Video Post || 002 || A Request for Help

[the_head_librarian]

Forgive me, everyone, it is time to call upon you for aid.

[The Librarian looks tired, his eyes darker and not truly focusing on anything in particular. His brow furrows as he bows his head in silent apology to add to his greeting.]

The commotion from our storybook friends has caused doors to be opened and not be closed as tightly as they should. After tasting a bit of freedom to roam, the curiosity is not sated. Now… it seems a few of these characters have escaped from their books and slipped through the cracks into other worlds they do not belong in.

[Turning his head, he taps the side of the screen and visual images of the creatures from Wonderland pop up on the screen next to the image of Wiltshire, England.] It seems that the citizens of Wonderland have made their way into the country of England and where many stories of these creatures have certainly been around for many centuries, the reality of their existence is not so easy to explain.

[The picture changes and images of beautiful silver white horses with horns slide across the screen before another image of the town of Tombstone comes into focus beside it.] Unicorns are a mythical creature that only exist in some worlds, in stories for others… and not at all for some. They are magical creatures, very intelligent… but they should not be in this historical town. I fear that the people are not ready for such a thing and both the people and the animals are in danger of each other.

[The pictures disappear and another comes up of various animals that look like drawn pictures flick across the screen. Soon the images of Yellowstone National park flick up and tile beside it.] There is a children’s story, some may be familiar with… of animals going through life and the trials of growing up. However the trials of the story are not the same as those in reality. They are not for this place and need to go back to their home. After all, a deer, rabbit and skunk are not commonly seen together, nor are they seen talking.

[All the pictures clear as he returns to the video feed.] This is no easy task I ask of you, but these fictional creatures need to be brought back. And more important, they cannot be seen by the inhabitants of the worlds they are entering. I have been masking their presence… the Wonderland creatures are no more than teenagers having a party in an ill chosen spot… The unicorns appear as no more than horses to the people of Tombstone… and the animals from the children’s story look to be real and not as you see them in the picture.

Doing this… takes a great deal of energy and I will not be able to help you further. However, I have sent information to each of you as you will be split into teams and sent through the doors. The Non-Fiction Librarian will guide you. He will lead you through the worlds in his care as best he can. Use your bookmarks to look up information. I have sent the list of teams to each of you…. Please proceed to the doors, prepare yourself…

[The Librarian frowns, his expression almost sad.] Please be safe. There are things that can and will hurt you if you are not careful. I will do all I can from here to keep you safe.

[Texts pop up on the different bookmark feeds with a list of teams as well as the locations that they will find the doors.]

Team 1: Unicorn Stampede
Tony Stark
Steve Rogers
Ecthelion
Glorfindel
Barry Allen
Felicity Smoak
Tauriel
Bucky Barnes
Team 2: Protest the Mad Tea Party
Fili
Elrohir
Bruce Banner
Natasha Romanoff
Kili
Howard P. Lovecraft
Elladan
Clara Oswald
Team 3: Bambi Squad
Owen Grady
Magnus Bane
Grant Ward
Kara Palamas
Alec Lightwood
Sebastian Carter Hokori-Anderson
Hermoine Grainger

Comments

[audio]

[overcomebywinter]

[He wasn’t crossing any lines yet, and he was trying, TRYING to work this out. He does, at least, understand that this Steve Rogers guy is someone he knows. Knew. Someone of his past. he won't say it scares him, but it does, just a bit, to not know who or why. But he’s there, in memories that he thought was missing. So that was something.]

Sometimes silence works better than constant yapping. [He wonders why he keeps talking. He should shut this down and get ready, but then... it has his interest.]

I don’t want to start over. I want to know why you were so important. [that? That had a bit of a snap to it, clear frustration and annoyance in the tone. But at least the words are mildly encouraging?]

[Video]

[facemyenemys]

You’ve never seen Bambi? I think they’ll be more scared of us than anything. The moment they see us all ‘fun times’ are going out a window. At least that’s my thought.

[facemyenemys]

[she tries not to frown at that, but simply says in a soft voice] You don’t need to apologize. It’s alright. You're right, I think No kill snare could be helpful if we really get in a bind.

[braveheart_clara]

[She’s grinning again. the fact that he is okay with the possibility that she is of his future is really cool. It would make things easier as well.]

That might very well be! We seem to come from all walks of life and all eras as well. Who knows, really. I think it’s great to have this chance to be here in the first place.

As for solutions, I’m not very sure. I think it depends on who we run into and how many of them there are. If they are together it might be easier, or harder. The Hatter might be a good place to start, as others tend to follow his lead, but Alice might be good as well. She’d be the sensible one, but I doubt many would pay attention to the poor girl.

[video]

[braveheart_clara]

[she smiled, feeling like one of the few who has read these books or seen the movies. At least she isn't THE only one, but still, she doesn’t mind explaining]

I think it’s an Earth thing. More towards the later centuries and such. It’s a book and movie from where I am from. the creatures tend to seem a bit mad. Crazy or eccentric. Anything can happen in their presence. Like a big crazy party.

[audio]

[likeagerbil]

Never learned that lesson. Guess when you're more than a foot shorter than everyone else you have to find a way to get noticed.

[But despite those comments about silence, Bucky was still talking. Thankfully, he wasn't taking his own advice.]

We were like brothers. We grew up together. You saved me from bullies and took care of me when I had pneumonia and Ma was too sick to get out of bed. [He'd been the closest thing to family Steve had after she died.] You'd sneak peeks at my sketchbooks when you found out I was drawing nudes in art class. We were just about inseparable until the war.

[huntingorcs]

[ He's immortal, his concept of time is... a little skewed. Also he may or may not be concealing exactly how weird he thinks all of this is, because pretty lady ]

I suppose that is true, although I would much rather be home, as there is work to be done! [ He shrugs a little ]

Mm, so there is a Hatter, and a young girl? Is there anyone else we can expect?

[audio]

[overcomebywinter]

It's better to go unnoticed and be able to infiltrate silently than it is to yell and make a target of yourself.

[Yes, he's still talking. He knows he needs to. He knows this is helping a bit. He picks up things, but it bothers him still. He's not sure yet if he wants to sign off on him yet or not. WHY does he bother so hard?]

That... that doesn't explain why you are... [He did freeze at that. He doesn't remember those memories. Though he remembers a kid sick in bed. He growls at this, rubbing his hand over his face again. Fractured memories and he isn't sure about any of them.] I don't... [He gave a gruff sound and gave up on this conversation, for now.] There is a job to do. We need to go get ready to do a job.

[audio]

[likeagerbil]

I can be quiet then. [Mostly. Usually? Okay, stealth isn't one of Steve's strong points unless it's absolutely necessary. He makes a better distraction than spy.]

Why doesn't that explain it? We were family even if we weren't blood. [Belatedly, he realizes he's probably pushing too hard even if something might be changing. Bucky isn't remembering him as just 'the mission' or 'the target'. But he's right. They have a job.]

You're right. We do have a job. If you remember anything and you want to know... I'm here.

[audio]

[overcomebywinter]

[With those armored pajamas? Yeah, a big distraction, or target.]

[He almost snapped at the man, that he didn't want to explain why that didn't explain it. It didn't explain things the way he WANTS it explained, because he has the conflicting memories. And yet there was something there and he wanted to explain more. Maybe in person. But not now. He almost snapped, but the man mentioned that they did have a mission. Yes, good. Focus on that.]

If I remember anything, I'll think about asking. [And unless the man, who can't seem to shut up, has more to say, he's turning his device off.]

[video]

[runestone_promise]

A move-ie? [Given the context, Kili can't quite puzzle out the meaning.] Is that a different type of book from your world?

My brother and I have been to enough parties that we should hold our own with them. But, I am curious about their madness. Is it contagious?

[braveheart_clara]

[Her concept of time is a bit strange as well, but that happens when you round around with a Time Lord]

Perhaps when we are done and we go home they can just put us back where we came from. Like time never moved. I wonder if that's a thing. [Doctor TRIES to do that but never manages so well.]

I'm not positive. The story is so full of characters. The Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the door mouse, the Queen of Hearts, or Red Queen and White Queen. Knights. Cards. Dodo birds and Walruses. A Caterpillar that smokes. A Cheshire cat with a great smile. In truth, this could be a huge job.

If it's just the tea party though, it might not be so bad. Which is what I am hoping for. Only the first few would be at the tea party, or so I would think.

[video]

[braveheart_clara]

[She grinned at him not knowing about a movie. Leaning into the video stream she looked happy to explain] Something like that! Movies are a lot of fun where I am from. They take a story from books or real life, and they put it on film...mm, or a screen. Oh, wait, how to explain this.

They take actors, entertainers? And record them, like you would in a book, but it's a moving picture or drawing. Ah... Oh! I know. Take this conversation. This video, of you and me talking? It's just like that. You can go back to this later and reply it as often as you want. Movies are like that, but huge stories to entertain people, or keep visual records.

[She blushed, running a hand over her face a moment, smiling sheepishly] Sorry, I'm rambling. I wonder if they have movies in the Library... Oh but, important things. Ah, no, I don't think the madness is contagious? I would hope not. Though contagious as in they might want to make you dance and party with them, just beacuse they are having so much fun? Than maybe.

[huntingorcs]

That would be highly preferable, as both my brother and I had things that needed doing, and places where we needed to be!

[ He whistles softly, the joker fading a little to the seasoned warrior for the practical necessity of it ]

That is a goodly number, and if all of them are here it might be a struggle to round them all up. And many very strange, I see - why a caterpillar, and why is it smoking? But if tis only a those who would attend a tea party, which do you expect?

Re: [audio]

[give_me_a_museum]

Right, right. I forget sometimes what the Librarian can do. I'm not used to whole magic thing.

[video]

[runestone_promise]

[The concept would have been lost on him if Clara had not mentioned the bookmarks. Kili did not understand how they worked but the idea of somehow images being shared he did grasp.]

Like a play then except recorded on something like the bookmarks? That would be a remarkable thing to have on journeys. New stories to share when you are far from home.

I too hope that it is not contagious. In my world there are some types of madness that can infect others. [And Kili had thought he had caught it when he had been bespelled by the enchanted books to think he was a thief and Tauriel someone named Rapunzel.]

It sounds like the sort of party that my brother and I would want to be part of if we were not ordered to bring them back. These people from Wonderland sound relatively harmless. Is that what you think of them?

Re: [Private]

[the_head_librarian]

You would not be who you are if you did. [Kronos ducks his head, hiding the smile just a moment before turning his gaze back to Owen.] He is doing more than you realize by opening the doors and directing you. Getting things done as quickly as possible is the best thing if you wish to help me.

[He feels a little guilty for even asking that much.]

If you would... make me a promise then? When this is done, shall we do something together that isn't so tiring? [Arching a brow, he dares to hope that Owen would agree, but after all it was simply a hope... The cat usually proves the only one that tries such things for me.]