entranceway | 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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[She smiles. She was definitely aware of the amount of people, the whole idea more than a little overwhelming. She'd gotten used to it being mostly her and Jane. Erik would be around some of the time, and then there was Thor... but this large of a number of people was a whole new ball game - it would take some adjusting.]

Yeah, that's always a nice thing to remember.

I would also recommend avoiding the library - I think Loki's been camping out there.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. But I might take my chances sometime.

[ He wants to find as much information as he can, after all, and he might not manage anywhere else. Besides, he knows how to navigate quietly, and keep an eye out should Loki be there. Not to mention that the demigod might not even want to do much interacting with Bruce of all people. ]

Well, if you do venture into the danger zone, let me know. I'm curious to see if they have a certain book from our world, although I'm not curious enough to risk it.

[At least not yet... Curiosity had been said to kill the cat and she wasn't planning on meowing any time soon.]

[ Her request is met with a small smile and a nod from him. He knows he'll eventually take the risk to venture into the library, Loki or not. ]

And what's the book?

Ummm....

[She toys with how describe it, if she should just be blunt and blurt it out or attempt to be delicate with it.]

Have you talked to a Dr. Hannibal Lecter at all? I kind of want to see if they have the book series here - do some compare and contrast on their lives and get a refresher since I haven't thought about them since freshman year. I had a weird professor that - nevermind, that's a whole 'nother story.

[She shakes her head slightly remembering that class - a strange experience all around.]

He'd be stupid to come out and say 'howdy I'm a cannibal' but it's weird. I've also had some time to think about it and I talked to a musketeer, a legit musketeer!

[She may or may not still be a little excited about that conversation. She may or may not have also fangirled poor Athos... oops.]

So if they're here - anything is possible. Better safe than sorry - I'd rather not have to worry about someone getting eaten.

[ As soon as she mentions the man, he nods in understanding. It's a thought that had occurred to him too, an idea he's set on seeing through much like she is. ]

I spoke to one of them, yes. I was thinking of doing a reread myself.

[ In fact it had been this Hannibal who had told him that there was another in Wonderland, though from the dates Bruce had to conclude he was from an alternate universe. Because just one cannibal wasn't enough. ]

So, all four novels? I can pick up The Three Musketeers too, while I'm at it. [ Offered with an arch of his eyebrow and a shrug. ]

Whoa, whoa, whoooooa... [Slow your roll there, Bruce.] One of them? There's more than one?

[Nope...... Nope nope nope nope nooooooope. She could barely handle the idea of one cannibal, let alone two of them. She might want to befriend the Musketeers as back up just in case the Avengers become dinner, as incredibly unlikely as that seemed.]

All four novels would be lovely... Looks like the sooner the pieces can start coming together on the whole yay or nay to eating people thing with them, the better.

[She can't help but blush ever so slightly at the idea of rereading The Three Musketeers, things like that harder when there's a face to go with a name.]

If you find it, sure - but there's no need to go out of your way. The whole cannibal thing is WAY more important.

There's two, that's what the one I spoke to told me. [ He smiles tensely, with a slight shrug he continues. ]

You have one that seems to be from the novels we know of, but from back in the 50's. The other is supposedly from an alternate universe, from the present, but he's about 40 years old. I haven't talked to him yet, though, so for all we know he could just be someone with the same name.

[ Here's to wishful thinking. ]

I'll make sure to get them for you. [ He huffs out a chuckle at her reaction. ] The Musketeers too.

[She listens, only getting more concerned. Having one from the books was more than terrifying enough, but another from an alternate universe who's older and assumingly more secure in his people eating ways?]

Yeah, maybe he's a vegetarian.

[Or not. Probably not.

She smiles, giving a small laugh.]

Thanks Doc. It's much appreciated.

[ The jab at humor is both unexpected and misplaced, but it's enough for Bruce to grin briefly. He doesn't laugh exactly, but he does let out a huffed breath that comes close to a chuckle. ]

You're a hopeful one, aren't you.

[ He nods. ] Don't mention it, it's not problem at all.

[She fights the urge to start singing Cockeyed Optimist from South Pacific, instead settling on a smile at the almost laugh.]

Well, recent life experience has taught me anything's possible, so... who knows?

[Although, really - he's probably not and with the two of them in the same place, who knows what could happen... Seriously. This could get ugly and that's a horrifying thought.]

I should probably go check on Jane, but give me a heads up when you venture into the Temple of Doom. I'm sure I will see you around.

Alright, fair enough.

[ It's probably for the best they're not too optimistic about this particular topic, and keeping an eye on both of them might just be their safest bet too. True, people who die might be brought back to life, but that doesn't make it alright for anyone to go around murdering them, and in this case, making steaks out of them. ]

Go ahead, I need to get settled in myself. I'll let you know. [ He nods as he reaches over to end the feed. ] See you around.

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