4961/Oh No Wheres Bo

Oh No Wheres Bo
Date of Scene:	31 January 2021
Location:	Pym's Mobile Lab
Synopsis:	Hank invites Bruce over. Bo has a timeout for using the drums too much. Mike has a LOT of questions.
Cast of Characters:	Hank Pym, Michael Hannigan, Bruce Banner

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Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym has had a bit of a stressful week. Intent on a quiet Sunday evening he has secured the ants at their normal sizes, shut down his experiments, and sits on his lab table writing in his personal journal. The lab table is not as Spartan as you might think, having a futon, pillows and bedding spread out on it. He understands his daughter refers an actual bed. Rookie.

Raphael's Flask plays softly in the background. The scientist checks his phone for any replies to texts, he'd sent. Nothing. Okay slow night in. Just as well. he felt the depression building. He'd meditate and turn in early, maybe call Reed to come over in the morning to work on stuff.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
At some point Hank does get notice of a visitor from ouside the team. And eventually Mike Hannigan gets through and he doesn't need directions for where Hank's lab is. He's been here before. In fact, it feels like just a week ag- Oh right. That's because it was. That was a very long day indeed.

The tired musician steps through the grounds. Upon reaching the door, he gives a slight smile and knocks.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Of course he got the message. The problem is, like most things Banner manages to remember to be there. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember to reply to said message. Some people. Noting the presence of another, he nods politely and waits for someone to open the door,"Good evening." he offers politely.

Hard to say why, but he looks back over his shoulder, almost like he's looking for someone following him. Regardless, he waits for the door to be opened to see what Pym has in store for them.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym looks up at the chimes. Isn't that always the way of it? "Bo? Cozette? Oh right." Hank jumps off the table, walks over to the door and opens it with a yank.

"Oh hey fellows! Welcome. Come in, it's freezing out there. Mi casa es su casa. Have you met? Burce Banner, Mike Hannigan. Bo is in the ant colony, Mike. He couldn't stop playing his drums. Thanks." The scientist turns to enter the lab and leave room for the others.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Hearing the greeting from Bruce, the knitcapped man turns his head to look to the scientist also at the door. "Evening." Mike replies, small smile still in place. As Bruce looks behind him, Mike turns his head to look the same way curiously. "Expecting another?"

As the door opens up, Mike turns to face the door, looking down expecting to find Bo's head staring back at him. The smile dies slightly as he's instead greeted with a view of Hank's ...stomach. His head shifts up, giving a questioning glance before the whereabouts of Bo is given. "Oh. Well. He seemed really interested in my set when you sent him to the condo so.."

He pauses, turning to look to the third man. Smile reforming he looks to Bruce. "Nice to meet you, Bruce." He adds in now that there's a name to add to the greeting.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Turning his attention back towards Mike he shakes his head,"Only every other minute." he admits in the expectation of someone else,"It never ends." The door opens and he nods to Pym and looks a little confused about the ant and the drumming. He shakes his head and lets that one go past him.

His attention back to Mike and replies,"A pleasure." he replies to him and then looks back to see what Pym is up to. There is a tired look in his eyes and his over all presence really. A vacation would likely do him wonders.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym looks at Bruce and says simply, "You need a vacation. We'll talk. We can hit a nice deserted planet in the Microverse. You can let yourself go. Comr grab a stool or a spot on the lab table guys. I bought donuts but put them away when I didn't get any tests back. I didn't want the ants getting at them. Hmmm my daughter should show up as soom as the box is opened." He heads into the storeroom and bustles about.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike considers what Bruce said before the door opened, smile fading as Bruce looks away from him. Bullies? Troublemakers? Hmm. He looks to Bruce curiously. Ok granted. They're the same height and Mike may even have a bit of a weight advantage if there was a scuffle between the two of them. But, still expecting trouble to pop up every few minutes at his age? Damn. What the HELL happened to him when he was a kid?

...

Or maybe he's just projecting on to the guy. There's got to be other meanings.

Refocusing, Mike makes his way over to grab a stool. He glances back to Bruce and then to Hank as he heads off.

He looks over to Bruce again, "...Text message?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
There is a nod and he taps his back pocket where his phone likely is,"Text message." Banner replies,"Someday I will remmeber to respond to those things instead of just assuming I returned it. Technology is only my forte in specific instances.

He settles onto a stool and nods at the mention of Nadia joining. He leans against the nearest horizontal surface,"Doctor Pym never fails to deliver so this should be interesting."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym nods and says, "I didn't invite you because I thought you were with Wade, Mike. I guess he isn't doing too badly."

Hank sets the donuts out and says, "We're pretty safe here, Bruce. Try to relax. If your follower show up, I'll just hand him a donut and make him some cocoa. I think I have some ghost pepper ice cream left over from last night. No one else wanted it."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"He's doing better." Mike admits, "Got discharged with some follow up stuff. He's back home resting. Trying to give him some quiet." At the mention of follower, he glances over to Bruce, then to Hank. "Follower? Like with Wade or something else?"

Wait.

Ghost Pepper Ice Cream?

Bruce Banner has posed:
There is a smirk to Hank and he nods,"I'll keep that in mind. Trouble always seems to find me." He shudders a little at the idea of the ghost pepper ice cream,"That might even stop the other guy." he comments.

His turns his attention towards Michael and shakes his head,"Not exactly." he admits to him,"Something akin to a lurker that never leaves your shoulder. No matter where you go." He looks to Hank and nods again,"Just been a rough little bit, still trying to figure some things out."

Hank Pym has posed:
In truth, members of Hank and Bruce's set have many little signs and codewords to vet a person to their colleagues. Hank never bothers to learn them keeping his secrets secret until told otherwise. Bruce probably is behind as well on the latest handshake and team signs.

"I trust Mike with my life. In fact I have, in writing." Then he selects a plump Boston Cream. The large band on his wrist jangles a little awkwardly.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Ah." Mike considers Bruce's description, still curious, "Like an overprotective manager?"

As Hank endorses him out of the blue, he looks over to Hank. "...Thanks Hank. And obviously I trust you with what happened last week."

Bruce Banner has posed:
A nod to Hank and Banner actually laughs softly. It isn't really a point of mirth either. The sound is almost haunting as he tells Michael,"The thing that follows me is within me. ALl the time." he explains,"Most usually find this hard to believe, so please don't ask for proof other than my word and Dr. Pym's word." he comments gravely.

It's not easy talking about this and anybody can see that in his eyes,"The other guy is an...alter ego so to speak." he explains in the easiest terms possible,"Consider it a Jekyll and Hyde, only my Hyde weighs over half a ton and destroys everything in his path. Most people call him..." he pauses and just can't quite use the word. He looks at Pym with a sort of sad askance.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym puts a hand gently on Bruce's shoulder. "Hulk. They call him the Hulk. Se Bruce makes most of my drama look like the rant of a teen girl who got her phone taken away. Not Nadia obviously. She can build her own phone. Also I don't recommend taking anything away from her in a rude manner. Have a donut Bruce. If the other guy shows up I'll kill him with kindness. He's really misunderstood and he has issues. You can talk him most of the way down and if that fails... I always have a plan Bruce... even if it's the Justice League on speed dial. Maybe he'd like to hear some of Mike's music or meet my ants."

The depression is fading there is that. Friends are good. Helping other people is good. Maybe his time in the lab was just a way of coping all these years.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The musician is quiet. Any form of smile gone as he processes the information given.

Mike eventually recovers and when he does, he has a flood of questions coming to mind and most of them spurned by elements of the book. "...If it is within. Why were you physically looking behind you earlier? Do you visualize him? Are you having arguments with the Hyd-Hulk? What triggers him? Is it a chemical or do you do it on your own now?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
Another laugh, the first one that actually sounds not grim. Bruce nods to Hank and tells him,"Singing and ants might distract him. Less likely to blow his top maybe." He sighs and leans on the counter again,"Hopefully the Justice League wouldn't be necessary considering."

He shakes his head when he finally returns his attention to Michael and tells him,"It's not him I expect to find behind me. The government keeps trying to decide if I get to be here or there. Damn fools don't really know what they will get if they try to hold him. As for how. Usually stress or anger triggers him. I tend to wake up miles away, half naked, and not hung over." Almost a joke,"While we are both the same being, I don't know what he does and only see him on the news. He really doesn't know what I do either, just knows he doesn't want to become me any more than I want to become him."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym nods. "It's a very complex problem... I mean I've read all the info I could on the other guy, Bruce and I'm a decent biochemist and I barely can scratch the process. It's like making sense of a hundred languages at once in chemistry terms and I only speak 30-40 tops to stretch the example but... I have a thing for people in mental distress if you haven't noticed. Water seeking its level. You been reading my file, Bruce?" Now he gives a grim laugh. Then bites into his donut.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike's brows lift at the description of what happens. "...Okay so with the government thing and that. Traditional therapy's a bit hard I'm guessing."

He looks over to Hank, recalling mention of music earlier, "...Do I need to guess which track you're referring to? We could try it but, results may vary."

Bruce Banner has posed:
A shake of his head and Bruce takes a doughnut as well. He sighs and admits,"I probably should be reading your files Hank. It might keep me from climbing around in my own head." He sighs and he adds,"I am an expert on the subject, reading and speaking 200 languages, and I still can't find a way to make the monster go away for good."

He glances towards Mike and nods,"The government can't decide whether to put me out of their misery or keep me around incase of invasion. If all else fails, point a monster at it and pull the trigger." He smirks and admits,"The government's very own living weapon of mass destruction. That said I have managed to control it some, meditations and certain...illicit in some places natural drugs. Music can help as well."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym nods his head. "I... had to stop my BPD meds. It's created issues, interacting with my powers and health. I've been practicing meditation. I found some of Mike's music is a bog help, it's playing now in fact, Raphael's Flask. It... is... especially... soothing." Hank does a halfway decent imitation of Spock petting a tribble, then smiles.

"I was actually listening to it before I met Mike. It was one of Tony's dog and pony shows.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike tilts his head, starting to pay attention to the background music and sure enough, its the free download version that's playing on repeat. Granted, on low volume which made it not as obvious but, still playing. Ah. So there it is.

The musician looks back to Bruce and looks back to Banner. "It was a benefit for Bushwick." He supplies, giving a bit more context to the meeting that Hank is referring to. "He's actually part of the reason I re-released Deprive as a free download."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Anything to keep the blood pressure down." Banner agrees,"I don't want to think about what hypertension might do in my life." Another bit of the doughnut and he admits,"I have used music at times, but I think this is the first I have heard yours. You are good." He's always just a hint of awkward even when trying to pay a compliment.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym ponders a moment. "Bruce did you ever think of getting yourself a pet? I have a couple really sweet ants if you want to borrow one... They're pretty durable too. I mean I wouldn't suggest a puppy or kitten because... you know... smash?" Hank is only half joking. Possibly. The smash part was definitely a joke.

"Would you want to meet one Bruce? He's harmless... well he's friendly. Just turn your back on him if he tries to jump on you. I'm trying to break him of the habit."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Thank you Bruce." Mike acknowledges the compliment. He looks over to Hank, "How long has this song been playing?"

Bruce Banner has posed:
"I do like dogs, but they can smell it." Banner comments and indicates his inner arm,"They can smell the radiation in my blood. Most are OK with it, but some get...aggressive. That doesn't go well." A shake of his head and he admits,"Not sure I am quite ready for an ant that might randomly jump on my back Hank, but thank you for the offer."

Poor Michael, he pauses and looks at him,"A very long story short. I was exposed to gamma radiation in a large does to cause the other guy. Most animals can sense it." Even the short version can take a long time to unpack for someone.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym hmmms. "We might be able to mask the scent or get a specific dog acclimated to you, Bruce. Probably acclimation. Dogs have very discriminatory noses. Ants too. Maybe we introduce you to the ants another time. Hmmm, Mike, you think Bruce would benefit from meeting Saeko? I'm sort of biased. Everyone should meet Saeko."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Radiation?" Mike repeats, he frowns, "Is that something you give off? Are we too close to you?" He shifts slightly in his seat before Hank brings up Saeko and the possibility of introducing her to Bruce. "I'm not entirely sure all that she does. You did seem to be in a better mood after meeting her though."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"I haven't caused anyone to get radiation poisoning if that's what you are worried about." he assures Michael,"I wouldn't get too close to my blood as it is potentially hazardous and has caused problems in the past. Well, it sounds reassuring from his point of view.

His curiosity gets the better of him when he asks Hank,"What or who is Saeko?" he finally asks. Pesky scientific curiosity gets him every time. A better mood is never a bad thing in his case.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym ponders his answer. "Saeko is lovely. She's a... she... she's a fox spirit. A shapeshifter. She wants to be a superhero and she helps people. She helped me when my spirits were really low, almost broken. She talks and you feel better." He shrugs, realizing he's babbling.