05 ☣ TEXT & VOICE;

[angermanaging]

Looking to gather some info. Please respond with succinct list of what you would consider unalterable laws of reality in your home dimension, e.g. gravity, conservation of mass, particular laws of magic.

Will attempt to compile results into meaningful commonalities across dimensions. Maybe there's a universal law somewhere.

Would prefer text response if possible. Thanks.

B. Banner

[The message is then repeated in audio, if preceded by Bruce clearing his throat, for those that can't read English.]


[Voice | 60% encrypted to castmates & established CR.]

Finally got fed up with everyone talking over my head and made a trade to see my future.

[A beat.

In utter, dry exasperation,] You're all nuts. What kind of teamwork was that?

[ooc: Bruce is now post-Avengers! If you're not sure if you're established CR, ping me and I'll let you know if they're included, but feel free to play fast and loose.]

Comments

W00!

[trainwrecked]

Goodta know.

[Yeah. Bucky's missing him already. Bad. But he can keep on functioning. For now.]

[His eyebrows do twitch up.]

Showing up was only a part of it, wasn't it. Besides, you've laid down a foundation. Gotta start somewhere an' all that.

I mean, you don't have to answer me, but I think it's a good question. Posturing aside, d'you want to stick with the team?

[angermanaging]

[Bruce understands all about missing people. Missing Betty is so familiar it's like a friendly ache at this point. He knows enough about Bucky and Steve to realize he might be missing him, but he doesn't know Bucky well enough to ask how he's doing with that.]

Right. It's a foundation. [Sure. If anyone had asked him if he wanted said foundation, which they hadn't. Bruce had been forced into all of this. He'd agreed to help them track something via radiation signature, he hadn't agreed to fight bad guys on a regular basis.]

Me, on a team? Haven't we gone over this? [He's audibly skeptical, but he realizes that's dodging the question, so he clears it up.] No. It's a nice pipe dream, being around people that could... not get, uh, crushed instantly. But I'm not a team player and I'm not a-- a weapon. I'll help on my terms.

[He's always maintained that stance, and he's relieved that, despite the impression he's gotten from everyone else, he hadn't changed that in the future.]

[trainwrecked]

[Bucky frowns slightly at the last part. Because, considering the Commandos... that part doesn't quite make sense.]

Isn't that what a team is? People doin' their thing, on their terms - working together?

And I've never seen Steve as a weapon - don't see why anyone should see you as one, either.

[angermanaging]

There's an obligation, [he points out, not seeing the discrepancy.] A... commitment.

It's nice that you don't see people as weapons. It'd be nicer if everyone agreed with you. [It's very mildly stated, but Bruce thinks he's made his point. Maybe Captain Rogers doesn't consider him a weapon either, but that's immaterial. SHIELD definitely does. The military does. Most of the world, even, does-- and Bruce isn't going to participate in that, give that perspective his tacit approval.]

[trainwrecked]

But you can walk off at any time. Difference I see between team and a military unit, at least.

[Small shrug.]

Sorry, just holding on to... what matters to him, I guess. Not saying you should act or be different than you are.

[To the last part, his mouth twists, but he nods.] Guess it would be. If you see some heads that need knocking on that account, feel free to point me in that direction.

[In case Bruce wants help. If not, well. 'Feel free' is all there is, in Bucky's tone.]

[angermanaging]

[Bucky has a point, but it's not one Bruce applies to himself.] I don't think I could work like that, [he admits, less like he's disagreeing and more like he's acknowledging one of his own limitations.] I can't-- do that. Walk off, after I commit to something.

[Part of his resistance here is based in how seriously Bruce takes his commitments. He's all or nothing. If he agrees to be part of the Avengers, he's in it, full force, no reservations. That's a big reason he hasn't really agreed.]

No, you should-- hold on. Our group has definitely shrunk around here. [Bruce shakes his head.] And thanks, but I don't need any head knocking. [He can enforce his own boundaries, that's for certain.]

[trainwrecked]

[He tilts his head to the side, watching Bruce.]

It ain't my thing, either, but... knowing you won't get shot for desertion - or just shot - if walking out is the right thing to do makes a difference. Or could.

[And a part of him still doesn't just mean bullet guns. The hydra weapons - and tools, he got a lot of look at those all - had much more lethal power.]

[But he shakes his head with a sort-of smile.]

Whatever, your pick. Like with the cautioned sparring, offer's open, no expiration date.

[Bucky just likes fights, okay? In case you want some without going green.]

[angermanaging]

I tend to get shot for other reasons, [he says dryly, unable to help himself from pointing out how very different his circumstances are from anyone else's. When Bruce is shot, it's either going to induce a change, or it's a special kind of sedative that makes him pass out so he can be captured. In either case, no one at this point would shoot at him to try to kill him, not if they knew who he was. What he was.]

Alright. I appreciate it. I'd just rather... not make any waves. [He's trying not to, at least.]

[trainwrecked]

[Blink. There's backstory he's missing, here, but he's not sure asking right now - or asking Bruce - is a good idea. And asking anyone else sounds too much like talking behind his back. So he'll live with not knowing, right now.]

Right. That's... I can see why, at that.

Anyway. Offers're all open, if I can help with anything. Yeah?