10189/Hulkamania Running Mild

Hulkamania Running Mild
Date of Scene:	25 November 2019
Location:	Columbus Park - Chinatown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Volt, Hulk

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Volt has posed:
The sun is setting in the distance, and most people in Columbus Park are packing it in. It's gotten chilly out, after all, and normal folk don't like to be out in the cold. There are, however, a few sorts who are hoping the cold weather drives most people away to let them pick off the ones crazy enough to linger...

Drake is not one of them. He doesn't mind the cold as much anymore, since his time in very recent history being left out on the street. One tends to toughen up after that. He just wanted a little time away to get perspective and re-evaluate what he's doing. The teen is seated at an abandoned mahjong game by himself - so far as he can tell - with his head resting in his palm. The digits of his other hand listlessly scoot the game tiles around without purpose or direction, his mind miles away.

Hulk has posed:
With no current crisis taking up the Avengers time (excepting Supermans loss) Bruce has been taking time to himself for the last while to catch up on his lab work. The work of reversing the Hulk condition is an ongoing battle that has lasted for years... and is looking to last many more, much to Banner's resentment.

As the sun sets, he was on his way to the parking lot nearby just off the Park, where his mobile home was waiting. A test had been going for a few hours while he went out for groceries... and with one arm around the bag, was walking along in casual jeans and a black sweatshirt.

Some people might have no problems with the cold, but there are plenty of people who hate it with a passion... and Bruce stops along the way, staring at the teenager as he idled.

Volt has posed:
Drake Riley is blissfully unaware, wrapped up in his own world of questioning recent choices. Certain levels of expectation haven't been met. Some might say he made those choices with the wrong ideals in mind. But it's those ideals he's latched onto.

There's a soft sigh.

Suddenly, a couple Chinese hoods mosey up alongside Mr. Banner, very much wearing the 'street punk' uniform. Loose clothing, puffy outerwear, cheesy sunglasses, bandanas. "Hey, old man," sneers the first. "Before you go running home to the Missus, how about you turn over that wallet?"

Hulk has posed:
Bruce stops dead in his tracks as the first of the couple thugs comes alongside him. Usually, that only means one thing. A moment later, and brown eyes look to the one who demanded his wallet. His hands keep to his sides, and he makes no sudden movements.

He was almost back to the mobile home, but hopefully he doesn't break his bag.

"I'm going to reach slowly into my jean pocket, and pull out the only money I have on me." Bruce calmly informs the thugs. He never carries more than fifty dollars on him at any given time, and he spent most of that already on the food.

Volt has posed:
"Yeah you are!," enthuses the thug.

They wait, but not impatiently. The quiet one pulls a switchblade, whirling the weapon in an overly-practiced and entirely too comfortable manner. The other inches closer and closer, anxious to get his hands on the money. But at the same time, he's looking Bruce over for anything eyecatching, such as a watch, rings, anything he might fence.

"Hey!," rises a voice from the park. The teen's noticed the goings-on. "They hassling you?"

Hulk has posed:
Bruce is as 'typical' as they come. He wears no watches, no jewelry, and is wearing the cheapest clothing he can find, given he's capable of Hulking Out at any moment... and he hasn't found a material capable of withstanding the transformation yet.

"Here you go...." Bruce quietly and calmly states as he pulls out the twenty that was his change, and holds it up.

When Drake comes over, Bruce doesn't say anything, just lifts his hand up slightly to make it clear he has nothing else.... and he says nothing. A mugging at bladepoint is pretty easy to tell, given the context.

Volt has posed:
That it is, and the hoods make no bones about it. "You're next, hair-do!"

Drake pauses to reflexively glance upwards, a hand raising to pat at his hair. Go figure. But his focus immediately returns to Bruce and the gang.

The frontman swipes the $20 and gawks at it. "This ain't it! Your wallet, old man! Right now!" His backup steps forward to emphasize the knife.

"Leave'em alone! Or if you wanna mess with someone, mess with me." At this point, Drake's focusing on the two thugs. Bruce is doing the smart thing, most would argue, by simply complying to keep the peace and avoid tragedy.

Hulk has posed:
"I don't have a wallet. I only have this." Bruce offers as he pulls out the Avengers card from his other pocket. "and some money." Bruce offers. The Avengers card is pretty easy to see.

Bruce has no desire to have to deal with the mess of The Other Guy coming out... but this is definitely looking like it'll come to that, unless the thugs get the hint from the card.

Volt has posed:
The thugs do get a look at that card. They exchange looks afterwards.

Drake doesn't know what the deal is.

"Who'd you steal that from, old man!?," demands the first. He takes another step forward. "Everyone has a wallet-ack!"

There's a sudden flash of brilliant light as the ruffian is struck from the side by a bolt of electricity. He hits the ground, steaming, twitching, and definitely no longer a threat. Drake's left hand rests in his pocket, the right raised with fingers splayed. "Don't do it."

The hood with the knife looks at his buddy on the ground, then Drake. The knife turns in his hand.

"Dooon't do it."

The hood isn't listening. He charges forward. History repeats itself. There's a bolt of electricity, and in half a heartbeat, the ground has not one but two twitchy residents.

Drake exhales a sigh and puts his focus on Bruce. "They're fine. They're gonna be limping around a while, but nothing permanent. But please tell me you can keep a secret." He offers a weak smile, eyes uplidding a little.

Hulk has posed:
Bruce doesn't move. There's a spike in his adrenaline that causes his eyes to briefly flick green, before he pulls back from the brink, holding the transformation back when it becomes clear the teenager has... electrical powers?...

Finally, his hands go back into his pockets, replacing their contents. "What secret is that?" Bruce inquires.

Volt has posed:
Drake Riley blinks owlishly at the man. His mouth opens to reply, stunned, before he seems to realize that maybe Bruce was being cheeky. So he instead smiles and nods. "Right." He trots forward to close the distance and tilts his head, giving the thugs a last look before refocusing fully on the older male. "You okay? What'd they get off'a you?," he asks, ready to turn and pilfer it right back.

Hulk has posed:
"They just wanted money. Probably just a couple of street toughs with no options due to their culture." Bruce informs Drake. "I'm fine. May I know your name, young man?"

Volt has posed:
"Maybe. But still, no matter how rough, shaking random people down on the street's no way to go," Drake murmurs. He's rather unsatisfied that he isn't going to be giving Bruce back his money. But it's the guy's choice. Besides, the question serves as a very sufficient distraction.

Turning to Bruce again, he pauses and seems to quickly consider his answer. "..Volt. Call me Volt," he replies. "Long story." His right hand lifts to run through his hair, a nervous tick. "Looked like you had'em spooked for a second with whatever you showed'em."

Hulk has posed:
"I try to stay on the downlow. The only thing of any value on me is my card." Drake gets in reply. Bruce pulls out his Avengers card, and shows it to him. "Given The Other Guy likes to make a mess, it's usually more prudent to simply let the desperate have their way."

He gives an earnest smile, "Bruce Banner, at your service, Volt."

Volt has posed:
"The other guy? You got two of ya in there, bud'?," jokes Drake as he leans over to get a look at the card. Oh, Avengers? 'Strongest Avenger'? What does /that/ mean? He stares at it for a few extra seconds, trying to wrack his brain. He doesn't know the odds and ends of the superhero world, perhaps surprisingly, all things considered. But he's been in New York long enough to have picked up some things through cultural osmosis.

Eyes lift again. "Wait! Are you, uh-.." His head turns slightly. Oh crap, what was it called? "The Chunk?" God, let that be the name. He is /so/ not confident that's the name.

Hulk has posed:
"Most people know The Other Guy as the Hulk." Bruce informs him calmly. "I'm Bruce Banner, the scientist who transforms into him."

Volt has posed:
Drake Riley got it wrong. Dangit. He immediately winces. "Sorry. Yeah. Hulk. I'm still learning names'n stuff." The hand runs through his hair again, that ever-present fidget alive and well.

"Can I at least help you with your stuff? If ya won't let me get you your money back..." Plus, he feels a little like he should make up for screwing up the name. His arms extend in offering for the baggage. "It's not like you don't have dirt on me if I Hamburgle the goods, right?," he jokes.

Hulk has posed:
"It was only twenty dollars. I don't carry that much money with me." Bruce assures Drake. "I was just heading back to my apartment when they jumped me." Bruce smiles to Drake. "Volt... a vigilante with superpowers, I take it?"

Volt has posed:
Drake Riley lets his arms drop to his sides and simply nods. With a gesture to the side, he at least offers to walk Bruce back to his mobile home. Because, you know, the frigging /Hulk/ might be in danger from hoodlums. Right. In reality, he's just very fascinated in this situation he's wound up in.

Whether they get to walking or not, Drake doesn't leave Bruce hanging. "Pretty sure they call those superheroes," he lilts with a grin. Then, after a beat, the grin fades. "Or, that's what I'm telling myself, at least. Use what makes you different for a good cause, help people... you know how it is. You're, y'know, you. And I've /kind'a/ fallen in with a group. Just not sure they're what I thought they'd be."