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one ☢ video

[ The device turns on to a man looking just a hint disheveled, but overall he looks very mild and gathered. He's taken his time to calm down by now, after all. ]

Ah, hey, so I read the... [ He lifts the pamphlet and waves it a little, though not at all dismissively. ] ... this little brochure. Very helpful, actually, so thanks to whoever wrote it. And yeah, you guessed it, I'm new.

[ It might be a little difficult to tell whether or not he's being honest in his appreciation, but this time he really is. ]

So. Parallel universes, who would've thought. Guess stranger things could've happened. [ Except not really. But it's nice to think that. ] I won't bore any of you with questions, I got the gist of it by now.

But I'd like to know if there are any experts out there, if I can pick your brain. Not just on alternate realities, but space and time traveling, wormholes, portals, pocket universes - which is what I'm assuming this all is.

[ He sets the brochure aside and rubs a hand briefly down his face. ]

Because here's the thing - how does a place like this even happen? This is tiny, unbelievably so. Even if opening a wormhole that can actually travel across different dimensions without any visible devices or power source, how can it happen with several? Because for not just one or two universes, but dozens or hundreds of them to be converging here, and from fluctuating times and points within them, this place should be... I don't know, torn into pieces, disintegrating entirely. No laws of physics can explain this, and just - you know what, just spare me the speech on how physics don't work the same way here.

[ He's trying to keep it simple for the common listener, but just in case he didn't succeed, he adds as a final thought. ] This place is impossible.

[ Not that he won't try to make some sense of it, and for now at least seeing if he can find someone who'll help him with that seems like the best option. That, and finding a quiet corner where he can stay. ]

Thanks for listening. And for answering, if you do. [ He hesitates for a moment before he finally decides to add. ] Name's Bruce Banner, by the way.

[ Not that he has a lot of hope that he'll find someone here he knows, but... well, yesterday he'd have said something like this would be hilariously impossible. So who's to say. ]

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[ Alright, Bruce has got to do a double-take when the man appears on screen, because boy does he look familiar. But he pushes that thought aside to hear what the man says, or at least until he says his name, and then he really has to struggle to keep his smile mild at best. (He's not very successful.) ]

Oh, I... yeah, I'd like to meet you too. [ Very much. ] I'm a nuclear physicist, expert on gamma radiation but I also have some knowledge in wormholes, alternate dimensions, the like. [ For now that should more or less answer the Doctor's question.

The Doctor. Well, the pamphlet did mention something like this. ]

So you're... the Doctor. [ He tries really hard not to, but it's too good an opportunity to pass up. ] Doctor who?

[ Well, the Doctor's just too busy being intrigued and curious to notice anything that may or may not be going on. And, really, this whole thing is getting better and better, the more Bruce says. A nuclear physicist with knowledge about gamma radiation is interesting enough, but add in the bits about his other knowledge, and the Doctor is just so very excited. ]

Well, then, that makes two of us. I'm no nuclear physicist, but I do know a bit about wormholes, alternate dimensions, and so much more besides.

[ He has to meet him in person, whether it's now or later. ]

That's right, the Doctor. [ He nods, grinning practically from ear to ear. ] Just the Doctor, that's all.

[ He's been asked that question before, but his answer is always the same. Just the Doctor, no more and no less. ]

Alright, just the Doctor. [ Bruce needs a second or two to remind himself he's a 43 year old man who can definitely keep his cool in front of a fictional character who's pretty much a hero to him. Who just so happens to not be fictional at all in this place. Talk about odds. ]

I can meet you somewhere. I'd like to meet anyone willing to exchange ideas with me about this place. Not sure it'll change much, but it's always comforting to try and make some sense of things.

[ Rationalizing does help him keep his emotions in check, even if he might still be stuck here. Right now he's not even sure it'd be a good idea to try to get out at all, volatile as he can be who knows what could happen. ]

So where do you want me?

Good, you catch on quickly. Love it when a person can do that. [ Not that he minds the back and forth about his name and how it can't be his name and everything else, but sometimes, it's a nice change when someone just takes it as it is without questioning it too much. ]

Well, I'm not doing anything now, if you wanted to have a coffee or something. Or there's the library, if you'd rather meet there.

[ He supposes a nuclear physicist would be more at home in the library or somewhere with a more academic bent, which is why he offers that as an option. ]

Where would you rather go? The kitchen's nice, but the library's good for having chats too.

[ And no one seems to mind if people do wind up having chats there. At least, no one's showed up to shush him thus far. ]

[ Then he'll love Bruce, he's always pretty good at catching on. Of course it kind of helps he knows who he's actually talking about, so there's no reason for him to insist on the name thing. ]

I don't drink coffee, but some water, I could probably use drinking something. I wouldn't want to bother all the other people at the library anyway.

[ He lowers the device for just a moment to look at his surroundings. ]

I'll find the kitchen. Give me a couple of minutes?

[ Oh, but don't go telling the Doctor that. It'll take the wind out of his sails at finally having met someone who wasn't hung up on his name not being a name. ]

Water's good, yeah. I could use some of that.

[ Well, not really, but it's the principle of the thing. ]

Sounds like a plan, then. I'll see you soon.

[ And with that, the Doctor takes off for the kitchens. ]

[ Checking again on the pamphlet where the kitchen's supposed to be, it really takes Bruce no time at all to find it, the halls thankfully empty for the most part so he makes his way there in quicker strides than he normally would.

When he steps into the kitchen, he immediately recognizes the man in the suit, back turned to him. After pausing under the doorway for a moment or two of hesitance, he finally clears his throat and takes a step inside. ]

Doctor. ~~[ Be cool, Bruce. Be cool. ]~~

[ He's been there a matter of minutes, choosing to just lean against one of the counters while waiting for Bruce to arrive. When he does arrive and announces his presence, the Doctor turns around, a wide grin slipping easily onto his face. ]

Hello! Found it alright, then, I see.

[ The mansion can be tricky to navigate at times, even though the path to the kitchen is rather straightforward. ]

Did you want anything? Tea? Water? Food? It's all here, whatever you need or want.

[ He lifts the pamphlet a little before folding it neatly and pocketing it in his jacket. ]

The directions were pretty easy to follow.

[ Slowly he steps around the island, looking at the room they're in just as much as the Timelord standing there, curiosity written across his face. ]

Just water's fine for now, thanks.

[ Admittedly, the Doctor wasn't used to playing host, but getting a glass and filling it with water seemed simple enough. Having done that, he slid it over to Bruce, still smiling all the while. ]

Alright, one glass of water.

[ He nods at the pamphlet and says: ]

Good thing they have one of those for new arrivals. There's a lot to grasp about this place, and at least that explains the basics.

[ Bruce takes it with a nod, sipping on it idly, his eyes then lowering to the piece of paper sticking out of the pocket. ]

It's straightforward, at least, if a little too blunt. [ Bruce had nearly lost his calm when he'd read it, and that's never a good thing. ]

Though I'm thinking it has to be more than a little confusing to some of the people here.

Maybe a bit blunt, yeah, but would you rather have the facts cushioned so it would be more comfortable to take in?

[ He's not accusing Bruce of being unable to handle the truth, now, just trying to get a sense of the way he views things. ]

And of course it's bound to be confusing, but we've got some brilliant minds around here, at least enough to explain parts of it.

[ Well, at least the parts that can be explained. ]

Not at all, just... some people might not be that good at coping with these things. Sometimes a little cushioning can be safer.

[ And if he were accusing him, it wouldn't be too far from the truth. Bruce has learned to take unexpected situations in stride, always keeping calm, but being pulled to pocket universes isn't exactly something he's used to. ]

I've noticed that. Makes me think if maybe there weren't others before, if we might not find some data buried somewhere deep in the library.

No, but it might make it harder to swallow when the truth finally does come out.

[ Although he's well aware that some might not have the coping skills needed to deal with such things, such as children, but aside from that, he's of the opinion that those who ask for details should get get them. ]

I've tried the library, and it's good enough so far as a resource goes, but it's tricky, like it knows not to give up information about Wonderland and how things work.

Alright, fair enough.

[ He nods. In the end he had managed to swallow down all the information more or less alright, despite everything. No ugly consequences, that's what matters. ]

I'm not surprised. It'd be counterproductive for this place to kidnap us and then just make any information about a means of escape available to us. It makes me wonder if no matter how much we search through, we won't find much of anything. But I've got to give it a try at least.

Of course, and it may turn out that nothing happens, but if all of us do a bit of digging, who knows what might turn up?

[ That's a rather big 'if', because not everyone's going to be interested in delving into the secrets of Wonderland, although from what the Doctor's seen, there's enough interest to maybe achieve some results. ]

A digging expedition in the library.

[ Forgive him Doctor, but he must take the jab. It's not everyday one gets an opportunity like this. ]

Almost like archaeologists.

What? Is there something wrong with that?

[ He has no idea that sometime in his future, he'll have an adventure (or a nightmare) in a library. It's probably a good thing that he's unaware of that. ]

Almost, but I've never really liked archaeologists.

[ Bruce kind of figures that, though he's realizing now it's difficult to know exactly what point in time he comes from. And it's not like he can ask without giving away that he knows more about the Doctor's future than he should. But it could make for a good guessing game, if he does it right. ]

They're alright. But I prefer physicists, better sense of humor.

[ That seems to be a thing around here, so far as knowing things about the Doctor's future. He's encountered that with Martha, who is from later on along his timeline, which means she's more informed about what happens than he is. He's coming to terms with that, but he still can't help but be curious. ]

Depends on the physicist, I suppose. I've met at least one or two who had no sense of humor at all. Great conversation that was. It was like trying to make a Cyberman laugh.

[ Hold on, did he just say that aloud? Yes? Oh, well, then, here come the awkward questions, although there's worse things he's accidentally let slip. ]

Edited (I can read, honest) 2014-05-15 23:59 (UTC)

[ Before he even realizes that he's not supposed to know what a Cyberman is, he's already grinning at the joke, nodding in understanding and agreement. ]

Maybe they're missing a proton.

[ And that's why they're so negative. Ha ha. Get it. ]

Or several protons, more like. I don't suppose you've ever seen Cybermen, but they're massive big things.

[ He can't help but raise an eyebrow at Bruce's reaction. Most people would've responded to that with a blank stare and a question about what exactly a Cyberman is, but not this guy. It's all very curious. ]

You don't seem too surprised. Why is that?

[ He's made aware now that he shouldn't have reacted quite so promptly, but it's not like he can do much now. He tenses for a moment as he thinks about a way to slip himself out of this one. ]

No, I... I just figured. Cybermen... some kind of androids? Or maybe even entirely functional robots in the shape of people. Though my bet's on them having some human organs or tissue embedded into them.

[ Hopefully that's not enough to have the Doctor be any suspicious of him. ]

[ He can't help but give him a vaguely curious look that's not entirely suspicious, but still manages to be just a little bit of that. Unless Bruce somehow was able to see the Cybermen during one of their invasions, he really shouldn't know anything about them, nor react as though he knows about them. ]

Well, I'm not sure androids is the right word, because there is a component of the Cybermen that, unless I'm very mistaken, most androids lack.

[ Namely a very human component, which is repulsive to the Doctor. ],

And- Well, yes, since you mentioned it, that component is a human brain.

[ Bruce shrugs casually, trying not to look like he knows too much. But he makes mental note that he has to be careful about what he lets show, and reminds himself to look at least a little more confused next time. ]

I wasn't too far off the mark, then.

[ He knows a good deal about them, it's a little difficult acting otherwise. But he figures asking a few questions might dissipate some of the Doctor's suspicions. ]

What are they like? Are they common where you come from?

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