12339/Visiting The Gallery

Visiting The Gallery
Date of Scene:	07 August 2022
Location:	The Thrones Art Complex
Synopsis:	Asariel receives an unexpected, but welcome, visit from Bruce Banner and tries to make a new friend.
Cast of Characters:	Asariel, Bruce Banner

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Asariel has posed:
Sunday evenings are really dead here at the Thrones. Asariel still kept the door unlocked though in case there were any stragglers that wanted to come in and take a look around before heading back out into the evening in Brooklyn. The white haired woman is dressed in jeans, well worn work boots that has flecks of paint and plaster on them. A well loved cotton button up shirt is tucked into her jeans. Her white hair is in a loose braid as she moves a few of the paintings around in the gallery.

"Alright, reminder that I need to get back to the gym." she huffs as she steps up the small ladder and hangs the painting from its mounting. "Oof, never skip arm day." she whispers as she stands there on the top rung and makes sure the painting is level.

Bruce Banner has posed:
It had taken some wrangling and calling in of favours, but Bruce had managed to convince his 'handlers' - being those people who didn't want him Hulking out in a public place - to let him leave the Avengers Mansion. It was only a few hours, and he had to log where he'd be ahead of time, so he put in the first address that came to mind. The art gallery he'd visited and purchased a piece from. The same piece hung on the wall of his quarters now, and proved nice to stare at for hours on end. Better than the blank wall that had preceded it.

He's not particularly quiet in his approach, but when he's not green he has a habit of being overlooked. Something about looking like a strong gust of wind could bowl him over. Hands stuffed into the pockets of the jeans he wears beneath a faded old Advanced Dungeons & Dragons t-shirt, he tilts his head to call out.

"Maybe I can help? Though I've been skipping arm day for ... something like twenty years at this point."

Asariel has posed:
Asariel had been happy that the piece went home with someone that could appreciate it...or at least it could cover up a dull wall. The white haired woman was not expecting anyone, but she hears the footfalls and her silvery gaze turns to regard the person. She smiles brightly, "Doctor Banner." she gives him a little wave as she climbs down the small ladder. "I mean, it's just the last painting if you really want to. I'll pay for the labor." she offers with a soft smile.

"Are you doing alright this evening?" she asks him. "Hopefully your painting arrived and there wasn't any issues?" she adds another question.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"I've got enough money I don't use," Bruce says with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand, "Consider it ... I don't know ... a thank you for talking to me like you weren't afraid I was about to turn into a monster. Been a while."

He moves to help, looking over to Asariel as he does.

"Not bad. Just out for an evening constitutional, I guess. And it did, thanks. I would've sent you a photo but I didn't get your number last time I was here."

Asariel has posed:
Asariel gives a soft nod to that, "You and me both really." she admits. "It's why I do a lot of charity work." she states. She moves the ladder over to the next spot. She gives a soft smile, "If you can hand it up I can hang it, sound like a good plan, Doctor?" she asks him as she looks to him.

"You know, I've been abducted by a cult as a child, attacked by demons and angels...I don't think I was ever worried about your alter ego though." she admits.

"I think my offering you my card got overwhelmed by all the people that came over, so that's no problem. I'll give you the number before you leave." she tells him.

"Do you have a lot of people avoid you?" she asks him quietly.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"The card?" Bruce asks, before reaching into his jeans and producing the crinkled little piece of cardboard he'd popped into his pocket at the event, "Oh, god, I'm sorry ... I guess those absent-minded professor stereotypes kinda fit."

He tucks it away again, moving to pick up the painting with a faint grunt of effort so he can pass it up the ladder to Asariel. He does his best to make it seem effortless, but his smaller self is not known for his strength.

"That sounds like an eventful childhood. Mine was mostly just getting the crap beaten out of me by dear old dad."

He pauses a little, lips pinching shut. That's not a fact he's shared even with his fellow Avengers, yet it came out like nothing.

Asariel has posed:
Asariel nods her head to that as he asks about the card, "The very same." she tells him. There's a chuckle, "No need to be sorry. It happens really. There was a lot going on and I know if big crowds get to me then they are hell on you." she states. "So you can send me a picture another night." she adds.

She climbs back up the ladder and reaches down to get the painting from him to hang. She fidgets with it a few times and then leans back, "Aha, perfect!" she claps softly. "Eventful is a word that could be used. Being a prisoner for a year is not recommended though." she shakes her head as she heads down the ladder.

Her face softens as she hears him talk about his father beating him and there's a flash that crosses her eyes, "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Bruce." she tells him quietly. "And I won't ask you to dwell on it either." she adds after a moment.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"He's been gone a long time," Bruce answers with a shake of his head, reaching up a hand to help her down should she need or want it, "I try not to think about him."

That's all he has to say on the subject. Those demons are very much still there, but deep, deep down.

"I'll definitely send you a photo tonight. In fact ... "

He fishes his phone from his pocket, fiddles with it for a moment, then holds it out in the universal selfie pose. A moment later, Asariel's own phone buzzes as it receives the picture.

"Just to remind me."

Asariel has posed:
Asariel reaches out to take the hand that is offered and she nods to him, "Good." she tells him quietly. "My father is...absentee really. My mom never married." she tells him. She doesn't bring up his father again, just not something she wanted to put someone through. When he says he'll send her a photo there's a smile, "Excellent. I'll be happy to see it." she admits.

The selfie is unexpected though and it makes her blush just a touch, "Well, thankfully you didn't add the duckface." she teases him gently as she takes her phone out of her back pocket. She looks to the selfie he sent and there's a smile, "See, that's not a bad picture." she tells him. "So what are you doing with your free time out tonight?" she asks him.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"I don't think it'd do me any favors," Bruce says of the duckface, "I think there's a law of diminishing returns when you turn forty."

The question about what he's doing tonight prompts him to tuck his hands into his pockets and raise his shoulders, taking a sudden and focused interest in the hanging painting before he speaks.

"Well, I'm kind of doing it. We didn't really get a chance to talk much at the event. That is, if you're not too busy? Got somewhere to be ... someone to see ... ?"

A leading question if ever there was one.

Asariel has posed:
Asariel gives a soft chuckle as she closes and moves the ladder, "Yeah, I tend to not do the duckface either." she tells him. "Isn't forty like the new thirty or however they call it these days?" she asks him.

"I don't have any plans this evening really. Probably go to get some dinner at some point since I've been cooped up in the studio most of the week working on sculptures." she states. "And no, I think the other half is busy with his stuff this weekend." she frowns to that. "I don't get much information there anymore." she shrugs.

"Have you eaten? Could go get dinner or I can order something and have dinner in the workshop if crowds aren't a good thing?" she offers.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce deflates in a barely perceptible way, hands still tucked in his pockets. He shrugs his shoulders in response, shaking his head and wrinkling his nose.

"Oh, no. No, I wouldn't want to be a bother. Or keep you ... "

Asariel has posed:
Asariel watches him and there is a bit of a squint at him as he wrinkles his nose, "Hey, I wouldn't have offered to buy dinner and hang out if it was a bother or if it was keeping me, Bruce." she points out in a gentle, but firm way.

"Really. I'd like to talk to you more if you're up for staying? The workshop is a little dustry given I've been breaking stone all week, so hopefully it's not too untidy." she chuckles.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"It's all good, I brought this," Bruce offers, producing his glasses case which holds not only cleaning spray but a microfiber cloth, "No dust can harm me now."

He definitely still seems reluctant, but ultimately he accepts with a nod of his head.

"You'll have to make the menu suggestions. I don't know any places in Brooklyn."

Asariel has posed:
"Perfect weapons against an artists workspace, really." Asariel tells him with a smile. She does sense that he's still reluctant, "I'll make you an offer. If you don't feel comfortable at any point or if you feel like you just need to go I won't stand in the way. Deal?" she asks him.

"Hmm. There is a good pizza place down the way. Lots of Italian places. Carbs. So many carbs." she chuckles as she looks to her phone to look over menus. "Any favorite cuisines?" she asks him.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Vegetarian anything is good. Keeps the blood pressure down. Because of, you know ... reasons."

Bruce presses his hands together, bowing slightly to her then gesturing for her to lead the way.

"Sounds like a good deal. Though I hope you're not expecting any fun Avengers stories. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I generally don't remember the good stuff ... and I'd bring 'him' out to talk, but he'd just be annoyed he wasn't sleeping in a cave somewhere."

Asariel has posed:
"Vegetarian it is then." Asariel nods to that. "And totally understand the blood pressure needing to stay down." she tells him with a nod. The bow makes her smile and she returns it, "Alright, this way for workshop. It's a pretty open design. I'm claustrophobic so I don't really like enclosed spaces for long amounts of time." she admits.

"Nah, wasn't planning to ask about Avengers things. Seems like most of them can't talk about work as it is." she points out. "Talk about whatever you like?" she offers as she pulls open a sliding door to the workshop. There's a sitting area with a table and a few seats. "Does he like caves? I'm sure we could find him one...somewhere." she tells him.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Seems like it's more parties than world-saving anyway," Bruce answers as they walk, "Can't remember the last time we ... did something, you know? Either they're off playing baseball, or at some party. Sans me, of course."

He shrugs, it might bother him but he does his level best not to show it. He squashes it all down, like he's done with most bad feelings throughout his entire life.

"He just likes being alone. It's ... a complicated story. He's sort of juvenile in his wants and needs. Think about Freud's Id ... although less of an asshole, I guess."

Asariel has posed:
Asariel gives a soft look to that, "Not everything is being a superhero these days. A lot of publicity comes from the job as well." she admits to that. "I mean...I'm not a superhero, not cut out for it." she admits. "Have you mentioned wanting to go to things?" she asks him as she takes a seat and motions to the one across from her.

She's quiet as she listens to him talk on his 'roomie'. "That makes sense really." the woman states. "I mean I'm not a scientist, my PHD is in Art." she muses. "But I've read some Freud." she nods to that.

"So besides buying ridiculously priced art when you are out, what do you like to do?" she asks him.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Oh, I don't want to bring it up. When it comes down to it, it just gives me more chance to do my own thing. Especially now that they've given me chance to get out on my own more."

"I'm not a psychologist, but I've lived with him long enough to pick up a few things, you know?"