+ some wonderlands are kind

[It's Saturday evening. Long shadows are being cast through the library windows alongside gold shafts of light, framing the main desks of the library and the sensibly dressed man sat behind them.

The feed begins when he leans back after pressing the button to record.]

I am Benjamin Tallmadge. I've introduced myself before when I asked about firearms beyond the time of the 18th century on Earth. [It's been a stressful weekend, so he silently reminds himself to keep this to the point.]

Since last autumn I've been assisting Evelyn with the upkeep of the library. The purpose of this announcement is to open lines of communication for future reference. Similarly, if you have any questions about the library or about Wonderland, I would be more than happy to assist.

[There is a brief pause, in which Ben seems to reconsider addressing something else, then thinks better of being silent.]

I would also like to formally ask, in the interest of all of us protecting ourselves from possible threatening forces, for your assistance. I will be working with Commander Shepard and to help protect ourselves, we must keep our eyes and ears open. To that end, my intent is to gather and process intelligence--from you, if you choose to give it. Messages from Mirrors, experiences outside of events that are unusual even for Wonderland, no matter how innocuous.

At home, I am a Major in the United States Continental Army and General George Washington's Head of Intelligence during what will be known as the American Revolution, a war I am still fighting at home. I understand the gravity of a declaration of war and I know very well that many of us are still strangers to one another. I also know that if we cannot try to trust one another enough to work together, we will pay a heavy price.

My intent is not to alarm any of you, or to inspire fear, but to impart a spirit of cooperation. Any intelligence given will be vetted and confidential. Even the smallest details can turn the tide and save lives. A little trust can go a long way toward helping us defend ourselves from a deranged woman who, apparently, knows little about being a proper ruler. [He shakes his head. He's starting to digress.]

At any rate... If you've watched this far, I'm grateful for your time and consideration. You may contact me on the network or you may find me here in the library, if you have any questions to ask of me.

[Ben nods, leans forward and ends the feed there.]

[Several people have been kind enough to help teach Ben how to use these devices. He still finds the general experience of it to be unnerving, trifling though it feels as he turns it over in his hands. Instantaneous, mass communication by way of a small box was a concept that was originally met with much incredulity. And yet, after having spent some time in this fantastical place, he could no longer deny what his own senses were telling him. Usage of this device was not only possible but frequently done and considered a staple of survival here.

Ben glances at his surroundings--a room he'd chosen for himself, simple enough in its furnishings--and then back at the small box in his hands. He's already tested its functions and had a look at the messages on it, partly out of pure fascination but also to learn the social expectations required during its usage.

He breathes, and feels he may as well make the proverbial plunge, and notes how ridiculous it is to feel nervous over something so trivial after he's done things like taken lives and marched across battlefields.

Ben presses a few buttons and the video broadcast begins. He tries to hold the thing steady, unnerved at the thought of some "unseen" force simultaneously recording both his voice and his image.]

Hello, I am ... Benjamin Tallmadge. [He realizes belatedly that he isn't wearing a jacket, and perhaps he should have introduced himself with his rank. Oh no...]

I arrived in June and would like to thank those who offered me their assistance.

Additionally, I would like to inquire further into the resources we have here; specifically firearms from the 20th century on Earth. For clarity's sake, I've come from the year 1777 and I am a Major in the Continental Army of the United States of America. In the interest of self-defense and the defense of others, I would like to learn how to use those superior munitions properly.

One may contact me by way of these devices or in person at the library.

Good day to you.

[He ends the broadcast and breathes a sigh of relief. Perhaps he'll suffer through text next time instead.]