thisavrou_log | ( open ) it takes some silence to make sound

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( open ) it takes some silence to make sound

Who: Bruce Banner & YOU!
When: from the end of September to the start of October
Where: all around the Moira
What: Bruce copes (poorly) with the aftermath of the party planet, his girlfriend leaving the ship, and getting a new empathic ability.
Warnings: possible mind/emotion-reading, will update as need be. Please read Bruce's info & permissions post to learn more about his empathic ability, and also feel free to fill out the form there and leave a comment!

[ It's been too much. Both small and large things have been piling on over the past few weeks, a slowly filling glass that's now reaching the brim.

And Bruce is... tired. After leaving the last planet, everything's come crashing down on him, and it feels like the change in his control over his abilities has barely meant anything at all, what with everything else he's suddenly found himself dealing with. Just one burden replaced with a myriad of others, although at least these burdens don't come with the unfortunate consequence of possibly destroying half the ship if he was suddenly incapable of handling them.

It's a small comfort, barely worth anything. Between having lost Trish while knowing he had cheated on her during that party, a party that had played with his mind and altered his sense of time and self, and this new ability he's now more aware of than ever before, he has no idea what to do now, or where to go from here. Even small issues seem too great for him to know how to approach them, so naturally the most logical decision is also his usual one: avoid it all.

This is why anyone who's used to seeing Bruce around the ship might've noticed him oddly absent for the past few weeks. He's even been avoiding his own bedroom —too many memories there, after all—, and some people might've found the science department strangely locked up at hours where it would normally be open to everyone. Now, finally, he ventures outside a little more often, still keeping mostly to himself as he makes his way through the ship only for his basic necessities, and while the department's open again, Bruce takes a remarkably small corner of the area, and he may have even gone by unnoticed if not for the lit up holographic table by his side. ]

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[ It's ridiculous to keep ignoring it.

Back at that endless party it wasn't a problem, but that was only because nothing seemed to be. Now, though? Now he can hear every feeling blasting in his head, louder the closer he is to someone, his heart thrumming rapidly when someone's nervous or angry, or his mind taken over by sadness or grief that he now shares with others.

Jean had offered to help, when it all started. Long before Bruce even knew exactly what was happening to him. He was reticent then, because whatever can mess with his mind isn't something he's a particular fan of. Then again, this whole thing is messing with his head right now, so...

He's still very much unsure of what she might be able to do for him. But if nothing else, she can hopefully understand. And he does desperately need someone to talk to about it, so. ]

Jean, this is Bruce. If that offer of yours is still on the table, I could use the help. Come by the department sometime. Ring the door if it's locked.

[ It most likely will be, since he's taken to holing himself up and keeping people out since they made it back to the ship. ]

Edited 2016-10-11 21:30 (UTC)

[ Jean had backed off when Bruce had declined her offer, still wanting to help but wanting to respect his wishes even more. When she gets the message, she's more than a little surprised (and mildly confused before remembering -- it had all seemed like ages ago after leaving that place).

But she can't find it in her to refuse if Bruce is seeking out her help now. ]

I'll be there in a few.

[ And just a few minutes later, there's the ringing at the door. ]

[ He knows it's been a while. Longer than possibly either of them remember, if Jean was at that party too. So he wouldn't blame her if she'd forgotten all about it, though he doesn't really know at this point if he'd remind her of it were she to not remember.

His feelings are conflicting at best, but then again when aren't they? When she seems to remember, though, relief comes along with uncertainty and nervousness, but he closes the message and waits for her to drop by.

Surprisingly, the door rings soon after her message. He didn't expect her to come by so soon, but still, he stands up and makes his way over to the door, unlocking it manually and stepping aside to let her in. ]

Jean. Hi. [ He tries for a smile, but it's weak. ] How are you doing?

[For as long as she can remember, Fatima's always had to fight for her place at the "big kids" table. She'd had to prove her mettle, had to make it clear that she can handle anything life throws her way. And to do this, she's perfected the art of a jaded, blase exterior, telegraphing the fact that nothing can get to her, no matter how gruesome or horrific.

And now...

Now, for better or for worse, she feels like she's finally gotten her wish. She's hardened. Zelien started the whole process and being on the Moira, particularly being involved with the party...that's sealed the deal. And she feels a little bit like a ghost of herself, wandering the halls and going through the motions.

The only thing that really snaps her out of her daze at all is when a few odd spots appear on some of her tea leaves in the hydroponics bay. They're not a bacteria. She can't quite understand what's causing them. Some kind of virus?

Better safe than sorry.

And that's what brings her to the science department in the wee small hours of the morning, a crate of samples tucked up against her hip, under her arm.]

Hello?

[ It's not like Bruce has been sleeping much of anything lately, and when he does it's at odd hours rather than during the night cycle as most everyone else on the ship does. He also doesn't have much of a bed in his office, and the couch has been his chosen spot when he feels too exhausted to keep drowning his problems in work.

So, he's a little out of it when she steps inside, but definitely awake. The voice startles him a bit, only because he's gotten a little too used to being alone all over again. He scrambles to raise whatever mental shields he can even before he looks up, especially when he realizes he doesn't even know this person at all. ]

I'm here. [ His eyes flicker up to her but they don't linger, and as soon as he's done waving at her, he drops his hand again, looking down to his work and closing some of the windows on the holotable. ] Can I help you with anything?

[She might have seen him around, once or twice at a party or something. But the same could be said for everyone else on board. Certainly, she doesn't have a name to go with the face. But he's definitely a type. A science-y type. And she inexplicably likes them.]

Sorry, didn't mean to bother you.

[Fatima smiles politely.

Her accent is American, very, very West coast. Just brushing with the notion of a Valley Girl]

I was hoping you could run some analysis on a possible virus problem I'm having in hydroponics.

[That's what scientists do, right? Run analyses?]

[ Living within such an enclosed space, it's difficult not to cross paths with everyone at some point. Especially for someone like Bruce, who's been on the ship for over a year now. He may not know her name, but the face isn't entirely unfamiliar. It's just not one he can easily associate with anything on the ship. ]

No, it's fine. I'm not that busy.

[ Just trying to keep himself busy and distracted, mostly. And her problem sounds to him like yet another good way to do just that, so he turns his attention to her. ]

And you brought some samples along, I take it?

Of course.

[He's not messing with a rank amateur. If there's one thing Fatima goes out of her way to prove, it's that she doesn't belong at the kiddie table of life. Always a bit of a challenge, given the way she looks and acts. But there's a certain thrill in proving herself, each and every time. She pats the crate under her arm.]

I have a couple healthy samples and a couple of the infected ones.

At least, I think they're infected. I've tested for every possible type of bacteria and nothing.

[ Didn't hurt to ask. Some people might've thought it safer not to move any samples across the ship, or even not know the safest way to isolate the samples to bring them over. Still, it's a good thing that she did, so Bruce doesn't have to make that trip himself. ]

Great. Let's take a look.

[ He makes his way to a clean counter, fishing out a pair of gloves from a drawer nearby, putting on his glasses before he tugs on the gloves. ]

This... infection, or whatever it is, has it been spreading? If so, can you tell me an approximate rate of contamination? Does it affect only one species of plant or several of them?

[She sets the crate down on the table. And it's all she can do not to hover. This must be what it feels like to take your kid to the doctor or something. She's almost ready to start wringing her hands.]

Hydroponics keeps plants fairly isolated. All the tea leaves...

...that what I call them. I don't know their real genus, since they're not terrestrial. But all of the tea leaves are contained to a single bank.

This is the only plant type showing these spots.

[There aren’t many things that Eggsy’s done in his life that he actually regrets, a few times here and there where he’d fucked something up. But this. What happened between him and Bruce on the roof, well, Eggsy doesn’t regret that either. He should, fuck, he really should. Bruce had a girlfriend during that time, Eggsy’d just lost someone he was close to, and they were best friends. The best friend Eggsy’s ever had.

Now he doesn’t know where they stand that’s the problem.

Bruce has been avoiding him. He isn’t in his room when Eggsy comes round, the science department is always all locked up, and he can’t seem to bump into him on the ship. He could text him, that’s a little harder than it has any right to be, but enough is enough. He misses the fuck out of Bruce. They used to spend a lot of time together, and Eggsy frequented the science department if only just to sit there and talk about nothing while Bruce worked.

He didn’t know what was going to happen, but he was going to talk to him.]

Bruce.

[A little breathless to actually see the man inside the science department, Eggsy stumbles to a halt in the door.]

We need to talk, yeah?

[ To be fair, Bruce has been avoiding everyone. But it would be a lie to say he hasn't tried particularly hard to stay away from Eggsy since the party. While at the time it had felt so right, now he's feeling all the ways in which it was wrong twice over.

He'd had Trish then. And he loved her. He still does, even if she's gone. And that definitely doesn't take anything from the fact that he cheated on her, plain and simple. Drugged or not, he did something inexcusable, and it doesn't really matter that she never really found out about it before she disappeared.

Guilt lies within himself, instead, made all the stronger by the fact that he couldn't tell her, couldn't ask for forgiveness, or ask for a little time to sort himself out. He also feels horrible for how this has affected Eggsy, for how it changed things between them, and in a way, he can't help but feel that he kind of took advantage of him.

It was twisted, awful. Bruce wishes he could just undo it all. Yet, at the same time... Well. He just tries not to think too much about it. Even if it doesn't always work out.

Eggsy's voice is a little too familiar when it rings across the empty department. Bruce's back is to the door, and his shoulders tense when he hears him, head turning but not nearly enough for his face to show from Eggsy's point of view. ]

Thought you wouldn't want to talk to me again.

[It stings a little that Bruce won't look at him. They'd never used to be that way with each other before. And in true Eggsy Unwin fashion, when he's hurt, he covers it up with anger, and his tone gets harsh and loud.]

Been lookin' for all over, yeah? Finally find you and can't even get you to turn around.

[Eggsy comes inside, smacking the button to close the door behind him. As upset as he is, he'd rather not anyone else hear this. He folds his arms over his chest, but keeps his distance from Bruce.]

Ain't like we had a choice what happened back then. Know you can do a hell of a lot better than me, yeah? But we're supposed to be friends, bruv. Could at least look at me when you tell me it was all a fuckin' mistake and that you don't want me 'round no more.

[His own insecurities twist up inside him, deep and ingrained into how he feels about their night together. Eggsy hadn't regretted what happened between them when they were teenagers - shit happens and he'd had a good time. He hadn't even regretted what happened on the roof until he'd started to suspect that Bruce did. When he couldn't find him anywhere, Eggsy figured Bruce realized how messed up it all was, and now he doesn't want him around anymore. Not to mention that Bruce'd had a nice girlfriend then and neither of them had even thought of her once while they did what they did. It doesn't matter that there was some kind of magic or some shit in the air that helped them along and made it easier, they still did it, and clearly Bruce was regretting ever touching him.]

Cause if that's what you want, then I'll go and stay gone.

[His voice catches a little and he fiddles with the broken compass in his pocket to distract himself.]

Least man up and tell me that we ain't gonna see each other no more.

[ Anger, hurt, aggression— all things Bruce was in one way or another expecting, but is still not entirely prepared to deal with. The fact that Eggsy confronts him about it all so openly only makes him want to hole in on himself even more, wallow in his own guilt and self-hate. But the fact is he can't. He can't because they're stuck on the same ship together and he can't keep avoiding Eggsy, but more importantly: he doesn't want to.

Even if what happened had been a mistake, Eggsy's still his closest friend, the person he'd more quickly go to if he needed peace, comfort or company. It's funny to think about it like that when even Tony's on board, but things are just... different between them.

But right now he doesn't know how to deal with the feelings, the underlying fear and worry and ache that stir just below the surface, feelings that bleed to him a little too easily thanks to his new ability. Bruce tries to suppress them, to build up a wall around himself, but it's pointless. Maybe if the feelings weren't so intense, he would be able to do something about it, but as it is everything Eggsy's feeling is hitting him like a tidal wave and his barriers are made of sand.

Bruce turns to look at Eggsy finally, the surprise at those words clear in his face. ] I don't want you gone, Eggsy. And it wasn't a mistake. It was wrong of me, compulsion or not, but I'm not... I'm not sorry it happened.

[ Which, in turn, only makes him feel worse. To know that underneath the party-fueled desire, were was a real want on his part to be with Eggsy, even if he loved Trish then. Even if in his right mind he'd never have cheated on her.

But he did. ]

And it's the other way around. You're the one who can do so much better than me. [ He sighs. ] In any case, I wasn't avoiding you only because of the party. That was only a small part of it, and it was mostly because I thought... you wouldn't want to see me.

[Eggsy doesn't see it that way, but instead of arguing over it, he adds it to the list of things him and Bruce don't see eye to eye on. It's a small list, and most of things on it aren't really bad - Bruce putting his life on the line to save Eggsy or thinking that Eggsy deserves better than him - but Eggsy disagrees with it. Normally he might pick a fight over it, but some of what Bruce says confuses the shit out of him. Best to focus on that instead.]

No, I can't do better, yeah? Not really sure I'd want to if I agreed with that.

[He throws his hands up in frustration, taking a few steps closer. Eggsy still isn't ready to think about how what happened between them makes him feel. Not with how it's tied to what's settled deep down low in his stomach, and in the back of his chest. Like its been there all along and he didn't realize it. It's too much and he isn't ready. He doesn't want to lose Bruce because he's confused about how he feels.]

Why wouldn't I wanna see you? Say what you want, but it's not like either of us chose to do it. I know neither of us would have done that if we'd been in control. Not when.. [He takes another step, huffs and rolls his eyes at himself.] Not when you was with someone.

I'd never do somethin' to fuck up someone's relationship. Ain't right.

[If Trish were here, he'd feel so much more guilty about it all, even if it wasn't really their fault. Somehow it's easier to let some of the guilt go when he doesn't have to see her around.]

Bruce, I - [He flops down in a seat nearby only to stand up again, pacing back and forth with his hands shoved back in his pockets.] I missed you.

I ain't mad about what happened. I'm fuckin' pissed cause I missed you.

[ Bruce doesn't bother arguing. It always sounds to him a little too much like a pity party when he insists on that point, and he's not trying to fish for words of reassurance here. It's what he honestly believes in, and frankly the way he's been acting doesn't really help him change his mind.

Better to just focus on something else. The problem is that most everything involving Eggsy right now are things Bruce doesn't want to focus on or even think about, but he can focus on one thing: they're friends, they always have been. They've helped each other and trusted each other, and Bruce doesn't want to lose that. God knows he's running short on those, what with how many people have been leaving, little by little.

It's just hard to fight back the instinct to run and isolate himself. That was always his solution before, but... well, it was never much of a solution, to be honest. And it can't be the solution now. ]

Sorry. [ He's apologizing about that, or about ten other different things. He presses his lips thinly, looking up at Eggsy as he paces across the room. ] Eggsy, can you just... sit down? Please.

[Eggsy rolls his eyes and drops down heavily into the closest seat. He throws his arms over his chest and sticks his legs out as far as they can go, slumping down. Sure, it's not gentlemanly or fuck, it's not even mature of him, but he's freaked that Bruce is going to change his mind and send Eggsy packing. He couldn't bear it. So instead of being an adult, he pouts in the chair like a ten year old.]

There, I'm sittin', yeah?

[He scuffs the floor with a winged trainer - he's never cared that they don't match his uniform - and glances up at Bruce reluctantly.]

What're we supposed to do? [Both brows go up, eyes wide.] I don't wanna stop bein' a part of your life just cause something happened.

Awkward shit happens all the time. Ain't sayin' we forget and pretend it didn't happen.

[He sighs, rubbing his hand across his face. Awkward. More like best time of his life but whatever.]

I dunno.

[Nate actually has no idea that Bruce is acting out of sorts. He doesn't know the guy well, after all, and he's had other things to occupy his attention since everyone got the antidote. When he stops by the science department, it isn't even planned—he's on his way somewhere else when it occurs to him he never thanked the guy for his help. Well, no time like the present, right? And he's nearby, so he might as well say thanks in person, if Bruce is around. Otherwise he'll drop him a text or something later.

Conveniently, he is, and Nate raises a hand in greeting as he steps inside.]

Hey there.

[ That's one thing he's got going for him, at least. Most people on board don't know him well enough to find the way he's acting to be weird, and even those who've met him by passing might think that he's naturally reclusive. Which he is, granted, just not quite to this degree anymore.

Nate wouldn't know, either way. He was heavily altered as it was at that party, not at all like he was before. There just happens to be a more striking difference now.

Bruce looks up at the greeting, returning that wave with just a faint nod. ]

Hi. Nate, right? Sorry, I... Memories get a little hazy. [ From the party, he means, but he figures he doesn't need to specify. ] What can I do for you?

Yeah, that's me. No worries, that whole thing was...yeah.

[He waves it off. At least he's only hazily remembered from the party, rather than remembered quite clearly for his drunk post a few months ago. Maybe that's finally starting to fade.]

Actually, I wanted to thank you.

[ Messed up, to say the least. But Nathan doesn't need to put it to words for Bruce to know that. He lived through it after all, and he's now suffering through the consequences of his not only uncharacteristic but also awful behavior.

He tips his head a little at the last words, eyebrow raised curiously. ] What for?

I don't know if I would have gotten those water samples without your help. And that means maybe we'd still be there, on our way to losing a second year of our lives.

[And maybe he'd be ripping his hair out due to frustration at no one believing him.]

I know I conned you into it, but still—thanks.

[ If Tex wasn't already well-versed in how insane this place was, the fact that she had found some of Project Freelancer's AI units at the scrap yard would have taken her more by surprise. Instead, after her initial anger, she was more resigned than anything. All she knows is that these items would be dangerous in the wrong hands, and so she plans to destroy them all. Except for one detail—she's unsure if there were AIs actually stored in the units when she found them. And figuring out their inner workings is a bit beyond what she knows how to do.

So she heads to the science lab, seeking Tony or Bruce or someone else there who would hopefully be able to come down to the cargo bay and check them out. Just as hoped, she finds Bruce holed up in the corner, and she approaches, her pace slow because of her cane. ]

Bruce? I was hoping you could help me with some tech I found.

[ Silence is all that's been keeping Bruce company at the lab these days. Having kept it locked up for so long, some people just started assuming it wasn't yet open again, and even the more regular visits seemed to choose different spots to go to. Just fine by him, honestly. The less people he needs to see and interact with, the better.

Familiar faces are particularly difficult to deal with right now, and... well, he might not know Tex all that well, but she bears a too striking resemblance to Trish, so much so that when he looks up at the voice, he's visibly shocked to see her. Wide-eyed and gaping a little, looking every bit like he's just seen a ghost.

It takes him a few seconds to put the pieces together, definitely longer than he'd have liked. He closes his mouth again and looks away almost too abruptly, clearing his throat. ]

Sure. [ Somehow he manages a steady voice. ] What do you need?

[ Tex doesn't do well with blatant displays of emotion. She hardens the line of her mouth, looking away for a moment. She knows why he reacted that way. It's true that despite crossing paths a lot in the education department, they don't really know much about each other. She knows it must be hard knowing the woman her body was evidently cloned from is gone.

After giving him that moment, though, she turns her head and looks at him again. ]

They're AI storage units from my home universe. I haven't been able to figure out if there are any AIs stored in them or if they're vacant.

[ It's not like Bruce wants to show those emotions, especially not to someone he barely knows, but it's difficult to keep that surprise from his face. The pain, the guilt he gets from the memories her face conjures up. It's not Tex's fault, though, and he knows that. It's not her fault she shares a face with Trish, but it's difficult for Bruce to work past all of this so easily.

But she's come here for a specific reason, and for that Bruce is grateful. It's something for him to focus on, at least. And work is something he can do, something safe and logical and objective, at the moment much simpler than the list of messes he should (but won't) be dealing with. ]

Where are they? [ He looks up, visibly interested by the mere explanation she offers. ] I can take a look.

Cargo bay. I set them up at a work table right outside the transporter landing zone.

[ With that she starts leading the way. She doesn't figure conversation is going to figure much into this scenario; they're going to take care of their business and then part again without much small talk, she figures. ]

[ Bruce waits at first, letting some feet of distance grow between them before he follows after. She's right, he doesn't want to strike up much of a conversation right now, and the distance he keeps helps with that as much as it prevents him from potentially hearing her feelings ring through his head. For now, anyway.

He knows the way to cargo bay well enough by now, so if they somehow ended up getting lost along the way, it would be no problem. Once they get there, he stops closer to her, waiting for her to show him those units so he can take a look. ]

[ Tex motions toward the work area she has set up. ]

The AI units are the purple ones, the ones that all look the same. The rest of the equipment are armor enhancements. I'm not as concerned about them.

[ There are twelve of the purple units in all, lined up along the side of the workbench. ]

I poked around at one of them but I don't know what I'm looking for, really. I just know how mechanical things work; I'm not as good with sensitive electronics.

[He hadn't planned a trip to the science department. Not until his own abilities started resurfacing, making his head ache and sleep nearly impossible. A part of him was hoping there would be a way to recreate the serum he'd used to suppress his powers. It was stupid, he knew, when there were two young mutants on the ship. Even if he'd closed the school, being the oldest mutant there left him with some sense of responsibility.

To him, it hasn't been nearly as long since he'd first spoken to the man but, after waking up in cryo, he realizes that doesn't apply to anyone else he'd met. He pauses in the doorway before remembering his own manners and giving a light knock at the frame.]

Mister Banner?

[ Despite having been a while, Bruce does have a good memory, and when he sees the man standing by the door, he quickly matches a name to the face. He's far from friendly or cheerful right now, but he's not openly hostile either— just quieter and more placid than he was the first time they met. ]

Bruce. Bruce is fine. [ He chokes down the urge to correct the honorific. Not like it matters much anyway. ] You're out of cryo. You were in there for a while.

[The difference is noticeable, even to Charles. And, admittedly, it reminds him a bit of all his old students. Something like that, even after years of drinking and ignoring the world as much as he could, it isn't something you even forget.]

So I am, thank god for that. [He manages a smile but he gestures, after a moment, towards Bruce.] You seem rather preoccupied. I hope everything is alright.

As alright as they can be when you're stuck in outer space.

[ A lie, evidently. Bruce has been much happier than right now, much more settled in. He wouldn't have though it possible when he first arrived on the Moira, but he has gotten to experience a lot of good things here, great memories, a life he had and now lost. But that's not something he wants to talk about with a man he barely knows, much less so when Charles is probably still getting reacclimated with the ship. Bruce knows all too well how jarring it can be to wake up from cryo. ]

Anything I can help you with?

[ Late at night is probably a strange time for a janitor to be meticulously mopping floors, but it's not like Jesse knows what else to do with himself. He can barely sleep, and he can never keep still for more than five minutes at a time. And he's prowled around the ship when most the crew are asleep enough times - smoking, pacing, loitering by the huge windows overlooking the vast emptiness of space - that he's going to go mad if he doesn't somehow keep his mind occupied.

So, that's what he's been fixing his mind on these past couple of hours: sweeping, mopping, mindlessly finding some sense of purpose in making sure the floors are clean enough to eat food off of. Jesse looks like the kind of guy who's a complete slacker, probably because a slacker is all he's been most of his life, but he focuses on what he's doing with thorough diligence. It's just like being in the meth lab: cleaning, cleaning, making sure everything is perfect for the next cook.

He pauses mid-mop, standing in the long, dim corridor with his eyes closing, rolling his aching neck from side to side with a tired sigh. He rolls his shoulders and opens his eyes - and sees a guy walking across the floor just up ahead.

It's a stupid thing to get pissed off at in the grand scheme of everything, but Jesse is suddenly pissed off that someone is trampling over his floor. His work. Being careless and not paying attention. ]

Hey, why don't you look where you're going, yo. I just washed that floor.

[ It's got to be the first time Bruce catches anyone mopping up the floors, let alone at this time of night. It's one of those things he always knew got done, but never really caught those on duty doing so. Either because they did it at times when people weren't usually up and about, or because he spent so much time holed up in one place or another, the fact is he never had this issue of stepping on someone else's work and messing it up.

Being called out on it immediately makes him feel bad, even as he tries his hardest to keep out the sudden anger this stranger's shooting at him, the feeling trying to hammer its way into his head. Even this little is tiring. ]

Sorry, I didn't... didn't see it. Wasn't paying attention.

[ He stops in the middle of the hallway, looking to the man, then to the lab's door some good feet past him. ]

But I need to get to the department and there's no other way. I can mop up the mess as I go along?

Yeah, figured you weren't.

[ Paying attention, that is. Said dryly now he's actually got the guy's attention. What the guy follows that up with - an offer to clean up along the way - is met with nothing but judging silence from Jesse for all of a long second or two. The kind of silent judging look Mr. White had fixed Jesse with time and time again. Then: ]

Didn't think to stop and ask before walking all over my floor? [ Which is instantly followed up with a sarcastc: ] Nah, guess you didn't, 'cause you weren't paying attention.

[deciding not to be a bother in his giant robot form, riptide takes on his holoform to venture into the science lab. he wants to check on his ants and also say hi to bruce, it's been a while.

almost a year, actually.]

Hey, Bruce? You in here, mate?

[ Bruce has seen Riptide's holoform before, so he recognizes him right away. That's one memory that doesn't haunt him, at least, and if anything remembering their conversation at the party amuses him, although he has to wonder if his ability would even work on a massive robot. Or his holographic projection, for that matter.

Hopefully not, though. ]

You know me. I'm a permanent fixture. [ That may as well be the first hint of humor to his speech since he's made it back to the Moira. ] How are you?

[riptide - the robot - is sitting just outside the science doors. if bruce's ability can work on a robot, he's gonna have some Big Feelings.]

Yeah? How much they'd pay for you? I'm alright. You?

[ Oh good, Big Feelings are just what Bruce needs. For now the sound of said feelings is a little distant, though Bruce wonders if they'll grow in intensity the longer Riptide sticks around. ]

I'd expect a small fortune, but... [ He shrugs. Firstly he was brought on board against his will to begin with, and secondly they couldn't keep him out of a lab like this one if they tried. ]

I'm fine. Same as usual. [ Not really, but he doesn't want to get into details. ] Just settling back into work. What brings you around?

[fuck yeah who doesn't want to feel intense self hatred???]

I'd bloody hope so! I came to see the ants. See if they're still alive, y'know? There's one or two that turned to glass and I'm interested to see if that made them immortal as well.

[ Right, that's just the recipe for a fun party. Not like Bruce knows what that feels like at all. ]

The ants? [ Oh shit. ] I completely forgot... Jesus. I have no idea where they are. I mean, the... the colony was one of the things that got trashed during the crash. I don't know if the ants made it or where they went off to.

[oh no. oh no this is one loss too much.]

I-- I'm sure they're somewhere! They're survivors!

[Everything has become even more crazy as of late, so it's not a huge surprise Daisy hasn't seen a lot of the people she usually does.

It wasn't until she turned the corner in one of the corridors and saw Bruce that she realized it had been a while since they saw each other.]

Hey Bruce.

[One look at him and Daisy knew something was off, which is what prompted her to ask:]

You okay?

[ He looked up when called, figure tensing at the mere approach. Getting used to his ability was proving to be as tasking as his lack of control used to be, and he felt like he was isolating himself as much as he had back then.

Not that he had any interest in fixing that, honestly. Right now he only felt like holing himself up and not having to deal with anyone. ]

Oh, yes. Just peachy.

[ There was a hint of sarcasm to his tone he couldn't shake off, just another mask to hide himself behind. Vaguely he wondered if Daisy had even seen Lúcio's announcement that Trish was gone, if she knew even that much. ]

[No she hadn't, which was probably worse for him if he had to explain to her why he seemed so upset. Obviously it prompts her to ask:]

What's wrong?

[ A critical flaw in Bruce's "retreat and go unnoticed" plan is the part where he inadvertently locked Tony Stark out of a science lab. A science lab. That's just cruel and unusual in his very humble opinion, not to mention very, very uncharacteristic. All it does is guarantee that his attention is drawn to the problem, whatever it is.

Before he can spend too long mulling over how best to address the problem - likely via text message harassment, let's be honest - he's surprised and maybe a little relieved that he actually finds Bruce holed up in a corner of the now-open department, making himself small in a way Tony's really never seen him do aboard the Moira. Sure, it's the kind of thing he expected to see back home, but that was a different time and a different place.

It's a little unnerving, this sudden return to an unhappy status quo.

Trish is gone, he knows. He'd had his own quiet moment of regret about that, but it's surely nothing compared to whatever Bruce must be dealing with. But Tony is none the wiser, so as far as he knows, that's the only problem plaguing Bruce's mind. ]

And here I thought you trying to never speak to me again. You locked me out of the house and everything.

[ The voice comes from over Bruce's right shoulder, where Tony's perched himself on a workstation like he owns the damn place. His tone is as facetious and teasing as it ever is, but there's a clear undercurrent of concern regardless. ]

[ Bruce figured that sooner or later Tony would try and come find him, as he of all people would know at least one of the things that's weighing on his mind. Not everything else, mind, but only because Bruce is doing his very best to keep all that to himself.

It's still there, though. And when Tony comes into the lab Bruce can tell almost right away. The man's feelings are a little too loud in his head, getting louder the closer he gets to Bruce, and he realizes it would take a special level of control to keep them at bay. He shouldn't be all that surprised, knowing Tony as he does, but experiencing it now is something else.

He cups his forehead and tries to force a mental wall up between them, but it doesn't really work. Tony's voice pierces through in a clearer tone, and the concern is something Bruce can feel rather than hear in his tone. ]

Sorry. I didn't mean to, I just... needed some time.

[ Not that time changed much. The problems are still there, and in true Bruce Banner fashion, he still doesn't want to deal with them. ]

[ Fortunately(?), his presence prompting people to cup their faces in apparent exasperation and/or exhaustion is nothing new or particularly noteworthy, so it earns nothing beyond a quirked eyebrow. It's fine; he figures, perhaps ironically, that Bruce is more equipped to handle him than most people. ]

Yeah, I figured. Did you notice that grace period I gave you without blowing up your MID? That took self-control.

[ Since Bruce hasn't actually told him to piss off yet - he really couldn't have guessed what the man's mood was going to be when he showed up, not after everything - Tony drops into the seat opposite him, giving him a considering look. He feels momentarily helpless, because there's really not much to do or say here. It's like being without Pepper, only worse. At least Tony knows he'll be going back to Pepper, someday. ]

You're gonna have to bear with me here, because my normal offer of a nightcap wouldn't be appropriate for about half a dozen reasons, currently.

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