of flora

Charlie Jameson— acclaimed botanist.I enjoy being left alone with my plants, thank you sorry please go now.

[incrediblecharlie]

This Just Might be Crazy Enough to Work // Charlie & Steve

[incrediblecharlie]

mistersteelyourgirl: 

Steve couldn’t help he frown that came over his face. He wanted to Charlie as much as he could but not if it meant hurting Charlie the process, even if tat might have been the point of the experiment. Althogh Steve loved to cover all his bases, the physical test was at best to put off the worst.

He sighed, reassembling the rest of his armor on him. “M.A.L.A.C.H.I., could you et up for the situationl test please?” The room started to change, clearling most of the set up and ridding the room of the unecessary treadmills, instead a chair. Steve tapped against the chair, “Take a seat, feel free to get comfortable; you know? You need popcorn, drinks, anything just say the word…"He snapped pointing towards Charlie, "And I got it.” He winked.

Once Charlie was seated, the senros on his body were replaced with clearer, smaller and colder ones on his head. “These,” he pointed towardshis own temple to indicate the ones on Charlie, “are designed to sense an record emotional repsonses now absed on these responses it will select the next sequence of images, focusing on the ones that have a higher response rate. Now how they do this is-” he caught himself, “Ah… I’m sure I don’t have to bore you with details, you get the gist, yeah?” He waited for confirmation before flying back up towards the observatory room (he neglected to call it a safe room.)

Once there he spoke over the intercom again, “Now I feel the need to warn you some of these may be triggering.” But that was the point now, wasn’t it?The program was built to be individualized as th sequence went on, focusing on what maes the peson most uncomfortable. Steve had pre loaded it with just a few thigns to get started, pictures of Charlie’s old lab he wored at, people he might have known who were a part of it, destroyed buildings that weren’t caused by him but could have been, and a little gre for good measure. “Now, tell me when you’re ready and we’ll start.”

Charlie watched as all the lab equipment folded back into the walls and floor to make room for a single chair. The emptiness of the room felt more intimidating then anything. This was it. No equipment. Just Charlie and his thoughts. He smiled slightly at Steve’s comments, but they didn’t do anything to take the edge off. 

With a deep breath, Charlie sat in the chair and watched as Steve flew back up to the safe room. The large probes on his head were changed for smaller ones. On the surface, they felt less invasive but Charlie knew that would be changed by the nature of the test. All of his emotions and thoughts would be displayed for Steve to see, and even though he knew that was the point of the test, he wasn’t thrilled about it. 

Before he started the simulation, Steve issued a trigger warning which only made Charlie chuckle bitterly. Of course it would be. It had to be. He took another deep breath and nodded to Steve.  “I’m ready.” The words slipped out and he almost instantly regretted it. Before his eyes, the room changed into his old lab. Plants hung from the ceiling and the sound of boiling water filled the air. His first reaction was to close his eyes, but that would defeat the purpose. He held them open and took it all in. The beginning of the end. His heart raced but he kept himself steady. Then, there was a knock on the door. Charlies eyes darted to the door of his lab as it cracked open. His colleague, the man he use to consider a friend, walked in and started to talk about experiment. One that could change the world. 

Charlie’s hands tightened around the arms of the chair and his breathing swallowed out. Fear was the only thing that came to his mind. He could feel heat bubbling under his skin the more the man talked. In the distance, Charlie could hear the cries of a small child. 

The arms of the chair metal began to bend under his fingers. 

[incrediblecharlie]

This Just Might be Crazy Enough to Work // Charlie & Steve

[mistersteelyourgirl]

They tried the tests a few more times, but nothing like the first on seemed to happen, clearly this was no longer working. “Change setup to default,” the weight went back from whence it came and Charlie was left with a nearly empty testing room with Steve.

“So the very act of the experiment is the trigger, not necessarily the experiments.” Just as Charlie said, it was likely due to his past experimentation before. Steve decided to make his way to Charlie, if only to ease the tension and to let it be known that he didn’t consider him an experiment.  He landed properly next to him, the gauntlet and helmet  disassembling from him for a brief moments, so that he may unprofessionally scratch his chin and push the hair out of his face. 

“The nature of these tests, don’t actually matter then?” He said it as a question but he already knew the answer. Truly, it depended on the test, the lower the severity or intrusiveness of the test, the less triggering it would be. This test in particular seems to be on the higher side of the scale, at least above the stress test. “Well, that’s definitely something.” World renowned scientist with impeccable dictionary, describing findings as ‘something.’

Though Steve was next to Charlie, he avoided his gaze, rambling off about alternate things they could do, offering to do something less passive; he didn’t want him to see the sad look in his eyes , as if he was pitying him. “I mean, if you’re still up for the other things…”, although that was the whole point of the experiment, to draw Abomination out, he didn’t want to see Charlie transform into him, and actually be the cause of it, especially with the way Charlie felt about the whole thing. 

[incrediblecharlie]

Steve came over in attempts to comfort him, removing parts of his suit to be more casual about things, but to spite his best efforts, it only worked a bit. As much as Charlie wanted to feel okay and part of this odd family, it was hard. He couldn’t see himself anymore as a nuisance and a monster. Even the first time he met Division, it was them stopping him from destroying the city. He was sure that when they looked at him that was all they saw. Steven constantly tried to make him feel like one of them but all he could see was the machines he was hooked up to and the way they beeped.

He looked over at Steve who was just looking away and talking, mostly to himself Charlie felt. He didn’t look at him which was understandable. He could see some pity in his eyes and he probably didn’t want to show it. Charlie was quite a pitiful character so it only made sense that Steve pitied him.

“I just want to get this over with.” He shook his head. “I need to know what makes me tick. I can’t hurt anyone anymore.” Charlie had already killed his wife, his two children and countless other people during his rampages. If he wasn’t able to stop Abomination with a gun like he had tried before, controlling it was the next best thing and the only way to do that was to know what angered it.

“Let’s move on, try something else. Maybe something not so physical?”  

[incrediblecharlie]

This Just Might be Crazy Enough to Work // Charlie & Steve

[mistersteelyourgirl]

Charlie didn’t last long but every second that went by it seems the screens were changing. This test seems to have gained more response than the previous one, and right in the direction they were looking for.  Heart racing, increased brain activity, more sweat than when he was just running, the only missing tell tale sign was beginning brown discoloration, but he didn’t reach that far. “Right, take your time.”

The screens went back to their normal setting as soon as Charlie stopped. This was…odd, completely. A little weight should be no different should not be anymore strenuous than running and yet… “M.A.L.A.C.H.I., layered graphs please,” he waved his hand, the graphs appearing before him immediately. It seemed as though all the symptoms started simultaneously, save for the brain activity which went up just before, as well as his adrenaline levels. “Do you need a break?” He masked the worry in his voice, “If you’re up for it I am- you know I heard this place had this killer lunch special”

[incrediblecharlie]

They were close, Charlie could feel it. If they just pushed him a little more, they could get it out. The problem was Charlie was afraid to let it out. If they stopped now, he might never have the courage to get it out. He shook his head and signaled to keep going. He did the lifting again but this time, tried to think of something different. He imagined himself not lifting a weight in a lab, but maybe box around the house, or even a bad of soil out into the back. essentially Charlie went to his “happy place” to keep himself calm. 

After they did that a few more times Charlie spoke up. “I think its...” he couldn't quite describe the feeling, but he wanted to get as close as he could. “I think its fear...” he said. Charlie was never that good at vocalizing his feelings but he felt if they were going to get anywhere, he had to be truthful. Science was about finding the truth and you couldn't find it with only part of the story. “The fear of being dehumanized, of being just an experiment again. That’s why i freaked out just now. I understand we have to experiment on me, but I don't want to be be an experiment.” 

Charlie had been used back then. He was told that it was for the greater good and that those experiments could better human life. He, of course, had been lied too and it was hard to trust anyone when they stuck probes on you and monitored your every move. He’d be lying if he didn't admit he was at least a little paranoid that Steve was using him, but he had done so much for him already and he felt he owed him a little trust in return. 

[incrediblecharlie]

This Just Might be Crazy Enough to Work // Charlie & Steve

[incrediblecharlie]

amistersteelyourgirl:

No notable changes from the test, which was unsurprising, but its best to cover all bases. “Yeah, no we’re not done with physical just yet”, he said half-heartedly, more focused on changing the screens for the next test. He heard the word pain and and immediately stopped, shooting Charlie a confused look, he was feeling pain? What? 

Oh he wanted to test the pain. He raised a brow at him,“First we’ll do regular human strength threshold, and then we’ll do pain. That good?”Steve turned away from the keyboard completely, giving Charlie his full attention.  “Alright, get ready to flex them biceps.”He put in a few commands and the large black weight descended from what would appear to be thin air. 

“Don’t worry it’s much less threatening then it seemed.” The same technology the others used to life weights since they needed it.  Steve just stuck to good ol regular dumbbells. It had a safety feature in case the user took on more than they could handle, but Steve figured Charlie could be his own safety if need be.  “Start at 20 lbs with increasing weight every one minute”

“Let me know when it becomes too much.” With the quick response time, it should stop immediately. “Ready?” Once Charlie positioned himself, and gave Steve the got to, he started the test. 

Charlie himself could not lift a lot. He was actually quite weak on his own, so much so that he probably couldn't lift his own weight like many of the people in this building. It didn’t take much for him to reach his limit and to tell Steve to let up. Being in the presents of the great Mr. Steel made him feel a bit inadequate. 

With that feeling came stress and a racing mind. He suddenly became self conscience, realizing Steven could see when his mind started to race and he could see his heart starting to pound. It wasn't like running where he could clear his mind and just go. He felt like he was being too closely watched, that Steve could look at the monitors and see everything he was thinking. The monster took this as his body being in danger. 

Charlie dropped the weight before the test was over and stood there trying to calm himself down. He knew the whole thing was to try to induce it but it was a natural reaction for him at this point. 

“G-Give me a minute.” he told Steve, taking deep breaths and telling the monster inside him to calm down. 

[incrediblecharlie]

This Just Might be Crazy Enough to Work // Charlie & Steve

[mistersteelyourgirl]

Usually, Steve would be downright excited, anything having to do with dangerous experiments was his type of game. But that was when it involved only him. Now someone else was involved and made things so much more tense. He was anxious to say the least, but still calm. Throughout the whole set up process he made sure Charlie wasn’t agreeing to anything he didn’t want to do. 

Steve was mostly in his suit, save for his helmet visor, only kept up so he wouldn’t need visuals in his helmet, and so Charlie could see a friendly face if anything.  He had his digital monitors scattered across in front of him, keyboard right as his finger tips as he typed and input commands through M.A.L.A.C.H.I. “

It was pretty obvious that Charlie’s condition was largely related to mental and emotional changes, but Steve figured it would be best to start small. Physical. A simple stress test should be a good start and not as stressful as the name implies. He had a simple of Charlie’s DNA (from his spit, really the only thing he could safely get, ) to see if there any changes  there. 

“Start treadmill level 1 with increasing speed at 5 minute intervals,” as Charlie started, the data on the screens started to change, slowly and steadily. Mm, not abnormal. “If at any point you need to stop, feel free to say so.” It took a moment for Charlie to realize Steve was talking to him and not inputting command.  “You know, if you need a potty break or something.” He spoke, trying to add some lightheartedness to the situations. 

“Add alert if heart rate and respiration surpass 90 and 30“ Charlie’s resting heart rate was already a bit high to begin with, but that was likely due to his nervousness. “How you feeling?”

[incrediblecharlie]

The stress tests really wasn’t all that stressful. If anything, the exercise made him feel a bit better, made him calmer and forget that he was being tested on.

“I’m okay, I’m good.” he told Steve, voice bouncing with his movements. Charlie didn’t fully understand why they were doing psychical tests in the first place. He knew it was all emotional, and he knew Steve knew this too, but he wasn’t going to question his methods. He figured he wanted to rule out anything. Charlie knew he was dangerous and Steve was being as safe as he could. 

He completed the test and the only thing he got out of it was a racing heart and  aching knees. Nothing was triggered, bit Charlie wasn’t surprised. Nothing would really happen until they got to the mental part of it all. Steve asked him if he was okay for the hundredth time, which made Charlie smile a little. He cared which was nice. It made Charlie feel that maybe he didn’t see him as a monster, but rather a person with a horrible inflection. It made him feel a little more human. 

“Want to keep going with physical aspect?” Charlie asked. “Maybe pain will do something?” He wanted to know the triggers just as much as Steve did, if not more. The thought of getting cattle prodded wasn’t ideal, but it seemed like the next necessary step. 

[incrediblecharlie]

This Just Might be Crazy Enough to Work // Charlie & Steve

Stay Calm, Charlie. Stay Calm. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Steve, he had been nothing but kind to him, and he was one of the smartest people he knew, but he was terrified. The last time he was in a laboratory, his whole world and being was destroyed and thrown un-side-down. He was zapped and turned into this unbelievable monster. He took a few deep breaths and looked up at Steve, sitting higher above the room in an observing room, covered by, hopefully, bullet proof glass.

Charlie kept focus on Steve. Steve was the only thing that was different from now and then. He wasn’t going to hurt him. He had to remember this was a controlled environment, and no matter how much he lost control, Steve was in control. It was going to be okay.

“A-Alright. I-I—“ he swallowed thickly. “I’m ready.” He wasn’t exactly sure what Steve had in mind, but he needed to do this. He needed to be able to control this power.

[lyonhearts]

Hugh Dancy wearing a flower crown at the Hannibal panel.

[hummingmetallica]