|
  |
It's been a long day so far for Ben Grimm. He spent a lot of it doing research and tinkering, with more research and tinkering on the side. Aerodynamic engineering issues ain't gonna figure themselves out, afterall! It's the late afternoon by this point, with the sun setting and people getting reading to head home from work. But Ben…he's decided he needs some fresh air. Of course, it doesn't help that his home is also where he works, as is the case with a lot of the research that the Fantastic Four do.
He steps out of the main entrance of the Baxter Building, butting up his large coat and making sure that his hat is comfortably sat upon his head. Where to next? Perhaps the Park. Or perhaps he'll just wander, as he does on occasion.
*
Ben has a tail. The guy was around earlier. In the building. Not in the same workshop, but he was around, ordering a sandwich, seen heading to the bathroom, bringing in a bag. But now…now the dark-haired man is following Ben about 20 yards back, in a decadent fur coat, and otherwise a black suit.
*
The tail isn't noticed. At least not immediately. It's a few blocks before he realizes that…wasn't that coat back there before he turned right, as well? He shakes his head. It's probably nothing. In a big city, people are bound to be going the same direction all the time. Of course, this doesn't stop a nagging suspicion from chattering away, ever so softly. So he makes a decision. He'll make a few random turns. If the person is still behind him after that, it will be time to confront him.
*
Ben will find that he doesn't lose the tail, though the intelligent man also seems to know that there's just no way that Ben isn't going to notice this. He's smiling, slightly, slyly, and starts gaining ground, unless Ben starts running, juuuuust waiting for the man to finally confront him about his following activities.
*
No, the tall boulder of a man doesn't run. However, when he turns one corner, he moves immediately to lean against the wall and cross his arms. He waits for the man tailing him to turn the corner as well before he talks. "If ya wanted to meet me so badly, you should've just said hello!" He says in a rather gruff tone. "No need to follow me about the city!"
*
Maximus stops and looks over at Ben. He is a refined looking person, up close, though he mixes mild facial hair with some eye make-up to a confusing effect. He cocks his head. "But it was a nice walk. Sometimes I don't follow logic. Impulse. I wished to see where you were going. A big, obvious…fellow like yourself." He lids his eyes some. "I've just moved in to the Baxter Building…and I hear you like to tinker."
*
Looking over the man, Ben raises his rocky brow. "People usually follow impulse when it comes to things like going out gambling or somethin'." That's his way of saying, 'What impulse leads a person to following another person?' He lets out a little laugh. "I'm big, and I'm obvious. Just about the whole country, and then some, know that. I'm kind of hard to miss."
He shrugs ever so slightly. "If you heard so, than you heard correctly. I do quite a bit of tinkering."
*
Maximus lifts his hand from its furry pocket and extends it. "I am Maximus. I am a cousin of Crystal. Do you know her? Sue knows her. She says its because the Fantastic Four are equipped to handle my eccentricities. And I also like to tinker. Perhaps, soon, I could offer my assistance. Since I will be eating your food and drinking your drinks." A grin slices across his face.
*
"Crystal, huh?" Ben extends his big rocky hand and shakes Maximus' hand gently. "Yeah. I think I now the Crystal you mean. Nice gal." He offers the tiniest of smiles. "Well, we're definitely used to eccentiricities." He chuckles a little. "Just…really, better to just approach me. A person can never be too careful these days, you know?" Even if that person is a rock man.
*
"You were busy? I can come up with so many excuses before I ever admit I was wrong." Max withdraws his hand, grateful there was no crushing involved. "So, since you are the Fantastic Four…I notice that all of you are the number 4? Isn't that strange? Shouldn't there be…a 1, 2, 3, and 4?" Maximus smiles and leans his weight on one foot. Teasing.
*
"And I can keep coming up with excuses on my end, too, as to why you should've just approched. But I guess we'll get nowhere with that, huh?" Ben smirks, scratching his forehead. "Yes. We're the Fantastic Four. Because there's four of us. None of us are better than the other. We're just…the four of us!" Sure, he may have been teasing, but he still explained. Perhaps he's just so used to doing that with Reed.
*
Maximus nods to acknowledge the explanation. His accent is a little off. Its a bit British-sounding, but definitely different. "I thought you might go somewhere to eat, or a bar, or a movie. Alas…you chose to wander." He looks around them, turning 360 degrees to look back at the rock man. "No servers in sight. So…how about this…would you get something to eat, with me?" He arches his dark brows. This is, apparently, Charming Maximus Mode.
*
"Nope. No bar, no movie. And I don't usually go to restaurants. Don't usually go to bars or movies either, now that I think about it." Ben shrugs. "Not in a while, anyway. "I wasn't planning on eating but…" He pats his stomach lightly. "I suppose I could do with a bite of something. Got somewhere in mind?"
*
"I need to know of a place that serves excellent Chinese food. Authentic. Do you know of a place? Or…alternatively, somewhere extremely expensive that I can always take my Cousin to when she deems to associate with me." Some bitterness creeps into Max's tone. He knows he's being babysat.
*
"Authentic Chinese food, huh? Or expensive? I could probably find you either. But…" Ben pauses and hums for a few seconds. "I think there's a small, hole in the wall, Chinese place not too far away that's pretty good? Can't remember the name, mind you, but I remember liking it."
*
There is a dip of his chin. Acceptance to the idea. Max steps to one side to let Ben take the lead. "What were you tinkering on today? I saw you in there. Working one something." He lifts his chin now, eyes cut sideways to look at Thing in a sly manner. He, oddly enough, seems to have no problem with the man's appearance. Raised his whole life among the Inhumans, he is highly used to odd appearances.
*
"Nothing important. Just something to do with flight." Ben explains. "But what about you? You said you enjoy tinkering?" He asks as he leads toward the restaurant. "What do you tinker on? Are you making anything right now?"
*
"No, I am hoping that your team will allow me to work soon though. Also, probably, some sort of directive would be good. Something helpful. Useful. That is what I am supposed to be doing." Maximus changes his voice towards the end to sound like someone else, like he's quoting.
*
"Well I uh…we don't really uh, you see…I don't know that we're exactly hiring? But I wouldn't know. I'm just the pilot." Ben chuckles a little. When they round a corner, he leads them into the Chinese restaurant. "Table for two, please!" He holds up two fingers to a nearby waitress, who says she'll be right with them. It's not a fancy place by any means. It a bit small, as well. But there are definitely the smells of Chinese food coming from the kitchen. And the food smells pretty good. At least to Ben it does.
*
Maximus has a sit down for Chinese with Ben and, honestly, overall he seems a little eccentric, but downright pleasant. For whatever reason, he likes the rock monster and he keeps the crazy under control whilst he learns about New York's Chinese food ordering system, such as L1, and a 'number 10'. He also tries to keep the conversation on Ben, rather than himself, but expresses a fascination with building and asks plenty about the tools they have in the lab. Then he'll FINALLY leave Ben alone to his walking and head back to the Baxter Building.