[Mingle-Log] Only non-alcoholic beverages in the punch bowl...

[adminfury]

[This is an open mingle log. You do not have to be part of the community to post in this thread. Consider it a test-drive of sorts to get your voice or meet new characters!]



SHIELD Academy
Open House
Everyone is congregated in the spacious auditorium of the SHIELD Academy. The noise level is probably a decibel below deafening and the lights are probably a little dimmer than what might seem normal for this time in the evening, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone as they just carry on. There are banners strewn about welcoming all first years to a new chapter in their lives while others welcome the others back for another year at the Academy. Refreshments are served up on stage while other tables set up around the massive room are home to pamphlets and flyers for clubs and classes. Special electives and advertisements for training sessions are also littered amongst the tables.

Make a few friends, find old ones, look into clubs that catch your interest. This is open house for all returning students and prospective students, so hang out, hit up others and just mingle!

Comments

[unseasoned]

[Oh, poor guy. Virginia almost wonders if he's this shy around everyone, or maybe just girls. Either way, it's pretty clear just how hard he's trying, which oddly enough helps Pepper feel better. She's got all her own reasons to be awkward, but compared to Bruce, it's hard to feel that way at all.]

It's nice to meet you, Bruce Banner, Senior. [Still smiling, she looks down at the pamphlets. Hopefully talking about the clubs will be a bit easier on him.] I'm not really much of a science and math person. At least, not the complicated stuff. With a school like this, I'm imagining the ones who are must be genius level.

[dyskinesia]

[ He returns the words with a lopsided grin, shaking his head and making an effort to look her in the eye. ] Just Bruce is fine.

[ She seems nice, at least, that always helps him relax, despite the awkwardness that always comes from talking with new people. Especially when she pretty much shoots a comment his way that can only be seen as an indirect compliment. ]

I wouldn't say genius. [ Though in his case, yes. ] We've got a few people who are just curious, even when they don't know much about the stuff we do or talk about. But-- yeah, it's... alright. There's a lot of other clubs for you to pick from.

[unseasoned]

Good; that's what I was planning on going with. [She definitely does like him, even with the awkwardness. She's already a little curious to see what he's like when he's relaxed, and quick to address what she thinks is disappointment.]

And no rules saying you can't be friends with someone not in the clubs, right? [Because while Virginia doesn't see herself joining either the mathletes or the scientists, she also hopes that Bruce doesn't see it as a rejection of him.] Are you involved in any other activities?

[dyskinesia]

No, of course not. [ For a moment he almost makes a joke about how he won't be friends with anyone outside of science clubs, but he gives that up. She might actually take him seriously. ]

Boring stuff, mostly. I'm going for a physics degree, you can figure out what I like from that. But I'm also in the linguistics and martial arts clubs. [ He's in the comic book club too, but that's earned him a few mocking stares and less than polite remarks in the past, so he doesn't mention that one. ]

[unseasoned]

Sure. One of those super genius scientist-types who I thought would be in the science and math clubs. [In truth she's pretty sure she's already figured out a few things before he tells her his degree path, but he still has a surprise or two waiting. Not the part about the physics degree; that's obvious.

Martial arts does get her attention though, and not only because it's not what she's expecting.] I hadn't thought about linguistics, but I got encouraged to look into martial arts. [Strongly encouraged, in the hopes it would help teach her control over her own body. Her smile falters for a moment before Virginia pushes aside the thought.] Is it fun?

[dyskinesia]

[ He rolls his eyes a little to the side, replying to the first remark with some amusement. ] Well, not super genius. Just standard genius. [ But he's joking, really, for the most part. It really doesn't suit him to brag, and he does it in a clear mocking tone. ]

I like it, at least. Helps you focus, keep control, and burn off some energy. You can always check it out and give it a try before signing up for good if you're thinking about it. [ He leans over and looks a bit far down the rows of club tables with a nod. ] We've got something set up over there, I can walk you if you want.

[unseasoned]

Oh, forgive me. I didn't realize genius had a hierarchy. [Now that's much better. It seems like Bruce is actually starting to feel a bit more comfortable in his own skin, replying with sarcasm instead of shyness. Even with the self-depreciation in his words, Virginia still thinks a lot of that compliment is probably earned, but she doesn't push the point.

Instead her attention goes down the line of tables, Virginia looking where Bruce indicates. It's hard to see the specific one from here, but that may not turn out to be much of an issue, since he offers to escort her a moment later.] Sure, if they don't need you to man the booth here.

[Burn off some energy--ha. Pepper's smile tightens as she repeats the words over in her head. That doesn't mean it's not worth thinking about though, so she waits for Bruce to come around the table.]

[dyskinesia]

Oh yeah, definitely. Give it a couple weeks in this place and you'll see. [ Even as he grins, though, he still looks down a little, neither used to nor comfortable with keeping eye contact.

He shakes his head dismissively as he circles the table to the other side, getting no more than a nod of acknowledgement from one of his colleagues sitting there and handing out pamphlets. ] They'll manage just fine without me, I think. Come on.

[ With that he makes his way along the tables, keeping his step alongside hers. With a few detours though, whenever he tries to avoid bumping or even so much as brushing against anyone in his path. ]

[unseasoned]

I guess this really is still just a high school. [Which is oddly relieving in its own way. Normal has been an elusive concept for Virginia as of late, and certainly not something she thinks she's going to find among a bunch of superpowered agents-in-training. But they're all still kids too, regardless of intelligence and abilities. Maybe eventually Virginia can be too.

She doesn't miss how Bruce keeps his distance, but that's okay. She isn't looking to scare him off, and if a lack of contact makes him more comfortable, Virginia can work with it. She keeps up pretty easily, making her way to the tables until they come to the set up Bruce had pointed out earlier.]

So, am I picking up another pamphlet, or is there more of a demonstration for this one?

[dyskinesia]

It has its moments, but overall? Yeah, just a high school. [ Which just happens to have mostly genius brilliant minds or superpowered teenagers for students. Some of them being even a little bit of both. ]

You can get a pamphlet if you want, but they've set up a couple of mats too. They were aiming for something a little more flashy, to try and get more new people to join. There. [ Once they come closer and navigate their way through the larger mass of people, he points at a pair of students performing a basic routine, choreographed for the most part, on one of the mats. Nothing too complicated for now, but still they're getting plenty attention as it is. ]