now i'm stronger than yesterday

[greenisnteasy]

Who: The Hulk, some unfortunate scientists, and YOU.
When: Early morning hours of Day 22 (before sunrise). Good mooooorning.
Where: Near the woods.
What: After going missing for four in-game days, Bruce comes back... Kind of. Come mingle with the big guy!

At some point in time, Bruce wakes up to find himself held captive, and he decides to break free.

That much, at least, the Hulk knows, or can guess, or whatever – he doesn't really care about Banner's issues very much at all because Banner doesn't care about his, and if he didn't need the Hulk, he wouldn't have let him out in the first place. Why should the Hulk care about him? What the Hulk does care about are people trying to hurt Banner because Banner's body is his body somewhere down the line, and that is so not okay. That is the opposite of okay.

They might be able to contain Banner, but the Hulk is convinced they can't contain him.

He's right. Of course. He's the strongest there is, and these dinky, wimpy little scientists with their stupid machines are so easy to squish. Too easy – there's a nagging, a tugging, and something from Banner's end bleeds through. It isn't really a conscious thought, or a string of words, but it's something the Hulk understands anyway. Take prisoners to interrogate. What were they doing to Banner, what did they want to do with the Hulk?

The Hulk snorts, but nods to himself. Okay, Banner. That's a good one.

While the Hulk's deciding this, his captors realize the Hulk's right – they aren't going to win this one.

The Hulk couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when they start to move him; he's busy fighting, dealing with a particularly thorny (but ultimately destroyed, thanks) machine. He does notice when he starts to fall.

Roaring in rage, he drops out of the sky much like Loki's box did, and he lands on his back, with a loud crash, just outside of the woods. In his arms, he's cradling one live scientist. Two dead ones tumble out with him, in crumpled heaps beside him, but he doesn't really pay attention to that. What matters to him is trying to figure out where those white coat bastards dropped him. He holds out his captive, looking into his face, and thinks of how to interrogate.

Maybe if he just growls in his face.

Comments

[agentx13]

"You used to work with my boyfriend a lot in another universe. Here, I just know Dr. Banner." She turns her head to the two bodies. "You're the only one who's been able to hurt the scientists."

"Bet you managed to take care of some others that didn't come through with you, too. Any idea how many?"

[greenisnteasy]

She just caught him on a good day. The Hulk doesn't have much to say to that, except to snort.

"The Hulk doesn't smash unless you give him a reason. So don't."

Because she'll so lose. The Hulk is nothing but confident in his ability to win every fight, ever.

[primogen_vampirate]

"A fair exchange."

Well, the scientist was alive, at any rate. Mina would slip some vitae later, just to make sure any internal injuries she was missing were properly attended to. She couldn't afford to keep a ghoul long term, but for the purposes of healing, it seemed like an acceptable use of blood.

"I'll have to get it back to the clinic," she said. "For observation. I suppose I should tell Carter and Coulson about this..."

[greenisnteasy]

Something worms its way to the front of his mind -- not Banner, but knowledge.

"Flag Man." She's totally going to know he means Captain America, right? Sure. "And Metal Man. I'm taking him to the Avengers."

The Hulk's forbidding tone is more because, well, that is what he was doing, and also because he isn't sure he wants to let her have him. He doesn't know her, but he likes the Avengers; they worked together before. He's also concerned with someone stealing his thunder, and here he is, helping.

[primogen_vampirate]

A frustrated noise rose up into Mina's throat. But she swallowed it. Of course this creature wouldn't leave the scientist with her. Why would anyone? She was persona non grata around this hellhole.

And she knew she wasn't equipped to fight. Not right now. It would require time and energy and spells she hadn't yet mastered.

With a resigned sigh, she stood up, holding her hands up in surrender and taking a few steps away from the scientist.

She so would have liked to poke around in his head.

[greenisnteasy]

He nods and scoops the scientist up, then points at her.

"You come too."

Helping times two: now he's bringing the magician lady who can drag the answers out of his head. That's two strikes in his favor.

[greenisnteasy]

This is probably the most involved conversation the Hulk has ever had in his life. No one really stops to talk to him, and even with Betty, it was less a conversation and more a quiet reunion; he was overwhelmed with Banner's feelings, besides, and already starting to lose touch as soon as she started to calm him down. After the fight, he talked to the others, but it wasn't really like this.

"Most people shoot me." He shrugs. So Tony's at the top of an extremely short list of candidates, but hey, it's an accomplishment.

If that was all Banner needed him for, it's very likely the Hulk never would've noticed.

"Get us home. But don't die."

[primogen_vampirate]

That earned the creature an arched look. "Me?" she asked incredulously. "What do you need me for?"

For that matter, who the hell were Flag Man and Metal Man? They sounded like alter egos Wayne used to go by in Chicago.

...oh.

"Steve?" she asked.

[greenisnteasy]

Another universe? The hell? He decides he doesn't care. She's not attacking him; it doesn't really matter what this human gets up to, in this universe or any other. Plus, she's stroking his ego; that's always okay, and he grins at first before he shakes his head.

"A lot. Still enough to bring me back here." He scowls up at the sky. "Dropped me here."

[greenisnteasy]

He just gives Flag Man a Look. What was he supposed to be doing? Reading their reports? No, he was smashing all their reports, and throwing them in their faces. And it was really a lot of fun and cathartic. Screw those scientists. Screw all scientists, really. Especially Banner.

"Smashed experiments. And I don't know."

[manofiron]

"Yeah, well, we have a word for people like that, Hulk," Tony says dryly, tipping his head to the side. His lips curl into something that isn't quite a smile, but it's still sharp nonetheless. "It's called asshole. You need to stop hanging out with assholes."

The military. The government. Special interest groups. The list of assholes was long and varied.

"I'm not really planning on the dying thing. Kind of like to avoid it, actually." Straightening up, he nods toward the town. "So what's the plan? You want the grand tour?"

[greenisnteasy]

Scientist, not a scientist? Threat, not a threat? She's not wearing a white coat, so that's like, five points in her favor. He has no reason to believe her yet, but he'll just keep an eye on her, and he growls a little when she steps closer.

"They dropped me." He jerks his head up toward the sky, without taking his eyes off her. "They realized they couldn't handle the Hulk." His grin is proud and predatory. Of course they couldn't.

[greenisnteasy]

He snorts. "Hulk's fine." He adjusts the unconscious scientist he's carrying. "Takes more than that to hurt him. They're the ones hurting."

All thanks to yours truly.

[greenisnteasy]

Darn. Come on, Puny. The Hulk's still full of adrenaline too, even if it's not warring for control right now.

"Took Banner. Kept him." Until they couldn't anymore, until they slipped and let him wake up enough to fight back. Biggest oopsie ever.

"Dropped me here when they couldn't take it anymore." He grins, dark and dangerous and deadly.

[agentx13]

Okay, Sharon. Don't push too hard. This is the Hulk, not Banner, and judging from her earlier conversation with Banner, she's not sure how much say Banner has in things.

"I have every intention of getting us out of here, Hulk. And I don't know anyone stronger than you. So I was wondering. Would you be interested in going after them again sometime soon?"

[greenisnteasy]

"Don't need to be a hero," he growls. "Just want to be left alone." Even though he's making... friends, or whatever. They're okay. But he really doesn't want to be a hero; he'd just like not to be hunted anymore.

He is proud of himself bringing this hostage back, but he doesn't need Mr. Puny patting him on the back for it. He's had enough time to wonder what these scientists were doing with Banner; he doesn't need to think about what this guy did to them, or would've done to them. He's glad that he got drawn out of Banner, but it's the manipulation that bugs him.

He glances at the scientists and back at Puny Face.

"You're gonna eat them?" The fuck?

[greenisnteasy]

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH OR THE HULK'S GONNA SMASH IT!" He turns the roar up to eleven on that one, and he whirls around again, looking for anyone in the vicinity.

Anyone in need of a fist in their face.

[greenisnteasy]

Who's this guy? The Hulk narrows his eyes and hitches his prisoner closer, looking like he's protecting him, which he'd do a better job of if he wasn't hanging limply and problematically from under his arm. He can carry people well. When he cares about them.

"I know you?" he snaps.

[greenisnteasy]

"Magic." Duh. Weren't they just talking about that? Maybe she's not so smart after all. Still, the Hulk thinks she'll be useful -- he just wants to make sure the people he's fought with before get in on this too.

The Hulk nods. "Flag Man." Double duh. Jeez, what's with her?

[ellectric]

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH OR I'M GONNA THIRD-PERSON SHIT INTO IT!"

And just in case that doesn't cover it, she continues.

"YOU SHITFUCK!"

[plaidsamurai]

That's right. Banner didn't know him, why would the Hulk. Well, this probably wasn't going to end well, but he needed that scientist.

"Uhhh, kinda. Can't remember the cute lil' nickname you gave me, though. You got any plans for him yet?" He asked, pointing at the struggling captive.

[primogen_vampirate]

Oh, dear Goddess. Could this get any more absurd? Mina was suddenly seized with the urgent desire to blow her own brains out. Not that it would do her much good.

She sighed softly, gesturing to the unconscious scientist. "He's yours to do with as you please," she said in surrender.

[greenisnteasy]

Assholes. He grins, slow and a little dangerous looking, but it's a good smile. Iron Man's right. They are all assholes.

A tour? Sure. He wants to get out of this place, but he can walk with Metal Man. Not Metal Man? No. Just because he doesn't have his suit, he doesn't have to get a new name.

He nods curtly, then bends to pick up his hostage, who he tosses over his shoulder. Done. He turns to Iron Man expectantly.

[greenisnteasy]

He just gives her a Look.

"Wasn't finished smashing them." The violence, and threat of even more violence, in his voice should be her answer.

[manofiron]

"Okay, right. Well, today on our tour," he begins, adopting the theatrical tone of what he assumes a tour guide would sound like. He's never been on a cheap $5 tour, so he has only the most rudimentary of ideas about what it's like, but as a caricature, he does all right. "We have the lovely Cape Kore."

He gestures to the town as they move toward it. "It's got a bunch of dilapidated houses with some really fucking ugly furniture. There's next to no food because we've eaten it all and there's surprisingly not a grocery store anywhere around. And if it wasn't for the appliances, which, I might add, look like rejects from the Seventies, I'd start to think we're in some kind of Amish paradise, the way there's next to nothing technologically advanced about the place."

Which is odd in and of itself. To say nothing of the fact that before he'd woken up here, he'd been wearing his suit.

"Over there," he points toward the distance. "Is the ocean. It's great for a brisk, icy swim. Or drowning, if that's more your style." He glances up at the Hulk, smirking. "What do you think so far?"