Voice Testing

[honeyibrokeharlem]

[The ragged man looks up at his username. He lets out one puff of air from his nose that someone who doesn't know him might mistake for a laugh, then bows his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a strained smile.]

You know, you're not very funny.

[He pulls his hand away after briefly adjusting his glasses, joining his hands at his abdomen and running his finger across his knuckles.]

I don't suppose you have any plans to share with me? Something you want me to do? Because I should warn you... [He shakes his head and lets out another huff of a not-laugh, looking more self-deprecating than anything.] I'm not really the kind of guy to 'pick up' if you don't have a plan.

Comments

[like_a_gerbil]

[Steve gives Bruce a wry, amused look while nodding to his own user name.]

They seem to think they're funny.

[He really doesn't mind the name since it reminds him of Doctor Erskine but he knows that it does help to let others tease him about it.]

It might be better if your mundane doesn't have plans for you.

[arach_nerd]

Especially if you don't have superstrength. The other guy is kind of heavy.

[weaponmadeperfect]

[ Sherry's going to just smirk. ] I don't know it's kinda cute, the username I mean.

And you'd have better luck letting the other guy beat plans out of a mun. Though... Doesn't seem to work too well with mine. [ She's still trying to get plans out of her mun after all... ]

[honeyibrokeharlem]

[He looks up at Steve's username, then nods.]

Yeah. I don't think they understand what 'funny' is.

[At least his doesn't refer to him as a rodent.

He starts running his thumb on his knuckles, slowly pacing the room with nervous energy. He avoids looking at Steve directly, instead glancing around the room, trying to find possible exits in case something goes south and the Abomination falls through the ceiling or something. (He has learned to plan for any bad luck possible.)]

Maybe you're right, but the only other option is being stuck in a cage inside of her head. In case you haven't noticed, I really don't like cages.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

[He will arch one eyebrow, but the edge of his lip quirks just a little. It's not a smile so much as an acknowledgement that he gets it.]

Yeah. Maybe she could manage it if she had a crane for a neck.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

Cute? That's a first. [The devastation of an entire neighborhood doesn't strike him as cute, but then again, he has absolutely no sense of humor when it comes to the big guy.

Speaking of, he gets a strained smile at the 'beat up the mun' crack, pulling off his glasses and starting to clean them so he can have something to fidget with.]

I, uh, don't really want to set the other guy on anyone unless there aren't any other options. [He puts his glasses back on.] I don't suppose you have any other ideas?

[like_a_gerbil]

I don't really mind it. I've been called worse.

[Steve watches Bruce, waiting until he's checked the room before speaking. Whatever reassurances he might give won't have a chance of being noticed until Bruce has done what was needed to reassure himself that there were no dangers nearby.]

This place is usually safe, Bruce. [Unless you have brainwashed friends hunting for you.] It's neutral ground. You know I'll help if something happens.

Not having plans doesn't mean being stuck in a cage. Just means you might be able to avoid those games mundanes throw us in.

[weaponmadeperfect]

[ She smirks ] Harlem was fixable therefore cute.

[ Mun would like to apologize for Sherry, but really she's an au Sherry Birkin so really can't. ] Nothing that wouldn't cause serious damage. But then again apparently I'm the violent version my mun has... First option for me is usually violent and destructive.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

Nowhere is safe. [He keeps pacing, keeps running his thumb along his knuckles, but his eyes aren't darting everywhere anymore. He glances at Steve, a minute amount of tension leaving his jaw.] But I know. Thanks. [And it means a lot, because no one besides Betty has had his back since the accident. Better yet, he has full confidence that Steve would try to help him if anything happened, because Steve doesn't have a dishonest bone in his body and that's what he's said he'll do.

Even so, Bruce is still nervous. He's always nervous if he's stuck in one place without obvious escapes.] It also means I'm trapped in someone's head, doing nothing and not being able to get out. How's that not a cage? [He concentrates on breathing. That generally helps the anxiety.] Most games wouldn't be much better, but at least I'd be able to move around.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

Some things can't be fixed. [Like death. Broken lives.

But he doesn't want to think about that.] Violence doesn't always have to be the answer. Diplomacy works sometimes.

[weaponmadeperfect]

Some things can't be avoided. [ She's seen people eating people so in her mind deaths, just mean less people to risk getting infected, and less potential zombies. ]

You have never tried reasoning with someone with a god complex have you? Violence is the quicker way to save lives.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

I said sometimes. You're right--some people can't be reasoned with. [Loki, for one.]

But it's still worth a shot if you have the choice.

[therightagent]

[Oh look, an ex-Soviet spy. That'll definitely make him feel more comfortable, right?]

I think a lot of them don't care about having plans to start with.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

[Oh. Fantastic. Yes, this will definitely make him calmer.

Excuse him while he makes sure there's a lot of space between them.]

Then they should really think things through better, shouldn't they? [He runs his thumb against his knuckles, keeping his back straight and his eyes right on Bucky.] I'm guessing you got wrapped up in this just the same way?

[therightagent]

[She shrugs up the shoulder that's still... flesh-and-blood.] Seems like. I was a whim with more staying power than expected.

[A pause.] Looks like you've got more options than me, at least.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

What makes you figure?

[He doesn't clarify which statement he's referring to. Instead, he just begins to pace slowly. He keeps his eyes on her, but he's gauging possible escape routes just in case she makes a move.

Unfortunately, while Bruce trusts Steve, he doesn't trust Bucky. Trust is hard-won with Bruce, and ex-Soviet spy and assassin is not a good platform to start out with.]

[therightagent]

[She can't blame him on that front; she wouldn't trust herself, either. Hadn't for quite a while, honestly. Still, the nervous energy he has going aren't doing her any favors, either.]

You're the gender you started out as, for one.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

That was up in the air for a while. She might still make another me.

[Pacing. Rubbing his knuckles. Honestly, the man is practically humming with nervous energy.]

But I guess I have that to be, ah, grateful for. [He lets out a not-laugh, the corners of his mouth getting strained in a self-deprecating way. Oh, small favors.] Never thought I'd be saying that.

[therightagent]

Sometimes you find yourself being grateful for things you never thought you'd miss.

[She sure has.]

[reasonability]

I don't know. You're very good at improvising.

[honeyibrokeharlem]

[Have a not-laugh Coulson, complete with a self-deprecating not-smile.] I don't like relying too much on improv. It usually ends up with me doing something dangerous. Like jumping out of flying things [Ah, the helicopter. He probably should have thought that one through a little more.

He's still running his thumb along his knuckles and eyeing Coulson cautiously--hey, after his dealings with SHIELD, he's a little wary of all agents--but he's not pacing around like a caged animal. He's moderately sure that Coulson's not going to randomly pull a tazer on him.] You look... better. [And less dead.]

[reasonability]

Thanks. Regular spa treatments. Does wonders for the skin.

[ He's not sure if he should even try to pretend. Keep up the lie. Does it matter, between worlds? Does it matter, if he's the director now? ]

If jumping out of flying things is the way to stop a fifteen-foot spiny madman from rampaging through Harlem, I'd like to encourage it.

sorry to butt in but

[therightagent]

[Bucky is just. Eyeing Steve.

.... gerbil what?]

[like_a_gerbil]

Some places are safer than others. This is one of the better places muns can throw us into. [Watching Bruce pace, it was difficult not to pick up that energy, but he knows that if he does, it'll ruin his attempts at keeping his friend calm.] You're welcome.

There's other places than the games. Most of the games aren't... [No matter how much he trusts Bruce's control, he really doesn't think that the subject of what goes on in those games is appropriate since most of the time his control slips when he thinks of them.] ...Healthy for most of us. The memes and the PSLs still let us get out but they're not as violent as games can get.

[like_a_gerbil]

[Steve tries to look serious but there's a hint of a smile tugging his lips upward.]

Whatever you want to say, Bucky, you can say it.