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

[astralling]

-What?

[She blinks and looks around in alarm. When she sees the creamer, she doesn't react the way he might expect, she just heaves a sigh and picks it up. It stops freaking out.]

This isn't supposed to happen.

[hulkbusted]

You... you don't act surprised. I'm going to have to guess this happens around you sometimes?

[astralling]

[Unhappily:] Only when my powers aren't under control.

[hulkbusted]

[Of course. Why didn't he think of that already?

And not being under control is unusual?

[astralling]

Like this- yeah. It only happened since I came here.

[She puts the creamer down and takes a calming sip of iced coffee.]

My powers are linked to my emotions. Specifically, it's anger and frustration.

[Wait, why the hell is she telling some virtual stranger all about this? She likes him, but- no, she's being stupid. Everyone has powers here, right?]

[hulkbusted]

Yeah. [He puts the NV back where he'd had it propped before and combs both hands through his hair.] Yeah, I know how that goes.

How bad does it get?

[astralling]

Not that bad, thankfully. When I was first learning my power it was still pretty weak. Usually [giving the creamer a dirty look] I can control it. This is basic 101-level stuff.

[She curiously dips her pinky into the ruined creamer and tastes it- only to pull a face and push it away. Blech.]

[hulkbusted]

So, you're what? A mutant whose power is boiling milk products? Or does it extend to other liquids?

[astralling]

Mutant- ha. Uh... No. Not quite.

[a w k w a r d. She's not good at saying these words, and half the guys she's told here reacted like she admitted to having the clap.]

I'm a witch.

[hulkbusted]

[He's been chatting up a vampire, lives with a guy who kills with a touch, and turns into a giant green rage monster. He still looks nonplussed, but gathers himself after blinking rapidly a few times.]

A... a witch. Is that common where you're from?

[astralling]

[She lets out a visible breath of relief. It's not even that this one guy (this really nice, intelligent guy who's a fellow Newcomer and potential future innocent-) matters all that much, but Prue is kind of sick of having to lie. Every time she admits it is a little relief, and a little insanity-inducing.]

Not that common, but... yeah. Magic and witchcraft are real where I come from. They're just kept secret.

Why, don't you know? You said you know about powers.

[hulkbusted]

I haven't met any witches before you. [He considers a few people he's known over the years and shrugs.] That I know of.

I don't know about witchy things, but I know about anger. Have you tried meditation? Maybe biofeedback?

[astralling]

[...Open mindedness oh god, she might actually pass out from joy.]

Ah- [except for right now, because what are you implying sir.] -No. I don't need meditation. Normally, I'm fine. I've learned to use my powers without having to actually get mad.

This is different. It's being here. It's screwing with everything.

[Being here is screwing with her emotions so bad that she can't control her magic.

She falls silent. It's clear, from Prue's tense body language, that she's not good at talking about this at all. sipping on her iced coffee, which from a certain angle is showing evidence that the cream in it may have suffered the same fate as the creamer cup.]

Look at me, I'm being so rude just talking about myself.

[hulkbusted]

[To Bruce it sounds like a case of the lady doth protest too much, but he knows anger too well to think that unwanted advice will do a damn bit of good.]

I'd rather talk about you anyway, but what do you want to know?

[astralling]

[Bruce is actually absolutely right about her. But excuse Prue while she shakes the moment off as best she can and looks smirky.]

Oh, the usual- age, rank, social security number, life story.

Or what you think about Bijan. The coffee here isn't that good.

[Something about the curdled creamer.]

[hulkbusted]

{The meditation offer will remain open.]

Forty-two. Doctor. Three. Overachieving science geek has cliche lab accident, finds redemption, and ends up in an alternate universe.

And I haven't tried the coffee, but the tea comes in bags, so that might tell you something.

1/2

[astralling]

[She cringes slightly. Bagged tea, come on.]

I barely drink tea and I know that's not right.

[astralling]

[But! Back to the interesting bit.]

What kind of cliche accident? There are so many different cliches out there, it's hard to choose.

[hulkbusted]

[Bruce looks manifestly uncomfortable.]

Let's just say I have anger issues of my own.

private

[astralling]

[She recognizes that discomfort, sir, but don't think that'll stop her from being nosy.]

Are mutants common in your world?

private

[hulkbusted]

[And if the Hulk's name weren't connected to his in several places on the network, he still wouldn't answer.]

No. When it comes to superpowered mutants, the only ones I know of are Captain America, the Abomination... and me.

private; wow i already love their cr a lot :|

[astralling]

[Her expression softens.]

Do you have to hide it? What you are?

=) Yay!

[hulkbusted]

[Bruce laughs and it manages to sound self-deprecatory]

It's hard to hide an eight foot tall green engine of destruction, but I try to keep
it under wraps. There are too many people who want to use that kind of power for all the wrong reasons. I wanted to help people, not kill them.

your bruce is delightful <3

[astralling]

[Her eyes widen slightly. Eight foot tall what? God, no wonder he didn't want to talk about it.]

I know how you feel.

Can you control it?

aww, thanks <3 I wish I knew Charmed

[hulkbusted]

[See, how she felt about saying she was a witch? Yeah, he knows exactly how she feels about coming out and saying it.]

Except I don't boil milk, I-- that part of me, the other guy tears down neighborhoods.

I can control it most of the time, but extreme situations can knock me off the rails.

[ooc: Gotta crash. I don' wanna work in the morning, but I do want to get paid. The eternal dilemma. I'll grab your ping in the morning!]