20385/Isolated Islanding

Isolated Islanding
Date of Scene:	07 April 2025
Location:	An Isolated Island
Synopsis:	Clea meets Bruce at his isolated vacation spot.
Cast of Characters:	Bruce Banner, Clea

---

Bruce Banner has posed:
It has been several weeks since Bruce Banner put himself into a self-imposed exile, with Clea's assistance. The island, with a long stretch of uninhabited forest, originally felt like something out of Survivor -- empty of the ease of modern life -- except that Clea set up a magical house and supplies for Bruce to use.

Though over the course of his time there, Bruce ended up setting up and working on a technological project he'd had on a back burner. And so, the house's interior is more of a lab than a place to rest and relax, with some solar panels set outside in a tangle of cords and creativity.

Still, at the moment Bruce has set the project aside, and is seated way down on an island cliff edge in the shadow of some trees, with a lunch. The breeze pulls at his shirt and hair, and the recent tan mixed with sunburn gives him a warm aspect.

Clea has posed:
Clea's little magical tricks didn't let Bruce be uncomfortable on the island. He needed some isolation...not a punishment. If something is low, magic restocks it. When you're dealing with a sorceress who can create whatever she wants or needs...she tends to overlook that it might be a bit daunting on others.

There's no sentient coconuts though!

There is the gentlest of breezes that bring in a more familiar feeling and then Clea appears a few feet away from him. Dressed in vibrant purple and barefoot for the moment. "You're looking well, Bruce." she states as she approaches.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Oh, gosh. Surprised me. You need a little bell," Bruce teases her after he jumps a little at the unexpected appearance. He's not //alarmed// and it isn't like this would set him off, anyway. Maybe if he were already in some state of extreme alarm, then it would have: but while having lunch on a beach and daydreaming? As safe as any time to surprise Bruce. So it's teasing only, and has no shred of anxiety to it.

"I feel well," Bruce answers. "Pull up a little bit of sand if you like," he offers, and then lifts and tilts his little container of fruit for her to share if she chooses. A mix of berries and grapes he's eating with his sandwich.

Clea has posed:
Clea laughs softly as she looks to him, "Like a cat?" she asks him. "Figured I would stop in and see how you were doing and to make note of any requests that you might have?" she asks him as she smooths out her long skirt and settles into a seated position. She wiggles her toes into the sand and gives a smile to things.

"That's good." she nods to him. When the container is offered, she picks out a grape to take, "Thank you." she tells him. "You've not been missing anything back in New York." she grins at that.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Yes, exactly like a cat," Bruce answers, with a laugh and lifting spread of his free hand. the other has his sandwich, and he isn't about to set it down while he's enjoying it.

"Requests... no, I think my time here is coming to a close. I'm to the point where I feel like I'm wasting time here, which suggests to me I'm ready to go back and contribute to something again," Bruce explains. "When the prorities shift away from feeling worried all the time... I am safer to be around."

Bruce looks at her toes in the sand and returns the smile. "Not missing anything? Well, good, good. I'm glad my vacation didn't take me away if I were needed."

Clea has posed:
Clea chuckles at that, "I'll see about getting a bell at some point." she tells him with an amused smile. She does listen to him though as he speaks. Not interrupting him as he does. "Is there something in particular you were worried about, Bruce? Or is it just an amalgamation of everything sometimes?" she asks him curiously.

"It's been rather quiet back home." she explains. "It'll be good to have you back in the lab at the mansion though. Sadly the SHIELD higher ups said I can't redecorate the lab to island chic for you." she pouts playfully at that.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Island chic makes me think of a lab full of sand," Bruce says, with some mixed horror. He pauses. "And we have enough of that with the giant ant farms in Pym's. Let's stay away from anything that Pym would find stylish," Bruce chuckles teasingly. He pauses to finish the piece of sandwich he was eating.

"Thanks for checking on me," Bruce adds a little abruptly, shifting the topic to that he is honestly appreciative that she did, and has been doing so. "It wasn't something specific. More a feeling of... being drained. That the defenses, or walls, or... patience? It wasn't there. And being in my head about it, worrying about it, wasn't allowing me to build that back up again."

Clea has posed:
Clea gives a bit of a look to Bruce, "What are you, Anakin Skywalker? Sand gets everywhere?" she asks him with a laugh. Yes, she knows Star Wars. "I know it's bad for the lab. We could always get an inflatable palm tree or something for you." she grins. "I'd be a poor friend if I didn't check on you...even if I've been restocking things." she muses.

"So how about we make a deal, when you feel like your meter is running low you just ask for an island retreat and I'll get you here?" she offers to him.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"I sure hope I'm not Anakin Skywalker, things don't end well for him, a lot of dark in there," Bruce laughs, surprised at the Star wars reference. He hadn't expected Clea to know it, and doesn't tend to pop culture reference if he knows the other person will give him a puzzled look. Bruce is empathetic with others, not wanting anyone to feel left out. But he notes that she does know that one and more than he expected!

"If I want an island retreat again, I'll ask. Will do," Bruce agrees elusively. If he does feel he needs to get away further, he'll do that, but seems sincere with this agreement. He helps himself to more of the fruit he'd brought out, stretches out his feet further. His pants are rolled up to mid shin, which does have some tan line there: he's regularly rolled them up to that same spot or a bit lower. A creature of habit.

"I'll pack up some of my things, return tomorrow," Bruce suggests. "If that's a good time for magic portals of returning."

Clea has posed:
Clea gives a look to him, "He finds the light before he goes. It could have been worse." she states. What about Alderaan?! "I do like Star Wars. Though I am amused that some of my magical friends don't wield lightsabers regularly." she muses.

"Thank you. It takes little effort to do this and I would like to make sure that if you need it that I can provide it. I could even make a little key or something that might transport in times of emergency?" she offers.

"You don't have to rush. It is easy to get you back home from this place. Though I feel like I should have made sunscreen a priority." she grins as she reaches out to poke the tan line on his shin. "Maybe the next time I need a break I'll come curl up in a hammock." she muses.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Well, part of the... trip here is to make it not so easy to get back. If it's something easy to use, magical, like a key, well..... I don't need to have the other guy decide to head on back at an inopportune moment," Bruce says. He's smiling, though: he doesn't seem to be in any stress about it, the joke is lighter and relaxed.

"What, you don't like the tan? I think it's an improvement on my lab-rat pallor," Bruce smiles. "Nobody here, able to tan the whole body." He laughs. He didn't do that, of course. Or did he?

"Come have dinner with me tonight if you'd like. I can take a break from packing up my relaxation items," Bruce invites.

Clea has posed:
"Aha, no, I didn't think about that." Clea admits to that. He was the genius, she was behind on that. "I don't think I have any trips planned. Or all of them have been done while you were here." she smiles to that.

"I do like the tan, you look healthy and happy." she states with a smile to him. "Sunbathing in the nude, Doctor Banner?" she teases him.

His offer of dinner is met with a smile, "I'd love to have dinner with you." she tells him. "Should I come back?" she asks him.

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Better tan than green or gray?" Bruce half expects her to admits green may be the best of those physically, but Bruce doesn't really seem to be upset or concerned now even if she teased him on that. He's been doing some good meditaton time, likely, and has his calm going very well. Even if it's just on the surface, it is still a good veneer of calm.

"And no, I do keep my shorts on," Banner coughs, blushing. Even Hulk keeps shorts on. Well, at least to where Bruce knows about it!

"I wasn't suggesting you had to leave, no. I wasn't sure if you had other things to do. You are welcome to stay while I pack up, of course." Bruce finishes the fruit items, with a quick smile, and climbs to his feet, dark eyes moving back to the little vacation hut. "Though it won't take long. At least I travel light." He offers her hand up to her feet--not that she needs it, but more that he wanted to--to cross back towards the little vacation house.

It's time to start to go back to civilization.