homeless forever.

[payitgladly]

I don't think you have thought this through very well. It's not good to do things in a rush. I mean, you didn't even make this username for me.

[ Sheepish laughter. ]

Look, I'm not an easy guy to play because [ vague handwave ] you know. There's so much research for you to do that you haven't even started. So it's really better to give up before you start and let me go home.

[ Pause, and he doesn't say: I actually want to see Stark tower. ]

Comments

/scoots on in

[drippingred]

Not encouraging research?

Doesn't sound like you, Banner.

[allfatherissues]

Not even as much as a new 'journal' for you, but left with only the scraps? That is truly a shame.

[Don't mind Loki. He's always like this.]

[cellulared]

I wouldn't fret too hard about the muns.

Re: /scoots on in

[payitgladly]

[ He shrugs. ]

It's not to everyone's tastes.

[payitgladly]

[ FREEZE. Stare. Deer in headlight stare- ]

Er. [ Pause. How does he speak to Betty Ross again. It's been years. Of deliberate running away. Now she's here and his head is just keyboard smash, okay. ]

I- er. I guess I'll have to take your word on that.

[cellulared]

[ YEARS. She thinks she deserves five seconds of face time now.

Her patience is eternal apparently. ]

I would never lie to you.

It's good to see you, Bruce.

[payitgladly]

[ No, it's okay. He knows Loki. ]

Not really. [ Pause. Shrug. ]

It's a respectable name, though.

[ That is an implicit insult. ]

[totallyupsized]

[ Curious, but uh, don't get angry at girls, Bruce. Have a reconciliatory captain: ]

Give it a chance, she probably thought you suited this name more than the other person did. [ DIVERTING POTENTIAL ANGRY TRAIN OFF ITS RAILS. ] Is she bringing you somewhere?

[payitgladly]

I'm not saying that you're lying! [ That's a very undignified yelp. Thank god he doesn't have equipment around him or some alarms would've been ringing. ] It's just- I don't have any experiences with muns so I wouldn't know.

[ Pause. Pauuuuuuuuuuuse. Then, very awkwardly: ]

It's... good to see you too, Betty.

[cellulared]

[ Still so nervous? ]

I didn't think you were, just making sure you understood.

[ A smile. ]

You look better.

[allfatherissues]

[SOBBING That elicits a noticeable frown from him; he's been burdened with his own terrible brand of 'username' for a long time now and has nearly resigned himself to his fate of his mundane NEVER CHANGING IT – but he doesn't enjoy having it pointed out, thank you very much.]

Then consider yourself fortunate that you've not a mundane that considers herself clever.

[That is an implicit explanation. However unamused.]

[payitgladly]

No, she was just lazy. [ Wryly. He knows this for a fact, and he shrugs. It's not really angry-train.

Another shrug, then, softer: ]

I hope not.

[payitgladly]

[ He hasn't seen you in years and that's kind of because he kind of abandoned you to the wolves and er. Why do you want to talk to him?! ]

Thanks. [ He lifts his eyes a little to look at hers. ] Feel better

[drippingred]

People need to do research for everything in their lives, no matter what it is.

I can't see how boning up on you would be a horrible waste of their time.

[cellulared]

[ It's not like she wasn't on the wolves' radar for the research they'd conducted together anyway. ]

No more turning up at my doorstep in the middle of the night in need of haircuts. [ Metaphorical doorstep but you get the gist. ]

[payitgladly]

[ Eyebrow arch. Why are you explaining. Awkward cupcake does not understand, but he accepts it anyway. ]

I'll... take your word on that.

[payitgladly]

[ Small, kind of shy smile. ]

You give good haircuts, though.

[like_a_gerbil]

Some of the best things we get aren't easy, Mr. Banner. The fact that your mundane's willing to try says a lot about the situation. About both of you, actually.

[Pausing, he lets out a sheepish laugh of his own.] Um...Of the two of us, I think I've probably got the worse user name.

[cellulared]

You didn't do so bad yourself. Maybe missed one small spot... [ Teasing! ]

[allfatherissues]

[Because pride is always something of an issue – but he'll not press the point.]

In any case, you seem to underestimate the... tenacity of these mortal puppeteers. [mundanes, he means.]

[payitgladly]

[ He might just be blushing. Also, he will not chew on his fingernails in front of her. He doesn't even have the habit of that, ffs. Don't, self. ]

Well. That means I should use another mirror, right?

[payitgladly]

Aha. I hope so, really. [ Well, one good thing has come out of it. He gets to meet Betty again. That's always a 8D thing.

Then he blinks. ]

... I don't understand your username. [ Peers. ]

[interrogation]

It wasn't made for you, but it works.

( the price of bruce's experiments. they've all got something they need to pay for. natasha knows this more than most. )

[cellulared]

If you're going to keep doing it yourself, yes. Or you'll miss pieces in the back.

[ She just loves to see him being so silly. She's missed this. Missed him. ]

What are you going to do now?

[payitgladly]

[ He gives Loki a little stare. ]

I don't trust you when it comes to measuring tenacity.