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Post by She-Hulk on Apr 30, 2006 12:04:48 GMT -5
At home in She-Hulk's apartment Jennifer leaned back from her computer and took a large sigh. She checked the time which read 11:15, Jen rubbed her eyes and let out a large yawn. She stood up and decided to take a break which lead her to make herself a decaff Coffee. She took her steaming cup, which read Worlds Greatest Cousin, into her small living room and switched on the TV.
Industrialist Tony Stark left Washington late yesterday after testifying in closed session before the Senate select commitee on Superhuman relations. When asked to comment on speculation about the possibility of a Superhuman Registration Act in light of recent events, Stark was uncharacteristically vague...
"Stark, you sly old goose." She laughed as she blew at her coffee. "You are going to make me join your little team supporting your cause. Well as She-Hulk I support but as Jen I decide that our heroes shouldn't be put in this awkward situation."
She took a sip of her hot coffee and held it up whilst pulling a scowled expression on her face.
"I hate being a Pawn!"
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Post by Human Torch on May 8, 2006 17:19:21 GMT -5
"I hate seeing pretty ladies with their faces all scrunched up like that."
The flippant voice came from Jen's balcony, where the flaming form of the Human Torch was landing outside the half-open glass doors. The flame dissapated to reveal a smirking Johnny Storm dressed in his FF uniform. Johnny made himself welcome enough to enter without an invitation and plop down in the most comfortable chair to be had. Jen was a former teammate and a good friend, so Johnny really didn't think twice about it.
"Couldn't hang around the Baxter Building anymore... too much tension between Reed and Sue," Johnny explained before he was even asked, "Decided to go for a flight.... saw your light on, and I figured I'd give you a distraction from the lawyer stuff. At least I'm something pretty to look at."
Johnny knew his joking flirtation wasn't going to get him anywhere. Jen had made it pretty clear not long after she'd started with the FF that he didn't have a chance. But that didn't mean he couldn't push her buttons a little. And, for the moment at least, it gave him a way to avoid the 10-ton issue of what she'd just been watching on TV.
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Post by She-Hulk on May 9, 2006 1:25:16 GMT -5
Although she knew it was exactly what Johnny wnated she grinned a bit and let out a little giggle.
"Well. Sorry to dissapoint Mr.Storm but I must continue with my fiercly important legal work." She said with a straight face before she tipped her glasses down her nose. "Anything else Mr storm?"
She was bursting to laugh at this point.
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Post by Human Torch on May 9, 2006 6:50:38 GMT -5
A broad grin spread across Johnny's face as Jennifer adopted her formal lawyer persona, speaking as she probably did to one of the senior partners at the firm she worked for. Johnny couldn't help but admit to himself that her little charade was awful sexy. But he skipped on mentioning that, instead playing along with Jen's joke. He sat a little straighter in the easy-chair, and adopted a haughty professional tone.
"Yes, Ms. Walters," Johnny replied, "A cup of hot coffee would do nicely. Thank you."
Johnny paused for a moment, and then his grin broadened as he jerked a thumb towards his shoulders.
"And I believe a neck rub would be in order, too."
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Post by She-Hulk on May 9, 2006 11:13:25 GMT -5
"Mr. Storm. I will get you a cup of fine Kenco coffee, however a backrub? I believed we've been over the figures for that line and the feedback was not good." She joked.
Jen turned around and headed towards the coffee machine. She pulled out a little packet before shaking it and inserting it into the machine, a silent minute passed before the machine stopped. Jennifer released the coffee and poared herself another cup and poured one for Johnny.
"Also Mr. Storm I'd like to know your interest into this 'Civil War' we seem currently plagued with." Jen said seriously as she handed him his cup.
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Post by Human Torch on May 9, 2006 12:44:15 GMT -5
Johnny's smirk faltered as Jen brought up the issue of the impending division in the superhero ranks if things went along the lines they were going now. This... 'Civil War'. God, he hated those words. Fighting against people he considered to be friends over some government bill... he never thought he'd see the day come. It almost seemed like some big cosmic joke that was being played on all of them.... but Johnny, for once, wasn't laughing.
"I figured it'd come to that eventually," Johnny sighed into the cup of coffee, "I can't go anywhere these days without hearing somebody talk about it. Not exactly fun times."
Johnny took a sip of the coffee as he glanced back up to regard Jen. He'd heard bits and pieces of what she'd been saying as he entered, so he knew she was conflicted over this, just like he and everybody else were. But he'd prefer to get a straight answer from her on which way she was leaning than to try and figure it out for himself.
"What's your opinion on this whole thing, Jen?" Johnny asked, "I mean... you understand all the legal mumbo jumbo that goes with it. Would... um... people be looking at jail time if they tried to fight against this?"
He was obviously trying to avoid his own plans to resist this thing by force if it came down to that. He hated to think about fighting the government, let alone other superheroes.
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Post by She-Hulk on May 9, 2006 13:04:05 GMT -5
"Of course not Jonathan. No-one would ever set about legally to stop heroes unless something really important got took out in the crossfire." She sighed. "I...as Jen... I'm against this. Heroes should just be heroes and keep a leesh of freedom. However as She-Hulk I am so for this act. I mean at least they are letting us apply and not banning heroes forever which they probably would if it weren't for the greater number of villains running around in this wretched city."
She took a final sip and placed the cup down.
"Jonathan... John... I mean, Johnny. Who would you side with? Iron Man with For The act or Cap against it?"
She looked at Johnny firmly and even shaking, waiting his thoughts on the vital question.
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Post by Human Torch on May 9, 2006 13:40:34 GMT -5
Johnny averted his eyes, unsure of how to respond. He could understand that Jen was of two minds about this... that her two seperate identities ended up with two seperate standpoints on the Superhuman Registration Act. For himself, there really was no division. He'd always been both the Human Torch and Johnny Storm. They were the same guy. And they both had the same opinion.
Johnny finally managed to make eye contact with Jen again. He seemed conflicted, mostly because he knew that pledging himself one way or the other would place him against people he cared about either way. But he couldn't sit in the middle. He had to choose a side. And he already had. When Johnny finally spoke, he spoke with confidence in himself and his opinion.
"Cap. If worse comes to worse... I'll be on Cap's side."
He wanted to say more. To explain why. But with those few words, he felt like he'd said enough already.
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Post by She-Hulk on May 9, 2006 14:25:14 GMT -5
Suddenly Jen began choking on her words.
"I... but... then... I... I need to go." Jen muttered as she didn't believe Johnny would side against her. She transformed into She-Hulk then ran to leap out of her apartment window, it was at the bar she was running too that she'd find out about The Stamford Disaster.
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Post by Human Torch on May 9, 2006 14:25:54 GMT -5
"Dammit."
Johnny cursed in a sigh as Jen transformed into She-Hulk and leapt out the window. He should've known things would go there... especially given that as She-Hulk, Jen was supporting Iron Man.
Johnny sat in Jen's apartment in silence for a while before finally pulling himself out of thought enough to rise. Standing, Johnny walked to Jen's kitchen long enough to pour out the coffee in the sink and leave the cup on the counter. As Johnny headed back towards the window, the Fantastic Four communicator at his belt began to beep. It turned out to be Reed, informing Johnny of the Stamford Disaster and letting him know that he, Reed, and Ben would be going on ahead, and for Johnny to catch up. Flaming up, Johnny soared off into the sky.
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