the_central_library | Video Post || 002 || A Request for Help

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

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[He didn't say anything at first, trying t think on that. Liked getting punched? Did he say that? Did someone else? He remembers their last fight, the punching and hitting, over and over. The words that were said. The emotions.]

[He scowled now to himself, running a metal hand over his face, silent for much longer than he should have been.] You find yourself in situations where you get punched often, don't you?

[He started to move now, needing to keep his mind focused and not let it wander more.] I don't remember being a kid. [he said it out loud, though it was soft, like he was saying it to himself.]

[Despite telling himself not to be too hopeful, he grins at Bucky's answer. Curiosity is a start. Bucky isn't ignoring him or denying things. That means eventually things might change for the better.]

All the time. Even before - [He almost says 'I became taller' then realizes that Bucky might not know what that meant.] - before I joined the army. I used to get beat up in alleys because I didn't know when to keep quiet.

I know you don't, Buck. [It hurts saying that, guilt and anger twisting around. He's glad that he can't get his hands on the people that did this to Bucky... while blaming himself for not doing more when they were on the train.]

I'll remember for both of us until you do.

[There is another long pause there. If the man could see him he would know that Bucky was hit by something. Not physically, but something of a memory. Joining the army. A punk kid getting beat and not backing down. That kid sitting bloodied on a --wait. No. The memories didn't link, but they seemed to be memories all the same.]

[There was a faint growl as he rubbed his face at that. It was frustrating, but things were coming to him more and more in this place. Perhaps this is why he stayed here. To remember again.] You still don't know how to keep quiet. [Take that as you will. A memory or a comment in return.]

And if I don't?

Nope, I don't. [The answer has the same easy confidence that Steve had had even when they were kids and he was trying not to bleed all over Bucky while his best friend dragged him home.] Not going to back down when something needs to be done.

[Which made it a difficult to know how far to push and when to let Bucky figure things out on his own. He didn't want his friend to disappear on him again but Bucky was talking so Steve couldn't be crossing a line.]

Then I'll keep remembering for you and you can start over.

[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?]

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.

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.

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.

[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 Post || 002 || A Request for Help

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