[action - semi backdated to midday]

[sublimating]

[at midday Bruce finds himself hovering at the edge of the sand near where the sand begins to give way to grass and trees, milling about and rubbing his hands, occasionally ducking down to survey the plants that are visible from the tree line. the heat is oppressive, but he's unfazed by it, having spent times in hotter climates. it's already been a trying day, and the last thing he wants to do now is dwell on the things he can't change about their situation]

[he promised Sif that he would forage for food, edible fruits and vegetables and berries; and Sif promised him volunteers. so he's waiting to mentor whoever shows up -- and/or who he stumbles across in the jungle while hunting over the next few hours]

Comments

[onehotpepper]

[and here is his first student. trudging through the sand demands a bit more effort than usual, which suits Pepper just fine, giving her a way to let out some residual frustration without fear of setting off an explosion, or even just the faint glow of Extremis in her veins. in retrospect, volunteering to use her untamed abilities wasn't her smartest moment, but it ended up all right in the end. give things a few hours, she and Tony will patch things up and get back to whatever normal means here and now.]

[it's a relief to see Bruce, because not only does she have a task now, she's going to be performing it alongside someone who exudes calm]

Reporting for duty. [lighthearted even though she doesn't look half as cheerful as she sounds]

[sublimating]

Hey. [a smile for her, swaying back] Good to have you. I've got to say, tromping through the jungle looking for berries to pick is definitely more fun if there's someone else around to talk to, and -- show off for.

[onehotpepper]

Seems that way. [her smile widens. amazing the difference it can make, a change of scenery, of company. even if only for a little while.] I don't expect to be showing off much, though. I know a few fruits to look for, but I'm no survivalist. [that, and she doesn't want to set half the jungle on fire. little details. she makes loose fists at her sides. no excess heat. good.]

[sublimating]

Don't worry. I can take care of the showing off. [more of a grin, and he rolls his shoulders] ...I mean, how often does a guy get to brag about his knowledge of equatorial plantlife? [and more important, why would he]

[onehotpepper]

Just goes to show you that no knowledge is wasted knowledge. [gesturing to the jungle, and any other green areas] After you, then? I'll look properly impressed the whole time, I promise.

[sublimating]

You're a great audience. [he starts to move forward, tilting his head back to eye the canopy as they step under it]

It's a shame. It could be kind of nice, if not for the circumstances. Kind of a vacation spot, you know?

[onehotpepper]

I've had a lot of practice at it. [small laugh as she follows]

Yeah. You probably don't even get service out here. That's possibly one of the very few nice things about this. [does she still worry about the company? yes, but there is nothing she can do, so she tries her best not to think about it] I never though I'd see the day.

[antiapocalypse]

[ not one of the volunteers, but she notices him hovering, and grins.

Buffy is officially better now at constructing axes! it took her a couple of tries, but she's got one that actually feels pretty sturdy now, like it won't come apart on the first whack, and she's thinking of starting on a second. more axes = better, right?

but she's probably due a, like, ten minute break. plus, maybe he needs the ax. should've paid more attention to what teams everyone was on...

but just in case she brings the good one with her, hefted on her shoulder. ]

If you're gonna make a break for it, I think into the jungle might be the wrong direction.

[sublimating]

[a quick smile for her] Really? You think -- the open ocean might be a better one? You must think a lot of my swimming skills.

[although that. well, the hulk might have okay luck at it. he glances away, some of the smile shifting as he thinks. how did this tag happen?]

[antiapocalypse]

I thought you might build a raft first. [ but she doesn't miss his considering look... ] At least it's in the right general direction, right?

[sublimating]

Probably. [he rubs his hands together, and then the smile quirks up again] Though for all we know, the right direction is... [he points up; outer space, other planets!] ...that way, or... [twirling his finger now] ...who knows. It's all pretty weird, isn't it?

[antiapocalypse]

Okay, those are... good points. Depressing points! But good points.

Good to know that even if it were practical, we'd probably still be doomed.

That's good. Comforting. I'm used to doomed.

[sublimating]

You'll have to introduce me to your version of the dictionary sometime. Maybe -- not through living it, with any luck.

[not that he hasn't been through some doomed, but he wouldn't say he's used to it]

[cleanedslate]

[ wandering the perimeter of the beach, for his part. there's lumber, or the start of lumber -- definitely trees, at least -- but they need more than that. he's keeping limber, drawing the settlement in his head, and he almost walks past Bruce without noticing him, before swinging back ]

Where's the rest of the Junior Woodchucks?

[ he said, as if he weren't kind of glad for the moment that Pepper's not there yet. she could probably use a little more space than this. ]

[sublimating]

They unionized. Threatened to strike unless I gave them longer breaks. [folding his arms, with a grin quirking up the corner of his mouth] What are you... drifting around for?

[cleanedslate]

See, that's why you only hire ten-year-olds in Somalia. [ Somalia's a place, right? impoverished? making iPhones for pennies a day...? he's not getting it confused with Ethiopia? good, good ]

And contrary to popular belief around here, I can actually walk and chew gum at the same time. I'm designing huts in my head.

[ probably also still turning Extremis over in his head, but. this needs work, too. and it's much easier to be flippant here! ]

[sublimating]

Right... But you don't appear to be walking, chewing gum, and building anything. We weren't told to make a marketable gated community, you know.

[cleanedslate]

Oh, come on, we've got days. Are you gonna tell Mommy Valkyrie on me?

[ but already he's looking back the way he came, and he brings his hands together, cracks the knuckles and stretches out the joints. ]

[sublimating]

[leaning forward a little] Yeah, what is the deal with her? Is she -- for real? [Asgardian, valkyrie, both, none of the above]

[slim]

[scott's on his way back up the beach from where he'd been checking out the tide pools. he's carrying his boots in one hand while the other carefully holds a round shell which contains one small hermit crab.]

[he picked it off a rock and now he's not sure if it's good eating or what. he hopes it isn't.]

[glancing up from the crab, scott's attention is caught by the man standing before the vast jungle behind him. it's a strange place to be and it'd almost seem suspicious if they weren't all stuck on an island. with his interest piqued and remembering his word to sif that he'd keep an eye out, scott makes his way over.]

... Hi.

[sublimating]

[aww, Scott, do you have a pet] [well, Bruce is surveying the interior of the jungle, but he looks up and shifts his weight as he sees Scott approaching]

Hey there. [a small smile] You here for the food?

[slim]

[maybe...]

[stops a few feet away and gives a tiny nod.] I--yes? Are you Banner?

[sublimating]

Yeah, that's right. [he holds out a hand to shake, although he withdraws it again when he notices that Scott's hands are... occupied] Bruce is fine if you're more comfortable with that.

[slim]

[yeah--yeah. boots and a hermit crab.]

Okay... Bruce. [huh, bruce banner. what a familiar sounding name.] I was told you could use some help?

[sublimating]

That's right. [offering him a smile] I have a bit of experience tromping through equatorial jungles, so I have a pretty good grasp on what the edible stuff looks like. If you're interested in lending a hand when you've got one, I'd be happy to share. There's only so much I can gather by myself.

You seem to already have a little guy there to look after, though.