(no subject)

[spit_it_out]

Bruce has been thinking about leaving for some time now. He should have gone a long time ago, especially since he heard there were probably undercover agents here. One, anyway. But he has no proof she's SHIELD, and what would she do to him anyway?

He's not going to leave today. But he has come to sit in the bar for the first time in months, because any day he actually feels like talking to people should really be embraced. Maybe he'll see if there's anything he can do in the infirmary later; for now, he sits with a large chicken salad and some water. 

He may not be attracting attention, but he's not adverse to company.

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

"Bruce," X says, approaching from the right, not at all quietly.

She's got a sandwich and a glass of milk in her hands.

"You are okay?"

Since it does not look like he is working.

[spit_it_out]

He raises his head, and half-smiles at her.

'X. Hi. Yeah, I'm OK.'

For a given value of 'OK', but that probably goes without saying. He's certainly better than last time they spoke.

'How're you? You want to join me?'

[cutting_edgex23]

"If company is not problematic," she says. "It would be okay."

She sits then, if he makes no indication that he'd rather she didn't.

"I am okay. It was not quiet. At home. Recently. But it is better now."

[spit_it_out]

'No, it's fine.'

He smiles again - he is reassuring! - and sips his water.

'What happened at home?'

[cutting_edgex23]

"Demons."

Her delivery is flat but not angry.

"Your world does not have them?"

[runningred]

Jay is sitting at a nearby table arguing with a complex physics problem. He found some interesting tech in the garage but until he cracks a base understanding of the principles behind it, he can't adapt it and it's driving him nuts.

He growls softly and screws up the page he was scribbling on. Unusually for him, he misses his toss and it bounces off the corner of Bruce's table. "Oops! Sorry!"

[spit_it_out]

'No problem.'

He bends to pick the paper up. He sees there's a number or two written on it, maybe a symbol? But Bruce doesn't read other people's work without invitation, so he just frowns at it and then offers it back.

'You OK?'

[runningred]

"Trying to crack the maths behind some dimensional compression technology I came across in the garage. It has massive potential if I can just work out how it works." Jay scribbles absently. "I'm really not smart enough for this shit."

[spit_it_out]

'Oh.'

He wonders whether anyone is smart enough for dimensional shit.

He eats some chicken.

'You want some help?'

[runningred]

"If you're that way inclined, I wouldn't say no." Jay smiles, leaning back in his chair. "It's pocket dimension tech, I get that much. I just can't work out how it's anchored."

[ostro_goth]

When Teja comes into the bar for his breakfast, after some early work in the forge, he notices Bruce Banner, with whom he has never spoken, but whom he knows, from sight and reputation.

He is the one who turned into a large, angry monster that tore up the garden last summer.

But that's not what interests him now. He knows Bruce Banner, from sight and signature, also as the other doctor who took care of Javert when he first arrived, and for that reason, he would speak with the man today.

So he approaches.

"Greetings," he says, simply.

[spit_it_out]

He looks up from his lunch, and...OK yeah, he recognises this face. It was one of the ones watching when he turned back to himself.

So, his smile is a little dry, a little sad. But friendly enough.

'Hello.'

[ostro_goth]

"I know who you are, Bruce Banner," Teja says, simply.

He does not wish to sadden the man; at least not on account of any large, green rampages. This is Milliways; those things happen.

So, Teja suspects it would be best to get everything out of the way at once, as is his wont.

"You do not know me, but you might have heard of me. I am Teja, son of Tagila; I was the last king of the Ostrogoths in Italy and died in battle, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, in the year 552 of Christian reckoning. In this place, I run the forge and serve in Security; but it is a matter of neither that I would speak with you today, worry not."

Pause.

"You were the other doctor that helped Javert when he came in from the river, were you not?"

[spit_it_out]

'I think I've heard your name, yeah.'

He wipes his mouth on a napkin, and nods. Javert. He's thought of him on occasion, for possibly obvious reasons.

'I was. Why, what's he done?'

[ostro_goth]

"Many, many things," Teja says, darkly. "Many of them detrimental to his own well-being. The latest, however, was a return to the river whence he'd come."

[starrydome]

Elrond has a plate of bread and cheese and a glass of wine and is looking for a place to sit.

He nods at the Man, politely. They have but spoken once and he had not seemed overly keen on company then, but perhaps today is different.

If not, he will find another place to sit.

[spit_it_out]

Bruce looks up, entirely friendly. He's not adverse to company.

'Hi,' he says, with a smile, remembering that he was less than forthcoming...well, in practically every conversation he's had in this place so far. It hasn't been a great year.

'How're you?'

[starrydome]

"Well enough," Elrond replies. "And you?"
He seems in better spirits today. That is well.

"Better once I have eaten, I should think. "

[spit_it_out]

'Oh. Sorry. Don't let me stop you.'

Now he thinks maybe he's bothering the man at his dinner. And he's not the type to impose himself.

[starrydome]

Elrond smiles at him.

"I can eat and talk," he says. "And walk and eat. And ride and eat. Though I cannot recommend the latter."

He's got a very warm smile, like summer sun filtered through trees.

[cute_bruiser]

"Hey, dork."

Molly's been sat at the bar on her Security shift, but wanders over with a smile when she sees Bruce sit down.

"Assume I hugged you, usual drill."

She looks tired but bright, and has dressed to match: a bright pink t-shirt with Kermit and the slogan 'It's not easy being AWESOME', and faded jeans tucked into boots as pink as her shirt.

[spit_it_out]

'Hey, kiddo.'

He's preoccupied after his conversation with Teja, but still manages a smile.

'Assumed, and metaphorically reciprocated. How are you?'

[cute_bruiser]

She smiles at him, small but infectious.

"I'm alright. Everything okay?"

Beat.

"As compared to what you might call 'normal'."

Very loosely-speaking.

[spit_it_out]

He smiles a little - yeah, his version of OK is a little screwed - and shakes his head.

'I thought it was. Or getting there. And then I came down this evening, and seem to have potentially triggered a security alert.'

Yay.

[cute_bruiser]

She raises an eyebrow.

"A security alert? Honestly, I go for one jog outside..."