011 :: Video

[hulkbusted]

[The video feed opens to the network after Bruce has already situated the camera to his satisfaction. His lab is as brightly lit and gleaming as one might expect. What one might not expect is the Christmas display in the center of the camera's optical field.

It's a tree built of various glassware and equipment from his lab, colored water (yes, just water) providing the festive component in the clear glassware.]

We did this when I was an undergrad. Don't ask how long ago that was. As long as you're just using nontoxic colors and water, it's pretty eco friendly.

I guess I wanted to put my own spin on things. I know the City's been treating us to every-other-day 12 Days of Christmas-themed treats, but it's been a while since I was settled enough to do something myself.

So happy holidays. I hope that those of us who want to go home, find our way home soon, and for those of you who are happy here, I hope the curses are more kind than cruel.

Comments

[hulkbusted]

Thanks.

[Is he waiting for an invitation? Really?]

Come on in, Dracula. Should I fire up the coffee maker?

[fe_male]

[ maybe. what of it. once given, he does come in like there wasn't a thing about it to begin with. ] That's dangerous, that kind of attitude. Could be a vampire curse on. And please, that's a given. [ ting ting tapping at your little ornaments for the different tones they make. ]

[hulkbusted]

That would be breaking with this month's curse themes. Haven't you noticed? Drummers, pipers, jumping, etc. I'll watch out for vampires after Christmas.

[Flipping on the coffee maker and setting out a clean coffee mug don't take long enough before Bruce has nothing to do but turn a stylus in his hands and watch Tony.]

I should have tuned it so you could tap out Jingle Bells.

[fe_male]

[ Yeah, yeah, it would be breaking, but still. ] Still sort of looking forward to 'eight maids a milking' or whatever it actually is. Could go pretty well for me.

[ He's tapping out some sort of thing that he came up with. It's not bad. ] It's not too bad. I'll figure it out. [ pause. ] But thanks. How've things been going with all those like, sensors and stuff.

[hulkbusted]

[If Tony ends up a vampire, he would sorely regret getting a taste of Bruce's blood; he's not worried.]

You missed the cows last week. Cows, swan boats, geese, rings yesterday. I assume tomorrow there will be calling birds of some sort. It's a pretty consistent theme at least.

so sorry. again. dogs, man.

[fe_male]

Consistent and irritating. What do you think the birds will do?

life happens

[hulkbusted]

Four calling birds? I'm guessing we'll have some loud birds tomorrow.

[fe_male]

Yeah, like I said. Annoying. [ hey bruce does this sound like 'Jingle Bells'? ting ting ting, ting ting ting, ting ting ting ting tinggg ] Hopefully there's only four of them. They've been a little lenient on the whole numbers gig so far.

[hulkbusted]

[Whistling a few bars of "Jingle Bells," he nods approval. He got it.]

I wonder if they'll be prank calling or calling names or if there will be an invasion of parrots. Any bets?

[fe_male]

[ He's pleased then, and considers his job here basically done. Now what else is there to play with. ]

Calling birds. Prank calling doesn't seem nearly dramatic enough. Annoying though. Names and parrots seem good though. Parroting all the shit people call each other, maybe. Leaving voicemails like a third grader with a vendetta.

[hulkbusted]

[The lab is Tony's playground, but it isn't much more personalized than Bruce's apartment.]

Maybe they'll be exceptionally loud birds popping out of hiding places to blare their calls at you to the tune of temporary deafness or heart attacks.

[fe_male]

The four birdmen of the apocalypse, blaring midi-style custom ringtones in thirty second clips of songs you used to love.

[hulkbusted]

Sweet Jesus don't give them ideas. I do not need to be reminded of some of the music I listened to in the 80s.

[fe_male]

At least half that shit sounded like it was already converted into ringtones to begin with. I'm pretty sure the 80s were a bad time for most people.

[hulkbusted]

You had a mullet and wore a lot of flannel, didn't you? [Because from what he knows of Tony's musical tastes, he doesn't see him as a Flock of Seagulls fan.]

adksjaf lmao

[fe_male]

A mullet? Me? Honestly. Please. I thought we knew each other. [ Like he would admit it even if he had. ]

[hulkbusted]

To be fair, we didn't have the kind of time to get to know each other that included sharing high school photos. I notice you didn't deny the flannel.

[And he still pictures young Tony with a mullet.]

[fe_male]

[ It's totally not defensive at all if he says ] Everybody wore flannel. [ ...right?

also no. :| Bruce he thought you were sort of almost friends. ]

[hulkbusted]

[He's going to have to give one of his screens his full attention for a minute to avoid letting Tony see just how amused he is by his tone, equations flickering by under his fingers.]

Not everyone, but it's better than double popped collars and neon.

[fe_male]

[ yeah, well ]

And I'd always thought such high collars had gone the way of the Victorian ideal, to be thoroughly mocked forever for being itchy and uncomfortable.