on his plate.

[symmachy]

[A nod. Life definitely didn't get easier as time went on, but there was no reason for a child to have to be subjected to this.]

Who is he?

[hulkbusted]

[Not much point in being coy, but he dropped his voice a little, mindful of what Kevin had said about SERO.] His name is Kevin Ford.

[symmachy]

[Scatty takes the time to lean forward. Not that she needs to be closer to hear him, but because it makes her feel very conspirator-like.]

Is there a reason we're whispering about this?

[hulkbusted]

Because he's... [something scratches under the teacup] ...in SERO's bad graces.

[symmachy]

[If possible, Scatty leans further across the table.]

Ah. And why is your teacup moving?

[hulkbusted]

[Bruce drops his hand on top of the cup.]

It's my teaspoon.

[symmachy]

[Bruce, honey. No.]

There are like, a hundred better excuses than that.

[hulkbusted]

It's true. It's my teaspoon. It just happens to currently be a scorpion.

Loki dropped by before you did.

[symmachy]

[Oh.
Well.
Her nose wrinkles, and she leans back in her chair.]

Still a brat, no matter the universe.

[hulkbusted]

And lucky me, he wants to get the Other Guy to make an appearance.

Scorpions don't do it.

[symmachy]

[Her eyes narrow a bit.]

He would.

[hulkbusted]

It seems to be a pattern. The one where I'm from succeeded.

[symmachy]

Just ignore him. Eventually he'll get bored and move on.

[She takes a sip of her tea, which arrived a few seconds ago.]

[hulkbusted]

That's the advice they give about bullies. See how well that works.

[symmachy]

[She snorts a little.]

Would you rather I tell you to punch him in the face until he leaves you alone?

[hulkbusted]

I hear that I did better than that in my world. I wish I had a clear memory of it.

[symmachy]

[An impish grin. She runs a finger around the rim of her teacup.]

I'd like to hear that story.

[hulkbusted]

To summarize, Loki opened a portal to the other side of the universe to allow an invasion. My friends and I disagreed with him on that. Hulk doesn't have much patience for monologuing and sometime during that disagreement they were in the same room and Loki monologued. It apparently ended with the Hulk beating him out like a wet shirt on a rock.

[symmachy]

[The redhead tilts her head back so she can laugh, a melodic sounds.]

Really. I'll do my best to not get on his bad side, if that's possible.

[hulkbusted]

[Bruce smiles ruefully because it is funny and would be funnier if it weren't the Hulk.]

He's protected people I... I like. Just don't screw either of us over and you're probably okay... if there's any of me in him at all at the time.

[symmachy]

[This is the point when Scatty gives him a brilliant smile.]

I don't plan on screwing anyone over, so that'll be easy enough.

[Screwing them over.]

[hulkbusted]

[Down boy. It's been more than five years, closer to six since that was on the menu for Bruce.]

You're the one who was asking him out on a mayhem date. I think you can probably take care of yourself around the big guy anyway.