entrancelogs | ((OPEN)) Enjoy the calm weeks.

Entry tags:

((OPEN)) Enjoy the calm weeks.

Who: Bruce Banner and YOU
Where: Meditation & training room, or anywhere else
When: Throughout the week, from August 4th to 10th.
Rating: No more than PG, I don't think!
Summary: Bruce goes about enjoying a peaceful week. Also meditation and jiu-jitsu sessions just as he mentioned on the network.
The Story:

MEDITATION & TRAINING;

[ Once that particularly shifting event's over and everything returns to normal - or as normal as this place can get -, Bruce goes about setting up a room for a few meditation and jiu-jitsu sessions as he'd arranged with a few people over the network. He finds an empty room right on the first floor, spacious enough, and paves most of it with foam mats, then sets up this really old-looking stereo where they can play a few calming songs if people happen to be into that.

Then, with the whole place looking about decent enough, he sends out quick messages to anyone who'd expressed interest, letting them know which room he took up, and that he'll be there during both early mornings until 10, and late evenings after dinner.

And, of course, if anyone happens to be walking past and the slightly cracked door gets their attention, feel free to take a peek inside. ]

ANYWHERE ELSE;

[ Other than that, Bruce can be found in the usual spots throughout the week. He spends a good amount of his time at the lab, with pauses to go to the kitchen for food, and outside for walks with Juno a few times during the day. Feel free to bump into him anywhere, or if you're seeking him out just come knock on his door! ]

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[ Facing away from the door, Bruce doesn't notice the large dog stepping inside until the paws scrape across the wooden floor. From his sitting position he turns to see just as the mastiff gets to the treat and takes it before walking back out. He doesn't look too bothered, nor is he that intimidated by his size - dogs are a common sight these days and Bruce for one likes them a lot.

He looks up at the voice, small smile as he shakes his head dismissively. ]

No, it's fine. [ A small tilt of his head, as he tries to catch a glimpse of the dog behind Adam. Obviously they were headed somewhere else, so when Bruce speaks again, his assumption is more of a statement. ] I'm guessing you're not here for meditation.

Meditation?

_{[Adam lets the question slip without thinking. Behind him, Cooper makes the dog biscuit disappear in two quick bites, and with that out of the way, the dog is left to peek at Bruce from around Adam's leg, a shyness that doesn't really fit with an animal big enough to knock him down.

He's usually good with strangers unless there's something really weird about them. The fact there's no growling tells Adam Cooper is like him--curious, but not tipped off by any red flags.]}

We do meditation in this place?

_{[A meditation room isn't all that intimidating, no matter how you look at it. He hopes Cooper doesn't mistake the mats for pee pads.]}

[ The question inexplicably amuses Bruce, shown only in the slight raise of an eyebrow and the twitch at the corner of his mouth. It's a fair question, if only not one he'd heard so far - people did whatever they felt they needed to cope with their stay here, he doesn't think meditation's that strange in the grand scheme of things. ]

Not sure about we, but I do.

[ Then his eyes settle on the dog, currently hiding hesitantly behind Adam's legs. It's hardly the first time an animal is reticent towards him, even if it's more common amongst cats. Dogs usually don't mind him much.

Still remaining seated, Bruce turns around and waves a friendly greeting at the dog, extending a hand out as a gesture for him to come closer if he wants to. ]

Does he have a name?

_{[That's a fair point. He hasn't seen people using spare rooms for personal use as much as he has people throwing those free classes he hears so much about, but it's a free country. There's no rule that says someone can't whip themselves up a meditation room like Jo and her training room, or Clarisse with her literal pig sty.

He corrects himself with a nod.]}

Whatever floats your boat.

_{[And apparently owning a dog floats Adam's, even if Wonderland had been at fault for convincing him that asking for one was a good idea. He looks down at the mastiff. Cooper seems to know he's being called out, and no one scolding him for bad behavior is a signal it's okay to investigate.

He pushes right past Adam's leg to check Bruce out. Accessorizing Bruce's meditation room with dog drool is a service that comes free of charge.]}

Oh, him? Cooper. He's Cooper. _{[Adam scratches the back of his neck.]} He'll ruin your Zen quicker than anything.

[ Well actually jury's still out on whether or not it's that free of a country. As a matter of fact it looks like it's not even much of a country to begin with. But they all work with what they got. This is simple enough in comparison to what the team wants to set up eventually, even if, indeed, meditation isn't the most common of practices, and certainly not a favorite as far as stress relief goes.

Not a single complaint comes from Bruce when Cooper starts drooling on things. He doesn't look that displeased either even when the pup comes close enough to sniff at his hand, then tentatively he strokes him over the head. Looks to him like a suspicious dog, and Bruce thinks with some amusement how it's said that dogs often take on the mental characteristics and behaviors of their owners.

He doesn't point that out, though, but he keeps it in mind nonetheless, as he looks up at Adam again. ]

That's fine, really. I like dogs. [ A pause. ] Sometimes I like dogs more than I like people.

_{[Don't let the the wrinkled old man look fool you, Bruce, inside the heart of this hulk of a dog there exists a killing machine. It's possible. Adam's never seen it and never gotten a hint Cooper would act out against a person that hasn't threatened either of them, but it's possible.

Cooper starts to push his wet muzzle against Bruce's arm, then more adamantly against whatever part of Bruce he can get to once he's been treated to a pet.

Okay, maybe there exists an attention-loving baby before anything else.]}

Is that why you're meditating?

_{[Bruce's comment actually gets a smile out of Adam, one that feels slightly odd on his own face without cynicism attached to it.

Getting along with dogs more than people? Yeah, Adam can get that. He doesn't meditate, but he has gotten used to taking time to himself just to get away from the hustle and bustle sometimes. He gets along better with the dogs Becky had named Sam and Dean than the actual Sam and Dean. Of course, for him the problem's a matter of wanting to repeatedly punch people in the face, and he shouldn't presume it's the same case here.]}

[ All animals can be pretty violent if threatened, and dogs in particular also have a tendency to be very protective of their owners. Though Cooper seems like a mellow kind, and above all a sweet pup despite his size, one never knows what would happen in a different situation.

There's a lot of drool going on here, getting on Bruce's clothes now too when Cooper gets closer to him and asks for more pets. But he doesn't complain or show to mind, neither does he push the animal away. ]

Partly, yes.

[ He answers after a moment's thought, not getting into specifics. It's far from the main reason why he meditates, but it is an added perk that comes with calming himself down and not letting some people get on his nerves as much. He can't really tell a stranger that the real reason for it is because his heart is a ticking time bomb for a big green monster inside him. ]

It just helps keeping emotions in check, and I think more clearly. I can focus on other things much better.

_{[Adam follows a little ways into the room. He's prepared to pull the dog away, mostly because he knows full well how much of a pain in the ass a mastiff can be from experience. Cooper's a walking mess at all times, biscuit crumbs sticking to his muzzle and getting caught in the never-ending supply of froth at the corners of his mouth, but the man takes it in good humor.

Dogs are good judges of character, but not always in the way a person would expect. Anyone who can stand Cooper has to be a good-humored kind of person.

In a way, Adam gets having something to clear your head.]}

I get it. Lots of people are running hot around here, we could probably all use some of that. _{[A faint smile again.]} Makes you wish you were a born a dog. Nothing to worry about.

_{[No emotions to run wild, or even an understanding of how much Wonderland events screw you up. Adam's had plenty of time to think about this, about how people thinking and feeling so much is the reason why they hurt so much, too.]}

[ He's a big dog, drools a little too much, gets all over the place even if he's not a jumping barking ball of excitement. Not exactly the kind of dog that most people like, but then again Bruce isn't most people. Maybe because in some ways they're a little similar.

They're both certainly mellow enough. Bruce just has a few more issues about personal space. ]

Maybe. I would mind a few things a little. [ He offers a couple more scratches to the dog, then guides him into sitting down too, so he's not so much on his face anymore. ] Not having opposable thumbs, for starters. It would make it harder to do a lot of things.

Edited 2014-08-22 21:57 (UTC)

_{[Sitting, Cooper licks his chops and goes about sniffing at the mats and Bruce's shoes now that the initial inspection of Bruce is over.

Training's paying off. Adam's proud the gluttonous bastard doesn't try to jump on people anymore.]}

They don't seem to care too much.

_{[With a mind of a dog, you wouldn't need to meditate to find inner peace, you just wouldn't care. Just eat, sleep, and bark at cars, that's it. Not such a bad life.]}

I'll let you get to it. _{[He jerks his chin at Cooper.]} Sorry for the distraction.

[ At Adam's quick gesture, Cooper gets up lazily, after whining in what almost sounds like a complaint. Bruce pets him one last time before letting him make his way back to his owner.

He looks up at him and nods, settling his hands back on his knees and straightening himself where he sits. ]

It's fine. Distractions are good sometimes anyway.

[ Even when it comes to meditating. Plenty of people have dropped by and simply chatted him up, not showing any interest in actually joining him, he hardly minds it. ]

I'm Bruce, by the way. Bruce Banner. And you're free to join in another time, if you happen to change your mind.

_{[Adam wonders if Bruce would still be saying that if he had more tables for Cooper to accidentally knock over, or had to vacuum up his fur... Maybe Bruce would like a dog babysitting job? Now there's a thought.

He's about to give his own name, as that's the polite thing to do when someone gives their own, but then it clicks just what Bruce says. Bruce... Banner. Like the...?

Oh. Okay then. Adam's eyebrows rise a little bit.

Iron Man had already popped his comic book hero cherry, but he'd known there were more of them around Wonderland, had even glanced over a few of their messages on the network. But had he thought he'd ever bump into one or two like this, just on the street like any random Joe? Nope, not really. To his credit, he doesn't lose his mind and start shouting about fictional characters.]}

... Adam. It's Adam.

_{[Holy shit, though, this is like Luke Skywalker inviting a guy to a baseball game. He blinks, more bemused than ever.]}

You mean do this? With you? Is this like a group thing?

[ Adam wouldn't be the first to have that idea. Natasha's already expressed her interest in having Bruce look after her own dog, so really, no issue at all adding another one to the mix.

He spots that hint of surprise, the slightest raise of eyebrows, and though he doesn't ask, he has to wonder. Wonder and worry, if he's to be honest, because he's realized already that a few people here know who he is, and more importantly, know about the other guy.

At least Adam's quick to introduce himself afterwards, and since he doesn't make it a point to take his leave right away, Bruce assumes that if he knows, it doesn't bother him all that much. ]

Not sure I've gotten enough people interested to call it a group thing.

[ He smiles briefly and nods. ] But yes, that's the idea.

You're kidding, right? In this place? Would've thought that'd be the second most popular thing, next to learning how to punch someone out.

_{[Adam's expression is one of disbelief. In Wonderland, everyone's got enough stress to keep a psychiatric hospital in business for a lifetime, some more than others. You'd think people would love an excuse to relax.

Not only that, it's being offered by, like... a fictional celebrity, if a person wanted to think of Bruce Banner like that. Who wouldn't be into that?]}

So you're... _{[Adam looks around the room as he formulates the question.]} ... teaching people how to do this?

[ Bruce shrugs at the first remark, smiling as he offers simply. ]

Not everyone has the patience for meditation.

[ For some people, sitting in silence and trying to reach some calmer state has the complete opposite effect. It frustrates them, leaves them even more stressed than before. Bruce finds a lot of peace in all this, but all people are different. And here, most seem more inclined to punching things out when it comes to dealing with stress. ]

I could, I think. [ He doesn't have a whole lot of practice in actually teaching others, but he could probably handle that, or at least give it a try. ] Offer some pointers and the like, if that's what you'd like.

_{[This time Adam smiles for a very different reason.]}

Oh, no... no. Not me. _{[He's quick to shake his head, laughing.]} No, finding inner peace would be nice, but it doesn't work for me. I'm a little past that.

_{[If there's one special thing about him, one thing that stands out about his mediocre human existence, it's that that war-torn hunk of soul inside of him isn't about to reach a state of calm any time soon. There's too much anger, too much of Hell. It's a part of him, a beacon that can even make stoic angels like Castiel flinch.

Adam is literally the last person in Wonderland who should be in a group like this. Or the first? Either way, he has no illusions about where his head is at.]}

But thanks.

[ It's never past anyone, Bruce doesn't think. But he's not the kind to insist, and he can tell Adam isn't interested with just that, so he shrugs and leaves him be. ]

Alright. Offer stands if you ever change your mind.

[ Just in case it happens. Company or not, Bruce will keep doing it, if in the future anyone decides to join him then he'll be glad to welcome them. ]

_{[A nod.]}

Tell you what, next time I bust my hand up hitting something, I'll think about it.

_{[It's well within the realm of possibility. Sometimes Adam can ignore his anger, sometimes he can't. Sometimes he thinks he really does need to try something.

But for now, as fun as it'd be to stand around and stare at a comic book character (and probably ask them a few awkward questions, too), the polite thing to do is let the guy get back to what he'd been doing.

Pretty sure the point of meditation isn't to be a zoo exhibit.]}

Nice meeting you. We'll get going so you can get your groove on. Won't we, boy?

_{[He whistles a low tune so Cooper stops snuffling around on the mats and rejoins him, then lifts a hand to Bruce.

Bruce Banner, no shit.]}

[ Adam's trying to be funny, but if there's one thing Bruce is good at, is seeing right through that mask, that thin veil he so often was and sometimes is still now used to using himself. But he doesn't point it out, doesn't ask about it, simply nods and lets that topic go for now, with one last remark. ]

Preferable if you did it before it comes to that. But alright.

[ He leans slightly to take the hand offered, a quick shake before he lets go and sits back once again, waving at the dog as he does so. ]

I'll see you both around, then.

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((OPEN)) Enjoy the calm weeks.

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