capeandcowllogs | we are just these people running around.

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we are just these people running around.

WHO: Ben Grimm and YOU!
WHERE: Going for a run in various parts of the City.
WHEN: Early morning: forward-dated to your choice of Sunday or Monday!
WARNINGS: Derp.
SUMMARY: The man formerly known as the Thing is gettin' some exercise, yup.
FORMAT: Quicklog to start! Start threads however you like, and feel free to catch Ben any where along his jogging route.

[ Ben Grimm's been at a bit of a loss, honestly. Even after a few solid months in the City, there's a lot that he hasn't-- and might never-- quite adjust to. He'd been on the brink of so many things back home. Getting his body back, getting engaged to Suzie-- finding the truth out about Reed, whatever that was. But here, he feels a distinct lack of purpose, tinged in festering uncertainty. He'd enlist again, maybe, if he thought the Air Force here would take Imports.

So, he's started making it his habit to go for a run in the mornings, 5:30 AM sharp, when it's still cool out and traffic hasn't gotten too bad yet. It's his way of giving himself a chance to sort his thoughts out on a long route that takes him through Central Park, past City Hall-- a good place for a nice breather, he almost always sits a few minutes on the steps-- and to the regular spot of one of his favorite food cars, where he picks up a hearty breakfast burrito or two before turning back around.

Jogging outside is a luxury anyway-- one he appreciates now that he isn't a huge, orange, and rocky anymore. ]

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[ Miles is awake up depressingly early, for a teenager. He's got his backpack slung over his shoulders and is walking to school an hour early so he can hang out in the library before class and pick out some things to read at home. Everyone around here is like... exceptional in some way; some way that's not bumbled into superpowers accidentally and stole a dead kid's gimmick. He feels so underwhelming, especially in the Spiderhaus, where literally everyone has more experience than he does.

Also Peter is smart. Crazy smart. And Miles is just some kid and-

He just... needs to start studying. A lot.

But not too much that he can't get a breakfast burrito on the way. He ends up right behind Ben in line, and recognition only dawns on him after he hears one of his biggest heroes speak up to order. ] Oh my god! [ he blurts out excitedly, before he can stop himself. ]

[ Ben is visibly surprised at the noise-- glancing around for a moment before he even thinks to look, well. Lower. More at kid height. And there's Miles. He isn't sure if the kid is a native or an Import or what, but he sort of looks excited, and Ben can't be exactly sure why, so...

He points at his own chest. ]

What, me?

[ Miles claps one hand over his mouth belatedly. It takes his brain a few seconds to catch up to his mouth even when it's not the crack of dawn. He nods after a split second of internal flailing, though, since he can't seem to come up with a decent evasion on the fly. ] Um. Sort of. I mean, definitely... yeah.

[ Ben Grimm omg!! ]

[ He's still not really sure how to take that kind of response, arching one of his eyebrows at Miles a second before he offers a sort of bewildered, but almost entertained smile-- like the strangeness of the whole situation isn't entirely unwelcome, and almost a little funny. ]

Yeah, awright. Do I know ya?

Uhh-- n-no. [ Sort of. ] Sorry, it's just. It's not every day you find out you go to the same breakfast burrito stand as one of the Fantastic Four. [ He grins, sheepishly, trying to ignore the fact that he's making a huge dork of himself in front of one of the world's biggest heroes. ]

[ It's-- weirdly endearing. He's still not entirely sure what to make of it, but hey, after years of being "the ugly orange thing on the Fantastic Four," it's... Kind of nice, actually. To have fans. ]

Nah, what're you apologizin' for? [ Here, Ben's gonna buy you breakfast, Miles. Hope you like your breakfast burritos intensely stuffed with everything! Ben passes the burrito to Miles before going on: ] Didn't figure anybody'd recognize me. You know, since I'm not giant and orange.

[ Oh my goodness he sort of marvels at it before shaking his head. ] You've been on the Network and stuff, I mean-- [ There's a pause and he starts chewing. ] How did that happen, anyway? [ what are boundaries! ]

[ Ben doesn't seem to mind it. He's a pretty open kinda guy anyway, and it's not like something super embarrassing went down-- not anymore embarrassing than being a giant walking rock anyway.

He peels the foil back on his own burrito as he talks. ]

Long story short, I sorta exploded. But uh, the science types said they figured the whole orange rock phase was just like a cocoon or somethin' for the new and improved Ben Grimm.

Whoa. [ Exploded!! Guess what Ben Grimm, you just got even cooler. ] Wait, does that mean you can't be a superhero anymore? [ According to Wikipedia, being orange and rocky was his power. ]

[ He quirks a wry little smile. ]

Nah. I still mostly got the same powers. Superstrength, the whole gig-- just, y'know, minus the rocky orange discharge. Plus, I can do some new stuff. Haven't really figured it out yet completely, but I'll take glowin' purple over being a walkin' boulder any day.

[ A bit dryly, leaning down a little so it's like he's telling Miles something he wouldn't tell anybody else: ]

Lemme tell ya, sure as hell makes takin' a leak about a hundred times easier.

[ Ben's not the only one using physical activity as a convenient excuse to clear his head. Bradbury's been in Central park since five in the morning. He wishes he had his headphones to relieve the monotony of the exercise, but he hasn't gotten around to buying a pair yet, and not having the music as a distraction means he can focus on his form. He's finished his warmup, and he's currently working through a series of lunges and plyometric exercises when he hears someone else coming along the path, and straightens up to wave a hand. ]

Morning. Didn't think I'd see anyone else out here this early. [ It's September, after all, and it's not going to be long before jogging out here is going to be an exercise in misery. ]

[ At first, Ben seems mildly surprised to see someone else too-- but he eases to a stop, leaning forward to rest with his hands on his knees a few seconds before he straightens up and waves back. ]

Morning yourself. Guess that makes two of us. [ He smiles, easy and friendly despite his size, taking a second to place Bradbury's face before he goes on: ] You an Import? I feel like I've seen you around the Network.

[ Bradbury's not exactly a small guy himself, but Ben makes him feel vaguely outclassed. ]

Yeah, I am. Can't say the same for you, but I was only Ported in a week ago -- not enough time to go through all the posts on the network. [ He offers a hand, sleeves pushed up so the tattoos on his elbows and left arm are clearly visible. ] Name's Bradbury.

[ It's not surprising that Bradbury hasn't seen much of him. Ben's still not used to being visibly human again, and a little of that self-consciousness still lingers beneath his easy-going exterior. In all honesty, he's still getting used to talking to people that aren't Reed Richards or Sue Storm.

But when he accepts that offered hand and shakes it, his grip is solid. ]

Ben Grimm. [ With a touch of wryness: ] Formerly the Thing. Nice to meet ya. [ A curious beat, as he notices those tattoos. Letting go, he gestures at them. ] Those mean anything special?

[ Bradbury's grip is equally firm, but his expression is mostly blank when Ben introduces himself. He pulls his hand away after a beat, looking sheepish as he rubs the back of his neck. ]

Pretty sure I should recognize that, but I don't keep up with-- [ Comics. ] --superheroes, so the name doesn't mean much to me. Sorry. Good to meet someone face to face instead of the network, though.

And I got the tattoos when I was drunk, so if they mean anything, I guess only the guy who did them could tell you. [ His grin turns wry. ] Hurt like a bitch, though, that's what I remember. Maybe that's why I got them, to remind me: "life is pain, and also, you're an idiot."

[ It's truthfully a bit of relief that it doesn't mean anything to Bradbury-- he's not the Ben Grimm most people know and love, and honestly, he'd felt a little awkward being recognized as a member of the Fantastic Four before.

It puts him at ease enough to chuckle mildly at Bradbury's anecdote, though he half hides it by rubbing his nose, like he isn't sure he should find someone else's pain funny.

A bit wryly himself: ] Well, I was basically a giant orange boulder 'til recently, so I don't exactly got any drunken tattoo stories. But if it happens, you'll be the first guy to know, and I'll be expectin' some sympathy.

[ Really, the story's half-true; it had just seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but it was less than a year ago for Bradbury, and it still catches him off-guard when he glances down at his arms and sees the tattoos there. Talk about impulsive life decisions. ]

Yeah? [ He pauses, considering. ] That's a hell of a superpower to have. 'Least it looks like it wasn't permanent. [ There's probably a story behind that, too, but he's in the mood to keep things light. ]

So, you always come out here this early? [ He raises a brow. He's been doing the same routine, so maybe they've just missed each other the past few times. ]

[ Ben doesn't mind. It's a long story, and not an entirely pleasant one either. Not the kind of story you tell a guy when you've just met him. The jogging thing though, that's okay.

Ben shrugs lightly, putting his hands into the pouch pocket of his hoodie. ]

Sure, most days. Sometimes I change the route up just to keep things excitin', but I'm outta the house by 5:30 at the latest. Military habit, I guess. [ A wry little smile of his own. ] You normally out here too?

Haven't had much time to make it a habit yet, but I'm hopin' to. [ Something else about what Ben says is relevant to Bradbury, though, and he's visibly more interested, scuffing a hand back through his cropped hair. ]

You ex-military too, or still serving? [ He means back home, obviously, but that much is probably obvious. He clarifies, after a moment: ] Used to be a Marine. Thought you looked the type, but s'not too smart to assume anything here.

Edited 2012-09-25 02:15 (UTC)

Back home? I was still servin'. Pilot with the Air Force. But, just about when I got 'ported in here, I was on leave to visit somebody special.

[ A pause, and a light exhale. ]

Guess that technically makes me Captain Grimm, not that it matters any here. [ He nods his head in Bradbury's direction. ] So, ex-Marine, huh? That's pretty hardcore. What d'you do now?

[ He's beginning to realize just how often the Porter seems to take people from the most inconvenient times, but though his mouth twists, all he offers in the way of sympathy is a nod. It's obviously something the guy thinks about enough; no need to voice platitudes. ]

Not as hardcore as strapping yourself into a hunk of metal and hoping it doesn't fall out of sky, fly boy. [ His tone is easy, though, and the joke's a lighthearted one. ] Used to be a Captain, too, but after that I ended up working for Harbor Patrol instead. Now? I'm the Mayor's bodyguard.

[ Ben seems entertained by that, huffing out an amused breath. ]

Helps that I'm invulnerable. And I've definitely had worse than fallin' out of the sky. [ A half-beat. ] Ex-Marine, workin' bodyguard duty now, huh? Guess we don't gotta worry about the safety of our Mayor.

I dunno, I think I've got a lot to live up to. [ He shakes his head. ] I heard the last guy who had the job was James Bond.

Besides, dealing with supervillains isn't exactly something they teach you in basic. You've probably got more experience than I do. [ He nods towards the rest of the park. ] Having a power like yours would be handy. Right now, I'm just trying to be ready for anything.

[ He glances at Ben, giving him a lopsided grin. ] Got any tips you'd like to share?

Tryin' to be ready for anything's a rough gig. Guess I was always lucky, bein' on a team with a couple of real geniuses. They were the brains, and I was the brawn. Sure, I got the invulnerability, the super-strength, and all that-- but I prolly wouldn't know what to do with it half the time without Reed and Sue.

[ There's something vaguely rueful about the way the corners of his mouth quirk up just a little. ]

So, best advice I can give ya is to make sure good people got your back.

[ Something about those words makes Bradbury's expression turn particularly rueful, like he's suddenly thought of an inside joke that isn't actually all that funny, but all he does is nod. ]

Yeah, that part might be a little hard to manage. [ He's quick to change the subject, though. ] So, where are you headed to? Mind if I come with?

[ Ben catches that look, but doesn't comment on it. He figures it's not any of his business anyway, not when they've just met. Maybe the most he can do is just let the subject change. ]

Thought I'd grab a burrito. Breakfast of champions. That sound good to ya?

Burrito sounds good to me.

[ It's a good change of conversational tack as any, and an effective way of leaving the previous subject behind. ]

Lead the way.

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we are just these people running around.

monday morning!

oh hai cutest spiderchan

c: even cuter benchan forgives me for being super late right

I MEAN I GUESS IT'S OKAY GOSH!!!

cB GOOD

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sunday morning? /slides in late

never late! c:

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slides fashionably in to tag this one week later