|
Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 5:06:48 GMT -5
It was Adrian's turn to look irritated and short-tempered.
"You built a bomb that reabsorbed radiation into itself. Just imagine what that technology could do in areas that are already contaminated if applied differently. I'd build it myself, but there are two problems with this idea: one, I don't know how you did it, and two, I have an empire to run. Surely you understand the magnitude of me coming into your office and essentially begging you-"
|
|
|
Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 5:10:49 GMT -5
"When I was last in your city, I was responsible for more property damage than Dr. Manhattan," returned Bruce, with less obvious ire, because he was less capable of expressing that kind of anger. "So you know what I did. Then you also know what I became. And I'm sorry if that's not somebody you can bully."
|
|
|
Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 5:14:36 GMT -5
Adrian held up his hands. "It's all right. I understand." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, from which he produced a check with a fair amount of zeroes on it, signed on the bottom line: "Here you are, then. I'm sorry for taking your time this evening, and I wish you and your clinic the best of luck." He held it out with a smile.
|
|
|
Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 5:16:12 GMT -5
Bruce stared back at him, and reached out slowly for the check.
"So that's it, then? You drove all the way out here, away from your... empire... to hear no and leave?"
|
|
|
Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 5:16:46 GMT -5
"It would seem so."
|
|
|
Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 5:18:00 GMT -5
Bruce stared and then gave a grimace by now obviously characteristic for him, lifting his eyebrows and rolling his chair backward.
"Well, Mr. Veidt, this was a strange day. Not the strangest I've ever had, but a strange day."
|
|
|
Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 5:19:22 GMT -5
"Here's hoping you have a better one tomorrow, then," he said, turning to leave. "Let me know if you need anything else."
|
|
|
Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 5:25:53 GMT -5
More than anything it struck Bruce with a shock how wounds-lickingly petty the smartest man in the world was, and this would be noted as odd if he were not so tightly wound that it was actively dangerous to himself and the entire population of Madisonville.
"I will," he said cautiously.
|
|
|
Post by Adrian Veidt on Feb 25, 2013 5:27:50 GMT -5
Adrian turned to smile again as he left, and then the door shut behind him.
|
|
|
Post by Bruce Banner on Feb 25, 2013 5:31:27 GMT -5
Bruce Banner gradually realized he was stiff as a tombstone, and, once he deliberately eased himself into no longer being so, realized all of a sudden he had been shaking.
With a shocked breath of air, he collapsed back into his chair so heavily that the thing damn well broke on him. He got up from the floor with a muttered stream of cursing, rubbing his tailbone.
You managed that well enough, he thought wryly. "No," he said out loud. "I'm not going to New York. Let him hire Stark, or Richards, or any of those other guys. He doesn't need me."
It was a while before Banner could prompt himself to leave his office and wearily hand the check over. Though the chair was out of commission, he leaned heavily against the wall, glasses abandoned on the table, hand over his eyes, trying to calm his nerves. He knew how much depended on his doing so.
|
|