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Bruce drops you.
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Times Square New York City
Sun Aug 14, 1963 — Sun Aug 14 18:54:56 2016
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What can you say about Times Square that hasn't already been burned into minds from the countless portrayals on television and film. Billboards are everywhere. Neon and halogen are everywhere. People are everywhere. Faces, 70 feet tall, try to sell you cigarettes, soda, and hair tonic. Wanderers submerge into and emerge from retail outlets that are everywhere you turn—everywhere else is traffic, whether pedestrian or vehicle. If there is a small quiet place in Montana with woods and rivers and mountains and peace, this is the opposite. There's subway station here.
*
Contents:
Bruce - Thin, but athletic, Banner is more bookish than muscular.
Darwin - Tall, bald with grey-skin and featureless white eyes. Long armed.
Maverick - Tall, fit, clean-cut man in his 30s.
Nightcrawler - Deep blue demon, black hair, yellow eyes, tail, scars.
Bag - is currently ON - SCENE IS BEING LOGGED.
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Exits:
[LC] La Caravelle [MT] Midtown
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*
The sun has recently set, and with it, a splash of colours hue the horizon in warm pinks, oranges, and reds — not that it's the easiest to see from here with. Times Square, despite it being later on Sunday evening, still harbours much activity. The foot traffic in the area is actually quite expansive as people scuttle to (and from) different types of obligations.
The noise in this particular region leaves much to be desired with the faint echoes of honking, car engines, and various New York noises. Of course, it doesn't help that for some reason, traffic has started backing up, leaving the roads in and out of times square a mess. Traffic also means that pedestrians aren't necessarily catering to laws, causing many to brush up against each other in a state of irritation.
Perhaps also of note, the sunny sky, seemingly out of nowhere opens up in a loud pitter patter of rain. Finding shelter becomes priority for many, and the bodies on street brush up against each other even more.
A diner along the street benefits from all of these happy circumstances. It's appearance — no different than any average diner — complete with bright tiles, a long bar, and equally bright blue bar stools is relatively nondescript aside from its relatively generic appearance.
A patron, with a mop of curly dark hair slips into the diner amid a fast, rather ominous, beeping on his watch. Bruce Banner brushes moisture off his overcoat, allows his eyes to lid, and shakes his hair as he steps inside. The beeping on the watch slows some, and he manages a tight lipped smile as the red-headed waitress behind the counter urges, "Honey, seat yourself!"
Banner slips to a stool on the end and stares at the bar in an effort not to draw too much attention to himself as he catches his breath.
*
Really, it would be difficult for Bruce to catch much attention in this particular diner. Why? Because a certain well-dressed grey-skin mutant was sitting at the bar, sipping coffee and reading a news paper that had been laid out on the counter as he works slowly at a BLT sandwich.
Looking up a moment, he notices Bruce and smiles. "Plenty of seats over here, friend." he offers- the seats nearest to Armando empty- it seems most don't want to sit near the well dressed mutant.
*
It's been a hot week in New York and the burst of rain actually felt amazing. Kurt was out and about as the sky drew dark and was caught in the rain. He was fine with that, perched on the roof of one of the buildings in Times Square, enjoying the relief from the heat. It means, however, that when he does choose to be social and get something to eat in a diner, that he's still quite wet from the rain.
Even as he steps into the crowded diner, he's tried to push his hair back into a presentable style and basically pretend that he's not wearing jeans and a button-down, bowling-type shirt that are both soaked through from the rain. He also pretends that he's not going to be stared at when he steps inside and peers about, looking for a seat to claim as his own.
*
A man in a navy blue suit ducks into the diner not long after Kurt, his sandy hair soaked against his forehead. Poor David managed to get caught out in the rain without a hat, an umbrella, or a coat, but he seems more exasperated by his fate than anything else. He's even polite enough to wipe his feet before coming fully inside.
He is amongst those staring at Kurt once he looks up, of course, but the way that David stares is… different. There's a flash of surprise, and then his brow furrows in curiosity. It's a lot like the look Armando receives when he overhears the man's invitation to Bruce.
After a moment's thought, David elects to take him up on that offer, even if Bruce does not. With a quiet "Excuse me," murmured to Kurt as he moves past, David crosses the diner and slides into a seat near Armando, offering him a polite smile and a bob of his head.
*
Armando is cast a sheepish grin as Bruce slides off his former stool to sit closer to the other gentleman. "You don't mind?" he asks gently, his smile turning downright bashful as he treads closer to the other man. A glance is given to the cluster of seats. "Forgive me, I had thought you were waiting for some friends." The smile expands, exposing a single dimple on Bruce's cheek as he slides onto a stool next to the well-dressed mutant.
A glance is cast towards the door, catching both Kurt and David as they enter the room, and issuing both polite nods in greeting. While he may be a bit of a recluse, Banner's manners are, relatively, intact.
*
"Of course not." Armando assures Bruce with a quiet smile. "No apology needed." He assures Bruce, giving another little nod to David with another smile. Kurt, he knows. A grin given to his fellow mutant. "Good to see you, friend." he offers to Kurt.
Armando takes a sip of his coffee, and nods towards the bar. "Good coffee today. And they make the city's best BLT." he offers with a smile, before taking a bite out of his toasted, bacon-filled sandwich. "The name is Armando Munoz." he offers to the two gentleman who've joined him at the bar. " A pleasure to meet you."
*
Nightcrawler looks to the man who so politely moves past him and offers him a friendly nod before he catches sight of Armando at the bar. The other mutant is hard to miss but he gets a wide grin, "Hallo, mein freund!" Luckily, he's able to easily get to one of the spare seats at the bar and sit…stools are more comfortable than chairs or booths, after all.
A nod is also given to Banner as he's greeted, "Hallo…" before he looks to Armando, "And I thought that -I- was friendly! I think you may have me…was ist…beat?" His own German accent is still thick from his recent move from Europe.
*
"David North," comes the reply, and David's smile for Armando seems quite genuine. "Likewise. And thank you for the recommendation," he muses, turning to flag down the waitress. One more coffee (black, please) and BLT for the queue. He takes a moment to offer Bruce a friendly "How do you do," before he is thoroughly distracted.
David's attention moves back to Kurt as soon as he opens his mouth, and for the briefest of moments, there is a glimmer of joy in the man's eye. There is a moment of near-hesitation on his part before he shifts a bit in his seat, his eyebrows creeping up his hairline and his smile broadening. "I have not heard German in years," he admits, and his own accent becomes ever so slightly thicker in that it can actually be heard now. "This is a surprise."
*
Bruce's grin expands and he nods at Armando. "Expecting friends or not, you seem to have them, Mister Munoz," he muses softly. Anyone listening for it can still hear the faint beeping on his watching, meriting another smaller smile from Banner. "Bruce Banner," he offers quietly, but even as his name escapes his lips, the grin turns nearly wistful — it's foreign to hear and speak his own name. Leaving life on the run certainly has its merits.
"Yes, thank you for the recommendation, but I'm only hear for — " he squints. He never drinks coffee, the stimulant has always proven troublesome should his other half get in its wake. His shoulders relax, and he finally shakes his head. "I'll have the same. BLT and coffee." A glance is given to his wrist, the beeping has almost become white noise — silence amid the bustle of the shop.
*
"The Bruce Banner?" Armando asks next, looking over towards Bruce. "As in 'Doctor' Bruce Banner who wrote the paper 'Nucleonic Efficacy under Radiological Bombardment'? Well, this is an uncommon pleasure and a unique honor!" The grey-skinned mutant says, looking to the server. "Put Doctor Banner's order on my tab." he says over with a smile. "I read that paper and it was visionary. In fact, its that paper that got me interested in the sub-atomic and the possibilities therein." the well dressed mutant offers to Bruce with a wide smile. He's got the look of someone meeting a movie star- a great deal of respect there. ARmando just grins. "Seems to happen all the time. I go for a quiet bite and people show up. Its a pretty small town when you get down to it."
Towards Kurt, Armando grins- "It pays to meet people with a friendly smile, and good intentions." he offers agreeably. He switches to German then, <"And if you ever need help with your English, just ask. I will be glad to help."> Armando, surprisingly enough, speaks German like a native. Not even a hint of accent.
*
Nightcrawler orders a cherry coke and then asks, "What is this…'BLT'?", assuming anyone deigns to take his order. Sometimes it can be difficult to get served. When the man turns to him and seems actually happy to speak with him, well, that causes his own brows to rise. "I hear German all the time…when I am talking, that is." A three-fingered hand is offered, "Kurt Wagner. Are you German then? I have not yet met someone from there since I have been here. I have not gone to those parts of the city yet…" although now he might. If there are recent immigrants, or even not so recent immigrants from Europe, they might have actually heard of him!
When the other introduces himself, he gives the other man a grin as well, "Well, now we are all friends, ja?" Yellow eyes look back to Armando, "I agree. It is what I always try," even if it doesn't always work. His head tilts at the offer and the sudden speaking of his native language, "Hat mein Englisch viel Hilfe brauchen?" Does my English need a lot of help?
*
My word, this diner is full of surprises. David scarely knows where to begin. Bruce can likely see the recognition on his face when he gives his name, even though David doesn't actually say anything of it, for whatever reason. It does, however, mean that he casts a brief, curious look towards the beeping watch. What he had previously dismissed as mundane is now suddenly more interesting.
<"A sandwich,"> David says to Kurt, dragging his attention away to offer his blue, fangy countryman a smile. He isn't as at-ease with his unusual appearance as Armando is, but he's also clearly making an effort. <"Bacon, lettuce, tomato. And mayonaisse, usually. They're quite good."> With a wink, he slides back into English, not knowing if they're talking circles around poor Dr. Banner or not. "And to answer your question, ja. I am from Berlin."
*
It's unusual for Bruce to garner any attention from strangers, mostly because he genuinely doesn't use his real name. So when Armando recognizes the name and the paper, a reserved grin of appreciation tugs his lips upwards. "Yes, Doctor Bruce Banner. And yes, that was my paper." He chuckles quietly, more out of anxiety than actual mirth. "It's really not necessary — " he offers as far as the tab is concerned, but follows with a gentle, nearly bashful, "but thank you. And thank you. The paper took a lot of energy. Early work typically does, I think."
Nightcrawler is cast a less awkward smile. "Bacon, lettuce, and tomato," Banner says and then feels fit to add, "it's like love between two slices of bread. Well worth trying if you're hungry."
Banner's gaze shifts towards David for a beat, curiosity colouring his expression. The waitress returns with everyone's drinks and Bruce's hands cradle the warm cup of joe. It's been five years since he's had coffee. He feels like he's taking a huge risk, and yet he brings the brew to his lips. In all earnestness, he states: "This is the best cup of coffee I've had in ears."
*
<"Not at all, Kurt. Not a lot of help- I mean more if someone drops a contract on your lap and you need a little help understanding all the legalese."> Armando notes, <"Your speaking is fantastic."> Armando assures Kurt, before switching back to English. "Just a friendly thing." he assures his fellow mutant.
Armando returns his attention to Banner. "Well, Doctor, it was a genius piece of work." he says over to Bruce, with a smile. "Well worth reading." he says, lifting his coffee in quiet salute. "Yeah. They make some great coffee here." he agrees, not mentioning more. "I've been trying to find some of your other work- is there anything you're particularly proud of? I'd rather like to see what you think is your magnum opus."
*
"East or West? I have been to both. I am from Bavaria. Ich bin auch ein Zigeuner und Zirkusknstler. Und danke." (I am also a Gypsy and Circus Performer) is Kurt's next response and question before he also orders the BLT. It has Speck on it. How bad can it be? He's not sciency person but he does look over and listen as Armando and Banner talk about the subject. The latter gets a grin when he offers his own opinion on the sandwich, "I look forward to having it now."
When the server actually brings his drink, he seems a bit surprised but offers her a bright, friendly grin. "Danke!" and he then takes a sip from the straw. At Banner's comment on the coffee he looks over, "Is it? I will have to come back and try it. I miss very good coffee…" and he hasn't been impressed with the American version yet.
Armando's reassurance gets his trin turned towards the other mutant, "A contract? That would mean having a job or a performance, ja? I was working, but…" the bar now has to be rebuilt, thanks to a police raid…but the other probably knows that. "But that is good to know, danke."
*
"West," comes David's reply, his smile still in place. It's true… technically. He shifts to fish a few dollars from his wallet to trade when his coffee arrives, offering a quiet "Thank you," to the waitress before she retreats again. He falls quiet now, bringing the mug up for a drink and looking between the three, listening.
*
"Thank you — it was one of the first pieces I completed right after finalizing my dissertation. Still," Bruce tugs the glasses from his face and rubs his eyes, "has a few places that could use refining, but it is also work I'm proud of. One of mentors always said to make sure your work never embarrasses you — it's a mantra I've tried to live by," with mixed results; the Hulk, a work byproduct, consistently embarrasses him. The spectacles are scrubbed with the edge of Banner's overcoat and then returned to his nose. "The closest thing I have to a magnum opus is Hypothesizing Subcutaneous Cellular Organic Transposition: Gamma Radiation On Cellular Regeneration." He smirks after issuing the title and shakes his head. He holds up a hand in apology, "As that same mentor used to say, I'm not as smart as I sound. In laymen's terms it considers the potential applications of gamma radiation on the human genome. All hypothetical, of course." His eyes glimmer with some unspoken secret.
He nods towards Kurt, "It is." Then with a pause, he adds a disclaimer, "I gave up coffee some time ago." He glances down and the watch continues to beat. This may not be his best decision.
*
"I should be able to pick it up over at Columbia." Armando says, with a nod of his head. "They've got one of the best scholarly paper repositories." he says, "Should be an interesting read, given the subject." He nods quietly. "I've always wondered how my physiology would react under continued bombardment. Its not exactly easy to find a lot of places for me to test. Chances are, it won't do anything." he says, "You might know me as Darwin the Evolving Boy." he offers to Bruce. "They wrote a paper on me when I was a kid." he just nods, "I'd love the chance to test some of my own theories regarding how I work." he says with a little chuckle.
*
Nightcrawler nods to David, "I liked West best. East…" well. Everyone knows, surely. Communism and Circuses don't go well together. "I have not been there in a long time though…" so he may not have recently come from Germany. "You have been here a long time? You speak English like an American." At least, to him he does.
Banner's comment on coffee gets a cluck of his tongue and a shake of his head, "Well, I am glad you are being having the coffee now if it is so good. You should try the coffee in Italy. I think it may be my favorite."
*
"I do a lot of travelling," David tells Kurt with a helpless shrug of his shoulders, offering him a slightly rueful smile. "English tends to be a little more warmly received, even now. I actually spend more time in Canada than I do here," he admits. "Closest thing I have to a home these days."
Armando gets another curious look from David, but it's in passing; his gaze has returned to Bruce again, moving between the man's face and his watch. "Are you alright, Doctor Banner?" he asks in a light tone, one eyebrow raising. There's a comment on the edge of the German's lips, but he's keeping it to himself, for now.
*
Bruce leans forward at the mention of Darwin the Evolving Boy and he nods silently. "I've read that paper." He takes a long swig of the coffee. "I might be working on something of interest to you. It's a long-term project on adaptation and gamma radiation." He swallows around the lump in his throat, "Genetics aren't my expertise, but exposure to radiation is something I think effects us all. With nuclear war ever a threat," he shrugs. "I've been doing some consulting at Stark Industries and am working on a project I call he Absorbatron." He actually smirks at the name, nearly convinced Betty would've loved it. "It's designed to absorb radiation in the event of nuclear disaster." He sucks on the inside of his cheek, "The prototype seems to work. With one hiccup. The First Law of Thermodynamics means the energy has to go somewhere and while it's theoretically possible, finding a metal that can endure it is tough. There's a few out there that might." Like vibranium, the answer to all of science's problems.
He issues Nightcrawler a grin, "I've never been. Someday, maybe. And if I go, I'll make sure I try it. Any recommend," he lifts his hands. "Well, I take it. Haven't purposely travelled much. Sometimes I just find myself places though." Maybe one day the Hulk will see fit to go to Italy. His alter ego had, most recently taken them to the four corners monument. The next journey is anyone's guess.
The question from David gains a small narrowing of Banner's eyes, and a polite, but dismissive nod. "I am." Ish. "Thank you."
*
"Well, I'd be glad to help out." Armando offers, "If anyone can survive a nuclear war, it be me." he says, as he finishes his BLT. "Honestly, that's been on my mind a lot recently." What with stolen nuclear weapons lost somewhere out there. ITs not mentioned- but there is that fear. "I might be one of the only people on the face of this planet who'd survive a nuclear war." its a quiet statement. "Honestly, I don't want to face the rest of eternity alone. Better to make sure others survive." Armando reaches into his jacket pocket, and tosses some cash to the bar. Enough for his meal, Bruce's and a tip. "As for Genetics- I know Doctor Moira MacTaggart extremely well- she's a good friend of mine. If you need a consult, look me up." A business card is produced next- it seems Armando works for Warrenton Industries- "Just leave a message with the secretarial pool and I'll get back to you ASAP." Armando collects his hat, and puts it on his head. "I've got to get going." he smiles, offering a hand towards Bruce for a shake. "Its been an honor meeting you, Doctor Banner. I'll look that paper up in my free time and, I'm sure, enjoy reading it greatly."
*
Nightcrawler takes a bite of his own sandwich when it's brought since, well, he isn't able to contribute to the scientific conversation. A nod is given though at the reaction of the sandwich, "It's very good!" Not that anyone cared, but they did recommend it. Yellow eyes do look over at Armando when he mentions the doctor and genetics…he's at least a little familiar with what that might entail and there's a tilt of his head, "You are leaving? It was good seeing you again, mein freund. I am glad we met in a more peaceful night."
Another bite of the sandwich is taken and finished before he nods to David, "I have also traveled und ja, it is why I learned so much English. The circus spoke English or German mostly."
*
"Are you sure?" David asks Bruce, and there's a glimmer of something in his eye. "You look a little — no." The German stops himself abruptly and laughs, one hand coming to his forehead as he drops his eyes to the countertop. Mischief. That's what that look was. "That would be in very poor taste. I apologize, Doctor."
Still smiling, David lifts his head so that he can nod to Armando, raising his mug in a friendly salute. "It was nice meeting you, sir. Thank you for the company."
He finally reaches for his sandwich now, giving Kurt a genuinely curious look. "You know, now that I think of it, I have never actually been to a circus."
*
Armando is given a faint wave in return, and the card is slipped into Bruce's overcoat pocket. "I'm glad you like it," he notes about the sandwich. "Sincerely. Sometimes the simplest food is the best. Even better? Add cheese. It's basically a dream on bread." He takes a bite of his own sandwich, "It's virtually life-changing." And now Banner wishes he'd had the foresight to add cheese.
The remark from David actually causes the beeper on the watch to increase in frequency. A weary glance is cast to the windows, and a familiar thought crosses Banner's mind always have an escape strategy. But he doesn't try to access it yet, instead he takes another bite of his sandwich and takes a deep breath. Meditation has offered him solace before, hopefully breathing techniques do much the same now.
David's comment about the circuit has Banner considering, "It's been years." And reminiscently, with a fond smile he offers, "My mother took me once." Before his father murdered her. The beeping increases in speed. His head turns expressly towards the door. He gives in to another mode of operation: Distraction. "How long have you ben with the circus?"
*
"Yeah, I've got some work to do, Kurt." Armando says with a quiet smile. "If you're looking for a job, I might be able to help you out." he offers to Kurt- along with another business card. "People like us need to look out for one another." he says with a wink. "And I know a guy who's willing to hire people like us." He smiles towards David, giving a tip of his hat.
"Feel free to get in touch any time, Doctor Banner. I'd love seeing if I can't help you with your new project." he says with a smile. "I best be going." he says then, "Can't really be late for this meeting. My client is a bit of a stickler for time." As one might expect of SHIELD and the military. "Hope to see you around!" And off Armando goes.
*
"Ach, if I was in one now, I would invite you!" Kurt grins at David's admission, "I love it, but they do not seem to have many here." That and, well…he's not a known entity here like he was in the circuit in Europe. He works on his sandwich before taking the offered card from Armando, "What sort of work? I will call you, but danke." The card is glanced at for a moment before it's tucked into a damp pocket.