16150/Mind Your Manners

Mind Your Manners
Date of Scene:	22 October 2023
Location:	Union Square Park
Synopsis:	Mr. Manners interrupts Mark's work-out time in Union Park -- when the clayface-imitator threatens Bunny Macleod, repeatedly, Mark's forced to use some bad manners to free Bunny from his clutches!
Cast of Characters:	Bunny Macleod, Mark Grayson

---

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    A Sunny Sunday Afternoon in one of the most history-soaked parks in New York City. People are enjoying the sunlight in spite of the cooler weather. There are food vendors and hawkers of souvineers for tourists (which are DRASTICALLY overpriced), and there's someone playing guitar with the case open in front of them, some spare change thrown in.

    "It's gonna take a lot to drag me a-waaaaay from you -- nothing that a thousand men or more could ever do-!" he croons, "I bless the RAAAAINS down in AAAAFRICA!"

    People are milling about, a couple having stopped to listen to the strangely popular song about trying to find a cure for lycanthropoy in the African rainy season.

    People are weird.

    And among them, Bunny Macleod is wearing a T-shirt beneath one of Mark's hoodies, and woolen stockings under a skirt, still wearing skates, the fading pink giving her hair a peachy sort of tone to it. She wears her goggles, but is sitting on a the back of one of the park benches, humming along in tune. She's eating a hotdog. There is extra mustard.

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark has learned that any hoodie that comes into the apartment will be appropriated by Bunny at some point. This has become especially true as more and more of his clothes have found their way to what has quickly gone from a single to a double in occupancy.

While Bunny is taking a break and enjoying a hot dog, Mark is taking yet another jog around the park. There is an exercise regime that he follows everyday. Running, lifting the heaviest thing he can get his hands on. Flight, pushing himself as hard as he can.

It picked up atfer his fight with Juggernaut. He's been pushing himself as hard as he can, just to trying to be a little stronger. A little faster. A little better.

He is just completing another lap, just coming into view of Bunny and her hot dog as he makes his way over in her direction.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny had needed a break, since she'd skipped breakfast, and had elected to skate around with Mark for the first dozen rounds, but had gotten scolded by some old biddies for grinding on a handy railing, which is why she opted to take a break. She gives a grin to Mark, raising another foil-wrapped hotdog when someone knocks it out of her hands, and the foil-wrapped package goes flying, soaring in an arc and landing, splattering, over a pair of familiar dark gray boots.

    "Now now..." a chiding voice calls out "Throwing food is *very* rude --"

    M I S T E R M A N N E R S!

    He begins to make an approach towards Bunny, looming over her at his natural seven foot two, his hair recently having fled his head.

    "I think... I recall your face."

    Understandably he doesn't recognize Mark.

Mark Grayson has posed:
The hot flies ungracefully through the air. It doesn't have any type of aerodynamics to it. When it lands on the man's boots, and he turns to see where it went, Mark feels a cool rush of blood through his veins.

While Mister Manners may not recognize Mark, Mark recognizes him. And he feels that cool rush. He was a powerful enemy. Mark would feel challenged, and it would be a thrill.

Then he reminds himself that they are in a very public park, he's not in costume. Jogging up to the man, Mark clears his throat. "I saw what happened!" he offers in his best Good Samaritan voice. "Someone bumped her and the hot dog came free. I'm sure she didn't mean it!"

A smile is offered as he unwraps the cooling towel he had around his neck. "I'm sure it will clean up without an issue? Could ask the hot dog guy if he has some seltzer water you could use?"

And he is tries to insert himself between Bunny and Mister Manners. "I'll even treat you to a weiner, if you want one?"

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny braces herself to use her powers, when Mark intercepts Manners.

    Manners pauses, and though it is difficult for him, he gives a suffering sigh. "Young man. I have business with that girl." he explains, and then reaches down to just wrap his huge hand, his fingers extending out to really get a good hold on him to try and lift him to eyelevel. "You should have stepped aside." he states, and then turns to toss Mark gently into the trees at the center of the park.

    He continues his ominous march towards Bunny then.

    "Now, where were we before we were so *rudely* interrupted...?" he questions.

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark was ready to just try to be polite. To try to defuse the situation in the best way possible. Let the guy clean his boot, but him a hot dog, all would be well!

Maybe he should have offered a Hostess Fruit Pie instead.

Grabbed by the shirt, he quickly realizes this is going sideways, but he doesn't have time to react before he's thrown. Tossed aside, Mark slams into a Coke machine. It rattles and spits out a canned drink.

Just as Mister Manners is approaching Bunny, looking all ominous, there's a groaning creak of metal. And with Manners focused on Bunny, he might miss the Coke machine flying in on his blindside as Mark rises to his feet, the towel being used as a gaiter to hide the bottom part of his face.

He is NOT Invincible, just some super-strong guy. They're a dime a dozen.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    They are a dime a dozen, aren't they?

    A (just for the taste of it!) Diet Coke pops out of the machine as Mark hits it. It rattles down to his head and bursts, taking off like a rocket to the other side of the park.

    Manners looms over Bunny, who raises her hand up, preparing to bubble when --

    CRUNCH! The coke machine ends up striking Manners's head, sending him stumbling some ten feet to the side, pinned partially beneath the weight of the mechanical drink dispenser!

    "Oooh... now *THAT* was rude--" Manners snarls, and he picks up the coke machine and launches it back towards Mark with a grunt!

    "Yet another young hero lines up to be taught a lesson in Manners!"

Mark Grayson has posed:
Maybe Manners was going to apologize to Bunny. Maybe he just wanted to wish her a good day.

None of that matters now. As the Coke machine slams into Mister Manners, Mark is on his feet, launching towards Manners when the machine is sent back towards him.

Mark leaps, slamming his fist into the machine to drive it into the ground - so it won't hit anyone else - before he's lurching at Manners.

"And you're just another Boomer jerk that doesn't know how to keep him hands to himself! Talk about bad Manners!" And he knows of Manner's unique composition, so he comes in low, aiming for the legs to try to knock him off of his feet instead of bodying him -- which was a bad move the last time they fought! *

* (See Scene 15868 for Invincible's first meeting with Mister Manner!)

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Mark's a clever boy!

    Manners was definitely not going to wish Bunny a good day.

    The behemoth gives a snarl -- he just got OK Boomer'd! -- and he raises his meaty fists in order to try and drive Mark into the ground, his mouth twisting into an ugly grimace as he swings-and-a-misses --

    And instead is knocked off his feet by Mark's blow!

    "IT'S POOR MANNERS TO NOT RESPECT YOUR ELDERS, YOUNG MAN!" he howls from the cracks on the pavement, and reaches out to try and grab Mark's leg so he can sling *HIM* into the pavement on the other side!

Mark Grayson has posed:
As Manners tumbles, Mark was just turning to try to quickly reverse his course after knocking him over. "It's terrible manners to be a JERK!" he calls out. "I bet you eat with your mouth open like a cow chewing cud!"

He's done being polite. And then Manners grabs his ankle. Oh. No, Mark's lived through this before. He was about to kick Manners in the face when the villain starts to sling him.

"SHIELD!" he yells to Bunny, hoping that Bunny can shield Mark from htting the pavement at full force and distract Manners long enough for him to get his leg free!

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny was already circling, and as Mark's slung over in an arc, she's leaped, and grabbed hold of his arm, flailing her legs a little as she wraps her arms around him and, indeed, shields.

    This means a few things: There is an awful large dent in the pavement now, in the shape of a semi circle.

    There is also a bubble around Mark.

    And Bunny's shield has also caught up Manners' hand around Mark's ankle, which appears to make him NOT HAPPY.

    "AH. SO THIS IS THE ERRANT BOYFRIEND!" he snarls, and he lets go of Mark's ankle.

    Mark and Bunny are still in the middle of the circle. Manners attempts to shake him off. The bubble wiggles and is flung around a bit like a balloon glued in place.

    Bunny looks to Mark. "... uh. We have a minute or so before I have to drop it. Got any fives?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
When Bunny shields him and he and her end up in the ground in a momentary heap, Mark is pushing himself as he tries to regain his bearings.

A couple of shakes of his head, and he finally gets a clear feeling and realizes he and Bunny are getting tousled about. "If you knew she had a boyfriend, you shouldn't have been creeping on her!"

With Bunny giving him an update, Mark nods his head slowly, running the countdown in his head.

'Got any fives?'

"Yes. A pair of them." His hands close into fist and he makes a subtle motion, turning one hand flat and then his other fist is slammed into it and he points at Manners.

Can Bunny reshape and make her shield mobile enough that Mark can smash it into Manners' face?

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "CREEPING on her?! I WAS GOING TO TEACH HER -- A LESSON!" Manners snarls angrily and begins to beat his other fist against the shield!

    Bunny gives a soft groan against Mark's shoulder at the joke, and manuvers herself around so that she's koala-riding Mark.

    "We look ridiculous. This is kinda hilarious." she whispers, and then she drops the shield for a split second, just as the fist is incoming.

    And then she switches. Her gasoline-kaleidoscope of a shield covers just her and Mark, with half an inch to spare as she concentrates very, very hard on his heartbeat and pulse, trying to keep hers at the same rate!

    Must Protect the Boyfriend!

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I'm sure you say that to all the schoolgirls you come across." Mark retorts dryly to Manners as he gets a Bunny-koala backpack.

"We totally look silly." he agrees with Bunny, as he considers the options. When Bunny makes the shield smaller, he asks her. "I suppose you can't close the shield and cut off his hand, huh?"

So instead, Mark does the next best thing. As he starts to stomp on the meaty digits on his leg, while growling. "So now that we teach you a lesson in Manners, NO TOUCHING WITHOUT CONSENT."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
"I don't know what he's made of! What if he regenerates from his hand?!" Buns squeaks as she holds onto Mark. R
    Manners graahs and curses the more that his hand is stomped on his pliable fingers attempting to extend, but no, he's kept at bay by the stomping! He attempts to grab the shielded couple but to no avail!

    And when Bunny drops the shield again, hopping off Mark's back and skating backwards a good fifteen feet to give Mark space to manuever.

    Manners himself backs up, breathing heavily as he rubs his hand with a sullen expression.

    "How about 'children should be seen --" he picks up the hot dog cart, and then lobs it over Mark, and right at Bunny!

    "And not HEARD!"

Mark Grayson has posed:
As soon as they are free, Mark feels Bunny come off of his back and Manners seperate. He has a moment to breathe and was just about to figure out his next move, just as the hot dog cart takes flight.

He doesn't have a chance to intercept it as it flies at his girlfriend. And when it crashes down and bursts open in metallic pices, hot dogs, chips, drinks and hot dog water (gross), he can only hope Bunny shielded in time. He trusts her.

Their more than friends or lovers. He knows she's capable in the field.

But that does not stop the rush that hits him. "How about I teach you something new." Mark snaps, eyes dark as suddenly he's in a burst of superspeed that tears up the ground. His hands grab Manners from behind, beneath the shoulders. He lifts, twists, feet coming off the ground as he goes backward and /suplexes/ Manners into the ground.

As he comes out the suplex, Mark grabs him by the ankle and moves to whip him into the ground as hard as he can.

Clearly, Mark wants to see what's inside.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny shields from the grossness as hotdog and water covers her shield, ketchup and mustard and relish and fried onions, her hands up, her eyes closing and she goes 'eeeeeeew' from behind Mark.

    "MY CABBAGES! -- wait no MY HOT DOG CART!" the vendor shouts in dismay!

    Manners, however, though he might have relished the throw of the cart finds himself in quite the pickle.

    Manners hits the ground. He squishes and compacts from the force, and then he's picked up -- still squished and reforming, and his leg stretches a few feet as MArk slings him around and whips him into the ground!

    He splats slightly. Well, more than slightly. He's fairly splatted.

    And then he groans. He brings his arms up, and begins to peel himself from the ground, silly putty-like skin showing cracks and patterns from the pavement in relief as he turns to Mark.

    "And what's that supposed to be, young... man." the seven foot tall Manners questions.

Mark Grayson has posed:
Sliding across the ground as he slings Manners away, Mark finds himself seperated from Bunny. His eyes flare in anger, the young man may be much shorter than Manners, but at the moment, that Viltrumite display of agreession is in full force.

"She's /not yours/ to have, Manners. Teaching or otherwise." The ground cement cracks beneath Mark. "Walk away." he gives only one warning.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Heh... heh... we're going to be GOOD FRIENDS THEN!" Manners snarls, and Mark gets to see the inside of MIster Manners.

    It happens quickly, too quick for Bunny to process what's happening until it's almost too late.

    His arm snaps out, extending and loose. HIs fingers wrap around Bunny, and then he pulls her in.

    His torso splits from his collar bone to his solar plexus, and he unfolds. It looks like someone cutting open a ball of rubber bands, with the rubber bands snapping apart being his skin and insides, and Mark would see that he doesn't have organs. It's all sandy, clay-like material, as if he's made of children's modeling dough. It smells rank, like rotting meat -- and Bunny has a brief moment when she shimmers -- and then is slammed into the opening!

    Her arm sticks out of his chest from the elbow out, and her hand is frantically reaching out to try and stop herself from sinking in!

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark's eyes widen in horror as Bunny seems to be getting devoured by Manners. That is /definetly/ not something that is any type of polite mannerism in any way shape or form.

Before Bunny's arm can disappear, Mark is there. Both of his hands grab her upper arm and grips it, as he can see Bunny's prismatic shield with. "Hold on!" he yells to her.

And then he twists. Hard. Fast. Not the arm. Not Bunny. The whole mass of Manners, Bunny and Mark.

And once he gets Manners off the ground and out of his anchor?

Faster and faster Mark spins. His body remains rigidly in place, his grip on Bunny sound as he pulls her closer and continues to spin.

He has already determined that like Silly Putty, Manners is a vicous fluid beneath his 'skin'. Does he know what happens to such a fluid when you put it in a centirfuge?

Mark's junior high school science teacher did such an experiment on seperating solids from liquids. It's a good thing he paid attention during that lesson.

He hits Mach 1 with a crack of thunder, continuing to build up that whirlwind that is forming around him.

Can Manners keep it together?

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Manners certainly tries!

    "No no -- NO NO NO -- she's a part of me now!" Manners cries out, trying to discourage Mark from spinning him (right round baby), and then he begins to peels away. It's gross. There's 'shrrllooorp' sounds as he tries to cling to Bunny's shields --

    And then finally he releases. In pieces. Chunks of him are sky bound, other parts splatter against the ground and surrounding buildings. The hotdog vendor has to dodge behind a wall that gets splattered with some Bad Manners.

    Bunny keeps her shield going, her eyes closed, face in a very, very upset expression as she's freed from the gooey confines of Manners's insides!

Mark Grayson has posed:
Mark doesn't stop spinning until Bunny has been extracted from all of Manners. As the last bits of her start to splut off and fly away, the young man pulls in Bunny and grabs her as tight as he can around the waist as he comes to a halt.

Not suddenly. That would rip her in half. But it's a pretty quick motion. And there's a reason for it.

Releasing Bunny, he sets her down and pulls away from her to race along the ground. He grabs the large business size jar of mayonaisse that was from the hot dog cart -- WHO PUTS MAYO ON HOT DOGS? -- as well as the same size pickle container. Setting one down, he starts grabbing blobs of Manners and shoving him into the mayonaisse, displacing it with Manner gloops. Stuffing it as full as he can, seals it, and dumps out the pickles to repear the process.

He may not get all of Manners, but he'll get enough to keep him from fully reforming, he hopes!

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny is slowed to a stop. Her eyes are still closed. Her stomach, however, is Unsettled for myriad reasons.

    And as she's set down, she promptly teeters, and then grabs onto a nearby trashcan to evacuate her hotdog from earlier as Mark tends to the clean up of Manners.

    Jar after jar is filled with Manners, who yes will have difficulty re-forming, and can be at least taken to one of the better temporary homes for wayward powered people.

    Mark makes quick work of it. People cheer, and Bunny teeters back over to Mark with a @_@ expression.

Mark Grayson has posed:
Setting down the last jar, Mark makes his way back over to Bunny. He checks over her and himself to make sure there is no bit of Manners left stuck to them. Then he hears the applauds and cheers and uhs.

Bunny sees his cheeks flare with warm warmth she hasn't seen since they have gotten more comfortable with dating.

"I'd suggest no putting that..." a point at the black condiment jars, "...on any hot dogs you may want to find on the ground!"

He picks up the sound of approaching police sirens and as Bunny teeters to him. He picks her up. "Have a good day!" And with that, he's quickly lifting in the air and absconding with his girlfriend before they have to talk to the police.

He so needs a shower.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny gives an affirmative nod. "That's just some Bad Manners." she states dizzily, and then she finds herself scooped up, looking up at Mark with his flushed cheeks and warmth, and she loops an arm around Mark's shoulder before he lifts up into the air.

    She also really... really wants a shower. And possibly a wire brush.

    Ew.