14213/Neeeeeeeerds in Da Club

Neeeeeeeerds in Da Club
Date of Scene:	22 February 2023
Location:	Purgatory Night Club - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Bruce and Clea venture to the Hellfire Club for a fun outing while Dawn and Hank seek out clues to the body Dawn is inhabiting. Bruce and Dawn find common cause out on the dance floor while looking like Mike and Divine.
Cast of Characters:	Bruce Banner, Clea, Dawn Granger

---

Bruce Banner has posed:
For Bruce Banner, it was an opportunity to cut loose and do something that he hasn't had a chance to do for almost his entire adult life - go out and be social among people. He has spent so much time isolating from people, trying to avoid any situation that gets his heart rate up, that even simple things like dancing were off the table. And so tonight, he decided that was what he wanted to do, and after finding out that Clea had never been to a night club, he insisted the sorceress put down the search for a cure for a while to join him. Of course, of all the people who have been body swapped, he perhaps has the most incentive to see her take a while to find a solution.

For Hank Hall, it was something else entirely. Unsure of where to go and how to find some clue that would help get Dawn back into her own body, and out of...whatever body she was in .... he went along with her plan to go and visit some of the spots her body was recently seen. According to another Titan, that was a night club a week ago. And so he joined Dawn on her trip.

For Bruce, being in the body of a celebrity meant not only going to A club, but a chance to go to THE club, the most prestigious he could think of.

For Hank, it was just following a trail before it went cold.

And thus, the Hellfire Club.

Clea has posed:
Clea had looked at Bruce like he had a few extra heads when he'd suggested a night club. She'd had piles of books and spells going when he'd come to her with the suggestion. "I guess a small break won't hurt." she'd muttered. She really wasn't sure what one wore to a night club and some of the outfits she'd seen were making her feel like she'd misunderstood the assignment.

Bruce was in a rockstar body, so she was sure he was going to be fine with his socialization.

The white haired woman was distracted and hadn't left her work at home. She'd brought it with her mentally. "What...is this place?" she asks Bruce once she's done staring at something.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Nightclubs are not usually Dawn's thing. She'll go out with friends when asked, but it's not really her thing. However, given that Divine might have been in a nightclub, that's the easiest clue she's got so far. Surely it can't be hard to go to a nightclub and look around for someone that approaches and seems familiar with her?

Nothing could possibly get awkward with that.

"This is a good start, I think. If we can find everyone who's switched and get them all together, maybe we can figure something out. At the very least, it would be nice to know who I'm currently /in/. I don't want to make her life awkward if I can avoid it." Dawn is still Dawn, even in Divine's body.

Bruce Banner has posed:
One would think that being in a rock star body would help with the socialization. But Bruce Banner is still Bruce Banner, and despite celebrity looks, he is still interacting with everyone he talks to with the same twitchy introverted self that he exhibits. "It's a place to find music, and dance, and have a good time," says Bruce as he glances over the various clubbers. And their attire. "And, uh, I guess adopt colorful plumage as some sort of primitive mating ritual?" he asks, looking at Clea with a bit of a lopsided grin.

Hank Hall is not so sure that this is a good idea. At all. "You know what kind of people come to these kinds of places?" He takes a moment to look at Divine's body, the current host of Dawn, and then he frowns, pointing at her. "_That_ kind of people." He seems to not be giving a rousing endorsement of the body Dawn has found her way into. "Let's mingle a bit and see you recognize anyone, or if anyone recognizes...her." He sighs. "And so help me, if anyone tries to make a move on those..."

Clea has posed:
Clea's trying to dodge people. Because she's really not wanting folks to touch her. "It's..." she watches a waitress walk by, "Interesting." she states in a bit of a soft tone. She slips her hands into her pockets and watches things for a few moments.

"If you are wanting to go dance and things you'll probably need to go out there. I'm sure people are going to start recognizing the body that you're in as well...so might be a good idea to get fun in while you can." she states.

"No weird fun. Just fun." she adds quickly.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I'm fairly certain if someone tried to make a move I could very much make them regret it. Keeping you /calm/ in the midst of that would be my worry," Dawn-in-Divine says with a laugh, looking down at Divine's body for a moment. "See, this is exactly why we need to be here. Someone has to know her, and we know she was in some club. So this is a strong lead. Pretty sure we'll be able to tell the difference between someone recognizing and being familiar or someone trying to get /familiar/." She steps out of the way as people pass, which probably looks a little surprising on the six-foot, muscular frame of the woman. "Right, well, into the fray..."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce looks definitely uneasy in the club. It is soooooo not his scene. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," he says to himself, backing away from the dance floor a bit. "I mean, I don't know what I'm doing, and maybe I should have..."

Then there is a _scream_ from behind him, and he whirls around, ready to help whoever was in distress. Except it is a girl, running over and sliding am arm around his waist. "Oh my god it's you!" she screams again before turning and looking at a phone she is extending up to capture the two of them. One small flash, and then she turns and plants a kiss on his cheek for another flash. "Thank you!" And then she is gone in the crowd.

Bruce turns to look at Clea. "Maybe we should stick around. Just for a bit." He makes a face at her. "And what do you mean by 'weird fun'?"



On the other side of the club, Hank nods. "Good point. And look, I have been calm. Ish." He scratches at the side of his cheek. "Your body isn't too too far. She is keeping close, which is nice." He smiles. "I think after all of this is over, you should meet up with Tigra. She seems nice." A pause. "For a cat."

He laughs a bit as she called out that distinction. "I suppose anyone getting fresh is in for a rude awakening."

Clea has posed:
Clea gives a bit of a chuckle, "No, I don't think it was such a good idea, but, you only live once." she tells him. "Once you get over your jitters I think you'll be fine." she points out to him. When she hears the scream from behind them there is a wince.

She figured he was going to get recognized.

"I'll have to get back to working on things shortly, but you can handle things without me I think." she tells him with a smile. "And like...don't go sleep with anyone while you're in someone elses body. That sort of weird fun." she muses to that.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn laughs again. "Yeah, I think between both you and I whomever did that would be in a whole world of trouble. Probably get us kicked out." She flashes him a grin, which fades into a warm Dawn-like smile. "Glad she's staying nearby enough. I'd hate to think of what it might be like if she were much further away." She does a quick glance over the crowd. "... also I think we might be lucky because this body is, uh, intimidating. Maybe only the people who know her will approach?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
Frowning back at Clea, Bruce seems to take offense at that suggestion. "That would be a horribly rude thing to do. I mean, yes, it'd be nice to be able to actually do that again, but I'd feel bad using Mike's body for it. And then someone else would think it was Mike, and ... "He trails off. The implications of all of it!

Bruce glances around and edges back over towards Clea. "Maybe this was a bad idea. You're right."



Hank grins at Divine Dawn. "No, it would get _her_ kicked out," he says, pointing at Dawn. "They have no idea who you are. And me, I can just avoid catching attention." He glances sidelong at Divine's, uh, assets. "Not like you can avoid that, though." He sighs for a moment. "Yeah. She understood, pretty much right away, what it means to have your body close to mine." A pause. "Not in _that_ way!"

Clea has posed:
Clea gives a bit of a chuckle to Bruce, "Hey, I didn't say anything other than what others would tell you." she points out to him. "I also don't want to rain on you having fun." she adds. "So. How about I head back to work and you stay here to have some fun that you've been missing." she suggests. "I'm literally a portal away and I don't think that anything is going to be hurt if you have a smidge of fun." she tells him.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I'd still feel a little awkward getting her kicked out. I mean, what if one day she comes back and has problems getting in and can't convince anyone that it was someone else?" Dawn laughs, but gives him a look at his unintentional joke, then nudges him. "I imagine that was an awkward wakeup. But I know what you mean. Chaos needs some Order, so I'm glad that she's staying close enough for that."

Bruce Banner has posed:
It takes a moment, but then Bruce decides to just go ahead and live a little. What's the worst thing that happens? Mike gets a bit of bad press, maybe.



Meanwhile, Hank looks over at Divine Dawn and frowns a bit. "Yes, I suppose there is that. She could try to argue that it wasn't her, but..." He looks around at the room again, and then back to her. "I should make myself scarce. If I keep looming over you like a jealous scowling boyfriend, I might scare away folks who recognize her." And with that, Hawk slips away, in search of a drink and someplace else to lurk.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn flashes Hank a smile before he leaves. "You can always loom in a corner," she suggests, then makes her way towards the dance floor. Divine certainly looks like she could fit in here, so Dawn's feeling confident this will lead somewhere. Given she's a dancer, it's not hard to fall into a rhythm with the music. Club or not, dance is dance and at the very least she's going to have fun with it. She does, however, keep a sharp eye out for anyone who seems to head in her direction. She can both enjoy the dancing and do people hunting, right? Besides, she needs to be /visibile/ and there's no where more visible than being a good dancer on the dance floor.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce, on the other hand, is not at all a dancer. Although Mike's body was well suited for it, and Bruce does somehow inherently pick up the rhythm, he is unsure how to direct it, and so he just sort of bobs along in time to the music. He starts to move through the dance floor, not so much dancing as swimming among the sea of people, offering an occassional apology for brushing up against someone. He starts to move backwards, pressing through towards the center as he finds it a bit easier to navigate that way. But then he realizes that that is probably not ideal to avoid any mishaps, so he turns quickly to try to move forward.

And collides directly with a tall, statuesque woman. "Oh, sorry," he says quickly, before realizing precisely what his face has collided with. And that's when his face turns beet red.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Oh, sorry," Dawn-in-Divine echoes, looking a little flustered herself. "I'm not used to... dancing in crowds." She, of course, is willing to take the blame for all of it, despite where exactly Bruce landed. She clears her throat, glancing around to make sure Hank didn't see. "Are you okay? I mean, I didn't hurt yo--" She cuts herself off. Of /course/ she didn't hurt him. Not with where he landed.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce tries to step all the way back from her, but of course, it's a dance floor, so all that happens is that he gets bounced right back towards her. He puts up his hands to avoid colliding again, and thankfully keeps them out of any trouble regions. "No, I should have looked where I was going," he says. "I should have seen them, I mean you, before I..." His face continues on its redward progression. "I'm fine. Doing very well, actually, all things considered," he says, despite trying to hold off the press of people behind him. "I'm not much of a dancer, so..."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn laughs, placing a hand on Bruce's shoulder to steady him. "Hey, it's okay. Sounds like we're both fish out of water here. I'm more used to classical dancing, so clubs aren't usually my thing. I'm just, uh, keeping an eye out for my friends in case they're here." It's truthful, but she does feel a bit awkward talking about both herself and the body she's in with the same breath. That's going to be a little confusing. Should she pretend to be someone else?

Bruce Banner has posed:
Classical dancing? Bruce eyes Divine's physique and then looks up at her skeptically. "Sure, ok." He is a patron of the arts, and so he is _very_ familiar with classical dancing, and this woman? She does not seem to look _at all_ like what a classical dancer looks like. But far be it for him to accuse. "That's good of you to do. I was doing the same thing, but..." he turns to glance back towards where Clea was. But she, of course, portaled out. "I'm Bruce," he says, offering his hand. "I mean, Mike. I'm Mike."

Yeah, that was smooth.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Yeah, classical..." Dawn trails off, looking down at herself. Well, it's not technically a lie, but Divine's body certainly isn't hers. That's a bit awkward. However, it's not until she's already shaking Bruce's hand that she realizes she doesn't know her own name. "Hah, no, funny story, I actually have amnesia and don't know my own name. I promise it's not one of those fake things to ditch someone in a club. Anyway, Mike, nice to meet you."

Looks like she's just as smooth right now.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Yeah. Not one of those fake things to ditch someone. From Bruce's face, that actually had not occurred to him until she says oh. "Oh, I mean, I could just go," he says quietly, pointing over his shoulder. He could, but it would take some doing, with the press of people around him. And he tries briefly, but then just gets jostled back into place. "Amnesia, huh?" He seems a bit skeptical as he looks at her. "I had that once, actually. Or thought I did, at least. Turns out someone else had been at the wheel for far longer than I thought."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"No, it's okay, it's better if you're here anyway," Dawn says. "I won't look awkward dancing here by myself and it'll give me a chance to look for my friends. Or, rather, to let my friends look for me." She looks back to Bruce, raising an eyebrow. "Someone at the wheel? That sounds like..." She trails off, unsure how to continue the conversation. "Yeah, amnesia is a bit weird. I'm sure I'll figure it out at some point."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Alright, just, please don't mind my..." Bruce struggles to try to get his arms out and and to the side as he starts dancing closer to Divine. "I am not really good at this." Although when he is not actually paying attention to what he is doing, and he lets his instinct take over, he is not at all that bad. He looks up at her - which is safer than looking down, even if that is his natural tendency - and nods. "Any idea what caused it? I'm a scientist, and I've helped friends that have battled amnesia in the past. Maybe I can help?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"A scientist, huh? I don't know that it's, uh, a scientific change but I'm sure it can be figured out," Dawn says, glancing around again to double check if there's anyone giving her weird looks or anything. Not that it'd help entirely determine if they knew her. "I'm just hoping seeing a friend might jog my memory. All I know is that she, uh, I was in a nightclub sometime last week. I thought maybe I'm a regular?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
Glancing around himself, Bruce shrugs. "That's not a bad idea. Have you tried asking any of the servers or bartenders here? If you are a regular, they'd probably know you." He takes a moment to look her over. "You have a fairly distinctive look, so I don't imagine anyone would easily forget you."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn looks around, glancing about at the servers. "Oh, yeah, I do have a distinct look don't I?" She looks down at herself, having clearly forgotten just how /different/ she looks. "Uh, probably a good idea. I'm not entirely sure I want to admit that to strangers, though. It's a little harder to go up to someone and be like 'So hey, do you know me?' rather than just when someone mistakes me for--I mean, when someone recognizes me, to be able to have a conversation with them at that point. Safer, I think, because they have less of a reason to lie?"

She's clearly thinking hard about this.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Something about this conversation is not quite adding up. Bruce peers at Divine for a moment, thinking to himself. Admittedly, the odd phrasing might not have stuck in his head under ordinarily circumstances, but a woman _this_ distinctive with amnesia? He keeps the dancing going as he ponders some of the possibilities. "Can't just show up at your old haunts looking like this, right?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I mean, I could. I just have to figure out /what/ my old haunts are, unfortunately," Dawn smiles, rubbing the back of her neck, which looks a little clumsy so she puts her hand down again. The dancing continues, but she's focused mostly on the conversation. "I just know I was here last week or something. Maybe I'm not even a regular? It's a long shot."

It /is/ a bit awkward trying to explain it without lying or getting anyone in trouble.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Mmmm hmmm," replies Bruce, studying Divine as she moves a bit more closely now. "How do you know that?" he asks, tilting his head. "That you were here last week, I mean. Have you been doing some digging? What was the first thing you remember?" He continues to follow along with the beat, almost on auto-pilot. "I have a little bit of experience with these things, actually. Maybe I can help."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Damn, this is becoming awkward. More awkward than Dawn anticipated. "Uh, well I ran into someone who happened to be here and said she saw my distinct appearance here last week." She clears her throat a bit. "Digging is a bit hard when you aren't sure where to start. This is really the best I've done so far. I don't remember much other than waking up the other day. I might have hit my head, but I didn't have any real injuries."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Nodding slowly, Bruce follows along. He is listening, sure. But things are starting to click. Especially now that his brain is starting to remember why she looks familiar. Not _exactly_ like that hero, Power Girl, but could be her spitting image. If she was trying to hide herself, and go undercover. Maybe that's it? Or maybe... "If you'd like, I could try to take a look, and see if I could find anything. I've got some scanners that might be able to..." He ponders for a second, looking into her eyes. "Do you _really_ have no idea who you are?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Yes," Dawn replies, shaking her head a bit. "I don't know my own name, and I'm sort of honestly hoping to find it. I figure that way at least I'll be able to maybe do some more research on, well, me." It's the best she can do without awkwardly admitting that she's not Divine.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Again, Bruce nods. "Mmm. Does the name Power Girl mean anything to you?" He moves a bit away from her, just to get a bit more perspective as he dances, continuing to allow the music to guide his body. But his attention is firmly on considering the woman in front of him.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Not really. I mean, I've heard of her. Someone said I resemble her so maybe she's a sister of mine? I don't know. It's not like I can just find her easily." Dawn offers him a smile, the dancing coming naturally even if it isn't the type she tends to prefer or practice quite as much. It's clear she's a dancer of /some/ kind. "Sorry, I really don't mean to dump all of this on a stranger who literally just bumped into me. It's a bit awkward I'm sure."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"How do you know you're not her?" Bruce asks quietly. "I mean, you look just like her, you have no memory. Maybe you're her?" He laughs for a moment. "Can you fly, or bend steel bars? That'd be a dangerous combination for someone with amnesia." He shrugs off the apology. "No problem, I'm used to this sort of thing. Frankly, I'm more comfortable with this conversation than all the people telling me how hot I look in this body."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"You're used to this sort of thing?" Dawn asks, raising an eyebrow. "Well I don't /think/ I'm Power Girl, I do look a little different from her." As far as the bending steel bars, she stays silent on it until something he says catches her attention. "How hot you look in this /body/?" She tilts her head to the side slightly, giving him an appraising look.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Uh, yeah, strange things tend to happen around me in my line of work," he says. Once again, Bruce's eyes move over her. "Different hair, maybe, but..." His thoughts are disrupted by her question. "I mean, yeah..." He reaches up and waves his hands to indicate his body. "Am I hot, or what?" he says. Not entirely convincingly.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"You said you were a scientist or something, you've found some weird things? What /sort/ of weird things?" Dawn is now eyeing Mike's body a little more closely, then she shrugs her shoulders a bit. "Not really my type," she actually gives him a once over as if to assess that. "But I'm sure you're hot to the right people."

Bruce Banner has posed:
That makes Bruce laugh. "Oh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you," he says, with a bit of a grin. "Gods and monsters, other dimensions, time travel, you name it." He does not at all seem offended when she says he isn't her type. "Yeah, I'm sure I probably am," he says, unconvincingly. "Plenty here seemed to think so."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Oh, I believe it, I've seen some of that strange stuff firsthand," Dawn says, then pauses. "I mean, I probably have, that is, as that does not sound out of the ordinary to me." It's a little more complicated to keep this organized, which is also something that bothers her. Speaking as herself or as Divine is a tough thing, especially as she doesn't know much about who Divine is. "Should I stop bothering you and let you go dance with the ones checking you out?" She actually sounds amused by that.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"In the brief time since you woke up?" asks Bruce, peering at Divine now with a bit more interest. "Oh you just suspect..." He laughs quietly for a moment, and shakes his head. "No, this is actually much better and easier on me. That'd be inappropriate on all kinds of levels."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn raises an eyebrow again, glancing around for a moment. "Inappropriate for you to be dancing elsewhere? I'm flattered, but I'm kind of in a--" She cuts herself off because /that/ would have been a slip up. "If you want me to intimidate them away, I'm pretty good at that apparently." She gestures at herself. She is, after all, tall and certainly more muscular than she's used to being.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"No, inappropriate for me to be dancing with anyone in this..." Bruce pauses for a moment, catching himself. "Uh, club." He frowns, and if not for the fact that he is inherently social awkward, he might pick up something on this. But there are things tickling at his brain, even so. "I could see that. I'd think you'd still know how to do that, even if your longer term memory was impacted..." He tilts his head, studying her. "Alright, listen, this is going to sound weird, and I apologize if so, but..." He looks her dead in the eye. "Do you feel like you're in someone else's body?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn Granger says, "Are you taken or something?" Dawn is certainly a little confused as to the 'inappropriateness' of his situation, but when he looks her dead in the eye, she almost stops dancing because she's startled. "Yes," she says. "I do. I had a... dream about it." That's all she says, simply because if he knows, he knows."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Laughing at that question, Bruce shakes his head. "Oh, no, not unless you consider my live-in..." He stops himself. That is usually a Bruce joke. It does not quite work when he isn't.... But then his question finally clarifies things. And her answer solidifies it. "Did it involve a not so jolly green giant?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Totally not a coincidence, it sounds like," Dawn nods slightly, then looks over at him. "Yeah, he was certainly a bit mad at someone. It was a hell of an adventure, but I certainly woke up feeling /really different/." She studies him. "I'm guessing you had the same dream."

Bruce Banner has posed:
There is a slow nod, as Bruce seems to size her up. He leans forward to try to get closer to her ear. "Something like that. Who are you, really, in there?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Dove," Dawn replies simply. "With the Titans. I'm not entirely familiar with everyone else who was there, so it becomes a bit tricky hunting people down, but I figure we should try and group everyone up. Seems the logical thing to me. What about you? Who're you in there?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
While Bruce may not know Dove specifically, he's familiar with the Titans. He laughs at her question. "Well, technically, _I_ wasn't there," he says, chuckling. "But my big green headmate was." He straightens a bit and extends a hand. "Dr. Bruce Banner, currently looking an awful lot like Mike Hannigan." he says, quietly enough that only Dawn can make it out. "Want to go somewhere a bit better to try to talk this through?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Ah! Okay, well, that would explain things a bit," Dawn says sheepishly. She's certainly aware of the words, as her hearing is well more enhanced than she even likes. She's trying her best to not focus on her senses individually too much. Dawn nods in his direction, then takes the hand she's shaking and moves to weave her way through the dancers. It's easier for her to clear a path than it might be for him anyway.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Deeply appreciative of Divine's efforts to clear a path, Bruce follows along with her. "Yeah, I'm glad I thought to say something, because ... it's weird." He laughs a bit. "And yes, I figured as much as it might be nice, I doubt Mike would appreciate me using his body for some random hook-ups. Not nice consequences to leave him, and he's being careful enough with my body."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Ah," Dawn replies. "I'm not entirely sure who all has been swapped. It doesn't seem like it's been straight across the board. I am doing a good job of taking care of this body. I figure it's respectful to not have to worry about where your body's been, you know?" She finds her way to somewhere that's slightly quieter, a pair of seats with a small table between. "I believe my body's currently under the care of Tigra, but this certainly isn't /her/ body. My hope is that we can find some of the people, see who has ideas. I'm not a big fan of sitting and not figuring this out. I miss being /me/. Things feel a little off, and believe me I am not used to the... abilities."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Yeah, we've been trying to track the vectors a bit. Some were straight up, me and Mike for example, but..>" He nods as he listens to her. Then Bruce snaps his finger and points at her. "Ah, yes." He stifles a bit of a grin as she mentions that. "She's one of mine, an Avenger, and she is, uh, fun. Yeah." He looks around nervously, and then settles back into his seat as he looks at Divine. "So is she a supe?" He nods towards Divine. "I mean, like I said, dead ringer for Power Girl."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I hope she'll take good care of me while she's borrowing it. I'd like to be back in one piece and I'm pretty sure Hawk would be mad if I wasn't," Dawn says with a laugh, then looks over at Bruce again. It's interesting to take him in, without actually knowing what the person inside looks like. "I don't think she's Power Girl, but she certainly is /something/. I can't say I'm terribly familiar with the whole family, but she's certainly got the abilities. Flight is, uh, a little more difficult than I normally have. A little too fast, harder to control."

She nods in his direction. "Are you doing okay with the switch right now? I imagine it might be harder for some people than others."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Oh, she'll take good care of it, Tigra is a good people," Bruce says. "She's very responsible." He nods quietly, thinking over what she says. He laughs quietly. "You have flight as Dove? Of course, a bird, makes sense." He rubs at his chin, thinking. "I haven't taken Mike's abilities for a spin, apparently he is also some kind of bird thing." He shrugs. "But he hasn't Hulked out, so that works for both of us."

He considers that question. "Well, think about it this way. I spend my entire life with a monster screaming in my brain to get out, and all of a sudden, he's not there. So really, this is a lot easier on me than my regular body is."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I can... sort of understand that. Can't say I've got a monster in there, but I've certainly got a guiding hand. It sort of ties in with my own personal need for things to be a bit more centered and orderly. So while I don't have anything in there quite like you, I've got someone encouraging things to be peaceful and orderly. It's a little weird now, I've gotten so used to having that there." Dawn nods towards him.

"I personally would like mine back. It reminds me of a time when I didn't know Hawk. I'm glad you're at least getting a break. I've found I've learned a lot about myself being in someone else's shoes quite literally."

Bruce Banner has posed:
That seems to intrigue Bruce. "Your super power is being OCD?" He tilts his head, staring at her. "That is interesting, to say the least." He laughs a bit. "I can see how that would be a shift, having that kind of overwhelming sense and then it is gone."

He nods. "Yeah. I mean, I think I'm probably the only one coming out ahead in this thing. And I wouldn't wish the curse of the Hulk on anyone else. It's my responsibility, so really, I should own it."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn laughs at the suggestion. "No, not quite the same. It's more that the Lord of Order influences who I am as Dove. I prefer the orderliness of things. I just also happen to be someone who likes things organized and tidy." She looks back over at him. "It's good to feel something a bit different, like I said, learning a lot of things, but I miss the connection I have with both Hawk. Both as Dove and without the costume."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Uh huh. Just happen." Bruce nods. "The God of Order influences you, and you conveniently like order." He shakes his head, and listens as she continues. "So now that you're in this body, you don't have a connection to him anymore?" His fingers absently play with a cocktail napkin.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Not in the same way, no," Dawn replies. "I'm not technically Dove in this body. I don't quite have the same calming effect now that I have when I'm in the right place. It's just that I like being on a team with my partner. Hawk and I work well together, and while we're just as great together when we aren't fighting and saving lives, there's a sort of synergy that's beautiful between Hawk and Dove."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce nods slowly along with that, as it starts to resonate a bit with him. "Got it. So you two are partners, and so you're used to having one, and now you're solo, and it just feels...uncomfortable." He rubs at his chin again. "I could see that. Some of my friends are dynamic duos, so to speak. Always felt weird when one was off, so I get where that is." He shrugs. "Luckily for me, no one wants to get too close to a ticking rage bomb, so..."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"We're great partners. We can do our own thing solo, but you get us in a fight together or a rough situation, we just know how to work off each other like it's a dance," Dawn almost sound reverent at the idea. It /is/ really interesting and beautiful now that she thinks about it. His mention of ticking rage bomb gets a hearty laugh, which sounds heartier than she means given her body.

"See, you say that and that's the exact opposite. I'm the calming influence on my partner. There's the Lord of Order and the Lord of Chaos, so you have Dove and Hawk. Hawk can be a rage bomb, Dove calms him down. I'm just lucky that my partner is in love with me for me, not just the body influenced by Order."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Yeah," says Bruce, nodding slowly. "I've seen that in action. Got a few friends that are like that, beautiful thing to see. Hawkeye and the Widow, Cap and Bucky..." He shrugs. "Me, I'm just ol me." He glances back at her with that hearty laugh and smiles himself.

"Ah, so he's rage, and you're calm. That makes sense. Good partnership." That last bit makes him smile. "That's good to hear. He's a lucky guy, it sounds like."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"We're really good for each other," Dawn agrees with a smile. "I'm lucky to have someone that keeps me on my toes and out of my own head too much. Overthinking things and all." She does note his comments about how he's just himself and she pauses for a moment. "You don't have to be a pair. Honestly, I never would have thought of myself in a pair like I am. It's funny how quickly a couple of years really change you. I think you're good the way you are. You clearly handle a lot on your own and that's impressive. Maybe when I've got my own body back, we can see if I can help keep things calm."

Dawn smiles a bit wider. "I'd try now but I'm not sure /I'm/ the calming one. I think that comes with the Dove mantle. You've also not got your green buddy currently."

Bruce Banner has posed:
That notion seems to strike him as interesting. "Huh. Is calming things part of your super power?" Bruce shifts a bit as he thinks about the implications of that. "I mean, yes, I keep things in check, for the most part, because I can't afford not to. Devastation and all that."

"Yeah. He's...well, I'm a bit worried, to be honest. I mean, Mike seems ok and all, but to think he hasn't gotten angry at all in the past week, makes me worry if the Hulk isn't with my body, and not with my mind...where is he?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Calming's something Dove does to a certain extent," Dawn notes. "But apparently I'm pretty decent at doing it at least in the right circumstances. Worth a try on the Hulk at some point. Maybe I'm just innately the Angry Person whisperer. I can see the concern though. Maybe the Hulk is stuck in the dream? I'm not sure exactly what went wrong in there, so it could be that we didn't all get back out."

She's certainly thinking. "However, even if he's somewhere else... wherever he is, he might not be happy to be stuck there."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"How tough are you?" Bruce asks quickly. "I mean, you can fly and calm people. How durable are you?" He leans across the table. "Because the thing is, the Hulk is not so easy to calm, and no disrespect intended towards your abilities, but if you _fail_, and he takes a swing...not too many can take that."

He thinks for a moment. Hulk stuck in the dream. Or stuck somewhere. "Yeah. He's not going to be pleasant when he gets out. He's probably smashing things left and right./"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I've survived a multiple story drop before and been just fine, and an explosion up close and personal," Dawn says with a chuckle. "So I'm not going to break and I'll probably survive a whole punch if I'm not quick enough to dodge. I also heal quickly, so you don't have to feel bad if I do get in his way. I suppose it'd depend on how hard the swing. I'd be willing to try, if things get hairy when he comes back."

She offers him a smile. "I imagine I'd be pretty pissed stuck somewhere I'm not used to as well. We can see what we can do to calm him, but I'm willing to do my best. I'm pretty used to calming anger and making it okay. So you're lucky to have run into me, I guess. Literally and figuratively."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"I don't think you understand," Bruce says quickly. "You're talking about a guy that hits harder than the one in the blue tights." He shakes his head. "If he gets it into his mind to smash, he smashes. So really, you better be able to try to do it from a distance. And have an escape plan." He shakes his head again. "Too risky for you."

"I consider myself lucky to have found you, but trust me, if you found him, that luck would change. Better off using your powers to keep him from coming out." He sighs, dropping back into the chair. "He's just too dangerous."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Does it help if you know my general fighting style is /dodging/?" Dawn laughs, but shakes her head as she notices the way he reacts. "Just because he's dangerous doesn't mean you are, though. Even if he's hitching a ride in there with you, ignoring now of course, it doesn't mean you aren't /you/. From what I've seen so far, you're an intelligent and responsible person. You've clearly got morals since you're avoiding taking Mike's body out for a spin. I'm no psychologist, but I don't think you should make yourself second fiddle to him."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Ah, see, that is the rational response, sure, but..." Bruce sighs. "I can't control when he comes out, other than keeping myself calm. Which works most of the time, but...once he is out, he is his own thing." He plays with the cocktail napkin a bit more. "And the things he does, when he's out ... maybe I'm not the one doing them, but they're still my responsibility."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"That's a lot of weight on you, mentally," Dawn says, her tone softer. "I can understand being worried about that. You're Dr. Banner, though. You're stil you, and you seem far too timid just talking about the Hulk when you were just fine talking to me about my 'amnesia'. Enjoy your life when he doesn't come out, okay? Don't let fear of him ruin your life experiences."

She looks sheepish for a moment. "Sorry, I just... it's just an observation."

Bruce Banner has posed:
That is something to consider. Bruce looks at her, thinking through that. "Yeah. I mean, that's all well and good, until I enjoy my life too much and he comes out, and the people close to me have to deal with him." His fingers absently spread apart, tearing the cocktail napkin in half as he presses it against the table. "And I have to deal with what he does to them when I come back."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn sighs, but her look is compassionate. "I'm no therapist, but it doesn't mean you should lock yourself away just because he needs to be at times. It's really sad to meet you and see you just as tortured as he seems to be in his rage. You have friends in the Avengers, right? I imagine you allow yourself to be close to them because they can handle the Hulk?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Well, yeah. They generally can." Bruce frowns a bit, glancing down at the napkin, and then looking back to Dawn. "It's a bit different, though. That's the team, and yeah, we look out for each other. It's a whole other thing." He sighs deeply, settling back again in the chair. "I do have to lock him away. I don't have a choice in that. And to lock him away, I have to lock me away. It's just the way it is." He shrugs. "I've resigned myself to that. Trust me. It's ok."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I hope you know I'm going to be your friend now, Bruce," Dawn states, matter-of-factly. "You need one, and you need someone not on your team. If the Hulk comes out, I'm plenty fast in getting out and you've got teammates. Maybe I'll even be able to calm him down, who knows. The point is, if you lock yourself entirely away you'll be miserable. Trust me, I've seen it happen before. Honestly? If you get a break being in this body, I hope you get a little more time in it. I know I want to be back in mine, but if this is all you get for a while... I'd rather wait just a little longer."

Bruce Banner has posed:
There is a laugh at that. "Such violent friendship from a Dove," Bruce replies. "Or assertive, maybe, is a better, if not as humorous, term." He considers that offer, and nods. "I'll keep that in mind. But don't mind me if I say that if the Hulk comes out, you should be using that speed to get _away_, plenty fast. He doesn't mess around." He nods slowly. "Yeah, it's a break. To be sure, but..." He shakes his head. "I don't want to use someone else's body longer than I have to. The Hulk is _my_ punishment, not Mike's."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Well, given that I can't be /Dove/ right now, I'm going for assertive. I can certainly be assertive when I want to be, trust me," Dawn laughs a little. "But don't worry, if I'm in trouble, Dove is capable of getting me out if I need to." She looks at Bruce in Mike's body, but smiles at him again. "You said the Hulk wasn't bugging him yet, so let him enjoy being Bruce Banner. If the Hulk's not there and he's not here, at the very least you're on a vacation and you can prepare your allies to be ready if the Hulk's not happy when he comes back."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Fair point." Bruce nods. "But like I said, if Hulk isn't in me, or in Mike...he has to be somewhere, and likely causing trouble wherever that is." He sighs, and crumples up the two pieces of napkin. "But yeah. I appreciate the offer. Just remember what I said - you get out of there fast. Because I can tell I can't convince you not to try."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Seems you can read me like a book even when we're both not exactly our usual selves," Dawn says with a smile. "Don't worry, if things get hairy I'll get out. Trust me, I wouldn't want Hawk getting into the mix. Two angry gentlemen in one place sounds like a terrible idea, so I'll make sure to avoid that. Just try and be okay with the fact that some people want to be friends with you even if it's risky. That's kind of what every relationship, friendship or romantic, is built off of. We're vulnerable."

Bruce Banner has posed:
It is hard to argue that point, so Bruce simply nods. "Yeah. I get it." He sighs. "Well, I consider myself lucky then to have run into you. I don't exactly have the best of luck with friends, but not too many folks take kindly to being punched into other states." A pause. "Geographically, not matter." He laughs nervously. "The Hulk hasn't punched anyone into a liquid. Yet."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn laughs. "Well, I'll just rely on the fact that I'm pretty amazing at dodging and I'm pretty fast. So hopefully I can just avoid those punches. I should probably get back though, Hawk's lurking around somewhere and he'll want to know if I've found anything out. I should be around the Titans Tower, though, so I'll be easy to find if you think of anything that could help us. Or if you just need a friend to talk to." She laughs.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Yeah, well...he's pretty fast too. Just a warning." Bruce nods, and offers a warm smile to her. "You should get back, for sure. And if you run into anyone else in our predicament, we're kind of trying to identify everyone to save them call Avengers Mansion at the least. We have a board up that tracks where everyone is." He miles back at her, and nods. "I appreciate that, Dove. I'll ring you if I need you."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Well, you've got Tigra to check on at least, I have no idea who's in her body and that /might/ be something you want to check on," Dawn nods at him. "Well, it'll be easy to find me. I'm going to do my best not to be causing any trouble in this body, so I may be sticking fairly close to home while I can." She gets to her feet. "It's honestly good to meet you, Bruce, even if we haven't technically even met you."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Oh, I think Cap took care of that," replies Bruce. "But we have a few others we are trying to track down." He rises up as well, and he reaches out his hand. "I suppose that's true. We'll have to meet up when we're in our own bodies, then."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I'll let you know if I hear of anything or find anyone," Dawn says, then takes his hand again. "I'll look forward to meeting you all over again when one thing in our lives is a little less crazy. At least for me." She smiles, feeling a little bad at the idea that it'd be when he'd be stuck with the Hulk again.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Sounds delightful." Bruce gives Divine Dove's hand a squeeze, and then a warm smile. "And don't worry - we'll get you back with your Hawk soon enough. I promise." She, at least, has a reason to hasten this to conclusion. And he'll do his best to help her with it.