entranceway | 003 [video]

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003 [video]

[Are you sick of his face yet, Wonderland? Well, you might as well get used to it, because you're far more likely to catch him here than in person. But at least this time there's more of a point to this than piglets or sassing the crowd. It's something he's been mulling over for a few days, and Sam's post about classes (and other things) has finally spurred him into action.]

Okay, so I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I've dug around and haven't found what I'm looking for, so I'm looking to you guys to kind of...Help me compile a few things.

[He leans back in his chair, lacing his fingers together over his middle.]

Now I'm sure by now, we've all heard the story of how the Jabberwocky is supposed to show up at some point in the relatively near future - because let's be honest with each other, folks, five years isn't that long, and I can't give you an ETA on when I can get us out of here, just that I can - and that doesn't leave us a whole lot of time. Now, I know I wasn't here when the message was delivered, but you guys have been pretty great at giving me an idea of what we can expect. And I know there's some dissent among the crowd here about whether that's still going to happen or not, but just. Let me run this by you.

Thanks to all of that, I've put together a few ideas, and I'm curious about who might be on board. Because ultimately, it's going to take every last one of us to make it work. So consider this me putting out my feelers for how you guys feel about it.

One, we should probably start weaning ourselves off the closets of this place. Stockpile what we can't make ourselves at first, use those greenhouses for more than just a landmark, maybe. I know there's stuff out there now, but it might be good to start looking into things that go beyond being pretty decorations. Start looking into food crops, medicinal plants, that kind of thing. I know cold turkey's not an option, but on the whole, whether this Jabberwocky really shows up or not, it might be better as a whole if we stop relying on "magic" - [He uses finger quotes.] To do everything. And we should probably think about giving this place a different power source. I don't know what's running the electricity and everything now, but I've got some better ideas for that.

Two, there's a list of classes - which is highly informative, actually, I didn't think you guys had anything like that - but no kind of guide for who can do what here. Basic things, because while we don't age, we can get sick, we can die, we need haircuts...You get the idea. So what I'm asking is, if you have a basic skill like that, no matter what it is, let me know. I'm gonna be putting it together, so it can be in that updated pamphlet you've heard Pepper talk about working on. I know people drift in and out of here, and that's fine, because editing isn't that big of a deal. That way people don't have to take a blind stab in the dark for what they're looking for, and have a list right there ready.

And...I guess that's it. Everything I had on my list for now, anyway. If you have anything you wanna add, let me know, because I fully admit I've still got the new car smell here, and this was just stuff that happened to occur to me talking to you guys.

[ADDENDUM TO THE ORIGINAL BROADCAST:]
By the way. My birthday's tomorrow. Feel free to direct all gifts you plan to shower me with to Miss Pepper Potts. She knows what to do with them.

[Because clearly Tony's birthday is the most important part of anything ever. Stark parties are legendary.]

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Stark Industries was making the transition to focusing on that, expanding the clean energy division. We like our fingers in all the pies.

[Except weapons. That's the pie that bites back, and he's done with that.]

Of course it does, you've got me. [Whether he actually means that or just bragging is up for debate.] We kind of have a little club back home, specializes in this kind of thing. [You know, that whole save the world gig.]

[Martha's never heard of Stark Industries before, but that's no surprise. They're probably from different worlds, but clean energy is a good thing no matter which way you look at it. She's almost surprised that Wonderland brought in someone with this kind of knowledge.]

So you run some kind of corporation, back home? [He's definitely got the sort of ego that would go along with that, but Martha isn't able to hold it against him too much, not when he's willing to help her like this.] Sounds like more than just a little club.

Well, yes and no. [It's simple enough if you know the people involved. If you don't...Well, it's complicated.] I used to be CEO. I still own it. But Pepper - I don't know if you've met her, she usually does a good job of introducing herself - She's CEO now. I just do a little R and D on the side. My main focus is the Iron Man suits now.

[Along with Stark Tower and rebuilding New York but that's just a headache. And that was more than he'd ever thought he'd have to explain to anyone about that.]

Well, no, it really is just a little group. Most of us are here, actually. We're just short one Asgardian god.

[Pepper, yes, Martha sort of knows Pepper. In that she was one of the first people Martha ever spoke to in this place, over a year ago. They had that one conversation and then she never heard from her again. Then, a few weeks ago, she showed up on the network to introduce herself, although Martha hadn't taken the time to reply. Sometimes it gets exhausting having to meet someone for the second or third time, that's all.

It's not that surprising to find out that someone like Pepper is a CEO, but Martha's still impressed.] Iron Man suits? What are those? [For once, someone that doesn't recognize Tony Stark!]

... I have no idea what an Asgardian god is, but how can a whole company be made up of a little group? Unless you're talking about two separate things.

[You'd think he'd never get sick of showing off, but it's really starting to get to be a bit of a drag. Back home, everyone on the planet is aware of Iron Man. And the last time he's had to explain so much about himself and what they are, he was in a Senate hearing where the government was trying to take them.

So it's with a quick sigh that he picks up the phone, angling it behind him and nodding, where the framework of one upper body rests on a stand, trailing wires everywhere, and a mostly completed second, much smaller, on the stand next to it. And behind the both the finished product.] Those. They're...Kind of a high tech armor.

[Among other things.]

It's two different things, yeah. Stark Industries would be absolutely useless here. You might as well say I am Stark Industries, for the moment. Wonderland branch, right down here in the basement. No, I'm talking about the Avengers. We're...A group.

[Martha appreciates him indulging her questions, but she also has no idea that she should supposedly already know all this. High-tech armor sounds about right, from what she can see. It reminds her a bit too much of the cybermen, if she's honest with herself, but this bloke seems like he's one of the good guys.] Looks impressive. And you made all that on your own, did you? That's brilliant.

[The Doctor would probably be fascinated to take a closer look at all that.]

A group? That's not very specific. What exactly do you do? Other than avenge things. [Are they avenging the kidnappings, then? Sounds about right. Martha's guess is that the armor does more than just protect, from the looks of it. She has to hope he knows what he's doing.]

Yeah, I'm kind of a genius. [Hubris where? Though, really, he won't say it and neither will anyone else, but they're honestly his life's work. Everything up to the creation of the Mark platform (and now the CHESHIRE) is practically meaningless. These are a thing he can be proud of.]

Sir, you shouldn't hide your light under a bushel in that fashion. One would think you humble.

Yeah, thanks, JARVIS.

[He sends a pointed glare upwards.]

We're a group of...Uniquely talented individuals who do uniquely incredible things. It's still kinda new, we're still finding the groove, that sort of thing. We fight the fights other people can't.

[Oh god. Martha suddenly remembers one of the first things she ever said to the Doctor: not pompous at all, then. This one is like that too, and Martha can't quite understand why she keeps running across men with egos the size of the solar system.

That voice cutting in from... somewhere, though, that distracts her.] What was that? [Whoever he's addressing, they seem to be... above him? Odd.]

Sounds like you'll all be a lot of help here, then. We don't always have monsters raining down on us, but it definitely happens. I suppose I should thank you in advance.

[And it's apparently for the confusion that momentarily crosses his face at her question that the voice is something he's so used to that he doesn't think about how it looks to others. Before realization dawns, and he breaks into a slightly smug little smile.]

That? That voice? That's JARVIS, my AI system Runs everything down here.

[And while he might not be the most humble of the group, he simply presses his lips together at the last. He's still awkwardly fitting into the role of 'team member' and 'Avenger'.]

You can thank us if we make it out of this. Until then, I'd appreciate a list you can get up of anything you'll need, along with anything else you can think of, for when I can swing by. Because that's where all the real work is going to be.

[An AI system with a name isn't the strangest thing that Martha has come across, and so she only nods in understanding. This one's truly got things under control, if he's set up all of this in such a short period of time.

He may have an ego, but he's also a hard worker, and Martha respects that.]

Fair enough, I'll get right on it! This second, in fact. It should be ready for whenever you come by.

[And she would end it at that, except:] I don't think I ever got your name, though, Mr...

[Just don't spread it around, Martha, that rep he's got will be ruined.]

Stark. Tony Stark. And I'll try to make it soon, I've just already got a backlog to work through before I start cutting into time for other projects. So there's no real rush, at least until I can clear out what's already starting to clutter up my stuff.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Stark. And it's fine, I didn't mean to rush you! Whenever works for you, I should be around the clinic, and if not you can always give me a ring.

[It sounds like he's got plenty on his plate. They have a year or two to get this all in order, so there's no immediate rush. Martha's content enough to know there's someone out there willing to help her.]

Will do. Shouldn't be too long, just...As soon as everyone realizes I'm not their favorite IT guy, I should be in the clear.

[Martha can't help but laugh at that.]

I'm sorry. Sounds a bit like torture, if I'm honest. It was bad enough when my mum would ask me to help with her mobile.

[She rolls her eyes and then shrugs her shoulders.] But I'll leave you to it. Thank you again, Mr. Stark.

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