[IC] Pre-intro

[stupidcupid]

[ you're being watched ]

Comments

[stupidcupid]

Banner, right?

[ragescience]

[looking up, kind of fidgety and faintly surprised]

... Clint, you made it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[stupidcupid]

And I thought I was the spy. What's going on? I thought we were "supposed" to be on "holiday".

[ragescience]

... Well, yes, but ... Agent Romanoff and I got intel through SHIELD that specifically detailed this uh, summer camp.

[pause]

... You weren't briefed before you got here, were you?

[stupidcupid]

Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't. I'll check with Nat.

[ragescience]

[looking somewhat amused]

I'm sure she'll, uh ... find you.

[stupidcupid]

What have you two being doing while I was out, bonding?

[ragescience]

You're not assuming there was time for that here, were you? It's been ... interesting. I don't have another word for it.

[stupidcupid]

I'll take it.

Seriously, though. What the hell is going on?

[ragescience]

It's, ah ...

[waves his hand]

Some kind of inter-dimensional summer camp that's imposed its own will upon the occupants here, us included. In a way, it sort of has its own personality. I've heard a lot of theories about where and how, but nothing that I've been able to find for myself through any kind of tangible experimentation.

[stupidcupid]

. . .

Okay, since it's you, I'll take that at face-value.

[ragescience]

...

It forced me to hug people because it thought that I was lonely.

[stupidcupid]

Banner, stop ruining your own credibility, it's embarrassing.

[ragescience]

That was a warning.

[stupidcupid]

Yeah, now I am terrified. My quiver's shaking.

[ragescience]

Will you say the same thing when it forces you to sit down for tea and make small talk? ...You might want to come up with some conversation topics now and save them for the occasion.

[stupidcupid]

I'm sure I can come up with something. How about you?

[ragescience]

I managed, as strange as the situation sounds.

[stupidcupid]

. . . You are doing okay, right? I just spotted the prettiest princess of Asgard.

[ragescience]

... As well as I can. There are ... precautions in place.

But ... really ... it's not him I'm the most worried about.

[stupidcupid]

That's not what I think, so convince me fast.

[ragescience]

Outside the barrier there's a ... creature that can devour worlds. Universes. Everything.

[stupidcupid]

Too quick, damnit!

[ragescience]

There's not many details.

[rubbing his nose]

And the barrier... it's weakening.

[stupidcupid]

The cause?