16057/Walk in the park

Walk in the park
Date of Scene:	11 October 2023
Location:	Columbus Park
Synopsis:	Mary encountered Bruce in the park. They had a nice conversation including giving her the opportunity to come to the Avengers Mansion in the future.
Cast of Characters:	Bruce Banner, Mary Bromfield

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Bruce Banner has posed:
People. Not great. Park. A little better. Bruce slipped out of the mansion and decided maybe caffiene wasn't the best answer. His recent change to the Hulk is not known since he was immediately kicked to another world before the chaos could really break free. Still, he needs to get away from potential stress.

Sitting on a park bench, Bruce is watching people come and go. Casual interest in the nearest mahjong game and just takes it slow and easy breathing.

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Walking down the path is a fairly familiar person, to Bruce anyway. Mary is busy filming something by the statue of Christopher Columbus, which... well, given that Columbus Day was yesterday, and she looks...

Well, from this distance, she looks pretty fired up, so she's probably doing some online streaming thing at his expense. As it should be, more than likely, as she then stops recording on her cellphone, putting it away. Grinning to herself, she starts walking down the path, unintentionally bringing herself to pass right by Bruce's bench.

Bruce Banner has posed:
The familiar face and voice gets Bruce's attention. He turns his head towards the sound and nods mostly to himself when he recognizes her. She seems to be pretty wrapped up in things and so he doesn't interupt her for the moment.

Once she is done and moving again, he asks her politely,"Are you getting ready for your next...podcast?" Not the best at social cues, he probably doesn't know if she is about to speak well or eviscerate the famous explorer.

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary smiles, "Oh hi Dr. Banner! No, that was just a quick Tiktok to blast Columbus for being a genocidal butthead." She chuckles a little, then shrugs, "This time of year I always feel a little angry about him, so I try and vent a bit online so I get it out of my system."

She pauses, then gestures to the bench, "How have you been? Everything going okay?" She does sound genuinely concerned as she tilts her head in his direction.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce indicates the bench next to him with a nod if she is so inclined,"History is there to be learned from, not loved." he comments,"I have watched people who were revered when I was born become demonized long after their deaths. Columbus certainly made bad choices too, just saying."

He laughs at himself and adds,"At least the world is honest about their opinions about me now. I won't have to wait to die to be villified." He is trying to be engaging, maybe even funny. He's just not very good at it,"Over all I have been well. Someone thought they might be able to help me with the other guy, rather than make it better he drew him out and dropped us into a proverbial war zone on another planet."

That comes out as if it was just another Thursday or something. He's come to terms with the Hulk and the shenanigans that ensue. He doesn't love it, but at least he isn't wound as tight as he was when he was younger.

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary tsks and lightly taps Bruce on the shoulder, "Hey, you aren't anything like Columbus. Dude was chastized by his /contemporaries/ for being a genocidal butthead. You and the... well, the Other Guy, that's not exactly something you can control. I mean, you're not waking up thinking, 'Well, today, I'm gonna destroy Cleveland because I can!' right?"

She pauses, "Though, well, if you picked Cincinnati i think less people would mind." She winks, clearly joking at that, then she blinks at the mention of being dropped on another planet, "Wow, how'd you get back here then?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
"I wake up knowing it is possible, but no I don't wake up wanting to." he agrees with her. He's not going to get too caught up in a history bashing as he doesn't have all the facts and answers,"History is not my strongest subject." he admits.

There is a hint of a smirk and nods,"I have been both places, Cleveland is decidedly better." The can at least pick up on jokes now,"I got back the same way we left. Something called a boom tube. When I started to change he pushed me through, when the locals on the planet called a truce of sorts we went back into the boom tube and came back here. Fortunately, the other guy was already coming down."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary nods, "Well, that's good at least. Though, yeah, sounds like he just needs a lot of open space to roam. Pity you can't just get a couple acres in Nebraska for him to run around in when he needs to cut loose. Definitely can understand the need to get away from things for a while."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"He is hard to keep caught, but he does just want peace and quiet as I understand it." Bruce nods,"He's appeared in New York and I have awakened in northern Quebec. He covers ground fast. I like the way you are thinking though. Somewhere to put him when he gets out."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary grins, "Just a whole lot of nothing that he can just bounce around in, and there's like, no one out there. Of course, the problem with it being the middle of nowhere is that it takes a while to get there. Though Quebec? How's your French?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
"The more, the better." he agrees with her assessment,"It does take time though. That much is true. Sometimes it is tempting to stay away, but usually SHIELD comes looking for me. I keep money and a card in sewed into most of he pants so I usually have means to get food and shelter."

A soft chuckle and he admits,"My French is meager at best, pathetic at worst. The other guy managed to cross the Wolverine and the Wendigo both at the same time. Some Canadian loggers said it was the greatest grudge match of all times. I woke up cold, barely clothed, and fortunate that there were local loggers to keep me from freezing or changing back."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary blinks, then laughs. "Well, sounds like the Other Guy definitely gets into a fair amount of scrapes. Can't even imagine what that's like." She pauses, as if about to say something else, then cuts herself off and instead goes with, "Never really was good with other languages, unless we're talking computers anyway."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"He gets himself in almost as many as he gets me out of." Bruce admits. He notes the hesitation. Questions about the Hulk are easy to see and he tells her,"Whatever you thinking, just ask. You don't come at me like a maniac and try to grill me with questions. As for languages, I am good with Latin, it comes with the territory. I can survive Spanish and Portugese, but neither are particularly strong."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary smiles, "Oh no, it's nothing like that, it's just..." She pauses, waffling a bit, "Well, let's just say you aren't the only one with an alter ego, though mine isn't quite as... problematic?" She chuckles, "And hey, it's your business, not mine. I don't want to pry, honestly I just wanted to try and help."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Curious. He does that one real well. She mentions having an alter ego and he raises a brow,"Be glad there's not a problem then." he advises. Problematic, he can't help but laugh at that,"That's one word for him. The other guy is like a child in manner and even innocent most of the time. A child that weighs close to half a ton with a bad temper, but a child none the less. He protects me even if he isn't fond of me. He just wants to get someplace quiet, away from people. Sometimes I think he has the right idea."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary nods, "Well, these days, it's not the worst thing to want, honestly. Just get off someplace where the noise of the city doesn't get to him." She smiles a bit, looking somewhat relieved that Bruce isn't digging any more about her. Not that she has a Hulk inside of her.

Just a Magic Word.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Not particularly fond of people asking him questions, he doesn't try to pry on those that might have their own secrets. He nods and looks over the park,"It isn't too bad in this park. Central Park is almost as crazy as the city itself."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary nods, "Yeah, much as I like Central Park, some of these off the beaten path are preferable for peace and quiet." She leans back on the bench, then glances sidelong at Bruce, "So, you still need someone to fix Captain America's laptop? Or at least organize his desktop?" Her lips curve into a bit of a wry grin at that.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"We need all the peace we can get." Bruce agrees and considers her words. A nod and he admits,"Whatever he did, it's a little out of my reach. I can use computers, but fixing them, that's not my strongest. Eventually I can find my way, but probably it is safer to let a pro take care of it. Come to the mansion some afternoon and we will get with Steve and make sure you show him how to avoid the trouble with the viruses."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary blinks, "You... wait, you want me... to come to the Mansion? Seriously?" She looks, well, a bit surprised at the invitation, but smiles, "Um, you won't mind if I totally fangirl up a little bit, there might be squeeing involved." She looks a bit sheepish, but inside her there's definitely a loop going...

10 OMG OMG OMG
20 GOTO 10

Bruce Banner has posed:
He looks a little confusd at the words at first, but after a moment he gets the gist of the situation and laughs again,"It will be fine. Just don't try to take one home with you and things will be fine." he assures her,"I have been asked for an autograph or two in recent days. I am not sure what that was about, but I signed it."

Mary Bromfield has posed:
Mary grins, 'Well, I'm not the biggest superhero fan, that'd be my kid brothers. They would be geeking out of their minds if they knew I was going to the Mansion. But yeah, I can come in and take care of Steve's gear. And probably get some proper upgrades to the software too, since, well, government is a master of the lowest bidder." She smiles, "Just let me know a time to come over and I'll be there."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Ahh. A chance to make the brothers jealous. I like it." he tells her,"It isn't often the oldest gets the opportunity the youngest do. I may be an only child, but even I know that."

Considering for a long moment he nods,"You are not wrong about the government." he agrees,"I will arrange things and will give you a call."

In one place for too long, two agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. appear to bring him back to the Avengers mansion. Bruce rolls his eyes and tells her,"It was nice talking to you again Mary. I still have your number and will contact you soon." With that he gets up and tells them,"You really are good at this." They are friendly, but not overly engaging. The trio head out of the park.