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[ SURVEY ]
...aka The New, Improved Character Survey of Doom. Because I have no life.
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
While not frail, Bruce is most definitely not in the healthy range. Somewhat underweight, most likely, since turning into the Hulk burns a lot from his body. Bruce is pretty much the smallest of all the Avenegrs when he's not being the Hulk - he's a bit under average in both build and height overall, and his inclination to loose, baggy clothes doesn't help in that department either.
2. How old is he?
Forties and counting. As of this entry he's 43... and usually acts like 43. Usually.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Avoidance, avoidance, avoidance. That's Bruce generally to people he doesn't want to meet. When the situation presents itself he'll always try to make himself as small as possible, attempting to make himself as the least threatening target because the last thing he wants is for people to spot him. It's partly due to his time on the run, but also because of his childhood. For Bruce, getting attention is something he does not want.
That said, if you are somebody he is close to Bruce will relax around them quite easily. He doesn't try to make himself invisible or hide away and simply just be... himself. Or as close to himself as he can, anyway. Truthfully a good part of his psyche now is shaped by the Hulk around around it, which does sometime make it hard to see what's real and what's not. But if you really want to know when he's okay with you - it's when he starts to talk back and make witty comments. That's when Bruce feels comfortable enough to let go and not worry as much as he usually does. Underneath all that niceties is a man who's just as confident as Tony Stark himself, and he can show it underneath the right circumstances.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Due to the gamma in his blood Bruce is 100% free of any illnesses and fully resistant of any virus that gets into his body. But on the flip side, his blood is radioactive and being exposed to it is as dangerous as being submerged bare ass naked in the core of a nuclear power plant, if not worse. The only reason why he's not emitting radiation from his skin 24/7 is because his skin has been mutated by the gamma too to keep the radiation inside as well - think the nuclear plant analogy again. His blood is the core, and his skin the shell that keeps it safe.
In terms of physical health Bruce is fit enough for things like sprints and jumps and some basic parkour maneuvers, but nothing too intense. He doesn't really do the exercise part as much these days, too, so he's not as fit as he was when he's on the rub. He is still just as spry, though, so it doesn't mean that he's exactly lacking anytime soon.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
When he's running for his life or otherwise Bruce is extremely swift and fluid; its something he's come to train after being on the run. Of course, he's also not a master so he tends to crash and stumble a lot as well if the place he's running it is crowded and/or cluttered (see: The Incredible Hulk movie). But when there's no threat or danger Bruce simply goes on like any pother normal guy, except just a little bit hunched and silent because he never likes being noticed.
As the Hulk though, he's about as subtle as a bull in a china shop. An incredibly fast and surprisingly quick bull, but you get the hint.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He is attractive in the ruffled, humble, vaguely adorable way. Bruce isn't one to really think too much about his looks, since he always has other things to worry about. That's not to say he isn't confident about his appearance, though. He's pretty good with how he looks, although as long as nobody stares at him for too long he'll be okay with things. As always, he shies off from too much (unwanted) attention.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Tanned, and though he used to have many scars from many things, the Hulk's regenerative abilities cleared them all up so his skin is about as clean as a baby's. Bruce is... not sure how to feel about that, even until now.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Dark brown, vaguely messy-looking but actually curls at the ends. It's soft to the touch, or as Tony puts it, like petting a cat.
(On a sidenote, Bruce really likes headpats, but he'll never tell it to anyone unless he's intimately close with him/her.)
As the Hulk is hair is black and coarse, and touching it may be a bit like trying to pet a hedgehog or a porcupine.
9. What color are his eyes?
Brown as himself, as green as the Hulk. When he transforms, the first and last thing to change are always the eyes.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
He is very hairy. His chest hair in particular is something to look at.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
His head. It's partly because of the Hulk, but also because Bruce always has a tendency to think far too much and that always affects him. Plus considering the fact that he uses his brain more than any other part of his body... yes.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
So, so thrifty like you wouldn't believe. This is the man who lives off thrift stores and doesn't think about it. He's not a picky man, really, and just wears almost anything as long as it works. He does tend to lean towards soft, muted colors, but if there's anything he can wear then he'll take it. That said, Bruce always unconsciously picks clothes about one or two sizes bigger so that he won't feel as bad when the Hulk emerges and destroys his clothing.
With Tony's clothes, its about the same, except Bruce is much more careful with them and during days he think he might Hulk out, Bruce switches to wearing his own clothes back instead. Of course, its impossible when a Hulk out might happen sometimes, so Bruce just mostly hopes for the best.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
As said above, his clothes are usually (if not always) about a one or two sizes bigger than him. Of course, those are for the clothes he has for himself, but with Tony's they're just a little bit loose since they're all tailored for Tony and Bruce just feels a little skinnier than him. When it comes to his own clothes Bruce is okay with them - with Tony's clothes Bruce treats them as delicately as he can, because those clothes cost way more than anything he can ever afford and ruining them would not... be nice.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
...uh pretty much yeah. He would probably opt for something a bit more casual when he's staying indoors, but otherwise they're almost the same - minus the jacket and such.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Commando on possible Hulk out days (since he's really ruined enough underwear), but on days where things might be alright he goes with briefs. Or boxers. Again, Bruce is not picky.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
He sounds like Mark Ruffalo. |: But I guess to put it in a description I suppose its kind of... low? At least it sounds like it to me. Pretty much the least animated voice among the Avengers, according to my own feelings.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Even and soft. Very even and soft, but there's always that quiet hint of steel underneath. He is usually pretty confident in his words, especially wry, witty and scarastic when he's talking with people he's comfortable with, only faltering when his own ~emotions~ are involved. Let it be said that Bruce Banner is very much not the pinnacle of human emotions despite what one may think otherwise.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He's still distinctly generic American, but his accent's been roughed around with bits and pieces he's picked up across the world. So there are times where some words sound a bit more like something people from another country would say it. But he's still generic American for the most part.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Bruce speaks a variety of other languages, from French to Portugese and even some Chinese and Hindi. He's not wholly fluent with any of them though - just enough to scrape by for the most part and do his job. The languages he is fluent in though would be English and Spanish, having had to take lessons for the latter in high school and continued it in college.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Nope. He tends to stick to English as much as possible, unless the other party can't understand it.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Bruce thinks a lot about what he wants to say, because he doesn't want to step on toes or earn the ire of other people. Also because sometimes he just wants to try and politely decline people as subtly as he can before they get too... close, for a lack of a better word. Basically Bruce thinks a lot on what he says because they are kind of the one weapon he has, in a way. He knows better than most people how well people can use and abuse words, and he knows how transparent they can be sometimes.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Eloquent enough most of the time, but more towards inarticulate when things start to get a little too personal. There are just too many triggers for Bruce when it comes to talking about things close to him, and he's bad at dealing with them - to put it nicely.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Bruce is very, very smart, but he's one of the few people who actually doesn't flaunt out his genius due to his general dislike of attention. Last time he used to be more book smart than street smart, but after having had to be on the fun for over half a decade he's grown a lot more street smart as well - he had to be, really, because otherwise things would just now end well in general. So right now he's pretty much good in both, which is a surprisingly rare combination these days.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
As much as possible Bruce prefers to have the time to think through and consider, but if push comes to shove he can be quick minded about things too. Again, something he had to develop while on the run from the military.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Bruce, to put it in a way, is possibly the ultimate contradiction. While he is naturally much more intuitive and idealistic, life and circumstances have forced him to be the exact opposite. Having to live his life in shades of control means that Bruce always needs to consider his every action and word, thus forcing him to be logical and practical about his choices. But during situations where he doesn't have time to think, he tends to fall back to his natural thought process.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
He went through public schooling up until high school because of life, but picked up a scholarship after that and went to a more prestigious college after that before moving on to Havard and then Caltech where he picked up his Ph.D.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
He has a Ph.D in nuclear physics, but he has since branched out to almost all fields of science due to his work and some just out of interest. In Somarium he's finishing a proper doctorate's licence so that he can work properly at Caduceus Somarium. He's also started to dabbled in electronics and AI since helping Tony with his stuff every once in a while (and making robot dogs for teenage girls). Basically if its interesting enough, Bruce will poke into it to try and learn eventually.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert. Massive introvert. This is something that will never change.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
On the surface he's a very pleasant and nice guy, somebody who never seems to get angry, vaguely optimistic and just smiles all the time. But of course once you go past the surface you find that he's dry, somewhat pessimistic, sarcastic and very very wry. Go even deeper (which only a few have ever managed) and you'll see he's just broken, splintered and so very, very angry.
Bruce is a man with many layers, one that he usually controls and lets people what they want to see. He's an eternal paradox, as mentioned before; he's the man who heals and hurts, to creates and destroys, who protects and damages. There's nothing ever so simple about him and most of the time what Bruce says actually means another thing entirely - and not one people will understand. Bruce, as he says himself, is 'always angry', but its the anger that does show, doesn't boil until it does and then it roars over you like a volcano. On the surface he seems nice but inside he's a bitter, fractured man desperate to put back the cracks together. He seems easygoing and laid-back but is especially driven for the things important to him. That is how Bruce is: the ultimate contradiction.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Suspicious and curious. Being who he is Bruce tends to treat anything new as a threat to him first before convinced otherwise. And by threat I don't mean a threat to him; what is mean is if he's going to be a threat to them. He regards everything critically first before deciding what do - if he has the time to do so, of course.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
React. Of course that doesn't mean that Bruce won't act; he will if he has to, but he would rather let people take the first step so he can know what to do next.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Flight. Always, always flight. Because fighting never ends well.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Bruce has a very dry sense of humor and indulges in self-decaprication a lot once you're somebody he's close to. As long as its nothing too dangerous or life-threatening, Bruce is pretty cool with everything on him. To other people though is another thing altogether.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Both are not officially diagnosed (and with good reason), but Bruce has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and possibly the most screwed up version of something quite but not really DID (Dissolative Identity Disorder). He... obviously doesn't deal with them at all because he sucks at anything involving himself, but when his PTSD comes to haunt him Bruce does his breathing exercises to keep himself control and in check so that he doesn't Hulk out. That's really about the extent of what he does.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
First and foremost, the death of his parents. Bruce watched his father kill his mother and then almost strangled him to death, and that incident left a lasting impression on Bruce. It marked the proper start of his pacifist beliefs, and Bruce's own disinclination towards violence. It damaged his psyche badly, and even until now the scars aren't really gone, even if Bruce may never show it.
Second would be the incident that created the Hulk, for obvious reasons. It changed Bruce's life completely, and not in ways the man likes. It broke and damaged him and it will be something Bruce thinks he can never recover from.
Third, Harlem. It showed Bruce just how bad humanity really is, how everybody craves the Hulk even though it was clear that the Hulk is not a Good Thing and just... Bruce lost many things in that, but the one he lost most was Betty. It was clear, in that point, that he didn't deserved her, and she needed better people than a monster like him. It's my headcanon that he tried to kill himself sometime after this, and when he couldn't die he simply moved on and started to help people.
Fourth, the Avengers (of course). A mark of a different start, where perhaps for the first time Bruce could see that he could maybe start to do more than just not smash the people close to him. Where there are people who could accept him and--of course, the brilliance that is Tony Stark. Perhaps it is he who made the biggest difference yet.
14. What does he fear?
Of the day where he screws everything up and hurt/damages/injures/kills all the people important to him.
(Losing Tony, hurting him, watching him die.)
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
...Bruce doesn't dare to think about this, really. He doesn't want to think of the possibility that he has a future because he thinks he doesn't deserve it. He just lives his life one day at a time at this point, and maybe just slightly hoping that one day, he can do something about the Hulk that will no longer make it a problem anymore in his life.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Of just how brittle and broken and lost he is. Bruce is well aware that some people can see - which is already bad enough - but he simply doesn't want to add his baggage to anybody's elee's. It's not fair for them.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Bruce loves and misses his mother dearly, even to this day. She was literally the light of his life and the reason why he respects all women. In his eyes she was amazing and perfect and honestly nobody else can replace her. She stood up to his father, cared for him, loved him and made him feel special. Made him feel good and normal and okay and watching her die before his eyes left a scar that will perhaps never heal - doubly so because it was his father who killed her.
And it goes without saying, of course, that Bruce holds no love for his father. He hate his father and despises him and it's the one thing that can really set off Bruce, if one digs deep enough. Bruce can forgive anybody else, but the one man he can never forgive is his father. His father ruined his life and his family and killed his mother and there is no way Bruce can ever let something like that go.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Bruce is an only child, for better or for worse. Even he alone was an accident, since his father had never wanted children in the first place. But it had happened, and... well, sometimes Bruce does wonder if he should never have been born. Than maybe he wouldn't have brought all of this suffering to the world and upon others.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Jennifer Walters, his cousin. After the death of his parents Bruce was sent to live with his mother's relatives, all of whom were not fond of Bruce due to being his father's son. Jennifer was the only one who reached out and talked to him, and in the years before college Bruce grew close to her, coming to see her as an elder sister figure. After college and university though the two eventually drifted apart as Bruce moved to science and Jennifer went to study law. He lost all contact with her after being forced to become a fugitive, a fact Bruce does regret. He just hopes she's alright, wherever she is - and that she wouldn't hear what became of him.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
In his own way Bruce is slowly coming to see the Avengers as part of his 'family', although he treats it more like a team of sorts. New York bonded them together, but there are still many things that separate them. And of course, Tony in particular is the one person Bruce finds himself close to.
But to be honest, the concept of family is one Bruce is unfamiliar with. His father didn't exactly set a shining example of what a family is, and his own experiences are at best tattered. Bruce is well aware that he lacks this basic perception, and in his darker days in troubles him quite a bit.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Tony Stark, and see The Avengers movie for details. Their time in Somarium have made them a lot closer too and right now Tony is pretty much the most important person in Bruce's life.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Pepper Potts, of course, and surprisingly John Watson (that is, the BBC version). John is, as said, a surprise, but Bruce is glad for that friendship, as he is with Pepper as well. They're both amazing people as well in their own right, and Bruce considers it his honor to know them both.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Herein lies another paradox once more: its easy to make friends with Bruce, but its hard for Bruce to be friends to them. He's a terribly private person, never one to talk about himself and opts to focus on others instead. He can get close to people, sure, but people can't get close to him and there is a contradiction all over again. Relationships are always a two way street, as people are aware, but Bruce never allows people close for fear of hurting them - or worse. He can work with them and eat with them and do a whole bunch of things with other people, but at the end of the day they're all still disconnected with him because Bruce will never let people come close to him. He puts himself away from them, not them from him, because he knows full well that the problem will always be him and not them.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
For Bruce friends and family mean almost the same thing to him - the moemnt he considers anybody a friend means that they are very important to him, and he would do just about anything to protect them.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Single, and formerly attached to Betty. But since his suicide attempt, however, he thinks himself unworthy of her. He hasn't seen her since Harlem, but if he ever does... well, Bruce would try to end it on amiable terms. He wants Betty to go out and have somebody better and far more deserving of her.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope. Bruce... does not believe himself capable of love, really, after all that's happened to him. He's far too broken and damaged to go for that and he knows it'll never really work out, so it'll be easier to spare the other party the pain.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
His first crush is... most likely some chick in high school. You know, the standard girl who every boy pines for while their hormones were out of control. Bruce is the same as any other guy, after all, even if he was already awkward back then.
As for his latest - it would be a lie if Bruce didn't feel anything for Tony, but its something he doesn't really come to realize. Because 1) Tony is already in a relationship with Pepper and 2) Bruce doesn't believe himself capable of love, as seen in the above answer. Unless something big happens and the knowledge slams him in the face, Bruce will most likely never come to that realization.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
If this does ever come to pass, Bruce just simply wants somebody who can accept him for who he is and help him. Keep him close and love him always because he'll soak it all up and always ask for more. Bruce knows he's going to be greedy on that account due to his own deprived childhood. He doesn't dare to ask for a lot, really, but he just simply wants... somebody who he can love and who will love him back in return.
But those are all just abstract thoughts, really. Bruce never intends to find somebody again in this lifetime - he's not made for this.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No and Bruce has no desire to have children, out of the fear that he'll end up like his father.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Nope.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Right now? X, because Bruce is celibate by choice due to the Hulk and the problems it gives to him. Before that though he was somewhere between 2 to 3, although for Bruce the person really matters more than anything else. As long as it works, then it works. Nothing to it.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
It is nice, and it is good, but in the end something he has to live without now and Bruce just makes do with it. He has no issues with sex in general - its simply part of life and human nature, but in the end its of no consequence to him now. He made his choice and has to live by it.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Kink time haha.
Bruce really likes dirty talking, especially when he's the recipient. He likes the tease, the promise/not-promise of those words and it gets him riled up when things get heavy. He's also very touchy feely, so when it comes to sex with him there's always going to be a fair amount of touching involved one way or another. He also likes edging - that turns him on a lot, especially when things are already hot and heavy.
Turn offs... a fair amount of things, really. He isn't comfortable with bondage and sensory deprivation due to its associations with the military, but he will ne okay with it if it is with somebody he can be comfortable with, and only in very moderate allowances (shibari, for example, is out of the picture). Big nos however would be bloodplay, painplay, BDSM and most extreme kinks.
All of that said, Bruce likes to cuddle. A lot. He's a cuddle bug if you let him be, and one way to know that he's okay with a place is when he's cuddling something in his sleep.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Bruce is a Sagittarius born in the year of the Dog. The Dog... suits him somewhat well, actually, while not so much for Sagittarius. There are some things that apply, but mostly it doesn't really mesh with him, haha.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Being a scientist Bruce isn't one to believe in gods and the like, but he does have an open mind. He isn't one to reject the ideas that religion puts forth, but he takes it all with a grain of salt and puts it out as something to debate about rather than take it as an absolute truth. In the end, though, it's not important to him, and for the most part just drives his own curiosity towards the people who do.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
Absolutely, yes. It started right back in his childhood, when Bruce had to suffer abuse (both physical and verbal) from his father and came to a head when the murder happened. He's only further reinforced it since then, doubly so after the Hulk appeared in his life and he has never faltered in it. Considering how little Bruce fears death now, possibly the only way for him to compromise his morals is if his loved ones are threatened, or something very personal strikes next to him.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Bruce is very open minded, as said before, and while he himself has no belief (its hard to believe in a benevolent god when his life is nothing but screwed) Bruce is curious about the faith and belief in others, purely from a scientific standpoint. He's very professional about it, and overall when it comes to it he is pretty indifferent. In the end its just mostly a fascination - nothing more than that.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Bruce is, ironically speaking, prejudiced against himself. It's not just about the Hulk here; the fact that the Hulk even exists is a sin Bruce will never forgive himself for. In Harlem it was made clear that like Steve Rogers, now he too is a sample that people look towards and seemingly wants to replicate, for some reason or another. And the knowledge of that haunts Bruce, the fact that he had unleashed this monstrous legacy that people will remember for years to come and it's never what he had intended when he first started. Now, because of him and his work, his accident, people are going to suffer and get killed and the reality of that truth hits Bruce hard on his worse days.
Obviously, it's completely irrational, but Bruce sticks to it because he can't blame anybody else for it. It's his work, his responsibility, his unintended legacy and he is the one who has to clean it up when the time comes. It's his job, and the fact that this all even happened in the first place is something Bruce can never forgive himself for - to be this weak and foolish and arrogant, and in the end all of those caused this to happen. Of course, what he does as the Hulk doesn't escape him either - the lives of those he's taken haunts him forever.
Nobody hates Bruce Banner more than Bruce Banner himself.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Technically speaking Bruce is pretty comfortable, although he's just pretty much living off Tony in Somarium. He's actually fairly wealthy at this point because he's thrifty and doesn't spend much, so his points just sit in his account, mostly untouched.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Well he was normal at first, then he had some renown for his work. That ended when the Hulk became a thing, and then he became a fugitive before The Avengers happened. Obviously, his transition from being a fugitive and then back into society has not been comfortable on both ends, for more reasons than one. Bruce used to be a pretty normal guy, after all, the being forced to run from the military is never an easy thing no matter how prepared you are for it. The Hulk, too, forced him to change both inside and out and tat retained even after everything and he returned to society. It doesn't make him comfortable, but he's trying, in however ways that he can.
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
He lives in Stark Tower, along with Tony and the other Avengers. Stark Tower being... Stark Tower... means its that its super rich and fancy and all that jazz and Bruce at least has gotten used to it by now. He has his own room, and a lab, which is already a lot more than he would dare to ask for.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Um. Nothing much, maybe besides equipment and supplies when he needs it. Otherwise its usually gifts for other people when the season rolls around.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
A GP/doctor at Caduceus Somarium - that is when he's not suspended or resting after a Hulk out or some other situation. He's had a lot of experience at this point, so he's fairly good in it. And of course, he likes doing it; he likes helping people, because it makes him feel like he's making up for all the other wrongs he's done even though Bruce knows that's not the case.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
He reads up on Hypnosia and anything about it (especially dream/nightmare energy), tinkers around in the lab with Tony when he can or just wanders around Somarium when he needs his peace. Sometimes he does yoga or meditates, but since he's figured out how to keep the Hulk in check he doesn't do those as much now. Mostly though, Bruce likes to busy himself with work when he can. It keeps him away from his darker thoughts.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Bruce makes it a point to eat regular meals when he can, although he does tend to lose himself in his things and forget about food entirely until somebody reminds him. While he does cook, he's not amazing at it and usually just sticks with takeaway. He shies away from alcohol and eats vegetarian once in a while.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color?
Green Purple Bruce is actually fond of blue. Its a calming, quiet color that reminds him of the sea and the sky.
2. Smell?
Petrichor; that is, the smell of the air after rain. It helps him to clam down, somehow.
3. Time of day?
Night, for it feels easier to hide himself in the darkness.
4. Season?
Spring, for new beginnings. Possible hopes. A better tomorrow, perhaps.
5. Book?
A meta answer here - White Fang, by Jack London. I've always felt that the story here strongly relates to Bruce: for just as White Fang went through hell before finding his place with Wheedon Scott, Bruce goes through a lot before discovering he has something of a spot in the Avengers, and with Tony.
6. Music?
Another meta answer - Linkin Park's Castle of Glass, although I'll Be Gone is a close second.
7. Place?
Stark Tower. Its... as close to a home as he can ever get.
8. Substance?
The things people have given to him since his arrival in Somarium. It... means a lot to him, really.
9. Plant?
Meta answer - marigold, as in the language of flowers they mean pain and grief and are commonly used in funerals.
10. Animal?
An abused dog.
END
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Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
While not frail, Bruce is most definitely not in the healthy range. Somewhat underweight, most likely, since turning into the Hulk burns a lot from his body. Bruce is pretty much the smallest of all the Avenegrs when he's not being the Hulk - he's a bit under average in both build and height overall, and his inclination to loose, baggy clothes doesn't help in that department either.
2. How old is he?
Forties and counting. As of this entry he's 43... and usually acts like 43. Usually.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Avoidance, avoidance, avoidance. That's Bruce generally to people he doesn't want to meet. When the situation presents itself he'll always try to make himself as small as possible, attempting to make himself as the least threatening target because the last thing he wants is for people to spot him. It's partly due to his time on the run, but also because of his childhood. For Bruce, getting attention is something he does not want.
That said, if you are somebody he is close to Bruce will relax around them quite easily. He doesn't try to make himself invisible or hide away and simply just be... himself. Or as close to himself as he can, anyway. Truthfully a good part of his psyche now is shaped by the Hulk around around it, which does sometime make it hard to see what's real and what's not. But if you really want to know when he's okay with you - it's when he starts to talk back and make witty comments. That's when Bruce feels comfortable enough to let go and not worry as much as he usually does. Underneath all that niceties is a man who's just as confident as Tony Stark himself, and he can show it underneath the right circumstances.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Due to the gamma in his blood Bruce is 100% free of any illnesses and fully resistant of any virus that gets into his body. But on the flip side, his blood is radioactive and being exposed to it is as dangerous as being submerged bare ass naked in the core of a nuclear power plant, if not worse. The only reason why he's not emitting radiation from his skin 24/7 is because his skin has been mutated by the gamma too to keep the radiation inside as well - think the nuclear plant analogy again. His blood is the core, and his skin the shell that keeps it safe.
In terms of physical health Bruce is fit enough for things like sprints and jumps and some basic parkour maneuvers, but nothing too intense. He doesn't really do the exercise part as much these days, too, so he's not as fit as he was when he's on the rub. He is still just as spry, though, so it doesn't mean that he's exactly lacking anytime soon.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
When he's running for his life or otherwise Bruce is extremely swift and fluid; its something he's come to train after being on the run. Of course, he's also not a master so he tends to crash and stumble a lot as well if the place he's running it is crowded and/or cluttered (see: The Incredible Hulk movie). But when there's no threat or danger Bruce simply goes on like any pother normal guy, except just a little bit hunched and silent because he never likes being noticed.
As the Hulk though, he's about as subtle as a bull in a china shop. An incredibly fast and surprisingly quick bull, but you get the hint.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He is attractive in the ruffled, humble, vaguely adorable way. Bruce isn't one to really think too much about his looks, since he always has other things to worry about. That's not to say he isn't confident about his appearance, though. He's pretty good with how he looks, although as long as nobody stares at him for too long he'll be okay with things. As always, he shies off from too much (unwanted) attention.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Tanned, and though he used to have many scars from many things, the Hulk's regenerative abilities cleared them all up so his skin is about as clean as a baby's. Bruce is... not sure how to feel about that, even until now.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Dark brown, vaguely messy-looking but actually curls at the ends. It's soft to the touch, or as Tony puts it, like petting a cat.
(On a sidenote, Bruce really likes headpats, but he'll never tell it to anyone unless he's intimately close with him/her.)
As the Hulk is hair is black and coarse, and touching it may be a bit like trying to pet a hedgehog or a porcupine.
9. What color are his eyes?
Brown as himself, as green as the Hulk. When he transforms, the first and last thing to change are always the eyes.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
He is very hairy. His chest hair in particular is something to look at.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
His head. It's partly because of the Hulk, but also because Bruce always has a tendency to think far too much and that always affects him. Plus considering the fact that he uses his brain more than any other part of his body... yes.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
So, so thrifty like you wouldn't believe. This is the man who lives off thrift stores and doesn't think about it. He's not a picky man, really, and just wears almost anything as long as it works. He does tend to lean towards soft, muted colors, but if there's anything he can wear then he'll take it. That said, Bruce always unconsciously picks clothes about one or two sizes bigger so that he won't feel as bad when the Hulk emerges and destroys his clothing.
With Tony's clothes, its about the same, except Bruce is much more careful with them and during days he think he might Hulk out, Bruce switches to wearing his own clothes back instead. Of course, its impossible when a Hulk out might happen sometimes, so Bruce just mostly hopes for the best.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
As said above, his clothes are usually (if not always) about a one or two sizes bigger than him. Of course, those are for the clothes he has for himself, but with Tony's they're just a little bit loose since they're all tailored for Tony and Bruce just feels a little skinnier than him. When it comes to his own clothes Bruce is okay with them - with Tony's clothes Bruce treats them as delicately as he can, because those clothes cost way more than anything he can ever afford and ruining them would not... be nice.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
...uh pretty much yeah. He would probably opt for something a bit more casual when he's staying indoors, but otherwise they're almost the same - minus the jacket and such.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Commando on possible Hulk out days (since he's really ruined enough underwear), but on days where things might be alright he goes with briefs. Or boxers. Again, Bruce is not picky.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
He sounds like Mark Ruffalo. |: But I guess to put it in a description I suppose its kind of... low? At least it sounds like it to me. Pretty much the least animated voice among the Avengers, according to my own feelings.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Even and soft. Very even and soft, but there's always that quiet hint of steel underneath. He is usually pretty confident in his words, especially wry, witty and scarastic when he's talking with people he's comfortable with, only faltering when his own ~emotions~ are involved. Let it be said that Bruce Banner is very much not the pinnacle of human emotions despite what one may think otherwise.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He's still distinctly generic American, but his accent's been roughed around with bits and pieces he's picked up across the world. So there are times where some words sound a bit more like something people from another country would say it. But he's still generic American for the most part.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Bruce speaks a variety of other languages, from French to Portugese and even some Chinese and Hindi. He's not wholly fluent with any of them though - just enough to scrape by for the most part and do his job. The languages he is fluent in though would be English and Spanish, having had to take lessons for the latter in high school and continued it in college.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Nope. He tends to stick to English as much as possible, unless the other party can't understand it.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Bruce thinks a lot about what he wants to say, because he doesn't want to step on toes or earn the ire of other people. Also because sometimes he just wants to try and politely decline people as subtly as he can before they get too... close, for a lack of a better word. Basically Bruce thinks a lot on what he says because they are kind of the one weapon he has, in a way. He knows better than most people how well people can use and abuse words, and he knows how transparent they can be sometimes.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Eloquent enough most of the time, but more towards inarticulate when things start to get a little too personal. There are just too many triggers for Bruce when it comes to talking about things close to him, and he's bad at dealing with them - to put it nicely.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Bruce is very, very smart, but he's one of the few people who actually doesn't flaunt out his genius due to his general dislike of attention. Last time he used to be more book smart than street smart, but after having had to be on the fun for over half a decade he's grown a lot more street smart as well - he had to be, really, because otherwise things would just now end well in general. So right now he's pretty much good in both, which is a surprisingly rare combination these days.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
As much as possible Bruce prefers to have the time to think through and consider, but if push comes to shove he can be quick minded about things too. Again, something he had to develop while on the run from the military.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Bruce, to put it in a way, is possibly the ultimate contradiction. While he is naturally much more intuitive and idealistic, life and circumstances have forced him to be the exact opposite. Having to live his life in shades of control means that Bruce always needs to consider his every action and word, thus forcing him to be logical and practical about his choices. But during situations where he doesn't have time to think, he tends to fall back to his natural thought process.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
He went through public schooling up until high school because of life, but picked up a scholarship after that and went to a more prestigious college after that before moving on to Havard and then Caltech where he picked up his Ph.D.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
He has a Ph.D in nuclear physics, but he has since branched out to almost all fields of science due to his work and some just out of interest. In Somarium he's finishing a proper doctorate's licence so that he can work properly at Caduceus Somarium. He's also started to dabbled in electronics and AI since helping Tony with his stuff every once in a while (and making robot dogs for teenage girls). Basically if its interesting enough, Bruce will poke into it to try and learn eventually.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert. Massive introvert. This is something that will never change.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
On the surface he's a very pleasant and nice guy, somebody who never seems to get angry, vaguely optimistic and just smiles all the time. But of course once you go past the surface you find that he's dry, somewhat pessimistic, sarcastic and very very wry. Go even deeper (which only a few have ever managed) and you'll see he's just broken, splintered and so very, very angry.
Bruce is a man with many layers, one that he usually controls and lets people what they want to see. He's an eternal paradox, as mentioned before; he's the man who heals and hurts, to creates and destroys, who protects and damages. There's nothing ever so simple about him and most of the time what Bruce says actually means another thing entirely - and not one people will understand. Bruce, as he says himself, is 'always angry', but its the anger that does show, doesn't boil until it does and then it roars over you like a volcano. On the surface he seems nice but inside he's a bitter, fractured man desperate to put back the cracks together. He seems easygoing and laid-back but is especially driven for the things important to him. That is how Bruce is: the ultimate contradiction.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Suspicious and curious. Being who he is Bruce tends to treat anything new as a threat to him first before convinced otherwise. And by threat I don't mean a threat to him; what is mean is if he's going to be a threat to them. He regards everything critically first before deciding what do - if he has the time to do so, of course.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
React. Of course that doesn't mean that Bruce won't act; he will if he has to, but he would rather let people take the first step so he can know what to do next.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Flight. Always, always flight. Because fighting never ends well.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Bruce has a very dry sense of humor and indulges in self-decaprication a lot once you're somebody he's close to. As long as its nothing too dangerous or life-threatening, Bruce is pretty cool with everything on him. To other people though is another thing altogether.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Both are not officially diagnosed (and with good reason), but Bruce has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and possibly the most screwed up version of something quite but not really DID (Dissolative Identity Disorder). He... obviously doesn't deal with them at all because he sucks at anything involving himself, but when his PTSD comes to haunt him Bruce does his breathing exercises to keep himself control and in check so that he doesn't Hulk out. That's really about the extent of what he does.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
First and foremost, the death of his parents. Bruce watched his father kill his mother and then almost strangled him to death, and that incident left a lasting impression on Bruce. It marked the proper start of his pacifist beliefs, and Bruce's own disinclination towards violence. It damaged his psyche badly, and even until now the scars aren't really gone, even if Bruce may never show it.
Second would be the incident that created the Hulk, for obvious reasons. It changed Bruce's life completely, and not in ways the man likes. It broke and damaged him and it will be something Bruce thinks he can never recover from.
Third, Harlem. It showed Bruce just how bad humanity really is, how everybody craves the Hulk even though it was clear that the Hulk is not a Good Thing and just... Bruce lost many things in that, but the one he lost most was Betty. It was clear, in that point, that he didn't deserved her, and she needed better people than a monster like him. It's my headcanon that he tried to kill himself sometime after this, and when he couldn't die he simply moved on and started to help people.
Fourth, the Avengers (of course). A mark of a different start, where perhaps for the first time Bruce could see that he could maybe start to do more than just not smash the people close to him. Where there are people who could accept him and--of course, the brilliance that is Tony Stark. Perhaps it is he who made the biggest difference yet.
14. What does he fear?
Of the day where he screws everything up and hurt/damages/injures/kills all the people important to him.
(Losing Tony, hurting him, watching him die.)
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
...Bruce doesn't dare to think about this, really. He doesn't want to think of the possibility that he has a future because he thinks he doesn't deserve it. He just lives his life one day at a time at this point, and maybe just slightly hoping that one day, he can do something about the Hulk that will no longer make it a problem anymore in his life.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Of just how brittle and broken and lost he is. Bruce is well aware that some people can see - which is already bad enough - but he simply doesn't want to add his baggage to anybody's elee's. It's not fair for them.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Bruce loves and misses his mother dearly, even to this day. She was literally the light of his life and the reason why he respects all women. In his eyes she was amazing and perfect and honestly nobody else can replace her. She stood up to his father, cared for him, loved him and made him feel special. Made him feel good and normal and okay and watching her die before his eyes left a scar that will perhaps never heal - doubly so because it was his father who killed her.
And it goes without saying, of course, that Bruce holds no love for his father. He hate his father and despises him and it's the one thing that can really set off Bruce, if one digs deep enough. Bruce can forgive anybody else, but the one man he can never forgive is his father. His father ruined his life and his family and killed his mother and there is no way Bruce can ever let something like that go.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Bruce is an only child, for better or for worse. Even he alone was an accident, since his father had never wanted children in the first place. But it had happened, and... well, sometimes Bruce does wonder if he should never have been born. Than maybe he wouldn't have brought all of this suffering to the world and upon others.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Jennifer Walters, his cousin. After the death of his parents Bruce was sent to live with his mother's relatives, all of whom were not fond of Bruce due to being his father's son. Jennifer was the only one who reached out and talked to him, and in the years before college Bruce grew close to her, coming to see her as an elder sister figure. After college and university though the two eventually drifted apart as Bruce moved to science and Jennifer went to study law. He lost all contact with her after being forced to become a fugitive, a fact Bruce does regret. He just hopes she's alright, wherever she is - and that she wouldn't hear what became of him.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
In his own way Bruce is slowly coming to see the Avengers as part of his 'family', although he treats it more like a team of sorts. New York bonded them together, but there are still many things that separate them. And of course, Tony in particular is the one person Bruce finds himself close to.
But to be honest, the concept of family is one Bruce is unfamiliar with. His father didn't exactly set a shining example of what a family is, and his own experiences are at best tattered. Bruce is well aware that he lacks this basic perception, and in his darker days in troubles him quite a bit.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Tony Stark, and see The Avengers movie for details. Their time in Somarium have made them a lot closer too and right now Tony is pretty much the most important person in Bruce's life.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Pepper Potts, of course, and surprisingly John Watson (that is, the BBC version). John is, as said, a surprise, but Bruce is glad for that friendship, as he is with Pepper as well. They're both amazing people as well in their own right, and Bruce considers it his honor to know them both.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Herein lies another paradox once more: its easy to make friends with Bruce, but its hard for Bruce to be friends to them. He's a terribly private person, never one to talk about himself and opts to focus on others instead. He can get close to people, sure, but people can't get close to him and there is a contradiction all over again. Relationships are always a two way street, as people are aware, but Bruce never allows people close for fear of hurting them - or worse. He can work with them and eat with them and do a whole bunch of things with other people, but at the end of the day they're all still disconnected with him because Bruce will never let people come close to him. He puts himself away from them, not them from him, because he knows full well that the problem will always be him and not them.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
For Bruce friends and family mean almost the same thing to him - the moemnt he considers anybody a friend means that they are very important to him, and he would do just about anything to protect them.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Single, and formerly attached to Betty. But since his suicide attempt, however, he thinks himself unworthy of her. He hasn't seen her since Harlem, but if he ever does... well, Bruce would try to end it on amiable terms. He wants Betty to go out and have somebody better and far more deserving of her.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope. Bruce... does not believe himself capable of love, really, after all that's happened to him. He's far too broken and damaged to go for that and he knows it'll never really work out, so it'll be easier to spare the other party the pain.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
His first crush is... most likely some chick in high school. You know, the standard girl who every boy pines for while their hormones were out of control. Bruce is the same as any other guy, after all, even if he was already awkward back then.
As for his latest - it would be a lie if Bruce didn't feel anything for Tony, but its something he doesn't really come to realize. Because 1) Tony is already in a relationship with Pepper and 2) Bruce doesn't believe himself capable of love, as seen in the above answer. Unless something big happens and the knowledge slams him in the face, Bruce will most likely never come to that realization.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
If this does ever come to pass, Bruce just simply wants somebody who can accept him for who he is and help him. Keep him close and love him always because he'll soak it all up and always ask for more. Bruce knows he's going to be greedy on that account due to his own deprived childhood. He doesn't dare to ask for a lot, really, but he just simply wants... somebody who he can love and who will love him back in return.
But those are all just abstract thoughts, really. Bruce never intends to find somebody again in this lifetime - he's not made for this.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No and Bruce has no desire to have children, out of the fear that he'll end up like his father.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Nope.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Right now? X, because Bruce is celibate by choice due to the Hulk and the problems it gives to him. Before that though he was somewhere between 2 to 3, although for Bruce the person really matters more than anything else. As long as it works, then it works. Nothing to it.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
It is nice, and it is good, but in the end something he has to live without now and Bruce just makes do with it. He has no issues with sex in general - its simply part of life and human nature, but in the end its of no consequence to him now. He made his choice and has to live by it.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Kink time haha.
Bruce really likes dirty talking, especially when he's the recipient. He likes the tease, the promise/not-promise of those words and it gets him riled up when things get heavy. He's also very touchy feely, so when it comes to sex with him there's always going to be a fair amount of touching involved one way or another. He also likes edging - that turns him on a lot, especially when things are already hot and heavy.
Turn offs... a fair amount of things, really. He isn't comfortable with bondage and sensory deprivation due to its associations with the military, but he will ne okay with it if it is with somebody he can be comfortable with, and only in very moderate allowances (shibari, for example, is out of the picture). Big nos however would be bloodplay, painplay, BDSM and most extreme kinks.
All of that said, Bruce likes to cuddle. A lot. He's a cuddle bug if you let him be, and one way to know that he's okay with a place is when he's cuddling something in his sleep.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Bruce is a Sagittarius born in the year of the Dog. The Dog... suits him somewhat well, actually, while not so much for Sagittarius. There are some things that apply, but mostly it doesn't really mesh with him, haha.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Being a scientist Bruce isn't one to believe in gods and the like, but he does have an open mind. He isn't one to reject the ideas that religion puts forth, but he takes it all with a grain of salt and puts it out as something to debate about rather than take it as an absolute truth. In the end, though, it's not important to him, and for the most part just drives his own curiosity towards the people who do.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
Absolutely, yes. It started right back in his childhood, when Bruce had to suffer abuse (both physical and verbal) from his father and came to a head when the murder happened. He's only further reinforced it since then, doubly so after the Hulk appeared in his life and he has never faltered in it. Considering how little Bruce fears death now, possibly the only way for him to compromise his morals is if his loved ones are threatened, or something very personal strikes next to him.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Bruce is very open minded, as said before, and while he himself has no belief (its hard to believe in a benevolent god when his life is nothing but screwed) Bruce is curious about the faith and belief in others, purely from a scientific standpoint. He's very professional about it, and overall when it comes to it he is pretty indifferent. In the end its just mostly a fascination - nothing more than that.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Bruce is, ironically speaking, prejudiced against himself. It's not just about the Hulk here; the fact that the Hulk even exists is a sin Bruce will never forgive himself for. In Harlem it was made clear that like Steve Rogers, now he too is a sample that people look towards and seemingly wants to replicate, for some reason or another. And the knowledge of that haunts Bruce, the fact that he had unleashed this monstrous legacy that people will remember for years to come and it's never what he had intended when he first started. Now, because of him and his work, his accident, people are going to suffer and get killed and the reality of that truth hits Bruce hard on his worse days.
Obviously, it's completely irrational, but Bruce sticks to it because he can't blame anybody else for it. It's his work, his responsibility, his unintended legacy and he is the one who has to clean it up when the time comes. It's his job, and the fact that this all even happened in the first place is something Bruce can never forgive himself for - to be this weak and foolish and arrogant, and in the end all of those caused this to happen. Of course, what he does as the Hulk doesn't escape him either - the lives of those he's taken haunts him forever.
Nobody hates Bruce Banner more than Bruce Banner himself.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Technically speaking Bruce is pretty comfortable, although he's just pretty much living off Tony in Somarium. He's actually fairly wealthy at this point because he's thrifty and doesn't spend much, so his points just sit in his account, mostly untouched.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Well he was normal at first, then he had some renown for his work. That ended when the Hulk became a thing, and then he became a fugitive before The Avengers happened. Obviously, his transition from being a fugitive and then back into society has not been comfortable on both ends, for more reasons than one. Bruce used to be a pretty normal guy, after all, the being forced to run from the military is never an easy thing no matter how prepared you are for it. The Hulk, too, forced him to change both inside and out and tat retained even after everything and he returned to society. It doesn't make him comfortable, but he's trying, in however ways that he can.
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
He lives in Stark Tower, along with Tony and the other Avengers. Stark Tower being... Stark Tower... means its that its super rich and fancy and all that jazz and Bruce at least has gotten used to it by now. He has his own room, and a lab, which is already a lot more than he would dare to ask for.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Um. Nothing much, maybe besides equipment and supplies when he needs it. Otherwise its usually gifts for other people when the season rolls around.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
A GP/doctor at Caduceus Somarium - that is when he's not suspended or resting after a Hulk out or some other situation. He's had a lot of experience at this point, so he's fairly good in it. And of course, he likes doing it; he likes helping people, because it makes him feel like he's making up for all the other wrongs he's done even though Bruce knows that's not the case.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
He reads up on Hypnosia and anything about it (especially dream/nightmare energy), tinkers around in the lab with Tony when he can or just wanders around Somarium when he needs his peace. Sometimes he does yoga or meditates, but since he's figured out how to keep the Hulk in check he doesn't do those as much now. Mostly though, Bruce likes to busy himself with work when he can. It keeps him away from his darker thoughts.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Bruce makes it a point to eat regular meals when he can, although he does tend to lose himself in his things and forget about food entirely until somebody reminds him. While he does cook, he's not amazing at it and usually just sticks with takeaway. He shies away from alcohol and eats vegetarian once in a while.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color?
2. Smell?
Petrichor; that is, the smell of the air after rain. It helps him to clam down, somehow.
3. Time of day?
Night, for it feels easier to hide himself in the darkness.
4. Season?
Spring, for new beginnings. Possible hopes. A better tomorrow, perhaps.
5. Book?
A meta answer here - White Fang, by Jack London. I've always felt that the story here strongly relates to Bruce: for just as White Fang went through hell before finding his place with Wheedon Scott, Bruce goes through a lot before discovering he has something of a spot in the Avengers, and with Tony.
6. Music?
Another meta answer - Linkin Park's Castle of Glass, although I'll Be Gone is a close second.
7. Place?
Stark Tower. Its... as close to a home as he can ever get.
8. Substance?
The things people have given to him since his arrival in Somarium. It... means a lot to him, really.
9. Plant?
Meta answer - marigold, as in the language of flowers they mean pain and grief and are commonly used in funerals.
10. Animal?
An abused dog.
END
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