entranceway | [Video / Action] Danger Room is go!

[Video / Action] Danger Room is go!

[Natasha doesn't normally make open posts on the network and she's been fortunate so far in that the magic here hasn't decided to reveal her at inopportune or embarrassing moments for everyone else. Today she makes an exceptionhowever, opening a broadcast for the network in general. When the video starts, it reveals the redhead dressed in her typical sparring attire in a bright open room. Her manner is friendly and open because she's here for a reason today. Which should be apparent when the video pans out to show the expanded room behind her.

It's a mix between a gym and a training facility, something resembling the rooms that had been used back at SHIELD for the more extreme styles of training. There's no weight machines or treadmills here, but there are two large sparring rings off to one side, an aerialist set-up and high bars, a large climbing wall, and a row of waiting punching bags and training dummies. A simple running track rings the outside of the room and the entire area is lit by large windows on the far side of the room overlooking the lawn. The opposite side of the room holds a large obstacle course for training purposes. Behind it, the wall held a series of doors that led off to smaller rooms for private sessions, weapons training and a holographic simulator - the one room that was still in progress as Tony tinkered with it. The entire floor is one large mat, letting any space be potentially useful for whatever needs the users had. ]

Hello, Wonderland. I've heard a lot of discussion about this lately and about a week ago, some of us decided to do something about it. I know there's training and self-defense and weapons classes that happen at various times and places around here, but a few of us thought having one centralized location for these might be helpful. We had a facility similar to this back in our home and it was almost always in use.

This one will be here night or day and open to anyone who wants to come and learn or practice with others and if the existing lessons occurring would like an equipped place to hold them, we have private rooms set up along the side as well as this central one. We're also working on a room that can simulate battles and attackers in hologram form but we're still testing that out as our resident genius is still tinkering with the technology, so I apologize ahead of times if there's any bugs.

That said, you can find this room on the first floor in Rooms 20 and 22. I'll be here for most of the day to answer any questions or help out if you need it.

Also, on that note, I know I've offered this to a few people, but I suppose I should make it official. If anyone would be interested in learning self-defense or weapons skills, I have a wide variety of hand-to-hand knowledge and training in... well. A lot of things. I've been passing this on to some people, but I don't mind adding new students to people interested in learning, or even just testing themselves against someone, if you're in search of a sparring partner. I'm sure some of my fellow Avengers are also interested in doing the same, so you can let me know here or stop by.

I've found I have a lot of time on my hands here and I'd like to see about filling a bit better. [This is confessed with a bit of a rueful smile, because she's sure she's not the only one with this sentiment. She doesn't bother with goodbyes, but flicks off the feed after that, letting interested parties respond however they'd like.]

((OOC Note: Feel free to respond via video or stop by in person, Natasha will be chilling in the training area for a while to answer questions or set people up for lessons with whoever she knows of that might best benefit them. And don't be surprised to find random other Avengers wandering in and out as well.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Bruce responds to the video with an amused smile, a bit tired if one looks closely but that he tries to keep to himself. His tone a teasing one too when he talks, even if far from disapproving in any way. They'd all been mentioning setting up a place like this amongst themselves and he'd agreed after all, he knew it was only a matter of time until one of the most active actually got around to making it happen. ]

So I'm guessing you're really missing your young and impressionable interns. You certainly look ready to go around intimidating all the poor unsuspecting souls in this place.

[ He gestures at the sides of his own head and neck. ] No pigtails today, though?

[ She gives him a crooked grin at that, propping her chin in her hand, an amused expression on her face. ]

Not today. Didn't want anyone worrying about unexpected choking to death. Who knows what rumors Sam's spread by this point.

So. Are you going to come join me? I don't think you count as an unsuspecting soul anymore.

[ She hasn't missed how tired he looks, and wonders at it. He'd seemed relatively fine the last time she'd been with him. Had something happened? ]

So little faith in him. I'm sure he hasn't warned all that many people about your pigtails yet.

[ Plus, what's the fun in warning people what they're about to get themselves into? ]

I'll drop by once in a while, sure. Are you setting up actual schedules or do we just show up?

I suppose you have a point. Besides, his bet falls through if everyone's got warning. Unless he's just intending to make it more challenging for me.

A little of both. it depends on what people are looking for. And good, I'm glad. Our last bout of sparring was fun. I'd like to keep doing them, if you're still up for it?

You've got a bet riding on this, do you?

I'm up for it, definitely. Always good to burn off some energy every once in a while. When you get around to setting up a schedule send it over, and I'll make sure to free up a few hours in my ever so busy days to drop by.

Sam's fond of bets.

Steve and I were talking about maybe having the group train together a bit as well. We worked fairly cohesively together in New York, but we thought it might be good to be as familiar with each other in a situation as we could. Considering the looming thread of jabberwocky, among other things.

Then you should present an interesting enough challenge.

I agree. Though in that case, I'm not sure there'd be much purpose in me joining you. I'm not... I mean, it's not me who'll be with you in a potential combat situation, after all.

I try to do that anyway.

You're still part of the team. And sparring with us might be good for you - and us. No one's asking you to do anything you're not comfortable with, but as far as team bonding goes, this is often a good way to start.

Maybe the Other Guy will pay attention and make use of it.

Besides, I've sparred with you. I know what you can do. It's a useful skill to hone, just in case, especially since we never know what Wonderland might toss at us next. Not to mention Tony actually listens to you half the time. You can help me bribe him out of the lab.

The Other Guy, fighting jiu-jitsu style?

[ Bruce can't help but grin briefly at her. That mental image is certainly amusing, though kind of weird. ]

You overestimate my ability to talk Tony into doing things. [ Usually it works the other way around. ] But you're right. It might not do much when it comes down to fighting, but... it's still an opportunity for bonding.

[ And a chance too for the others to be a little more comfortable around Bruce. He'd be stupid to pretend that some of them don't still tiptoe when around him. ]

Now there's a mental image for you. Although I don't think he really requires that sort of training. He does well enough on his own.

[ She returns his grin, fond and amused, her chin propped in her hand, green eyes lit with humor. ]

I don't think I do. I'm going to start keeping you and Pepper as my secret weapons. And yeah, we could probably use that. Some more than others, but it'd help all around. Plus, we have the new kids too.

Yeah. Just... with a peculiar style of his own.

[ That being, smash everything in his path. It really doesn't take a whole lot of skill or technique to do that, and with the brute force the Hulk has, he doesn't really need it either. ]

I can't promise I'll succeed. And right, we're counting the new kids now. That'll take some getting used to.

[ She glances over to where Billy and Teddy are messing with the climbing wall, a slight frown on her lips. ]

I think we should. At least in part. I've been talking to them, learning about where they come from. Which is vastly different from us, but there's still some similarities. But Steve and Tony didn't think they should be superheroes, wanted them to stop, refused to train them. They took that as well as you'd expect, being teenagers, and went ahead and did it anyway. Somehow, in the mess of things, Teddy's mother was killed. Not by them, but I believe they think if they'd had training they could have done something about it.

[ She tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear and glances over at him. ] Maybe they're right or maybe that's just a naive hope on their part. But the fact still comes back to, if they're going to do this whether we approve or not, some training is still better than none.

[ He sees the kids behind her, and with a more serious expression of his own he listens to her. He's not too fond of having kids going around being superheroes, but then again who is he to stop them? They're not even from his own universe, he barely knows them, and it's like Natasha puts it: they'll do it, whether they approve or support their decision or not.

And honestly, in this place? They might not have much of a choice when it comes down to it. ]

Agreed. Least we can do is make sure they'll be ready, or as ready as possible anyway. Not to mention that keeping them close will make it much easier if we need to jump in and help them. And when it comes down to it, there's safety in numbers.

There is. [ She feels a flicker of relief when he agrees with her, because this is something she intends to bring up to the team, and she's not sure about the reactions she'll get from the others. Yeah, they're kids, but they've already been through so much more than most normal teens. There comes a point when you just have to adapt your opinion of 'normal'.

A moment later she casts him a crooked grin, however. ]

Also I think one of them is pretty interested in meeting you. He based his superhero persona after you and the Other Guy.

[ Bruce won't be too surprised if some of them oppose to the idea, but when it comes down to it, they have no say on what they choose to do or not. They can't stop them or tell them what to do, and what little he knows about teens, he's sure that if anyone tried to, it'd just incite them further into doing things on their own.

The one right thing they can offer is their support, their help. To not treat them like children and then maybe they'll listen to them. ]

Really? [ Bruce looks genuinely surprised at that, though beyond that not entirely sure just yet how he feels about it. ] So what, he... paints himself green?

[ She laughs and shakes her head at that, going on to explain. ]

No, he's a shapeshifter, apparently. Can make himself look like anything or anyone. So he made himself big and green and called himself Hulkling. He's fairly strong, as well. The kids are pretty interesting in what they can do.

Out of all the things he could've picked?

[ Sounds like an unfortunate choice to Bruce if he ever heard one. It's not like he's great superhero material, especially in comparison to others, but then again it could be worse. The kid at least seems to be in complete control of his transformations. ]

Guess I got a... a fan, then.

I think he made a good choice, honestly.

[ She gives Bruce a fond smile at that, crossing her arms over her chest. ]

I guess you do. You do realize he's not your first fan though, right?

Sometimes you're too nice. It throws me off.

[ He returns the smile, though with a hint of humor to it on his end. ]

Who are we talking about here? Those kids who made Hulk masks after New York and went around growling and... "smashing"? Or Tony, maybe?

Well, I do enjoy keeping you on your toes.

[ Her smile mirrors that hint of humor back at him. ]

Well, I suppose those all count. But you do realize there are action figures now, right? Comics. Collectibles. The Other Guy is quite popular.

I'm not at all surprised to hear that.

[ His eyes roll just barely, glancing away at that last remark. ]

I noticed. He became surprisingly popular. [ Bruce, not at all. Though he's really glad for that. ] Still think Tony's and Steve's figures sell better, though. Thor too.

Yes well, Steve has a hundred years of merchandising to give him a boost and Tony is Tony. [ Her tone is wry as she counters that argument. ] Are you really that surprised? You were one of the most visible of us. You might have even saved the largest number of people there, unless we count Tony's solo act there at the end.

And you closed the portal. You saved the whole city, all the people that could've died otherwise. Just because you're not huge nor do you come in flashy colors or big explosions of light doesn't make that any less important or meaningful.

Yes, but I was also a tiny figure on a very tall roof. There's a difference.

I'm not jealous, in case you're worried. My job gets infinitely more difficult if I have to worry about my targets possibly having collector figurines of me sitting on their shelves when I drop in on them without warning.

...Although now that I think about it, that would be very surreal.

[ Bruce has to laugh at that, both at the mental image and the way she puts it. ]

I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty hilarious to me. Guy gets the surprise of his life.

[Video / Action] Danger Room is go!

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