PARADISA

Um. I found an egg in my room. Not a normal egg...apparently it's a baby. I-I need to find Nita Callahan? I'm sorry, but apparently the child is hers as well. Has this ever happened before? This is not like last year.

[Bruce is sitting in the castle gardens, a puppy playing at his feet. He's not sure he wanted a puppy, but, thanks to the Hulk, he has one. Bruce just hopes Hulk didn't steal the puppy from someone. Bruce is going to find that out, before he lets himself get too attached or even names the little fella. Bruce cradles the puppy, keeping him from climbing down and mangling Bruce's journal.]

Um. Is anyone missing a puppy? I seem to have acquired one, thanks to the Other Guy. I mean, I don't mind having a puppy, but I have no idea where he came from. He seems to be either a lab or maybe a golden retriever? Um. Do a lot of people here have pets? What happens to them, when the castle starts playing games?

[Bruce is in the labs, trying to do research on the bloater creature. He managed to get some spore samples, once the bloater was gone. He's hoping some people show up for treatment, so he can get more samples. Unfortunately, he falls asleep (or maybe falls unconscious) in the middle of his research. When he wakes up, something is definitely wrong. He feels heavy and bulky, in a strange way. Looking down, he feels a wave of horror. There's no mistaking the massive green body he's looking at. Somehow, he's become the Hulk, but retained his own personality! Carefully, Bruce finds and, with a bit of fumbling, opens his journal.]

Um. I have a problem. Somehow, I've become the Hulk, but mentally remained myself. I'm trying to do research on the bloater problem, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to operate lab equipment in this form. Hulk is massive! So, uh, don't be alarmed, if you see a large, green creature roaming the halls. ... I apologize, if I accidentally break anything.

[Bruce has been here for a few months, but hasn't really made any close friends, though that's hardly unusual for him. Still, Christmas is coming up and, well, it's as good a reason as any to try and socialize more.]

What are the usual traditions around here for Christmas and Thanksgiving? Are there communal dinners? I can't imagine the castle supporting something so...positive, but it does like twisting things.

[Bruce is hiding in the clinic/his lab. He tends to do that, when he is stressed. Between the Gentlemen and the castle's recent tantrums, Bruce wants to just wrap himself in the nice, safe, sensible world of science and research. Of course, being in the clinic means seeing patients, too, but Bruce doesn't mind. Being helpful is one of his coping mechanisms.]

Hi. I just want to let everyone know I'm at the clinic, if anyone needs me. I'm going to be helping out here from now on. Um. If I'm not in the main part of the clinic, you can probably find me in one of the research labs.

[Bruce is, in fact, in one of the research labs now. He's basically tinkering, running tests on the local plants and soil, comparing them to what he knows of Earth.]

Um, hi. I have an idea, but I could use some advice. I don't want to step on any toes or get backlash from the castle. I'm thinking of setting up a sort of meditation garden...like a zen garden, but with more plants? I thought it'd be nice to have a quiet, comfortable place outdoors, where people could go to meditate or pray...somewhere quiet and peaceful. With all the stress the castle causes, we could probably use a good place to relax.

Um. I could also use some gardening advice. I've never been in a position to have a garden before.

[Bruce is sitting outside, his young son, Michael, beside him. The boy looks about eighteen months old and is chewing on some alphabet blocks. His clothing is tattered, because he threw a temper tantrum, until Bruce brought him outside. Bruce opens his journal.]

Can I get some help? I know nobody here really knows me very well, but...um. The castle has given me a child who has apparently inherited my anger issues. For those who don't know, that means he becomes big, strong, and green, whenever he gets angry.

...

I need a break, before I turn green. I mean, I could stay nearby. I'm not really asking for a baby-sitter. Really. I'm just not used to this and could use some moral support, if nothing else.

[Bruce remembers falling asleep on the couch in his lab. He is now in a rather fancy bedroom. Granted, Tony tends to go for opulent and personal comfort, but this isn't Bruce's room at Stark tower. Fortunately, he fell asleep with his glasses on, so when he finds the journal lying open nearby, he can easily read the writing as it forms on the pages.]

Okay, that's a neat trick.

[He starts as his own words appear in the journal. Flipping through the journal, he sees there are patterns, obvious conversations and communications.]

Um. Hello?