hydrogen ☢ video.

[hyperkinesia]

[ Bruce greets the network with a bland smile, brief, shoulders hunched just so, tension lingering in the muscles there. The stance seems almost second nature to him, though, as if that's just the way he usually carries himself. ]

So, this all looks like fun. Too bad I didn't have time to pack. [ His words are as dry as the desert, and his attempt at easing into the video function is stale at best. He presses on anyway; he started it, so he may as well finish. ]

My name's Bruce Banner. I'm still a little green around these parts, [ ha ha ] and I figured this was the best way to get in touch with most of you. The other ImPorts, that is.

Out of mere curiosity: how many of you are familiar with powers or abilities, back in your world? What about heroes, or anything at all even remotely like the system in place here? Did you have any powers at all before coming here?

As for the registration process: I understand there are a lot of perks for those who choose to register. My question is, how difficult is it really to find a job or a place to live while unsettled? If you have the skills, would you say the hiring process is the same as in your world, or more complicated? Financial aid isn't important to me, and I don't mind if I don't get paid a lot or don't have money for any place too fancy. I'll make do.

[ Questions, always so many questions. He smiles somewhat apologetically at the camera. ] Sorry. Inquiring minds, all that.

[ Clearing his throat, ] If the acronym SHIELD or the word Avengers mean anything to you, let me know. I'm— [ He pauses, almost says something else, then just shakes his head dismissively. ] ... done, I think. That's it. Thanks.

Comments

[textualhealing]

[This is the best day ever! Just gonna take a moment to let all the internal screaming pass him by before switching the video on, looking all cool and collected with a glass of whiskey in one hand.]

Powers weren't a thing back home for a lot of us, but it's the kind of thing you soon adapt to considering adapt is pretty much the only thing you can do here.

[hyperkinesia]

[ Good idea there. Bruce would probably be a little too weirded out if there were any actual screaming. Or creepy awed staring. ]

Some powers are easier to adapt to than others, at least. [ Not that he has a lot of adapting to do in that regard. Just... literally everything else. ] I take it you come from one of those places without them?

[textualhealing]

Yeah, nothing like this where I come from, not in reality anyway. I've been here a year now though, so I'm pretty much used to the existence of them. I figure you got your own things to get used to, like dimensional travel for one.

[hyperkinesia]

Oh, I have a feeling I won't run out of things to get used to anytime soon.

[ He says that almost as if it's exciting, if not for the fact that his tone is pretty much oozing sarcasm. ]

So what power did you get? I mean, if you don't mind talking about it.

[textualhealing]

[Oh Bruce, such sarcasm.]

Uh, mostly just... [Finger guns just slightly left of the camera and, with a cock of his thumb, a paintball flies out of his finger and speeds past with a soft ffft.]

Useful, right? [Have some of that sarcasm back.]

[hyperkinesia]

[ Bruce leans closer to get a good look at the demonstration, though his focused expression turns into something a little more puzzled, and admittedly amused. Eyebrow arching, the corners of his lips twitch, and his tone carries a trace of humor to it when he speaks up. ]

Wow. You must be the worst guy to have on an opposite team during paintball. [ You know, because he never runs out of ammo. ]

switches to private

[textualhealing]

I'll be sure to always invite you onto my team, don't worry.

[A slow smirk, and then he's reaching towards his communicator to fiddle with something, switching it over to private.] At the risk of prying... you got a pretty big power that I'm assuming crossed over to this world too, right? I mean, I've heard your name before from a few other heroes.

permaprivate

[hyperkinesia]

[ There's a moment of confusion as the guy on the other end of the line fumbles with his device, tension winding up his shoulders when the feed turns private, and realization slowly creeping in when he speaks again. Bruce's lips press into a thin line, his arms cross tightly in front of his chest, and he glances away from the camera.

It's a way to delay offering a response, or avoiding the topic altogether. But he can't really avoid it here, can he? People will know, sooner or later. And it shouldn't surprise him so much that some might already, even those not from his world. ]

It did, yes. [ He nods, clearing his throat quietly as he turns a vague gaze towards the camera. ] I mean, I haven't really tested it, but yes. I still have it. [ A vague 'it'— more like a 'him'. ]

[textualhealing]

[While Bruce's body language closes up, Jeff's practically opens, a flicker of relief shown as his lips quirk upwards and he leans closer to the camera.]

Great! ... I mean. For me. Kind of. I have a similar... issue, and I don't know anyone else with experience in it.

[hyperkinesia]

You what?

[ Bruce's eyebrows raise, somewhere between surprised and genuinely concerned. Of all the things that crossed his mind already about this place, and there have been a lot, the possibility of someone else suffering from a condition similar to his didn't so much as flicker through his thoughts. ]

Jesus. [ He puts a hand over his eyes, presses the pads of his fingers over his eyelids, then sighs as he looks back up. ] What is it like? How do you... transform, what does it look like? How is it triggered?

[textualhealing]

[Don't be sad for him, he deserves all of this. Probably.]

It's uh. Just me roided up, I guess? I mean, I'm pretty jealous of myself like that, which doesn't exactly help, considering it's triggered and fuelled by ego.

[hyperkinesia]

[ To be perfectly honest, Bruce isn't sad for him. He's worried— about this world, and the people in it. ]

Really? [ He raises an eyebrow skeptically. Well, that's... something. ] Is it still you, or... do you lose control completely?

[textualhealing]

[Its true. This world really doesn't need more hulks running around.]

Pretty much no control. It's like... I kind of know what I'm doing but I can't do anything about it. I recognise people, I just... don't know what I'll do around them. Y'know? That's why I need someone with experience.

[hyperkinesia]

[ Oh, great. And here Bruce was hoping it was something more controlled than in his case. No such luck, though. Aside from the trigger, it's starting to sound exactly like his own transformations, or at least the unwilling ones. It's definitely something that needs to be dealt with, before the guy goes on some rampage and destroys half a city. Or worse. ]

Sounds like you do, yes. [ The problem is he has no idea how to train something like ego. Training a heart to beat fast or go slow sounds a whole lot easier than teaching a man how to not think too much of himself. ] Alright, uh... How about we start by meeting in person? We can go from there.

[textualhealing]

Really? [There's a hint of relief in that question, as if he'd somehow expected to be shot down. Surely Bruce has his own problems to deal with.]

That'd be great. I'll bring the booze. You like whiskey?

[hyperkinesia]

[ Blank stare right here. A very 'are you serious' kind of stare. ]

I don't drink. And neither should you. There's your first lesson on self-control, by the way: don't drink. [ How are you liking it so far, Jeff. ]

[textualhealing]

[Mirroring that stare right back at ya, because seriously, you can't be serious, right?!]

Uh-huh. Sure. I'll get right on that. [No he won't.]

[hyperkinesia]

[ Look you're just making this harder than it has to be. Insert dirty joke here. ]

Is this how it's gonna go? Because I'm not sure I can help you at all if you won't listen to what I tell you to do. [ And really, it's probably not a good idea to frustrate Bruce too much. Just saying. ]

[textualhealing]

Look, I get it. I'm asking for help and I gotta listen to your advice. But alcohol? Is literally the only thing keeping me sane. I go sober and it's likely to make things a hundred times worse. You wouldn't like me when I'm sober...

[Hah. He's so funny with his Hulk quotes.]

[hyperkinesia]

[ Double take there, because how the hell does he even know that line? Alright, he probably doesn't want the answer to that. ]

You know one of the common effects of alcohol is lowering your inhibitions and making you think you can do more than you're feasibly capable of, right? I'm just saying, that doesn't bode well for a man with an ego issue.

[textualhealing]

[Totally just a coincidence. He knows nothing.]

Okay. Point. Would it make you feel any better if I mentioned my other power made me pretty much immune to the effects of alcohol?

[hyperkinesia]

You literally just made a remark about not being able to handle all of this sober. So which is it, after all?

[ Truth is very much preferred, for the record. Bruce usually can see through a lie eventually, and it's not like he'll leave Jeff to deal with his condition even if he keeps drinking. He'll just keep trying to get him to stop. ]

[textualhealing]

Uuh, both? [Truth be told it's more the comfort of having a drink in hand, a habit more than anything else, but he won't be admitting to those weaknesses any time soon. He's perfect, after all.]

Look, do you wanna meet or not? I swear I won't offer you booze.

[hyperkinesia]

[ Bruce gets that. Not the bit about thinking he's perfect so much as the not wanting to admit to or talk about one's weaknesses. Either way, he doesn't push, and instead shakes his head in a mix of frustration and resignation. ]

Yes, we should meet anyway. Not like I'd accept even if you offered, but thank you for the consideration. [ A pause as he gives his current situation some thought. ] I'm still getting settled in, so how about tomorrow? Whenever you have the time, it should be alright by me.

[textualhealing]

I can do that. Take your time settling in, I'm not exactly in a hurry.

[Jeff's already been here for a year, after all.]