Summary:Ben and Pam do a little work on cleaning up the Disaster Zone Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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Not just anyone could make these arrangements. But when Ben Grimm called in to a handler at the Thunderbolts, he actually got some traction. This was not someone who would be in a great deal of danger from one of the reclamation projects administered by that program, nor was it someone whose motivations would be scrutinized. Veteran, war hero, astronaut, super-hero. His reputation stood for something.
So it was that Ben Grim piloted his portion of the modular Fantasticar down into the Disaster Zone. He had been given precise coordinates and a time to be present. He had been given a protocol. It had taken some favours, but now he stood amongst the debris and ruination, awaiting the arrival of Pamela Isley, and whatever entourage might accompany her.
It didn't take long for Ivy to arrive, as her handlers let her know that the Fantastic Four wanted to meet with her. Said handlers were not anywhere nearby, though they probably were keeping tabs on the situation in any event, as she actually… smiles upon seeing Ben Grimm standing there. "Well, when they told me the Fantastic Four were asking for me, I suspected it would in fact be you." She's wearing her typical costume, her skin the 'normal' shade of green as her red hair is currently flowing free and loose. "What can I do for you?"
Ben watched Ivy's arrival and he spread his large orange arms in a helpless gesture. "Hey, I told you I was gonna arrange for you 'n me to do some work together. And my mama didn't raise no liar." His stiff-featured face eases into what passes for a smile on his rocky countenance. He lowers his arms and then asks, "So? How 'bout you show me what you've been working on? And then you and I can see what we can figure out together." He is likewise dressed in his typical heroing garb - which is to say blue pants, and a thick black belt with a 4 belt buckle. His rocky feet need no shoes, not even in the disaster zone.
Ivy smiles a bit, "Well, I figured you'd stop by the grotto, but I guess I'm used to less… formal arrangements with other 'heroes' than going through my handlers." She chuckles dryly, then gestures, "Come on, let me show you what I've been doing. Right now, I'm thinking you could help me break down some of the fallen buildings here. Kudzu and other vines do the work, too, but that can take a lot more time than, well, punching." Her lips quirk as she regards Ben.
Ben lifts a hand to scrape it across his chin. "The grotto? Well. I never been invited before," he muses. "Not polite to just show up at somebody's grotto, you know?" He turns and walks alongside the redhead, gravel and debris crunching under his heavy footfalls. "Sounds like a good partnership. Once you get rid of the ol' buildings, what you gonna do? Having this as a greenspace, or at least with a lot of greenspace in it… I dunno, it'd be nice for the city."
Ivy nods, "There's a lot of damage to repair in the soil itself, not just from the damage but also just the fact that this was all so… citified." She wrinkles her nose a bit, then hmms, "But yes, I don't know the full intention of the government, but I'd like to make this a more expansive version of Central Park, eventually. That will take some time, however."
Ben grunts and nods along to that. It makes sense to him, although he was no expert in soil chemistry. "You know," he muses, "Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. If we get somethin' going, you and me, they'll be more reluctant to pull up a thriving garden space than tell you no, they'd rather sell the plot to the next high-rise builder." He trudges along and glances over toward her. "So… you got your own place? They don't make you sleep in a… some government lock-up?" he ventures, delicately as he can.
Ivy chuckles, "Yes, they let me live in my grotto. It's a place here in the Disaster Zone. First spot I worked on, to be honest. They know I don't wander much from there, and they tend to keep a very close eye on me anyway." She makes a bit of a face at the lack of privacy, but shrugs. Par for the course, with her experience.
Ben has and nods once to that. His firm lips draw together slightly as he considers that. Then, after a moment of gravel-crunching footfalls, he offers, "I hope with good behaviour, you earn a little more privacy and trust." He glances toward her, gauging her for a moment before he says, "You're doin' the right thing, you know. I don't know if my opinion amounts to a hill o' beans in your mind, but there it is. Don't let the crappy parts of the system make you lose sight of that."
Ivy smiles a little at that, giving Ben an appreciative look, "Thank you. It's good to know that my efforts are valued, Benjamin." She tilts her head, "And your opinion means a fair amount. You seem to be the most… well, grounded of your team, in all honesty. To be fair, I don't know them all that well, but from what I've seen…"
Ben taps a finger against the dome of his head. "I see what you did there," he notes. "Grounded." His features move into what passes for a smile from the Thing again, and he heaves a slight sigh before responding more seriously. "I mean, Suzie's pretty practical. She's got a good head on her shoulders. She talks sense to me a lot of the time. Johnny's… well, Johnny. Solid kid, but… you've seen him. Hot-headed, not just literally. Reed - there's nobody like Reed. I think, I mean I can only guess, but I think it must be just so different bein' that smart. His brain works differently, you know? But he's my best friend. He's the most selfless guy you'll ever meet." He pauses for a beat, then offers, "You should meet him. I should bring him down. He might be able to science something up to help you out too. He can do a hell of a lot more than just break stuff apart."
Ivy actually blushes a little, "Arg, I've been hanging out with Harley too much, I didn't mean that at all." She looks a bit abashed at the apparently-unintentional pun, then smiles at Ben, "I've read some of Reed's work. While botany isn't exactly his field, he probably would know more about the radiation damage than I would, easily. The short term dangers are dealt with, but the long term damage isn't something I can easily estimate."
"Harley?" he answers, glancing back over to Ivy, brow lifting slightly in silent inquiry. "Wow. Well… there's hope for us all, I suppose." He shrugs his oversized shoulders at that and he says, "If you wanna meet him, let me know. I'm sure I can arrange it. Heck, let me know where the grotto is and we'll stop by for tea." He turns forward, toward a skeletal remnant of a sky-scraper, still a dozen stories of lilting danger, seemingly strangled with ivy. "That's us up there, huh?" he ventures.
Ivy nods, "Well, I wouldn't mind meeting him, and yes… ah, Harleen Quinzel. Or Harley Quinn, as I'm sure you know her as." She smiles wryly, "And yes, that'd be a good one to start with. One second, while I get the ivy out of the way." With that, the vines start withdrawing from the building, getting out of the way so that Ben can do his work.