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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 4:02:59 GMT -5
Bruce stared at him slightly incredulously. "You're actually suggesting-?"
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 4:10:11 GMT -5
"I'm not suggesting so much as I'm humbly requesting."
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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 4:12:31 GMT -5
"Do you want me to do science, or babysit?" he asked sardonically. "Or start an in-lab yoga program-"
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 4:19:50 GMT -5
Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What I want, Dr. Banner, is an effective science division. Nothing more, nothing less. If you fear that your departure will adversely affect this clinic, I will happily fund it and find a replacement."
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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 4:21:13 GMT -5
Bruce seemed actually taken aback by that news, in a different way from all that he'd treated with scorn earlier.
He started, and stared a moment, then turned partially away, rubbing his nose and mouth in clearly intense thought driven a little by mania.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 4:28:04 GMT -5
"I certainly wouldn't expect to just tear you out of a community that clearly deserves your services without finding some way of making up for it."
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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 4:34:28 GMT -5
Bruce stared at him over his glasses for a long time, before finally moving and sighing, seeming to find his joints stiff.
Truthfully, by the look of him, he was a man who hadn't slept well, or much, or in a non-tense and comfortable position, in a very long time.
He moved to the other side of his office, pulling the rickety, partially broken, sunken-seated chair along on its noisy wheels so that he could sit and face Adrian Veidt in the eye.
Evening was coming on soon, and though the sun hadn't come near to setting yet, a few evening birds were loud outside. The orange light filtered through the blinds, making both of them look every inch the age they were, and still more, felt.
"Mr. Veidt," said Banner, elbow on the corner of his desk, gesturing with short movements. "I appreciate-" Slight grimace; he didn't go into it any further than that though - "your thinking of me, and not using me, or, though I expected no less given your reputation, your not doing anything stupid. And I appreciate... your respect for this hospital and the people I serve here."
There was a long pause, and Bruce sucked on his teeth, looking to his heavily pen-marked and highlighted and scribbled on wall calendar. There were no social occasions on it.
"But I don't know that I have anything else to offer this world."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 4:49:59 GMT -5
"I read about the bomb, Dr. Banner. While weapons of mass destruction are a topic I find... distasteful at best, the elimination of fallout is... well, really, the mind boggles."
He spread his hands again.
"It's the pinnacle of elegant solutions, as a matter of fact. The kind of elegant solutions I'd prefer to have on my side."
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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 4:51:21 GMT -5
Bruce took the glasses off again, and the hand not holding them pressed to his shut eyes.
"And that worked out so well for everyone involved, didn't it."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 4:55:03 GMT -5
"Practice makes perfect," Adrian said grimly.
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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 4:55:46 GMT -5
Bruce looked at Veidt over his hand.
"You're serious about all of this."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 4:58:19 GMT -5
"I am."
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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 5:00:09 GMT -5
"But surely, in peacetime, the production of any kind of weapon is..."
He hesitated, and snapped his fingers. "Pointless. Crude. Pessimisstic. Take your pick, there's more."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 5:02:26 GMT -5
"Which is why I won't be having you build weapons."
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Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 5:02:42 GMT -5
Eyebrow.
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